Quietly, the young girl gazes out towards the sea sat slumped, legs dangling down overlooking the mainland of Baterilla. The brisk breeze brushes through her long locks of pinkish blonde, sherry shades staring ahead with bruises littered all over the young girl, kneepads on still doing only so much with the raw rips littered around the fancy fabric she adorns. The woman wearing a sky-blue dress makes it to the top towards the house spotting the long gone as the lone girl spots her, sherry reds meeting a similar shade to her own.

The older woman simply smiles down at the young girl, her small hands reaching out to the woman with pale peach blonde hair similar to her own. The woman smiles taking hold of the young child smiling softly at her, just as another giddy grinning male's face pops up making the young girl giggle, reaching out her hands grabbing hold of his cheeks squeezing stretching them making the man cry out alarmed as the young mother laughs at the sight. She spots her hands making grabby hands towards the flower in her hair, the woman happily bestowing the flower to the young little girl in awe of such a pretty flower…

Present day Ann couldn't help but eye the bouquet in her grasp, she hoped it'd do…still she couldn't help but fiddle with it perched upon the sofa.

"What's with that face?" She eyes the hand on her thigh turning to Aokiji eyeing her.

"Hm? Ah nothing…just thinking back to old memories…" Ann dismisses firmly focusing back on the bouquet, the sweet smell sending a strange wave of emotions to her.

"Memories?" Aokiji hums eyeing the bouquet.

"Yeah…" She nods, a still silence between the two supposedly meant to do their work…

"You really like those flowers, don't you?" He couldn't help but take note of.

"They were my mother's favourites." Ann answers as she looks over the bouquet.

"That so…" He hums.

"Yeah…thinking of going to her grave soon…" Ann admits looking it over.

"…how dd she?" Aokiji gently squeezes her thigh.

"…Childbirth." Unfazed, Ann admits.

"Childbirth?" Aokiji says surprised.

"Both my mother and my potential sibling were taken due to complications." Ann partially lies through her teeth firmly focusing on the bouquet below.

"I'm sorry to hear that…" He squeezes her thigh again.

"It's fine it's in the past." She dismisses.

"Doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt." He argues.

"…it was a long time ago." She brushes it off.

"…Ann…" Aokiji begins but…

"Aokiji-san!" The door opens as Ann immediately brushes his hand off her, setting the bouquet down, firmly focusing on her work oblivious to the brief hurt expression of Aokiji. He hides it behind his shades.

"Hm?" Aokiji turns to the marine.

"O-Oh apologies sir I…" The marine mutters scared noting the two vice admirals one attending to her work while the other seemingly lazes about…

"What's going on?" Aokiji probes him brining his attention back to Aokiji.

"Fleet Admiral wishes to see you." The marine bows his head.

"That so?" Aokiji hums.

"Y-Yes sir just…just you sir." He adds as Ann doesn't even bat an eye to it.

"Welp, you have fun with that." Ann tells Aokiji firmly focusing on her work.

"I'll try." He pats her thigh taking her aback as she glares at him, the marine having witnessed such a thing flinches, freezes fearful from witnessing such a thing, Kuan doesn't even look apologetic as he leaves to tend to the matter at hand…

Quietly, Ann sits down at her place, calmly reading a book, her legs on top of the sofa silently reading away as the door opens. She doesn't even bat an eye to the man coming in, putting the spare back in his pocket.

"Foods in the fridge." Ann stands up turning to head to her room.

"…" He simply stares at her as she yawns.

"I already ate but there's enough for you." Ann adds as she then feels a pair of arms around her making her raise a brow by his still silence.

"Aokiji?" She blinks befuddled by his arms around her, no words needing to be shed between the two, stress seemingly oozing out of him as she holds him.

"…" He nuzzles the side of her neck.

"Sengoku scolded you for your napping again, did he?" Amused, Ann attempts to joke, her hand plopping down on his head petting it, ruffling it trying to comfort him, his arms tighten around her.

"Need a recharge…" He huffs gently pecking her neck.

"Eat first moron." Ann gently pushes him off her before plopping back down on the sofa. Her eyes expanding when he plops down on her lap, his head on her lap.

"Uh…aren't you going to eat?" Ann blinks befuddled eyeing the man in her lap.

He remains quiet, arms wrapped around her.

"That rough huh…" She sighs sadly down at him, combing her fingertips through his hair, he silently leans into her tentative touch him.

