A couple of days later, Zulu awoke feeling off. He couldn't think of a reason why, but he felt like today was supposed to be important, and he had forgotten. With an uneasy and down mood, he wandered his way to the mess to join the crew for breakfast.

As Sanji busied himself in the kitchen, Zulu sat down with the rest of the crew. They were laughing and joking around. A warmth started spreading in his chest, lifting his mood. For a moment he could feel like he was part of something.

"YOSH!" Exclaimed Luffy suddenly, "Hey Zulu! It's your Birthday today, right?! We gotta Celebrate!"

It felt like ice had been dumped over his head. He started to try and protest but Luffy's cheers of PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!, drowned him out. No one seemed to notice his distress at the idea of a Birthday party. Sanji had already declared he had a feast planned, and Ussop and Chopper were conspiring between themselves for party decorations while Franky offered game ideas.

Defeated He only sighed and dropped his head into his hands. "Why, … How, …. Why does he know my birthday?" mumbling he looked over at a giggling Robin.

"You told Chopper for your medical file," She replied with a smile. "And Chopper told Luffy."

Franky appeared behind him and sent him crashing into the table with a hardy smack on the back. "No Birthdays go uncelebrated here if we can help it Brother!" He exclaimed, before supering himself away.

Zulu couldn't help but reluctantly smile. He had forgotten today was his birthday, he tried not to think about it very much anymore. But now, surrounded by the crew, he allowed himself a sense of joy and excitement.

As the day continued, the crew made their preparations for the party. Ussop, chopper and Franky were busing themselves with setting up Décor. Sanji locked himself up in the kitchen to prepare the cake and feast, and the girls made it their mission to distract Zulu so he would stop insisting on helping them set up. They set up a Spa Day together, ate brunch during a quite book club meeting, and Brook sampled him some of his favorited Teas. Surrounded by the crew, he felt grateful for their kindness and generosity.

As the sun began to set, they all gathered back into the mess hall of the Sunny. Sanji unveiled a lavish feast of all of Zulu's favorite foods, and a large table of meat for Luffy. Food was happily eaten and thrown about, laughter filling the air.

Afterwards once dinner was eaten and the dirty dishes cleared, Sanji disappeared into the kitchen and the lights suddenly went out. Zulu was about to start worrying, when the door slowly opened revealing Sanji holding a beautiful Strawberry Lemon three-tiered cake sporting many lit candles. Behind him Zoro appeared carrying barrels of rum under his arms, grinning.

After a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, glasses were poured, and the cake cut. They drank and stuffed their faces and enjoyed the many games that had been prepared for the evening.

Zulu, feeling grateful for the love of the crew kept a smile on his face, but inside his heart has aching. As the night wore on, he began to drink more and more. His thoughts wandered back to past birthdays. They had been smaller, but so full of love. He had never really talked to anyone about his past and what had happened, but with the rum loosening his tongue, he found himself exposing more than he had intended to his friends.

"I was a Marine once, you know," he slurred, Leaning up against a tipsy Franky, "But I left after, … after something happened. That's why they hated me so badly when we first met, they don't like deserters."

"Oh?" inquired Ussop, a mischievous grin on his face. "And what exactly happened? You shack up with someone you weren't supposed to?"

Zulu started shaking his head vigorously, "No, no. Well, yes . . . but that's not why I left." His face turned somber as he leaned heavily on Franky's shoulders, his eyes becoming downcast.

Nami, who had been watching him closely, approached with a worried look on her face. "Zulu, are you okay?" She asked.

Zulu shook his head, feeling tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm not okay," he said, his voice breaking. "I miss them so much, I wish I could have saved them."

The crew fell silent, listening intently. "Save who?" Brooke asked quietly, not wanting to upset his friend any further, but unable to pass up the opportunity to learn more about him.

Zulu sucked in a breath and continued his story. "I found two kids, abandoned and alone. I took them in, and we were a family, for a few years." He paused, feeling Franky stiffen next to him. Then he took another swig from his cup, voice starting to waver. "But…. they died. Drowned in the river right outside our home, and I … I wasn't even home; I couldn't save them." He broke off then, unable to speak, choking up.

