lawly

by footfungus

lawly

40. Chapter 40

Chopper.

"You're certain?"
The smell of chemicals that hung heavy in the air of the infirmary did nothing to ease the nausea. Neither did the concerned look on the young doctor's face.

"I'm positive," Chopper affirmed before handing Robin a well-worn book that had already been flipped through more times than either one of them dared to count. "I tested everyone, and you're the only one that… Well you're the only one that's sick so it can't be anything we've eaten. It's been what - two weeks? If it were contagious one of us would have caught it. You're not running a fever, and look there," his cloven hoof tapped the page the book had been turned to, "unless you've contracted some rare disease that causes the exact symptoms and hormone levels of-"

"Alright, I do not doubt you," Robin interrupted the frantic reasoning with her usual stern intonation. It wasn't as though she hadn't suspected as much, but to hear it confirmed by Chopper was making her head spin. She placed her hand on the small hoof that still pointed to a passage that began with 'In the first trimester….'

Chopper's tension seemed to ease at the touch, though worry didn't leave his gaze even for a moment. "Robin… That means when we fought…" His eyes grew distant as he recalled the confrontations on Thriller Bark, and grew horrified when he remembered the various attacks Robin withstood.

The dark-haired woman squeezed the little reindeer hoof her hand still rested on. Whether she meant to calm the doctor down or if she intended to share in his fearful realization was unclear. Regardless, it was enough to snap him back to the present. She was his patient now.

He swallowed, analyzing the facts of the situation with a furrowed brow, though not confident enough to look up to see what expression the usually-collected Straw Hat bore. "Well we know you're not sick! That's good. Not like… Sick-sick. Now, if we go by the presence of your symptoms, would you agree that it would have been at least six to seven weeks?"

Robin leaned back in the soft examination chair and sighed ever-so quietly in contemplation. "It would have to be, yes," she concluded eventually.

"Then if everything is alright for now, I should be able to detect the faintest heartbeat," Chopper declared, though this was an area he had little expertise in. It wasn't as though Doctorine had kept him from it, but he was made keenly aware that this was a sensitive time for those who could bare children, and was often mindful that it would be preferably handled by a doctor who could truly understand. That only hardened his determination to be there for his crewmate. "That is, if you'll allow me to check… I didn't even ask if this was good news to you."

Crossing her arms beneath her chest, Robin didn't immediately respond. There were far too many feelings to parse at once. Truth be told, it was difficult to even listen to the doctor now. It was only when she saw him don his stethoscope when she registered what he had said. "Oh - I suppose it's not bad news," she replied simply. She couldn't concede that it was good news, though. That part of her was still closed off, locked away by the harsh realities she had faced growing up the way she had. The realities she continued to face even now amongst her new found family. She swallowed back another bout of nausea as she recalls a sharp blow she had taken to her back and their rapid approach to the Red Line. I shouldn't even assume I've been able to keep it this far, she reminded herself grimly. It's what she did best.

Chopper nodded, "well, we'll just see what we're working with and go from there, okay?" He was fully aware of where her mind had gone when he saw her hand drift down to cover her abdomen subconsciously. He breathed a small huff onto the stethoscope to help with the sudden chill that might jolt Robin from her thoughts and placed it on her chest to get a good gage on her own heartbeat. To neither party's surprise the heartbeat was quicker than normal. The little doctor chose not to comment on it as he focused on memorizing the tempo before he moved the scope down to the target area.

Robin suppressed a wince at the contact of the scope on her exposed lower-stomach, and without thinking began to hold her breath. She was sure that it was far too early to hear something that faint, and even still with her luck this would all be false… Hope? Did she really hope that he was right and that she was truly with child?

The reindeer seemed to stop moving as he pinpointed a new sound. It was unbelievably quiet, and had he not been born with the awareness of a prey animal he might not have caught it. As he moved the scope away, then returned to that spot, there was no doubt in his mind. "Robin," Chopper breathed, "Robin, you're gonna have a ba-!"

A hand sprouted in a flourish of flowers to cover Chopper's mouth suddenly. She worried the rest of the ship had eyes and ears before remembering that that was her ability. "Sorry," she immediately rescinded, dispersing the limb quickly, "I wasn't thinking. I would appreciate some discretion, if possible."

Chopper grew flustered at the thought of causing any distress and immediately began to apologize. "I promise I won't say anything, honest! It was me who wasn't thinking! Oh, Robin," he almost wailed when he finally met her gaze.

She was smiling. "It's alright, Doctor. No need to apologize for doing your job - and doing it well, for that matter."

"You complimenting me doesn't make me the least bit happy," Chopper exclaimed, leaping back to perform his usual dance, "stupid jerk," his fur clearly ruffled by her response, a shy smile gracing his muzzle. "Okay, well. Now that we know what's wrong I'll do some research," he was quick to recover from his embarrassment, knocking one hoof in the other to punctuate his plan, "you leave it to me. For now, get as much rest as you can. Get lots of food at dinner and stay hydrated. I'll start working on something for your nausea now that I know the cause."

Robin was already standing, collecting herself. She couldn't help but be charmed by the reindeer's antics and passion. Before she left, she hesitated. Chopper trotted over as soon as he noticed and offered her a friendly hoof. It was a small comfort, and one that the archeologist couldn't seem to put into words how deep her gratitude fell. "Thank you, Chopper," was all she could manage, grasping it tightly in her palm. It crossed her mind that she already considered him somewhat of a son.

Letting his hand slip from hers, she exited the infirmary quickly, not wanting him to see the glossy sheen that had covered her eyes. She was, in fact, on the verge of tears.

Chapter 2: Nami. Summary:

Robin cracks and has a chat with the only other woman on the ship.

Notes:

Boy howdy am I still new to characterizing. I hope I did them justice!

Chapter Text Nami.

Lamplight flickered at Robin's bedside, casting a warm glow over the pages of an old book she held open on her lap. She had started to read, she was sure of that, but the words on the pages fell away to storms of thoughts.

A prominent, naive thought recurred enough to brush her left hand against her right palm. The feeling of holding Chopper's hand was so fresh that the painful memory of yearning for her own mother's hand felt as raw as ever even after all these years. Now she had a chance- a slim one, she was quick to remind herself - to hold her own child's hand one day. It made her all at once choke back a sob and a bout of self-derisive laughter with a quiet gasp.

"Robin," a voice pierced through the darkness of her mind, "are you alright?"

Nami had returned to the women's quarters without her noticing, it would seem. She pulled her hands apart to hold onto the book in her lap somewhat sheepishly. "Huh? Oh yes, I'm just caught up in this book I suppose." She lied.

The navigator was staring dubiously from her own bed. It was clear upon inspection that she had actually been there for some time. "Oh really? What's it about?" Her tone was laced with something Robin couldn't quite place, but she was aware enough to know when she was being tested.

She simply fixed Nami with a hard stare. It wasn't exactly unfriendly, but Nami was quick on the uptake. She raised her hands, relenting after only one attempt. "Alright, fair enough. You haven't turned the page in like half an hour and you just made a really sad sound, but if you don't want to talk about what's wrong I'll leave you be." There was a pout following Nami's words, indicating how she felt at least somewhat entitled to Robin's inner turmoil.

Irritation from being dragged out of her own head aside, Robin softened at the redhead's observations. She debated rapidly whether or not she should open up to her crewmate or if she should keep this to herself. What had she learned in Enies Lobby, after all? "I'm sorry," she responded finally in an effort to ease the hurt that crossed Nami's arms, "I was just given some interesting news this morning, that's all."

Nami was fully curious now. News could mean anything, especially from the mysterious woman she bunked with. She grabbed a pillow to hold it idly in her lap and propped her back against the wall to face Robin completely. "News?" She asked, tipping her head to one side, "may I ask what about?"

Robin considered her response carefully, "you may," she finally replied, "but whether or not I answer is an entirely different question." She closed her book, her smile ever-so unreadable.

"Oh come on, Robin," Nami pouted, "these waters have been so calm for days! I feel useless - give me somethin'!"

Sympathy for the role of navigating to the Red Line when there was no wind or current to follow or chase made Robin fold a little. After all, if she considered Chopper like a son to her, she found Nami to be a younger sister. The solidarity of being the only two women on the crew played no small part. "Alright, alright," she soothed, "but for now, if you could keep it between the two of us, I would be most appreciative."

It was like a flash of lightning from her Clima Tact the speed with which Nami appeared at Robin's bedside. "Just how appreciative?" She asked.

Her eyes somehow almost resembled the symbol for berries, Robin could have sworn. Petals appeared almost instantly with a disembodied arm poking out of Nami's shoulder. The hand was balled into a fist. It very lightly came down on the top of Nami's head.

Nami waved her arms, never having gotten used to Robin's power. Robin persistently knocked on the top of Nami's head. She got the point. "Okay, okay, okay," she relented, "my lips are sealed."

The arm dispersed quickly. "Thank you," was all she could manage at first. Robin found herself more interested in studying the fibers that made up her book's cover than admitting to what she had learned. "Chopper just… Chopper discovered the cause of my nausea as of late." She failed to elaborate.

Brows furrowing, Nami hesitantly reached out to grab one of the tall woman's hands. "Is it bad? It must be bad," she noted, "you seem so sad and you never get seasick. Oh shit," the redhead removed her hand and sat back on the floor from where she had been kneeling to put a bit of distance between them, "it's not contagious is it?"

"No, no, gracious, no," Robin assuaged the sudden panic she could see strike the navigator's features. She tried not to show the hurt that weighed heavy in her chest from Nami letting go of her hand. She knew she hadn't meant anything by it, but decades of loneliness and that fear of abandonment wouldn't go away in an instant. "It's nothing like that, honest. In the spirit of being truthful, well I just suppose it is hard for me to say for some reason. I haven't exactly had much time to let it sink in."

Nami let out a small sigh of relief that the crew wasn't in any apparent danger of an illness, though she was still confused. It wasn't until she noticed Robin's right hand wander from the book's cover to her exposed lower stomach that something seemed to click. She gasped and covered her mouth before loudly whispering, "Robin, did you get knocked up?"

Somehow the crudeness with which Nami referred to her condition made it feel more… Simple. At least for now. Robin's brow furrowed as she gave a slight nod. Her breath hitched as the instinct to flee boiled in her throat. She said nothing more, and looked away.

"Whaaat? Wait, really?" Nami forced her voice into a surprised hiss. "You're kidding, right?"

The harshness was surely not intended, but it had certainly been felt. The woman set her book to the side and brought up her knees so that she could fold her arms over them, resting her chin atop her forearms. She suddenly felt so small.

"I don't guess that's something you'd joke about," Nami realized on her own when Robin didn't answer. The way she curled in on herself seemed to tell her enough. She felt a bit of shame for her reaction being the direct cause. Nami approached slowly, settling down on the foot of the bed to sit opposite Robin. "How are you feeling, then?"

Robin was staring at her toes. She wondered when she had grown so much from the lines and calluses that marked her feet. She knew she was nearly 30, but it never really sunk in just how long she'd been doing what she had to survive. Nami's question once again broke into her drifting thoughts, and she was thankful that the question was vague enough - she guessed that it was likely on purpose. Robin searched for a solid answer. "Afraid," she finally spoke up, "but also I feel… I feel happy. That makes me more afraid," her stomach tied in a knot at the thought of airing out her weakness so blatantly, but she reminded herself she was with a dear friend.

Nami nodded thoughtfully, "it's not exactly a safe environment for a kid," she noted pragmatically, "and we take some serious hits even on this side of the Grand Line. The New World is close. It makes sense you'd be scared," she added, some effort to be sensitive at the very least was noted. "You said you're happy, though - that's the part that matters, right?"

Robin wanted to agree, but she also wanted to curse herself for being a fool for giving in to naive dreams. What good would that do to bring up now? "If only it were that simple," she said, "but you know that. You're a smart girl."

"You say that like you aren't," Nami replied with a concerned brow, "I doubt you of all people let it happen completely accidentally. You don't make it that far on the seas as a lady if you're not careful. You're the most careful person I know. Part of you had to want this, then, yeah?"

The dark-haired woman's brows creased, knowing what Nami said to be true. Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes, her thoughts growing darker. "Doesn't that make me truly awful? Knowingly," she asked through gritted teeth, "knowingly wanting to bring a child into the world when all it has to offer is cruelty? It's selfish!" As soon as she said it, she regretted falling back into her old mindset, "I know that you all would move mountains for me, and that there is nothing but love aboard this ship, but that is what frightens me the most."

"Aw come on," Nami let out an exasperated breath, "we've been over this, Robin. What would you say if it was me? Not that I would ever," she gave a knowing wink and reached forward to grab Robin's hand. Robin did not even flinch away, "but would you call me selfish for wanting something that made me happy? Wouldn't you be happy to help your friends, even if they make questionable decisions?"

Robin tightened her grip on Nami's fingers, trying to wrap her head around the situation reversal. Tears spilled over her cheeks, though they weren't all sad. "Of course I would never call you selfish, and of course I would," she relented to both questions, "even still I just struggle to see myself as worthy of your compassion."

"Well that's just tough," Nami said, playfully squeezing the bridge of Robin's nose, "because you are. We're part of the Straw Hats - we'll face any problem head on and Luffy won't rest until we're safe and happy. He's gonna be the King of the Pirates, y'know. He wouldn't get there without you or any one of us. We're his crew."

She found herself oddly grateful for the touch, as though it was finally enough to fully pull herself out of the hole she dug. Robin blinked her tears away for a brief moment, letting Nami's words truly ground her. "Thank you, Nami."

"Don't sweat it," the navigator didn't move away, clearly intent on continuing their conversation. Robin found it welcome. "It's Franky's, right?"

Robin felt flushed with all the blood rushing to her cheeks, but she smiled sheepishly. "Yes, of course," she answered. She was unashamed of that fact, at least.

Nami smiled wide, "good for him. You two make a good team," she cheered, still mindful of her volume, "do you think it'll have his eyelashes? Or his hair?"

Heart warmed, Robin found herself feeling comfortable enough to laugh softly, "oh I should certainly hope so! It's such a lovely shade." The grin she wore was radiant.

Chapter 3: Franky. Summary:

Robin is found by Franky, and she wasn't exactly planning on talking to him about it so soon, but something about him makes her feel safe.

Notes:

I hope this is at least a little teeth rotting as far as fluff goes. I also hope I captured both of their personalities alright. I appreciate any comments and critiques! I'm so new to this.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text Franky.

The two women sat together and talked for a long while that afternoon. Her fears would not be quelled in one day, but this had certainly eased enough of them to attend dinner with no issues. Chopper discreetly passed Robin a parcel as everyone concluded their evening.

She made her way to her sanctuary within the Sunny. The library often stood empty at night, except for when Nami got a particular bout of motivation or need to work on her charts. Tonight it was, thankfully, not one of those nights.

Robin found a seat on the bench that circled the room, a view of the stars and the sea greeted her from the window she sat before. She carefully opened the parcel Chopper had wrapped. It contained a note and some small packets that contained some kind of powder.

She read the note with a smile, the little reindeer's scrawling handwriting fully legible, but endearingly messy.

The note read:

Congratulations, Robin!
I promise to keep this a secret if you keep coming to me for checkups and you try to stay out of danger. I know that's not always possible, but that's why I said 'try!' I will do everything I can to keep you two healthy in the meantime. Here are some medicines I read up on. There are some prenatal vitamins that are very important, and I mixed them with some anti-nausea herbs meant specifically for morning sickness (that's what they call your ailment, apparently, even though you may feel it at any time of the day). Take one packet in the morning with your drink to make it taste less yucky. You can count on me, Robin!
P.S. I don't know much about it, but I think you're gonna make a great mom!
-DR TONY TONY CHOPPER

Robin couldn't help but smile, laughing quietly to herself in the dim light. What a sweet little Doctor he was.

"Oi oi, what's so funny?" A voice nearly made Robin cross her arms over her chest, defensively ready to summon some arms, before she quickly recognized Franky's gruff, playful tone.

She wasn't expecting anyone to be here this late, nor had she been prepared to talk to him of all people yet. Robin felt her cheeks flush again, as nerves seemed to not be in her favor.

"Oh, just a note from Chopper," she attempted to dismiss it, folding the note away, "he's just so cute."

"He really is," Franky agreed, taking a seat at the table in the center of the room, resting his legs on the table itself and letting his arms support his head while he leaned back. He had very readily made himself comfortable. "Thought I'd come lookin' for you tonight since I miss ya. Nami said you had some stuff on your mind so I'd probably find ya here - not before tryin' to charge me a fee. I can go if you'd prefer your alone time, of course." He wore a friendly smile, and she knew how much he meant that last statement.

Thankfully it didn't bother Robin, as she was almost always delighted by the shipright's company. "I miss you too," she stated, "I haven't felt too well lately. I apologize for not coming to visit your quarters more."

"Hey now, you don't gotta apologize for that," he stated, "you never have to apologize for that. How are you feeling today?"

"Better, actually," she half-lied. Her stomach still churned, and the nerves surrounding her day had made her muscles weary, but she did have some of her anxieties about an illness relieved. Albeit, replaced with new ones. "I'm happy you came."

Franky's smile widened as it often did. "Oi, that's good! I take it Chopper had the solution. The good Doc always does."

"Something like that," she mused. She smiled back at him, taking in the sight of him as enjoyed doing from time to time. Her eyes were drawn to his hair, recalling her earlier conversation with Nami. It caused a flutter in her chest, and to avoid him noticing her staring, she summoned a flowery hand from his shoulder to tussle his ducktail affectionately. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she sat back, closing her eyes. "He gave me some medicine that should help," she said, focusing on the feeling of his hair.

"Super," he drawled, "can't have our archeologist down and out before we reach the New World, that's for sure."

"Mhm," she hummed, clenching the folded parcel. "It will quell the nausea, at the very least."

Franky seemed to pick up on the fact that she was being relatively elusive - it wasn't uncommon for her to be quiet or vague at times, but even she could admit she was behaving notably quiet. "Not everything, though?" He questioned with interest and of course concern.

Robin opened one eye and fixed it on his. "Not everything," she replied. Her chest tightened considerably as she weighed whether or not she wanted to elaborate, or if she wanted him to ask more probing questions. She even considered changing the subject. Instead she opened her other eye and smiled as calmly as she could, and threaded her fingers together in her lap, holding tightly onto the parcel.

"Well, is there anything I can help with?" He asked in earnest. His smile was starting to fall as concern began to take its place.

She almost shook her head, but stopped herself. "Maybe," she voiced meekly, "I don't know, Franky, maybe." Her words cracked under the weight of her thoughts once more. She had been just fine before, what had even happened? Tears once again threatened to spill over and her lip started to quiver.

Franky was quick to approach, nearly knocking over the chair he had been sitting in not a moment ago in a scramble to kneel beside her. He rested his big hand on top of hers. "Oi oi, it's alright - well, it'll be alright I'm sure," he soothed, "what's goin' on, Nico Robin?"

There was such a genuine concern for her well-being, it pushed her over the edge. If it had to have happened with anyone, she was beyond thankful it was with someone as kind and as wonderful as Franky. Her worry now settled on whether or not he would be pleased. It hadn't even crossed her mind at first, since she naturally assumed any and all responsibility alone. She knew it was his, but him being there cemented that in her mind.

He stayed kneeling beside her, holding her hands and rubbing his thumb against them gently. He used his free hand to grab the one that was still somehow playing with his hair and held it against his lips, doing what he could to ease her troubles.

Logically she realized that it was entirely possible that this sudden uptick in emotions could be attributed to changes in hormones - she read about that in the afternoon, of course. It didn't make the torrent any less strong. He was holding her hands.

"Would you…" Robin struggled to string together the questions racing through her mind, "is being a- Would it…" Her breathing started to quicken, and she realized she needed to calm down, but knowing she needed to calm down was making it even harder.

"Take your time," he urged, "breathe. It's not about me right now," Franky tightened his grip on her hands, "you're safe, you're with me, you're with us." It wasn't the first time he had said those words to her, nor would it be the last. "I'm here with you."

They remained like that for some time, until she seemed to be able to gather her bearings. He kept her hands in his, and carefully wiped away some of her tears with his free hand, her floral appendage dissipating a while before.

Robin smiled faintly, grateful to be catching her breath. It almost seemed silly now that she was coming to, but she sat on a dangerous precipice of it happening again should she not be careful. "Thank you, Franky," she managed, "I'm s-"

"You'd better not be gearin' up to say 'sorry,'" he interrupted, lightheartedness oozed in his tone.

"Okay," she agreed quietly, "I don't know what came over me, but before it happens again, I have to tell you something. I want you to know that you have no obligations here, should it be something you find horrific. I can take care of myself, and I don't want to put an unwanted burden on you, especially when it is not unwanted for me."

Franky seemed to be trying to puzzle together what she could possibly be alluding to, but the poor cyborg was coming up blank. He was an incredibly intelligent man, but when it came to most human matters he struggled. It didn't help that she was being unclear. He blinked at her, nodding his head as if to encourage her to continue. "Alright," he agreed softly.

The words seemed even harder than when she spoke with Nami or with Chopper earlier that day. She really did think the world of this man. "Franky," she began, fighting back the tears and silently wishing they had been dried out by now, "today I found out that…" Every word hung heavy on her tongue, and twisted the knife in her chest just a little more, "Franky, I'm pregnant." There it was. It was barely above a whisper.

The cyborg was definitely shell shocked. Mostly he was trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together in his mechanically savvy mind. That of course didn't take long. His concerned frown began to distort into one of the most genuine looks of joy Robin had ever seen - and their captain was Monkey D Luffy. It was not at all what she had expected, even though she knew how paternal he felt with some of the Straw Hats - namely Chopper and Usopp. The tears had returned to her eyes, but this time it was because his excitement was contagious. What scared her now is that he hadn't said a word.

Franky stood up suddenly, and without saying anything he lifted Robin into his arms and spun them both around. He laughed an elated belly laugh, and she couldn't help but laugh with him through the tears. "Franky," she sputtered, tapping his arm to request she be put down, the spinning not helping with the ever-present nausea. He set her down apologetically, realizing his mistake a little too late.

"I'm so sorry," he cried, tears now streaming from his eyes as she steadied herself against him, "I'm just so, this is just so," he seemed to be building up to something, "so SUUUUPERRRR!"

Robin was using one hand to hold herself steady on his shoulder, and the other quickly attempted to cover his mouth, though it was not successful in dampening the noise. Perhaps if she had summoned more arms she could have managed to muffle it, but part of her was enraptured by his reaction to the news. How had she not expected this?

He clasped the hand that was pitifully trying to cover his mouth with his own and covered the palm in kisses. "What was that you were yammerin' on about feeling obligated?"

Her face was puffy from all the crying that she was realizing now she had done for nothing and she laughed, "I just mean that I would understand if you were not interested in having a child," she stated, "much less with someone like me. I also know that my wants may not align with yours, and I have to be okay with tha-"

"Oi oi, I'm beggin' ya to cut that out," he grew a bit more serious, grasping both of her shoulders to look into her eyes directly, "it would be an honor - no, it'd be my pleasure to have a kid with you, Nico Robin. Nothin' obligate about it. You're gonna be the most super mom that has ever mommed." Chopper had said something almost as encouraging in his note too, hadn't he? Perhaps it wasn't so outrageous.

Robin couldn't help but laugh that delectable laugh again, her face heating up for the thousandth time that day. "Well that's assuming we make it that far," she stated, her usual morbidity bringing them both back to a fragment of normalcy.

Franky wanted to answer, but the concerned furrow in her brow made him nod in a quiet understanding. He pulled her closer and walked himself forward so they could meet in the middle. They pressed their foreheads together without a word. Robin reached up to wrap her arms around him, pulling him into a kiss while threading her actual fingers through his hair again.

His hand found the small of her back and held her close, their bodies touching. Their kiss became impassioned, neither wanting to relent or pull away.

They spent the evening in an embrace. Robin's eyelid's fell heavy as the night grew deeper. Was it love that she felt for the man? Moreso than any other person she had been with, she felt safe. Now more than ever. She wasn't sure how she could define it, but to her that was okay.

"Nami must be wondering where ya are," Franky cut through her tired introspection, "and you need some rest, don't'cha think?"

Grabbing her parcel from Chopper and the book she had brought with her, Robin nodded, "you're probably right. She might start to worry. I might have already confided in her," she admitted with a smile, "I believe it falls under what some people call 'girl talk.'"

Franky seemed to blush at the knowledge that Nami not only knew before him, but smiled thankfully that she still pointed him in the right direction. "I'm glad you two have that," he rumbled, standing with a big stretch before sweeping Robin up suddenly. He carried her back to the women's quarters and set her beside the door. He went in for one last kiss for the night, and in the most genuine and quiet voice she had ever heard from him he said, "you've made me the happiest cyborg ever, Nico Robin," he caressed her cheek as he swore, "I won't let either of you down."

Robin's chest tightened again, but this was an overwhelming feeling of affection. "You couldn't even if you tried," she replied, "we can talk more tomorrow, alright? Goodnight, Franky. Thank you."

His hand trailed down her neck to her shoulder, then down to meet her own. He gave her delicate palm a reassuring squeeze. She squeezed his hand back, neither one wanting to let go, but Franky respectfully began walking away, their arms outstretched until they could no longer reach each other and had to let go.

Robin watched him go for only a moment, turning to quietly open the door to the women's quarters. She shut it slowly, attempting to make as little noise as possible so as not to disturb the sleeping navigator. Her effort is wasted, though much to her amusement, when she hears a distant and enthusiastic, "Suuuuuuuuuper!" (And of course, a cacophony of shouting for him to "shut up" following from some of the crew.) She hoped to herself somewhat naively that things could stay the way they were now, laughing in the dark.

Notes:

At the break, there's an alternate chapter that is explicit. You can find it here [ /works/42775878/chapters/107457957]

Chapter 4: Family. Summary:

Breakfast with the Crew. Robin takes a moment to reflect on each of her crewmates.

Notes:

This one is a little different maybe? I just really wanted to explore how Robin feels about each crew member and have a little bit of interaction with everybody! I might come back and make changes to this one, because I feel like it could use just a little... More? What do you think?

Chapter Text Family.

Spa Island was a pleasant escape from the lull of a lazy current. The weeks on the sea before the crew made it to where they sought entry to Fishman Island had been mostly boring, so the moment of pampering before excitement was quite welcome.

It hadn't lasted long, unfortunately, and it was back to sailing.

Robin had enjoyed the time spent on the island, obtaining a healthy tan and getting to watch Franky in action again. She made sure to note the way he quickly scooped up and protected a child almost instinctively. That act was on her mind as she stood idly in front of her and Nami's shared mirror to get dressed for the day. She wore nothing but undergarments, and was inspecting herself with tired curiosity.

Turning to the side, she held her breath. She draped one arm over her bellybutton and wondered if she really could see a slight bump. It was fairly obvious now. She turned to the other side, to make doubly sure, of course.

Nami was lazily putting a t-shirt on when she noticed what Robin was doing. Robin was almost too distracted to notice as the redhead approached. She quickly crossed her arms under her chest, though she was unsure why she found herself being embarrassed.

"How're ya feelin' this morning, Robin?" Nami asked, deciding to use the mirror to haphazardly put her hair up in a ponytail while she was there. "You look gorgeous today - as always."

"Why, thank you," she flustered a bit, never sure how to truly take a compliment. Robin grabbed a loose fitting sweater from her closet and a pair of stretchy shorts, "I feel… Strange," she answered, "but I'm fine, thank you for asking. How are you? Have the winds changed?"

Nami could tell she was avoiding the question, but she chose not to press. Robin would open up when she was ready to. Without saying anything, the older woman offered to put Nami's hair up a bit more neatly. Nami agreed happily, letting her run her fingers through her orange locks as she responded. She was aware this was a complicated situation, so she chose to focus on Robin's question. "I'm still feeling a bit restless," she complained, "but yes, they seem to be getting us somewhere now. It still seems like a stretch before we reach the Red Line, though."

"Ah, I see. I hope the sailing stays smooth, but also perhaps picks up its pace." Robin vocalized her nod, finishing up Nami's hair and admiring her work. She felt her stomach grumble, of all things, "it's funny. I feel like I could eat half as much as Luffy this morning," she commented suddenly, "I read that that is sometimes common."

"Aren't you technically 'eating for two,' now? That makes sense," Nami responded, carefully lowering her volume as Robin opened the door to the women's quarters to head over to where Sanji had likely already had their breakfasts prepared.

"Mhm," Robin hummed, her smile bright despite feeling unrested, "it does indeed make sense." She liked when things made sense. The two women shuffled out of their cabin and headed for the aquarium. The morning chaos had already begun. Luffy was being chased around the deck by Usopp, something flapping about in his grip.

"Oi, I can't cook it if you two don't bring it to me," the sound of Sanji's voice could be heard over the playful shouting. "Dumbasses," he hissed under his breath as he took a drag of his cigarette before he noticed Nami and Robin approaching. His demeanor changed in almost an instant, something Robin found charming in small doses. "Goooood morning, ladies!~" He opened the door to the aquarium letting them in before shouting at the captain and sniper duo again, "oi oi, get your asses in gear or we'll be having you for breakfast!"

Robin couldn't be bothered to stifle her laugh, taking her seat at the table, a coffee and a pastry were already set for the two ladies. The swordsman had been on watch the night before, and was sound asleep leaning back in his chair, his feet rudely on the table. It was not an uncommon occurrence. The thought had crossed the woman's mind to summon a few hands to push the intrusion out of the way on more than one occasion, but in truth she found it quite amusing - at least until he and the cook started to fight as a direct result.

Nami was not as amused, and promptly shoved Zoro's legs off the counter. "If I have to do that one more time, you're going to be in debt to me for the rest of your miserable life!"

Zoro woke up with a grunt, "oi, I'm already in debt to you, and the only reason it's miserable is because of you," he started to shout.

"Oh you're right," Nami clapped her hands together with a smile, "as long as you remember!"

There was no real malice behind Zoro's words, Robin had come to learn. She watched the two with interest, knowing they'd been part of the crew for the longest time - minus the time Nami had spent on her own that Robin had deduced over the months of being on board. She always found the bickering fascinating.

"Yo-ho-ho-ho! Zoro, I would hate to be in debt until I die," the talking skeleton seated in the corner sipping tea said, "oh, but I'm already dead!"

A few laughs met the newest member of the crew - Brook's - antics, as folks began settling down to eat their breakfasts. Sanji had once again outdone himself with the spread of pastries, hearty meats and freshly squeezed fruit juices. More of the crew started to pile in. Chopper came to sit beside her as he often did, tiredness apparent in his still ruffled coat. "Good morning, everybody!" He called. Robin greeted him with a warm smile. She pushed her coffee aside, as per his suggestion. Instead, she grabbed a glass of orange juice, and an admittedly heaping plate full of everything that caught her eye.

Luffy and Usopp trailed in finally, tying up the cook with an argument over who caught the large fish and when - it was unclear who was lying or whose memory was faltering, but the two were far too proud to admit defeat. At least until both of them were sent flying from the kitchen area with a healthy kick from Sanji.

Grumpily they joined the table. Everyone who had already been there made sure to stake their claims, knowing the moment Luffy sat down everything on the table was already lost.

Robin found herself in her own head again, listening idly to the conversations around her. It was moments like these that made her tiptoe on the edges of sentimental and weeping, especially these days. They were more than her crew, she knew. No, none of the blood that pulsed through their veins was the same, but that didn't bother a single one of them. They were family.

Zoro. He was a quiet protector. He was gruff, but it was how he cared. He was strong, and was hell bent on growing stronger. He was the island upon which they all could stand, willing to give it all for their dreams.

Nami. She was the guide. The sister - some days she was the big sister, on other nights when she woke from terrors unknown to Robin, but understood, she was little. In either case, she was fiercely full of a love that rivaled that of a mother bear. One who would rob you blind and make you apologize for it.

Usopp. He was the stalwart storyteller. He was loyal, kind, and lost in his own narrative of loneliness. His stories were big, but his actual bravery was larger than even he could imagine. Robin owed her being here to the sniper king, that much was true. As dangerous as he could be, there was a gentleness that she cherished nurturing by tending to the Thousand Sunny's gardens together.

Sanji. He was the provider. He would never let a single soul go hungry, regardless of the contents. He was a lot, but he meant well. He carried a sadness with him that not even Robin can parse, covered in chivalrous pursuits.

Chopper. He was the mender. He could treat someone's wounds as fast as he would melt their heart. His kindness was boundless, and his deeds spoke for themselves. Robin desired nothing more than to protect him, keep him hidden and safe. He was strong, in his own way, and she admired that endlessly.

Brook. He was the morale. He was patient. He was charming, if not somewhat odd - that means he fit right in. He knew loss, and he carried on with a grace Robin knew all too well. His songs told tales beyond her years. She was thankful she was here to listen.

Franky. Oh Franky… Franky was the heart. He laughed with his chest, like a giant she once knew. Bones of metal, but flesh and love throughout. He felt his feelings loudly and on his chest. He anticipates needs before they can even be thought of. He was the ship with which they sailed.

Then there was Luffy. He was the sun. He was the light that shines even in the darkest skies. His crew revolved around him, and he touched every one of them with his ferocious luminosity. His stubbornness knew no match. As far as Robin was concerned, he was unstoppable. They all owed their lives to him, but he wouldn't allow it, which only strengthened Robin's adoration of her odd, little Captain.

Robin's anxieties still tightened their grip on her chest in the night, but morning always came to quell them with laughter and love. Franky was the last to join the table, and that was what eventually broke her from her thoughts. He sat against the bar, gratefully taking a cola from Sanji who offered it. He was a bit unkempt, so Robin knew he was up late tinkering. She smiled at him and he grinned back. Coyly, she conjured a hand to fix his ruffled collar before anyone noticed.

