Reunited

Bepo, Brook & Usopp

"My mom said it was like someone kept reaching up deep inside of her, grabbing hold of whatever internal organs they could grab and trying to tug them out!" Velocity chortled. "It was like a game of tug of war with her insides!"

"One woman in my village said it was like having your insides twisted, pulled and squeezed. She said if she fought the pain it became worse. Once she surrendered and accepted the pain it was more bearable. She said it was like getting caught in the undertow of a wave with intense searing pain in her lower back," Nami replied back.

"My mom's best friend said her labor was like menstrual cramps multiplied by a billion. She felt like her abdomen was trying to squeeze out everything inside her, not just the baby. The pain came in waves and carrying on intensity throughout the entire laboring process. It was tolerable one time then it was extremely intense the next time. She has a high tolerance for pain and it was definitely the hardest thing she has ever done," Velocity nodded philosophically. "It's definitely the hardest thing a woman has to go through."

Neo stared at Nami and Velocity with a fearful expression on her face. She had her hands on the couch between her thighs. She was gripping the cushion so hard that her fingers punctured the upholstery as the two other females in the room showered her with painful labor stories. Elian was the only one who noticed. "You two should really cool it with the labor stories. You're scaring the poor thing."

The two young women didn't seem to hear him as they continued on with more painful labor stories. Elian huffed and crossed his arms. He turned to Law when the pirate walked back into the room and questioned the situation. Nami and Velocity's voices immediately cut off when he spoke. "What's going on?"

"They're enthralling your girl with painful labor stories," Elian said. He flew up to Neo's fear filled face. He snapped his fingers to try and get a response from her. "I think they broke her."

Nami frozen in stone while Velocity, not knowing Law like Nami did, continued to talk. "What? We're only speaking the truth. You men will never understand child birth."

Law shot Nami and Velocity a 'You've got two seconds to get away from her' glare. Nami chuckled nervously as she plucked Velocity from the air and dashed towards the kitchen. "I think I hear Sanji calling for us. Coming, Sanji!"

"Women," Elian shook his head before heading outside where the rest of the group currently was.

Law sat down beside Neo. He put his left around her and took ahold of her wrists. "Neo, love, let go now. Come on. Relax your hands."

He rubbed his thumbs over the back of her hands for several seconds before she finally released the cushion. She let out a soft whimper as he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her into his chest as he leaned back against the couch. She brought her feet upon the couch and snuggled into him with another soft whimper. "I don't wanna do this."

"It'll be all right," He kissed her temple a couple times. "I've got you, love. They won't speak to you like that again. Let me distract you now."

Law tilted her chin up and enticed her into kissing him.

…

"Here you go, papa," Bijou said as she handed her father a cup of hot tea. He thanked her as she pushed herself upon the ice desk in the lobby. Leaning over, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin in her hand, she watched the three new workers that have been with them for just over a month. "Papa, what do you think really think of those three?"

"What do you mean?" Gnash asked.

"Well, they've been here for a month and two days," Bijou replied. "Yet we really don't know anything about them. And what's with the monkey? Usopp says he's their pet, but they don't ever play with him. They don't feed him, walk him, nothing. They came here with no money, no place to live, no proper winter attire…"

"I'm sure they have their reason for not telling us about themselves," Gnash said as he chipped away at the ice. "If they wish to tell us why they are so down on their luck they will. Now, I know I've taught my daughter not to pry into one's life."

"I'm not prying," Bijou replied. "I'm just curious. Bepo's kinda cute. He can be so timid at times. I'd like to know more about him."

"Back to work, young lady," Gnash said after clearing his throat. Bijou giggled as she hopped off the desk. She wondered back over to her work spot and picked up her stools, settling back into her work.

Usopp groaned before letting his face slam against the ice wall. He slid down it and flopped onto the icy floor. "I can't do this anymore. My arms hurt so much. I think they're about to fall off."

"This is quiet some hard work," Brook said while pausing at chipping the ice away. He looked over at the hard working bunnies. Bepo also paused, but momentarily before going back to work on his section of the ice. "I'm impressed that they keep doing this day after day."

"Oh shut up!" Usopp snapped.

"My, my, aren't you cranky," Brook laughed.

"Cranky?!" Usopp jumped back up to his feet. "I have every right to be cranky! I'm sick of this place! Didn't you hear me a minute ago? My arms are about to fall off! My nose and lips are beyond chapped! I'm gonna need an entire boat load of lotion to get it soft again! I'm sick of this place! I wanna go back to the Sunny! And I'm sick of eatiPng rabbit food! Seriously! When we finally do get back I'm forbidding Sanji from ever serving vegetables again! I wanna steak! I want some fish! I want meat!"

"You sound just like Luffy," Brook laughed again. Usopp jumped on the tall skeleton and started to strangle him. Soon their little brawl was interrupted by unfamiliar voices. They exited the small room they were working in and took in the new comers.

"Excuse me?" A voice rang out. "We were sent here from the foundation."

"Huh?" Gnash and Bijou stopped working and looked at the group of six bunnies that just walked into the ice building carrying tools.

