A/N: LOOK WHO'S ON TIME! BWAHAHAHA. Hah. Hahh… okay so I promise I'll be working on Kyoudai again soon. I'm kinda toppled over with my OPBB fic, my Christmas present fics, and Kailani-chan's birthday fic, so please be patient with me!

Thank you SO MUCH to all the wonderful readers who reviewed/messaged me to tell me what they thought!

Dedicated to Beyond Kailani, my favoritest imouto-chan ever! (Good luck with your move!)

Special thanks to Aynslesa for beta-reading for me while Kailani-chan is moving! And on short notice because we all know I throw things into beta like an hour before I wanna post them LOL

den den mushi = snail transponder phone thingie. (accurate translation, I'm sure)

I've had a lot of questions about the parties and whether they'll be written out; the short answer is no. For the most part, parties will be glossed or mentioned after the fact because there are a LOT of Whitebeard Birthdays and this story cannot keep detailing those xD It's long enough as it is!

Bonds of Sea and Fire

Chapter 19: Becoming Family

Thatch gave a long, satisfied sigh as he finished filling out the paperwork in front of him, neatly stacking the pages and setting them aside. He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms and letting his eyes slip shut, only to nearly jump out of his skin at Izo's voice.

"So this is where you've been all day."

He flailed, slamming both knees into his desk and barely managing to stop from toppling over backwards. Unfortunately, the force of his knees hitting the desk sent his pen and many stacks of papers flying all over his cabin, one sheet landing perfectly at Izo's feet. Izo raised one eyebrow at him, clearly unimpressed.

"Hello to you too, dear brother," Thatch muttered, scrambling out of his chair to recover his papers.

Izo sighed, kneeling down to help. "I knocked. Multiple times."

"I'm sure you did," Thatch replied. "I didn't hear it, though."

Once they'd finished gathering everything, Thatch groaned. "I had it all sorted and everything…"

"What is all this? It doesn't look like typical Fourth Division paperwork," Izo commented. His eyebrow went up again when he realized he was reading ingredients. "Are these recipes? You've been holed up in your room all day to organize recipes?"

"No! I mean yes? Sort of," Thatch hastily snatched the rest of the papers from him. "It's, ah, private?"

"Nice try," Izo said, snatching some of the papers right back. "I saw Jozu's name."

"Izo!" Thatch whined, hugging the rest of the papers to his chest.

Izo's dark eyes scanned the paper for several moments before he lifted his gaze and stared at him. "What is this?"

Flustered, Thatch held his hand out, relieved when Izo handed the paper back. "It's… well, it's research I did," he explained.

"Research."

"I mean, not really research I guess? But more like… observations?" Thatch tried. He sighed again, reaching up to fluff his pompadour and deflating even more when he remembered his hair was still too short.

"Do you have one of these for every Commander?" Izo questioned.

"Sorta," Thatch squirmed under Izo's incredulous gaze. "It's for the birthdays, okay? And well… ya know, mealtime. An extensive amount of work goes into feeding this crew! And the parties. It doesn't all happen by magic or anything…"

He set the entire stack back on his desk, trying not to stare forlornly at the disorganized pile.

"You never asked us about our favorite foods," Izo commented. "Just our dislikes. You really gathered all this information just from… what, watching us eat?"

Thatch gave a boyish grin in response. "Well, I mean, I made sure to figure out what everyone favored early on. And it's not about loading up everyone's favorites all the time - too much of one thing makes it less special, you know? But then, it's not just for special occasions either. I do my best to make a balanced schedule so everyone's happy, and then I have to make sure to keep the birthdays in order. I mean, I have to go through everyone's birthday for the upcoming month parties to make sure there's something for every single one of our brothers and sisters being celebrated. Then I have the recipe requests from the crewmates who miss a dish from their home village-"

"I get it," Izo cut him off. He motioned to the desk. "You had them sorted?"

"By month," Thatch said. "And by Division…"

"I'll help you sort it again," Izo offered. "How often do you have to do this, anyway?"

"Oh, I usually do it at the beginning of the year, and I just edit whenever someone joins," Thatch said, absently rubbing the back of his neck. "I go over them right at the end of each month so I can prepare, or when a birthday is coming up. I mean, I don't do this for myself, obviously - rest assured, my party will still be amazing - but I like to make sure everything goes… perfectly," Thatch finished with a sigh.

"How far in advance have you been planning?" Izo questioned.

"Well… I was planning the big one for April, Oyaji and Jiru's on the sixth, Fossa's on the fifteenth, the big one for May…" Thatch looked dejected. "And then Luffy's on the fifth."

"Are you honestly still sulking about that?"

"Well Haruta wasn't letting me throw him a party because he wanted to be one of the regular crew members and not the kid, but he was our youngest brother!" Thatch whined. "And then I find out everyone had a party for him while I was gone, anyway!"

"You know we're still throwing Luffy a party," Izo reminded him, placing his hands on his hips. "We're just pretending it's for Children's Day. You should understand if you think birthdays are this special."

