Law felt like he could just cry and realised he was looking forward to his coming birthday, birthdays, and maybe Luffy's absolutely delicious cakes.

No idea what to write in the summary, therefore I'm just gonna start pasting a sneak peek.

Chapter 13 ~ Birthdays

On the Moby Dick, the three pirates had just arrived back to their main ship.

As usual, they were greeted warmly by their brothers and father.

"Son, how did it go?" Whitebeard asked, smiling warmly.

"Everything went well, pops," Nakamura replied with a smile, "though we didn't do it."

The old man raised a confused brow, "what do you mean?"

"We were upstaged by a brat," Thatch said, laughing.

"Oh?" The man asked amused, "won't you entertain your father with a story."

"Well, we didn't see what happened yoi," Marco started, pensively, "according to the villagers, the guy beat up like twenty pirates on his own, with a glass staff that appeared out of nowhere and disappear after that yoi."

As the story went on, everyone looked even more intrigued. Pops was also very interested, if Marco's reading his oyaji right. Well, the blond himself was curious since he found the boy rather familiar, yet he could not remember. Like an itch he couldn't scratch.

"Yeah! His eyes were also bandaged throughout the fight, then they say it was like he was dancing," Thatch added, excitedly.

This time everyone looked at him sceptically, with narrowed eyes. Thatch just loves to exaggerate and make his story sound like, well, a story.

"Hey! I'm not lying!" The cook complained with a pout.

"Yeah, he's telling the truth," Nakamura interfered, patting the man's back in a consoling manner.

"Does that mean he had haki?" Izo asked.

"Probably yoi," Marco said

"Haki in the blues?"

"That's rare, It's rare even in Paradise!"

"Me and Thatch followed him, he dragged twenty grown adults with one arm like it's nothing and fed them to a sea king. Then the same sea king pulled his dinghy yoi," he elaborated, seemingly amazed at what he just said himself.

"Whoaa, you mean he got a sea king to pull his ship?" Namur asked with an unbelieving look.

Though none of them can't disapprove of it because Marco never exaggerates. Actually it was more common for the blond to understate or downplay an event. There's rarely any stuff that could impress their stoic first mate.

"Don't get what he meant when he says he's 'literally heartless' though," Thatch continued thoughtfully, "how could someone who entertains kids and helped people be heartless? Is he dying?"

Marco smack his head with exasperation, "stop your nonsense yoi, his presence was very strong, and quite unique actually."

"Gurarararara, let's hope we can meet him," oyaji said with a wide grin.

Almost everyone on the ship could notice that familiar glint in the captain's eyes when he decided he wanted to adopt someone.

In everyone's mind they already accepted his decision and just couldn't wait to meet their new addition. While he wasn't opposed, Marco still felt like he knew the man yet couldn't pin his identity down.

Cora-san and him had just begun to settle in the house after a few days. The blond had begun looking for jobs in Goa Kingdom and the village, insisting that he earn enough himself to buy another house for the two of them. Though both Luffy and Law were sceptical of this, especially with his butterfingers.

Today, January 1st, was apparently the kid's birthday. He was currently tasked with watching the 3 year old, and he wasn't really happy about it.

Cora-san left for his work-hunt and Luffy is currently making something in the kitchen with the strawberries he got.

Law was reading another medical book he got from the siren's bookshelf, there were only a few but he wanted to finish them. The toddler was lying on his belly, reading the book of devil fruits, or more like looking at the pictures.

"Aw'-nii!"

Law froze at that, nii? What? Did the kid just call him nii? His sister's face flashed in his mind, followed by the pang of loss and hurt.

"I'm not your nii-chan!" He snapped at the toddler.

"But why?" He asked with a pout and tilted head, "you older!"

"Just cause!"

"Okay…" replied the boy, dejected, "but can you come here?"

"What?" He glared again, but the kid wasn't even paying attention to him anymore.

"Wha's this?" He asked, pointing at the book. All his dejection forgotten, replaced with curiosity while the older raven reluctantly scooched closer to explain the image he pointed at.

