Daddy is the New Title

by gdesertsand

Shanks asked Trafalgar Law to take care of his kids but after an accident the doctor choose the path of being a father to the trio but things will not go as smoothly as planned when Law's dark pasts started to resurface and his other persona started to pull on his consciousness. (Will now undergo Major Renovation.)

4. Chapter 4: Road to Acceptance

A/N: Summer Vacation At Last!

Anyways, thanks for everyone who reviewed, favorite and followed this story! I love you so much!

And questions will be answered through PM for each reviewer starting this chapter! Along with the previous ones if it's applicable!

And a few WARNINGS also, I'm not good in grammars so forgive me if past tense and present tense are mixed up!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece! If I did then Law and Sabo will be together!

Chapter 4: Road to Acceptance – Luffy's Acceptance

Death is something that will always happen to anyone or anything that has life. No one can escape from it for this life is only borrowed and anytime it could be snatched away from us. So the only thing we can do is to live with no regrets. For we are fra-

Law shut the book he was reading. Everything that it said seems to be only nonsense to him. It was just written to make people feel that death was another thing that should be expected in life.

Which was true in some sense by the way.

The funeral was over a week ago and the kids were very hostile towards other adults around them. Especially Ace, the kid did not want anyone to get close to his brothers. Another thing that was considered a problem was that whenever the word 'adoption' is uttered Ace was getting much more dangerous than he was before.

The yellow-eyed doctor sighed under his breath. Why everything was becoming more troublesome?

"How are you feeling today, Law?" a female voiced asked.

Right now Law was currently visiting his psychiatrist as it becomes a necessity for him ever since the government took care of him.

Correction, ever since Officer Smoker took care of him.

"Not good Vivi-ya," he answered as he stretched a little on the couch where he was lying. Then he looked at the blue haired doctor who was writing something on her notepad.

"Still having flashbacks?" she asked with a motherly tone that Law grew accustomed to. Vivi was ten years older than him, still he could not help but to love that kind of voice and the soothing feeling it offered.

"Yes," he then thought that talking to Vivi on his current position was very rude but then he decided to stay on that pose. Manners never go along with him anyway.

"How often?" she asked again as she started to record their conversation for the day, after all, Law was a very special case for her as well as for the government.

"Very," then he sighed again, "Much more when Shanks-ya died."

A silence that Law grew accustomed to settle whenever the death of the red head was brought out as a topic for no one knows how to respond to it, especially when talking to someone like Law who was still classified under the 'mentally unstable' list.

Now Trafalgar Law was not that insane or that sane. If doctors in psychology will be asked then one word was fitting to his situation.

Traumatized.

He was rescued when he was thirteen from a syndicate that was considered, at that time, as the cruelest criminal group. By the time he was found people thought that he was beyond saving. He was like a doll waiting for orders. But one person did not give up and took Law under his wing. He was also the one who hired Vivi to talk to the kid, who was at that time already in practice phase of her road as a psychiatrist. She was the second person who did not give up on Law.

That was why Law really liked those two for he was now able to get along to the flow of the society without feeling scared.

"Do you want to share to me your flashbacks?" Vivi brought back their original topic.

"About how gruesome my life back then? I already told you that a thousand times." Law pouted a little as he was asked to repeat a tale he already said ever since Vivi started talking to him, "Are you sure you're not a sadist?"

Vivi just offered a gentle smile, "If someone in here is a sadist then that would be you."

"You have a point." Law agreed.

"So?" Vivi tried to get an answer again.

This time Law's eyes looks like becoming a little dull,

"He taught me how to torture people," He started narrating.

"Law." The man called his name and he has no choice but to respond to it.

"What is it, Doffy?" eight years old Trafalgar Law asked as the blond man lifted him up and settled the kid on his lap.

"You like it when you learn new things right?" the man that the child only knew to call as 'Doffy' asked with a huge smile on his face.

Thinking that Doffy will teach him something fun, Law just nodded his head with joy. If only he knew what will happen to him he might have said no.

But Doffy always have what he wanted.

"Then let's meet your playmate." A sadistic smile accompanied the child to the rest of their journey towards a dark cell.

