Okay. I got a lot of reviews around chapter 20 regarding Bellemere meeting Doffy and/or Evelyn. So after such a long wait, here we are. They will meet.
Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece or Harry Potter.
Claimer: Do own Atticus and Estrella (if they show up or are mentioned in this short)
Here the Chapter Starts
Marine Headquarters
"You must be Evelyn, the Emerald Rose," a woman commented, looking at her with a wide grin. A cigarette was clenched between her teeth and her dark gray eyes watched her carefully.
"And you must be Bellemere," Evelyn returned with a smirk to the red-haired woman. "Roci's sweetie."
"Wife now," Bellemere corrected, taking cautious steps to the woman. "Guess we're sister-in-laws, then?"
"Dunno. Doffy kind of disowned Roci. Haven't talked to him about whether he revoked that or not."
"Did he? Well, I guess we will just have to see then. Anyway, nice to meet you. Believe it or not, but Roci actually said some nice things about you." She held out her hand in welcome, though Evelyn could tell she was still ready to fight if need be.
"Pleasure," the raven replied, accepting the hand and giving it a firm shake. "Please tell me you have not met my husband yet."
"Not yet," Bellemere chuckled. "That bad?"
"He's probably giving Rocinante a hard time," she brushed off with a wave of her hand. "I must admit, that picture he carries around of you really does not do you much justice. You're even prettier in person."
"Thanks, you're not so bad-looking yourself," Bellemere returned, looking the woman up and down. "The way Roci tried to describe you at first, you sounded like an evil demon."
Evelyn laughed behind her hand. "I take it he was just getting started?"
"Oh yes. Don't get me wrong, he did say some nice things. But he also came with a lot of warnings if I ever met you or his brother." The redhead looked over her shoulder then nudged her head towards the door. "Mind joining me outside? It gets a little noisy in here."
"I would love to. After all, this may be my only chance to meet another woman who has captured the heart of a Donquixote."
"They are a stubborn bunch, aren't they?" she chuckled, sidestepping to allow Evelyn to pass by her first.
"I think they're both crazy, but one just won't admit it," Evelyn agreed with a smirk, staying by Bellemere's side as they left the building. She noticed that the redhead was not going to expose her back to her, and she sure as hell won't expose hers.
Not too far from where the women spoke, two tall blondes watched. One was grinning wildly and the other was watching with worry. "So, that's your girlfriend?" the older asked, looking to his little brother.
"Doffy, don't," Rocinante told him firmly, not bothering to correct his relationship with Bellemere to the older man.
"Aw, but I wanna meet her!" Doflamingo whined.
"I will get kairoseki cuffs and make sure you don't meet her," the younger warned.
"I'm gonna go meet her!" the older declared as he started towards the direction the two women went.
"Doffy! No!" Rocinante denied, tackling his older brother to the ground.
Outside, Evelyn and Bellemere looked over their shoulders upon hearing Rocinante deny his brother something. "I can guess," the raven muttered as Aster slithered from her hair and draped over her shoulders.
"Whoa, how did that hide in your hair?" Bellemere asked, pointing to Aster.
"Secret," she giggled. "So, Rocinante told me some stuff about you. How are things with Roci and Law now in the picture?"
"Law is still adjusting, but he adores the girls once he got used to them," Bellemere answered with a soft smile. "I was going to ask a friend to look after the kids while we're here, but Law was adamant that he could handle the girls on his own. Wait until Nami acts up again."
"Trouble child? Got a couple of those, too. They've taken a habit of breaking things around the ship but Aster always rats them both out." The basilisk sighed as Evelyn scratched at his chin.
"Nami just tries to steal stuff a lot. She thinks we don't have a lot of money so when she wants something, she'll take it so that it won't affect our finances. Roci brings in a stable income, though. He even tries to spoil her and Nojiko, though I think he was bribing them at first." Bellemere shook her head slowly, remembering when her girls would come home with a new toy, book, or clothes and they would announce that Roci had bought them. "They absolutely love him and Law."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that Law is still alive," Evelyn sighed, sitting on the ground. Aster slid from her body, coiling by her side. "I was honestly worried about him. He wouldn't bond much with the other kids, but he was patient with Atticus and Dellinger. I tried helping him however I could. I guess being away from us and putting him somewhere stable is better for him."
"You know, he does miss you," Bellemere informed, removing the nearly finished cigarette from her lips. "I hear him mention a 'Mama Rose' more often than anyone else when he's trying to teach the girls a lesson or anything, really."