"I'm not going to be here for a bit…" Soon enough after a while she manages to get him to eat something as she sits across from him at the table.

"That so…" Ann hums pouring him a glass of sherry as she sips her own.

"Sengoku wants me and Sakazuki to handle something." He huffs, nodding his head thankful for the drink.

"Must be pretty big to bring out you both…" Brow furrowed, Ann takes note of.

"…seems so…" Aokiji huffs.

"Wait you and Sakazuki?" Ann then frowns from the combo.

"That's right…" He nods.

"…You going to be, okay?" Apprehensive, Ann couldn't help but cross her arms over her chest concern clear on her furrowed features.

"…I'll be fine." Firmly, he assures.

"Hmm…" Ann makes a strained sound before the both of them head to bed…

"Sakazuki and Aokiji…on the same mission are you crazy?" Annoyed, Ann couldn't help but glare at Sengoku standing across from him in his office.

"Ann…" Sengoku begins but….

"The pair of them are literal opposites! It's not going to end well!" Ann asserts anxious.

"Perhaps in terms of devil fruits but not in terms of dealing with pirates." Sengoku argues.

"To send both of them out though? That's a bit excessive done you think?" Ann argues.

"We believe Big Mom to be involved." He tells her.

"One of the Yonko?" Astonished, Ann says surprised.

"Indeed, we believe it to be her trying to expand upon Tottoland…" Sengoku states.

"She's really trying to find a place in paradise? But that's so far…" Frowning, Ann couldn't help but frown.

"We don't have enough information yet those on hostage on the island will need our aid." Sengoku tells Ann.

"…And you really think those two working together will work out?" Ann couldn't help but frown.

"What do you suggest?" He frowns at her.

"Let me deal with Sakazuki I can handle him." Ann places her hand to her chest.

"You think Aokiji can't…?" Sengoku raises a brow to Ann.

"…" Ann goes quiet glancing to the side.

"Portgas Aokiji has been in the marines longer than you I have faith he can hold his ground against Sakazuki. Now we've spoke enough you're dismissed." Sengoku concludes the meeting as Ann leaves internally screaming at the fool of a fleet admiral.

"Hmm…." Present day Ann couldn't help but frown as she thinks back to that memory, leaning against the wall while watching the marines get on board, noting Sakazuki's dirty look sent her way while she glares back at him until taking note of the man in blue approaching her.

"Didn't think you'd show…" Aokiji shoves his hands into his black winter coat of sorts, marine on the back of it.

"I'm not that awful…you going to be okay?" Ann couldn't help but ask again frowning.

"I'll be fine not the first time I've had to deal with Sakazuki." Aokiji states.

"…doesn't make it any more easier…" Ann argues.

"You sound almost concerned." Amused, Aokiji couldn't help but smirk.

"Piss off…" Ann huffs.

"Come on it's cute." He leans in, his hand on the wall while pinning her in a bit.

"Tch…" Blushing, she looks away as he gently pinches her chin bringing her flustered face back over to him.

"Try not to miss me too much." He smirks smugly down at her flustered form.

"Oh, get over yourself." She huffs brushing him off.

"…" A still silence occurs between the two, Aokiji leaning in but…

"…Oi we're in public remember?" Ann whispers stepping back noting Sakazuki eyeing the two in the shadows.

"…I remember…" He huffs hands in his pockets annoyed almost at the reminder.

"Good luck." Ann turns to leave.

"I won't be gone long." He assures eyeing her back.

"I know. Just don't let that guy bully you yeah?" Ann waves him off already turning to leave if not for the gentle tug back befuddling her.

"As if…" Aokiji smirks smugly at Ann gently pecking her temple.

"O-Oi!" Blushing, Ann angrily glares at the smirking Aokiji taking a step back, an extra pep in his step making the flustered form of Ann seethe.

"It'll be fine those pirates scum won't know what'll hit them." He promises unaware of Ann's internal scream.

"Hmm…" Ann makes a strained sound spotting Sakauzki's heated glare towards her watching on as Aokiji boards the ship. Ann internally screams, watching on from the shadows as Aokiji on board spares her a salute of sorts. She shakily waves back, smiling strained as the ship takes off.