"I know, I know… this is Luffy's first birthday with his brothers and they should do something special, I know," Thatch sighed. "Sabo made it pretty clear how important this is to Ace last night." He fidgeted a little, then looked up at Izo. "Do you think Marco's right? Do you think Ace decided to stay?"

"I knew you should have come to breakfast, you great big oaf," Izo scolded. He grabbed a stack of papers and ushered Thatch out of his chair, sitting down and making Thatch go to the other side of the desk to help. "Curiel showed up with Oyaji's mark very crudely drawn on half of his face."

"He already has it on his chin. Why would he add it to the rest of his face?" Thatch asked, blinking.

"He gave the kids paint. Didn't tell them how hard it is to wash off," Izo answered. "I guess Luffy drew Oyaji's mark on Ace, Sabo, and Haruta to give them an idea of how they'd look once they turned sixteen and got it for real. The three older boys got revenge by suggesting Luffy should draw on Curiel, and well… we have yet to find someone who can refuse Luffy's excited face. It's worth noting that the other half of Curiel's face has been painted in what I can only assume is a 'watermelon' style."

"No kidding…" Thatch trailed off, before his eyes widened. "Ace has a mark? Even if it's just a pretend mark? The same Ace who refused to wear it on his clothes a few weeks ago?"

"I guess whatever he and Marco spoke about really did change his mind." Izo shrugged. "He and Haruta seem to have made up, too."

"I really should have gone to breakfast," Thatch griped. He pulled a chair over from the wall so he could sit across from Izo, immediately slouching. Before they could organize a single paper, they were interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Jeez, Luffy, are you trying to break the door down?!"

"But Ace, Marco said to knock really hard so Thatchy would hear it…"

"I don't think he meant break the door! Try like this."

There was another knock as Thatch and Izo shared an amused grin. Thatch got up and headed to the door just in time to hear Sabo reminding Ace that adding more knocking probably hadn't been necessary.

All three boys jumped when Thatch opened the door. Ace was blushing, and while he didn't say anything about the extra knocking, it was obvious he was worried he'd bothered Thatch with it.

"Hi, Thatchy!" Luffy piped up, waving enthusiastically while bouncing on the heels of his feet. His hat bounced with him, hanging from the cord around his neck, and it was then that Thatch noticed the boys were all wearing shirts Izo had given them when they'd first boarded the Moby Dick.

Thatch made sure not to let his expression show his disappointment when he realized Ace's was on backwards again. "Hey Luffy, Ace, Sabo," he greeted, giving a cheery grin. "What brings you to my humble quarters this morning?"

Luffy stared at him blankly.

"He means why are we at his room," Sabo clarified.

"He could have just said that, too," Izo added, causing Sabo's grin to widen.

"Hi, Izo!" Luffy greeted as Thatch stepped aside to let them in.

"Hello," Izo answered. "Where's Haruta?"

"He went to his lessons with Vista," Ace answered. "We're not training today, though."

"It's convenient you're both here," Sabo commented. "We had a few questions for you."

"Yeah," Luffy hurried over to the desk to look at the papers, but Izo gracefully swept them out of his reach.

"Maybe Thatch has some food in here," Sabo suggested, sharing a glance with Ace.

"Meat?!" Luffy lost all interest in the papers and turned his hopeful gaze to Thatch, who in turn shot Sabo a look that clearly read 'why?'.

With Luffy distracted and pawing at Thatch - a move that quickly escalated to climbing - Ace approached the desk.

"A while ago, you said I had no manners," Ace started, not quite meeting Izo's eyes. "I'm Luffy's big brother, and I'm a pirate for real now. Someday, I plan to meet Shanks and thank him for everything he did for Luffy, so I need to know how to greet someone properly, and show respect. Can you teach me?"

Izo stole a glance at Sabo.

"I've had enough of lessons on etiquette," Sabo informed him, shaking his head. "I told Ace he'd be better off asking someone else."

"I suppose that's a reasonable request," Izo agreed. He smiled when Ace finally looked up and met his eyes. "I'll teach you."

Ace's eyes lit up, the sudden smile catching Izo off guard. He couldn't remember the last time Ace had smiled like that - or if he'd ever directed that smile at someone who wasn't one of his brothers.

"Thank you," Ace said, still blushing but not quite as awkwardly as he had been when he'd asked.

"You're welcome. Anything else?"

"Actually, yeah," Ace admitted. "It's about the shirts you were altering for us. I know we're not allowed to get actual tattoos until we turn sixteen, so this is an alternative you guys started using for Haruta, but is it okay if you put the mark on the back of my shirts from now on?"

"The back?" Izo repeated.

"Yeah," Luffy said around a mouthful of candy. He was draped over Thatch's shoulder, happily devouring a bag of treats Thatch had given him. "Ace likes having the mark on his back. So does Sabo! I still think it'd look cool if they put it on their face like Mister Watermelon did."

"Neither of us are getting a face tattoo, Luffy," Sabo answered. From the tone of his voice, it was clear he'd repeated that statement a lot.

"I don't mind putting the mark on the back if that's where you're interested in getting your tattoo," Izo answered Ace, who smiled in response.

