Shanks relaxed slightly as the familiar island appeared on the horizon. They were almost there and thank the sea, the island wasn't on fire, sunk or destroyed. In fact, in the light from the moon, it looked untouched. Could it be, that the four kids had managed not to cause chaos in 4 days alone?
His haki flared out, focusing on the familiar presence of Anchor and Ace, noting that they were in a deep sleep and that the only alert presence in the castle was Perona who had always been a night person. He had expected that, it was very late and if it wasn't for his concern for the kids, his crew would have anchored for the night hours ago. In fact he probably owed them all a few nights of freedom for the way he pushed them on this trip.
Benn stepped up beside him, smoking on his cigar. "I told you that you were over reacting. But no, you've become a big mother hen." He said dryly.
"Mother hen! Just because I was concerned about the kids getting in trouble does not make me a mother hen!" Shanks protested. "Seas, at least call me something impressive. I'm understandably protective of my danger magnets… if anything I'm a mama bear!"
Benn looked at his captain, waiting for the moment of realization. When it hit, Shanks drooped in defeat. "Papa bear?" He looked at his friend hopefully before sighing ."You're not gonna drop that one are you?"
"Drop what mama bear?" Benn smirked.
"Right. I'll have you know that most captains get some respect from their crews."
"Some crews have respectable captains? What must that be like?" Benn said laughing as Shanks sent a half hearted blow at him. "Come on captain. Let's go check on our little troublemakers so that you might actually get some sleep tonight."
"I've slept." Shanks grumped and Benn just raised an eyebrow. "I've gotten 1 or 2 hours a night." He defended himself.
"Exactly Shanks. You are dead on your feet. Quick check in on the boys and then straight to bed. You're going to want to be fully rested for Anchor tomorrow."
Benn assigned the night watch before jumping to land with Shanks. The rest of the crew deciding to crash on ship so that they didn't disturb the kids.
They entered the castle and sent a nod at one of Perona's ghosts that was floating nearby, glad to see there was some security measures in place. Though the boys were all offered their own rooms, they'd chosen to stay together so there was only one stop to make. They carefully swung the door open and slipped in. Shanks smiled as he took in the scene. Zoro was sprawled on top of the covers on one side of the bed, cuddling his swords in one hand and wearing the old straw hat. Luffy's head was resting on Zoro's chest, his body squished between his first mate and the quilt covered snoring lump that was his brother. Shanks stepped up and adjusted the quilt to cover the 6 feet hanging out the bottom and untangled Luffy's one arm that had somehow twisted around himself in a knot. Benn meanwhile had fetched another blanket and had spread it over Zoro's legs. They moved to the door when Shanks froze. He spun back around and untucked the feet again. Two, four, six, eight…
"Benn… why is there 8 feet in this bed?"
Benn whipped off the blanket and stared at the four boys in the bed. Horrified by the blonde who had an arm wrapped around a curled up Ace and Luffy. "Shanks! There's a boy in Anchor's bed!" He whisper shouted, hands hovering as he tried to figure out how to extract the rubber boy.
"PA!" Came a sudden yell from the bed and Luffy dove at Benn. The blonde cursed as he got a foot in the face and Zoro rolled off the bed, mumbled Luffy's name before passing back out. Benn instantly caught the kid and moved behind Shanks, eyeing the unknown child.
Ace blinked tiredly and looked up at them. "Lu, it's still dark. What are you- Oh you're back. Well - yawn- you can get him back asleep then." He rolled back over burying his head in Sabo's shoulder.
"Ace! Who the hell is this?" Shanks asked exasperated, trying to pull the grumbling boy away.
"Shhhaaannnkks. Can't we do this in the morning? I'm tired." Ace groaned.
"No we can't do this in the morning! You have a stranger in your bed!"
"Shishishi. Thats not a stranger.. Thats Sabo!" Luffy exclaimed as he tried to climb out of Benn's restrictive grasp. "Pa. I'm hungry. Ooh we should go hunting. Robin says that the humandrills have night guards that sleep during the day so they fight completely different. Plus the dark will make it harder to see so maybe I can show you my observation haki. Or we can go look at the stars and you can tell me stories! Or-"
"Anchor! We're excited to see you too but it is late. We're going to bed. As soon as you tell us who the hell this is!" Benn said, struggling to keep Luffy in his grasp.
