Navy & Wedding Talks

"Hold it right there!" a marine captain cried out. He and his band of fifteen navy soldiers pointed their gun barrels right at their cornered prey. The group of six Heart Pirates instantly frozen in their tracks at the command and shot their hands up into the air.

"Please! Don't shoot us, Mister Navy Soldier!" Archer shrieked in a ridiculously high-pitched, mocking voice. "We didn't mean any harm! Honest!"

"Yeah. Right. That's why you chose to live your life as pirates," the captain huffed. "Arrest them, men!"

"Yes, sir!" the rest of the marines chorused. A couple of them reached for their handcuffs and shackles while the rest of the marines kept their gun barrels pointed right at the cornered pirates.

The Heart Pirates raised their eyes up to the sky when the wind started to twirl around them. They quickly lowered their eyes back down to the soldiers so they wouldn't give away the incoming storm that was hovering above them.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Shachi said with a smirk.

"Why not?" a soldier, who had his cuffs and shackles out, asked with confusion plastered on his face. "It's my job."

"Don't talk nice with the pirates!" the captain shouted. "Just arrested them!"

"Yes, sir!" The marine shivered. He proceeded to step towards the pirates with the cuffs out and ready to take them prisoner.

"Don't say I didn't warn I warned you," Shachi said with a shrug. He then lowered his arms with the rest of the crew chuckling beside him and following his lead.

"Hey! Put your hands back up!" the navy captain hissed. He jammed his gun right into Shachi's cheek. "Up!"

"You really shouldn't have done that," Shachi said with a frown. "Our lady doesn't like it when people mess with her crew."

"Lady?" The marines blinked.

Shachi's frown curled into a smile when he noticed the red crystals hovering just inside the soldiers' gun barrels. The crystals flared up, engulfing the barrels in a red-hot glow.

"Uh, Captain?" a marine called. "Our gun barrels are melting."

"What?!" The captain turned to his platoon. His eyes widened at the red-hot glowing barrels. Steam rose off the barrels as hot metal filled the air around them. "You got to be kidding! Who the heck is doing that?!"

"You might wanna drop those," Archer said while pointing at the soldiers holding the cuffs and shackles.

After a collective 'Huh?' the navy soldiers looked down to see the cuffs and shackles were glowing just as hot and red as the gun barrels. They shrieked and tossed them away.

"I told you our lady doesn't like people messing with us," Shachi said again. "You should have walked away when you had the chance."

"Shut up, pirate! I'm not gonna let some phantom woman-" The navy captain cut his own voice off when a large, yellow flower sprouted up out of the ground around him. He blinked just before it's yellow petals closed around his body like a tight cocoon. He punched, kicked and bit at the petals, but it didn't give in to his assault as it held him tightly in its grip. "Get me out of this thing!"

"Right, Captain!" the soldiers shouted. They moved in to help their captain, but stopped short when green crystals appeared in front of their faces.

"What's going on?" a soldier asked. "What are these crystals?"

"Wait…wasn't there a report released recently about a woman who can control the elements and was a crewmember of the Heart Pirates here?" another soldier asked.

"That's right. Boy, you guys are slow," Archer said. He placed his arm on Shachi's shoulder with a grin. "I thought you marines kept up with us pirates. All well. It's time for you all to get trapped. It's been fun."

"Hey! There she is!" a soldier shouted. All the marines shot their eyes up to the air where Neo was hovering over them.

"What? She's just a kid!" another soldier shouted.

Neo tilted her head and giggled. She willed her earth crystals to glow. The ground around the marines started shaking. They gasped when large flowers grew up around their feet and screamed when the large petals trapped them just like their captain. Just for show, Neo wiggled her fingers. Venus flytrap flowers grew up out of the ground. She twirled her index finger in a circle. And, as if acting on her command, the flower stems twisted around the navy soldiers' already flower encased bodies until the monstrous looking flowers came up to the soldiers' faces.

The navy soldiers faces grew worried with concern as they stared at the flowers in front of them.

Neo opened the mouths of the flowers, earning blue faced shrieks from the soldiers just before she had the flowers clamp their flowery jaws closed and kiss the soldiers on their cheeks.

"Huh?" The soldiers blinked in confusion. They stared at the plants before them, wondering why they weren't plant food, then looked over at the Heart Pirates when their former prey started laughing hysterically.

Neo lowered herself closer to the two groups. She bit her lip in attempt to not reveal her bell filled laughter to the soldiers, but the scene she just created was almost too much for her.

"I didn't think the big bad navy could scream so girly like," Archer said between his cackles. He hunched over, slapping his hand on his knee. "That was priceless! I wish I had a camera!"

