Around the same time the Dock 1 foremen, Kalifa and Iceburg were gathered together at the Galley La Company Headquarters a meeting of a smaller scale was unfolding on a beach by the old scrapyard. A tall, sturdy figure swathed in rich, dark attire approached another who sat alone and cross-legged on the cold sand with frigid water lapping up against their bare feet. For a moment neither of them spoke; only watched as the sun began to show itself from beyond the horizon. The scream of the sea-train shattered the silence as it chugged across the skyline.

"It's quite the sight, eh?" A smile was fastened to him but his eyes were dull.

"I know your face well enough by now, Flam. Things didn't go your way, did they?"

After a short pause and a scoff he shook his head in response.

"I'm sorry to hear it. They hardly do, do they?" The soft murmur of his voice was hardly audible over the waves.

"He says I'm not s'pose to use that name anymore: Flam." A bitter laugh arose before he snatched up an empty shell and tossed it to the sea. "Never cared for it anyways."

"Oh? Well…What shall I call you then?"

He looked back after a short pause with tears in his eyes.

"Franky. Franky is good though…isn't it?"

"It is. I'll remember it."

They both looked out at the sea as The Puffing Tom shot out clouds of smoke. The taller man sank down and joined him on the sand.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Franky gave another quick shake of the head.

"No. I just wanna forget about it."

He nodded sagely.

"I understand that. Let's talk about something else then, Franky."

Hearing his name spoken in such a familiarly deep tone brought images of Iceburg to mind which only led him to let out the most frustrated groan he could muster. He flopped sideways to lay across his legs. The warmth from under his silky black dress pants was warm and inviting compared to where they currently sat.

"He wouldn't even see me, big bro." The words came out so plainly at first but his volume and temper quickly rose. "Couldn't be arsed to show his face at the door to tell me off himself! Sent some snotty blonde girl to do it instead. Can you believe that!? He's acted cold in the past but this was something else…he didn't even wanna see me." His voice wavered as he looked down at himself.

"That must have been hard for you after all these years."

"Yeah…dunno why I was so surprised. I don't think I'd wanna see myself either."

"It took guts to try though. You've been working towards this for a long time. I'm proud. Don't think so little of yourself." he cleared his throat and adjusted the violet cravat that adorned his chest "There's still people who care very much to see you alive and well."

Franky felt the weight of his counterpart's hand as it came to rest on his head. Ever so slightly his fingertips ruffled his hair. He couldn't relax despite the comfort nor could he hold back any more tears. He rolled over onto his back and pouted up at the rapidly lightening sky with tears falling freely to the fabric beneath him.

"…I know."

"So don't you dare go and put yourself on those tracks again or I'll kill you myself, boy. Do you understand me?"

Finally he let out an honest laugh.

"You're ridiculous, y'know that?"

"I've heard something like that once or twice." He smiled softly at Franky then looked off with a faraway gaze.

"So we ran into each other again, at a bar of course. He didn't know it was me though. I was still cloaked from our last job and just going to refuel - first place I try and he's there. It was fuckin' surreal, y'know? Just earlier he'd shot me down without a second thought then there he was, smiling and drinking with some young guy…blonde again. What's his thing for blonde's now? Kinda weird if you knew the only blonde we grew up with! Anyways…He's all super fancy and important now. Everyone seems to love him. The blonde definitely does..."

"…Which blonde?" He knit his brows and tried to keep up.

"Pfft. Both maybe. I meant the boy though . Didn't see him with the other one yet. Probably both. I always kinda expected he'd move on but I guess I wasn't ready to see it yet. Made me feel awful… sick…I dunno…"

"I can imagine it would." His locution was always so cool and low, and to anyone else the reply may come off as crass, but he could hear the whisper of affection in his words. Over the last several years he'd shared many vulnerable moments with his odd friend and grown to recognize the slight changes and cues that showed his true albeit well-shaded emotions.

"So I tried to slip away quietly but he realized who I was. So I ran. I just couldn't bear to face him after he'd already turned me away the way he did. The thought of him seeing me like this," the cyborg motioned furiously at his body "while he's still so perfect…it was way too much for me."

