"If YOU cry...I don't mind..."

Luffy smiled softly as he idly tracked the sound of Nami's heels until the sound of a door opened and closed. Then the only company he had was the ocean waves and the sun. He leaned against the mane and took in the calm of the morning, although he was unconsciously checking for threats all around them. A few subtle jabs with his conqueror's haki kept any possible annoyances at bay. They finally had a break after the chaos of the New World and the initial few adventures and Luffy wanted his crew to have a good night's sleep for once.

"Stop crying!"

Ace's young voice echoed in Luffy's head. Luffy knew that Ace hated crybabies because of his own hard life. Luffy didn't know if Ace had cried in the beginning because he wasn't there; he only entered the scene to see all the anger his brother had. Luffy could tell that Ace always had a hard time. Crying wouldn't change a thing because of who Ace was and who his parents were. Luffy could only partially relate because of who his own father was. The only time Luffy could remember Ace having ever cried was...

"Luffy...Even though I've been good for nothing my whole life...even though I carry the blood of a demon...you guys still loved me...Thank you so much!"

The air left Luffy in a rush. A hand gripped the brim of his faithful hat and let the coarse material bite into his trembling fingers. Ace would probably berate him for crying just because he died. Ace said that they had to live freer than anyone and Ace regret nothing that he did. It was dumb to feel sad for someone that lived his life as he wanted to. Even if Ace didn't chose his death, Luffy was well aware that the gallows were on place every pirate could end up.

Luffy grimaced at the pain in his chest and looked down. There was a trace of blood on his nails and Luffy realized he'd been scratching the X scar that he got in the war. He was barely aware of having done so. Luffy wiped his fingers on his shirt and tried to relax against the lion's mane.

"It's okay...If you cry..."

Nami's words washed over Luffy and he calmed a little. It was just an extra reassurance to hear those words from his crew, even though Luffy could sense that they were there for him at a moment's notice.

Nami...Chopper...Robin...Usopp...Zoro...Brook...Sanji...Franky... They were all his precious family. They gave him so much in terms of adventure, of laughter, of memories, of goals... Luffy knew he wouldn't be as strong as he was now without them to push and inspire him. They made him want to protect them, even if it almost killed him and even if they could handle their own for the most part. He knew they would do the same for him in a heartbeat.

"I don't mind..."

'Bellmere...huh?' Luffy never knew his mother that he could remember and had never been acquainted with Dragon enough to feel any sense of familial bond. He never gave Dadan any credit for the part she had in raising him...even though she'd deny having done so. He didn't know if it was better to never have a mother or to have lost one. Which would cause one less pain? 'Arlong...' Luffy could tell that Nami hadn't forgotten nor forgave, even after ten years. Last night he clearly saw a change in her that he hadn't seen since they met.

"This doesn't concern you! Didn't I tell you to go away?!"

"Yup."

"Go away! Get away from here! Get off this island! Go away!"

Never again would he allow Nami to hurt herself physically or mentally. It cut Luffy to see those he called friend in pain. He wanted them to always be happy. Everyone on the ship had had some form of trauma happen to them. Luffy understood very well the pain of being alone with no one to understand you or care for you. He wanted to be that one person for them all.

"If you cry...I don't mind..."

Luffy's smile widened and his heart warmed. He cherished them all so much and it was stuff like that which only spurred him on more.

Zoro...Luffy knew that Zoro would never verbally offer an ear or a shoulder as Nami just did; but Zoro's constant being on the ship, the sacrifices he'd made for the whole crew, his occasional berating complaints of Luffy falling short as captain, and his having joined in the first place cemented his willingness to help, his loyalty, and his compassion. Luffy thought about Zoro, of some memories, his faults, various strengths, and hidden clumsy side. Luffy's smile widened a little more as he reminisced over his first mate. After that simple gesture of eating a dirty rice ball, Luffy was still convinced he had made the right decision. Zoro was strong; he knew how to laugh and have a good time; he had no sense of direction; he loved a good adventure or a good challenge; he had a strong sense of loyalty; he loved to drink; he constantly pushed himself; and he thought nothing of sacrificing his life for what he believed in. All of these things that Luffy had discovered only made him more excited to see how Zoro would change as he got older and their journey continued. His excitement spurred him to try and help Zoro achieve his goal. Luffy didn't know how one's name got to heaven, swordsman or not, but once it got there perhaps it could be connected to Luffy and Ace and Sabo could hear about his accomplishments too.

Luffy's mind changed to Sanji when the sun came up enough and changed its color from red to yellow. Sanji was absolutely the best cook Luffy had ever sampled from...EVER. Considering how much Luffy loved food and all the places he'd eaten at since setting sail, that was saying something. Whenever Luffy praised Sanji's cooking, which was every single time, he meant it going by these food memories. Luffy's search for a cook had truly found him a treasure. The cooking skills that Sanji gained in their travels together made him shine brighter every time. Just when Luffy didn't think Sanji could outdo himself, he amazed Luffy again and again. Luffy was almost giddy as he wondered what delicacies Sanji would learn the further they traveled. Sanji's dream was to find a place where every living water creature swam together and to make the most awesome dishes with them. 'All Blue, huh? Sounds yummy!' Luffy's food started tapping impatiently for food, but he enforced some patience to let Sanji get a little more sleep.

"Sanji-kun and I were remembering Bellemere."