The room only has a single lamp on the ceiling and it only provided a small portion to be lit in order to see but it was enough to see the man sitting on the chair. The man's eyes and mouth was covered by a piece of cloth making Law to think if they will play hide and seek. But why cover the mouth and bound him on the chair? Another thing that the child noticed was that the room has an awful smell.

"Doffy, I don't want to be here." Law protested as he asked the man to put him down as Doffy carried him on his arms on their way here.

"Don't worry Law," Doffy walked towards the man and kicked the chair causing it to stumble on the floor. Law could clearly hear the noise of pain when that happened. "I'll teach how to have some fun, fufufu."

"Then he made me to slash and cut each flesh that I could reach and…" as he trailed of it looks like he was near in reliving the past. He stopped and Vivi saw that Law is no longer with her.

"Law, it's okay. You can stop now." Vivi walked towards her patient but as she put her hands on his shoulder the man shied away from her touch like a scared animal.

"No.." Law mumbled, "No, please no…" then he clutched his head with his hands like he wanted to crush it with pressure, "I can't take it… no more…" he whimpered, "Help me…"

Vivi did not know what to do. Whenever she tried to reach out when Law was in that state it only leads to a room wreck in havoc. The ingrained fear was causing him to hurt the people around him.

"Law, I'm here. Don't worry." Vivi tried to assure him and hope that it reached his ears.

It did, though in a different voice and tone.

"Law, I'm here. Don't worry." Said in a tone that sends shivers down his spine.

"STOP!" Law screamed as he ran towards the door. He tried to open it but it was locked. Vivi made it sure to lock the door because the last time he went out in that state of mind a bunch of teenagers in a gangster group were almost beaten to death. Plus, it almost made Vivi to give up in returning some sense to her patient. Good thing that she didn't though.

"LET ME OUT!" Law screamed as he pounded on the door with his right hand as his left hand turned the knob hoping that it will open, "DOFFY! LET ME OUT! I PROMISED I WILL BE A GOOD BOY! PLEASE LET ME OUT! I'LL DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO!" he screamed desperately as he continued to knock the wooden piece with too much force.

Vivi stared at the ground for a moment as tears started to form from the corners of her eyes before walking towards her table and open a drawer that contains syringe in different sizes. She then grabbed a small blue bottle just on the right side of the table and dipped the smallest needle on the liquid inside it. The panicking doctor didn't notice her approaching him as his senses was still in the past and it made things easier for Vivi to inject the solution on Law's left shoulder causing the man to slowly fall into unconsciousness. When the blue haired doctor was sure that her patient was in deep sleep she proceeded in opening the door and was not surprised to see the man who was currently responsible on her patient.

"No progress?" Smoker asked as he let himself in and carried the unconscious man on the couch and put him down there again.

"I'm sorry…" Vivi apologized while standing to where she was and didn't dare to move.

"Don't be," Smoker tried to assure her, "It's not your fault. Those bastards just made it sure that Law can never break free from his cage that easily."

"But it's been years Smoker-san!" Vivi shouted as she allowed her tears to fall down her face, "Eight years passed and he is still scared to that man even if he is not here anymore! He is willing to do anything just not to be punished!" angered was consuming her just thinking of Law back in the past, body curling on the ground asking if he had been a bad boy and if 'Doffy' will locked him up again in that dark, awful smelling room that has red sticky liquids on the floor and walls.

"And he had been with them for thirteen years," Smoker countered her statement, "Let's just be happy that Law can perform normally outside nowadays."

"Yeah and anytime he can snap again. What will you do when that happens? Lock him up like what he did to Law?"

"That's why we are here right?" Smoker looked at her with determination, "We must be here in order to prevent that from happening."

^_^ Nya~ ^_^

"Hey Kidd," Killer greeted his friend as he entered the office carrying stack of papers to be signed by the redhead. As usual he found him groaning in annoyance just seeing the amount needed to be read.

"Can't you just sign those?" Kidd suggested as Killer put the documents down his table.

"I can if I'm the boss." Killer said as he rolled his eyes and went near the windows to pull up the blinds. The room is too dark for his taste.

"Damn it Killer! Pull it down the sun is blinding me!" the redhead protested as he put his hands in front of his face to prevent the rays in reaching his eyes.

