Hello everyone, here is another one shot from the story Roses in the Waves

As the one shot is called, this is about a certain redhead showing up on the boat

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Whitebeard gave a hum to the boat in the distance, looking down at Marco. "Are they battle ready?" His first commander shook his head. "No, yoi. They look friendly." That was good at least. The redhead had showed up angry or looking for a fight, all for different reasons, but mostly to give a warning or keep the marines from thinking they actually were on a speaking term. "Let's see what he wants. Maybe it will be a calm conversation." Marco gave a snort, which the captain got. Shanks was Shanks, and didn't do calm. They also hadn't seen the man for a while, almost a year. Whitebeard did however know he had lost his arm some 7 months ago, from an incident no one knew. He would be sure to ask about that, curious of what happened. Shanks was a skilled pirate, so him getting an injury like that had shocked all of them, especially as no big fights had happened, at least that they knew about. Someone would have taken the praise to do it to get power, and none had. No one knew what had happened.

When the boat was closer, he could see them looking relaxed and saw no sign of a battle or even a discussion. It had him ask Curiel to get them sakè, making Marco groan. They did enjoy an evening together once now and then, to update each other on the world. It wasn't long before they were close enough to lower a boarding plank, the red-haired captain walking on with a huge grin. Whitebeard was expecting the other captain to yell something out, but instead he walked away from him, moving to hug a certain someone with long raven hair.

"Hi, my little firecracker." He heard Shanks say as Shanks gave a one arm hug to the woman and Luffy in her arms. "Hi, Shanks. What brings you here?" Wait, Ann knew Shanks? It had the others shocked too, Shanks smiling at her when he let go of the woman. "I heard you joined Newgate's crew and needed to check on you. How are you two?" Ann gave a sheepish smile, moving Luffy higher up on her arm. "We're fine, really so. You didn't need to go out your way." Shanks waved at the woman, giving a small snort of sorts. "Nonsense! Firecracker, I needed to check up on you and Little Luffy. He's grown so much!" That had Ann smile and move Luffy so Shanks could actually hold him, Ann helping a bit since the man had one arm. The woman never let new or unknown people hold her baby, so she must know Shanks well.

"Why hello, little Luffy. Are you fin-" The rest was muffled as Luffy moved his hands to cover the pirate's mouth. It had Shanks move his head a bit back, making Luffy laugh, before moving his hands to Ann. "Mommy!" Ann moved and took Luffy. "Yes yes, I'm here. You should remember Shanks, I wish you did." Shanks blinked. "He's speaking? And he's a baby, he doesn't remember much." Ann chuckled. "He is, sort of. Just small words like food, mommy, and, of course, no. I also think he remembers you somewhat; he rarely lets strangers hold him, even for a second. I still can't thank you enough for what you've done." Shanks smiled. "He's still so cute. And don't even mention it. Now, are you really fine? You look tired." Ann gave a sigh. "Have you met Luffy? He's a handful."

Shanks chuckled. "I can imagine. His parents were a handful too, you know. Now listen, why don't we take Luffy for an hour and you go take a bath?" That had Whitebeard blink. Shanks never invited anyone to his ship, especially inside, he usually went on others. Ann shook her head with a sigh. "Maybe in a bit. It's soon dinner and I'm on a diet." Shanks frowned. "I hope that's a diet to eat more." Ann nodded. "It is. Thatch is being amazing with it." Shanks chuckled and was on his way to answer when Thatch moved to them and waved his arms. "What is going on?! How do you know each other?!" Thatch was Thatch. Shanks chuckled at the chef, moving an arm to Ann's shoulder and holding around her with a grin. "I've known her for years. Met her and Sabo about 12 years ago, when I got Sabo out from his family."

