This is an Outsider PoV taken to extremes.
A different take on (I'll condemn) the world for your sake. Writing this has actually helped with the main fic.
Can be read as a stand-alone fic.
1. Rouge
Portgas D. Ann was born at ten to midnight on New Year's Eve.
Ann stared intently at her mother's writhing form with focus no baby should possess. Despite the uncanny, too old eyes, Rouge loved her unconditionally… for the grand total of ten hours.
The first few hours after her birth were filled with shouts of agony, but as time went by, they slowly dwindled down to small whimpers and died altogether.
Finally holding Ace, Rouge looked pleadingly at her eldest.
What exactly those eyes wished to convey would remain a mystery forever, as she gave her last breath right after whispering their names.
In another world, Portgas D. Ann didn't survive the long pregnancy. In this one, a young woman from Earth opened her eyes after closing them for what she assumed was the last time.
2. Garp
Garp was at a loss. He'd intended to spirit Rouge away from Baterilla as soon as the hunt for Roger's 'supposed' offspring died down. She'd then raise her children in a quiet island, away from harm.
Then, she went and died and sank all his plans.
And left not one, but two orphaned children for him to care for. Two.
He'd do his best, sure, but his best was… a little severely lacking. Garp was no father material, his own son could attest to that. Had it not been for his wife—bless her soul—Dragon would never have grown up to be… anything at all. Because babies couldn't swim in crocodile-infested water, apparently.
He thought and thought, and finally came to the conclusion those kids needed a woman in their lives. Not so much for the fact he believed females were more suitable in general (his own parents came to mind), but because the men he did trust were even worse than he was.
The lovely Tsuru came to his mind. But raising two kids in Marine headquarters was a very bad idea, especially those kids.
The problem? The only person who wasn't associated with the World Government and owed him enough to do it was a bandit.
Still, that was the best he could do, and he'd be sure to visit his adopted grandchildren as often as he could, to train them and show them the amazingness that being Marines was. They even had a very good dental insurance! How else would he have such a charming smile?
(In truth, the Marine didn't have any kind of medical insurance whatsoever. It just so happened that no sane dentist—or doctor—would ever deny him treatment. Sengoku felt sorry for those people and refunded them… partially. So, really, this was more of a Garp Insurance thing.)
If they grew up to be outstanding defenders of Justice, no one could ever say they were evil simply for being the children of the Pirate King. He knew well how different children were from parents. Just look at him! A role model of Marine ideals, and yet…
No, he shouldn't think like that. This time, he'd do better.
He had to, for his and their sake.
In another world, Garp failed. In this one, he succeeded momentarily.