She ate quicker than she normally would have, and before she realized it, her plate was empty. Clattering plates could be heard as Luffy ate his fill for the hour, and Robin tempted fate by reaching into the fray for one more bite. She and Luffy's hands met, and for a moment she thought she would have to face her Captain in an all out war for a croissant this morning. To her surprise, he relented almost immediately, locking eyes with her in a big cheeky grin. If anyone took notice, they said nothing.

Zoro had fallen back asleep. Usopp was regaling Chopper with a story about nearly dying while catching a huge fish Sanji would be preparing for lunch that was almost certainly untrue. Sanji was collecting empty plates where he could. Nami was explaining to Luffy the course they were taking for what could possibly have been the 100th time. Brook hummed a tune to himself. Franky was enthralled in Usopp's story. Chopper had climbed into Robin's lap while he spoke, and she gently held onto him as one would a plush.

They were family. With all their strengths and faults. All of their histories, all of their dreams. There was nothing but love between the Straw Hats. The thought of adding one more to the mix suddenly seemed just a bit more of a thrill.

Chapter 5: Captain. Summary:

Robin talks to Franky a bit and decides it's finally time to tell the Captain.

Chapter Text Captain.

"Oi, there she is!" the gruff cyborg spoke before turning from his desk, peeling his eyes away momentarily from the scattered blueprints that marked it, "you seemed like you were somewhere else at breakfast this mornin'," he observed, raising one brow, "are you feelin' alright, Nico Robin?"

Robin shut the door to Franky's workshop behind her, smiling as she often found herself as of late. "I'm feeling super, Franky," she answered in a calm, but fiercely affectionate tone. "I was just lost in thought, that's all," she clarified, "nice thoughts, for a change."

"Oh yeah?" He leaned back in his chair and gestured for her to come sit with him if she liked, which she happily obliged. She sat in his lap, settling neatly against his chest, relishing the strangely mechanical rise and fall of his breathing. He lazily kissed the side of her neck and wrapped his arms around her. "Anythin' you wanna share? I'm all ears," he murmured, "and nuts and bolts- and cola."

Affection of this degree was still new to Robin, but she readily admitted it was something she found herself craving. She held the book she brought with her to spend her afternoon reading up to her chest above Franky's arms and laughed softly at his joke, "and bullets and blood," she added grimmly, though they both knew she meant it in jest. She smiled when she felt Franky laugh behind her. Idly she thumbed through the pages of her book, looking for words to describe her flood of sentiment this morning. "Well I suppose I was just thinking about the crew," she said, "perhaps it is silly, but I think of them as family."

"That doesn't sound silly at all," Franky affirmed, "I haven't been here as long as you, but even I feel it."

Robin was grateful that his hands were holding her steady, and that he never was one to belittle her musings. "I'm still afraid of what's to come," she noted quietly, "but I think it's starting to settle in a bit. It feels like it really could work out," her voice wavered a bit but it was as if she caught herself, "what do you think?"

"C'mon, Robin," she could practically hear Franky smiling as he cupped one of his hands gingerly around her lower abdomen, "it's gonna be super! I've got tons of nice thoughts about it myself," he lifted her up suddenly so that he could place her on his desk and face her. She was still blushing from the contact, but was eager to hear what he had to say.

He sat back down and leaned forward, placing his hands on his comically tiny knees. "The crew is so good with one another already, right? I mean, look at how they are with Chopper - and Luffy," Franky chuckled, "he may be captain, but he's gotta be treated like a kid sometimes. And they all do it with nothin' but love! Brook's got the lullaby thing goin', Zoro and Sanji are like monsters, but in a badass kind of way, and Usopp has the bedtime stories covered if you're too tired. Chopper knows what he's doin', so if they ever get sick, you know he'll fix 'em up! Nami scares me, but in a good lil' sis' kind of way that makes me think she'd be harder than the boys to knock down. It's not like Luffy will let anything happen to anyone in his crew - and that's just it! This kid'll be part of the crew. Besides," he grabbed hold of her hand, "they're going to have the strongest and coolest and smartest parents that have ever met the Grand Line."

"You forgot 'superest,'" she was sure to add, tears once again forming in her eyes. It warmed her heart even more to hear how his observations of the crew matched her own. Franky's words firmly reminded her that she wasn't alone anymore, not even in thought.

He feigned surprise with the slap of his palm on his forehead, "of course! How could I forget 'suuuuperest?'" Franky made sure to draw that one out. The two laughed together for a moment, a sound neither one of them wanted to be without. There always seemed to be a shared understanding between the two - it remained unspoken for now, but they both had their own fractured experiences with family, and it seemed to strengthen their resolve together. Robin hoped to discuss it with him soon, but knew she might be in too fragile a state to do so now. Instead, she enjoyed the laughter.

After a while, Franky had sat back again, "so brain-wise, I take it you're feelin' good," he noted, "but how are you feelin'? Can I get anything for ya? Chopper say anything new this week?"

Robin fixed him with a kind smile, "I still get a bit nauseous from time to time, but nothing the medicine can't fix. I can tell my appetite has increased like the books say, which is interesting," she listed, "I told Nami I felt strange this morning, but I think it was because I'm starting to see the way my body is changing more prominently. Other than that, nothing to note. Chopper says that I should just keep doing what I'm doing and cut back on the coffee - which I am."

Franky listened with interest, mentally noting everything. "Great!" He exclaimed, "you're already doing amazing and the kid's not even here yet!"

She dismissed the flattery by grabbing his metal nose playfully. "In any case, I'd like to tell Luffy soon. I think he's starting to notice something, and it is his ship. It is entirely possible he will not understand or care."

Pondering for a moment, Franky nodded, "would you like some backup? Or would you prefer some privacy?" He seemed to be recalling how difficult it had been for her to admit it to him a few weeks ago.

"Hmm," she thought out loud, "I suppose I'd like some one-on-one time with him. If I need back up, may I send you a signal?"

"Of course," Franky grinned, "anytime. I'm sure it'll be just fine though."

Robin nodded, happy with that answer and vowing to have a chat with the captain before the night was over. She opened her book, flipping to the marked page she was on and began reading. Franky knew this was his cue to get back to work, and the pair stayed in comfortable silence for the rest of the afternoon - unless something caught Robin's interest and she needed to explain it, or if Franky had a particularly grand idea. It was comfortable - familiar.

Night had fallen, and dinner had gone similarly to breakfast. The crew was making their hasty retreats for the night - all but the Captain, who had been assigned first watch by the Navigator.

The archeologist made for the women's quarters when she remembered what she and Franky had discussed. "I think I'm going to get some air before I turn in," she told Nami before she made it all the way in the room, "I'll try not to be a nuisance."

"If ya do, ya know it'll cost ya," Nami said in a sing-song voice with a wink, "goodnight, Robin."

"Goodnight, Nami," she said, then headed out onto the deck nervously. It wasn't hard to find the Captain. Though most of the crew spent their watches in the Crow's Nest, Luffy often got away with sitting on the railing and fishing - it was the only way he could keep himself awake some nights. The crew allowed it when Nami could easily predict what the weather held.

Robin approached quietly, having thought about what she might say all day. Nothing seemed to make sense, and it felt nearly impossible to predict how Luffy might respond. She had grown accustomed to his personality and with matters outside of herself she knew how to relate things in understandable terms to the odd, rubber boy. At least she thought she had, but now that she had something of her own to explain to him, words failed her.

Before she realized it, she had gotten fairly close. She had her arms crossed over her chest as she thought, and her brow must have been furrowed. When she looked up she saw Luffy staring at her with a big grin, "oi, Robin!" He called with a wave, "hi, hi, Robin! What are you doing awake? Is everything okay?"

"Oh," Robin gaped in surprise, but only for a moment, "good evening, Luffy. I'm fine," she began rather unconvincingly, putting her hands together and fanning her fingers out, "I was wondering if I could offer you some company on your watch tonight. I have something I'd like to discuss with you, if that's alright."

Luffy tipped his head to one side, still grinning, "sure! As long as it's not boring," he added, "beats being alone out here. I hate the night watch." His words were punctuated by a pout, "what's on your mind?"

She knew she shouldn't be surprised by how serious he was able to be with his question, but it still threw her off. Robin leaned against the banister Luffy sat upon, close enough to him that they could hear one another over the waves. Should she just cut to the chase? Would she lose his interest if she overexplained? Or did he need some sort of explanation to keep him entertained?

In her silent contemplation, his own brow had furrowed with concern, "is it that serious? I thought you were just gonna scold me about breakfast," he whined a little, "I let you have it, didn't I? And I was really hungry."

Robin was plucked out of her thoughts with a laugh, "oh of course I'm not here to scold you," she dismissed, "in fact, I feel it should much rather be the opposite - you scold me, Captain."

Now he was even more confused, "why in the world would I scold you?" There was such a genuine meaning behind his question. "What'd you do, Robin?"

Ah, she thought to herself. "It's nothing really," she felt sheepish, "or perhaps it's a lot, I don't know." Robin tried to focus on the sound of the sea breeze in her ears, blocking out the torrent of thoughts that had resurfaced.

"You're acting weird," he commented, not with malice, but just as an observation, "are you trying to leave again?"

"No," she answered quickly, "no, absolutely not. I'd never dream of that, Luffy. You're my family," she admitted openly, but quietly. "On the contrary, I think I would prefer never to leave again if at all possible. I want to follow you to the end, if you'll allow it."

Luffy slapped his hand on his knee, his trademark grin returning, "of course! Now what did you do?"

Robin felt her face heat up again, and at the risk of irritating him further, she mustered the courage to confess, "I'm afraid I'm expecting a child," she began, "which I know it will be asking a lot from the crew, and I'm fully prepared to take care of everything that I can-"

He raised his hand to stop her, confusion evident in his expression once more, "expecting? Like on the next island? What are you talking about, Robin?"

Her face fell blank, cursing herself quietly for using a purposefully vague figure of speech. "I'm sorry, this should be easier for me to explain, but it's not." She shook her head and looked down at her hands, "no, I mean that I'm going to have a baby."

Confusion turned to concern when she admitted it was difficult for her to say, then amused confusion again. "Oh, okay. Why didn't you just say that, then?"

Robin blinked. Why didn't she? He sure made it sound simpler than it was. It was almost comical had it not been such a big deal for her. She still managed a smile in spite of her discomfort. "I suppose I should have, hm?"

"So then what's wrong?" He asked in earnest, his gaze turned out toward the sea, checking the brightly colored bobber at the end of his fishing line no doubt.

Good question. She let out an uncomfortable laugh, "I guess I still find myself worrying about becoming a burden, even after everything. You have a ship to captain and a goal to reach, so I don't want to hold you back for any reason." Her concerns were real, but knowing everything she knew about Luffy, they started to sound foolish on her tongue. Still, she wanted to be sure that she had covered all her bases.

"Shishishishi," Luffy's trademark laugh was music to Robin's ears, "we're friends, aren't we? You said you want to follow me to the end, then that's all I could ask."

It was such a simple response, but Robin was no stranger to the weight that the phrase 'we're friends, aren't we?' carried with it. "We are friends," she agreed out loud, "then that is what I will do."

Suddenly, Robin felt a weight placed on the top of her head and she quickly realized Luffy had removed his hat. He rested it on her head with a grin before standing on the railing. His fishing pole was going wild, and Robin could only assume something strong was on the line. "Hold this for me, will ya?"

"Mm," she affirmed, moved by the simple act of trusting her with his most prized possession. It was almost impossible not to think back to the circumstances of their first meeting on the Going Merry with a twinge of guilt and nostalgia. He hadn't asked her to, but she also conjured a few arms to help secure his ankles on the railing - they were both Devil Fruit eaters, and it would likely end poorly if he were to fall overboard.

He reeled in a lump of a fish, pride shining in his eyes. She released his legs and he bounded over to the hatch that led to the aquarium to quickly dump his catch inside. "That was a huge fish - I hope it doesn't eat every other fish we have in stock before the night is over," Robin mused.

Luffy laughed, hurrying back to sit beside her again. "I'll just catch a bigger one, then!" He grinned a cheesy grin once more. "The crew's growing, so we gotta have plenty of meat!"

Robin seemed to hold herself by her elbows, her arms still crossed. Again, it was such a simple statement, but the weight of the words coming from Luffy crashed over her, threatening to crush her under the pressure. "Thank you, Luffy," she murmured.

"Don't sweat it," he smiled, resting his hand on top of her head, "can I ask you a question, though?"

"Go right ahead," Robin prompted, curious as to what he could possibly want to know. Was it going to be probing? A sore spot? Something she could even answer? Her thoughts raced, but she waited.

"So is the baby going to have creepy hand powers or is it going to be part robot like Franky?" He asked with such genuine seriousness it took Robin fully by surprise. The fact that he didn't even have to ask if it was Franky's for one thing, but the question being so indescribably, charmingly Luffy threw her. "I think another robot would be so cool!"

Robin covered her mouth to stifle some of her laughter, "Luffy, that's not how any of that works," she responded, "Devil Fruit powers aren't genetic and neither are cyborg parts. In theory it will be just a regular human baby."

Luffy was visibly deflated with another pout, "that's fine. It'd be cooler if it was a robot, but a human is cool too." He had gone back to fishing, hat still resting atop Robin's head. The two were content to chat about the impossibility of a child being born with metal bits, or the likelihood that Robin would not let Franky modify their child into the night. It turned heated at times, but ultimately they had fun. While they spoke, Robin made sure to send a quiet signal she had agreed upon to Franky below deck. A hand with an eye, giving him the thumbs up that things went well. He took a sip of cola and gave her a thumbs up in return.

Chapter 6: Morning. Summary:

Robin isn't feeling well the morning they are approaching the Red Line, and Franky offers some tea and some quality time.

Notes:

I felt like there wasn't enough time with Franky and Robin before the time skip, so I decided to write this. It was going to be more explicit and I do intend to post that over on the other version eventually, but for now I think this is decently fluffy. I just care them. This takes place DIRECTLY before "A Name." in case AO3 eats my formatting because of this.
It does have a little bit more clinical talk because I feel like that's just... how Robin is, so if that's not your cup of tea I don't blame you for skipping this chapter! It's a new addition anyways, so it isn't technically necessary. It's mostly just me getting a better feel for how Franky and Robin interacted before the time skip compared to now! Thanks for checking it out :3

Chapter Text Morning.

It was one of those days.

Discomfort had made it difficult to sleep, and the nausea that greeted her when she woke kept her glued to her bed. Thankfully Nami was fully aware, and drew the curtains for her, leaving the room comfortably dim. She also left a fresh pot of boiled water by the sink so that Robin could make some tea if she felt up to it.

Robin lay still, trying not to focus on the constant swaying of the Thousand Sunny. Up until now, it had never really bothered her. Twelve weeks pregnant, and it was only another cause of her queasiness. Skipping meals wasn't ideal, but she'd usually recover by lunch time.

She found herself idly touching her stomach, as she often did. The process that she had now read extensively about fascinated her. The way her body was changing by the day continued to stoke the fires of hope she and Franky had kindled. Chopper said everything was still looking healthy. Optimism had rarely suited her before she met the Straw Hats, but now, as she ran her long fingers across the firm but soft bump that had formed over the recent weeks and smiled to herself. Again, images of meeting her little one flashed in her mind. A tiny hand to hold and to never let go. It was worth the nausea.

A gentle knock at the door stirred her from her thoughts. "Yes?" She pulled her covers up as though she was doing something she wasn't supposed to, even if it weren't remotely true.

"Oi, Robin," a familiar voice greeted happily, her muscles relaxing almost instantaneously, "can I come in? It's cool if ya need some rest - Little Sis said you weren't feelin' good again."

She didn't respond with words, she just summoned an arm to open the door. Franky knew the drill, and shut the door quietly behind him. Robin watched wordlessly as he set up a glass of tea to steep and sauntered over to kneel at her bedside. "Breakfast just ain't the same without ya," Franky lamented, resting his hands on the mattress beside her, "so I'm here now. Anything I can get for ya?"

Robin smiled, tiredness evident in her heavily lidded eyes. "That's quite alright," she replied, "your company is more than enough, Franky."

He grinned, "I'm thrilled to hear ya say that." He offered one of his hands to hold, which she happily accepted. "What's got ya feelin' bad this mornin'? I got some tea brewin' for nausea, but that's not always enough to keep ya down."

"I wasn't able to get much sleep," she shrugged. Robin lowered her covers, comfortable enough to let Franky see what she was content to hide from the rest of the world for now. All she wore was a simple pair of black undergarments, the weather having been too warm for her liking to wear anything more. Her well-toned figure was maintained, but there was a defined bump that set Franky's face completely flushed. "Growing another human being is surprisingly uncomfortable," she complained, though her face still showed she was feeling rather at ease, "and maybe a little exciting."

Sympathy creased Franky's brow, but he grinned all the same. He grasped the hand of hers he was holding with both of his. "I'm sorry ya couldn't sleep, but ow I didn't think you could get any hotter," he praised, "it's more than a little excitin' if ya ask me!"

Robin rolled her eyes in feigned annoyance. His flattery had not been ignored and while she had a hard time agreeing, it still felt good to hear him say it. Her free hand found its way back to where it had been before he knocked and she beamed a little. She was happy, in spite of her exhaustion. Even the darker parts of her mind had a hard time withstanding the light that Franky had brought with him. Every day she caught him doting on her when she allowed it. Every day he checked in. He gave her room when she needed it, but to her surprise, she found herself only craving and cherishing his company more. Perhaps solitude really was in her past, one he knew about, laid bare before him when they first met.

In her quiet ruminations, she did something even she wasn't expecting. She grabbed the hand that he rested on top of hers, and pulled it with little to no resistance. Franky wasn't the least bit confused when his palm gently met the skin on her belly. He was oh-so grateful for the nerves he had been able to replicate in his synthetic skin, to be able to feel this. Robin was now fully blushing, embarrassed by how brazen with her desire for affection she had been, but Franky's thumb worked soft circles where she placed it happily. His hand was large enough to cover most of her stomach. She couldn't articulate why it made her feel safe and content, but it did all that and more. "Thank you," she hummed after carefully considering apologizing, thinking better of it.

He was more than familiar with her increased needs as of late, and he was certainly not complaining. Most days it would seem she craved more physical touch than she ever had. Robin had come to realize how much she valued the sensation, something she was so used to avoiding.

She shifted, tiredness fighting to pull her into what she knew would be a restless sleep against the desire to touch and be touched, to be with Franky for the rare private moments they had on the ship. Her face was still flushed, and she found herself on the edge of delirium. Suddenly, she covered her cheeks with both hands, unable to contain a childish giggle.

Franky didn't stop what he was doing, but he did raise a curious brow. "What's so funny?" He said, though it was said with nothing but affection. He rested his chin on is free arm. It was nearly impossible for him to not notice the way her body moved and tensed under his palm from her laughter. It was, admittedly, very distracting.

"I don't know," she lamented through her laughter, "I suppose I'm so tired, I'm finding myself feeling a bit silly. I should be embarrassed." Biting on one knuckle to calm herself slightly, "but I'm not, I guess I'm just… So happy."

"Oh yeah?" He queried, grinning from ear to ear, "that don't sound too silly at all - or embarrasin'. It's good. Super, even," Franky gushed.

Robin closed her eyes, knuckle still grazing her teeth. She reached down to thread her long fingers through Franky's hair. "I'm inclined to agree," she mused, his validation easing what doubts remained. Though she wasn't watching, she could feel Franky shift. Before she realized it, he had leaned himself forward to give her the gentlest kiss where his hand had just been - and promptly returned. Her soft hum of laughter continued. Her chest ached with contentment.

"I gotta say," Franky rasped, his rugged voice becoming a bit more serious, "I don't think I've ever heard a sound as heart-stoppingly gorgeous as that laugh of yours. I hope I get the chance to hear it for the rest of my days. You deserve that joy - this joy. Don't you forget that."

Tears pooled among Robin's lashes, and she opened her eyes to blink them away. "Oh, Franky," she breathed, searching every corner of her mind for the right words, but she just began to tremble. She rubbed the tears from her eyes. "I feel the same about you," she admitted, "you have a funny laugh. I like it a lot… You deserve this as much as I do, you know."

The cyborg nodded, though quietly processing her words so that he too may fully accept them one day. "Now, can I get you your tea?" He asked, realizing how long he'd already been there.

Robin's fingers that were softly tousling his hair fell to the bed as he stood up. His hand left, letting the cooler air take its place and making her shiver. "No, thank you," she suddenly pouted, "can you lay with me instead? Just for a while."

Franky frowned back sternly, "I'm mighty tempted to give into your demands," he placed his hands on his hips as defiantly as he could muster against her wounded expression, "but not until ya take your medicine. Then I'll lay with ya for as long as you like - deal?"

She pondered it for a moment, understood that she was being a bit childish, and relented. "Fine, if that's the only way," she responded, sighing with effort to sit up. He very quickly retrieved the cup, removing the leaves and stirring in the medicine Chopper had provided. It was a familiar routine.

"Alright, soup's on. Except the soup is super medicinal tea," he said as he reapproached, offering the drink. The woman took it from his hands graciously, but not before a flurry of petals and arms appeared to pull him into the bed beside her. It never did seem to get old to either of them.

He got settled in as the extra arms dissipated and she took a taste of her concoction. He wrapped one of his arms behind her, and rested his head in her lap. His face was half pressed against her little bump and she hummed in quiet appreciation. Another small sip and a sigh, "it tastes rancid - like what I imagine dirty dishwater tastes like."

Franky chuckled, patting her knees gently, "so you've said," he laughed, "works though, don't it?"

"Of course it works," Robin chided, "Chopper made it. It still tastes detestable." She scrunched her nose ever-so slightly, looking down at Franky. Holding her drink with two hands so as not to spill it, she summoned a few hands to wrap him in an embrace. "Hey, you have super hearing, right?"

He affectionately kissed the palm of one hand that brushed his jawline, "yeah, why? You can put your ears anywhere - so you probably do too."

She laughed, "not in this particular instance," she took another sip, "is it super enough to hear a fetal heartbeat, do you think? It would actually just be my own heartbeat at this point, but Chopper said it's getting louder by the day - so I was just curious, since you're there and all."

"Hmm, I guess I could try," she watched as he pressed his ear a bit more firmly against her stomach. She couldn't tell from this angle, but she got the feeling he had a very focused expression.

"I read that it's actually my abdominal aorta and that my circulation is changing to accommodate the growing fetus, so if you do hear anything, it's probably that. I can definitely feel it. To hear it, Chopper has to use a special tool," tidbits of knowledge she had gained in her increased allotted downtime, "my organs are shifting too - they have to make room. I suppose it's sort of like your cola fridge, only instead of giving me energy, it will continue to drain my body's resources for the next six months."

The arm Franky had behind her rubbed her back as she spoke, and he chuckled sympathetically, "that sounds like a heck of a time," he said, "I'm real sorry that I can't help sharin' the load on that one. I'd like to help in any and every way possible, y'know."

"I know," she soothed, running a thumb across his cheek, "and I'm glad. It's fine, really. I'm interested in the experience. I think part of me has wanted this for a lot longer than I'm willing to admit. It's not exactly the first time I have been or… thought… It could never have worked then, I don't think. Well, to know it's really happening is thrilling. At least until the anxieties and the realism take hold. It's nice, though," she hummed again, trying to move past the concession she thought she'd never tell another soul, "knowing I am not alone. Physically I can't be, since technically I have a tiny person inside shifting my guts every day and draining me of fluids. I mean knowing that I have you. It's nice."

Franky moved to give her another kiss just below the navel while she spoke. She knew the gesture was reassuring as much as it was affectionate. He'd never been one to judge, or ask intrusive questions unless prompted. He was always so kind. "I'm more than thrilled to be here, but hey," he grinned up at her, "wanna put a pin in that thought so I can try listenin' for our kid's heartbeat - or I guess your aorta?"

Attempting to breathe steady at the phrase 'our kid,' Robin nodded, begrudgingly finishing off her tea. "Alright, try now," she said, taking a deep breath.

Returning his ear to his mark, he seemed to become laser focused for some time. Robin stayed as motionless as she physically could.

Franky started kicking his feet a little, "well I'll be," he beamed, "even if it is just your blood pumpin' more than normal, I can still hear some thumpin'. I can mostly just tell you're hungry." He snickered, clearly giddy by the prospect of hearing what he hadn't.

"If it sounds like a regular heart rate that's me," she acknowledged, "if it's fast paced - like that of a rabbit - then it's the baby." The word fell from her lips so casually, yet it felt monumental to call it what it was becoming.

"My hearing is indeed quite super, but I can't differentiate between the sounds I do hear, sadly," he pouted, focusing again, "but you said Chopper said it's gettin' louder by the day, right? Maybe I'll be able to hear soon!" Another kiss to make the mother-to-be melt. "When do they start movin' and kickin', do you know?"

Robin had placed her empty glass down so she could resume playing with his hair, "it depends, but it should be in the next few weeks if all continues to go well. I should be able to feel something called 'fluttering' anywhere beginning at sixteen to twenty-four weeks," she murmured, "is it weird that I can't wait?"

"Darlin', everything about you is weird," Franky laughed, "but that's what makes you so wonderful. I can't wait either!"

She settled back in bed with a soft laugh herself. She should get up and get ready for the day, but she didn't want to let go of this moment - these feelings. Part of her wanted to say it - that she thought she might love him. Some deeper, wounded part kept her jaws shut. She would tell him when she was ready, but of course he would likely already know. Robin wrapped him in an embrace and pulled his head toward her chest.

He matched her embrace, kissing her collarbone, then her neck, then just under her chin. "How are you feeling now? Is there anything I can do for you?" His breath warm against her skin.

The smoothness with which he asked made her suppress a shiver. A shaky exhale, "better. It's gross, but it certainly does the trick. A deal is a deal though," she brushed her fingers through the hair on the back of his head.

"Indeed it is," he nestled himself fully against her, allowing them both time to get comfortable, "I'm all yours until you say the word. Though, to be honest that'd be true - deal or no deal." His big hand once again returned to her midriff - he knew just what she wanted before she asked.

"I know," she conceded with a smile, reaching down to tangle her long fingers in his. She hummed in complete contentment.

The morning quickly rolled into the afternoon in a flash, the pair unwittingly falling asleep. It wasn't until Robin shifted to stretch that they were both roused from their nap.

"I suppose we should at least get some fresh air," Robin quietly suggested, though she showed no signs of getting up. She was far too busy scrunching her nose once more at the heavy-lidded cyborg beside her.

He yawned a great big yawn and sighed, "how about we stay like this - just for a little while?"

"Yeah. I think I'd like that."

Chapter 7: A Name. Summary:

Franky and Robin discuss the idea of a name!

Notes:

Some dramatic irony is always a little fun. Hello Sabaody Archepelago arc. A short and sweet one, but I think it gets the point across. I may revisit this one!

Chapter Text A Name.

"We're not naming them 'Battle Franky,'" Robin's voice dismissed a fairly enthused cyborg who sat on the steps that led to the grassy deck, "please don't make me explain to you as well that they're going to be a normal human." There was a hint of amusement in her tone, but for the most part she was dead serious.

Franky took a sip from his cola bottle and risked a glance over at her. She was sitting in the swing that was usually occupied by the boys seeing who could fly farthest on any given afternoon. "I know, I know," he assured her with a laugh, "but it was worth a shot!"

"It most certainly was not," she reaffirmed, her tone even more serious than before. "We are not naming our child 'Battle Franky.'" She fixed him with a stare.

He conceded, knowing when to call it. "Fair enough. Names are hard, though," Franky complained.

Robin's gaze softened as soon as he relented, "sure, but didn't you choose your name? It suits you," she stated plainly.

"Sorta," Franky clarified, "I let it stick, but Idiot-burg is the one who made it up." He said the name with a spitting fondness and smiled, "I think it suits me too."

"Ah," she vocalized, letting the swing sway gently in the breeze, enjoying the shade the little tree offered. Nami had predicted rough waters ahead, so they were getting in some last minute relaxing. "He was like a brother to you - a name like that is special."

"That's true," Franky's voice had wavered suddenly, indicating to Robin that he had started crying again. He was sweet like that. "I miss that asshole. I sure am glad you didn't kill him," he was wiping his face on his large forearm, "sorry, Robin - I know you were doin' what you had to do."

Robin gripped the swing a little tighter, trying to block out the memories of her purposefully botched assassination attempts. She shook her head, "it's fine, it's important to be able to talk about it," she stated, "would you consider naming a child after someone you know?" It was a half-attempt at moving the subject along, "or rather, someone you knew? Or do you think that names carry with them expectations?"

The cyborg had finally been able to relax, partially thanks to an extra hand that so casually appeared to aid in wiping his tears. "Oi, now that's a good question," he pondered aloud, "I do love the name Tom, and I'd love to memorialize it, but he's already got the Puffing Tom. Maybe you're onto somethin'. It'd be hard to live up to my old man, and I'd hate to put that kind of pressure on a kid without realizin'." Franky folded his arms over his chest and tilted his head to the side, "it's also a nice way to continue their will or somethin' sappy like that. What about you? What'd'ya think?"

She listened with interest, her mind wandering to the people she found most important in her life, and the various meanings of an assortment of words. "I think that it could be a lovely way to honor someone's memory. It's like you're giving them another chance - especially if theirs didn't last as long as it should have," Robin rested her head against her arm, "but at the same time, you could be cursing them to a similar fate without knowing it."

Franky frowned, "I don't think names can do that, but now I think I'd be worried about it," he placed his chin between his index finger and his thumb in thought, "somethin' new, then," he acknowledged.

Robin hummed in agreement, though she didn't speak up. Her mind was elsewhere, dancing on distant shores with people she only knew for a blink in her life but had left huge holes behind that only now had begun to fill. Olvia. Clover. Saul. "Something new," she echoed quietly after a while.

"Where'd ya go?" He asked gently, recognizing her silence.

She looked back at him from her swaying swing with a soft smile, "somewhere old," she murmured, "same as you, I suppose."

Sympathy etched Franky's gaze as he stood from the stairs, approaching the swing from behind. Robin let out a hum of gratitude when he placed his arms on her shoulders. His thumbs traced her shoulder blades. "What about a flower?" He suggested, "since you're like… Made out of them, right?"

Robin laughed, some of the tension she hadn't even noticed before released at the contact, "I'm not, but I suppose it isn't a terrible suggestion," she stated, "you've certainly had worse ideas."

"Oi, oi," he chastised playfully, "only a few."

"Ah yes, only a few," she teased, but looked away, her grip tightening on the rope swing, "I worry I still want to honor the past, in spite of the twist of fate."

Franky slowly applied a bit more pressure against her back, the swing moving forward a little. She did not protest when momentum pressed her back against him, and he gave her another shove. "You could do some sorta combination," he suggested, "like somethin' old and somethin' new?"

Robin pondered his words, but also relished the rhythm of something as simple as being pushed on a swing. She shut her eyes and on a whim decided to think about something new for a change, realizing just how stuck in the past she often was. She focused on maintaining her momentum, and breathed in the warm sea air, her hair brushing against her face faintly at her slow rise and fall. She could picture Franky pushing someone else in her place. Laughter was louder than the waves that whipped the Thousand Sunny. She could see joy there.

"I like that idea," she said suddenly, as if waking from a dream, "but perhaps it'd be best if we wait to meet them," she suggested, "no preconceptions to latch onto. No expectations. No hiding them behind someone they are not. No sense in rushing something as important as a name - there's still time."

"You're the boss," Franky agreed, "I'll follow your lead on this one. Ask me to build anything you could possibly think of and build it better than you could imagine and I'm your cyborg. That stuff isn't my expertise."

Robin chuckled again, but there was a taste of wistfulness. "I'm not sure I would be much better suited for it. Give yourself more credit. I've spent 20 years trying to feel like I was made of nothing but metal. Here you are, powered by cola and yet you're thoughtful enough to build a ship meant for a crew you had known for no more than a few days - one that we misfits call home. We both have burdens we bear that won't make this easy," she started to ramble almost, as if her adoration of the man got away from her, "it's something we can decide on together when the time is right."

Franky seemed to contemplate her words, and grasped the ropes at the right time so as to slow her swinging without making her stop abruptly. He then placed a tentative kiss on the top of her head, "you got it," he said resolutely.

"Everybody look sharp," Nami's voice rang out from the main deck. The winds truly had changed without Robin taking much notice. The Red Line was upon them, and the darkening of the sky indicated it was time for all hands on deck. It was time to put a pin in that conversation regardless, it would seem.

Robin looked back and nodded at Franky with a determined gleam in her eyes, and Franky's to match. As long as they were together, the Straw Hats could face anything.

Chapter 8: 3D2Y. Summary:

Sabaody Archipelago doesn't go as planned, and Robin is alone.

Notes:

This chapter is admittedly a bit odd, and I may go back and rework it. It's mostly just a bridge between pre and post ts if I'm honest, but I hope it's at least a little ok!

Chapter Text 3D2Y.

How had the events of that day transpired so quickly? Robin remembered well that it had begun so hopeful. Dreams of reaching the New World together laid bare on the ocean. There were smiles, there was hope, there had been joy.

A flash of light. She remembered the blinding, white-hot light of the admiral. The fear. The abject horror of watching her family blink away one by one at the hands of a lumbering monster until all that remained was she and her Captain.

Her Captain.

She had never seen him in such a state. There was no time for it to tear her in two. A burst bubble.

In an instant they were gone. She could still feel the stinging in her throat from her vain plea for help. How cruel that was, in retrospect, knowing there was little her exhausted and beaten captain could do to save her. She couldn't take that back now.

Robin was alive. How, she couldn't quite figure out. Everything was spinning - no. It was moving. Rapidly.

If she had to guess from a list of events that would have occurred that day based on how it began, she would have failed every attempt. She tried replaying it over - clearly she had the time. They had been truly and utterly unprepared.

Her body ached, but no more than her chest. She drifted in and out of consciousness. Time was impossible to gauge. Tears met wakefulness, the young woman folding in on herself.

