Zoro is having quite a hard time right at this moment. Anyone may ask why and here's the reason. Children.

Yes, children. He's surrounded by children and yes, he's aware that the program they are attending right now involves children, but he thought he won't have to play with them. He's set on avoiding them because, to be honest, Zoro does not know how to handle them properly It feels like he might not be able to control his strength and break them in the process. Yet, here he is, surrounded by children who want to play with them, courtesy of Luffia's encouragement.

"Luffia - "

"You're handling them well! It's good!" She just smiled at him before handing over a toddler. Zoro had a hard time trying to keep the toddler from slipping his hands because Luffia just dumped the toddler on him.

"What the - "

"This little guy wants to play with you."

"How do you know he wants to play with me? He can't even talk!"

"Don't ask, I just know." She winked at him making his heart flutter for a moment. Damn this woman for making Zoro does her bids at her own pace. He can't win against her, he never did and it's not like he wants to.

People may think that Luffia always has the upper hand in the relationship, but they are wrong. It's not about who is the boss or not. It's more like what they agreed on.

"Oi, Luffia! Where are you going?" Zoro is panicking when he saw her walking away from him, leaving him with a toddler to take care of, surrounded by children playing on the ground.

"I'm going to help Sab in the tent! Enjoy babysitting!" She had the guts to laugh at him before sprinting away.

"Ugh. Da - " He was about to curse but realized that there's an innocent child in his arms, looking curiously at him.

"Don't you look good, huh, Zoro." The green-haired man looked at the person who spoke. His eyes landed on Kidd as well as the toddler he has with him.

"Like you're one to talk. Is that your kid?" Surprisingly, the toddler in Kidd's hand has red hair, just like him.

"No. I am not irresponsible to get someone pregnant."

"Right..." Zoro answered while adjusting his hold on the toddler who, for some reason, can't keep still.

"Is that your child? He acts like Luffia."

"Haha. Very funny." There was nothing but a touch of sarcasm in Zoro's reply but Kidd may as well be right because damn, the child can't sit still for a few minutes. "By the way, why are you here? Didn't expect that Sab will ask you to participate in this program."

"You're right. She did not ask me. I came here on my own accord."

"Trying to impress her?" Zoro smirks at Kidd, hinting at something which is too damn obvious.

"No. I came here not knowing that there's a medical program ongoing, much less organized by her." This made Zoro curious. If Kidd did not come here because of Sab, then it must mean he knows this place. Even though he is curious, he doesn't want to ask him about the details. It's up to him if he wants to tell Zoro or not, so he just nodded.

His decision not to ask anything is appreciated by Kidd. This is one of the things he and Zoro agreed on, or more like their similarity. They won't ask for details if they knew it will involve something sensitive to the other party.

"These kinds of programs... Does she often organize this?" Kidd suddenly asks while his eyes are locked to where Sab is. She's busy assisting the doctors and patients as well as giving instructions whenever it is necessary.

"Yes. Every year, in fact. Sometimes, twice or thrice a year. It depends."

"I see." Kidd can only answer while his eyes are still following Sab's movements and when he saw one doctor who was getting too close to her, he can't help but frown. "Who's that chummy doctor?"

Zoro followed Kidd's line of sight, then a smirk appeared on his lips as soon as he saw who Kidd is talking about. A male doctor who had been one of Sab's admirers.

"Her boyfriend."

"What?!" He suddenly shouted, startling the toddlers on their arms.

His reaction made Zoro laugh. It's fun teasing Kidd like this.

"I'm kidding." Kid sighed in relief. "Not sure who that is, but you can ask Sab."

"You make it sound so simple."

"It's not?"

Kidd can only sigh. He came here to get his mind at peace and to think thoroughly, but here he is, inevitably pulled in an unexpected situation.

"You know me for years. I don't date."

"That's true, but why do I get a feeling that statement is meant to convince yourself and not me?" The red-haired man sometimes hates how Zoro can be a smartass. No wonder he and Law get along so well.

"She's a woman for keeps. Not the usual ones I bring to bed."

"Need I remind you that brought her to a bed as well? Not in the usual context, but you still did."

"You know what I meant." Kidd said.

"I am not the best man to tell you what to do or what to feel especially when it comes to your love life but if there's one thing I am sure of, you are selling yourself short. And you are thinking too much. If there's one thing I learned is that thinking too much is not always a good thing." Zoro is speaking based on his experience. Thinking too much can bring your spirits down, making you doubt yourself. Kidd's doing the same. He's doubtful and hesitant.

There is a heavy silence between the two men. There's nothing but the blabbers of the toddlers on their arms.

"One thing too. Luffia won't plan to hook you up with Sab if she thinks that you are not suitable for her sister."

"Luffia's not thinking at all. It's just one of her whims."

