A/N: I knew the ending of this was going to get tricky, and it's beginning to trip me up, so please forgive me for upturning any expectations you might've had based on how frequently I posted the first seven chapters. At least this one is kinda long (I actually had to move stuff back because of how long it was getting).

Ten

It was especially cold that day, Baby 5 noted. She had waited until it was just her and Lami in headquarters again before she wrapped up her sister in blankets, took Cora-san's Den Den out, and placed the snail on the bed, doing her job.

"Child."

"Grandfather…?" She looked at Lami—they both had tears in their eyes. "My sister and I are home alone."

"…I know." The snail mimicked a pained expression as the man on the other end was also about to cry. "I already know."

"What do we do now…?"

"I… that I don't know." The man sniffled sadly. "This is going to have to be the last time we talk like this."

"There was a boy who the Marines rescued," Baby 5 mentioned. "Is that our brother? Do you have him?"

"…no."

Baby 5 and Lami stared at one another, not entirely sure how to process that. How come the Marines didn't have Law if the adults all said they did? Where was he if they didn't? Did they assume that Grandfather was with the wrong organization? Was Law safe, or…?

"When you are old enough to run," the man said, "find a Marine base. I will come for you."

"Grandfather, I'm scared," Lami squeaked. "Our brother's gone, Papa's gone, we don't know where you are…! Can't you come for us?! It's scary being home alone!"

"It will get better," Grandfather sighed, voice sounding like a hug that was meant to feel better yet didn't. "My darling grandchildren are strong—be strong for a little while longer, okay?"

"…okay…" both girls mumbled.

"I love you."

The call clunked to an end and the snail fell asleep. Lami and Baby 5 stared at it before looking at themselves; they were now alone. No one was coming to save them now.

All Baby 5 knew was that she wasn't terribly fond of Monet and Sugar. There was something about them that was just… well… off. It was true that the Young Master had saved them, just as he had saved most of them, yet there was just something about the pair of sisters that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on-end, as though there were a lot of coincidences with their assimilation into the Family.

"You'll look good for your date tonight," Monet assured Señor Pink as he preened in a mirror. "Miss Russian is going to find you dashing."

"You really think so?"

"I know so." The teen looked over at Baby 5, who was trying to pluck some books from a case without attracting too much attention. "Don't you agree, Baby 5?"

"I think he needs to tell her the truth," the girl frowned.

"This could be something really big for me," Señor Pink said. "I know I'm a member of the Family, but this woman could see me as a family man. Do you realize how important that could be?"

"You hate kids."

"I hate kids that are in the way and sniveling," he replied. Baby 5 rolled her eyes and took the books with her, away from where Monet was reassuring Señor Pink that all was going to go well. She went into her room and found Lami sitting up in the chair by the window, looking out longingly.

"Pink's going out again," she said, bringing the books over. Lami accepted the top one—a volume about historical architecture—and carefully opened it up.

"At least he won't be around for dinner."

"He was having Monet give him compliments on his outfit."

"Ew." Lami wrinkled her nose and looked at Baby 5. "Sugar came in earlier but didn't stay long; the adults really want us to be friends because we're the same age, but I don't like it. I don't think they do either."

"Maybe we can figure out a way to steer clear of them that doesn't involve staying in our room all the time."

"I hope so. Avoiding them sucks—we need to get strong if we're going to find Law-nii."

"Yeah, but I wonder where he ended up… if he's still out there…"

"It doesn't matter," Lami shrugged. "We have four more years on me; if we can get out in three, that'll leave an entire year of traveling the North Blue. Law-nii and I did almost all of it in half a year with Cora-san. It should be easy."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Baby 5 smirked. She pulled an extra blanket from a shelf and wrapped up Lami in it. "Oh, and Diamante wants to know if you'll be okay enough to come down for dinner."

"Yeah, I'll come," Lami pouted. "If we keep skipping Family dinners, then people will start to get suspicious."

"…but we have a good excuse, at least." Baby 5 gently took hold of Lami's forearm and inspected it. "Still looks like it's fading to me."

"It's probably going into my bloodstream," Lami shrugged. "That's worse."

"You still got more time than before, which is time we can use wisely." Baby 5 let go of her sister's arm and motioned with her head towards the wardrobe. "Come on; let's get you ready for dinner."

Opening up the closet door, Law found Lami right where he left her, trembling between the linens. She saw him and squeaked, throwing her arms around his neck as he clung to him.

"You've been so good and brave," he whispered in her ear as he lifted her out of her hiding spot, the words technically for both of them. He set her on the floor and took her hand in his, holding tight. "Come on, let's get out of here."

"…but Mom and Dad…!"

