Paradise

Part Three

Law smiled as he relaxed against a tree with his arms crossed. He was watching Neo putting the finishing touches on her snowman, technically snow 'bear', and enjoying her childlike enjoyment of playing in the snow. He had helped her with the bottom and middle parts of the snow 'bear'. She wanted to make the biggest snowman that she could, without the use of her magic.

Now she was rounding smaller snowballs for the ears of her snow 'bear'. She ran her hands over the ears a few more times before stepping back from her master piece. She placed her hands on her hips as she admired her work. "Whaddya think? Not bad for my first time, huh?"

"It looks great," Law said as he walked over to her. He put his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek, his goatee tickling her skin making her giggle. "Bepo inspired?"

"He makes a great snowman, don't ya think?" Neo asked as she crossed her arms over his. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled.

"If you're done here, there's something I'd like for you to try while we have the opportunity," Law said.

"And what would that be?" Neo inquired.

"You'll see," Law smirked as he started to lead her away from her snow bear.

…

"You can't be serious," Neo exclaimed as gripped her hands onto the wooden bench she was sitting on. "I don't even like regular shoes and you want me to go out there on ice on thin blades that look like they could snap in half with the tiniest little bump?"

She looked down at the bladed white shoes she was wearing then out to the frozen pond. People were gathered in several spots. Some were obviously experts with skating, gliding carefree across the ice, doing simple jumps or spins. While some were clumsily slipping all over the place, holding onto someone who knew what they were doing or just standing around talking. She looked back down to her feet. She moved her legs a bit, dragging the blades on the ice.

"You'll be fine," Law replied as he stood up on his own blades. He slid effortlessly in front of her and held out his hands. He smirked at her. "You're with me after all."

Neo huffed with a smile before placing her hands in his. He helped her to her feet with ease. She let out a squeak of surprise when her the ice decided it wanted her feet to go different ways. Law chuckled at her uncertainty and tighten his hold on her. "You're fine, love."

"Tell me, how is it you know how to do this when you spend your life on a sub?" Neo questioned as she glided along with Law.

"I wasn't always on a sub, remember? And there are still some things you don't know about me yet," Law said casually.

"True," Neo nodded as she obeyed his instructions on what to do and not do. "Still, I never would have pictured you as the type to do something like this."

"I guess I'm just full of surprises," Law chuckled when Neo slipped again then grabbed onto him with a death grip. She puffed out her cheeks at him.

After a while Neo began to get the hang of being on the thin blades. So much to the point she was only holding onto one of Law's hands. They were gliding along just find until a couple kids came rushing past them, causing Neo to loose her balance. When Law went to catch her another kid skated past him and caused both of them to fall.

He grabbed her. Pressing her to his chest so he would be the one to take the hit. "Are you all right?"

"Me?! You're the one who hit the ice!" Neo said as she looked him over with worry in her eyes.

"I'm fine, love," Law gave her a gentle squeeze. "You know I've been hit harder than that."

"Yeah, I know," Neo sighed as she crawled off of him. "Still I don't like it that you hit the ice like that. So, if you're done torturing me, can we please take these death traps off now?"

"Of course," Law chuckled. He got up then helped her up. He took her hand and led her back over to the bench. Neo sat down and ripped the things off her feet. She stretched out and wiggled her feet before shoving them into her snow boots.

"Still shoes, but that's much better," Neo smiled. "You own me a foot rub later."

"Of course. What would you like to do now, love?" Law asked as he held out his hand for hers. She took it and stood up.

"How about we go for a walk?" Neo hummed as she looked around. Law nodded then headed towards a near by trail.

…

Neo adjusted her scarf then wrapped her arms back around Law's. He had his hands in his pockets as they strolled along the snowy path, occasionally returning a greeting when others on the path greeted them. Eventually they became the only two walking on the path, the woods became quiet. Neo perked up. "What is it?"

"Bepo, Shachi and Penguin," Neo giggled as the elements alerted her to their locations. "They're following us with snowballs in hands."

"Ambush, huh?" Law shot her a mischievous grin. Understanding his meaning, she returned it with one of her own. "Tell me when they're about to throw them."

Neo waited until she felt them winding up their throws. "Now."

At the right moment, Law warped them away from their current location. Shachi growled as he and the other two stepped out from their hiding spots. "That's cheating, Captain."

"Then you're really gonna love this," Neo summoned her wind crystals and blew a wave of snow at them. The boys screeched and dodged.

"You're gonna pay for that, Neo!" Penguin laughed as he dodged behind a tree. He formed a couple of snowballs then jumped back out. As he ran he threw them at her.

