A Mermaid & a Starfish

Siria swung her war hammer around and around. She swung it to her right, then to her left, then downward. The weapon was starting to feel better in her hands but her arms were still too weak. She could only handle it for a few minutes before her arms gave out on her.

"That's enough for today," Zoro said. "Why don't you work with your shadows for a change?"

"Good idea." Siria panted. Sitting her war hammer down she grabbed the water Sanji had set out for her and took a drink. She then placed it back on the deck and focused on her shadow manipulation. Creating several squirrels she had them scatter out around the ship to see what her crewmates were doing. Over the past couple of weeks she had gotten better at seeing and hearing what multiple people were doing. And she could now hold a shadow weapon for ten solid minutes before it faded away. She had no idea if this was going to work in a real fight but at least she was improving. In all honesty she hope to never have to fight, but knew that was naïve thinking since she was now a pirate.

One of her squirrel scampered up the stairs. It ran down to the back of the ship and into the infirmary. Chopper started to leave the door cracked open when he was in there so she could let her shadow animals go inside. He smiled when she saw the little creature. "Hey, Siria. I hope your training's going well."

Siria smiled. She had the squirrel wave to the reindeer before calling it back to her. The ability to hear what people were saying made her often wonder if she would be able to speak back to her friends. Sanji encouraged her to keep trying. She's tried multiple times but so far hadn't gotten any results from it. Still she kept trying on occasion, especially when she grew a little more in her control.

Luffy smiled and tried to grab the squirrel she had sent his way. When he did she jumped the squirrel upon his head and had it run all over his body. "Hey! Stop that! It tickles!"

Siria laughed. She proceeded to move on to the rest of the crew when the ship suddenly rocked. Her shadow squirrels turned back into shadows and rejoined her. "What was that?"

"Ah! What are those things?!" Usopp shrieked.

"They're Serpent Currents," Nami said.

"Serpent Currents?" Siria looked at her friend then up at the thing they were looking at. Her jaw went slack when she saw them. Several currents were weaving up and down through the ocean surface. And they really did look like snakes. It sent a thrill up Siria's spine, but also caused her to shiver with concern. A loud boom of thunder rumbled over head.

"Should we use a Coop de Burst?" Franky asked.

"Don't bother. It won't work." Nami looked through her binoculars. "We're completely surrounded. If we try will only get trapped inside of them."

The ship lifted into the air. Siria stumbled.

"I got you." Sanji appeared in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her, securing her to his chest.

"Thanks." Siria looked up at him.

"We've got to do something!" Sanji said.

"I'm looking!" Nami replied as the current continued to lift them higher and higher.

Usopp and Chopper screamed. One of the currents was rushing right towards them.

Laughing, Brook leapt into the air and sliced the current in half.

Siria was about to comment on his move when she caught movement. Another sea current was heading right towards them. "Sanji!"

"I'm on it!" Sanji dashed away from her. Leaping into the air he spun around, deflecting the current with a rapid spin of his kicks.

Siria was grateful they were able to deflect the water. She knew she wasn't strong enough yet to help. A sudden scream from Chopper pulled her attention.

The reindeer had lost his balance and fell overboard.

"Chopper!" Siria screamed. Her heart hammered in her chest. Shadows lifted up around her. They struck out at Chopper as if they were trying to grab him. But they only extended about fifteen yards out before snapping back to her. "What was that?"

"I've got him!" Robin held her hands over her chest. Her arms extended out. She grabbed Chopper and pulled him back onto the ship.

"That was scary. Thank you, Robin." Tears poured from Chopper's eyes.

"Hey! I see a way out! Get ready for a Coop de Burst!" Nami said.

"Right!" Franky ran up to the helm. Thunder rumbled above them. Rain pelted their bodies.

Siria stared in confusion. Her shadow shouldn't have reacted. The clouds above them hid the sun. Was it Bran? Did it reach out for Chopper?

"Hold on tight!" Sanji grabbed Siria and backed against the wall.

Siria, snapping out of her thoughts, held on tight to him. While she had never experienced a Coop de Burst before she was warned about it and was instructed to lean against the wall if by herself. But Sanji assured her he would keep her safe. And he did. He kept his arms tightly around her, bracing for the impact of the sudden move. Then it happened. The ship gave a violent jerk and they shot through the air. Siria yipped in surprise.