Dereshishishishishishi

Dereshishishishi

Dereshi…

Had the three days already passed? It was hard for Robin to tell when she fully woke. Her body was fatigued and met with a burning cold, and it took her a moment to orient herself.

She was in a desolate, wretched place. It took everything for her feelings of despair not to match. The little girl that had roused her left her hidden. Sweet little thing. Certainly not made for an environment this harsh.

Huddled against the wall she collected her thoughts, fighting the gnawing hunger. Robin was no stranger to an empty stomach, but it did make her curse herself for even possibly taking Sanji for granted.

Her hands were shaking, she realized after staring at them for what could possibly have been an hour. She was alone, and she could only assume her crewmates were too - but if she was alive, she could conclude that they had made it as well. That was the hopeful part of her. Something new.

Robin felt guilty sharing the little girl's meager rations, but she felt herself withering if she did not. Besides, part of her was very aware that she had her own little one to look after. Quietly she recouped, and quietly she bonded with the small artist who had dreams much larger than what she had learned was basically a prison.

They had an exchange. The girl's hopes for the woman's stories. There was warmth there, in spite of the cold. It helped the time pass, but Robin knew it was never meant to last. It was a shame, she had already grown so attached.

She gave herself up for the girl - there was no way she would let them hurt a child on her behalf. The guards were merciless. That she could take each hit in the child's place gave her only the slightest reprieve.

Robin steeled herself, like she always had. Something had changed. She bore with her a resolve stronger than she had ever felt before. It wasn't just about surviving for herself anymore. Her family would be waiting for her. Luffy. Zoro. Nami. Usopp. Sanji. Chopper. Brook. Franky.

She longed to take one of her shackled hands and trace the growing bump that brought her such comfort. To say that everything would be alright, a comfort in return. There was no way. She wouldn't dare clue anyone in on her condition. It was not safe. Robin squeezed her eyes shut on the floor of her cell, remembering the image of the future she had had so fondly created only days prior. Surely she could still attain it. Just hold on.

When the handcuffs fell off and in an instant she felt the familiar grotesque beauty of bones snapping at her fingertips. She escaped her captors thanks to the little girl - the final exchange. Resting her hand on her head, she thanked her in earnest.

Robin carried the drawing with her, even as she made way to travel back to Sabaody with the members of the Revolutionary Army. Her cold, bony fingers trace the lines in the wood. It was a jarring comparison to the likes of her wanted posters - in a good way. There was no fear or anger in her eyes, just what the child had perceived her to be. The woman in the drawing looked kind.

She was sure she would see them again. Her heart raced when she got ahold of a newspaper, hoping to catch a glimpse of the aftermath that her crew left behind. What Robin saw instead broke her heart.

Her Captain couldn't save him. He was on a losing streak and now he was utterly alone - for all Robin knew. She swallowed all of the details. The "War of the Best," they called it. Luffy's brother, slain before his eyes. The emperor, Whitebeard, died where he stood. Luffy. Oh, Luffy…

That carefree, force of nature of a boy.

Tears started to form in Robin's eyes as the weight of everything that had occurred in the handful of days hit her in full force. Her body was bruised and weary. She missed them more than words could say. Finding out just how much Luffy had suffered without the family he made made her choke back a sob. This may be the revolutionary army, who seemed to hold her in some high regard, but that didn't mean she could lower her guard.

They would arrive in Sabaody soon enough.

At least, that's what she hoped for, eyes wide open in the middle of the night. Sleep would not welcome her into its embrace. Thankfully, she was alone in a small shack, guards posted outside as far as she could see, but she had a moment of lonesome privacy.

Resting on her back on the cot they provided, she dared to risk resting a hand over her stomach beneath the covers. On top of everything, worry for the sweet life she bore made her shake. "It will be alright, I'm certain," she whispered, hoping that saying it out loud would somehow make it true. Whether or not she believed it was another story entirely.

Robin wanted to be there for Luffy- she wanted to know he was okay. Surely he was not, but she wanted to know he was in a place where he could be. Desperately she wanted to know where the others had been sent, and hoped against all hope that they had faced less cruelty. She chided herself for selfishly wishing she could be wrapped in Franky's embrace again, as if that was the most important thing.

Light met her stinging eyes and she realized it was dawn.

"Excuse me, Nico Robin," a voice beckoned at the door, "I was told you needed to see this."

Another newspaper slid through the door, and she nearly leapt out of her cot to grab it.

Relief flooded over her in such a way that she could have lost consciousness right then and there. She read and reread the report throughout the day. The revolutionary army was flustered when she requested to stay with them.

Luffy was alive.

Luffy was alive and standing and he was facing the world that just took everything from him in a way that only he could. After all that, he was sending his crew a message. It was a call to action, and Robin would answer.

3D2Y.

Two years was a long time. The thought of not seeing the Straw Hats for two years reawoke the ache in her chest that wouldn't ease for even a day. There was an end in sight, and she would just have to grow stronger. She would grow stronger.

It was a bittersweet realization that in the span of those two years, should no problems arise, she would carry to term and face raising her child not only alone, but with people she was unsure she could trust. On the deck of the ship set for Baltigo, she watched the waves quietly. Bringing her hands up to warm them with a breath, Robin tried to cover up her heartbroken smile. Would those who knew be worried about her? As much as she worried about them? Did Franky miss her too?

Robin didn't even entertain the thought of Franky being anything but thrilled she was okay, but her thoughts danced anxiously about where things would be in two years. Two years was a long time. Longer still with a baby. She was thankful for those boring days on the Sunny that she spent reading books that her dear Chopper had recommended. It meant she was prepared at least. Oh, Chopper.

The dark haired flame of the revolution vowed to make the most of her two years. What happened in Sabaody would not happen again. Robin held no doubts that her crew felt the same. They would all move mountains for their Captain because they knew he'd do the same with a smile.

She would raise her child knowing that they were loved, she decided that much. She would get stronger for them too. This child would know more about the Straw Hats before ever getting to see that love first hand. In the end, she knew it would be worth it, as small and alone as she felt.

No one is ever born into this world completely alone.

It was the first time in her life that she wanted to get stronger for someone else. It was a complex feeling, but one Robin was happy to grasp.

The familiar sound of bubbles was an odd melody to her ears. Careful progression hid her from the lurking threats that scoured the Archipelago. She was almost there. Almost home.

Among the twisting, striped roots, she saw it.

A smile widened on her tired face as she laid eyes on their ship. "Sunny," Robin greeted enthusiastically, "I'm so sorry you had to sit around for two years…" There was no tremble in her voice despite feeling overwhelmed with emotion, "I'm so glad you're safe!"

Finally. They were home.

Chapter 9: Reunion. Summary:

Robin returns to the Thousand Sunny after their two years of training, only she's not alone.

Notes:

Here's where we super start diverging from canon but listen. Here in this AU pretty much everything is the same except Franky and Robin's kid exists. I just like the idea of exploring that aspect of their characters and I do intend to keep going especially if anyone is interested! This is only part of the reunion since the other straw hats were goofing off in Sabaody and getting in fights. We'll have to see how the rest go!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text Reunion.

"OOOOOOOWWWWWWW!"

Oh how she missed that delightfully silly shout. Already having checked in with Rayleigh and Shakky, Robin knew she would find him on the ship, but she still felt a jolt when she heard his voice.

"There's a real beauty before my eyes!" Franky continued to shout from the railing on the deck of the Thousand Sunny. The odd shapes that formed the cyborg's body didn't even take her by surprise. "It's our suuuuper archeologist, Nico Robin!" He struck his usual pose, his forearms now completely exposed metal.

A silence passed between them - Robin certainly hadn't intended for it to last as long as it did. She thought she had been more prepared with the onslaught of emotion that came for her the moment she heard him speak. She barely processed his greeting when he added a quick, "I missed you!"

What should she say? What could she say? All the words she had in her repertoire seemed to mean nothing compared to how she felt. She wanted to tell him everything then and there, or to say nothing at all and just bask in being together again. Silently she adjusted the weight she carried carefully on her back. A bubble burst.

"You haven't changed one bit, Franky!" She heard herself speak. It was true, and it made her smile widen. She could feel the weight on her shoulders stir.

"Whaaaat, I totally have!" Franky whined suddenly, shifting his pose and turning around to show off more of his modifications. "Robin, don't be ridiculous. I'm even more suuuuper than ever! I'm beyond human comprehension!" It was when he turned back around to face her when he was able to focus on what might possibly be the most wondrous thing he'd ever laid his eyes on. He seemed like he wanted to open his mouth to say more, but for once he was too stunned to speak.

What she would have given to know what thoughts raced through his mind. Robin could practically see the gears turning. "Fair enough," she conceded with a laugh, an attempt to keep everything light, "but to your credit, I think you always have been." With that, she carefully climbed on deck to join him.

Robin marveled at the strange jelly-like coating that laced the ship. A flash of wiping the same substance on Usopp's pants crossed her mind wistfully. She wondered where everyone else had gone off to - knowing she had been one of the last two to arrive.

Franky had been roused from his stupor to lend her a hand getting up. Her hand lingered in his for a moment, admittedly missing his touch more than she could say. She quickly realized that two years had passed for him too, and that his feelings really could have changed despite her initial impression. Perhaps that line of thinking was her returning to her old ways.

Her anxieties were quashed rather swiftly when she saw tears welling up the instant he lifted his sunglasses.

"W… Who might this be?" Franky asked, locking eyes with a pair of them that peeked over Robin's shoulders. They blinked sleepily back at him while he knelt on the coated grass of the deck so he could be closer to the two's eye level.

Before Robin could respond, recognition seemed to spark in the little girl's wide eyes. "Fanky!" A tiny hand pulled on Robin's collar for attention, and pointed at the man who was very clearly trying to hold back a fountain of tears. "Fanky!"

Robin joined Franky in kneeling with a soft laugh, and summoned an arm or two to peel the child off of her back gently, letting her feet find the ground. She was unsteady, but Robin was right there to catch her if she stumbled. "Icky," she seemed to be commenting on the coating, but was mostly unbothered which let Robin deduce she meant 'sticky.'

Franky pointed to himself with a big thumb, "Fanky," he repeated in a choked voice and he sat back from where he was kneeling, "that's me!"

The toddler took a surprisingly confident little step, but was sure to look back to see that Robin hadn't left. Robin smiled back at her, encouraging her forward without a sound. She too was threatened to be overcome with feelings, but she wasn't about to let them out at this time.

With her mother's encouragement, she continued onward toward her target. Her hair was scruffy, though surely Robin had just brushed it this morning. It stubbornly tended to spike in all directions. It was the most wonderful shade of teal.

Franky smiled in spite of the oncoming downpour, and he tried to ask Robin again, "wh-what's her name?"

Robin only smiled in return and gestured to her, "you can ask her, if you'd like," she gave him a reassuring wink and added with a whisper, "if she does not answer I'll tell you."

The cyborg nodded and turned his attention back to the toddling child. "Alright, then little lady," Franky said, reaching out with one finger for her to grab if she chose to, "the name is Franky. What's your name?"

"Ol'v!" She responded rather enthusiastically, as though she'd been practicing. She picked up her pace and almost stumbled into Franky's hand. He caught her gently in his palm, to which she immediately clambered on.

Franky's gears were turning again trying to figure out what exactly she said, but it felt like he might short circuit from the sheer amount of emotions flooding his system. Thankfully Robin picked up on his confusion and mouthed the name.

He nodded with understanding . Very carefully, as if he were holding a small bird, Franky cupped his hands around their daughter and held her close to his face so he could get a good look through the salty tears. "Oi, Olive! It's very nice to meet you," he sniveled.

Olive planted her hands on Franky's cheeks, "it okay," she babbled, her face contorting to a genuine look of concern, "it okay, no cry, Fanky!"

That was it. He couldn't hold it in anymore. He burst into tears, and didn't have a hand free to wipe them away. Robin acted quickly and relieved Olive from his grasp. "I'm not crying," he clearly lied, "you're just… You're just so suuuuper cuuute I can't see! That's it!" He used one arm to wipe his face, and let Olive continue to hold on to the other until Robin settled her on her hip.

Robin reached up with a free hand to help wipe away a few tears, resting her palm against his cheek. "We've been waiting a long time to see you," she murmured, "I missed you too, Franky." A sadness laced her words, but she wore it with a deeply joyful grin. Olive reached to "help" by patting his other cheek, unaware of the meaningful gaze being exchanged by the two reunited crewmembers. They were home.

"Oooooi! Robin! Franky!" The familiar voice of the crew's great sniper cut through the conversation the two were having. They managed to cover enough ground about the status of the ship and where the rest of the crew was, neither one of them feeling ready to go into detail about what they had gone through over the last two years. There would be time for that, but not now. Franky was sitting, happily bouncing Olive on his knee while they talked.

Robin could tell she still felt a little on edge, because her first instinct was to grab Olive and find somewhere quiet to hide. She knew she didn't have to do that here, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Robiiiiiiiin! Franky!" the sweet little doctor's voice followed as the two clambered on deck.

"Hi, Usopp! Chopper!" Robin greeted with a wave as Chopper tore across the coated grass to catch her in an embrace. Had he… Gotten cuter? She wasn't sure that was even possible. She hugged him back. "It's so good to see you!"

Chopper was now blubbering, "Robiiiin! Robin I missed you so much!" He didn't seem to want to let go, not that she minded.

She saw Usopp greet Franky in awe, marveling at his robotic enhancements first before realizing there was another person among them. "Whoa - did you like… Make a miniature version of yourself?" He placed his thumb and index finger on his chin, "that's so cool! But why is it so small?"

Chopper was still sniffling, his face was a bit puffed up as he tried to search Robin's gaze knowingly. It broke her heart to think how much he must have worried about her - she knew how seriously he had been taking things. Before she could assure him, he heard Usopp's question and turned his head. The little reindeer's mouth fell open in surprise. He hopped out of Robin's lap to get a closer look.

Franky chuckled and slapped his other knee, "ya flatter me if you think I could make somethin' THIS super," he waved his hand before lifting the sunglasses-clad toddler up to show her off, "this is all Miss Nico Robin's handywork!"

She could feel the color flush to her cheeks at the praise, but also at the public affection. Still, she tried to smile through it. There was no reason to hide it from the crew anyways.

"'Sopp! 'Sopp!" Olive grabbed at her own nose and then pointed at the now-filled out sniper. He still looked confused, but he realized he was being called.

"Why yes, it's me, the greatest captain to have ever sailed the seas," he struck a grand pose, "Captain Usopp! Nice to meet you," he held out his hand, "will you be joining me on my quest to be the strongest warrior on the sea? Are you brave enough to voyage with the best of the best? You, there, little one, I'll have you know I fought 10 Sea Kings on my way here! Are you sure you can handle that kind of action for breakfast?"

Olive grabbed his index finger with an affirmative, "ah!"

Everyone tried to stifle their laughter besides Chopper, who was studying Olive intently, glancing back at Robin every few seconds with his mouth still hanging open. Usopp smiled, "then what's your name, sailor?"

"Ol'v," she babbled back, clapping her hands. Franky set her down on the coated grass deck. Tears were forming in his eyes again. She wore a simple purple dress, a flower embroidered in the center, and some leggings that almost matched her hair, patterned with stars. It was fairly clear to whom she belonged.

Robin let out a laugh she was holding in, especially after seeing how Chopper and her daughter were nearly the same height. "Olive," she called softly, "can you say hello to Chopper too?"

Chopper put his hooves together shyly, wobbling on his little knees. "No no, you don't have to say hi to me if you don't want to," he started to insult the child, but bit his impulsive little tongue. He started his little dance, backing away, "it wouldn't make me happy to know you're safe and healthy." He was crying again.

Olive's sunglasses fell as she followed her mother's gaze to the strange looking reindeer. Excitement showed very clearly in her big smile. "Ah-hah!" She approached as quickly as she could on unsteady legs and wrapped him in a hug. "Oppah!"

Chopper gasped, and seemed to fret when she made contact. But he looked back to see Robin giving him an encouraging nod. He hugged the little girl back as his eyes continued to well up. "Robiiin," he cried, "y-you had your baby an-and she got all big - all by yourself?"

She swallowed, her smile faltering. She could see Usopp and Franky's faces contort with sympathetic concern. Usopp was scratching the back of his head, seemingly trying to piece together details he was missing. He hadn't known - it hadn't come up.

Robin bit back her feelings. She had been by herself - for the most part. She hid Olive away from everyone she could. Oh, how it had been so lonely. "We knew we would see you all again," she said as simply as she could, "we just had to be patient. I remembered everything you told me before," her voice trailed off, not wanting to finish that sentence, and she was well aware they all knew what she meant, "plus you lent me some very important books. I couldn't have done it without you, Chopper, truthfully."

Chopper didn't seem like he had anymore tears to shed, but at the sheer magnitude of what Robin had said, he broke further. Franky's waterworks had also started back up, and Usopp was a sympathy crier. A few floral appendages appeared to wipe eyes everywhere. "Franky," she sighed, growing overwhelmed by the attention placed on her, "why don't you show off some of what you can do now? I'm sure these three will be excited about some gadgets."

Though they had been apart for two years, it was as if Franky could tell exactly what she was thinking. Or perhaps her discomfort was just that evident. He gave her an acknowledging nod before standing up and striking his "super" pose.

Usopp and Chopper were almost instantly distracted, and thankfully, Olive was too. Robin used the moment to step away, to watch them from afar. Perhaps she had gotten too used to being alone again, or perhaps there was such a thing as too much joy. She felt like her chest was going to explode. She rested her chin in her palm.

Watching as Franky showed off his new body to the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the small crowd, Robin was able to calm down. Olive seemed uninterested in letting go of Chopper's hoof, who was unbothered. It appeared they both shared the same enthusiasm for robots.

"Robiiiiiiiiin!" It was a woman's voice - it could have only belonged to Nami. Robin turned to see the beautiful young woman, her arms laden with shopping bags, hair down to the small of her back. How much she had grown! She waved excitedly.

Robin returned the wave with a smile, wistfully recalling their late night talks. She had grown quite fond of the navigator's companionship and, to no one's surprise, missed it deeply.

She climbed onto the ship and rushed to embrace the older woman. "It's so good to see you, sis!" Nami cried, "I've been stuck on an island with nothing but silly old wizards, you've no idea how much I missed you!" Robin could sense a bit of affection toward the supposed wizards though the words didn't sound like it.

"I missed you too," she responded quietly. Robin grabbed her shoulders and broke the hug after a moment, but only so she could take a good look at her. "You look beautiful, Nami," she praised, "you were well looked after? You were safe?"

Nami gave her a smirk and crossed her arms, "who do you think you're talkin' to? Of course I was," she held up her shopping bags, "people would just pay to take care of little ol' me." The two women laughed fondly. "What about you?"

Robin smiled, but the way she looked back at the hooping and hollering betrayed at least a hint of what trauma she endured and wasn't ready to speak on. "I managed," she said, "I did what I had to. I'm stronger for it, I think. I'm sure we all are."

Nami followed Robin's gaze and dropped all of the shopping bags on the deck with a gasp. Chopper, Usopp and Olive were still far too invested in Franky's mechanical upgrades to notice. "I didn't wanna make you uncomfortable and ask right away what happened, but Robin, I was so worried about you- is that-"

"My daughter?" Robin looked back at her, her warm smile returning, "yes."

"Awwww," Nami grabbed Robin's hand and held it, "you had a little girl? You mean… We're not gonna be the only girls on the ship anymore?"

Robin laughed again for what felt like the thousandth time that day, thankful for the redhead's touch more than she could put into words. "Mmhm," she affirmed, "though I'm afraid she might fit right in with the boys."

Franky stopped to wave at Nami, who waved back cordially. Olive was sitting with Chopper, the poor doctor was laying on his back trying to catch his breath. She was still holding his hoof, no doubt telling him that it was okay. She had gotten very good at that.

"Then she's right at home here, huh?" Nami asked with a kind smile, "we all are - or we all will be!" There was such a genuine excitement in her voice, it was hard not to find it contagious.

Robin squeezed her hand as the two watched, catching up lightly, laughing about not understanding, but actually basking in the togetherness.

That joy she promised, that joy she waited and hoped for every day. She listened to the way Olive laughed, watched how effortlessly she fell in with the old chaos Robin missed so much. Something old, something new.

They were home, and it was time to start a new adventure.

Notes:

I named her Olive because it's close to Olvia, but it's also a plant name like Clover (something old, something new). Maybe that's silly but that's what stuck for me!

Chapter 10: Sisters. Summary:

Robin figures out a comfortable sleeping arrangement for the time being, easing into a flood of too many feelings at once.

Notes:

Okay I'm hoping the next chapter will include the other Straw Hats officially meeting miss Olive. I realized that between the reunion to Fishman Island, so much is happening so it felt weird to throw it in there - like the priority was to not die on the way to the bottom of the ocean and then not die from Hordy Jones and Noah so I didn't want to interrupt that too much. Now between FI and Punk Hazard feels like fair game.
I really enjoy the relationship between Robin and Nami and really wanted a nice conversation between them since they've both been through a lot even in canon. I hope it turned out ok.
I'd like to have another breakfast echoing the last one, and also explore Franky's side during his time away for sure. Also of course I need another heavily fluffy Frobin chapter in this Frobin fic. So stay tuned.

Chapter Text Sisters.

The rest of the reunion had been far too eventful for Robin to recall clearly, just that it had been a raucous time. Exactly as it should be. They still had to focus on their goals, and so setting sail to the bottom of the ocean was one way to start it off. There wasn't much down time for the Straw Hats to reconnect and catch up during their brief traversal under the sea where they all worked together as if nothing at all had changed between them.

They were together again. They fought an army and watched as Luffy did what 1000 men could only dream of all on his own. They tended to their wounds in the palace of Fishman Island. The Straw Hats celebrated together for the first time in two years.

When they returned to the Sunny, they all felt exhaustion creeping in. They would reach the New World the next day - for sure this time.

"I could sleep for a week," someone complained as they all clambered onto the deck. Robin was inclined to agree. Roles were divvied out, but for the most part, the task at hand was to get some rest.

The question of where she and Olive would sleep had been on the back of her mind since they had first gotten back together, but she realized there was never a particularly good time to bring it up. Now it had to be. Her daughter had been a good sport with the events that had transpired - she knew when she needed to hide, and Robin could usually use her powers to stay with her, even if she was away to some extent. She imagined she was exhausted too.

It wasn't hard to figure out who she was with - Franky was carrying both Chopper and Olive, the three of them having been practically inseparable since they met. Robin was tired, though, and she was starting to feel anxious from moments of prolonged separation. No doubt it came from growing accustomed to the simple comfort of being alone together. She was cognizant that it was different now, being somewhere safe, but that didn't stop her instincts she supposed.

Did she want to stay with Franky? Part of her certainly did. She was sure Olive wanted to as well. It wasn't as though she couldn't trust him - he was holding her world in the palm of his hand with nothing but love and care. The other part of her sought something familiar.

"Ah, Nami," she called suddenly, catching the navigator before she disappeared into their old quarters.

Nami turned back with a tired smile, "yeah, what's up?"

Robin approached her, her fingers laced together indicating her slight discomfort. "Is it alright that I - we share our quarters again? I don't want to put you out," she asked quietly, "and I understand if you have any reservations especially in the future, I can figure another arrangement."

Nami seemed to hardly consider it, before nodding with a raised eyebrow and a pout, "of course you can, Robin," she placed her hands on her hips, "it's your room too."

She expected that to be the response, and yet she still felt insecure, as if part of her wanted to believe Nami didn't mean it - which was nonsense. That didn't stop her nerves from getting the better of her. "Sure, sure," she replied, "I just mean that I understand if you would like your privacy." Robin met Nami's gaze, and added in a more hushed tone, "I couldn't bare for you to think of either of us as a burden, so please, if there is an issue-"

"You're good dude," Nami assured before she could continue, "it didn't even cross my mind that it'd be an issue, I swear. It is the girl's quarters after all." She smiled, "plus I already told you I missed you. When else are we gonna have time to catch up?"

Robin carefully considered Nami's words, feeling the tension ease slightly from her shoulders. "That's all true," she acknowledged, "thank you, Nami. We'll be there shortly, then."

"Sounds good. I grabbed a ton of clothes earlier for all three of us, so I was dying to show some of that off anyways," she winked, brushing her hand against Robin's before retreating up the stairs to their old cabin, "see ya in a bit!"

Relieved, Robin turned back to the deck to see where Franky had wandered off to. It wasn't hard to spot his comically large form even as the evening grew dimmer. He was still holding Chopper and Olive, sitting in a chair comfortably. They both seemed very entertained by trying to catch the small hands that popped out of his much larger ones before they retreated. She could stand to watch for just a little while longer.

The laughter would have been warm enough to thaw an entire iceberg in an instant. It almost pained her to take it away from them. "Ah, Olive," she called quietly as she approached, "can you say goodnight to Franky and Chopper?"

Both Franky and Chopper looked a little disappointed, but they smiled at Robin. Olive grinned a big grin, "night nights, Fanky! Night nights, Oppa!" Her tiny hands raised beside her face and gripped the air a few times to punctuate her words.

Robin thought the two would start crying again, and she'd be lying if she wasn't about to herself. How is she so cute? She exchanged a glance with Franky, "we'll see you for breakfast, alright?"

Franky set Chopper down and held Olive out for Robin to scoop up. He then mimicked the grabby hand motion Olive had just done, the small yellow hand appearing to very gently poke her little nose, "night nights, Olive," he cooed. Chopper did the same, though it was difficult with his little hooves. Franky then turned to Robin, "aye, see you two for breakfast." It was moments like this that made Robin genuinely appreciate what a patient man he was.

"See you! Have a good night, Robin!" Chopper waved, breaking her away from her thoughts for a moment.

"Good night, Chopper," she replied, and a pair of arms sprouted from the ground to join in with the emphatic hand gesture as she walked away.

Robin could hear the two talk enthusiastically in her absence, but she was distracted by the overwhelming comfort of having Olive in her arms again after a long few days. She left Franky with an arm to show what little affection she had the energy to- a caress through his hair. When Chopper wasn't looking (she guessed) she felt the gentlest kiss on its knuckles.

With that, she climbed up to the library, quietly showing a drowsing child around on her way to the bathhouse. The two washed the seawater and sweat from the day away, enjoying a bubble bath as a reward for the both of them. Wrapped in a fluffy towel, Olive seemed to laugh a little to herself. Robin smiled, brushing the little girl's wet bangs away from her eyes, "did you have a good time meeting everyone?"

Olive nodded a few times, and babbled something in somewhat of an affirmative. Robin felt like her heart would spill over. "I'm glad," she cheered softly, "they seem like they were happy to meet you too. I knew they would be!" It was nice to feel at ease for once in what felt like forever, she thought while wrapping herself up in her own towel and swaddling her daughter. She certainly hadn't been as miserable and wretched as she felt before the Straw Hats came into her life like a force of nature, but being away from them had clearly put a tangible strain on Robin's emotions. All of the positives of the reunion didn't erase what she - and they - went through to get here. "Well, then let's go spend the night with Nami, how does that sound?"

"Ah-mee!" She replied happily. Robin gathered her up and they headed back the way they came. Blissfully, she headed across the deck, marveling at the undersea creatures whose luminescence flickered like stars in the night sky. To this island, they seemed to function as such. She opened the door to her old room quietly, in case the navigator had gone to bed early. To her relief, she was met with a familiar flicker of candlelight. Nami's red hair was tied up and a pair of reading glasses sat on the bridge of her nose. It would appear she was studying some sea charts when Robin entered with Olive in tow.

"Hey girls," Nami greeted, tossing aside her glasses, "I set some stuff out on your bed if you want it! Personally, I thought it was all super cute, and it was a steal," she added with a wink. "Oh yeah, and Franky dropped something off for Olive and said he can't wait to see you two at breakfast. It was pretty sweet," she admitted almost begrudgingly.

"Ah," Robin vocalized her surprise, closing the door behind her. "He is, isn't he?" She wasn't particularly looking for an answer, but Nami's smile warped into a smug grin. So much time had passed and she still found herself getting a little flustered. "Well, let's see here," she meandered over to her bed where there were a few neat piles of clothing that had been set out beside a small package.

Within an instant of setting Olive down on the bed, Nami had scrambled over to her. She scooped her up with a little squeal, "ohhhh it's my turn! We've been so busy here, and talking about Arlong makes me feel sick, so I'm going to borrow her for a minute while you get dressed or read your lovey dovey note or whatever." She nuzzled Olive who seemed to not mind at all, "how's that sound, huh? Come hang out with big sis Nami and I'll teach you how to get whatever you want when you want it." Still wrapped in her fluffy towel, she waved goodbye to her mother even though they were only going across the room to Nami's bed.

Robin blinked, surprised again, but charmed nonetheless. She waved back, and a small, instinctual part of her ached to retrieve her - she resisted. This was good for Olive. This was what she needed that Robin knew alone she could not give her. She glanced down at the selection of clothing and smiled, "these are wonderful," she commented, choosing a brightly colored jumper for Olive to sleep in. New clothes. Something hard to come by when in hiding and on the move with an army. She looked back at Nami, "if you're going to borrow her, would you mind helping her get dressed? If not, I'll take her back," she passed the jumper across the room with a row of fleeting appendages.

"Yeah, yeah," Nami responded, too caught up in a match of tickling to earn Olive giggles to pay full attention.

The package was wrapped neatly, craftsmanship she had come to expect from a certain cyborg. Robin decided to save it until she had donned some sleep attire and put away the remaining haul. There was a note tucked neatly into the ribbon that wrapped the gift shut. Carefully she removed it, taking a deep breath to prepare to read what he had to say. His handwriting was remarkably neat.

It read:

Oi Robin,
I made this for Olive the night you first found out you were gonna have her - I was just so excited! I'll make her some new stuff now that I know her that I'm sure she'll super adore, but this'll do for now. I'm glad it's still here after all this time, but I thought she might could sleep with it if you're okay with that. I thought of you both every day - wondering what she was like and if you were okay. You're one super woman for doin' whatcha did, and I can see it on your face that it wasn't easy. I'll do what I can so it will be from now on, if you'll have me. Take all the time you need, I'll be here.
With Super Love,
Fanky

Robin used what was left of her might to not react immediately. She opened the box to reveal a wooden doll. It was shaped somewhat like a robot, but peculiarly it had multiple arms. It was an oddly soft wood, and everything about it was handmade. Once again, the craftsmanship caught her eye. He made this the moment he knew, and had to wait on baited breath for two years. She risked a glance at Nami and wondered how she had felt, and saw her and Olive in what she was sure was a deep conversation.

It broke Robin's heart again to think that any one of them had been alone, but now that the dust had settled, it was as if everything she had been through and been holding down was trying to come up all at once. What finally broke her cheerful facade was placing Franky's note on her nightstand. Beside it, frozen in time was Chopper's old note. Poor sweet, little Chopper.

Poor Robin.

She choked back a sob suddenly, and found herself curled up, sitting with her back touching the head of the bed. Robin covered her mouth, but the eruption of feelings was forceful. Memories of what she went through tormented her, and feelings of joy seeing her found family again fought back. The turmoil left her a crying mess.

Nami acted fast, but Olive acted faster. She wriggled free the moment she heard her mother sob. Adorned with her little sleeveless yellow romper with a red criminal logo on the center, she wobbled over, climbing on the low bed with only a bit of a struggle. Robin's blooming arms appeared to help her up as if on instinct, because she certainly wasn't present of mind.

Robin held her head between her knees, trying to weather the worst of it when she felt a familiar little hand stroke her hair. "It okay, 'Omy, it okay," Olive soothed enough for her to lift her head. Even through her tears and after all these years she found strength at smile.

"Is it okay if I come over there?" Nami asked, cognizant that Robin was clearly processing something unspoken thus far. Robin nodded with little hesitation, and unfurled a little to be able to wrap Olive in a hug. She pushed her face into the top of her head, just breathing her in and grounding herself. Olive hugged back. She was indeed quite the expert at that. A weight shifted beside her, indicating that Nami had joined them.

Robin felt a pair of arms around her and she realized she had started to shake. In some lost, locked away place in her mind she hadn't thought about just how much it meant for another person to hold her in some time. She had to keep that down to make it through the last two years. She needed to be the one to hold someone else. A flash of being held for the last time by her own mother scorched the back of her eyelids - of being carried away in giant hands like Franky had just been holding their daughter. She was happy - why couldn't she stop crying?

Nami nestled her head on one of Robin's shoulders, and gave the other one a comforting rub, a constant reminder that she was there in the present to bring her out of the past.

"It okay," Olive said again. She may have held Olive every night, but even she could admit that the little girl had glued her together in ways she couldn't articulate.

"What she said," Nami offered lightheartedly, though concern was evident in her tone, "you're safe to let it out here."

Something seemed to finally click into place after a little while. A combination of holding something dear and being held, no doubt. Her trembling began to ease, and her sobs slowed. She kissed the top of Olive's head and pushed her forehead against her for a moment. The sobbing finally stopped after an unknown amount of time. Her shoulders ached and her chest burned, but she could breathe - at least through her mouth. Robin rested her chin atop her daughter's head, and angled it slightly so that her head leaned against Nami's. It was the most she could do to say thank you for the time being.

Nami stayed where she was, and gave Robin's arm a gentle squeeze in response. She seemed to be searching for words to say, though Robin was satiated with the comfortable silence that passed. Tears filled the navigator's eyes too. A mixture of sympathy and mental exertion from facing her own traumas had her feeling vulnerable as well. That seemed to be the key - it was the first time Robin felt like she could be vulnerable in so long it hit her like a righteous storm.

Olive was the first to speak up, attempting to ask a question, "'omy okay?"

A soft chuckle broke through Robin's remaining sniffles as she held Olive by the shoulders and faced her, "yes, Mommy is okay," she assured, meeting her eyes and grinning at the darkly pronounced lashes, "thank you very much. Both of you."