After a few seconds of poking aimlessly around the sand he continued.

"But then he came after me!? Tells me to meet him back at home!? He didn't look angry, so, I thought maybe he was ready to work things out. I went even though it was scary… He just - it seemed like he just wanted to hurt me though. Use me. And like always, I couldn't say no."

He felt muscles stiffen underneath him.

"Hurt you? Use you?" He quickly dropped his gaze to meet his and Franky was taken aback by the intensity in his brown eyes. "What did he do to you?"

"It's not that he physically did anything to me …" Franky drew his knees up closer to himself.

"Good..." He relaxed again. He slowly lifted his hand off of Franky's baby blue hair and pulled out a heavy lighter. With a quick flick he lit a cigar that rested between his teeth. When he was finished he returned his hand to where it had been prior. "Good. So, what happened?"

Franky took time to glance sideways to watch the sea-train disappear from sight. He scowled at it.

"I messed up a lot in the past… but he always forgave me. He's not gonna this time though, big bro. He's moved on – and maybe that's the way it should be, eh? Why shouldn't he be happy? After all, if I'd never come around in the first place all those years ago, his life would've turned even better than it is now. God, it'd be perfect actually…it's no wonder he wants me gone." He closed his eyes and tried to smile.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs to the warehouse Iceburg was waiting outside the drawing room – their room. The familiar sight had sparked momentary buoyancy in his heart, but his spirits quickly sank when he saw how frigid his expression was despite the warm glow of the light that shone above them. His face was still youthful but he looked tired and worn since he'd seen him last, as if he'd carried the weight of the world alone ever since.

Both stood in the most uncomfortable silence of their lives.

"I'm here." Franky wasn't sure how else to start things off though there was a thousand things he wanted to say. "I'm sorry I'm late…"

Iceburg looked him up and down before he closed the distance between them with several long strides. As he scanned his features he fought the urge to reach a hand to his face; he crossed his arms over his chest instead.

"You really are here, aren't you?" He stared coolly to the side. "Or have I just finally lost my mind?"

"I am. I think. It doesn't feel real though, does it?" He looked wistfully around the room before they locked eyes again. "It's been so long..."

A cold draft blew in from the busted up windows by the bay doors. Iceburg shivered and tightened his arms around himself. He was surprised that until then he hadn't fully taken in the extent of the damage that had been done over the past four years. Hazy memories hinted that he'd been responsible for quite a bit of the destruction done to the warehouse that day.

Burning. Running. Slamming doors. Searching. Screaming. Running. Swimming. Searching. Praying. Hoping. Drowning. Bleeding. Tears. Glass. Pain. Gone, forever…and yet…

And yet…

"Y-You feeling a little cold?" Franky smiled sheepishly and reached out for him but was quickly shrugged away; he flinched and tried not to show how much the rejection hurt after years of craving his embrace.

Iceburg took a step back.

"How can this be? Why are you here?" He seemed completely different from the easy-going mayor at the bar earlier. His voice was now distant and chilled; he stared on with loveless eyes.

"You told me to come home! Why else!?" Franky couldn't help but sound offended.

Iceburg turned his back on him and walked on shaky legs to take a seat at their little makeshift bobbin table. His aloof behaviour stung Franky but he still couldn't help but take time to watch him as he lowered himself onto one of the shabby couches before he followed suit on the parallel. He never thought he'd see him sitting so casually there ever again, let alone at home - or near him at all.

"Well…" Iceburg winced and looked out towards the waterway.

Franky sighed and sank down, the rough green material familiar against his body, and wondered what if. What would things be like if their lives hadn't changed for the worst that day? Would they be on that couch together instead of how they were now: sitting opposite to each other with grim expressions? Would Tom be with them?

"I mean, why are you here. On this island…alive?"

