Writer’s Block Be Gone

It is still too early in the series to come up with a solid answer, as I don't even know how many chapters are left until the story comes to an end.

We're just rolling with the punches and having a good time!

That being said, I commented on one of my chapters and responded to a reader, letting them know that once the series gained some traction and interaction, I would post a poll and let the readers decide!

Also, purely for my own curiosity and entertainment purposes, who's your favorite daddy so far? Leave a comment and let me know!

With Peace, Love, and All Of The Above,

Sunny

Many emotions flowed through each other, more and more questions stacked up with each click of their heels on the cobblestone beneath their feet.

Despite the turn of events, the three of them took in their surroundings-- noting little details that passed them. All of them subconsciously scan the crowd of market-goers for a head of hair identical to the young lady leading the three of them. It was all gut-turningly nostalgic.

However nerve-inducing, Law noticed how Delilah ducked down an alleyway, away from the center of town, and up a dirt path. He took note of the fields of carnations that dotted the lush sea of green around the path. Tall grass bends in the wind, making the native flower dance with the breeze, and they trek up hill, and soon the Inn that he thought he would never see again came into view.

Not much had changed, from what he could remember at least. It looks up-kept and lively, with various staff members hustling around to take fresh linen sheets off of nearby clotheslines or guests popping in and out of the front door to start or finish their stay at your establishment.

Though he also noted that the four of them seemed to be taking the backway and he made quick work of the puzzle that she was setting up for the three of them.

      They strolled up to a small garden adorned with various fruit trees, veggies, and flower beds, and a wooden door that was decorated with paintings of carnations. He studies the set of handprints pressed to the bottom of the door frame, and he frowns lightly at the smaller pair pressed next to them in a matching shade of paint.

It was starting to weigh down on him that you not only potentially had his baby, but singlehandedly raised her on your own.

Without him.

While he was out in the Grand Line, fighting marines and teaming up with Monkey D. Luffy and Eustass Kidd to fight off the evils of the world, giving orders to his crew as the Surgeon of Death, Captain of the fearsome Heart Pirates, you were here-- on this island, tucked away from it all.

He swallows thickly, imagining you rocking a tiny Delilah in your arms as you gaze out at the sea. Were you wondering how he was doing? If he was even alive?

Would he call? Would he come back for you?

Would he help raise the life he created with you?

His focus is brought back to the present as he feels his weight settle into an old wooden chair, not knowing exactly when he had entered the kitchen of what appeared to be your home. He let his head fall slightly, fingers rubbing his teared eyes while also propping his skull up on the table. He had let his thoughts run away from him.

There were questions that had yet to be answered, and there was no sense in worrying about the past. He couldn't blame himself completely, he reasoned. He hadn't known of Delilah's existence until two weeks ago. You had never informed him.

And from the looks of the two other men that sat at the table, sickly pale, they all had come to the same conclusion.

      Sanji feels like his head is underwater as he sits at the very same spot where he felt his heart and soul be reshaped by the woman who is a spitting image of the girl who led him into the kitchen.

Well, he should say that she is the spitting image of you.

His eyes rake over the old stove, and he feels sick. Not a single detail out of place. The same could be said for the wine rack. It doesn't help that he can still taste the wine on your lips, the same brand sitting half empty on the wall, and he thinks back to his own stash that he has hidden in his personal cellar. He could never bring himself to open the untouched bottle, scared that he would run back to you and the new life that you had created without him if it were ever to grace his senses again.

Though he could have passed out at the various handcrafted art pieces that adorn your refrigerator. Between popsicle stick butterflies and hand-drawn stick figures doodled over colorful paper, what hits him the hardest is the detailed Mother's Day card that holds more love than he can fathom.

Just how much had he missed? It was obvious, of course. Twenty-one years.

Twenty-one years of milestones.

First steps, first words, first day of school, first loose tooth.

He thinks of all twenty-one birthdays and could vomit at the thought of the girl in front of him, though much smaller, with little hands clenched together tightly with eyes to match, sitting in front of a birthday cake decorated with nothing but love. Candles sit atop the sugary sweet pastry, wax dripping down onto brightly colored frosting and waiting to be blown out. She is wishing long and hard for her father to run through the door and scoop her up into his arms, apologizing for taking so long and promising to never leave again.

Or better yet, him being there from the beginning. Her giggles filling the small kitchen as he smears a stripe of icing across her nose, before blowing a raspberry to her cheek -- earning him a squeal and laughter from those all around her who came to celebrate her special day.

A hand clenches over his stomach, while the other forms a fist over his mouth. The world around him is spinning, and as he pulls his eyes away from your colorful fridge, he realizes why his former rivals sit at the same table as him.

      Zoro doesn't remember the walk through town, up the dirt path, or even through your kitchen. He can't exactly say that the two of you spilled your hearts out to one another. He didn't know anything about you, in all honesty. He slept with you one time, but you were the only woman he had ever slept with. He met you in the local bar, and he bought you a drink because you swore that you could outdrink him. He knew you were lying and just wanted an excuse to talk to him, yet he still took you up on the challenge.

You had drunkenly led him towards your Inn on the hill, whispering sweet nothing to him as the both of you laughed and kissed up the old stairs--

Ah.

The stairs.

It seems he does remember a little more than he originally thought, both pleased and unnerved at the mental discovery.

He remembers the way you tumbled up the stairs, squealing and laughing at your own drunken antics -- pulling a laugh from his own lips, and him scooping you up in his arms.

He remembers the way your hair tickled his tanned skin and how your arms hung around his shoulders loosely, completely trusting him not to drop you.

He remembers the way your thighs felt in his hands, plush and quick to fill the spaces between his fingers. He can hear you snort slightly as he jostles you slightly to adjust his grip, though you were practically weightless compared to the weights he lifted to train.

The sex was phenomenal. Though he had fooled around with other women before, he had never fully committed his body to them. Not only did he want to offset the focus of his ultimate goal, but he didn't have what it took to fully trust a stranger with his body that way.

You were different, though. Different in some way that he hasn't been able to figure out. Maybe it was the way that you trusted him with your own body, or how carefree you were. Maybe it was the way that you held him like he was the only thing grounding you to the planet, or the way that you didn't even blink at the thought of being his first time.

You treated him as if the two of you had done it a hundred times over, and as the two of you lay together, bare and tangled in the sheets of your bed, he found that he was beyond willing to do it a hundred times more with you.

And that's when he knew he needed to leave.

He couldn't afford any distractions. He had goals to reach and promises to fulfil. He had a duty to himself and his late friend to become the best swordsman there ever was, and that's exactly what he was going to do.

Though there were nights when he lay wide awake in his hammock, swaying with the sea as it rocked the ship to and fro. He would stare at the ceiling and imagine the feeling of your soft skin under his calloused hands. Listen for your sweet laugh in the howl of the wind outside of the small window next to the space that had been carved out for him in the bunk room.

It was never sexual to him, not really. There were urges, but nothing compared to the feeling of your fingers running through his green locks or tracing the curves of his muscles gently.

The two of you talked briefly, but mostly sat in silence as the two of you enjoyed each other's presence. It was enough for you, and it was enough for him.

He looked at the men who sat at your kitchen table and the young girl who closed the door behind her, the midday sun spilling through the sheer curtains of a nearby window.

He hadn't realized how badly he needed to lay eyes on your face until he saw it reflected back at him in your daughter.

His daughter.

His throat felt tight at the thought of having a child with you, and even tighter at the thought of missing so much of her life.

He bites his cheek hard as guilt fills the deepest part of his chest.

He never wanted kids, at least that's what he always believed.

Settling down with a woman wasn't something that Zoro was interested in during his youth, let alone having children-- but, if you ask him now? He would have a different answer, especially laying eyes on his own flesh and blood.

Hell, he would go as far as to think of an image of you lying bare in the sheets of your bed, a bed that the two of you share, stomach round and a gold band around your finger, as the two of you lie with one another and trace paths of adoration into divits of skin.

He thinks of the patter of feet, maybe even a set of feet, running down halls and laughing loudly without a care in the world. You would yell at them to not run down the old stairs, but there would be no venom behind your words. You would kiss better scrapes and bruises, as little feet would stumble slightly on the last step. strings of loving 'I told you so's falling from your lips as you wipe away crocodile tears.

Then, his head swims when he realizes that you have already lived that life. You had already raised your clumsy baby into the beautiful young woman that stood before him, adorning your smile and dimples with scary accuracy.

All without him.

He felt a part of his heart break at the thought of your bed being cold at night, lying pregnant and wondering if life could have been different -- just as he had here recently.

Before he could spiral at the thought of never feeling his baby kick from the warmth of your womb, his eyes swept over the two men that sat with him, and suddenly a small, but drastically important detail washed over all three of them.

Which of them did Delilah belong to?

And what would they do when they found out?

      Three heads snap to the sound of a chair scraping against tiled flooring, watching as Delilah sinks down to settle at the table with the three of them. Her brows furrow slightly, seeing as each of her potential father figures' faces is a sickly shade of green as they fight their own mental battles.

She felt a little guilty as the men shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

With a deep breath, she speaks -- hoping to alleviate at least some of the emotional storm brewing within their minds.

"So, I suppose you have questions?" She offers the three a nervous smile, hands wringing in her lap.

Law, the most collected out of the three -- though barely-- speaks first.

"Yes. Quite a few, if you don't mind." She gives him a solid nod, and he feels the tension in his shoulders ease just a little. Daughter or not, Delilah was just a young woman. A person, just as much a collection of cells and blood as he was. If he ignored the blaringly obvious situation at hand, he could get through this in one piece.

The same cannot be confidently said for his male companions.

"Of course. Ask away." He notes how the stress around her eyes eases slightly, and the air around the table lifts an inch or so. Baby steps.

"Right, so... you are twenty-one? When is your birthday?"

As she provides the date of her birth, the greenette and blonde on either side of him seem to straighten up -- cogs in their minds turning just as his were.

Each of them was trying to do the mental math of when they had been with you up until Delilah had been born.

"That's roughly nine months after I had... visited her." Zoro was the first to speak up, bringing tension back to the air around the four of them.

Though it was short-lived, once Sanji groaned. He had never wanted a cigarette more than in this exact moment.

"That's impossible." Zoro scoffed, folding his arms over his chest as he sank into your old wooden chair. "Why is that, cook?"

"Because that's the same conclusion I came to, moss head -- and from the looks of it, we are all facing the same issue. We visited her during the same Spring season, meaning that it could be any of us."

Delilah's eyes study the kitchen she's known all her life, pretending that the three men talking like she isn't there does not make her uncomfortable.

Law's lips press into a thin line, releasing a dejected sigh as he takes in her anxious expression. "Sanji's right, but we can work out the details later. We're here now, and that's all that matters. I'm sure we can get those kinds of answers out of (Y/n)."

The other men around him flush at hearing your name fall from his mouth with ease. Law knew that he held a matching expression as heat bubbles from the apples of his cheeks. It had been the first time in twenty years since your name had tumbled out from his throat, though the last time that happened, the circumstances had been rather... different.

"Speaking of, where is your mother? Last I remember, she owned this place. Does she still run it?" Sanji looks towards Delilah with a hopeful expression, hoping that she will give him the green light to track you down and give you all the love and affection that he's been holding for you for the past two decades.

She flushes deeply, unable to meet their eyes as she all but vanishes under the table.

"Um, about that..."

The three sit up straight, assuming the worst. Law's inked fingers twitch in anticipation, ready to receive whatever information she was withholding from the three of them.

"She doesn't... know you're here. I'm the one who sent the letters to you, not her." The three men share a look, suddenly making the connections to the sneaky entry.

"She doesn't know?? You didn't tell her?!" Sanji is baffled, gripping his long, blonde hair with a stress he hadn't felt in years. Zoro rubs his eyes, and Law simply sits back and assesses the situation.

Delilah stands up so suddenly that her chair tips back and clatters to the tiled floor with a loud crash, hands pressed to the dining table with enough force to rattle the surface.

"I'm sorry, okay?! Look, you don't know me, and I don't know you, but I have wanted to all my life! One of the three of you is my father, and that is simply the truth! Can you blame me for wanting to know any of you?!"

The three of them jump slightly before feeling the guilt settle in their stomachs.

Tears brim in her pretty eyes as her peachy lip trembles slightly. The sight is heartbreaking. It seems like the stress of the situation has reached its boiling point.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout, but you also have to see this from my perspective. I didn't know that there were three of you until two weeks ago." She takes a deep, grounding breath as she picks up her chair and returns to her seat at the table.

Zoro sighs, his good eye looks at your daughter.

"Where did you know where to look? How did you find us?"

She nods in appreciation, grateful that her little outburst is quickly forgotten, to return to the task at hand. The men had risked their lives more times than they could count. They can handle a little drama. Maybe...

"She collected bounty posters when I was young. She would never tell me who they were, or why she wanted them, but she kept them for a long time. I was very small, maybe four or five? It's a miracle that I could recall them at all, to be honest with you." The three nod in understanding, trying not to focus on the gut-twisting thought of your only momentum of them being a wanted notice from the world government. Criminals with a target on their backs.

"It wasn't until I was much older that she told me that my father was a pirate and that he was off elsewhere in the Grand Line. I questioned why he wasn't here with us, or if he even cared about us. I cried a lot at the thought of neither one of us being wanted when I was a little girl -- but she always smiled and let me know that he cared and that he only wanted to keep us safe and away from any danger that would follow him. A part of me always knew that she was lying, but it was something to cling to. I never knew if my father was still alive over the years." She took another deep breath, studying the very spot where she sat with you this morning for breakfast. She was scared that if she looked at either one of them, she would break down into the little girl she was long ago. All missing teeth and tangled hair, wishing on a shooting star that her father would come home to her and her Mom.

"It wasn't until I decided that he had missed enough milestones in my life, and that's when I found your bounty posters. With a little help from my best friends, we came up with a plan to bring you here for my wedding and..." She hesitates, face flushing a cherry red as she picks at her nails. "...maybe she if the two of you could start where you left off? I don't know how much you know about her, but she's wonderful. She's hard-working and kind. She's hilarious and silly, and she knows exactly what to say no matter the situation. She's... my everything. If I'm half the woman that my mother is, then I know that I will be able to face anything the world throws at me."

Her eyes widen slightly in a panic, blush darkening at the awe-struck faces of her potential fathers.

"W-well!- That is, if that's something you would want?"

Before she could even properly explain herself, the three men cut her off simultaneously with a newfound determination in their eyes.

"More than anything."

Oooooh, things are heating up~! The feels are coming through at an all-time high, folks!

Thank y'all for the support! It means the world to me~!

Go, Go Power Rangers,

You watched as she hummed to herself lightly, hips swaying as she poured herself a glass of orange juice. You listened to the light chatter of her girlfriends upstairs in one of the spare bed rooms of the inn, each of them getting ready for the day ahead of them. The girls decided that instead of taking a bachelorette trip to celebrate your daughter's marriage, the three opted to staying here with you at the inn to commemorate her last days of girlhood with those who have been at her side since day one -- which you had no problem with, since you were no stranger to housing all of the girls at once since they were old enough to stand.

Your daughter bops over to your little dining table that sits in the middle of your kitchen, the summer breeze coming through the open door that leads to your garden flowing through her hair without a care. She flattens out her cotton skirt before plopping down in the wooden chair across from you. Anyone else wouldn't have been the wiser of her behavior, simply seeing a beautiful, young lady happily spreading butter and your homemade fig jam over a piece of toast.

However, you were not 'anyone else', you were the woman that brought her into this world and you know her like the back of your hand. The dead give away is that since she danced down the stairs of the private quarters of your little establishment, greeting you and placing a peck on your cheek as you scrambled her eggs, she has yet to meet your eyes.

"Delilah Marie. What are you hiding from me?" You give her a pointed look over the rim of your coffee cup, eyes narrowed and brows furrowed in accusation.

She paused briefly, an image of the three bounty posters she found stuffed underneath her mattress flashing in her mind as she searched for a quick excuse to feed you.

"Mom, what do you mean? I haven't been hiding anything from you." She could feel the heat in her face give her away, eyes finding great focus in the tall grass that sways with the wind outside of the back door. She had always been a terrible liar, not that she had reasons to lie to you. The two of you are very close and she felt that she could confide in you, no matter the topic.

Whether it be boys, friendships, school troubles, or anything else under the sun, your daughter knew that she could spill all the contents of her heart to you without as much as a judgmental stare. That being said, on the small occurrence she did lie to you, you could catch it from a mile away. It had always been something small, like lying about what she had gotten for you for Mother's Day after haphazardly hiding it in her closet for you to find whilst putting away her laundry.

Though, something tells you that this matter isn't as small as poor hiding places for gifts.

"Don't give me that. I crafted you whole heartedly with my own body. I know when you are hiding something and young lady, you are hiding something--" your eyes narrow at her, fingernail tapping the ceramic of your mug softly with slight impatience at her games. "And poorly, might I add."

You can see the panic in your daughter's eyes as she meets yours for the first time this morning, quickly looking over your shoulder as she struggles to think of something to tell you.

Delilah's eyes focus on the paper calendar that hangs on the wall behind you, staring at the small star next to today's date that you had yet to notice. Two exact weeks since she sent the letters to her maybe-fathers, asking them to meet the both of you at the dock of the island for her wedding, which was also in two weeks.

