I hummed as I walked into the galley, feeling much better after sleeping for most of the day. It was now dinner time, so I had gotten myself and Hadrian changed and decided to head down to eat with everyone else. I was sure that there would be questions, but I honestly hoped that Marco could answer most of them. I didn't really want to get into how my magic reacted to threats against those I saw as mine.

While still a bit shaken up, the boy smiled widely once we entered the galley and he spotted Whitebeard. I had started calling the man Oyaji like the others a few days ago, and my little kit had just accepted him as his grandfather, or Jiichan as Marco had taught him to say, almost immediately. It surprised me, if only a little bit, but that was the mind of a child.

"Jiichan!" he yelled, pulling away from me and running to Oyaji's side. "Are the bad men gone now?"

I smiled as I walked calmly over to the table the commanders sat at. Few had their soulmate, if they found them, stay on the ship, but I, like a small portion, was not keen to leave. Even if some thought that a ship wasn't the right place to raise a child. I had talked with both Marco and Oyaji about it, and they were fine with my choice to stay on the Moby with Hadrian.

"Gurararara! Yes child. They are gone now thanks to your aunt and everyone else." The large man gave me a smile as I sat down next to Marco and started to make myself a plate. "How are you feeling, daughter? Marco said that burst of power took a lot out of you."

I smiled back as I conjured up a hot cup of Earl Grey tea for myself, taking a sip. "Much better after some rest, Oyaji. Slight magical exhaustion is easy to cure when you know how." I hummed and chuckled softly at the sight of Hadrian climbing onto the man's lap. It was becoming is favorite place to sit besides mine and Marco's at meals. "Hadrian dear, don't forget to eat some fruit with dinner. If you do, you can have a chocolate tonight before bed."

I heard a few of the crew nearby laugh as the boy quickly grabbed an apply while Marco made him a small plate. It was a well known fact that I had an emergency stash of chocolate for when anyone was upset or one of the nurses were on their monthly. Even after only two weeks, I was the one to go to if you were upset. After I had successfully cheered up Jozu, who was missing his own soulmate who chose not to stay on the ship full time, on my second day in front of a few others, word seemed to get around. And so had my penchant for stating chocolate as a cure for unhappiness, a habit gotten from cheering up my brother and his small group of friends over the years. Especially Remus.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Marco nudging my shoulder and blinked. Merlin, I missed them.

"Are you okay, yoi? You looked lost in thought there."

I looked over at him and smiled softly at him. "Just remembering saying something similar to James and his friends. One of them often needed some cheering up, and that's why I tend to carry chocolate with me."

He gave me a soft look and leaned over to kiss the top of my head as I turned back to dinner.

"Is that way you give it to anyone who's upset?" Vista asked from a few seats away.

"Yes, though those boys were happy pranksters more often then not." I smiled a bit brighter as I ate, remembering some of their pranks. "They were thick as thieves back in school, and I had my hands full when they came over during breaks. The amount of times I had to hex Sirius alone is crazy. Especially once he moved in with us when he was sixteen. It was like I had four younger brothers instead of one."

I laughed along with the others, though only with a touch of sadness. Four had become two and I wasn't sure how Remus and Sirius were doing with me gone. After getting settled, I had asked Death to give them a letter from me, but the being refused to tell me anything when he returned to say that it had been done. It made me worry, but there really was nothing that I could do. Hadrian's safety came first and foremost.

"That explains you being so good at dealing with some of us. Experience," Izou said, looking over at Thatch as the ginger tried to seem innocent.

"Trust me, they have nothing on what those four used to get up to. James once tried to prank me by spelling all of my shoes to quack and putting a potion in my morning tea that caused me to be unable to speak for three hours." I shook my head and gave a slight smirk. "I made him sing everything he tried to say for a week after charming all of his clothes pink. They learned quickly not to prank me after I did something similar to all of them, though Sirius wore his pink leather jacket quite proudly."

Though it still stung, I found it easier to talk about them now. If only a little. Hadrian liked hearing stories, so it was a good way to keep their memory alive.

"Oh man! I'd pay to see that!" Thatch laughed, leaning against Izou. "They sound great, Liz!"

I chuckled and nodded, but Hadrian spoke before I could.

"Daddy was great! Aunty Liz said that he could turn into a deer!" He giggled from his spot on Oyaji's lap as he at some apple slices that had been cut for him.

