A/N: Smoker and Sienna flashbacks down below. There is a love scene there, forewarned. Feel free to skip if you're not into that sort of thing, but it's not that graphic, and it's not just for titillation. It can be a way to convey how a character has changed in either feelings, motivation, ability in either seduction or manipulation etc. It's up to you though. I just felt the need to warn or hype you up depending on what you want. Happy reading!

Chapter Twelve: Some Memories

They were frying up some dead worm thing. Most of it ended up roasted and cooked already due to Ace burning the damn thing. They may not have water right now, but they wouldn't starve. They weren't too far from Yuba, right? It was an oasis, so it should be fine.

"Silas's guard is down when he's near Ace," she heard Sanji mutter some distance behind her. A smirk grew on her face.

"His attraction makes him weak," Zoro said.

"We can see what weapons he's hiding under that cloak," Usopp said, and she could hear him rubbing his hands together. "Ace, will you—"

"No," he said simply, not bothering to let Usopp finish his request. Silas genuinely smiled as she took a big bite of the slab of meat.

She preferred to listen to Vivi and Nami talking about Vivi's childhood in Alabasta. It seemed the life of a princess wasn't all sunshine and rainbows like fairy tales made it out to be. Go figure. She couldn't imagine growing up with the pressure to be a certain way for her people and to maintain an image for the people. She got a taste of it before, and she was a weirdo, unlike Vivi, so it made her miserable. She didn't know about Vivi.

Something that didn't surprise was that despite presenting as a man and enjoying it for the most part, she preferred the company of women. She felt these two were better conversationalists. The boys were goofy and hilarious which was charming and fun, but good at conversations? Not really. Maybe, in time, but physicality seemed more their forte in communication. However, they were being so loud in their conversation with each other tonight that she had no choice in hearing it.

"Oh come on," Usopp begged, "he wouldn't let us see what he was working on. He said 'it's a surprise' with that stupid wink of his. He's such a tease!" That impression of her was rather amusing, such a low voice. She was passing.

"I know he is," Ace chuckled.

Her face felt hot again, and it was not because of the desert. He was too much. He was the one who was the tease, dammit! She told him she's not ready, and he doesn't turn off the charm. He wanted her to suffer.

"Silas, are you okay?" Vivi asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" she said casually, recovering smoothly, giving her a smile. Vivi flushed too. Flattered people flatter others. That was the saying, right?

"So, what was your childhood like?" Nami asked Silas.

"Good, I think."

"What do you mean you think?" Nami asked incredulously.

Silas shrugged neutrally. "I don't remember it," she answered truthfully.

"That's so sad," Vivi said, looking kind of horrified.

"What happened?" Nami said, sounding and looking much like the princess.

Was it really that sad? What if she had a bad childhood and this was a favor not to remember? Given the state of the world, it was most likely her childhood was trash. She was certain she wasn't a noble or even a middle-tier wealthy type of kid. She didn't have that kind of air about her. Though, this was all speculation. The possibilities were numerous, and she just couldnt remember.

"I don't remember anything that may have caused memory loss," Silas shrugged. "Kind of fits, doesn't it?"

The odd looks she received were par for the course. She was flippant and careless. It was how she dealt. She didn't want to

"So sad…"

"I guess."

The girls hugged her, and the affection was confusing. She wasn't upset, so she didn't need the comfort. It was nice though. She hugged them back and smiled regardless. The distant angry sounds were hilarious. It could be none other than Sanji, of course. It just made her smile more.

Suddenly, a strange sound got everyone's attention. They looked over and saw what seemed to be an abandoned camel running away from a giant sand urchin. Oh great.

The girls screamed in fear and huddled behind Silas who was standing and staring. It was odd. She was the one who was normally protected before presenting as a man. It was kind of flattering to be seen strong enough as a protector, but it was also flattering to be deemed worthy of protection much like Ace did for her earlier today. Why can't she have both? Both sounded good.

