So now I've caught up with all the chapters done already. Therefore I don't know when I'll be able to upload the next chapter, since my muse have abandoned this story for now. Still, I will try to end this, though I have no idea when. So enjoy this chapter.

"What? Shanks has lost his left arm?" Luffy stared at Lu.

She nodded. "Yes and he didn't tell us before he came home. I was hurt, angry and disappointed, but I understand why he did. He gave us quite a scare," she said.

"I would say so. Damn what a shock. How is he?" Nami asked.

"He's somewhat fine, but he has to learn to live with one arm only. It's not easy," said Zoro.

The gang nodded. It was a shock to hear about Shanks and they were all worried. However, they also knew how strong Shanks was and that he was a fighter, not giving up, so losing an arm was just another challenge. Lu thought about the adoption and her heart was filled with warmth. It would be official in a few weeks.

"So how are you doing?" Vivi asked Lu.

Lu shrugged. "I'm fine, though I was really scared for a moment," she said.

"Why?" Luffy tilted his head.

Nami hit him on the head. "Did you forget that her mother died last year and she might have lost her father now?"

"Oh," Luffy said and looked at Lu. "Sorry, Lu."

She smiled. "It's fine Luffy. He's alive and fine. That is all I think about."

They continued to chatter, though Lu talked less and less, until the bell rang and they had to go to their classes. Lu excused herself to the teacher and went to Bell-mere. It was half a year ago since she stopped going to her, but now she needed it again. She was feeling down and she couldn't really put words on her fears and sadness.

-x-

Mihawk looked at Lu as she came home. He was worried, because she looked sad and was watching over Shanks when he was home. The accident had taken harder on her than he had thought, but then again she was a sensitive young woman. Her love life she could somewhat handle, but bad stuff in her family … She didn't take that so well.

"Hey dad," she said and sat next to Mihawk, cuddling close to him.

He kissed her head and put his arm around her and started to read the newspaper again. It didn't bother him that much that she needed the comfort and closeness of him or Shanks. He understood it and he would give her some time, though he was slight worried.

"I went to Bell-mere today. She said it was fine if we picked up my therapy again," she said.

Mihawk smiled. He should have known that Lu could find solution to her problems. He hummed in agreement. Lu kept sitting next to him, her head on his chest and with her eyes closed. He heard Zoro coming home, Luffy with him. The two boys greeted Mihawk and then went to Zoro's room.

"The two I love the most so close together. That warms a man's heart," Shanks said, as he entered the living room.

Lu freed herself and darted over to her father, who just chuckled and followed her to the couch and sat next to her, so she sat between them. He did kiss Mihawk on the cheek, before Lu cuddled close to him. He sighed and let his hand glide through her head.

"So how do you feel, Lu?" Shanks asked.

"Miserable, but better. Bell-mere says it's a normal reaction and she gives me some new tools to work with," Lu said.

"So you've taken up your therapy?" Shanks asked.

Lu hummed. "I need her advice and guidance. She has helped me a lot since mom died, so I thought I should go to her again," she said.

"You are so smart, do you know that? I'm so proud of you," Shanks said.

Lu smiled to him and blushed.

"So am I, Lu," Mihawk said and she smiled to him, hugging both, before jumping of the couch.

"I better get started on dinner. Don't want eat fast food today again. I got a figure to watch," she said and went to the kitchen.

Shanks looked after her and then rushed closer to Mihawk. "She will be fine, right?"

Mihawk placed the newspaper on the table, turned to Shanks and kissed him passionately. Shanks returned the kiss and let his worries go. He had enough on his mind and he knew that Mihawk was as worried as him when it came to Lu and Zoro. Though Zoro seemed to handle this better than Lu, so they had almost forgotten about him.

"Lu will be fine, love. She is stronger than we think and believe. Instead we should worry about our son," Mihawk said.

Shanks sighed. "Yeah. Lu has come a long way since last year. So many things have happened," he said and leaned against Mihawk.

"She's like a flower. Beautiful, looking fragile, but her roots are strong and so she will always bloom again," Mihawk said.

"You're so poetic today, love. I like it," Shanks said.

Mihawk smiled and kissed his lover once more. He didn't want Shanks to know, but he had been scared as he heard about the accident. Afraid to lose the man he loved, about his family breaking apart. He loved Lu as his daughter, but the law stated she wasn't his daughter and would have to live with her grandfather. Losing Shanks and Lu was unimaginable for Mihawk and it would also crush Zoro.

-x-

Zoro sighed as he stood in front of the office to Bell-mere. He had thought about it for so long and now he had decided to seek her out and make her help him. After all, he had seen how much it had helped Lu and he now knew he had to get a professional to help him. He had barely slept the past week and it was taking a toll on him.

-x-

Lu watched, as Zoro went into the office of, Bell-mere and she let out a sigh in relief. She hadn't failed to notice how her brother had changed and that he barely slept. It had started to make her worry and she knew that her fathers had started to see it too.

With a small smile, she went to town, wanting to do some shopping and just enjoy the good weather, even though it was chilly. The winter was closing in on them, but she didn't mind. Today she would shop for a gift for Zoro and one for each of her fathers. Zoro's birthday was coming up and she wanted to tell her fathers how happy she was about the adoption.

"Hey beauty. What are you doing?"

She turned and saw Izo and she gave him a big happy smile. "Izo my friend. I'm going shop a birthday present for Zoro and a gift for each of my dads," she said.

"Mind if I go with you? I'm free for a couple of hours and wanted to shop too," he smiled.

"Come along," she said.

He smiled and put his arm in hers. "So how's things between you and Luffy?"

She blushed. "It's great. I really love him and he's so kind and good to me," she said.

"That's good to hear. Love is sooooo wonderful," he sang the last part.

"Oh? You're in love?"

"Always, beauty. With life, with nature, with my job and my boyfriend," he said.

She chuckled. "Aw that's so sweet. Haven't you two been together for almost a year now?"

"We have, but sometimes you fall in love all over again in the same person. Never let the relationship get bored. If you don't do small things for each other and start to take each other for granted, then the love might die," he said.

"You're so wise, Izo," she smiled.

He chuckled and the two kept shopping and talking about love, friendship, life and family. He told her about the stupid pranks Ace and Haruta had pulled off, while she told how she handled the new crisis. Of course he felt with her, but he was so proud to hear how she handled it.

Did you think I forgot her other friends?

I also wanted to show that Zoro struggled with Shanks' loss. Hope you don't see him as weak. Zoro just have trouble with relationship and now he had let Shanks into his heart, he fears to loose him. Remember he has lost his own parents as a child and that took hard on his soul, though he tried to conceal it and forget. That made him fear to loose people close to him and that's why he had a hard time accepting others. Well, except Luffy, but you know how he is ;)