"You cut your hair."

"I did."

"Why?" The man with the dark hair shrugged his arms in a 'why' motion. He leaned back into his rickety chair as his crew shuffled around the small cottage gathering his family's things as he chatted with his sister. The captain ran his hands through his hat free hair as he looked her over. She was standing before him with her black hair cut into a short bob— a drastic change to her long black tresses. The woman leaned further into the kitchen counter.

"Does it not look good?" She tilted her head with a genuine curiosity in her eyes.

"Hey, Captain. Quite harassin' her. She looks great!" One of his crew members shouted out, defending the woman as she giggled at her brother's exasperated expression.

"No, it does," the man sighed, ignoring his crew's teases. "I just don't know why you cut your hair all of a sudden. I thought you liked it long?"

"No," she dropped her eyes from his, finding an interest in the rotting floor boards. "I cut it because he liked short hair."

His eyebrows narrowed. "I thought Doflamingo liked your hair long?"

"He does." It was the woman's turn to sigh. She turned her head to look out the window, admiring the peaceful way the waves crashed against the distant shore. The woman loved the greenery that grew on the island. It was a beautiful island with many helpful citizens— not too much violence for being in the New World— and had a reasonable climate for the children. "It's just that— that Corazon…."

"Oh," his eyebrows rose. "I forgot that he like your short hair."

"I almost forgot too," she smiled a gentle but sad smile. Her voice shook. "It's been so long, Law."

The Surgeon of Death clenched his hands as her voice cracked. Their hated Warlord had caused them so much pain over the years, both indirectly and directly. He looked her over for a second time, watching the way her posture was more confident and how her eyes had begun to brighten, obvious positive signs of how being away from her 'lover' was affecting her. He pursed his lips, unsure of how to move forward.

"Marina, you don't really—"

"Have you been sleeping lately?" Marina tapped her brother lightly on the chin, gently lifting his face with her smooth hands in order to get a good look at his face in the dimming lights. She could see the bags under his eyes; he was too stressed. "You haven't, have you?"

"Quite avoiding the question," Law pushed away her hand. "Do you plan on coming with—"

"Hey, Captain! We're finished packing." Bepo popped his head in, his fur clad face lighting up at the sight of Marina. "Rina!"

"Bepo!" She held out her arms to the polar bear mink. "I didn't get the chance to see you this morning!"

And it was true. She didn't. The Heart Pirates only had a small window to extract Marina and the children, a window of only a day— a day that was quickly ending. The captain of the Heart Pirates took a quick look out the small window, taking in the dramatic oranges and reds spilling out into the sky as the sun set down. He turned back to her, another thought on his mind, finding his first mate hugging his sister. She was flooded in his fur.

"Bepo," Law commanded his first mate. Bepo turned to him with round eyes. "Get the kids onto the ship. We don't have much time left."

"Ah, okay, Captain," Bepo released his right arm, saluting the Heart Pirate captain and after giving Marina a quick hug, he skipped out the door to the children playing in the garden.

After the rest of the crew filed out, Law made sure to shut the door behind the last crew member. His beloved sister raised an eyebrow at him. He turned back to her, slamming a small but sharp dagger onto the rickety table as he stared into his sister's eyes, watching her to spot any changes in her demeanor. She inhaled sharply.

"What is this for?" His accusation was clear in his voice.

"Basic defense, Law," the accused rolled her eyes at him. Unfortunately, her eyes had betrayed her.

"You don't plan on coming with us." He stared her down, upset with her decision in facing Doflamingo. He watched his short haired sister swallow hard, noticing the way her creamy skin had begun to perspirate under his scrutinizing stare.

She shook her head, lowering her eyes from her brother. "No."

"The children don't know either."

"No."

The Heart Pirate captain sat down again, setting his elbows on the table as he rubbed the stress from his face. She was crushing his heart. The black-haired man sighed into his palms as the woman before him fidgeted under the cracking pressure of the silent cabin. She bit her lip. Law forced the words from his mouth. "Why?"

"Because," Marina's voice shook. "He's just searching for me. The kids will grow out of their baby fat in a few years and he won't be able to recognize them. I can't. He'll always know it's me. I just need you to hide the kids until then."

