Updated:10/21/16

Chapter 13: Fireworks

After the embrace between Liara and her parents disbanded, Mina placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders and looked her right in the eyes. "Liara, this isn't something I approve of, you hanging out with pirates, I mean. I admit that they seem like a good group of people who care about you, but why are you with them? Why did you leave? Be honest."

Liara glanced down and bit her lip, trying to think of the right words to say. Last time she spoke truthfully to her parents they laughed at her. Would they do so again?

"It's because I'm determined to make my dream come true. To you, Fantasia Island is a laughable myth, but to me, it's something I've dreamed about finding since I was a little girl. Luffy and his crew-" she nodded her head towards the Straw Hats, who lingered patiently in the background, "-rescued me after a storm and listened to my dream without laughing. Each of them have their own dream, and accept each others' weaknesses and strengths. They have asked me to be their nakama, and it's an offer I'm more than happy to accept." She straightened her posture so she could look her parents right in the eyes, her baby blues sincere and not a single falter in her words. "I know this is ridiculous to you, but I'm happy to be with them and I know that together all of our dreams will come true."

Merick and Mina didn't speak at first, and although Liara had made it clear how determined she was, she was trembling on the inside. For all she knew, they would emphatically drag her away. They had come this far to find her, and both, especially her mom, were extremely stubborn. Still, she made sure to maintain a calm exterior to show how decisive she was about the whole thing. When Mina smiled, Liara felt her entire body relax.

"You're my daughter, alright; stubborn and strong. I will once again say that I don't completely agree with this, but you're not a little girl anymore. What we say won't matter as much." Mina looked somber for a moment. "I am proud of you for being so ambitious, and it's very hard for me to realize that you're no longer a child who needs to rely on me, but I think that as long as you're traveling with a good group of friends like Luffy and his crew, then I think I can feel a little bit at ease."

There was a sudden eruption of cheering behind her, and as Liara turned around she saw Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp with their arms around each others shoulders and kicking their legs up. The others all beamed, with Sanji nearly tripping over himself as his pupils transformed into hearts. Brook displayed a skeletal grin, though one couldn't really notice due to the lack of skin covering his bones. He had to admit that a part of him was worried that she would depart or be taken away, but now he could essentially feel his bones twinging with delight. It wouldn't have been benevolent to any of them to surrender their new companion, not after they'd all just started getting close to her.

Liara's mouth gaped open, astonished that her parents weren't even putting up a fight against her decision. Merick wrapped his arm around his wife's petite shoulders and nodded in agreement. "We both love you Liara, and I'm sorry we laughed at you. The thing is, it's always hard for parents to let their child grow up and break away. We were in your shoes once though, so we should've known better. Just please know that we are trusting you to make wise decisions on your journey and that you will always be welcome to your home on Rosiv Island with us. I will also do my best to try and keep the Marines away from you and your friends. Be safe."

Liara's eyes watered as she embraced both of her parents. "I love you mom and dad. Thank you so much! This means the world to me!"

It was on this note that the Straw Hats decided to step forward and leave a good impression in their own way. Nami linked arms with Liara and smiled triumphantly. "You got it! We'll take great care of her!"

Sanji spun around. "I'll make sure my sweetheart is well fed!" He ceased all movement when Merick's hands fixedly clasped onto his shoulders.

"Good, good. However, may I so politely request that you keep a decent distance away from my beloved daughter? We have a clear understanding, right?" he politely gritted out through clenched teeth, causing Sanji to virtually shrivel up into a crushed pile of broken hearts. Zoro smirked with contentment over the cook's disheartened state.

After another embrace between Liara and her parents, the Straw Hats departed off the wrecked Black Dragon's ship and trekked over to their own vessel. By this time, the moon was starting to fade away, signaling dawn would be breaking in within the next few hours. Liara was so exhausted and unsteady that she passed out once they got off the ship. She collapsed against Brook, who instantaneously caught her and handed her over to Chopper so he could keep her warm. She snuggled against his chestnut fur for warmth and comfort while Chopper carried her in Heavy Point and fondly stared down at her; it was an adorable sight to say the least.

Once on the Thousand Sunny, Chopper pursued Nami and Robin back to the girl's bedroom where he carefully laid Liara down on her bed and tucked her in. Robin and Nami thanked him before deciding to also retire for the night.