"They told me to get you out of here," he lied. She didn't need to know they were already cold when he found them. He pulled her along, keeping her from looking inside their parents' office, before sneaking them both out into the corridor. They hid behind an overturned gurney as they heard the sound of soldiers shouting around the corner. Once their voices faded, Law pulled Lami up to her feet.

"Where are we going?!" she squeaked. "Where's Bee-nee?!"

"Bee's waiting for us! Now come on!" He urged her forward, towards the back door where he knew the path the freedom sat. "We're going to get out of here! We're going to live!"

Hiding behind some rubbish bins, Law waited outside before making a break for the cart he saw on his way back to the hospital. It was full of bloody, half-stiff corpses, but they could use it as camouflage to get far enough away from the bulk of the soldiers so that they could slip into the woods easier. Was it ideal? No, but it would give his sisters and him a chance.

"Bee! There you are!" Law almost cried in relief as he saw their sister standing by the cart. Her back was turned as they ran up to her, knowing they needed to act fast. "Why aren't you in there yet?!"

The girl turned around and he gasped—Amber Lead lesions were spread over her face and neck and her eyes dull and unfocused. Wait… this was wrong… why was this so wrong…?

"Join us, Law-nii," she said, holding out her hand for him to take. "Cora-san is going to help us."

"We have to get to the forest!

"…but Cora-san is the adult who helps!" Lami chirped. "He didn't let Bee-nee come before, but now we can all go together!"

"Kids!" Law whipped his head around to see Cora-san running towards them, looking ridiculous in both his uniform and his full-routine of makeup. "Hurry!"

He tripped and shots rang out.

"Cora-san!" Law screamed. The man's body fell to the ground and did not move, blood pooling and oozing between the white cobblestones in the street. "Cora-san!"

More shots and the boy heard soft thuds next to him. He looked, only to find his sisters' bodies laying in crumpled heaps, both done in by single hits to the head.

"…Lami…? Bee…?" He knelt down and checked their pulses—nothing. "No… no… NO! NO! IT'S NOT FAIR! WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO LIVE!"

"Life doesn't give a shit."

Trembling, Law looked up to see one of the soldiers, covered head-to-toe in their protective bodysuit. A gun was in their hand, still smoking from the last round. The soldier pulled off the gas mask to reveal Doflamingo; his sunglasses glinted brilliantly, the bright and gaudy pink so stark against the paleness of their owner and Flevance itself.

"Fufufu… this is for thinking you could actually get away," he chuckled. The man raised his arm, aimed the gun, and pulled back the hammer to cock it.

BANG

Law sat up straight and shuddered as he woke up in the middle of the night. He looked around at his roommates to see if he had shouted and woken any of them up—nothing so far. Quietly, he slipped out of bed and padded out the room and down the hall, heading towards the kitchen.

"So, you can't sleep either?" Law nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of Penguin's voice, the older teen sitting at the kitchen table in their small house. He had a half-drunk glass of milk in front of him—huh, a good idea. Law got one himself and sat down as well. "Am I right?"

"Kinda." Law didn't want to pry—he knew that Penguin also got nightmares, but they weren't really the same. For all the horrors he had seen in Flevance, the other lad had lived different ones and for much longer. What did he really want to reveal about his fucked-up dream? From everything he was reading in medical texts and journals, the signs weren't good. "I was just… reminded of… some people… who I want to find… who I want to join the crew."

"Join the crew…? Must be special."

"Yeah, they are." Law took a sip of the milk and took comfort in the chilled, smooth drink. "If things were different, they would have been the first members of the Heart Pirates."

"That's a statement," Penguin said, making Law cringe slightly. Ah, shit. "They must be pretty important to you if that's the case—you don't just want anyone on your crew. Where are they?"

"Spider Miles."

"Well, then I guess the first thing we do after we finish our training and raise the funds is head over to Spider Miles." Penguin shrugged and drank some milk. "There's no helping when the Captain has something in his head."

"I'm not the captain yet," Law scowled.

"You're our wee baby captain—shut the fuck up."

"I hate you."

"No you don't. It's a fact you're the smallest of us, even Bepo, so you gotta learn to live with it."

"I can make it so not even you can find all of you."

"Nah; that's a hard pass." He slammed back his remaining milk like a farmer would his ale. "Who the fuck would keep everyone in line if I wasn't here? Scrub the toilet you all refuse to touch? Braid Shachi's hair before bed? Make you super-fucking-thin raisin pancakes of all things?"

"Alright, alright; you win, asshole," Law conceded. He finished off his glass as well and they both rinsed the dishes with some water before leaving them in the sink. "Hey, uh… can you… not tell the others about this?"

"I make no guarantees," Penguin shrugged. The younger teen glared at him, which made him just want to give him a hug. "You know that we all know you get nightmares, right?"

