Chapter 2: The Best Sea King Gumbo This Side of the Grand Line.

Rosinante and Bell-mere arrived at the new restaurant which was basically a hole in the wall (but aren't they the best kind?). They were greeted by a petite young woman dressed in native attire and a head scarf.

"Welcome to the Watering Hole, officers!" She greeted with a smile. "Have a seat. I will be right back to take your order. Would you like anything to drink?

"Some of your finest sake." Bell-mere replied. "Leave the bottle."

The hostess smiled and headed to the back. The two teens managed to find a booth in the far-left corner.

"This is a nice place." Belle-mere complimented. "How did you find it?"

"Oh, I happened upon it while I was getting Sengoku more rice crackers." Rosinante explained. "It wasn't open yet, but the owner was really nice."

The young Hostess came over to their booth with a bottle of sake and two cups. After she served them their drinks, she introduced herself.

"My name is Abigail." She introduced. "I will be taking care of you. What do you have an appetite for today?"

"Well, this is our first time here," Rosinante replied. "So, what do you recommend?"

Abigail opened her mouth to say something when she was interrupted by an old woman sitting at the bar.

"You should try the Sea King Gumbo." She suggested.

"Grandmother!" Abigail chided. "You're supposed to be in bed!"

"Bed is for old people." The old woman waved off. "I still got some energy left in me."

"I bet you can party with the best of us." Bell-mere complimented.

"Please don't encourage her." Abigail lamented.

"Oh, hush, child!" The old woman scolded. "You're way too young to be worrying so." She turned back to Bell-mere and Rosinante. "Now, try the Sea King Gumbo, kids. That's my recommendation."

"You sure we won't be disappointed?" Rosinante asked.

"Listen to Mother Magdalena!" The old woman declared, her hand on her heart. "This is the best Sea King Gumbo this side of the Grand Line."

Rosinante and Bell-mere looked at each other and smiled. "Sea King Gumbo, it is then." They said simultaneously.

While waiting for their food, Belle-mere and Rosinante spent time talking and laughing about Marine life when Magdalena slowly approached them, taking a seat next to Rosinante.

"By the Gods, you are overwhelmingly tall!" She exclaimed. "How are you coordinated?"

"He's not," Belle-mere laughed. "Roci trips on every little thing."

"Belle!" Rosinante exclaimed.

"It's true. One time, Roci was giving a presentation to the cadets and two seconds later, BAM! Falls face flat on the floor. Everyone was laughing."

"It wasn't even that funny!" Rosinante argued.

"You literally fell standing up!"

Magdalena laughed. "It's a wonder you're still alive. I've never seen a boy with such an abnormal height before."

"My height is pretty normal for a 19-year-old." Rosinante reasoned.

"6 ft. is normal for a 19-year-old boy, Roci." Bell-mere pointed out. "You're boarder lining on 9."

"You're nine feet tall?!" Magdalena gasped.

Rosinante pouted. "I feel like I'm getting ganged up on."

"Don't be so pouty, you know I love you, clumsy fool." Bell-mere laughed.

Rosinante's eyes widened at the remark. Magdalena caught the boy's look and smiled knowingly.

"I'm gonna freshen up before our food comes, excuse me." Bell-mere excused herself to the bathroom, leaving Rocinante and Magdalena alone.

"She's quite the spitfire, isn't she?" Magdalena remarked.

"Yeah, she's a real live wire." Rosinante agreed. "She may always laugh at my clumsiness, but she'll come to my defense no questions asked. I don't know where I'll be without her."

"It sounds like you two are destined for each other. You should tell her how you feel."

"Who, Bell-mere?!" Rosinante exclaimed, spitting out his sake. "Uh…uh..I…we're just friends. There's no way…"

"Have you noticed the way Bell-mere looks at you?"

"Um…no. Not really."

"There's a tiny sparkle in her eye whenever you talk," Magdalena explained. "And she blushes everytime you smile or compliment her."

Rosinante's face broke into wide, toothy smile. "Really? Well, I've kinda had a crush on Bell-mere since we first met but…I thought she only saw me as her clumsy friend, so I never really gave it much thought."

"Well, it's about time that you do."