"Where's yours?" Luffy asked, pulling Thatch's shirt up without any other warning.

"Whoa!" Thatch flailed a little, catching the hem of his shirt and holding it so Luffy couldn't simply yank his shirt any higher. "It's on my side."

"Luffy, don't just yank someone's clothes like that," Ace scolded. "You should ask first." He turned to look at Sabo for confirmation. "Right?"

"No," Sabo answered, amused. "Luffy, you should ask if you can see it. If the answer is yes, Thatch will show you. You should never pull someone's shirt up like that."

"Oh," Luffy grinned sheepishly and let go of the fabric, then turned his smile on Thatch. "Can I see?"

Thatch exchanged a wary glance with Izo, then smiled, though it was a little strained. "Sure, why not."

"You don't have to show us if you don't want to," Ace said, having caught the glance. "You guys can say no to Luffy."

"Easier said than done," Thatch joked. His smile warmed as he looked to Ace. "Thanks, though." He carefully pried Luffy off of him, depositing him in Ace's arms and chuckling when Luffy decided to stay there rather than stand on his own. The younger boy still had candy in his cheeks, and while Ace looked exasperated at Luffy's clinging, he also seemed pleased.

Thatch grabbed the hem of his shirt and lifted it up over his head in one swift motion, revealing a deep indigo mark on his left side - and a muscular build that happened to be littered with scars of all shapes and sizes. He turned so the mark was facing them, grinning and lifting his arm and flexing. "See?"

"Cool!" Luffy said brightly. "It's like Marco's, but darker…" He tilted his head to the side, ignoring the look Sabo shot him. It wasn't like he understood the meaning of tact, anyway. "How come you have so many scars? Were you in a lot of fights?"

"Luffy! That's rude to ask," Ace scolded.

"I don't mind," Thatch promised. "And while I have been in a lot of fights, most of these came from before I became a pirate."

Luffy considered those words for a moment before he spoke again. "So people were hurting you?"

"You could say that," Thatch nodded, lowering his arm. "I was all alone as a kid, and I didn't care who I fought with. Some of these mean I won, some mean I lost - mostly they mean I wasn't being careful."

"Sorry," Sabo murmured.

"Ah, don't be," Thatch laughed it off, pulling his shirt back on. "It's not like they bother me or anything. It usually makes other people uncomfortable."

"Well, that's stupid," Luffy stated bluntly. "Why would your scars make someone else uncomfortable? They're yours." He paused, then flashed a grin, recalling the question Thatch had been asking since losing his pompadour. "Oh, and you're still pretty, Thatchy."

"..." Thatch stared down at him for a moment, then burst out laughing, doubling over. When he finally straightened, ignoring the bewildered glances from the three boys, he closed the distance between them and swept both Ace and Luffy into his arms in a bear hug.

"Hey!" Ace protested.

Luffy happily returned the hug as best as he could while technically trapped between Ace and Thatch, ignoring Ace's struggling.

"Sorry Ace, collateral damage," Thatch joked. "I had to hug Luffy, but you were already hugging him, so now you both get hugged."

"You could have asked!"

"There was no time to ask," Thatch sighed dramatically. "Sorry, you'll just have to bear with it."

"Izo, do something!" Ace yelped. No matter how much he kicked and squirmed, Thatch's vice-like grip wouldn't loosen.

"Like I'm going to go over there and risk getting caught up in that," Izo huffed. "You'll just have to put up with it. You are our brother now."

"Marco didn't say anything about having to be hugged!"

Sabo's laughter joined Luffy's giggles, but Thatch finally took pity on Ace and set both boys down again, reaching up to smooth his pompadour back. He faltered with a scowl before putting his hands on his hips. "Anyway! What did you come here to ask?"

"I don't remember," Luffy giggled.

Ace reached for Luffy's hat, plopping it atop his head with a sigh and trying to hide how red his face was. "Curiel said we're getting to the next island the day after tomorrow."

"He also said there was a good chance everyone would be hungover again since apparently Thatch's birthday gets almost as wild as Whitebeard and Jiru's," Sabo added.

"We wanted to try and get crocodile meat for Luffy," Ace continued. "Marco said there probably weren't any crocodiles for us to hunt, so we'd have to get it from a vendor if it was in stock. Since the Fourth Division is in charge of getting provisions, we were told to ask you."

"I'll see what I can do," Thatch promised.

"Hey Izo?" Luffy asked, turning a curious gaze on him.

"Yes, Luffy?" Izo had a feeling he knew what Luffy was going to ask, but he waited for the answer anyway.

"Can we see your tattoo, too?"

"Tattoo too," Sabo echoed, snickering. "That sounds funny."

Ace shot him a weird look, then shared a confused shrug with Luffy.

"Sorry, I thought it was funny." Sabo rubbed the back of his neck, coughing.

"Right… anyway…" Ace trailed, looking to Izo expectantly.

"Later," Izo promised.

"Kay," Luffy chirped. "Whatcha doing? Is it fun?"

"I'd hardly call it fun, but it's not the worst way to spend an afternoon," Izo quipped. "It's not something you'd be interested in, though."

