A/N: I'm Back! But not for forever! I am currently doing my thesis and it will decide my future to continue my road in being a doctor! That's right, I am ranting. But it's true, I need to pass my thesis this year to graduate and continue in Med. School.

Also, I found out that people are adding this in their favorites and following list and I am very happy about it but please leave a review to let me know what you think. I feel like I've been abandoned now because I am not updating…well, that part was my fault. But, I want to know what you think otherwise I will think I am doing a poor job. The reviews motivate me to post another chapter!

Okay, I will stop there. So this chapter will wrap up this arc! (Also I'm getting impatient to post the next arc)

Disclaimer: If I do own One Piece then Cora-san will still be alive and he will help Law to defeat Doffy. Sadly, I do not own One Piece, Oda-sensei does.

Chapter 22: And it all Ends

The lukewarm water hit his body and washed the dirt and blood that clung to him. He let the water run down on him for a few minutes before grabbing the lemon scented soap that was available in the ship's bathroom. Making bubbles as he cleaned his body, he continued until he deemed so that it was enough. Turning off the shower he took hold of the towel available beside the sink for drying. Looking in the room he found two of him. He already classified himself as insane-sane category for accepting the fact that he has a split personality who could materialize himself. If Law did not know any better he would think that it was a ghost of his long dead twin brother.

"How long are you going to sulk?" true, Surgeon of Death was sitting on the corner of the bathroom. Curling into a ball as a gloomy cloud hanged above his head.

"But…" the other persona only sulked further.

Law knew the reason why his other personality was acting like this.

After meeting Smoker and Cora-san, they attempted to escape the palace without causing harm to the kids. Unfortunately they ran to an angry Doflamingo who was smirking like a crazy Cheshire cat who consumed a lot of different kinds of drugs that could make anyone so high. Smoker and Cora-san tried to protect Law and the kids to the best of their abilities. Even though the two elders were fighting like cat and dog whenever they meet when it comes to battle they were a golden pair. Law's adopted father was good in his jitte and martial arts while Corazon had a good shot comparable to a sniper. They may be good but Doflamingo was a psycho and unpredictable. Cora-san was almost shot to death if Law did not interfere. He joined the battle after making sure that his boys were in a safe place and far enough so they will not be caught up in battles. Law made a clear instruction to Ace to not leave the room without him or anyone they know. Also he explained to the best of his abilities how to take care of his brothers when they woke up or when the wounds got into danger of being re-opened.

Of course Smoker was angry when his adopted son faced Doflamingo but he could not complain any further when he could not stand up in his state. The insane warlord made sure that his ribs was broken enough that his lungs would be in risked of being punctured open if he will move so much. Dying because of lack of oxygen was not a happy ending.

Doflamingo went into a drama speech on how his precious Law needed to come back to him and he would make sure the SoD would never torture Law inside his own mind. That if he would come back to the Donquixote family then the leader would forget everything that happened and start anew as long as he had his 'cute Law' with him. Then Doflamingo turned his gaze to his traitorous little brother who was in the verge of dying.

"I should have known you will betray me."

"You were never my brother in the first place since I met you again after 14 years."

Doflamingo was ready to pull the trigger and silencing Cora-san forever. Law tried to stop him but his body was not battle fit so he was easily flung to the side like rag doll.

"Birds of a feather flocks together. You and your brother are both weak idiots."

"…but idiots…" he took a deep breath to control himself, "…are the ones who usually…wins…right, Doffy?"

It was all a blur to Law, literally because his head hit the wall real hard. What he saw still confused him until now. Doflamingo seemed to freeze after Cora-san finished his speech. Then the next it was like watching a man possessed by something. Doflamingo could not control his own body. The hand holding the gun was slowly pointed to his temple. That was the first time Law saw such a sad and at the same time a happy smile on Doflamingo's face. That was the first time he also saw tears run down on Cora-san's face. Blood painted his surroundings and Cora-san embraced the dead body of the insane warlord and cried a river.

Why did Cora-san cried for someone like Doflamingo?

The guy should be hated to the bones.