"How long had it been since then? Ann couldn't help but ponder sat at her desk in her office. Surely the two would be back by now…? Even then Ann couldn't help but note the lack of snail transponders, letters not even any sort of nicknacks sent he'd normally send something unless…

"…You think Rosi's okay?" Bell's words seemingly snap Ann out of her paperwork out of her thoughts at that.

"Hm?" Ann turns to Bell befuddled.

"We haven't heard from Rosi for a while." Bell brings up.

"He's fine." Ann asserts.

"How do you know that? He could have set himself on fire again for all we know?" Bell argues as Ann sighs.

"He wouldn't have agreed to this secret mission of his if he didn't think he couldn't handle it." Ann reminds Bell.

"I guess…" Bell sighs considering it.

"Hmm…" Ann goes back to her work.

"Seems I'm not the only one thinking about a certain someone." Bell smirks calling out.

"…Of course I have been worried for Rosi he's, my friend." Firmly, Ann asserts.

"I'm not talking about Rosi." Bemused, Bell smirks smugly at Ann.

"Don't." Ann growls glaring lightly at the bemused Bell.

"Aw come on it was so cute you rushing to Sengoku being worried for Aokiji." Bell winks.

"That wasn't…how did?" Astonished, Ann does a double take.

"Word gets round." Bell shrugs alarming Ann.

"Urgh…great just what I need…" Ann pinches the bridge of her nose done drained.

"Nothing wrong with showing you care." Bell points out.

"Come back to me when you're one of the rare few female vice admirals…" Ann huffs hand on hip.

"Yeah, well I'm just saying it's only natural for you to worry about something you've had to keep track of for a while now." Bell tells Ann.

"…I just hope Akainu doesn't bully Aokiji to get his way…" Ann admits to Bell.

"Aokiji eh…" Bell wiggles a bemused brow.

"Shut up." Ann huffs at the giggling Bell.

"Oh, come on its cute you worry…" Bell argues amused.

"I'm more worried about the hostages on that island." Ann admits.

"Relax it'll be fine Aokiji is strong remember?" Bell reminds Ann.

"…Strength isn't the only thing that saves lives Bell." Ann anxiously crosses her arms over her chest concern clear on her furrowed features for him.

Quietly, Ann stands before a familiar house the raw red rooftop of the house shines towering over the rest of Batrielle. It was risky being out here but it was Ann's day off and she swore she wouldn't waste it, so she set the bouquet down before the tree.

"Hey mom…been a while…" Ann stands before the tree, the brisk breeze brushing through her hair.

"…" She stares down at the grass below.

"Sorry for not visiting…I've been busy…" Ann admits.

"…" The brisk breeze brushes through her hair again.

"Heh…you always looked out at this spot…was this where you stood when you were carrying him?" Ann couldn't help but wonder.

"…" Ann's grip tightens tenses around her bouquet.

"…You went through a lot…I'm sorry I couldn't do more…that I still can't even do more now…" Ann bows her head pained.

Quietly, Ann enters the house, looking around, it really hadn't changed, how her mother had left the house to her Ann did not know still she respected the people who kept it clean all this time…Ann couldn't help but sigh from the rush of emotions freely flowing through her so many memories, so many figments of the past coming back. Blinking back the tears Ann takes a seat eyeing the rocking chair…of her mother smiling softly knitting away repairing her torn sleeve her torn shirt her torn trouser leg from a recent fall as the young Ann would be complaining about the recent fall she took, adjusting the strap of her knee pads her mother had insisted she wore…

Her mother was so kind, so patient so caring…and she…she was such a clutz of a child, Ann had recalled her first attempt at trying to knit cursing at the numerous splatters of red leaking out of her pricked hand, her mother sighing softly at her mess of a child calmly tending to her bloodied hand. It amused Ann truly it did her hands rough from fighting from swordsmanship to the raw rope of the ship that was nothing compared to the pin pricks she felt from her messy attempt at sewing, a talent she failed so miserable at, whether that be from the lack of patience or another, Ann didn't know frankly she didn't care as she quickly have up the attempt of a craft. She may have inherited her mother's looks but when it came down to it…

"I'd be a terrible wife…perhaps it was best I was born to be unlovable…" Ann couldn't help but consider chuckling pain pouring out of her hollow heckle, blinking back the tears. She wanted to be like her mother so much so pretty, so beautiful, so smart so brave but she couldn't…she could never do what her mother did…Ann couldn't help but eye the vase with a freshly picked hibiscus, the neighbour she assumed as she plucked the flower from the vase, eyeing the feeble flower in her hand taking a seat on the rocking chair.