"Let's get going!" Shachi suggested, but was having trouble containing his own laughs at the pitiable state Neo put the navy in. Unable to resist, he reached out and patted one of the venus flytraps like it was a dog. "Good, plant. Good, boy."

"That's not funny!" the navy soldier shrieked. He glared up at Neo. "We know you're gonna kill us! So just do it already!"

Neo tilted her head with an angelic smile. All of the navy soldiers glared up at her, waiting for her or her fellow pirates to deliver the fatal blow that would end their lives. She spun four wind ringlets around each of her ten visible crystals. Some soldiers closed their eyes while other maintained their harsh glares. She then guided her ringlets out towards the soldiers. She spun the ringlets around, kicking up the dust to give her crewmates the chance to take off without being seen before launching herself up into the air and disappearing herself.

The navy soldiers coughed and sputtered at the dirt gathering in their mouths and noses. Once the dirt had settled back down into place, they looked around in confusion. All the pirates were now completely gone from their sights. "Huh?"

"Where did they go?" a soldier asked.

"Why didn't they finish us off?" another one asked.

"Did they just show us mercy? That doesn't make sense," a third soldier added.

"What doesn't make sense is why a child is on a pirate crew!" the captain snapped. "Or that a bunch of well trained navy men got taken out by a little girl who didn't even hit them once!"

"Sorry, Captain," the platoon chorused. "But you got caught too."

"Shut up!" the captain hissed. He wriggled in his flower cocoon. "This is going to be so embarrassing if one of the higher ups sees me like this. I'll never get promoted. But still…that girl…why didn't she finish us off? Who is that girl? What kind of devil fruit power was that?"

Neo glanced down at her now freed crewmates to make sure they were still heading for the sub. She mentally counted them as they ran through the town then sighed in relief that they all were fine. She looked up towards the dock. Law's Room was covering the entire sub. He was redirecting and slicing up cannonballs that were coming from a navy ship on the port side. She saw him glance over his shoulder when Bepo shrieked and pointed towards the starboard side. She knew he was freaking out from another navy ship coming from that way. And she knew Law told the crew she would take care of it when they glanced up at her. She waved to them before carrying out her unspoken order.

The navy fired their cannons at the Polar Tang.

Neo whipped out her winds and grabbed the metal balls easily. She flew them and herself closer to the navy ship. Once close enough to see them, she shook her finger at them like a mother would do to a child who got caught doing something they should have. "Nuh-uh. You don't do that to my crew."

Despite not being close enough to hear what they were saying, she was close enough to see the panic she set off in them. She smirked while thinking they were probably saying things Law wouldn't want her to hear anyway. She then proceeded to toss the cannonballs back at them as she melted the cannons so they couldn't fire at her with them. She swung the balls around like she was trying to hit the soldiers, but only damaged the ship. She rammed the cannonballs into the walls, through the sails and broke the helm before dropping them onto the deck of the ship. She then increased her winds and took control of the waters to drive the ship into the island, causing enough damage to strand the large vessel there.

After taking a quick inventory to make sure she didn't seriously hurt anyone, she turned her attention to the remaining navy ship that was still bombarding her crew. She flew over to it. Grabbing the cannonballs in her winds, she proceeded to do the exact same thing to this ship as she did the previous. Once that ship had run aground, she flew back to her crew.

Law scanned his eyes over her before ordering his crew inside and to take off from the island.

Meanwhile, elsewhere amongst the navy soldiers in one of their many bases, A green haired navy soldier was sitting quietly at a table in the mess deck while the soldiers around him chattered on happily about their victories over recent pirate captures or about letters from home they received. His eyes were glued down to an article in the paper about the Heart Pirates while he tried to ignore the many unwashed smells of his fellow soldiers. He would never understand why so many humans, apparently, were against taking baths. He chewed mindlessly on his supper when a younger soldier came rushing up to his table. He casually glanced up at the soldier before returning his eyes back to the paper.

"Hey," the soldier said as he joined his fellow soldiers in the mess deck. Some looked up at him while others continued eating with only quick glances up at him. He plopped his tray down before sitting down himself. "That girl has been seen again. You know, the one with the crystals and the ability to control the elements?"

"Have they figured out who she is and what her devil fruit is?" another soldier asked. "What about where she's from?"

Tory's body ticked at that last question. He swallowed his bread hard and took a drink of water before retaining his calm body posture.

"Nope. But there's been talk among the higher ups," the soldier replied. "More like complaints. That girl keeps melting all of our soldiers' guns and cannon balls. If that keeps up, you know it's going to hit the fan. The navy's gonna have to spend a lot of money on making more of them."