She had a lot to be nervous about and she would be lying (again) if she said that she had thought this far ahead in her plan.

"Oh, come on (Y/n). You're going to make the poor girl melt under that heated gaze of yours." Amy slides down the old banister of the stair case, tumbling slightly when her sandals hit the tiles of your kitchen floor. Julie is not far behind her, opting to come down the stairs like a normal lady -- offering a polite smile and a wave to you. You don't return it as you point to the duo.

"What do you know? I know that you two are just as involved. Lord knows that nothing goes unshared between the three of you. Someone will spill their guts or all three of you will sleep outside with the seagulls."

Amy playfully rolls her eyes, before sending a sly wink to her nervous friend -- the action flying under your radar.

"You bought you a nice dress while we were in the market yesterday. D wanted to surprise you with it as your 'mother of the bride' dress. As we all know, Delilah couldn't hold water if you gave her a bucket." The girl sits next to you at the round table, stealing a slice of fresh fruit from Delilah's plate. Julie settles in on your other side after making herself a plate of eggs and bacon.

"Sorry Ms. (Y/n), Delilah wanted to tell you, but we convinced her to keep it a secret. We didn't mean any harm." She gives you another kind smile, and you return it this time.

"Well, that was very thoughtful of you, girls. I suppose I can let it slide this time. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to scare you so bad."

You stand and stretch your hands up towards the ceiling, cringing as your back pops. You sigh a tired sigh and turn to gather your empty plate and mug up to take it towards the sink. "Well, duty calls. I'm sure you three have a busy day ahead of you, so don't let me keep you waiting. Eat all you want, you both know by now that this place is yours just as much as it is mine or Delilah's. If you need me, I'll be at the front counter."

After discarding your dishes, you give each girl a kiss on the top of the head before heading towards the front of the Inn to open up for the day.

"Oh, and Mom?" Your daughter calls out to you before you could leave. "Be sure to be ready by lunch. We're taking you out to eat, as a thank you for all you've done for the wedding preparations so far." Your daughter smiles at you, and for a moment you no longer see three 21 year old's, but three little girls sitting around your kitchen table -- all dressed up for their tea parties, feet kicking under the table and knees decorated with colorful bandages from playing a little too hard.

"And where the new dress, too! We want you lookin' hot! You never know who might be on the island, after all." Amy chuckles as she eats the leftover eggs straight from the pan and the girls laugh at her brash commentary. The sight warms your heart.

"Alright, alright. I'll be sure to be ready by then. That's very kind of you. Though, I've long since sworn off love. I'm no longer on the market for any new lovers."

"Oh, I wouldn't swear it off just yet." Julie grins as she takes a bite of her toast and Delilah quietly adds, 'May not be so new,' which earns her a swift kick from Julie under the table. You don't quite catch it as you turn to make your leave.

"I'll see you three later. Behave!"

      The three let out a breath of relief after your body disappears behind the swinging door of your kitchen and into the hall to the Inn.

Amy scoffs lightly as she shovels the last of her eggs into her mouth, speaking with her cheeks full. "Way to be subtle, D. Almost blew our cover." Delilah huffs, folding her arms over her chest in a light pout.

"I was having fun! Plus, she was in too good of a mood to notice anyway. By the way, thanks for saving me earlier. She would have killed me had she known I contacted Law, Sanji and Zoro. It still feels weird to say their names out loud." The two friends shared a quick look before looking back at their 'bride-to-be'.

"Well, better get used to it cause they'll be here in a few hours. Want to run over the plan again? Amy suggests, even though they repeated the plan quietly among themselves last night over a dozen times.

"Yeah, let's make sure we've got it down to a T." Delilah sighs, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach as she retraces the plan they had concocted less than twelve hours ago. "Right, so you two are going to take Mom out for lunch, telling her that I wasn't feeling good but letting her know I said to go ahead without me." Julie nods, processing the information for the umpth time, recalling the next step. "From there, we take her to the deli where Mrs. Marsh will want to stop and talk to her for at least twenty minutes."

Amy picks up where she left off quickly, "I will then quietly tip Jose to get her order wrong three times, knowing that she's too nice to leave but will start an argument with him and remind him that he still owes her for letting him stay at the Inn for 3 weeks when his ex wife kicked him out for selling her favorite chicken to the butcher 5 years ago."

The three share a knowing smile, always finding the dead horse that you insist on beating hilarious.

"Exactly. That leaves forty-five minutes to collect the daddies and get them settled into the Inn without her knowing." Delilah smiles to herself, proud at the plan that the three of them have cooked up.

Though, there was still a blaring fault in their plan.

"Um, D? How are you going to tell your mom that three of the men that could potentially be your father are staying in her Inn? Won't that, like, kill her?"

Your daughter's cheeks flush slightly in embarrassment, finding the lacey pattern of your placemats very interesting.

"Well... I'll cross that bridge when we get there..." The other two groan, dramatically throwing their heads back. "Come on, D. She's going to find out one way or another--" "And she's going to kill me regardless. Look, I'll think of something before they get here. In the meantime, help me with the dishes."

"Aye-aye, Captain!"

"Don't do that!"

      The time had finally come, and when you came down the stairs two out of the three girls greeted you and cheered loudly.

"(Y/n!) You look smokin'! Are you sure you aren't looking for a man? Cause they are certainly going to be looking for you!"

Amy and Julie hold onto each other clumsily, jumping slightly at the sight of you. You had dressed up quite nicely for the little outing the girls had planned for you. You fixed your hair in a wavy up-do, with random strands escaping the hold of the clip keeping the style up. Your face adorned light makeup that complimented your skin tone and brought attention to your eyes. From your ears hangs a series of gold hoops, all getting smaller in size as they go -- a matching chain hanging around your neck. Your wrists are adorned with gold bangles to pull the look of the jewelry all together.

The girls had picked out a flowy dress in one of your favorite colors that tied around your neck, leaving your back bare. The neckline plunged slightly, revealing a little more than what you were used to -- though you figured it was alright to step out of your comfort zone just this once. The look is finished off with a nude pair of kitten heels, the straps buckling around your ankles. You looked stunning, even if the attire is very simple and casual for something like a lunch date with your daughter and her friends.

Speaking of--

"Where is Delilah? She is supposed to go with us, isn't she?" You notice the absence of your daughter quickly, though Amy is quick to catch you at the end of the stairs to loop her arms through yours. "She said she wasn't feeling her best, but said that she still wanted us to go."

Your brows furrow in worry at the thought of your only child potentially feeling ill, attempting to pull your arm from Amy -- only to have Julie swoop in to loop her arm through your unoccupied one. "Are you sure? Is she alright? She isn't running a fever, is she?"

You turn your head towards the top of the stairs where her room sits across from yours, wanting to see you 'ill' daughter.

"She's fine," said that after a quick nap she'll be right as rain. We'll grab her something from the deli to make up for her missing out."

The two girls are practically pulling you out the door to the Inn and onto the cobble steps that lead down the path towards the center of town. You sigh, knowing when you were losing a battle. Besides, knowing your daughter you knew that she would be upset if you got dressed up, only to stay home to worry over her.

"Alright, if you say so. Lead the way."

The girls made small talk with you as you walked, asking about your skin care routine and what products you like to use. "No, seriously (Y/n). You don't look a day over thirty. Share your secrets." Julie smiles up at you with glossy lips. "I know, right? It's hardly fair. If we look half as good as you do at your age, then we'd be beating the men away with brooms."

You laugh at their banter, shaking your head. "You girls act like I'm eighty years old. I'm only forty three. I'm still young." You giggle with them, giving them tips and tricks that you learned over the years to keep yourself healthy and thriving. Though, you don't mention how you have to pluck a grey hair every now and then. The three of you laugh, joke, and tease all the way into town until you reach the deli. Mrs. Marsh is quick to grab your attention, striking up a conversation as the girls slip inside the small restaurant to order.

Little did you know, they were simply putting the plan into motion as they slipped Jose 1,800 berri and suddenly the ball started rolling.

      As soon as his boots hit the dock, Sanji takes a deep breath, full of nostalgia and giddy to meet his little girl for the first time. He takes in the view in front of him, noting the little things that have changed since his last visit to your homeland. As he takes in the details around him, he scratches his goatee as he realizes that there isn't much he can remember about the island other than the layout of your kitchen, how beautiful you were, and how good you are with your--

"Cook-ya?" Sanji's thoughts are cut short as a familiar voice calls out to him. His face lights up as his eyes land on the retired pirate before him, duffle bag slung over his shoulder.

"Law? Hey, how are you? Long time now see!" He smiles brightly, dropping his own bags to run up and clap his hand into Law's own inked hand in a shake -- going as far as to pull him into one of those 'bro' hugs briefly.

"I'm doing well. It's good to see another familiar face after all these years." Law smirks slightly as he takes in the younger man's face and long, blonde hair that is tied up and out of his face. "You're getting old."

"Wha-! Says you! You look like you're on death's door step! Seriously, did you actually retire or have you still been fighting for your life for the past ten years?" They share a laugh, poking fun at one another until Law spots a head of green hair out in the distance.

"Well, I'll be damned. You set up some kind of reunion and didn't tell me?" Sanji gives him a confused look, before following Law's tattooed finger through the small crowd of people at the docks. "No shit. What a coincidence." The two make their way towards the swordsman, the blonde waving at the other with a cocky smile.

"Hey, mosshead! You still haven't gotten a sense of direction after all these years?" Zoro's head pops up and in the direction of the voice, returning Sanji's smirk.

"Well, well. I don't think I ordered any shitty food, but it seems like the shitty cook will show up regardless."

The three of the men share greetings similar to Sanji and Law's, catching up slightly before the question that has been hanging in the air is asked by none other than the surgeon of death himself.

"As much as I want to believe that this is all coincidental, I don't think that's the case. What are you two doing here?"

Zoro straightens up, holding habits kicking in to hold onto any personal information. His good eye narrows slightly. "I could ask you the same thing. You too, swirly brow. What are you here?"

Sanji scuffs, rolling his eyes at his ex-crewmate’s antics. "For your information, I'm here for a wedding."

The statement grabs the attention of the other men, looks of confusion crossing their features.

"What? Really?" Law is the first to speak, stepping forward slightly. "So am I." Zoro is quick to follow, answering once he realizes that the other two former pirates are on the island for reasons strikingly similar to his own. "Same as I."

The three stiffen, gears turning in their minds as they race towards a conclusion. Someone had set them up, tricking them to come to a small and secluded island to do god-knows-what to them.

The three are not unarmed, thankfully, so any trouble that was sure to follow could be dealt with. Though, Zoro was the only one that was not so rusty with his fighting style these days after a decade of retirement.

"This could be a trap. Are there any new pirate groups and bounty hunters that could be after us? Were either of you followed?" Zoro asked quietly, subtly checking their surroundings for any danger. "No, not to my knowledge. Our bounties were dissolved at the end of the era, so there wouldn't be a reward for our lives if a bounty hunter were to turn us into the marines." Sanji is quick to try and find reason, though he is still on edge, stuffing his hands into his pockets out of old habit.

"Then who's wedding are you two here for?" Law asks them, but before they can answer a voice answers for them.

"That would be mine."

Heads snap towards the source and the three men could have passed out at the sight.

A face that they hadn't laid eyes on in twenty-one years stares back at them with a sweet smile. Hair blowing in the sea breeze, along with the long skirt of her dress making her look like a dream.

"(Y/n)?" The three men speak in unison breathlessly, causing a giggle to come from the young woman's mouth.

That's right, it had been over twenty years since they last saw her. There was no way that this was the same woman they had been with all those years ago.

Unless--

"No, sorry. I'm afraid that I'm not (Y/n)."

Three sets of eyes grow wide as they connect the dots as young woman before them spoke aloud the very reason they were on the island in the first place.

"She's my mom."

I'm shaking in my chair right now, pookies I'm SOOO excited! They are finally here!! Let the fun begin!

Fun fact, I had to find a Reddit post that converted Berri to USD. So, the amount that Julie and Amy give to Jose is roughly $20 USD, haha.

Peace out brussel sprouts! ,

Zoro had vanished to Dracule Mihawk's castle, living his days with nothing but booze and his swords to keep him busy, along with sparring with Mihawk, whenever the warlock had the strength. He had long since reached his goal as the best swordsman, declared by Mihawk right before Luffy reached his goal. Zoro had never felt more fulfilled in his life, glad that he had kept his promise to his childhood friend to be the very best there ever was, though there were times in the past twenty years that Zoro's mind wanders back to his youth and all that he's experienced in his time as Luffy's first mate and swordsman.

He never settled with a woman at his side, having put up with Nami and her nonsense would put a man off of romance for a lifetime. However, there was a time when Zoro found himself in the arms of a woman he had met long ago. She was like a dream, something he thought impossible to obtain. He had her for one night and one night only on a whim. His face morphs into a look of discomfort at the term 'one-night stand', but that's what it was -- at least, in the technicality of the term anyway. He only knew her first name, never getting into the nitty gritty details as the night whisked them away into romance and pleasure.

Zoro wasn't the romantic type, always putting his goals first. However, flashes of your beautiful face grace his mind every now and then and he wonders if it would have been so terrible to have brought you alone with him on his journey. He didn't know much about you, but he knew that you could take care of yourself & what you didn't know he would have happily taught you.

Zoro was getting old, and without the warmth of his friends beside him, a mission, or foes to fight, he can't help but wonder where the beauty he met all those years ago is at and if she is thinking of him, too.

He runs a hand down his face, laying shirtless in a bed that is much too large for him, with a groan. The castle has been a bit chillier than usual, regardless of the warm summer sun spilling through the curtains of his room. After staring at the stone ceiling above him for an unreasonable amount of time as he recalled the glimpses of soft moans, sweet touches, and meaningless conversation that plagued his dreams more often than not these days.

His brooding is cut short when a swift knock sounds out from his bedroom door, and a grey Mihawk steps into the room.

"You have a letter, and you may want to read it with caution." Zoro's brows furrow in confusion, unable to recall the last time he received a letter, let alone a letter one that was serious. "You read my mail?" He grumbled, raising his arms above his head and trying to ignore the way his bones popped and creaked in displeasure.

"No, Perona did. She simply filled me in on its contents." Mihawk still held his edge, even in old age. He hobbled over to the bed, sitting at the foot end before handing Zoro the letter.

The baby blue envelope had a gold wax seal of a flower he was unfamiliar with -- though he swore he had seen it somewhere before. The thought is fleeting when he scowls at the broken seal, studying the way his full name is looped neatly in ink.

"Well, who is it from? One of the Straw Hats or some ruffian that wants a rematch?"

"Close, it's from your daughter."

      Sanji found himself owning the largest restaurant in the Grand Line. Well, the All Blue. After Luffy became the Pirate King, he made it his mission to help those around him reach their goals, had they not already. That included helping the crew's cook find the All Blue and start his own restaurant in memory of his mother and his mentor. All Luffy asked for in return was 24/7 access to the restaurant, free of charge. That was a no brainer for Sanji, as he had already planned to grant his friends and crew mates total access to his goal once he had reached it.

After finding the All Blue, Sanji got to work creating all of the perfect dishes to serve to the residents of the Grand Line with nothing but the best ingredients that the world had to offer.

So, here he stands in his master kitchen after hours of his treasured restaurant, crafting a meal he had not thought about in years. It was a very simple pasta, made with tomatoes, feta cheese and olive oil. With various spices and minimal effort, it was the perfect comfort dish that became a guilty pleasure over the years.

He remembers it like it was yesterday, your face smiling at him from across your humble kitchen at the back of your inn. The only woman in the world to give him the time of day, was cooking for him.

The Thousand Sunny had docked at your island for only a day. His crew had been ambushed by Marines that were scouting the island and he had run through the market in an attempt to evade the soldiers, only to feel a soft hand wrap around his wrist and pull him down an alleyway. "Quick, this way!"

One thing led to another, and he ended up at your home. He gushed over you and your beauty, and you simply smiled and thanked him. It was a humble response, and that made you all the more endearing. Soon, the two of you found yourselves enjoying some light-hearted banter and then a deep conversation. He told you that he was a cook and a pirate, and that he had a dream of finding the All Blue -- to which you agreed that it was a wonderful dream, and you wished him all of the luck in the world that he would find it.

He had offered to cook for the both of you, but you insisted that as an inn keeper you could not have your guest slaving over a hot stove for you, so you opted for a quick and easy meal that would fill the both of you while also being one of the best homemade dishes you have ever crafted. You both ate, talked, and danced -- thanks to a few too many glasses of wine. With a few more glasses one thing leads to another and the two of you fall into the grasps of passion, sharing your bodies in soft moans and light kisses to skin.

Still, after all these years he thinks back to those moments with you. He wonders how you are, or what you are doing. If you are married now, or if you felt the same as him -- never quite finding someone who matched the spark the two of you shared.

Your recipe was one that he always made himself when he was down or missed your touch, never sharing it with his crew and selfishly holding onto it for himself. Until now.

Once his restaurant was up and running, he had added it under a special offer portion of the menu -- hoping that once he had become popular in the All Blue that you would catch wind and come and see his dream come to life. He smiled lightly at the flavor of your dish, gazing down at 'For (Y/n)' etched in his handwriting on one of the menus before him.