"Iceburg… I…" he bit his lip "Would you rather me dead? I-I just really needed to see you…"

Franky took another moment to look at him before saying anything else. Regardless of the cruel way he acted he was as striking as ever. He'd cut his hair short with shaved down sides and grown out some facial hair. Though he dressed himself in different, fancier clothes and didn't seem to wear bandanas anymore it all suited him well. He still saw the same boy he'd longed to for those four, long years. He only wished he'd show even the smallest hint of being glad to see him too.

"…You've got a pretty strange way of meeting with people…" Franky did his best to match his indifference.

Iceburg turned his gaze away from him. He struggled to proceed with caution.

"Well…your appearance is pretty strange. How is it you look so different?" Iceburg did his best not to look at the pained expression the words brought to Franky's face.

It was like he'd said to Kokoro countless times: between threats of the weapons, the government, the people of his homeland and anyone else who might come out of the woodworks he had to keep the people he cared about at a distance - and knew there could never be enough distance between the two of them on the whole island to conceal their past.

"Shut up!" the hurt in his voice was more than evident "I might've escaped death but my shitty body was basically useless, so I rebuilt myself using scrap metal and stuff - " his volume climbed higher as he spoke – he remembered what he'd been told earlier on and he shot up from his seat "More importantly, I heard that your company builds ships for the World Government! I can't accept you doing things that help those people! I can't forgive them! How could you? They're the ones who took Tom from us!"

Franky was silenced by the sound of fists crashing against the table.

"And who was it who made the awful weapons that gave them the excuse to do just that!?" Iceburg's eyes brewed with darkness.

The words hit Franky as hard as his fist had four years ago on the scrap island but just as he did back then he didn't fight back, only listened quietly.

"You have no right to say anything to me at all!" He stood, leaned forward and channeled all of his hurt into a show of anger "Do you think I've forgiven you in just four years!? I'm surprised you have the nerve to show your face to me after everything that's happened!"

"W-what!?" The blows thus far had been painful but the acrimony in those words nearly crippled him. He suddenly wished very much that he hadn't shown his face at all.

"I really thought you were dead. It's what the Government told us, and I was just finally accepting it. Yet here you are now, years later, alive after all this time!? Trying to act like nothing's happened!? Where have you been hiding during the aftermath of everything you've caused!? Even if Tom forgave you, I never will."

Iceburg looked away poker-faced. They stood quietly until Franky's shoulders drooped. He toyed with the hem of his unbuttoned shirt and exhaled a long, defeated sigh.

"Then what are we really doing here, Iceburg? You hunted me down just to say all this? Cause me more pain than I've already endured? I think of what happened every day, don't think for a second I don't. It'll haunt me forever..." he wiped streaks of tears away from his cheeks and let out a sullen laugh. "You know, I never really expected you to forgive me but I sure as hell didn't think you'd go this far just to rub salt into my wounds like this! You really have changed!"

Franky looked down to the floor, at every broken window in the building then over to the water running beside them; anywhere but in his eyes.

"But I…I've changed too – not just my stupid body. I don't build those ships anymore - just like you always wanted! I'll do anything to keep you safe from any more harm! I promise, I stopped building them!" His voice shook as he caught Iceburg's steely gaze again "I wouldn't lie to you!"

Iceburg unclenched his fists and backed away. He sat down, arms crossed.

"Don't be stupid…I know you wouldn't lie to me, especially about something like that. You know, Tom used to tell me you were an honest boy above all else. It took me far too long to realize what he meant by that."

Franky, taken aback, turned to look at him in time to see him lay something down on the table.

"…whatchya' got there Iceburg? You brought somethin'?" Hopeful curiosity glistened in his blue eyes but it quickly faded away.

He inhaled sharply as he took in the sight. The ragged collection of papers was one he was beyond disgruntled to see. He picked up the stack of aged pages and quickly thumbed through them before he fell back to his seat.

"H-Hey what the hell is this about!? These are those blueprints for that ancient weapon Tom gave us…right? Wh-what - " His eyes were wide and brimming.

"Don't use the name Cutty Flam from now on. Throw the name away. Since the government couldn't get this out of Tom… it's only a matter of time before they make their move on me. Take them and leave this island, Franky."

