Author's note: Thank you SO much, everyone who has been reading this! I'm so proud of this fanfic, so I'm really glad you're all enjoying it. This is the last chapter--I just thought it needed a little bit more wrapping up than the previous chapter gave it. To all you readers, I really, REALLY appreciate you and your comments.

Please, keep reading and reviewing!

"So that's when I was born?" Kaya asked.

"Yes," replied Merry. "And of course you were a girl, and of course your father was terrified of raising a daughter. I overheard him one night telling your mother that he refused to force you into an arranged marriage--which is why you haven't been yet. But I suppose you were about two years old when she was discussing it with him."

"I'm so glad he stopped her." A pause, then, "I'm going to put this box of pictures away, okay?"

"Oh, Oujousama, your dress is filthy," exclaimed Merry when she stood up. "We shouldn't stay in this basement much longer."

"You'll just have to finish the story then," she grinned. "Because I don't remember being a baby, you know."

"There's only more sadness, you realize."

She lowered her gaze and replied, "I know. But you don't have to tell that part... I was there for that."

Merry stood up and stretched, then looked at her. "If I hadn't had you, I probably would have grieved myself to death when we lost your father. There's only so much loss a person can take."

Kaya's eyes were shining with the threat of tears as she met his eyes. "That's why we're sticking together," she said presently, and Merry smiled and hugged her close before clearing his throat to tell one final part of the story.

You should remember part of this, Oujousama--it's the time when I proved to your parents--and myself--that I was perfectly capable of taking care of you in the event of their absence.

I'm sure you remember when I started working on the ship again. You used to follow me there when your mother didn't know it, and even though I tried my best to keep you from coming along, you still toddled after me every chance you got. Do you remember? You loved to climb the trees nearby, and I didn't mind it so much, as long as I could keep an eye on you. They were small trees, after all.

One day, I was working in the yard at the mansion, carving out the figurehead for the ship--there was no need to do that task at the ship itself; I was planning to attach it later. You were only about three years old, but you were already exploring everything. I was sitting under the tree ouside your window, doing my carving, and you were trying your best to climb into the lowest limbs, using my shoulders as a starting point. And that, of course, made the carving process even more difficult, but I wasn't going to stop you if you were having fun. Periodically, your mother and father peeked outside to check on things, before going back in to whatever it was they were doing. Eventually, you managed to swing onto the very lowest limb of the tree, and took to sitting up there throwing leaves down on my head and giggling.

I went on carving, getting somewhat lost in my work, and suddenly I realized you weren't giggling anymore. In fact, I couldn't hear you or see you anymore at all--and then I spotted you, in the branches of the tree far above your bedroom window. I don't know how you got up there so quickly on such short legs, but you did, and you were standing defiantly above me, sticking your tongue out.

"Kaya," I called up to you--you weren't "oujousama" yet--"You come down from that tree, or I'll tell your mother and you won't be allowed any ice cream after dinner tonight."

Usually that worked, but something got into you and you only kept sticking your tongue out and staring crossly at me. It was about that time that your parents came to check on things again and saw what was going on; your mother screamed at you, which startled you and caused you to lose your balance, which in turn made both of your parents start screaming even louder. Your father managed to stop shouting long enough to run under the tree with his arms outstretched, but his judgement was too far off--I noticed that immediately. So, I did what any other caretaker would have done, really.

I leapt to my feet, jumped at the side of the house, and used it as a springboard to turn and hop toward the tree. And I managed to grab you midair just as you went falling past me. I was much more agile back then, Oujousama... your father and mother could hardly stop praising me after that. Of course I didn't do it for the praise... I didn't want you to get hurt, you know. I just couldn't sit by and watch that happen again.

"I remember that now," Kaya mused slowly. "Yes... I was so scared that day. I thought I fell because I was being punished for sticking out my tongue at you."

With a laugh, Merry patted her shoulder. "If you remember that, then I don't think I have any other stories to tell you. You remember growing up, you remember Kurahadoru... there's nothing else to tell."

"I remember you telling me bedtime stories when I couldn't sleep," she replied. "And sneaking me cookies before dinner..."

"You've always been a fan of stories," said Merry, and Kaya pretended not to know what he was talking about. He smiled and followed her up the stairs, back to reality and away from the dusty basement.

At the top of the steps, Kaya turned around and smiled, speaking earnestly.

"Thank you, Merry."

End

Thank you so much for reading!

I'd like to point out that I really wanted the final sentence to be "Arigatou, Merry" but I didn't want to use a random piece of Japanese like that... those of you who have heard Usopp's song 'Fly Merry Fly' will get that reference, though... even though that's the ship Merry and not the sheepman. Ah well. ;;

Again, thank you all SO much for reading! Lots of love!