"…I met someone…mom." Meekly, she whispers rocking back and forth on the chair, her heart aching at the thought of a certain bandanna wearing ice devil fruit user. She softens slightly smiling softly at the faint figments of a memory, an old memory of her young self once wandering rushing through the very halls of the house, her brow furrowed briefly seeing faint figments foreign to her, faint figments of a young boy and girl of her own unable to not see a girl with curly pinkish blonde hair another a boy with wave black hair, the both of their freckled faces smiling up at her.

"…I wonder how you'd react…you'd probably think I'm an idiot…having a fling with a marine…can't say I blame you to be honest…I really am an idiot." Ann shakes her head at such a thought what was with her thinking of such things, such impossible things.

"…Still, I think you'd like him…sure he can be a bit absentminded, stubborn and perverted…" Ann easily lists off thinking back to their bickering, her yelling at him time and time again to her blushing brightly by his words while he simply smirks down at her.

"But…he's kind." Ann couldn't help the soft smile sadly smiling at the thought of him back at Alabasta, the children cheering from the ice melting granting water for the thirsty people of Alabasta, the children squealing smiling, a few marines playing with them, Ann included while Aokiji continue secretly making ice for the people.

She could recall one child coming over handing her a flower from the desert surprising her. She could recall the blushing boy bringing a small smile to her old self happily taking the flower turning to the huffing Aokiji as next she knew she was on the way back; she was then gifted a bouquet of flowers taking her aback at the size. Aokiji not even explaining himself going back to his nap leaving her with a bunch of flowers she had no idea what to do with.

"DON'T YOU TAKE ANYTHING SERIOUSLY!?" Angrily, Akainu roars as Ann simply laughs, her gut aching, her side sore, her smile strained as Akainu roars raising his voice at the clearly uncomfortable marine, having no clue what to say or do with the magma man, tears in her eyes just wanting out of there further frustrating the man unaware of the air growing colder. A hand firmly set on Ann's shoulder softly pulling her back as she couldn't help but hold her shaking side wincing weakly while Aokiji silently stared Akainu down, the two glaring glowering at one another until he took her out of there.

"She's using you Aokiji!" Akainu's roar rings out throughout the hall, Ann continuing to heckle hollowly hurt clear in her so-called coy chuckle. Aokiji quietly holds her side getting her out of there the two going into his office of sorts silently sliding the door shut and setting her down. Still, she laughs as he silently stares.

Finally, after a fair few minutes of Ann attempting to crack a joke does the laughing and giggling stop, does Ann's strained smile stop. She winces weakly, her jaw aching as Aokiji quietly reaches out brushing a stray stand of her hair aside. She arches a befuddled brow before he places his cool hand to her cheek. Silently, she leans into the touch, needing something to stop the aching of her jaw muscles.

"Man, that Akainu needs to chill heh…heh…" She smiles trying to joke but wince weakly at her aching gut, faltering flinching from Aokiji's unimpressed look. A still silence falls between the two until…

"…sorry for not being normal…" Softly, she whispers weakly, Aokiji softening slightly at her words exhaling exasperated almost as he ruffles his hair.

"Don't apologise dumbass." He huffs draping his arm around the astonished Ann bringing her into a side hug, his temple touching her down, softly ruffling her hair.

"But it's not normal." She argues not against the hug of sorts as he plops his head on top of hers, her head resting on his chest, comforted surprisingly by the rapid beating of his heart.

"It's fine. It's what makes you, you…" He squeezes her shoulder, she blinks taken aback at his words, tears threatening to fall as she silently leans into his side, his words doing much more than anyone could ever have done as the two quietly hold one another, hiding away from the peering eyes of marines…

"He's also pretty funny too. Not bad in bed either heh…he's actually quite the cuddler when he's sleepy." Smiling, Ann attempts to joke trying to lighten the mood recalling his arms around her, dragging her back into bed, both of them in bed, her in his lap, him convincing her to come back into the comforting embrace of his arms. She felt safe…something she hadn't felt for a long time.

"Sorry…probably shouldn't say that he's also…really patient I mean you know how annoying I am right? Heh… then again who am I really talking to? You're dead. I'm probably seen as crazy…heh…" Ann couldn't help but smile strained shaking her head before blinking back the tears threatening to fall from eyeing the hibiscus in her hand.

