Author's Note:

Wow, it has been far too long! Don't worry I haven't forgotten about Tides. Just been one crazy year. As always please review and let me know what you think.

Addy woke up to the sounds of Sanji making breakfast. Having spent the night near Zoro. After they were done with their escapades, they rejoined the others. Had a quick dinner and collapsed into a stupor.

She sat up. Stretching out her arms with a groan. Her and the boys were sitting around a fire. A large pot settled over some rocks. Nami and Vivi sitting next to each other on a rock. Giving Addy and Zoro pointed looks. Addy shrugged. Not really caring if they knew that she had slept with Zoro. Honestly, she would be massively surprised if they hadn't figured it out. Meanwhile Ace was sitting high above all of them. Keeping a lookout for any potential dangers.

Leaning into Zoro's shoulder as they ate, Addy kept an eye out as well. The smoke rising into the sky was bound to draw some attention.

"This is all the breakfast we get?!" Usopp shouted. Addy smirked. She expected Luffy to be the first to complain. Though he quickly followed Usopp. Raising his bowl in the air and banging it with a spoon.

"Seconds! Seconds!" Luffy called out. Sanji promptly kicked both of them in the face.

"Don't act wasteful!" he chastised. "You've had enough calories!" Luffy dropped the bowl on the ground with a clunk. Stretching his arm out in an attempt to steal Zoro's food. He succeeded in snatching something off of Zoro's plate.

"Hey!" Zoro yelled. "Luffy! Why you!" He stood up. Glaring at Luffy. "Keep your hands off others' food!" Meanwhile, Usopp was kicking Sanji in the thigh. Demanding more food. It had absolutely no effect whatsoever. Only resulting in him being kicked in the face once again.

"There isn't anymore!" Sanji shouted at him. Addy just shook her head. Finishing off her plate. This happened every single meal. And she absolutely loved it. The chaos contrasted by Ace who was cleaning up after his meal. His brother meanwhile was trying to beat back Zoro. Who was stretching Luffy's mouth as far as it could go. Demanding his food back.

Addy shook her head and stood up. Dusting herself off. She glanced up at Ace who seemed lost in thought. Not that Addy blamed him. He was going through a lot.

"Addy I was wondering something," Usopp stated walking up to her. She switched her gaze towards him. "You're immortal right?"

Addy gave him a half-smile. "A lesser immortal. I'm not going to be dying of old age but I can be killed by normal means." She shrugged her shoulders. Giving him a quizzical look. "Why?"

"Was wondering how old you were." All conversation ceased. Everyone turned to look at Usopp and Addy. Probably wondering the same thing.

"Idiot!" Sanji shouted at him. Kicking him in the head. Causing him to collapse in the sand yet again. "How rude! You never ask a lady her age. Especially, one as spectacular as Addy sweet."

Addy rolled her eyes. Honestly surprised why this hasn't come up before. "It's fine Sanji. And to answer the question I'm 20." She jerked her thumb towards Ace. "We were actually born at the same time." Mostly. Ace was born 10 minutes earlier. Count on Sarabi and Rouge to get the timing down that precisely.

Vivi let out a giggle. Covering her mouth. "It's said in Alabastian folklore it's said that when two people are born at the same time their lives become intertwined. Oftentimes romantically."

Zoro had an expression on his face that looked like he wanted to murder someone. Grinding his teeth together. Glancing at Addy and Ace. Examining their expressions. Ace and Addy were both looking at Vivi. Blinking a couple of times before turning to look at each other. Bursting out laughing.

"Oh! That's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time!" Ace laughed wiping the tears coming from his eyes. "Could you even imagine?"

Addy was laughing too hard to even say words. Taking a few deep breaths. "I can see the looks on everyone's faces now. Priceless." She shook her head. Finally calming down. "Assume that if Ace and I are dating that we have been kidnapped and brainwashed."

"Second that," Ace added on. "Addy is Addy. That would never happen." Everyone else broke up into the usual antics. Except for Zoro. His body relaxing. An expression of absolute relief on his face. Addy chuckled at his reaction. He should have known by now. There was nothing romantic going on between her and Ace.