His swirly brow furrows slightly at a stack of envelopes that sit on his desk in his office, now full and turning in for the night. No doubt the work of the new mail boy he has hired. He shuffles through the mail, taking note and grumbling at the water bill that is stuck in the mix. How he has a water bill when surrounded by water is beyond him. His eyes fall on a baby blue envelope with his name swirled with careful prints of ink, eyes widening slightly at the gold wax seal of a carnation.

'My heart aches for you.' He remembers asking you about the fields of wild flowers that were scattered around the island that you inhabited and you told him what it meant. The flower of your island.

With shaky hands, he opens the letter carefully to read the ink on the paper. He takes a few steps back, stumbling towards his office chair to sink into the seat with weak knees. He felt his stomach flip in excitement and dread as he rereads the letter over and over again.

"I... have a daughter..."

      Law was not thrilled when word reached him that Luffy found the One Piece, though he had to admit that no one else deserved it more than the younger pirate. Not long after, Law dismissed his band of Heart Pirates and most of his crew wished him good luck with his goals, and he wished them the same. He had given the crew a choice to leave or stay on the Polar Tang, no longer as their captain but as mutual friends. To his surprise, everyone decided to go off and find their own goals and purpose in the world away from the pirate lifestyle.

Well, all but Bepo.

Still, Law travels with his yellow submarine and his polar bear friend around the Grand Line as a traveling doctor, helping those who needed his medical knowledge while continuing his search for the meaning and history behind the 'Will of D'.

Currently, Law finds himself gathering supplies and any unknown medicinal knowledge, always finding something new to learn every day, in the busy market of Drum Island. He nods to the various doctors that surround him in acknowledgment, all returned with equal respect or even a smile and a wave.

Drum Island had certainly grown since Luffy defeated that fool King Wapol early in his pirate career, now known as the number one island in the Grand Line for doctors of all types and all medicinal needs. There wasn't an infection, disease, or illness that could best the doctors of Drum Island.

He is spending a few days with Dr. Kureha, swapping research and catching up. Over the years, he had heard of the 'witch' of Drum Island -- especially after conversing with the doctor of the Straw Hats on several occasions. Chopper had confided in Law a few times, speaking of the doctor that raised the reindeer and how Dr. Kureha took him in after Dr. Hiriluk passed during Wopal's reign over the kingdom, teaching him everything he knew and helped shape him into the fabulous doctor he is to this day. For the past ten years, Law has since become acquainted with the woman, seeing in person the amazing doctor she truly is. Though, he figures anyone who can live to 161 years of age must have complete and total knowledge of the human body.

"Well, if it isn't the fearsome captain of the Heart Pirates and his lovely dog. Come to pester me some more?" The elder woman throws open the heavy door to her castle that sat at the top of the snowy mountain.

"It's good to see you too, Kureha. I hope that you've been well?" Law has long since seen past her tough exterior, knowing to ignore her brutish words as he steps into the warmth of her home.

"I didn't say you could come in, you brat! And tell your dog to wipe his feet!" She huffs at Law's back, rolling her eyes as Law is quick to make himself at home as he shrugs off his thick winter coat to hang it by the door.

"Don't give me that crap. We know you love our unexpected visits." Bepo closes the door behind him and his friend, giving the woman a polite nod as the warmth of the fireplace settles in his fur.

"That's not true! I simply tolerate your presence. Since you stopped all that pirate nonsense and became a doctor full time, you've gotten a fat head." Law watches as she reaches up to pet behind Bepo's ear, who is leaning down to her height as much as he can, with a disbelieving expression. "Of course, my apologies. We'll be sure to give you a call on the transponder sail a few days before we dock next time."

She ends her affections with a soft pat on the bear's cheek, pleased with her efforts as his round tail bobs around outside of his boiler suit, no longer adorned with the jolly roger of the Heart Pirates.

"That's more like it. You have no respect for your elders, you know that? Like the unruly son of mine. I almost regret accepting that blasted snail you got me. He calls me on it all the time! As if a woman of my stature has time to sit idly and waste time on simple matters like chit-chat! He's the private doctor to the 'King of the Pirates'! You would think he would stay busy with a title like that." Law listens with a small smile as he watches the witch hobble around her large castle, seeing past her facade -- knowing that she loves how often Chopper calls her to keep her updated on his day-to-day life.

His eyes darted over to her transponder snail that he had gifted her a year ago, almost snorting at the poor sight in front of him. The snail was adorned with all kinds of warm blankets and scarves and is much fatter than the last time he saw it, a bowl of fruits and veggies sitting off to the side for it to snack on whenever it pleases. It was truly in paradise, the happiest snail he had ever seen. No wonder, on the rare occasion that he did call, she had such a good tone over the call.

"How is Chopper doing? The last time I saw him, he was near Thriller Bark. We did not have much time to catch up, but it was nice to lay eyes on him again since the end of the Great Pirate Era." Dr. Kureha shuffles back over to him, passing him a hot cup of tea and ushering him over to the fireplace to have a seat on her worn furniture. She offers Bepo a flakey pastry of some kind, knowing that Law still had a distaste for all things bready and sweet.

"Bah, he's fine. Making sure that rubber boy doesn't accidentally kill himself now that he doesn't have a crew to look after him. It still baffles me that the little boy that saved this island from that buffoon Wapol all those years ago actually found the One Piece. Though, I can't say that I'm shocked. I don't think he would have ever given up on finding it. Kid's always had the gumption and drive it takes to find your place in this world, and boy did he do it."

Law relaxes into the plush armchair, the wood creaking in protest as his weight settles. He groans slightly, feeling his back ache slightly from his journey up the mountain. As much as he hates to admit it, he was slowly facing the reality that he is no longer as young as he used to be. Time was catching up to him.

"Well, enough about kings and pirates. How are you doing, dear?" Law found that Kureha was always brash until she settled in with a hot cup of tea next to a warm fire, allowing all of hardships she's faced over the years melt away until she was nothing more than the sweet old lady she is.

"I'm well. Certainly better than those who need my medical attention." He crosses his ankle over his knee as he sips his tea, the light crunching of Bepo enjoying his treat filling in the quiet spaces between the two doctors. "Is that so? I noticed a few new wrinkles have shown up. You aren't staying up till all hours of the night researching again, are you?" She gives him a pointed look, eyes scanning Law's face -- causing him to raise a hand to scratch at his greying facial hair. "I'm afraid old habits die hard. I've gotten better about it since my younger years, but I can't say that I've remedied the habit completely."

She hums slightly behind her cup before addressing the bear that has settled next to her. "Bepo, dear. Would you be so kind as to run down to the kitchen and see what the cooks are prepping for dinner? I've got a craving for a nice, hearty soup and I would like to put in a request."

"Yes, ma'am." She smiles at the bear's polite response, patting his furry arm and watches as he disappears down the hall, leaving herself and Law to speak.

"So, down to business." Law sits up a little straighter at the slight change of tone in her voice, attentive at what the elder had to say. He would be lying if he said he wasn't a little nervous at the sudden change in the air around them.

"I am no therapist, but I have seen a thing or two in my day so I think I can confidently say that I believe you are having some... emotional turmoil, no?" Law's eyes grew wide at her pointed accusation, but he had learned years ago that arguing with the woman is beyond pointless -- especially when she had a diagnosis cooked up. "I... suppose. What gave it away?" Law coughed into his fist, finding the fire that crackled to his left very interesting as he watched the flames dance and twirl from the fireplace.

"Oh, nothing! I'm just old! You learn to pick on certain things after 161 years on this planet, son. Now, who is she? I thought you were too old for love at this point. Though, I suppose you're practically a new born still compared to me." She shuffles down into her chair, pleased with Law's scowl and the way that the tips of his ears have turned a lovely shade of pink to contrast his dark hair that peaked from underneath his hat. She hadn't misdiagnosed a patient yet, and she wasn't starting today.

"She's... someone I met... long ago."

"How long ago?"

"Over twenty years, I believe."

Dr. Kureha hums in understanding, nodding along as she processes his words. Law's eyes still have not left the fire that warms the two of them.

"Right, that's quite a stretch of time. Most of your pirate career, might I add. How long were you with her?" Law cringes slightly and the old woman's brows raise, a cackle slipping from her wrinkled lips. Seems nothing gets past her.

"Oh, really now? The great Trafalgar Water D. Law is in love with a one night stand?" The shade of pink of his ears has now deepened to a crimson red and has spilled to the apples of his cheeks. He wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Never in a million years did he ever think that he would be discussing his love life, if you could even call it that, to the best doctor in the world.

"Don't call it that! And I'm not in love with her! I just... in light of the past ten years, life has slowed down -- and in that slowness, I can't help but wonder if things could have been different. That's all."

She settles once more, a small smile present on her face as the wheels in her mind turn. "Ah, so you are lonely."

"I wouldn't say that. Of all the women that I've seen in my lifetime, I can't say that I have longed for something as domestic as a wife or a family. Everything I could ever want I found in the Polar Tang. My crew was, is still my family -- but... I can't... I'm not sure how to put it into words." His brows furrow, setting down his tea cup to fold his hands in front of his lips in an attempt to gather his thoughts. In Kureha's eyes, the former pirate in front of her resembled a confused teenager.

"So, you are longing for her. Yearning for her, it seems." She watches as Law silently agrees with her, eyes drooping slightly as he continues to watch the fire crackle with life.

"Well then, seems like you'll need this then. I know nothing about this woman but it looks like she knows something about you." She reaches over from her spot to a stack of Law presumed to be kingdom documents, a baby blue envelope tucked between her wrinkled fingers.

Confused, he faced her for the first time since the start of their conversation about his feelings, receiving the envelope from her.

He scowls slightly, noticing that the seal had been broken and he raises a brow at her. She shrugs, raising her hands in defense with an unapologetic smile.

"What? A handwritten letter addressed to one of the most well known pirates of the Worst Generation shows up at my door and you expect me not to read it? I'm old, you know! I deserve some form of entertainment, and boy was I entertained. That being said, you need to stop showing up so much if I'm going to continue to receive your mail."

Law ignores her light teasing as he nimbly retrieves the paper from its blue prison to read it's contents, though he almost passed out in his chair once the words processed in his mind.

Dr. Kureha stands and uses a nearby book to fan the poor man, who is incoherently mumbling to himself as he processes the shell-shocking information that he has just received.

"So, 'daddy'. You gunna walk your 'little girl' down the isle, or continue to hide here and play doctor with this old woman?"

Oh, here we go! Letters have been sent and received! It's go time, baby!~ So excited to get this little mini series kick off!

Letting Them Linger,

Still, even after all these years you thought that maybe her father's genes would show through. Although, you didn't quite know what features to look for as she grew. From holding her face in your hands to study her eyebrows for a certain curly pattern to inspecting her strands of hair for any specks of green that may sprout from the top of her head, you tried to search your mind for various features that might manifest in your daughter, but all you see is your own face staring back at you. You hadn't thought of your younger years for a very long time, not since you stopped collecting wanted posters and wishing for even a letter asking how you were doing. Though, you can't say that you can blame the man... or men... that you slept with all those years ago for not reaching out. You could never muster up the courage to make that call on the transponder snail to inform the pirate that he was the father to your baby. Though, that posed another issue, as well. You weren't sure out of the three who exactly was the father...

It had been twenty years since Monkey D. Luffy found the One Piece and put an end to the Great Pirate Era. In your opinion, there wasn't a better pirate fit for the title. You stopped keeping up with pirate news a long time ago, though news as big as that is hard to miss -- even on your little slice of paradise in the Grand Line. Even still, there was bigger and better news, in your opinion at least, that was going on in your world.

Your beloved baby girl was getting married. You couldn't have picked a better man for her than her fiancé. Though, you couldn't help but imagine if the love they share was something you could have in a different life time, where she could have grown up with her father in her life. Still, the two of you managed just fine without a man to have and hold you both and now that she has a man that will split the seas for her, you will still manage without a warm body next to you in bed at night. You only ever saw yourself in her and you couldn't be more proud of your daughter and the young woman that she has grown into.

      Delilah is practically floating around the island as the two of you run around collecting flowers and decorations for the wedding preparations. The two of you stop every few feet at the small village market, chatting and waving to your friends and neighbors on the way towards the small inn that you own and manage. Congratulations and best wishes are thrown around as the two of you walk arm-in-arm towards your home. As the two of you stroll to your humble business, you notice your daughter starts to hum quietly to herself, eyes darting from your face to the cobblestone road beneath your feet -- a nervous habit that she developed in her early teens when she was getting ready to mention a heavy topic. You sigh tiredly, knowing exactly what she is going to bring up but choose to indulge her anyway.

"Go ahead and spill it, Delilah--" before you can even finish your sentence, your daughter rushes out her words with expert speed and articulation. "Can my dad come to my wedding?!" She clings to you interlocked arms tightly, swaying the two of you slightly as you stop in the middle of the street. "I want him to be there! I think he wouldn't mind meeting me either..." She pokes her lip out in a childish pout, but you know deep down that your daughter longs for a father figure in her life. You have long since ignored the ache in your chest for your only child and the mental picture of one of the men you had met twenty-one years ago walking her down the aisle to give her away to the man she would spend the rest of her life with. Still, you could not let your delusions of a life you longed for become tangled in your reality here, with your not-so-little girl.

"You know just as well as I do that I would love for your father to come to your wedding, but--" She huffs defeatedly, shoulders dropping as she cuts you off again. "But you don't know who he is, yes I know. But... would it be so bad if at least one of them showed up? He doesn't even have to be my dad! Just... someone would be nice. Anyone..." You hold your tongue from making a snide comment of how matter-of-fact your daughter spoke of you not knowing exactly who her father is, opting to silently roll your eyes and continue walking up the path to the life you built for yourself. Though, your heart breaks at her next words.

"Even so, I want you to be happy too. I know you miss him, if not more than I do. You deserve love, Mom. You don't even know if he misses you, too." You swallow thickly, hating how hard your heart beats in your ribcage as you picture waiting for the large pirate ship to dock at the humble harbor of your home, a handsome smile gracing your vision as you run into strong arms.

"Well, as much as that may be true, this is about your happiness. Not mine. The next two weeks are all about you, my dear. Whether you like it or not!" Your daughter jumps slightly with a squeal as you suddenly turn and cup her face in your hands to smother her with kisses.

She had been your everything for as long as you could remember, and you would continue to remind yourself that, that was enough.

      While you were busy talking to your staff about which arrangements we fit best where, your daughter and a few of her friends from the village rummaged through your belongings that you had long since forgotten about in the attic of your little home and place of business.

"Are you sure that we'll find what we're looking for up here? There's enough cobwebs up here to house a small orphanage of spiders up here" Julie, Delilah's maid of honor, waves her hand around her face -- not wanting to think about all of the bugs that were hiding out in tiny spaces that she couldn't see. "I'm positive. She kept their wanted posters. I've seen them before, but before I could get my hands on them. I don't know their names, but I'll know them when I see them."

"You don't know their names? She never told you?" Amy, bridesmaid and best friend number two spoke up from a corner of the small space, digging through one of your old shoe trunks to try on your collection that was stored away years ago. "Does she even know them?"

"Of course she does. They are and were three of some of the most feared and famous pirates from the Great Pirate Era. How could she not?" Julie snorts at Delilah's straw man argument, adding a quick "And she slept with them. What a badass."

"This is serious, guys! One of those pirates is my father and I am going to figure it out one way or another! Now, are you going to keep rummaging through my mother's wardrobe, or are you going to be helpful to my cause?" The two bridesmaids huff playfully before helping their dear friend dig through old parchment and journals to try and find anything that could point them towards the three mysterious pirates.

"Finally! Here they are!" After turning the attic upside-down, the three young women find the wanted posters stuffed under a few boxes in a far corner. It would have been overlooked by anyone who was not trying their best to find the old posters. "Oh, my god..."

The three of the girls stand in silence as they read the listed posters of the three men, reality sinking in that one of these dangerous pirates could be Delilah's father.

"Wanted dead or alive... Roronoa Zoro, 1.1 billion berri reward..." The girl's blood runs cold at the large amount listed for the pirate. A picture of a man with green hair covered with a black bandana looked back at them. Three gold earrings dangled from his ear and a long scar dragged through his left eye, leaving it closed in the bounty picture.

"That... is a lot of money." Delilah swallowed thickly, feeling unsure if she wanted to contact not just one pirate of this stature, but three of them...

"D, your dad's hot. Why haven't we thought about doing this sooner?" Amy snickers, succeeding in lightening the mood that sat over them like a wet blanket. "Yeah, totally! Who's next?" Julie urged her friend to move on to the next poster with a cheeky wink, reminding her that her friends were there with her every step of the way.

The girls release a shocked, yet disturbed sound as they gaze down at a poster of a blonde man with swirly eyebrows.

"Vinsmoke Sanji, 1 billion, thirty-two million berri reward... That's a picture, alright." Julie reads the poster over Delilah's shoulder in confusion, the three of their heads tilted slightly to the side as they study its contents. "Are we sure that your mom wasn't temporarily blind at one point in time? Or maybe picked up the wrong poster from the town square?" With heart eyes and a goofy expression captured on the paper, Delilah's second option for a father had been revealed.

"It is a rather... unfortunate photo... maybe the marines took his picture at a bad time?" The three share a look before busting out in laughter before moving onto the last poster.

The three go quiet again as they face the highest bounty yet.

"Trafalgar Law, 3 billion berri reward..." The poster held a man with silver eyes glaring back at the, teeth bared behind a sheath of a sword. A feathery, blue coat sits over a yellow top. A white and black dotted hot rests over his head.

