A/N: One Piece does not belong to me in anyway. But I do now dedicate this story to LesilleB, for she has helped me immensely in regaining my thoughts for this story. It's all thanks to her that I'm continuing.

"Sage-chawn~!" Sanji spun rapidly around the table, eyes turned into hearts at the sight of her. She, for her part, ignored him, reading the paper. She turned the page as Chase drank his milk. "Sage-chaaawn~!"

"Hai, Sanji?" she glanced up, figuring if she paid him attention, he'd leave sooner. He practically swooned, clasping his hands tightly in-front of his chest. If she didn't know better, she would have assumed he was gay, what with all his twirling around and kissy face.

"Ohh~! You're just so-"

"Sanji-kun!" Thank the Lord Nami knew her pain. "Can you come help me with this?" The plea for help came from outside and Sage returned to the paper. He looked torn for a few seconds before prancing to the door.

"Coming, Nami-swann~!" and he danced through it, the door closing behind him. Sage let out a sigh of relief, folding the paper and placing it on the table.

News bored her immensely. She utterly despised it. Nothing was ever good in it, what with being written by idiots. Idiots who decided they hated pirates and others who were Wanted. Which wasn't all that unusual, what with them being Wanted for a reason…. Well. Most of the time anyway. She herself was wanted because she defended herself against a Marine so long ago. They said it was an attack against the Government and next week she was Wanted for 50,000,000 beli. She protected herself from a drunken Marine and look where she was. It's not like she killed him or anything…

"Ahoy there~!" Sage blinked at the voice. Female. Around her age, more or less. An unknown voice. Was this person an idiot? Who was friendly with pirates? "I was wonderin' if ya'll knew of a way to get to the next island~!" Sage stood from the table. Knowing Luffy, he would invite her on board. What is she was a spy?

"Chase, stay here and finish your milk." The child looked over the rim of his cup and she smiled. "Just stay here, okay?" He nodded and she moved to the door, rolling her shoulders back. Luffy was an idiot if he let her on…

"Sure! We're gonna be going there next! Wanna join us?" a thud, which Sage took as Nami beating their Captain down to the deck. Yup. Her Captain was an idiot. "Ow, Nami, what was that for? She just wants to go to the next island!" She opened the door, leaning against the wall right outside, closing the door securely behind her.

Nami was glaring at the black haired boy, fists on her hips. "Luffy, you idiot! We know nothing about this girl!" He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.

"We didn't know anything about Sage and we let her on!" Nami faltered and averted her eyes, now crossing her arms as well.

"W-well… Sage had money!" Sage, meanwhile, shook her head. "So, there!" Luffy leaned over the rail, grinning down at the girl presumably there.

"Yea, sure! Come on up!"

"LUFFY!" the crew yelled at their Captain, who was just grinning. Sage leaned her head back against the wall, watching carefully as two hands appeared on the rail and then a body swung over the wood easily.

The girl was petite with light brown hair. Freckles were scattered over the bridge of her nose and the top of her cheeks. Her brown hair was pulled back in a pony-tail. Light skin. Denim shorts, ragged at the bottom. Plain blue t-shirt. Sneakers. She looked normal…. She grinned. "Gee, thanks! I've been 'ere way too long, but no one would take me! You said somethin' about money… I don't have much, but I can pay!" she pulled out a fistful of bills from her pocket, blue eyes looked at Nami. "Is… is this enough, Miss?" Nami eyed the money carefully before grinning widely and taking it.

"That's perfect!" She counted the amount off to the side, going over it a few times. Sage shook her head, pushing off against the wall and moving toward the girl. She looked somewhat shocked.

"Hey. Don't worry about it. She's cool." She placed a hand on the smaller girl's shoulder. Blue eyes looked up at her in awe and Sage twitched slightly. "I'm Sage." Blue eyes widened further and the girl catapulted herself at the blonde.

"KYAAAH~! Sage! I thought I'd never see you again~!" Sage was currently sprawled on the deck being nuzzled by the freckled female. A very awkward position when only guys were on board. Sage pushed against the girl's shoulders and sat up, the girl sitting before her, hands in her lap, eyes bright.

"O-oi, oi, don't do that…." Red covered her features as she avoided eye contact with everyone. "I don't even know you…" The girl suddenly looked crushed, tears sprouting in her eyes. "H-hey! What's with that?"

"B-b-but Sage-chan… I-i-it's me… L-letti…" Sage blinked at the girl, who suddenly looked a lot younger than she had originally seemed.

"Letti…?" A happy smile on the girl's part.

"Oh, Sage-nee-chan! I knew you'd remember me!" and she was hugging her tightly, going a hundred miles an hour, talking about how her life had been and what-not.

