Chapter 30

Ace had been a bit frantic all day today. Marco hadn't quite managed to figure out why just yet, but he had been searching all the gift shops in town and supermarkets with a notepad, a taller blonde man in a suit and top hat at his side the entire time, accompanied by a light brown haired woman wearing a lot of pink. Koala held two den den mushis in hand, one that looked like Law's high den den mushi (which Marco had to admit, was weird) and the other den den sported a straw hat.

What were two members of the Revolutionary Army doing hanging out with Ace?

Marco followed them after that, a bit concerned, and also very curious.

"Okay, I have to ask yoi," Marco began, making the group jump. "Why are you with two Revolutionary Army members, Ace?"

The blonde one took off his top hat and did a fancy bow, crossing his legs and everything. What the hell?

"Portgas D. Sabo at your service, kidnapper of my brother."

Ace spluttered.

"I'm Koala." The brunette smiled and waved.

"Portgas?" Marco blinked at Sabo.

"He's messing with everyone," Ace sighed. "Marco, this is my brother, Sabo and his girlfriend, Koala."

Koala and Sabo both flushed. "I've not even asked her out on a date yet!" Sabo protested, cheeks bright pink.

"Yet?" Koala sounded hopeful.

Sabo's blushed deepened.

"Well it's nice to meet you," Marco said. "But it still doesn't answer my question yoi."

Ace laughed. "On the den den mushis are Law and Luffy. We're looking for mother's day gifts for mum."

"She's so far got a charm bracelet, the idea was taken from my tattoo," Law said. "Flowers, chocolates and some jewellery. Makino sent some... Interesting drawings from Luffy-"

"I thought they turned out great! Shishishishi!"

Ace winced. "Those bees you drew looked kinda evil, Luffy, I'm not gonna lie."

"And so did the flowers," Sabo agreed. "But I bet Rouge will love it."

"We also got mum her favourite rum," Ace said. "Koala suggested a pamper box too? So candles, bubble bath bombs, stuff like that?"

"She does like to take baths to relax yoi," Marco chuckled. "It was one of the main reasons she ended up with a bedroom in the Moby Dick. It was somewhere she could go to relax and know she was safe with all of us guarding the ship." He smiled warmly. "It sounds like you have plenty of thoughtful gifts, so why are you panicking and rushing about so much?"

"I told them we had plenty of things, but these guys are morons," Law sighed.

"But you said you used to get your mother a lot!" Sabo protested.

"We used to spread out our presents to her over the years," Law said. "Not throw everything at her in one go."

Ace squirmed. "This year is different..."

"How so?" Marco asked.

Ace frowned. "Well we both know how much she hates being with large groups of people... But I joined you, all of you, despite how large the Whitebeard family is, and trust me, I'm happy with that, but now mum's surrounded by people constantly, and I know she hates that, so I want to do something to make her happy. Mum deserves some time to relax too."

"We all get that, so we wanted to make this years extra special for her," Sabo agreed. "Rouge pretty much raised us four, and Bepo, Penguin and Shachi-"

"Shachi and Penguin disagree because they insist they were old enough to take care of themselves," Law said suddenly. "I don't know how they could think of that, considering Rouge had to constantly throw spiders out your room, Shachi!"

"They terrify me!" a voice cried out over Law's den den mushi.

"And Bepo says he was a mink so Rouge already respected his strength, which is true, so he sees her as more of a mentor figure," Law explained. "As do I-"

Sabo rolled his eyes. "She's an over protective mama bear when it comes to all of us, so hush with the whole 'I'm cool' act."

"Remind me to take a liver when I next see Sabo-ya. It's been a while since I've added any of my good old friends' organs to my collection." Law sounded gleeful.

Sabo went pale at that.

"You dug that hole yourself, Sabo," Ace sighed.

"Shishishishi, Traffy's so funny!"

"It's Trafalgar Law!"

"Traffy!"

"Damn you, Luffy-ya. I'll be after your organs next!"

"NOOOOO!" the den den mushi wailed. "NOT MY STOMACH AGAIN! PLEASE!"

Marco sweat dropped.

"Why did you make 'any of my good old friends' sound terrifying?" Sabo squeaked. "How is that even possible?"

"Surgeon of Death."

"He did get a pretty cool title," Ace admitted.

Sabo groaned.

"Shishishishi, mine will be cooler!"

"It's going to be Straw Hat, isn't it?" Sabo chuckled.

"Highly likely," Law agreed.

"Yep." Ace smirked. "Or shitty rubber devil fruit power."

"MY DEVIL FRUIT IS AWESOME!"

Ace's smirk widened. "Or fist as fast as pistols."

The snail flushed. "Shut up, Ace!"

Ace cackled. Marco couldn't help but smile warmly and ruffle his hair, earning a sheepishly smile. It was nice seeing Ace so relaxed.

"Okay, I'm taking her on a date to a cafe," Sabo insisted. "Law wants to take her to a museum, Ace claimed dibs on a roller-coaster park that isn't Sabaody, and Luffy is taking her on a hike-"

"There isn't that much to do in Goa!" Luffy cried.

"Wait, why did you send your drawings to us if mum is going to you, Luffy?" Ace asked.

"Oops... Well I'll just draw more! Shishishi!"

"I take it she'll be teleporting to Luffy and Law yoi?" Marco asked.

"Yes, I've already had Sabo give Ace the amulets to get Rouge to Luffy and I," Law said.

Marco had to admit, he was impressed. They had actually put a lot of thought and effort into this.

.::.

Rouge frowned, much to Whitebeard's confusion, and even sat up straight from her lounge on the arm rest of his chair. She stared out into the island before them, glaring hard at the city.

"Rouge?" he raised a brow.

"My kids are up to something."

"Kids?" Whitebeard echoed.

"Sabo is here too," Rouge said. "I can feel his haki. He's with Ace."

"Speaking of a Sabo, 'Portgas D. Sabo'?" Whitebeard asked.

"I didn't give birth to him. He's just trying to fuck around with everyone, but he's also my kid."

Whitebeard chuckled. "How main is that you got now?"

"Eh, it's complicated. Penguin and Shachi are more my students, but I still would protect their asses. Bepo was the same way because he's a mink, but he's very sweet and kind, but if you hurt Law, he's going to fucking kill you if you gets the chance. Law is definitely my kid, but I doubt he'd agree with that one. Sabo and Luffy are also definitely my kids, and Ace is my kiddest kid of them all."

"Kiddest kid?"

"Yep. I gave birth to that one."

"Guarararara, for a loner you're starting to collect kids like I am-"

"Fuck no!" Rouge scowled, then sighed. "They are all Ace's closest and oldest friends, y'know? Back when he was a little kid he didn't have any since he was hidden with the bandits all the time. He met Sabo in a dump."

Whitebeard sighed heavily. "The world is a mess."

"It really is," Rouge agreed with a sigh.

So Mother's Day in the UK is on the 10th of March, and I couldn't not write one for Rouge in this storyline, with all her little gremlins she's accidentally gathered along the way xD So here is part 1 of her Mother's Day tribute :D