As Benn and Casey came back onto the Moby Dick, she changed back to a girl and run towards Shanks, who held his arms out to her.

"Makino-san was so happy and she understands why I can't go home. She'll tell my brothers. So what now?" Casey asked.

Shanks crunched down to her. "Listen. I know you're not ready for the sea, so you'll have to stay on an island. However, the mark on your shoulder is a sign that you belong to a Celestial Dragon. They see themselves as gods and even the marines have to do as they please. Therefor it would be dangerous for you to stay on some island," he said.

"So what does that mean?" she asked.

"There is only one island where I know you can be safe. It's where the Revolutionaries have their base. They do not accept slavery," he said.

She tensed lightly and cursed, knowing all had seen it. Shanks looked curious at her, wondering what was wrong. Did she know anything?

"You know of the Revolutionaries?" Benn asked.

"Yes," she said.

"How? They are not something children in the Blues know of normally," Shanks asked.

"Jiji and Dadan talk about it and they weren't silently. Ace and I couldn't sleep, so we overheard everything," she said.

"That is not nice, Casey," Shanks said.

She lifted her head, her eyes filled with spite. "I'm not sorry, because that way I know what is waiting for me on the sea," she said, not sorry at all.

Shanks chuckled and ruffled her hair. "You're really the smarter one of you and Luffy. So what do you say about going there, be safe and have an opportunity to train?"

"If that's the only place on land where I can be safe, then I'll endue," she said.

"You know, if you feel uncomfortable there, you're welcome to come back and we'll handle your training," Whitebeard said.

She smiled to him. "I can do it, but when I'm old enough to set sail … Can I come then?"

He smiled. "Always. Marco, go help her pack and give her our number," he said.

Casey cheered, turned to a fox and went over to Marco, climbing his shoulder. He chuckled and petted her. Shanks smiled at the sight, knowing that Casey would not search for her own crew, but join Whitebeard later. It made him feel relieved. She would be safe and have the family she dreamed of, a father and brothers that would protect her.

-x-

"If you don't like it, call us and arrange for a pick up. You're our sister, yoi," Marco said, as he helped her pack.

"I will be back and you won't get rid of me then," she said.

He ruffled her hair. "By then you're old enough to sleep in your own bed. I'll make sure this room is available when you come back, yoi."

She hummed. "I'll be leaving when I turn 17, so in 7 years," she said.

He raised a brow. "When's your birthday, yoi?"

She looked down. "Today, but it's not a big deal," she said.

He stared horrified at her. "Not a big deal? Casey, birthdays are a day to celebrate. We want to celebrate the day you were born, yoi."

"I don't want a party. It's just another date, a date where I turn a year older. What's the big deal?" she asked annoyed.

Marco could see sorrow and sadness in her eyes. A girl at her age should be looking forward to her birthday, not shrug it off as were it just another day. No. He wouldn't let her leave the ship, until they had celebrated her birthday.

"Does Shanks know, yoi?"

She shook her head. "Not many know. Please Marco, it's nothing special. I've never celebrated the day anyway," she said.

He pulled her close. "But you're special. It's your day. The earth was blessed by your arrival 10 years ago and you should celebrate it," he said softly.

She sighed. She shouldn't have told him, but it had slipped. There wasn't much she could do about it know.

"Let's pack the rest," she said.

He let go of her and helped her, taking her bags. There was no way he would let her leave, not until a small party had been thrown to her honor. Shanks wouldn't mind, of that Marco was sure.

-x-

As they came back on deck, Shanks and Benn waited for them. Benn reached out for the bags, but Marco hesitated to hand them to the other. Whitebeard gave him a curious, but firm gaze, as to tell him it had been decided and there was no use stalling.

"Thatch. You should call all cooks together. We got a party to throw, like now, yoi," he said.

"You want a party?" Thatch looked baffled.

"For our birthday girl here. Though she never has celebrated this day before, yoi," Marco continued.

"EH? How did you manage to get that secret from her? We've tried and tried to get to know, not even Makino knew," Shanks said.

"It slipped out, yoi," Marco said.

Casey pouted. "I don't see the fuzz. I'm not that special," she said.

The crew, Shanks, Benn and Whitebeard stared at her. Did she just say that? While she had a great will to live, she had no self-confidence at all.

"Shanks?" Whitebeard looked at the other captain.

"There's an island a few hours from here. Let's go there and celebrate cupcake," Shanks grinned.