"I'm going to beat Silas!"

"No, I'm going to beat Silas!"

"No, I'm—"

Before the boys could do anything, whomst she was laughing at because it was just hilarious, fire erupted and burnt away the sand urchin.

"I win. What's my prize?" Ace said playfully, landing in front of her.

Silas looked away incredulously and said sarcastically, "My undying gratitude, duh."

The two of them started laughing like a bunch of school kids as the others groaned in irritation.

The camel finally stopped by. The boys were relieved, but as soon as one of them attempted to mount it, the stubborn thing bucked him off. Oh, was he feral? Was that how he lost his owner?

"What's with this camel?" Zoro said, eyeing it, drawing his sword. "Should we eat it?"

"No," Chopper said, stepping between them. "He says he's a lady's man who only lets women ride on his back."

"That's Sanji if he was a camel," Silas said amusedly.

The crew laughed except for the cook who flared up with anger. He looked as if he wanted to say something until Nami stepped up to the camel.

"You only like women?" Nami cooed and let the camel whose eyes lit up with hearts. "You have such good taste. Can I get a ride, please, Lashes?"

The camel was putty in her hands and let her mount him without a fault. The others were seething at the camel sans Silas, Ace, and Vivi. Nami rode over to the princess and offered a leg up, and Vivi took it. The two were on the camel, and Nami laughed at the rest of them as she kicked Lashes to go. Off they went down the desert, leaving behind a dust trail.

"Nami," Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp whined.

"Damn that woman," Zoro muttered.

"I still love you, Nami-san," Sanji said, sounding defeated.

Silas smiled as she walked along the desert into the setting sun, grateful for the sun protection from the turban. Ace walked beside her and bumped her shoulder gently. She smiled and bumped his shoulder back, giving him a playful smile.

Suddenly, Luffy erupted in a strange scream. Silas looked over, and the boy's eyes were glassy and wild. He was running around, waving a stick, and mumbling words that she couldn't hear. He fell over with a mighty roar, writhing. Everyone was freaking out around them, asking Chopper what was wrong with their captain. Silas had a feeling before he told them it was strange cactus water he drank. She recognized that sort of madness of the mind.

"What do we do?" Usopp said, terrified, running away from their captain who claimed him to be a dragon.

"Has he finally gone feral?" Ace asked amusedly.

"Seems like it," Silas said simply.

A smile grew on her face, feeling a familiar mischievousness sitting just beneath the skin. When Luffy fell over again, she walked over to him and squatted down in front of him, resting her arms on her knees. She vaguely heard Chopper and Usopp telling her he was dangerous while Sanji and Zoro told the two to hush and let their captain 'teach Silas a lesson'. All of which she ignored by the way.

Luffy noticed her as she put her two pointer fingers in each side of her mouth, pulled, and then deadened her eyes. She saw a strange look cross his hazzy expression. And like his last name dictated: monkey see monkey do. He tried to emulate her expression with frustration. His fine motor skills were impaired due to the mad water he drank. She giggled before whacking him in the back of his head with the side of her hand, knocking him clean out. She gave him a friendly smile as she patted his face gently, feeling the light come back into her eyes.

"There you go," she said simply, upbeat, standing up.

She didn't miss the stunned and disappointed looks on her crew members faces as she headed towards the direction the girls took off to. Mission accomplished, what's the problem?

"How… how did you…?" Chopper began.

"Monkey see monkey do," she shrugged. "It left him vulnerable to being knocked out."

"Wait, who was copying who?" Usopp said, looking concerned.

"Shh," she said playfully, putting her finger to her lips and giving him a wink.

Usopp's face reddened in what she assumed was anger as he spluttered much the same way when she told him she believed in him. It made her life a little.

"See, I told you he's a tease," Ace chuckled.

Now, it was her turn to flush as she turned to face that too handsome and charming man. She was going to meet it this time and not look like an idiot just like she normally did. She could overcome her flattery.