"Wow..." Delilah breathes in awe at the man, amazed not even touching the surface of her emotions. She's seen their faces and it doesn't feel real. "Yeah... D, you sure you don't want a stepmom?" Julie sends a swift elbow into Amy's ribs, earning a quiet 'What the hell?!'

"These... are my dads... After all this time, I've been trying to imagine what my father would look like and now I have three faces to picture. This is amazing."

"Yeah, and you look nothing like any of them. You look so much like your mother, I wouldn't be surprised if none of these men were even in the room when you were conceived. Are we positive these are our guys?" Julie scratches the back of her neck, not pleased to bring a damp, but practical view to the situation.

"Well, mom would not keep these around if they didn't have meaning to her. She isn't much of a pack-rat..." Your daughter takes the posters and flips them around in her hands, almost jumping to her feet when she notices your handwriting splayed in loops and swirls in the top corner of each page. Dates, she gathered.

Amy gasps lightly, hand pressed to her chest in scandal.

"(Y/n), you dirty dog. Did she actually note when she slept with these guys? She's more badass than I thought."

Delilah rolled her eyes, studying each date carefully and matching it to her birthday. They weren't so far in between, it seems. "She isn't like that. This is most likely when they met."

"Still, she slept with not only three different men, but all of them dangerous and well known pirates..." "And who's to say that she didn't sleep with them the same night she met them?" Julie and Amy sat in their own little world, giggling like school girls at the idea of you being so devious in your younger years.

"Ha, ha. Laugh all you want, but I'm going to get to the bottom of this one way or another. I will meet my father, and I will rekindle the spark between him and Mom once again in the process." Delilah held an expression of determination that warmed her friends' hearts, happy that she can now find who her father is.

"Alright, cupid. What's the plan now?"

"I'm sending them a letter and an invitation to my wedding. One of them will walk me down the aisle."

I'm so excited to write this! I had thought of this idea a little while ago and it is finally coming together! This part is mostly back story, but that's how it rolls. Let me know what you think!

Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-mo-ko-ssa,

Sanji is constantly busy, and today was no different than usual.

In front of the blonde sat a large pan, sizzling with a heat that had the sleeves to his usual button-up rolled up to his elbows. Every once in a while, he would raise a forearm up to his swirly brow to dab away the sweat - careful to not let it drip down into the pan before him, though it did little good as it was quickly replaced with another drop. It had been an unpredictable hot day. Nami had mentioned the day prior that the crew would be sailing through a warmer climate, but he hadn't expected the ship to roll up on the scorching weather so quickly.

No matter, as the day will roll on with or without him. However; dinner will not. And so, he whips around the kitchen to the kitchen island to toss around a few jars of various spices onto a thick slab of meat as he prepares it for the hot pan behind him. Brows furrow in concentration as he seasons and slices, the fleeting thought of the quick work his captain is sure to make of his timely preparations but it does not stick around for long. He is always proud of the smiles that grace his crewmates faces when they enjoy his cooking, no matter how long it takes for it to be cleaned from the plate.

The kitchen fills with loud sizzling as the meat hits the pan, smoke wafting into the air and filling the space quickly. Sanji swallows dryly, fingers itching for the pack of cigarettes that sit snuggly in the pocket of his shirt, along with his lighter. It had been a few hours since he had a smoke break, and while he took his work seriously he was still a man of temptation -- be it women or nicotine. With a deep breath and a tight jaw, he continued his work with fidgety hands and his bottom lip rolled tightly between his teeth.

As the hours ticked by, he found himself darting around between the fridge, stove, cutting board and spice wrack as he prepped for dinner. Though, it seems that his skills would be pushed to their greatest heights as his beloved friends dipped in and out of his work space. Of course, Luffy requests a few items to sate him until dinner rolls around -- only to return 15 minutes later with another request. Zoro comes in to rummage through the liquor cabinet in order to quench his thirst before he melts in the crows nest and Usopp was destined to raid the freezer for anything cold and edible with Chopper to cool themselves off. Still, Sanji helps when he can with a smile (well, maybe a small sneer when helping Zoro) as he continues his work. He may be too busy for a smoke break, but he isn't too busy for his friends.

That being said, he hasn't seen you, Nami or Robin since the three of you decided to work on your tans. Well, mostly you and Nami with Robin opting to sit under the shade of an umbrella with a book in hand.

      Right when he starts to step away from the cutting board to prepare a snack for the three of you, you walk in like a gift from the heavens themselves. Adorning a stringy bikini and a loose, sheer cover hanging low on your hips, shoulders shiny from your tanning oil and cheeks lightly pink from the heat, you look like something ethereal. You reach up and sweep a stray strand of hair out of your eyes from your updo, only for it to fall back into its previous place. Aside from Sanji's fingers itching to have a roll of tobacco nestled between them, they burn to gently move the hair from your eyes so that he can see your face better.

Sanji is a well known heart throb, always falling at the feet of any woman who will linger long enough for him to worship her. However, you were different. You never brushed him off or made him feel like a creep. You always saw past the nose bleeds and heart eyes to hold a real conversation with him, always making sure to ask him how he was doing, or if he was enjoying his time with the crew. The answer was always the same, something along the lines of "As long as I am in your present, I will forever be fulfilled to the highest degree." You always gave him a knowing smile, knowing that behind the thick flattery was an honest reply -- making sure to show that you understood and knew that he was truly grateful that you could see through his facade.

Beyond the spinning and gushing, you made Sanji nervous.

Nervous because you always made sure to carve out a place for him in your day-to-day activities, and that was dangerous for him to be involved in.

As kind as you were to him, he could never quite make out your intentions of your sweet conversations and time spent on him. He was all for empty flattery and grand gestures, glad to give them to any woman that would listen, but he would be lying if he said that it was often that his efforts were reciprocated. And to add confusion to confliction, you always returned his affections quietly and away from the others. Whether it be as simple as a hand on his shoulder and a smile in passing or a sly wink across the dining table, you always made sure to let him know that you were present, listening, and always appreciative of him.

He could feel his cheeks warming at the sight of you, quick to sniff away the blood that threatened to drip from his nose.

"(Y/n), my sweet. How can I be of use to you on this lovely day?" He offers you a kind smile, which you return with ease. His dark eyes struggle to stay on your face and away from the swell of your breasts that peak out from your bikini top. You, on the other hand, drink in his position and appearance. Sanji is in his own element, with his rolled up sleeves and hands pressed against the marble island. A tea towel is draped over his shoulder, not a stain present. No doubt a sign of Sani's precision in his efforts of prepping the evening meal that is to come. The air is fragrant with a variety of spices, veggies, and meats that you can't quite point out. It seems that he is planning something new for the crew tonight. Your eyes drift to the top buttons of his shirt that have been unbuttoned in the heat of the kitchen and you are quick to meet his eyes, which are squinted in deep focus at the flower vase that sits on the dining table over your shoulder.

"Good afternoon, Sanji. I was running in to grab a few drinks for myself and the girls. I'll be out of your hair shortly." You make quick work of stepping around the blonde and to the fridge for a few bottled drinks, the glass clinking quietly as you grip two between the fingers of your left and hold the other and a bottle opener that is magnetized onto the fridge with your right, hip bumping the door lighting to close it tight.

He is quick to move to help you, but hesitates as his hands are caked with flour and spices. Not wanting to get them on you, he finds himself standing in an awkward position, half in stride with his hands half in the air like you are holding him at gun point and he doesn't believe that you'll actually shoot him. You chuckle slightly, making your way to the door. He panics slightly, calling out to you before you can leave.

"W-wait! Are you sure that there isn't anything I can do for you? I can clean up quickly and whip up something for the three of you. All you have to do is say the word." The flush on his cheeks deepens slightly as he did not quite catch the 'you' that slips from his lips -- and the way that you raise a brow at him, accompanied by an entertained smirk, it seems that you had caught it also.

"No, thank you Sanji. I know you are quite busy. Us girls can take care of ourselves for a few hours. I appreciate your efforts, though." You send him a wink, before bumping the door to the kitchen open and you slip onto the deck to deliver the beverages to your girl friends before he can argue.

Sanji melts slightly, though he tries to tell himself that it's the heat of the kitchen -- and the sautéed veggies in a different pan that were sure to burn if he did not turn his attention to them shortly, though they were the last thing on his mind at the moment.

He groans, bending forward to press the heel of his palms into his eye sockets and lean onto the island further -- careful to not get flour or any other contents in his hair.

It was little moments like that that could send Sanji into a fit of butterflies and mush. You cared enough for him that you would refuse his services to wine and dine the ladies of the Straw Hat crew because he was simply busy. You knew that it was his absolute pleasure to take care of the three of you, yet you knew that it would throw yet another ratchet into his well-oiled machine of a kitchen. It would throw him off his rhythm and he would have happily danced to the beat of your needs. However, you declined. Simply because he was busy.

And still, warmth of smoke did not fill his desires while you had graced his domain... but now that you were gone, he could feel his lungs ache for a drag of whatever he could get first.

You,

Or a cigarette.

      It's the final stretch of the prep and his creation is almost complete. Plates had begun to stack off to the side, ready to be filled with all of his delicious hard work. All that was left was a few ins and outs and then dinner would be complete. Even through all of his accomplishments, cooking the meat to the correct core temperature while not burning the outside, making sure that the veggies had enough flavor while reserving the satisfying crunch with each bite, and most of all fighting off his captain from stealing anything early.

All while proud, Sanji was flat out beat. Completely tired and ready to turn in. He had long since lost track of time, not even paying attention to the dipping sun shown through the window of the kitchen door. He could hear the quiet chatter of his friends around the deck, waiting for the go-ahead to come into the kitchen and enjoy a hearty and delicious meal.

Still, through his exhaustion, he could sense you slip through the kitchen door and toward the island once more. Your attire from earlier had been replaced with a flattering sun dress that hugged in all the right places. The color complimented your skin tone completely, and he had swore that he had mentioned that it was one of his favorite colors at one point in time, though that could be his delirious thoughts swimming away from his reason.

You place the now empty bottles on the island, away from his messy work space, and offer him another one of your heart-stopping smiles. Your hair falls in sweet waves over your warmed shoulders and your face adorns light makeup that compliments your features. It is a breathtaking sight for sore eyes.

Hands still covered in the efforts of the meal ready to be plated and passed out, Sanji opens his mouth to greet you once more but is quick to swallow his words as you float to his side effortlessly. Your hand reaches up and lays on his chest with gentle precision that makes his brain malfunction for a moment. He doesn't even have time to process the way your fingers nimbly reach into the breast pocket of his shirt, retrieving his pack of cigarettes and his lighter.

He comes to and chuckles lightly at your actions, releasing a tense breath as he processes your motions. "(Y/n), dearest, if you wanted a cigarette, all you had to do was ask--" His words are cut short when you open the pack, nimbly retrieve a slim roll and place it between your lips -- lip gloss staining the lightly colored paper, flick his lighter open and take a drag to light the tobacco into a steady burn, and release the cigarette from your lips and hold it up to his lips in offering with another knowing smile. He swallows thickly as he stares at his cigarette, now branding your lip print. "I--um," He stammers lightly, face bursting in flame of red.

"You didn't take a smoke break today. I can't imagine that has been very comfortable for you." Your head tilts slightly to the side as you try to meet his eyes, a smile ever present as he studies the art work on the wall with laser precision. "I noticed, at least. Unless you are trying to quit, then I can take these off your hands?" The both of you know full well the answer to that question, knowing that you were simply giving him the opportunity of accepting the offering -- him trying his damnedest to not think about how perfectly his lips would wrap around the print of your gloss. He clears his throat, finding the courage to meet your eyes once more. "N-no, I'm not trying to quit. This is very... thoughtful of you. Thank you for noticing." He swoops forward, quick to catch the paper roll between his teeth, almost releasing a moan as the inhale of nicotine fills his burning lungs with a relief that he wasn't sure was tied to your presents or not. It felt like a cold glass of water in the Alabasta desert. A cooling salve to a discomfort that he's felt all damn day.

Your eyes droop slightly in satisfaction, admiring the way that the color of your gloss peaks out from under his lips. "My pleasure." Your words come out a little breathless as he takes a French inhale of his smoke.

You quickly snap out of your slight trance, finding his eyes once more with an accomplished smile. "You work too hard, Sanji. You still deserve a break, even on your busiest of days." You move too quickly for him to fully process your soft palm gently cupping his right cheek, pulling him slightly to your height before a matching shade of gloss is printed onto his cheek bone. By the time that the motion has clicked in his brain, you have already stepped away and towards the door-- with a slight pep in your step, might I add.

His eyes are blown wide, quick to run and hunch over the kitchen sink to catch the gush of blood that falls from his nose and through his shaky fingers. His chest heaves with quickening breaths, head swimming with a mix of emotion and nicotine rushing through his skull. He pulls himself together as quickly as he can muster as he hears your silky, sweet voice sound out from around the kitchen door to inform the crew that adorned the ship.

"Dinner's ready."

OH, GIRL!

It feels soooo good to be back. So much has happened it isn't even funny. After so long, it is nice to stretch the fingers a little with a cute Sanji x Reader. Love to see it ;)

XOXO,

The old flooring never creaked or thumped with the sound of socked feet running down halls or around corners. There was no laughter, no joy, and no gap-toothed smiles. There was only a girl with a generation’s worth of burden placed upon her shoulders the moment she took her first breath into this world.

She was never meant to be a child, only an adult in children’s clothing. Life was unfair in that way, she supposed. It was the way of her life, so there would be no change. There would be no way out.

She would attend the best academic institutions, she would master an art of some kind— perhaps the piano, or painting. However, it was only that a lady should know such skills for purposes of catching the eye of a suitor, not for the joy of the art itself. She would perform proper manners at all times, no matter who is or is not watching. She was to marry rich and have a daughter of her own to repeat the process.

She has performed on a stage with no chance of curtain call to put a close to her scene. Not even in death would she be free, for the portrait of a melancholy girl will hang high above the mantle of the fireplace, just as the many women before her.

From her first breath to her last, she was to be perfect and nothing short of it.

And what child is truly perfect?

No child at all, that’s who.

And she found an escape.

After hours of shopping for expensive, itchy dresses for the string of wealthy families that would soon be arriving to flaunt their sons for her father— in hopes of earning his respect and intrigue— the girl trapped in a woman’s body searched for a way out

”Miss (Y/n), do hurry. We must get back to the manor before your father becomes impatient. You know he can be.” Robin, your maid and only friend, smiles down at you— grasping at bags and boxes. She was always so kind and helpful, forever branding a gentle smile and warm eyes.

”Yes, I know…” Your eyes scan over the bricked streets as bodies skimmed past the two of you. A small shop on the corner of Dadan Avenue, holding several small trinkets and toys in the window. You couldn’t help but study the contents behind the glass.

”I’ll catch up with you, Robin. If my father asks, I need more books for my studies.” Robin’s smile falters a tad before nodding and continuing down the street towards the manor.

The bell of the establishment rang out as you stepped through the door. The shop was narrow, but tall as kites and streamers hung from the high ceilings.

Toys of all kinds, both new and well-loved, are stacked in no particular order on various shelves— threatening to tumble down onto the weathered flooring if bumped into.

”Oh! Hey there! How can I help you this evening?” A man stumbles from out behind a shaggy curtain, red hair a mess and a three-lined scar over his eye. He held a wide smile, as if he held the sun behind his teeth. “Looking for anything in particular? Chances are, I’ve got anything and everything you could possibly need.”

You stood wide-eyed as you gazed around the shop, amazed at how many items could fit in such a small area.

”I—um… no, nothing in particular. Just browsing, I suppose.” If you weren’t so filled with wonder, you might have felt claustrophobic.

You carefully picked up a doll from a nearby shelf, an outline of dust marking her absence from the space. She was worn and most definitely loved by a special little girl at some point in time. You wondered why she was now here, and you envied the little girl that played with her.

”Ah, that’s been here for a while. She’s a beauty though, isn’t she?” The man had rounded the counter to stand next to you as you gently examined her with careful fingers.

”A beauty for a beauty.”

The comment pulled a blush to your powdered cheeks, earning a chuckle from the shopkeeper.

”I’m Shanks, by the way.” He held his hand out to you in introduction.

”(Y/n)… it’s a pleasure to meet you.” You placed your smaller one in his own, which he brought up to his lips to place a kiss to the back of you hand.

”Pleasures all mine. Say, you’re the governor’s daughter. I’ve heard many things about you, dear.” Shanks released your hand with a wink before standing up straight to study the contents of the shelves with you.

”I’m sure you have. There isn’t much to know, I assure you.” You sigh, remembering how many times your father’s name had graced the headlines of the morning papers. The great Governor Sengoku this, the great Governor Sengoku that. You were so tired of hearing the name that you wished to tear apart every newspaper that arrived at your front door.

”All of the fancy banquets and political parties speak differently, I’m afraid.” Shanks smirks to himself, taking glances at you from the corner of his eye— noting how the expensive makeup and powders failed to cover the dark circles that rested under you eyes.

”It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. The corsets are unbearably tight, and the shoes rub blisters like no other. You have to partake in empty conversation and pointless dances that make everyone look silly. There is so much food that goes untouched because it's ‘unladylike’ to indulge, while others starve in the streets.” You sighed, brows furrowed as you’re reminded of what waited for you back at your home.

