A/N: This is just an idea I had after looking for any Whitebeard/OC full length stories (meaning was longer then 10,000 words) and there was only a dozen stories where the Whitebeard Pirates had a 'mother'. That's how the idea was born. However, I really messed with Whitebeard's age. In the anime and manga, Whitebeard dies at the age of 72, meaning he fought with Roger at 50-ish. Well, I kinda made Whitebeard hell of a lot younger in this story.
The 17th Division: Mom Of the Whitebeard Pirates: There was only one woman for Whitebeard. He just had to wait until she was ready for him, but sending him a letter after 8 years, asking for his help because the World Government was after her and her 'sons' was not what he was expecting nor the reason why her 'sons' were being hunted down.
Whitebeard/Edward - 27
Annja – 17
Law - 9
Kidd – 6
Ace and Sabo - 5
Luffy – 2 (really around 15 months)
Arc 1 – Her boys
Chapter 8 – Waitin' on a woman
~Aboard the Moby Dick~
Edward walked out of his cabin, inhaling the sea breeze. He went to the kitchen and dropped off his plate for the fourth division to take care of. He walked to his chair and gazed out at the rising sun. It was a beautiful morning.
"Pops," he heard one of his sons called out, "Marco is on the transponder snail." The son rushed over and handed him the snail.
"Hello," he said into the receiver.
"Hello, Pops," he heard his first son replied back, "You will never guess who Yusuke and I ran into last night, here in the South Blue."
"Who?" Edward asked, curiosity lacing his deep voice. He didn't know anyone in that Blue.
"Mom." Marco stated.
Edward sat frozen in his seat. He felt the stares of his family before he responded to Marco, "Give me a minute, Marco." He stood up and walked to his quarters. He shut the door behind him and headed to his desk, sitting in the chair. "Alright, son, go on. How does your mom look?"
"Like shit. I'm guessing from how deep she slept last night after I took her back to her ship, she hadn't been sleeping well and a bit on the skinny side if you ask me." Marco answered.
"Oh," Edward's tone told Marco to explain.
"I was able to sneak in on her while she was sleeping, three times, Pops," the blonde said, "And when I handed her food, she basically inhaled it. I asked her younger son.."
"Younger son?" Edward felt a shock go through him. Annja gave birth to what sounded like at least two boys?
"Sorry, Pops," Marco replied, not sounding sorry at all, "She took a leaf out of your book and adopted two boys."
Edward glared at the snail. He never wanted to thump the boy on the head as bad as he did then.
"Anyway, I asked her younger son, Kidd, about the situation where they had lived before," Marco continued, "From what the boy told me, the standard of living on the island – he didn't tell me the name – was high and Mom had to work three jobs to keep food on the table for Law and her, alone. She also took the street kids she came across. Kidd was one of them."
"Keep her and her boys there, Marco," Edward ordered, "I'm coming to get her."
"Pops," Marco's tone made Edward paused in mid-thought of making plans, "I figured out why she hasn't come home yet," Marco explained, "I managed to record the conversation without her knowledge."
A female voice rang through the snail; a frustrated note could be heard clearly. She vented, telling Marco she was scared shitless and how she felt she couldn't be the woman Edward 'needed' her to be.
Edward lend back in his chair, listening what she did say and what she didn't say.
"That's why," he mused. He grabbed the sake bottle he had stashed in his desk for the late nights, working on paperwork. He brought it up to his lips and took a long drink. "Does everyone else know who she is?"
"No," Marco replied, "she wants it to keep down low until she is ready." He paused, "Mom's twitches every time I address her as such, however the boy – Kidd- can call her that without her flinching." There was a slight jealous note in his voice.
"Gahaha," Edward laughed softly, "Is that jealous I hear, boy?"
"Maybe," Marco replied. At least the boy was being honest about it.
"The boy that was kidnapped by the pink feather bastard, what is his name?"
"Trafalgar D. Law. He's a black hair boy, wearing a black poke-a-dotted white furry hat, and has the Amber Lead disease," Marco described
"Did she say how long the boy has to live?"
"She being tight lipped about that," he commented, dryly. Edward sighed. "She did say she had someone looking for a devil fruit that could save the boy's life."
