This is for everyone who read Few Fears, and asked for more Mother Portgas. I'm glad so many people enjoyed it! Thank you to NemesisNecrosis, who inspired this chapter.

Please note that this chapter is not a sequel! This is more along the lines of a prequel, if it has to be given a reference point.

"You what?!"

"I ate the Gomu Gomu no mi!"

Ace nodded in support, pinching Luffy's cheek and stretching it back towards himself. Letting it go, the skin snapped back into position, without giving any hint that it had once been any different.

"It was Shanks's, but I ate it! He also gave me his hat!"

Thrusting the hat into her hands, she twirled the hat gently before placing it back on his head.

"I see."

Dropping down to her knees, so that she was now eye level with the boys, she ran her thumb over the scar just under Luffy's eye.

"And this?"

She knelt patiently as Luffy explained with wild hand gestures and accompanying sound effects to re-enact what had happened.

Releasing the air in her lungs, she pulled Luffy into a tight hug.

"What am I going to do with you?"

Glancing over to Ace who had sat patiently through Luffy's story (probably having already heard it fifty times), Keira saw the longing in his gaze. Seconds later, Ace found himself wrapped in the warm embrace. His eyes went wide with surprise as his aunt's cheek came to rest on his hair.

"What am I going to do with both of you?"

"You have to go already?! But Mum, you only just got here!"

Luffy's mouth curled down in a frown.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, but this was just a quick stop off to check in."

Ace's fist clenched the fabric of his pants.

"You can't stay any longer?"

Shaking her head sadly, Keira avoided looking at the two sets of puppy-dog eyes that were trained on her.

"We have too many perishable goods on board that we need to sell before they go bad."

Tapping a finger to Luffy's lips, she tilted his head back.

"Don't pout. I'll be back as soon as I can. Meanwhile, I want you two to look after each other okay?"

Their heads bobbled in resigned confirmation.

"Now where's my hug?"

Pulling her boys into her chest, her eyes closed tightly as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"So Shanks just left the devil fruit out in front of a six year old that eats everything?"

Makino nodded slightly to the synopsis of what she had just told Luffy's mother.

"I see."

It was becoming clear to the bartender that Portgas D. Keira was not happy.

Concerned for Captain Shanks, Makino hoped to smooth over the situation.

"It really was an accident... Shanks and Luffy got along really well. He was so excited to hear all about the crew's adventures, and he was very upset about Shanks losing his arm."

Keira's shoulders slumped as she thought of how Luffy's face had brightened every time he mentioned the red haired pirate.

All she wanted was for her boys to be happy.

She just wished that she could take the pair of them with her so that she could keep a better eye on them. The sea was no place for children though. Especially not on a merchant ship that attracted pirate ships like moths to a flame. There was too much risk involved. She had planned to take both of them on board when Luffy reached 15, but now they both seemed to be set on the path of piracy.

That damned Shanks.

Garp was going to throw a tantrum of epic proportions the day that Luffy headed out on his own.

That thought alone brought her usual grin back to her face.

What she wouldn't give to be able to see that.

There was definitely no love shared between Keira and her son's grandfather.

Ester, who had only met Luffy once, took a drag of her drink before shifting the conversation away from the 'Devil Fruit Incident', as it would come to be known.

"And Garp? He just moved Luffy up into the mountains?"

Makino's gazed narrowed in an obvious sign of displeasure.

"Apparently he thinks that Luffy will learn more in the forest than if he stayed down here."

'With me', was not voiced, but it was understood by those that were listening.

Keira had been hesitant when Garp had suggested that his home town of Foosha Village would be the safest place for Luffy to grow up. Makino and the mayor had been the two that had finally convinced her that her son would be well taken care of.

Zakia frowned, images of Luffy struggling through the forest, filling her with concern.

"I don't see how living with bandits is any better than potentially coming into contact with pirates."

Tapping a knuckle on the table, Keira pushed off her stool to stand.

"He's with Ace. Together they'll be fine."

Pulling out a pouch of cash and leaving it on the counter, Keira headed to the door, her crew following suit. Pausing in the doorway, she turned back to Makino.

"If you could go up and check on them every now and then though...?"

"Of course Keira."

Nodding her thanks, she and the crew headed back to the docks where the Lady Liberty was waiting for them.

"Do we have a heading Captain?"

Glancing over to Cynthia, who was in her position by the helm, Keira paused in thought.

A devilish grin appeared on her face as she reached her decision.

"Back to the Grand Line. We have a Pirate Captain to hunt down."

"Aye Aye!"

– 3 months later, somewhere in the Grand Line –

"A DEVIL FRUIT! YOU LET MY SON EAT A DEVIL FRUIT!"

Shanks, who was sprawled over the ground, lay there in a stunned silence as he took a moment to process the shouted words. He may have had a bit too much to drink last night. His head was ringing.

"DID YOU EVEN KNOW WHICH FRUIT THE DAMNED THING WAS?!"

Slowly cottoning on to what the mad woman was raving about, Shanks's eyes brightened as his thoughts turned to Luffy.

"You're–"

Ignoring his attempts to speak, Keira paced angrily in front of the Captain, her arms moving wildly as she verbalised her displeasure. (In a manner not too dissimilar to how Luffy spoke when he was excited.)

"MY SON IS A HUMAN BOUNCY BALL!"

Finally stopping to regain control of her breathing, Shanks took the opportunity to interject his opinion.

"Well technically he's more like a rubber band."

Keira's head snapped back to look at the one armed Captain. Her voice lowered to a deadly tone.

"Did you just call my son a rubber band?"

"Ahh... parley?"

Benn's head fell into his hands.

How had his Captain ever survived this long?

Poor Benny! I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading :)