Hey guys! Two more chapters to go until we reach the end! (Also question at the bottom)

Enjoy!~


Sabo sighed softly, his head rolling as he began to return to consciousness. He opened his eye, staring blankly at the ceiling as he attempted to reorient himself.

Whichever room he was in was moderately lit with burning candles–if the scent of wax was anything to go by. He could hear quiet breathing a ways away as well, was he not in his room then? His body felt heavy and sore, but the quiet in the room was peaceful, and Sabo could feel himself being pulled under again, eyelids drooping. It was warm, and he lethargically moved a hand to adjust the heavy blanket, sighing again as the cool air met his hot skin.

He would have gone forth with the plan if he had not seen Luffy sitting at the foot of his bed and restricting the blanket from moving more than two inches. Sabo had to blink the sleepy out of his eyes for him to finally meet Luffy's gaze. The younger boy's eyes dark in a way that truly expressed the years he had lived through.

"Sabo." was the only thing Luffy could manage out and Sabo hummed, not quite awake just yet.

It took a full minute before the name finally hit home and Sabo's eye opened in awareness. Luffy really was sitting at the edge of the bed, looking unhappy and worried, with a look that was completely out of place on the child. By then Sabo had remembered the events of earlier, and his own worry settled in,

"Luffy? What's wrong?" he asked quietly, reaching out to stroke his dark hair gently. "Are you okay?"

Large drops painted Luffy's cheeks as he bit his lip and sniffled leaning into Sabos hand. His throat was sealed tight and made worse by the tears but somehow Luffy managed to say, "I'm sorry."

The rest of Sabo's sleepy mood dissipated when Luffy started crying, and Sabo shuffled into an upright position, pulling Luffy into his lap. "Hey, it's okay Luf, I'm alright. It wasn't your fault, I promise."

"It's-" The sobs came as the guilt overwhelmed the small child his small hands clinging to the material of Sabos shirt and his face burrowed in his chest.

"I'm sorry." Luffy tried again, "I'm sorry I forgot."

"Forgot what?" Sabo asked slowly, still running his hand through Luffy's hair soothingly. After the endless weeks of research he'd done with Marco's help, Sabo knew there was no good way to bring back Luffy's memories, and he'd eventually come to terms with that. There was no picking and choosing, and Luffy's memories were buried deep, deep down as a way to cope with the trauma.

But on the other hand, was it possible that seeing his old tormentor had brought some of them back? All of his efforts in trying to get Luffy to remember him had been in vain, but Sabo had come before the Dollmaker. Sabo knew he wasn't guaranteed to be included in Luffy's recovered memories. Sabo's heart clenched at the thought, and he squashed the rising hope in his chest, not wanting to see it crushed again right in front of him. It was too painful the first, second, third time, he didn't want to feel that horrible sinking feeling again, ever.

Luffy shook with the force of his sobs, stifling them in Sabos shirt as to not wake Ace, who was fast asleep where Sabo presumed Luffy had slept. Like that he remained, crying his eyes and heart out until the hiccups came, and his eyes ran dry.

"I-I forgot you..." Luffy confessed still hiding in Sabos shirt the sorrow eating away at his voice. "I didn't remember you, Sabo. And... And Makino... And Shanks and Dad... I'm sorry."

Sabo froze, his mind silent as a nameless emotion began to fill him. "You... you remember?" he breathed, hardly daring to believe it as his chest swelled with every feeling known to man until he thought it would burst. "Everything?"

Luffy nodded as best he could in his hiding spot, clinging into Sabo and afraid to let go of him again lest he forget once more. "You're my big brother and you were so tough and I remember you lost your tooth that time we fought the boar."

The emotion in Sabo's chest burst, replaced with such pure joy that it physically ached. He pulled Luffy into a tighter hug, curling up around the boy with such an intensity it was almost as if he hoped to mold them both together. Sabo's smile was so wide it hurt, and he may have been crying too as he buried his face into Luffy's hair. For a long time he couldn't say anything, overwhelmed with the happiness and joy and relief.

When he finally pulled away, his grin was still bright, looking down at his little brother with fond love. "It's your fault for trying to eat it while it was still alive, idiot."

"I was hungry and the boar looked so delicious and why are you smiling?" Luffy asked finally pulling himself from the large wet stain on Sabo's shirt and looking up to Sabo guilt still marring his features.

Sniffling Luffy reached out and touched Sabos nose, "You got big too, you're as big as Dad now. Is it because I left?" he asked softly, did Luffy's leaving and getting caught by the stinky old man have this effect on Sabo and caused him to grow up without him? Was his dad here too, was Makino and Shanks?

Sabo shook his head exasperatedly. "I'm smiling because I'm happy," he said simply, content to just watch his brother. "You're not missing out though," he leaned in to tell him a secret, "being a grownup sucks." But he knew that wasn't what the worry in his eyes were about. Luffy was worried about something much more important than the trivial notion of growing up.

"It's not your fault what happened Lu, you're still my brother whether I'm twenty or two hundred. I'm just glad to have you back."

Sorrow still lingered in Luffy's eyes as his hand moved over to where Sabos skin was burned, "Dummy Sabo, I know you're still my brother." he said quietly, adding, "I'm sorry I went out without you that day. I missed you Bo."

Sabo tilted his head so Luffy wouldn't have to reach as far. He wasn't ashamed of the scars, but he knew Luffy must be going through alot in his head. "You've never been one to apologize, there's nothing to forgive Lu. I missed you too. The only thing I'm upset about is that I wasn't there to protect you," he said softly, running his fingers through Luffy's hair again in a soothing gesture for both himself and Luffy.

Luffy's hand pulled back hesitantly unsure of what he had done wrong. "But I am." Luffy confessed somberly and ducked his head suddenly missing home. Yet Luffy knew that he had a new home now, it was strange he didn't know what he was feeling and his heart hurt, his stomach was in knots and his mind wasn't faring any better. "Don't be sad Sabo... Please."

"I promise not to be if you aren't." Are you feeling okay? That was probably a lot for you to take in, the remembering I mean."

Luffy nodded but frowned all the same, unsure of just what was about to happen, "Sabo I didn't mean to leave... Are we going back home?"

It clicked in Sabo's mind what Luffy was asking, what was going to happen next. It was something Sabo had put a lot of thought into, but he'd never dared to add Luffy regaining his memory as a factor into it all. "We could, if you want. Or we can stay here and visit home every once in awhile, I know how much you like it here at the castle with Acey and the others. I'll be sticking with you so it's whatever you want to do," Sabo reassured him gently.

Luffy looked over to where Ace was snoring softly into the covers, Ace was as much his father as Dragon had been, and as much as a brother as Sabo had been. "But dad..." Luffy's brow creased, "dad fights the leeches and I'm a leech now, I drink blood just like Acey and Mr. Mustache and Pineapple and everyone..."

"He'd still be glad to see you, vampire or not. He wouldn't hate you for what you are. Nobody in the village would. I used to be a hunter too, nothing says that you can never go back because they're all still human and you aren't." Sabo spoke softly, reassuring the child.

"Dad hates them though, what if he hates Mr. Mustache and Acey and Marco?" Luffy asked softly unconvinced and new tears were brought to his eyes. "I don't want him to hate Acey and Mr. Mustache, I want to see Makino and shanks again; I want to see Nami and Zoro and everyone."

Sabo understood Luffy's train of thought, but he also knew one thing for certain, and he had to make Luffy see that too. "Or, you know Dragon could be grateful to them for protecting you. You don't know for sure, Pineapple always tells you not to assume things, right?" Sabo prodded gently, pulling a nodding Luffy close again in a comforting hug.

"I don't know if Nami and Zoro will still be there, but Makino, Dragon, and all of the others will be so happy to see you again. Why don't we send her a letter? That way when I'm well enough to go back, everything will have had time to settle, and maybe she'll write one back too if there's time?" Sabo suggested, smiling softly down at his brother.

"Can I write it myself?" Luffy asked the smallest bit of hope making it into his voice. "Acey taught me how to write real good."

But before Sabo could respond, a third voice interjected. "You're leaving?"

Luffy startled as he turned wide eyed to were Ace lay, the older vampire was motionless on the sheets but his green eyes were open, impassive, and giving nothing away. Immediately Luffy shook his head furiously but his words didn't know how to come out, he wanted to see his friends and his family, but he wasn't going to abandon Ace and everyone else.

Sabo, too, started slightly when Ace spoke, the vampire's selective hearing had hit again it seemed. But unlike Luffy, Sabo found his voice and spoke for the both of them. "Not forever, but he wants to go home for a visit sometime, right?" Sabo explained, looking down at Luffy to make sure he'd interpreted it correctly.

"But what about you?" Ace asked keeping his eyes on Sabo not needing to see Luffy's nod to know that Luffy was considering visiting his family, he had always known there was a possibility that such a thing would happen. Luffy would ask where he came from and they would have figured it out, then they would either share or loose Luffy. Ace had long and begrudgingly accepted that there could be the possibility of Luffy leaving them and though he had prefered not to think on it, he had to at some point.

Sabo's situation, however, Ace had avoided thinking too much on it. After he had come to tolerate and like Sabo, he couldn't say it wouldn't be hard to let, and see him go.

Sabo lifted his eyes back up to Ace, meeting his gaze evenly. "I'm staying too."

Sabo had never really made a conscious decision about it up until now, but after spending so much time here, Sabo realized that he didn't really want to go anywhere else. He liked it in the castle and he liked its occupants as well, not to mention that Luffy was here. And then there was Ace, but that was a whole different ballpark altogether. "And I don't know about Koala, before you ask. She probably won't, the only reason she's stuck around this long is for me."

Ace stared at Sabo for a good minute and weighed his answer considering it for a good solid minute and after he was done, Ace nodded muttering under his breath about weasels and closing his eyes slipping back off to sleep.

Luffy chuckled resting against Sabo, "Shishishi, Ace does that sometimes wakes up, talks, and sleeps, then forgets in the morning it's funny ." Luffy explained and reached out to hold Sabo's hands, "I like them all, but Acey is my favorite he's awesome... Do you like Acey, Sabo?"

Sabo snorted, shrugging as Ace apparently went back to sleep. Was it possible to have reverse narcolepsy too? "Mmhmm, I do. I don't think he likes me though," Sabo said, glancing over to Ace again. "So you do want to write a letter?"

Luffy chuckled a secret that was shared to no one but his own. "Mhm, oh look Acey left his book here." Luffy exclaimed reaching out and pulling the pad onto his lap sticking his tongue out in concentration as be snuggled back into Sabo and leafed through the book. A giant smile was given as he looked over the last page in the sketchbook that contained Luffy's answer to Sabo's pondering.

But before Sabo could look at the page, Luffy flipped the book over and presented a fresh new page. "Okay I'm ready! Is Makino Shanks wife now Sabo?"

"Luffy, we shouldn't use Ace's notebook, he wouldn't like that," Sabo said, tugging the notebook out of Luffy's hands and setting it back down on the table. It was something Sabo knew Ace was private with, he didn't want to mess it up or accidentally see something he shouldn't.

"Why don't we go find Izo and see if we can't find some proper paper? But to answer your question, no, they haven't made it official yet the last I heard from her. Usopp and Kaya are engaged now though, can you believe it?"

"Acey wouldn't mind he lets me see them all the time there's ton of them of me and Marco as a Pineapple and Thatch as a bear and Izo as a crane, oh and I'm a monkey and... you know." Luffy shrugged a shoulder and Sabo couldn't say he was slightly disappointed his name wasn't added to the list.

"Great," Sabo said flatly. He was just still out of the loop then, how nice.

"Shishishi but I bet I can find her first." Luffy challenged and hopped out of Sabos lap, "Really Usopp finally held her hand!" Luffy asked with his eyes sparkling, "he's more brave than Shanks then!"

"Mmhmm, who would've thought Usopp would be the first," Sabo chuckled, slipping out of the bed as well.

"You're on, Monkey," Sabo grinned, snatching Luffy's hat and placing it on his own head. She was probably in her room, or maybe the kitchens if it was time to eat. That seemed more likely, and Sabo was hungry again now that he thought about it.

"Okayreadysetgo!" Sabo shouted in one breath the moment they exited the room and immediately took off down the hallway. Sabo may be seventeen years older than Luffy in body and slightly in mind, but no way in hell was Sabo going to lose in a race to his little brother, it would be humiliating.

"Shishishi you're on." Luffy laughed and ran past Sabo, unconsciously tapping into his vampire abilities and leaving him behind.

"IIIIIIIIIIIIzzzooooooooo, Izo where are you?" Luffy called out hopping on the railing and riding it to the bottom floor startling a few servants on his way down.

"Luffy get back here!" Sabo shouted, lengthening his stride considerably. His legs were a lot longer than Luffy's and managed to push him in larger lengths, so all hope wasn't lost yet. He sprinted past the same servants and began gaining ground, barely paying attention to where he was going, but knowing it was the shortest route to the kitchen.

When Sabo caught up to Luffy, Sabo scooped him up into his arms, continuing to run at breakneck speeds down the hallway. It'd been awhile since he'd done a full on sprint, but the exertion actually felt nice on his sore legs even if they would hurt some more later on because of it. Sabo let out a laugh of exhilaration as he skidded on a rug in his attempt to turn a corner and managed to slip into a pile of limbs and laughter, still holding Luffy tightly to his chest for sabotage purposes.

"Shishishi Sabo you stingy cheater!" Luffy laughed mirthfully even as they tumbled onto the floor from the sharp turn. Luffy untangled himself as fast as he could from Sabos limbs and ran straight for the kitchens forgetting about Izo and calling out for "Thaaaaaaatchy! Foooooooood!"

Sabo grunted, quickly regaining his footing and sprinting after the child. He knew they were getting close, and Sabo put everything he had into the last stretch. They were neck and neck as the door to the kitchens came into sight, and Sabo reached out with his longer-than-Luffy's arm, fingers grazing the swinging door a full second before the two burst through it into the kitchens.


Luffy remembers guys! Now he and Sabo can bond a new and have many new wonderful adventures!

Let us know what you think, did you think Luffy would remember after his brush with the Dollmaker?

And what was up with Ace? Tune in next time! Thank you all for the wonderful responses to this story, your love knows no bounds.

Now onto Leafy's question, I am searching for a beta for a ThatchxIzo fic, message me for details if you're interested.

thank you for reading, favorites, follows and reviews, have a wonderful weekend!~