A/N: Yay! I'm on a roll!! Another early update for pirate Love, and guess what? The story is now 53 percent of the way complete! Its so exciting, not long now until its finished. Also special thanks to The Raven from freedom of speech who has reviewed every week and special thanks also to 1piecelover93 who is always encouraging me. And I won't forget all the people at who continue to write wonderful reviews for this story, it is what has given me the inspiration to write this story and keep it going! Now before I get anymore stupid and mushy and have people gaging Let us move forward!!! ENJOY!!

I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE!!

Move on and forget about him lass. That's all you can do. The words Shanks had spoke only a few moments previous, replayed themselves over and over again in Amista's head. How could she just give him up like that, she had only just realised that she had fallen completely and stupidly in love with him. She was such a fool, to believe that maybe she would be the one that would change his mind about women. She had to find out what had happened. She was not going to give up without a fight, she would not accept defeat so easily and she sure as hell was not going to sit there and cry about it like some weak damsel in distress!

Standing up and wiping her face, Amista combed her fingers through her thick blonde locks. Her hair had grown so much since she had joined the Marines. It was time for a new change within her, so grabbing a short dagger she carried with her, Amista walked into the bathroom and ten minutes later was extremely pleased with herself.

After gathering up all of her stuff, Amista made her way to the deck of the ship to talk to Shanks. Once business here was over, she could make her way back to headquarters and further her plans in her life. She was no longer anyone's play thing, now she looked after herself and look out world here she came.

"What have you done to your hair Lass!! If this is something your doing to get back at Mihawk, I don't think it will work!" Shanks exclaimed upon noticing Amista's presence. She looked very much different to the pale and gaunt looking female that he had left only half an hour ago. Instead of the pained look in her eye, he saw determination. She stood tall, straight and proud. Her hair, once so long that it reached her hips, was now short and didn't quite touch her shoulders. She looked like a new woman.

"Why? Do you like it? There is much appreciation in your eyes Mr Shanks." Amista smiled thinly. She had loved her long hair, but it had been a good vent for her anger and she was actually quite pleased with the results. She didn't look so mousy now, a fact that she liked. She would win Mihawk back, but she would not let him see how much he had destroyed her.

"I does suit you. But why did you cut it? You looked nice with long hair as well." Shanks pointed out, confused by her actions and the new confidence that was radiating from her. No one gained confidence that easily or quickly, though he couldn't quite figure out what game she was playing and it was frustrating him.

"Well I thought it was time for a change. It was getting split ends anyway, it will grow back eventually. It is, after all only hair." Amista smiled a garish smile that sent shivers down the spines of everyone who saw it. She seemed to be overly bright for someone who had just got their heart ripped from their chest.

"I'm glad that you have taken my advice Lass. But don't you think you're going a bit over board. Maybe you should stay here with the crew for a couple more days or weeks. We wouldn't want you going out and doing something stupid now would we?" Shanks watched Amista's every move intently. He tried to pick up any signs about what she was feeling, he got none however. She concealed every action with ease and what seemed like second nature. That was what scared him, when she had first come to the island, she'd been an open book. He got the feeling that this was not the first time she had been through a rough patch and it made him wonder at her past.

"A bit over board? Oh don't be silly Shanks! I'm touched that you are worried about me, really I am, but I am fine. Now on to business, let's get this meeting over and done with. I have wasted enough time as it is!" Amista thought she was going to breakdown at any second, but with practiced ease she covered her innermost feelings. She remembered back to the time that her parents had died, and how she had been the one to put on the brave face. She would do it again now and then again the next time she went through such a tough period of hurt. She would come out the winner every time, that, she had vowed a long time ago when she had held a sobbing Coral close, offering as much comfort as she could possibly give away.

"Well if you're sure that you're okay... But when you do leave, I will have someone to accompany you. The Grand Line seas can be a harsh place to sail." Shanks would not be able to live with himself if he let the Lass go off by herself. Although he had no emotional attachment to her, he was worried that she might have gone off the deep end at Mihawk's dismissal of her.