As Thatch moved to yell more out, still no answer to anything, Ann moved to Benn, handing Luffy to him. "You know what, I'm taking that bath." Then the woman was heading on the Red Force's ship, Shanks sighing when she was gone, looking at him. "Sabo still a sore topic?" The captain nodded, making a motion to Thatch to not speak. "It is. She had a massive break down just 2 weeks ago, when Luffy called her 'mommy' for the first time. It is better though, but still sore." Shanks nodded, looking worried for the woman. "How do you know her, Shanks?" Whitebeard asked, just needing to know. Shanks gave a small hum. "Sabo was a noble. I got him away from them and placed him on a safe island and he met Ann, I also met her. Both was just 5 years old. I visited every now and then, and when they got 15, she was pregnant, and then things got worse. I suddenly met her again out on sea 7 months ago, that was when I found out Sabo had died."

Whitebeard blinked. "That's about when you lost your arm too." Shanks nodded, giving a small pat on Luffy's head, making the baby giggle. "Ann was in some trouble with some pirates. I don't remember how exactly, but Luffy fell in the water, and as fate like it, a seaking was there. Ann couldn't do anything; she sinks." Whitebeard felt a breath leave him when he got what had happened. "You saved Luffy." Shanks nodded. "I couldn't let him die. Barely didn't make it, the reason some collateral damage happened." While Whitebeard had respect for the red-haired captain, it grew incredibly. He would have never guessed the man would have sacrificed his arm for a kid he had barely seen. He didn't even know how to respond. "I'm glad you did. Ann is just lovely, and Luffy too. You are an honourable man, Shanks." Shanks shook his head, looking at Luffy. "I couldn't let him die; Ann had already lost to much. I just wanted to help her after her loss, wishing I could have helped keep Sabo alive." Whitebeard let out a breath. "I agree, but you couldn't have done anything. How was Sabo? What was he like?" Shanks shook his head as he had a smile.

"He was amazing. He knew so much to just be a kid, he fought to keep Ann safe. He had such great spirit, a strong personality. He vowed to free everyone trapped by nobles, seeing as he was born to such awful people, wanting to travel the world." Whitebeard felt a somber smile appear. "He sounds amazing. Do you know how he died?" Shanks sighed. "His father found him, and knew he had a child on the way with Ann, and wanted that child. Sabo went out to divert them, so Ann could leave, run away, and they would meet up later. But, his father was so adamant to stop his son from ruining his name, that he would rather kill him, and Ann while pregnant, than have them run away. He shot the boat down, Ann watching it all and just ran. She went back searching for him for 2 weeks, before she had to leave. Probably one of her hardest decisions."

Whitebeard felt a somber breath leave him. The man sounded to be an amazing one, and he had sacrificed himself to save Ann and Luffy. Shanks sighed. "3 weeks later she went into labor. I don't know why, but she thankfully had a small crew on her boat by then. I asked her to join me, but she said no." Whitebeard smiled. "You did what you could. Ann is an amazing mother and person." Shanks shook his head. "She's the most amazing mother I have met. She wouldn't bat an eye to sacrifice herself if it kept Luffy safe. I'm glad she's with you; you are good people."

Whitebeard felt a breath leave him. "We wronged her at the start. I thought she was aggressive, but she wasn't. She thought us to be a danger and attacked to protect Luffy." Shanks sighed. "Anyway. You have made it up clearly. She looks really good and healthy. So more relaxed than usual." Before he could respond, Benn moved. "I don't know who she trusts the most, but why don't any of you take Luffy and I'll gather towels and such for Ann." Izou moved first and took the baby, who was looking at Benn with big eyes, making so Benn could leave. Izou did look at the man as he left. "Should he? I mean, she's taking a bath!" Shanks shook his head. "Have you met Benn? He's like a psychiatrist." They never heard the man talk much. Benn usually kept to himself, but he seemed like a calm and wise man from what he had seen and heard from others.

They all then calmed down, Shanks moving to sit somewhat in front of him, enjoying some sakè with him, Izou playing with Luffy on his lap. He and Shanks spoke about news around the world, about new rookies, new warlord and all that. It was an hour and half later that Ann and Benn came back on the ship, Ann's hair wet and Benn having a cup of coffee. And, Ann did look more relaxed than before. The woman went to Izou and took Luffy, who held his hands out towards her. When she had her son, Ann sat down next to Shanks and Izou, moving her hair into a bundle and over her left shoulder and away from her back, so it didn't lay on the deck. She had amazingly long hair.