"Oh, okay," Luffy said with a shrug. "Hey Thatchy, do you have more candy in here?"

"Nah, but we can swing by the kitchen later and I'll make you a treat," Thatch promised.

"Yay!" Luffy cheered, turning to Ace. "Ne, Ace, let's go try to catch some fish! Namur said he'd keep us company."

"Sure," Ace agreed, knowing full well that Namur was only coming along for security in case Luffy tried to reel in something far too large. "Bet I catch the biggest fish."

"Nuh-uh," Luffy shook his head, nearly dislodging his hat. "I bet I'll catch a sea king!"

"Idiot, you can't reel in a sea king," Ace scolded playfully. "It doesn't count if Namur helps you."

"Aw, why not?!" Luffy demanded, pouting.

"Because then you didn't catch it," Ace retorted as they headed from the room. Sabo hung back for a moment to give a cheerful wave and a smile before hurrying after his brothers.

Thatch and Izo waited until the echos of their laughter and bickering slowly faded away before Thatch chuckled. "It's never dull with them 's for sure."

"Mm. Now sit down and help me with this, or I'm not helping you," Izo ordered.

Thatch shot him a wounded look that quickly melted into a good-natured grin, before plopping down in his chair and holding a hand out for the large stack of papers Izo still held.

...

"I heard you were over here babysitting. Didn't know if I believed it."

Namur opened one eye, frowning at the looming figure that blocked the sunlight from his face. He'd been moments away from a peaceful nap - albeit one he could wake up from at a moment's notice in case one of the boys cried out in alarm. "Did you come over here to tease me, Jozu? You could use your power and reflect some sunlight on me instead of blocking it."

Jozu snorted, moving around him so he was no longer casting a shade over the fishman, then sat. "Working on your tan? You look a little pale to me."

"Har har," Namur remarked, rolling his eyes. "I'm not babysitting. I was gonna nap unless I heard anything alarming. The boys wanted to go fishing."

Jozu glanced to the trio in question. Sabo and Ace sat on either side of Luffy, the three of them holding onto fishing rods and making all sorts of challenges. Luffy was apparently planning to catch a sea king bigger than the Moby Dick, all by himself.

"You that bored in Paradise?" Jozu asked.

"Eh…" Namur shrugged. "It's not that."

Jozu shot him a curious look, and it wasn't like Namur could blame him for being confused. It wasn't like Namur had ever shown a particular fondness for children; quite the opposite, in fact. Being a Fishman, most human children they encountered were afraid of him. Even most adults thought the natural state of his face was intimidating or that he was always in a bad mood and steered clear of him at first. Though nothing about the trio had been typical from the start, Luffy's rambunctious nature and intrusive questions had clearly been a source of annoyance for Namur.

It wasn't like the pestering had stopped, either. Luffy still had plenty of questions, and once he got started it was difficult to get him to stop. Thatch had eventually supplied him with a stash of treats, as food was the easiest way to quiet Luffy down, but then Luffy had viewed him as a source of snacks, and well… sometimes Namur ate them first, which meant there was nothing left to distract Luffy when he inevitably tracked Namur down.

"I like them," Namur finally said, answering the silent question in Jozu's expression.

"All three of them?" Jozu asked. "I thought you put up with Luffy because you liked talking to Sabo."

"At first, yeah," Namur agreed.

"Is it easier now that they've decided to stay?"

Namur shrugged. "It helps, but that's not what changed my mind." Rather than wait for Jozu to question him - because he knew his brother would - he continued. "Luffy noticed I was upset."

Jozu went still next to him.

"More than that, he noticed when I started feeling better," Namur recalled, grinning toothily. "He said he was happy I didn't seem sad anymore."

Namur wasn't surprised to see the thoughtful look on Jozu's face. He hadn't opened up to anyone about his feelings. There had still been a sense of surrealism and shock - like it hadn't quite had time to sink in - when the Marco had returned with Izo, Thatch, and the trio. He'd acted as normal as possible, saving his melancholy moments for the solitude of his room. His family had known he was upset, but not the extent or when he had started to truly feel better. It was likely only Marco and Whitebeard had noticed just how much Namur had needed to sink those marine patrol ships as a form of venting, but since it hadn't gone out of the ordinary - since he hadn't purposefully gone for casualties - none of his brothers had commented on his enthusiasm.

It still left a bitter taste in his mouth to think of the Sun Pirates and how Jinbe had to be feeling about Fisher Tiger's passing, but the support of his family had helped quell his anger about the injustice of it all. His family were primarily human and they accepted him unconditionally - the stark reminder of where his kind stood in the world had only strengthened his appreciation for his home aboard the Moby Dick.

"He doesn't seem like the most perceptive kid, but there's something about him that just… I dunno. I don't think we have a choice. We're gonna like him," Namur continued.

Jozu grinned at those words, watching Luffy abruptly pitch over the side from the weight of his catch while Ace and Sabo threw their poles onto the deck to grab onto him. "Shouldn't you swoop in and rescue them?"

"Nah," Namur reclined again, closing his eyes. "Only if I hear a splash. I'm sure they can handle it."