With a house this small, Luffy could hear everything in this house. He wasn't mad, and could only smile as he listened to the boy get frustrated with the toddler. It seems Law still couldn't accept affection, still filled with darkness. Hopefully over time, Ace could help him open up and heal his heart, just like he did for Luffy.

Exactly on lunch time when Luffy had finished his preparations, the blond adult had come home from his failed job hunt if his disappointed posture is an indicator. The mayor and barlady also arrived soon after for Ace's birthday, as per their 2 year tradition.

Law felt like it had been centuries ago since the last time he had celebrated a birthday, his or otherwise, and couldn't really bring himself to care.

Luffy could be seen storing a strawberry shortcake in the fridge, it was covered in white cream frosting and decorated with strawberries on top. Law couldn't help but wonder what it tastes like, incredibly sweet or with a tinge of sour to compliment.

But before the dessert, everyone ate grilled meat and fish with tomato soup, and salads, which the toddler complained about but finished. That was the best lunch that Law ever had so far in his life, and he was sure the others agreed.

Then they, not him, sang Happy Birthday for Ace before everyone was served a slice of the mouthwatering cake. It. Was. Good.

Law's eyes widened as he ate his cake, staring at the siren which continued being a wonder to him.

Luffy was explaining to Ace that the red fruits were strawberries, and chuckled softly when the toddler's face scrunched at a bite of a sour strawberry.

Law's eyes widened further and his lips parted in surprise at the sound, the first time he saw Luffy express such an emotion. The raven turning in his direction was unforeseen by law, his soft eyes caught his round ones and he couldn't control his reaction, he blushed.

Quickly looking down to hide his face under his hat, he still caught Luffy's lips tugging up on the edges which made his face redden a little more, 'Traitor! Embarrassing!' He yelled internally. The boy was caught up in his thoughts until another slice of cake was pushed into his eyeline, and jerked up to the siren offering him another slice of cake which he was embarrassingly happy about.

"When is your birthday?" Luffy asked, his eyes painfully soft.

For a while, Law was stunned, "I…I…It's on October 6th," he mumbled. Even Cora-san looked interested since he had never divulged this information to anyone since… his family.

"That's still a while," Cora-san said, his face thoughtful.

"And you're turning?" Makino prompted with a smile.

Law felt kind of cornered as he glanced around the room at the expectant stares, "Thirteen, but it's not a big deal!"

The stares did not go away, Cora-san also winced, and he felt kind of irritated. However, before he could snap something back Luffy said he thought he was younger, around 9 years old. He never realised he was smaller than he should be, until now.

Then he realised, "It must be because of amber lead…" he muttered to himself, barely louder than a whisper but was heard anyway.

No one responded or said anything to him, and he was grateful for it. But Luffy promised that he could get any cake he wanted on his coming birthday, and everyone moved on from the conversation. Law felt like he could just cry and realised he was looking forward to his coming birthday, birthdays, and maybe Luffy's absolutely delicious cakes.

Later on they realised that the raven might've gone all the way to the North Blue just to get the toddler some strawberries for his birthday.

They were in the middle of their small 'party' when the door was suddenly bashed in, accompanied with an obnoxious laugh.

While most of them were desensitised to this, Luffy noticed Law and Cora-san tensing in the corner, and that made him wonder why. Even if the marines were their enemies, Luffy didn't think they were bad enough for Garp to insist on taking them in. They were good people.

"Bwahahahahaha, Happy Birthday Ace! My grandson is three now! Closer to being a Marine!" Garp barged in, the mayor sighed while Makino only looked fondly exasperated.

"Garp, you need to learn to use the door," the old man grumbled. The marine only laughed in response, and Makino giggled at the put-upon frown on Woop Slap.

"Ji chan!" Ace yelled with a smile but ran to hide behind Luffy's leg.

"Garp," Luffy greeted neutrally as usual, then receiving his usual 'Fist of Love' and 'Call me grandpa!'.

The two new guests winced a little in phantom pain, and not knowing it's normal for the old man to punch a literal god. While the other two guests only shook their head with fond exasperation.

