Leila awoke groggily, her head thumping painfully. The dreams didn't even disturb her anymore – they were so frequent that it became a part of her life to relive her past memories when she slept. She felt a tear roll down her cheek but wiped it away quickly, letting out an unsteady sigh. She got out of bed, her bare feet padding along the ship's halls as she made her way to the kitchen for a drink. The ship was still quiet, sounding like it was still in the middle of the night – probably earl morning. Turning the corner she bumped headfirst into a bare chest, making her rub her nose to numb the pain.

"You're still up?" Law asked her, his voice soft and tired. He glazed over her body that was showing considerable amounts of skin and he swallowed uncomfortably, not wanting to show his increasing arousal.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep" Leila rubbed her arm as she looked up at Law, her eye level settling at his firm bare chest.

"What a change…" He smirked at her, ruffling her hair like a kid. She quietly let him tease her, not having the fight to argue. She was tired, exhausted even, despite having slept for about an hour. Law saw her pale face and bent down a little to check her forehead's temperature.

"Are you feeling okay?" He asked her concerned to which she nodded and pushing his hand away from her face.

"Shitty dreams again, that's all" She muttered.

"Was it this bad with the Strawhats as well?" He asked her tentatively, trying to play off his questions from a doctor standpoint instead of personal worry.

Leila shook her head softly. "No, I managed to find a way around it"

"And what was that?" Law asked her, eager to administer her any medication she may need to get a good night's rest. Leila swallowed and met his gaze hesitantly, unsure if she should tell him. Law raised an eyebrow and gestured for her to tell him.

"It's kind of embarrassing…" She murmured.

"You know I'm a doctor, right? I doubt what you're going to tell me is embarrassing compared to everything I've seen" Law smirked at her slightly.

Leila sighed but told him anyway. "Sometimes I used to sleep with Zoro. Not sexually, just slept in the same bed…I'm not sure why but I think feeling that someone else was near me was comforting"

Law swallowed as he felt slightly annoyed. "Did it have to be him?"

Leila shrugged uncomfortably, taking a step back from Law as she felt his animosity. "I don't know…It just felt different with him. Nami and Robin weren't much help if I'm honest."

Leila thought back to her times as a teenager in Thriller Bark. She knew why a man's presence would help her sleep – but she wasn't about to tell Law that it was because she used to spend most of her nights with varying men.

Law sighed but looked as if he was mulling something over. Leila began to move past him but Law grabbed ahold of her wrist, looking slightly embarrassed. "Well, what about if you try sleeping with me? Until you leave…" He asked her, a light blush forming on the tips of his ears that could easily be missed. Leila did not miss it, however.

"Law, you don't have to do that. Its fine" She smiled at him warmly, appreciating that he would offer his bed to her. "I've spent most of my life dealing with it"

"Leila-ya" He spoke her name with a tone of seriousness, releasing her wrist. "Try it. If it helps, that's great; if it doesn't then we know it doesn't work"

Leila stared at him with doe-like eyes, slightly surprised that he was insisting on it. She rubbed her forehead as she couldn't deny the fact that she was exhausted and she found herself nodding in agreement. "Okay, but just to test it"

Law nodded but found himself actually feeling uncomfortable and a bit awkward as the two stood alone in the hallway. Earlier he found himself kissing her without much thought at all and now he was opening his bed to her. He was slowly beginning to realise that his actions weren't being very well thought through. He found himself acting without thoughts of the consequences when he was with her.

"I'll wait for you in my room them" He said before walking away and back to his room.

Law was alerted by two soft knocks on his door to which Leila peeked her head around.

"Is it okay if I come in?" She asked tentatively. She had gotten changed into more conservative clothes, she was wearing slightly longer shorts and a long sleeves pajama top. Law noted it and smirked slightly

"Yeah of course, did you get changed specifically for me?" He joked, wanting to tease her a bit. She blushed, moving to the large bed on which he was laying on – he was still topless with only some joggers on - his usual sleepwear. His hat was resting on his side table, leaving his disheveled hair on display, much to Leila's approval.

"I just felt weird sleeping with you in those clothes…" She said honestly, climbing onto the bed when he moved over to make room for her.