"Then why don't you turn on the lights?" not in the mood to have a verbal fight Killer obeyed his friend.

"Can't you see I'm trying to sleep?"

"And pretend that you are not in here? Sorry but you have work to do." With that Killer turned the lights on.

"You are a heartless friend." Kidd grumbled as he snatched a piece of paper and started reading its contents.

"Glad to be one." Killer was about to leave the room when Kidd asked him a question,

"Have you found out Trafalgar's past?"

"Not yet," the blond replied immediately, "But why the sudden interest?"

Yeah, why did Kidd want to know so badly about the past of their surgeon friend?

"He is having flashbacks much often than before," Kidd answered as he put the paper down and signing it, "I just want to know what happened to cause such reactions."

The first time Kidd witnessed the effects of flashbacks to Trafalgar it was not a good experienced at all. It was at the time of their school festival and they were locked in the storage room of the gym. It was dark and the light was not working. Good thing that Kidd's phone was with him that time and the place had some signal so he managed to text Killer. The thing that he didn't expect was that Trafalgar suddenly shivered as if in cold while in reality the room feels like in 32 degrees Celsius. Then the insomniac wrapped his arms around his body as if trying to protect himself as he frantically looked around him. When he saw that he has no way out anywhere he screamed and knocked the door so hard that it made his hands bleed. Kidd sprang into action and held the abused hand so it will not be in damaged anymore but the mere contact caused Trafalgar to panic even more.

Kidd will never forget the words that Trafalgar said that day.

"I promised I'll be a good boy…just let me out…" said in a voice of a broken child.

Killer stared at his friend for a moment before speaking, "The only thing I found is that Trafalgar Law's guardian is Officer Smoker who is now has the rank of vice-admiral in the government. They are not blood related though."

"I already know that." He even met the man in person. Kidd was still wondering how can Smoker inhale those tobaccos of his without gaining cancer in the lungs.

"Too bad that's the only thing I can get in legal way." Killer then looked to Kidd as if asking permission and he received a maniacal grin.

"Then hack into their database."

^_^ Nya~ ^_^

Trafalgar slowly got out of his dream state and blinked his blurry eyes. When did he fall asleep? The last thing he remembered was that Vivi was asking him about his episodes and then…nothing…

Frowning at his own memory he tried to sit up and realized that he was no longer at the clinic of his doctor but at his own bedroom which means he was back on his own house. How was that possible? Trying to suppress the headache that was slowly building up in his system he stood up and open the door to get down stairs for some coffee. But the person he found in his kitchen and smoking two tobaccos at the same time made him think to go back upstairs and sleep. That man being in here was not a good thing…most of the times.

"How are you feeling?" Smoker asked his charge as he put his tobaccos on the ashtray beside him. He then leaned a little on the table for a comfortable position.

"Fine…I guess. I mean aside from my headache right now, did you drive me back here?" Law walked forward and sat on a chair so he was looking in front of his guardian. After all he knew that this will be a long talk so why not?

"Yeah," Smoker answered as he stood up to make some coffee that Law really need so badly right now, "You had an episode at Vivi's place so she had to inject some tranquilizer on you in order to calm down."

"Shit," he cursed under his breath as he hid his face on his palms, "Did I destroy the room? Do I need to pay something?"

"No and none, you just almost destroy the door though but good thing it's still in one piece." With that answered Smoker placed the newly brewed coffee in front of the surgeon.

"Thanks, Smoker-ya." He mumbled and smelled the aroma of his favorite drink before sipping.

"I heard that you are planning to adopt Akagami's kids." Smoker narrowed his eyes at this but before he could speak again he was interrupted by a cold glare and an equally cold voice.

"I will and you can't stop me." Law answered venomously.

"Need I remind you that the reason you can't stand children was that they increase the chances of you having flashbacks?" his guardian countered not at all happy at Law's decision about having kids in his own house. That will be really dangerous for everyone.

No comeback was heard for how many minutes before Law spoke again,

"I'm trying to break free…" he whispered that Smoker almost didn't hear it, "Thanks for the coffee…" with that Law stood up and left the room.

