Leila stumbled through the heart pirate's steps with Law in tow. She was utterly exhausted, her legs aching and her back sore from being pressed against the wall. Law was holding the back of her dress up near her neckline as she walked and she trudged over the deck – her feet barely lifting.

"Are you sure you wanted to leave early?" Law asked her, slightly concerned. Leila quickly turned around, staring Law in the face and lifting her arms to him. Her arms, neck and body were littered in love bites.

"Are you kidding me?" She said to him deadpan. She had let her hair down, dark waves cascading over her small shoulders. She moved her hair to the side and showed her back to Law as well, pointing exaggeratedly at the ripped fabric on her back. "You think I can walk around like this?"

Law felt himself begin to chuckle but he pressed his lips together tights and hid his mouth with his hand to disguise it. Leila raised an eyebrow at him. Her tone was frustrated.

"I think you look good…" He admitted, biting his lip as he observed his work of art.

"You're ridiculous" She scoffed, moving past him and walking to their bedroom. Law followed her closely, his hands in his pockets of his suit. She made stripped off her dress, her various bruises and bites upon her skin now more apparent than ever. Law felt a bit guilty now that he had seen what he had done to her, but he couldn't help but feel proud he had marked his woman so well. She saw him smiling to himself and she chucked a slipper at him, making him blink in surprise.

"Hey!" He scolded her, beginning to unbutton his suit.

"You're annoying" She said stroppy, making Law smirk. She had been acting off ever since they had left the castle and Law was beginning to catch onto the reason.

"You love me though" He grinned triumphantly. Leila blushed furiously as she tugged a top over her head and she turned her back from Law. She refused to even look at him. Law stood slowly and wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her against his firm torso. He kissed the back of her neck and nuzzled into the crook of her shoulder. She let out a slight sigh, her nerves calming slightly.

'She's embarrassed…' Law thought to himself happily. He knew he was acting like a child and not at all himself, but she had that effect on him. He felt like he could act like a child around her, if anyone.

"Doesn't matter…" She murmured grumpily, turning her face away from his expectant gaze.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" He asked her

"It won't change anything"

Law stayed silent for a moment, trying to understand her expression. She wasn't just embarrassed, there was more to this. "…is that a bad thing?"

Leila felt increasingly agitated and she removed Law's arms from her waist. She went to his draws and pulled out a pair of his pajama bottoms. She pulled them on and bent over to roll them up to her ankles.

"…Do you not want your own pajamas?" he asked her curiously.

"No. No I do not" She replied curtly. "Is that a problem, Law?"

Law held his hands up in surrender, shaking his head no. Leila huffed and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. He hesitantly knelt before her, trying to capture her golden eyes with his own. She didn't look at him but she seemed less hostile than before.

"What's wrong – was I too rough with you?" Law grasped one of her hands in his own, squeezing it tightly.

"No, it's not that" She replied quietly.

'So there is something wrong…' Law thought to himself, troubled. He bit his lip as he thought of what to do.

"I-…I don't want things to stay the same" She told him honestly, feeling especially vulnerable. "Well, actually I don't know. I like how we are - I enjoy what we have and I don't want that to change."

"…Right" Law said, utterly confused. Leila sighed and buried her head in her hands. Law rubbed her leg soothingly. "You can tell me anything, you know that right?"

Leila met his gaze finally but her eyes looked hurt. Law felt a pang of regret in his heart as he wondered how he could have upset her so much.

"You didn't say it back"

"…huh?"

"You didn't tell me that you loved me" She said, her eyes beginning to grow moist. She wasn't upset because he didn't say it – she just felt humiliated. Law opened his mouth to speak but Leila continued. "You forced me to say it, you forced it out of me and yet you don't feel the same?"

"No! I do-"

"If you don't feel the same way that's fine but then stop pla-"

Law cut her off by kissing her. She wasn't listening to him at all, just speaking her mind. He usually didn't mind, but this time, she needed to listen. She had been quietened successfully and Law cupped her cheek with his palm.

"I love you" He told her, his heart hammering in his chest. "I don't know how it happened. But I do, I love you"

"I feel like you're just saying it out of pity now…" She mumbled, trying to quieten her beating pulse.