"Oh? You're really going to challenge me with a snowball fight?" Neo easily used her winds to stop the on coming snowballs. Her senses kicked in. She spun around to capture more snowballs that Bepo and Shachi had thrown at her. She shot them back at the guys then ran after them as she made snowballs of her own using her crystals. "Game on, boys!"

Law chuckled humorously as he crossed his arms and leaned back against a tree. He watched them run around like children. Sudden a barrage of snow balls were flying at him. He easily warped away the attack. When he looked to see who threw them, Neo pelted him on the chest with three snowballs. Neo tossed a snowball up in her hand and caught it. He growled playfully as he brushed off the snow and took after her. "You're going to pay for that."

"Uh huh," Neo tossed the remaining snowball in her hand at him. He easily caught it, but before he could do anything else several other snowballs, from multiple locations, hit him. "Nice."

"I don't believe that actually worked," Bepo blinked.

"I don't believe we actually did that," Shachi stated, slightly fearing for his life, while looking at a snowball in his hand then back over at his captain. Law was brushing off the snow and grumbling under his breath about it.

"Come on, Law. Have some fun," Neo called. She blinked when Law warped from his current location. She squeaked in surprise when Law appeared behind her and locked one arm around her waist.

"Oh, I will have fun, but that'll come later when you and me are alone. For now, you must be punished for hitting me," Law whispered into her ear. He didn't give her time to build on either of those sentiments. He shoved his hand under her scarf and crumbled the snowball he had caught down her shirt.

"Law!" Neo shrieked with a laugh as he let her go. She tried to shake the snow out of her clothes. "That's cold! In more ways than one!"

That developed into a full blow snowball war. It became a free for all. It also lead some other guests in joining their fight when rogue snowballs hit the unsuspecting passing by victims. The little snow war lasted for a couple hours. It was getting close to sunset when the majority of the people involved in the snow battle left.

"That was great," Penguin exclaimed as he dropped onto his back. Bepo was on his stomach panting as Shachi was sitting down while leaning back against his hands. They all were worn out. None of them had expected their little game to explode into a war like that.

Neo sneezed then shivered as she wrapped her arms around her cold, worn out body. Law walked over to her and put his arms around her, using his body heat to try and warm her up as he pressed her back into his chest. "The sun will be setting soon. Let's get you inside before you get sick again."

"There are some rest lodges near by," Penguin said as he pulled himself from the ground. "We can warm up there before heading back. They have hot drinks and food too."

Law nodded then with one arm still around Neo, they followed after Penguin. Shachi and Bepo had picked themselves up at that point and were tailing after them. After reaching the end of the trail, they came upon several logged buildings. Penguin led them into one.

In the middle of the room was a little cafe. Scattered through the room were several couches, cushioned chairs and rectangular coffee tables. A few other guests were peppered throughout the room, chatting and sipping on their preferred hot beverage. After getting their own drinks and food, if they wanted it, the small group of pirates wondered over to one of the lounge areas.

Bepo, declining drink and food, immediately dropped onto his stomach on the floor and fell asleep. Shachi and Penguin quickly downed their drinks and sandwiches then followed Bepo in sleeping. Law and Neo sipped at their drinks and shared some nachos at a more slower pace. Law was sitting with one arm on the armrest, mug in hand, and his other arm around Neo's waist, firmly tucking her into his side.

"Looks like our babies worn themselves out," Neo said affectionately as she scanned her eyes over the sleeping crew before her.

"Babies?" Neo giggled at the bewilderment in Law's tone and expression. He scanned his eyes over the sleeping men. Never had he ever came close to view his crew, or grown men period, as babies. He tilted his head.

And yet, somehow in this moment, he was able to see them through her eyes. He still thought that calling them babies was weird, but he understood where she was coming from. Bepo, Shachi and Penguin were the first, besides himself, crew mates she had come to know and love. So she viewed them a bit differently than the rest of the crew that has been added on since.

He grumbled and pressed his lips into her hair. "Woman, what have you done to me?"

She giggled as she tilted her head so she could look at him, bring their lips dangerously close together. "Nothing you don't love."

He chuckled as he closed what little distance there was between their lips. She gladly parted her lips for him when he dragged the tip of his tongue over her skin. She let a light moan escape her throat as he inspected every inch of her chocolate coated mouth. He broke the kiss and licked his lips. "You taste good with chocolate."

"Oh? Maybe I should start drinking it more then," She purred before taking another drink of her sweet coco then coaxed him into tasting her again.