"Very well then if that will make you happy then I will let one of your men escort me back to headquarters. It is a very generous offer, one that I thank you for." Amista bowed, showing him great respect. He wouldn't know how much his offer actually meant to her. She was terrified of the sea and she didn't want to face it alone ever again. Even though she knew she would have to someday. Though she liked to think that would be not sooner rather than later.

"Now that's sorted let's get this meeting underway. Go ahead and ask all the questions that you need. We have an infinite amount of time on our hands." Shanks smiled and passed her a bottle of grog. He was slightly surprised to see her drown it as fast as she did. But he kept his thoughts to himself and answered her questions in as much detail as he possibly could. He just hoped that she would be alright and that she was telling the truth when she said she wasn't going to do anything stupid. Once again he cursed Mihawk for the mess he had left behind, did he not know the damage he had caused. Shanks would have to find out one day, why Mihawk hated women so much.

Mihawk stared at the tiny Island that came into view, he would make forget Amista. He hated the way her eyes had filled with tears when he had told her goodbye. His gut had clenched at seeing her so distraught, but he had known from the moment she started getting too close that it would have to end. Shanks had been right, Mihawk would never be able to give Amista what she truly deserved. A family and a loving husband. Sitting back in his chair he let his mind wander back to the night his trust had been destroyed.

"Mihawk! Oh Mihawk I have excellent news!" Rebecca ran towards Mihawk and he felt his heart pound and swell with love at the beautiful sight of her. She was every thing that he could have wished for in a woman and she was all his. He watched as her long, red curly locks blew with the wind against her pale skin. She had a slender and willowy figure and in his eyes, she was the most beautiful being to walk the earth.

"What is it chéri?" Mihawk asked, scooping his bride to be into his arms and holding her against his chest, breathing in her delicious scent and wishing he could stay like that for an eternity. He didn't know what he would do without her in his life, she made him feel complete, and once he was the number one swordsman in the world, he would be the happiest man alive.

"Oh Mihawk!" Rebecca kissed him thoroughly before squealing in delight. "We're going to have a baby Juraquille. A baby!"

Mihawk was struck by such emotion that he couldn't speak and all as he could do was pull his woman closer to him and kiss her once again, showing her his real feelings without telling her in words. She was the only person he had ever trusted enough to show his emotions to.

A few weeks later, Mihawk's world fell apart. He could here a strange noise coming from within Rebecca's house. His senses screamed out warnings and he made his way quickly to the source, he would never forgive himself if something had happened to his baby.

"Ah!" Rebecca's voice called out and Mihwk's pulse shot into overdrive. He fastened his pace and slammed open the door, ready to carry her to the hospital if she was in trouble. The scene that met his eyes however made him freeze, fury washing through his entire body.

"Mihawk!" Rebecca squealed and the man that had been having his way with her pulled back and shot around to look at him, fear evident in his eyes.

"You keep your hands off my woman and my baby!" Mihawk picked the man up by his throat and held him against the wall, cutting off any breath for the man. "You'll never come near my family again! I will kill you now!"

"Mihawk stop it!" Rebecca squealed and stabbed him in the back with a dagger. In his surprise Mihawk dropped the slimy, purple haired man to the ground and turned to Rebecca, starting at her in disbelief. "Don't touch him! I hate you!"

"You what? What is going on Rebecca?" Mihawk walked towards her and she stepped back, not letting him near.

"You are a prick. I only wanted your money and I never got it anyway. You don't give me any sexual pleasure, your a dunce in the bed! That's why I have to do this! Nye is helping me!" Rebecca spat at Mihawk, fueling the fire that was his rage.

"But what about the baby? Are you going to let the baby suffer because you made a mistake?" Mihawk's face twisted in rage and his eyes blazed with unhidden anger. How could he not have seen this coming? He would never give up his child however. He would fight until the end.

"You think there's a child? I'm not pregnant Mihawk! It was a lie and you fell for it hook line and sinker!" Rebecca laughed at Mihawk and he felt himself go numb inside. He had wanted the child so much, it had made him feel wonderful to think that he would be a father and that he was needed. He vowed that he would never again let a woman get that close ever again, he would never be emotionally attached to anything.