"I've got you," Sanji assured her.

She nodded. Closing her eyes she waited for the impact of the ship to hit the ocean. It seemed like hours before the ship finally landed. When it did Sanji's body relaxed. "We made it? That was scary."

Sanji chuckle. "You all right?"

"Yeah." Siria nodded again despite her trembling body.

"We finally made it!" Luffy said.

"It's been such a long time," Nami said before the crew started reminiscing about where they had came from and how long they had been on the ocean.

Siria had pretty much heard it all before. She had learned a lot since being with them. And she often recited what they told her so she wouldn't forget where they had come from.

"You know it was raining on that day too," Sanji said.

"What day?" Siria asked.

"The day we went up Reverse Mountain," Sanji said. "This is the next step in our journey. It's exciting."

"The next step of our journey." Siria looked down. Her shadow was still missing.

"What is it, Siria?" Sanji asked.

"I'm not sure." Siria looked up at him. "When Chopper fell overboard. My shadow reached out for him."

"What's so strange about that?" Usopp asked.

"It's cloudy," Siria said.

"That's right. You can't manipulate your shadows when…" Usopp trailed off. His eyes bugged out with worry. "Wait a second! Do you think Bran did it?! But he, or it, attacks when it comes out! Do you think it was trying to kill Chopper?!"

Siria's eyes widened. She didn't think of that. Bran could have been trying to kill Chopper. It would have been easy. Chopper had no real way of defending himself while falling through the air like he was. Her body trembled.

"Don't go jumping to conclusions like that," Sanji said. "When Bran takes control it wraps around Siria."

"I guess you have a point. But what would you call what happened?" Usopp asked.

"I don't know." Sanji shook his head. "All I know is we shouldn't jump to conclusions." He took Siria's hand. "Understand me? Put it out of your mind. It's over now. Chopper is safe."

Warmth from his hand spread over hers.

"Yeah." Chopper climbed upon Siria's shoulder. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Okay. I won't worry about it. So what now?" Siria asked. She looked up at the giant red wall made of rock in front of them. There didn't appear to be a place where they could cross it.

"We need to find the entrance to Fishman Island." Nami looked at her log pose. "The arrow's still pointing down though. I don't get it. The entrance should be around here somewhere."

"Remember what Granny Kokoro said," Sanji said. "Fishman Island is under the water. So it's possible the entrance has to be down there too."

"Monster Granny?" Luffy asked.

Siria remembered her from Franky's stories and from the stories she was told of Water 7. Apparently the old woman was an ice fish mermaid but some of the crew had chosen to forget it. Usopp even drew a picture of the old woman so she would know what the fuss was about.

"Well, I guess someone's going to have to go down in the Shark Submerge and look for it," Usopp said.

"I want to go!" Luffy waved his hand.

"I would like to go as well," Brook said.

"Sounds like fun." Robin smiled.

"Are you sure it's safe? You're all devil fruit users." Siria looked at him. Worry clouded her chest. "Maybe you all shouldn't go."

"It'll be fine," Luffy said. He ran to the hatch, pulled it open, and jumped it. Brook and Robin followed soon after.

Siria frowned. All three of them seemed to be too carefree for having devil fruits.

"They'll be fine. Robin's with them after all," Sanji said.

"Chopper and I are going for a swim." Usopp stepped up to her. "Want to join us?"

"No. Thanks. I don't feel like swimming right now."

"Okay then." Usopp walked away from her.

Siria walked over to the side of the ship. Crossing her arms over the railing she watched as the mini submarine left the ship and disappeared below the water. "Be careful."

"I'm going to head up to the crow's nest and train." Zoro walked over to her. "Want to join me?"

"No." Siria shook her head. "I won't be able to concentrate on it while the others are down there."

"Okay." Zoro walked away from her.

Siria watched as the ripples from the mini sub faded away. Taking a deep breath she slowly let it out and waited.

…

"How does it look, guys?" Nami asked.

"No good. It's all dark."

Siria looked over her shoulder when Robin's voice came over the transponder snail. Those were not either training, swimming, or under the ocean surface had gathered around the small box that the transponder snail was sitting on. Well, Sanji wasn't there so she assumed he was in the kitchen.

"It's all dark! Hey, something shined just now," Luffy said next.