"You're one to talk," she said, letting a smirk pull at her face. "I guess it takes one to know one."

She heard a groan of irritation from Sanji, she presumed. He was so obvious that it was funny, so she laughed. Then, she left the boys behind to take care of Luffy. Ace walked beside her like before as the boys argued about who would drag their out-cold captain.

"Does it bother you when I flirt with you?" Ace asked.

"Kinda," she said truthfully. "If I hadn't just left my husband, then it wouldn't. But I appreciate you being cool and not telling them anything."

"I can tell you're not a bad person," he said, smiling at her, reminding her of Luffy.

"How do you know that?"

She felt like a bad person. She left her marine husband for pirates and now she was flirting with another pirate. She was a bad person. He was just being nice.

"I don't know. I can just tell."

His smile was charming, and his freckles were shining in the sun. She had to look away. Long ago, she accepted she was a terrible person which was part of the reason why she acted with impunity most of the time. She didn't act with the pretense of 'I'm a good person' and just acted like who she was truly. She may have been a better person before she betrayed her husband and held back then.

"You're too kind to me," she chuckled, trying to keep upbeat.

They eventually caught up with the girls. They were talking to Ace, wondering where the others were. He explained it to them.

The camel sniffed her. She stiffened considerably. Animals, especially heat animals, were far more sensitive to smells, and she couldn't exactly disguise that. She probably smelled female to him. Before she could move away from Lashes, it licked her cheek. She wiped her face and moved away. She hoped no one noticed. It would give her away.

They made it to Yuba, and, um, it wasn't an oasis as promised. In fact, like the last town, it was abandoned. The only person left in the decaying sands was an old man, digging. She didn't know why he was digging, perhaps hoping to strike water and turn it into an actual oasis. The hole he dug was taller than himself and quite wide and still nothing. It was sad.

"Oh, travelers?" he said, climbing out of the hole and up to greet them. Then, a look of realization lit up his features. "P-princess Vivi?" he asked incredulously.

"Toh-Toh?"

The old man looked as if he was going to burst into tears. It was sweet. He looked at Vivi like she was a pride of his. They hugged after he stepped out of the hole in the ground.

"Where are the rebels?" she asked him.

Disappointment washed over his weathered face. "They skipped Yuba because it's not an oasis yet," he said. Then, the tears spilled. "I'm so sorry, Princess Vivi. I promised you and your father that I would turn Yuba into an oasis. I tried so hard even when everyone started leaving, including my son. This drought has been so hard, but I never once doubted your father."

Luffy was awake and quiet for a while because he jumped down into the hole and seemed to understand this man's struggle. Even his emotional tale was affecting her. The hardship, the tears, the decaying town around them had tears pricking at her eyes too. She was getting super emotional lately. Her time of the month must close… great.

Luffy began digging with his hands, and Toh-Toh went back down in the hole, telling him he was making this worse. Luffy wouldn't listen, believing he was helping.

Vivi started sobbing quietly, so Silas stepped up, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to rest here for the night?" she asked. "It's getting cold."

"Yes," Vivi said, trying her best to collect herself.

They went inside one of the abandoned houses. Luffy chose to stay behind, digging. They put their stuff down, and Silas could feel the thirst coming on strong along with a few cramps. It wasn't fun. She tried to push through, not wanting to be mean just because she was in pain.

"What a day," she sighed.

Everyone nodded.

Sanji was lying on his side, patting the space in front of him. It was clear he was trying to prove himself the true lady's man. His attempts at wooing were becoming more desperate in attempts of gaining control.

"Vivi-chan, would you like to sleep next to me?" he asked.

Silas knew the answer before he asked the question. In attempts at gaining women's affections, he was too desperate, wanting it too badly. It made most people want to pull away. He didn't understand that it was a give and take thing between two people like a dance. He was young, and hopefully he would learn one day. Maybe, he'd take a cue from her.