"Hey, pops, I'm abo-" Kobet came walking out of the room he was working in and paused when he saw the new workers.

"What's going on?" Tippy asked as he and Jigsaw started down the stairs. "Who are you?"

"We're from the foundation," The worker said again.

"But we already have help from the foundation," Bijou said as she looked over at Brook and Usopp.

"Looks like the jig is up," Brook said calmly.

"What jig? Who the heck are you people?!" Jigsaw demanded as he tapped one of his tools in his hand.

"Oh, well, you see," Usopp stuttered as he tried to think up a lie. Bepo, unaware of what was going on just a few feet away from him, smiled as he chipped away the last bit of ice to reveal the shard they were after. He pulled it out of the ice and peered into the reflection-less object. He then turned to the others.

"Hey! I finally have it!" Bepo announced for everyone to hear.

"Great! Let's go!" Usopp said as he grabbed Brook and ran over to the bear. He grabbed the shard from Bepo and shook it. "We have you! Now get us out of here!"

"Have what?" Gnash asked as all the bunnies started to enter the room. They all looked upset and confused.

"Calm down," Brook held up his hands. "We meant no harm."

"You three had better start talking," Gnash said as he held out his ice pick to the three pirates.

"Ah!" Usopp shouted. In his hysterical dance he didn't notice the monkey taking the shard from his hand. "I don't wanna die! Luffy! Sanji! Zoro! Someone save me!"

"Hey, Usopp," Brook tapped the sniper's shoulder. "We're no longer in the ice hotel."

"What?" Usopp paused midair.

"Usopp, Brook!" Luffy called to them as he, Chopper and Shachi ran over to them. "You guys made it!"

"Luffy?" Usopp blinked rapidly, taking in their unfamiliar surroundings. "Where are we now?"

"It's kind of a long story," Chopper replied. "We'll fill you in over lunch."

"Lunch?" Usopp asked.

"Yeah, Sanji and Nami are here as well," Chopper answered. "So is Law."

"I get to eat a real meal," Usopp said, drooling and crying heavily.

"Bepo," Shachi greeted his bear friend.

"Shachi, where are the others?" Bepo asked.

"The captain and Neo are inside," Shachi informed him. "Penguin's not here yet."

As the group headed inside, the three former ice workers took off their heavy coats. Once inside, Bepo walked over to the couch where Law was holding Neo close to his chest. The captain had his left arm around her, snuggly tucking her into his side, and his right elbow was on the armrest with his cheek resting against his fist. Both had their eyes closed. Law, being the light napper that he was, opened his eyes first. "Bepo."

"Captain," Bepo greeted him as he kneeled down to look at Neo. He blinked a couple times and tilted his head at the sleeping woman in his captain's arms. Law gently shook Neo. She hummed and shifted her position before waking up. He gave her a light smile before turning his eyes back to the bear. She followed his gaze.

"Bepo!" Neo sat up and hugged the bear. She pulled back and took his fuzzy cheeks into her hands. "Are you injured?"

"No, Neo, I'm not," Bepo replied. "I know I haven't seen you in over a month, but, um, there's something different about you."

"Oh, well, about that," Neo looked at him then back at Law.

"Bepo," Law called.

"Captain?" Bepo looked over at his captain.

"Do you remember at the amusement park when you said Neo smelled different?" Law asked. Bepo nodded. "Well, there's a reason for that."

"And what's that?" Bepo asked curiously.

"Bepo, I'm," Neo started, but was still unable to stay the word. She turned to Law and allowed him to fill in the word.

"Neo's pregnant," Law said calmly. Bepo blinked rapidly while he passed his gaze between, his captain, Neo and Shachi.

"You're going to have a baby?" Bepo asked innocently.

"Yes," Neo nodded, leaning back into Law's arms for comfort. Bepo let out a tender 'Ah' while staring at Neo's stomach. She smiled at how cute he looked. She could tell that he was carefully processing the information and memorizing her new scent.

"Is she really?" Usopp asked. Luffy gave him a toothy grin.

"Lunch is ready," Sanji announced, stepping out of the kitchen.

"Great! I'm starv-" Usopp paused and stared at his crew's cook. "Um, Sanji, you have a little something on your cheek."

"Yeah," Sanji chuckled affectionately at the little sprite clinging to him. "Ain't she cute?"

"You're cute!" Celeste chirped back. She kissed his cheek and giggled.

"Kidnapping balls, weird robot monkeys, ice chipping bunnies and now a little bug clinging to a cook's cheek," Usopp's shoulder drooped. "Can this get any weirder?"

"Wait until you hear what me and Shachi had to do!" Luffy grinned as they all started to make their way into the kitchen.

"I'm really not hungry," Neo announced when Law guided her up from the couch.

"You need to eat something," Law ordered softly. "At least a little bit."

"Can I sit on your lap?" Neo questioned.

"If that is what you wish," Law said, he kissed her cheek. "And if it will get you to eat."

"Okay," Neo nodded. She wrapped her arm around his waist and allowed him to guide her into the kitchen.