Soon everyone was finished up their meal. Nami dumping a pile of sand onto the fire. Putting it out and dusting off her hands. Zoro and Luffy in the meantime had resumed fighting. Zoro still yelling at him about the stolen food. Of course, Nami put a stop to that as well. Punching them both in the head. Yelling at them to knock it off. Large bumps forming on their heads. Addy winched. It was definitely effective. Starting her own clean-up process. Listening to Nami continue to berate them.

"Now hurry and clean up!" she shouted at them. Hands-on her hips. "We're leaving for Yuba!"

"W-Wow! Awesome!" Luffy exclaimed. Well, he was clearly not paying any attention to whatever Nami was telling him. "This meat can talk!" Wait what was happening? Addy turned and looked at the piece of meat floating in the air. Was she losing it? Luffy was pointing directly at it so at least she wasn't the only one who saw it.

"What?" Nami asked. "What're you talking about Luffy?"

"Oh! The meat!" It flew in the air in an arc. That's when Addy noticed it was attached to a string. So she wasn't crazy. Someone was just trying to rob them. Again. "The meat's running away!" It was being pulled through a big pile of rocks. Whoever got it was clearly trying to escape. Luffy taking after it. Running across the rocks. "Wait, meat!"

"Luffy!" Nami called after him but it was pointless. Nothing would get in between Luffy and food. He'd be back. Hopefully. Though Ace got involved as well. Chasing after Luffy. At least the chances of him coming back had increased. Maybe.

Nami beckoned them. "Come on. Let's go see what's gotten into them?" Did they have to? Addy didn't exactly want to go wandering into the desert. Only changing her mind once Zoro picked her up and started following Usopp and Nami. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea.

They were coming up on Ace who was standing on a rock looking down. One hand on his hip. Whatever he found he wasn't exactly happy about it. Addy soon realized why as she heard a child's voice cut through the air. "I-I've never seen anyone so strong before!" Great. Now with everything else, they all had to deal with children. This trip just kept getting better and better.

"Who're they?" Usopp asked climbing over the rocks. Zoro following suit. Allowing Astrid to look down and see two young boys. One clutching onto the other. Neither of them seemed well equipped for desert travel. It was clear they were brothers. Both had freckles and the same colored eyes.

The bigger one dropped a gun in the sand. Running up to Ace. Placing his palms flat on the rock he was standing on. "I have a favor to ask!" The kid yelled. Desperation laced in his voice. "There's someone I want you to find and catch!"

Ace hummed in response. Kinda used to these types of requests. He always seemed to get roped into these kinds of things. Made sense that he was Luffy's brother.

"If you catch him, I'll pay you a million Berries!" The boy continued.

"A million Berries?!" Nami asked. Of course, that's what drew her attention.

The kid bowed his head before lifting it back up. Begging Ace with his eyes as much as he was with his words. "I can't pay it right away, but I will pay it when I grow up!" Ace himself had no response. "Please! Find this man!" The boy held out a picture of a man with blond hair and sunglasses. Holding a pitchfork in one hand. A tattoo of an arrow stuck through two hearts on his forehead. He certainly wasn't subtle. Ace taking it from his hand to get a closer look.

The smaller one came up as well. Both of them had their heads bowed.

"My brother and I've followed him out here from the Badlands," the older one continued. Everyone gathering around to listen. Nami and Vivi standing by the boys. Sanji standing behind them. Ace crouching down. Knees bent. Zoro settling on the rocks. Careful not to jostle Addy now sitting in his lap. Usopp sitting crossed-legged near the boys as well. While Chopper stood in front of them and Ace. Facing them.

"So, who is he?" Usopp asked. A reasonable question. Given the circumstances.

"Scorpion. A bounty hunter."

"Bounty hunter?" Zoro inquired sitting up.

"Why are you guys chasing a bounty hunter?" Nami questioned. The boys turned to look at each other for a moment. Clearly not really wanting to answer the question. "Well…" the older one started to say.

"I have business with him, too," Ace interrupted. Really? With that guy? What had Ace gotten into while Addy was away? His comment immediately drawing the boys' attention. "A man in Yuba defeated Blackbeard. His name was Scorpion." Wait that guy defeated Blackbeard? Seriously? Somehow Addy doubted that. "My reason for going to Yuba is to meet him."

"Eh?!" they all exclaimed. "He defeated Blackbeard?!"

"This guy did?!" Usopp asked. Addy was struggling to believe it also. "I dunno, Ace. Did this Scorpion guy really beat Blackbeard?"

