Chapter Text
After the final defeat of Thanos and everything that followed, it took months for Stephen to get his life back to something that resembled what he had before the Blip. Christine had fully moved on in the five years he had been gone. She sent him a long letter saying that she had fallen in love and was getting married. He was, understandably, not invited to the wedding. He wrote back wishing her and her new husband well, fully letting go of the hope the two of them would one day reconcile. She deserves better, she’s found it, and I need to do the same.
His thoughts turned to the former waitress who challenged him to do better. I wonder how Beth’s doing. I don’t even know if she was a victim of the Snap or if she was spared but there’s only one way to find out.
Dressed in black jeans and a white Oxford shirt, he was walking through the Sanctum’s foyer when he heard Wong’s smug voice. “About time, Strange.”
Stephen raised an eyebrow at the Sorcerer Supreme. “And what, exactly, do you think I’m going to do?”
“Check on Miss Malone. I would tell you how she is but it’s better you find out for yourself.”
“I won’t even ask,” Stephen muttered before heading out the door. I know Wong can read me like a book but does he have to remind me every chance he gets?
The walk to the café took almost an hour but he was glad for the time – it gave him a chance to think about what, exactly, he wanted to say to her. Hi. Remember me? I was the jerk too proud to tip you several times. He groaned quietly. No, that’ll never work. I shouldn’t even try to make conversation, I’ll just order a coffee, drink it, and leave a big tip before I go.
When he reached the café, the first thing he noticed was that nearly all of the outdoor tables were occupied, and the second thing was that the name had changed to Saving The Day Café. Nice, he thought approvingly as he sat down at an unoccupied table.
“Right with you,” a familiar female voice said as she passed his table.
Stephen smiled to himself as he watched Beth deliver coffees and pastries to a nearby table. Her long hair was a darker shade of blonde and currently in a ponytail to keep it out of her face. The café’s waitress uniform had changed to a brown blouse, a black knee-length skirt, a white apron, and black flats. She must be filling in for one of the waitresses. When Beth turned to him, she smirked.
“Back again, huh?” she asked as she approached him, her eyes dancing. “You must really like our coffee – this is the, what, sixth time in twelve years?”
He could feel a blush coming on but he ignored it. “Yes, but in my defense, I was dead for five of them.”
For the first time since it happened, his role in the Blip wasn’t mentioned. Beth simply nodded. “So, sixth time in seven years, then.” She grinned. “We’ll really have to wow you if we expect you back before the decade’s over.”
Stephen chuckled. “I promise I’ll be a regular customer from now on.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said with a wink. “What can I get you?”
“A large mocha and a blueberry muffin?”
“Sure. It’ll be a few, we’re a little understaffed today.”
“That’s fine, I’m in no hurry.”
She moved on to another table and he couldn’t help watching her work. Beth had a good rapport with all of the customers, new and returning, and everyone was smiling when she went back inside the café. She came back out holding his coffee and muffin but without her apron ten minutes later. She set them down in front of him then sat down across from him, smiling a bit. “I’m on a break, we have fifteen minutes to catch up, so talk fast, Stephen.”
Stephen chuckled again. “I’m going to need more than fifteen minutes, I’m afraid. Will that be an issue?”
“Well, the owner’s usually pretty lenient, considering that she’s me, but we’re busy today, so we can finish catching up later, okay?”
“One, congratulations on ownership. Two, I will accept your raincheck. And three, I actually do have enough money for a tip today.”
“Thank you. I’m glad to see you’ve finally become an upstanding member of society,” Beth said, grinning with approval. She looked up at the window of the café and one of the waitresses was trying to get her attention. “I’d better see what fire needs to be put out now.” She turned back to him, smiling apologetically. “Sorry, Stephen. Enjoy your breakfast.”
“Will do.” He stood as she got up to leave then sat back down again when she entered the café. She hadn’t returned by the time he finished his muffin and coffee but another waitress dropped off his check.
“Beth’s swamped right now but she hopes you’ll come back soon.”
Stephen smiled. “I definitely will.” He left enough cash for the food and a generous tip, and one of his calling cards with the Sanctum’s phone number.
His mood on the walk home was decidedly lighter.