#peppermint tea

“Well,” she draws out and kicks the ground, “Papa does have the best presents.” 

“I knew it. See, darling. She does love us as much as Shanks,” Mihawk joins in, and is rewarded by his daughter huffing and crossing her arms, lips pursed in a pout that looks too much like the redheads. 

“You're supposed to be nice to me today, Father. It's my birthday.” 

A dusty laugh interrupts the picking, and the three of you turn to see Tomura leaning in the doorway, a disapproving look on his face. 

“That's exactly right. Are they giving you a hard time, sweetheart?” 

Joyeuse squeals and launches herself at her uncle. He had promised to be here for her birthday, and she'd been skeptical at first. Her uncle was always so busy now that he had such an important job in the Navy, so a lot of the time he had to cancel their plans. She was happy that today wasn't one of those times. 

“Yes! They've been picking on me all day, uncle! Maybe you should arrest them,” she says and grins so that her parents know that she is joking. Joyeuse would never want her uncle to have to take her parents to the scary prison that he'd told her about before. She'd fight him herself if he ever tried! 

Tomura laughs, green eyes crinkling in glee as he swings his niece up and she wraps her gangly arms around his neck, clinging to his back like a spider monkey, “Well, if the birthday girl wishes.” 

“Oh, nooo. Whatever shall we do against a fearsome Navy Admiral?” You tease and make a swooning motion, “Only someone super strong could take him on.” 

“Someone like me?” 

Joyeuse whips around at the voice, golden eyes going wide when she finds Papa standing behind her, a small crate tucked under his arm as he grins at her. She drops from her uncle and runs for the redhead who sets the crate down just in time to open his arm and scoop his daughter up, swinging her around with a laugh. 

“You're here!” She squeals and clutches her Papa in a hug with all her might. She eyes the crate at his feet, eyes wide and curious, “Is that mine?” 

Shanks nods and walks further into the living room, joining you on the sofa and adjusting his daughter so that she sits on his lap, “Yup. It's a special gift. So I figured you'd want to open it last.” 

Joyeuse pouts a bit, but knows that begging wouldn't get her anywhere, even on her special day, “Okayyyyy.” 

She grins when the adults around her laugh, but then she remembers that her party is supposed to start when Papa gets home, so she rounds on him, golden eyes shining with anticipation, “Can we have cake now?” 

You stand and ruffle your daughter's shaggy red hair, smiling at the way she pouts at you and swats away your hand, “Yup. Let me go get it and I'll be you guys outside, how about that?” 

Mihawk stands, stopping long enough to kiss his husband on the brow and poke Joyeuse in the forehead gently, a small smirk on his lips, “I'll go help her.” 

Joyeuse slides from her Papa's last and grabs his hand, leading him to the door of their home. They lived on a big island on the outskirts of Buggy Town, so they had a big front yard that all of her family had put in effort to decorate. There were streamers and balloons galore, and even a big banner that had Happy Birthday Joyeuse written in big bubble letters. 

Outside, she finds that there has been a table set up to the side, overflowing with gifts. Her other uncles, Buggy, Crocodile, Katakuri are mingling with her older brother and his crew. 

Shanks watches his daughter run forward and greet everyone, laughing loudly when Luffy grabs her and tosses her high in the air, catching her ease and setting her back on the ground. He can't help but laugh when Buggy snatches her up next, already shouting at the snickering young man about being more careful! 

The clown had gotten his ass chewed by Mihawk and his wife both after making Joy cry when she was a toddler, thinking that she would find his dismembered head funny at the tender age of three. Now he was almost just as overbearingly protective of the little girl as her fathers. His son's crew laughs along with their captain, and Shanks couldn't be happier with how everything had turned out today. 

Joyeuse is passed along her guests, and you come out just in time to see Crocodile giving your daughter an early birthday present. Your eyes go soft when she hugs the absolutely massive, stuffed bananagator to her chest, a grin so wide that it could make the sun look dim. 

“Joyeuse, cake?” you call to her, and the little girl zooms to your side, holding out the stuffed animal and chattering your ear off about how cool and dangerous it looks. You smile indulgently and then gesture to the cake you hold. It towers high with bright pink icing and chocolate sponge hidden underneath, “Tell Uncle Katakuri thank you. He's the one who gave me the recipe for the cake.” 

Joyeuse nods diligently and marches over to the man who sits to the side, towering over everyone there. She beams at her uncle, “Thank you, Katakuri. Your cakes are the best every year!” 

He laughs, his smile wide under his scarf, and reaches down to pat the top of her head, smirking when Joy latches into his hand and he lifts her into the air, “Anytime Tiny. I hope you've had a good day so far.” 

“The best! I was worried that Papa wouldn't make it in time, but he came home with a special gift! I'm not supposed to open it until after everything else!” 

You cock a brow at Shanks. You'd heard him inside and had been curious, but hadn't wanted to ruin any kind of surprise he might have in store for their daughter, “You spoil her.” 

“As she should be,” Mihawk voices from behind you, and slides close, kissing the back of your head, his hands full of a large tub of ice cream. 

“What he said,” Shanks says with a snicker and you roll your eyes at the men who you call husband. You follow after Mihawk and set the cake on the table, calling your daughter over so that she can sit at the head and everyone can sing happy birthday. 

After cake and ice cream, presents come next. Joyeuse is excited and grateful for every one of them, beaming at each person under the brim of the replica straw hat that Luffy had dropped on her red hair before she'd begun to open her presents. Joyeuse rounds on her Papa once the last present was placed away, “Now, Papa?” 

Shanks laughs and nods, stepping forward and placing the crate in front of her. He looks at her, his tone dropping into something serious. 

“This is a very special gift, Joyeuse, and I want you to think long and hard about if it's something that you want, okay?” 

Joyeuse schools her expression, and you can't help but grin at how much she looks like Mihawk when she does, “Okay, Papa.” 

Shanks looks at her for another second before he nods and reaches out to unlatch the crate, and you peek over your daughter's shoulder, curious about what is inside. 

Carefully, Joy plucks what can only be a devil fruit out of the crate. It is dark purple in color with an intricate swirling pattern, and she turns it this way and that with a look of awe. She looks at Papa, lip tucked between her lips in thought before she asks, “Which one is it?”

Shanks gives her a small smile, “It's called the Inku Inku fruit. It allows you to create, manipulate, and even turn into Ink. I know it's not the most flashy fruit out there, but it can be useful.” 

Mihawk kneels at his daughter, taking in her expression and smiling gently at her, “You don't have to make the decision now, sweet girl. Take your time to make your choice.” 

Joyeuse nods, a smile spreading across her face as she tucks the fruit back into the crate. She was terribly excited, and the urge to chomp into the fruit was almost overwhelming, but she pushed it away, “I'll be smart, Father. I promise.” 

Mihawk pats her head and then stands beside his wife and husband. He is content that his daughter is happy, and that he is surrounded by the ones that he loves. He'd never thought that this was how his life would turn out after drifting to an unknown island near the calm belt, but the swordsman didn't regret a thing.