"Leave this island?" A fierce wave of emotions rose up inside of him. He didn't mind not using the name anymore but the thought of leaving Water 7, leaving Iceburg, again was something that would bring unfathomable heartache.

"Cutty Flam from Tom's Workers is dead. As long as you don't use that name there'll be no connection between us…" Franky looked horrified as Iceburg droned on "and if you get away from here the blueprints whereabouts will vanish into darkness…and they'll be safe. You'll be safe…"

He grew frantic as he thought the words through.

"W-wait a minute! What's gonna happen if they come for you and you don't have the blueprints anymore!?"

"I've said what I came to say." He walked towards the door as steadily as his intoxicated body could manage.

Franky leapt up from his seat.

"H-hey! Iceburg!? Don't -"

"We may not see each other again." When he called back to him he didn't even look back the slightest.

"Oi! Wait! Do you want to end up like Tom did? Just keep the blueprints with you! If the time comes you do find your life is in danger, just hand them over!" He pleaded to him as he thrust the papers towards his turned back. "If you don't wanna do that, then you can even burn the damn things before their eyes if you want!"

Iceburg bowed his head then spoke.

"If you were me and had to choose…would you do that? Tom was a brilliant man who did such great things. He gave up his life in order to preserve these blueprints for the future…"

Franky cast his gaze away, feeling foolish for making the suggestion. Of course the thought must've crossed Iceburg's mind before; he'd been carrying the burden alone for so long. He must've considered every option possible over those four years before finally surrendering to being the ill-fated keeper of Pluton.

"As long as there's a risk that woman Nico Robin can restore the existing weapon, the world needs that thing to fight back. So, just know that if I continue to keep these plans with me…even if I am to be killed I won't hand them over to the government!"

Franky inhaled sharply. He knew for sure as soon as the words left Iceburg's rouged lips that he had no choice but to shoulder the burden for him. There was no way on earth he'd let him throw his life away for that damn stack of papers.

"Are you sure? Is it really okay like this?" He held his head high but his voice was lowered and flat; Iceburg's undying hate he'd held for his creations and their final fight with one another raw on his mind. "I may try to make it… Do you trust me?"

Iceburg paused at the question before answering softly, his gaze his cast downwards.

"Doesn't the fact that I gave them to you answer that question?"

Wide-eyed, Franky stared after him.

"We never change, huh? We get worked up, disagree, fight and yell…but in the end…" He took a shuddering breath and Franky broke out into a cold sweat, excited but scared of the sound of affection that had returned to his aging voice "though I won't forgive you… and now you likely won't forgive me either, Franky…" his voice strained and broke "You stupid bastard, I'm so happy that you're alive!" No longer able to hold it back he began to cry. Years of agony poured down his cheeks as he sobbed into the sleeve of his suit jacket.

Franky gasped, hardly able to see through his own teary eyes.

Happy?

His heart skipped a beat as Iceburg began to trudge away. After being apart from him for so long he knew he couldn't accept this half-ass meeting as being the end of them. He did what he knew best to do at such a time – he challenged him.

"I'm not leaving this island, Bakaburg! I'll do it my way and right to the day I die I'll never listen to you! Never!" He stomped one bare foot down in defiance, the spirit back in his boisterous voice. "Do you hear me!?"

Iceburg turned to him, visibly shaken, and Franky felt guiltily satisfied by finally evoking a reaction.

"Please listen to me, Bakanky! Why don't you understand?! It's to protect the blueprints!" Tears flowed down his stricken face.

"Shut your mouth!" Hearing his nickname sent a chill up his spine and was all the convincing he needed to stay and fight "You're the one that doesn't understand, I'm not leaving!"

"Something bad is coming, I just know it! This-this is what Tom would want!"

"I said shut your mouth! You're wrong… Tom would never have wanted this! You know that, don't you!? He wanted us to stick together! I wanna stick together! If you think he'd want anything like this then you never really knew him at all!"