"I'm not sure," Ace answered looking up from the photo. "The only way to find out is to meet him."

"A-Ace?" The younger of the two boys stated. "You don't mean the real…" He exchanged a look with his brother. "Fire Fist Ace?!" He looked up at the two boys with a hum. Wondering how they knew his name. Ace was pretty well known but Addy was hard-pressed to figure out how these two knew about him. Most of Ace's ventures were in the New World.

Ace finally standing up. Looking over the desert. Now quiet. Not even Wind blowing.

"What is it, Ace?" Usopp asked.

"Two people. And a bird?" Ace replied. Addy smirked. As always his haki was right on point. Not for the first time Addy wished her people could develop that skill. Chopper's nose twitching as well.

"What is it?" Nami inquired looking at Chopper.

"They're coming," Chopper responded. Wasn't much to go on.

"Eh?" That is when Addy started to hear them. The sounds of footsteps on sand. Cloud of dust appearing on the horizon. Scorpion breaching the crest of the dune. Riding an ostrich. Coming to a stop at the top.

"There you are, Fire Fist Ace!" he called out. All of them letting out a sound of surprise. What exactly was going on here? "I'm Scorpion! The indomitable hero! I've come from afar to challenge you! Let's fight, fair and square!" Well, that was going to be the shortest battle in the history of the world. Ace could pretty much snap his fingers and this guy would be char. Despite this, the two boys hid behind a rock. They did not want Scorpion seeing them.

"That's Scorpion?" Vivi asked.

"Heya!" Luffy exclaimed appearing out from behind Scorpion. "Are you all here?"

None of them could believe it. "L-Luffy!" They all said. How does he get himself in these situations?

"Wh-What are you doing there?!" Sanji questioned. A question that didn't get answered. Ace and Scorpion locked in a staring contest. One that Scorpion was losing. Badly. Looking more nervous with each passing moment.

"What's wrong old guy?" Luffy asked him.

"Eh?!" he shouted turning to look at Luffy. "N-No, uh…" He started laughing. Gathering back up his nerves. Turning towards Ace. "So sorry! Your luck's run out! Your heroic saga that's told on the sea ends today!"

"Don't be stupid!" The older boy muttered. "He's the real one!" Another utterance of surprise went through all of them. Except for Ace. Who just looked at the boys with a smile.

"This is so exciting!" Luffy said waving his arms in the arm. "Ace! It's a serious fight! Don't pull any punches!" Did Luffy want this guy obliterated?

"I wasn't planning to!" Ace yelled back. I guess neither of them wanted this man to live. Whatever. Addy didn't judge. "But there's something I wanna ask him, too! Move aside, Luffy!"

"Here I come, Fire Fist Ace!" Scorpion bellowed. Charging at him. Luffy hopping off. Ace took off towards Scorpion. Even as Scorpion set up a tacky-looking gun. With a large red barrel. She briefly wondered if he had ever managed to kill anyone with that thing. Ace coming to a stop. Waiting for Scorpion to come to him.

"Take this!" Scorpion shouted launching a metal net at Ace. Unless it was laced with Seastone it wouldn't do a damn thing. Ace proving this point by setting himself on fire. Setting off a fiery explosion which sent the net flying.

"W-W-W-What?!" Scorpion exclaimed. Addy rolled her eyes. He really didn't expect that to work, did he? He didn't even have time to react as he got wrapped up in his own net. Black smoke rising from it. "Oww! Hot! Hot!" Rolling on the ground. The ostrich at least trying to help by kicking sand all over him.

"H-He sent that metal net flying back!" Usopp said. Mouth hanging open.

"Obviously," Addy added in. "What did you think was going to happen? That he was actually going to get caught?" He wasn't the only one affected. The boys had their hands curled into fists. Watching Scorpion on the ground. Scorpion managed to wiggle out of the net but his clothes were singed. Now blackened. Flames still coming out of Ace's shoulders.

"Oh!" Ace stated with a smile. "You seem to have some skill."

Scorpion stood up. A little worse for wear. Addy had to give him credit. Not many people went a second round with Ace. "Our hellish battle is just getting started!" He crouched. Holding his arms by his sides. Hands clenched into fists. "Popo! Compressed Extinguisher Gun!" The ostrich ran up. Dropping off a big yellow box in front of him. Ace's smile dropped as the crazy man prepared yet another gun. Which happened to look a little bit like a flame thrower. Strapping a yellow pack onto his back with a long tube connecting to a nozzle. "A compressed air gun filled with extinguisher foam!" That actually wasn't a completely terrible idea. At least not against Ace. He clearly thought about this.