”I’m sorry, I’m ranting. I didn’t mean to ramble.” You apologized to Shanks, who only smiled in response.

“It’s alright. Seems that you’ve educated me, and new knowledge is always accepted.” You smiled lightly with tired eyes. Here you were, surrounded by toys that you never experienced the joy of playing with and ranting to a stranger about your boring lifestyle.

”From the looks of it, you could use a little distraction.” Shanks stepped away for a moment, leaving you a tad confused.

Distraction?

”When I find myself buried in my thoughts, I like to read a good book. A friend of mine gave this to me many years ago, but I think you’ll find better use for it. I know it like the back of my hand, so I don’t need it anymore.”

Shanks returned with a small book, blowing the dust off of the cover and into the air— causing you to cough and him to quietly apologize.

The cover was tattered and many of the pages were dog-eared. It held no decoration and the colors were faded, no doubt marking it as a very old book.

In gold ink, the title was scribbled across the front— reading “The Grand Line”.

”Read it. I think you’ll enjoy it, (Y/n).” Shanks handed you the book and you tumbled it over through your hands with careful fingers.

”Thank you, Shanks—“ You turned towards the spot where the man once stood, but found nothing but empty space. Your brows furrowed in confusion at the silent shop, turning in place in search of the mysterious man.

You clutched the book to your chest as you left the shop, not noticing how the bell didn’t ring upon your leave.

Man after man sauntered up to you with a bouquet of various flowers, dipping down into a bow before placing a kiss to your hand. This had gone on for hours and you felt quite tired of the night’s activities. Your father spoke to government officials over crystal glasses of drinks, large, round ice cubes sitting within the expensive vessels.

The only man that had managed to catch your eye was a boy by the name of Koby, who seemed just as uninterested in the whole affair as you did.

He stumbled slightly when he bowed, pulling a few snickers from a few nearby people. “I—uh, hi… uh (Y/n)— I-I mean!! Lady (Y/n)!! It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” His face matched the tone of his hair as his eyes were wide and trained on the tile floor of the banquet room. He wore a blue suit that complimented his pink strands that framed his handsome face.

He seemed sweet enough.

Genuine, you confirmed.

”It’s nice to meet you, Koby. Please, call me (Y/n).”

Your head tilted to the side as you offered him a kind smile, which he returned nervously.

“I don’t bite, despite the rumors.” You teased him lightly, causing his face to glow a deeper shade of pink. “I-I have heard no such rumors, Lady— I mean, (Y/n)!!”

You giggled at his embarrassment, finding it cute. He surely beat all of the stuck-up men that you’ve run into during the event, so he’d do.

”Let’s get out of here for a minute, yeah? It’s a little stuffy in here, don’t you think?”

”Yeah, it is a little— wait! You mean alone?! W-wouldn’t that be inappropriate?! Y-you should have an escort, my lady!” Koby’s shoulders tensed at the thought of being seen leaving the room with a lady, unsure of what would be made out of the misunderstanding.

”Well, you’re my escort now. I’ve said it so, and so you are. So, come on.” You grasped his hand and tugged him towards the door, mindful of the many people who were too wrapped up in raising their social statuses to mind your absence.

The garden was one of your more pleasurable places to be in the manor. It was always calm and quiet, with the sweet smell of blooming flowers and the starlight above. The large water fountain that sat in the middle of the brick walkways illuminated the large space, thanks to the lights that twinkle from underneath the running streams of water.

The air was cool, but comfortably so. Nothing that was unpleasant. You took a seat on the edge of the fountain, noticing how Koby stiffly shuffled his feet.

You patted the spot next to you with a smile, offering him the space— which took hesitantly.

”It’s a lovely night, isn’t it?” You asked him as he rubbed his neck. You were a very beautiful girl and it was hard for him to get over his nerves. The fact that the two of you were alone wasn’t helping, either. He wasn’t sure if he should be thankful or stressed, so he opted for both.

”I-uh, not as lovely as you. Did I say that right?” The pinkette scratched his cheek as he mumbled to himself. You laughed loudly before quickly collecting yourself.

”Y-yes. That was right, you did good. I’m sorry, that wasn’t very ladylike of me.” You wiped away a stray tear, careful not to smudge your eye makeup in the process. Koby cracked a smile with you, relaxing a little.

”I—uh, I’ve been practicing. I heard a way to show that you’re a good suitor was through compliments. I’m still getting the hang of it.” Koby liked your laugh, and if being a bumbling idiot was the way to hear it again then so be it.

”No need to apologize. I think your laugh is lovely. Nothing unladylike about it.” He offers you a smile as you turn your gaze towards the sky, counting the stars above the two of you.

”I wish that’s how it was, but it’s not. I don’t laugh very often because it’s frowned upon for a lady to be loud. To disturb the space around her. Ladies are quiet and elegant.” You rattled off the rule that had been drilled into you time and time again with a fake smile. Koby didn’t really know what to think about the expression. He didn’t like it.

He opted for stargazing with you, his eyes lighting up slightly as he pointed towards the sky. “Oh! There! There’s the Big Dipper!”

“Where?”

”There, see?” Koby leaned into you slightly as he pointed, allowing you to follow his gaze. It wasn’t until his senses filled with the smell of your sweet perfume when he realized how close the two of you were.

“Ah, I see. So, that means that Orion’s Belt should be there.” You also pointed towards the constellations, pulling Koby out of his thoughts.

”You know the constellations?”

”I do. I studied at the top academies in the country. My father made sure that I had the utmost knowledge and education possible. One of my many studies was about the stars and planets.” Koby nodded in understanding, being able to relate with the struggles of high-demanding academics and schooling.

The night rolled on and Koby got more comfortable with you, and you him. The night air was soon filled with laughter and jokes as he told you stories from his life as a suitor and you told him your experiences as a lady.

”That’s rubbish, you know. Not being able to be a child. I think we would have played wonderfully together when we were children. I would have loved to have a friend like you.” Koby had discarded his jacket and placed it over your shoulders— taking note of how the temperature dropped as the hours passed.

”I do too. I think we would have been very good friends, Koby. Thank you for spending time with me.” You tugged the jacket closer to you, smiled gratefully up at the young man.

”You’re welcome, (Y/n).”

You sat in a comfortable silence for a minute before an idea popped into your head.

”Stay here for a moment. I’ll be right back.” Koby was scared that he had done something wrong, brows pulling together in worry.

”I’ll only be gone a moment, promise. I want to show you something.” You reassured the boy before slipping the jacket from your shoulders, handing it back to him.

You duck around corners and sneak your way up towards the nursery to snatch the book that Shanks had given to you earlier that day. You hadn’t had the chance to skim through its pages and read its words, and who better to do that with than your newfound friend?

You reach your destination, plucking the book off the shelf— it’s tattered appearance standing out against the untouched toys and decorations.

A breeze flows through the room through the open balcony and you shiver. You had sworn that Robin had closed the door hours ago. You note the strange detail, but brush it off as you tip-toe back down stairs and towards the kitchen.

Chefs ran around wildly, preparing dishes and drinks to send out for the banquet that continued to rage on. You wondered if your lack of presence has gone noticed. The staff pays you no mind as you snatch up a nearby tray of goods and make your leave back for the garden.

Before you round the corner, you hear your father’s voice and you press your back against the wall. With the tray in your hands and the spine of the book held in between your teeth, you internally panic as you eavesdrop on the conversation he’s having with another official.

”She isn’t getting any younger, Sengoku. She needs to make a choice soon or you need to choose for her.”

A man’s voice addressed your father, who sighed.

”I know. I want her to be able to choose her own suitor, it’s just— I worry that he won’t be good enough. What if she chooses that Koby boy that Garp brought. He’s a laughing stock. A joke. I just hope that whoever she chooses will bring honor to our family name.” Her father and the other man’s voices grow distant as they walk and talk.

Your veins burned with rage at your father’s words. There wasn’t anything wrong with Koby. He was a sweetheart and the most genuine person you had come to meet, aside from Shanks. You’d be damned if your father chose another suitor for you.

Once the coast was clear, you made your way back towards the garden— spotting your pink haired friends not too long after.

Kody’s leg bounced as he tugged at his bottom lip, wondering if he had scared you off somehow. Once he heard the click of your heels against the brick of the walkway, his head shot up in alertness.

”I told you I wouldn’t be long.” Your words were muffled from behind the book, trying to form a smile as best as you could. Koby jumped up and took the tray from your hands, mumbling something about ‘a lady should never carry heavy items’.

The two of you shared the various cookies, cakes, and tea cakes that resided on the tray— occasionally flipping through the pages of the book together.

”So, it’s about a place called “The Grand Line”? And whoever goes there never grows up?” Koby asked, head tilted as he re-read the lines on the page.

”Seems like it. It sounds like a wonderful place. Could you imagine? Never growing old and being able to do whatever your heart desired? No responsibility, no frilly dresses, no banquets. Just laughter and fun. Forever and always.” You smiled lightly, fingers brushing over the tattered pages lightly. Koby hummed in agreement, taking a bite of a tea cake.

”That, and also being able to fly. This Luffy character seems to be one of a kind, huh? And I wouldn’t want to run into that Crocodile guy, either.” He paused for a moment, taking in the sight of you reading the book with excitement.

”I got it from the shop on the corner of Dadan Avenue. A man named Shanks gave it to me.” You spoke it as truth, because it was. So, why did Koby give you such an odd look?

”Dadan Avenue? You mean the abandoned shoe store? That place hasn’t been open for years… are you sure that’s where you got it, (Y/n)?” He raised a brow, wondering if you were tugging on his leg.

You sat up straighter, mirroring his look. “Of course. Why would I not be? I’m quite aware of my surroundings, you know. I know where I got it and who I got it from.” You huffed lightly, turning your attention back towards the pages of the story book.

Koby raised his hands in defense with a chuckle, not wishing to anger you by questioning your statement. Maybe a shop had opened up in the space where the shoe store used to be. Though, he was certain it was just as abandoned as before when he passed by it on his way towards the manor with Garp earlier that afternoon.

The night had come to a close before the two knew it, and Garp would be looking for Koby soon. The two giggled to one another quietly as they said their goodbyes to one another.

”I had a wonderful time with you, Koby. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. Thank you so very much.” You stood up on your tiptoes and cupped the side of his face, planting a gentle kiss to cheek. Koby’s face blossomed into fifty shades of red as his eyes widened and focused on the brick below your feet. Though, he couldn’t hide the smile that stretched across his face.

”I—well, it was no problem. I also enjoyed—“ A voice cut through his words, causing you to quickly shove the poor boy into a few nearby bushes. Your father called out to you.

”(Y/n)? Are you out here, darling?” Sengoku stepped through the gates of the garden, spotting your figure quickly amongst the greenery and flowers.

”Ah, there you are. Whatever could you be doing out here? My, it’s quite chilly out here—“ Your father’s eyes scan over the book that sat on the edge of the fountain, as well as the several crumbs and the empty serving tray.

”Well, you seem to have been having a party of your own. Care to explain why you vanished from the banquet?” Sengoku held a stern look on his face, arms crossed with disapproval. Koby quietly listened from his spot in the bushes, gazing through the small spaces in between the leaves.

You bit your lip and quickly thought up a story to tell your father. You hated lying to him, but after overhearing his conversation with his associate, you couldn’t tell him that you were out here with Koby.

”I’m sorry, father. You know how the banquets can be. It was a little too to handle, is all. I needed a moment to myself. I don’t get very much… enjoyment… during the suitor seasons. Mother can be… strict.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. It just wasn’t the full truth.

It was true, you very rarely got to have time to yourself and your mother was unbearable when it came to finding you a husband. You had to be perfect at all times.

Well, except for night— though, that would be a secret between yourself and Koby.

Sengoku’s face softened a tad, releasing a sigh. He was the more lenient parent between him and your mother. He saw how tired you were at the dinner table, often asking to be excused early. He watched you work yourself to the bone as you studied or practiced piano or painting. As lovely as the arts were— as he often listened to your playing and kept every single painting you had painted since you were nine— he knew that they didn’t make you happy. The tasks were just another thing to cross off his wife’s list.

He pulled you in for a hug, placing a kiss to your forehead.

”I know it. Don’t let it happen again. And if it does—“ His mind races back to the conversation he had with Akainu outside of his office.

”Don’t get caught.” He gave a wink, which pulled her lips up into a smile. “Hurry up and head inside soon. I wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.”

Sengoku was seen as a strong political figure, however he still had a soft spot for his only child.

”Yes, father.”

Your father gave you one last smile before heading back towards the manor. He stopped for a moment, turning back to you.

”Say, have you seen that Koby boy? Garp is looking for him. He seems to have ran off.” Kody tenses in the bushes, holding his breath.

You pull your bottom lip between your teeth, hands clasped behind your as you shake your head. “No, father. I haven’t seen him. Goodnight.”

”Alright, I’ll pass it along. Goodnight, my dear.”

After a few moments of silence Koby stumbled out of the bushes, straightening out his clothes as leaves fell off of him. You quickly step to him, grabbing his arms to steady him.

”I’m sorry!! I panicked and I—“

”It’s alright. I understand. You saved both of us, believe me.” Koby laughed lightly as you picked a leaf from his pink strands. You giggled with him, smiling.

Garp’s voice could be heard from a distance, calling out for Koby.

“I better get going. Garp’s going to have my head if I don’t turn up soon.” He takes your hands in his, placing a kiss to your knuckles. The action causes a blush to dust the bridge of your nose.

”I’ll write you, promise. Goodnight, (Y/n).”

”Goodnight, Koby.”

And with that, the male turned and took off to find the older man— leaving you stunned and surrounded by the many blooming flowers.

From the balcony of the nursery, a boy sat on the stone balustrading. His smile was wide as his dark eyes studied the figure in the garden.

”We could use a princess back home, huh Nami?” A small light bounced around his head, a bell sounding out in response to his question.

”Ah, don’t be that way. The guys would like her. That old Croc would be so jealous to know that we had a princess. My mind’s already made up. She’s comin’ with us.”

You waltzed into the nursery, book in hand. Between the night with Koby and the wonderful story, you felt like you were on cloud nine. Never in your life had you felt such joy. You felt like you could walk on air.

You say near the balcony in a plush chair, the fireplace burning dimly in the darkness of the room. It was very late, but you didn’t care. You re-read the book in your hand over and over, like scripture. Each time you read the pages, it felt just a little more magical than before. You kicked off your heels and discarded your corset and a few layers of the itchy fabric of your dress, leaving you in a silky, white underdress. You pulled your knees up and into the chair as you let your hair down from its fancy up-do, allowing the long strands to flow down your shoulders and back like a waterfall. Your face was void of the thick makeup that caked your features. You were absolutely glowing. You never wanted the night to end.

”Oh, to go to The Grand Line. I bet it’s wonderful.” The door to the balcony creaked slightly, letting in a breeze— making you jump. You would have to talk to your father about fixing the latch tomorrow, seeing that it refuses to stay closed.

You stood from your spot on your chair, making your way towards the door to close it. Shutting the door, you jump once again when a voice rings out within the dark room.

”Oh, it is!! You should come with me!!” A joyful tone makes you swallow the scream that threatens to spill from your lips. “W-who’s there?!” You press your back against the glass door, trying to stay as far away from the being as possible.

“C’mon! It’ll be fun!! Won’t it, Nami?” The voice spoke out again from the shadows, a ring of a bell following it. You lunged over towards the fireplace and grabbed a fire poker, holding out in front of yourself protectively.

”I won’t ask again! Who are you?! What do you want?! Money?! We’ve got plenty, just name your price!! Don’t make me hurt you!!” The voice laughed at you, and you were almost offended. A little light zipped from the darkness and around your head, making you drop the poker with a loud ‘clang!’.

It pulled on your hair, pulling a shriek out of you as you tried to swat away at the light. What was happening? Had you fallen asleep? Was this a dream?

”Ow, stop it!! That hurts!!” You were finally able to catch the light in your hands, cupping them tightly around whatever the thing was.

You carefully peeked inside your palms and almost fell back in shock, the balcony door catching you as you gasped.

It was a tiny woman. She had fiery, orange hair that tumbled down in waves. She had large, brown eyes that looked like chocolate and she wore a little dress made out of flower petals. She had little wings that looked like glass that rested on her back, patterns swirling all around them. She was a darling little thing, that was for sure.

”Shishi! She caught you Nami!!” You had almost forgotten about the second person in the room, pushing your feet into the floor to push yourself against the door once again to create distance.

Nami, you assumed, jingled like a bell in your hands— bouncing around her prison before you opened your hands to let her go. She shoots up, being sure to stick her tongue out at you before zipping back into the darkness.

”Who… who are you?” You asked the question again, though this time more curious than cautious. You were sure this was a dream. Flying, little women? Yeah, not possible in reality.

”Shishi!! I’m Luffy! And this is Nami!! Are you the princess from the garden?” Luffy stepped forward and into the light of the fire, bending down to pick up the fabric you had discarded from the banquet.

”I—um. I’m not a princess.” You blinked in confusion, unsure what to say about the whole situation. If it were a dream, then there should be no danger. If there was no danger, then indulging in a little conversation would be fine, right?

The boy had dark hair that hid underneath a straw hat. He wore a tattered red vest and blue shorts, along with worn sandals. His chest sported a large scare in the shape of an ‘X’. Another scare rested underneath his eye, both of which were as black as night.

