Hello everyone here is another one shot. This time from Roses in the Waves
This is Ann and Whitebeard bonding
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
"Luffy! My man!" Said Deuce loudly as he walked on to the boat from the smaller one, the baby holding his arms out to Deuce. Deuce and the other from Ann's previous crew were visiting today, and it was clear Luffy had missed them as he looked happy to be in Deuce's arms. The others were soon to say hi to the baby too. It was a lovely reunion. As Luffy was safe in Deuce's arms and saying hi to everyone again, Ann said she needed to grab something in her room, heading to do that. When she was gone, the captain saw Deuce looking towards where Ann had headed. "Is she gone?" Biggie gave a nod. "She is." That had Deuce grin as he looked at Luffy, holding him in front of himself. "You know what that means!" It had Luffy laugh ecstatically, the captain not sure why.
It was a second later he got it as Deuce threw Luffy a bit up in the air, before catching him. "You can fly!" It had many of them give a chuckle, the ecstatic laughing Luffy did was contagious. The baby obviously loved it as he had a blinding smile as he laughed and screeched in happiness. As Deuce did it again, Luffy being in the air, a loud voice broke through the happy sounds. "DEUCE!" Deuce catched Luffy again, looking at the baby. "Oh no, we got busted." Ann looked to be mad as she walked hurriedly towards Deuce and her son. "Busted? Busted?! You're not allowed to do that! What if you drop him?!" As Ann was close, she took the baby, making Deuce wave his arms. "Nah nah, I won't drop him. He loves it!" Ann didn't seem to buy it as she looked mad. "I don't care! It's dangerous!" Deuce sighed, obviously knowing he would lose the argument, which seemed to be something they've had before. It was clear the man had played like that with Luffy before, and Ann obviously didn't like it.
Deuce gave a half-guilty look, saying he was sorry and wouldn't do it again. But the small smile he had, had the captain feel it wasn't the last time the man would do it. The ex-spades stayed for a few hours, before they left back to Moby 2, having their duties there now, and Whitebeard would look into having them transferred to the Moby Dick, so they could be close to Ann and her baby. He would hear what Marco said about it. Maybe he thought it was a bad thing as Ann might use them to watch Luffy instead of them, making so they bonded less.
After that, the day went by calmly, Ann usually holding Luffy as he was minimally in others arms, which Luffy seemed content with. As evening came, the captain had retired to his room for the evening, not wanting to deal with Bay and Marco forcing him to either wear his jacket or go to his room. But an hour later, there was a knock at his door, making him curious on who it would be. Whitebeard gave a come in, smiling when Ann came through the door. "Ann! What a lovely surprise. What brings you here so late?" Ann gave a sigh, moving to sit down on a chair. "I just don't know what to do when I don't have Luffy. My room feels so… empty. I heard Bay say you were still awake, and thought I could drop by, if it's okay."
The captain chuckled. "I am always glad to have a visit from my children, be it night or day. Where is Luffy?" Ann had a smile as she shook her head. "With Izou. Luffy's been really fussy lately. Bay said it's since his baby teeth are coming in. And a night without the fussiness did sound good." Whitebeard understood that. "You're welcomed to stay here, Ann. It's not uncommon my children stay the night." Ann nodded. "I heard. I was thinking of going to Marco, but not sure if I want to stay the night, seeing as the last time went…"
Whitebeard gave a breath. "I understand it, but I know Marco wouldn't mind it, and I am sure he would be more careful now. How are you aside from Luffy being fussy? You've looked discomfortable at times when you've moved around." Ann sighed, a hand moving to her chest. "It's kind of embarrassing, but since Luffy's getting his teeth, he sometimes bites when he… eats. And that hurts for a while." Whitebeard needed a second to understand what Ann meant, before understanding why Ann felt it was sort of embarrassing. "I see. It's probably normal for a mother to go through, I am sure." All babies get their teeth. Ann nodded. "Yeah. Doesn't make it less embarrassing though." Whitebeard chuckled. "Don't worry, daughter. It will probably pass." Ann nodded. "Yeah. Bay says now is good to start to make Luffy eat food, and not drink milk, make him not dependant on it. It's a whole period of adaptation as I can't just stop according to Bay, but she's helping with it." That was good to hear.
Whitebeard sent a look at the woman. "I am sure Thatch could help too. He is the head chef and knows his way around food, even for babies and children." Ann nodded, before sighing. "Well yeah, but I must say I don't really want to tell Thatch about the biting and soreness. Still embarrassing." Whitebeard gave a chuckle. "It's fine. Bay is good help too. I do hope your abdomen has healed after the surgery." Whitebeard felt it fit, based on it was already a topic of soreness. Ann nodded. "Yes, it has. Everything has healed well. Just a faint scar left." That was good to hear. "I also hope your heart has gotten a break. You seemed to almost get a heart attack when Deuce played with Luffy." Ann gave a huff. "That's not playing! Luffy could get hurt!" Whitebeard laughed. "I promise, Deuce has control, and Luffy loves it." Ann gave a small huff. "I still don't like it." Whitebeard just chuckled. Ann was still overprotecting, as every mother was.
It was always nice to get a visit in the evening like this, and he hasn't really had much alone time with Ann, seeing as she was a mother, so this also opened for him to get to know her better, especially something he wondered about. "I have a question, Ann. How did you figure out you were carrying?" It wasn't always easy to find out, and he had heard the younger mothers often shrugged the early signs off. Ann sighed. "Well, for once, my period stopped. I had heard it could happen, and I was 15, and even my period was new. But then, about a month after that, I started to feel sick, nauseous. A week later, I started to throw up, almost everyday, many times. It was awful. It was then the thought first popped in my head, and I asked around. Like 'hey, my neighbor thinks she's pregnant', as I couldn't say it was me, I was 15. And this old woman gave a tip on how to check. And I did, and yeah, I was pregnant."