"…I miss you mom. I miss you so much…" Miserably, the tears freely fall from Ann a sharp sob soon breaking through trying to with all her might to stop herself from breaking but…she can't. She can't stop herself. She curls in on herself on the rocking chair cradling her curled up form sniffling sadly, the silent tears freely falling from her. She slams her hand over her muffling trying to muffle said soft sniffles with the creak of the rocking chair, weirdly comforting the crying child as it echoes throughout the still silent room…

"Bit risky to be calling me out here…" Shanks smirks say down at the bar, Ann by his side, the two conversing with their respective drink, the piano playing in the back.

"Hey you answered." Aloofly, Ann shrugs sipping her sherry wine.

"How are you?" Shanks queries curiosity clear in his towards her.

"…Tired." Truthfully, Ann admits bags hanging heavily under her eyes.

"I can tell from that hickey." Shanks smirks noting the fading hickey on her throat.

"...No idea what you're talking about…" Ann's hand darts down to said hickey internally cursing.

"Aw come on its plain as dead, not even your makeup can hide it." Shanks smirks suavely at his sister.

"Hm…" Huffing, Ann glares to the side shy scarlet seeping into her crimson cheeks.

"Didn't think Mihawk had it in him." Shanks remarks unaware of Ann's face.

"…It wasn't Mihawk." Ann looks away.

"Eh?" Shanks blinks befuddled.

"We haven't…didn't he tell you?" Ann frowns at Shanks.

"Mihawk? Please he doesn't talk about that sorta stuff." Shanks smirks.

"…you're not wrong there." Tiredly, Ann huffs, a faint tint of bitterness in her tense tired tone.

"So, who's the new fling?" Shanks couldn't help but ask.

"No one you know." Ann dismisses, taking out a cigarette.

"Oh, come on I know tons of people." Shanks smirks smugly watching her ignite said cigarette.

"Shanks…" Ann tiredly calls out smoke spewing from her lips, too tired to say much.

"Come on tell me." Shanks whines watching her spew smoke into the open air.

"No." Ann refuses resolved.

"Least let me guess." Shanks pleads.

"Guess?" Ann arches a bored brow.

"Yeah, you like older guys so this guy's no newbie marine…" Shanks hums.

"Shanks…" Ann gives him a warning look, smoke spewing into the open air annoyed at the smirking Shanks.

"You also like chill or laid-back guys!" Shanks adds amused.

"And you know that?" Ann challenges cross.

"I know you liked Marco." Shanks smiles.

"Urgh stoop." Ann whines brow furrowed fatigued spewing smoke into the open air once more.

"Come on it was funny…papa now that you said I don't want him, now I want him even more!" Shanks recites making the annoyed Ann's eye twitch tense.

"Stoooop." Ann draws out whining.

"Hahaha! Now it's gotta be someone of the same rank…don't tell me it's that's magma guy." Shanks frowns.

"…" Ann makes quite the face.

"Okay clearly not…wait…that ice guy!" Shanks gasps as Ann simply spews smoke into the open air, the still silence speaking volumes.

"Oh my god Ann." Shanks smirks.

"What?" Ann scowls at Shanks.

"He's like ten years older than you." Shanks snickers.

"Please stop talking." Ann spews smoke into the open air.

"I know you like older men but wow just wow." Shanks snickers.

"I SAID STOP TALKING!" Ann snaps scowling snuffing said cigarette out.

"So how long has this thing been going on?" Shanks couldn't help but ask.

"…I think it's coming up to a year." Ann hums.

"What!?" Shanks says stunned spewing alcohol out into the open air.

"Was the spit take necessary?" Ann's eye twitches tense tired.

"Yes! Who are you and what have you done with Ann?" Shanks sternly demands from Ann.

"…What are you on about?" Ann queries.

"What am I on about?! What about you? The Ann I know would playboys left and right for some fun, she'd normally get bored with a guy after about a week and find some other poor sap." Sternly, Shanks demands from Ann.

"…I wasn't that bad." Ann huffs looking to the side.

"You're kidding…you were thankful when Mihawk left." Shanks reminds Ann.

"…please stop talking." Ann bows her head.

"But I just…a year…you!?" Shanks couldn't help but wonder staring stunned at Ann astonished.