"Maybe you are right but I've known her for a long time now. I am sure her instincts are right. It's just up to you if you'd like to go this way or go back the way you are before. You might want to hurry because she might be gone before you know it." Zoro said before walking towards where Luffia is. Looks like the toddler in Zoro's hands is the next patient.

Kidd was about to walk away as well, maybe get another babysitter for the toddler when one of the nurses approached him saying that the toddler is the next patient as well. He was about to give her to the nurse, but she started crying, refusing to let him go.

"Could I ask you to bring her to the tent?" Without a choice, Kidd followed the nurse to the tent where the doctor is.

As he stepped in, Sab was there to assist the doctor. What a great timing that the pediatrician who is assigned to the toddler is none other than the guy clinging to Sab earlier.

This just made Kidd irritated, especially when he's smiling at her. Worse, she is smiling back!

"Hi, little girl." The pediatrician greeted the toddler. "Let's get your vaccine so you will grow healthy, okay?" His voice is soothing, but the toddler just cried upon seeing the doctor.

"Uwaaahhhhh!" She cried while hugging Kidd.

"She doesn't like your ugly mug." This earned Kidd a kick from Sab. "He's scaring the child with his fake face." he muttered. He hates pretentious people.

"Alright, I'll pretend I did not hear that. "

"You don't have to pretend. You can just get a mirror and see for yourself why children won't like your fake smile." A few people heard what Kidd said and all of them can't help but look at the pediatrician.

Sab can only glare at Kidd but remained silent. He's too blunt, that's for sure.

"It's time for her vaccine." The doctor tried to smile despite what Kidd said. When the toddler heard the doctor's voice, she cried even louder, especially when she saw the syringe that the doctor is carrying. "He"The doctor grabbed the child's arm, making her cry even more. This pissed Kidd off. He knows it is necessary, but he doesn't like how this shitty doctor won't even try to calm the child.

Sab noticed how the doctor is not being considerate enough. She can't help but frown. The child is trying to wiggle her way out of the grip, but the doctor won't let go. Suddenly, Kidd's hand grabbed the collar of the doctor, startling him.

"Let her go." Kidd is not asking, he's demanding. Sab is startled to see it as well.

"You have to understand I need to give her a vaccine. This is necessary."

"I don't think the way you are gripping her is necessary. Let her go before I break your arm."

"I'll take it over, Doc." Sab has to intervene, otherwise, Kidd will break the doctor's arm. The look in his eyes is not joking.

As soon as the doctor let the toddler's arm go, she calmed down a little. Sab can only glare at him, telling him that she will deal with him later.

"Little girl. Come here." Sab took the syringe while crouching down so she could be face to face with the toddler while she sits on Kidd's lap. "You are a brave little girl, right. It won't hurt too much." The toddler sobbed. "No, no. Don't cry. Come on, it will be quick."

When the toddler saw Sab's smiling face, she calmed down, but the sight of the syringe still scares her. Sab coerced her to calm down while she gives her the shot. It was over in a minute.

"Good girl. Come here!" Sab offered her hand which the toddler took. "You're a brave one, aren't you. Brave girls get a reward." Sab took the toddler where the refreshments and candies for children are. Kidd followed along and on their way to that table, they passed by the pediatrician whom he threatened.

With Sab's back turned against him, Kidd gave the asshole a quick kick making him holler in pain. It wasn't strong enough to break a bone, but it was enough to leave a bruise, at least.

"I told you to stop hitting on the Director." one nurse muttered.

"What, she's single! I am single too!"

"The red-haired guy is her rumored boyfriend. You better not get any ideas. You won't stand a chance against him." This is true. The doctor is a few inches shorter than Kidd. He's 5'10 while Kidd stands at 6 foot 4.

"One thing I can say, rude." Sab said as soon as they are out of everyone's earshot.

"Tell that to that asshole."

Sab just shakes her head but deep down, she knew Kidd has his reasons why he did it. It was this side of his protectiveness that she finds adorable. Who could have thought that Kidd can be protective when it comes to children?

Ring... Ring... It was his cellphone ringing so he needs to excuse himself for a moment. Sab was left alone with the toddler who has taken a liking to her.

"Hi, Doc. The child seems to like the two of you." The old caretaker greeted Sab while grabbing the toddler's little hand, making her giggle. "She can be picky when it comes to people."

"She's a sweetheart."

"May I know how you met Kidd? If you don't mind me asking."

This made Sab silent for a moment while being reminded of how they met. Looking back, the two of them are pretty childish in handling that situation. Maybe it was pretty bad timing for both of them.

"We met unexpectedly and kind of disliked one another." This made the old woman laugh in amusement.

"I bet it did. His personality leaves something to be desired for. He's not very sociable, but he's not such a bad guy."

"I agree. He's very rude sometimes and annoying but, he has his good points. And the children love him."

