edited by Gerbilfriend and me

Macey: We're back! it's a short chapter, but we're back!

that we are. anyway, this chapter is about Kaitlyn interacting with the crew this chapter and finding out what they think about Mace. working out whether or not she can or should trust Mace!

Macey: review then story!

DryBonesZero-

yes, Kaitlyn got her revenge. and who knows what Kaitlyn's future could have been (or might not have been) without Mace and the others there to save her. and who or what it will be now. i wonder if she will join...?

Macey: on with the chapter!

Chapter 14

Kaitlyn watched the crew like a hawk. She wasn't sure what to think of them- they seemed close but distant at the same time. Mace seemed… all right. When the others kept asking question after question and wouldn't leave Kaitlyn alone, not even after she asked (more like ordered) them to, the young Captain made them back right off after seeing how uncomfortable she was with the attention that the crew was giving her.

Kaitlyn pretty much just stayed close to Mace after that, her small form able to easily hide behind the older girl easily though they all knew she was there. The crew wouldn't ask lots of questions or bother Kaitlyn when she was with the young captain. So the safest place was with her.

The three boys (Ace, Sabo and Luffy)- were the only ones that were really near her when she was with Mace or when the First Mate, the grey shark Fishman, Don. But even then, they didn't really bother or say anything to Kaitlyn, but the youngest boy- Luffy. He would ask her questions, but not anything too personal or annoying really, though he was being annoying. He would just ask her what her favorite color was, her favorite food, if she liked meat, if she was having fun and some other weird and simple questions like that.

Never anything like, why was she called the Bloody Nightmare, who her parents were, where she was from or personal questions like that.

The blonde and middle brother was Sabo. He more had fun reading through Mace's books and asking her questions about the devil fruit research she had. He was asking her about the devil fruit she had picked up after they had left the island. Nothing directed at Kaitlyn but she could tell by just looking at him that he wanted to ask her questions but didn't. Probably because Mace had asked everyone to give Kaitlyn space.

Ace, the oldest, on the other hand, just seemed to look her and seemed to want to say or ask something but didn't. Kaitlyn had no idea what he wanted to ask, but she wasn't going to answer it- whatever the hell it was. It was like he had decided that her secrets were her own and it wasn't his place to ask her about them.

Mace though, she would remind the crew especially, when they started to bother her and Kaitlyn, that Kaitlyn was entitled to her secrets, just they were.

Right now though, it was just Kaitlyn and Mace in Macey's room. The younger boys all shared with her and Kaitlyn. Which didn't bother Kaitlyn at all, they didn't really bother her though they could be annoying. The three had gotten bored so they were currently outside training or something.

"Mace!" Max whined as he came in, looking at the Captain as she was going through some papers and Kaitlyn was pretending to sleep on the mattress on the ground. She just wanted to lie down and rest, this was the first time in a long time that Kaitlyn could just rest and not really worry about anything. She was going to use the time to rest up. That way, if a fight broke out, she could fight.

Kaitlyn couldn't sleep though. She rarely ever slept. She had insomnia after all. She lay on her side, facing away from Macey with her small legs curled easily to her chest to take up as little space as possible.

"Yes Max?" Mace said not looking at the cook, as she was busy with her work on the desk. Kaitlyn wasn't sure what the work was, but Mace was busy with it.

"She won't eat!" Max whined, pulling at his hair in frustration. He didn't want anyone starving on his watch but he couldn't very well force feed someone, could he?! No!

"Look…" Mace said holding a bit of her food up and then taking a bite from it. "I'm eating."

"Not you!" Max whined again, pointing at his captain in disbelief for a moment. "Though you should be eating…"

Mace looked confused then looked over at Kaitlyn. Remembering that she wasn't the sole female anymore. "You mean Kate?"

"Right!" Max nodded so she knew that she was right while pointing at said girl now to make a point of the matter. "The kid won't eat!"

"Oh well," Mace shrugged without seeming to care. Then she turned to look back at her work as though the matter was settled.

"Oh well?!" Max shouted in surprise and shock, hands hitting the desk before he realized what he just did and backed right off. "Sorry…"

"Max. I let people speak their minds and you know it. So, speak."

Why were they talking about her…?

"Okay… here it goes… I'm about worried Kaitlyn's health because I know she is under nourished, underweight and small for her age. She needs to eat."

He was worried about her…? Why?

"Look Max. I know Don had offered her a place in the crew and she accepted. Given the circumstances, anyone would have and I'm not going to kick her out of the crew because I'm the one who wanted her here in the first place. But we can't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. That's not the best way to make her like us or to earn her trust. Just like how I don't force you guys to do anything you don't want to do too."