Evelyn smiled gently, glad that Law did still care for them even though he left. But she won't hold it against him. He's scared of what will happen should he come back, probably because of Rocinante putting those ideas in his head. He'll learn to think for himself soon enough and decide what he wants to do. Eventually.
"You know," she sighed. "To Doffy, family is everything. He was really torn up when Rocinante was revealed as a marine spy. I always knew he was spying on us, but could never prove it to him. Doffy's heart was so broken, he almost killed him. Because that's just about the only way he can react to traitors. Then to learn his own brother was a traitor as well?" Evelyn shook her head slowly. "But I'm actually glad that Rocinante is still alive. I don't think that my asshole of a husband would ever recover from murdering the little brother who used to be his to protect." She looked up to Bellemere, offering her gentle smile to the woman. "He still loves his brother."
"I'll make sure Roci knows that," the redhead offered.
"It won't make much difference," Evelyn denied. "Rocinante already has his own view of Doflamingo. There won't be anything said or done that will change those views." With a heavy sigh, she rose back to her feet. "Doffy may have disowned him somewhat, but Roci is still his family. If you are married to him, then that makes you family as well. You may not like it, thinking marines will be all you need for support or protection, but there are boundaries they will not cross. If you ever need anything, let us know. We look after family."
"Thanks, I'll keep that mind."
Here is a line!
Finally back home in Cocoyashi Village, Bellemere stretched her arms high above her head and deeply inhaled the familiar scents of home. It was good to be home and the trips on marine vessels always seemed to make them shorter. Probably because they can cheat and go over Calm Belts. Rocinante chuckled behind her as he stumbled on the road. "What kind of damage do you think the kids did this time?" he asked.
"Well, let's go see and get it over with," Bellemere told him. "By the way, I met your sister-in-law. She's not so bad."
"You saw her good side," Rocinante told her. "Anyone who sees her bad side doesn't live to tell about it. Often."
He rubbed at his chest, around the scar left by his brother's bullet. It surprised him that she basically saved his life by stopping Doffy from emptying the gun on him. Perhaps she knew that, without him, Law wouldn't be found and would be all alone in a world full of people who would take advantage of a child on their own. Slavery or otherwise.
"Why couldn't I meet your brother?" Bellemere asked with a chuckle, poking her husband's side.
Ever since getting married, it was still such a heartwarming thing to refer to him as. She's always been too hot-headed for most to handle. She tended to scare men off. Yet here is Rocinante, taking everything in stride and showing no fear of her, whether it be fuse or strength. In fact, he enjoys both. Challenges her at times, even.
"Because Doffy is best in small doses, if at all," the blonde pointed out. "I'd rather you not be exposed to him. You may want to hit him, which will bring down the wrath of his crew."
"That bad?"
"Yep."
They finally made it back to their home, the sun shining down upon the grove brightly. They could hear one of the girls, it sounded like Nojiko, instructing what to look for concerning ripeness and what to do when one is found. The three children were found in the middle of the grove, Nojiko being held up by Law so that she could reach a higher fruit while Nami patted the soil around the tree's exposed roots to cover them back up.
"We're back!" Bellemere announced.
"Mom! Dad!" Nami cried out, running to the two adults as Law allowed Nojiko to slide off his back.
"Welcome home!" the periwinkle-haired girl added, going up to the two almost as fast as Nami did.
Law approached at a more sedated pace, the sunlight showing that his white spots were much smaller than before the two adults left. "Cora-san, Bellemere-ya," he greeted with a nod.
"Come on, Law," Rocinante chuckled, picking the teenager up easily with one hand gripping the back of the boy's shirt. "You're part of this family, too!"
The boy smirked then flipped him the middle finger, which Rocinante returned with a playful grin. "I know, Cora-san!"
Rocinante laughed, setting Law back on the ground. "Things go okay?"
"Yeah. How about the meeting?"
"Doffy bugged me non-stop and Bellemere met the Rose."
Law turned wide golden eyes to the redheaded woman, who was trying to get the girls to calm down while they told her of anything they got up to. "I guess that went well."
"What makes you say that?"
"She's still alive."
Rocinante nodded in understanding. "Yep."
Here the Chapter Ends
So it wasn't much. Evelyn and Bellemere got to meet and talk a bit. Then we got to see something like a little family time. I enjoyed Roci and Doffy, to be honest. Let me know what you guys think! ^^
So next chapter. Atticus uses the Stone or we have a moment where things can be taken out of context?