Out of everyone on the ship, Sanji was the most chivalrous. Luffy didn't really understand his interest in women, especially to the degree where Sanji always served Nami and Robin before anyone else. Luffy failed to get Sanji's obsession with women and would always shake his head in confusion. Luffy didn't really care to act like Sanji did toward Nami or Robin because he was more interested in his dream and that mountain which he had been climbing for years...and was nowhere near being done.

Despite being all the way at the front of the ship, Luffy's nose was as strong as his fists. The smell of smoke managed to reach through the distance from the back. One whiff told Luffy all he needed and he eagerly hopped to his feet. He managed a quick stretch from sitting for so long before his arms stretched and grasped the low beam of the nearest sail. Luffy catapulted easily through the area and almost knocked the kitchen door apart when he landed. "Sanji! Food! I'm hungry!"

"Don't break my kitchen apart you idiot! It's almost ready so sit down and try to be patient."

Luffy took a seat next to Robin, the only other in attendance so early, and ignored Sanji's biting words. "Yo Robin!"

Robin smiled his way. "Good morning Luffy."

Luffy noted the cup and book before Robin and leaned closer. "What'cha got?"

Robin's brow went up and she was silent for a second as their eyes met. "Just a little documentary about the -"

"No, not that!" Luffy reached out and grabbed her cup to smell its contents. He ignored her chuckle and comment about his reference to the book. "Oh! Sanji's coffee! I'm going to have a drink, okay?" Luffy didn't even get close to taking a sip, but not for lack of trying, before a foot smacked down on his head. Luffy managed to keep the delicious coffee from spilling, even if his precious hat took a hit. Luffy shoved the cup into Robin's hands to check on the condition of his hat. "Hey Sanji! Don't break my hat!" Even though it was made from straw, Luffy found its durability lengthened incredibly when on his head thanks to his powers.

"You deserve it for trying to drink the coffee that I specifically gave to Robin-chan!"

"It's okay." Luffy was cut shy of a retort when the coveted cup made its way into his field of vision. "Here you go Luffy. Sanji, may I have another please?"

"Robin-chwan, you're too considerate to our moronic captain!"

Luffy ignored the fawning and wasted no time in downing the coffee. "Ah! It's so good! Sanji, gimme another!"

Sanji glared his way as Robin was handed a steaming, fresh cup. "You! I was saving it for when Nami-san came in, but I suppose you can have the bottom of the pot and I can brew her some fresh..."

Luffy didn't care if it was the beginning of the pot OR the last of it. Sanji's coffee was still amazing even if it sat there for an hour. He handed his cup over and looked around as he waited. His eyes briefly landed on the book that Robin was currently reading. Luffy didn't understand the allure of books as Robin did because he wasn't raised with them. He learned everything by doing it or being told. The few times he did read were boring, but not because he couldn't read; it was because he saw adventures as things you did and not read about. Why read about something when you could go out and make it yourself? When Luffy couldn't obtain the things he needed from the outside world or someone else, he would then turn to books. Thus, he let Robin have her fill of pages for him. It was something that she took great pleasure in and Luffy wanted her to be able to do something which she enjoyed.

He didn't know, nor really cared, about her past, but Robin's reserved nature told Luffy that she had had a hard life. That was only confirmed at Enies Lobby, when Robin revealed her true purpose for abandoning the ship that she had initially asked to take shelter on.

"The more I want to be with you guys, the more my fate endangers you. I've gotten you involved twice! If this goes on, no matter how kind you all are, you'll eventually see me as a burden. You'll end up betraying me and tossing me aside! That's what scares me the most! If I'm going to be discarded one day, I'd rather die here!"

Luffy knew that Robin was still lying to them when she said that. He had taken her frustration to heart, but instead of pity he only felt anger. Despite all their time together and all the adventures, she still pushed away their extended hands. That was the only reason he yelled at her; he wanted to know how she really felt. A smart person like Robin wouldn't have asked to tag along for so long if she didn't actually want to be on board.

"Say that you want to live!"

Luffy couldn't remember a time when he'd ever been so wholly betrayed as Robin was, but he knew loneliness. Lonely people didn't run away from friendship; they ran away out of fear. The scared and the powerless ran; the strong stood.

"Take me out to sea with you!"

Luffy grinned as he watched Robin read. He could tell the change for the better after they got back to Water 7 and rested. As quiet as Robin was, she interacted with them more and her smiles reached her eyes. The longer they hung out together, the more vocal Robin was. It made Luffy happy to watch Robin's transformation and he was proud to be of help in the initiation. There was little trace of the reserved Robin left and Luffy kept an eye out for it. He wouldn't let Robin feel like she could never trust them ever again and he would have serious words with anyone that tried to cause problems.

Robin looked up from her book after an extra arm sprouted and went for the coffee. "Huh? Luffy? Did you want this cup too?"

Luffy chuckled as his smile widened. "Nope!"

"You'd better not! Here."

Luffy's eyes widened in appreciation as Sanji presented a refill of coffee along with a plate of food. "Ohh! Food, food, food!" Luffy gave a sniff of appreciation before practically inhaling the entire plate. "Sanths Shanjthi!"

"Hey! Don't talk with your mouth full and spit it all over Robin-chan! If you're going to waste food like that, you don't get seconds!"

"Luffy hurriedly swallowed. "Ehhh?! Don't be so stingy!"

Robin's chuckle added to the banter. Luffy only settled when Sanji presented him with a refill of food and drink.