"Ah, yes, the ope-ope no Mi," Edward replied, "I've heard rumors about that devil fruit….."
"VICE-COMMANDER! COMMANDER! WE HAVE A PROBLEM OFF THE STARBAORD SIDE!"
"Pops, I will call you back," Marco said before he hung up on Pops and dashed out on deck.
Edward stared at the transponder snail after Marco hung up. He sat the snail aside and got up, leaving his quarters. He went and sat down in his captain chair on deck, lending back. He thought about Marco had done and what Annja had said to Marco.
'Scared shitless,' he thought. His brown eyes roamed the deck, taking in his many sons and daughters. He could see the reason why Annja would feel that way. His family already reached 1600 people and was still growing. He grabbed the neck of a sake bottle and brought it up to his lips before taking a long drink.
He sat the sake bottle back down at his side. Annja was right when she said she would be the mother of the Whitebeard Pirates before there was any romance between them. The brats would get in the way, trying to be helpful.
"Sittin' on a bench at West Town Mall
He sat down in his overalls and asked me
You waitin' on a woman
I nodded yeah and said how 'bout you
He said son since 1352 I've been
Waitin' on a woman," Edward heard one of his newer sons, Izo, sang as he thought the song sounded familiar.
"Whne I picked her up for our fist date
I told her I'd be there at eight
And she came down the stairs
At 8:30
She said I'm sorry that I took so long
Didn't like a thing that I tried on
But let me tell you son she sure looked pretty
Yeah, she's take her time, but I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman."
Edward noticed Izo had drawn a crowd around him as he sang. The captain remembered the boy singing the song in the town Edward picked him at.
"So, when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman
Honey, take your time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman."
The next time Marco calls, Edward thought, he would tell the brat that he would wait for Annja to come to him. He swung back another mouthful of sake. He did hope she would hurry, though. After all, he could only use his hand so much. He had a thought. How the hell would he and Annja have sex? She was so damn tiny compared to him. He bit back a groan. He wondered if there was a devil fruit that would help him in that department.
~Annja~
Annja held the Ope-Ope No Mi in her left hand. She stared at it in shock. Then she started to wonder why Doflamingo had the devil fruit. What was his plans with it? She blinked and casted those thoughts out of her mind. She glanced around, looking for a bag or something to place the devil fruit in. She mentally cursed as she didn't see anything small enough to put the devil fruit. She shifted the scarf to the side and shoved the devil fruit down the front of her shirt, forcing the devil fruit down into her bra before she shifted the scarf over her collarbone and chest.
Annja stood up and walked out of the hole. She blinked as Marco, in his phoenix form, circled overhead and suddenly rested down on Annja's left shoulder. She tilted her head, looked up at the blue bird, and told him, "Watch your claws. I rather not have claw marks in my shoulder, Marco."
The phoenix cooed, softly. She took that as Marco understood. She looked around the battlefield before she walked toward the far edge, dancing from the flamingo pirates' attacks. She hurried off the ship, smirking. Marco hopped from her shoulder and mid-air, transformed back into his human form.
"So," he questioned.
"I found one of the two things I was looking for," Annja replied, walking away from the pink color ship, "Just need to find my son than everything will be better in the world."
"Law's in the hospital wing," Marco stated.
"Thank you," she replied before she changed her course and headed to the first division ship. She climbed the gangplank and walked to the wing. She spotted Kidd's bed empty and cocked an eyebrow. Her eyes roamed over the room and spotted the red head boy, sitting beside another bed with a raven hair boy. Annja paused, standing beside the wall just inside the doorway as she watched the two boys interacted, trying to stay out of the way of the steady stream of medical personal rushing about, taking care of the injured pirates
Marco stopped behind her and uttered, "What?"
"Well," Annja started, "this is the first time I've seen those two interact without violence. Usually, I have to send them to different rooms for a moment of silence which only lasts until one of them pisses the other off."
Marco snorted in amusement, "Sounds like the Moby Dick to me."
Annja reached for the devil fruit and pulled it out. Marco made a choking sound. She glanced at him, with a teasing glint in her ice blue eyes, "Don't choke, Marco, remember to shallow."