"Hmmm…I think I don't know I could be wrong don't really keep track of that stuff." Ann admits.

"And you work together with this guy…" Shanks eyes Ann.

"I'm his handler…" Ann calmly clarifies.

"So, you see his face every day." Shanks stares stunned at Ann.

"…I guess?" Ann shrugs lost.

"And you haven't gotten bored yet?" Shanks says stunned.

"…You make it sound like I'm sort of child…" Ann scoffs smirking however…

"You are." Shanks asserts as Ann flinches from his words.

"Oh thanks…" Ann rolls her eyes exasperated.

"No really, you're the sort to throw a doll away for the newer model." Shanks tells Ann.

"Gee making me feel really good about myself Shanks." Ann remarks.

"You know what I mean…Ann you haven't gotten sick of this guy you've seen him every day for a year now." Shanks points out.

"I wouldn't say everyday he has to go out on missions sometimes." Ann argues.

"Do you go with him?" Shanks queries.

"Most of the time…yeah." Ann nods.

"And you're still not sick of him? You're either a fake or…is he that good?" Shanks couldn't help but wonder whispering it.

"Shanks!" Ann blushes brightly at Shanks.

"What? Just asking…I mean do you leave or…?" Shanks wonders.

"Originally yes." Ann admits.

"Originally?" Shanks blinks befuddled.

"Didn't end well." Ann concludes.

"Oh…. he woke up." Shanks realises.

"Yeah…I was surprised though I mean the rumours go on about him having flings, so I thought we'd be fine." Ann confesses.

"But you weren't?" Shanks frowns.

"Well, I mean I was fine and I thought he was next thing I know he's visiting my office we're talking then we're well…" Ann blushes by the murky memory of it all.

"Oh my god Ann…" Shanks facepalms.

"I don't know how it happened next thing I know I go over to his place, he goes over to mine, he gives me a key. We have dinner maybe some sherry read some books!" Blushing brightly, Ann admits.

"Did…did you give him a key?" Shanks queries.

"God no I tell him where the spare is." Ann answers.

"And he hasn't taken it?" Shanks says surprised.

"Course not if anything he keeps leaving stuff." Ann complains.

"Leaving huh…?" Shanks smirks slightly.

"Yeah toothbrushes, pyjamas, shirts boxers you name it he's left it." Ann complains.

"That right…" Shanks smirks suavely eyeing Ann eyeing her glass.

"What's with that face?" Ann's eyes narrow at the smirking Shanks.

"You really don't see what's going on?" Shanks snickers.

"See what's going on?" Ann blinks befuddled.

"He's trying to move in." Shanks smiles.

"…say what now?" Ann does a double take.

"Leaving his stuff at your place he's secretly moving in." Shanks tells Ann.

"No…" Ann's eyes dilate.

"Oh yes." Shanks smiles.

"B-But…that's…" Ann bows her head, the cogs spinning turning.

"That's…?" Shanks smirks at the calculations floating around Ann's face.

"Impossible!" Ann says shocked.

"Impossible?" Shanks says surprised.

"Look it's fun don't get me wrong but…" Ann begins but…

"But…?" Shanks probes.

"…He doesn't know who I am…!" Ann argues.

"Ann…" Shanks softens sadly.

"I've lied so much to him how can I make a relationship out of that?" Ann argues anguished.

"Well does he hate Roger?" Shanks wonders.

"He's a marine." Ann deadpans.

"…So?" Shanks hums.

"A vice admiral." Ann deadpans.

"…And?" Shanks probes.

"He's the king of scum…"

Ann grimaces from Aokiji's words ringing.

"In his word Roger is the king of scums." Ann recites pained taking a hefty down of her sherry wine.

"Ann…" Shanks softens sadly at her.

"He'll want me dead if he found out the truth." Ann states the fact firmly.

"Then why continue it?" Shanks ponders perplexed.

"Because I still have use of him." Ann states the fact firmly.

"Use of him huh and how long are you going to keep at this? You're only going to hurt him in the long run Ann." Shanks tells him.

"I know you think I don't feel guilty?" Ann scowls, guilt gnawing away at him.

"Ann…" Shanks' brow furrows noting the guilt expression of Ann.

"…I'm honestly waiting for him to get bored." Ann admits, a sharp sting hits her chest.

"Bored?" Shanks says surprised.