"Isn't that the eyeball of a sea monster? I'm going to die! But I'm already dead!" Brook laughed.

Siria's hands twitched nervously. Not wanting to hear anymore of it, she turned away from railing and went up to the kitchen.

"So how's it going out there?" Sanji asked when she stepped inside.

"Okay, I think. They say it's very dark down there and they saw something shiny. I'm getting to nervous to sit out there and listen to them," Siria said. "What are you making?"

"Some orange tarts. Done!" Sanji picked up the tray and offered one to Siria. "For you, my sweet sunshine."

"Thank you." Siria took one. She followed Sanji out the door. Instead of following him back down to the deck she lean against the rail and ate her treat mindlessly while ignoring the chatter below her. Finally after several painful minutes of more waiting the small sub broke the surface.

"Did you see anything?" Usopp asked.

"No," Robin said. "It's too dark down there. And we went farther than we should have."

"This is just great." Nami frowned. "Give us a break, Fishman Island."

Siria headed down the stairs. "Shouldn't there be other islands around here?"

"I'm sure there are," Nami said. "But we can't get to them without the log pose. And right now it's pointing to Fishman Island. And even if we did get it pointed to another island we'd have to wait there for how ever long for the log pose to reset."

"So then we're stuck." Siria turned her eyes to the horizon. "I wonder if it's possible for me to send my shadow creatures over the water."

"Possibly," Zoro said. "But you're still lacking control. You can only hold their forms for a few minutes still. While you have improved you won't be able to send them far enough to do any good here."

Siria nodded. She felt completely and utterly useless. There had to be something she could contribute to the crew. Her attention was broken from her thoughts when a large mass rose from the sea. "A sea rabbit?"

"Think we can eat it?" Luffy jumped up before anyone could answer. With a solid punch he knocked the creature out. Two things flew out of its mouth as it fell backwards.

Two masses fell towards the ship. One was smaller than the other.

"It can't be!" Sanji screamed.

Siria looked at him. His arms were open wide and his eyes had been replaced with hearts. Suddenly he was on the floor with something lying on top of him. She blinked at the pink tail.

"Yes! A perfect landing!" a voice said.

Siria's eyes drew to the small of the two masses. It looked like a starfish with a puffy hat. But from what she knew they weren't able to talk. So it couldn't have been a real starfish.

The starfish creature turned to the girl still laying on Sanji. "Uh, hey, Camie, you got a little something under your tail."

"What?! I flattened a human! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" She lifted Sanji up.

"It's okay! Don't worry!" Sanji said, blood dripping from his nose. "How are you doing?"

"It can't be. Is that a mermaid?" Nami asked.

"A mermaid?" Siria asked.

"They're half fish and half human creatures," Robin said.

"Right. I think I've heard my former master's kids speak about them before," Siria said. "I've never seen one before."

"What?! So many humans!" Camie said.

"Is she an enemy?" Siria asked.

"What? Oh no! I'm not your enemy," Camie said. "My name is Camie. Thank you very much for saving me before I was digested. I'm always getting eaten by marine animals. This is about the twentieth time."

"You might want to stop doing that," Usopp said.

"I really want to thank you for saving me. I know! Do you like octopus fritters?" Camie said.

"Octopus fritters?! I love them!" Luffy said.

"Really?! Well then, that will be five hundred beri each." Camie held out her hand.

"That's not thanking them if you charge them!" The starfish whacked Camie over the head.

"What?! I got it wrong?!" Camie screamed.

"What's going on?" Siria asked.

"Apparently this girl isn't the brightest out there," Nami said.

"I'm sorry. I really do want to thank all of you for saving us." Camie got up on her tail. She hopped over to the mast bench and sat down on it.

Siria watched the young mermaid carefully. Her eyes drifted to the pink tail. She wondered how powerful a mermaid's tail actually was. It had to be rather powerful if the mermaid could bounce on it the way she just did. Her attention was diverted when Sanji jumped up from the deck. He spun around like a tornado while saying, "Mermaids! The dream of all mankind! Finally, I've met with a real live mermaid!"

Siria rested her chin in her palm as she watched Sanji spin around. She studied his passion for the young mermaid. This had to be the only time she had ever seen him this excited about a female. Her eyes drifted back to Camie. The mermaid didn't seem to really care that Sanji was gushing over her.