"And we still don't know anything about her. We don't even know her name. All we know is she's a kid with some kind of devil fruit powers where crystals are conductors for the elements. But what all is she capable of? And why hasn't she done more damage already? I mean the elements are a powerful tool after all. You all remember all what Fire Fist Ace did when he was alive. He was practically unstoppable," a soldier said. A round of mumbling agreements and lingering disdain for the pirate king's son spread through the group of soldiers. "And this girl has all four of the elements. She seems more playful than ruthless like other pirates. Captain Jory, what do you think? You've met her before, right?"

"Hm?" Jory looked up from his paper, with a forced bored expression on his face.

"This crystal element girl with the Heart Pirates," the soldier repeated. "What's your take on her? You've faced her before."

"Oh, her," Jory replied in a bored tone. "She didn't seem all that special. I assume that she's only recently gained her devil fruit powers around the time that I encountered her and her crew. My guess is it'll still be a while before she can control them to their fullest extent. Fire Fist Ace only had fire to deal with. She has all four elements like you've said. Don't concern yourself with her. All she can do is melt things and trap people. She has yet to actually engage in a full on assault against the navy. Focus more on her captain, Trafalgar Law, the Surgeon of Death, he's the one with the reputation of being a problem for the navy. Besides, like you've said before, the girl is just a child. The Surgeon of Death is the real problem here."

Jory dropped his eyes back down to his paper while the soldiers dove into a round of agreements and talked about how they were going to capture the Surgeon of Death. He stared at the black words on the paper that questioned his princess's origins. He sighed internally. Be careful, Princess. I know you're starting to let yourself be seen by the navy more so your bonded can get you set in their eyes, but still…I'm not in a high enough position to do much if something happens on this end. So far the navy doesn't consider you a big threat. And, for now, I can easily guide their attention off your bonded and onto other pirate crews. But I don't know how long that will last, especially since I have no idea what your bonded is planning for the future. Still, whatever happens, I'm sure you'll be fine. I know you are powerful and you have plenty of powerful people looking out for you. If worse comes to worse, you can always retreat back to Luminous. I'll do whatever I can on this end. Just stay safe, Princess.

Neo sat on the floor of the deck. Her head spun as a few of her crewmates rattled of what all it takes to put together a wedding and how the bride was often the center of attention. Ice ran through her veins. Sweat dripped down her forehead. Their words mixed together, creating a muddied mess inside of her head. Her stomach lurched. Launching to her feet she sailed over to the railing and wretched.

"There, there, my poor baby," Penguin said soothingly. He got up from his spot on the deck and walked over to her. He took her hair in his hands. Tucking her tresses into one hand he placed his free hand on her back. With soothing rubs, he glanced at his four crewmates with a deep frown. They were standing around with guilty expressions on their faces.

"Sorry, Neo," Archer said. "This is the second time we've caused you to get sick."

"No." Neo shook her head. She paused to make sure she wasn't going to throw up again before turning to her crew. "It's not your fault. I apparently have a weak stomach when it comes to planning events like this. I just get so nervous when anyone mentions our wedding."

"You should talk to the captain about this," Archer suggested. "Maybe there's something he can give you. Or maybe there's a flower you can grow and hang around the sub that'll calm your nerves."

"There are a lot of scents that do calm the nerves," Neo replied thoughtfully. She then gave a weak giggle. "Might not be such a bad idea. I don't want to keep losing everything I eat. In coming waves caused by a pod of whales."

"I think you just need to take a break from any thoughts of your wedding," Penguin said, placing his arm around her waist just before the first, and largest, wave rocked their sub. They rode out the remainder of the ebbing waves before continuing their conversation. "You and the captain haven't even picked out a date yet. It's still going to be a while before you two have your wedding. No point in stressing out about it now. How about we cook up some snacks for a while? That'll take your mind off the stresses of the wedding."

"Yeah!" the men cheered. "Chocolate chip cookies! Please!"

Neo laughed at their enthusiasm. "All right, all right. I guess it has been a while since I've made them. I'm going to go brush my teeth first."

Penguin nodded, jerking his thumb towards his crewmates. "I'll meet you in the galley then. And I'll be sure these jokers stay out and away from you with their incessant wedding jabber."

"Hey!" the group protested. "We're not that bad!"

"Don't shout at me. You're the cause of all this," Penguin huffed.

