"Grandpa!"

I chuckled softly as Hadrian ran ahead of Marco and I towards Whitebeard. The smiles on the faces of those around were a wonderful thing to see. The large man laughed loudly as the toddler did his best to climb up the stairs attached to the side of his chair.

"Hello brat. Are you having fun on the ship?" he asked.

I could see the amusement in the old man's eyes and felt a bit lighter with my decision. These people would protect my kit if we stayed, and Hadrian would be loved by a large family. It was easy, in the end.

"Uh-huh! Aunty Liz said we might live here! Can we?"

I sighed and blushed slightly at the surprised looks I was getting from the crew. I cleared my throat and smiled up at Whitebeard. Even though the man already knew my wish to stay, I wanted to formally accept in front of everyone.

"While that was not the way I was planning to ask you, I would feel safer staying on the ship with you and my soulmate." I waved my hand as my nephew stumbled, catching him mid-fall and righting him. "While not the safest place for a child, I am not sure how long I can hide my abilities from the World Government. From what Marco has said, you protect those you see as family. Captain Whitebeard," the man's face turned serious as I shifted the tone of my voice to one I used when addressing formal matters, "I, Lady Elizabeth Euphemia D. Potter, hereby accept your offer to join your crew and family."

I felt my magic flair up, a slight wind blowing over the now silent deck as I looked into Whitebeard's eyes. I had discussed with him how I would do this when I had told him about my magic and past, though I hadn't quite told him the extent of what this would do. This was, if I ever had to return to my world, my magic would allow me to bring others with me. It had to acknowledge the crew as family.

Once my magic settled, the empty feeling from being the last of my family began to fill. I closed my eyes and smiled as Whitebeard finally spoke.

"Welcome to my family, child. Strange way to do it, but I understand why. Now," his voice grew louder as he addressed everyone else and I opened my eyes, "let's celebrate the arrival of your new sister and nephew!"

Everyone cheered as I laughed, feeling light as air for the first time in years. I clapped my hands together and quickly spread them out, causing fireworks to burst in the air. The cheers grew louder before drinks and food began being passed around.

I felt Marco wrap his arms around me from behind as I watched Hadrian talk animatedly with Whitebeard, the man laughing. I waved my hand towards them and put a tracker on the toddler so that I could find him later. For now, he was safe with the old man since I trusted him to keep my little kit safe.

"That was interesting, yoi. Why did you add 'Lady' before your name?"

I hummed and turned around in his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Back home, I'm considered Lady Potter. My family is a long, old line in our community, so I'm technically a noble there. As the eldest, and now only, child of my parents, I hold the title whether I like it or not." I gave a small chuckle at the look on his face. "I only use it when I make a magical oath or need to deal with politics, don't worry."

Marco tilted his head to the side and looked to be thinking. I could tell he wasn't a fan of the nobility in this world. I wasn't either, to be honest. Nor was I a fan of most of the nobility back home. While the Potter name held a lot of weight due to our heritage, I tried not to use it like others did. My parents and brother had been the same way, though my mother had often spoke of using it to our advantage of the need arose.

"Well, we can't change the family that we're born into, yoi. You're very different from the other nobles that I know."

I raised my eyebrow and felt my lips twitch a bit at his words.

"Of course I am. My title means little to me, anyway. Unless I have the need to go back to my home world, I don't plan to use it." I gave him a smile and leaned up, pressing a small hiss to the corner of his lips. "Now, let's enjoy this party before I have to put Hadrian down for bed."

~MotP~

Our first two weeks on the ship had been wonderful. Marco and I grew closer, sharing small kisses here and there, and Hadrian enjoyed himself immensely as many people on the ship helped to watch him. We thankfully hadn't run into and Marines as we travelled. It was a small blessing that didn't last.

While watching my little kit play with a few members of the first division, I heard someone call out a spotted Navy ship. I jumped from my spot on one of the railings and rushed over to Hadrian just as I heard a cannon being fired. I cursed at being too far away and called out to the person closest to him.

"Cain! Take Hadrian to mine and Marco's room! Now!"

The man nodded as he scooped the toddler up before running towards the door leading to the inner parts of the ship. I followed after them, but I didn't make it far before the Marines started to board the ship. I pulled my rapier from my hip, thanking Marlin that my father had taught me as a child and that I had kept up with the art, and blocked the blow that was aimed at me.

I pushed the man back and moved out of the way of another Marine, using my magic like Observation Haki to locate attackers from behind. I pushed out a small pulse of magic to knock the two over before running for the door leading into the ship. While I was a decent sword fighter, I knew that I couldn't match some of the Marines boarding the ship.