He laughed again before pointing towards a picture book that sat on display on the mantle of the fireplace. ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was the title and it showed a beautiful girl in a long, flowy dress. Similar to the one you were wearing tonight.

”Sure you are! Only princesses wear this frilly stuff so, you gotta be a princess!” He argued with a smile. You blinked again, but let the conversation go. It seems that there was no winning with this mysterious dream person.

”Um, right. Let’s just say for the sake of dreaming that I am a princess. Who are you?” He gave you a weird look, tilting his head slightly. Nami jingled next to him.

”Huh? I already told you, I’m Luffy.” He pointed to himself as he sat cross-legged on the floor. You hesitantly stood up from your spot near the balcony and slowly made your way over to the chair you sat in before.

”Yes, I heard that much but— what are you? Are you a ghost? Or a spirit? Are you a goblin? What are you?” Luffy sat for another moment before letting out a belly laugh.

”You’re silly, princess! I like you! I think the lost boys will like you, too!”

Wait, ‘lost boys’?

”’Lost boys’? What are you talking about? Like what’s in my book?” You pick up your book and hand it to the boy. He takes it from you and cracks it open, Nami standing on the spine, gazing down at the pages. His eyes light up as he reads the title.

”Oh, so you’ve met Shanks! How is he?” He flips through the pages as Nami jingles every now and then. Your brows furrow, but you don’t question him. This was all so strange.

”He’s—um… good, I suppose. How do you know Shanks?” Luffy pays no mind to your confused features as he continues to flip through the book.

”He’s a good friend of mine. We’ve known each other for a very long time. Here! This part is my favorite!” Nami jingles as she takes a lap around his head and lands on his shoulder.

”You know this book?” You ask with a slight smile, glad to know that someone else has read the literature.

”Know it? It’s about me! I know it really well, shishi!” Luffy laughed, leaving you stunned.

”What do you mean?” Luffy laughed again. “I mean what I said, it’s about me! I’m from The Grand Line! I’m Luffy!! And I fought Crocodile with my lost boys!!”

”What? That’s crazy. Did you escape the insane asylum or something?” This kid was nuts. Straight out of the loony bin. What was he even talking about?

”Shishi! Your face is funny, princess! Watch!” Without much other warning, the boy rose from his spot on the floor and levitated, leaving you wide-eyed and speechless.

He floated around the space with ease, Nami following close behind him as he did so. “See! I’m Luffy!”

After a little more conversation and getting over a thick wave of shock, Luffy floated upside down in front of you— straw hat sitting in your lap.

”And so, that’s why I’m here! To bring home a princess!” Luffy finished his explanation, smiling widely as he talked about his home island of The Grand Line and the lost boys. He had promised to bring a princess back to The Grand Line and so he was on a mission to do just that.

”That’s why you gotta go! You’re a princess. Besides, you’ll have more fun with me and my crew than that pink guy!” You crossed your arms, huffing slightly.

”Don’t talk about Koby like that. He’s been nothing but a sweetheart to me.”

”Yuck, don’t talk about that mushy, gushy stuff. Gross.” Luffy stuck his tongue out in distaste, causing you to roll your eyes.

”Yeah, well. I wouldn’t expect you to know what it’s like to look for a suitor. It can be pretty fun when you find the right person, and that person just so happens to be Koby.”

”Whatever, you’re still going to have fun with me. Come on, we gotta get going before the sun rises or we’ll never make it there.”

Luffy sat upright again and started tugging on your under dress.

”W-what? Hey! Wait a minute—!” Luffy didn’t listen as he pulled you towards the balcony, throwing the door open and pulling you on to the ledge.

“Luffy!! Wait!! I can’t fly like you can!! I’ll fall!!—“

”Sure you can!! Nami can help you out!! Here—“ Luffy snatches, who you now know as a fairy, out of the air and shakes her all about over your head.

”Luffy, don’t be so rough with her!! You might break her!!” A glowing dust falls over your head and shoulders and before you know it, your bare feet are lifting up from the cold concrete and into the air. You flap your arms and thrash around as you try to stay upright, Luffy laughing at you the entire time.

”Nah, she’ll be fine! Won’t cha, Nami?” The fairy jingles furiously, tugging on Luffy’s cheek.

Your eyes grow wide as the two of you start to drift over the edge of the balcony, tears brimming in your eyes as you gaze down at the garden below.

”L-Luffy!!” He stops laughing when his gaze studies your terrified features. Maybe he should have prepared you more for flying.

”Hey, you’ll be okay! I promise.” He gives you a confident smile as he takes your hands and tugs you along in the air. Nami sticks next to you, giving you tiny smiles every once in a while as the three of you soar over the streets of your home.

“See, you’re doing it! You’re a natural!” A smile breaks out over your face as you barrel roll through the clouds, flying with the boy. You were starting to believe this wasn’t a dream at all.

”Oh, my word!! I’m flying!! Luffy, I’m flying!!” You laugh in disbelief, wondering what Koby would think if he saw the sight. The wind whipped your hair around wildly, the cold air of night stinging your cheeks as the two of you flew up and up into the sky.

”At this rate, we’ll reach The Grand Line in no time!!”

As soon as the morning sun peeked over the horizon, an ocean view came into sight. It was beautiful, bluer than the sky itself on the most wonderful of days.

”This is it! The Grand Line!” Luffy laughed happily as the two of you flew over the never ending body of water. “This is my home! Where you’ll never grow up.”

You gazed down at the water in awe, almost missing the question Luffy had asked you.

”Say, I don’t think I got your name.”

You smiled at him, realizing that you never told him.

”It’s (Y/n).”

”Princess (Y/n). I like that. It suits you.”

Just as the two of you were coming up on an island, a loud boom sounded out through the air.

“(Y/n), look out!!” Luffy pulled you out of the way just before a cannonball could rip through you, leaving you stunned at the sudden attack.

”There he is!! There’s Straw Hat!!” Deep voices could be made out yelling on the other side of the clouds, along with more cannon fire.

”Did we get ‘em? Did we get ‘em?!”

”No, you dumbass— you missed!!”

”Hey, who you callin’ dumbass, dumbass!!”

You looked over at Luffy who had a mischievous smile on his face, while Nami held one of dread. “Is that—?”

Before you could finish your question, Luffy took off through the clouds and towards a pirate ship.

”Crocodile!! Where are you, you ole’ sandman!!” Luffy laughs as he dodges numerous gunshots and swords that try to reach him, making Nami shake her head.

Crocodile, whom you assumed was the man with the large scar across his face and the giant, golden hook for a hand. In the book, it read that Luffy and Crocodile had fought and Luffy cut off his hand and fed to it a, funny enough, crocodile.

”Straw Hat, once I get my hands on you I’m going to gut you and all your little boys like fish!!”

Luffy dodged another swing of a sword, sticking his tongue out at Crocodile.

”Gotta catch me first, sandman!”

With another laugh, Luffy darts back into the clouds again.

”Come on, (Y/n)! We gotta go see the lost boys!!” Luffy dodges another cannonball that rips through the clouds, grasping your hand and pulling you towards the other end of the island.

”Luffy, are you nuts?! Those guys could hurt you! They could kill you!” Luffy brushes off your concern with a shrug, though he knows you’re right. Crocodile got close once before, giving Luffy the scar on his chest. He knew exactly what the pirates were made of and he knew not to push his luck too much. Then again, it was fun to tease the group.

”Nah, Croco is harmless. He’s not quick enough to get a jump on me. Have a little more faith in me, princess.” Nami rolls her eyes and offers you a shrug, as if to say ‘don’t bother, I’ve tried’.

At the beach of the island, a few heads could be made out from the sand— causing Luffy to call out and wave.

”Heeeyyy!! Guuuyyss!! Look, I got a princess!!” The heads shot up towards the sky with wide eyes.

”Hey, look! The idiot actually got one!” A boy with green hair pointed towards the sky with a smirk.

”And she’s beautiful!!” A blonde boy shouted with hearts in his eyes.

”I doubt any princess would want anything to do with you.” A boy with dark hair and freckles crosses his arms, causing the blonde boy to shout at him in disagreement.

”Oh wow, I can’t believe it!!” A boy with tan skin and a long nose waves around a slingshot, jumping around with a… dog?

”Hey Luffy! Hey Nami!” Another blonde boy waved, missing a tooth in his smile.

It was a little diverse group, but you could tell all of them were a good group of kids.

Soon, your feet landed in the warm sand and Luffy was tugging you towards the boys.

”Jeez Luff, be more careful. She’s got legs y’know.” The freckled boy swatted his hands away from your own, before taking them in his. You raised a brow with an amused smile as he held a flirty smile.

”Hey, I’m Ace. Don’t worry about that loser, his head’s pretty much as empty as they come.” He gives you a wink, pulling a laugh out of you.

“A little ladies man, huh? I’m sure those mermaids get a real kick out of you.” You recalled the mermaid lagoon mentioned in the book. You took your hands from his own and ruffled his greasy hair, causing him to blush.

“How cute.” Ace’s face twisted in disapproval, clearly wanting you to take him more seriously. The snuggle-toothed blond laughed at Ace, whose face was shoved away by the other blond.

”Hello, my lady~! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Sanji and I’m at your service. Whatever you need, your wish is my command.” Curly brows raised with hearts dancing in his eyes as he spoke to you. Where all of these boys head over heels for ladies?

The greenette boy coughed out a ‘kissass’, causing Sanji to flip on a dime.

”What did you say, moss head?! Wanna say it to my face?!” The two boys tousled and fought. Another small boy walked up to you with wide smiles, the littlest— which you now recognized as a reindeer— one hugged your leg, head burrowed in your underdress.

”She smells good…”

”Are you really a princess?” The boy with the long nose asked with stars in his eyes, the little reindeer following in suit.

”Yeah! Are you!!” You gave them a weary smile, not having the heart to tell them differently.

”I, uh— yep! I sure am! I’m as uh, princess as they come!”

The two boys cheered, the little deer nuzzling your leg.

”Well, you’re a cute little thing. What’s your name?” You bend down and scoop the reindeer in your arms, earning a giggle.

”I’m Chopper and that’s Usopp.Usopp is the best sniper in the whole world!!” The long-nosed boy blushed lightly, waving a hand. “Y-yeah, well they don’t call me god Usopp for nothin’!”

You laughed lightly at the boys, not missing the pouts from both Sanji and Ace, patting Usopp’s curly hair. “Is that so? Well, it’s good to know that I have a sniper to protect me.”

”And a swordsman! Zoro is really good with a sword!” Chopper added to the comment, pointing at the green haired boy who sported a frown.

”I won this time, moss head!”

The boy grumbled, arms crossed. I stroll over to him, setting Chopper on the ground as I crouch in front of the frowning boy.

”Grouchy, are we?” You poke his cheek, earning a snicker from the group of boys. Zoro’s cheeks bloom in a blush as he swipes at your hand.

You scan his bare chest and his face, taking note of his scars. They were oddly similar to Luffy’s. “Those scars look pretty nasty. Only tough guys have scars like that, you know? Most of my knights back home have scars like this.”

His blush worsens, but his lips twitch into a prideful smile. Sanji fumes slightly, mumbling something along the lines of ‘stupid moss head’ with Ace nodding in agreement.

The boys all disperse, playing and wrestling with one another as boys do. Chopper stuck next to your side, something about ‘smelling like flowers’— which you didn’t mind.

The last boy waves up at you, offering you a gap-toothed smile.

”Hi! I’m Sabo! It’s nice to meet you, princess.” Sabo dips into a deep and cheesy bow, pulling a laugh from your lips. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Sabo. You must have saved the best for last, hm?” You give him a curtsy, making his smile widen.

These boys were all too cute for their own good. They could probably get away with pretty much anything if they were talking to the right person.

”And (Y/n) is just fine. No need for formalities.” The boy nodded, taking a seat down in the sand to watch all of the boys climb and hang all over Luffy.

You join him, placing Chopper in your lap as the two of you watch.

”(Y/n)! Look! These guys are nothin’ compared to me!!” Luffy laughed, standing tall as all of the boys tried to take him down.

”Nuh uh!! Stop tryin’ to show off!!” Ace tugged on Luffy’s cheek, looking anything but pleased.

Luffy floated into the air, each boy dropping down to the sand below. “Not fair, Luffy!!” Zoro shouted up at the older male, who cackled from his spot in the air.

”We can’t do that!!”

”Cheater!!”

”Nami, a little help?”

The little fairy shook her head at the chaos, opting to take her spot on Sabo’s shoulder. He seemed to be the more level-headed one of the bunch.

”So, why did you come to The Grand Line? Don’t tell me Luffy dragged you here against your will.” Sabo spoke, toying with the fairy on his shoulder.

You laughed lightly, petting Chopper’s fur as he nuzzled into you. “No, I came here willingly. I had uh— heard about it, so when Luffy showed up and said he was looking for a princess, he thought I was the perfect candidate.

Sabo nodded in understanding, a small smile on his face.

”You gotta excuse the guys. We’ve never had a girl on the island before. We don’t really count the mermaids, since they’re part fish. Some of them are mean, too. Camie is the only one that’s worth talking to.”

You hummed, very interested in meeting a mermaid.

“Is that so? Well, I’m glad I got to be the first.”

”So are we. You’re nice and you smell good. You’re really pretty, too. I can see why Luffy chose you.” You smile down at the boy, running a hand over his short, blond curls.

Night fell over The Grand Line soon and the boy’s antics ran at an all time high. A few hours ago, or so you assume since the sun had set long ago, the boys trudged through the forest with you to their hideout. Zoro and Usopp took it upon themselves to protect you as you all walked the dirt path. The hideout was in a clearing, the enterience being a large, hollow tree. From there, it went down and into a cave. For a group of boys, it was well kept. It pleasantly surprised you. Sabo laughed lightly, tugging on your dress so that you would meet his height. He cupped his hands around his mouth as if to tell you a secret.

“Don’t be fooled, it never looks like this. They insisted that the den needed to be clean for a princess.”

And so, here you were— sitting around the fire as Ace and Zoro wore animal skins, acting out some kind of scene. They beat on their chest and rolled around, trying to get the other to submit to the other.

”Give up!! Tigers always win!! They’re the kings of the jungle!!” Zoro shoved Ace’s face in dirt, who had a fist full of green locks.

”Kings my ass! Mountain lions are better by a long shot, right (Y/n)?!” The boys turned toward you, earning a shrug. “Princesses don’t know much about that kind of stuff. No tigers or mountain lions in my castles, I’m afraid.”

In reality, you didn’t wanna pick sides. Since you’ve shown up, you’ve become the center of the universe for the boys. They hang onto your every word.

Luffy laughs at the display, laughing as Ace turns his head swiftly to sink his teeth into Zoro’s hand. The greenette lets out a loud yell, giving the other boy the opening he needs to get a head on him.

”Ha! Got you! I win!!”

”No you didn’t!! That’s cheating!!”

”All’s fair in love and war!!”

”Oh yeah? Must be fair that I’m the princess’ knight and you aren’t!!”

”Eat dirt, shitty swordsman!!”

Sanji scolds the two boys, who mixes spices together in a mortar and pestle across the room in his make-shift kitchen.

”Hey, watch your language around the lady.” The swirly browned boy goes ignored, leaving him to grumble to himself. You stand from your seat on the dirt floor, dusting down your dress as you make your way over to him.

”Well, aren’t you a little chef? Quite the setup you’ve got here.” You smile down at him, earning one back ten fold from the small boy.

”Yeah! I love to cook!! They guys don’t appreciate it, though. They just scarf it down like they haven’t eaten in days. I’m surprised that Ace, Luffy, and Sabo haven’t eaten half the island yet.”

He offers you the bowl of spices for tasting and you stick a finger in the powder before placing the digit in your mouth. You were thoroughly shocked and very impressed, the positive emotions painted on your face.

Sanji’s face lights up like the sun, proud that he had done a good job. You run a hand through his blond locks as you send him praises.

”That’s wonderful, Sanji! Very well done. Color me impressed.” His face blooms into shades of red that rivals roses, hearts floating around his head.

”Thank you, (Y/n)-swan!! I’m so glad you like it.”

Ace and Zoro gag at the sight, though their pouts are prominent. Usopp and Chopper snicker at the two before returning to their activities, which were drawing in the dirt with sticks.

All boys are accounted for except for Luffy and Sabo, who were out gathering supplies for dinner.

“We’re back!!” Speaking of the devils, Luffy and Sabo bumble down and into the den with various fruits and game.

”There would be more mangos, but Luffy wouldn’t stop eating them.”

”Hey! Don’t act like you didn’t have one, too!”

”Yeah, one!! Not twelve!!” Sabo and Luffy bickered for a moment, pulling a giggle from your lips.

Luffy quickly dropped the argument with the boy, turning his head towards you.

”(Y/n)! I missed you!!” He bounds over, shoving boys aside— earning ‘Hey!’s and ‘Watch it!’s in the process.

He wraps you up in his arms and twirls you around. The unexpected sign of affection makes you shriek and you wrap your arms around his shoulders. He smiles into the fabric of your dress as the two of you lift up and into the air.

The boys watch their leader with jealous gazes, arms crossed and brows furrowed as Luffy giggles and holds you tightly.