Neo giggled before slipping away from her lovely, yet arguing, crew. She hummed softly to herself while navigating through the bluish gray walls of her home. She noticed the sub's floors were rather warm under her bare feet. And cooking was only going to warm up the sub even more. She was going to have to use her wind crystals to keep things from getting to hot in the sub. If not, Bepo would end up all hot and sweaty then take it out on the crew despite it being her fault for deciding to make them all some snacks.

"Poor Bepo," Neo said to herself. "I'll use my crystals for him. He'll be glad for that."

Neo pushed the door open to her and Law's room then made her way into the bathroom, sensing Law wasn't far behind her. She rinsed out her mouth before grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste. Once her mouth and teeth were spearmint fresh once again, she exited the bathroom. She sensed Law near the door just before stepping out of their room. His eyes were filled with concern despite his relax posture of having his hands in his pockets. She smiled. "I'm okay, Law. Its just nerves."

"More wedding talk, huh?" Law asked. His eyes penetrated into hers, making her shiver at their intensity of concern they held for her. "That's the second time today, Neo."

"I know, I know. The crew's not going to talk anymore about it today." Neo placed her hands on his hips. She pushed upon her toes and pecked his lips with her own. Her spearmint breath washing over his skin when she spoke. "I'm fine. Penguin and I are going to make some cookies now. Is there anything you'd like?"

"Just you to be calm and relaxed," Law said. His eyes lingered on her lips for several seconds before kissing them.

Neo hummed into the kiss, making him deepen it. She slid her arms around his waist as he pulled his hands from his pockets and wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders.

"Well, that's a good start," Neo said when they pulled apart to breath.

"Glad I could help," Law replied, repetitively pecking her lips. "Mmm…spearmint is a good flavor on you."

"Good," Neo said between his pecks. "I should get to Penguin now."

"Nope. Not yet." Law placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her gently against the wall of the sub. He brushed the tip of his tongue over her lips to which she gladly parted for him, her body tensed. She danced her tongue with his before he enticed her to follow his muscle into his mouth were she searched his cavern until she got him to moan against her mouth. She smiled and pulled away for air. "You're going to walk away now, aren't you?"

"Yup." She pecked his lips before pulling herself from his dominant position over her. He gave her a playful glare as she walked backwards away from him. "I got to work on figuring out this whole teasing thing after all."

Law chuckled. He ran his eyes over her body, mostly her bare legs her shorts provided for him, while thinking about all the times she's teased him without realizing it. His brain instantly concocting a small plan to get her alone again later that night to finish what she was walking away from. "Trust me, love. You've got that mastered already."

"I'm glad you were able to come see me. How are you doing?" Shanks asked. He was sitting down beside a fire that accompanied him and Neo in their dream communication world.

Neo was looking around their surroundings with curiosity shining in her eyes.

Shanks chuckled at her childlike interest in this place they created. He glanced around himself. It was just the same as the world he created when he first summoned her to come see him, without the sub walls surrounding them. Now it was a world of it's own. They were in another field, which went on far beyond what their eyes could see, with the same glowing bell shaped flowers glowing softly below the moonlight above them. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes, Godfather, I'm listening," Neo replied with a giggle. She turned her attention back to the red haired man before walking over to him. She sat down right beside him with a smile. "I'm just surprised that we can create a world like this inside our heads. We can literally create anything we want here as long as it deals with nature. That must be because I'm of nature and you're bonded to me."

"I suppose it is a bit impressive. It's kinda like a dream world where we're in complete control of what happens," Shanks said, casting this world another glance before returning his attention to the young woman beside him. "I'm glad I can see you like this. You're starting to get noticed by the navy. I'm a bit concerned."

"You know you don't have to be," Neo replied. "I'm not going to do much. I'm maintaining my sniper position and only confronting the navy when my crew gets cornered."

"I'm still going to worry even though you are doing well." Shanks nodded. "Just be careful."

"I will." Neo nodded back. She then smiled brightly. "On a more happy note…"

"Oh?" Shanks grinned.

"Law and I are getting married!" Neo squealed.

"So you finally said yes to the little pirate surgeon," Shanks said.

"Yeah." Neo nodded. Her cheeks tinted pink. "I know I'm still learning about life, but this just feels right. I want to be with him."

"Then congratulations." Shanks pulled Neo into a hug. "I shall throw a party with my crew in honor of your marriage. Be sure to let me know when it finally happens. I'm glad for you both. Just don't tell him I said that."

"It appears you're going to have a relationship with Law like Healer Zinnia has with him," Neo commented.

"Probably. She sure did have her moments with him." Shanks thought back to the long-winded letter he received from the elemental healer. "I'm glad she handled him as well as she did."