It was true. Until now, Law still hated the guy who made him so messed up so much in the head. But… a part of him… somewhere inside of him… he did not want to fully hate Doffy. In the deepest part of his memory he wanted to forget there was always…always… the part where he was being carried by the arms full of love. When it was the summer time there was always someone giving him sweet cold treats. When it was bedtime there was always someone who would lull him to sleep with a song. When there was a time where the stars looked so close for him to reach whenever he was perched on that man's shoulder, telling him what kind of constellations he was seeing.

Come to think of it…

That someone was… Doffy…

"I'm sorry… Please forgive me, Law…"

Before the day Doffy made a drastic changed in his personality he asked for forgiveness. Why was that?

"It was because of heavenly demon." Surgeon of Death always knew what his 'King' thinks.

"What?" there was no used in pretending he could not hear voices when he already accepted his state of mind.

"Heavenly demon was Donquixote Doflamingo's split personality,"

"…and you know this because?"

"I don't know," Surgeon of Death shrugged as he started to vanish, "I guess, it takes one to know one." With that he was completely gone and went to deepest part of Law's mind where he could not reached him.

"Such a cliché quote." With a sigh he dried his hair. Just in time there was knock on the door.

"Oi, Trafalgar, I brought you some clothes." Just from the voice and the shadow the figure was making from the glass door it was, without a doubt, Eustass Kidd.

It was a good thing Killer called another ship for them to get out of Dressrosa. Kidd could not stand another minute inside the pink monstrosity of the okama. He saw enough pink for this quest thank you very much. Also in this ship he could hide from Smoker. The guy very pissed at him.

Okay…maybe taking control of the bombs that was triggered by a computer and set it up to blow up the whole castle was not one of his best ideas. But his reason was that the place has an underground factory that produces drugs and that unknown fruit-whatever-you-call-it.

The only one they captured alive was the mad scientist Ceasar Clown and Vergo. But before Vergo was shipped away from them he slipped something to the tall guy Corazon. The blond accepted it and with a solemn expression rode the ship to take the criminals in custody. He only meet the guy first time when he saw the others running away from the collapsing castle. Really, the glares he was receiving was enough to make him hide. Law's glare of 'I-will-kill-you-later' was familiar to him so he feel that he was the safest to hang out with in the mean time.

After making sure that the kids were already sleeping on the infirmary he ordered Trafalgar to take a shower.

Now he was just outside waiting for the other to open the door and hand him the clothes he gathered. It was a good thing that Killer and Law had the same measurement of body. Both were lean and as flexible as a cat.

When the door opened he expected a glare. What he saw was the opposite. Trafalgar was having a face like someone closed to him died.

"Oi, what's with the long face?" Kidd handed the clothes which the other accepted without uttering words from his mouth.

Trafalgar closed the door and after a few minutes got out wearing a simple white shirt and jeans. Kidd was about to ask again but then his friend started crying. It was the first time he heard him cried like this. For all the time he knew the surgeon, Law was always crying silently. Letting the tears fall down freely on his face. But now his friend was wailing. He was letting all the hurt he had accumulate all this time all out. With nothing else to do Kidd just let him to use his shirt as a tissue replacement and patted Trafalgar's head.

He was about to open the door when a sudden rushed of a memory started to resurface on his mind. It was just a few minutes but it felt like hours.

The trigger: it takes one to know one

A phrase that would only took an affect if it would be straight from the mouth of Surgeon of Death.

Law forgot that Doffy could use hypnotism.

With the pocket watch used to do this Doflamingo started to utter the words he knew he would never have the chance to say in the future.

"Law…I want you to know…that I love you very much…as a son…I really, really, really love you. You are the one who kept me sane all this time. But Law… I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I can't hold him back anymore. Every day he was getting stronger. There is a monster inside me and he is worse to the monsters hiding under your bed or inside your closet. I know he wanted you to become him. I know that he wanted you to have another 'you' inside your mind. The other 'me' is insane. Law, I am so sorry…please forgive me…please do not forget that I love you."

Doflamingo sigh.