"No, I'm alright," Vivi said, clearly skeeved out, "I'd rather sleep by myself… or next to Silas."

The blush was adorable on the princess's face when she mentioned that she'd rather be next to Silas. And, it enraged Sanji, of course, in a quiet stew which just made her smile and laugh quietly.

"Fine by me, I like snuggles, but I get hot in my sleep," she said truthfully with a shrug.

She saw Nami wasn't pleased by this, pouting. How did it come to this? She didn't even try. She supposed that was the point. Here she was living without consequences but here they were: jealousy from them and no real attraction to either of the women. She liked them, but she didn't feel anything. She was becoming a shameless flirt once more when she was single. Not to mention, she picked on people just because it was fun. She was a terrible person contrary to what the two brothers said. She knew it to be true. The proof was in the pudding.

She flopped down on her side, facing away from the rest as she stared at the wall. If someone wanted to sleep next to her, by all means. She drifted off without much prompt after a long, hot day.

"Tell us how you got here."

Silence.

"If you don't tell us, we can't help you."

Silence.

"She's been through enough," Smoker said.

She remembered him. She remembered the kindness and the strong, silent compassion he showed her. She still had his coat on. He actually felt human unlike this blockhead of a marine trying to interrogate her.

"Captain Smoker," he began.

"Leave, we're done here," he said.

She watched as the man left and the only two in the room were her and Smoker. She preferred it this way. No more bureaucracy. She could actually have a conversation with humanity with this man.

"Come on, you don't deserve to be here," he said. "You deserve to go home."

She didn't have a home.

He reached out to her, and she took his hand. She stood and walked beside him. Sienna didn't know what to say. She was still processing the feeling of being treated like a human being again. She was still shocked that life was kind of going back to normal. What was even normal now?

They were walking along the streets of LogueTown out of the marine base. The day was beautiful: blue, cloudless, sunny, not humid, and the ocean was crashing in the background. It was a small, cute port town.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"No."

"Family?"

"I don't remember them," she said with a noncommittal shrug.

She glanced up and saw a brief, strange look cross his features. She couldn't name it due to the briefness, but she could get a general reading on him. He was hesitating, working things out in his mind before voicing what he wished to say. She waited, peering at him.

"You can stay with me," he said. "If you want."

Her face felt warm as she watched his face redden with what she assumed was embarrassment. It was almost cute.

Then, he further clarified by saying, "I have a spare room, of course."

Oh, she didn't consider it might've been an invitation into his bed. It wasn't though. She didn't have any other option except to be a bum on the street starving. Might as well go back to being in the slave trade at least they gave three square meals during the abuse. She'd take him up on his offer if he meant it.

"If you mean it, I'd like to," she said.

"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't mean it," he said.

"How kind of you," she said, winking at him, trying her hardest not to blush.

His face was now very red, and he looked almost angry at his own reaction before looking forward again and away from her. His expression went back to neutral. She chuckled to herself quietly. She had her confirmation.

The next few days of living with him, he was respectful. She was shocked by how respectful he was. She assumed that he would want something from her for staying in his house. She assumed it would be sex or monetary compensation immediately or almost immediately. In reality, he was just distant and quiet as they cohabitated. Due to his respectfulness, she was beginning to get back on her feet. She wasn't just existing and surviving anymore. She didn't spend time just staring blankly at a wall, processing her trauma. She supposed it was called brooding. It dredged up some uncomfortable times. She was growing back to some semblance of who she once was. And, she appreciated it.

The reality of the situation hit her one day.

She was staying in a marine's house, rent free, fed, and isolated herself for several days. Smoker didn't have to do that. He didn't have to show her kindness and compassion like this. He could've just said his duty was done after breaking up the trafficking ring and thus rescuing her. Instead, he offered her, a practical stranger, his guest bedroom since she would've been homeless and starving from her lack of family and employment. She was grateful and didn't know how to express it.