Jozu rolled his eyes and missed the exact moment Luffy went over the side.

"Namur, help!" Ace's frantic voice had Namur sitting back up. It was unusual for them to ask for help, and it was pretty much unheard of for Ace to do it.

He was launching himself at the rails before he'd fully registered the scene, managing to catch all three boys in his long arms and secure them to his chest. Luffy was still struggling to hold onto his fishing pole, but his struggles stopped when Jozu joined the fray and grabbed the line in one fist, effectively taking all of the weight off the trio.

"Oh," Luffy said, grinning up at them. "Can you pull my fish up, Sparkles?"

"Not if you keep using that nickname," Jozu griped. "Did Bay tell you to call me that?"

"He means thank you," Ace corrected, flustered.

"Yeah, thanks," Sabo added, grinning sheepishly. "I thought I hooked my legs so we wouldn't go over this time, but I slipped."

"There has to be a less dangerous way to do this," Namur muttered, stepping back a few paces just to be on the safe side before setting the boys down. Jozu got to work on pulling the fish - which was almost large enough to qualify as a sea king - in with barely any effort.

"Ace, look!" Luffy chirped. "I caught a huge fish!"

"I think at this point, Jozu caught it," Ace sighed. Then he flashed a smile, ruffling Luffy's hair. "But it is a pretty big fish."

Luffy absolutely soaked up the praise, eyes practically shining as he started to jump up and down, cheering about how much stronger he was getting. Ace, Sabo, and to his embarrassment, Namur, all watched with exasperated fondness.

Jozu hauled the fish over the rails and dropped it nearby - punching it so it stopped flopping around on the deck - and shook his head with a wry grin. From the proud, endearing grins on Ace and Sabo's faces and the unbridled joy that Luffy exuded over something as simple as catching a fish, he was in complete agreement with Namur. Not just with Luffy, either. None of the Whitebeard Pirates had a choice in the matter.

They were going to like those kids.

...

Koala wished she could be a little more spiteful, or perhaps cruel enough to find some joy in their reactions, but the only emotions she felt from their gasps and whispers were sorrow and pity.

It didn't make any sense to her, and she doubted it ever would. She could understand their fear, and she could even understand their desire to sweep terrible events under the rug so they could pretend it hadn't happened. After all, the latter was a coping mechanism most of the slaves had used just to survive, herself included.

She still couldn't fathom how anyone could look her in the eyes with even the slightest idea of what she'd been put through, and tell her it was okay to pretend it had never happened. Pretend it could never happen to any of them as long as they kept their heads low and didn't anger the higher powers.

How could they live their lives that way, when it basically meant they were already slaves? Couldn't they understand it was the world that needed to change?

It was still a little chilly despite the island's naturally warm climate, but she paid it no mind. Her shirt was still modest, and only half of the mark on her back was showing, but for all of the stares and panic, she may as well have been stark naked and shouting her disdain from a megaphone.

Koala tilted her head back to look up at the sky. The sun was shining down on her, and she couldn't help but smile back and wonder if Fisher Tiger and the others were looking at the same sun.

She hoped so.

...

It was a quiet day.

Not only was the village itself relatively uneventful and calm, with no festivities or events, but for a young girl living on her own, the house was eerily silent.

It was funny how things could change so drastically in such a short time. It felt like only hours since the last time she'd responded to the loud wailing of a hungry baby. Every once in awhile, she thought she heard his crying and stood, only to snap out of it and realize the house was empty.

It had been empty since the family had moved a week ago, leaving her with their apologies and enough food to last out the month.

Lami closed her eyes, resting her head on her arms and ignoring how uncomfortable the small dining room table was. She didn't know what to do with her free time. Finding another family in need of help around the house hadn't proved easy, and she knew she couldn't sit around forever.

"It would help if I could remember a useful skill," she sighed to no one in particular. "Like baking, or farming, or…" she trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut. There were times she'd started to notice more often if she stopped thinking, she'd hear faint voices talking to her.

If they weren't memories, locked away inside her mind, then she was crazy.

Unfortunately, other than her name and a fear of small, enclosed spaces, she had no clues about who she was before she'd woken up at the facility. Any aspects of her personality or skills acquired after that point weren't really hers. At least, it didn't feel that way.

She didn't want to admit that it was scary not knowing if she'd completely changed from the person she'd been before, or if she might change once she remembered. If she remembered at all.

With a frustrated sigh, she pushed herself up and looked around. The house was barren - the family having taken everything they could carry - and lonely. It wasn't like Lami couldn't sympathize, either. Her employer's brother had been murdered recently, and it sounded like he had no choice but to move back to the rest of his family to take over the business. She hadn't asked for details. They'd been kind enough to leave her with a roof over her head and the food would hopefully last until she found more work, and they hadn't pried when she'd first shown up. She had no right to pry into anyone else's life when she never had answers for anyone else.

The house was too quiet. Too still. Something told her she was used to noise and a busy schedule, and even if she had no work to do, she couldn't get that environment all alone. She decided to go on a walk, look around to see if any shops seemed like they could use the help, or even just sit and think in a place where she could hear other people living their lives.