"Wh-What?!" Zoro said. Addy just leaned back into him. Enjoying the closeness. Ignoring the way he ran his hands up and down her thighs.

"Extinguisher!" Sanji added in.

Scorpion started another charge at Ace. "I'm gonna use this to fill you full of compressed extinguisher foam!" Letting out a battle cry he let out a stream of foam towards Ace. He swiftly dodged. Scorpion hitting a rock instead. Creating a hole that went straight through. Ace landing behind him. He swiftly pivoted. Aiming another stream of foam towards Ace. This one going right over his shoulder. Dodging it easily. Same with the one going for his left side.

Addy knew at this point the fight was basically over. Ace landing a punch in Scorpion's stomach. Wincing slightly. She almost felt sorry for him. Letting out a cry of pain he stumbled and collapsed in the sand.

"Sorry, but you never had a chance," Usopp stated shrugging his shoulders.

"I expected as much," Ace said. Standing on the edge of a sand crater that Scorpion fell into. "You lied about beating Blackbeard, didn't you? You figured using his name would get me to show up. Am I right?" That actually wasn't a completely bad plan. He just didn't have the skills to execute it.

"That's right," Scorpion answered. "Not too shabby of a plan, huh?" He let out a string of coughing. "We've fought on even terms this far. Now I'm gonna get serious!" Addy seriously hoped he was joking. No one should be that deluded.

"No more!" The older boy called out. Standing up from behind the rock. "That's enough, Dad!" On scratch feeling sorry for Scorpion. She felt sorry for the kids. Who had to have this idiot as a father. Today was just a roller coaster of surprises.

"Dad?" Luffy asked as Scorpion let out another series of coughs.

"D-Dad?!" he also stated. Addy hearing the surprise in his voice. The two kids taking off after him. Calling out for him to stop this. Joining him in the crater. "D-Dip! Chip!"

"Dad!" Both of them shouted.

"Stop!" the older one begged. Addy didn't know if it was Dip or Chip and frankly she didn't care. "You don't stand a chance against Fire Fist Ace!"

"Wh-What are you two doing here?!" Wasting their time. "When did you leave the Badlands?!"

"The world's greatest battle is too much for you! We came to get you, dad!"

He let out a laugh. "Don't be silly. I'm the world's greatest bounty hunter." Maybe he should work on being the world's greatest dad. And not abandon his kids on a dying farm in the middle of the desert. "I've fought epic battles with everyone from Double Barrel Danny to Hellbattler Luther and they all begged for their lives!"

"Or so you plan, right?" the younger one asked.

Scorpion let out another laugh. "You found me out, huh?" Addy started to wonder what they were still doing here. Felt like they could be halfway to their destination by now. "That's right. I'm a terrible liar and a terrible father. But, there is one thing that's true! Even the most insignificant person can still challenge the world's greatest hero if he tries hard enough! That's what I wanted!" He wasn't wrong. But they would probably end up a bloody smear on the ground. "I wanted to show you two a grand dream! Men need dreams burning inside their hearts! Even if it means struggling every day, never give up! Stand tall! Live every day with a laugh! As long as you keep challenging the impossible, life will be paradise!" She smiled. Maybe this man had some merit after all. "But there's no way to show that without putting my life on the line! Yes! If you stand up, the path will always open!"

"D-Dad!" Ah, poor kids. They were too young to understand what their dad was talking about.

"Now! Watch your father's unconquerable spirit! No, I won't lose! Not as long as I have an enormous dream burning inside my heart! Popo! The bazooka!" Once again Popo ran up and dropped the bazooka off in front of him. That was one well-trained ostrich. This man was not going to quit.

"Fire Fist Ace! This is the end!" he shouted. Addy wasn't sure what exactly was going on. Them being in a crater and everything. But the kids were begging him to stop.

"Dad! That's enough! No more!" The older one begged.

"Dip! Chip!"

"We understand! We understand what you're trying to say! We stood up to hardship, too! We'll live every day as hard as we can! With you around, we're filled with courage!"