"They do, after all, he's one of the few people who keep on sponsoring this old place. Maybe he still thinks that he owes this place."

"I think he just wants to help, even though he does not look like someone who usually does, but I think he helps because he sees this as his home." Sab is surprised how she can confidently say these words as if she knew him for a long time now. Maybe it was just her observation of him and how she sees him.

"I never thought that he would mention that he came from here to anyone else at all. He can be very secretive and for him to tell you just shows that you are being trusted."

"I don't think so. It's maybe just a slip of his tongue - "

"I've known him since he was a teenager. For him to mention something he kept to himself all these years means that he trusts you. He wouldn't say anything because of a slip of his tongue, believe me." The old woman's eyes are full of wonders as if sending a message to Sab. "Be patient with him, dear. Trusting someone has never been easy for him. He's been through so much, building a wall to protect himself from being hurt. I wish I could have done something for him when he was still under my care, but the walls he built are so thick that I can't erase the hatred in his heart. I treat everyone here like my own, but he's special. His past is still haunting him, his hatred is still there."

These words made Sab curious but she did not say anything, opting to keep quiet while listening to the old woman.

"Are you not curious about what I am talking about? Are you not going to ask for details?" The old caretaker asks Sab.

"No." Sab wants to, but she decided not to ask. "If he's going to tell me all of these, then I'll listen."

"You are a good woman. A smart one and thank goodness he found someone worth keeping."

"But we're not - "

"I'd like to ask a favor Doc. I may not be in a position to ask this, but please hear me out."

"I'll do what I can."

"My time is nearing its end. My wish is for him to be healed, to be free of his hatred. If you can and will find a chance, please help him heal." The old woman's hand squeezed Sab's arm, her eyes pleading her.

She could not turn her back on this woman and she knows that she can't turn her back on Kidd.

"I am not sure if I can, but I'll try."

The old woman is satisfied with her answer and nodded. Another caretaker approached them to get the toddler and feed her.

As the caretakers walked away, the old woman glanced at Sab, smiling once again. Her smile is peaceful as if she had done the last thing she must do.

"Where's the baby?" This startled Sab a little.

"One of the caretakers took her back to feed her." She answered.

Kidd only nodded before offering the soda to her. It's already opened, with about half of liquid still inside. He must have drunk it himself.

Without hesitation, she took the can and drink from it. Oddly enough, they are used to sharing their drinks now. It's bizarre but it's something they just got used to. None of them questioned why they do it anyway.

"I heard from Zoro that you and your sisters do these kinds of programs yearly."

"Yes, we do. Not everyone is fortunate to be blessed with a comfortable life. The least we could do is help out as much as we can." Sab is practical. Of course, she knows that they can't help everyone, but the least they can do is to extend a helping hand whenever it is needed.

Many children were raised in a dire situation. Families can't fend for themselves and barely survives. Some of them end up in the streets. Sab and her sisters never experienced such life and they are thankful. Their parents have more than enough money to provide their basic needs. She's thankful that she can help as what their mother always tells them. To help whenever they can.

"These children were abandoned by their families. They need all the help they can get." His voice sounds so melancholic as if reliving memories from years ago. Sab's mind brought her to her earlier conversation with the old woman, making her realize that Kidd is not as simple as she thought he is. He's not the barbarian that she thought he was and there's a lot of things she still does not know about him.

"Is that why you are also extending a helping hand to them?"

"Hmm, maybe. Figures it won't be too bad to see them graduate, get a degree, and live a life they all wanted."

"Yeah, that's true."

There was silence following that, but it wasn't awkward, per se.

"Why this profession?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, why medical field?" He's asking about why she chose her career. Not many people tend to ask Sab this question and this is the first time that she heard someone sincerely ask her about it without going into detail why she did not pursue business as Luffia did.

"To be honest, I was just going with the flow and I guess I am fed up that people had the guts to charge too much for medical fees. I know, profit is profit. You need money to get your life better, but you don't need too much of it." Sab's perspective may be hypocritical to anyone who hears this, but this is what she believed in. Maybe if they knew her background, they will think that she's speaking like this because her parents have a lot of money that they can provide to their children and she does not need to earn at all.

"You got a point. That's admirable because not everyone can throw away a chance to make money. They'll take it for themselves." When their eyes locked onto each other's gazes, it made Sab's heart flutter. There's so much in his eyes that she wants to unravel. So many things she does not know and talking to him like this is comfortable. It feels so natural to her.

They could stay like that, staring at each other's eyes but it seems the situation won't let them.

"Director!" One of the Staff called out to Sab, distracting her away from Kidd's intense eyes.

"It looks like slack off time is over." His voice is teasing her. If it happened before, she would have been fuming mad at him, using her sharp tongue to get back at him, but not this time.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Both of them chuckled before she left to see what the staff was calling her for, leaving Kidd alone beneath the tree where they stood together.