...

"I'm starting to wonder if the Whitebeard Pirates do anything but party," Sabo joked, casting a glance over his shoulder.

Of all the commanders who had come ashore, Marco was the only one showing no visible signs of a hangover. Vista was wearing sunglasses again, a perpetual grin in place, and no matter how many times Bay told him he looked 'downright terrifying', he refused to remove either.

Thatch wasn't even present - the trio had watched in varying degrees of fascination and horror as he'd been goaded into more and more drinks until he hadn't been able to form coherent words the night before. Haruta had promised them the same thing had happened on Thatch's previous birthday while Izo had commented on how Thatch had always been an idiot. Still, despite griping about it, Izo had stayed behind to nurse the very hungover Thatch back to health. Apparently, that was Izo's birthday present for him.

"We're gonna go look around," Ace stated, looking to Marco. While he wasn't asking permission, he was giving the indication that he was waiting for approval, and Marco appreciated that.

"Try to stay out of trouble," Marco answered. "You should each have enough money to last all day, but if you do run out or you need anything, it shouldn't be hard to find one of us."

"I'm gonna buy meat," Luffy declared, looking at the small pouch of money he'd been entrusted with. All three of the boys had gotten a share, as they were 'officially' Whitebeard Pirates now, although Luffy had promised to pay it back someday with his own treasure. Whitebeard had simply laughed it off and accepted those terms.

"We'll keep an eye on him," Ace added for the benefit of the crewmates who clearly didn't want to let Luffy out of their sight.

"Ne, Ace, let's go get the meat right now!" Luffy decided, tugging on Ace's arm. "I can already smell it!"

Ace sighed, grinning down at Luffy and allowing himself to be tugged along. "Okay, okay. We'll get some food before we go explore."

'Yay!" Luffy cheered, jumping into the air and nearly toppling them both over. Sabo straightened them and gave each a gentle nudge to the back, waving to the other pirates before following after his brothers.

"So, what are we doing after we get food?" Sabo asked, looking to Ace for clarification. The island they'd docked at didn't seem any different from the places they'd visited in East Blue, but then, they'd already been told stories of Winter Islands and places where plants grew upside-down. They'd decided to be prepared for anything, although what exactly that entailed, none of them were sure.

"Ace needs a hat," Luffy chirped.

Sabo grinned, adjusting his own hat at Luffy's declaration. Izo had finished it shortly before Thatch's party, and while it lacked the goggles he'd been so fond of back in East Blue, it was almost identical to the hat he'd favored and lost.

"I don't need a hat, Luffy," Ace sighed. "But we could look for goggles."

"I doubt they'll have the kind I like," Sabo said with a slight frown. "I might try asking Fossa to help me."

"We should go explore the forest," Luffy decided, though he was still beelining straight for the nearest food stand.

"That meat looks weird," Sabo whispered to Ace. The skewers on display smelled like meat, but the meat itself seemed to be perfectly rounded, while the vegetables were all prickly and cubed.

"Marco only told us not to eat weird mushrooms," Ace reminded him. "So… I guess we'll just have to try it."

Luffy didn't even hesitate, holding up his hand for food. The merchant seemed wary at first, but when he noticed Sabo and Ace coming over, he assumed they would be paying for their little brother and began handing Luffy his desired food. The first kebab disappeared, stick and all, inside Luffy's mouth. A moment later his eyes had widened, practically sparkling as he started shoving them in one after the other, attempting to explain how delicious it was despite the fact that an outsider would never be able to translate him.

Ace decided to eat it without further examination, eyes widening as well when he realized the delicious taste complementing the meat had literally burst from the vegetables. Sabo took a little more time examining his and checking the prices before he got started, but he too succumbed to the strangely succulent vegetables and started wolfing them down at the same rate as his brothers.

"We gotta get some of these for Thatchy!" Luffy exclaimed around another mouthful of kebabs. "What are these mystery vegetables?!"

"They're called Prickle Pops, kiddo," the merchant explained. "They grow on the riverbank and absorb sea salt-"

"So they're a mystery!" Luffy decided, beaming. "Ace, Sabo, let's bring a bunch back!"

"Is it safe for anyone to go pick them?" Sabo asked, figuring Luffy wouldn't consider such a precaution.

"Oh, sure," the kindly older man laughed, amused by Luffy's conclusion. "There's a bit of a trick with skewering them so they don't pop. Make sure to stab through the center, and don't try to cut them."

"What happens if you cut them?" Ace asked.

"Well, they pop," the merchant explained. "But the core is hollow, so most folks stab 'em through and roast them on a grill."

"I wonder if Thatch has ever cooked with these," Sabo commented thoughtfully.

"Thatch? Fourth Division Commander for the Whitebeard Pirates?" the man smiled wide. "He stocks up from time to time. I saw the Moby Dick anchoring this morning, wondered if he'd be stopping by."

"Yesterday was his birthday," Sabo explained. "He's really hungover."

"We'll bring some back for him since he can't leave the ship," Ace decided.

"Oh? You kids are on the Moby Dick, eh?"