Mihawk sighed. It didn't matter how long ago that event had taken place, the pain was still as fresh as ever, clinging to his very soul. When Rebecca had told him he would be a father, he had felt needed, like he had something good in the world, someone to protect. He had been wrong however and it seemed that Rebecca had been telling the truth that she didn't love him, she was still with Nye after all. Though he wasn't true to her like Mihawk had been.

Silently Mihawk compared Rebecca and Amista. He had been very young with Rebecca, too young to think about families and love. Amista seemed to be so much different in every way, but he wondered, if he got close would she be the same as Rebecca? He wouldn't take that risk, call him a coward, but it was the only way for him to survive in life.

"Tell Shanks I said thanks very much, Roo!" Amista said as she climbed out of the small boat and hugged her escort. Shanks had told Roo, to take her home. He was one of Shanks' most trusted men and was very good at navigating through the Grand Line seas. Though he did have a very unhealthy appetite for meat.

"Will do, you keep safe now!" Roo said, climbing back into the ship and unfurling the sails. He would have to get going before the storms came. If he got caught in them, then he would be in trouble.

Smiling to herself, Amista walked back up to her room and was surprised to see Nye in there with another woman. The woman had long, curly red hair and was very beautiful. She smiled at Amista as she walked through the door and held out a beautifully manicured hand.

"Hi Amista, the name's Rebecca, but you can just call me Bec." The woman said shaking Amitsa's hand. Amista stared at her, stomach churning. There was no way that this could be the same woman Mihawk kept comparing her to. It was just a weird coincidence.

"Nice to meet you. Without sounding rude, would I be able to ask why the two of you are in my room?" Amista didn't like the way Bec looked at her, it made her feel inferior and stupid. Though every woman that was as beautiful as Bec had that effect on her.

"I just joined the Marines and Nye has informed me that I will be sharing this room with you. I'm sorry if that's a problem." Bec said her voice sounding unsure. Amista scolded herself for being so rude, she hadn't known that she was going to have a room mate.

"Oh, well that's okay! But I warn you, tonight you'll be here alone, I have somewhere that I have to be and I don't know when I'll be back!" Amista smiled at her new room mate. She was glad that she had planned to visit Whitebeard and ask him his questions, she would not have to spend too much time with Bec.

"Oh? You have a boyfriend to please, or maybe a lover?" Bec asked, acid in her voice. Amista didn't know why, but she got the feeling that Bec didn't like her very much. She made Amista feel uncomfortable and vulnerable in a way that she couldn't understand. Bec didn't seem like a very nice person.

"Ha! I wish, but the only men that I get to spend my time with lately are pirates, and they are not the kind of people I look at as lovers." Amista smiled sweetly and walked to her wardrobe, pulling out a long black jacket. She had been planning to stay at headquarters longer, but her new friend made her uncomfortable and she thought it would be best if she just left now.

"Some of those pirates are good looking enough to turn a girl but... What about that Juraquille Mihawk? Or red haired Shanks? They are both gorgeous men!" Bec watched for any signs of recognition and was very disappointed when she got none. Nye had been suspicious about the little whore in front of her for a while, but it seemed there was nothing to fear.

"But they're criminals!" Amista shouted in indignation. There was something wrong about the woman in front of her, she was asking too many questions. Amista would have to be careful and watch her back.

"Well now that the two of you are acquainted, I think I'll go and finish the paper work staked on my desk." Nye said nodding formally to the girls before walking from the room. Both women let out a breath, then Bec turned nasty. Quick as lightning she grabbed Amista by the throat and pushed her against the wall.

"I know that you're sleeping with Juraquille Mihawk! He's a bastard and I warn you girlie, stay very much away from him, he'll destroy your life." Bec let go of Amista and watched in satisfaction as she took great gulps of air. She wouldn't let Mihawk be happy. If Bec couldn't have him and his gold, then no one could have him and she would make sure of that.

"I already told you, I don't have a lover! I'm going away for a couple of days on Yonkou business, I have to see Whitebeard! And trust me, it will take a long time for him to listen, he thinks of himself as very high and mighty, with good reason I must add." Amista hissed at Bec, now knowing that she was not a very nice person.

"Well then, carry on! I just hope you're not here when I am, I can't stand little goody goodies like you, wench." Bec turned from Amista and acted like she was in the room alone, giving Amista the hint that she could leave now. Amista gritted her teeth and left the room, she would very much like to change rooms, it would drive her mental being with that red haired woman.