"It might not make sense but this is a secret message. If 'he' knew that I warned you he might use more drastic measure. Besides, you are still too young to understand me. I know he will succeed in creating another 'you'. Forgive me that I can't protect you anymore. But my love for you as my son is real. If there will be another 'you' then you will remember this conversation when he said 'it takes one to know one'…"

He was about to stop when another thought entered his mind.

"…and Law? Do you remember the sword you really want but I said no because you are too young? That time when you cried and cried but I would not budge? Well…I bought it. Someday it will find you. Apparently it was called as a nodachi. That sword is yours and yours alone…."

Taking the pocket watch away he muttered the final words.

"Goodbye…My sweet child Law…"

The child he adopted when he stumble on the ruins of Flevance after its frightening massacre.

"Goodbye…Papa…" fully clothed he wailed like a child on Eustass' chest like tomorrow would never come and welcome him with its warmth.

"So…Daddy is okay now?" young Luffy asked his brothers.

The moment that they woke up Ace was relieved and at the same time angry. He punched the two in the head and started ranting about the dangers they got into that Sanji kicked the freckled boy to make him shut up and shouting something about 'you should not hurt the injured ones already.' Luffy and Sabo knew though that it was the way how Ace showed his worrying side.

Ace explained what happened after the two lost consciousness as clear as he can. Sabo already accepted that his father had another entity inside his head. Law would still be their father. Whether he was sane or not. All they need to do was to knock some sense to him whenever the other personality showed up.

Trafalgar Law stuck to them and they would do the same for him.

Also, he trusted his father that he would protect them.

Luffy, on the other hand, only cares if his Daddy was okay or not. He could care less about this other-person-whatever.

"Yeah, Dad is okay now. Last time I saw him Kidd asked him to take a bath." Ace answered and ruffled his little brother's messy hair. The three of them were currently sharing Luffy's bed. They just wanted to be close to each other as much as possible right now. To know that all of them were alive and real, that there was still a beating heart inside them.

"Speaking of bath…" Sabo started, "I think we need one also."

"Well, you get one but it's a sponge bath." Sanji came out of nowhere with a malicious glint in his eyes, "Oooh… I'll show you brats why you should never go without permission."

This was the time that has been marked as why you should never trust Sanji when it comes to giving you a bath.

An hour later Law was just leaning on Eustass' chest as the redhead put all his weight on the wall behind him where he was sitting on. He just let Trafalgar to let out everything until he was hoarse and weak to cry anymore. The moment the room became silent Kidd knew that his friend was trying to think on what he would say in this situation.

"You know…" Kidd started the conversation and he felt Trafalgar stiffened from his embrace, "you pulled me into this damn crazy circus life of yours."

"I mean, the first time we met you pulled a damn scalpel to me and was about to dissect me. What's wrong with you that time?" he slowly smoothed Law's hair, "And then you became all heroic and shit just to be stuck up inside a hospital. The best part of it was that you were in a coma."

"Then you knew that kids could trigger you to have an episode but you were such a stubborn bastard and adopted not one but three! Can you imagine that? You child-hating bastard adopted three kids right off the bat."

Kidd rested his hands on Trafalgar's shoulders.

"But then… I would not trade this friendship I have with you from anything." He whispered, "If you think you are losing your path, if you think you are going insane, if you think you are drowning… I will always be there and pull you out. I will make you remember that you are Trafalgar Law, the bastard who pull out a scalpel because he think I am such an eyesore, the one who saved my life and the one who was kind enough to adopt those three kids when their father died. I know you killed back in your past. Hell, you were mutilating people the time when I was trying to pass my history test maybe. But…"

Kidd stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath before continuing.

"…but… I don't care about your past. Everyone has time to change. You are not that killing tool anymore Trafalgar. You are now a great doctor, a great friend and a great father."

He said everything he had in mind. Now he was just waiting for a response from his speech. What did Killer put on his drink? He was being such a softie today. If Law would bring this out in the next following days he would sure the surgeon would need to run so fast away from him.

A soft chuckle brought him out from thinking on how to make Trafalgar to shut his mouth about this moment. Looking down he saw a gentle smile spreading on the surgeon's face.

"You," Trafalgar finally spoke, "Who the hell are you and what did you do to Eustass-ya?"