Nami, put a hand on Zulu's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Zulu" she said softly. "I know how it feels to lose someone," Then she added with a sad whisper "We all do."

"The worst part," Zulu interjected, now clearly very drunk and pushing himself off a teary-eyed Franky, "The Navy wouldn't even let me have a single week to bury them and mourn. I was scheduled to ship out the next day. I," He broke off once again, placing his face in his hands and choking back sobs. "I had to bury them on my birthday."

The crew gathered around, silent, offering comfort and support. But after only a few quite minutes Zulu shook them off. His head spun, and he stumbled as he tried to stand up, officially feeling the full impact of the alcohol.

"I, … I'm sorry." He sighed, swaying. "I didn't mean to share all that. The moods ruined. I should,… I should just go to bed and let you guys enjoy the evening without me sulking around."

Gentle hands took his own and he looked down at Robin's understanding expression. "I know it's hard," she said softly. "But you must remember that they would want you to be happy. They would want you to live your life to the fullest, not be alone."

Zulu looked down at her with grateful eyes. "Thank you," he said. For the first time in years, he felt he had a sort of family again. And even thou the pain of his past would never truly go away; he knew there were at least a few people he could rely on. "I just, … need a moment to clear my mind."

After his awkward confessions at the party, Zulu found himself sitting alone on the deck of the Sunny looking out to the sea. He thought about the past, about his children, the pain of losing them, the rage at the Navy denying him time to grieve. But he also thought about his new friends, those who had welcomed him to travel with their crew.

Despite his progress, Zulu still felt the weight of the loss of his Children, and the overwhelming guilt over allowing himself a new life. Again he found his world blurring as his eyes welled with tears.

"Ringo, Himawari … I'm so sorry." His voice wobbled and he addressed them, looking to the heavens. "I failed you both as a father. I should have been there to protect you; I should have taught you to be more careful." Placing his hand over his eyes to cover his tears, he continued. "Please, please forgive me, I know you're gone, and I shouldn't; but I can't help feel happy with these people. Forgive me."

Opening his eyes, he was surprised to see that he wasn't alone anymore. Sanji was standing next to him, holding a cup of hot tea.

"I figured you might need a pick me up" Sanji said, offering him the tea, "Thought you might need the company."

Zulu smiled gratefully and took the cup. As they stood in silence, watching the stars above, Zulu felt a sense of comradery from the cook next to him. He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked down at the smeared makeup left over on his hand silently. "She used to practice makeup on me, my daughter that is." He confessed.

Sanji looked up at him with curiosity in his eyes but didn't interrupt.

"She wanted to become an artist, so she'd paint all over me and her brother," Then he laughed "She made us look like clowns more often than not to be completely honest."

He then sighed, drained his tea, and stared into the emptiness of the sea.

"It's the only thing now that can make me smile thinking about them. I know how I am can make people around me uncomfortable, but every time I look in the mirror and see my face all painted up it's like I can see her smiling again." He looked over with a sad grin to see how Sanji would react.

Sanji was silent as he lit a cigarette. He felt particularly moved by Zulu's confession. He knew that he had been wrong to judge the man based on his appearance and understood that he needed to put more effort into befriending the man.

"You don't need to explain yourself to anyone, Zulu. Least of all me." He blew smoke out of his mouth and offered a refill of the tea. "More liquid therapy?"

Zulu laughed weakly, but he accepted the refill without a fuss.

"I wish it were that easy," He said. "But I can't just forget about them, I have to live with the memory of what happened every day." He looked down at his fishnets and heels then back up to meet Sanji's eyes. "This," he gestured down. "This is the only way I can cope. It's the only thing keeping me going, I feel like I at least owe an explanation to you, to the crew."

Shaking his head Sanji flicked his used-up butt away into the sea.

"No," he said with finality. "You really don't. The crew doesn't care how you look, we have all kinds of freaks on this ship" he chuckled. "You're not alone anymore Zulu, you have people here who care about you."

As the stars glowed overhead, Zulu smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope in his heart. He knew he still had a long way to go, that the memories of his children would always haunt him. But for the first time in a long time, he felt like he could at least face the future with courage and strength.

Zulu smiled warmly at Sanji. "I'm glad to have a friend like you, Sanji."