Seemingly satisfied by that answer, Olive sat back in Robin's lap, forcing the slender woman to unfurl a bit. She leaned back, Nami still firmly wrapped around her shoulders. She held onto her daughter with one arm, and Nami's arm with her other hand. "I'm sorry," she started.

"Nuh-uh," Nami cut through firmly with a sniff, "no one is apologizing here."

"Alright," she agreed, "I don't know what came over me - or I suppose that's not entirely true. I am okay, really."

"I know you think you are," Nami responded, "you're good at hiding it - I'm sure you had to be. It's okay to not be, sometimes. I can tell just by the look you get in your eyes that you're not. That's not a bad thing. None of us are okay either. You've seen the scar on Luffy's chest. None of us are unscathed. What matters is we're here, and we're here together. Part of that is helping each other heal, and forgive me if I am overstepping or assuming, but my guess is you went through a lot wherever you were sent - on top of that you gave birth and raised a gorgeous little girl." Nami punctuated her words with another squeeze to Robin's shoulder, "I'm here to listen or be with you or whatever you need, as long as I can count on you to do the same, which I feel like I can."

Robin tried to swallow, "thank you, Nami. Of course," she promised, "I heard you mention Arlong. I only recall a few details about that incident from what I've gathered, but I imagine this was difficult for you, so if you need to talk about that I am here too." Robin's hand drifted to Nami's scarred, tattooed shoulder. "It's true, your assumptions are not unfounded."

Nami sighed, "I'm usually right," she reminded Robin with a wink. "Do you want to talk about it at all? I don't think I even know where you were sent."

"I can try," she responded, threading her fingers through Olive's spiking hair. "I was sent to a dreadful place. It happened so fast, but I was imprisoned and…" she clenched her teeth, recalling the sea water being splashed in her face and the cold boot heels that marked her body, "I escaped and eventually worked with the Revolutionary army under Dragon, but not before I was locked up and beaten. It wasn't my first time, but," she looked to Nami, eyes full of sorrow, and gestured down at Olive, "it was the first time I had someone else to protect, and no way to know if she was okay. It was… It was utterly terrifying for at least a brief moment in time."

Nami held her a little tighter, not wanting to interrupt, but quietly gasping as Robin explained.

Robin moved from Olive's hair to holding her little hand, "I can't tell you how frightening and how relieving it was when I could feel her flutter for the first time. To know I hadn't lost her," she continued, "but to also know that we weren't truly safe. I believe the Revolutionary army to be a just cause, and I did make friends there… I just could not bring myself to trust them to know her. Not when I knew we had to come back here."

"You… You kept her hidden the whole time?" Nami gawked.

She nodded, "I didn't know what else to do. I trained, I gained information when I could. I wore unflattering clothing," she said with a bittersweetly humorous smile, "I claimed to be sick a few times. It wasn't so hard to deceive some men. I did my research, and I delivered alone - thankfully my quarters were private and far enough away from anyone else. She's a respectful crier," Robin laughed a little wistfully, "I still spent my days training, but my nights were for her. I had a wealth of stories about her family out on the seas to tell her. She knew each and every one of you before she could even speak and before most of you knew she existed." Her voice started to crack a little, her words finding an old wound that never truly went away, "I just never want her to feel like she isn't wanted, so I made sure she knew she was loved by more than just me… I think it just… I think I'm just overwhelmingly thankful that nothing has changed since that moment on the tower. I suppose I still don't know how to process it, and being away made it that much harder. Seeing Luffy like that, like you said. Franky…" She sprouted an arm to retrieve the gift Franky had left for Olive, setting it gently in her lap, soothed by the excited babbling in response.

"You remind me of Bellmere," Nami said fondly, quietly, "maybe not your personality, but the way you love so… Fiercely. I guess that's the word I'm lookin' for," she grinned. "You're kind of incredible for that."

"It's hard for me to hear that," Robin acknowledged out loud.

"Is it because you don't believe it?" She asked in earnest, "I'd have to ask you to listen to your own story again and tell me it's not true. Look at this perfect kid and tell me I'm lying." There was a slight challenge to her words.

Robin closed her eyes, willing herself to internalize Nami's words. "I wouldn't dare," she acknowledged, "I can only express how much of an honor it is, to even be remotely compared to a mother like that." She paused for a moment, "you must miss her. I'm sorry that those memories must have been dredged up."

Nami blinked away a few stray tears, "it's nice to know I'll never forget her," she said, "and if I can live my life with her fire and her compassion, then it can't be all bad. I do miss her, and times like these make me wish I had been as strong then as I feel like I am now to have done something about it. It's in the past, though and I can only move forward. Gotta fulfill my dream like I promised."

Candlelight still flickered warmly in the tiny room aboard the stationary ship. The three girls were huddled together and showed no signs of breaking apart. Eyelids were drooping.

"Perhaps I'm speaking out of turn, but it sounds like she would be proud of you," Robin murmured, "I know I am, if it means anything. I'm also very thankful for you." She could feel Olive's hand start to go a little limp. The poor thing was exhausted.

Nami smiled, "it does," she responded, "I'm thankful for you too, y'know. I appreciate that you opened up to me like this. I really freakin' missed you," she hugged her tighter again, "I'm too tired to move."

Robin hummed a soft laugh, "that's quite alright. Get some sleep," she whispered, quietly running her fingers through the navigator's hair as she had been with Olive. It didn't even take a moment for her eyes to shut too. The mother found herself soothed by the soft breaths of the sleeping girls, and quietly snuffed out the candle with a stray hand, and covered all three of them up before drifting off to the most restful sleep she remembered having in a long, long time.

Chapter 11: A Toast. Summary:

The Straw Hats officially welcome a new member with a toast!

Notes:

This one is a little silly and lighthearted compared to the last, but I think it needed some of that : I think next I'd like to have another Frobin specific chapter because after all that IS the underlying focus. I care them and I hope you're having a good time! Thanks for reading even this far!

Chapter Text A Toast.

Sleep's grip was powerful. It took Nami climbing out of bed for Robin to fully escape its embrace, and even then she still felt traces of it trying to pull her back in. The night before had drained her, but she felt better for it.

Carefully, she tried not to wake Olive by maneuvering a few hands in her place. It seemed to work, as the little one's grip was still firmly on the soft wooden doll, and tiny snores escaped her mouth. Peeling herself away from being enamored with the sight, Robin went about getting ready for her day, picking out an outfit for the pair of them. She decided on a deep red blouse and some dark pants. Something simple. She grabbed a pair of blue overalls with the Crimin star on it and a purple shirt for Olive. Once again, thankful for Nami's forethought to grab clothing for both her and her daughter.

She looked forward to seeing everyone at breakfast again before they departed. It was nice to have a banquet, as it always was, but Robin preferred the times when it was just the Straw Hats.

Nami let out a yawn, quietly mouthing a "good morning" so as to not wake the sleeping toddler. Robin nodded thankfully, returning the greeting. She found herself in front of the mirror again, fixing her hair with an odd flavor of deja vu on her tongue.

Before too long, the girls were ready to go about their day. Even Olive had been roused and dressed, though her eyelids still drooped with "sleepies." Robin carried her at her hip somewhat uncomfortably. She couldn't bring herself to separate her from Franky's gift, even while one of its arms and possibly a leg were firmly jammed into her side. The three meandered together to the dining hall, Robin ever grateful for their company.

They were not the first to arrive, it would seem. Usopp was sitting at the table beside Franky, deep in conversation about some sort of gadget beyond Robin's understanding. Zoro was seated at the end, legs on the table as per usual, but he wasn't asleep. He was chatting with Luffy who was rhythmically slamming a fork and knife on the table impatiently. Brook was sitting at the bar with a cup of tea, humming something to himself. She wondered if he too was taking solace in the feeling that even if so much had changed, nothing was truly different.

Robin almost didn't notice Chopper, but he was very seriously inspecting a chair beside Franky. That's when she realized it wasn't one of the typical chairs from around the table. It was well crafted like the others, but it stood a bit higher, and was contained on all four sides. One side had a flat extension like a small table, the one opposing it was a little taller. There was a remarkable amount of small painted details, most of which featured flower petals. It took everything in her power not to gasp when she saw the name that adorned the seat.

Chopper backed away from it, placing his hooves on his hips with a very serious expression. "Alright, Franky," he interrupted the cyborg's conversation with Usopp, "it seems safe."

"Of course it's safe," Franky beamed, "who do you take me for?" He tapped the chair with his big hand, "thank you for double-checking, though, Doc."

"Triple-checking," Usopp corrected, "I already verified its safety when I was painting. I'll have you know, I was a safety inspector in another life. It's definitely up to code, but it's good that you think so too, Chopper."

They seemed to notice that the girls had joined them and looked over with wide grins. "Mornin' ladies!" Franky greeted cheerfully, nearly knocking Usopp over from turning so fast.

Nami was already finding a seat next to Zoro, instead of pushing his legs off of the table, she joined him with a mischievous stare. Robin smiled warmly, "good morning," she returned the greeting, "what is this?" It wasn't as though she hadn't already figured it out, but she certainly wasn't going to take the excitement of explaining what he had made away from him. Olive still snoozed on her hip, not quite registering the activity yet.

Franky pushed up his sunglasses before answering, "oh this?" He gestured to the chair, "just a throne for the little lady so she can eat with her crew! It'd give you a little rest while ya eat too!" He blinked, suddenly realizing he might have gotten ahead of himself, "if that's okay with you, and she wants to. If not, it fits Chopper!"

"Hey!" Chopper's indignant reply made Robin laugh.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Franky," she praised, "and the painting is lovely, Usopp." She rested a hand on top of Chopper's hat in a gesture of comfort, "Chopper's much too grown for that. It's perfect for Olive, thank you."

The two men grinned at the compliments, and Chopper settled in his own spot, though Robin noted with amusement how he still struggled to reach the table comfortably at his height. That saved her a spot between Chopper and the hi-chair, which sat beside Franky. She was a bit too tired to get fully overwhelmed by the warm feelings that greeted her with the morning, and so she set about getting Olive situated before getting comfortable herself.

Olive seemed to wake more once she was in her seat, looking around with a sleepy smile. The gathering seemed to delight her, but she stayed quiet, holding her toy. Franky noticed the doll in her grasp, and exchanged a silent look with Robin. She wanted so much to assure him that his words and actions were felt, and deeply appreciated, but her own words failed her. She felt her face heat up when they locked eyes and they both expressed the tenderness they were feeling with a smile. She hoped the gesture was enough. It was Franky after all.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when Luffy began loudly complaining, "Sanjiiiiii, I'm hungry!" Chopper scooted his chair closer to Robin's while Zoro and Nami tried to quiet the captain down with less-than-peaceful means. This prompted the others around the table to laugh, including Olive. She clapped her little hands.

This caught Luffy's attention enough to make him pause his tantrum and stare. It was a hard stare, as if he was puzzling something together - or he was angry. It was directed at Olive. Robin swallowed, body tensing to flee in spite of knowing he was likely about to say something silly.

He suddenly ruffled his own hair with his hands and gasped in utter horror, "aaaah!" He exclaimed, "we forgot to make a toast!" He placed his fist on the table, "Sanji! Bring out the sake!"

"Eh?" A voice came from the kitchen, "with breakfast? Have you lost your mind?"

Zoro spoke up, "oi, oi, anytime is a good time for a toast, curly brow, quit whining and bring the booze!"

Nami shrugged, "I hate to say it, but I agree. Uh, but Luffy," she queried, "what are we toasting? We already had a banquet."

Sanji had peeked out of the kitchen, a bottle of sake and a stack of cups in hand. A lit cigarette seemed glued to his lips as always. "Fine," he conceded, passing out the cups to everyone present, "Nami is right, though - as she always is! What's the occasion this time?" He lingered a little too long for the navigator's comfort, so she pushed him away by his face.

Luffy's brows were furrowed and his fists were clenched, frustrated that everyone didn't already know, "no, the banquet was for kicking angry fish guy's ass," he explained, no doubt having already forgotten Hody Jones' name, "we never toasted our new crewmate!"

Puzzled expressions met his statement, though Robin quickly tried to hide her tearful smile at the immediate realization of who he meant. He looked around as some started to also realize, but just in case, he silently pointed across the table at Olive. Everyone stopped to follow his gaze, and to Robin's relief, grins painted each and every face she could see.

Zoro's quickly fell, though, "wait," he asked with an intense seriousness that only he could attain, "why the hell did you invite a baby to be part of the crew and when did you even have time to find her? Did you steal her from a fishman or somethin'?"

Everyone's full attention turned to Zoro in utter bafflement. No one spoke for a moment - perhaps they thought he would put it together himself. Even Luffy was incredulous.

"What?" He asked, crossing his arms in a huff.

Another pause.

"You can't be serious," Nami was the first to respond with a surprised outburst.

Brook, at the very least seemed to find it humorous, "yo-ho-ho-ho," he laughed, "surely you're joking. I can tell with my own eyes who the child belongs to - oh! But I don't have any eyes! Yo-ho-ho-ho!"

Franky laughed along with him, and Chopper quickly joined in. Usopp tried to stifle his laugh, but ended up snorting.

Sanji was filling everyone's cups now that he understood. "Come on, Marimo. Use that massive forehead of yours," he commented.

"Eh?" Zoro responded, sitting up straight and gritting his teeth, "what's a baby gonna do on a pirate ship? You're all acting like it's a stupid question-"

There was a sudden clash and a grunt when fists came from Nami and Luffy's respective directions, and a foot came down at the top of Zoro's head. "That's because it is!" The three shouted simultaneously.

Robin was struggling to maintain some semblance of composure, but she allowed herself to laugh at their antics to distract herself from once again being overwhelmed.

Luffy again pointed to Olive when Zoro came back to, "that's Robin and Franky's half-cyborg-half-flower kid!" He said it so matter-of-factly, even Chopper was momentarily convinced.

"Wait, she's also a robot?" Excitement beamed in his little eyes and he rubbed his hooves together. Usopp also seemed to be considering it. Sanji seemed to glare at Franky.

Robin laughed again, but folded her arms under her chest, finally speaking up, "Luffy, I know it's been a while since we talked about this, but she's neither of those things, she's just a person," she clarified, feeling Chopper deflate out of the corner of her eye, "but yes, she is Franky and I's daughter. Zoro, I apologize for not giving you a proper introduction - there must not have been a good time."

Multiple questions seemed to steam in the swordsman's mind, but he accepted Robin's apology with a grunt and a nod. He looked at Olive, who had been clapping and babbling along with the commotion. He looked at Franky, then back to Olive, then to Robin, and back to Olive. Maybe he doubted it.

"If she's yours, why isn't she a half-cyborg-half-flower kid?" Zoro finally asked, to which Luffy joined him in nodding, looking expectantly at Robin for an explanation.

Robin's arms uncrossed slightly to flip around, and more appendages appeared around the table. Two of them grabbed Luffy and Zoro by the lips, the other ones poised in case anyone else would make a comment. "She's just a person," she repeated.

Franky laughed again, "and she's suuuuper cute! She's got plenty of time to figure out what kind of person she's gonna be," he placed his arms together, which Olive tried to mimic, "but either way, I'd be honored if we welcomed her with a toast, that was very thoughtful, Luffy." He glanced over at Robin, who still looked a bit miffed, and offered her a wink.

"I think she'd be a wonderful addition," Brook added, "I'd love to play some lullabies I've known for all my life- and my death- but haven't had a reason to play them. Plus, I'll no longer be the newest member!"

"Yeah, robot or not, her parents are like," Usopp chimed in, "the smartest around. Betcha she turns out even sharper." Murmurs of agreement from the rest of the crew started to trickle in.

Chopper agreed from beside Robin, "yeah, and I'll make sure she's safe and healthy now!" He put his hooves together, "and I'll turn into a monster if I gotta!" The hand that appeared in front of him ruffled the top of his hat gratefully before the rest of them dissipated into petals.

Nami nodded, "I would never argue with adding another lady to the crew. We're just better," she added with a wink, "if anyone thinks about hurting her, I'll make 'em pay."

Sanji nodded, "anything for a lady," he seemed to wriggle in place. His behavior since reuniting had left a sour taste in Robin's mouth, but she knew his heart was in the right place… Most of the time. She was just glad he kept his mouth shut about Franky being the father. "If she has any special dietary requirements or preferences, please let me know, Robin, and I'll take care of it."

Zoro grunted, "well yeah, a crewmate is a crewmate," he said simply, "my swords are for you too."

Luffy was still pouting, likely disappointed, but he slammed his fists on the table again, "alright then! It's settled," he grabbed his cup, raising it in the air, "welcome to the crew, Olive!"

Cheers from all around the table crescendoed together as the Straw Hats raised their cups together. "Olive!" They called, and she responded with more laughter. Robin was glad she enjoyed the attention after growing so used to being alone - pride in how resilient she already was made her chest swell, not to mention the love she could feel from every single crewmember. They all drank their portions before breakfast, which Sanji was prompt to serve.

"Hold on, why didn't Olive drink any?" Luffy asked with his mouth half-full.

"Luuuuffy," Chopper whined.

"What? She's supposed to toast too?" Genuine confusion marked his questions.

Robin laughed, one of her bloomed hands helping Olive with her meal. "Luffy, she's a bit too young for that," she rationalized.

He pouted and took another bite of meat, "boo, she's not that young."

"Luffy," Nami sighed in exasperation, "she's not even two."

"Oh," he acknowledged with a furrowed brow and a shrug and continued eating.

Robin sat back with her usual morning brew in hand, taking in the conversations and joining in when she had something to add, but quietly she relished the moment. That same taste of deja vu was the sweet cream in her coffee.

Chapter 12: Hold. Summary:

Robin tries to do a little gardening, but she and Franky's relationship needs a little more tending to.

Notes:

Oh this one turned out a bit longer than I initially planned but I just couldn't stop.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text Hold.

The ascent had gone… As smoothly as any part of the Straw Hats' journey ever could. They made it.

They arrived in the New World.

It was, exactly as the name suggested, an entirely new world that met the little crew and it met them with such vigor they were all in awe. The weather would be enough to sink most ships, but not every ship had Nami on board. After a bit of adjusting, they were finally set on a course.

The bizarre weather patterns made time on the deck unpredictable. Robin found it difficult to read outside, which she often preferred. Tomes she would rather not get soaked by sudden downpours kept her in the library, often sharing the space with the navigator. It took some adjusting, having to find time when Olive was settled or preoccupied enough to let the two women focus. Robin was used to the little one's presence, but she was acutely aware that Nami was not. Though she would never say it, and likely never even thought about it, the last thing Robin wanted was for Nami to grow frustrated with either one of them being there.

Olive was particularly fussy after a decent lunch, so Robin decided to steer clear of the library and found something for them to do on deck while the weather held clear. It had been a while since she had been able to tend to her garden, so she figured they could start there.

Thankfully, the fresh air seemed to do the trick, and Robin was able to let her wander about the upper deck- keeping a close eye or two, or three, or four… She was well supervised, to say the least.

In spite of the weather, it had been a peaceful few days since they had arrived in the New World. Everyone had time to fulfill their duties and time for leisure, and more importantly, time to catch up. Robin could tell not every detail was shared describing everyone's two years, but she wasn't one to pry unless someone was looking for questions to answer. What she gathered, though, is that everyone seemed to be sent right where they needed to be, and to her relief, no one was too terribly hurt save for Zoro's missing eye. He gave no details about that, and he wasn't the storytelling type. She only shared with the rest that she had aided the Revolutionary Army, but omitted details she had given Nami. Not everyone needed to know, and she was content with that. Luffy was also cagey about his experiences, and the crew respected his desire not to talk about his brother. Overall, she found herself thankful that they were all safe, and proud of how everyone had performed in combat so deftly. They really had come so far for one another.

She wasn't necessarily avoiding Franky, but she had noticed she had built a small wall between them and was unsure how to demolish it. It was surely not intentional, and she theorized it was some sort of defense mechanism. One that she had honed for over two decades. She spent two years yearning for his comfort, only to return to his open arms and find a way to feel like she didn't deserve it for one reason or another. It didn't exactly feel fair to him - to either one of them.

Robin toiled away in her flower bed, pulling out the decaying roots of the plants that had not been so lucky in the two years. By some miracle, a few flowers held on, though they were looking a little worse for wear. It was hard to tell what they even were since none of them were in bloom, so she took a few clippings of the foliage to cross reference with her old journals later. She was so focused on splitting her attention between Olive and tending the soil, she almost didn't notice the footsteps that joined them.

"Fanky!" Olive greeted the cyborg for her. The little girl took off as quickly as she could, Robin crossing her arms quickly in case she needed to be caught, but Franky was there first to scoop her up.

"Yow! Well if it isn't my two favorite ladies," he called out with his signature smirk. Oh how she enjoyed seeing that face. "Mind if I join you?"

Robin could feel her cheeks flush. If she tried, she couldn't begin to explain why that was, but the more she thought about it the more embarrassed she became. Willing herself to stay steady, she uncrossed her arms and nodded. "Of course, you don't need to ask," she replied, though she appreciated the gesture.

Franky sat down on the deck nearby so that they would be in Robin's field of vision. "Super," he said, still holding Olive in the palm of his rather large hand. It seemed to Robin that she rather enjoyed being carried like that and she was sure to make a mental note. "Oi, Olive. I need help with my hair today," he started, lifting her close to his face and removing his sunglasses and carefully putting them on the bridge of her little nose, "can you press my nose and hold it for a sec? As long as you like, then let go!"

It was hard to want to tend to the withered flower bed when Robin's whole heart was interested in watching the two interact. Olive was giggling, and when Franky pointed at the metal protrusion on his face, she reached up to do what was asked. Just in case, Franky's other tiny hand assisted in holding down the button if it offered too much resistance. She didn't even flinch when a plume of blue hair popped out and worked itself into multiple different forms. Her little hand pulled away to clap, and Franky relinquished his nose. Robin couldn't begin to stifle a giggle at what it stopped on. Both girls were clearly thrilled with the result, which seemed to involuntarily fluster the cyborg. He laughed with them.

A wave of possibly naive contentment threatened to knock Robin over at the scene, but still she stayed steady. "Suuuper job! I bet you picked a cool style," he beamed, to which Robin laughed again.

"Very cool," Robin teased, resuming her task quietly.

Olive grabbed the air above her head a few times, "teddy!" She then mimicked having little claws, "teddy, grrr!"

Franky seemed to recognize which hair style it had stopped on with a belly laugh. "I guess the little lady wants me to be a teddy bear for the day," he remarked, "if I got anything to say about it, you can always get what you want. Grrr," he playfully growled back. It didn't scare Olive like part of him worried it might have. She almost seemed to have no fear of any of the crew.

Robin listened as the two seemed to communicate through grunts, growls and giggles. She wouldn't lose the smile on her face if she tried. Gardening could wait. "Franky," she said quietly, interrupting their very sophisticated conversation.

"Yes ma'am?" He asked, raising a brow. Olive also spun around to face her mother, Franky's sunglasses sitting on her nose a little crooked.

Humming her own laugh, she wondered if she should even say anything, but she wanted the wall of her own creation down, "you're very good with her - a natural even," she commented, "it's nice."

Franky seemed to be searching her gaze, and he shot her back a charmed smile, "ain't the first kid I've encountered," he said, Robin recalled old tales of his time with the Franky Family, where he helped bring together those he saw society had discarded much like he viewed himself. "Plus," he added with a somber note that was especially poignant coming from him, "I had a lot of time to prepare… And wait, and hope… and worry."

Robin could see that there was a lot of feeling behind his words, and found herself empathizing. "I'm sorry," she said, "I haven't checked in much like I should." Hands appeared and traced the fresh scars along his chest, "it must have been difficult for you. Especially not knowing."

He tried to dismiss it with the wave of his hand, but the real tears that welled at the bottom of his eyes. "No no, it's fine," he tried to lie, though it was obvious through his teeth, "I got to work in a lab with plans I couldn't even dream of! It wasn't like what you-"

"Franky," she stopped him sternly. He was quick to listen. "You needn't lie," she said simply, "there's no sense in comparing or saying such things. I understand if you don't wish to speak about it, but you don't lie." She fixed him with a serious stare. He pouted a little.

"You're right, you're right," he pointed with a sniff at Olive as if to turn it into a teachable moment, "lying is bad. I should know better." He grinned again. "It was difficult, and I would like to talk about it," he conceded, "I'd love to talk - I just want to make sure you're alright."

Robin could hear thunder rumbling, but for the moment she ignored it. "I appreciate it," she said with a nod of her head, "but you don't always have to be so considerate. Your feelings and experiences matter to everyone too." Her voice softened, a crack in the wall, "they matter to me."

Franky sniveled a little, and was about to speak when Nami's voice came over the intercom system warning of an incoming storm cel. As if on cue, a downpour began before the three could take shelter. Heavy rain drops pelted the Sunny. Franky was quick to cover Olive, gently holding her between his hands like a delicate moth. Robin abandoned her clippings, noting she would have to come back and retrieve anything that was left at a later time. It felt like a waste, but she tried not to dwell on it as she followed the cyborg.

The mist created from the rain meeting the ocean wildly made Robin feel woozy, a familiar feeling of coming into contact with sea water. She didn't even think about it, but she grabbed the back of Franky's now-sodden shirt.

Drenched, they made it through to the lower deck and into Franky's workshop. It was a nostalgic feeling, being back in his workshop. It was different. Bigger. It needed to accommodate his new body, Robin extrapolated. There was a bed that seemed to be able to fold into the wall for even more space. Tools still littered the walls, though they were not all over the floor as she had recalled. He had cleaned up a bit.

Once they were all safely inside, all that was left was a matter of getting comfortable. A difficult thing to do with an 18 month old child's worth of emotional baggage and years of separation split between the two adults. There was only love between them, but it was a heavy weight nonetheless. Franky grabbed some towels and rummaged around in his clean laundry, finding a shirt that used to fit his old form, and a small shirt Robin must have left behind at some point or another that he'd held onto.

Robin accepted both graciously, removing her rain soaked clothes without warning to wrap herself in a towel to tend to Olive. Olive was hiccuping with a few quiet sobs, likely growing anxious from the commotion and a growing need for a nap. Thankfully, the sounds from within the great ship at sea were incredibly soothing - Robin had always thought so. She retrieved her daughter from Franky's hands as quickly as she could, holding her close and cradling her against the crook of her neck. "It's alright," she soothed, kissing the top of her head as she paced around the room slowly, "you're safe. You're with me. You're with us." Her gaze met Franky's again, repeating his words that had meant so much to her back then under a new context, she hoped he understood just how much they had meant to her - how much they still did.

Olive thankfully settled quickly, her tired eyelids already drooping shut. Robin rubbed her back rhythmically even after she could feel that she had fallen asleep.

Franky sat at his desk watching them with round eyes. Robin got Olive changed gently, her old shirt functioning like a big night dress for the toddler. She set her on the bed, but partially wrapped her in an embrace of disembodied arms. It was times like these that Robin was ever so grateful for her abilities. She could hold Olive, and Olive could be held, regardless of what she was doing. She only did it so she could put Franky's old shirt on before she scooped her back up. It eased her nerves to hold her.

"Thank you for the dry clothes," Robin murmured.

"No problem," he grinned, "you can keep the shirt. It doesn't fit anymore. Plus it looks super on you," he winked, leaning back on his desk, looking a bit dumbstruck, "you both are just so amazing. She's everything I dreamed of and more and ya - sorry," he blinked as words started to spill out, "I just mean - you're both just! You're just… Nico Robin, I… I miss you."

How could a wall withstand an attack like that? Why would she want it to? She hesitated, a million responses fighting for her mouth to move where only one would do. Of course she missed him, and of course he missed her. They had said as much before. Something about the way he said it felt so genuine, reflecting the way she yearned for him as if he were holding up a mirror. To be held. To hold. She didn't deserve him, right? What did that matter? It wasn't even true, she knew it wasn't. That didn't stop her from thinking about it. He missed her. She missed him. His tear-filled gaze snapped her back to reality, not noticing the wetness on her cheeks despite drying herself off. Words wouldn't do. How could they?

Slowly, Robin's legs carried her without her realizing. They were now a breath apart. Less than. She folded into him, pressing her forehead against his collarbone, almost collapsing onto his lap with whatever was left of the wall. It was his turn to hesitate, but not for long. His shoulders began to shake.

"I'm here now," she whispered, "we're here now."

His big hands were so gentle as he wrapped them both in an embrace. His new form engulfed her and their daughter, and every inch of her body felt warm - and safe. She even felt a little silly for waiting so long, but it didn't matter anymore.

Franky risked a soft kiss to the top of her head. She did not protest. Olive was sound asleep between them. Robin was grateful she was being held up, because the sheer relief she felt made her melt, unable to stand on her own.

"I remember," Franky started to speak, his voice wavering with emotion, "I remember bein' so worried that ya hadn't eaten breakfast that mornin' - you were feelin' pretty nauseous. When we all got flung away I mean." He squeezed her a little tighter, "I worried you'd been hurt. I worried that you…"

"That I'd lost her?" Robin finished his question, resting her head beneath his chin with her face in Olive's hair, "yes, I worried about that too."

"But you didn't," he squeezed her shoulder, pressing his thumb between her shoulder blades. "I counted the days. I was sure you were too. I wanted to do what I needed to for Luffy, but every day I selfishly wished I could'a just said 'screw it' and find ya… I just wanted to be there for ya either way it went, even though ya didn't need me. I wanted… This."

Robin's breath hitched, listening to his earnest confessions quietly. "I did need you," she admitted, "don't think that I didn't. When I knew she was okay I knew that I carried part of you with me. When I met her and saw your eyes, your hair, oh Franky," Robin murmured, "I talked about you every day. I showed her your picture - I tried to draw you. We needed you, but we knew we would have you. Every night I just wished you could hold me still… I'm so sorry that the circumstances left you in the dark, and I'm so sorry that I didn't come to you like this immediately. I don't-"

"Ya needed time, I've told ya about apologizin'," he said, his voice sounded hoarse from his own torrent of feelings, "you're here now. I'm here now. We're here now. I'll hold ya both for as long as ya like, and for as long as you'll let me. I'm not goin' anywhere."

"Franky," Robin breathed out his name.

"Yeah?" He queried.

"I think I love you."

Notes:

Of course she loves him, but can you IMAGINE the weight of those words for someone who lived life the way she had to? There will be many more I Love Yous in their futures. I care them and I hope you do too. More to come : I really want to write some Brook soon too.

Chapter 13: Promise. Summary:

Franky tells Robin about what he did in his two years, and she asks him for a promise.

Notes:

This one is maybe a bit weird - I tried a different perspective, so you'll have to let me know if it's a miss or not. I just want to show that they both felt cast aside and thrown away at some point in their lives and all they want for their daughter is to never feel that way. This is a direct continuation of the previous chapter!

Chapter Text Promise.

Oh no.

Had she really just said that? Had she just made a grave lapse in judgment? A moment of weakness. She'd said too much. Her heartbeat quickened, and her instincts to flee were kicking in all in an instant.

Until she felt him laugh. Oh that laugh. Deep within his chest, he laughed. It was an incredible sound. He held both Robin and Olive against his chest just a little tighter. Robin's desire to flee had dissipated almost instantly. "I sure am glad to hear that, Miss Robin," he said through what she could only assume was a torrent of tears, "I love you more than there's water in the sea," he said it with such confidence despite the shakiness in his voice, "more than there's stars in the freakin' sky!"

Robin would have been swept off of her feet had she been standing. Thankfully she was nestled in his arms. She took a deep breath, and whispered a near-silent, "thank you."

He loved her. Of course he loved her! Oh, how he loved her.

All of that effort had been in vain. None of their attacks did anything, and all that Franky could remember was the ringing in his ears and the fearful shouts of his companions.

In an instant he was gone. Where was he going? He wasn't dead - super.

They lost. How did they lose? They were riding high from defeating a warlord a few weeks ago! It all felt wrong. That's the power they were facing moving forward, he realized. Were they still moving forward? Surely they wouldn't stay down long. Where was he going?

Fear made him swallow hard. Was she okay? No one got out of that without a scratch. She was tough as nails, though. He knew that. Still, he worried. He hoped the fight ended with little else than a shared fate, though what his fate was he hadn't figured it out just yet. He hoped she was safe. He hoped she could get something to eat. That was this morning, right?

Hours changed into days. They hadn't settled on a name, had they?

Franky's arrival on Karakuri island was a blur - mostly due to his lack of proper fuel, but also the anguish he was facing internally. It settled a bit when he saw the message from their captain. Two years.

Two entire years.

As he inspected the discarded experiments, the scrapped projects, his own damaged reflection, it sunk in. Two years was a long time. They hadn't settled on a name. Two years of not knowing if what he waited for…

He made a makeshift calendar. He would count the days. He would plan. He could be optimistic. After all, he knew Nico Robin. If nothing else, she would survive, and he vowed that he would be there for her in any capacity she needed or wanted when they reunited. Not knowing for certain, though. Not knowing was agony.

Would she be okay without Chopper? Of course she would be. He knew how much she had already studied about the topic - subsequently he himself had learned a lot from conversational osmosis. She would be okay, she had to be. He'd witnessed her strength firsthand time and time again. What about him? How would he get through his nights without her reading to him while he worked? Who would ponder morose thoughts out loud that a lesser person would keep to themselves?

Franky sighed, looking at what used to be his face in the table mirror he used to aid with finer detail work. It wasn't all too different from when he first met a fate that should have killed him - and maybe part of him wanted it to back then. Not anymore. It was grizzly, but it was salvageable. Everything was salvageable. Determination stared back through his augmented eyes. He wondered what morbid comment Robin would have about his scorched, broken appearance and he grinned.

He would come back stronger. He would come back as a new and improved Franky. He would build himself better than before. Franky was facing the future with a wide smile, as he always did. His chest ached, but he laughed. For Luffy. For the crew. For Robin. For what could be. For what would be, he told himself every day. He would grin and bear it.