"Yeah, he has had tons of flings he's bound to get bored of me." Ann assumes she certainly wasn't some big bazooka girl…

"Ann…" Shanks furrows his brow at her.

"If he breaks up with me it'll be easier in terms of the fall out. But until then he's still of use to me so I can't let him go just yet." Ann smirks slyly.

"That so?" Shanks notes the glint gleaming in her eyes.

"It is. Relax Shanks you know me, this won't last. It can't. I won't let it." Intensely, Ann swears it grip tightening tensing around the sherry.

Quietly, Ann makes her way back to her apartment, she wished she could have stayed at her old home, but she knew it would only spark questions, questions she couldn't afford to be answered. Ann rubs the back of her arm as she makes her way inside looking around her place. Perturbed, her brow furrows at her foot bumping into something spotting a certain spare shirt of navy blue. She leans down picking up the familiar spare shirt of blue brow furrowed. She looks around noting the boxers below brow furrowed at the numerous clothes littered across the floor making her tut tiredly, he could have at least cleaned up a bit…

Leaving his stuff at your place he's secretly moving in…Ash couldn't help but falter freezing up stopping scarlet seeping into her cheeks from Shanks words. She scowls shaking her head, of course not how ridiculous…she thinks to herself as she starts to clean.

Ann tiredly plops herself down on the bed brow furrowed at the silken shirt of blue still in her hands, why hadn't she put this away? Ann couldn't help but frown furrowing her brow by the shirt below, fingertips fiddling fidgeting with it bowing her head into it, takin a shy shaky inhale, feeling a wave of comfort and security wash over her when…the snail rings.

Alarmed, Ann jolts up blushing brightly blazing brightly almost as she swiftly lunges towards said snail snatching it.

"H-Hello?" Ann stutters slightly scarlet seeping into her crimson cheeks.

"Yo…" The crisp cool voice of Aokiji greets her.

"Hey…been a bit…" Ann smiles shyly at the snail.

"Yeah…miss you." Aokiji admits astonishing Ann.

"It's just temporary." Amused, Ann chuckles coyly plopping back down on her bed, the blue shirt curled into her side clinging into it shyly.

"I wish you were here." Aokiji admits as Ann couldn't help her shy smile, scarlet seeping into her crimson cheeks.

"We'll see each other again. Just a few more days…right?" Amused, Ann assumes a shy hopeful hint in her tentative tone.

"I'm kissing you when I get back." Aokiji swears it.

"H-Huh?" Ann blushes brightly, her hair jolting up at his words almost as she couldn't help but blush brightly by his declaration.

"In front of the port I really don't care." Candidly, Aokiji admits to her.

"…Sakazuki must really have ticked you off to say that." Ann couldn't help her goofy smile, amused almost as a still silence erupts between the two when…

"…What are we?" The snail asks cooly confusing Ann.

"Probably stupid." Ann attempts to joke smiling strained unaware of the man in his room seriously staring up at the ceiling from his bed, snail in hand.

"Ann…" Sternly, said snail calls out making Ann grimace from his stern serious tone.

"What? It's a tough question to answer." Ann attempts to lighten the mood.

"I'm being serious." The snail sternly says to Ann as a still silence erupts between the two.

"Did Sakazuki say something or…?" Ann attempts to break the still silence frowning concern clear in her tone towards him.

"I found some sherry bought it to bring back." He changes the topic.

"Oh yeah…" Ann trails off not quite sure how to respond to that.

"it's cold in the bed." He tells her as Ann could hear the weariness in his tense-tired tone.

"Well doesn't help you bite into that ice fruit now does it?" Amused, Ann leans back in her bed bemused nuzzling into a certain fabric of blue behind her, a familiar shirt.

"…Is it cold in your bed?" He couldn't help but ask her.

"Uh I mean it's alright…? Not too hot not to cold can't really complain you know?" Ann couldn't help but yawn.

"If you're tired, love, go to bed. We can always chat another time…" He tells her.

"Alright night." Ann tells him.

"…Night." The snail clinks shut as Ann sets the snail back. She plops back down upon the blue shirt of sorts nuzzling into it as she descends down into the dark depths of her dreams…

*Aw...Ann misses Aokiji...and her mother, what did you think Rouge and Ann's dynamic was like? Also got to ask what do you think Akainu is telling Aokiji? What do you think Aokiji is feeling right now with his dynamic with Ann?*