A Stranger

Part 3

Law grumbled to himself. Though he wasn't looking at her, he could easily sense that she had her eyes glued onto him. But this time she held her tongue. And just like he promised Neo, Law always had a crew member with him when in the infirmary with Isleen. He also suggested to her that it might be best if she steer clear of Isleen for a while. So she did. She let one of the crew take their guest her meals.

"Just wondering," Isleen suddenly said. "But are we ever going to surface?"

"We'll surface in a few minutes," Law replied stiffly. "The crew wants to do some fishing."

"Sounds like fun," Isleen giggled. "If it's all right with you, Doctor Pirate, I'd love to go outside as well. I'm feeling a bit…suffocated."

"It won't bother me if you go outside," Law replied. "You're free to do as you wish as long as you don't cause any trouble for me, my wife, our son or my crew."

Isleen giggled again. "I understand."

"Yeah," Law grumbled under his breath. "I'm sure you do."

"Sheesh," The crew mate whispered. "She really doesn't give up, does she?"

Law could only sigh and nod.

…

"We're surfacing soon," Penguin said as he walked over to Neo and Corazon. The two were in the rec. room. Neo had laid a blanket out on the floor with Corazon's toys spread out on them. She was laying on her stomach, her feet kicking back and forth, while mindlessly playing with Corazon's blocks. Corazon was playing with just about all of them. He'd pick up one toy, play with it for two seconds, toss it away from him then grab the next one.

"Uh huh," Neo nodded.

"Why don't you come outside with us?" Penguin said. "The fresh air will do you some good."

"I don't think so," Neo shook her head. "I have a feeling that Isleen will be going out on the deck once we surface. I'm just going to stay inside and read."

"Well," Penguin slowly nodded. "Okay, if that's really what you want."

"It is. And I'm fine," Neo smiled at him. "But I'd appreciate it if you would take Corazon with you. He's being a bit-"

Corazon squealed and tossed a toy across the room. "-unruly today. I think he's feeling a bit trapped."

"I'd love to take him outside. You know that," Penguin smiled while ruffling up her hair.

"Thanks, Penguin," Neo returned his smile.

….

Isleen hummed as she stretched her arms as far out as they could go. The sun was warm and beating down on her and the crew members, plus Corazon, who were now outside on the deck. She breathed in the salty air. "This feels great! Three days stranded inside was really getting to me."

"Neo can be like that too," A crew mate said. Penguin tossed his crew mate a hidden glance. Corazon was standing on his feet while holding onto Penguin's index fingers. He wasn't trying to walk. He just wanted to hold onto his uncle's fingers and bounce up and down while making baby noises. "I wonder if it's a common trait in magical creatures."

"She is?" Isleen looked over her shoulder at the crew mate who talked. "I'm not sure about all of them, but I believe a lot of magical creatures are very in tuned with nature and can get restless when trapped inside for far to long. Usually creatures who are bound to nature are rather strong, but she doesn't seem like she's all that powerful. What's her story anyway? She seems so fragile. And how did she managed to trap a guy like your captain? I think he would be better suited with a woman who's stronger and more solid."

The corner of Penguin's lips pulled down at the woman's words. He was starting to really dislike the woman. He could tell that this woman either was just blind to how much Law and Neo loved each other or she just didn't care. He huffed before speaking. "She's a lot more powerful and stronger than you will ever realize. She's just a very shy and very gentle person."

"But why? What happened to make her such a delicate person?" Isleen turned to look at Penguin. She collapsed her hands behind her back and gave him a curious, almost innocent, look. Penguin took a moment to scan his hidden eyes over the woman's body. The way she was standing told him she was trying to use her body to get what she wanted. He wasn't falling for it. He would never fall for a woman who spoke about his sister like Isleen was doing. He glanced at his fellow crew mates. They weren't buying it either. They postures were ridged and their lips turned down in frowns. She smirked at their silence. "You all are very protective of her, huh?"

"Of course we are," A crew mate scoffed. "She's like a little sister to us all."

"I can see that," Isleen walked closer to Penguin. She squatted down and smiled at him. Corazon fussed and climbed into Penguin's arms to get away from the stranger. "And she seems really close to you."

"We have a close bond," Penguin patted Corazon's back. "But it's nothing compared to her bond with the captain. No one can break it. She's our girl. And you'd be smart to leave her and the captain alone."

Isleen's smile faded a bit. She stood up and collapsed her hands behind her back. "Oh don't worry. I won't be here for much longer. I feel like I'm about ready to make my move away from here. As much fun as I've had here, I actually have an important task I need to attend to soon."

"Good," Penguin whispered to himself. "The sooner you leave the better."

…

Neo hummed a song to herself as she filled up the tub for Corazon's bath. Once the water level was where she wanted it, she turned the knobs off and stepped back into their room. She paused at the bathroom door and smiled at her two favorite boys.

Law was sitting at his desk trying to write. Neo had left Corazon on the floor so she could get his bath ready. Apparently he crawled over to Law and was now in Law's lap. He was standing up on Law's legs playing a little game of 'Grab daddy's hat'.

Corazon would grab Law's hat and giggle wildly while shaking the hat up and down. Law would smirk, take his hat back and place it on his head only to have Corazon snatch it off again. Neo walked over just as Law reclaimed his hat. She snatched it off this time. Law gave her a playful growl. "Hey! One hat snatcher is enough."