"I told you, that's Sabo!" Luffy said again. "And I'm not tired anymore."
Benn looked at Shanks concerned and confused. Shanks thought for a moment before the name clicked in his brain. "Anchor… Wasn't Sabo your brother who… died?"
"Mmhmm but he's not dead anymore. He had ammonia and didn't remember. But then he saw the news and remembered and he came with Robin to see us!"
"Amnesia? Wait Robin? Nico Robin? She's here too?"
"Yeah! Sabo was with Robin and my dad! Cause Dragon dad saved him and took care of him. But he missed us so he decided to come and let Ace beat him up so that we could be brothers again. But we were already brothers…. And Ace fell asleep so I beat him up instead."
"All of your worrying and you missed the fact that there were two more people on the island."
Benn glared at Shanks. "So much for your observation haki."
"Hey! You could have checked the island too! Besides they were sleeping. I was checking for alert consciousness!" Shanks defended himself.
The blonde gave a tired groan before jumping to his feet and giving a perfect bow. "Hello Emperor Red Hair Shanks and First Mate Benn Beckman. My name is Sabo and I am the not so deceased brother of these two. I lost my memory after being shot upon by a celestial dragon and was raised in the revolutionary army. I recently regained my memories after seeing news articles about my brothers and after piecing together their location from their conversation with Nico Robin, I made my way here in order to reconnect. Thank you for saving Luffy as a child and thank you again for saving both Ace and Luffy recently. Without your actions I would never have gotten to see them again and explain. It was a very emotionally draining day and I owe you a great debt." He straightened up and then glared at them. "Now shut up and let us go back to sleep."
"Please" whined Ace, head buried under the pillow.
Benn looked at Shanks worriedly and gripped Luffy tighter.
"Guys. Seriously, nice to see you but get out." Zoro grumbled from half under the bed.
"Midnight snack?" Luffy asked peering up through his eyelashes.
"Sure Anchor," Benn said interrupting Shanks. "Then why don't you stay with Shanks tonight. I know he was missing your cuddles."
Luffy lit up and beamed at his dad. "YAY FOOD! And sleepover." Shanks swallowed back his denial and watched as Luffy raced out of the room.
"Aren't you the one says I'm too soft with him? Who's always going on about keeping to an eating schedule and not indulging him!" Shank pouted at his friend and caught the pillow that was thrown from the bed. "Alright we're going. But we will be getting the full story in the morning." He warned as Luffy's arms shot in and tugged them towards the kitchen.
The two men watched as Luffy started to inhale the food in the kitchen. "You know, he would have been fine staying with the boys tonight." Shanks said quietly.
"We don't know that boy." Benn said firmly.
"Yeah but Luffy and Ace do. And you know that Ace wouldn't let anyone near Anchor that he didn't trust."
"Well yes but I would like to have a conversation or two with someone before I want them sleeping with my kid." Shanks smirked and Benn shook his head in disgust. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah I do, but we weren't there when Anchor grew up… he's had plenty of sleepovers with people we don't know. Hell we only recently met anyone on his crew. It's not fair to him for us to start doubting his ability to read people."
Benn grumbled for a second before sighing. "You're right."
"Wow, wait say it again.…. I need a tone dial or something. We need to memorialize this. You never admit when I'm right."
"Maybe this is the first time?" Benn snarked. "I'm not saying it again. But I know I'm over reacting. It just took me by surprise is all."
Shanks snorted. "Well I guess you were do for a freak out. After all I've had several since we picked up the brat. But why's it got to be my bed?"
"Please. You'll sleep better with the kid next to you anyways." Benn said fondly and then froze. "Aw damn. We're going to have to do some serious hunting tomorrow or the kids are going to kill us."
Shanks looked up and winced at the empty fridge and the boy who had blown up like a ball. "Oops?"