Note/Warning: I haven't uploaded in a month because I'm lame. And I've also been focusing on my fem!AceLu story 'Coffee Creamer' which you should totally check out (and maybe give some feedback?), because fem!AceLu is the gr8est; it's been proven by science.

Last chapter was Luffy fapping and this one is pretty sad. I... I don't know why either. Also I changed the rating back to T because it wasn't like Ace and Luffy were goin' at it like rabbits or somethin and I'm pretty sure you guys can handle somethin' like that. (They might though, who knows.)

Ages: Ace & Sabo are 11, Luffy is 7, almost 8.

CHAPTER 3: Never Be The Same

Makino's grip on his hand tightens ever so slightly as Ace walks forward; his legs shaky.

Luffy's eyes watch the older boy, sometimes flicking to Sabo, who's sitting next to him, the back of their hands touching, or Makino, whose face is red and puffy, or Shanks' who is on Makino's other side; his lips drawn in a frown and his eyes serious. Luffy's own grandfather is sitting in the row behind them, but Luffy can't see his face.

The crowd they are a part of isn't big; just a few people that Ace's mama had been close too.

The man who had greeted Shanks when they arrived in is sitting in the row ahead of them, his hand covering his eyes. Shanks had called him Rayleigh.

Everyone's eyes seem to be on Ace when he reaches his mother; Luffy wants them to stop because he knows that Ace doesn't like it when people look at him when he's upset.

Ace's mama is in that weird box thing and Luffy doesn't really understand, except he does. He knows that they'll never see Ace's mama again, just like how Luffy won't see his mama anymore. He knows that that things won't be the same, but he doesn't understand why. The seven year old reaches for Sabo's hand, who grabs and squeezes back, rubbing the back of Luffy's hand with his thumb like he always did.

When Ace walks back to them, his looks more upset than Luffy had ever seen him; Luffy thinks he might cry, but he's not sure, because he's never seen Ace cry.

Sabo releases Luffy's hand and moves over so Ace can have room to sit. Shanks had dropped Makino's hand so he could pat Ace on the shoulder when he gets to their aisle. Ace sits in between Luffy and Sabo. Luffy grabs Ace's hand almost automatically; the older boy's fingers barely twitching in response, but that's more than okay for Luffy.

When the service ends, Ace leaves Luffy's grandfather and the man called Rayleigh.

"At least they're finally together again." Shanks says later that night when Luffy's supposed to be sleeping.

Luffy watches as Makino sits down across from Shanks with a watery sounding laugh that Luffy doesn't like, because Makino isn't supposed to sound like that. "They're happy now."

Shanks takes a large drink of whatever's in his cup. "Remember how Roger always used to drop everything whenever he saw her?"

Makino eyes the table and lets out another laugh. "I remember he fell flat on his face once; Rouge thought he was ridiculous."

"Still went with him anyways." His adoptive father is smiling, but it's not the same one he usually wears. It's the gentle one that he gives Luffy whenever the boy has a nightmare and crawls into bed with him.

"They… They were great for one another." Makino says, before turning her head to look at the wall that Luffy is standing behind. "Luffy, I know you're there," Shanks' amusement is audible. "Come on out, baby."

The seven year old peaks from behind the wall, only to be greeted with a warm smile from his adoptive mother. She motions him forward with her hand and he comes forth.

"Couldn't sleep?" Shanks asks, smiling a playful smile that's a little closer to his regular one. Luffy nods his head in agreement and Makino puts a hand in between his shoulder blades to push him closer to her so she can lift him up onto her lap.

"I was just about to go to bed, do you want to sleep with us tonight Luffy?"

Luffy says that he'd like that and Makino hums, a light sound that fills the air, moving to stand up and carrying Luffy with ease and he wraps his tiny arms around the woman's neck.

"I'll be up in a bit," Shanks starts, standing up to place a kiss on Makino's cheek and to ruffle Luffy's hair. "Get some sleep, it's been a long day and you two look like you need it."

"You need it more than I do, Shanks." Makino sounds kind of worried and Luffy looks up at Shanks with wide eyes. The red-headed man smiles easily, but he really does look tired. "I'm okay Makino, I'll head up soon. I just... have to do some things."

The dark-haired woman nods having understood something that Luffy hadn't. She leans over to kiss him on the lips and Luffy looks away, getting a laugh from Shanks.

"Go to bed little anchor, we're gonna visit Ace tomorrow."

Luffy nods, because that's all what he really wanted to do since they went their separate ways earlier that day, and says goodnight to his adoptive father, feeling sleepier by now. Makino brings the two of them upstairs and tucks them in, hugging Luffy close and placing a kiss on his forehead, mumbling "Goodnight baby," in the quiet of the room.

He falls asleep in his adoptive mother's arms, thinking that he wants to be there for Ace and Sabo like Makino and Shanks are for one another.