They wanted her to like them…? They wanted her to trust them…? They weren't going to force to anything she didn't want to do…? They wanted her here…? They weren't going to kick her out the crew…? Why…?

In fact, why did they offer her a place in the crew to start with? Don't they know what kind of trouble and burden they are bringing onto their ship with her there?

"If you have something to ask Kate," Mace smiled at Kaitlyn over her shoulder; somehow, the older blonde girl was able to know that Kaitlyn was really awake and not asleep. "Ask. It's rude to eavesdrop. Max? I'll talk to her about the food but I won't be forcing her to eat if she doesn't want to. Understand?"

"Yes Captain," Max sighed leaving a plate of food- mostly cut up fresh fruits- on the desk. Max then walked out of the room and Mace kept working on her work on the desk.

"Is that true…?" Kaitlyn asked after a long while of silence, staring hard at the walls as though it was her enemy. Really though, she just wasn't sure what to think of everything she just heard.

"Is what true?" Mace asked as she worked, not looking up at all but still willing to talk.

"You're not going to force me… to do anything? Or to eat anything?" Kaitlyn asked, unsure if Mace had been telling the truth or not.

"Of course," Mace smiled back at the younger girl, taking a brief break to ensure the girl could understand her sincerity. "Look, I get why you're not eating. There were times when you went days without eating and you don't want to get too comfortable or used to it because it could be taken away at a moment's notice."

Kaitlyn stared at Mace, how did she…

"I went through something similar when I was about your age." Mace said not looking at Kaitlyn anymore. "My home was destroyed and my mother killed when I was eight. I travelled the seas for about a week with no food before my boat got wrecked. I thought I was going to die. Then a ship just happened to be passing by so I snuck on board."

Why was Mace telling Kaitlyn this?

"Then what happened?" Kaitlyn asked, sitting up a bit to look back at the girl behind her. She wasn't sure why, but she was very eager to know.

Mace smiled, seemingly happy that Kaitlyn was interested as she kept doing her work on the desk and handed Kaitlyn the fruit. Eating some of it herself as she went back to work. Kaitlyn ate some of the food as she wanted for Mace to keep going.

"Well, I saved a bunch of people, Sin and Don included." Mace smiled fondly at the memories as she worked and remembered it. "Stole the ship that we are currently using. Stole a bunch of food and let the people go. Don and Sin decided to stay away from the others I saved and I offered them places in my crew. Though, it didn't happen in that order." Mace laughed in amusement at facts that she left out and recalled all at once.

"And then?" Kaitlyn asked, wanting to know. She actually looked more than just interested now, she looked like the child she was – wide eyes, filled with wonder and amazement at the story.

"We travelled around and earned a name ourselves." Mace continued without missing a beat. "Meeting Jack, Marc and Max along the way."

"How did you guys meet?"

"That, my young friend, is a secret."

"Why?"

"Because it's a part of their past that they don't want to have shared. I allow secrets as well as long as it's not harmful to the crew. The only one who really needs to know everything is me. Other than that, it doesn't really matter. That's why I won't push you or force you."

The next day…

"Is Mace always honest? Does she always tell the truth?" Kaitlyn asked Ace as he was resting after sparing with his two younger brothers. Kaitlyn really wanted to know. After talking with Mace, it just seemed too good to be true that she was always truthful and honest.

"Yeah," Ace nodded with his eyes closed as he enjoyed the light breeze that was blowing today. "She hasn't lied to us at all. I mean, I know she is keeping secrets but I'm pretty sure everyone in her crew has a secret or two they don't want the others to know about."

"Are you included in that?"

Ace frowned at the question, but refused to open his eyes and let the question bother him too badly. "One, I am and no I'm not going to tell you about it. Two, I am not a part of this crew. I'm going to be my own captain!"

Kaitlyn looked really confused as she looked at Ace. If he wasn't a part of the crew, then why was he here?

"I'm a guest!" Ace hummed smugly, as if proud to the fact that he wasn't under any flag or obligation other than his own and his brothers. "Like my brothers!"

"Guests?" Kaitlyn frowned, not understanding what Ace meant. How was he a guest?

"Yeah, guests! Got a problem with that?" Ace nodded as he sat up looking at her. What was with all her questions anyway, it wasn't that hard to understand was it? "My brothers are running away from some bad guys and Mace is going to protect us until we turn seventeen when we leave to become pirates ourselves. We're training here."

Training…?

Later…

"I like Macey!" Luffy smiled as he was stuffing his face with some food. Ace was asleep against the wall of one of cabins while Sabo was reading a book. "She's really nice! She's teaching me and Ace how to be captains and helping us train to become strong pirates by the time we leave when we're seventeen!"