"I never said it was a nightmare."

"…but you came out here for a glass of milk in the middle of the night, which you usually only do after a particularly bad dream."

"Yeah, but…" Law went quiet and looked away. "Doesn't mean they need to know every time I get nightmares."

"Nah, you're good." Penguin ruffled the younger teen's hair—fuck, he was almost too tall for that now considering Law'd been almost in a constant growth spurt since they met. He was shrugged off with a halfhearted shove and he knew all was well… at least, enough for them to trudge back to the shared bedroom.

It felt childish, but Law just wanted his sisters and didn't want to fully admit it. He watched as Penguin climbed up into his bunk before looking at his own empty one—how often had he gone to sleep alone only to wake up with both of them clung to either side? Back then he'd always yell at them, but now… fuck… what he wouldn't give to have them both and know they were safe…

…and instead, Law nestled himself in Bepo's bunk, the Mink squeaking in his sleep as he suddenly was being used as a living body pillow. Even though Law knew that he was with friends—friends he might be able to keep—the loneliness he felt was a crushing, oppressive force, more than he could bear. Ha… bear… fuck. He pressed his face against Bepo's back to hide his tears and did his best to fall into what would be light, fitful sleep.

Time passed.

Law and his friends worked and trained hard as they lived on Swallow Island, earning their keep and strengthening their abilities. With every time the teen could stand to keep his Room open for a minute longer or a square meter larger, he knew he was that much closer to his initial goal.

In Spider Miles, Lami kept busy, poring through books and soaking in all the knowledge she could. Science, navigation, medicine, history, language—she read through everything afforded to her and then some. With her strength coming and going at odd intervals, she knew that she needed to what she could, while she could still do things…

…and Baby 5…? She continued to take care of her sister, cooking and cleaning and making sure enough chores were done so that Doflamingo left them alone. It was hard work, often keeping her busy the entire day, but it was worth it for what little beri she could scrape together… for what she was able to do for her sister as she laid in bed on her bad days and wandered around the empty compound when things were good.

The rest of the Donquixote Family, on the other hand, had plans… the more ambitious of such were nearly ready to be put into action. They plotted, they schemed, and one day they began packing the contents of their base, putting as much as they could inside the Numancia Flamingo, for the Young Master… well… he was going home.

Three years later, in a place now all too familiar…

Invading Dressrosa was… too easy.

It was completely engineered by the Young Master, of course, which meant that he used the king and his soldiers as living puppets, which furthered his plans easier than it would have gone otherwise. Lami had been having one of her bad sick days—they were increasing in frequency and severity again—and it caused both her and Baby 5 to stay on the Numancia Flamingo while the rest of the Family pretended to settle the country's affairs.

"This feels so wrong," Lami said, staring out the porthole of the cabin. She could see fires illuminating the night sky as the coup was being staged. "You know… I don't think Law-nii and I ever really wanted to cause chaos… not if it feels like this."

"Don't worry," Baby 5 assured. "One day, when the time is right, we'll go back to the North Blue and find Law-nii." She put a bowl of steaming water on the table and sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing hold of Lami's arm. The younger girl allowed her touch and soon her lesions were being gone over with a wet, hot cloth. "Maybe we'll be lucky and he'll find us here. He might rescue us."

"Maybe you… but not me."

"…and why would he rescue one of us and not the other?"

"…because this is still late-stage poisoning," Lami frowned. "It's like when Cora-san stole Law-nii and me… except now… now his last-ditch effort to save us is who-knows-where, well on the other side of the Calm Belt." She exhaled heavily and tried not to cry. "I don't know…"

"We'll figure it out," Baby 5 assured gently. "I'm clever and you're smart—we can survive."

"You accidentally ate your Devil Fruit."

"It was planted, alright?" she pouted. The sisters could only look at one another for only a few seconds before bursting into giggles. Baby 5 moistened the cloth again and continued going over Lami's lesions. "As long as we're still here, he's coming for us both. Don't forget that."

"You sound old."

"I am older."

"Not ancient." Lami snickered as Baby 5 flicked a bit of water in her face. "Do you think they'll send for us or…?"

"It's Doflamingo—of course he will." An idea then popped into her brain, causing her to perk up. "Say, you want to get some of his ice cream? The kind just for him?"

Lami's face brightened at the suggestion, knowing it might be their last true act of rebellion for a while.

It was a while before Dressrosa was deemed stable enough to bring Lami ashore. Baby 5 carried her piggyback all the way to the palace, all the while the girls staring at their new environment with wide, curious eyes. It was so different from Spider Miles, from Kuen Village, from the White City, from the North Blue in general, and they wanted to take it all in the best they could. They eventually stepped across the palace threshold, where Monet was waiting for them.

