I'm sorry guys, I should probably stop apologizing, but I can't help it. Spring break is busy lol. Anyway, whoo, we survived! Barely lol. All right. Onward. Thanks for all your reviews and love.

"Rose!"

I smile up at Chopper as the reindeer starts bandaging my injuries.

"Sorry Chopper, I got a bit roughed up."

Zoro sits on the deck beside the railing, looking calm as ever but I see the tenseness in his posture. Was he, worried about me? He shouldn't be.

"Rose."

Within seconds the entire crew is gathered. They look over me critically so I give them the best thing I could; a reassuring smile.

"I'm all right, promise."

Brook's skeletal hand ghosted over my arm and I fight a flinch. I can't let them worry about me like this. He shakes his head, his afro bouncing.

"I'm glad I don't have skin when I see this."

I shrug, sending spikes of pain through me. I just have to stop moving until Chopper finishes bandaging me. Nami gives me a sympathetic look.

"Are you ok?"

I sigh. I told them I was fine didn't I? Why couldn't they get that? A shadow fell over me. I look up to see Luffy standing over me with a face like someone had died. I gulp slightly, but lean back. He is not happy, at all. Luffy crossed his arms.

"Rose."

He sounds angry. I sigh.

"Yes Luffy?"

Luffy narrowed his eyes.

"Rose, you deliberately stayed, knowing how I felt about Bon-chan staying last time. You know how I feel about leaving nakama behind."

I don't break eye contact with him as I start to say.

"Luf—"

"What if you had been killed? What if we couldn't rescue you? Do you understand how worried about you we were?"

"Lu—"

"Look at you, you are now hurt and injured, and all for our sakes. We didn't want that. I want to protect everyone Rose. That's why I got stronger."

I tuned him out, starting to get frustrated. I knew he would react this way, but he wasn't giving me any chance to explain. I take a deep breath, and turn on my best motherly voice.

"Rose I don't want you to ever stay behind again, even if it is to save us, I mean what if—"

"Monkey D. Luffy."

I ordered firmly. Surprisingly, he shut up. I didn't dare relax as I order with my best mother voice again, sternly.

"Sit down and listen to me."

Luffy sits down, absolutely stunned. I don't mean to sound so harsh, but seriously. He needs to stop talking. I take a deep breath and my frustration dies.

"Now Luffy, does it look like I'm not all right?"

Luffy cocked his head at the question, like I was stupid.

"Yes, you are covered in injuries."

I smile at him.

"Does it look like I can't handle it?"

The entire ship goes silent. Luffy opens his mouth to answer, but I interrupt him.

"Answer carefully Luffy. If you say yes, you have no business asking me to be a part of the crew."

I say it completely serious, and it is true. If I can't handle protecting my friends, I cannot be a Straw-hat. That is what they live for. Luffy bowed his head in defeat.

"No."

I pat his shoulder.

"Then there is nothing to worry about. I was bound to get roughed up. I kept my promise didn't I? I said I would survive and I did. It could be worse, and I'm fine. It was my fault for not making the lift and it was my decision to stay. I wanted to make sure you all got out. If anyone should be blamed it is me and me alone. You don't need to feel guilty for this."

Luffy looked unsure for a minute, before smiling.

"All right Rose."

He gives me a soft hug.

"Welcome back."

I laugh loudly.

"It's good to be back."

Suddenly I notice the other occupants on the ship that I had forgotten about. I grin.

"Jinbe, Bon Kurei, how are you both?"

Bon Kurei spun on his toes cackling.

"Good to see you too Rose-chan! Not nice of you to change the plans so suddenly on me like that."

I bowed my head respectfully.

"I apologize, it was a last minute thing."

He just grinned.

"It worked out."

I bowed my head again to Jinbe, who is sitting cross-legged on the deck.

"Jinbe sir. I'm glad to finally meet you formally. I am Rose."

Jinbe smiled kindly.

"Yes Rose, I have heard a lot about you."

I smile. How cool it is to meet the Knight of the Sea in person. I look around. Everyone is still looking rather glum. I grin.

"Well, all serious matters out of the way, I think we should celebrate our newest world challenging feat."

As expected, all of the Straw-hats' faces lit up with excitement. Sanji lit a cigarette.

"Give me a moment to fix something up."

