Chopper groaned quietly from the table in the kitchen, sipping his water pitifully as he rubbed his little head. Unfortunately for him breakfast was rarely a quiet occasion on the Sunny and with Luffy's brother here it was even more chaotic than usual. Ace and Luffy were currently fighting over the last pieces of bacon like rabid dogs while Usopp and Franky took bets in the winner.

"Bets?" Nami's eyes lit up, sparkling with anticipation. That woman would take any chance she could to one up the guys in the crew. She definitely got some kind if kick out of having them indebted to her. "My money's on you, Fire Boy."

"You're not allowed to play! " Usopp and Franky objected but she'd already set her Beli down on the counter.

"Too late boys. I'm in." She ran a dainty hand through her long orange hair before flicking it over her shoulder, smiling smugly.

From the corner if the room the little reindeer pleaded silently for everyone to be quiet. If he didn't know any better he'd be convinced he was going to die but as luck would have it the doctor knew otherwise. Brook had come to sit beside him, yoho-ing as he laughed at the antics taking place before them. 'Shut up. Shut up. Shut up' Chopper chanted to himself.

"Hey no fair!" Luffy's shouted accusingly at Ace as he chomped on the last shred if bacon. Nami was out of her seat before Ace could swallow, pulling the Beli on the counter lovingly into her arms, almost sobbing. Usopp and Franky were sobbing, Brook yoho-ed louder and chopper snapped.

"Will you all just SHUT UP?" He screamed as loud as his lungs would allow. He was met with the silence he desired and bemused stares from the rest of his crew. No one said a word as Robin walked over and swept him up into motherly arms, hugging him to her chest.

"Shall I take you to bed?" She asked smiling down at him kindly. The small reindeer peered up at her, tears stinging his eyes and nodded. As the two left the room Chopper heard someone huff from the table but he didn't look back. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

Robin laid Chopper, gently down on his bed and sighed. He'd fallen asleep almost the very moment they'd stepped out if the kitchen, pushing himself into her for the kind of comfort only she could give him. She'd unintentionally become a mother to him over the last few years and, though he was equally as strong as a few of their crew mates he was undeniably still a child. One that she had come to love as her very own. With a quick smile and a hand to his fury little head she made her way back to the kitchen.

"What was that for?" Robin heard as she swung the door open. Zoro was rubbing his head as Nami stood over him menacingly.

"You know what. Don't goad him! Couldn't you see he's not feeling well?" The navigator shouted, raising her hand for another wallop.

"It isn't my fault he can't handle his liquor " Zoro grumbled, not looking at her.

"You're right. " Robin said from the door way "But it would do you well to remember that he's still just a child, swordsman." What was left of the crew turned to see her glaring at Zoro. Robin rarely glared. She was the calmest of the Straw Hats and was well known for her poker face. Zoro didn't turn around, instead his whole body stiffened for just a second before he grabbed his swords from beside him and stalked out onto the deck.

Hoping to find an answer to Robin's outburst, Nami tried to catch her eye as she glanced after Zoro. Unfortunately for the nosey red head her face was, as always, almost expressionless.

~

The sweet scent of flower pollen tickled Ace's nose as he dozed on deck, the afternoon sun warming the bare skin of his chest and legs. He pulled himself up onto his elbows, nose wrinkled and ready to sneeze as his eyes adjusted to the light.

"Bless you." A light chuckle from behind him caught his attention. Ace turned, still half asleep and yawned an almost incoherent thank you to Robin. "You alright, Fire Boy?"

"uh Yeah. I'm just… not awake yet." He replied rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he pushed himself to his feet. He'd actually been meaning to talk to the archeologist while he was here. If anyone could give him any insight to The Butcher it would most certainly be her. He stood for a moment unsure of how to approach the subject. Having only met her once before he didn't feel completely comfortable probing her for information. The tall woman before him smiled knowingly, her hair dancing around her waist with the breeze.

"I don't bite." She told him as she turned to water the flowers. "Unless you want me to." Ace stumbled over his words as his brows rose and his cheeks grew an unflattering shade of pink.

"Relax." Robin was trying to stifle her laughter with a petite hand pressed to her lips. "I was joking, Fire Boy. Now I suppose you want to know what I do about the Butcher?" she asked, side eyeing him as she placed the watering can down beside her. Robin gestured for him to follow her with a nod of her head and lead him to a secluded corner if the deck. No one else was around anyway, but he supposed this information was sensitive to his mission and couldn't be shared publicly.

"Ask away." She told him as she sat herself on the grass.

"I'm not really sure where to start. Do you even know anything?" Ace asked, taking a seat beside her.

"Everything I know - which isn't much - is here say, though I do hold the people that provided this information in very high regard." Taking a deep breath in Robin met Ace's gaze before continuing. "The Butcher, from what I'm told, is a reasonable person however, will not hesitate to kill if they feel threatened. The Butcher is said to have killed their own father in cold blood at the young age of twelve and has since murdered countless men where they stood before they had a chance to defend themselves. The bounty on The Butchers head is incredibly high but there's no wanted poster as no one knows for sure what they look like. Only one man walked away from the clutches of The Butcher but his brain is now barely functioning." As she continued, Ace couldn't help but let his mind wonder. To murder your own father? He was well aware of his own daddy issues but to murder you own blood was a totally foreign concept to him.

"Well, Fire Boy, that's what I know." Robin finished. "This will be kept between us if you don't mind."

"Yeah sure. Thanks Robin." He answered, grateful for the insight and a little sick at the prospect of going up against such a heartless creature.