"Sab and Kidd sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G~~~. K-I-S-S-I-N-G~~~." Kidd looked at the person who was singing behind him. There's no surprise there, it was Luffia who was smiling from ear to ear while wiggling her eyebrows at Kidd.

This made Kidd roll his eyes at her, wondering how did he become friends with this annoying brat.

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the carriage~~~."

"Shut up, Luffia."

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G~~~"

"No, we're not kissing." Luffia's face scrunched in disappointment as if Kidd is the biggest disappointment that happened in her life. That's what her face looks like and it's annoying.

"Wuss." She said while looking down at Kidd.

"Shut up. We're hardly in a place suitable for kissing, you idiot."

"Then, you'll kiss her if it's an appropriate place?" Then she turned to Zoro who just arrived. "Which place is appropriate for kissing?"

Kidd is baffled at her question. Is she really asking that? Zoro looked at Kidd then to Luffia.

"Why are you asking that?"

"Because Kidd said that this is not a place suitable for kissing. He's a wuss, he won't kiss Sab. BIG WUSS." There she goes again, her face full of disappointed look pointed to Kidd.

"For fuck's sake - "

"A car or maybe a room. Those are appropriate places for kissing." Kidd can't help but doubt if he heard it right, but he's pretty sure he did. Zoro just answered Luffia's dumb question.

"Oh! A room! I'll lock them up!"

"No, you're not!" Kidd argued.

"But it's an appropriate place for kissing!"

This is giving Kidd a headache. Luffia can't be reasoned out. She won't listen and for some reason, her arguments are valid. It may seem dumb, but it makes sense that you can't argue back. No wonder she gets people to follow her pace wherever she goes.

Without saying anything, Kidd walked away. It's better not to listen to Luffia because, to be honest, he's tempted in doing her suggestions.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

Roger woke up with a terrible headache. Taking a cold shower helped a little as well as the intake of caffeine. Once he's a little sober, he realized what happened last night and started cursing out loud, startling Dogra, Magra, and Dadan who was in the kitchen.

"What's gotten into you?" Dadan asks wryly. "It's too damn early for your tantrums."

"They're not tantrums! My dear daughter! My big baby is dating a Neanderthal!"

"Ann? Isn't that great?" Dadan shrugs. The girls are at the right age, this old man right here is just a crazy old bummer who can't get past the stage of overprotectiveness.

"What do you mean great?! He's dating a Neanderthal! Ouch!" Roger groaned because his head started aching after shouting in response to Dadan.

"Neanderthal? You mean Marco?" Magra innocently asks.

"Yes, him!" Roger is flaring again, then he realized something. "Wait a damn second. You knew!" He pointed at Magra who just realized his slip of the tongue.

"She asked me not to tell you because she's going to tell you herself." Magra is smart to hide behind Dadan when Roger stood up while glaring at Magra.

"What is this ruckus?" It was Rouge's voice who just arrived in the kitchen.

"Magra knew! He kept the information from me that Ann is dating Marco!"

"There's a reason why she kept it from you because she knew that you will react like this. Honestly, honey, when will you learn to accept that they just want to be happy? If you don't want your children to keep secrets from you, then you better start acting like a mature man and accept that they are dating someone."

"But - "

"Roger, they're already in legal ages. They know what they are doing. Wouldn't it be better that our children will be honest with us? If you keep acting like that, they'll keep secrets from you and worse, you might find out from a different person."

This made Roger silent. Yes, he knows that they are in the right age, but as a father, he can't help but worry and just want to smash the faces of the men who dared to date them. Yes, one punch will suffice. Or maybe one broken rib will do. He just wants to give them a warning not to hurt his precious daughters or he will slaughter them.

"Ann is a smart woman. She won't date someone who will just hurt her and she looks happy with him. The leats you could do is support her happiness as her father."

"I just want to punch the guy just once. Is that too much to ask?" He was pouting like a child. Who could have thought that the richest man in the world is pouting like a child just because his daughter is dating?

"Yes, it is. Now, stop whining like a child."

"GOOD MORNING! Hahaha! What a bright morning!" Garp looks so damn happy that it's pissing Roger off. Just thinking about what he did last night makes him madder than ever. Without much thinking, he stood up and tackled Garp to ground, keeping him in a headlock. "Oi! Let go!"

"You deserve this old man!"

Rouge can only sigh and left the two children wresting on the floor.

===XXX===XXX===XXX===

AN: I've outlined the story till Chapter 70. And I gotta pick up my pace if my target is to finish this before the year ends. If all things go well, the story will be finished by 70th chapter, unless there are scenes I need to drag a little, which will extend that target. Anyways, there are more things coming your way. Hehehe