I could tell that a few of the guys were curious about how since they knew that Devil Fruits didn't exist in my original world. I looked over at Marco and gave him a wink before getting up and transforming into my animagus form. I jumped onto Marco's lap and listened to him explain it all to those around us.

"So, it's basically her spirit animal?" Izou asked afterwords. "Interesting. It could come in handy in a fight or if someone was captured."

I sat up and turned back to normal while still on Marco's lap, causing him to chuckle and wrap his arms around my waist so I didn't fall.

I finished my food and leaned against Marco's shoulder as he talked to those around us, sipping on my cup of tea. I was quite content to just listen for now, and I knew that no one would push me to talk. Not after this morning.

"Come on, yoi. Let's get you back to bed."

"Hm?" I opened my eyes, not realizing that I had closed them, and looked up at Marco. "Oh, sorry love. Guess I'm still a bit tired."

He chuckled and helped my up, nodding over to where Hadrian was asleep on Oyaji's lap. That made me smile tiredly.

I followed as he walked over and picked the toddler up, covering my mouth as I yawned.

"I apologize, Oyaji., but it seems I need a bit more rest before I'm back to my usual," I said, patting the man's hand.

"No need, brat. Go rest now."

I smiled up at him before following Marco out of the galley and to our room. He went over to the wardrobe that I had magically expanded to serve as Hadrian's room until he was a bit older, laying the child on his bed.

I sat down on the edge of the bed and toed off my sandals, grabbing my brush to pull it through my black curls. After braiding my hair, I stood up to change into my sleepwear but stopped as Marco grabbed my wrist. He pulled me to his chest and wrapped his arms around my waist. This cause me to look up at him with my head tilted to the side slightly, my hands landing on his chest.

"I was so worried, yoi. I know you can handle things on your own, but I don't want to see you hurt."

I smiled softly at the care in his voice. It made my heart flutter. A very nice feeling.

"Marco...I'm okay. You won't lose me that easily." I leaned up and pressed by lips to his.

He returned the kiss immediately, one hand moving to tangle with my hair and the other one holding my hip firmly. My own moved to wrap around his neck as I deepened the kiss. I felt my skin tingle in the places he touched, causing a shiver to run down my spine. I had never felt anything like that before. The electrifying feeling one got from the heated touch of a lover.

When air became necessary, I pulled away and let out a soft squeak as he picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, biting my lip as he started to trail kisses down my neck. This was further than we head gone before, but I didn't mind. I had wanted to do this with him since that first week.

"M-Marco..." I breathed out, gripping the back of his shirt tightly and tilting my head to the side, giving him better access.

I let out a soft moan as his hands moved to my ass, squeezing it gently as he nipped right under my ear.

"Fuck...I can't get enough of you, yoi."

I brought his face back to mine and kissed him again. Running my tongue along his lips, I moaned softly when he let me in.

He moved back to the bed and sat down with me in his lap, our position allowing me to feel just how much I was effecting him. He dominated the kiss and I found that I didn't mind submitting to him. Even though I hated to be vulnerable with others, I didn't mind him taking control.

He pulled me closer, causing us both to moan at the feeling. I couldn't help but roll my hips against his as he started kissing down my neck again.

He moved his hands up and under my shirt, tracing the bottom of my bra with his thumbs. His hands were so warm against my skin.

"Mm...we should...stop..."

Even though he said that, he kept kissing my neck, nipping here and there.

I bit my lip. I didn't want to stop, honestly. And if the bulge in his pants I felt pressed against my was any indication, neither did he.

I ran my hand down his chest and tugged on the sash he wore around his hips.

"Marco...please~"

I felt him take a deep breath as he pulled back slightly so that he could look at me. The heat in his eyes almost made me moan.

"Hm...what is it you want, yoi?" he asked, voice thick with lust. He ran his hand up and down my sides as he waited for me to answer.

I moaned softly and pugged at his dash again. "You. I want you, Marco. Please~"

It seemed like that was all he needed to hear before he pulled me flush with his chest and into the most heated kiss I had ever received.

We didn't get much rest that night as we explored each other's bodies and connected on a more primal level than before.

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A/N: Got a little spicy there for a minute, but I think that's as far as anything will ever go writing wise for this. I suck at writing like that. Anyway! Let me know what you think! Love y'all!
~Em