"Hi."

She saw him startle slightly, not realizing how quiet she was. He then said something she didn't quite hear but didn't bother to ask him about.

She was finally conscious enough in her life to recognize how poorly stocked this kitchen was. Did she eat all of his food? She didn't think she did. She just remembers sleeping and sitting. She did eat, she thought. She wanted to cry at the loss of her abs and scream in horror at the ability to count all of her ribs with ease. How could this have happened to her? It had only been two months of her life…

"Here," he said, putting some cash on the counter. "I don't have much food here. You can buy whatever you want."

"Thank you," she said.

He brushed her off and exited the room.

It was odd. Was she overstaying her welcome? Or perhaps, he was allergic to feelings. He was stoic and rough around the edges from the short time she'd been around him. He may just not express it around others, and they didn't know each other well. Maybe, she could make an effort to be closer with him. Slow and steady won the race.

She had picked up some skills shortly through some free recipe cards she found at the grocery store. Some of the inexperience came out though: sorching the ceiling because of dumping water on a grease fire. Whoops. However, she picked up some cooking skills eventually through trial and error much like blacksmithing. It was just like her: incapable of learning rules to anything and forging her own way. It didn't mean it was always good, especially in the beginning.

"How is it?" she asked.

It was her own recipe, of course. She'd always been the wild and experimental type. It was why she wasn't a scientist. She would've blown up her lab several times over.

She waited for him to take a bite, and immediately he began coughing. Oh no. She handed him the glass of water.

"Too spicy?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, coughing.

"Hmm, my taste must be off," she said, taking a bite and then coughing herself. "Nope, too spicy."

She got better after that. And, it brought her a smile when he seemed to be enjoying her cooking and presence.

The tension was thick in the air. She could feel it. That wasn't shocking though. He was a type of hers: kind to her, respectful, and shy about affection in his stoic nature. Besides, they were already acting like husband and wife without the intimacy. It was only a matter of time….

She was leaning over the kitchen table to place the plates and silverware down there. Then, she went to get something out of the top shelf cabinet, having trouble reaching. She had one knee up on the counter and was going to lift herself, but someone far taller than herself came up from behind and got it for her. They were so close she could feel the heat of his body. A mischievousness was coming back to her that she missed, wanting to test these waters and see what she could get away with.

She slid back down to both her feet, and she was flush against him. Her breath caught, and it finally occurred to her how muscular and much larger he was compared to her, especially as a scrawny, malnourished thing. And the hint of what brushed against her was par for the course with the rest of him.

She felt him stiffen. Good, she wasn't the only one. Slowly, she turned to face him. His hands were planted on each side of her on the countertop, and he wasn't looking her in the face. It was as if he was fighting within himself on what to do. She wondered if he thought it was improper for him to be interested in her. Why? She initiated it, and she was mentally wound enough to consent. Bodily, it probably wasn't the best idea. But, she wasn't asking for much. She just wanted to act on this attraction between them so badly.

Even on her tiptoes she was having trouble reaching, but actions expressed a lot more than words ever could, especially in this situation. But, she managed to reach his jaw and kissed it gently. Then, she sank back on her feet, waiting to see if she was wrong or right.

When their eyes finally met that was it.

They were kissing feverishly as hands grasped the back of her thighs and pulled her up on the tall countertop. She was finally able to run her fingers through his grey hair and grab it by the roots. The sound he made was worth it. Between them, it was fast and sudden. And she could barely keep up. Before she knew it, her back was across the table while the dishes crashed onto the floor. She watched as he undid his belt, threw it across the room before removing his pants and underwear in one tug. And um…

She didn't know if she was capable of taking that in the state her body was in. And one of her defensive mechanisms was bubbling to the surface even if it wasn't appropriate for the situation.

"Why Captain, if they knew you were packing such heat, you might've not needed to go into that ring guns blazing," she said.