"How? I'm extremely shy and I'm not the most composed teen, as you've witnessed, Mother Magdalena."

"Just call me Magdalena." The old woman waved off. "And I think I have a solution to your conundrum."

Rosinante nodded for Magdalena to continue.

"Every year, we have a festival to celebrate this coming harvest. There will be food, games, dancing, and a light show." Magdalena motioned the tall boy to lean over so she can whisper in his ear: "It's rumored that the light show is the most romantic part of the festival."

"You really think…Bell-mere would fall in love with a klutz like me?"

"You are a beautiful soul with a pure heart, Rosinante." Magdalena assured. "With good looks to boot."

Rosinante suddenly felt sad. "If you knew who my family was, you wouldn't be saying such nice things to me."

Magdalena smacked Rosinante upside his head, causing the boy to whiplash really hard.

"OW!" The boy exclaimed.

"Grandmother! Stop abusing our customers!" Abigail scolded. "We barely opened this restaurant. You're trying to close us down."

"Hush! If it was a violation to smack a child, the restaurant would've been closed months ago." Magdalena reasoned.

"I'm pretty sure assaulting a Marine officer is against the law, regardless of age." Abigail pointed out.

"Oh, don't worry, Abby. Our Fleet Admiral won't mind if your grandma roughed up his golden boy up a little." Bell-mere teased, coming over to the booth. "Was Roci being self-defeating again?"

"Is that what this is?" Magdalena mused. "You're more charming than you give yourself credit for, my giant child."

"You should listen to her, Rosinante." Bell-mere smiled. "She knows what's she's talking about."

"On occasion," Abby added. "Other times, Nana likes to run off at the mouth."

"Are you going to spend time disrespecting me, Abigail, or are you going to serve our guests their food?" Magdalena scolded.

"You know I love you, Nana." Abigail said, kissing her grandmother's head sweetly. To Bell-mere and Rosinante, she informed: "I'll bring your Sea King Gumbo out in a minute. Will you need any condiments?"

"Just some extra napkins, please." Bell-mere replied. "We're gonna need them." Rosinante gave his friend a look which made Bell-mere crackle hysterically.

After eating the best Sea King Gumbo known to the Grand Line and having a nice chat with Abigail and Magdalena, it was time for the two young Marines to head back to base. Abigail packed some leftover gumbo for them to take home and bid the teens goodbye. Magdalena gave Rosinante a knowing look before giving him a word of advice:

"Don't be afraid to take risks, my giant child." She said. "Even the most unbalanced of men are capable of love."

"Thank you, Magdalena." Rosinante smiled. "Hope to see you soon."

Rosinante smiled and waved at the old woman before running (and falling at least 4 times) to catch up with Bell-mere. The girl smiled as she helped her friend up from his latest fall.

"Be careful, or you'll spill all your gumbo." She chided.

"I got it." Rosinante assured. "So, how do you like the South Quarter?"

"I love it!" Bell-mere said. "It's lively, vibrant but yet…it feels like I'm back home in Cocoyashi Village. Only thing that's missing is a harvest festival."

"There's actually one coming up."

"Really? When?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Get out!"

"I'm serious!" Rosinante confirmed. "Magdalena told me about it while you were in the bathroom. I was going to go after I finished all of my duties. Did you want to accompany me?"

"Is that a trick question?" Bell-mere deadpanned, her hands on her hips.

"I hope not." Rosinante squeaked.

Bell-mere just shook her head and laughed. "Of course, I'll go with you to the festival, Roci."

Rosinante's face was contorted into shocked awe before his jacket caught on fire again.

"ROSINANTE!"

"AHHH! HELP ME PUT IT OUT!"

Magdalena and Abigail simply laughed at the comedic sight before them.

"Those two kids make a wonderful couple." Magdalena commented.

Abigail looked at her grandmother warily. "Nana, don't try anything rash."

"What? I simply made an observation."

"And we all know what your 'observations' lead to. Don't tempt fate, Nana."

Magdalena reluctantly held her hands up in resignation; but she couldn't help but wonder what the offspring of Marine Commander Donquixote Rosinante and Marine Officer Bell-mere would look like.