”Alright Luffy, put her down.” Sabo sighs and Luffy obeys. Your feet touch the floor below once more, though Luffy’s hold on you didn’t loosen.

”Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. It’s not everyday you get to hold a princess.”

After a delicious meal, courtesy of Sanji, the boys all sat around the fire and swapped stories. Usopp stretched the truth of his tales, though Chopper looked on with stars in his eyes.

”Wow, Usopp!! I can’t believe that you fought half of Crocodile’s crew with one hand behind your back!!”

”I can’t believe it either.” Zoro mumbled with cross arms while you gave him a knowing smile and a wink.

”What about you (Y/n)? Do you have any stories? Do you have a prince?”

Chopper asks sweetly, tail wagging in excitement as he waits for a response. This caught the attention of the other boys, all wanting to hear a new and exciting story from the princess.

Your brows furrowed for a moment, thinking of something to say. However, Luffy beat you to it.

”I don’t know if you could call him a prince. He’s a little goofy lookin’.” Luffy’s cheeks puffed out, remembering the scene that the pink haired boy put on in the garden.

The boys turn towards Luffy, heads tilted in confusion.

”Huh? What do you mean, Luffy.”

”I—uh, I think he’s talking about Koby. He’s um, my suitor— I think.” I explain to the boys, but their heads only tilt more. They don’t seem to quite understand the situation.

”What’s that?”

”That sounds lame.”

”What kind of a name is ‘Koby’?”

“What kind of a name is ‘Sanji’?”

”Shut up, moss head!!”

”Okay, okay. I’ll explain.” The commotion calms down when your voice cuts through the several others.

”It’s like—uh…” How exactly do you explain to a bunch of boys what a suitor is? You weren’t even sure if that’s what Koby was. Well… yes, he was with the group of others that have tried for your hand. And yes, he actually took the time to know you while also respecting you. He was kind and thoughtful, and he liked you for who you were— behind all of the forced manners and etiquette customs. He liked how perfectly imperfect you were, and that stuck with you. He was your first genuine friend.

”A suitor is like a… forever friend.” You were unsure of your answer, but the boys seemed happy with the explanation.

Usopp was the first to process the information, putting his hand in the air as he commented.

”Oh, I get it. So that makes us your suitors, too!”

The boys all agreed with his words, your face blooming into a blush.

”W-what do you mean?” You questioned the boys, who all sported wide smiles.

Sabo tucked himself into your side as he spoke.

”Well, we live on an island where we never grow up, so we live forever. We’re also your friends, too. So that means, we’re your forever friends! Your suitors!!”

The blond grinned up at you and you couldn’t help but let out a laugh. They had you there. It was all so innocent and sweet, you couldn’t help but agree.

”I suppose you are, huh. How lucky am I to have such wonderful forever friends.”

Your little group of lost boys continued to share stories, a few of your own being sprinkled in here and there. Luffy spoke to the group, who watched his exaggerated motions as he told his story. You could tell how much the boys looked up to him and you would see why. Behind his childish and playful nature, he truly cared for each and every one of the boys. They looked up to him like little brothers would.

You couldn’t help but listen along as you rocked Chopper side to side in your arms, the small deer silently snoring away.

”Once, there was…” Luffy paused for a moment as his eyes met your own, a blush dusting over his cheeks as he turned back to the group.

”A princess.” The group ‘ooh’ed and elbowed one another, taking glances behind them to peek at you. You only pressed a finger to your lips— over your smile— signaling to them to stay quiet and listen.

”She was the most beautiful princess in the entire world. The flowers that bloom in spring time couldn’t rival her beauty. One night, there was a ball. A big, fancy ball. With a lot of royal people and food and dancing. The ladies wore these big, puffy gowns that didn’t show their feet and the men wore long coats and funny hats.”

The boys snickered at Luffy descriptions, picturing in their minds what the scenery looked like.

”All of the men wanted to be with the princess, but she wasn’t interested. They weren’t good enough for her. So, she searched and searched for the right man to be her prince. She thought he would never come.”

”So, she ran from the ball. She was tired of those snobby losers in their shabby coats and weird hats. She said ‘Oh, will my prince ever come for me?’” Luffy’s voice turned into a high-pitched tone as he portrayed the princess.

”She walked through the garden and sat, waiting for her love. Out of nowhere, a man shows up. He’s a real punk, but for whatever reason the princess was head over heels for him. He was alright, I guess.” You rolled your eyes at Luffy’s words, though you couldn’t hide your smile as you gently patted Chopper’s back.

“The two of them talk allll night and when it was time to leave, the man professed his love for the princess and said that he should be her prince.”

The boys booed unhappily, shouting lines of disapproval.

“Then, a brave warrior showed up and fought off the man! They battled for the hand of the princess and not too soon after, the warrior took down the loser and won the heart of the princess!”

The boys cheered, throwing fists high in the air as you laughed at their reactions. It was entertaining, to say the least. You’ve never held a smile so wide.

”The brave warrior offered a proposal to the princess. He said, “Come with me, and you’ll always be happy. You’ll live life day after day, full adventure. We’ll play all day and dance all night without a care in the world. Just you and me.”

There was a moment of quiet as Luffy no longer looked down at the boys, but at you. He was asking you. He was offering you to stay here in The Grand Line, where you would never grow old. You could abandon all of your responsibilities as a lady. You wouldn't have to find a suitor or get married. You could live forever on the island like Luffy and his lost boys.

And it was something you were heavily considering.

After a few beats of silence, the boys waited for Luffy to finish the story.

”Well, what did she say? What did the princess say?” Usopp spoke up, the boys making sounds of agreement— for they wanted to know how the story ended. Luffy added to the suspense as he placed a hand under his chin, acting as if he didn’t know the answer.

”Huh, how did that story go again? Hmm. I guess I forgot.”

The lost boys groaned, disappointed that they couldn’t get a proper ending. Luffy face contorted into a mischievous grin before throwing his hands wide into the air, lifting himself off the ground.

”She said yes!!”

”Hooray!!”

Many yawns spilled from the boys as the night progressed, most of them getting ready for bed. Chopper was the first to pass out, still being held in your arms. Usopp was the second, climbing up at the edge of your thigh to use the skirt of your dress as a blanket. Next was Sabo, who laid next to Usopp and used your thigh as a pillow.

Then followed Ace, who tucked himself into your side— arm thrown over your middle and a dirty face in your hair. Sanji took over the other side, holding onto the fabric of your dress with a loose grip.

Zoro was the last to stay awake, which was apparently unlike him.

He looked at the pile of boys with distaste, but was secretly upset that there wasn’t much room left. He was about to step away from the group before you caught his tan hand in your own.

You offered him a smile as you patted your other thigh, the one that wasn’t occupied by Usopp and Sabo, signaling for him to lay down with you and the rest. He hesitated for a moment, before obeying. He settled down and let his face rest on the lenin on your dress, taking deep breaths of its clean smell. He wasn’t used to the clean, sweet scent that followed you— but he didn’t dislike it. He was used to the smell of sweat and dirt. Of salt water and iron. He was used to the smell of boys and fun.

This was gentle and soothing. It reminded him of the warm breeze that flowed through the valley where he often took naps.

His eyes drifted closed as you ran gentle fingers through his green hair.

”Goodnight, honey.”

”Goodnight, princess.”

Luffy watched from afar with a small smile, enjoying the sight of his lost boys snuggled up against your figure.

Though, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was doing the right thing. That if they would be happier in the adult world. If they would be happier with you. Then, he remembered the several nights that you had cried yourself to sleep. How you had been squeezed into uncomfortable dresses and forced to parade for frilly folks who cared for no one but themselves. He believes that if you allowed yourself the freedom and the right, you would be truly happy here.

The days and nights that followed were the best you’d ever had. Full of fun and laughter with the boys. You would help Sanji with breakfast and dinner. You’d judge wrestling matches between Zoro and Ace. You’d swim in the lagoon with Usopp and Chopper, making sure to keep the little deer afloat while the mermaids watched from afar— too snobby to come and say hello to you. You’d go on walks with Sabo to the beach to collect seashells and you’d goof off with Luffy while he taunted the pirate crew.

The boys clapped and cheered as Ace jumped and danced with you around the fire, your dress flowing with your movements. The boys pestered you for days to dance with them, saying things like ‘Princesses always know how to dance because of those fancy balls’ or ‘We wanna dance with you like your other suitors’.

The freckled boy smiled widely as you ducked down to let him spin you, fingers laced together as the two of you spun around. The boys swapped turns with each other for a dance with you. You laughed loudly, all of your training out the window. You felt like a child and it was so freeing. To not be judged and to play to your heart’s content.

Your hair was wild and there were smudges of dirt on your dress, along with a few tears and snags from running through the woods with the boys. If your mother saw your attire and your behavior right now, she would have a stroke.

Luffy watched on, clapping along with the boys as you twirled with Chopper. The reindeer laughed and giggled as he snuggled into your chest, your skirt fanning out with your movements. He had made his mind up days ago, it was only a matter of asking.

“Hey, (Y/n). You still awake?” Luffy shook your shoulder gently, earning a groan from the boys that piled on top of you. You hummed, signaling that you were indeed awake.

”C’mon. I wanna show you something.” Luffy spoke softly, making sure to keep his voice low to not wake the bodies that rested on you. One by one, the two of you removed the boys from your figure and soon enough, you were free.

Luffy led you by the hand through the dense forest, bringing you to a clearing. It led up to rolling hills and the clearest sky you’ve ever laid eyes on.

“Oh, wow.” You stared up at the millions of stars that scattered across the never ending void.

”This is amazing, Luffy.” Clusters of shooting stars dart across the dark sky, leaving you breathless.

”The moon is beautiful, isn’t it.” While you were busy admiring the scene before you, Luffy found something else worth admiring. Something that the stars above couldn’t hold a candle to.

”Hey, (Y/n)?” You turned to the boy next to you, noting how calm he looked. He looked complete in a way. Fulfilled, almost.

”Yes?”

”What was that thing you gave Koby? In the garden?” Luffy’s question confused you a bit. Had you given Koby something? You didn’t give him your book, so what could Luffy be talking about?

”What do you mean?”

”That thing. You gave it to him before your father showed up. Can I give you one of those?” You weren’t aware that Luffy witnessed the scene in the garden, but that still answered your questions.

”Oh, uh… I forgot… can you—uh, describe it to me?” Maybe if Luffy described whatever he saw you give him then perhaps you’d be able to figure out what he was talking about.

”Well, uh… I—uh… I think it might be better just to show you.”

”What are you—?”

Before you could sort out what Luffy was talking about, he connected your lips— leaving you stunned.

It felt like an eternity before Luffy pulled away from you, leaving your eyes wide. Luffy had kissed you. Once he saw your shocked expression, he was scared that he had done something wrong. His brows knitted together as his eyes searched your own.

”(Y/n)? Are you okay?”

His question shook you from your dazed state, making you take a deep breath. His expression didn’t look right on him. The expression of worry didn’t suit him.

”I—yes, I’m okay.”

”What was that? What is it called?”

”It’s called a kiss, Luffy?”

“A kiss?”

”Yes.”

”Oh.”

”Can I give you another one?”

Luffy remembers the night he had to take you home like it happened yesterday. The boys were heartbroken. Chopper cried for days. Zoro and Ace were more irritable. Sanji’s food tasted bland and Usopp’s aim was off. Sabo spent more time near the beach than ever before, collecting shells that he thought you’d like.

Luffy spent more time away from The Grand Line, leaving Nami in charge of the boys. He watched you grow from a teenager into a beautiful young woman. You got taller, more defined. Your hair grew longer and your face became more stunning, if it were even possible before.

Luffy wasn’t as careful as he thought he was. You always caught him in the corner of your eye.

When you noticed that your most recent portrait went missing, you started leaving out small items for him to take back to the island.

You had no children, yet you still bought up boy’s clothing each time you went into town.

Spices for Sanji and marbles to shoot for Usopp. A small dagger for Zoro and a matching one for Ace so the two won’t fight over it. A compass for Sabo and his walks, and a teddy bear for Chopper.

There were sheets of linen laid out on the balcony, slept in and clean, all laid out on the balcony that would mysteriously go missing.

Letters from your journey as well.

Luffy would come back and pass out the items, your portrait hanging up in the den. He would read the letters out loud to them, the boys sitting around him and listening closely with teary eyes— many of them wrapped up in the linen sheets.

”She sounds different.” Ace spoke softly, freckled cheeks contorting slightly to hold back the tears.

”She is different. She’s older.”

”She’s still the most beautiful princess I’ve ever seen.”

”She’s the only princess you’ve ever seen.”

Sanji didn’t even have the energy to bite back at Zoro for his teasing comment. It’s like they were missing a piece of themselves. Maybe they should go to you.

Luffy finished reading off the letter to the boys, leaving all of them in tears by the end of it.

’To my lost boys, I love each and every one of you. I never stopped and I never will. I think about you all daily and how much I miss you. Even as time ticks by over here, as I get older, I promise you that I am still the girl that you danced with in my heart.

You all were the best suitors that a princess could ask for.

Luffy,

The moon looks beautiful, doesn’t it?

With a love that will last until the end of The Grand Line,

Your princess,

(Y/n)’

Luffy stopped frequenting the adult world when he started to notice things changing. He could hear giggles from inside your home and wisps of pink hair around corners. He noticed how you no longer lived alone, and the gold ring that shone around your finger. He noticed a second presence.

You had replaced him.

Luffy couldn’t remember the last time he had paid you a visit, but the next time he landed on your balcony— you sat in that very chair you sat in when he convinced you to come to The Grand Line.

He couldn’t see much for the bundle of linen in your arms, but he did catch strands of pink hair peeking out from the blankets. You hummed softly as you rocked your baby slightly, the same way you had rocked Chopper many, many years ago.

”Luffy?”

You called out to him and he stiffened. He didn’t know what to do. Should he come see you? Did you want him to? Your back was to him, so if he left you would never know, right?

When you looked back, you saw nothing but empty space on your balcony and an ache in your heart.

After all these years, you still left that door unlocked.

”Get some sleep, alright? You have a big day tomorrow.”

”Yes, mother.” A girl stood in front of you, a spitting image of yourself. Her pink hair spilled down her shoulders gracefully, similar to the way yours had long ago.

Your husband, her father, pressed a kiss to her forehead with a smile. The two of you preparing to bid her goodnight before heading to bed yourselves.

“Wait—“ She reaches out, stopping Koby from closing the door to her bedroom all the way. “Mama… could you read me the story again? The one about the lost boys?”

You smile down at her, running a hand through her long hair. As much as Koby wants to claim that she’s a daddy’s girl, she was so similar to you. Cut from the same cloth.

”Of course, star shine.” You turn to your love, placing a quick kiss to his lips.

”I’ll only be a moment. Go on to bed without me.”

”Don’t keep me waiting too long, my flower.”

Your daughter, Luna, excitedly grabbed the old book with careful hands from the mantle of the fireplace and bounds towards her bed. She pulls back her sheets and tucks herself in, patting the place next to her for you.

You join her in the bedding, cracking the book open as she snuggles into your side.

”Alright, where were we again?”

”The beginning, mama. We finished it last time, remember?”

You smiled, giving her a wink. “Ah. That’s right.”

Half way through the story of The Grand Line, your daughter's pink brows furrowed.

”Wait, wait. Tell it the way you like it.” You knew exactly what she meant and you couldn’t help but think back to the boys you loved so much. Just as much as your babygirl.

”Well, why didn’t you start with that?” You tucked your fingers into her sides, pulling giggles and squeals from her lips. Koby smiled to himself from across the house, loving the sound with all his heart and soul.

“Alright, alright. Did you know—“ Your daughter looked up at you expectantly, stars in her eyes.

”That the lost boys had a princess?” Your daughter giggled, acting like she hadn’t heard the story time and time again.

”Nooooo.” She lied, wondering in her tone.

”Well, they did. They had a princess that loved them very much. She loved the cook, and the reindeer. She loved the sniper and the swordsman. She loved to take walks and dance with them. For days, they lived with not a care in the world.”

Your little girl yawned, eyes drifting close.

”Though like all good things, they must come to an end. She had a kingdom to run and she couldn’t leave her people alone. She had a duty to fulfill.”

”But every day, the princess thought about the lost boys and she never stopped loving them.” Luna mumbled into her sheets, drifting away and into sleep.

”Goodnight, star shine. Mama loves you. Sleep tight.”

During the night, you passed by the nursery door— on your way downstairs to grab a glass of water. You stop and press your ear to the door once you hear voices.

And a jingle of a bell.

You smile lightly with teary eyes and continue your way to the kitchen to let your daughter meet the boys she’s heard so much about.

Time worked differently on The Grand Line. Time moved much faster there. The days you spent there had only been mere hours here. You learned that when Luffy brought you home. Maybe that’s why the boys missed you so much. To them, you had been gone much longer than you realized.

You sat in the chair in the nursery, waiting for your daughter’s arrival. You knew she wouldn’t be long. She was smart and she was responsible, knowing that she wouldn’t abandon her mother and father. It was time to see Luffy again.

Luna soared through the clouds with Luffy, recalling the story that her mother had told her many, many times. It wasn’t until she met the lost boys that things felt strange.

There were mentions of lost boys in the book, but there wasn’t much detail about them. What details she knew, her mother made up. There wasn’t any mention of a princess in the book. She thought that her mother had added it to keep things interesting.