"So, your guests and not members of the crew then?" Kaitlyn asked Luffy, evidently still curious about what Ace said before and if she could really trust Macey.

"Right!" Luffy nodded, stuffing yet another piece of meat into his hungry mouth.

"That's right," Sabo nodded as he looked up from his book and looked at Kaitlyn. "We're temporary crew members, or guests as Ace likes to call us. We're staying here so that bad guys don't get us. Kind of like how you don't want the Marines to find you, right?"

"Why?" Kaitlyn asked, her child mind not working as well as usual with all her questions running around in her head. The boys were just making more questions without really answering all the ones she had in mind already.

"Because we're too young and inexperienced to make it on our own," Sabo answered simply enough with a sad shrug of his shoulders. It was a fact, but it wasn't going to stay that way for long. They were training hard to become stronger and even better than ever before.

Luffy was too busy stuffing his face to answer.

"No. I mean why seventeen." She corrected when she realized that Sabo had misunderstood her question.

"Oh… well, the bad guys, as Ace calls them, are really Nobles from our home island." Sabo explained. He noticed Kaitlyn's expression darken at that so Sabo decided to leave out some things. He wasn't sure if he should tell her that he was an ex-noble, let alone trust her with that information. Afraid of her reaction to it was the biggest reason though. "Yes… they wanted for us… well, it doesn't really matter anymore. We're never going back. We're safe here and that's all that matters."

"Why seventeen though?"

"Because then we're at an age that no-one can tell us what to do or how to live our lives or marry us off at eighteen."

Marry them off?

"What?"

"Nothing."

…

…

"Yuck!" Luffy said suddenly, making a face at the idea that Sabo brought up. Making Sabo laugh. "Marriage is stupid!"

"That it is Lu," Sabo smiled fondly at his little brother. Luffy always had a knack for breaking tensions and for stating the obvious of what he truly feels. "Especially when it's forced."

Kaitlyn wasn't going to ask. She didn't want to know what they were talking about.

"So you trust Mace?" Kaitlyn asked Sabo this time. She was really wanting to know if they trusted Mace or not.

"Yep!" Luffy grinned. "Macey's cool and I trust her!"

"Yes, I trust Miss Macey with my life. Unlike some of the crew and my brother Ace, I'm not really keeping anything from Mace and the crew. They know our story and there's nothing else to add to it." Sabo smiled.

"And she's fine with secrets?" Kaitlyn asked. "She's honest?"

"Yep!" Luffy nodded.

"Miss Macey is fine with secrets," Sabo confirmed and nodded as well. "I know there are things she has yet to tell us. I don't know if it's because she doesn't want us to know or if the memories of them hurt too much. There are things that she has yet to tell us, like who her father is."

Her father…? What did knowing whom her father was have anything to do with anything? Who was her father anyway? What was Sabo talking about?

"Or how her mother died or why she is taking on her mother's devil fruit research, and probably more, but she'll tell us one day. When she's ready. She's honest and answers all the questions we ask too. When she doesn't answer somethings right away, that's when she looks hurt normally. She tells us she will answer at another time, as she is not feeling up to it at that moment. Which is fine, she won't push us and we won't push her. It's simple and basic really. And I personally, can't help but respect it."

"That's right!" Luffy beamed happily, still enjoying his meal that seemed to never end as he kept stuffing his mouth with delicious food.

She's respected… and looked up to… She was trusted… She didn't force people… Did that mean… did that mean that Kaitlyn could trust Mace too…? Like the others did…? It wasn't just her crew but the three 'guests' who respected and trusted her too… So that meant that Kaitlyn could too, right?

The next day…

"Why do you trust her?" Kaitlyn asked another person, a member of the crew this time.

"Trust who?" Jack asked Kaitlyn as he checked on her wounds, which she had been very reluctant to let him do. But seeing how worried the crew was about it, she decided to let the ship's doctor look at them just to get everyone off her back about it.

"Mace."

"She's saved our lives," Sin answered hoarsely, still in bed resting after having over exhausted himself when they had saved Kaitlyn. He had used a lot of his energy from his devil fruit and almost drowning had taken a bit of a toll on him. Jack wasn't letting Sin go or do anything until at least tomorrow. "Why wouldn't we trust her?"

"So she's honest?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Too damn honest at times if you ask me," Jack sighed as finished up his examination on Kaitlyn and was very impressed. "Your devil fruit powers are incredible. Your wounds are all healed and nothing is infected. But I still recommend you rest up. You did lose a lot of blood."

Kaitlyn nodded her head in understanding.

"How do you like the crew so far?" Sin asked from his bed. Jack hadn't let him out due to the fact that Sin seemed to be very exhausted; the few times when he had tried to do a few things here or there, he ended up collapsing and fainting. He had also been feeling very light headed as well. So, Sin is under strict instructions to rest in bed for the next few days till his light-headedness went away.