"So cute!" Sanji spun over to Camie. "I've never seen a real mermaid before! Did you say your name was Camie-chan?"

"Oh? What about Kokoro?" Usopp asked.

Sanji dropped to his hands and knees. A dark cloud hovered over him.

Worry settled over Siria when he started mumbling something about not hurting anyone with his fantasies or something alone those lines. She couldn't be sure since she was too far away from him. She asked, "Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine," Robin said. "Remember Usopp's drawing of Kokoro? She wasn't a young beautiful mermaid."

"Oh. I see. Sanji likes Camie since she's young and beautiful." Siria's eyes drew over to the starfish. He was leaning against the wall, his own dark cloud surrounding him. He was saying something about being forgotten.

"Hey! I have a question! How do mermaids poop?" Luffy asked.

Siria cringed to his question and how hard Sanji kicked him for asking it. Shaking it from her mind she looked back to the starfish. "So what, or who, exactly is this guy?"

"Oh yeah." Luffy grabbed the starfish and pulled it to him. "I was wondering about you too. Hey, Camie! What is this? A talking glove?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I completely forgot about him!" Camie smiled. "He's my pet, Pappag. He's also my master. He's a starfish."

"And starfish…can talk, can they?" Usopp crossed his arms.

"Your pet and your master…isn't that a bit weird?" Nami asked.

"Maybe so. But let me explain." Pappag pulled out a guitar.

"Where'd he get a guitar?" Siria asked.

"Just go with it," Usopp told her.

Pappag strummed the strings. "She keeps me as her pet, that's how it is. Camie! She always gives me clams!"

Cringing at the starfish's raspy singing voice, Siria turned back to Camie. "You said he was your master. But you're not wearing chains or cuffs. Does he trust you not to run away?"

"What? I'm not his slave or anything." Camie pointed at her shirt. "He's teaching me how to be a designer since I want to be one. This shirt comes from the Criminal Line. It's a really popular brand on Fishman Island."

"Oh, so he's actually your teacher," Siria said.

"That's right." Camie nodded. "Pappag would never enslave me."

"I see." Siria nodded. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding."

"It's okay," Camie said.

"Seriously. Why can you talk?" Luffy looked at the starfish who was depressed again.

"Is it not normal for starfish to talk?" Siria asked as she joined Sanji.

"No, not usually," Sanji said.

"That's a very good question. See back when I was a kid, I used to think I was a human. But the time I realized I was a starfish, I was already speaking like a human." The starfish shrugged.

"Does it really work like that?" Luffy asked.

"As it is, the world works in strange and frightening ways," Pappag said. "So as you can see I am Pappag! An up and coming designer starfish! Than you all for coming to my aid! I love all of you guys!"

"They sure change their moods rather quickly," Siria said.

"They are a bit on the odd side," Sanji said. "But they're no stranger than Luffy is."

"I suppose so." Siria nodded. Luffy could be rather strange with his enormous appetite and being able to fall asleep so easy in the middle of conversations. Not to mention his habit of asking certain creatures if they could poop.

"In any case, this is some really good timing. We were having a bit of trouble ourselves," Nami said. "There's something we need to ask."

"Hey, Nami! Octopus fritters come first!" Luffy screamed.

"Of, yes, of course. You must have some for rescuing me." Camie pulled out a transponder snail from her backpack. She dialed the number and it started to ring. "We'll have to meet up with Hacchin somewhere." With a clink her friend answered the call. "Hello there, Hacchin? This is Camie. Sorry I got kind of lost. Where are you right now?"

The line remained silent.

"Um, I know I'm a bit naïve to some things but isn't someone suppose to answer when you call them?" Siria pointed at the snail then looked at Sanji.

"Yeah. That's how it goes," Sanji said.

"Oh, Camie, is it?" Someone on the other end of the transponder snail laughed. "Do you know to whom you are speaking? This ain't Hachi, you know!"

"What?! This isn't Hacchin?!" Camie screamed.

"This is Makuro! The Famous Idiotic Makuro crew!"

"Don't say idiotic!" a second voice said.

"Well, this isn't good. It sounds like something's wrong," Robin said.

"Hey! What on earth are you doing with Hacchin's transponder snail?!" Camie asked.

"Why, because we've beaten up your precious Hachi, of course!" The person laughed again.