Marco glared at her.
"Mom was real worried about you," Kidd commented, "Idiot."
"Really," Law replied, "I know she was also worried about you and making sure you get better, moron." He blinked at Kidd, "How did you get off the island?"
"I stowaway on her ship," Kidd explained, "She was going after you. I don't think we will be going back to that island."
"Why do you say that," Law asked.
"She packed up everything in 7 really big bags and put on the boat," Kidd glanced up. "Mom!" he cried out. His eyes lit up. He gave her a mile-wide grin. "Look who showed up."
Annja gave a small snort of amusement before she walked forward, "I see that," she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She studied Law, "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, mom," Law replied. She tossed the devil fruit at him.
"Eat up," Annja ordered. Law looked at the devil fruit. She explained, "It's the Ope-Ope No Mi. I think it will save your life, Law, from the Amber Lead Disease."
Law's head snapped. His eyes were wide. His face frozen with shock. His voice shook as he spoke, "Are you sure?"
Annja nodded, speaking, "I did plenty of research when we were traveling with Shanks and his crew. They had a book on Devil Fruits and I found information on the Ope-Ope No Mi in there."
"You traveled with Shanks!" Marco cut in. Annja glanced up at him, seeing he was standing close by. She saw a hurt glint in his eyes and fought back guilt. "Why?"
"I'll tell you later, Marco," Annja promised.
"You better," he muttered.
"Gosh, for a grown ass man, he's acting like us," Kidd muttered to Law as Annja brought up her fist and thumped Kidd on the head, "Ow, Mom, that hurt!"
"What did I say about your language?" Annja scolded, glaring at Kidd.
Law snorted in amusement before he brought the heart shape devil fruit up to his mouth and took a huge bit out of it. Annja watched Law's face screw up with disgust as he turned green and he shallowed.
Kidd handed a glass of water. Law grabbed it and chugged it.
"That was gross!" Law gasped. Marco and Kidd chuckled. Annja giggled. "I don't feel any different," the new devil fruit user said.
"Hey," Annja held up her hands, "I'm not the person to ask. I don't have a devil fruit, yet. Ask your brother or Marco."
Law looked up at Marco. Marco sighed, "What are your plans, Annja?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead, other than maybe travel to another blue, probably the West Blue, for a while," Annja rumbled a bit, "That was whatever Doflamingo had planned for Law and the Ope-Ope No Mi, we'll be out of his reach for a bit."
Marco nodded, "I'll see what Pops has planned. The last I heard, he wanted to come here. I'll inform him that I'm gonna travel with you three for a while."
Annja blinked and muttered, "All the more reason why we are getting the hell out of here, asap."
Kidd exclaimed, softly, "Ever heard of asking, blonde?"
Law looked at Annja, asking, "Do you think he will be able to teach me how to use my devil fruit?"
"I do not know, baby," Annja replied, "I just know, yes there are some similarities with some of them, how each devil fruit work is different." She paused, thinking, "Take Kidd's magnetic devil fruit powers and Marco's." She glanced at Kidd, "He is a walking magnet while Marco is a walking mythical bird." She smiled, softly at Law, "The Ope-Ope No Mi is a devil fruit that medical community has sought. In my research, I've came across tons of theories over your devil fruit from how it can save lives by being eaten to giving a person immortality at the cost of the user's life." She cupped Law's head in her left hand, "You are a doctor in training, Law. I'm sure you can figure out the Ope-Ope No Mi's secrets."
~Marco~
"Hey, is Pops there," the blonde pineapple head asked, speaking into the transponder snail.
"Yeah, let me go get him for ya, Vice-Commander Marco."
Marco glanced out, looking on deck as the Whitebeard Pirates cleaned up the mess that Doflamingo's men made. He heard some of the first division shipwrights working on repairing the ship.
"Marco?"
"Heya Pops," he greeted, "I got some good and bad news. The bad news is Doflamingo ran into the part of our ship. The shipwrights are repairing it now, but Commander Yusuke doesn't know how long it will take. The good news is Annja found the Ope-Ope No Mi and her eldest son, Law."
"But…?"
"Annja and her boys are talking about heading to the West Blue for a bit," Marco informed Pops, "I was wondering if I could with them for a while?"