"Huh?" Neo glanced over her shoulder.

"What is it?" Shanks asked.

"I think my crew is calling me. I'm playing poker with some of them right now, but without real money," Neo said, turning her eyes back to the red haired man she was with.

"I didn't mean to interrupt your game," Shanks apologized. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine. We've been playing for a while," Neo replied. "I'm glad you contacted me. I like that we can meet like this occasionally."

"I'm glad we can meet like this too. I'll see you later then," Shanks said before leaning closer to her and placing a kiss on her forehead.

Neo closed her eyes. She breathed in his now familiar and welcoming scent before opening her eyes again.

"Talking with Red Hair?" Shachi asked when Neo finally opened her eyes.

Neo giggled sheepishly, her bells making her sound very mischievous. She picked up her forgotten cards with a nod. "Yeah. Sorry about that."

"Don't be," Bepo replied with a smile. "You're not going to get to talk to him much with all of our travels and escapades. If you get the chance to talk with him, then you should. We're not doing anything important right now, anyway."

"You think?" Neo tilted her head. She looked around at the crewmembers that were currently with her. Penguin was on her right, with her legs resting in his lap, Shachi was on her left with Bepo beside him, Tero then Topaz. They were sitting at the table just staring at her. She then looked down at their substitute poker chips, which consisted of chips, marshmallows, cookies, hard candies and other variety of foods they could find. "It's easier now to connect with him since I met with him a few weeks ago. Our bond grew a lot faster than I thought it would. I guess it's because I'm so use to using my magic now. It's coming so naturally."

"Bepo's right," Penguin said. "And since your bond is growing with him it's only natural that you'll want to spend time with him, even if it is in a dream like world. He's worried over you plenty. No doubt that's going to continue. He'll like it that you keep in contact with him."

"He was a bit worried," Neo said thoughtfully. "He's keeping an eye on us from what the papers say just like he said he would."

"That's what a worried father does," Topaz mentioned. She picked up a chip and popped it into her mouth.

"Father? He's my godfather," Neo said, confused.

"It's pretty much the same thing." Topaz shrugged.

"I guess so. I remember that's kind of how Law explained it back on Amazon Lily," Neo said. She kneaded her eyebrows. "So Shanks is my father now?"

"If you want to look at him that way. I'm sure Red Hair wouldn't mind it one bit. You are bonded to him. And he obviously cares about you a lot even though you haven't had much time with him," Penguin said. He patted her knee. "I say he is your father."

"Just don't tell the captain that." Shachi snickered. "He barely stood the fact that Red Hair is gonna be his godfather-in-law. Can you imagine how the captain would react to Red Hair being his father-in-law?"

The group laughed at the memory of their encounter with the seasoned pirate. Neo composed herself when she felt Law glowering, from another room, at their conversation. With a smile on her face, she said, "Law's not going to be very happy with you. He's seething right now. Sorry. I probably should have closed my feelings off to him for this conversation."

"I don't blame him," Tero said, placing some of his food chips in the pile. "I think we all would have reacted the same way that he did. I mean your godfather is an emperor. And not just any old one at that. Its Red Hair Shanks. That would be a pretty big shock to anyone. I wonder what the navy would do if they ever found out about this."

"They'd probably have a heart attack," Shachi said with a bright grin. "Red Hair is a pretty intimidating man. The navy fears him despite always putting on a brave face."

"And while we're on the subject of the navy," Tero said, directing his words and eyes at Neo.

Her eyebrows raised on her forehead. She waited patiently for him to continue.

"You need to start calling out the names of your attacks."

"Hm? I do?" Neo cocked her head. "Why?"

"Because all devil fruit users do. If you keep your mouth quiet all the time while attacking, they're going to grow suspicious. We already have enough of that by using your crystals. We also need to come up with an origin story for you," Tero explained. "Where you're from can wait for now. The navy's not going to care much about that until they, at least, learn your name and devil fruit powers. But it's imperative that you start calling out your attacks. We also need to limit you on how many attacks you use for now."

"Why's that?" Topaz asked.

"Because when someone first eats their devil fruit they don't come out all powerful and know what all they can do where their powers are concerned," Tero explained. "We need to build her up correctly. We can start off with what she has already done. Then, after some time passes, increases her attacks and shape them differently so the navy will be sure to see her as any other devil fruit user. Right, Captain?"

"That's correct," Law said. The group turned their attention to the door of the rec. room. Their captain was leaning against the door frame, casually taking in his crew and love. He pushed off the door and walked over to them. He stroked Neo's hair, catching a glimpse of the cards she was holding and forced himself not to smile at her hand. "Sorry about not thinking of this before."