"What? No way! Hacchin would never be beaten up by the likes of you!" Camie said.

"Well, I guess you're right. Usually, we'd be no match for the guy, but this time we were prepared. We have the Flying Fish Riders on our side!"

"Nyu- - Camie…so you're okay. I'm glad," a third voice said.

"Ah! Hacchin, did they really capture you?!" Camie asked.

"They kind of caught me off guard. You mustn't come find me! Nyu. I'll take these guys out myself and come meet up with you again! I'll be fine! Don't worry about me!"

"You know what, Camie, we're going to sell this guy off real soon. Octopus fishmen are pretty rare. He'll fetch quite the high price! You want to save him? Then come and try! We're at the Sabaody Archipelago, in the waters five kilometers east of Grove 44. At the base of the Flying Fish Riders."

"You mustn't, Camie! Don't even think about coming here!"

"Shut up, you octopus freak!"

"Ngyuu!"

"See ya!"

The snail fell asleep, signaling the end of the call.

Siria pinched a hold of Sanji's sleeve. "This is bad, isn't it?"

"Looks like it." Sanji nodded.

"Hacchin…" Camie said.

"And the octopus fritters?" Luffy asked.

"Now's not the time!" Franky and Sanji shouted while hitting and kicking Luffy in the head.

"Wait a minute. That Hacchin guy who was on the transponder snail just now, his voice sounded very familiar." Nami took her chin between her fingers. "It can't be. It must be my imagination."

"What is it?" Siria asked.

"It's probably nothing," Nami said. "But he kind of sounded like a guy I use to know."

"Oh," Siria said.

"I'm sorry, Luffy-chin. But would it be all right if I gave you some octopus fritters later?" Camie asked, her face twisted with worry. "I have to go safe my friend right now."

"Huh?" Luffy said.

"Wait a minute now, Camie." Nami held out her hand. "I don't mean to interfere but if you're going to try and save your friend from those kidnappers. We'd be glad to help you out." She waved her hand at Franky and Usopp. "Ah, well, to be more accurate, these guys will help you out."

"What about you?!" Franky and Usopp asked.

"And in returned you can show us the way to Fishman Island. Is that okay?" Nami asked.

"Huh? Are you sure, Nami-chin?" Camie asked. "You'll really help me get Hacchin out of there?! Luffy-chin?"

"Sounds fine. But who is Hacchin anyway?" Luffy asked.

"He runs the octopus fritter shop. I work there with him. We make the best octopus fritters ever," Camie said.

"We have to save him! All right, men! We're going to recue the octopus fritters! Even if we die in the process!" Luffy said.

"Yeah!" the guys cheered.

"You seem really happy about it," Siria said to Sanji.

"Well, yeah!" Sanji grinned. "I get to spend more time with the beautiful mermaid."

Siria shook her head. "You can be so one track minded at times. Did you know that?"

Sanji chuckled. "I guess so. But I do want to taste the octopus fritters too. I love sampling dishes made by others."

"What's she doing?" Siria asked when Camie hopped over to the railing.

"Apparently, Camie is going to ask some fish to help lead us to the Flying Fish Riders," Chopper said.

"Really? She can do that?" Siria's eyes widened slightly.

"Hey! A lot of fish just appeared!" Luffy said, leaning over the railing. "So cool!"

"We'd like to get directions from you," Camie said. "We're trying to get to the Flying Fish Riders hideout."

Siria walked over to Camie and Luffy. She looked down to see the fish as they formed an arrow in the water by quickly flapping their tails near the surface. It looked almost like someone had painted an arrow on the water. "Wow. You can really talk to fish."

"Yes. But, apparently, they're scared of those Flying Fish guys. So they won't go too close themselves, but they'll show us the way," Camie said.

"So cool! It's really impressive you can talk to fish! I didn't know mermaids could do that! But wait, how can they hear you when they're underwater?" Nami asked.

"Wow, Camie. With you around we could eat as much fish as we want," Luffy said.

"Watch what you say, you idiot!" Sanji grabbed Luffy's cheek and pulled it.

"This is amazing! All we have to do is follow the arrow!" Nami said.

"Right! I got the helm!" Usopp's shoes thumped on the stairs as he ran up them.

