prologue

The sun was settling beautifully in a pink streaked sky, waves lapping gently against the cliff face below as Shanks swigged from a sake bottle. Smiling as he took in his surroundings a drop of liquid escaped his lips and was now creeping into his facial hair, leaving a sticky trail in its wake. Before he could wipe it away with the back of his sleeve a soft handkerchief graced his skin for a moment, taking with it the escaped sake.

"You know, Makino, I could have got that." He smiled wide at the green haired girl sitting next to him, legs tucked under her as she sipped sake from a glass.

"I don't doubt you could have but your sleeve isn't proper." She laughed quietly, the sweet sound like music to Shanks' ears.

"I'm a pirate," His own laugh drowned hers out, "we're not proper." He told her, laughter dissipating as he caught a glimpse of sadness in Makino's big brown eyes. He was sure his eyes reflected the same as he thought about his departure from Foosha Village in a weeks time. He'd been here a year now, he'd gotten to know the towns people and he'd become part of their small community. He'd met the most annoying kid, messy black hair and an unhealthy appetite for anything that wasn't his. He'd also made the tragic mistake of falling in love with the local bar girl. It had taken him three months to get her to go out with him, first thinking she would be like any other conquest of his and that would be the end if it. Makino, though was a different kind of fascinating, unlike any girl he'd ever met. So caring, he couldn't name all the times she'd patched him up after a ruckus. So shy the girls cheeks were almost always glowing red, although he'd noticed that had decreased as they'd grown closer. She liked everyone she met, always trying to see the best in people and never judged a book by it's cover. Beauty defined her as far as shanks was concerned and he knew, despite his leaving that would never change.

"Shanks? Are you okay?" Makino asked sweetly, her green hair – usually tied back – stirred around her as she took the pirates hand. Shanks wasn't okay. He was devastated but he wouldn't tell her that, he wouldn't make this any harder on either of them.

"I'm fine." A wide grin spread across his face as he squeezed her hand in return, tracing patterns in her skin. Makino nodded before leaning in, intending to place a light kiss on the red heads cheek as she had done so many times before. This time though, Shanks couldn't bare it and tilted her chin up gently, his thumb tracing her lower lip as he brought his face closer to hers. Shanks closed his eyes as her breath caught the corner of his mouth before brushing his lips against hers. He ran his fingers through green silk, pulling her closer as Makino let her hands roam, her fingers tracing the contours of his muscled body. The pirate hoisted the girl onto his lap, her legs planted firmly on either side of him as she tugged on his hair, the kiss intensifying. Seizing her hips, Shanks began to move her teasingly over the growing bulge between his legs. Makino moaned against his lips, earning a frustrated groan from Shanks as his he turned his attention to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses until her shirt wouldn't allow him to go any further.

"Makino," he whispered, breathless as he cupped her cheek, "not here." She deserved better than this and Shanks would be damned if he wasn't the one to give it to her. After a moment of silence, once their breaths had steadied, Makino stood up pulling shanks with her.

"Come on." She told him, leading him away from the possibility of being seen.

One year later

"Whoa! She's yours?" Makino laughed at the boys question as she lovingly cooed the sleeping infant in her arms.

"Yes Luffy she is mine." She told him as she bent slightly so the curious boy could see past the blankets that enveloped her. Makino watched in interest as Luffy studied the tiny human, brows pinched together as questions ran rife through his innocent mind.

"How did you get her?" He asked scratching his head. Caught off guard, Makino scratched her own head as she fumbled for words.

"They.. ah.."

"When a man and a Lady love each other ver –"

"Ace!" Makino cut the other boy off before he could finish. "It doesn't matter how she got here. What matters is she's here. Do you want to hold her?" Makino offered, earning a disgusted look from both the young boys and a firm no as they shook their heads violently.

"What's it called anyway?" Ace, Luffy's older brother asked peering over the bar.

"Her name is Akiko." Makino answered, a little flustered by the bombardment of questions and the lack of sleep. "That's enough questions for now boys, she'll be waking for a feed soon." She told them as she grabbed them both a juice drink from behind the bar. As she set the drinks down the door smashed open, knocking over the chairs behind it and causing Akiko to wake, frightened and wailing. Clutching her baby to her chest, Makino stormed around the bar coming face to face with a large older man that she knew well and thumped him as hard as she could in the side if the head.

"Grandpa you woke up the baby!" Luffy scolded from the bar as the old man winced, eyes falling curiously on the woman and child before him.

"Makino," he greeted, not looking away from the screaming child she was now shushing in her arms "I didn't know you got married." He said looking up to meet her irritated glare.

"I didn't." She snapped back before sliding carefully into a near by chair to feed.

"Ace, Luffy. Get out." Garp demanded as he took a seat opposite Makino.

"But I want to see what the baby eats. Is it any good?" Luffy whined as his brother pulled him from the bar, smashing the palm of his hand into his forehead at Luffy's naivety.

Makino watched as the vice admiral helped himself to a jug of beer before taking back his seat before her, eyes averted. She knew that he was fully aware of who fathered her child. Bracing herself for more questions, Makino sighed tiredly as she ran her fingers gently over her daughters red hair.

"Does he know?" Garp asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the consoled child. Makino swallowed hard, fighting back tears that stung her eyes.

"No." She answered, not meeting his gaze. Garp slumped back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sighed.

"Are you going to tell him?" She met his gaze then, devastation clear in her big brown eyes.

"I have no idea where he is. I have no idea what kind of affect this will have on Akiko and her life." Makino couldn't control her eyes anymore as tears spilled over her cheeks, audibly hitting the wooden table. Turning her gaze back to her daughter, Makino felt a strong comforting hand grip her shoulder lightly.

"Akiko. It has a nice ring to it. Can I told her?" Garp smiled as Makino sniffed back her tears and nodded. Carefully she handed Akiko to Garp who gently cradled her, rocking her softly from side to side. "What's one more wanted child?" he asked himself as his smile widened lovingly. "This will be our little secret." He told the infant as he winked at Makino. A sense of relief allowed her to relax as she watched the older man carefully bouncing and cooing her daughter. She was willing and able to don't this alone, knowing the burdens that came with baring a wanted pirates child. But even the strongest of people needed help sometimes and she wasn't so consumed by pride that she would turn it down if needed.

"Thank you." Makino whispered sincerely.