Robin still sat with him, her back nestled against his chest, Olive still fast asleep in her arms. They were both being cradled by him. She listened to him speak of his time away, heart lurching as he described his pain for what may be the first time. Yet she found comfort in Franky's openness. She found comfort in his grasp. She had found comfort.

"Two years is a long time," she acknowledged simply, though they both knew what weight those words carried.

"Sure was," he agreed, his voice surprisingly hushed, "but we did it. We all did it. I know it's no use wishin'," he very gently ruffled Olive's hair, "but I can't help but wishin' I could'a been there to see her get so big. I missed so much."

"I wish you could have been there too," Robin seconded softly. What more could be said? They both knew wishing would yield no results, but they both found solace in vocalizing their desires. She leaned her head back against his chest, and for just a moment, tried to take in every bit of where she was and who she was there with. It felt unreal, after it all. A stirring against her own chest had her alert, but it was only Olive adjusting, getting comfortable. A dangerous string of thoughts tugged at her mind. "It didn't happen the way we imagined, nor how we hoped, but we have her. She is ours, Franky. Yours and mine."

With how hard she and Franky fought to get to this moment, she wondered how her mother could have possibly left her behind. She realized that she had barely been older than Olive when Nico Olvia abandoned her for her voyage. Had it been as difficult as Robin was suddenly imagining? Surely she felt the devastation Franky had endured for two years, right? Or had she been easy to cast aside? "What matters now is that we have the time we have now," she tried, unsuccessfully, to catch the hitch in her throat, "and I do not intend on going anywhere - not by choice, in any case. All I want is what I have always sought, but not at the cost of Olive feeling loved. Maybe the answer is obvious, but I think that I need to hear it out loud to feel secure. I mean no offense, nor do I doubt your character, I just…" Her shoulders were trembling as she considered her words. This was the foundation of the wall that needed to be destroyed, she realized that now. "Will you promise me… Will you promise me that no matter what happens, you won't-" It felt impossible to say. Surely it could have remained an unspoken promise. "Promise me she will know she is loved. That she will not get close only to be deserted and left wondering if she had never been wanted in the first place. If you can promise me that, I wouldn't dare leave your side."

Franky was uncharacteristically quiet as he listened, sure to understand the gravity of what she was asking. She realized the double meaning behind her words after she spoke them. "Is that all I gotta do? Yow, give me something harder-"

He stopped his playful response the instant her head whipped around and fixed him with a stare. There was no anger behind her gaze, but a genuine fear that the Cutty Flam in him knew all too well. "I promise," he said, giving the pair of them just a bit tighter of a squeeze, "I'll never let her forget it as long as I'm kickin' and then some. It's all I want too," he vowed, "and I'm not about to let you forget it either, Robin."

Robin's mouth formed what could only be described as a childish pout, having not fully realized the impact of someone - especially someone she cared so much for - telling her what she longed to hear all her life. She had felt it from the Straw Hats first, and she witnessed it through their loving actions, but hearing it from Franky took her right back to Saul. He was right. He had been so right. She swallowed, promising to let these feelings out later when there was less to be said. "Thank you, Franky," she choked out, "that's all I needed to hear. That's all I ever needed to hear."

Franky smiled back at her, his brows still furrowed with concern, but even he could feel the relief wash over her. They shared in the quiet for just a moment, before he pulled her in for a kiss on her forehead. If he had it his way, he'd never let go of either of them. For a while, he'd let himself be a little selfish, to the protest of no one.

Chapter 14: Part of the Crew. Sanji. Summary:

Robin and Olive ask Sanji for a snack, but discuss an outcome of 18 months of isolation and work together for a future solution.

Notes:

Originally this was going to be one big chapter with a blurb for each Straw Hat, but I figured since this one ran a little long I'd post each one as I finish them! So the next few will be scenarios with each member of the crew! It'll be nice to explore different scenes especially with characters I haven't gotten to write much for yet (or ones I favor like Nami and Chopper)! If you have any suggestions for things you'd like to see more of in this fic, I am all ears!

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Sanji.

"Omy," a little voice suddenly broke Robin's concentration, though it was more than welcome to the archeologist. The topic she was studying had been a bit of a bore. She hurriedly closed the book she was reading after placing a marker between the pages.

"Yes ma'am?" Robin asked, meeting her daughter's cheerful gaze with a smile.

Olive grinned at being acknowledged, and wandered over from where she had been playing with her growing collection of toys on the floor of the library. Her walking seemed to be growing steadier every day, or Robin was imagining it. "Omy, Omy," she repeated, "'ungy."

"Ah, I see," Robin replied, "it's almost lunchtime, can you wait just a little longer?"

The scruffy haired kid seemed to consider it, folding her arms and wavering back and forth on her feet. Her face contorted into an all-too-familiar pout. The resemblance to Franky was enough to distract her for only a second. She wondered if Olive favored her at all, because from where she was sitting, she was the spitting image of her father - give or take a bit of metal here and there. "'Ungy," she decided.

Robin set her book down, amusement glittering in her eyes, "Luffy has already started to rub off on you, hm?" She stood up and offered her hand for Olive to take, "well then, I suppose we could go ask Sanji if he has any snacks for us. How does that sound?"

Olive grabbed her mother's hand almost instantly, babbling happily. The pair made their way onto the deck and approached the aquarium, only to halt when the door crashed open. Luffy came rocketing out at a rapid speed and stopped when he bounced off the main mast, skidding with his face to the grass. "Sanjiiii!" The captain whined, not moving to get up, "I'm hungryyyy!"

Robin could clearly make out the silhouette of the chef with his leg raised. It didn't take much for her to put together what had transpired.

Sanji poked his head out of the aquarium to yell back, "I told you to wait for lunch, idiot. Don't try and break the dumbwaiter, it won't make the food come faster. Stay out here until it's ready. Honestly, Luffy, you can be so- oh, hello ladies~!" His tone shifted so fast, Robin couldn't help but find it amusing.

Olive seemed to think the same, because she let go of her mother's hand to clap. "'Ungyyyy!" She echoed Luffy.

Robin covered her mouth to let out a chuckle, her assumption that Olive had been learning from Luffy being proven correct. "Hello, Sanji," she greeted, "I hope it's not too much trouble, but we were hoping for a snack. Olive says she's hungry, and she's not one to complain unless she means it."

"Well I certainly can't turn away a hungry lady," he gestured for them to enter, his tone suddenly shifting again, "Luffy, not you. I'll bring you something in a minute." He held the door open as Robin and Olive entered, though not before Robin waved at the steaming captain. "What can I get for you two beauties?" Sanji quickly pulled a chair out for each of them, "it's warm out, so I can make some smoothies with some fresh fruit we just got - what do we think?"

"That sounds lovely, doesn't it, Olive?" The pair sat together in one chair, Olive taking her place on Robin's lap. Sanji waited for both of them to answer.

Olive tapped her hands on the table gently and nodded, "p'ease!"

"I don't think we have any peas on board, but I can check, if that's what you're hungry for," the cook joked before hurrying away, "smoothies are coming right up!"

Robin hummed a soft laugh, thankfully amused by his antics today. Olive kicked her feet idly as they waited for Sanji to return while her mother silently played with her hair. It was clear what the commotion had been about from the state of the dumbwaiter. It didn't take Sanji long to come back. "Please forgive me for the wait, I had to take our captain something to tide him over," he said with a polite bow and a gesture to the broken mess that Robin had just been observing, "and, well. He can be so-"

"It's more than fine, Sanji," Robin soothed before Sanji could say anything particularly scathing about Luffy, "we hardly waited. I'll let Franky know that repairs are necessary - I'm sure it will only take him a moment to fix it."

The ship's cook smiled, though there seemed to be a twinge of discomfort at the mention of the Shipwright. Robin chose not to dwell on it as he placed two brightly colored drinks garnished with an assortment of fruit on the table. "I made sure to include some vegetables, though she shouldn't be able to taste them," he explained in a whisper on the off chance that Olive could understand him, "is there anything else I can get you two?"

Robin shook her head and wordlessly offered a strange shaped berry to Olive who gladly accepted, "would you like to keep us company, or do you have something you need to get back to?" She asked, glancing back over.

"I wouldn't want to impose," he shuffled awkwardly, waving his arms to and fro, his cheeks clearly flushing.

"Nonsense," Robin chided, "I would not have offered had I thought it was an imposition. You may have my smoothie, Olive and I will share."

Sanji seemed to consider it for a moment, but his curled brow creased with a sudden concern, "there's plenty of ingredients for more, you don't have to share, I can make my own - or I don't need one, I can still join you. I'd be lucky to join such a lovely duo!"

She slid the untouched drink across the table to where he started to sit and took a sip from the one she picked a berry from. "That is actually something I would like to discuss with you. She'll hardly eat if she's not sharing it with me," Robin stated somewhat shyly, "I should have warned you before you went to the trouble of making two. Please forgive me, I didn't think about it until now."

"I see," Sanji noted, accepting the drink he had just made, "apologies are not necessary. Is this something you've only just noticed recently?"

Robin nodded, holding the drink so that Olive could have her share, "I believe it has everything to do with our living situation for, well, most of her life up until now. We had to share, so I foolishly didn't think anything of it," she explained, "I am happy to continue sharing if necessary, but I worry on occasions when I cannot be there, since it hasn't come up yet. I can't imagine that's sustainable. She's not picky otherwise."

It was rare that Sanji was ever serious with Robin, at least not for too long, but the subject of nutrition always seemed to ground the odd, young man. She was thankful that her admission had been met with genuine concern and not a boisterous declaration of love. "Understandable," he stated once she finished speaking, "it very well may be something that she'll grow out of now that she's around more people. I can keep that in mind when I prepare your meals, though. I take it you would prefer she be able to eat independently from you?"

"Preferably, yes," she agreed, calming her nerves by holding onto Olive just a little tighter, "I don't want her to go hungry because of me." There was a plea in her blue gaze as it met his, both of them knowing full well what it meant to go without. Olive was completely undeterred from her task.

"She won't," Sanji assured with a stare as he pulled out a cigarette- a force of habit, she noticed, since he was aware enough not to light it, "and in any case, your situation was not your fault, Robin. You did what you had to do, right? I won't let any member of this crew go hungry, it doesn't matter the reason. It may not be easy, but I don't want to assume this is something irreversible. At mealtimes we can start slow, or when she's hungry like today just let me know. I can make some dishes that are catered to her tastes once I know them more - you said she's not picky, but do you know what she favors?"

The corners of Robin's mouth upturned ever so slightly at the reassurance she hadn't exactly been expecting from the cook. Talking about her daughter seemed to also naturally brighten the dark haired woman. She took a slice of fruit from the rim of the glass for herself and took a bite. "Her favorite seems to be plain noodles - a bit bland for a cook of your skill level, I'm sure. She loves it, though. I couldn't always get my hands on them, but she loves noodles. If we were really lucky I would use some butter, if that helps."

"I can work with that, Robin," he assured evenly in spite of his face flushing again at Robin's comment, "that's exactly what I need to know. Bland doesn't necessarily mean simple, but knowing what she likes could make the process a bit easier. Barring any Luffy-related shortages, that's something I can make regularly." His visible eye seemed to shine a little lighter as he formulated his ideas and his grin widened to a form she rarely had seen. His passion was admirable, and contagious. "I can come up with a few recipes that have more than just noodles, but they still taste like noodles - that way she can get a well rounded meal from it too. Like the smoothie! I'll run them by you first, of course, i-if that is okay!"

Robin smiled graciously, "absolutely," she accepted the offer, "I would be more than thankful." Olive had downed most of the smoothie herself in the time it took the two adults to chat, and she raised the rest of it for her mother to finish off. "Thank you for this, and Sanji," she looked down at her nearly emptied glass, "thank you for being so… Understanding."

Sanji removed the unlit cigarette from his mouth and inspected it, turning it over in his well manicured hands, "it's not hard to understand what a mother is willing to do for her child," he said with a sincerity that once again managed to surprise her, "those sacrifices aren't for me to judge. I have nothing but respect for you and yours. I'm just happy to be of service." The cook glanced back up so that they could lock eyes again, and though his smile had waned, he still wore a friendly grin.

The mother took a deep breath, letting herself fully absorb his words. He was a kind soul, just like she remembered, but there was something hidden behind it - she was all too familiar with that. It would come to light when it needed to, their captain would somehow see to it she was sure.

"I gotta head back to the kitchen and get lunch ready before Luffy breaks something else. Let me know if I can get you anything else in the meantime." He stood, collecting the now empty glasses.

"Olive," Robin addressed her daughter, "can you say 'thank you, Sanji?'"

Olive seemed to consider it for a moment, looking up at her mother before looking back at Sanji with her round eyes and a wide grin, "'ank! 'Ank San'i!" She punctuated with an enthused clap.

Sanji beamed once more, "you're most welcome, Miss Olive! It was my pleasure," he waved goodbye, and it seemed the moment he looked back up at Robin, his eyes almost turned into cartoonishly large hearts and his legs carried him so swiftly it resembled a tornado, "oooouhhh anything for a lady!~" He yowled in a sing-song voice as he slipped away.

Robin and Olive were left with a charmed laugh shared between the two. Though it had been just a drink, the encounter had left Robin feeling rather full, and with a kiss to the top of her daughter's head, she felt abundantly grateful.

Chapter 15: Part of the Crew. Chopper. Summary:

Robin and Olive have their very first checkup after the return, and the good little Doctor has some sage advice for the self-sacrificial mother and her daughter.

Notes:

HI! I'm so sorry this chapter has taken a bit! I was having a hard time figuring out the direction, so this one may be a bit longwinded and uninteresting, but I tried! I'm hoping some parallels to chapter 1 are clear enough. I'm currently working on one chapter per Straw Hat like this one and the previous chapter, so stay tuned! Thank you for your continued support, this project has been so much fun!

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Chopper.

"How are you feeling?"

"Ah!" A nod in the affirmative, possibly.

"Uh, no, Olive, how are you feeling?" The Straw Hat's doctor inquired again with the tilt of his head.

Olive just nodded again. She sat upon the examination chair politely, her mother on a stool beside her, holding her hand. "Ah-ha," she affirmed for sure this time.

Chopper furrowed his brow and tilted his head, "Robiiiin," he half-whined, "she won't answer my first question. A 'yes' doesn't tell me anything."

"Chopper," Robin chuckled sympathetically, "I'm afraid you aren't going to get any specifics from her - her vocabulary is still rather limited. Though her body language and her positive response tells me that she's happy, if that helps." It occurred to her just how little experience the precious doctor had with children, despite how much he had trained. His nerves were possibly clouding his judgment. "She hasn't quite gotten old enough to lie about how she feels. If something is wrong, she'll indicate it."

The reindeer listened intently, studying the little girl's reactions. "I see," he replied, though he still appeared to be working through his usual examination routine. Thankfully, there had been no recent injuries, at least for a few days since they departed Fishman Island and arrived in the New World. An unfortunate side-effect was that Chopper was feeling a bit useless, despite the severe untruthfulness behind the notion. Robin had volunteered both she and her daughter to get a thorough check up. The mother had avoided even the slightest chance at detection for the last two years. That meant even avoiding close physical examinations, which was admittedly negligent on Robin's part, but had there been an emergency she would have acted immediately. Now was the perfect opportunity to make up for it with someone she trusted with both of their lives. "I'll skip that step then."

"That might be a wise decision," Robin praised him, "I don't imagine she'll give you trouble, but she's never seen a doctor befor-"

"Never not once?" Chopper guffawed, "how did she - how did you? How did you-"

"I read," Robin interrupted to counter the doctor's evenly.

"Robiiiin," he whined, but there was a sternness in his voice he rarely used on her, "you know that's not the same thing as being a doctor. What if she got sick or hurt, or you got sick and-"

His concern was legitimate, and she would be lying if the guilt it brought with it hadn't eaten at her for the whole two year stint in the revolutionary army. "We got lucky," she managed to calmly interrupt him again despite the tumult within, "I would have gone straight to the medics had I deemed it necessary." Her voice quivered, and Chopper's astonished expression softened somewhat, "Chopper, surely you understand what I am risking if someone other than those of us on this ship finds out about her. I did what I had to - I did what I could do."

"I do understand," Chopper admitted, but his brows remained furrowed, "but I won't allow it anymore. I'm her doctor now, and you've returned as my patient, and you're gonna have to do as I say and stay happy and healthy. Maybe you want to downplay symptoms or hide things from me like I know you have before, but you can't now, okay? It's not just for your own good anymore. Do you understand?"

Robin found herself being surprised by his confidence, and the air of authority she could sense. The weight of being scolded by the little doctor for, admittedly, a reason she could not argue with. She knew having a child at sea would be dangerous, she accepted that the moment she found out. A moment that felt so long ago, and yet the smell in the infirmary still managed to make her just as queasy as it had then. It would do no good to argue, if she could go back, she wasn't sure there was any other way the pair of them could have thrived. There were few people in this world she could trust, and they were all on this ship. Not there. "I do, Chopper," her voice was meek. She squeezed Olive's hand reflexively for comfort, her nerves spiraling unintentionally.

Olive squeezed her mother's hand in return as she often would, and the toddler let out a quiet, "d'see'see'see," making Robin momentarily catch her breath. Her daughter happily swung her feet over the edge of the exam chair, kicking the padding with her heels to pass the time, largely unaware of what was going on.

Chopper seemed to take Robin's answer to heart and he nodded with a newfound determination. "That's good to hear," he replied with a reassuring smile and a sudden, but welcome, pat on her knee. He resumed his thorough examination of the toddler, marking notes down vigorously with his still-tiny hooves. Every mark he made caused Robin to swallow back bile. Was there something she missed? Was Olive ill? Had she been, and she just let her suffer through it? Surely she was more attentive than that - but Chopper was right, just reading wasn't the same as practicing medicine. Olive let go of her hand, prompting her out of her own dark spiraling with a new worry. It was eased when she saw her needing to use both hands to put the stethoscope Chopper had used in her mouth. The doctor laughed, "Olive, that's not what that's for!"

Robin sighed, and was about to try to take the tool from Olive, but Chopper waved her back, "no it's okay, I'm all done!" He studied his notes, but not before noticing how tense she looked. "It's okay, Robin," he grinned a toothy grin, "she looks great! She's healthy, and from what you've told me, she's hitting development milestones either on time or early. There are no signs of any illnesses or malnourishment." He offered a hoof to his anxious crewmate, which she gladly accepted, "I'm sorry if I was harsh, I trust that you made the decisions you needed to. You're the smartest person in the world, but I know how much you like to take on alone and I just want you to be sure that you know you don't have to do that anymore. You did an amazing job, please don't forget that."

"You weren't, I promise," she held his hoof tightly, chest loosening with relief, "you weren't wrong either. I suppose it is a particularly sore subject, that's all." She smiled at the praise, and decided in the moment to affectionately tease, "it doesn't make me happy to hear your compliments at all."

Chopper giggled, knowing she had no ill intent behind her mimicry. The little doctor was content for a moment to watch Olive and let Robin hold his hoof.

Robin could feel a rush of nostalgia, and in an effort not to get lost in it, she sought a taste of verbal reassurance, "so by your standard, she is well?"

What she hadn't noticed until she spoke was Chopper shaking. When did that begin? He sniffled, looking up at her when she asked a question, his eyes filled with tears. "Yes," he sobbed, "she's perfectly healthy!" He wiped his face unceremoniously, "and you did that all by yourself… I'm so… I'm so sorry you had to do this all alone - i-it had to be so hard for you! I was supposed to be there - I was supposed to take care of you both… You weren't supposed to have to do this alone! I told you I would be there for you! I know we went where we were meant to, but… But it wasn't fair! It wasn't fair to anyone - it wasn't fair to you!" He was getting worked up and Robin couldn't help but get swept into a wave of empathy. "I'm so sor-"

An action almost as familiar to her as breathing, a hand appeared from nothing to gently shush the little reindeer. Olive had removed the stethoscope from her mouth when she noticed Chopper crying, and she looked back and forth between the two crewmembers with a curious concern. Robin put on her best smile, "oh, Chopper," the index finger that shushed him now moved to wipe a few of his tears away, "please don't apologize for something that was out of your control - anyone's control, but especially yours." More arms appeared to lift Olive from the examination chair and into Robin's lap. She let her daughter happily join in holding hands with herself and Chopper. "It was hard, I won't lie about that. I knew the risks involved the moment you confirmed I was expecting. There is no use in lamenting what could or should have been. We cannot change the past, but it shapes the present. It builds the future. We're here now," that phrase felt like a second 'hello' at this point, "we can learn from it, and we can grow stronger from it. I have no doubt she's in good hands - or I suppose good hooves. She's what matters. You're what matters."

Chopper sniffed, calming himself at the touch from the blue haired toddler. He squeezed both of their hands, and Olive let out another "d'see'see'see," with a wide grin. Robin was sure he had no idea what she was doing, but she could still see that it visibly cheered him up. It was a familiar, bittersweet ache. "You're what matters too," he added with that familiar resolve, "I wasn't worried just about her, but about you too. I read all about complications and things that could go wrong throughout the whole… Process. I knew you wouldn't ask for help unless you couldn't do it, either, even if it's okay to need help. I can't go backwards, so I'm here to help now."

"It's alright," Robin assured him, "I got through it with as little trouble as I could. Of course, there were times where I was afraid, but I always just thought 'what would Chopper tell me?' I knew my friends would be working hard and that we would all see one another again, and that gave me the strength she needed me to have. That, and I really wanted to meet her. I got lucky in every sense of the word, and I am thankful." She couldn't bear to see the doctor cry anymore. "I can try and share some of what I went through if that helps you work through it - or we can focus on the present. As long as it stays behind these doors, I don't mind either way. I trust you to know what I need."

"Mm," Chopper pondered with a determined nod, and one more attempt to quickly wipe away his tears, "it is your turn for an exam, so that would help me know what to look out for." He gestured to the examination chair and, after a moment of hesitation, he pulled his hoof from Robin and Olive's grasps to place them on his hips. "Whatever you tell me is between me and you - and Olive, but you said she doesn't know that many words yet."

"Thank you, Chopper," she said sweetly. She settled Olive on the ground and summoned two hands for her daughter to play with - something to keep her entertained, but also a way for Robin to maintain contact. It was something she often did when she didn't have many playthings to offer. She removed most of her clothing so that she was only in her undergarments and settled on the exam table, taking a deep breath.

The little doctor studied her, making note of her scars, old and new. "How are you feeling?" He began the same way he had with Olive, though he knew for sure she was capable of answering.

"I am feeling well," Robin replied, "I feel my age a bit more from time to time, but it's not as though I am that old, right? It comes with the territory of having a toddler, I assume."

Chopper chuckled, "nowhere near as old as Doctorine," he said, his voice slightly hushed, "but don't tell her I said that."

Robin nodded, amused, "promise," she agreed. She let him begin his examination, focusing mostly on her hands that were playing with Olive. A playful nose pinch, a serious handshake, a sneak tickle attack. It was nothing short of a comfort when she realized just how anxious she was. She hardly heard Chopper ask a question.

Multiple questions. "So where would you like to start? I can tell you were injured while you were away - it's healed, I can see that, but what happened? Your ribs and your collarbone and-"

Inhaling and exhaling as slowly as she could, Robin prepared herself to answer. She had already discussed some details with Nami, and was content to leave it between them, but Chopper couldn't help her if he didn't know what had happened to her. "After we were sent away, I was momentarily imprisoned," she said, crossing her arms below her chest, "it was nothing I hadn't experienced before, and I escaped rather quickly, but not before they tried to get some information from me." It felt strange to explain it again after having already unloaded on the navigator. Thinking back hurt almost worse than the bruised and broken bones at her captors' bootheels, "it healed fine, as far as I could tell. It wasn't something I wanted to risk getting checked on, so I hid that too. It was too soon to tell how much I could trust the Revolutionaries, and I needed time. It was fine. It wasn't fine, but it ended up fine."

Chopper frowned, his eyes clearly trying to well up again, but he stopped himself with a firm sniff. "That's awful," he said, "but I'm glad you got away. After that, what did you do? You had about six months left before Olive was born, right?"

"Mhm," Robin confirmed, "a lot of that time was a bit of a blur - I was in survival mode for much of it, but that was for the best. I ate, I trained, I traveled, I worried," she listed, punctuating each activity with a gentle pinch of Olive's nose, "those six months went by rather quickly. In some ways, that was a blessing." She found herself studying her right palm instead of meeting Chopper's gaze. "The anticipation was agony - possibly worse than the morning sickness you had helped with. When the time finally came to meet her, though," Olive babbled happily as Robin's bony hands grabbed her chubby, little toddler hands, "it was… Fifteen hours of what could possibly be the most painful experience of my life, truth be told." She couldn't bring herself to say loneliness was what burned the most. She had spent most of her life alone, that was no secret. Missing her friends, those she loved, hurt worse than any of her labor could. Robin was sure Chopper and the others had moments during their separation where they felt similarly. "Besides what I read about, I don't know how normal a labor it was, but it went about as 'by the book' as it could have, thankfully. There were times where it felt like I was being torn apart and my insides-" Oh how she had wanted a hand to hold then.

"Robiiiiiiiiin! I don't mind you telling me about it, because I'm your doctor, but please don't scare me with things like that," he interrupted with a whine, "but you said it went 'by the book,' that's good. There was no excess bleeding after she was born? Did she cry? Did you have time to bond? I'd assume so, but I hope you had some time to recover together…"

Affectionately making her crewmates uncomfortable with the grim realities she didn't mind vocalizing was something she had missed dearly. She chuckled apologetically, "alright, I'm sorry, Chopper. It hurt, to put it plainly, but no, not too much blood. The pain was more than worth it. She cried, and I knew her lungs were fine almost instantly." She took a deep breath once more, trying not to get lost in the care with which Chopper showed her and her daughter. It was exactly what she had expected, had longed for - had missed deeply. Robin continued as Chopper resumed his examination in tandem. "If it had been up to me, I would have never let go the moment I held her in my arms. I was able to take a few days just for the two of us, yes. You would have needed to pry us apart only once rigor mortis sat in, honestly. Eventually I had to get back to training, so I honed my ability so that I could have an eye on her at almost all times. I trained during the day, and took care of her and prepared for the next day during the night, and we survived."

"When did you have time to sleep?" Chopper asked after he jotted down a few notes. "Have you experienced any significant mood changes - specifically more frequent depressive ones?"

The woman swallowed. She'd secretly hoped this visit would have been focused more on Olive, though she realized that was naive. "Sleep was not a luxury I could often afford," she answered, "even if there was time, it didn't - doesn't come easily. It rarely has. It's something I have grown used to. I had to be all I could for her sake," her confidence wavered as Chopper's stare grew hard, "you know my mind has always gone to dark places. It had gotten better of course, and every time I see her or feel her, I feel lighter… When I'm with you all, it's much easier, but being alone sometimes, I don't know. Maybe - or I'm just being dramatic. Nami says it's okay to be not okay sometimes, and while I appreciate her sentiment, Nami doesn't have an eighteen-month-old. I'm fine, all things considered."

"Nami is right," Chopper was standing on her lap, listening to her breathing and her heartbeat before he stopped to place his hooves on both of her shoulders so she was forced to look at him, "I asked you not to downplay anything. It's not weak to need help, and you're not alone anymore. I can't imagine the strength it had to take to go through what you just described alone, but I can tell that you're tired and that's okay. That's expected, and you're allowed to complain about that - it doesn't make you less of a mother to her to admit you are worn out. I need you to be honest with me so that I can help you heal. You said you understand, and I know you have the brain to. You can't be there for Olive if you don't take care of yourself too. Just because you're 'used to it,' doesn't always mean you have to live with it. So please, Robin…" His round eyes glistened from another round of tears that he was clearly trying to hold back, "Robin, please let me help you from now on." It was clearly as much a request for his sake as it was for hers.

With his hooves still firmly planted on her shoulders, Robin let out a shaky sigh, and reached forward to gently hold him by his ruffled cheeks. Her thumbs wiped away any stray tears that accompanied his request. She felt her own trail down along her jaw. Two years had been such a long time. "Of course," she managed, "I'm sorry, Chopper. Old habits are hard to break. You are correct." She held him for a while, and without thinking was doing the same with Olive. "I am tired, I need sleep. Some days were darker than others, but not since I've been back here with you all, I promise. It's just a lot of adjusting. Is there anything I should be worried about - for either of us?"

Chopper sat back on her lap, "you're both quite healthy, my examinations have concluded that there's nothing alarming," he beamed, "the only thing I can note is that you're experiencing fatigue whether you realized it or not. Getting some consistent sleep should help with everything - and I mean everything - so that's what we should focus on."

Robin summoned a few more arms to carry Olive back up to rejoin them, "I can try-"

"I can make some special tea like I did before, but with the express purpose of making you sleepy," he raised a hoof to interrupt her, giggling when Olive took it as a sign to give him a high five, "it won't knock you out, but it will help tell your brain you need to sleep. It's worth a shot, don't'cha think?" He nodded in a gesture to the toddler that shared her lap.

The weary mother smiled, processing the overwhelmingly positive feelings once more. "I would be more than grateful," she replied quietly.

"Awesome!" As he stood once more, his eyes began to sparkle with a newfound enthusiasm for his mission, and Robin found it contagious. "Also, I just want to say that you're an amazing mom, just like I said you would be back then! You've done an incredible job on your own. Now it's time to let the rest of us lend you a hand for once! We're a family!"

"We sure are, aren't we?" Family. Robin let out a tearful laugh. Another whirlwind of deja vous nearly sent the room spinning as she grasped his outstretched hoof, only this time, Olive had welcomed herself to join in. "Thank you, Chopper," her words fell heavily in the air, bittersweet, "thank you for everything." No amount of thanks could express just how grateful and how lucky they were to have a doctor as kind and devoted as him, but she hoped in some way he could feel it too.

Chapter 16: Part of the Crew. Brook. Summary:

Olive suffers from a bit of an earache and Robin struggles to soothe her. Asking for help doesn't come easily, but at least Brook is there to offer it freely.

Notes:

Surprise! Two chapters back to back! I've got a couple others in the works I'm excited to get out. This one was a little difficult, but I hope it turned out alright! I love Brook and Robin's friendship honestly, I don't think it gets talked about enough!

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Brook

"It's alright, little one. It's alright." Robin's hushed sing-song voice could scarcely be heard above the roaring of the waves and the wailing of her child.

"Good evening, Miss Robin, Miss Olive," a sudden voice greeted the pair. The night sky seemed to stretch on forever, hanging above them like a quilt. Robin was pacing the grassy deck, rocking Olive in her arms when the ship's musician approached, "pardon my intrusion this evening, but is everything alright? I heard quite a bit of crying - though I don't have any ears, yo-ho-ho-ho!"

Robin sighed, Olive still hiccuping, recovering only momentarily to prepare for another bout of crying. She looked as though she was ready to start tearing up herself. "Everything is fine, Brook, thank you," she dismissed, perhaps a bit too quickly.

The little girl started up again, and Robin couldn't help but put a tired hand against her forehead. "Alright then," the skeleton bowed politely, "may I stay out here and tune my violin, or would you prefer some privacy?"

"By all means, stay," she replied, resuming her attempts to settle Olive, "we can go somewhere else."

"Oh, Heaven's no, I did not intend to run you off," Brook raised his hands in a show of honesty, "please stay!"

Robin could feel her shoulders tensing with guilt and worry, "are you sure? Won't it be hard to concentrate?"

Brook sat cross-legged on the lawn, digging in an old violin case. "Nonsense, miss Robin, I could tune an instrument in my sleep! Truth be told, I was lost in my own head tonight and was happy to find company. When you've spent as long as I have in lonesome silence, any sounds of life are a strange comfort."

The tension eased almost instantly, empathy taking much of its place. She was no stranger to finding calm amidst the chaos of shouting Straw Hats on a difficult day. Her nerves were frayed, concern for Olive at the forefront. She could only nod in acknowledgment.

To her surprise, Brook carried on tuning, appearing unbothered by the raucous crying - not that she could determine his expressions well. Even more surprising, she found an odd sense of solace in his company. It wasn't difficult to dissect her layers of panic over her daughter's distress. Her furrowed brows and tired eyes betrayed her feelings of helplessness.

The tuning seemed to stop, indicating that the skeleton had completed his task. Robin had turned away, staring at the sea as she continued to soothe. She gave a soft kiss to the top of her daughter's head, and silently wished Franky and the others hadn't had to go on a supply run - especially this late into the evening. She wondered if she would push him away, had he been there. Would she even be able to ask for help? She asked Chopper like she was supposed to - that was enough, right? "Brook," she spoke up suddenly, "I can feel you staring. Is there something you need?"

"Ah - impressive since I do not have eyes, yo-ho-ho! I must apologize," he responded. Though he joked as he often did, Robin noted it was more subdued than usual, "I merely - and it would seem rudely - was wondering what was wrong. She seems like such a cheerful, happy little thing. If I may ask, is something the matter? You said everything is fine, and I am not one to argue with someone such as yourself, but I would like to offer my assistance, if I may."

A crossroads. Part of her wanted to say no. The part that instinctively wanted to hide. The part that felt unsafe every time her child cried. The part that feared being unable to help her, to protect her, to be all that she needed to be for her. That part was loud, and that part was angry. The other part of her knew she was safe on the decks of the Sunny. Children cry, it would be alright. Her crew cared, they wanted to help. She clenched her jaw, making a decision against the instincts she fought every day. "Chopper says she has come down with an earache - a common occurrence for children. He gave her medicine that will fix the cause, but it's unfortunately just something that has to pass. She is terribly frustrated, and I can't seem to soothe her."

"Ah, you poor things," Brook stood up stiffly from where he had been sitting for what Robin realized was a long while, "I am not sure if it will be of any help, but perhaps I could play you both a song? There is one I have been meaning to practice, and it is actually meant to soothe. May I?"