"Keep an eye on her for me, Marco, and tell her, I'll be waiting for her when she's ready to come home."
"Yes, Pops."
~Annja~
Annja yawned as she exited the cabin on her boat. She spotted Law and Kidd walking with Marco. She raised an eyebrow at Marco as she noticed he was carrying a bag over his shoulder.
"Mom, guess what," Kidd stated, excitedly.
"What?" Annja asked.
"Marco is coming with us," Law replied for Kidd.
"I was gonna say that, Law." Kidd argued, glaring at Law.
"If you don't mind, Mom," Marco said, almost shyly. She blinked in surprise as the two boys cried out, "MOM?"
"Hey, she's our mother," Law glared up at Marco.
"Yeah," Kidd agreed, "We are not sharing her with anyone else."
Annja snorted, "Law, Kidd," she scolded softly, "Marco is one of Edward's boys." She looked at them, "You know what that means, don'tcha?"
"Are we joining Mr. Newgate, soon," Law asked, innocently. Annja would have believed him, except she saw the glint in Law's eyes. She narrowed her eyes.
"Not yet, Law," she replied, "Don't start planning any pranks, just yet." She waved Marco aboard. "I don't think Shanks has gotten over all the pranks you pulled on him."
"Hey, the itching powder was your idea, mom," Law argued.
"But I'm not the one who put it in his pants," Annja raised, "Now did I?"
"You suggested it," Law whined, "I didn't know he was gonna run around naked."
"Me either," she agreed, "But…" she grinned, remembering, "That ass!"
Marco seemed to shallow his tongue at that comment as the trio climbed aboard the ship.
"Mom," Annja heard Marco shout above the roar of the waves, "Keep the helm steady." She tightened her grip on the wheel as she steered the ship onto the strong current heading up the mountain.
Law and Kidd stood by the figure head, watching with horror and astonishment. They knew if Annja didn't manage to get lined up the cannel, they could kiss their asses goodbye.
Suddenly, the ship rocketed up, through the mouth of the cannel. Annja gapped as she let go of the helm, seeing there was only one way to go. She hurried up, to stand beside her younger boys. She spotted Marco lend against the railing, smiling.
"This is amazing," Kidd shouted.
"Really cool," Law agreed.
Annja felt the ship, if it was even possible, gain more speed as they sped up through the clouds, going up, up, and up until Annja felt her eyes widen. She spotted the tip of the mountain. Fishes jumped into the air before falling back into the ocean, this time swimming down into the Grand Line.
Annja felt the ship fly airborne. Law and Kidd floated upward as Annja felt her feet leave the deck. She giggled. She spotted water droplets flying higher than the ship did turn to tiny crystals of ice. She turned her gaze onto Law. His face lit up with excitement. His steel grey eyes seemed transform into stars. Annja's eyes turned to Kidd. The red head boy had a mile-wide grin and his fire like eyes glowed with exhilaration.
Annja heard something like a clicking sound. She turned her head to see Marco holding up a camera. She raised an eyebrow. He smiled, replied, "For Pops."
She sighed as she felt her feet touched the deck again and the ship zoomed down the mountain, heading into the Grand Line.
Annja stared out at the ocean as Marco steered through the Grand Line, heading toward the calm belt.
"Law and I already traveled through the Calm Belt once before," she explained, "Shanks sailed through it, heading for the South Blue."
Marco seem to perk up at this, and asked the question that had been bugging him, "Why did you sail with Shanks?"
She glanced at him. She opened her mouth to explain, "The night I saw Edward for the first time, I was a prisoner on a Marine ship and escaped during the chaos Edward and crew created, rescuing Winter and Yusuke. I took a row boat and rowed away from the fight," she licked her lips, "the Marine ship, I remember, was sent toward me and created a wave that I rode through the calm belt and into the North Blue." She glanced at Law, "My row boat crashed on Law's island and I was stuck there for three days before the Navy showed up. I watched them excuted every human being on the island as I tried to reach the harbor. When I did, I found Law standing on a pier, looking out at the ocean." She sipped on the barrel of water she held, "I heard some Marines walk closer and I just acted. I ran toward Law, scooped him up and jumped into the ocean before I hid us under the pier." She took a shaky breath.