Smoker heard the opening of the front door and closing as well as the starting of an engine. Trafalgar was going to drive somewhere. With a palm on his face Smoker groaned in annoyance,

"Damn brat. I don't know if some screws on his head are already loose." Smoker then grabbed his phone from his pocket to make a call to his trusted subordinate, "Tashigi, I want you to…"

^_^ Nya~ ^_^

The kids fall back to their usual routine after a week has passed. Though it was only the said routine, the usual behavior was not there anymore. Once every day someone will come to their home to cook for them and that's it. Ace did not like other people to stay in their home for too long. Even Makino was not allowed to stay for long hours.

Sabo was not that cheerful anymore on his studies. He was just trying his best in school in order to make his Dad proud of him.

"Dad, hey Dad!" the blond child tried to get the attention of his father who was currently reading some documents that was difficult to understand for the nine year old child.

"What is it, Sabo?" Shanks gave his undivided attention to one of his adopted sons as he put down his assignment on the table.

"Look, look! I got a perfect score in our math exam!" Sabo exclaimed with joy as he showed the paper as proof of what he was saying.

"Woah! That's great! Keep it up my boy!" Shanks shared the happiness of his son and proceeded to ruffle the blond hair, "If you're this smart then someday you might be able to help me in solving my works!"

"Really?! I can?" his cloud nine feeling could not be control anymore when he heard those words came out from his father's mouth.

"Of course!" the redhead confirmed.

"Then I will be the greatest investigator in the whole world!" Sabo declared as he jump from one feet to another.

"Keep having big dreams Sabo!"

Was it worth at all? Shanks was not here anymore.

Luffy was still not speaking. He remained cooped up in his room whenever they got home. The strawhat was still in his possession and allows no one to touch it. Truth be told, a gloomy Luffy has an effect to make everything sad also. No one was begging Ace and Sabo to buy some snacks whenever it was lunch in school, no one was asking the two older brothers to read some fairytale books before going to bed and no one was laughing without any care in the world.

Shock has some amazing power to render such a carefree soul speechless for this long.

Another notable thing was that Sabo and Ace was getting in more fights recently.

Which was the reason why they are in the Principal's office again.

"You two…" Principal Iceburg started, "I know you both are suffering for the lost of someone dear to you but it does not mean that violence is the answer to everything."

Iceburg knew the death of Shanks and as much as he wanted to sympathize to the kids their actions could not be tolerated anymore. Especially to the parents of the children who were beaten and left with broken bones, Sabo and Ace were becoming delinquents as time passes without a proper guardian.

"Hmp! They deserve it for ganging up against Luffy." Ace answered back as he crossed his arms against his chest.

"Yeah! They were bullying our little brother." Sabo added with a glare.

"Enough!" Iceburg shouted. This was always the answers he got from the past few days and his ears were bleeding for hearing the same thing all over again, "You two will stay for detention!" he declared the punishment with finality and left no room for arguments.

Not that the two notice though so obviously they will protest.

"But Luffy is waiting for us outside!" Ace argued as he hopped down from his chair and run towards the table of the principal and climb on it so they were face to face, "He can't go home alone!"

"And why is that?" Principal Iceburg raised an eyebrow. Surely Luffy was not-

"Luffy has no sense of direction," Sabo answered the question.

Oh

"Then surely he can wait for a few more hours."

"But-"

"No more 'but/s' Ace, you must learn how to take responsibility in your actions."

"We're not the ones who did wrong!" Surprisingly it was Sabo who were protesting now, "If we didn't do anything then Luffy will be hurt even more." He mumbled the last sentence under his breath but Iceburg still heard it.

"Then you should have called one of the teachers…or me."

"Adults can't be trusted." Ace said his opinion as he jumped away from the table and headed outside, "They are always trying to separate us."

Sabo followed his brother without a word.

^_^ Finally! It's Summer Vacation! ^_^

Luffy was waiting outside the school gates. Kalifa-sensei said that he should wait for a few more hours for his brothers since they were currently being disciplined for their actions. Realizing that the reason why Ace and Sabo was getting lectured was him, Luffy's lips quivered a little as he tried to suppress the tears. He was tired of crying already.

If only Daddy is here then he knows what to do.