Immediately, his face was beet red, and she started laughing softly and trying to hide it behind her hand. Did she kill the mood? She didn't know. His cock was still hard and pointing right at her. She didn't understand why she got such joy out of making such a stoic man crack like this?

Eventually, he recovered, and she smiled at him as sweetly as she could. "Perhaps, I overstepped my bounds," he said.

She sat up and pulled her top over her head. She could see concern along with desire lighting up his features. It was subtle. Most things with him are unless she brought it out of him through her disarming humor. And, she understood the concerned look on his face. She wasn't back to normal yet, and it was horrifying to her as well.

"I'd say you made the right call," she said, giving him a smile. "Just… be gentle with me."

"Of course."

He looked at her face, and she could see something she couldn't quite define there before he kissed her again. The sparks were there beneath the surface, and it didn't take long for it to catch fire once more.

Smoker kept his word. He was gentle in removing her skirt and panties, sliding it down slowly past her hips and throwing it quickly somewhere neither of them cared about. And when he began to enter her, he was slow and careful so much so that it was driving her wild. Each movement was soft, gentle, and had her toes curling as he finally found a rhythm that was satisfying and didn't hurt her. It was ecstasy.

Sienna knew he was getting close by the way his fingers dug into the table by her head, his movements were becoming uncontrolled, and the sounds he was making. She held onto him as she felt herself nearing her end too. It had been awhile for her, and the tenderness and care he'd given for the past few months including now was getting her there.

"I… I'm close," he said through gritted teeth, clearly holding back for her sake. "Should I pull—"

"No."

Her legs wrapped around his hips fully despite the strain in her muscles. He understood and didn't argue.

He buried his head into her neck as she felt and heard him finish inside her. And she followed shortly behind him, trembling. Despite their carefulness, it was a bit of a strain. Next time: not on the kitchen table.

It was easy after that. The tension wasn't suffocating in the house anymore. She felt as if they were growing closer. It brought her joy to openly crack jokes and see which ones brought a smile to his normally stern and stoic face. She would pick on him a little good naturedly. He didn't seem bothered by it which made her happy. She didn't think she would meet a nice, normal man who would be interested in her, especially one who wasn't involved in illegal activities. But here she was: grateful he saved her life, sleeping in his bed, and being a partner without them really discussing it. She didn't think life would get so nice after facing hell on earth, and it only got better when he proposed one day. She shouldn't have been surprised, but she was and accepted immediately.

Silas awoke with a start.

The memories lingered within her as she noticed her surroundings. Nami and Vivi were at either side of her, sleeping soundly, and Ace was above her. When she turned on her side, their faces were parallel. The guilt hit her as she stared at his pretty and peaceful face. She shouldn't be into someone so quickly when she just left her husband while being too cowardly to face him head on. She wondered if Ace thought less of her. Maybe, since he clocked her as a woman, he thought it was fine. Most people didn't expect women to be brave and strong. When it came to the heart, she was a coward. Maybe, she should take a page from Ace and be brave no matter what it is. She could do it. She could face Smoker and try to discuss some things. He at least deserved an explanation. The thought of him angry, hurt, and upset hurt her. The potential anger scared her the most.

A cold feeling washed through her at the memories in Mariejois as some disgusting man's property…

Smoker wouldn't be like that. He wouldn't lash out like that… that monster who made her see red when she thought of him. He didn't get angry with her, but he was a stern no bullshit kind of man. And, this whole thing was kind of bullshit. He deserved to be angry, and she didn't like causing it or being on the receiving end of it. He'd been a good person, distant and isolating, but good until now. She hoped that was still true. He wasn't like the men she'd faced before.

Author's Note: Thank you all for the reviews and giving this fic over 100 followers and 80 favorites. It means a lot to me that all of you are so interested in this particular fic. 2021 has sucked worse than 2020 for me, so this is definitely a highlight for me not only in writing but also the reactions I've gotten. I hope everyone else's 2021 is better though.