So, when she arrived and received equally confused looks from the boys she didn’t know what to say.

There was a cook, a swordsman, a snipe, and a reindeer. Weird.

”(Y/n)!!!” The small deer ran up to the girl, arms wrapping around her leg with tears in his eyes.

”We knew you’d come back!! We missed you so much!!” A green haired boy pulled him away from the confused girl. Wait, that was her mother’s name.

”That’s not (Y/n), Chopper. Look, her hair is pink. (Y/n)’s hair isn’t pink.”

”Oh…” The deer wiped his tears sadly.

”But she does look like her. Like, a lot.” A blond boy with a missing tooth took a closer look at her, who backed up.

”Yeah, now that you mention it she does, huh?”

”Are you sure (Y/n) didn’t change her hair, Luffy?”

Why did Luna keep hearing her mom’s name?

”Wait, wait! Who is (Y/n)? How do you know that name?”

A boy with swirly brows lights up, always excited to talk about the name he loved so much. He pointed to a painting on the wall of the den, Luna staring up at it with stunned eyes. She slowly walked up to the painting and studied it— making sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.

”That’s (Y/n). She’s our princess.”

The boys almost fell out when they heard the whisper that fell from the girl’s lips.

”…Mother?”

You sat in your chair, patiently waiting for Luffy to bring your daughter back. It had been a little over three hours since Luffy floated away with your child to The Grand Line. If they didn’t return soon, Koby would wake up and wonder where you were.

Giggles could be heard, quickly quieting.

“My parents must be terribly worried. It’s not like me to leave in the middle of the night. They must be looking for me.”

”(Y/n)? Worried? That’s not like her.” Luffy’s tone sounds confused as you can hear bare feet patter against the concrete of the balcony.

”Yeah, my father is the worrier between the two of them.” Luna giggles, Luffy joining her.

The door creaks open, making Luna cringe. She bids her goodbyes to Luffy, thanking him for her time on the island. She tip-toes past the chair you sit in, eyes growing wide when she notices your presence. You give a smile, showing that she isn’t in trouble. You wave your hand, shooing her off to bed— blowing her a kiss as you do so. She grins and sneaks through the door of the nursery, closing it quietly behind her.

Luffy goes to sneak off, but freezes when he hears an authoritative voice cut through the darkness.

”And where do you think you’re going?” Before he had the chance to flee, you stood from your chair to face him. He looked just like he had all those years ago, not changing a bit.

”Uh—“ He studied you. You were older, much older. He could see how time had changed you. How motherhood had changed you.

”Well, do you want to explain yourself? It’s been years since you last paid me a visit, you know.” You crossed your arms, but you weren’t mad at him. You held a gentle smile that made him ache. He missed you so much it hurt.

”You’re so beautiful, princess.” Luffy’s arms wrapped around your shoulders tightly, never wanting to let go. You return the hug, rubbing his back gently.

”We miss you so much, (Y/n). It’s not the same without you. Even with Luna, she doesn’t compare.” You nod in understanding, knowing the feeling well.

You loved Koby with all of your heart and you wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. However, Luffy held a specific piece of your heart that nothing could fill.

”I know darling, I know.” Luffy cried into your nightgown, fighting the fabric in his fists.

”You still smell the same. We still have the sheets. And the gifts… and the letters.”

”I can send more, if you’d like?”

”Yes, please…”

There was a beat of silence and Luffy soon calmed down, allowing you to wipe his tears away from his scared cheek. You place a kiss to his forehead, but it felt different from the last time you had kissed him but he knew that those kinds of kisses were meant for Koby now.

”(Y/n)… did Koby take my place?”

”No, darling. He did not.”

”Did Luna take our place? The boys’ place?”

”No, never.”

More silence followed as you ran a hand through his dark hair, Luffy never letting go of you.

”You know, Luffy. You are more than welcome to come and visit. Bring the boys with you.”

”Really?”

”Luffy, have you ever wondered why the balcony door is never locked? You are always welcomed. I never stopped loving you or the boys. Not when Koby and I got married. Not when we had Luna. There wasn’t a day that passed when you weren’t thought of. I promise.”

”(Y/n)?”

”Yes, Luffy?”

The nursery was always quiet and neat, as if it weren’t meant to house the playful and chaotic nature of children. As if it were merely meant for display.

With expensive furniture and pristine lined sheets, just waiting to be unfolded and formed into blanket forts. Cradles that were never to be rocked and books never read at bedtime. Toys and plush animals sit on dust-free shelves, as spotless and brand new as the day they were bought. Never knowing the carefree hands of babies and toddlers as they shaped whatever they wanted out of their friends, all thanks to their imaginations and wonder.

The old flooring never creaked or thumped with the sound of socked feet running down halls or around corners. There was no laughter, no joy, and no gap-toothed smiles. There was only a girl with a generation’s worth of burden placed upon her shoulders the moment she took her first breath into this world.

She was never meant to be a child, only an adult in children’s clothing. Life was unfair in that way, she supposed. It was the way of her life, so there would be no change. There would be no way out.

”The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?”

”Yes, Luffy. The moon is beautiful tonight. Tonight and until the end of The Grand Line.”

✧･ﾟ🍊: *✧👒🍨･ﾟ:*

Wow, that was a lot. I had a ton of fun righting this. I hope it’s a good read.

Also, peep my boy Koby👀🤭. He’s so bbg, makes me physically say ‘Teehee’ and kick my feet. He’s just a little guy and I’d commit a war crime for him. I’m just a girl🎀

In case anyone doesn’t know, the phrase “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it” is a poetic way of saying “I love you” in the Japanese language. There really isn’t a reason for me putting that in the story other than Luffy being a ‘child’, and therefore childish, he wouldn’t know how to outwardly say ‘I love you’ so he would beat around the bush, but still get his point across!! Gotta love emotionally stunted love interests.

Also, like in Peter Pan Luffy is older than the lost boys— as is the reader and Koby. I would have liked to touch more on Crocodile as Captain Hook, but I really wanted to put as much detail into the reader’s love for the boys so I had to sacrifice Croc for that. Wasn’t it neat that both of the villains have hooks for hands, though? I thought that was smart of me, hehe~ 🤭

Whoop whoop!! First AU story down!!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,

The pages would have little notes in the margins, jotting down date ideas or poetry for whoever he had the privilege of loving in the future.

And that also just so happened to be you.

It was a little unspoken game that the two of you played.

You pretended that you didn’t recognize the small dates or gestures that he planned for you and he pretended that he didn’t notice when a page in his novels weren’t dog-eared.

A knock pulls you out of your thoughts when a knock rings out into your bedroom. You sat at your vanity, putting on the finishing touches to your look.

The giddy feeling of excitement bubbles in your chest, knowing exactly who was at your door. Marco cracks the door and peeks his head into your room with a smirk.

”Hey gorgeous, you ready to head out-yo?” His eyes study your figure as you primp in the mirror, touching up the ruby red lipstick that adorns your lips. You smile at him in the reflection of the mirror, which he gladly returns.

”Yep! Just putting on the finishing touches. How do I look?” You turn to face him, letting him eye the pretty, flowy sundress that drapped your frame. Your shoulders are bare, letting your chest hold up the strapless dress. It was loose on your body, but when you turned a certain way it outlined you perfectly for a second— it left much to the imagination and the doctor loved it. It stopped around your ankles and you wore a lovely pair of tan colored heels that went nicely with your red dress.

”Stunning. Absolutely unreal-yo. I’m going to have to hold onto you extra tight so that someone else doesn’t steal you away from me.” He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and you gave him a little twirl.

He wasn’t sure when he fell in love with you the first time, but he was sure that it happened more than once. Hundreds of times, really. This moment was one of those times, too.

”What did I ever do to deserve a girl like you? Come on, pretty thing. We’ve got an island calling our names-yo.”

You gave him another smile before slipping your hand in his and making your way towards the deck of the Moby Dick.

It was a beautiful day on the summer island where the Whitebeard Pirates docked a few days ago. You hadn’t had the time to explore the land, too wrapped up in your duties on board, so you were quite excited to do a little sight-seeing. Ace had hyped it up quite a bit.

”Geez, if I had known how beautiful the town was, I would have left the stuffy ship ages ago.” You slightly pouted, pulling a chuckle from Marco.

“Well, if you hadn’t procrastinated your chores then you would have been able to explore it with the rest of us.” Your pout increased, as well as your boyfriend’s laughing and teasing. Marco weaved his arm around your waist as the two of you walked across the busy streets.

It was a lively town, every corner decorated with flashes of red, white, and pink. Little kids ran through the streets, munching on chocolates and swapping cards and beaded necklaces. There were various couples that roamed around, much in similar positions as your boyfriend and yourself— hand in hand or arms slung over shoulders and waists.

“Well, look who’s outta the house.” The voice of the one and only Portgas D. Ace draws your attention away from the upbeat scenery. He offers the two of you a wide smile as he strolls over to where you stand.

“Yeah, I really missed out not coming to see it sooner.” You shrugged as Marco righted his hold on you, opting to rest his scruffy chin on your shoulder.

”Ugh, you two are gross.” Ace’s nose scrunches as he sticks his tongue out slightly, eyes finding somewhere else to focus. Marco lets out a laugh that rings through your ears, pulling another smile to your lips.

”What’s got you in such a mood? Can’t find a lady air-headed enough to listen to your tales-yo?” Ace crossed his arms in a pout, cocking out a hip. He was always so sassy.

“Oh no, there are plenty of those around. They all just come with boyfriends.” You raise a brow and try to hold back a snort at the sight, truly wondering if this was the feared Fire Fist Ace.

”Well yeah, dumbass. It’s Valentine’s Day. The holiday literally evolves around couples.”

You palm your boyfriend’s face, causing him to stop talking as you feel his face contort into a displeased look under your hand. You ignore him and offer the freckled man another smile.

”Don’t worry, flame brain. I’m sure there are a few lovely ladies wandering around waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet. It’s just a matter of who’s who. You’ll find someone to occupy your time.”

Ace straightens up a tad and uncrosses his arms while you remove your hand from your pineapple’s face.

”Thanks, (Y/n). How Marco bagged you is beyond me.” Marco rolled his eyes and you turned your head to plant a kiss to his cheek. Ace let a snicker pass through his lips at the sight of distaste on his friend’s face.

”I do and that’s all that matters. We’ll see you later, Ace. Good luck with the lady business.”

”See ya!”

The fire fruit user gave the two of you a quick wave before disappearing into the crowd again.

Marco raised a brow as he looked down at you, straightening up to remove his chin from your shoulder.

”So, you know how I snagged you as my girlfriend? It wasn’t my charm and my stunning good looks, was it-yo?”

”Nope.”

”Then what was it?”

”Luck.”

Marco let out a laugh, his head tilting back as his voice booms into the busy street. You couldn’t help but laugh along with him. Of course, it was all three and some. There were multiple reasons as to why you decided to be with Marco. He was caring and kind, along with funny and intelligent beyond anyone you’ve ever met. He was attentive and loyal.

The list goes on.

The day rolled on with a few activities that the two of you enjoyed. You grabbed brunch at a popular restaurant, which was totally worth the twenty minute wait.

You did a little shopping, Marco insisting that you didn’t need to pay for anything. You bought a new pair of shoes and a few new dresses and tops, as well as a few new sets of lingerie— knowing full well that Marco was going to bother you the rest of the day until you modeled the sets for him.

He did a little shopping of his own, buying a new bottle of cologne and a few new shirts that would never be fully buttoned up. He also bought a few new romance novels when he thought you weren’t looking.

And when you really weren’t looking, he picked you up a little gift.

”I got you something-yo.” You blinked up at him as he totted your various bags. “Did you? You didn’t have to, Marco.”

”I know I didn’t, but I wanted to. Besides, it was needed for your surprise-yo.” Your brows furrowed as he gave you a knowing look. You didn’t question him further, knowing you were in good hands, but you couldn’t help but wonder what he had planned for you.

He had already had his stroll around the island when the Mody Dick first docked, so he had already seen everything worth seeing. He knew about the things that you’d enjoy and be interested in.

Somewhere down the line the two of you ran into Thatch, who was headed back to the ship. With a few hushed words shared between the two men, Thatch was off on his way again with your bags. All but one.

Marco led you by the hand through a few empty alleyways before you both popped out on the other side of town where a festival was being held. Music was being played in the streets as multiple people danced. There were vendors everywhere, selling all kinds of merchandise. What really caught your eye, though, was the street art that was beautifully decorating the smooth pavement. There were various locals and tourists alike on all fours painting and chalking down shapes and detail like no other.

You were quite the artist, but you never had the time to truly create something. Marco remembers the little doodles that adorned the corners of documents and mission reports that you would fill out and pass through him to give to Pops. Your art was truly something that Marco loved and he kept many of the little drawings that escaped your sketchbook. Pops also enjoyed your little creations, often letting you know that his office and his bedroom lacked a little color— requesting a painting or two for his personal space. You always complied happily, painting a few pictures for your father of various landscapes.

Your eyes grew wide at the sight, beyond excited to see all of the art that decorated the floor. As you took a step, Marco caught your wrist, making you turn to him with a confused stare.

”You didn’t think I’d let you only be a spectator, did you-yo?” Marco gives you a small smile as he hands you the small bag that he held on to, letting you pull out the contents. “Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful.”

High-quality street paints and chalk greet your eyes, bright colors beaming up at you.

”I know that you don’t get much time to draw and stuff on the ship, so I thought this would be a good time for you—“ Marco is cut off as you fling yourself into his arms, lips crashing into his in a grateful and loving kiss.

He sinks into you, arms wrapping around your shoulders protectively as he holds you close. You hold his face in your hands, bag sitting forgotten at your feet.

”Thank you so much, baby. This means the world to me.” You pull him down for another kiss, which he happily returns.

“It’s no big deal-yo. I just wanna see you enjoy yourself for once.” You stand there for a moment before he parts from you, sending you his signature, handsome smirk that you can’t get enough of.

”Well, why are you still here gawking at my mug for-yo? Go have fun, gorgeous.” You send him another wide grin and a quick peck on the lips before scooping up your bag of goodies and head towards a blank piece of pavement to start working on.

You kick off your shoes and silently smile to yourself as you listen to the excited chatter around you. Kids and adults alike draw and decorate the spaces around you and you couldn’t help but feel Marco’s eyes on your back as he sits propped up on a nearby bench.

You kick off your shoes and pull out the art supplies, studying the various colors and hues as your mind runs with creative thoughts and ideas of what you could potentially create. You settle on a landscape of the ocean, viewed from a grassy island with various wild flowers.

You tie your skirt up beside your hip so as to not get it dirtied by the pigments— proudly showing your Whitebeard Jolly Roger in the process—, though you know it’s no use. You were going to be covered in it all by the time you had finished your masterpiece. Soon, you got to work mapping out and sketching your art as your boyfriend watched from the sidelines.

Marco’s eyes never left your frame as he watched you work in your element. In his eyes you looked absolutely to die for. You had never looked sexier.

A little crowd had formed around you to watch you work, whispers of praise flowing through the bodies that watched your skilled hands shade and blend colors together.

Marco’s eye catches a blur of orange in his peripheral and he turns to face his best friend, who’s elbows rest over the back of the bench as he stood behind it.

”I didn’t know that (Y/n) was such a little artist.” Ace chuckles as he watches you spread out the pigment on the pavement of the street, taking note of how happy you looked. You were totally covered in chalk, smearing it on your cheek as you wiped away a loose strand of your hair from your eyes.

”No one really does. Only myself and Pops-yo. She doesn’t have much time to let loose like this.”

”Pops?” Ace raised a brow at his fellow commander, who continued to watch you.

”You know those paintings he’s got in his office?”

”No shit.” Ace is impressed, to say the least. Marco takes pride in knowing that his girlfriend is so talented.

You look up from your work and send him a wave, hands covered in various colors as you grin brightly at him. Marco chuckles and sends a wave back, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.

”How did your lady hunt go-yo?” Your boyfriend tried to make small talk as he watched you share your new supplies with a little girl, giggling away as she doodles a flower next to your piece.

Ace’s nose scrunched as he let out a scoff, rolling his eyes.

”There’s a reason they’re single, believe me. I got a few free drinks out of it, but most of those chicks are nuts.”

The conversation continued as such, full of small talk and chuckles until you finished your art. You stood with a stretch, dusting your hands off in colored clouds. Marco stood to check out your work and he was stunned. It had to have been your best work.

Hues of deep blues and orange paint out the scenery of the ocean and beautifully defined waves. The details of the flowers were amazing, each petal more beautiful than the last.

You had really outdone yourself this time.

”Well, what do you think?” You beamed brightly up at him, hands planted on your hips proudly. He chuckled and swiped his thumb over the smudge of pigment on your face.

”A little green, but still as gorgeous as ever.” You playfully roll your eyes as he plants a kiss to your cheek.“You did fantastic. It’s amazing as always-yo.”

”Thank you. I had a lot of fun today, Marco.”

”I did too, (Y/n).”

“So, which book did you pull this idea out of?”

✧･ﾟ🩷: *✧💌🌷･ﾟ:*

Ugh, I was kicking my feet with this one. It was soooo cute. I just KNOW that Marco would be so romantic. It would be so gross. He’s so bbg idc if he’s literally do grown. That stupid little shirt of his is made out of husband material.

That’s My Purse, I Don’t Know You,

Sunny