He went to the kitchen and disappeared. I grinned at Zoro.

"I owe you a drink."

Zoro grinned at me as a barrel of sake suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"You are right. Besides, alcohol is a great painkiller."

Nami hands me a wooden tankard filled with the clear liquid. I eye it carefully, not really sure if I want to do this. Zoro nudged me.

"Come on Rose."

I sigh.

"All right, yolo."

I take a sip of the drink and coughed slightly. The taste is strong, like liquid fire. It's peppery almost, but I swallow it. I guess my face looks pretty strange because everyone laughs at me. I stick out my tongue and a wave of haziness descends on my mind. As expected, I have a low tolerance for alcohol. I sigh as I glance at Zoro.

"There, happy?"

Zoro smiled genuinely as he drained his tankard.

"Very."

Luffy bounced next to me.

"What's yolo mean?"

I laugh, the alcohol making it bubble out of my lips. Wow, I never need to drink again. I push the tankard away from me, before I did something else stupid.

"Yolo is a term from my world, an acronym. You Only Live Once."

Luffy smiled at that, thinking about the words.

"I like that. Yolo."

I grin. I had once again introduced something from my world into theirs. It looks like they enjoy it too.

Food appears as Sanji and a few Okama cooks lay it out on the lawn. Everyone digs in. I do as well, knowing I need food and rest to help with my injuries.

Jinbe sits next to me, and I stop eating. He shakes his head at Luffy and Usopp who are dancing with beer across the deck.

"The future pirate king sure is childish."

I shrug.

"It's what makes him great. You know how he is though. He can be childish, but if he wants to be serious, he can be dangerous."

Jinbe nodded. I took a deep breath and it did a little to clear my head. I would rather not act like a complete fool in front of my favorite characters. Jinbe glanced at me wisely.

"Ah Rose you know them well."

I nod.

"I do. I am like you: an ally, but not an official member the crew yet."

Jinbe ate quietly. I feel like I need to talk to him.

"Thank you Jinbe."

Yes, that is a start. Jinbe looks at me strangely. I drink a little water, smiling.

"Yes, thank you for what you did in the war. You helped Luffy tremendously, and you helped him recover after. For that I am grateful."

I smile at him.

"Luffy is the one that wears his heart on his sleeve, and when someone important to him dies, it affects him deeply. Without your guidance, I don't know if he would have recovered."

Jinbe closed his eyes.

"Would you have done the same thing?"

I nodded.

"I would have tried."

Jinbe smiled.

"You are like me."

I bowed to him.

"I am honored, Jinbe-san."

He stated.

"You respect me a lot."

I drained my glass.

"I told you, you helped Luffy, and your loyalty is something I deeply admire. You are a good man Jinbe, and anyone can see you are someone to be respected."

Jinbe looks somewhat pleased by my answer. I watch Chopper go from okama to okama, bandaging injuries received on the battlefield. I then remember something.

"Jinbe, how is the situation between fishmen and humans? Are they better? Is there less discrimination?"

Jinbe grew grave.

"No Rose, there is little change."

I sigh.

"That is too bad."

I give him a secretive glance. He looks years older. Has this affected him that much, put so much stress on his shoulders? I think of America, and it's own bloody history. We too have discriminated against people that were deemed less then the Caucasian race. I narrow my eyes. How sickening and petty some humans are.

"Jinbe, listen to me."

He looks at me with interest. I censor my information as I say clearly.

"I come from an island where hundreds of years ago, people were also discriminated against like the fishmen are today. They were beaten, forced into slavery because they were deemed uncivilized and less of human beings even though they are the same. After a war, several protests, and laws were passed to protect those individuals' rights, they were considered equal, and those people, all of them, live in harmony with each other. I believe it is the same with fishmen, it just takes time and a lot of hard work. Changing the world doesn't happen overnight."

I smile kindly at him.

"So don't give up, ok?"

Jinbe gave me a warm smile.

"Of course Rose. Thank you."

I stand and fight the flinch that tries to dart across my face because of the pain.

"Sorry Jinbe, but I have to go break up this fight."

I had seen it coming from a mile away from the moment Luffy sat down opposite of Nami. Sanji was about to hit the boiling point. Just as a burning foot was about to descend on a rubber head, I stepped in between them, my lady like persona already in place.

