Archive of Our Own

"Shar, I need a favor." Millie fiddled with some of the leaves on the far end of the counter.

Sharona gave her sister a glance as she continued to cut holly branches. Ward's Wonders Florist was busy before the holidays. Now, Christmas-themed bouquets were going out the door as fast as she could make them so any favors would come after the holiday season crush.

"It's not money," Millie added in a rush.

"I didn't think it was," Sharona put the branch in water and picked up the next. "You would just ask for that. Besides, didn't you say this boyfriend of yours was loaded."

"I still wouldn't borrow from him," Millie huffed. "Anyway, that's not it. I was hoping you were free tomorrow night."

"Christmas eve? Well, I'll be here until 1900, then home so we can drink eggnog and watch whatever you picked this year. What movie did you pick?"

Millie nodded, tearing a leaf to tiny bits. "And that is what we planned to do, but…."

"But?"

"Moke wants to take us to dinner."

"Us?" For Christmas eve? The only night more romantic in Japan than Valentines and he wants to take 'us'? "No set-ups."

"It's not a set up. I promise."

"Uh-huh."

"It's his older brother. Kaiba-niisama is going to be home, alone -"

"Nope," she put an extra pop on the 'p' for emphasis.

"Shar, please! It is one hundred percent not a hookup, but Moke is bringing him and it's going to be the world's most awkward double date if I sit in the middle of Chez Jean-Honoré's with both of them!"

"Chez Jean-Honoré's? French. Oo la la. Fancy."

"It's supposed to be amazing."

"It's probably owned by an absolute prat. I'm sure only absolute prats can afford the place."

"Sharona, please? You get a free meal with no strings attached. And I'll work the shop every weekend in January."

"Big Bro," Mokuba burst into his office with no warning. "What are you doing tomorrow night?"

"Having a glass of brandy with a good book on the only night I can all but guarantee my phone won't ring." Seto looked at him. "I am not doing anything that involves caroling, fried chicken, or Krampus."

"How about dinner at Jean-Honoré's?"

"A little late to get a table, I would think." Seto turned back to work.

"But that's not really a problem for you since he saves a table for you, right?"

"I suppose. However, I am not -"

"Look, Nii-sama, Mills really wants a romantic night. Chez Jean-Honoré's is the hottest seat in town right now, and -"

"Enough! I'll call. I'm sure he can squeeze in a table for two somewhere."

"Table for four."

"Four?" Seto raised an eyebrow. "Is this a romantic development of which I am unaware?"

"Nooo," Mokuba hesitated, looking uncomfortable. "She's bringing her sister. So I was kind of hoping you would...y'know...take one for the team?"

Seto stopped typing and looked at his younger brother again. "That I would do what?"

"Ok, they usually spend Christmas at home watching dumb movies but the rest of their family won't be home this year, so if Mills goes out with me, her sister is gonna be alone. On Christmas. Which, come on, you know! That sucks!"

Seto arched his brow again but refrained from comment.

"Please, big bro! I'm not asking you to marry her! Just have dinner, a little conversation, and I will totally pick up the check."

Everyone in Chez Jean-Honoré's was dressed to be seen. Sharona tugged her sequined jacket. Millie wanted them to wear festive dresses, which put her in one of Ellie's slinky gold numbers, while Millie wore a tight-but-respectable red set from Lilly's closet. The jacket was purely because she didn't want this 'not a set up' to get any mixed signals.

The maitre'd apologized that their table wasn't ready, and escorted them to where a very handsome young man with barely tamed black hair was waiting on a velvet couch. He sprang up, smoothed his hair, and straightened what was probably a very expensive suit. Sharona had to smile. The boy's eyes never left Millie.

"Hey Mills," he said softly but with excitement. "You look - just - wow!"

"Yeah?" Millie sounded just as lovesick. "You look pretty wow yourself."

Sharona let them oogle each other for another minute or two, then cleared her throat.

"Oh! Right, uh, sorry, Shar."

"No, no. You were wow-ing."

Millie rolled her eyes, but blushed all the same. "Whatev! So. Mokuba, this is my sister, Sharona. Sharona, Mokuba."

Instinctively, she offered her hand, and pulled it back when he bowed much more deeply than necessary. "It is my honor to meet you, Ward-sama." He straightened just long enough to pull a business card out of a gold case, then offered it with both hands, bowing again. "I am Kaiba Mokuba."

She bowed and took the card. "I'm honored, too. I'm afraid I didn't bring any cards."

"Oh no, I quite understand, Ward-sama."

