Ok... Short one again, and later than planned. Sorry about that.

Next chapter should be a lot longer than this one.

Disclaimer: All Oda's

Enjoy!

When I woke up the next morning, I felt positively awful. I had panicked about tomorrow all night and was dead tired. I guessed that I had had about four hours sleep. Yawning I made my way to the bathroom and took a shower. It helped soothing my raging headache and relaxed my tense shoulders.

Still yawning I continued to the kitchen, where my mother had the mercy to not talk to me for the moment. I almost sighed in relieve. After this night and yesterdays roller coaster I didn't feel ready to handle chattering in the morning. I did notice her worried gaze nevertheless.

I stared into my cup, not seeing anything. Tomorrow, I'd meet Charles Meyer, alias Killer. He used to be Kid's best friend. And he still was my boyfriend's first love. I trembled at the thought. Who could tell what this meeting would bring.

I flinched when my mother placed a soft hand on my shoulder. Looking up at her, I met her worried eyes for the first time today. "He will leave me… I just know he will." She waited patiently; knowing full well that pushing me now would not answer a single question. "His former best friend texted him yesterday. He wants to see him. They… Kid was loved him. I…"

"What will I do if he leaves me?" I knew I sounded like a panicked girl. Hell, I was panicking! "You will go on. It will hurt you and for a while you won't know how to breathe, how to eat, how to live. But you will survive and go on with life." My mother sounded calm; and so sad that it tore my heart open. My father had left when he found out she was pregnant. It had broken her heart.

I stood and wrapped my arms around her. "Love you, mum…" I heard her smile when she said: "Love you too." "I'll go see Shaki, ok?" She nodded, smiling a little already again. Suddenly I realized that I'd never told Kid where I knew Shaki from. As my mother's best friend she was like an aunt for me. When I was younger I had gotten in various fights with Rayleigh because I felt he treated her badly; I still thought that. But with time I learned that she was strong (and stubborn) enough to handle him.

I took my jacked from the wardrobe and pushed my phone into my jeans. "Don't be too late!" My mother called from the kitchen: "I'll get dinner ready." I almost went back and hugged her again. She had just given me a perfect reason to come back home, even if I should be running into Eustass Kid today.

It was strange how much I feared looking in his eyes these days. I wanted nothing more than seeing him, kissing him, being close to him. But something held me back. I would talk with Shaki about it. She would know what this hesitation meant.

I pushed the door of the Louge Town Café open, surprised to find Rayleigh in there. Kid had told me he met him, and after a bit of probing, he had even confessed that he was scared shitless of the man. I knew from reliable sources (Shaki) that this fear was not entirely without reason. Rayleigh was a dangerous man; had always been one. Though he was calm and relatively laid-back these days, I knew that he could always fall back into his old behaviour.

"Afternoon Rayleigh. Didn't quite expect you to be here already again." "So you're friend told you 'bout me." I smirked. Over the years I had so persistently tried to protect Shaki from him I had somehow gained the old man's respect. I sat down at the bar and looked around the half empty room. I must have been lucky in my choice of time, as the Louge Town Café was usually quite well occupied.

"Shaki, can I ask you something?" "Sure, darling." She knew I hated when she called me like that; mainly because she called Rayleigh the same sometimes. "Me and Kid will meet someone tomorrow evening… Someone who used to be very important to him" I saw Rayleigh tense beside me. Frowning, I turned to Shaki. "He used to be his best friend, and apparently Kid was in love with him."

"Was it this boy's idea to meet him?" I shuddered at Rayleigh's tone. "Not really, Killer sent him a text and asked if they could meet." The older man visibly relaxed at my words. I never realized how protective he had become over me. "And now you're afraid that the old feelings will come back." I nodded. Shaki had always been good at reading my thoughts and concerns.

"As much as I hate to say that, but if the old feelings come back, there is nothing you can do. Be there tomorrow, wait and watch. If he decides to go back to this other man, you'll have to let him go." I felt the icy wait of truth settle in my stomach, fear clenching at my heart.

"If he decides to do that, I promise you he'll regret it." My head turned to Rayleigh, who sipped his coffee calmly, fixing his eyes on me. "No." I said angrily. "If he decides to leave me, you will not dare to harm him. This is my life and these are my decisions. I have to take the consequences." Rayleigh held my angry gaze, looking not the tiniest bit intimidated. "I'm serious old man. If he leaves me, I'll sort it out myself." The spark of amusement I saw in the other's eyes worried me slightly, but I pushed the feeling aside. Rayleigh was a nut shot, and sometimes I preferred to ignore his attitude.

The door opened and I turned my head, finding Eustass Kid standing in the doorframe. I raised an eyebrow. "Looks like you had the same idea as I had." I smiled a little. So Kid was coming to Shaki for advice too? Now that was interesting. Ready to make a comment about it, I was only stopped by my phone. Oh…

"I need to go. Mum's preparing dinner, and I wouldn't want to be late when she's home for once." I shot an apologetic look to Shaki and Rayleigh and then turned to Kid. "I guess, I'll be seeing you tomorrow..?" He nodded, a worried look crossing his features, but disappearing just as fast as it had come.

Mum was surprised to see me home in time, and I gave her a genuine smile.

Well... what do you think..?

I am a bit concerned about the new rules against adult/ explicit slash etc. I would have liked to add some more lemon-ish scenes in the last few chapters, but I didn't dare risking it.

So, the forecast for tomorrow is storm. As I never know what the characters will do in the end, I cannot tell you whether the storm will pass or if everything just blows up, right in their faces.

Reviews are always much appreciated!