"Yeah," Luffy said, shoving another handful of kebabs in his mouth. Sabo signalled that they were done ordering, reaching into his pocket to pull out some money.

"We're joining the Whitebeard Pirates," Ace stated boldly, as if challenging judgment.

"Good for you - I tell ya, they don't make pirates like they used to. Old Whitebeard is a good man. Here, a free round on me," the merchant smiled, offering extra kebabs even though Sabo had just finished paying for everything they'd eaten.

"Thanks, Ossan!" Luffy cried in excitement. He just barely held back from scooping the entire plate into his mouth, waiting for Ace and Sabo to have some.

"You can eat the rest," Ace informed him once he and Sabo had each grabbed two.

"So, why is the meat round?" Sabo questioned, examining his kebab to get a better look at the ingredients. "Are the animals here shaped differently?"

"Oh, nope. Purely aesthetic," the merchant laughed.

Luffy paused mid-bite, pulling back to look at his half-eaten kebab. "Is as-thetic still meat?"

Sabo burst out laughing as he realized both Ace and Luffy were now giving their food dubious looks. He struggled not to snort when they turned their frowns on him. "Aesthetic means how it looks," Sabo explained, trying to keep it simple. "He means he shaped the meat that way so it would look more interesting or appealing with the square prickle pops."

"Oh," Luffy shrugged and resumed eating.

Ace studied Sabo for several moments before he finished his food.

"Let's go look around town before we head to get those prickle pops," Sabo suggested, hopping down from the stool he'd been sitting on.

"Yeah!" Luffy hopped down as well, but Ace stopped him before he got far, wiping his face with a napkin and turning to the merchant.

"Thank you for the meal," Ace said politely, bowing. He shot a pointed look at Luffy, who jumped and straightened obediently.

"Thanks for the food!" he echoed, bowing to match Ace.

Sabo grinned, simply nodding his thanks informally. He still wasn't sure what had sparked Ace's interest in manners, but it wasn't like he had anything against it. If Ace wanted to work on being polite and teach Luffy to do the same, Sabo would wholeheartedly support it, so long as neither one tried to make him do it.

"You kids come back any time," the merchant responded cheerfully.

"Ace, can we-"

"No, not right now," Ace laughed, tugging Luffy along with them as they turned to leave.

They were so caught up in teasing Luffy as he flailed and started asking about whether not 'as-thetics' made food tastier that they didn't notice the young man standing at a nearby booth quickly ducking inside the nearest building, eyes fixed on the trio.

…

"So let me get this straight," Izo said, placing his hands on his hips and looking at the trio in front of him. They were covered in scrapes and bruises - or at least the two who weren't made of rubber were - and their clothes were a torn mess. "You saw the sights, went vegetable-picking, got into a fight with a giant beast of some sort, and came right back to the ship without taking any other detours?"

"That sounds about right," Sabo answered, nodding.

Izo didn't know if he should be impressed or insulted that Sabo could look him in the eye and lie so blatantly. He decided to be impressed. It was a far cry from Ace's nervous guilt and Luffy's complete inability to act.

"You know, Vista told me a trio of kids were almost caught dining and dashing from one of the local restaurants," Izo stated. As expected, Ace quickly looked away and rubbed the back of his neck.

Sabo kept smiling. "Wasn't us."

Izo looked to Ace, who continued to refuse eye contact. He looked to Luffy next, and when the youngest of the three realized Izo was looking at him, he beamed.

"It was us!"

"Luffy!" Ace hissed, grabbing him and covering his mouth. The younger boy flailed.

"Luffy must be mistaken," Sabo said, and his tone was so sincere, Izo almost bought it. "It wasn't us."

"Sabo, I'm going to commend you on your acting, but I'm still not buying it," Izo said. "However…"

Ace cringed, bracing himself for a scolding.

It never came.

"We are pirates, and a little dine-and-dash is the least of my worries when it comes to you three. Go get cleaned up - I'll take the bags to the kitchen and see to it Thatch knows you brought him a present. We also have crocodile meat, so perhaps he'll make a dish with both."

"Thanks, Izo!" Sabo responded brightly.

Luffy wiggled free of Ace's grasp - which had loosened considerably once Ace realized Izo wasn't upset with them for something that had been his idea - and dashed in the direction of Whitebeard's chair.

"Well, you two go get cleaned up," Izo relented since Luffy wasn't in any danger of infections with his lack of injuries. "Marco brought more clothes back with him, but you aren't getting the shirts until Oyaji's mark is on them."

"Kay," Sabo agreed with a shrug. "C'mon Ace, Luffy'll be fine on his own."

Ace cast a glance in Luffy's direction, then nodded. He was doing his best to trust the entire crew, and that meant letting Luffy run off on his own from time to time.

As they left, Izo shook his head, leaning down to gather the overflowing sacks they'd brought back. He wasn't particularly fond of prickle pops, but he'd listened to a hungover Thatch groaning about making sure someone stocked up on them while they were docked for the better part of three hours that morning. He couldn't help but smile fondly as he recalled the way each boy had held up a sack with a proud smile. Luffy's had been the biggest, as it always was, and Ace's had been shy and hopeful.