Truth was, no. Sage didn't remember her. She remembered a little 10-year old she found along her travels and took her along for awhile until she found the girl's parents. That girl was quiet and timid and wouldn't talk to strangers. Especially not pirates.

And she wouldn't have tried to hitch a ride with pirates either.

"-and so Papa said I should come and find you! So, here I am~!" the bright, some-what annoying smile was still there.

Sage shook her head. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Mama!" The child was at the galley door, empty cup of milk in hand. He smiled cutely. "More milk, Mama! Please?" Letti narrowed her eyes at the four-year-old, wrapping her arms around Sage's own arm tightly. She stuck her tongue out at the boy.

"Oi, Sage-nee-chan isn't a 'mama', kid." Her voice was dark and Nami turned around to look at the 14-year-old in surprise. "And she's busy, so, shoo." Chase's lips pulled into a pout.

"No, Mama's mama! And Mama is Chase's mama! Not your mama!" Letti's eyes darkened further. Sage was currently wondering what the heck was going on at this point, and when had Letti become like this? Chase moved forward but stopped when Letti hissed at him. Of all things. She hissed at him. His eyes welled up with tears and he looked so very pathetic. But Letti wasn't giving up yet. "M-mama! She's being mean!" he wailed and Sage rose to her feet, shaking Letti off her arm. The girl blinked up at her owlishly.

"Sage-nee-chan?" Sage's face was blank of anything as she walked away from her. Towards the brat who she determined to be her rival for Sage's attention. Even if the kid was a liar. Sage crouched down in-front of the boy.

"Ne, Chase? You're out of milk?" the child was still letting tears leak through, but nodded.

"Y-y-yeah…" A smile.

"Well. We better get more milk, right?"

"Right, Mama…" Sage rose, taking his hand and leading him back into the galley to where the milk was. Letti was still sitting on the deck, head tilted to the side, confusion etched across her features.

"Eh? What just happened?"

Leo looked up at the clock and gave a smile. "Looks like the brat wouldn't be here again, eh Lucille?" The cook was currently sitting in a booth near the kitchen, a glass bottle of beer in her hands. She was a rather striking woman in her mid-20's. Black hair pulled up in a bun and brown eyes. Simple clothes. She looked over at her employer.

"Hmm? Oh, that Letti girl? The one lookin' for her sister?" Leo leaned back against the counter.

"Yea. That one. She's way too young to even be in a bar, though…" Lucille grinned, raising the bottle to her lips once again. "Well, whatever. I don't really care. At-least she's not here bothering us again."

"She might just be a little late. She might still come." Lucille stated, turning the bottle around in her fingers, watching in interest as light sprinkled through the glass, making shapes on the tables. Leo faltered, then shook his head.

"No. She's been here at 7 sharp everyday for the last two weeks. It's 7:23." Lucille rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Whatever. I'll be in the kitchen. Tell me when we get any customers." Leo nodded, then looked back out at his establishment.

It was utterly empty…

Letti was watching the boy move around the galley. First he would go to Sage, then to the fish tank, then to Robin, then back to the fish, eat a piece of bread, go to Chopper, then go back to Sage. She didn't like the brat. He was annoying and obviously a liar because Sage had never said she had a kid. Sage had never said, so it wasn't so. "Mama! Mama! Lookie at the fishies!" he giggled and Sage smiled. Letti's frown deepened.

Maybe Sage had found him like she had found Letti herself? And she was just playing along 'cause the kid was little?

No. That couldn't be. The kid probably thought she looked awesome and decided to follow her around and call her Mama. If it was the last thing Letti did, she would get this kid away from her onee-chan.

Griffin was looking over a map, his brow furrowed. "Oi, soldier. Where's this island?" He jabbed the paper in his hand harshly. The soldier blinked and looked over his superior's shoulder.

"…sir…The map… It's upside down…" Griffin blinked.

"Huh? Oh." he turned it right side up and peered closely at it. "Huh… Timberlake Island? That's the next island over, isn't it?" He looked up at the soldier for confirmation. A nod. He looked back down at the map, face thoughtful. "Alright. Go tell your commander I'm leaving. The trouble's died down so there's no need for me to stay. I'll be gone in an hour, got it?" the soldier saluted.

"Aye, sir!"

EPIC PROBLEM RIGHT THERE, FOLKS.

So, yea. Griffin isn't the best with maps. But he's a good fighter, so that makes up for it. And now we're getting somewhere, yea? Anyway, as stated previously, this story is now dedicated to LesilleB. Cuz she's so very helpful and makes my head work~!

Don't ya'll just already love Letti? I think she's adorable~!

And so, happy 4th of July folks~!