Just for fun. This wasn't supposed to exist. Of course, chapter 2 wasn't suppose to exist either. My stories keep making babies. It must be Spring. Think of this chapter more like chapter 2.5 than a chapter 3. Zoro will be next chapter.

CopyCat 3 (or 2.5)

When Sora was 11, he was given another surprise.

"I'm pregnant."

"…What?" This concept was completely foreign to the boy. For a full five minutes, the boy simply stared at his mother with a completely blank expression. "But… how?"

Tashigi raised a brow.

"NO!" He hurriedly raised up his hands to stop any potential answers. "I meant, like, are you in touch with dad or …something." He tried to explain his question.

"Your father and I have met up a few times over the years."

"But, I thought-"

"After the initial time, it got harder to draw the line between marine and pirate." Tashigi deadpanned. No sense in sugarcoating anything. "Let's just say I'm surprised that it's taken so long for me to get pregnant again."

"Ew! Ew ew ew ew!" Was the boyish response. She sighed.

"I'm really just telling you so you don't hear it from someone else. And have them make assumptions as to who the father is. Miss Carrie in particular likes to spread rumors." Miss Carrie was one of their closest neighbors, about a fifteen-minute walk. She was also the town gossip.

"I didn't know that you still met dad." The 11-year-old decided that it was time for a subject change before his mother started to go off on a rant about busybodies. "Won't he notice that you're pregnant?"

"I'm taking a leave once I start showing."

"Won't he notice when he doesn't see you for months?"

"It wouldn't be the first time. Not even including you. This was the first time in over a year that we had seen each other for longer than a few minutes while he's running from the marines. He won't notice anything."

After a shot discussion where Tashigi laid out some rules for the upcoming baby and Sora's role in it, she left with a grim expression on her face. She had to go apply for a leave ahead of time, she said. And was not looking forward to that conversation even less than the one she just had with her son.

There was a knock at Vice-Admiral's office door. He was doing some basic paperwork, a small reprive while he healed from their last confrontation with the Strawhats. "Come in." He said in his gravelly voice. Captain Tashigii, his most trusted subordinate entered with her usual straight-backed formality. She closed the door with a soft snap.

"Sir! I would like to formally request some leave time sir!" She stood at perfect attention, her gaze somewhere over his head.

"Eh? Tuckered out by our last battle with the strawhats?" He said it light-heartedly (or as light-heartedly as he was capable of) but was surprised when a blush formed in the captains cheeks. He frowned.

"Of a sort, sir." She said, her voice not quite as loud or firm.

He stared at her with suspicious eyes. He could tell that she was doing her best not to squirm under his scrutiny. Suddenly he groaned loudly and banged his fist against his desk.

"Seriously Tashigi? Again?"

"Sir?" She asked tentatively, not wanting to admit anything.

"Let me guess, you want a few months off, say, nine?" He glared at her and crossed his arms in a huff.

Her posture wilted slightly and she met his eyes with a sheepish apologetic expression. She gave him a wan smile. "If you can spare me sir. I think I'll be a little under the weather and unable to function at full capacity for a while." She had the decency to look ashamed under his glare.

He sighed long and loud, dropping his head in his hands. He felt a headache coming on. "You do realize that we are marines right? That we are supposed to always be on duty, especially in the presence of known and wanted criminals."

She nodded. He glared at her for a few moments more then sighed, defeated. "Fine. I'm taking you off front lines for the next few months. You'll be assigned to a desk at the base by your home. When it comes time, just take some vacation time." They both knew that for her to get maternity leave would be too dangerous. Too many questions. This was what they had done last time.

"Thank you sir." She saluted and turned to leave.

"Captain." She paused before opening the door. "Congratulations." He grumbled. She smiled. "Don't let it happen again." Her smile turned rueful as she nodded and left.

When the door closed, Smoker leaned back, pulling out two more cigars and lighting them. He groaned slightly as the still tender wound in his ribs stretched uncomfortably. It wasn't fair. He thought. She gets a baby and he just gets bruised. Stupid strawhats.

I just wanted a little filler chapter before Sora meets Zoro. Just for fun. And this time we actually see Smoker's reaction. I made him more understanding because at this point in time, He knows that even though they are criminals, they aren't bad people. Plus, he's getting old. Plus, he has a soft spot for Tashigi (and her children). Review!