"You are a nosy little boy, Lu." Naia pulled away from the pirate captain with some reluctance. She picked Luffy up gently, settling him on her hip as she extended one of their arms out. Luffy giggled as she started to move.

"How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die? It is love we must hold onto. Never easy, but we try. Sometimes our happiness is captured. Somehow, our time and place stand still. Love lives on inside our hearts and always will. Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone. But when all else has been forgotten. Still, our song lives on," Naia sang, letting the beat consume her. She dipped Luffy making him giggle as the world turned upside down. The room seemed overly quiet as she sang but Naia could feel the eyes following her. Out the corner of her eye, she could see Benn and Makino still dancing and Shanks talking with Ace who didn't look pleased.

"Maybe some moments weren't so perfect. Maybe some memories are not so sweet. But we have to know some bad times. Or our lives are incomplete. Then when the shadows overtake us. Just when we feel all hope is gone. We'll hear our song and know once more. Our love lives on. How does a moment last forever? How does our happiness endure? Through the darkest of our troubles. Love is beauty, love is pure." Naia let herself get lost in the music as she danced but kept an ear out for Ace. "Love pays no mind to desolation. It flows like a river through the soul. Protects, perceives, and perseveres. And makes us whole. Minutes turn to hours, days to years then gone. But when all else has been forgotten. Still, our song lives on. How does a-"

"That's all you have to say!?" The music came to an abrupt halt as Ace shouted. The crew stopped their festivities as they stopped to watch the scene. "That can't be true! You're a liar just like she is! No one wants someone like that around! He should die just like his devil of a father!" Ace raced out of the bar with Luffy hot on his heels. Naia watched sadly as the boys disappeared from view.

"I imagine he asked you his question," Naia observed as she came to sit next to the shocked pirate captain. The crew slowly turned back to their party as Shanks waved them off.

"Who is he?" Shanks asked, his eyes narrow.

"You couldn't guess?" Naia raised an eyebrow. "His name is Protgas D. Ace. He decided to take on his mother's maiden name rather than his father's but the name on his birth records is Gol D. Ace."

"Gol D." Shanks breathed, his expression becoming overwhelmed with nostalgia as memories came crashing down on him. "He's Roger's boy? How did? How is he here?"

"According to Garp, a few days before his execution he asked him to watch over his son." Naia smiled softly in memory of the meeting. She had been present to make sure no other guards overheard their conversation. Garp had had an inkling it would be a very important one. "After Ace was born, he took him here to hide him away from the world but it also seems to have backfired. Ace was exposed to the opinions of those who had no idea what they were talking about, those who have never been off this island."

"If only he had told us!" Shanks slammed his fist into the bar. "If I knew I would've been there for him. I could have-"

"You could have done a lot of things but the more people who knew the more uncertain his future would be." Naia laid a hand over his fist. "You can't change the past but you're here now. So, help me help him now."

Shanks stared at her for a moment, his eyes searching hers.

"Then I will help where I can," Shanks said, determination gleaming in his eyes.

"Really?" Naia felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. This may be the second time she had met Ace, she had never stayed for long enough to actually experience his mood swings.

"Yes! Now, should we go searching for them?" Shanks held a hand out to her which she took gratefully. The night air sent a chill over her skin, making her shiver and pull on the sleeves of her blouse. Naia desperately wished she had remembered a coat but then again, she didn't think she would be wandering in search of a fiery boy. Why is it she was constantly searching for these boys? They were sure to always leave her behind. Naia smiled. The thought wasn't so bad. She would always be there for them no matter how far away they were. The scent of gunpowder and sea mist filled her nose as warmth surrounded her. Naia looked down at the black cloak that was wrapped around her shoulders with her brow furrowed. Shanks' arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

"You have an insistent need of having me close to your side," Naia observed, pulling away slightly.

"And you said you couldn't sing." Naia laughed at his blunt attempt at changing the subject.

"I said I don't sing. Besides, I simply know a few songs!" Naia denied.

"Seems like more than a few songs," Shanks smirked at her. Naia shook her head. "Care to give me another one?"

"What's in it for me?" The moon glistened through the treetops as they made their way to a clearing.

"A dance." His arm drifted from her shoulder to her waist as he spun her around. Naia laughed lightly as she collided with his chest in an inelegant forcible stop. A blush dusted her cheeks as they swayed to an unheard song.

"This isn't a musical. I'm not going to burst out into song simply because the timing is right." Naia pouted at the man.

"Dahahaha, but it is most certainly the perfect time for one." Shanks smiled down at her as he spun her around.

"Why don't you sing for me then?" Naia bargained. Shanks' feet stuttered as she pressed against him.

"M-me? That is a tragedy waiting to happen," Shanks muttered. "The reason I have a musician is because I can't sing!"

"Have you ever tried?"

"Well, no-but I imagine it wouldn't be very good." Naia laughed as the pirate captain stumbled. Her arms straining when he tripped over a tree trunk, pulling them down onto the jungle floor. They dissolved into laughter as they laid there in the mud on top of each other.

"Your eyes are like emeralds," Shanks breathed as he stared into her eyes. Naia giggled and blushed as she held his look. "Guess that's pretty corny though."

"Not the worst line I've ever heard," Naia whispered, her breath hitching as his hand caressed her cheek. "We should continue to look for the boys."

"Yeah, we should," Shanks breathed. They walked quietly next to each other, enjoying the closeness and warmth the other provided. The cold air that surrounded them before was nowhere to be found as they continued on. The moon hung high in the sky and before long they found both boys fast asleep, leaning on each other for warmth. Naia carried Luffy while Shanks took Ace and before long they had made their way back to the cabin.

"It seems our nights are destined to end in dramatics," Naia apologized.

"Dahahaha, the dramatics are more than worth it." Shanks kissed her hand before walking away, letting her hand slip slowly from his grasp. Naia giggled at his antics. If it's one thing that man knew how to do it was flirt. It was good to know that some things never change. Naia floated to her bedroom, humming the tune of a song tonight reminded her of. She never wanted to forget this feeling.

Song:

How Does a Moment Last Forever by Karliene