They stood with eyes locked for another moment before Iceburg dropped his face into his hands and wept harder. Franky winced, pocketed the blueprints and spoke in a more subdued, soothing tone.

"You know, Bakaburg, there's something else you're wrong about. In case you haven't noticed yet…I will always forgive you."

His words were like a sucker-punch to the gut. Iceburg slid his hands from his face and gawked.

"Franky, you -" He cut short and stared wordlessly. For a fleeting moment through his blurred vision and the hazy glow of the light that shone above he thought he could see Tom's hulking figure standing behind Franky.

Franky pointed a finger at him.

"Hah! Who gave you the right to just run around making decisions like that for me – you all high-and-mighty with your 'oh, now you won't forgive me either' bullshit? You can toss me away, hold all the grudges you want but I couldn't do the same to you."

"Franky…"

"Never! Even if you were to have killed me in cold blood tonight I'd have forgiven you with my dying breaths! No matter what you do or say, I will! You can't ever stop me from that…" the flame of an all-to-familiar rebellious gleam blazed hotter than ever in his eyes "and you'll never make me leave this island."

Iceburg stared, unable to move. He wanted to go to him, hold him close and beg for his promised forgiveness. He forced himself to look away again and head back towards the door.

"See you around, Iceburg...sir."

He glanced back and saw him leaning back on the couch, his arms behind his head and eyes cast to the ceiling. Tears were streaming freely down his face but he held a tiny smile.

"I wish you well with your new life here on Water 7, Franky. Goodbye."

Iceburg pushed ahead without turning back again.

"So what will you do now?"

Franky sighed and looked around the scrapyard before he answered.

"I dunno. I think I'm gonna stick around. I don't wanna leave…but I'm also not super thrilled about the idea of seeing him with that other guy, y'know?"

"You could always go back out to sea for awhile."

"Heh. Nah. He'd like that too much."

"And you wouldn't?"

"Nah. He wants me to leave but I'm not gonna listen to someone like him. Besides, I haven't been too fond of being out on the water lately; brings back too many painful memories." Franky sat up cross-legged and wiped his tears.

"Well…if it gets to be too much and you do decide to set off, why don't you come with me? I need a right-hand man and let's just say it feels like the person I've been working with thus far is less than reliable…and not very personable either." He bowed his head when he spoke, and locks of his dark hair tumbled around his face.

"Heh, right-hand man, eh?" Franky grinned and poked at his wrist a few times "seems to me what you need is a left-hand man."

They laughed together in the morning sunlight, the ground around them now dried up.

"Well, I suppose that's true." He mused at where his left hand should have been and held back a grimace. "We've both lost a lot throwing our lives on the line for the people we care for, huh? In a way it seems like we're meant to know each other. Come with me. I'll bring you back again when you're ready."

"I appreciate the offer, really I do. A part of me wants to stay with you, but my heart's telling me I hafta stay here for a while. Besides I owe you a lot as is, don't I? I've really gotta find my own way now."

"Don't be ridiculous. You owe me nothing." He chuckled and smoke cascaded from between his lips.

"You sure!? I thought I'd be paying you back for the rest of my life!" He gave a sheepish laugh and pushed his hair back from his red-rimmed eyes.

"If I was keeping count I'd say you've more than paid back your debt with all you've done. The recommendation you made for that bounty hunter friend of yours should have me in your debt, Franky...I like the way that sounds. Franky. It's a good name for you."

Franky beamed at him then looked out at the sun.

"Wow…y'know, it's gonna be a lot easier for me to get on track than I ever imagined. I don't even know how to thank you enough. Jeez. I've been quite a burden to everyone, haven't I?" Franky shook his head sadly.

He regarded him for a minute then smiled.

"Think nothing of it. That maniac Ivankov will probably expect some kind of payment; more than likely they'll pop up with weird requests from time to time…" he practically grumbled the last bit "But I'm sure we'd both hate to imagine you wasting your time away to pay us back money we've no need or care for. Live your life, that's all I ask."

Franky leaned against his shoulder and smiled.

"I will, even if it's shitty sometimes…and I will figure out some way to show my thanks, aniki."