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Sanji was the first one to rise as usual so he could begin preparing breakfast. However, because the night before had been long and tiring, nobody else woke until at least nine.

Liara slumbered all through breakfast and didn't wake up until around one. Her emphatic, grumbling stomach was what aroused her from a peaceful rest, reminding her that she hadn't eaten for at least 24 hours. She didn't even bother changing her clothes as she headed into the kitchen, where Robin was seated and reading at the dining table with a steaming cup of coffee while Sanji planned lunch.

Robin smiled in acknowledgement and placed the book down, securing her current spot with a bookmark. "Sleep well?" she inquired as she gently blew on her coffee and took a sip.

Liara nodded and sat down across from Robin, giving a warm smile in return. "I did, thank you! I appreciate what you all did for me, really I do."

"Liara, my dearrrrrr, what can I get for you?" Sanji sweetly asked from his position next to the stove as he radiated an aura of hearts. Liara thought about it for a moment before suggesting he surprise her, which he was more than happy to do. As he prepared the meal, Robin decided to resume their conversation

"The fireworks are tonight, you know," the archaeologist notified with a twinkle in her eye.

Liara propped her elbows up on the table. "I'd completely forgotten, to be honest," she confessed. "Now that you mention it though, I am excited. It's been a while since I've actually seen any. Are we going to watch it from the ship?"

Robin gently placed her coffee cup down. "We can, but Luffy and Usopp might want to go into town to see them with everybody else. I think I might just stay here, but we'll see when the time comes."

Liara nodded and glanced away, wondering what she herself would do when it came time for the nighttime show. All thoughts temporarily abandoned her mind though as she inhaled the mouth-watering aroma of food. Sanji gracefully placed a large plate covered with lobster claws, shrimp, and specially-made tartar sauce right in front her. Three lemon slices decorated the platter as they lay neatly next to the lobster, and a glass of fresh lemonade was allocated next to the plate.

If Liara's mouth had been open, a trail of saliva would have been dripping out of the corners of her lips.

As soon as Sanji set down silver ware, bowed, and said "Enjoy," she immediately dug into her food. She was so hungry and thirsty that she nearly finished her lemonade in one chug and practically devoured her food. She let out a content sigh as she placed her used-silverware onto the empty plate. Robin and Sanji had both observed her the entire time, amused by just how hungry she was. It was only when Liara looked up and saw their eyes on her that she realized how rude she must've seemed.

"Ahh! Sorry! So sorry! I didn't mean to eat like th-" A burp escaped from her mouth, causing Sanji and Robin to glimpse at each other before they burst out laughing.

"It's alright dear. Don't apologize for being hungry," Robin assured her once she'd caught her breath. "I would've eaten the same way." Liara giggled along with them, relieved that they didn't find her behavior appalling.

After her meal, Liara took a shower to wash away all remains of sweat and dirt she'd gathered while imprisoned. The mark on her face was still visible, but had fortunately decreased in size. It was now light pink and didn't really sting anymore. She stood in the shower for a few moments, allowing the sultry water to massage her aching muscles. Her entire body flourished into a deep shade of crimson from the aqua's torridity, but she didn't care at the moment. She rested her head against the corner wall of the tub, her hands placed upwards and beside her face. Her hair nearly covered her entire backside, with some hanging over her shoulder and covering her chest. She closed her eyes and focused on nothing but the sound of running water washing away the remnants of the nightmarish day she'd experienced.

Eventually she shut the shower off, shivering at the loss of warm contact. She pulled the shower curtain open and stepped onto a mat placed conveniently in front of the tub. Once she dried herself off, she put on a spaghetti-strapped dress that went from light lavender at the top to a deep violet at the bottom. She decided that since she would probably remain on the ship, she would just not wear anything on her feet.

Evening approached at a sluggish pace. Luffy continually sprinted around on deck and repeatedly surveyed the sun to see if it had lowered while Franky, Usopp and Nami grew irked by their captain's restless behavior.

Eventually Liara came up from below deck to greet the people she hadn't spoken to since very early in the morning. Chopper, being in Brain Point,bolted towards her and used Usopp's head as a means to propel himself into her arms. She was all too elated to give the pint-sized furry creature a hug, thanking him for allowing her to sleep while he carried her back to the ship.