Nye watched Amista stride from headquarters in a huff. Her now short hair bounced and he found that he had to supress the reaction that was formulating in his body. He wanted her so bad, but only for one day, she wasn't that attractive. It was the fact that she would not let him near her that made him want her all the more.

He wanted to bite her naked body and have her squirm and scream with pain beneath him. He wanted to hear her beg for mercy before he plunged in and took what should rightfully be his. No longer would she sell herself to the world, no, then she would crawl in upon herself and quit making his life a misery. If he got to her, he would have stolen another woman from Mihawk, because he had do doubt that Mihawk had marked his territory with her.

"Nye honey?" Rebecca's sugar sweet voice rang through the halls and Nye whipped around to face the door, intent on the moment his Rebecca stepped in to the room.

"I'm in here Bec!"

"It looks as though you were wrong about the girl." Rebecca said softly as she walked through the door. Seeing the look in Nye's eyes she smirked and walked towards him after locking the door. She would give him exactly what he needed because he was giving her the big bucks!

Amista stormed from headquarters angry with herself at letting Rebecca get the better of her. She was just a horrible woman who didn't care about anyone's feelings except her own. Amista would just have to find off campus work all the more often now, seeing as her and her room mate didn't get along. Taking a deep breath to center herself, Amista climbed into one of the small Marine ships teid to the dock.

Carefully she untied it and let the Ocean pull her out a bit, then she unfurled the sails and consulted her compass. This time she would not get caught up by stupid sea monsters, she would find Whitebeard's boat quickly and efficiently. Anyway, how many people are attacked by sea kings two times in one week? It would be very unfortunate for her to run into a sea king, so she had nothing to worry about.

What she did forget to take into account however, were the pirate ships that swarmed the seas that day. Amista couldn't help but groan in frustration as a cannon flew into the water beside her boat, causing it to fill with water and start to slowly sink. Amista started to panic as the water rose around her ship, she couldn't swim, she had no doubt that she would die here and now.

"Haul her in boys! Looks like we'll be having some company tonight!" A voice on the ship sounded and Amista couldn't help but roll her eyes. Why was she always plagued by perverts, they seemed to be everywhere she went!

A rope was flung around Amista and she was pulled on to the ships deck. Quietly she looked around, the ship was in poor condition, though the men looked far worse. Every thing had a coating of grim and it made her lips curl in disgust at the living conditions that they had to endure. She would not let this be the end of her.

"Where is your Captain?!" Amista bellowed, she hardly knew what she was doing, but she decided to keep going. If she kept going, then she wouldn't have to face the pain buried just beneath the surface of her strong facade. The pirates stared at her as if she was a crazy woman, but Amista didn't care. After all, maybe she was a crazy woman, trying to deal with a pain that kept her awake in the night trying to relive the soft caress of the bastard she loved.

"I am here little Miss. What do I owe for the honor of your presence?" The Captain was a greasy looking guy with a long pink beard and pink curly hair. He had a huge beer belly and the way he held himself made her want to hit him. He had no respect for himself or his crew, who were all laughing at his, what they thought, witty question.

"I demand you give me a new ship! You sunk mine and I am on important business with Whitebeard!" Amista screamed, she didn't think it would hurt to make the implication that she was actually working for Whitebeard. What they didn't know couldn't hurt them, as long as they were nice. Amista's thoughts were right however as she saw the Captain go as white as paper.

"Of course Lassie! Anything to help the Mr Whitebeard!" The Captain signalled to his men and a small boat was dropped down into the water. To Amista's amazement, it was actually clean. She smiled and then curtsied as not to be rude. They had; after all given her everything she had asked.

"I will inform Mr Whitebeard of your help." With that Amista smiled and climbed down the ships ladder into her newly acquired small boat. She waved goodbye to the pirates and started back off into the direction of Whitebeard, her heart pumping wildly. That was the first time she would have attempted something so bold, and it made her feel good. Maybe a change was coming over her after all, there might just be hope for her in the future.

Okay that is chapter 10! I hope you enjoyed it, because I liked writing it! So as always, please review!