Thank you for the reviews. They kept me from abandoning this.
Since I don't have anything else to say right now, on with the story!

3. Letters

"Hey Luffy!" Nami shouted to the captain of the Going Merry.
"There's a letter for you." She held up the envelope that had been sent to the ship with her morning paper. An arm stretched from the sheep's head and grabbed the letter.
"Thank you!" Luffy said before he hurried to rip the letter open.
"So, who's it from?" Nami asked.
"Mom." Luffy answered, quickly returning to read his letter.
Nami looked a bit puzzled but didn't say anything. She turned and started walking to her cabin. She had better things to do.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

Fuchsia Village lay quite. Shank's pirate ship had set sail from this port for the last time.
It was a peaceful, quite morning. The silence was broken by a laughing Luffy running along the road, past the windmill, to his house.

"ACE!" he shouted as he slammed the door behind him. He ran into the kitchen where the older of the two brothers stood on a chair by the stove, stirring a big pot of stew.
Luffy walked up to his brother and asked interested:
"What's that Ace? Is it food? Is it, is it?" He stretched so that he could look down in the pot.
"Yes Luffy, it's food." Ace put a lid on the pot and stepped down from the chair.
"It needs to boil for an hour before it's ready. So don't touch it until then, got that?" Ace gave his little brother a stern look.
"I won't. I promise." Luffy said while putting on a big smile.
"So why are you so excited Luffy?" Ace returned the chair to its place by the table and sat down on it.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Luffy said and reached to take something out of his pocket. He pulled out two envelopes and held them out where Ace could see them.
"We got letters!" Luffy gave one of the letters the Ace.
'To Portgas D. Ace, Fuchsia Village, East Blue' was written on it.
"Makino just gave them to me, she said they're from mom." Luffy explained and sat down at the table on the opposite side from Ace.

Ace looked at the letter and then at his brother. Luffy had already opened his envelope and was now sitting with his brows knit a very focused look on his face while he eyed the letter.
"Do you want me to read it for you Luffy?"
"I can read! I'm not a little kid, I'm seven that's almost a man." He said with a pout. Why didn't Ace see how grown up he was?
"I'm gonna write an answer all by myself too."
"I'm not gonna help you if you don't want to." Ace smiled and returned his attention to his own letter. He opened it and started to read.

"Dear Ace

How are things? Are you two eating enough? Are you behaving?
I miss both of you very much.
For the last month I've travelled with a trade ship that sails all over East Blue.
But I haven't found what I'm looking for. I haven't found him yet, but I'm sure I will.
When I do I'll return home to my angels. Until then I'll enjoy this adventure.
Please write me back to tell me about everything that's happened to you.
Take care of Luffy and yourself.
Always face each day with a smile and never be sad.
We will see each other again soon.

I love you with all my heart. A million kisses and hugs.

Your mother Nadeshiko"

Ace put down his letter and looked across the table at Luffy who was still reading.
"I'll go get some paper and pens, so we can write her back." Ace said as he got up from the table and walked towards the door.
"Don't touch the pot." He shouted while going in to the next room.
"You're mean Ace!" Luffy called after him.
Ace smiled. He wouldn't be sad about his mother leaving them. This was something she had to do. He understood that.
He would stay happy, as his mother had told him.
After all it's never a good idea to go against your mother.

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

"Luffy what are you doing?" Nami said has she turned away from her map to look at the captain. Luffy was standing by the door of her cabin, one armed stretched out towards her desk aiming for a pile of paper.
"I wanted a piece of paper so I can answer my letter." Luffy said with a smile.
"You looked busy so I didn't want to disturb you."
Nami reached for a piece of paper and held it up for Luffy to grab.
"I'm feeling generous today. You can have it for free."
"Thank you Nami." Luffy grabbed the paper, snapped his arm back and ran up to the deck.

Nami sighed and turned back to her map. She should have charged him for that paper.
Luffy was just too cute sometimes.

Author's note: This chapter wasn't in my original idea, but I felt that it was needed. Ace's cooking since Luffy can't cook (I think it's fitting in a way).
I'm not sure how to continue this. If I should write memories or present. I might start a new story that starts where this ends.
I'll probably write two more chapters of this, but I won't promise it.