Kidd simply smirk at this and said,

"I am Eustass Kidd and I am making sure to keep an eye on you."

"I knew it, you are gay."

"Keep telling yourself that Trafalgar and I might spank that ass of yours."

Trafalgar just laughed heartily in return.

It was just a simple request but it was like as if someone was going to announce how a life threatening surgery came out. Mihawk conspicuously looked around but not moving his head to see the expression of the other occupants. Earlier Kidd broadcasted through the speakers that everyone should be in the lobby. All of them. Why did that man used the ship's speakers anyway. It was like a military training to be done.

The kids were mostly okay. The only indication of their hurts was the bandages around their whole body. Come to think of it, they still don't know who harmed the kids while they were sneaking inside the castle. Right now the shortest trio in the room was happily giving attention to the sweet cold treats given by Zoro's lover.

Ah…the times sure fly so fast.

The first time he saw Zoro got real angry he thought his little brother finally found someone who could be his equal. But then months came by and it became a year he realized the thing that Zoro, his directionally challenged brother, could not seem to figure out. After a fight that left his little brother almost dying in a hospital bed Sanji finally confessed his feelings. There were a bit of adjustments from then on. He laughed internally when he saw how nervous the couple were when they were breaking the news to him. How could Zoro thought that he would kick him out of their family. Now that there are only two of them? Besides, he already knew that Zoro connects his eyes for the other team.

Back to the present, Mihawk still wondered who harmed the kids.

The sound of the door being opened snapped everyone to whatever their doing. Mihawk heard Smoker plotting some revenge or punishment to a certain redhead who owned the ship they were in with earlier. All of them looked who was it and saw Killer and Kidd side by side and behind them was the man they were supposed to rescue in the beginning of all this events.

"Huh? What's with the gloomy atmosphere?" Kidd cracked the silence with a raised eyebrow while Killer merely sighed at having such a dense friend sometimes. The only times that Kidd could read an atmosphere was that when it was clearly slapped on his face.

Before anyone could make a smart remark the ASL brothers jumped from where they were sitting and ran towards their father, Kidd and Killer gave them space and they entered the room to join the others.

"Daddy!" Luffy exclaimed as he hugged Law's left leg. Sabo just beamed at him while Ace allowed a gentle smile on his lips.

Even though it was clear that his kids were not holding any grudge towards him, he was still doubtful in touching them. Fearing that he might inflict pain to their fragile bodies, even though it was not really him who did it but the other 'him' to start with.

The young ones sensed his uncertainty and looked at each other. Communicating with their eyes a big smile was shown and they dragged their father inside the room not listening to the protests and not minding the way their father flinched when they held him. They made him sat on one of the still available chairs and asked Sanji if their Dad could have some of the treat the blond chef had given to them earlier. Then they handed the cold sweet to him and asked (more like forced) him to eat it. No one could resist three pairs of puppy eyes anyways. Then they chatted on him. Saying nonsense or whatever entered their mind.

The rest of the adults merely watched until Law's muscles finally relaxed and answered the questions that were thrown at him from the boys.

It went like this for a while until Law was calm enough to break the news he had been dreading to tell everyone. When he called for attention the previous stillness was back in the air again.

"Before you speak, Trafalgar-kun," Mihawk stared directly to the surgeon then to the kids and back to the doctor again, "I believe you can tell me who hurt Shanks' kids, right?"

Trafalgar Law sighed. Well, this question might be a better start for an explanation anyways.

"It was me."

Everyone stared wide eyed at him at this confession. The kids were about to protests but Law spoke again.

"…or rather it was the other me. I have a split personality named 'Surgeon of Death' and he is not the easiest one to please."

Meanwhile in Impel Down.

After escorting the criminals to the most secured prison in grandline, Corazon leaned on the railing of his ship. Staring at the blue ocean before him, he inhaled his cigarette and blew it out. With somber expression he rummaged on the secret pocket of his feathery coat and revealed the letter that Vergo had handed to him earlier.

"Thank you…Roci…for coming back and stopping me"

"Stupid brother…" Rocinante said to no one, "Thanking when you are the one who ended all…"

The tears of pain started to roll down his face again. He thought he could no longer cry. It seemed his body had a lot of water to be spent.