"It's fine. You've a lot to deal with," Neo replied. "Was there something you wanted?"

"It's getting pretty late. I figured we could have another lesson before turning in for the night," Law said. He then nodded to their card game. "Are you almost finished?"

"Oh, uh." Neo looked down at her hand then at her fellow card players.

"I call," Shachi said. "Show me what ya got."

The group of card players all laid down their cards. They looked around at each others hands, all eyes frozen on Neo's royal flush. They shouted and threw their hands up in the air in exasperation. "Ack! You've gotta be kidding!"

"How many times does that make?" Tero grumbled. He dropped his elbow on the table and rested his chin in his palm while popping another chocolate chip cookie into his mouth with his other hand. "Sixteen?"

"Seventeen," Bepo corrected before dropping his head to the table.

"I'm beginning to think it's a good thing the captain doesn't allow us to play you for money," Shachi said with a sigh. He draped an arm over the back of his chair. "We'd be flat out broke."

"Uh." Neo chuckled with a sympathetic look. "Sorry."

"You really do have a lot of luck with poker," Penguin noted. He picked up her discarded cards and looked at them with disdain before slipping them into the deck.

"That's what you all get for teaching an angel a devil's game," Law said, dropping his hat onto her head. She smiled up at him. He then gave his crew a sadistic grin. "Perhaps I should let her play for money."

"No, Captain! Please!" Shachi, Bepo, and Penguin shrieked.

"If you do that, I'm deserting," Tero growled.

Topaz laughed, unfazed by the captain's threat since she didn't play much poker.

Law chuckled himself before turning his attention back to Neo. "Say goodnight now."

"Okay." Neo nodded. She stood up as Law stepped away from the group. She pecked Penguin's cheek before moving around the table to kiss Shachi's cheek, scratched behind Bepo's ears, patted Tero's hair -despite his grumpy expression- and hugged Topaz. "Goodnight, everyone."

"Goodnight, Neo and Captain," Shachi, Bepo, and Penguin chorus with smiles and waves.

"Yeah, goodnight," Tero said with a small, disinterested wave.

"Sleep well, you two," Topaz added.

Neo then headed over to Law, who was standing beside the door waiting patiently for her.

"Hey, what about naming your attacks?" Bepo asked.

"Oh, um…I have no idea what to call them. Why don't you all think of some for me? We can discuss them later," Neo suggested.

"We'll see what we can do," Bepo replied with a nod and a smile.

Neo returned the gestures before sliding her left hand into Law's. She waved at them as Law guided her out of the rec. room.

Shachi snickered once he knew the couple was out of earshot. "Another lesson indeed. There might be a lot to learn about the human body, but there's not that much."

"He is giving her another lesson, all right." Penguin smirked, passing out another round of cards. "Another lesson in kissing."

"They sure do that a lot," Topaz noted.

"I don't know why he bothers trying to hide his true intentions," Tero said. He strummed his fingers on his cheek. "It's not like we don't know what they're doing. They act like love struck teenagers sneaking around who think their parents are too stupid to notice what's going on."

"It can't be helped," Topaz said, stacking up some of her food poker chips. "They're in love. And they have bonded through the princess's magic. Their relationship is different from a normal human one, even from elemental ones. They literally need to be with each other. It's always going to be like that."

"So you have told me," Tero said with a sigh. "But still…they're a bit intense, don't you think?"

"They can get possessive of each other for sure," Penguin said. He picked up his cards and rearranged them in his hand. His expression softened. "For them, it's actually pretty cute. Both have suffered quiet a bit. I think the captain can really sympathize with her, even if it is just a little bit. He shows her so much affection because he wants her to know that she's loved."

Tero studied Penguin for a moment. He studied both the man and his words before a malicious grin then spread across his lips. "Or the captain's just horny."

Bepo's eyes bugged out of his head while spitting the drink he was taking back into his mug.

Topaz's cheeks flared up as she ducked behind the cards in her hand.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Shachi noted, casually picking at the corner of one of his cards.

Penguin frowned deeply. He shot a hidden glare at Tero that he knew the man felt despite not seeing it.

Tero shrugged. "What? He's a man after all. And since she's finally agreed to marry him, it's only a matter of time before their relationship becomes sexual. He'll want more alone time with her then."

"We are not going to discuss the captain and Neo's future love life," Penguin said with forced control. "Let's just get back to our game."

"Whatever you say, Big Brother Penguin," Tero said with a shrug.

"So what lesson are we going to have?" Neo asked once they stepped into their room. She reached for the main light switch to turn it on.