"Can you blame us?" Neo asked while handing Corazon the hat. She wrapped her arms around Law's neck and kissed his cheek. "It's such a cute hat."

"Yeah, yeah," Law grumbled with a smile.

Neo laughed and held out her hands to Corazon. "Come on now, my little love. Time for your bath."

Corazon leaned towards her hands. She picked him up and plucked Law's hat out of his hands. Corazon momentarily frowned at the loss of his toy, but then hugged Neo. Neo then held their baby closer to Law. "Say, 'See you in a little while, daddy'."

"Behave yourself for mommy," Law ordered while pecking Corazon's forehead. Neo then pecked Law's lips before heading for the bathroom. "Ahem! My hat?"

"Mine now," Neo stuck her tongue at Law while placing his hat on her head. Law chuckled while watching his love and son disappear into the bathroom. He turned back to his writing. A little while later, Law sensed a presence in their partway opened door. He sighed, already known who it was.

"Go away," Law growled.

…

"Mama ma," Corazon mumbled. He had one of his water toys in his hand and was bobbing it up and down. He'd occasionally hit the water, sending drops of water flying into the air. Neo cheated in not getting wet. She summoned her water crystals and directed the drops back into the water. Every time she did this Corazon's eyes would widen with glee. He really loved it when Neo used her crystals around him. He summoned his own fire crystals and gave his mom a bright grin.

"Such a silly baby," Neo giggled. She grabbed his baby shampoo and started to lather up his hair. "You love summoning your crystals, don't you? I can't wait for you to start using your fire. I bet your uncles can, however. I just know you're gonna drive them crazy with worry."

"Mama!" Corazon squealed again. "Da da da!"

"And daddy's going to have so much fun with you. He's gonna be a little devil. Especially when we run into Uncle Luffy again," Neo giggled as she imagined what all Law would do if they did run into the Straw Hats again when Corazon finally started using his fire. But her imagination was cut short when she sensed a familiar, highly unwanted presence walk into their room. She sighed. "That woman just doesn't know when to give up."

"Dada da," Corazon said as if to soothe her.

"You're so much like Law. You too seem to know what I need when I need it," Neo smiled lightly as she started to wash the shampoo out of his hair. "Daddy won't let her do anything inappropriate."

Neo couldn't help but sigh again when Isleen started talking. She reached up and touched Law's hat. "He'll kick her out soon."

…

"No need to be hostile," Isleen said while walking farther into the room, running her eyes all over. "I just want to come by and thank you. I have a feeling I'm going to be leaving soon."

"Then leave," Law growled. He grabbed his books and stood up. He then walked over to the bookshelf and shoved them back into place a little harder than necessary. When he turned around, Isleen was right there. "What are you doing?"

"I just noticed you're not wearing your hat," Isleen reached up for his hair. "Your hair is so dark and wild."

"Stop," Law grabbed her wrist and squeezed it before she could touch him. He squeezed it hard enough that she should have winced, but she didn't. She just kept her hungry gaze on him. "Get out. Now!"

"Oh, come on, Law," Isleen said pressing her body into his.

"You do not have permission to call me by my name," Law shoved her away from him. "Leave."

"Come on now. I just want to properly thank you for saving me," Isleen said while trying to press against him again.

"I know exactly what you're trying to do. And it's not going to work," Law roughly grabbed her arm and shoved her towards the door. He didn't give her the change to protest. He just shoved her out the door, shut it in her face and locked it tightly. He rubbed his forehead with a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, Neo. I should have shoved her out the second she walked in here."

"Well, she sure is persistent," Neo mumbled while carrying Corazon over to their bed. "How much do you think she practiced to get that good?"

Law quietly watched Neo sit down on their bed. She unwrapped Corazon from his towel and started to apply lotion to his skin. She then grabbed his night clothes and dressed him, noticing they were a little snug. Law walked over at that point and sat down behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the base of her neck before resting his chin on her shoulder. "Cora is starting to outgrow his clothes again."

"We'll get some bigger ones when we dock tomorrow," Law said. He pressed his lips to her neck again as silence feel over the room.

"I want her off our ship. I want her out of our home," Neo gritted her teeth. She picked Corazon up and held him close to her chest. "I don't want her near my family anymore. I don't…want her near you."

"I know, love," Law kissed her neck again. "The second we dock, I'll personal kick her off."

The two went quiet after that. Neo held Corazon while Law held her. Soon Corazon yawned and closed his eyes. Law let Neo slip from his hold so she could place their son in his crib. She laid Corazon down and watched him sleep. She didn't take her eyes off him until the main lights suddenly went out. She looked up at the ceiling in confusion. Next thing she knew, Law had his hands on her hips and spun her around to face him. "Wha-"

Law cut her off with his lips. He kissed her deeply while running his hands up and down her sides. He cut off the kiss, pressed their foreheads together and listened to her pant before speaking. "I think you need a reminder that I belong to you."

"Well," Neo slipped her hands under his shirt and rubbed his well toned stomach. She then pulled his shirt off. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."

"I know it won't hurt," Law said while removing her shirt. He then picked her up and carried her over to their bed. He laid her down and locked their lips in a passionate kiss.