Daddy always smiled and lifted Luffy up high in the air.

Daddy always waited for them in front of the school's gate and treated them for some sweet snacks before going home.

Where is Daddy now? Why did they bury Daddy under the ground?

Luffy was about to clutched the strawhat on his head for some reassurance when a strong wind blows. That being happened the child was forced to close his eyes only to open it abruptly when he felt and heard that the wind stole his hat!

That stupid wind! How dare it blew his hat!

Luffy followed his hat to where the wind will land it forgetting that he was supposed to wait for his brothers.

He chased and chased until he reached the beach near their school where they usually do their paintings. It seems like the wind was mocking him because it made his hat to land on the sea far away from the shore!

Now Shanks gave him the nickname 'Anchor' for one reason.

He can't swim.

Puffing his cheeks with air frustrations Luffy tried to devised a plan on how he can retrieved the hat that belonged to his Daddy. He can't afford to lose the strawhat, Luffy decided that he will give it back to Shanks once the man finally came home again. So he must took care of it while his Daddy is not here.

But at last thinking was not Luffy's strong point at all.

Before almost giving up Luffy saw a boat and what do boats do? Float on the sea! That's it! Getting hyped at this discovery Luffy ran where the boat was and luckily it enough the roped that attached the boat to the shore was not tied but rather just hooked on a piece of wood that was nailed on the ground. So the Luffy rode the boat and unhook the rope so he can set sail.

If only Luffy didn't forgot that he can't swim in the first place then his life will not be in danger. Sadly he forgot.

^_^ Nya! ^_^

Law does not know where he was going right now. All he knows was that he needed some fresh air since a lot of things were jumbling inside his mind and the mixture of emotions was not helping him at all. His problems were in a long list.

First, he thought that he already forgot his past sadly it's not since he was still having flashbacks.

Second, when the said flashbacks were too intense he was losing his touch in reality and forgets everything he had done while he was stuck in a world of past.

Third, he needed to put a fight to Smoker in order to allow him to adopt the three kids.

See? So many problems and those above where the top three of it.

Maybe he should go the beach near the New World Elementary School. The sea has an amazing effect in calming his mind.

Yeah, the sea sounds nice.

Finally having a destination Law drove where the said beach was and parked his car. He went out and walked near the shore but not near enough to get wet by the waves. He was not in the mood to take off his shoes. He breathed in and out heavily smelling the scent of the salty air and sighed. This was indeed relaxing.

It only lasted for a moment when his eyes caught something faraway. There was a small boat but the one that really caught his attention was the one currently riding it…

Is that Luffy?

Why is Luffy there?

Narrowing his eyes even more he saw that the kid was trying to reach out for something. Law tilted his head a little to the right to see what it was. Viola, it was the strawhat that Shanks-ya used to wear…

Wait…

If his memory serves him right he heard from the talking's of Shanks friends at the funeral that Luffy can't swim since the red hair's nickname for his youngest was 'Anchor'.

Boat…

Sea…

Anchor…

Shit! The kid has a great chance in getting himself drowned!

And fate was really cruel or just a plain sadist because when Luffy finally caught his hat and smiled in triumph he lost his balance and met the cold water of the sea. That was really a bad idea.

"Luffy!" Law shouted as he took of his shoes and swim all the way to the panicking child. If Luffy will panic so much then there was a greater chance of drowning for the oxygen was not entering his body properly.

Law swim faster and faster, the rush of adrenaline is commanding his body. One thing to accomplish and that is to save Luffy. He can't afford to lose another one that soon.

At last he managed to grab luffy on the waist but the child still continued to flail his arms on the water and made some strong splashes that hits Law's face.

"Luffy! Luffy-ya calm down!"

Hearing the familiar nickname Luffy stopped moving and looked up. He was met with the face that played with him and cooked him some yummy pancakes. It was the doctor that took care of them when Shanks went out.

"It's fine, I'm here now." Law tried to assure the boy but making people feel good out of medical terms was not his strong point. Still he tries, "No need to fear."

Luffy nodded at him.

Law heard that the youngest hadn't said a word before and after the funeral.

Is he still in shock?

Or does the kid still not believe that his father is not going back anymore?