"Garp-san…" Cora-san muttered with eyebrows raised.

"Rocinante?! You're alive!" The vice-admiral gasped with clear surprise which slowly turned into a happy relief.

The blond looked towards Law with an apologetic look. He knew the young raven hated the World Government with passion, including the marines.

Luffy raised a brow, so the blond was a marine. The boy didn't seem happy about it, even if his face was hidden underneath his fluffy spotted hat. The siren didn't know what to do and decided to give the boy his space, entertaining Ace white the two marines went out to catch up. At the same time, Garp had to fix the door he broke.

"How did you end up here, Roci?" Garp asked.

"Err, your… grandson? Found us," he replied, looking at the bandaged raven. Unsure if Garp knew about Luffy's identity, though he most likely does.

"Oh, so have you been staying here?"

"Yeah…"

He was glad Garp did not find his presence in his town and his grandsons' space as a nuisance or danger, because he didn't know where else he could go.

"Great! Bwahahahahaha-," purupurupuru, he was interrupted by his den-den mushi. It took a short digging around his breast pockets before he found the snail and picked up.

"-gatcha- GARP! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? YOU IRRESPONSIBLE INGRATE!" The voice from the phone yelled. It was all ignored by the old hero for his own question.

"Bwahahahaha! Sengoku, guess who I met?!"

A sigh could be heard through the snail, "who?" he asked with a bored tone, just playing along to Garp's usual odd self.

Garp passed the snail to the tall blond, and as soon as it happened the snail's eyes widened comically.

"Roci… you're alive…" he whispered, the relief clear through his voice and expression, "that- that's really good."

"I'm sorry, Sengoku-san…" the blond sighed, "I'll go-"

"No. Stay there Rosi, you will be assumed dead until further notice and your marine title will be removed," his adoptive father said firmly. Cora-san didn't know what to do but stared at the snail in surprise.

"Did you save that boy?"

"Yes…"

"Did you regret it?"

"No."

"Good, son," the man sighed, "...I told you not to get attached."

"Thanks… dad, but that's impossible now." the blond replied with a smile, eyes glistening.

A sigh could be heard through the snail, "goodbye, stay safe," the snail said, "now pass me back to that idiotic Garp."

The blond passed the old man the snail, chuckling at the same time. Garp brushed off his superior by turning off the snail, cutting him off.

"So will you be staying here?" Garp asked.

"I will work to get another house," Rocinante replied.

"Bwahahahaha, anything is fine! But I got to go now," he said, waving his hand nonchalantly.

Though after just a year, Law grew protective of Ace since the kid was always getting into trouble. At first, his reason was that he's taking care of the kid for Luffy but after so long Ace just grew a place in his heart. Besides, Ace just won't give up and made it his mission to make Law his friend.

Cora-san got a job to be a bodyguard for some noble's house to earn some money and had gotten a smaller house near theirs. Although both of them spent most of their meals at his house until the blond insisted on paying for the groceries whenever he could. Moreover, Law was basically staying in Luffy's house with how often he comes over.

Luffy had somehow become Law's nii-chan too, so now he had two younger brothers. While Cora-san somehow started treating Luffy like the teen he looks like after a while.

They both had gotten used to being around Luffy and treated him like a normal person, which Luffy preferred.

WAAA I hope you enjoyed that! I am getting back in the writing mood! Graduated from me degree recently and my creativity came back! Pray for the writer's block to go away, SHOO!

Anyways, I honestly can't rmb if Cora knew of Law's bday in canon. For some reason my mind is making up a scene where he gave law a present on the boat but idk my memory play tricks on me XD. It could've been another fanfic. *shrugs*

Also halfway through writing this, I was like wait is Law a teen or a boy. SOOO I checked the timeline through the fandom website and realised that the Cora death event was when Law way 13 and Law and Ace had a 4 y.o. gap but here it just doesn't work since Ace is 3. Gosh its a mess but then i decided not to think to much so yeh, Ace is just late into the world in this.

(2185 words)