"Don't thank me, you asshole!" he gushed as he wiggled his arms in delight. Even though he had never spoken in such a way around her before, she seemed to automatically know that it was his way of expressing happiness, which only made him seem even more lovable to her.

Brook, who had attempted to meditate with Zoro again, [much to the swordsman's annoyance] heard a buzzing excitement from below the crow's nest. He grabbed the sides of the ladder and allowed himself to slide down before swiftly landing on his feet. He gazed at her, admiring how lovely the dress looked on her and relieved that she seemed to be in high spirits again.

"Liara!" Nami cheerfully exclaimed as she rushed past the skeleton. "Hey, where are you going to be for the fireworks tonight? Are you going to town with us?"

Liara shook her head. "No, I think I'll just stay behind on the ship. I'm sure it'll still be a nice view of the show."

Nami nodded. "That's fine." She turned around to face the other crew members. "Anybody else staying?"

Brook didn't want to leave Liara alone, especially after everything she had been through. "I am. I don't really feel like being surrounded by crowds right now." It was a poor excuse, really. The fact was, he absolutely loved being surrounded by people and performing for them, but he wanted to spend more time with his brunette friend in case she wanted to talk about anything that had happened.

Robin eyed the skeleton with a twinkle in her eye. She had a feeling something interesting was developing.

Everybody else decided they would embark into town, including Zoro, who Liara was sure would have ended up staying behind just to sleep. "I need more booze," was all the swordsman stated before he gave a backwards wave and left for the bar with the others trailing behind him.

Sanji was the last one to leave. He strode over to Brook, who was in the process of pulling out his violin. "Yo, you try anything funny with my sweet Liara and I will grind your bones and throw them into the sea. We clear?"

Brook nearly dropped the instrument back into the case at the sudden threat. "I am a mere skeleton who wants to do nothing more than make music. Do not worry," he hastily promised, trying to keep his voice as innocent sounding as possible.

Sanji glared at him. "Good."

Liara looked flustered at the suggestion, wondering why Sanji would even think such a thought. "Don't worry, we'll both be fine and enjoy the show. I promise," she reassured the blonde, bringing a smile to the chef's face. Satisfied with the response, he ambled over to the ship's ramp.

"Good-bye my dear!" Sanji dramatically cried out as he wiggled his body around like a jellyfish and clasped his hands together.

Liara waved and smiled before he departed, allowing Brook to finally shake his head and let out an exasperated sigh. "Honestly, you think he would have more trust in me!" He sounded so insulted that Liara couldn't help but laugh, which in turn caused him to chuckle along.

After a few seconds the laughter ceased and all that remained was silence between them. Liara felt her cheeks heat up as she realized that they were alone on the ship and would be watching the fireworks together. She had to concede she was excited though, not only to see the fireworks but to have more bonding time with her closest friend. It was like she could have a discussion with him about anything, regardless of the fact that they had known each other for not even a week.

Brook was in the same predicament. The first time he had been alone with Liara was her first night aboard the ship, but nothing had felt awkward then. Now, it was almost as if he couldn't really think straight around her, and that bothered him. The feeling wasn't horrible, but it was definitely unfamiliar and strange to him. It was almost as if he was afraid of what to say or do around her.

The silence was becoming unbearable. "So, what shall we do until the show starts?" Liara asked, hoping to at least have some sort of conversation to avoid an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Grateful for the mood change, Brook grinned and lifted his violin up onto his shoulder. "I figured a little music might help pass the time," he suggested.

Liara sat down and looked delighted. "That would be lovely."

About a half hour passed, with Brook playing one song after another. Part of him wondered if she was growing bored with his performance, but that thought vanished as she continued clapping along and spewing compliments and requests at him after each piece.

She was indeed enjoying herself. Sometimes she would close her eyes and let the ocean breeze stroke her hair just so she could allow herself to be drawn into the music even more. As she peered up and saw the sun beginning to set, she couldn't help but begin to feel even more enthusiastic about the show. She patiently waited for him to finish his song first before applauding and leaping to her feet.

"How wonderful!" she cheered. "Your music is so beautiful! I would love to be able to play like you!"