"Why…why…"

He asked again and again as he bend his back forward in an attempt to hide his face to the world. With his left had he clutched the fabric that was hiding his heart, trying to see if he could control its slow destruction. With another heaved he gave up in every attempt to control the volume of his despair and shouted his cries towards the sky.

Every day, I wrote something in a piece of paper and then I put it in a glass bottle and let it wonder to the ocean.

The paper that was handed to him was a piece that ripped out from a diary.

A diary owned by Doflamingo.

Words that have been finding its way towards the only little brother.

Every day I wrote the same message to him.

'To my little brother, Rocinante. Where are you now? I hope you are alright. I wished some day we can see each other again. I wished someday I can have the chance to be your big brother again.'

"Why…why…why did you do this to me…Doffy…" finding his notepad that he used to communicate with the other members of the Donquixote family, the time when he was pretending to be mute, he started to scribble something on it and then put it in a bottle of wine he snatched from the cellar.

(Flow along glass bottle and please don't take too long*)

Corazon whispered endearments on the bottle before tossing it far away to the ocean.

('Cause what I want the most is in that message.)

He watched it as the bottle floated away from him. Tears were mixing on the salty ocean and the wind messed up his hair.

(And on the other side of this sunset,)

On the horizon the bottle with the message was nowhere to be seen anymore.

(Right there my wish will disappear.)

70 years after

A young boy of five years old ran on the sandy beach where the waves slightly hit his feet. The boy having his blond hair and blue eyes sparkle in the sunset merely laughed and let his pet dog chased after him. He fell in a fit of giggles when his pet finally pinned him down on the sand. The dog he named as 'Heart' licked him to show its happiness for winning the game. The boy tried to protest but in the end he let his pet do what it wants. He only made it stop when he spotted a clear bottle that looked like carrying a paper inside of it. He grabbed it and stared at it for a moment, Heart merely sat beside him in confusion. The boy's concentration ended when another body almost shoved him again on the ground.

"Brother!" the boy's little brother exclaimed with joy and proceeded to embraced the older one by one years.

"Roci! Be careful!" the older slightly scolded but let him be embraced like there was no tomorrow.

"But you and Heart left me! Meanie, Doffy!" Roci pouted and resembled a squirrel carrying a lot of chestnuts in its mouth that made Doffy laughed at the cuteness.

"Okay, okay, Heart and I are sorry. See?" the dog barked for agreement, "Let's go back and play!" Doffy declared a game of tag again this time with Roci and Heart behind him.

The bottle was left forgotten in the sand but it reached the person it was intending to be.

'To my Older Brother Doflamingo…I'm sorry and thank you for everything…'

From the distance the kids greeted their parents and let themselves in inside their humble home.

'I wish a time will come where we can be brothers again.'

A/N: THE END!

I'm just joking! Well…this is the ENDING of THIS ARC. Whew, now I can write the next one.

As always, love it, hate it, don't forget to review!

**IMPORTANT: I will say this in advance but 'Daddy is the New Title' will be having different routes right now. But all of this will be written in the future. I'm just giving you dear readers some sneak peek.

NOTE: these are not related to each other aside from the fact that all of it happened in 'Daddy is the New Title AU' For the sequels:

'70 Years After: Path of the Donquixote Brothers': well, this will be the story of the Donquixote Brothers in Daddy!AU about their life being together. About the wish that was finally fulfilled. (This will be a short one…I hope)

'The Sun, The Sea, The Adventurer and The Father': ASL and Law's life when his boys finally grew up from boy to man. (ASL and Daddy!Law route)

'Get his Bleeding Heart, Kidd!': (For KiddLaw fans! Aiming for a oneshot) after the events happened in Dressrosa, Killer got tired of watching and finally kicked Kidd to man up and grab Law's bleeding heart. (KiddLaw route)

JUST REMEMBER THAT ALL OF THESE ARE JUST SNEAK PEAKS AND WILL BE WRITTEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE!

…someone really should monitor my sugar intakes…

*Oh, also I stumble to this song… I'm not much into Vocaloid but I know some songs. This one has a title of 'Regret Message'.