Marco saw in her eyes that whatever what happen on the island still hunted her.
"I managed to get us out to sea, holding onto a piece of board. We spent the night in the water until sun raise when a rowboat approached us. Shanks took us aboard the Red Force and we just never left until they got word one of their island were being attacked." She finished explaining, "I made the decision to stay on one of the island in the South Blue. It's been just over a year and half since I last seen Shanks. Don't know if he's still alive or not."
Marco didn't say anything as he processed what she said. After long stretch of silence, he spoke, "That's another reason why you didn't come to Pops." He paused, "Because you cared for Shanks?"
"He is like a brother to me," Annja said, "Not a lover." She kept quiet about the morning after her 16th birthday. Marco didn't need to know about that, even thought, nothing happened between Shanks and Annja.
Annja glared at Marco as she lay on deck. Kidd and Law panted not that far away from their mother. Annja spoke up, "One…of...these...days…I…will...get...you back for that, Marco."
Marco chuckled, "I like to see you try, Mom."
Law growled, "I will help you, Mom. Marco had no right to do that."
Kidd commented, "Fuckin' pineapple head, flamin' turkey from hell."
Annja didn't bother scolding Kidd on his language as she agreed with him. Marco had claimed going through the calm belt would be a fun training exercise for the trio. Yeah right! She couldn't feel her arms from punching the Sea Kings. She figured she couldn't stand very long either. Her legs seem to pulsate from pain. Law and Kidd was not any better shape than her. Marco barely even helped as he blew his blue flames toward the sails, trying to create some wind though it didn't help. Whenever a Sea King fell back into the ocean, the ship moved with a wave.
"Hey, we are in the East Blue, I think," Marco commented.
"And you call yourself a navigator," Kidd shot back.
"I thought, mom, we were going to West Blue," Law commented.
"Right now," Annja replied, "I don't care what blue we are in as long as we don't go back through the calm belt, again," She paused, "Not without a bigger crew to help handle all the damn Sea Kings."
Kidd and Law nodded.
"Oh," Marco asked, "When will that be?"
"Mom, I'm hungry," Kidd whined.
"Go tell that Marco," Annja told Kidd, "He's fixing dinner tonight since I can't bloody move!" she yelled the last part toward Marco.
"Yeah, yeah," the blonde teen waved her comments off, "You still haven't answered my question."
Annja blinked at him, and grinned before she replied, "That's a secret."
"Moaaom," Marco whined.
"How old are you?"
"I'm this many," Marco held up a three fingers.
Annja turned her head, and asked the two boys, "Are you two in the mood for a blue chicken?"
Law's expression darkened with glee. Kidd smirked. They jumped to their feet. Marco stepped back. The two boys chased their older brother around the ship.
"Hey, Hey!" Marco could be heard yelling, "That's my leg!"
"Room!" Law suddenly called out and a blue sphere appeared around the dark haired boy and Marco. Law took out a scalpel and tried to slice Marco.
"Repel!" Kidd shouted as almost everything metal flew through the air toward Marco.
"Mom!" The oldest teen yelled.
"Not helping!" Annja chirped as she scouted her body around to sit at the bottom of the mast, watching her free entertainment with a smirk.
~17th Division~
Song at the beginning of the chapter: Waitin' on a Woman
NoyvernFTW – Yeah, I agree with the Water Logia Fruit. At first, it was a good idea, but now, it's way over done. I'm sorry that you feel that way and I do understand where you are coming from, but when I posted the first chapter of this story, it was a spur of the moment kind of thing and I really think I would get the response I've been getting. I had a rough idea on some of the chapters were heading to – for example, I thought I would do a chapter each over Law, Kidd, Luffy, Ace, and Sabo before jumping right into Whitebeard and crew rescuing them from the Marines and do a timeskip to the point where each boy would leave the Moby Dick at 17 and become a well-known pirate and show up during the MarineFord Arc to save Ace, throw in some Romance between Edward and Annja, and end the story. Now, with this 8th chapter, I have no idea what the 9th chapter would be about. I have to let it sit for a couple days before I can start typing the chapter up. Unlike my other One Piece Ruby's Story, I have to create almost everything with some research if there is any available since we don't know much about some of the characters like Kidd. Now, your question about Diamond/Kidd pairing. I have an idea in mind for that, so don't get your hopes up, but I might be able work something out.
