Ask

Characters: Baby 5, Law, Sai. Rating: K. Warnings: None.

Baby 5 could not be happier, as she walked down the aisle on the arm of her husband. Finally, after eight broken off engagements, she had finally found a man who needed her. That he was strong enough to survive their engagement was an added bonus, and she felt as though she was walking on air as they moved to greet their guests and accept the congratulations.

They were all Sai-san's guests, but that didn't faze her as she beamed brighter than the sun and laughed joyously at the words and gifts offered. These people, the Happo Navy and allies, were her family now, and she was determined to never let them down. She would never let Sai-san down, and as the leader of the army that meant she had to encompass everyone present with her assistance.

A woman complimented her dress, and she was quick to defer the credit to the amazing seamstress that had created it for her. A man congratulated Sai-san on obtaining such a beautiful wife, and she couldn't help but blush a vibrant red, recalling exactly how she had come to be first his fiancée, and then his wife. The declaration to Lao G, and the way he prevented her from taking her own life were memories she would treasure forever.

Sai-san touched her on the shoulder, gently and tenderly, between well-wishers and she was quick to focus her attention on him and only him. As his wife, his wishes were her utmost priority, whatever the time or circumstance might be. He nodded, as subtly as he was capable, towards the back of the merriment. She followed the line of sight, confused as to what he was after. Did he want her to go there? Was there a task for her to accomplish? An unwelcome guest to publicly evict in order to prove her worth as his wife to the audience?

When she saw who was standing by the entrance, carefully away from the crowds but still undeniably present, she froze. He had been sent an invitation at her incredibly selfish request, which Sai-san had been generous enough to accept, but she had never dared dream that he might show.

For all that he was an amazing man, subtlety was not the groom's speciality, and her battle-hardened senses easily noticed when Sai-san began to move towards the man, gently guiding her along to greet the only guest there for her.

Law had scrubbed up well, compared to when she'd last seen him at the feast of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Back then he had been swathed in bandages, grumpy and antisocial in the face of his ally's enthusiasm. Now he stood tall, hands in the pockets of a shirt that clearly hadn't been ironed, but was still far smarter than anything she'd seen him in since he'd joined Doffy's crew all those long years ago. His jolly roger was embroidered down by the hem, over his left hip and partially concealed by his arms. She thought he'd even tried to tame his hair a little; there was no fluffy hat in sight.

"Congratulations," he said smoothly, not shifting his position one bit. She hadn't expected him to. He offered nothing more, no further words or a gift, but she had no complaints to make. His presence itself was a pleasant surprise she'd never dared hope for.

Next to her, Sai-san nodded in acceptance of his words. She stuttered thanks of her own, well aware of another blush erupting in her cheeks as she clung to her husband. Law didn't comment on her clinginess, as he would have done when they were teens. She supposed he'd matured a lot since then, and Doffy's defeat had lifted something from his shoulders.

"Why?" she asked, not realising the word had slipped out for several seconds, then freezing when the realisation hit before rushing to explain herself. "I didn't think you'd come. I thought you wanted to cut ties with us." His smirk morphed into something a little softer, confusing her further.

"It was the first time you'd ever asked me for something for yourself," he said, turning his gaze to Sai-san beside her. "I wanted to see who finally convinced you that you were allowed to want something."

She had nothing to say to that, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish as she tried to reorganise her thoughts to no avail.

"Cora-san always regretted he couldn't save you," Law continued after a moment, his gaze turning away from them and settling on the floor by her feet. "He'd be happy you got out before it was too late."

She wanted to say that she didn't care what the mute klutz had wanted. He'd made her life a misery, until she realised she could fight back, and then he'd left, taking away the boy that had made her life interesting. Seeing that same boy in front of her now, though, she couldn't say that. Not when she remembered the day Corazón had died, and what – who – he had died for.

Silence reigned between them, not tense but not quite comfortable either. She could feel Sai-san's uncertainty through his arm, and opened her mouth to say something, anything to clear the air. As always, Law was faster.

"We're on the same side again," he observed. "For the time being, at least." He was talking about his alliance with Straw Hat, and by extension the Grand Fleet she was now a part of, and Baby 5 smiled.

"I'm glad," she smiled. There was more to say, so much more, but her wedding was neither the time nor place, and behind her other guests were beginning to clamour for their attention again.

"Thank you for coming," Sai-san said, nodding to Law once before gently tugging at her arm to lead her away. She followed with one last smile at Law, and could have sworn his smirk fully transformed into a returning smile for just a moment before he was hidden from view by the other guests.

Part two of three! The next will be up tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,
Tsari