There was something wistful about the way he spoke, and on a better day Robin would have been curious. What good would come from saying no? Why did her body want to? "You may," she answered above the crying. Olive had buried her face into Robin's shoulder, muffling her wails just a bit. She sighed for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. The mother gently brushed her daughter's forehead. "Olive," she murmured, knowing very little would get through, "Brook is going to play a special song just for you."

"Yes, Miss Olive," he chimed in, "yo-ho-ho-ho! A special performance for the littlest lady!" He did a theatrical spin, and a leap. Landing on the railing on the side of the Sunny, he took up position with his violin. With a flourish of his bow, he began to play. It was an oddly familiar tune - a distant memory. There were no words, but the music was flavored with a distinctly playful sadness, as many lullabies often were. Brook hummed along gently. He had been right, it was soothing.

Robin tried to sway Olive rhythmically to the music, humming along as she understood the melody. Her daughter's harsh cries lessened, no doubt in part from being worn out, but to yet another surprise from this evening, the song seemed to be working. She watched the skeleton play curiously through tired eyes, and with relief she felt Olive slump against her chest, finally able to rest. She held her steadily, supporting the back of her head gently.

The song continued, and Robin tried to place how far back in her memories it went, but exhaustion made it an impossible task. Instead she listened, and hummed along while she paced. Brook seemed to get lost in it, to which she could only deduce it held a deeper meaning to the peculiar musician. He was staring out into the sea as he played.

Coupled with the rhythmic lapping of the waves and the somber tone of Brook's song, Robin could have likely fallen asleep standing up. The music began to trail off, and he let his violin fall to his side, still seemingly transfixed on some point in the distance for some time.

He glanced back, "thank you for indulging," he bowed, leaping down from the banister gracefully. His skull inexplicably bore tear stains. "Ah, it looks like it may have helped, yo-ho-ho-ho!" His voice was softer than his usual high energy self, no doubt out of respect for the sleeping child.

"It would appear so," Robin beamed, relief showing in the upturned corners of her mouth, "thank you, Brook, really. That was beautiful." She watched as he returned his instrument lovingly to its case, "that song was important to you. Did it take you somewhere else?"

Brook clamped his jaw as she voiced her observations. "Nothing gets passed you, Miss Robin," he lifted his hat politely, "it was a song I would often play for Laboon, as you may have guessed. There were some nights he seemed to get lonely - no doubt missing his whale family I am sure. He was so young. It used to ease his worries without waking the rest of the crew. I miss those nights sometimes. It is nice to feel useful," he spun a full circle on his right tiptoes, "as small as it may be. We Rumbar pirates used to strive to make crying children laugh. I have not had the opportunity to do so in such a long time, I truly must thank you for allowing me to try! Ah, but I did not make her laugh, yo-ho-ho-ho!"

"You're a kind soul," she commented. Robin chuckled quietly to herself, still brushing the back pitiful toddler's head softly, "it's not small to her, I can assure you. I can't reiterate how thankful I am. She doesn't need to laugh right now, but I'm sure the need for that will arise in the future. Is that something you would be willing to try next time?"

The mother was too tired to figure out how he was able to blush so visibly. "Oh really and truly? I would be honored! Oh I would be honored!" He seemed unable to contain another spin. "Miss Robin, you have made my evening! Please trust me to raise your little one's spirits until I die! Oh wait, I am already dead yo-ho-ho-ho!"

Rolling her eyes, she found the jokes begrudgingly charming. She could tell from the frequency with which he made them, he often used them to cover up a deep sadness he carried with him. Something very familiar to her. It harkened back to the notion a dear giant had instilled in her - when times are hard, just laugh! "That's wonderful to hear," she murmured, "and I do have ears."

"Oh! A skull joke," he waved his arms excitedly. It seemed like it was beginning to be a strain to maintain his volume, "very good! You are a natural at skeleton humor - does that come with the territory of being acquainted with seeking knowledge of the past?"

"Maybe, though I think it's more likely that you just make a lasting impression," she laughed. The worry she had felt had finally begun to fade, relishing in the soft rise and fall of Olive's sleeping chest. "I hope you can find your own peace tonight, Brook. I'm sure Laboon is looking forward to hearing how skilled a musician you've become. I'd like to hear more about him sometime - when Olive is awake to hear, if you would enjoy that."

"Oh, miss Robin," he placed his hand against his chest as he picked up his violin case, ready to take his leave, "I do not know how much more I can take! I would love to tell you and miss Olive tales of that wonderful little whale. You say I have a kind soul, but I hope you know you do too! Thank you for making this night less lonesome, and for giving me a new goal! I hope you both can get some sleep." He moved to look over the balcony again, "I think I will play to the sea for just a bit longer."

Robin thought about heading into the women's quarters and putting Olive to bed, but the thought that she would wake her in the process made her pause. She blinked, "would it be alright if we stay out her and listen, or would you prefer a moment of privacy?"

"If you are sure, I would be more than happy to have company," Brook pulled out the violin he had just put away and resumed his position.

"Thank you," she whispered once more. Making herself comfortable on one of the deck chairs with Olive sleeping soundly on her chest, she felt her own eyelids grow heavy. Her affection for the strange skeleton had grown over time without her realizing. He played his songs, the tones varying from a soft lament to joyful noise. Robin smiled, silently thankful that she hadn't listened to her panicked instincts. Olive was better for it, and that was more than she could ask of herself. A kind soul. A wounded soul. Perhaps accepting help wasn't as frightening as her mind made it out to be. She was mending one day at a time.

Chapter 17: Part of the Crew. Usopp. Summary:

Robin, Usopp, and Olive spend some quiet time in their garden. Olive's presence on the ship brings up some unspoken feelings for the Straw Hat Sniper.

Notes:

I hope you guys like it! Usopp is a bit of a challenge for me, but I cherish he and Robin's friendship a lot. Her bit of saying something creepy and him begging her to stop gets me every time. I hope a little of that comes through!

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Usopp.

"What a peculiar plant - does it naturally have the capability of dissolving body parts with the acid it produces? What kind of creatures did it sustain itself on?"

"Robiiiiiin," the sniper whined in response, "ask me about the other plants here, but I don't wanna talk about digestion and body parts especially in front of-" Usopp stopped talking and gestured instead to Olive.

Robin chuckled slightly at Usopp's dramatic complaint, effortlessly catching Olive's hand before the little girl placed it directly in the gaping mouth that she had just inquired about. "It was a valid question if you intend to use these against opponents in combat. It's not as though she can conceptualize or understand what a man-eating plant could be just yet."

"Mouf," Olive added, rather thoughtfully.

"We think they're cute, don't we?" She grabbed both of her daughter's hands. The toddler nodded rather enthusiastically.

Usopp scratched his head through his gardening gloves and chuckled, flattery showing in the flush of his cheeks, "you do? They are pretty cu- I mean of course you do! These man-eating plants are the cutest - as long as you don't touch them! If you touch them, they'll gobble you up. I had to fight my way out of the maw of one of these bad boys with nothing but my bare hands," he flexed a little with one arm, "it's how I lost this arm, but it turned out fine, I just grew it back stronger."

"So it can dissolve flesh," Robin noted, satisfied with her deduction. Olive was listening to Usopp's tale intently. She quite enjoyed her story times with the greatest storyteller there was. Her mother was just as happy to leave the creativity to someone more suited for tales children would be more likely to enjoy for a change. It was also a good way to keep her clear from touching the plants, at least she hoped.

"Oh, ah-hah, yeah," he conceded, "but you have to be stuck in there way longer than a few minutes. They're good for restraining in a fight, but I wouldn't count on them having time to do lasting damage."

"Ah, I see, that's still very useful," she admired, examining the plants with interest and turning to the young man, "Usopp, you've grown so much! I don't just mean your garden. You've worked hard, I can tell." She wore a look of pride, memories of what she felt she owed him never once lost.

If the sniper hadn't already been blushing, that would have done it. "Aww, shucks, Robin," he waved his hand in a flattered dismissal, "I guess I did! I just did what had to be done. I didn't ever want to run away again," he paused, realizing that might have been a sore spot, "I always want to be there for you guys, I mean!"

Robin was still holding Olive's hands, pushing and pulling them like the rowing of a boat, eliciting a happy babble. "I know you will," she smiled warmly, "though in my eyes you always were. I can honestly say I wouldn't be here were it not for you. By extension, this little one never would have existed. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to express my full gratitude for that. I've always trusted that you're not going anywhere, but I am happy to hear you know it now too." She sat back a bit, leaving her daughter to resume her own activities under her watchful eye. "I hope to never flee again myself," she added quietly.

Usopp didn't seem to know how to process her praise, having gone back to tending to his garden nervously. "I guess we both did what we thought we had to back then, but we know better now, huh?" He planted a row of seeds in shallow divots he'd created in the soil bed, "I'm glad we're all here, back where we're supposed to be."

"Mm," Robin hummed in the affirmative. She had finished tending to her own garden for the day, having finally had a moment to clear away the old growth that hadn't made it, prune what did to give it a better shot at life, and plant something new from her seed stores. Now she was just leisurely spending time with Usopp and Olive, the former a rarity, but cherished nonetheless. She was currently captivated by her daughter who was becoming quite adept at playing with the large interlocking blocks Franky and Usopp had made for her. She would put a few of them together, then pull them apart. Robin couldn't decipher any meaning from it, but she watched intently, curious to understand the thought process.

"Oi, Robin," Usopp suddenly broke into the silence, "can I… May I ask you a personal question?"

Her attention was still mostly on Olive and the floppy ears of the little hood she wore, but she tilted her head curiously. Her chin rested against her palm, as it often did, and she sat with her knees to her chest. "What's on your mind?"

He sat back nervously, as if he regretted asking anything in the first place, and watched Olive for a moment too. He swallowed, "aren't you scared?"

"Ah, scared of what, dear?" Robin asked, her brow creasing curiously.

"I-I mean no disrespect," he flustered, "j-just… Isn't it dangerous enough for a grown up on this ship. A-aren't you afraid something could happen to her? Wouldn't she be safer somewhere else - a-at least until she's older?"

The mother thought carefully about her answer, though not carefully enough to choose her words with anything but impulse, "if you know of somewhere safer on the Grand Line for a child of two wanted criminals than on this ship, I would certainly like to know," she answered his question, "of course I am afraid for her. Life is a terrifying gift. At least with her here I know she is as safe as she is able to be - among friends. I do fear it's selfishness on my part, but I think it would eat me alive not being with her." Robin frowned, "inversely, I know what it feels like to have been in her shoes, and I made the decision that I did not want to ever let her live with that uncertainty."

Usopp winced at the intensity with which she answered, but he seemed to take it all in quietly, not daring to interrupt. "I didn't mean to question your judgment, I'm sorry if it came off that way," he apologized, sitting down and hugging his knees too, more invested in the conversation than in tending his bed at present. "Franky just told me you guys found out before we got… You know. That had to have been terrifying! I don't think you made the wrong decision - it just got me thinking, that's all. My dad-"

"Yasopp of the Red-Haired Pirates, yes?" She asked. Her tone was cooler than it had been, but she wasn't upset, only guarded.

"Uh- y-yeah. That's the one," he said, "I never really questioned why he would want to leave me behind… My mom always told me he cared about me, his first love was just the sea. I admired him for that, but…" He trailed off, and Robin guessed he had regretted asking in the first place with sympathy.

"Do you feel as though you would have preferred things had been different?" Her voice eased a little in hopes that he too would be able to relax, "assuming he had brought you along on his journey instead?"

He thought about it for a moment, "n-no, I don't guess so. Well, maybe… I wouldn't have met all of you - at least not in the way that we did! I don't think I'd have it any other way, but sometimes I do wonder what it would have been like. There's no sense in the 'what-if's' though, right?"

"Perhaps not," she pondered, "I imagine he had his reasons. The Red-Haired pirates are quite notorious, and have been for some time. Though by comparison I have been on the run since I was eight, so take that as you will. I suppose I am confident that she is and always was going to be part of the crew when I found out. I spoke with Luffy not long after and he made that clear to me. I think it would be safe to assume we are not like most pirate crews - I have spent my fair share of time with a variety of ruffians to conclude that." She watched as Usopp listened, but she turned her attention back to her little one, "I would not cast judgment on another parent making a choice if they truly felt like it was what was best for their child. At the same time, I am not privy to enough information to know if that is the case. All I can say in my situation, if I had to leave her behind, it would feel as though I would be leaving part of myself - part of Franky, too I'm sure, though I know he would have understood. I decided that day on that tower because of you all that I would live, and that meant more than just not dying." Memories she hadn't thought would resurface danced behind her eyelids, her presence in the moment wavering, "I would have felt like I was being ungrateful for the gift you all had given me."

"Robin…" Usopp was frowning, sympathy evident in his crooked brow, "I'm sorry, I-I shouldn't have said anything. Please don't think I don't want her on the ship, I swear! She's awesome! She's safe with us - I promise I'll fight an army for her… I just-" he stammered, "I'm just already scared out of my mind about my own safety half the time, let alone my crewmates'. It must take a crazy amount of strength to keep it together when it's your child, and that got me wondering if… If maybe I wasn't worth it. I-I shouldn't have put that on you, and I'm so sorry."

Robin smiled slightly when Olive knocked down the small tower she had built and clapped at the commotion it caused. "It's alright, really. I appreciate - and am honored - that you felt you could open up to me of all people," she replied, sure to look back at him so that he knew it was in earnest, "I'm sorry that my bringing her here brought out those feelings, if somewhat indirectly, but I will never apologize for her being here. Not after everything. It's not fair to her," her tongue sharpened to emphasize just how protective she was willing to be, only to soften once more, "in any case, it's not as though I cannot relate. I gather everyone on this ship has been left behind by those who they were meant to be able to rely on at some point in our lives. Those feelings don't go away just because you've finally found your place," it was another attempt at reassurance, even though she knew that it was not something anyone could truly assuage, "it's hard not to dwell on feelings like that - I know I do. It's why I couldn't bear the thought of my own daughter growing up feeling that, regardless of my intent. It's entirely possible that your father felt similarly, he just didn't have the means or the wherewithal to take care of a child. That doesn't mean you were not worth the effort, just that you were where you needed to be at that time. Your worth is immeasurable here, even just to me. Besides," she added with an affectionate, somewhat creepy grab of his nose with a summoned hand, "it's entirely possible you could have been crushed to a bloody death by an anchor on his ship on his watch, and he didn't want to risk it."

Usopp hurriedly leaned forward to cover Olive's ears as her mother began her morbid jest. "Robiiiiiin!" He whined again, but there was a look of amused peace on the sniper's face. He mouthed a silent 'thank you.'

Olive stared at Usopp and saw the disembodied hand vanish when he carefully covered her ears. A moment more of intense staring, and she impulsively did what she thought she was supposed to. Before Usopp could remove his hands, she reached forward and grabbed his nose where she was sure she had seen her mother do the same.

The sniper tried not to yell when she pulled it, but he couldn't stop the tears that rolled from his eyes, whether it be from the conversation, or from the jolt of pain.

"'Sopp!" She said, as though she was about to explain something rather serious, only to begin giggling. The resemblance to her mother was, for an instant, remarkably uncanny.

"It just hit me," Usopp half-whined, "now there's two of you running around on this ship to scare me out of my skin."

"Out of your skin? Why, Usopp, what a morbid thing to say," Robin feigned offense, but wore a wide grin.

Olive echoed her mother once more, "'sopp!"

It was enough to make him laugh knowingly. "Ah, well, the more the merrier, huh?" He placed his hands on his hips from where he was sitting, careful not to pull himself away, lest the child of Franky and Robin also have an iron grip. "Say, Olive, how would you like to hear a story about the time I…"

His words began to fade into warm, salt sprayed clouds in Robin's mind. She always felt - in those rare moments where she could acknowledge it to be true - happy to be useful, even if just a little. Her heart felt at ease with every giggle that broke through the nostalgic fog. Quietly she appreciated exactly where they were - back where they all belonged.

Chapter 18: Part of the Crew. Nami. Summary:

Nami, Robin and Olive have a little girls night, quietly vowing to take back what they missed out on as children for Olive's sake, one little act a time.

Notes:

I don't know if this comes across the way I wanted it to, but it's mostly meant to be a sweet chapter where the girls are bonding and the stakes are nonexistent for a moment. Both of them missed out on so much growing up, and Robin is given the idea of small little ways Olive won't miss these things. Even if they're just. Having a friend to talk to. I think the fact that they're the only girls on the ship is very important and I care them, so I hope it's at least half as cute as I think it is.

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Nami.

"Nami, may we come in?"

The door opened before Robin had even finished vocalizing her question. The redhead didn't even answer, she just retrieved Olive from her mother's arms, holding her up in the air and performing an excited spin. "Franky and Usopp gettin' carried away again?"

Robin chuckled, closing the door behind her. "Yes," she confirmed, "we figured we were due for another girls night anyways. If that's alright with you, of course."

Nami was busy giving a giggling Olive nose kisses. "What? Oh, please! I miss you two," she finally looked at Robin with a welcome grin.

"Well, the good news is that we're all yours for the evening," Robin replied, "the possible bad news is that I doubt she'll be ready to sleep anytime soon - I caught Franky attempting to sneak her some cola at dinner. I would have stopped it, but I have a hard time saying no to either of their faces, let alone both at the same time."

"They've got you around their fingers I see," she had returned her focus to Olive, "I can't say I blame you - especially this one! That's fine by me, though. I'm feelin' pretty restless anyways, so why don't we just turn this into a slumber party?"

"Slumber party?" Robin queried, intrigued, "I feel like I've heard of something like that once or twice - or perhaps I read about it in a novel… Either way, what would a slumber party entail?"

Nami tilted her head, glancing back at Robin, "darn, I was hoping you knew more than me," she chuckled, "I dunno, it just seems like something you gotta do at least once in your life, and me and Nojiko never got the chance to. I read about it in this one series while I was in Weatheria - not a lot else to do on my downtime and not a whole lot of downtime, mind you. The girls in the book stayed up late, ate snacks, did each other's hair and talked about stuff, so I think that's about it." She performed another, slower spin as she listed off the various activities.

Robin tapped her index finger to her chin and rested it against her thumb in thought, "that sounds right, but what would make that different from any other night?"

"Hm," Nami pondered, settling Olive against her hip, "I guess if we call it something different, that's what it is - and since you've been staying with Franky most nights lately, I don't get to see you both as much anymore except during the day. So, I want a slumber party."

"'Mi, 'mi!" Olive apparently agreed.

"Alright," Robin conceded happily, "then tonight we can have this 'slumber party.' I'll go have Sanji make us some snacks, or see if he has anything stashed away." She hesitated for a moment, considering taking her daughter with her. Separation still felt difficult, moreso for her than for Olive. They'd have the night together, she patiently reminded herself, and of course she trusted Nami. Regardless, the temptation to leave a watchful eye in the room on her way to the kitchen was almost too much to bear. Hearing Nami and Olive laugh as she shut the door behind her was enough to ease it on this night.

She returned fairly quickly, Sanji having already been preparing some late night snacks for the girls - though it took some stern convincing to have him not follow the moment Robin regrettably mentioned what their plan had been. "Sanji said something about a 'pillow fight,'" she stated curiously upon re-entry, "what on Earth would possess someone to fight with pillows? They're good for a stealthy kill, but I wouldn't imagine close combat with a pillow - or why I would want to do that at a slumber party."

"I wouldn't put too much stock in anything that comes out of his mouth," Nami snorted, unfazed by the unprompted grim remark. She was sitting with Olive in front of the mirror, the toddler in her lap. She had a brush in her hand. "He makes good treats, though," she remarked.

"Hm. That he does," Robin agreed thoughtfully. She set down the tray of pastries and tea, glancing dubiously at the pair. Joining them cross-legged on the floor in front of the mirror, she winked at her daughter and looked back at Nami, "do you intend on styling her hair? You would have better luck having Luffy skip a meal."

"Oh come on, it can't be that bad," Nami dismissed Robin's genuine concern with the flick of her wrist before running the brush through Olive's brightly colored hair. It seemed to cooperate, and Nami wore a smug grin. She tied it back in two small sections with little ribbons to create the cutest little pigtails. She brushed her bangs to lay straight across her forehead. Nami covered her cheeks with her hands and swooned, "why don't you ever fix her hair like this - she looks just like a little you!?"

"3…2…1…" It was all Robin had to say with a chuckle. She had fixed herself a cup of tea as she watched, carrying it over to herself from the table nearby with her ability, not wanting to interrupt. She took a sip once she hit the number 'one.' It was almost instantaneous. The force of Olive's hair fluffing up was enough to unravel the ribbons, and undo any work Nami had just put into it. "It was a good effort, Nami," she gave her a pat on the back. Olive clapped, seemingly watching herself in the mirror, but also began laughing at Nami's gaping mouth. "You would need more hair products than we have on board the Sunny to get it to stay down."

Nami looked bewildered, "that's impressive," she said, retrieving the unfurled ribbons. "It's like it has a mind of its own…"

Robin smiled, tousling her daughter's spiked hair, "I imagine she gets it from Franky. It's a wonder how genetics work," she mused, "personally I think she favors him more than me on almost all accounts."

"Really?" Nami asked as Robin passed her a cup of tea herself. She gratefully accepted the drink, "she's got the hair color and the eyelashes that could kill, for sure. She's got your nose, though." Olive heard the word nose and squeezed her own and reached for Robin's, who happily leaned close enough for hers to be grabbed as well.

Robin laughed, "it would appear she does. I'm afraid I won't be getting it back any time soon, either." She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, "that's nice to hear, though. Not that I don't want her to look like her father. Personally I find that endlessly endearing. It's nice to know that she resembles me too for some reason."

Nami sipped on her tea and listened, "well, unsurprisingly, you made a very cute baby. Possibly the cutest baby. The world is not ready for the combined weirdness of you two, but I think that's awesome." She watched as Robin shifted so that the older woman was sitting behind her and handed her the ribbons and the brush. "How are you two doing, then? I'm guessing well enough since you're comfortable sharing a room now and then, but I thought I'd check in."

"I'm inclined to agree, though I'm decidedly biased," she said. She began to run the brush through the bright orange hair, "we're doing well, I appreciate you asking. I suppose it was difficult at first - you know, to parse through everything we were and are still both feeling. The concept of a relationship of this nature is difficult for me, but he makes it feel much easier. He's wonderful with Olive - I can hardly bear to separate them sometimes, though part of that feels like I want to be able to make up for lost time. The other part feels almost natural, as silly as that may sound." Robin continued, watching her daughter playing with a toy in Nami's lap while she spoke, "I told him I think that I might love him," she murmured. Her tone was flavored with a sort of somber pride. How much it had taken her to get there.

"Oh yeah?" Nami seemed a little surprised, but she offered a kind smile, "that's a big step, Robin! You don't sound too sure though," she asked, relishing in the feeling of someone else tending to her scalp.

"How does one know for sure?" Robin asked in earnest, "I've only had relationships that were physical in nature. That's easy, or at least it usually is. Well, you know bits and pieces about the last relationship I was in." It took everything in her not to trace the faint scar on her chest as she spoke. "Suffice to say I've never felt this way before. It almost feels as though I shouldn't be allowed it, though I know that's silly."

"It's bullshit is what it is," Nami replied sternly, patting Olive on the head apologetically for her language, "you're allowed to feel what you feel, and how you feel it. Love isn't some unattainable concept just out of reach. There's no question we all love one another on this ship. It's the best and most beautiful thing we've got to give to each other," she locked eyes with Robin in the mirror, "everyone deserves that. At least most everyone. I could think of a list of a few people who would have to pay more than their life is worth to earn that back, but you aren't born that way. You are a kind person who the world has mistreated, you are, at the bare minimum allowed to be in love - if that's what you are feeling."

A little taken aback by the passion with which the navigator reacted, Robin stayed herself by putting much of her focus into splitting Nami's hair into neat twin tails. "Fair point," she conceded, "I wouldn't dream of arguing with you." She admired her work and silently leaned back to let Nami decide if that was the style she wanted for the night, "then perhaps I should tell him in more certain terms."

"Oh he knows," Nami decided with a wink, "there's no way he doesn't. Unless he's an idiot," she gave Robin a thumbs up on the hair, posing in the mirror to the amusement of Olive who still sat happily in her lap, "and while I do think some of the men on this ship are a fascinating brand of stupid - in the most affectionate way possible, I mean- I think Franky has his shining moments more than the others. I'll bet he's just waiting for you to realize it for yourself. Like I'll actually bet if you want in on a wager. You would have to talk to him about it, though."

"I take it you knew before I did too, then," Robin's cheeks felt flushed, a vestige of her need to hide her true feelings, she supposed, "I'll take that bet, though it feels I might be on the losing end. What gave it away to you, then?"

Nami playfully rolled her eyes, "oh please," she scoffed, drinking a sip of tea, "this isn't my first boat ride. I've seen people in love - been in it at least once before - and I've never seen someone so in it blindly. Honestly, it'd be a little pathetic if it wasn't so sweet."

A soft laugh escaped with an exhale. Now it felt as though the tips of Robin's ears were on fire. That didn't feel exactly fair, so the older woman began to steer the conversation over to Nami. Retribution? No, she was sure she just wanted the attention of the conversation off of her for at least a moment. "Ah, you have, have you?" Her question was genuine, albeit prepared to pry.

Again, to Robin's surprise for the evening, Nami fell quiet. She was holding Olive's hand at the toddler's enthusiastic behest, but her mind must have quickly wandered elsewhere. A very distant elsewhere. "Yeah," she replied simply.

"Hmm," Robin pondered aloud, trying to recall the various rendezvous she had witnessed or heard about from the boisterous redhead, thinking back to who she possibly felt that strongly about. She likely intended her assumption to remain just that, but blurted it out regardless, "the Princess?"

"What? No!" The way Nami's much paler skin seemed to glow red told another story. She tried to shake her head to dismiss it, but Robin's concerned tilt of her head was enough to give up, "how did you-"

Quietly interrupting, Robin grabbed some pastries from the tray with a row of arms, offering one to Nami and another to Olive. Both accepted graciously. The older woman smiled, "now I may be oblivious to the inner machinations of my own dark and twisted mind," she joked, "but I like to think I'm observant enough of others. One of my responsibilities was to keep tabs on you all in Alabasta, remember?"

Nami reservedly took a bite of her snack, mumbling through it, "oh, yeah. Right."

To Robin's disappointment, Olive offered the pastry back to her first. Change didn't happen in a day. She took the smallest of bites before handing it back to her daughter. She glanced back at Nami, and saw that her shoulders had slumped, "ah, was I wrong or did I overstep a boundary?"

"No, no, not at all," she replied, though it felt somewhat half-hearted, "I definitely knew what I was doing bringing it up, but I guess I didn't think about how I haven't really talked about that with anyone. It hurts. Even still." The navigator looked like she felt small - smaller than the toddler that happily babbled in her lap.

"I'm so sorry, Nami," Robin brushed a few loose strands of orange hair that had fallen away from the girl's cheek, tucking it neatly behind her ear affectionately, "I must imagine you miss her, then."

Nami leaned into the hand that touched her face, quiet appreciation for the gesture evident on the smile that was returning. "I do," she confirmed, "but I'm almost certain we'll see her again one day. Maybe after it's all over we can make time to return there. I'm sure everyone would like to see how the country is recovering and how much she's grown!" Optimism lit up her gaze, but realism was always never far behind, "but we have to keep moving forward to do that, so I can keep my head up until then."

"That's quite the admirable attitude," the mother smiled sympathetically. It faltered the more she thought about it. Her attempt to deflect had failed, "I'd hate to return to that overgrown sandbox, but after the rain came back I'm sure it's much nicer." Robin pulled away from the redhead, turning her attention back to her tea, "or perhaps I'm afraid to face your princess. I have… much to atone for with that girl. I was," she swallowed, "horrible to her. I'm not sure what apologies could even amount to after what I put her through. Helped put her through. Put her people through."

Nami rolled her eyes somewhat playfully, "no kidding, dude."

"I ought to try, though, right?" She set her tea down, threading her fingers in her lap to ease the threat of trembling, "I certainly realize she is part of this family from what I gathered. I'd like to try, but what if-"

"Listen," Nami gave Robin's knee a pat, and let Olive squirm away. The toddler was growing fussy. "If I know Vivi - and I know Vivi - then I highly doubt she hasn't already forgiven you." She added a reassuring wink. "She's the kindest soul I've ever met, and she's not stupid. I would also bet on this, but I'm sure the second she saw your wanted poster with ours and the news about what we did at Enies Lobby, she trusted Luffy's decision." Taking a bite from her delightful little snack, she added with an amused grin, "an apology couldn't hurt though, for sure. You did actually do some messed up shit."

While Nami spoke, Robin held her arms out for Olive who had started to run around the room, no doubt from an excess of energy and newfound confidence on her sealegs. She realized that she was once again falling into a habit formed in her isolation and quickly changed gears to encourage the behavior with a gentle applause. The little girl could be as loud as she wanted to without fear. Her attention always remained on Nami's words, and she was very aware of the pang of guilt in the pit of her stomach. "You seem to want me to lose a lot of bets, Nami," she joked to help quell it, happy to do so if it made the navigator feel victorious - it was the little things. "You think?"

"Just two, for now," Nami stuck her tongue out and wiped a few crumbs off her face, "and oh, I know." She waved Robin over to take Olive's place in front of the mirror and mouthed 'your turn.'

Robin obliged, the taller woman scooting over to take her spot. Nami's reassurance and the sound of Olive giggling to herself freely was enough to ease her worries as quickly as they had appeared, "she sounds like a wonderful young woman. I could understand why you love her. She seemed commendably compassionate, albeit naive. It sounds as though that was true."

Nami chuckled, and if Robin could see her over her own shoulder in the mirror, she could only imagine she was blushing. "It's very true," she gushed, threading her fingers through Robin's hair, "she's the kind of royalty this world needs. She is the picture of a princess. Well, you saw her. I hope you can meet her again on better terms." She peeked over Robin's shoulder, a bittersweet smile on her lips, "but really I just hope I can see her again. How lame is that?"

"Not lame at all, though look who you are asking," Robin hummed with a laugh, "I would love that for you."

The shorter woman reached up and grabbed the top of Robin's head and shook it playfully from side to side, "yeah I guess that answer doesn't mean much coming from the lamest person ever, huh?" Arms appeared on an alarming number of surfaces around the two, poised to retaliate like snakes ready to strike, only harmless. "I'm joking! I'm joking! Holy shit you can do a lot without moving now?"

Robin glanced back at her, amused satisfaction lighting up her blue gaze, the arms disappearing at Nami's concession. She offered her a wink as well. "Anyways," Robin cleared her throat, "I do feel as though I can empathize." She offered Nami a kind smile, "I wouldn't call it lame to long to see those we love. You miss her, and I would bet she likely misses you. You know that, and I know you're only joking to deflect the way you really feel. That's okay, I can drop it if this conversation is making you too sad. It's nice to hear about someone's love life other than my own messy one for a change, and I like being here for you, but I think I've embarrassed you enough for one slumber party."

"Geez, Robin," Nami snorted, "you are such a mom sometimes. It's fine. It's nice to feel like I can talk about it," she sighed wistfully, "I know you get it. So thank you."

Feeling like she had done something helpful again made her chest warm. She missed her friends so dearly, it seemed to occur to her every day that she'd prefer never to be without them should she be given the option. With their few weeks of being reunited and traversing the New World, she had gathered that in an unspoken way everyone felt the same. Sure, she had made friends among the revolutionaries, but they weren't her family. Olive had scarcely slowed down, and seeing her so happy only compounded with the joy of Nami's 'mom' jest. "I'm happy to lend an ear any time, Nami," she responded calmly, quelling the sentimental drabble within for the moment.

"Noted, and appreciated," Nami got to work brushing through her thick hair, making her turn and face her with a discerning look on her face, clearly ready to change the subject, "what made you decide to pull back your bangs?"

Robin hummed to herself thoughtfully, "well mostly they were starting to get too long to wear them comfortably, and I didn't have the time to worry about maintaining them," she watched Olive with interest as she explained, "but I think part of me wanted to try and get away from the same style they've had plastered on my wanted posters for the last two decades. I'm sure it won't matter when what we did in Fishman Island gets out, but it's nice for the time being. It's different. I like that things are just a bit different."

Nami had pulled Robin's head toward her so that they were facing each other, so she could study the way her hair was parted and the way it fell, "well I think it's gorgeous and it suits you." She twirled one of the stray strands the archeologist often left hanging, trying to visualize what to do with the rest of it. "A high ponytail would look so cute." The cat burglar rested her hand against Robin's cheek affectionately for a moment.

"Hmm, that does sound quite cute, but wouldn't that be a bit hard to sleep with?" She tilted her head quizzically at Nami's wide smile.

"Who said anything about sleepin'? It's a slumber party!" Nami patted her face, and Olive agreed from across the room with a resounding, 'ah!'

Robin couldn't help but laugh, though she grew confused, "I would guess the 'slumber' part of the phrase implied that there would be sleep involved," she worked out aloud, "but I suppose that's where the 'party' part creates a bit of a contradiction, and from what I gather is the more important word. I feel as though words should mean what they mean, but I think I understand."

"Yeah, I think the 'slumber' part is a boring suggestion," Nami grinned again, gesturing to Olive, "plus, I think that one has a little more energy to burn. I've got dibs on you two all night, so it's time for a high ponytail and more 'girl talk' or whatever."

"I see, I see," Robin conceded, "I'm learning so much about what I must have missed about being a child all in one night." She was half joking, but the more she thought about it, the more it became a truth, "I want this - more of this - for her," she said quietly, turning away so that Nami could start gathering her hair to tie it, "I like this for her. What we didn't - what we couldn't."

Nami went to work and Robin could practically hear her smile, "you really are such a mom," she repeated with even more affection, "tell ya what. I vote that we arrange one of these once a week. Just me, you and the kid. That way Franky has dibs the rest of the week, but one night is for us girls. We can even do some research on how to make these even more fun. At some point, maybe we'll even figure out the whole pillow fight thing. How's that sound?"