"That still won't be a few years, Marina. And not to mention how pissed he'll be if this fails."

"Law," the woman with the grey eyes pleaded with him, gently grasping his hands in hers. "Please."

Law sighed. "Of course."

Marina smiled a soft smile at him, her smile reaching her eyes as she knew her children would be in safe hands. "Come on, let's make sure the children are on board."

The captain nodded, knowing that his crew could be complete idiots at their jobs sometimes. Still, he kept them around for their loyalty. Unlocking the door, Law opened the wooden appliance wide for his sister, acting gentlemanly just like how their father taught him. "They'll miss you."

"Of course, they will," she rolled her eyes. "I'm their mother."

Law shut the door behind him, spotting a family picture of only four people: three small blond children surrounding a smiling black-haired woman. He grabbed her wrist, spinning her to face him as he looked deep into her eyes. His beautiful but stress-worn sister looked back at him with her sad green orbs. The laughter of her children caused him to drift his eyes behind her, finding two boys lifting their small sister above them.

"Does he know of her?" Law glanced at Marina.

"No," she wrapped her arms around her. "And thank god for that."

Law nodded, knowing the importance of Doflamingo's ignorance. His niece caught sight of her beloved uncle, smiling as she was lifted high into the air. His own lips moved into a smile as the blonde's bright smile reminded him of his sister so long ago.

"Uncle Law!" His niece's ringing voice reached his ears. The boys dropped her down to the ground as she wiggled out of their arms, smiles on their faces as they heard his name.

Law dropped low for the little girl, his arms wide to take in the bouncing blonde. "Amora!"

"Uncle Law," the second youngest child of Marina waddled up to the duo. "Bepo said that were going on a trip."

"Dante," Law wrapped his other arm around the blond, "you would be right."

"Why?" The eldest boy narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was off with the two adults.

"Adrian," his mother chided him, gently tugging her hands through her son's hair as she reminisced on her past lover's hair that matched her son's. Her son pursed his lips at her but obeyed her silent commands of quieting his concerns. "Your uncle is going to take you all on a trip until I can fix up the house."

"Yay!" Her youngest son cheered. "I like Uncle Law!"

Marina dropped down low, wordlessly calling her children towards her to give them her last hugs. With gentle pecks on their cheeks, the woman smiled a sad smile to her small loves. "Be good and listen to your uncle, no matter what."

The three nodded, letting themselves be taken away by Bepo and down into the metal walls of the submarine. Law watched his small family pack themselves away in the submarine as he turned back to his remaining sister. He handed her a small den-den mushi. "I talked to a dock boy. He has orders to only call the den-den mushi when he sees any Donquixote. That should give you enough time to prepare."

"Before you leave, tell him I'll leave a note under the floor boards under my bed," Marina hugged Law, tightly gripping her only hope of beating Doflamingo.

Law sighed. "Look, you don't have to do this. I'm sure we could find another way. Shit, even Luffy—"

"No," Marina interrupted him. "I'm tired of him chasing me, us. Just let it be and protect the kids."

Law pushed her back, taking in her defeated form as he looked her over. "Okay, fine."

"Thank you, Law," Marina gave him another smile, although it was still had a hint of sadness. Law gave her a nod, taking his sword in hand from its resting spot on the doorway and started down the pathway to the submarine, waving his goodbyes as she watched from her spot in the doorway. When he was almost out of hearing range, he heard her shout. "Tell Luffy I said thanks and I'm sorry!"

Law couldn't handle himself anymore and his tears slipped from his grey eyes. He turned back to her, his depressed expression open on his face and his wet eyes showing to his sister as he broke down in front of her. He gave her a sad nod and continued down to the submarine as he wiped away his tears. He didn't turn around when he shut the submarine's door.

Marina watched her brother leave, watching the submarine disappear into the deep ocean blue. With no tears in her eyes, she reminded herself to return to her house. She needed to prepare for Doflamingo. Her eyes glossing over abandoned newspapers; she ignored the headlines that gave away his location to her— things he wanted her to know. He was slowly getting closer, only a few more days until he reached her along with any of his lackeys.

Oh well. She guesses she'll just sleep for now. She was tired. Of so many things.

Let me know what you guys think.