He was all warm and fuzzy inside at the thought of having friends who believed in him and believed him! Sure, he told the occasional tall tale, but he no longer needed what had become his coping mechanism when he was so well loved by all of his Nakama. It was only possible, however, because he had chosen to let himself believe in them, and to believe him.

Finishing up his latest invention, which he would add to his arsenal at a later time, Usopp began to clean up his little station that he had up on the upper-tier of the deck. Sweet, lively music drifted up from the bow, and he noticed that the doctor had already left to join in the festivities.

"Hey, Usopp! Come on!" A voice called out to him from the main deck, making him grin happily.

"In a moment! I'm cleaning up," he called back down, just before he was done tidying up his mess. "I'm on my way!" He stood and turned to look down at the mid-deck and the main deck, beaming at the sight of his friends.

The dark-haired archaeologist smiled demurely and waved from her usual spot at the mid-deck table they had out, a book in her hand and a cup of coffee sitting in front of her. He knew her name, he swore he did, but it slipped his mind and tongue for the time being.

The little doctor had stumbled at the foot of the stairs, only to be caught by an arm that popped up out of the deck, thanks to the archaeologist. He smiled sheepishly and gave his thanks before moving down the next set of stairs.

The orange haired navigator, whom personally scared him more than any of the fearsome foes they had come across, was leaning against the railing of the mid-deck. A warm smile was on her lips and she laughed as she watched the antics of their crew.

Their blond chef came out of the kitchen, ladened with plates of delicious foods that were quickly doled out. The ladies were served first, of course, but Usopp happily took the offered plate of kabobs and picked up a stick of the spiced meats.

He bit into heaven as his gaze took in the sight of their blue-haired, cyborg shipwright at the helm, while a tall skeleton played the violin nearby. This was the source of the music that had been playing.

Meanwhile, up on the figure head of their beautiful ship sat their captain and his brothers. He could almost see them clearly between the blade-like pieces of the figurehead's mane from where he stood. Usopp made to call out to them, but everything suddenly went sideways, and dark.

He woke with a start as he hit the floor, his blankets entangled and wrapped around his body. Struggling out of the near cocoon, he blinked up at the surprised face of his mother. After a long moment of them staring at each other, his mother broke out into laughter, a rare smile on her face. His dream forgotten, Usopp grinned and finally untangled himself from his blankets.

"Good morning, mom!" His greeting was enthusiastic as he got up from the floor and quickly fixed up his bed.

"I have a surprise for you, Usopp." Banchina smiled again, despite how pale she was due to her sickness.

"Oh? What sort of surprise do you—" Usopp turned to look at his mother again, noting that she was looking a little better. Behind her, however, stood someone he hadn't seen for quite some time. It was his father, Yasopp. "Dad? Is that really you?!"

Yasopp smiled, a hint of sadness in his expression, and moved from the door way just as his son barreled into him. He knelt down to reciprocate his seven year old son's hug while he glanced up at his ailing wife. "I'm back for a little while, son."

"How long are you back for?" Usopp immediately questioned, pulling away just enough to look his father in the face. When his father returned his gaze he frowned. "How long?"

"We'll be here for a couple weeks, son." He had already explained as much to Banchina, who was thankful that she had gotten to see him again. Yasopp knew that it was tough for her and Usopp to stay behind, but it really wasn't safe for them to be in the New World. Powers were still shifting and his captain, Shanks, was dead set on reaching Whitebeard's status of Yonkou, even with the loss of his arm.

"Okay, dad." Usopp's happiness quickly dissipated, and the seven year old pulled away from his father.

"Why don't you show your father how good you've gotten with your slingshot, Usopp?" Banchina picked up the crudely carved slingshot her son had made some time ago. She held it out for him to take, which he did after a long moment.

The pair left the house, with Usopp morosely leading the way out to the woods where he had set up a variety of targets. He had been happy to see his dad, but with the news that Yasopp wouldn't be staying for long it made him a little bitter.

"Usopp, wait a moment," Yasopp stated softly, stopping as they reached the edge of the woods. He knelt down, wishing for the world that he could make his son happy. He knew what it would take, and that wasn't something that was just in his blood.

"Yeah, dad?" Usopp wasn't even looking up at him. He stood there, with his back to his father as he idly kicked at the ground.

"Would you turn around for me, please?" Yasopp waited for his son to turn around, which he did after a long moment. He wasn't surprised to see tears in Usopp's eyes. "I love you, and your mother, very much. You two are my world, you know that, right?"

Usopp nodded and wiped at his eyes. "Yes," he whispered.

"You might not understand it now, but living on land—working a regular job—it isn't for me. The sea calls to my blood, son." He hoped that Usopp would understand, maybe one day, just what he meant. He was a pirate, he was free. He made his own rules, and of course he followed the rules his captain set down, which were very few.

"Can we come with you?" Usopp asked suddenly, looking up at his dad with his eyes still watery and hope in them.

Yasopp sighed heavily and gave a slight shake of his head. "Where we're going, it's dangerous. I don't want to put you or your mother in danger, Usopp. I couldn't stand it if I lost either of you."

Usopp was ready to burst into more tears, but he held them back, swallowed down his sob and nodded. "I understand."

Yasopp smiled, though it wasn't as bright as before, and brought his son into a hug. "When you're older you can go." It looked as if the sea called to his son, just as it did him. "Get yourself a trustworthy and strong crew, then you can go."

"Okay, dad!" His spirits a bit higher now, the seven year old returned his father's hug. He pulled away after a few seconds and waved his slingshot in the air. "I want to show you how well I can shoot!"

-TSoB-

Usopp waved at the ship as they weighed anchor and began to sail off into the waters of East Blue. Beside him, and looking much better than ever, was his mother, who smiled and waved to the ship as well.

From the stern of the ship Yasopp watched as his small family bade him farewell. It tugged at his heart, to part from them, but he knew that he couldn't stay. What he had told Usopp about the sea calling to him was true. Thankfully they had plenty of medicine aboard and had spared some for his wife. She looked much better now, and even had a glow to her.

Usopp was still waving like mad and now running along the beach. In his hand was the brand new slingshot he'd given to him, a nicely carved green one with the handle wrapped up in white tape. Usopp had immediately named it Ginga Pachinko and proved how exceptional of a marksman he was. The seven year old had definitely inherited his skills, which had been blatantly obvious with the crude wooden slingshot that was now in his own pocket.

"Heard your son's got quite the shot, Yasopp," Shanks called from the helm, a grin on his face.

"He got it from me, captain!" Yasopp proudly exclaimed, his heart bursting with joy. "He'll be better than me one day."

"Aye. He'll be something, just like Luffy from Fuusha!" Shanks had bet his arm on the snot-nosed hammer. "Think they'd make good friends?"

"The best of," Yasopp stated, watching as his son, and soon the Gecko Islands, where Syrup village was, disappeared from view.