"Leila-ya!" He exclaimed, his eyes irritated. "You're being ridiculous-"

"What?!" She almost shouted. "I'm being ridiculous?! You never showed any sign that you loved me!"

Law almost laughed at her words, feeling utterly perplexed. "Everything I did was because I loved you! You think I would let anyone sleep in my bed each night, lock themselves in with me when I'm working?"

Leila remained quiet, her cheeks hot and her breathing intense. She didn't want herself to get her hopes up.

"I feel like you've been ignoring everything I've said" Law kissed her fingers gently. "I love you. I need you. I want you to solely stay by my side"

Leila bit her lip as she tried to stop herself from grinning. "Watch yourself now - that almost sounded like a proposal"

"Well...something like that" Law sighed. Leila moved forward, kissing Law gently and tangling her arms around his neck. She smiled against his lips and when they broke away he looked at her teasingly.

"How are you still so difficult even when I'm trying to say I love you" He chuckled.

"It's just hard to believe that I somehow melted this doctor's stone cold heart" She joked, pressing her hand against Law's chest.

"Hah…so funny" He sarcastically said. "I feel like you're making me out to be the non-committal one. You're the first one who made the agreement to not have anything complicated"

"Yeah well…" Leila thought of an excuse but struggled when she realized he was right. She had been just as difficult as him.

"So, what is it that you want to do now?" Law kissed along her jaw.

"I don't want a big change…" She thought aloud. "But it would be nice to officially own you"

Law looked up at her with furrowed brows and she laughed. "Just kidding"

"I'm not against that you know" He said and shifted so that they were both lying on the bed. Leila lay on top of him, staring down at the handsome doctor that she couldn't quite believe shared the same feelings as her. He interlaced his fingers around her waist, resting comfortably.

"So we're on the same page?" Leila asked him warily, unsure if he would agree to be in a committed relationship. He smirked up at her and nodded.

"You are mine, and I am yours. Correct?" Law clarified. Leila nodded and kissed his nose affectionately.

Life had moved on pretty much as normal. Eloise's health was starting to deteriorate once more but it was to be expected as she did not have Law's daily care. She was not in bad shape, just back to her usual health. The Heart Pirates were back on the sea, at last. The crew had been on the sea for about two weeks before Law decided to talk with the crew about the newly formed relationship. The crew were huddled in the kitchen, most eating lunch and joking around.

Law stood in front of everybody, with Leila a bit behind him leaning against the counter. She didn't want to have to explain it – she was sure they knew anyway. Why not just let them realise they weren't trying to hide anymore? Law however, wanted everyone to have clarity – being the methodical guy that he was.

"So guys" he started, his deep set eyes serious and clear. The crew quietened and observed their captain, somewhat curious as to what he could have to announce. "I'm letting everyone know that Leila's going to stay"

"…Yeah captain, we know" Shachi said, slightly confused. Bepo and Penguin also looked at Law slightly confused, as they had already had this conversation. Leila sighed, nudging Law.

"That's not exactly clear, is it?" She whispered behind him. Law felt somewhat nervous. He had never had to explain his relationships before. Although he felt it was necessary this time, he wasn't sure what to say. Dating felt too light for what they were, but what actually were they?

"We're together!" Law exclaimed, pulling Leila towards him by her shoulders. She blushed furiously at his failure of a serious conversation. It was so unlike him.

'I guess he's not good at everything' she thought to herself with a chuckle.

"Um…" Bepo began to speak but Law cut him off with wide eyes and stammers. Suddenly Law grew flustered, his eyes widening slightly at the embarrassment. It was rare the crew got to see this side of Law – Luffy and his crew would often leave him in a flustered state due to their insane antics.

"A-as in together! We're…" Law struggled to find the words and Leila looked at him in horror and at the shit-show he had just produced. He glanced down at her, desperate for help but she pressed her lips together to try not to laugh. She was letting him deal with it.

Law grew slightly irked as he saw she wasn't planning to help and he swiftly moved down to kiss her. Leila became stunned into paralysis. He turned his attention back to the crew. "…Understand?"

Shachi and Jean sighed and turned their attention back to their food whilst Penguin blushed furiously.

"God, Captain, we know!" Bepo exclaimed in horror as buried his face in his paws. Leila still remained still, her eyes wide.

"Well…I guess that clears that up" Law said before swiftly leaving the kitchen.