Law glided his hand under hers to stop her. When she looked at him, he pecked her forehead then reached for the nightlight, turning it on. His steel eyes glinting with suggestion as he planted light kisses on her forehead, cheeks and lips. He then pulled her farther into the room, closing the door with his foot.

"Oh. That kind of lesson."

"Were you expecting something else?" Law questioned against the skin of her left cheek. He scooped her up into his arms.

"Of course not," Neo replied. She placed her fingertips on his right cheek while pecking his left cheek softly. She then nuzzled her nose behind his ear, breathing in his scent before licking his earrings. She earned a vibrating chuckle and several heart thumps from his chest that sent shivers down her spine. Smiling, she placed multiple feather light kiss on his cheek again.

"You're sure impatient tonight," Law said with a smile. He carried her over to their bed. He sat down, keeping his feet over the edge so he could kick off his shoes before making himself comfortable with her planted firmly on his lap.

"It's your fault," Neo replied, kissing her way from his cheek to the corner of his lips. "You started this. And you just smell so good. I like your natural scent."

Law chuckled again. His lips met hers when she tried to kiss the corner of his lips again. "You're the one who instigated this when you walked away from me earlier. And glad you approve of the way I smell. I like your natural scent as well. You're very, very intoxicating."

"Good," Neo mumbled against his lips seconds before he slipped his warm muscle passed her sweetened lips. She tensed and arched against him.

"Mmm." Law hummed. He slowly drug his tongue around the dark corners of her mouth before retracting himself from her. Pecking and mumbling against her lips, he said, "Despite how good it makes you taste, I really hope you didn't eat too many sweets tonight."

"Don't worry, my love. I didn't," Neo mumbled back into their kisses. "I just nibbled on those sweets I made. I knew what you had planned after all. I didn't want to get sick and miss the real sweets I was getting tonight."

"You're such a good girl," Law said, trailing kisses away from her lips to her neck, licking and sucking her soft skin until he reached his desired destination. She tugged on a strain of his hair and moaned when he hit her sweet spot. He smiled against her skin before continuing his welcomed assault on her. Both their bodies raged with the hot fire of desire that had settled into their bellies as the captain locked his arm around her body and rolled her down to the bed. He drug his hand from her back then down the curves of her body before resting his hand on her hip, making her tense and arch again into him. He continued to suck on her neck for several minutes then licked the tender flesh, satisfied at the mark that was going to appear on that spot soon. He trailed his eyes over her tan skin to her own eyes, which were watching him carefully and expectantly, until they rested on his hat on her head. "You know, I've really missed you wearing my clothes. You haven't done that much recently."

"I can fix that easily enough. Now, kiss me," Neo softly commanded with another tug on his spiky, black mane.

"You really are impatient tonight," Law said again with another low chuckle vibrating his chest against hers.

"How can I not be?" Neo asked, taking his face in her hands. She pulled him down to her lips. She playfully licked his lips before pecking them. "I've grown up a lot. This is part of it, right? This desires of wanting to be this close to you, of wanting you to kiss me, of wanting you to…have sex with me."

"Right." Law nodded. She pecked his lips again. He cupped her cheek, studying her impatient eyes and her growing desires. "But we still have to keep tight control over ourselves."

"Until we are married," Neo retorted.

Law tilted his head at her out of character sharp tone.

She sighed, running her hands through his hair. "I'm sorry, Law. It's just…I'm curious. I want to know more. I know you've explained everything to me, but there's only so much you can learn from books. Life is about experience, isn't it?"

"A lot of it is. And I know it's frustrating," Law replied, brushing the back of his fingers over her arm.

"Then when will we get married?" Neo asked. "The crew's talked a lot about the wedding, but we haven't."

Law sighed. He removed her hands from his hair, before she could put him in a trance, then laid down beside her, propping up on his elbow. "I actually have been meaning to talk to you about that."

"And?" Neo questioned when he paused. She tried to read his feelings, but he was temporarily blocking them from her. She gripped a hold of his shirt. "It's not something bad, is it? You're closed off to me, Law."

"Of course it's nothing bad," Law said, poking her in the ribs. She squealed. "It's just…I want you to let me handle the preparations for our wedding."

"Huh?" Neo blinked in confusion. "I don't understand. I'm the bride-to-be. Isn't it my duty to plan the wedding? That's what the crew has said."

"Yes." Law nodded. "Normally, and in some cultures, it is the job of the bride to handle all the wedding planning. Sometimes the groom helps, sometimes he doesn't. It really all depends on the people involved. For us, it would be better if you let me handle the majority of the plans."