"Sanji-kun, can I have a little water. I am just so thirsty, and I know you would get some for me."

"Right away Rose-swan."

He spun off, leaving a trail of hearts in his wake. I sigh sitting next to Luffy.

"He just can't give you a break."

Luffy looked up, his mouth full of Nami's food.

"Thanks Rose."

I nod. Suddenly Nami stiffens. I give her a look.

"What is it Nami?"

Nami glances around, before looking a little off to the right. She stands up.

"Cyclone, two o'clock. All crewmembers, let's go."

All of the Straw-hats stood, a determined and surprisingly focused look in their eye. Jinbe glanced around, concerned.

"Should we help?"

I scoot up against the railing.

"I would just sit still unless Nami tells you to do something. Sometimes the best way to help is to stay out of the way."

Nami pulled her hair back and started giving orders.

"Zoro Sanji, protect the ship. There is rain coming. Usopp Luffy, take care of the sails. Franky, get your tools ready."

She turned to Jinbe.

"Jinbe, can you steer? You are a skilled navigator too, but listen to my commands."

Jinbe nods and stands by the wheel. Nami nodded at Robin.

"Tie things down on the deck. Everyone else, get inside."

I limp carefully over to the galley. They are probably better without my help. I am injured after all.

Brook and Chopper followed me inside. The little doctor was clinging to the skeleton like a barnacle and I petted him soothingly.

"Hey, it's ok Chopper. We will protect you."

Brook nodded.

"Rose-san is right Chopper-san."

Chopper nodded into Brook's ribcage. I smile and look out to see the crew scurrying around on deck in organized chaos. Raindrops were starting to fall, and they were huge. I mean house sized huge.

Zoro and Sanji stood on top of the crow's nest, slicing and burning them out of the way of the ship. They of course were arguing about who would take care of the most. Robin was tying up loose things on deck. A railing blew off the side of the ship, and a minute later it was good as new and Franky wiped his brow, mallet in hand. These guys knew how to take care of themselves and fight together yet separate, but when a threat to all of them came, they came together like glue.

Luffy and Usopp were tying down sails, but they were moving so slowly. The wind kept ripping them out of their hands. I bit my lip and made a hasty decision. I open the door to the galley and make my way across the deck.

The wind blows me this way and that and I feel like I am going to be swept away. I gripped my tough toes against the grass to plant myself as I strode swiftly to the mast. I climbed the ladder carefully, ignoring the yells coming from Nami that I was going to hurt myself. I should probably listen to her, but I don't.

I reach the yard. Luffy has his all right, but Usopp without his rubber reach to grab the sail back is struggling. I grab the sail alongside Usopp, who looks up in surprise.

"Rose."

I glance at him, and then back down at the sail that I grip in my fingers like a lifeline.

"I hold. You tie."

Usopp nods, looping the rope around the sail, tying it up in the yard. I don't know very much nautical stuff, but what I do know is that in a storm you need to ride the waves and not rely on sail power because they could be destroyed by harsh winds. So I hold them still as Usopp ties.

I see something move out of the corner of my eye and turn to see a giant wave bearing down on us. It will smack Luffy, Usopp, and me off the yard and into the sea if we aren't careful.

I let go of the sail and grab Usopp, hugging him to the yard as the wave smacked into us. He yelled in surprise while I hissed in pain. The salt water soaked into my injuries and it was like fire on ice, melting through everything. I just gripped my hands tighter to the mast in pain, and that probably saved our lives. The wave shook us, but didn't dislodge us from our perch.

I loosened my hold on Usopp and still gripping the mast, glanced around. Luffy had wrapped his arms several times around the mast, but had loosened his grip due to the seawaters paralyzing affects. I was about to help when Zoro appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Luffy by his vest and pinning him against the mast as a wind blew, almost blowing the captain into the sea.

Now we were flowing with the waves, riding them up and down like an amusement park ride. I still gripped the wood, but I let the wind blow my ponytail back and let the water hit me slightly. I felt my stomach do flips as we went up and down. I made sure to have a rope handy to hold on to as I laughed. This was kind of fun, minus the dying part.

Suddenly, it dispersed. Sunlight beamed brightly, white puffy clouds dotted the sky, and not a wave in sight. It was like the storm never happened.

I relax my now cramping fingers and smile. Man, what a ride.