"Ok, that has to stop. Just plain Sharona is fine."

"I don't want to be disrespectful -"

"All that formality is just -"

"What about Sharona-nee?" Millie suggested.

He grinned at Millie, all hearts and sparkling purple lights, "perfect! Sharona-neesan."

Before she could respond she noticed a tall man moving towards them. He had short brown hair, vivid blue eyes, and a bemused smirk.

Mokuba glanced over his shoulder. "Ah!" He rushed the man.

"So? What do you think?" Millie asked in a frantic whisper.

"I think I haven't given you nearly enough shit about being moon-eyed in love."

"Ugh!"

"Wait until the others hear this!"

"I so hate -"

She was cut off as Mokuba and the tall man joined them. "Nii-sama, this is Ward Sharona-sama, Milicent's elder sister. Ward-sama, my elder brother, Kaiba Seto."

Kaiba arched an eyebrow and bowed, though not as deeply as his brother. "Ms. Ward."

She responded in kind. "Kaiba-san."

His smirk turned almost warm as he looked at Millie. "I trust you are well, Milicent?"

"Very well, thank you, Kaiba-niisan."

The maitre'd returned then and escorted them to a table in what was probably the mathematical center of the room.

Kaiba stepped in front of the maitre'd to pull out her chair. "Your wrap?" He was smirking still.

"Alright," she smirked back.

He slipped the jacket off leaving her shoulders and arms bare. He seated himself across from her. "So," he gave his brother a piercing look, "is there a connection between the Ward family and the new facilities contract with Ward’s Wonders?"

"I was curious why KaibaCorp suddenly needed florals on every floor," Sharona observed.

"Mokuba, you didn't!" Millie looked mortified.

"It's not like that," he defended. "Yes, big bro, Mills took me by their shop. But, come on, if the work looked like crap, I wouldn't have done a contract!"

Seto gave a half shrug. "Responses have been favorable. The display in the conference room has gained some positive remarks."

"I heard that might be a bit polarizing. I guess I heard wrong." Sharona glanced around. "Is it just me, or do we not have menus?"

"We don't get them. The waiter will bring whatever Jean-Honoré decides to serve us. That is the caveat to my having a table always reserved here." Said waiter arrived and began pouring a red wine. "Do you have any objections, Ms. Ward?"

She sipped the wine. "It's a bit dry for my tastes."

"Slow down," he replied, picking up his own glass. "It will get there."

She wasn't sure if he was laughing or not.

"Oh, hey!" Mokuba looked through the crowd toward a back room. "I think they opened the dance floor. He grinned at Millie. "It's all ballroom dancing so it's mostly old people, but it is fun!"

"You mean like actually waltzing," Millie’s expression was mildly terrified.

"Waltz, cha-cha, hustle. It's all easy. I can teach you everything quick." he got up, pulling her hand. "Come on!"

Seto looked at his dinner not-date. "I thought you were working tonight."

"Millie asked for a favor. She never mentioned her new beau's last name. I thought you were taking a well deserved night off."

"I'm taking one for the team. I didn't know my brother's girlfriend was related to Ward’s Wonders."

"Well."

"So." He was having trouble not grinning at her. "Any trouble walking?"

"Any trouble cleaning?"

"Funny enough, no." He took another sip of wine and contemplated the candlelight across her shoulders. "Although, I did find a cotton garment that seems a bit small for me. Beige. Very down market. I don't suppose you know anything about it?"

She gave him the same dark, sharp, smoldering look she'd given him when he suggested that the arrangement she'd placed in the conference room lacked finesse.

"Doesn't sound familiar. Perhaps, after dinner, you can search for the proper owner."

"Jean-Honoré is in a mood to change the menu after the new year, and plans on serving several small courses for us to sample. 'After dinner' here may be quite late. If, however, you care to join me for a less complicated meal, you could assist me in the process of finding said owner. I have been told that I do not have an eye for...beauty."

"That is something of a handicap." She emptied the wine glass. "What about the children?"

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. She rolled her eyes.

"You have quite the ego."

"Yes." Not grinning was almost impossible. "I do."

"How may I assist, Kaiba-sama?"

"Tell Jean-Honoré that I was unavoidably pulled away but my brother and his guest will still be dining here."

"Very well, sir."

"My brother is dancing. I suspect you will have to pry them apart when service is ready."

"Yes, sir," the waiter smiled. "Young love."

Seto dismissed the waiter and stood. "Shall we?" He offered her his hand.

"Well, look at this!" Sharona chuckled as she stood up. "You can actually smile."