Izo thought back to Sabo's smile, which was so deceptively angelic, and couldn't help but shudder. "It's a good thing he's not a sociopath, or he'd be terrifying," he muttered under his breath, hauling all three bags up and heading for the galley. He cast one glance over his shoulder to see Luffy sitting on Whitebeard's knee, waving his arms excitedly as he spoke. He couldn't help but think that finally, everything was falling into place and nothing would go wrong.

...

"Are you positive?"

"Yes, sir. They definitely wore Whitebeard's mark."

"Can you tell me anything else about them?"

"I didn't get a very good look, but there appeared to be four children among the Whitebeard Pirates. The youngest could have been anywhere between five and nine, and the oldest seemed to be in his young teens. Do you want me to try and follow them?"

"No. Has there been any word from the other patrols?"

"Not since we lost the last two."

"Stay near, but don't get too close. Until we know what they're after, we don't want to engage them. Just observe."

"Yes sir, Sengoku-san!"

Sengoku laced his fingers together, resting his chin on his hands and staring straight ahead as the telltale sound of the den den mushi hanging up echoed in his office. It hadn't been all that long since Garp had told him of the reason he'd practically abandoned his post and returned to East Blue, and with the three boys still missing but apparently safe, it was entirely too plausible that those very same boys had wound up on the Moby Dick. It wouldn't have been the first time Whitebeard had taken mere children under his massive wing, and if rumors of Marco the Phoenix being spotted in East Blue were actually true… then the timeline matched perfectly.

Still, he wouldn't say a word to Garp until he had some kind of confirmation. The last thing he needed was for the idiot to go running off instigating a conflict between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates over a chance that his grandsons had joined them.

...

"Hey, Ossan?"

Whitebeard looked down, a smile gracing his lips as he saw Luffy looking back up at him. The rubber boy was sitting cross-legged on Whitebeard's knee, hands neatly grasping each opposite ankle, and the angle he sat at had his hat hanging carelessly at his back.

"What is it, Luffy?" Whitebeard responded. He never knew what he was getting when Luffy initiated a conversation. Sometimes it was meaningless chatter, other times it was a story he was eager to share.

There were times, however, when Luffy would randomly bring up a subject and offer an insight many would think him incapable of, and those were Whitebeard's personal favorite moments.

"I'm glad you want Ace to stay," Luffy stated.

"Oh?" Whitebeard raised an eyebrow, lifting his giant sake cup over Luffy's head to take a drink. He was careful not to splash any on the younger boy. "I want all three of you to stay."

"Yeah," Luffy agreed. "But me and Sabo don't need it as much as Ace does," he explained.

Whitebeard set the sake down, looking to Luffy in silence at that statement.

"I think Ace is always worried no one wants him," Luffy continued. "Which is stupid. Who wouldn't want Ace? But he asked me if I wanted him to live once. Of course I want Ace to live!"

Luffy huffed, reaching up to pull his hat over his head and throw himself back so he was lying on his back, staring up at the sky. "Sometimes I think Ace is forgetful so I have to repeat myself a lot, but I don't mind. It makes him happy to know he's wanted."

"You're a good brother, Luffy," Whitebeard chuckled affectionately. It was all too easy to picture Ace needing those words of affirmation and not knowing how to ask for them - and then Luffy would simply provide them with his unique insightfulness.

"Shishishi," Luffy giggled. "Thanks, Ossan! I think you're a pretty good dad, but I dunno what dads are like. Sabo's dad was awful, and Ace hates his dad, but I never had a dad, so I'm still figuring it out."

"Ace hates his father, huh?" Whitebeard asked.

"Well, yeah, but I dunno why," Luffy shrugged. "I think it would be cool to have the Pirate King as a father."

Whitebeard paused, and the stillness seemed to register to Luffy, who blinked and sat up, twisting to look at Whitebeard.

"It's a secret though, so forget I said anything, okay?" Luffy asked.

"Sure," Whitebeard agreed, shrugging his massive shoulders.

When Luffy plopped back down - apparently satisfied - to wait for Ace and Sabo to finish cleaning up and come find him, Whitebeard leaned back with a thoughtful look on his face.

He wouldn't say anything - Luffy hadn't meant to let it slip, and there was no need to expose such a trivial detail without Ace's permission - but he supposed he finally had the most crucial piece of the puzzle that was the young and freckled pirate.

Roger's kid, hm? He couldn't help but think that there were few similarities between Ace and his old rival. If anything, it was Luffy's tenacious behavior and bold claims that served as a more powerful reminder.

When the day came - and he was sure it would - that Ace told him about his father or it was revealed with Ace's knowledge, Whitebeard planned to let him know how little something like that truly mattered. Family was not blood, and family was not obligation. Family was not a way to inherit sins or condemnation.

Family was who you chose to love, and the Whitebeard Pirates were just that - a true family.

...

A/N: Kekekeke. Thank you everyone for reading! You're all absolutely wonderful and knowing my readers are loving reading it as much as I love writing it makes me that much happier to keep going!

~Mithril