"Well, let's get you back to land." Law said as he hoisted Luffy up on the boat but the boy started to squirm, "What?" the doctor asked impatiently. Can you blame him? The water was freezing cold on his skin! But then Luffy pointed down on the water again and Law followed it…

The strawhat…

Right…

It must have fallen when the kid was panicking earlier. And the distance grew much farther because of the waves.

"Okay," knowing that he had no choice at all he concede, "I'll get it for you so get on the boat, Luffy-ya."

Luffy stared at him with uncertain eyes but finally agreed. He got on the boat again and Law swim away in order to get the hat that belong to his deceased and former Professor.

Kids are really strange… Law thought as he finally reached the hat and took a hold of it firmly so it can't get away anymore. Acquiring his objective he swim back to the little boat. He was really near when his legs gave up.

Shit…

He should have exercise once in a week to keep his body in shape.

Panic build up in him as his legs went numb. It feels like tons of metals were dragging him down and meet the darkness of the ocean floor. This is bad, this is bad…

He tried to move his arms in an attempt to at least carry his body up to the surface again. Though it looks like fate is really mocking him because the moment he reached for air he was being dragged down again. But at least he is gaining distance, the downfall is that his body is getting tired due to lack of oxygen.

But he is not afraid of losing his life.

One thing was just on his mind that time.

Need to give this hat back to Luffy-ya…

Having that resolve Law forced his legs to wake up. It was painful and if he could scream he would but if he will open his mouth then he will lose more air. Slowly he forced his right leg to kick the water. Pain ran up to his body and internally he winced. Then the left leg and the same thing happened. Though he does not mind as long as he can go back up.

Finally his hands felt the familiar feeling of wood and, as much strength as he could muster, forced his body to get on the boat. Successfully doing this he coughed away the pressure of water done to him.

I hate the ocean! That's official now! He cried mentally.

Heaving one last sigh he opened his eyes and blinked the blurriness away. He looked to his right and saw a frightened Luffy.

He must have scared him back then.

Law forced a smile and handed the hat to the child, "Here, Luffy-ya."

Uncertain hands reached out for it. Luffy honestly didn't know how to react after the events he had witnessed. First, Traffy promised to retrieve Shanks' hat then second he saw the man being swallowed by the ocean! He was so scared that he thought Traffy will not come back at all. But the doctor stick to his promise and the strawhat was back safely.

"You know," Law tried to get the attention of the child who seemed to caught an interest in having a staring contest with the strawhat, "I don't know if I'm supposed to say this but verbal tact when it concerns feelings is not my strong point at all." He admitted as he went to a sitting position and crossed his legs Indian style. Then he tried to get Luffy to meet him in the eye by wriggling his right point finger in front of the child, "I know it still didn't register in your mind that your father will never come back at all."

Luffy's eyes widen as those words went inside his ears that he started to tremble. This didn't go unnoticed by the doctor. Still Law continued his speech,

"And I know that if you will not heal the wound sooner then it will gain infection that can't be heal anymore no matter how great a doctor is."

Luffy does not want to hear any more of what Traffy had to say. He just want to block everything around him! He was about to cover his ears when Traffy took hold of it.

"But," Law started again as he gently caress the hands that wanted to shied away from reality, "Shanks may not come back for you physically but he is still there," he smiled soflty as he got a curious glance from Luffy. Very similar to the child that he met for the first time, "You see, when people die their body ceased to move but they always stay with you."

"How?" for the first time Luffy spoke as he wanted to know what Traffy means, "How?" he repeated again his question.

"Shanks is just here," then Law gently pressed the wet shirt of Luffy just above the chest where he can feel the beating heart, "He is always with you. Death simply snatched the physical body but it can never erased the bonds that we made and memories that we created with the person who died." He then patted the raven hair and messed it up a little, "So don't think that Shanks left you alone."

Luffy now then realize what Traffy means. Since the funeral people can't explain to him what happened for they don't know how to tell to a child what death really is. They don't want to tell him how cruel and merciless it is…but is it?

Shanks is still here…

Shanks is inside him…

Shanks is watching over him…

"Live with no regrets Luffy! The world has many things for you to see!"

