AN: I am going out of town until Tuesday so the next update will be either Tuesday or Wednesday night depending on how tired I am when I get back. Enjoy!

By the time the next morning rolled around Elena was more than ready to get off the submarine. The air was crisp and cool as her hair whipped in the wind on the deck. The crew was bustling around her in preparation for docking. She hated to admit it but she would kind of miss them once she was gone.

The men on the crew had been exceptionally kind to her, she wasn't used to it and it was a refreshing change. Even so, she had to continue working towards her goal of finding allies to help take down Dario.

"Are you ready to go?" Law asked her. She could tell the man had been growing less and less patient over the days, however brief his moment of generosity had been she was grateful that he had picked her up. He was an intimidating figure, his tattoos standing out starkly on his skin, his finger tattoos sent a chill down her spine every time she saw them. Although she was grateful, she was grown up enough to admit he scared her.

She nodded and he called out to his crew as he grasped her arm roughly. "Room" he called and she felt like she was falling for a split second before they appeared on the shore. As she began to walk towards the small town she noticed he followed her.

"Why are you coming with me?" She asked curiously. If the doctors attitude was anything to go by then he couldn't wait to be rid of her.

"I need to make sure you aren't going to tip anyone off about our presence." He said threateningly, she gave him another confused look.

"Why would I do that?" She inquired. Nothing he was saying made any sense, even if she did tell someone that he had helped her why would it bother him? He looked at her as if she was an idiot, his expression withering.

"Our bounties." He explained, Elena stopped in her tracks with her mouth gaping open wide.

"B-bounties!? You guys are criminals!?" She exclaimed loudly, much to his annoyance as he covered her mouth to prevent her from shouting anything else.

"What did you think we were?" He asked with a slightly amused expression at her fear.

She wasn't sure how to answer that. She had assumed they were a fishing vessel or trading merchants, but now that she thought about it there hadn't been any fishing equipment on board (not to mention they were on a submarine) or any cargo. There was also the large symbol that the entire crew wore that was also on the side of their ship.

She gaped, trying to find words as he raised an eyebrow at her. Her heart was beating a million miles an hour, these men were pirates!? But they had all been so kind to her! With exception of Law, although from what she could tell he was also being uncharacteristically nice judging by his crew members comments.

She couldn't wait until she was out of this situation…

The pair arrived at the small town which was as busy as could be, it reminded her of the market back at home. She gave a sad smile as they approached.

"Have you seen this girl?" She heard a voice say to a group of people down the street from her. Her eyes widened in fear. She knew that voice.

It was Elias Cooper. Dario's right hand man. He must have sent him off in one of their own ships to go find her. Almost in slow motion she turned around to confirm her suspicions.

Her heart all but stopped and without warning she bolted, she heard the Law call out to her in surprise which caught the attention of Elias.

"There she is!" He called and without further hesitation footsteps were thundering behind her. She was already out of breath, trying not to trip on anything as she tried to find a place to hide. This couldn't be happening…she refused to go back! She would die first!

She bolted left and right until an arm caught hers and she was yanked off to the side. She tried to scream but a large hand covered her mouth as she struggled hopelessly.

"What the fuck is going on!" An angry voice shouted from the man holding her. She calmed a little as she realized it wasn't Elias who had caught her, it was Law.

"What do you think you are doing!? I have half a mind to slit your throat!" He yelled angrily, Elena could hear more footsteps approaching as she tried to hastily quiet the man in front of her. When she realized they were getting too close and he was showing no signs of stopping she had an idea.

"Calm" she whispered. Law looked confused and angry as he opened his mouth to yell again, but when nothing came out of his mouth a look of realization came over his face. He paled considerably as he tried to speak again. Neither of them made any noise. She pulled him back next to her, huddling behind a dumpster as she heard the footsteps run past her.

The entire time Law was looking at her with a ghostly white face, staring at her in shock and eyes swimming with mixed emotions. Was he really that surprised? He had a devil fruit power of his own, so it wasn't like he had never heard of them before. Elena released the silence as the footsteps faded and he sat there with wide eyes for another moment before opening his mouth and trying to form words.

"You ate the Nagi Nagi No Mi?" He asked in a choked voice, eyes still wide and face still white as a sheet. She nodded in response, still afraid the footsteps would come back.