"So, Firecracker, how has your last months been?" Asked Shanks, looking at the young mother who hummed. "I've been fine. We have everything we need and more. Luffy is healthy and things are fine." Shanks nodded. "And you've finally put on some weight. You lost so much after you set out." That made Thatch looked horror stricken as they had had a bit of issues with her eating and her body handling that. Ann chuckled. "Yeah. It feels good to, and Thatch is so amazing with it and make sure I eat and it goes well and everything." Ann moved Luffy to stand, looking at the laughing kid. "And little captain grumpy pants are happy too." Shanks chuckled. "Has he started the temper tantrum stage?" Ann nodded. "Yeah. But he's manageable." Whitebeard chuckled. "The only reason he's manageable is because Ann is such an amazing mother." That had Shanks chuckle as well. "I can imagine. Never met a mother this dedicated." Shanks moved a hand to ruffle Luffy's hair, making the baby laugh. As Luffy laughed, he moved his hands out to Shanks, making Ann hum. "You want to go to Shanks now, huh?" The baby just moved his hands more out, making Ann shake her head with a smile as she moved Luffy to be in Shanks hold, Shanks giving a goofy smile, obviously happy.

As Luffy was in Shanks hold, Luffy moved his hands to the empty sleeve where his arm used to be, the baby looking to be thinking, before he looked up at Shanks. "No?" Shanks chuckled. "No arm, no." The baby looked at Shanks, before Luffy tried to mimic. "No 'rm?" Shanks chuckled. "No." Luffy looked to be thinking, before he moved a hand to clap on Shanks head, making the man confused, same with Whitebeard. Ann however, smiled as she chuckled. "I think he's trying to comfort you." That obviously had Shanks heart melt as he smiled at Luffy. "Aww. What a cutie. I am sure you will be just as kind as your mother, just as amazing too." Whitebeard believed that too, and before he could agree with it, Ann hummed. "I hope so. I at least try to teach him right, or as right as a baby can learn." That had Marco hum, looking at Ann. "If he's trying to comfort Shanks, believe me, he is a smart baby, yoi. He's learned that from you; it's how you comfort him." Ann smiled at that, moving to take Luffy back in her arms. "You are learning fast, aren't you, little grumpy man." Ann made a nuzzling motion at Luffy, who laughed and moved to hug Ann, making everyone out give a "aww," Shanks chuckling. "He's such a cutie." Ann nodded, looking at her baby in her arms. "Yeah. He looks a lot like his father." Shanks chuckled at it, moving his hand to Ann's shoulder. "He does, but he looks like you too. He's a perfect mix." Luffy was, based on how the picture he had seen was.

Shanks then moved his hand to clap his leg. "Well. We can't stay too long, so we need to leave." He then looked at Ann. "Remember I am just a call away, even though I know you two are fine here. I am always here too." Ann nodded at the captain. "Thank you. And it's a good time to; it's time for Luffy's nap about now." Shanks smiled at it, giving a hug to the woman and a ruffle to Luffy's hair, before giving a bye to all of them. Benn did the same as Shanks, also saying something he couldn't hear to Ann, before Ann left to her room to put Luffy down for his nap. As Ann was gone, Shanks sighed. "This is the first time she has mentioned Sabo and not cried. It's obvious she's better." That was good to know, but still. "A lot of things have happened here to make that happen. She's had over one breakdown here, large ones." Said Whitebeard, making Shanks wave his hand. "It's fine, she's good and better, and that's all that matters." The captain then gave his regards before he left. As he was gone, Haruta spoke up as the ship was heading away. "I didn't know they knew each other, or that he knew Sabo. He sounds so nice." He did, and Whitebeard could see his children agreeing, especially Thatch as he was a noble himself. It was good to get to know more about Ann, and this was amazing. Sabo sounded so amazing and it was amazing to know Shanks had lost his arm by helping Ann.

They were getting closer to the woman and she was such an amazing woman and mother, and a perfect fit for their family.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

This was just a small thing to bring Shanks into all of this and this story and I hoped it turned out good

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