"I'd love that," Robin answered with delight, "what about you, Olive? Are you interested in more 'slumber parties' with me and Nami?"

Olive was enthused about being spoken to, and toddled over to her mother's lap, babbling in what Robin could only guess was the affirmative. She wasn't sure her heart could get much fuller than it was at the sound of laughter, no longer hidden. No longer afraid. She grasped her daughter's tiny hands in hers, and before the girls continued their 'party' until the sun came up, she translated.

"I believe that's a resounding yes!"

Chapter 19: Part of the Crew. Zoro. Summary:

Zoro has some questions about Sabaody, and fears his shortcomings could have been even worse for Robin and Olive. Really, he might just have hurt feelings about not being told the news, but I'll never tell.

Notes:

This is a bit of a short one, but it's mostly because Zoro is an enigma to me like Luffy is writing-wise. I did want to explore his anxiety about strength and feeling useful, though I fear this may be one of the weaker chapters. I may tinker with it more in the future. I think I like that it's a bit simple though, I think Zoro isn't a super mushy sentimental guy, and while I think his character is more complex than people give him credit for, he is a bit simple too if that makes sense.

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Zoro.

"How old is she again?"

"She'll be nineteen months old in a few days," Robin responded, lowering her sunglasses curiously. It wasn't exactly like the swordsman to strike up a conversation, though it wasn't unheard of. Olive was stirring on her chest, having been enjoying a snooze in the shade of Nami's grove while her mother read.

Zoro's brow furrowed in concentration while he idly lifted weights almost comically larger than one would expect. "So that means you were, what, three months pregnant when we were in Sabaody, right?" His tone was surly, as it always was, but Robin could sense no malice or distrust as she had when she first joined.

Setting aside her reading for another time, she rested her hand on the sleeping toddler's back, "right," she answered, curiosity growing, but unease guarded her heart.

Discomfort seemed to sweep over the stoic swordsman, "and you knew?"

Robin pursed her lips, "yes, I did," she replied, "why do you ask?"

He was still rhythmically lifting his weights, "yeah well, why didn't you tell me?" She could almost detect a hint of a boyish pout crossing his sharp features.

"Hm?" Now she was truly confused, "Zoro, no offense intended, but what would it have mattered to you? Is there an issue?"

A bright red sheen covered his face. Perhaps he hadn't thought his questions through before asking. He stopped lifting, and let the weights hang to his side, "I dunno, if I had known," he flustered, "well If I had known maybe I could have… I wouldn't have let… You shouldn't have been fighting!"

Ah. There it was.

"Zoro," Robin countered evenly, pressing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, "surely you know as well as I do that none of us had a choice that day." She could feel herself growing somewhat defensive, despite knowing he harbored no ill will. "I did what I had to do. Are you questioning that?"

Zoro frowned, having collected himself somewhat, "no, not exactly," he grumbled, "but if I had known, I could have made sure you weren't put in that position in the first place."

Robin sighed, brushing circles against Olive's back to keep herself calm, soothed by the soft rise and fall of the little girl's chest. "What difference would it have made, honestly?" She tried to compartmentalize the memory of her arms desperately attempting and failing to pull him away from the light admiral, and was sure his mind wasn't far from hers. "You were in just as much of a condition to fight then as I was - though I'd argue even worse."

He dropped his weights on the deck with a thud, and followed them to sit down himself. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked with a grunt, crossing his legs and resting his hand on his knee.

"I suppose I'm referring to 'nothing' I have no business knowing about," she answered vaguely, "your injuries were severe, and barely had time to heal at all before we arrived. You were in no state to fight, and you nearly died. Any normal person would have, that is for certain." She removed her sunglasses so that she could fully make eye contact, again silently wondering what could possibly have taken one of his. Her voice grew stern, "I was growing another human, that didn't make me weaker. If anything it strengthened my resolve. You'd do well not to assume anything with regards to my daughter has made me weak."

He got redder when he realized what she had meant by 'nothing.' "That bastard cook! I'm gonna-"

"Sanji told no one," she assuaged quickly, leveling with him,"I was rightfully concerned - and curious. I spied on those two dead-looking fellows. Old habits die hard. I do apologize for that, but I was thankful. I haven't breathed a word of it, since, of course, there is nothing to breathe."

Zoro still looked miffed, but he rubbed the back of his neck apologetically. He chose only to acknowledge what she said with a nod and a narrowed eye. Circling back he grimaced, "I didn't mean you were weak," he tried to explain, but to his credit she had pulled quite the rug out from under him at the mere mention of the sacrifice he made to save the crew, taking on the captain's burden without a word. It threw him in a difficult conversational spot, "I know you're not weak. I know you weren't weak. I didn't mean that - I just should have been stronger."

"Saying that now is foolish, Zoro," Robin chided, "well meaning, but foolish. We were all in over our heads, but I didn't want to believe it until it was too late. As much as I'm sure we all hated to admit it then, but we know now, what happened needed to happen for us to get to where we are. It's no one's fault for being enough. I'm sure if you asked any one of us we would all feel the same, though I shouldn't speak for anyone else." She ran her long fingers through Olive's hair to help calm herself, repeating the notion, "my being with child made no difference that day, whether or not you knew about it."

The swordsman had seemed to work up a sweat, but not from lifting weights. His embarrassment emanated from his pores, "listen, I swear I didn't mean it like that," he reiterated, "but you're right, I can't go back. I'm not who I was then, and I won't let anything like that come close to happening again on my life. I'm sure it may seem like I don't care, and maybe sometimes I really don't, but I would prefer to be aware of major crew updates."

The mother's gaze softened with a sigh, "I know you won't," she assured, "I don't intend to let anything happen either, but it might be worth it to be aware that there are things beyond your control. You don't shoulder this crew alone. We are a crew, after all." Bold words from someone who danced most of her life on the edges of isolation. She was keenly aware it wasn't an easy thing to internalize. "I really am sorry that I did not get the chance to tell you. I know how good you are with children," she added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, referring to an incident she also promised never to speak of, "next time I won't be so thoughtless and will make sure to keep you informed."

She hadn't put any stock in what she said until it left her lips, and she found that it was her turn to be embarrassed at the notion. "Next time?" Zoro asked incredulously, "you can't be serious."

"Of course not," Robin deflected as casually as she could, that hadn't even been a subject that had crossed her mind up until that moment, though now it carved a hollow in her stomach, "I was only joking."

"Right," Zoro acknowledged, discomfort evident in his still-creased brow, "well, thanks, I guess. It's good you two made it through. I bet she's tough."

Charmed by the awkward swordsman's compliment, she hummed thoughtfully. A man of few words. She wasn't exactly sure what parts of what she said stuck with him, but she hoped he got the answer he was looking for when he decided to approach. It struck her as odd, still, but what she could assume, but didn't dare utter, was that his feelings had been hurt. She could accept that, though part of her still doubted just how much he cared personally about her or her daughter. That wasn't fair to him, and she was very aware. Zoro had always been a kind soul to those in his ward, and she was no exception. A malingering sense of her old - but still very present - lack of self worth, she figured to herself. "Oh, I'm sure in time she'll give you a run for your money," she joked, "she is. She will be. What with all she has to live up to."

Zoro grinned at the playful challenge, "I'd like to see her try," he responded, "but until then, and long after, I've got her back. Hers and yours."

"Thank you, Zoro," Robin breathed, knowing just how much meaning the moss-haired man placed in his few words. She could feel Olive waking, and tousled her hair, "we have yours too, don't we, Olive?"

Olive blinked, bleary eyed and lost in whatever dream still danced in her little mind. She sleepily followed her mother's gaze to Zoro, who was standing up and dusting himself off. "Ma'mo!" She greeted him happily, the world starting to become much more clear to the toddler - as clear as it could.

"Ma'mo?" Zoro tilted his head and pointed at himself, making intense eye contact with the child, "my name is Zoro. Hah," he chuckled, "and I thought you would be smart like your parents. You'll get there one day, kid."

Looking back at Robin for some sort of clarification, Olive watched as her mother merely shrugged and suppressed a bout of laughter. She didn't have the heart to correct him. "We can only hope," she noted cheekily. "Olive," she smiled softly, "would you like it if Zoro played with you for a bit before dinner? Can you ask him nicely if he will?"

Olive's eyes lit up. It seemed asking to play with members of the crew resulted in a fun time regardless of who it was. It was new to her, of course, but she took to socializing better than Robin could have hoped. It helped that everyone seemed to have varying degrees of patience, but also enthusiasm. The little girl had the crew wrapped around her fingers, no one excluded. "p'ay? P'ease?"

Zoro's face turned red and he grimaced. Surely a swordsman such as himself was too serious to "play." Not even he could resist, though. At least not for long. "What could she possibly want to play?" He was already accepting the toddler's outstretched hand as she clambered off of her mother.

Robin could only laugh and take in the sight. It brought her back to those canal city streets wistfully. He truly was softer than he let on, and in her mind that could never be a negative. His exasperation was short lived as he began being led away. Her daughter was in good hands - possibly some of the best. She called after him, happy to follow, "oh, I'm not sure. I'll bet she'll come up with something grand."

Chapter 20: Part of the Crew. Luffy. Summary:

Robin and Olive spend some time with the enigmatic, energetic captain. Their discussion takes a momentarily serious dive, but it's Luffy, so it doesn't stay that way.

Notes:

CW They do discuss the idea of wanting to die, so if that is a sensitive subject, I recommend skipping this chapter.
I find Luffy and Robin's friendship so important, and I think if Luffy were to go to anyone to understand his feelings about Ace, it would be Robin. At the same time, he wouldn't just say anything outright, nor would he linger on it for very long. I hope that the odd pacing of this chapter comes across as just it being difficult to talk to Luffy. He's a challenge for me to write, so this one took me quite a while haha.

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Luffy.

"Gum."

"Gum?" Robin lowered her reading glasses quizzically, carefully marking the page she was taking extensive notes on with a slip of parchment.

"Gum!" Olive repeated with gusto.

"I don't have any gum, I don't like gum," the mother responded with a furrowed brow, but an amused chuckle, "what is on your mind, little one?"

She didn't even have time to follow her daughter's line of sight before she heard, in the most petulant tone, a hearty "Roooobiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!" It belonged to none other than their captain, who happened to be hurtling onto the upper deck.

"Ah, gum," she realized out loud with a laugh, "hello, Luffy, what's the matter?"

He bounced on one foot until he regained his balance, straightening up, "I'm bored, and everybody's busy." He explained simply.

Robin could only presume he wanted her to do something about it, "I see. And if I am busy as well?" She tapped her fingers along the cover of the old texts she had just removed herself from, "sadly I don't think this would be of any interest to you."

"Oh, okay. She's not," Luffy pointed at Olive who was previously scribbling on a large sheet of paper secured to the planks below.

"Ah, but she is very busy, right, Olive?" Robin asked, playful sarcasm edged her question.

Olive nodded on principle of being spoken to, though there was no possibility that she understood what was being asked.

Luffy looked somewhat frustrated before sitting down on the deck cross-legged, "you too?" He asked incredulously, though Robin could tell he was playing along - at least she hoped. She could never be sure. "Busy doing what?" He inspected the various scribbles.

A tiny hand outstretched, offering him the utensil, a worn down block of color. He took it with a grin.

"Busy creating her latest masterpiece," Robin explained, amusement on her breath as she sat back in her chair and removed her reading glasses entirely, "or just working on her fine motor skills while I pore through some texts."

"Her masterpiece sucks," Luffy commented without much thought, "but I kinda like it."

Pride swelled in Robin's chest, "I like it too. It looks to me sort of like a shark that got into the aquarium and ate all of the other fish until the water turned red with their blood."

The captain studied the scribbles seriously, raising a brow, "Robin, it doesn't look like any of that," he replied, looking back at her with a touch of confusion, "you're still weird," his frown contorted into his trademark smile, "I'm glad."

She returned his smile with a charmed one of her own. He was the same old blunt captain she found remarkable the moment they first crossed paths. The tragedy he carried hadn't destroyed him. She figured it wouldn't - she naively believed nothing truly could. He was not unscathed, and Robin could see that. She could tell by the way he hugged his crew just a little longer than he used to, as if the thought of letting them go would physically pain him. In the way he hovered, more curious than ever what each member was up to when he grew bored. He still lost interest quickly, but it was clear he was craving that connection. She deduced that they all did, in some ways. "Would you like to join her? If I do recall, you're somewhat of an artist yourself, no?"

Luffy laughed through his teeth, flattered and amused, "of course I am! I guess I could show her a thing or two." He placed his tough hands on his knees and turned to Olive, "alright, what do you wanna learn how to draw like me?"

Robin replaced her glasses carefully against the bridge of her nose, and attempted to go back to her studies. It took much effort to focus when she'd much rather listen to the intense conversation that had started between the two. Words seemed to fall off the page, and rereading them didn't help like it usually did. At a certain point, she gave up, deciding she would find time to read after dinner. Time with her captain and her daughter came first, though she reminded herself of how important her studies were.

Olive was watching Luffy, the rubber man was demonstrating how to draw his precious hat. At least that's what Robin could assume. The toddler just resumed her nonsensical scribbling, earning a grunt of dissatisfaction from her instructor, though he carried on.

The mother observed quietly for a while, resting her chin in her hand with a warm smile. To her surprise, Luffy was maintaining the interaction well. She had never seen him spend time with children, so it wasn't exactly something she had any expectations for. Always a beacon of curiosity, that captain of hers. Content to listen, Robin did not interfere until she noticed his interest beginning to wane. Conversation with a toddler was only so compelling to even the most attentive adult - two things for which Luffy barely qualified.

A hand appeared on Luffy's right shoulder, tapping the opposite shoulder to get his attention. It disappeared before he spotted it, his head whipping around. He looked for the source only to find nothing. "Huh?" He vocalized, only for Robin to repeat her trick in the opposite direction. "Huh?!" He felt around on his back, only to find his nose was suddenly being flicked. The culprit was nowhere to be found. "Oi! What he heck?" He pouted, turning to Olive, who was giggling, a disembodied hand tickling her side. Luffy's frustrated gaze softened almost immediately, "Robiiiin! What's the big idea?" He asked, looking back at the now-laughing woman.

Robin hummed in response, "ah, I suppose I wanted to be included. Do you mind if I join you?"

Luffy snickered, brushing his rough hand against his nose as if to shake off any remaining petals, "I thought you were busy?" He tilted his head to one side quizzically.

"I was, but I can afford to take a little break," Robin returned with a smile, "if that's alright with the Captain, of course."

He seemed pleased with her answer. He handed her a block of color from a pile that was forming, which she quickly gathered came from Olive offering him each color she used once she scribbled to her satisfaction. They both looked over at what Olive had been working on, slight amusement in their gaze.

"I don't think she can be the ship's artist," Luffy declared, "I'm the first best, and Usopp is still second best. Sorry, Robin."

"Ah, that's alright," Robin chuckled, settling between the two, "I'd say she has plenty of time to figure out what she wants to be or what she wants to do. I would certainly hate for it to be decided for her."

"Tell me about it," Luffy agreed, resuming his drawing. Robin couldn't imagine the free-spirited pirate as a marine even if she tried, which is where she could only assume his mind went. "That'd be boring."

"Surely," the dark haired woman laughed again, sentiment dancing on her chest, "I'm thankful she'll have that opportunity - to be free to choose. I can tell she's happy here."

Luffy blinked at her, as if he was only half listening - though half might be being generous. He was watching Olive, "she was alone a lot," he observed suddenly, "she was lonely."

Robin looked back at him, somewhat shocked, but knowing how deeply his intuition could go, she wasn't. What she couldn't decide was how it made him feel, or why he even thought to bring that up. She could only reply with a simple, "yes, she was."

He frowned at the confirmation, but quickly regained his smile, "she won't be here," he proclaimed, "nobody should have to be lonely. Being alone sucks." He followed his words with a self-assured laugh.

Shi-shi-shi-shi!

What a comforting sound it was. It made it difficult to stay in the present, the laugh so close to the sweet giant that she once knew. His words were simple, but they meant everything to her. "Hmm," was all she could muster, a mixture of nostalgia and hope threatening to spill over. She knew he wasn't a big fan of crybabies.

"What is it?" He asked, realizing she had gone quiet.

"Ah, it's nothing," she managed, "a dear old friend of mine told me something like that before he was killed. It took until meeting you all for me to see how he could have possibly been right." Robin summoned hands to ruffle both Luffy and Olive's hair, "I always hoped he wasn't just telling me what he thought I needed to hear. I wish I could tell him - show him - just how right he truly was. You remind me of him. You all do, in some ways."

"Ah, I see, I see," Luffy responded, patting the hand on his head before it turned to petals, though Robin was dubious. He looked oddly serious, his gaze meeting hers. "Oi, Robin," he spoke up, "do you ever still think you want to die?"

Robin felt her jaw try to lock, not expecting that question in the slightest. "Do you want the long answer or the short answer?"

He frowned, grabbing his chin as he considered her returned question, "I just want the truth I guess," he responded after a moment.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded, "alright." She beckoned Olive over, who happily tottered over to her, "it's not an easy question to answer, but I can try." Their gazes met again, and she found herself smiling softly in spite of the tumult of feelings within. He certainly had that effect. Had this been a few years ago, she would have been guarded, wary to answer truthfully, too busy trying to figure out why he would ask such a thing. Robin found a bit of peace in knowing she was not the same as she had been, and in the tiny legs that kicked her knees. "Wounds made over a lifetime aren't going to heal in a day," she risked tracing the scar that marked his chest, "in the same way a scar made in an instant won't fade." He didn't flinch, and to her surprise he remained attentive. "I don't know that I ever truly wanted to die. I only felt it's what I deserved. It was what I was told I deserved - it was what I was shown I deserved time and time again." Her smile wavered with the memories, "but you saw through that faster than I ever would have. Do my thoughts teeter dangerously when things seem dire? Does it sometimes seem easier to die than to live with what I have seen and what I am supposed to be?" She squeezed Olive a little tighter, getting the courage to admit what had yet remained unspoken, "I won't lie. The answer to that is yes, but my mind does not go there nearly as much as it used to." Robin looked at him with a determined, but vulnerable smile, "when they do, I just think about you all standing atop that tower cutting through the gloom with all the light you somehow muster."

Luffy listened, his smile turning into a frown as if he were looking inward, and concern for his friend apparent in his furrowed brow. "So you're happy you lived," he stated, "even if part of you still feels like you shouldn't?" He placed his rough hand idly on the ragged 'x' on his chest.

It clicked instantaneously why he was likely asking these questions, and it broke her heart. What must he have witnessed on his own that day? "Oh Luffy," she breathed, grasping for his hand, "very." Robin reassured intently, "more happy than I could ever be if I had died in those tombs, without question. I am very happy." She wanted to elaborate, to explain that his smile was enough to remind her even in the darkest times that this life was what she wished for all those years. To tell him that the little girl in her lap brought her a kind of joy she couldn't even put into words. Robin was fairly certain he knew. Somehow he just always seemed to know.

"I see," he vocalized, squeezing the hand she had grasped his with. "That makes me happy," he said, grin returning slowly, with a somber note that Robin hadn't quite seen from him, "because I'm happy I lived too, even if part of me feels like I shouldn't."

Robin knew all too well what he meant. "I can't say for certain why," she said with a tear forming in her eye that she quickly blinked away, "but I don't think the world could stand to lose you. I know I certainly couldn't." Family name aside.

"Better not," Luffy proclaimed, "not until I'm King of the Pirates or I die trying. I'm not gonna die," he stated as if it were fact, and Robin believed him.

"Oh we're quite certain you're going to be the one to do it," she smiled, "isn't that right, Olive?"

Olive clapped on cue.

"Shi-shi-shi! You're alright, Olive," he said, brushing the little girl's nose, "even if you suck at drawing."

"Come on now," Robin sighed playfully, "give her another try sometime - maybe when she's old enough to stand a chance?"

Luffy sat with his elbows draped over his knees. She was fairly certain it couldn't possibly be comfortable for anyone who wasn't made of rubber. He waved his hands, "alright, but only because you asked."

"We appreciate it. Now," she hugged the wriggling toddler with a wild warmth in her chest, "what do you say we trick Sanji into making a few snacks for us girls and we share it with the captain?"

The little girl babbled, a few words popping out of the incoherence, but it was enough for both Robin and Luffy to know she agreed.

Luffy was more than thrilled by the idea, and agreed to keep working on his drawing until they returned. Robin could see as they were walking away that he had been tirelessly rendering what she could only barely recognize from some out-of-commission wanted posters. An orange hat beside his own. Affectionately, she summoned a hand to push his straw hat down, covering part of his face as the two girls disappeared into the kitchen. All she could hear was music to hear ears, a playfully angry shout, "oi, Robiiiin!"

Chapter 21: Part of the Crew. Franky. Summary:

Franky convinces Robin to let Olive acclimate to water, a major fear for the devil fruit user.

Notes:

I'm never going to finish if I constantly worry about how much I repeat the same words and phrases, but I do it anyways. This one is longer than I expected, and I hope it gets across what I intended without being toooo sappy or cliche or lame. Next up and final crewmember chapter is Robin, then we can FINALLY move on to Punk Hazard!

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Franky.

"Come on, Robin, please?"

"P'ease?"

It hurt to say no, but how could she allow it? "Franky," she replied, discomfort glittering in her gaze, "I'm sorry, she's just so young, and I can't-"

"It's alright. I know, I know, ya can't swim," Franky reasoned, "I swear I won't pressure ya, so if ya say no, I'll abide. At least hear me out, will ya?"

Robin frowned, holding her own arms by the elbows to attempt to calm herself down - to think rationally. She took a deep breath and nodded, indicating that she was listening.

"Nami says the island we got comin' up might be one of the calmest we'll have for a while, right? It might be the last safe place we'll encounter," he began, "and I don't mean to take her out far into the water, I just wanna make sure she knows how to float and not panic if she falls under - that's a real danger. We are traveling on the seas and anything could happen. It's a precaution, but it could also be fun for her."

He was making logical sense, and he was being kind about it. Yet part of Robin felt like pulling her daughter away and hiding. "I know," she said, using all of her might not to speak through clenched teeth, unfolding one arm to gently caress Olive's cheeks lovingly, "you're right, but… But I don't want her to go somewhere I can't follow. Do you understand that?"

"I do," Franky assured, "but you don't have to do this all alone anymore, remember? I'll be there with her, and we won't leave your line of sight regardless. You might not be able to follow, but your crewmates can, and I know for a fact they aren't gonna let anything happen to her. It'd be good for the both of ya, if ya want my opinion. I don't doubt that you trust me, but I know this ain't an easy one for ya, so if the answer is no, I can respect that." He blinked, "also I swear I didn't coach her to say please."

Robin felt a crack in the possessive shell she seemed to be forming, as he had a good point. He was right, she did trust him. His additional comment was what won her over. She knew he hadn't coached her, Olive was fond of repeating things she said, and had very quickly picked up doing the same with Franky. It was enough to pull her out of her cage of fear. "Alright," she agreed quietly, "when we get to this island, you may try getting her acclimated to the water and the idea of floating." Her arms were still crossed loosely, "I do trust you."

With permission, Franky let out an enthused, "suuuuuper!" Only to be instantly mimicked by the little girl in his hand.

"Zuper!" Olive giggled, raising her arms awkwardly above her head.

There was no universe where any remnants of her darkness could compete with that. "Very super," she concurred with the two.

It was as though Franky knew exactly what would calm her increasing nerves. He carefully presented Olive to her mother so that she could take her, "why don't you two ladies get ready to make landfall and I'll get to tinkerin'?"

Oh, he was good.

"I like that idea," Robin replied simply, gently retrieving her daughter. It felt like taking a breath of fresh air, settling the enthused toddler against her hip. "Can you tell Franky 'goodbye' for now? We'll be back soon."

Olive seemed disappointed, but did as requested, "buh-bye, Fanky!" It was like clockwork for the both of them even after a couple of weeks together, the sound of the tiny human attempting to say Franky's name left their eyes brimming with tears. She turned toward the stairs leading onto the deck as to avoid eye contact, knowing they'd both start fawning and get nothing done. Instead she quickly made her way back to the women's quarters with a red sheen to her cheeks.

Robin hummed to herself and Olive while she rummaged through her wardrobe, selecting some tasteful swimwear for herself - not that it ever mattered, she didn't intend to get in the water. Still, she enjoyed looking the part, and she'd never say no to a few sun rays. For her toddler, she looked through the neat piles of folded clothes Nami had acquired and wondered if there even was a child-sized swimsuit with a frown. To her relief, there was a bright blue Crimin swimsuit that looked to be about her size. She made a mental note to look for more the next chance they got to relax where there was access to clothing stores. "How do you like this?" She asked, showing the garment to the little girl.

Olive was settled on the bed, watching her mother with interest. There was a repeating star pattern on the top half of the suit, and upon seeing it, she clapped. "Fanky!" She repeated what she could of Franky's name, and the anxious pit in Robin's stomach eased slightly.

"It does resemble your father a bit, doesn't it?" The words felt strange on her tongue. Not at all unwelcome, but certainly unfamiliar. She laughed softly.

She wasted no time getting Olive changed and applied a healthy amount of sunscreen Chopper had made to her skin the closer they got to docking. They sat together on the lawn swing as the rest of the Crew helped make landfall. She lent her arms wherever they were needed, of course, but she sat for a moment holding Olive tightly in her lap, idly swinging the pair back and forth in the breeze. Her nerves made it nearly impossible not to think back to her final morning on the Sunny with Franky. It felt like no time had passed, and yet that future she envisioned had almost come true without realizing. It was just missing one piece.

"Yow! You two ladies look SUPER!" A loud voice boomed, and Franky appeared hauling a small - compared to him, at least - bag full of supplies, "we're good to go, I've got my go bag - it's got everything we could need and more! Are y'all ready?"

Robin took in a rather shaky breath, and locked eyes with him, a wilting smile parting her lips. Olive waved at Franky, who promptly waved back with his smaller yellow hand.

She didn't need to say anything for him to understand. He set his bag down and placed his hands on his hips, grinning from ear to ear. "Er, but we've got plenty of time, can I join you two and give you a push?"

"That sounds lovely, Franky," Robin let herself relax a little. Olive was thrilled to bits, clapping and wriggling in her lap. She leaned forward to kiss the top of her daughter's scruffy head. The hand that gently touched her back was all that had been missing. She leaned against it rather than flinching away. Franky's large hand lingered for a moment, as though offering silent reassurance that was equally wordlessly appreciated. She wondered if his mind took him back to that day as well. The tree had grown considerably in their absence, Robin noted to herself.

Franky pushed them, mindful of his own strength, and relished each time they made contact. They were perhaps a bit unorthodox, but a comforting sight all the same.

"You will be very careful with her, won't you?" Robin's words came out barely above a whisper. Another question she knew the answer to, yet she couldn't feel at ease until she had it confirmed.

The cyborg let the swing slow down until he could kneel in front of it without getting hit. "I will be super careful. If anything makes you uncomfortable, just say the word and we're out. I don't intend to let anything happen to our little flower, I promise." He sounded as though he were hesitant to call her what she was to them, as though he didn't want to cross a boundary that wasn't there.

Robin's face warmed up involuntarily, and she felt her chest swell. Olive was indeed their little flower. All she could do was nod with her silent but absolute approval, locking eyes with the man.

With that, they disembarked on the new island.

Their journey to a swimmable spot near the Sunny was interrupted as Olive encountered sand for the first time. The new parents couldn't help but watch her with almost as much wonder as she had, tiny hands coming into contact with the grainy and usually annoying substance. She would pick up handfuls and let it fall, turning into mostly dust, giggle and repeat. It took them longer than they were willing to admit to return to the task at hand.

"It's just sand," Franky choked out, "but it's like the coolest thing."

Robin was covering her mouth, trying not to laugh too hard. She didn't need to explain that the little girl had never experienced it before. It was almost enough to make her marvel at the sediment were she not unamused by the feeling of discomfort that came with it getting everywhere. Summoning two hands, she found herself playing in it while she crouched beside the toddler. Wide-eyed, Olive watched as Robin made what eventually resembled a skull.

Franky gasped, and hurried down the beach a bit to grab a ball of seaweed. When he returned, he placed it on top of her creation and Robin could only laugh in recognition. He cackled in turn.

"B'ook!" Olive exclaimed.

"Yes, it would appear we accidentally made Brook," Robin praised her while brushing her fingers through her brightly colored hair.

"Yow! We sure did!" Franky tapped his chin, "do ya think he'd be flattered or upset?"

"Let's not find out," Robin laughed, though she couldn't imagine the skeleton getting mad, she was acutely aware that he was sensitive about his appearance.

"Fair point."

They let Olive play in the sand a while longer, though Robin realized she was likely stalling. "Hey, Olive? Why don't you and Franky swim for a bit now and then we can come back if you like. How does that sound?"

"Super!" Franky replied, clearly hoping Olive would repeat him, and was not disappointed. "I've got your gear here," he dug around in his bag and pulled out some varied deflated floatation devices. He settled on two small arm floaties and Robin watched as he inflated them. He glanced at her, and Robin could only assume he was asking whether or not she wanted to put them on the excited little girl. She smiled, gesturing her head toward Franky, hoping he understood she was comfortable letting him handle things.

He seemed to get it, and helped Olive get the awkward material on her chubby little arms using his more delicate hands. "Hey, look at that! We match!" He flexed his large arms proudly, and Olive tried to mimic him. Robin tried not to think about Franky having to have removed his arms to look the way he did, and instead was overcome by affection for the pair. The floaties he had adorned her with were actually decorated to match his shoulders, bearing 'BF - 39' on a small strip of blue. For what felt like the thousandth time that day, she felt tears welling up in the corners of her eyes and her face grew hot.

The thoughts that swarmed Robin's mind were all overwhelmingly positive. There was nothing but warmth for the two, and it was reflected in the red sheen on her cheeks. She wanted to express how cute she thought they both were. Unfortunately, all she could muster was a simple, "she's not a robot."

Franky laughed a belly laugh, clearly familiar with the way her mind worked, "I know," he assured her.

"She's not a robot," Robin repeated, her furrowed brow and expression a wavering depiction of her internal turmoil.

"Maybe not, but she is SUUUPER CUTE! " At the very least he had a way with words that she didn't. "Let's go learn to float, then one day you'll be big enough to let me teach you how to do the front crawl almost as fast as me or Yokozuna."

The boys had taken over the floating ring Franky had made for swimming, they deemed the water too deep for what they needed in any case. They instead settled on a set of tide pools - after verifying that there were no creatures hiding around capable of biting or stinging.

Robin settled amongst some rocks, adjusting her sunhat as she got somewhat comfortable on a beach towel. She was within view and earshot of the pair, but she opted for a little distance in case she were to make a hasty and panicked decision. Anxiously, she flipped through the pages of the book she brought with her, but she was too distracted by Olive's laughter.

"'Omy! 'Omy!" Olive called, trying and succeeding to get her attention. Robin looked up to see Franky holding her carefully in flat hands above the small pool of water. It came up to around his chest where he sat. Olive was on her hands and knees, but she was waving to Robin expectantly.

It broke her heart to refuse. Water wasn't something she disliked, but the thought of being submerged filled her with fear in any situation. Let alone one where her daughter was nearby. She wasn't even one for long baths, her years on the run not wanting any instance to leave her vulnerable. "I'm right here," she called back, "I'll be right here!" Franky locked eyes with her again and he nodded.

"C'mon, Little Lady! It'll be alright, your momma's not far," Franky tried to soothe, and to his credit, it probably would have worked on most children. Olive grew increasingly upset, much to Robin's dismay.

Robin closed her book the moment she noticed that Olive was getting closer to the edge of his hands, reaching out for her. Franky was fast, but Robin was faster. Arms appeared and held the toddler steady despite her squirming, nearly having fallen in the water face first. "Franky, I-" Robin stammered, clambering over as quickly as she could. He moved his hands so that Olive was no longer above the water and was close to dry land so that Robin could grab her.

Olive was beginning to blubber by the time her mother had her in her arms, settling her against her hip like a piece of a puzzle. She bounced her and gave her back a reassuring pat from time to time. "Franky, I'm sorry," she said quietly, "it's alright, I'm here."

"No sweat," Franky responded, "is she doin' okay? That's what matters - I didn't mean to scare her, honest."

"She'll be just fine," Robin swallowed, "right?" Olive hiccupped in response, already starting to relax a little being in her mother's arms. "You didn't scare her," she assured, kneeling beside the water, "children her age in a normal situation develop attachment issues, and I'd say her situation is anything but. I was worried this would happen. I'm afraid she won't go far without me as it stands, but you did not scare her."

"Makes sense," the wounded cyborg acknowledged, "it seems obvious, but I guess I sure haven't seen you two apart for long - if at all. I'm already used to you two bein' here I start to forget it's just been the two of you her whole life."

Olive had fully calmed down, and indicated she wanted to be put down. Robin obliged, letting the toddler stand beside her. Her little fingers pointed at Franky and the tide pool and she looked at Robin pleadingly. Robin cupped the back of her daughter's head in her hand, "it's something we'll both have to grow used to," she said, a flicker of guilt in her eyes, "it isn't because of you, I promise."

Franky grinned, "I know," he replied sympathetically, "you're doin' what ya can, and you're doin' a super job, y'know? More than super, in my expert opinion. We can go back to the sand if ya want."

Grateful for his kind words - he was always an expert with those - Robin shook her head with a renewed smile. Olive was stomping, still pointing and pulling on the strap of Robin's swimsuit top. "Ah, I think she wants to give it another shot, hm?" She asked, nerves winding up along her spine as the little girl nodded.

"Are ya sure?" Franky gawked, "I don't want to stress either of ya out -"

"I could get in for a little while," she offered before he could finish a thought, "you are right, she needs to not be afraid of the water, and we don't know when we'll get another chance like this. I trust you," Robin reasoned against what could have been her better judgment. "One step at a time."

