Mother was never there. She couldn't be there. But Robin knows no matter how much she wants to believe that, she knows that in some ways her mother chose research over her. But she also knows that her mother did – does love her and regrets not being there

She understands, she really does and she's not bitter (but she still asks why). She knows (hopes) that her mother didn't realize how abusive her aunt was. Robin knows that her mother realized that she left her only daughter, her only child to loneliness and the pain of being different. But Robin's not bitter (she spent too many years going over every emotion, embracing everything she didn't face and realize before to be bitter anymore).

But still, she wonders if her mother ever thought of her (because she thought of her mother). Robin wanted to be just like her mother when she was younger (but now she hopes she's different). When Saul said her mother was a good woman, Robin questioned 'Was she?'

Robin closes the book in her hands and sets it gently back onto the shelf, and begins skimming again, the muffled sound of her nakama's (she smiles at the meaning) commotion through the walls, especially her captain's laughter, acts as comfort (the sort of comfort that's a constant, like the playful arguing of a family or the gentle breeze and rocking waves of the ship).

She remembers all the anger, the sadness and questions for her mother, even now with rows of all the books she could ever want (she still wants more though), with the sounds of her nakama on the other side of the wall and shadows in her eyes, taller and older with everything she has done, and what she could have become (what she was) at the back of her mind, she's older than before and she can still remember all those questions that went unanswered and were childish.

'How could you leave?'

'Was it worth it? Was it worth leaving your daughter?'

'What did you do all those years?'

'Was research your only purpose for going?'

'Who did you meet?'

'How many stories did you know? Did you want to tell me one or all?'

'What's your favorite song? Is it the same as mine?'

'What's your favorite color?'

'How did you and dad meet? Was it love at first sight like in those fairy tales?'

'Who was your best friend?'

'Who was your captain?'

"When did you start liking history? Did grandma like history like us?'

'Who was grandpa?'

'Who's my father?'

'Do you watch the stars?'

'Do you dream of the sea like I do?'

'Do people call you weird to?'

'Was daddy your soulmate?'

'Are soulmates real?'

'Do soulmates have to be the romantic kind?'

Robin smiles at her question, muffled laughter from her captain makes her smile widen, 'You don't have to worry about that question anymore... mother, I know the answer' after all she has eight soulmates and maybe more depending on who her captain befriends next.

Her smile lessens, her true question that will one day be answered (wherever she goes when she dies, when she finds her mother and gets her answer, she's still not leaving the crew, she knows they'll be more adventures on the other side to have with her crew, knows that her captain will find them again, guide them, and move at his own pace with each of them beside him).

She will ask.

"Did I make you proud?"

Before all her questions, Robin would have asked her mother if she truly lived like she wanted. But she guesses her mother would have smiled and said look behind you, and she would see all her reasons for being.

Robin touches her lips, a fond smile in place as the door crashes open revealing her disheveled captain, laughing and living.

"Roooobbbiiin! What're you doing in here? Play tag with us!"
A second later a foot crashes into her lively captain's head.
"Oi! shithead stop bugging Robin-chswan~"

Robin laughs as half the ship shows up, causing all to pause and look at her confused before they all break out laughing, smiling and grinning. Robin knows that finally -

She's home.