Drabble Number Doce: If You Look Hard Enough

Summary: Faye lifted her head when a small, delicate hand was shoved in her face. What she saw was a head of red hair and honey-brown eyes. "Mia…"

Small Note: This is the ending of oMaM that you won't get to see, since oMaM ends when Faye's journal stops… (Translates to: I had the idea, I was bored, and couldn't think of something to write for the next chapter.)

Warning: Fluff~ :D And HAPPY reunions between old friends.

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It was dark… yet bright.
It was cold… yet warm.
It was painful… yet comfortable.
It was reason and rhyme… with no explanation.
It was still… yet going so fast she thought she was going to b e sick.
It was truth… yet lies were placed in between.

Faye opened her eyes, finally able to do so. How long had see been here? Wasn't she just laying down for a nap not a few minutes ago? Had her time finally come? But she hadn't finished the story to Mia! Acel was still too young to understand, but he should know too. Oh no, her notebook! Where was it? Why wasn't it here? Hadn't she had it with her when she fell asleep?

She became frantic, wanting to stand up and run around into the white space around her to try and find out what was going on. She brought her hands to her face to try and rub at her temples, but something stopped her…

Soft, tan, young skin was stretched across expert fingers, not the old leather-like thin paper that she had once. The familiar soft green material of her usual blouse from the time of her late teens and early twenties was resting at the skin that it hid; the tightness of her sash was still around her waist. She could see her purple coat lying beside her.

Faye ran a hand through her hair. It wasn't short and thin with black and gray peppered every which-a-way, but the long wavy hair that curled at the end that she hadn't had in over thirty years. She didn't have to look to know that her necklace of a spade (once a gift from a very young Ace after they had become to grow closer) and a small golden locket because of the weight that she felt.

Her legs were still covered with the usual black baggy pants and large black boots that the hem of her pants were pushed into.

What was this place?

Faye stood, finally able to move some, and looked around. All she saw was white. White this, white that. It made her feel lonely, like she was to be left here forever. Was this Hell? No. She'd done more good things than bad in her life. She would be able to go and see all of her friends that died.

As she looked around, trying to search for a way to get out. She bumped into something, causing her to fall down on her rump. A quiet curse followed.

Faye lifted her head when a small, delicate hand was shoved in her face. What she saw was a head of red hair and honey-brown eyes.

"Mia…"

The redhead's grin widened. She seemed happy, too happy for her own good. Faye took Mia's hand and was pulled up to her feet; that's when the grin faltered.

"I heard you got a tattoo… how come I wasn't there with you?!"

Faye laughed, pulling her oldest friend into a large embrace. Mia only sighed and hugged her back. This was an emotional girl moment, it shouldn't be interrupted over something stupid.

"Okay, okay, enough hugging for now, I got someone whose dying to see ya," Mia giggled at her little joke and began to pull Faye farther into the light.

Faye began to apologize. "Oh my gods, Mia. You have no idea how sorry I am. You have to forgive me. If I hadn't left you alone you wouldn't be dead, and none of this would have happened and-" Faye stopped when she was thrown a look. Faye couldn't help but smile widely at her. It was just like old times.

"Are you going to be quiet long enough to let me get a few things in?" Faye didn't speak, just smiled. "Good. Now, I just want you to know that it's not your fault the bastard got to me, thinking I was you. How could he get us mixed up? I clearly do not have black hair and green eyes – actually, the opposite. Anyways, going on.

"Do you know how boring it has been up here? There are absolutely NO cute guys up here that aren't married or already taken. Hell, some of the pour bastards still have their hearts set on some girls that have grandkids! When I watched you fight, I thought I wasn't going to be bored anymore since you can't fight worth a shit and-" Faye punched Mia's shoulder. "It's true!"

They both laughed. Mia's laugh stopped so suddenly that it startled Faye. She looked at her old friend.

Mia's eyes was locked on to something in front of them, but Faye wouldn't dare turn her head. She was still trying to take in that she was… well, that she was dead. Faye didn't want to be dead, but she didn't want to be alone like she had been when she was alive.

"Seems someone wants to talk to you more than I do. Don't worry, I'll steal you back sooner or later." Mia's hand slipped out of Faye's, and she turned to walk the other way. Faye watched as she disappeared within only a few steps, and then she was alone… Faye flexed her fingers and turned her head.

A large golden gate stood before her; it towered at almost the same height as Whitebeard, but it seemed like it was taller.

But that wasn't what got her attention.

He hadn't changed much – other than the large scar on his chest, he seemed the same. He still had a head of devil-may-care black hair, a brush of freckles over his nose, shoulders, and chest (but those were a bit hard to see so you had to get real close to see them); his outfit style hadn't changed either. There was still her bright orange hat – Faye still called it hers to this day – and loose black shorts with the dull black boots.

But what Faye loved the most about him was that he always gave her this grin that he gave no one else – his brown eyes always glinted with love, lust, and respect. Faye may have been a coward a few times in her life (okay, more than a few) but she still demanded some type of respect.

She had to get closer… they had been apart too long. She needed to talk to him, hold him, just know that he wasn't going to disappear–

"I hear that I got a daughter and some grand kids. Damn do I feel old."

Mia's laughed, she laughed hard. Her laugh began a slightly choke until it turn into a heart-clenching sob.

And if you looked hard enough, you could see Ace crying too.