"But why?" Neo asked with a frown.

"Neo, you've thrown up twice today when the crew has just talked about our wedding," Law pointed out. Neo twitched as her cheeks flushed. "You did that too when we were preparing for our commitment ceremony back on Luminous. How do you think you're going to plan our wedding if you do nothing but run to the bathroom like that? And these are just plans. I don't want you sick on our wedding day. Also, I doing this because I just want you to be happy and stress free."

Neo studied the soft, far off, familiar look of regret in his eyes for a moment before sighing. His feelings were swirled around her past. All of the cuts on her body, all the times she freaked out, when she was taken to Luminous, his ring and hat taken from her, her being poisoned and almost dying, every single bad experience she had was repeatedly rolling through his mind. She cupped her hand around his neck. "Law, I am happy. As long as I'm with you and the crew, I'll always be happy. You have made that happen. You pulled me out of the darkness and gave me a life that I never even dreamed I could have. You are the light of my life, literally. You are my solar crystal. And if you don't want me to have anything to do with the wedding because you think it stresses me out too much then…I won't have anything to do with it. I don't even care if we have an actual wedding. Just as long as we're together, I'm fine with whatever happens."

"I'm not leaving you out of it completely," Law quickly said. "You'll still get to decide some things. Just in a more moderate controlled fashion. Besides, it's just going to be a small, in no way fancy, wedding. It's just us and the crew, plus the preacher whoever we find."

Neo opened her mouth to comment on that, but paused when she noticed a familiar spark in his eyes. His lips curled into a smirk when he fed her his thoughts. Growling, she poked him in the chest. "Oh! You! You already have everything planned out in your head, don't you?! You've had plans for weeks! You're just concealing it from me because you want it to be a surprise! Ugh! Law!"

"I can't help it. It's in my blood," Law replied with a devilish grin.

"Yeah. Right." Neo stuck her tongue out at him. "I should have known."

Chuckling, Law picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. "Yes. You should have. Now, there's a decision I want you to make right now."

"What's that?" Neo asked curiously, her frustration forgotten.

"Some men wear wedding rings along with their wife." Law brushed his thumb over her fingers. "Would you like me to wear one?"

Neo blinked a couple times in consideration. Her eyes dropped down to his hand holding hers. Even though it was his right hand, she tried to envision what he would look like wearing a ring. She couldn't. All she could see was him fighting, getting hurt, and the ring causing permanent damage to his skillful surgeon hand. She took his hand in both of hers and kissed it then looked into his eyes. "You fight more battles than I do. You could get hurt. I don't want you to wear anything that could possible cause damage to you."

Law nodded. "Then I won't wear one. But, if at any point in time you want me to wear one, I will. All you have to do is say so."

"Okay." Neo nodded back.

"And just so you know, I don't want you to expect sex on our wedding night," Law stated simply.

"Huh? Why?" Neo blinked rapidly. She pushed herself up into a sitting position and stared at him.

"While you're ready to be married, you might not yet be ready to have sex," Law replied. He reached out and brushed his fingers over her arm before sitting up. He pressed his forehead to hers, pushing his hat up on her head, and keeping his eyes locked with hers. "Remember, it's a very emotional experience. It's going to leave you confused even if you are ready for it to happen. I just want you to be comfortable in our marriage without feeling pressured to do something just because you think we should. While we have lived together for over a year now, being married will bring changes to our relationship. It might not be many or very big changes, but for sex, but it will change. And you know you need time to adjust to new things, even if it is with me."

Neo pulled her forehead away from his with another frustrated sigh. She curled into his chest and arms. "Will I ever be able to do something new without fearing it?"

"Your fear to new things is a conditioned response, love." Law pecked her forehead then started stroking her hair. "I wish I could tell you that you will get over it, but you might not. Just remember you have gotten so much better with it. You adjust a lot quicker to new situations and people. And that's a huge accomplishment considering your past. I am very proud of how you have grown up."

"That's because of you." Neo tilted her head so she could look at him. "I love you so much for everything that you've done for me. I know it wasn't easy for you."

"It's all right, love." Law pressed his lips to her forehead. He kept his lips there for several seconds just taking everything in.

"Can we kiss again?" Neo asked innocently.

Law pulled away from her before leaning his lips back towards hers. "As you wish, my love."

Pressing their lips together, Law slid his hands around her sides as slowly as he could. Neo's body tensed in response to his moves before he wrapped his arms around her back. He pressed her into his chest then leaned back against his pillow while dancing his tongue with hers and pressing her into his body as closely as he could.