Siria watched him go before taking a few steps away from everyone. She gazed worryingly into the water. Her mind worked to process the situation they had gotten themselves in. She knew they had been in fights before but this was the first time she was going to be with them. It was unnerving. Her fingers trembled at the images that flashed through her mind. While she never saw their fights she could easily imaging her new friends with scars and bruises. It wasn't a comforting thought. They could get seriously hurt.

"Siria?"

Siria jumped at the sound of her name. "S-Sanji."

"Sorry." Sanji smiled. "I didn't mean to scare you like that."

"It's okay." Siria avoided eye contact. She rubbed her hand on her arm. "I wasn't paying attention anyway."

"You're worried," Sanji said.

Siria sighed. She gave him a timid look. "I'm easy to read."

"It wasn't just that." Sanji leaned against the railing. He reached into his pocket, lifting out his packet of cigarettes. Pausing he shoved them back inside. "I know this is the first fight you're going to be near since being with us."

Siria mimicked his position. "Is it going to be bad?"

"Hard to say since none of us have meet these guys before," Sanji said.

Siria frowned.

"Hey, don't worry about it." Sanji nudged her with his shoulder. "It'll be fine. After all Luffy's got his mind set on those octopus fritters. Nothing's going to stop him from getting them. He'll probably take a bite out of our enemies to get to them."

Siria smiled.

"That's much better," Sanji said. "You know you need to smile more. You're a lot prettier when you smile."

Heat pressed against Siria's cheeks. She fiddled with her fingers. "Um, thank you."

"Feeling better now?" Sanji asked.

"I am, but I'm still worried," Siria said. "What should I do during this fight?"

"You don't have to do anything," Sanji said. "Leave it up to us. I'll make sure you're safe."

"Thanks, Sanji," Siria said. "I don't mean to be a pain."

"You're not being a pain. You're being a friend. It's normal for you to be worried," Sanji said.

"I still have a lot to learn." Siria sighed.

"It takes time. I've told you that before. Don't worry about it. You're developing just fine."

"Really?" Siria looked up at him. "I don't really feel I've changed much."

"You have." Sanji nodded. "Trust me."

"You know," Siria said. "We never really have talked."

"We talk." Sanji's eyes widened slightly.

"I mean about your family," Siria said. She noticed Sanji gulp. His posture stiffened ever so slightly. It happened so quickly she almost missed it. For a second she thought she had imagined it since he was back to his normal, relaxed self. But, no, she had really seen him tense up a bit. "Sanji? You tensed. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Smiling he looked out at the horizon. "And, yeah, I know we haven't talked about my family. There's really not much to tell."

"But I want to know," Siria said. "I want to know about them and where you came from."

"You know where I come from," Sanji said. "I told you about Zeff."

"Yeah." Siria paused. She second guessed herself. Maybe she shouldn't be pushing this but something kept her going. "But I want to know about your, uh, blood family."

Sanji stilled.

"I'm sorry." Siria glanced down at the water. "I don't mean to pry where I'm not wanted. It's just…I don't know. I guess I just want to know all about you because you've already done so much for me. I want to understand you." She flicked a quick glance at him before returning her gaze to the water. A large fish swam by just below the surface. "I'm sorry. I won't pry into your life. It's just you said you wanted me to be more open and I-"

"Siria," Sanji said, his voice low. A hint of something she didn't recognize was in his tone.

Siria flinched. Her heart pounded in her chest. She was scared she had done something she shouldn't have. But she didn't understand what. He did want her to get to know them. But he appeared not to want to tell her about his family. Or maybe Zeff was his real family. Maybe he didn't have any blood relatives left. The majority of the crew had traumatic pasts. Maybe he did too and wasn't ready to talk about it.

"Look at me."

Siria swallowed. Licking her lips she turned to face Sanji and whatever he was going to say to her. Instead of words his forehead met with hers. She blinked. "S-Sanji?"

He didn't respond. For several minutes he kept silent, his eyes closed, his forehead pressed against hers.

Siria noticed he didn't smell like smoke so much anymore. Instead he smells like cooking spices. It was a smoothing smell, one she hadn't noticed before. Her worries disappeared.

"Siria." Sanji opened his eyes. Softly he looked at her. "I promise one day I will tell you about my family. My blood family. For now just give me a little time."

"Okay," Siria said. "I'll wait for you to tell me."