"I'm sorry I complained!" The younger one shouted. "I don't really care about food!" Dear Ocean these kids led terrible lives. They really needed it to start raining again. She could almost see Sanji flinch in the corner of her eye. He knew what they were going through. "I'm happy just being with you, Dad!"

"We love you, Dad!"

"We love you!"

"Dip! Chip!" Seemed like he had a breakthrough or maybe a breakdown. Though it didn't stop the bazooka from being launched. A giant spiky ball flying out of the crater. Attaching itself to the rocky wall before exploding. Causing rocks to start fall. Luffy running up to stop them but Ace beat him to it. Launching a stream of fire towards the rocks. Knocking them away. His attack powerful enough to cause the entire tower of stone to crumble. Dust licking the air. Luffy and Ace walking up to the scene. While the rest of them stayed there.

"Should we go help?" Usopp asked.

"Nah," Addy replied. "Ace and Luffy can handle it. Besides these idiots have almost caused us to waste an entire day of travel." There was a lot of screaming and crying coming from the crater. Either the dad was dead or miraculously alive. When she saw him walk out of the crater alive she had her answer. Not even bothering to say anything and he walked off with his two sons. Carrying them back home.

Ace and Luffy returning to the group and they finally set off once again. Ace taking Addy from Zoro's hands. Cradling her as they made their walk.

"You're leaving aren't you?" she asked him softly.

"Once the sun starts to set," he replied.

Addy smiled. "It makes sense. You have your adventure and we have ours." Her smile flipped to a frown. "Just kill the son of a bitch for me."

"Of course." He looked up towards Luffy. Complaining to Sanji about food and water. Nothing out of the ordinary. "You take care of him."

She huffed shaking her head. "He's my Captain, Ace." Her smile grew as she looked at him. "That's the least I can do."

"Oh and when you and Zoro finally get your act together you better invite me to the damn wedding." She slapped him on the shoulder. They were such a long way from that.

In what felt like no time at all the sun started to set. Ace putting Addy back down in the sand. No more words needed to be said. Just a hug between the two of them. Burying their faces into each other. They would have no idea when they would see each other next. But they would carry each other with them always.

"Best of luck to you water faerie." Man, she hated that name.

"Same to you cousin." One last tight embrace before she returned to the others.

Zoro looked up at her. She gave him a short nod. It was time. The others gathering as well. Lining up in front of Ace. Ready to say their goodbyes.

"Well, then…" Ace stated dawning on his hat.

"Are you really leaving Ace?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah." He held on to the strap of his backpack. "Seeing as Blackbeard isn't in Alabasta, I have no reason to be here."

"Oh," Luffy replied. He probably expected this. Didn't make it any easier.

"Where will you go next?" Sanji questioned.

"Scorpion says there's a man who saw him in the west. Guess I'll check it out!" He fished something out of his pocket and tossed it to Luffy. A vivre card. Useful. "Always hang on to that." And he wasn't going to tell him what it was. Leave it to Luffy to discover for himself. Addy chuckled shaking her head. Typical Ace behavior.

"Huh? It's just a scrap of paper." Everyone else peering at it also.

"That scrap of paper will bring you and me together again sometime."

"Yeah?"

"You don't want it?"

"No, I'll keep it."

Ace let out a big smile. "It's natural for a big brother to worry about his bungling kid brother. He might be a bit much for you to handle, but take good care of 'im." He bowed slightly. That was more for them than Luffy.

"Huh?"

He raised his head up. "Luffy. When we next meet, we'll both be top pirates!"

"Yeah!"

"Come to the top!" That was the plan. Nothing was going to stop Luffy from being pirate king.

"Hey!" they heard voices call out. The three idiots from before. Looks like they did want to say their goodbyes. Took their sweet time doing so.

"Hey!" Luffy shouted back waving his arms in the air. Enough of a distraction for Ace to disappear on them. He was like that. Hated goodbyes. "Huh, where's Ace?" All of them surprised. Not noticing him disappear on them.

"Well, he's gone," Zoro remarked before turning to Addy. "Looks like I have to be the one to carry you."

Addy smiled blushing slightly. "If you think you can handle it." She looked over the horizon. "He'll be okay."

"Fire Fist Ace, huh?" Sanji said.

"We'll see him again!" Luffy replied big smile on his face.

"Yeah," Nami added on. "I'm sure of it!"