"I'm telling you to forget it. I have plans that can finally come to fruition thanks to you, Franky. You-" He was uncharacteristically flushed in the face as he spoke "I could list the ways you've helped me all day but I suppose what I want to say…is that having had the pleasure of your company is payment enough for anything you feel you owe me. Friendship like yours is a rare thing to find."

"You really sure about that? I remember a time when you were super pissed off to hear Iva call me your friend... I thought you might kill them for saying it." Franky nestled into the fur that lined the heavy coat resting on his broad shoulders.

"Well…to be fair I want to kill that insufferable bastard on the best of days," he let out a short, loud laugh "but I was especially bitter back then. The straw had long since broken this camel's back and until you crashed into my life I'd given up on the thought of trusting or even caring for anyone. After everything I'd lost I just couldn't give a damn yet you somehow persuaded me to try again - just by being yourself. I was too stubborn to admit I'd changed my perspective on people - and Iva really knew how to use that to fuck with me – that's all that was. I'm sorry if that's been bothering you. I'm glad to call you a friend."

"Really? I'm so happy to hear it. Y'know, it kinda was bothering me. 'Coz you're one of the only friends I have, Croc."

"And you mine, Franky. Idiot…after everything you really thought I didn't care for you?" he glanced down at the rings on his right hand; frowned at the finger that lacked one. "You're the only person who hasn't hurt me, used me, or pissed me off entirely."

Franky put a hand on his back and smiled.

"You mentioned you were going to visit a certain someone before you took off again. I've been meaning to ask you about it but I was so caught up with my own problems... I'm sorry. How did it go? Did you get a chance to go see your guy last night like you were hoping?"

He shook his head and flashed a wide grin.

"Well…he's not 'my guy' - but then again I'm not sure he'll ever belong to anyone. He's something else, that's for sure..." he exhaled slowly and watched the smoke drift along the sand by their feet "I might be meeting with him shortly. I requested his company. Time will tell if he accepted or not. He'd likely still bitter from our last… disagreement…I can't help but feel that you and I will likely wind up on the same boat: turned away, outcasts, as always."

"Well I honestly hope it goes a hell of a lot better than my little soirée did. I know we haven't talked much about our past relationships in detail, but from what you have said I can tell you care a lot about that person. I also know he's hurt you in the past though, so…no matter what happens be gentle with yourself too…'Kay?"

"Heh. I deserved it all and more. There were far too many times I was dishonest…a downright horrible excuse of a person, really. I'm to blame for how things wound up so don't pity me, Franky. All I in can do is keep trying to be a better man…"

"As long as you keep trying, that already makes you a better man, right?"

He pulled out a pocket watch from his jacket and flipped it about for a moment.

"Maybe. Maybe it'd be better if I left him alone though; just slip quietly back out to sea. We could leave, right now, justyou and I."

"No way! You can't do that now! You requested his time, right!? What if he accepts and you leave him waiting…you'll miss your opportunity to fix things and just make things worse." Franky shoved at him until he smiled and pushed him back. "Just give it a shot! It could be super. You told me I should take my chances so now I'm telling you. Go get him!"

"Well…only because you insist. I suppose I should be heading out if I want to make it on time."

"You gonna walk or somethin'?"

"Yeah… I'll be able to avoid the crowds. it's been a long time since I've walked these streets, especially on a morning like this and I'm a bit tired of being recognized lately." He stood and stretched, the sun glinting off of the golden hook on his left arm.

"I'll walk with you for a bit then, if that's okay."

"It's always okay." He reached down to Franky and helped him to his feet. He hesitated after a quick glance at the open water and lingered with his hand in his. "You're sure you don't want to just…go with me?"

Entirely oblivious to the full meaning behind his words Franky smiled and shook his head.

"I'll miss you though. You'll come back and visit sometimes won't you, Crocodile?"

He sighed and let go of his hand.

"Yes. It seems I always find a reason to keep coming back to this goddamn city of water."

They walked off together towards the stairway that led to town.