Casey pouted, crossing her arms, but Shanks pulled her to a hug.

"Happy birthday, cupcake. I'm so happy you're alive," he said.

"What's with the nickname anyway?" Thatch asked.

"Her favorite cake is cupcakes, especially strawberries, chocolate and blueberries," Benn said.

Thatch grinned. "Well, head for that island. I'll prepare a feast," he said and left deck.

With that said, all went over and wished her a happy birthday. Casey didn't get the fuzz, had never celebrate any birthdays or holidays. She and Luffy had first never really cared and upon meeting Ace, who hated himself in some weird way, and Sabo not liking his blood, they had never thought about celebrating it.

-x-

Casey was used to the parties Shanks and his men had thrown at Party's Bar, but this was nothing like it. On the beach, a large fire was made, where Thatch and Lucky Roo made dinner, along with other cooks. Most of the meat came from animals from the jungle behind them. Shanks and others brought sake and soon there were music, singing, laughter and just a good mood. Casey tilted her head, watching it all from her spot on a rock.

As everything was set, the meat bristled over the fire, Thatch and two others went to the Moby Dick and came back short after with a huge cake, surrounded by cupcakes. Casey's face lit up in happiness, seeing the cupcakes. Normally she wasn't fond of sweets, but cupcakes were among the few sweets she did like.

"Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday, dear Casey
Happy Birthday to you."

All was singing for her, as Thatch came with a cupcake with candles in it. 10 to be exact. She blinked slightly confused, but Shanks chuckled.

"You got to make a wish and blow out the candles," he said.

"And don't tell us what wish or it won't come true," Thatch said.

She nodded, closed her eyes for a second and then blew out the candles, a little of the frosting got off and landed in Thatch's face. She chuckled at the sight and he laughed it off, cleaning himself with his hand.

After that, they ate the cake and Casey loved the taste of the cupcakes. She would miss Thatch's cooking, but Whitebeard had said she was welcome back in 7 years. It was just 7 years, she kept saying in her mind. As they had cake, Marco came to her with a present.

"It should have been a see-you-again present, but it fits so much better as a birthday gift, yoi," he said, handing it to her.

"For me?" she asked and took it.

He nodded and she unwrapped the gift. It was a dagger. The scabbard and shaft was made of ivory and as she unsheathed it, she noticed the weird texture of the blade. Curious she touched it and felt how her power was drained. As if she had burnt herself, she took her finger from the blade, staring at it.

"It's seastone. It affects all with a Devil's Fruit and it'll never lose its sharpness, yoi," Marco explained.

Shanks whistled. "Nice gift. Seastone isn't cheap or easy to work with," he said.

"It's so cool. Thanks," she said, smiling happily to them.

The rest of the evening they ate, drank, Casey got juice, sang and danced. Casey was the center and was dancing with a lot of crew mates, no matter what crew they belonged to. After a while, she was tired and her eyes darted around and spotted Benn sitting casually on the ground, smoking and watching the celebration, Marco and Jozu next to him. She walked over and sat on the lap of Benn, cuddling closer to him.

"Me tired," she mumbled, already half asleep.

Benn chuckled and rubbed her back soothingly. "Then just sleep. I'll bring you to your room later," he said.

She nodded and dozed off, soon sleeping peacefully on his lap. He didn't mind at all. While Luffy was more attached to Shanks, Casey was more attached to him. Though she was Luffy's older sister, she was smarter and calmer than him, yet she had the same appetite, energy and bright smile as Luffy.

"You do look like father and daughter," Jozu commented.

"When you get to know her better, you'll understand. You all must have made a big impression on her. It took us a month before she accepted us, while her brother accepted us right away. She's shy around new people, but she wants to go back to you," Benn said.

Marco smiled fondly, remembering the night she had curled up next to him. "She's just a girl and you did tell her we weren't bad. I guess that helped, yoi."

"I doubt it. Luffy kept telling her we weren't that bad and yet it took a while, before she even acknowledged us. No, you must have done something special," he said.

"Guess you should ask Thatch, if you want to know. After all, he was the first she came in contact with," Jozu said.

Benn's eyes darted to the cook. Maybe it had been a combination of being alone and starving for a while, which had led to her taking Thatch's offer for food and comfort. Still, they must have done something right, because Casey had still been tight up around strangers, when they left for good. Well, Benn didn't want to linger too long at it, because she seemed to be happy and that was all he wanted for her.