Slowly tears started to roll down his cheeks as he clutched the strawhat tighly on his chest. Law, knowing that he finally got the child to accept the truth, simply wrapped his arms around the small body and let the tiny droplets of rain fall on his shirt. It's not a problem since he was already wet from head to toe.

^_^ I Finally got the chance to update! ^_^

"Where are we going, Traffy?" Little Luffy asked when they finally reached the shore and the doctor hoisted him up to put him on the sandy ground. After the child pour his sorrows out he started speaking again. Law almost forgot how talkative the kid originally was.

"I know a laundry shop near here. We should go there to dry our clothes."

"Eh~" Luffy whined at the thought that he was supposed to wait for the drying, "Why not buy a new one?"

"I would," Law grumbled, "If I have the money for it, sadly I don't so you need to put up with it for a while."

"But don't you need to pay in using the drier?"

"Well that is where I'm lucky," Law answered as he led the child to walk since the shop that he was talking about was very near to the beach, "I know the owner."

It was just a ten minute walk when they halted and Luffy read the sign of the shop,

'Mermaid's Wash and Dry'

"Why mermaid?" the child asked again and Law does not know if he preferred the quiet Luffy than the talkative one. But looking down and seeing emotions flooded those black curious eyes he accepted the he should get used to the talking now because it is much better than the lifeless one.

"Don't know yet," the doctor pushed the door open and revealed an empty shop. Thank heavens that there are no people because Law did not want to mingle with others right now. The only one inside the shop was the owner.

"Ah! Nice to see you Law-chin!" a green haired woman greeted. She was wearing a black shirt that has a printed star on the middle and bears the word 'Crimin', a pink skirt that was endowed with ruffles and a silver colored three inches high heeled sandals.

"Nice to see you also, Camie-ya," Law said back as he motioned Luffy near one of the machines and grabbing some towels from the counter to cover their bodies after removing their clothes, "I'm going to use your drier for a while okay?"

"No problem Law-chin! It's been a while since you've last visit here!" Camie beamed as she helped the him in putting the clothes inside the machine that was until she was the kid beside the doctor, "How cute!" she started cooing as she pinched the cheeks of the poor defenseless child, "You didn't tell me you have a son, Law-chin!" Camie protested as she hugged the boy, "You're so cruel!"

"He's not mine," Law grumbled in annoyance, "Now let of him before he suffocates."

True to his words Luffy was slowly turning blue from the bone crushing hug that Camie let go of him immediately and started apologizing.

"My name is Camie," she started to introduce herself to the boy, "What's yours?"

"I'm Luffy!" the child stated happily as Law wrapped the towel on the kid's waist.

"Camie-ya, I'm sorry but I don't have money with me right now but I promise to pay you tomorrow.

Camie shook her head, "No need for it Law-chin, you once save my life so I think using my drier for free is not comparable to it."

"Thanks,"

No more than five minutes the clothes were finally dried and they bid goodbye to Camie with a promised from Luffy that he will come back again to play with the 'nice lady'.

"Should I take you home now?" Law asked as he opened the passenger side of his car.

"Nope! I was supposed to wait for Ace and Sabo in front of the school gates!" Luffy stated giving an idea to Law on where he was to go.

"The elementary school it is then…wait it's just another ten minute walk from here."

"It's alright, it's alright! Traffy will give me a ride!" Luffy sang saying that he did not want to walk anymore.

"Fine," Law conceded, "Surprisingly your sentenced rhymed." With that Law stopped at the elementary school and let Luffy to hop out and stand in front of the gates, "Are you sure you're okay to be alone now?"

"Hai! Ace and Sabo is about to go out anyway."

"If you say so." And Law drove away from the school when he was a good distance away Luffy looked up to the sky,

"Shanks…Daddy…I understand everything now," he grinned his carefree grin, "You will not leave us alone right?" after saying those words the wind blew again and this time Luffy made sure to hold his hat that was on his head. Then he felt hands on the said hat that seemed attempting to ruffle his hair

"Of course not, Luffy."

Hearing the familiar voice Luffy turned around but was only greeted by the running forms of his older brothers,

"Shishishi, you're really the best Daddy, Shanks! I wonder if Traffy can be a Daddy also."

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