"It's… different," Kaitlyn answered, not sure how else to answer the question. It was definitely a different and new experience.

"It probably is," Sin laughed.

"You seem better Sin," Don smiled as he walked in.

"I feel better," Sin answered Don with a smile. An honest and happy smile.

"You finally realizing that we have your back no matter what, apologizing for whatever you feel like you needed to apologize for, and finally thanking me for saving your ass over all of these years really makes you that happy?" Don asked.

"I guess so," Sin nodded. "Finally realizing that I am not alone even though I always felt like I was, even with you guys here. I guess, finally accepting my place in the crew and stuff… it just makes me happy."

Don smiled honestly back, not like he never didn't. "I'm glad!"

"What about you Don?" Kaitlyn asked.

"What about me what?" Don asked.

"Why do you trust Mace? Is she always this honest? Why is she like this? Why are you here? Why did you join?" Kaitlyn asked- thinking of the questions that she has been asking others in the crew.

"Why do I trust Mace? Is she always honest? Why am I here? Why did I join? Is Mace always like this?" Don repeated to Kaitlyn to make sure he had heard her right, which made Kaitlyn nodded her head. "Well, yes, Mace is always honest. Why, I don't know but it is one of the main reasons why I trust her. Other than it doesn't bother her that I am Fishman since that fact bothers a lot of people. I joined since Mace asked me too, saying she thought it'd be amusing and interesting to have me around, and since she's always trusting, honest and up front of everything, well, I thought, why not join? She was just so different to anyone I had ever met. That's why I joined. Why wouldn't I trust my captain?"

Kaitlyn nodded her head in understanding. Mace sounded… like she was someone that she could trust. Who wouldn't betray her? But, was Kaitlyn really ready to trust someone like that…?

Later…

"Why do we trust Mace?" Marc asked Kaitlyn on behalf himself and Max. Marc was doing some things in the kitchen as Max was cooking. "Do we think she is honest?"

"Yes," Kaitlyn nodded. She wanted everyone's opinion so that she can make up her own mind. Do all of the crew trust their captain? Do they all think she is honest?

"Yes, I trust Captain Mace," Max nodded as he cut meat and vegetables as he was making dinner. "She hasn't given me a reason to not trust her. I… Mace is honest and allows us to speak our minds. Sure, she doesn't always take our opinions in mind, but it is better than not being able to voice them at all. She is honest as honest can be. Sure, she has her secrets but we all have a secret or two that no-one but her knows. But, it's not like Mace forces us to talk to her or tell her. If we didn't tell, she wouldn't care that much. It shows how much we trust her when we tell her something that only she knows about us."

"Like what?" Kaitlyn asked all innocent like, but it wasn't innocent at all.

"Only for Mace to know," Max smiled. "Sorry."

Oh well. Not that Kaitlyn cared that much. "Okay," Kaitlyn shrugged. "What about you Marc?"

"Mace would be the most honest person I know," Marc said as he worked on whatever it was that he was working on, on the table. Kaitlyn had no idea what it was. "Always has been. Sure, she trusts us and yeah, she's keeping secrets from us. But she will be open with us about her own secrets when she is ready. It's more like her secrets hurt her more than that she doesn't want tell us."

That makes sense.

"That is why I trust her," Marc smiled. "She keeps our secrets, secret and she is honest. She gives us a voice to have, though she doesn't always listen to it. It's nice. Though, she doesn't force us to do anything we don't want to do, we always seem to do something we don't want to do at point or another anyway."

What…?

"Really?" Kaitlyn asked. "How? Why?"

"Well, none of us wanted to mess with the Celestial Dragon," Marc answered as he stopped working. "But we did anyway."

"Why…?" Kaitlyn asked, very confused. How does that work?

"Well, we couldn't let Mace handle it by herself." Marc laughed. "She might get herself killed. And if we lose Mace, we will lose ourselves."

Is that how they feel…? That, they could do anything as long as they have Mace? That even if they do something that they don't want to do, they can do it that as long as Mace was there for them? Really…?

So, she's respected, trusted, honest and seen as the centre of all of their universes? That there was no Freedom Fighters without Mace…

Maybe Kaitlyn could trust Mace…

Macey: 15 reviews!

ASL: 26 favs!

Don: 37 follows!

Kaitlyn: 2, 932 views!

Sin: wow, that's a lot... anyway, what are we doing next chapter?

i have no idea! hahahaha!

Macey*annoyed*: are you for real!?

it was a joke! we have a few things happening next chapter! just… no spoilers...?

Macey: oh, okay! till next time then!