"You overthink too much" He chuckled, resting onto his side to face her. She let out a deep breath that she had been holding in and leant her back against the headboard.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked him hesitantly, looking down at his handsome face that was seemingly satisfied that she was beside him in his bed.

"Stop worrying" Law told her, grabbing ahold of her waist to pull her down onto her back. "What did you used to do with Zoro?"

"Why are you asking me that…" She blushed furiously, her mind only concentrating on his arm draped around her waist.

"Because that's what used to help you"

"It doesn't matter" She huffed, turning onto her side so that she was facing away from him. Law smirked to himself as he pulled her close to his body. Her back lay resting against his chest as he left his muscled arm cuddling her body. Leila's heart was hammering in her chest and she was silently praying that Law couldn't hear it. She wasn't sure why she was always so nervous around him lately – it was uncommon for her.

"Is this okay?" He whispered, his warm breath hitting the back of her neck that made her body tingle slightly in anticipation.

"Yeah" She spoke softly back, feeling slightly odd spooning with Law but she couldn't deny it was pleasant. The warmth of his body soothed her and his large arm made her feel secure in his arms, as if that was where she was meant to be all along.

Leila lay awake, slightly unnerved by the unusual situation. She heard Law sigh deeply as he already fell asleep, his head buried into the crook of her neck like lovers. Leila sighed but couldn't help but let a small smile fall onto her lips as she tried to relax and let sleep consume her.

7 days until Leila's departure

When Law awoke the next morning, the sun rays streaming into his bedroom through the small submarine windows, he turned to look for Leila but found she wasn't there. Her side of the bed was still relatively warm but the sheets were pulled up and tucked in, as if she had tried to make the bed. Law sighed and rested back against the mattress.

'This girl loves to run doesn't she...' Law thought to himself, although he couldn't help but smirk.

Later that day

Law's hand rested on Eloise's knee, helping her to bend it cautiously.

"Make sure you do the physiotherapy that I assigned to you yesterday" Law told her in a firm tone, switching onto her other leg. Eloise nodded tiredly, her eyes possessing deep set bags from lack of sleep. Her long hair platinum was tied back into a messy bun and she had sheets of physio instructions splayed around her. She was entriely fatigued, and Law could tell.

"I will, I promise I'll work hard" She replied to Law. Law nodded and stood, packing up his kit. "Law"

"Yes?" He turned to face her and saw she had an expectant face. She bit her lip nervously and Law sighed as he leaned against the desk but smiled at her warmly. "Spit it out"

"When, no…If I manage to go to the ball" Eloise shifted in her seat nervously. "Do you want to come with me?"

Law tensed up for a second before sighing. "Well, I'm a busy man you know."

"I know that but…dad mentioned it too. He said it might be safer if you come with us – for my health and all"

"Oh yeah? It's for your health?" Law smirked down at the young girl, making her blush slightly before she regained her composure. She was young but still held the demeanor of a noble lady, it was admirable.

"Don't you agree?"

Law thought for a moment, thinking about leaving his crew – or worse, taking them with him. "We'll see how your health is first, shall we?"

Eloise nodded unsatisfied before Law picked up his things and held an arm out to her. She took it gratefully as the two made their way through the castle. Eloise analysed the older doctor and let out a deep sigh.

"Law, you're handsome – why aren't you settled down and married already?"

"Oi you, I'm not that old" Law said monotonely, feeling hurt that she thought he was at an age to settle down.

"I still think you should find someone to settle down with. You don't want a family?"

"My crew is my family" Law remarked. Eloise hummed in understanding.

"Still, you might find someone you like..."

"Watch it, you're beginning to sound like your father" Law noted, thinking back to King Silver's constant questioning into his personal life.

"Maybe you could find someone at the ball?!" Eloise suddenly thought, gasping and pulling on Law's arm excitedly.

"Will you calm down?" He snapped, trying to balance her again. "First of all, I haven't agreed to go to the ball yet. Secondly, if I do go it is purely to monitor your health – I'm not looking for some royal, pompous wife".

Eloise huffed and pouted like a child.