"The Young Master tasked me with finding the perfect quarters for you," the young woman mentioned. "There are rooms that are right next to one another, and even a pair that possess an adjoining suite."

"Lami-chan and I share," Baby 5 insisted. Monet shook her head.

"Young Master had his orders," she claimed. "Here; follow me." She led them up the stairs and down a corridor where there was plenty of expensive-looking things that had been placed on the floor and against the walls haphazardly. "Pick your rooms from these; let us know your decisions when you make them."

Baby 5 moved to enter one of the rooms, thankful when it seemed like Monet was not following them. She put Lami down on the plush couch that sat off-center in the large room and looked around.

"This'll be nice," she nodded. "There's shelves for all your books, and lots of air and light."

"There's already stuff there though," Lami frowned. She stood and slowly hobbled her way over towards the nearest bookshelf. "Histories, politics, books about Dressrosa's neighbors and allies…"

"Perfect for the kid who can't get her hands on enough books," Baby 5 chuckled. If it could keep her from having to find time to smuggle her sister more books, then the shelves' contents were more than welcome. She plucked a book from the shelf that was eye-level and looked at the cover—love poems. Ha. "I wonder whose collection this was…"

Just then, a stranger ran in through the open door and flung herself onto the large bed. She was tall and pretty, though sobbing so hysterically that she did not see the sisters standing there.

"…are you okay…?" Lami wondered. The woman flinched at her words as though they physically stung her.

"Who are you?!" she snapped, fear tempering her voice.

"I'm Lami, and this is my older sister, Bee," the girl said. "We were told to pick out rooms. Is this supposed to be your room?"

"…no, but it belonged to my tia avia at one point," the woman replied. She wiped the tears from her eyes and the girls could see that she wasn't that much older than them—her late teens, most likely. "I just got kicked out of my room by that… that… drippy man…"

"Trebol? Yeah, he's pretty gross." Lami walked over to the bed with help from Baby 5 and they joined the newcomer. "What's your name?"

"Viola… but… I just joined the Family… so I guess my name is Violet now…"

"Why did you do that?" Baby 5 asked. "You're able to run away, aren't you?" Viola shook her head.

"My father is the king who was in charge only two days ago," she explained. "If I didn't agree to work for Doflamingo, he would have been executed in the Coliseum already." She then looked at the pair and frowned. "Why are you here?"

"We were found, like anyone, and Doflamingo gave us a place to stay," Baby 5 said. "We were separated from our big brother a while ago and we're just buying time until we can go back for him… or he finds us…"

"You two are so lucky to at least have each other." Viola sniffled and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to dab at her eyes. "My sister died in the take-over and her daughter—my dear neboda—is missing."

"Don't you have a brother?" Lami asked, tilting her head to the side. "I remember the Officers saying how there was a guy that they needed to watch out for who wasn't the King…"

"Must have been one of the guards," Viola replied, shaking her head. "I wish I knew the man who had won my sister's heart—if that was the case, then maybe he could be someone on the other side who could help… like your brother…"

Yeah. If only they had their brothers… then things might really be different.

Lami was getting worse with each passing day they spent in Dressrosa. The warm, dry air should have been good for her—it really should have—yet she seemed to be deteriorating faster than she was on Spider Miles. It was so bad that Baby 5 barely left her side, knowing only that her sister was dying and she wanted to be there for her. In fact, Baby 5 knew her sister needed her—ha, it felt like it wasn't that long ago that she would bend over backwards if she thought someone new needed her. Now? Now no one could rip her from her sister's side without breaking her arms and legs first.

"I thought she had five more years," Doflamingo frowned. He was standing by Lami's bed in the palace sickroom, where both girls were sleeping peacefully, Lami snug under the blankets while Baby 5 was passed out next to her atop the bedding. The Elite Officers were there as well, all three some level of curious about their boss's continued interest in the dying child.

"A brat's still a brat," Trebol sniffed. "He could have given a misdiagnosis."

"This won't do." Doflamingo leaned over the bed and traced his finger over Lami's forehead, down her cheek, then jaw, flicking up off the underside of her chin. "You're an important part of the Family, Lami, and I take care of my Family."

"With all due respect, Young Master," Diamante frowned, "she's yet to go on a mission… hasn't proven herself…"

"She will once she's better. Those who have been with us as long as she are going to be the core of our empires."

"…but she left," Pica mentioned.

"He's right," Diamante added. "She ran away once before—who is to say that she wouldn't again?"

"Where would she go? Even if both of them work together, they're still children in the New World—neither of them are going to escape. I'll make sure of it."

"How do you propose that, Young Master?" Trebol wondered. Doflamingo simply smiled.

"I'm going to make sure that she doesn't remember she was even sick at all."