Marco had told me to try and stay out of any fighting, and I was keen to do so. If these Marine would stop coming after me. Damn it!

I parried another attack and gritted my teeth, hoping that Hadrian had gotten to safety. I swiped at the man's legs, bringing him to the ground, and jumped out of the way of another Marine who had aimed for my neck. I spun on my heel and cut the man across the chest as he left himself open. I cut down a few more with the help of my magic as I slowly made my way to the door I needed in order to get to safety.

As I got closer, I noticed Cain fighting two Marines in front of the door. He had a few cuts visible, and I knew that I did too, but none looked terrible.

I barely made it to his side when I heard a scream that chilled my blood. Icy rage filled me as I saw a Marine drag Hadrian out from behind a stack of barrels. My magic began whipping around me in random with my anger, causing those nearby to stop fighting. I paid them no mind as I saw a cut on my nephew's arm that was bleeding more than I liked and tears running down his cheeks.

The air around me grew cold as I quickly pinned the man where he stood with my blade to his throat.

"Get your filthy hands off of my child, Marine," I hissed lowly. My magic let out an even stronger pulse, many Marines falling to the ground unconscious around the deck and others falling to their knees.

The man holding Hadrian quickly let go as his shaking form fainted. I watched him for a moment before those still conscious called for a retreat.

I grabbed Hadrian up in my arms as others in the crew moved to get the unconscious Marines off of the ship, most of them being tossed haphazardly overboard. I was still highly pissed when Marco landed next to me with a frown on his face. I held up my hand to stop him from speaking.

"Don't. I did try to head to the room at the first sign of trouble, but they were too quick. And one of them tried to take Hadrian. I was not allowing that."

I looked up at him and knew that my eyes had to be glowing with my magic. It was too close to the surface at the moment. He looked worried, and I knew that I would be hearing about this later, but I didn't quite care. I had to get Hadrian looked at. The cut on his arm wasn't as bad as I had thought, but he was crying into my shoulder as he clung to me.

"Come on, yoi. Let's get you both looked over." Marco put his arm around my waist and started to lead me down to the infirmary. As we walked, my anger and magic settled, causing my to lean against him more. My magical outburst had taken a lot out of me and I needed to rest. And eat.

Once we got there, I sat Hadrian down and almost collapsed if Marco hadn't caught me.

"I'm fine." I waved him off as I sat down. "Just tired from the outburst of magic." I gave him a tired smile as Tate bandaged both me and Hadrian up. The boy was shaking leaf. It made me wish I had been faster getting to him before the Marines had arrived.

Marco ran his fingers through my hair and sighed. "Your magic is very strong, yoi," he said after a moment. "You knocked out over half of the Navy fleet that attacked us with your outburst. I know that you can take care of yourself, yoi. But I just found you. I was so worried when I saw you standing there. More so when I saw Hadrian."

I hummed and closed my eyes. "I told Cain to take him to the room, but we were on the complete other side of the ship. It took too long." I laid my forehead against his side as he kept running his fingers through my hair. It was comforting. "I'm just glad I was trained to fight with a sword by my father. My magical outburst can be explained away as Conquerer's Haki."

"True, yoi. I will train you to better use your sword in a few days. Vista will probably help too."

I didn't respond as I felt Tate bandage the worst of my cuts. I opened my eyes to look at Hadrian, who looked to be on the verge of a panic attack. I sat up and pulled the boy closer to me, adjusting to cradle him in my lap. I shushed him as I felt Marco sit down next to me and wrap his arms around us.

"Hush now, little kit. No one can hurt you now," I whispered. I heard my soulmate tell the nurse to check on the others and tell Oyaji that he would report in once we were settled, but I chose to focus on my precious boy in my lap. "That's it. Calm down for me."

I started humming softly as I ran my fingers through his hair, letting Marco hold me up as my energy was too low for me to sit up for long.

After a few moments of humming, I felt him settle in my arms as I laid my head on Marco's shoulder.

"Let me carry you two to our room. It'll be more comfortable, yoi," the man whispered to me. I knew he could do it. He'd picked us both up at the same time before. It would be easy for him with the added strength from his Devil Fruit.

I nodded my head and let him pick me up in a bridal carry as I held Hadrian to me. I rested my head on his shoulder as he carried us out of the infirmary and towards the room we shared. I could hear others in the hall asking if we were okay. Cain had even come up, apologizing profusely, but Marco told him to go tell everyone that we were fine. We just needed to rest.

I used the last of my strength to give him a smile as he laid us down, moving Hadrian to lay next to me. How did I end up with such a sweet soulmate?