Jisca – I'm glad you are enjoying this story. Maybe you could check out some of the other stories I've put up and drop a review if you don't mind.
Fuzzy-watercolours – I'm glad you are digging this story. I'm glad you think this story is 'an easy read'. I do agree with AU stories I have read, some of them are hard to read because a number of reason – some of the characters are not in character for the situation, some of the changes are not really like you said logical, etc. I, myself, am a fan of the ASL growing as Whitebeard Pirates before setting off. The whole reason why I am writing this story because the Whitebeard/OC pairing is so rare. I believe my story is the second or third one out on the site. I could be wrong. I'm glad you think Annja is a great, very believable, and likeable character.
Gerson – I'm sorry this chapter didn't meet your hopeful word count. If you haven't check out some of my other stories, please do. My other One Piece Ruby's Story Part 1, has roughly average word count per chapter…let me do the math..3886 words/chapter. Well, I thought it would be more. I guess it's because I do have some really short chapters and AN thrown in, but the next chapter of Ruby's Story Part 1 is already 4940 words and I'm still not done with the chapter. In fact, I'm typing page 31, handwriting page 55 and I'm just started working on the last episode of the chapter…I can't wait until the chapter is finished.
LadyAthena18 – Thank you for the review.
The Reviews that are not showing up on the review page. I don't know why they are not showing up.
WaterdragonTDC – Wow, 11000 words. I can't write in a damn day, maybe a two or three. Max I can write in a day has been 6885.. I'm sorry this chapter word count is not that high. May I ask what kind of stories you are referring to?...Thank you for being a great write. *faints*
Annja: *glances down at valeries26 who twitches with a happy grin on her lips* I guess I'm taking over till she wakes.
PsychopathOnADiet – Thank you for the review. Valeries26 also reads a lot, even though she still needs to find another job.
Guest *Annja reads the review in a soft mutter before she raises her voice* Well, that explains why Valeries26 was so mad the other day, yelling something about research.
Marco: Why?
Annja: someone left a review stating they like the story, however, they don't think it is acceptable to post AN as a chapter, asking a bloody question, it is unimportant, and also commented that she should have just posted a chapter with the FAQ at the bottom of the chapter. Since Val-chan posted a FAQ about how long the chapters should be – how is it a FAQ? –, the guest didn't mean the review as a flame, thought.
Law: Valeries26 is under enough stress as it is *walking into the room* She suffers from a condition call hyperthyroidism, meaning while she can lose weight without really trying, she could also have a heart attack at 26. She already suffers with chest pains and the last time she told me, her left shoulder has started to numb when she is under a lot stress and doesn't take her medicine for two to three days. She takes medicine – *growling* should be taking daily – to counterattack the side effects of hyperthyroidism.
Annja: With her grandmother's birthday at the end of the month and her planned visit to the grave, she will be under an increasing amount of stress. The way she combats the stress and finds relaxation now and in this upcoming June, she writes for hours at a time. Not to mention, she has to find a job asap before her brother and his girlfriend decides to ask her to move out of their apartment and with the amount of bills she has to pay a month, I know her bank account already been drained. Anyway, onto the next review
Jag from Ch 7 *Annja reads it before she speaks* I know Val-chan would agree with you. What I heard about Robin from Val-chan, I agree with you. Vivi/Law would be an interesting pairing. And yes, Marco is really cute when he was jealous
Law *sniggers*
Marco: Am not.
Annja: What's this about a tone dial, Marco?
Marco: *backs up from the room before running away*
Annja: *chases after him*
Law: *looks around* Now, what about that poll I overheard Val-chan talk about the other day…hmm… found it! Let's see 24 votes
Luffy – 9
Robin – 8
A female OC Val-chan creates – 5
The Princess – 2
Interesting. Well, please, drop a review for this chapter, remember to vote, and while you are waiting for the next chapter, please check out Val-chan's other stories. Have a good *glances out the window* night.