Whitebeard hummed. "What kind of tip?" Ann chuckled. "Back to the embarrassing things. She said if you get a cup of bleach, and pee in it, if it foams, you're pregnant. It foamed, really foamed, every one of the 10 times I did it. It felt so… unreal. I was 15. And I told Sabo, and he asked a person he trusted, a sort of doctor, to check me, knowing he wouldn't tell anyone. And… I remember he put this thing on my belly, and it was just black, before this tiny little thing pulsated on the screen, before he pushed a button, and this thump, thump, thump, sound came, and he said 'that's the heartbeat'."
Ann moved her hands to her chest, eyes tearing up as she smiled fondly. "And I had been like 'Oh no, I can't be pregnant', but when I heard and saw the heartbeat, I just knew I couldn't be happier, I was so happy, and I remember just crying, and then Sabo was all worried, before I said how happy I was, and then he was just crying. I was so happy, we both were. But we needed to find out what to do. And we planned to leave the island, we needed to. But then… I started to show real fast, so people caught on… and things just went south. And now I'm here, speaking about sore breasts and peeing in cups." Whitebeard gave a laugh with Ann, the woman probably wanting to lighten the mood. "You're a strong woman, Ann. One often says the biggest hardship is children, and here you are, taking care of a child on your own, and doing it just amazingly. I am sure many are jealous of your strong will."
Ann gave a nod, looking down. "Yeah. ...Sabo said the same… And he was the same." Whitebeard smiled. "I am sure he was. By the way, how are you settling?" Ann chuckled, moving a hand to move a few strands of hair away from her face. "Fine. Everyone is really helpful. I'm not really used to that. Luffy loves it here. And- still embarrassing- but I'm actually producing milk for once, and I feel great. I feel welcomed and protected, loved." The captain smiled. "I'm glad. You are amazing in keeping yourself up, we had no idea about the c-section or the starvation until Bay looked at you." Ann shrugged. "I always had to keep myself up. If I showed weakness, it was used against me… I feel great, and I know if I need it, I can ask for help." Whitebeard nodded. "You can, and we will do anything we can to help you. Thatch felt really bad when we realised you never took food, that your body had gotten some injuries from lack of food, and how you always fed Luffy. I've met and seen many mothers, but I've never seen such a dedicated mom as you."
Ann nodded, having a somber smile. "I always thought wanting to give your life for your child was the bravest thing. But… it's not. Living for your child, keep moving and keeping both yourself and the child alive is the bravest. Not sacrifice yourself, but live for your child." Whitebeard blinked, never having thought of it like that. "You're right. It really is." Ann nodded. "Luffy is my life, but I'm also his. I want him to be safe. And no matter what people think, I feel more safe here, on a pirate boat, than on most islands." Whitebeard nodded. "I know how many think of young mothers, especially out of wedlock. People say a lot of things, but we aren't judgemental about your past. We care about action." Ann nodded. "I've noticed, and it really means a lot. I was unsure at the start… not everyone was so nice..."
The captain sighed. "I know. Do you want to know why?" Ann blinked, before she frowned. "Wasn't it because I'm a young mother?" Whitebeard shook his head. "No. Or yes, sort of. You were a young woman with a baby, alone. We thought Luffy wasn't yours, that you had taken him for some reason, ransom or something. But we couldn't just intervene, not sure if you would harm Luffy. We thought wrong, that's our fault." Ann blinked. "You… you were worried about Luffy?" Whitebeard nodded. "Yes, we were. And when we realized you cared for him, that was the most important for us, that he was fine. That's when those who were unsure started to focus on you, that you were fine. We knew Luffy was." Ann blinked, looking poignant. "I- that- that really means a lot." Whitebeard smiled. "We apologize for all that, and we only want what's best for you and your son." Ann nodded, giving a thankful look.
Whitebeard gave a chuckle, glad to see Ann relaxing. "I hope this evening hasn't been too embarrassing, I don't want you to be uncomfortable." Ann shook her head. "No, I'm enjoying myself. It's some embarrassing things, but… I feel comfortable saying it, just a bit embarrassing. I trust you with it, Pops." Whitebeard smiled at the young woman. "I'm glad, Ann. I'm glad to hear it. I wouldn't mind it if you stayed for the evening." Ann smiled. "I would enjoy that." Whitebeard chuckled. "I guess always having someone with you is something you get used to. You've been with Luffy every night, so it's no wonder you don't want to be alone. My door is always open, and I have more than enough space. Even a couple sets of pillows and blankets. Not everyone uses it, and I have a feeling you don't need it." Ann chuckled. "I don't need a blanket, but I've always enjoyed lying under a blanket. It's comforting and relaxing." The captain got that, and had to agree. Lying under a blanket was comforting in a way.
The two sat and spoke for a while, before both of them settled down, Ann using a chair that was too large for her to lie on, it was almost like a bed for her, seeing how big it was, so it was fine. Ann was a lovely woman, and a night to relax without Luffy was probably something she needed now and then, so when Ann fell asleep, Whitebeard settled to read a book for a while, letting Ann sleep. Whitebeard got why Ann didn't want to go to Marco, but he still hoped Ann would get back to being comfortable around Marco as she was before. The two had been a bit tense at times, especially Ann, and Marco did give Ann space when she needed it. Whitebeard was sure things would go fine and they would figure it out somehow. Ann looked relaxed where she was sleeping, and Whitebeard had a feeling she would sleep into the day, needing this time to really relax and not have a baby to care for.
Ann was still settling with them, and it was going great so far, and everyone liked to be around the woman and her son.
And that's the one shot, hope you enjoyed
This was just a small scene of the two bonding a bit and hope it turned out okay
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