"Thank you, Miss Liara! Beautiful music for a beautiful woman." He said it so naturally that he didn't realize what he'd actually announced until the last word had slipped out. Of course, he didn't really regret saying it because, well, it was true, but it did manage to bring the awkward feeling back, especially since her face had heated into bright shade of crimson. She twiddled her fingers together and bashfully looked away, murmuring a "thank you" so she didn't appear rude. His compliment honestly made her feel a great deal of joy, but she didn't know how to properly respond.

BAM!

Liara let out a surprised yelp as she spun around and saw a ball of smoke in the sky. "What was that?" she exclaimed.

"Ah, I believe that was to signal that the show will be starting soon," Brook calmly answered. He looked around and noticed that the sun was now almost below the horizon line. "We should take our seats." Liara nodded and followed Brook to the right side of the ship so that they were fully facing the town. They perched themselves at the top of the ramp, which had just enough room for the two of them and possible somebody of Chopper's size.

[Tangled-Waiting for the Lights]

Liara smiled and leaned back with her arms balancing her up. She could see people of all ages waving glow sticks around, which were the only light source at the moment, as most of the city lights and streets lamps had been shut off for the evening's show. She heard laughter and observed children running around while parents anxiously pursued after them.

Brook propped a knee up and placed his elbow on it. When he peeked at his friend, she was glowing and smiling with absolute delight. He simpered at her elation. "Excited?"

She glanced over at him, her smile spreading wider. "Of course. It's been so long since I've last seen fireworks. I'm really glad to be seeing them with my friends, especially you, Brook." Liara inhaled and leaned forward, her eyes still focused on him. "You and Luffy and Nami and everybody else went all out to save me today, and I will always be grateful for that. You have all become so important to me,especially you Brook, so thank you." She wasn't sure where that little speech had come from, but she knew that she sincerely meant every word. Her stomach pleasantly twisted as she lay her head against his humerus bone, trying to ignore her pounding heart and the blush she could feel spreading across her flesh.

The bold movement completely caught him off guard. His rib cage felt like it would burst with happiness at the fact that she was showering him with affection and gratitude. When it came to rescuing his crew, he would've done just as much to make sure they were back safe and sound, but for some odd reason he felt even more protective when it came to the petite brunette who was currently leaning against his arm. He didn't know if it was because she wasn't an experienced fighter like everybody else, but frankly he didn't care.

Liara felt apprehensive as she wondered if perhaps she was being too forward and making him uncomfortable. She was about to pull away and apologize, but he then lifted his arm up and placed his fingers tenderly over her head, causing her shoulders to sag in relief. "You're welcome," he whispered.

She beamed and pressed her face into his rib cage as he stroked her hair. Life just couldn't get better.

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Standing near the back of the town square were Merick and Mina, who decided to lengthen their stay and watch the fireworks before departing back home. Mina had seemed troubled the whole day, as she was obviously worried about their only child. Merick thought the fireworks would at least bring a smile to his wife's face, but she didn't appear even slightly happy or excited. He wrapped his arm around her and gently squeezed her left shoulder. "Hey, everything will be okay. She's tough, just like her mother."

Mina gazed at him and gave an appreciative smile. " I know, but it's just so hard to see our little girl go. There is so much she doesn't know about the world."

"But her new friends seem to know plenty, and she's a very intelligent girl. It's important that she learns what's out there now. The Straw Hats will take care of her; I can tell they already adore her," Merick reassured with a grin. He hunched down and kissed Mina on the forehead, who smirked and placed her hands on her hips.

"Alright Lieutenant, behave. We're in public, you know." She stood on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck before drawing him into a kiss. "I suppose I can make an exception this time, though."

Two fireworks suddenly shot upward, ridding the sky of darkness for a moment before vanishing into nothingness. People below cheered as even more were blasted against the stars, filling the air with an assortment of reds, blues, purples, yellows, and whites. Luffy stretched his arms upwards as if he was trying to catch one of the bright displays with his rubber hands. He was hit over the head by Nami who hissed at him to move out of the way while Sanji defended her against Usopp as he complained that she was too loud. All in all, the whole evening proved eventful and enjoyable, especially for Liara and Brook, who wouldn't trade their seats for the world.

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