If he was trying to hide his excitement, he wasn't doing a very good job. Robin could tell that swimming seemed to mean a lot to him beyond caring for their daughter's safety, and she wanted to give him at least that much. "Alright then, super! We'll try again," he said, "can you grab my bag real quick?"

Curious, Robin nodded, and used her power to carry his affectionately titled "go" bag over to them. He dug around inside while she adjusted Olive's floats two or three times over. The water wasn't too deep, at least that's what she told herself. That is, until she looked up and saw what Franky had retrieved. Another float, this one made for an adult shaped like a donut, but decorated with flowers. He inflated it almost instantly and looked back at her with a cheesy grin so wide it was hard for her not to laugh even through her nerves. He was always so prepared.

"How's this?" He asked, "you should be able to sit in it just fine, so you can hang out with us! As long as you like. We can get out whe-"

"It's super, Franky," Robin interrupted sweetly. She took a deep breath and scrunched her nose at Olive, who was once again bouncing excitedly.

"Zuper, Fanky!"

Robin wasn't sure that would ever get old, at least not to her, and from the weepy look on Franky's face she concluded he felt the same. He held out his hand for Olive to climb back on, but she grabbed Robin's to pull her. "'Omy, 'and," she demanded. Robin followed as far as she could with a quick "yes ma'am," and wasn't about to let the tiny hand go, so she maneuvered her power somewhat awkwardly to get settled atop the inner tube. It was large enough to fit her comfortably and keep her mostly out of the water, but her skin coming into contact with the sea was inevitable. It made her woozy almost instantly, but she adjusted. She could withstand that for her daughter and more. It was a cozy tide pool with the three of them in it, which eased some of Robin's fears. Olive was content that she had joined them, so she gave her her hand back rather gracelessly.

Franky seemed to be kicking his feet below the surface despite having found a place to sit against the rocks. It was nice. "Alright, I'm just gonna lower my hands a little so she's just barely touchin' the water."

"That sounds good," Robin murmured, fighting back the sinking weariness that came with a devil fruit and the sea. "You can address her like that too - she does not know how to form her own sentences yet, but I have noticed she seems to understand more than it appears. To an extent, at least."

"I'll keep that in mind," Franky said, looking at Olive, "your momma's tellin' me you're smart as a whip, eh?"

Olive just smiled.

"I'll take that as a 'she's a super genius.' Now then, easy does it," Franky chuckled as he lowered his hands into the water until a shallow enough pool began to form. Robin's eyes were half-lidded nearby, watching intently. Olive was largely unbothered, having grown accustomed to bath time, but the instinct to splash overcame her. Franky let it get to a comfortable level and the parents watched as Olive entertained herself enthusiastically.

Worries didn't stand much of a chance to the sound of wonder-filled giggles. Robin was almost beginning to wonder why she had been so afraid in the first place, though in her heart she knew it was rooted in a reasonable fear. It all seemed to melt away in the goofy cyborg's presence.

Thankful for the rare island of leisure, the little family spent much of the afternoon in the water. Franky had gotten Olive comfortable enough to float for a few seconds before lifting her up out of the water - which she found as a particularly intense game. Both adults wondered how she had the energy to repeat the same thing, but were anything but bothered by it. It gave them time to talk. Talk they did.

"Oi, Robin," Franky piped up after an intense conversation about bubbles. He let her splash around in his palms for a bit while he ventured, "are you feelin' alright?"

"I'm feeling just fine, Franky, thank you," she replied with a smile, "it's not so bad if I'm not fully submerged, if my reaction to the water is concerning you. I imagine this is similar to what it must feel like when you run out of cola, though I could be mistaken."

The cyborg nodded in understanding. Something seemed to be on his mind, so she summoned an arm hazily to give his cheek a gentle caress for encouragement. "That's good then - you're safe there! Uh," he blinked, "mind if I ask you some questions about the little lady then? Just about some of the stuff I missed."

Robin nodded, covering her mouth when she laughed a little about his uncharacteristic sheepishness. "Of course," she answered, "you can ask me anything. She happens to be a subject I'm quite fond of discussing. What is it that you would like to know?"

"I guess for starters, I'd love to know where you came up with the name," he started, "it's perfect. I just knew we never landed on one."

"Are you upset I didn't go with your original suggestion?" Robin teased.

"Not at all," Franky cackled, "I'm just curious if there was a meaning to it - or if you were just hungry."

"Ah," she feigned understanding his clarification as if she didn't already know, "I know you know bits and pieces of my upbringing, and can I presume you recall our conversation on the Sunny the day we all separated?" Franky nodded so that she could continue, and she could see the wistful look in his eyes that told her everything she needed to know. "I thought about it a lot before she was born, but I came up short until I met her, in truth. My mother's name was Nico Olvia," she murmured, weary chest prepared to dig into old wounds, "she wasn't in my life long, and I only know what I'd been able to squeeze from the other archeologists when I was fairly small, but I thought I could honor her memory. She died thinking of the big picture, with naive dreams of a future I could live in, assuming I could survive that hellish day. While as an adult I can understand her reasoning, and am thankful that I am here to make the future she wished for, as an eight-year-old I just wanted someone to hold my hand. Professor Clover was not a father to me, but he was there when no one else was. Olives are green and so are clovers, and it is close to Olvia, but it's something different."

"Something old and something new," Franky was very clearly beginning to weep, and the tiny hands that patted his chest to help were making his outburst worse.

"Exactly," Robin's disembodied hands joined Olive's in trying to soothe the emotional cyborg. "I thought - and perhaps I was being silly, not that it matters - that maybe it would be like honoring my mother's hope for the future while also giving her a second chance of sorts. This time I could be sure to hold her hand… It doesn't make any sense now that I say it out loud, I fear."

Franky couldn't wipe his eyes because he was still holding the precious cargo in his hands, so he just let the tears drip off his cheeks until Robin took it upon herself to help him, barely holding it in herself. "No that's super touching! I had no idea," he blubbered, "Olive really is the perfect name!"

Robin hummed with tired laughter, closing her eyes for a moment to just float, "it means a lot to know you think so," she managed once he had calmed down a little, "I wished we could have come up with it together, but I tried to keep our conversation in mind."

"Thank you for sharing, Robin," Franky spoke up in earnest.

She merely nodded, "though I do wonder on occasion if their burnt up ghosts will find us and haunt us because of it," she pondered aloud as if it were the most normal thing to say, "but that could be neat, if you ask me."

Franky looked unnerved, but he chuckled, "you're super morbid," he commented.

Olive clapped along, splashing water on the both of them occasionally as her way of participating.

Robin just chuckled in response. "What else would you like to know?"

"Shoot," Franky blinked a few final tears away, "I hadn't thought that far ahead - oh! I got it. What was her first word - if you remember it?"

"Of course I remember it," Robin chided, "it was 'hand.'"

"Hand?" He asked, somewhat surprised and affectionately curious, "her first word was 'hand?' Not 'Mama' or somethin'?"

Robin felt her cheeks flush a little, and Olive offered Franky her hand despite the fact that she was sitting in his. Franky used his smaller hands to grasp it as understanding settled in. "Children repeat things they hear the most, and I suppose I didn't refer to myself in the third person all too much," she found herself feeling small again, embarrassed with the raw emotions that came with talking about her mother and the exhaustion that was creeping in from the water made her a bit fragile, "I asked if she would hold my hand most nights - every night, perhaps if I'm to be honest. It was lonesome, but you know that. Eventually she started asking me first."

His tears started again, but this time quieter, "b… Bwaaaah!" Well, quieter for a moment - he couldn't keep it in, "tell me you cried because I think I would have combusted on the spot!"

At ease from the sudden show of solidarity, she grew a little less embarrassed, and felt a little silly for the notion, "oh, absolutely," she answered with her own set of salty drops on her eyelashes, "it took me a moment to realize what she was saying, but once I did I couldn't see for at least an hour. Oh, I would just hold her hand forever if she asked me to," she shut her eyes again to wipe them, "with as much as I read, you would think I could articulate how much it means to me, but words fail me. Hand," she laughed softly to herself. The wooziness was starting to get to her, it would seem, but she was content. No, she was happy.

"'And," Olive said confidently. Robin still covered her face, but without looking she reached over to grasp the toddler's outstretched palm. She could hear Franky weeping again, and couldn't particularly blame him. She was happy to share some of what he was unable to experience, though she still felt guilt that they largely centered around her - it couldn't be helped. It was enough to make her forget that they were in water. Olive was happy, and Olive was safe in someone else's arms, but still within reach. One step at a time, she had said. Trusting someone like this was more like a leap for her, but with someone like Franky to catch her, it felt a lot less frightening than it would have two years prior. She could almost faintly hear the main wail as world around her started to fade, "I-I'll never l-let go of either of your h-hands!"

It wasn't until Robin woke up being carried quietly with a weight on her chest that she realized she must have grown comfortable and tired enough to fall asleep in the midst of their conversation. Judging by the fading light in the sky, she had been asleep for some time, and the Sunny was coming into view. She quickly realized the weight on her chest was a sleeping Olive, her fingers still curled tightly around her own. What must those two have gotten up to while she rested? With an exhale, she let herself accept that it was between them. She hummed quietly and Franky looked down at his ward.

The cyborg met her gaze with his toothy grin, and leaned down to give her forehead the gentlest of kisses. "Thank you, Robin," he whispered. Warmth enveloped her whole body at the sign of affection.

"For what?"

He didn't answer, he just gestured to the snoozing bundle on her chest with a nod of his head. Yeah, she could find a way to get used to this.

Chapter 22: Part of the Crew. Robin. Summary:

Robin and Olive have a sleepy morning together, and Robin gets lost in her memories.

Notes:

So this chapter is a little long-winded, and maybe a little redundant and for that I apologize! I hope it gets what I'm trying to across, and isn't overly pretentious or anything haha. I just love Robin being happy. She deserves that much!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text Part of the Crew. Robin.

"Omy. Omy!"

Oh how that beautiful almost-word rang like music to Robin's ears. Even accompanied by chubby hands squeezing her face before sleep had fully relinquished its hold. She hummed in acknowledgement, opening her eyes to the world for the day, to be met with her world staring back at her with a big grin. "Oh dear," she lamented playfully, "did we sleep in?"

Olive babbled happily in response. It was just the two of them, Robin realized the more she came to. They were cozy among the blankets strewn atop Franky's odd bed, the cyborg nowhere to be seen. Robin reasoned he had gotten up ahead of them and let them sleep, having heard the gist of her conversation with Chopper recently. She needed to sleep when she could, and to her credit she was trying. It was difficult to decide how she felt about him being gone. The overwhelming affection she felt for the tiny palms, the tiny fingers - well, that took precedent.

"Good morning, my little flower," she cooed, giving her daughter's nose a soft poke with a long index finger, "did you sleep well? Did you have sweet dreams?" Our little flower, Franky had said. It warmed her cheeks to think he'd guessed her pet name for their daughter, though it felt obvious in retrospect.

"Ah!" Olive confirmed rather enthusiastically, going on to elaborate with some incoherent chatter. Robin could occasionally pick out a word or two, but she knew for the most part that the little girl was only attempting to mimic speech - a good thing, she had been sure to read about.

Of course she played along, resting her own hand over Olive's, still firmly on her cheek - the thought crossed her mind to never let this moment go, a fuzzy memory of her own tickling the edges of her mind, "oh really? That's wonderful to hear," she responded in earnest when Olive seemed to have finished, "I slept well too. I did not have any dreams, though mine are usually dreadful." She wrapped her daughter in a gentle embrace, giving her a kiss on the top of her head with a hum, "but I think you're getting really good at fighting them away. Being home on the Sunny helps too, don't you think?"

"Hmnmah!" Olive agreed, "'omy 'appy?" It was like a bullet through the chest.

Robin hummed a quiet laugh, letting Olive settle again so that they were face to face. She brushed a stray piece of teal hair falling over nose out of the way so she could get a good look at her. She cupped her daughter's face in her hands and smiled her widest smile, though she could feel a moat of tears forming, "yes, mommy is very happy," she answered truthfully. "What about Olive? Is Olive happy too?"

Perhaps she was just trying to placate Robin by repeating words, but the naive, adoration-blind part of her wanted to believe Olive fully understood what was being asked when she answered with a bubbly, "Ol've 'appy!" She had even punctuated each syllable with those little hands on Robin's cheeks.

"You look happy," Robin beamed, "my, you look happy." She only imagined how much of a lonely journey it had to have been for the little girl, one she'd been more than familiar with. Thankfully, her more social years would be spent amongst the crew who clearly cared about her. Robin still ached bearing the responsibility of keeping her safe and secret. She would never be sure she made the right choices, but seeing Olive happier than ever made her confident she was heading in the right direction. She told herself that for as long as she lived, her daughter would never feel the same darkness she once bore - the one that even to this day still managed to find a claw hold from time to time. That darkness was no match for the light of her crew, and certainly not against her little flower.

Memories danced against her eyelids as she adjusted to the waking world. She deduced that Olive wanted to cuddle, and was more than happy to oblige. Her little scruffy head rested under her chin, and Robin hazily drew circles on her back - a simple habit that helped comfort the both of them. A reminder that she was there - a reminder for whom was unclear. "My, you look happy," she repeated under her breath.

It had been a long month. A longer month than she was sure she'd ever experienced. Robin quietly entered what she called home for now - a humble structure, built into the strange natural rock formations where the Revolutionaries had their base in Baltigo. She found comfort in her small living space, separated from the main encampment. She needed her privacy.

Recovery had taken its toll, having not allowed the medics to treat her wounds the moment she arrived. They wanted to argue, but no one did. Where was this treatment when she was on the run for the last twenty years of her life? Bitterness aside, she was weary, and beyond that she was anxious. Her secret she carried with her was so fragile, and there was no way she could let it get out even amongst those who seemed to fight for good. Her secrecy came at the cost of not knowing anything for certain. She didn't even have half of the medical knowledge her dear doctor had, and he was off in his own trials. She hoped he was safe.

She slid her clothes off for the night, getting as comfortable as she could, and climbed into her bed. Truth be told, it wasn't the first time she had been expecting, but not all tales end so sweet. It was somewhat relieving that she had continued putting on weight, she noted as her long fingers traced the more pronounced curve of her stomach. Still hopeful, she prepared herself for the worst - she was an expert at that. Her body had taken a lot of blows, after all.

Robin could feel her lip quiver involuntarily. Her emotions were more volatile and on her sleeve than she was used to. She wished she could feel the slow rocking of the Sunny against the waves, hear the rambunctious boys chasing one another on deck into the evening, and chat with the redhead she shared quarters with. She desperately wished to be back in his arms, and she chided herself for such pathetic desires. But she was lonely, and she was scared. She could allow herself to be a little naive in the darkness. Luffy would be so bold as to encourage it. "I miss them," she whispered aloud, covering her mouth with her other hand when she couldn't suppress a choked out sob.

It was as though the world was ready to give her her answer, as if to make up for the absence of those she loved in a tiny act of kindness in the night.

It was faint at first.

She felt a little flutter within, holding her breath, telling herself it was just her imagination.

Then again. Stronger this time.

Her fingers tightened around her mouth, trying to keep it all in, forgetting to breathe. Again. It was strange. It was real. It was hope.

Five more months.

Fifteen agonizing hours.

Ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes.

She was real, she was there, and she was perfect. There was nothing that could pry them apart now, not in any meaningful way. Robin held her daughter against her skin for the first time, soothing her crying for fear of discovery as quickly as she could. That awful sound had rang in her ears, beautiful in every way. Her beloved burden.

Exhaustion filled every ounce of her being, but she couldn't take her focus off of the tiniest human she was sure she'd encountered. It barely registered that she had made that. A tiny hand curled around the tip of her finger, and were she not trying to stay as still as possible, she would have wept. Her little bundle lay resting on her chest, a warmth so all encompassing she was overwhelmed.

She had his hair.

"Oh yes, Nami is the best at hunting down a bargain and finding the cutest outfits," Robin spoke to the infant like she were any other cognizant adult, that sweetness ever present in her tone, "I'm sure she'll have you dressed like the little doll you are." Softly she pinched the little giggling cheeks. "I'm afraid I'm not terribly good at making clothes, but these will do for now. We won't have to wait too much longer." She was not so secretly counting the days, this night was not unlike most others.

One more year, that's all the pair had to endure. One more year and they'd be home. Was Luffy doing alright? Surely he was. Had the others been cast to a nicer world? She hoped every night that they were safe and had shelter, but she knew they were strong and capable. Still, she wondered what they would think when they reunited and the crew gained another member. It tore her up to think how worried Chopper and Franky would be - Nami too. She'd let them in on her burden to bear, and guilt despite knowing there was nothing different she could have done tensed her shoulders often. Would the others accept her so easily? She'd only ever witnessed them do just that, but her old fears were fresh in isolation. Then the little girl laughed again.

"Ah, you'll have so much to laugh about when you meet them, I promise," Robin cooed, though her heart ached. She was tired, she was lonely, she was stretched thin. Yet she felt a warmth in her chest combating the worst of it all. It couldn't stop her from blurting out, "I'm sorry I'm all you have right now, little one." It didn't phase Olive one bit. She merely reached out for her mother's hand, who wouldn't dare deny her. She wasn't being fair to herself, she made sure to inwardly note. "I just know they'll love you like I do. They have the most wonderful kindness about them. Oh and you wouldn't believe the silliness. Even the cranky swordsman - Zoro…"

"'They found the remains of the mother and child perfectly preserved together against the elements, buried so that even in death nothing could separate them.' If you and I were to die, I hope we would be buried together too - that way if someone found us hundreds of years later they would still know just how much I love you," Robin half-joked, reading aloud from one of her many books, this particular one discussing the burial habits of long gone civilizations. "Aren't humans fascinating things? No matter what we are like in life, we are the same in death - nothing but bones and our tenuous connections to the world around us." Her eyelids were drooping, and she found herself growing oddly sentimental about the nature of life and death in the presence of a sixteen month old child. "Although, Brook is dead and nothing but bones, but-"

A small hand covered her mouth suddenly, accompanied by a dramatic yawn. The comfort of human connection lost on the tired child, but resounded in Robin's aching chest at the slightest touch.

"Ah, you're sleepy!" Robin teased quietly, though the exasperated relief was evident in the roughness of her weary voice, "now where was that when it was time for bed two hours ago, little flower?"

Olive clambered over the book in her mother's grasp, nestling her head under her chin. Any trace of frustration Robin could possibly have had was gone in an instant, making one wonder if it was even ever there. She had little time to rest, but with her daughter in her arms it didn't matter. "That's alright, we can sleep," Robin murmured, gently rubbing the already dozing toddler's back, "may you have the sweetest of dreams, hm."

"Alright, now who is this?" Robin pointed to a drawing taped next to a worn out wanted poster with a giddy grin on her face. Just a few more days.

"Oofy!" Olive didn't even take a moment to question who her mother was pointing to - she was an expert by this point. They kept going. She had the crew down. 'Oppah, Oro, 'Ji, Ah-mee, 'Sopp, Book… Fanky.' They would figure out what he would want to be called when they met, surely. Until then, Olive knew their names, their faces, as much as Robin shared every night for the last eighteen months.

"That's right!" She praised her, squeezing her nose affectionately with a disembodied hand. "Then who is this?"

The hand that squeezed the toddler's nose poked her chest lightly. She put her own hands against her cheeks, "Ol've!" Her name came out as one garbled syllable, but it was recognizable to the mother.

Robin hummed with laughter, opening her arms to encourage her daughter to approach. Approach she did, toddling over to meet her embrace. "You are so very correct," she beamed as she hugged her tightly. She didn't have any more tears to shed, not yet, "oh, Olive… I hope they all haven't been killed or mutilated beyond recognition for you. They won't recognize who you are, but you know them… They'll learn your name soon too, just you wait."

Today was the day.

Treading lightly in Sabaody was an understatement. The archipelago was crawling with marines and filthy outlaws Robin had a hard time referring to as fellow pirates the moment she met Luffy. She wanted to take a quick detour before she made her way to Shakky's bar and eventually to the Sunny. Her hair had grown and she covered her eyes coolly with sunglasses. Her last wanted poster showed her at her most hardened, and she was thankful she had been able to grow her hair out. It felt like the years of training had certainly made her stronger, but the way her jaw set and her eyes softened made her harder to recognize. She was happy.

She was also anxious. When was there a time where she wasn't anxious, she wondered. These were wonderful nerves, she decided. Today was the day she would see her friends again! Today was the day she could introduce her daughter to the crew. Today was the day they would be home.

Robin couldn't have her little one in what she considered to be rags, and she'd prefer something nicer than the Revolutionary army gear, so she found herself wandering the shopping center. Olive was holding onto her back while she carried her. Hiding her during the trip there was overwhelming for the both of them, and the change in scenery was almost too much for the toddler. But she was resilient, and the bright colors of one of the shops they found seemed to light up her gaze.

Robin found herself marveling at the tiny shoes and matching clothes. She was practically shell-shocked by the options. Olive pointed at a pair of blue leggings with stars on them, so close to the color of her hair. "Ah. My, you have a good eye," she praised, tears welling up yet again as she sought a pair that would fit. It was as if she knew. "You like these?"

Olive happily giggled, and Robin took that as a yes, "then we'll start with those." She was thankful the store was largely empty - many of the customers had left to attend a concert of some sort. It was the first time she had Olive out in the open, and she felt every bit like a target. Her family was nearby, they wouldn't let anything happen to her should they catch wind. "What about this?" She held up a little purple dress with an embroidered flower on the front. How fitting. She was sure Olive was just excited by the bright colors, but thrilled just the same when she clapped in approval.

Robin quickly found something much more comfortable for herself, and handed over the small amount of cash she carried with her to the cashier and headed into a curtained off dressing room. Setting aside their old clothes - unable to part with the memories just yet - Robin got them both dressed. Olive didn't complain, and instead seemed to be getting pretty worn out already. They inspected each other in the mirror with matching wide grins. Robin squeezed Olive's shoulders affectionately, feeling familiar anxious butterflies in her stomach. "We're just about ready to go home, don't you think?"

"Ah!" A very sleepy, but enthusiastic nod confirmed it.

Avoiding the marines that were crawling about the archipelago ended up being easier than expected. Fear gripped her when she heard whispers of the infamous Devil Child being sighted, but was put to rest when she realized she was not at all under their radar. Some unfortunate soul was being mistaken for her visage from two years prior. A sigh of relief and anticipation escaped her lungs as she approached the Rip Off Bar. It would be the first familiar face she'd seen in years, and the first stranger Olive would have met. She considered finding the Sunny herself, but she thought better of it. The idea had the grown woman shaking, but her captain trusted these two and she had no reason to doubt them. Rayleigh and Shakky were some of the last people she would expect to give information to the World Government.

Robin swallowed back her nerves and opened the door. Thankfully there were no patrons, only Shakky behind the bar, flitting through a newspaper with a cigarette in one hand. "Ah, the second to last finally made it!" The finely aged woman had barely even looked up when she identified her.

"Eh?" A grizzled voice startled Robin from behind. "Oh, well would you look at that. If it isn't Nico Robin," Rayleigh commented from a nearby booth, alarming her for not having been able to detect his presence the moment she entered "and a surprise guest? Who do we have here?"

Processing the comment Shakky made first, Robin realized there was still one more crewmate that hadn't arrived. She then gathered her bearings knowing that she and Shakky were not alone. "Ah, hello, Rayleigh, sir. Shakky," she dipped her head courteously, but unease froze her tongue. She wasn't quite as ready as she might have thought.

"C'mon Ray, offer her a drink first and let the poor woman sit a moment before you start prying," she interrupted with a wink the instant she noticed Robin had grown uncomfortable. "Here, have a seat at the bar and I'll get you two something if you'd like," she gestured to a well worn stool.

"Oh, thank you," Robin breathed, mindlessly following instructions as her thoughts began to wander elsewhere. Reality was easier to grasp once she held her toddler in her lap.

"What'll it be? Coffee? Tea? Somethin' hard for the little one?" Shakky seemed to be somewhat of an expert at easing tension in the air - perhaps it was just her presence.

Robin chuckled, "oh no, she cut out that stuff weeks ago," she replied, garnering a smirk from the older woman, "I'd love a coffee if you're offering." Resting her hand on the top of Olive's head, "she'd be happy with some fruit juice if you have it."

"'Ooce," Olive echoed quietly, eyes flitting from Shakky and Rayleigh first, but then buried her face against her mother's chest shyly.

"Comin' right up," the barkeep rasped, attending to her task.

"Her name is Olive," Robin's thoughts finally caught up to her in the moment of quiet, cycling back to Rayleigh's first inquiry with an anxious admission, as if it was something she shouldn't say, "this is my daughter, Olive."

Rayleigh had, at some point, joined them at the bar, helping himself to something stiff - whiskey perhaps. Robin couldn't quite tell. "Ah, Olive, eh? Nice to meet you."

Olive didn't say anything, but she did peer over at the old legend. "She's not used to other people."

"Me neither - at least not as much these days. Well, I've got an apple juice for Miss Olive here, and a coffee for you," Shakky returned with a steaming mug and a small glass, "always exciting to meet a new upstart. I take it your two years treated you alright?"

She seemed to be inspecting Robin, who took a quiet sip of her drink only after blowing on it in an attempt to cool the surface, "we managed," she answered simply.

Robin handed Olive the glass of juice, careful to help her hold it while she readjusted. "Seems you more than managed," Shakky commented, "that's an adorable little thing you've got there." She tapped her cigarette on one of the many ashtrays surrounding the bar, "pardon me, but I had my suspicions back then, and meant to say somethin', but everything happened so fast. Didn't I tell ya, Ray?"

"Huh? Oh yeah," Rayleigh swirled his glass, his mind seemed to be wading in old, distant waters, "that woman's intuition of yours never misses."

Another puff of smoke, "you poor thing. You're alright, though?"

There was something so genuine in the way that the older woman spoke despite having only met her for a brief time. Oddly soothed by the sympathy, Robin took another sip of her coffee. Olive clearly mimicked her with her own drink, to the barkeep's amusement. A hearty smile crossed her face, "we are. We're ready for a new adventure, aren't we, Olive?"

Olive nodded, almost spilling her juice in the process, but Robin was quick to summon a hand to assist. It was like second nature.

"A child aboard a ship," Rayleigh mused, causing Robin to nearly grow defensive before she saw his relaxed posture - at some point he had swiveled, resting his elbows behind him on the bar and crossing his legs, "that takes me back."

"Everything takes you back," Shakky jabbed in what Robin could only assume was an affectionate manner.

Curiosity sparked in Robin's gaze as the Dark King waved his partner's comments away with a grizzled hand.

Robin ventured, "pardon me, but was there a child aboard the Oro Jackson? Or were you referring to another time-"

"Children," Rayleigh corrected, "for a brief period, yes. I do wonder how they're doing every once and a while."

"They survived? They weren't eaten by sea beasts or tortured and killed by government agents?" Robin asked, hope she didn't know she needed flaring in her chest.

"Heh, you've got quite the imagination on you," the old man chuckled, "as far as I know they survived their travels, but I don't know how they fared on land. Their mother fell ill and couldn't make it to the end. They were a lively bunch and a handful, but it was a joy to see what the future would be made of for a time." He seemed to catch Olive's attention and flashed her a wink, which elicited a shy giggle.

Surprise tensed her shoulders, but a wave of relief met it head on. "I see," Robin murmured. Lost in her own head again, she took another quiet sip of her coffee. There was little more she was interested in sharing with the two, her guarded ways never really going away. Instead she listened quietly as they reminisced. She finished her drink by the time they finished speaking.

Rayleigh marked where the Sunny was docked on a map, and Olive had inexplicably fallen asleep in her lap. It was time to go.

"Oh, and Miss Robin - needless to say, our lips are sealed," Shakky added quietly, "I always keep my eyes and ears on what's new, and there hasn't been a peep. Something tells me the world government won't be thrilled about her, but I'm sure you know that."

Unfortunately, she knew that all too well. It wasn't a crime to exist, at least not to those that mattered most to her. Her heart knew that now, and didn't intend to let her daughter ever consider otherwise. "I'm afraid that's their problem," Robin uttered with a false confidence she wished she truly held, "but yes, I appreciate your discretion."

Robin adjusted her sleeping daughter against her back as she readied herself to leave. Shakky seemed impressed by her response and chuckled. "The future Pirate King's crew never ceases to excite, hm?"

Rayleigh laughed a hearty, nostalgic laugh, "I'd expect nothing less," he agreed.

"We'll come see you off when everything is ready. It's best you two head on down to your ship then," the barkeep took a drag of her third cigarette of the encounter. "Good luck to you both."

"Thank you both," Robin called.

Rayleigh raised his glass as the pair waved her off, "to the future," Shakky said with a smile.

To the future indeed.

The sound of the rolling ocean and the snoring toddler in her arms made it hard not to fall back into slumber. Instead she found herself reminiscing. Lost in the memories, and thinking just how much Olive had already grown. She had been so tiny once - all things considered, she still was.

They had been on the Sunny for around a month, sailing through the New World. Every day had been a new adventure, some far more exciting and treacherous than others. Still, they all found time to be together. To laugh. To be merry. To be together.

Nothing had changed, and yet everything was different. The warmth was, as expected, overwhelming in the best of ways. That day Robin had been separated from her family yet again, this time with the promise of a return. In that time, she made something new. It was difficult, it was lonely, it was painful, it was beautiful, and it was hers. That little girl who had been left behind by every adult that was supposed to protect her, hold her, love her, bore scars so deep it was a wonder that some days she could stand now had a little girl of her own. A little girl who was welcomed with open arms and wide smiles and promises to be kept safe. A little girl who was loved without question and without wavering.

Tears spilled over Robin's puffed up face, her bottom lip trembling as she tried to bite the inside of her cheek to keep her from waking Olive as her tired mind replayed treasured snippets from their daily life. A cruel kindness, this early in the morning.

Hooves stamping through the grass as tiny feet tried to keep up, glee filling the air, children at heart.

Tiny fingers, not yet capable of the dexterity needed for most tasks, impatiently peeling a tangerine to the redhead's delight - she would get it right one day.

A tiny voice, growing more confident by the day, listening intently to the man serving her favorite foods as he identified every ingredient.

Tiny snores keeping time with much larger ones belonging to the moss-headed fellow, a comfortable nap in the warm sun - the light previously unknown.

Flowers falling victim to the tiny grasp, too young to have a delicate touch, but received in kind by the bravest warrior on the sea.

Tiny claps off rhythm, not that it bothered the musician one bit. The rhythm changed to meet hers. It almost seemed as though he looked more alive.

Tiny belly wondering how she could be so full when the captain ate endlessly, but enjoying a satisfaction that he could afford her.

Playful, tiny giggles as a girl and her father she just met took apart a toy and made it into something new together.

Robin was always nearby, always watching, her smile so wide it made her jaw ache. All she wanted for that tiny, sweet thing was to have what she didn't - what she had now. They had a family - they were a family. How does one reconcile having everything she could ever wish for? How could she allow herself such things?

Her dream remained the same - to carry on the will of Ohara - that would not change. It hadn't always been such a selfless wish, had it?

No. It hadn't.

A childish wish to go to sea - it was a simple wish. All she had dreamed of when she was little more than her own daughter's age was to be whisked away - to be with someone who loved her. Her lip quivered again at the notion. Had she even truly been interested in her studies? Of course, she had to be… Were they just a means to an end for her? She had only been eight. She dreamed to find the answers for those who no longer had the opportunity - but was that what she truly desired?

"Take me to sea with you!" She had cried. Yes, she wanted to live. On the top of that tower there, Robin allowed herself to be as honest as she'd ever been with herself.

Perhaps it was selfish, to say she was satisfied with getting exactly what she wished for.

Was that so bad?

Her hand still rubbed circles between Olive's shoulders. What did she dream of behind those tiny, fluttering eyelids? All Robin knew was that she would do anything to make it come true.

What kind of person would Olive grow up to be? Would she be the kind to dream openly? Would she be kind? Would she give love the same way she receives it? Would she be smart? Did it matter? The future was always such a difficult concept to grasp with Robin's life and love was woven so tightly into the past. The most could promise was to be there in the present, to help her daughter become her own person, whoever that may be.

Oh how the mind wandered when sleep still tasted sweet on her tongue. She could almost laugh at how much ground she had covered. The dark haired woman wiped the tears from her eyes. They needed to get up, they needed to start their day. A little extra time alone was welcome, but she feared just how far away her thoughts were willing to drift. She gave the top of the little girl's head another gently kiss.

"Olive," she murmured, careful not to startle the sleeping child, "Miss Olive, I think it's about time to wake up, don't you think? What would you like to do today?"

Sleepy eyes and drool met her gaze, which she was careful to wipe away with a thumb. The little girl came to, pondering her mother's question - so many choices! Clambering off her chest and off the edge of the bed, she gave her a wordless answer with a smile. "Hand," she said, an order Robin was eager to follow. "C'ew."

She held her tiny hand and joined her in the present, getting to her feet. "Yes ma'am," Robin laughed, "let's go see what the crew has gotten up to this morning, and get us some breakfast. I hope Luffy hasn't eaten it all - though I imagine Sanji has made sure that isn't the case."

Olive pulled her mother along, Robin trailing behind slower on purpose so that she felt as though she were in the lead. Truthfully, she just didn't want to let her go, at least not yet. Her wandering thoughts had left her wanting to cling on. "Ah," Olive agreed, looking back with a smile that made Robin's heart melt every time.

On deck, the excited smiles and thrilled calls of their crew grounded her. Embracing her in a way she yearned for, but could never put into words how much it meant despite her expansive knowledge. They were home. They were whole. Olive was part of the crew. Robin was, in the rare moment she would allow herself the same grace she would afford her family, truly and unashamedly happy.