"…how…?" He trailed off, Elena peeked around the corner. She didn't see anybody but she knew if Elias was here then others were too. She couldn't stay here.

"Please. Please take me back to your ship, get me out of here and I'll explain everything." She pleaded with Law. She was still scared of him, what person in their right mind wouldn't be afraid of pirates? But the thought of returning to Dario scared her just a little bit more.

The doctor seemed to snap out of his shock and he nodded, setting his jaw as he gripped her arm roughly and began heading back to the ship.

Law felt like he couldn't breathe. This girl had eaten the Nagi Nagi No Mi, memories of Cora-san echoed through his head. The last time he had seen that ability had been the day Corazon died. When the girl asked to be taken back to his ship he had agreed instantly, if it had been any other devil fruit ability he would have declined. He would have let her fend for herself. But this was too close to home…too much of a reminder of Corazon….

She stuck very close by his side as they went back to the ship, she kept glancing around nervously for the men who had been chasing her.

As the boarded, Shachi looked surprised to see her back.

"Hey there! Whats going on, Captain?" He asked curiously. Law barely looked at him as he dragged Elena inside the sub, calling back at Shachi as he went.

"Change of plans. Tell Bepo to get us out of here immediately."

Shachi voiced his confirmation as he continued to drag her down into the sub and towards his own room, never relenting his grasp on her wrist. When they got there he pushed her inside and shut the door behind him as he felt the submarine began to move.

When he turned around she was looking around at his room, it was the only one with a bathroom attached and most of the room was taken up by his bed. He didn't have much room to spare on the ship so the other half of his room was taken up by a dresser, a desk and a bookshelf for the many nights he stayed up reading. When he looked back at her she was staring at him nervously, he crossed his arms and took a seat at his desk chair.

"Explain." He said and she fiddled with the edge of the jumpsuit she had been given to wear as she thought of where to begin.

"What do you want to know?" She finally asked.

"I want to know who those men chasing you were, where you got your hands on a devil fruit, and why you were floating in the middle of the sea when we found you" he demanded, not in the mood for playing games.

"I was floating in the ocean because I had just escaped from a pleasure house. Seven years ago my village was raided by pirates and all the girls were taken, I got this scar on my face so I wasn't put to work, instead I took care of the house and tended to the owner." She explained, tracing the side of her face as she spoke. He waited for her to answer his other questions before he asked any more.

"I got ahold of the Nagi Nagi No Mi because Dario, the owner, traded one of the girls for it. It was my only hope of escaping. The men on that island work for the brothel, they were probably looking for me so they could bring me back." She finished. She still had a nervous look on her face as she glanced at him.

"Is that why you were asking me how I figured out my devil fruit powers?" He confirmed. She nodded, "I know how to make myself and others silent, but I don't know what else I can do with it."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.

"I'll teach you."

Fuck. He did it. She looked surprised, the first time she hadn't looked at him in fear or nervousness since she found out he was a pirate.

"You know how to use it?" She asked, hope reflecting in her eyes. He gave a grunt as his answer.

"On one condition." He continued, her smile faltered a little as she looked at him hesitantly.

"You will join my crew. You will help around the ship and do whatever is asked of you." He stated his conditions, her smile fell all the way as she bit her lip in thought.

"I…I can't…"

He raised an eyebrow, she didn't have much of a choice but he was willing to hear her excuse.

"I have to go back and free the other girls…I can't just leave them…" she stated clearly.

"By yourself? I hate to point out the obvious, but I highly doubt you will be as lucky the next time you go back." Law scoffed, it was true. She was malnourished and lacked muscle, it had been almost too easy to catch up with her when she ran.

"I can't leave them." She repeated, more firmly this time. Law sat back, considering what she had told him.

It was quiet for a moment as the tall man came to a decision.

"I take care of my crew. If you join, I would be willing to help you." He told her, her look of hesitation was still there though.

"Why are you helping me?" She asked. Law didn't know how to answer, he knew why he was helping her but he didn't want to tell her about Cora. Not yet. Not even all of his crew knew, just Shachi, Penguin, Jean Bart and Bepo.

"Do you want my help or not?" He asked with a spike of irritation. It took her a moment but she slowly nodded, still apprehensive.

"Well then. Welcome to the Heart Pirates, Elena Suggitt."