"Guys are you sure this is a good idea?" You whispered as you adjusted you flowers (one of them being an origami vivre card) in your head for the fifteenth time.

"Of course it's a good idea! Dandan is gonna give us so much more food if she sees- OW!" wailed Luffy as he was struck on the head by Ace.

"Is all you ever think about food you idiot!" Ace growled whilst Sabo just sighed.

The brothers had all decided that you should meet Dandan. She would sometimes visit the brothers in secret while you were in the bakery but a proper introduction was in order.

"Look (y/n), Dandan is not gonna hurt you, it just makes sense to show you who raised us." Ace said

You nodded nervously as you turned your head towards the hideout in front of you.

"Ready (y/n)?" Sabo smiled.

You shook your head furiously to clearly state you weren't ready.

"Ok"

You face filled with horror as Sabo knocked on the door.

The door almost flew off the hinges as the big lady with large curly hair stood there. You clung to Ace's arm for dear life as the woman began to yell. "What the hell do you want!"

"Hey Dandan!" Luffy laughed.

"Would you keep it down" Ace crossed his hand over his chest.

"It's been a while" Sabo beamed.

"AAGH! YOU BRATS ARE BACK!" She screamed falling on her rear in the process. "And I just got rid of yo-" Dandan's eyes landed on you. She paused and then looked back at the boys. Then she looked at you, then the boys, then you, then the boys.

"...Ace...Luffy...Sabo.... is that a girl?" Dandan muttered.

Luffy smiled "Yeah! Her names (y/n). She's super nice, she can bake really well and she's gonna be part of my crew!"

"NO SHES NOT!" Sabo and Ace yelled

"AHHH! FINALLY A GIRL! IM SICK OF DEALING WITH RUDE BRATS!" She squealed now taking you up and spinning you around. At this point both Dogra and Magra had stumbled out to see what the fuss was about.

"H-hi you must be Dandan" You muttered, still nervous and now dizzy.

"AHHH!! THEY'VE MULTIPLIED AGAIN!!" Screamed Dogra and Magra

"I'm (y/n). Nice to meet. You. Dogra and Magra. Right?" You managed to say between spins.

"Dandan if you don't put her down she might be sick" Sabo laughed. "Besides we're hungry so let's eat" he said walking inside followed by Luffy and then Ace. "Yeah Dandan got anything tasty, we brought this crocodile" Luffy smiled pointing at the massive crocodile they were dragging behind them.

"THATS TOO BIG!!" Magra and Dogra shouted in unison.

"Oi! You brats! Don't just walk past and act like you own the place!" Dandan charged after them but not before putting you safely on the ground. Meanwhile some more bandits came out and tried to carry the huge crocodile in.

'They're definitely rowdy, I think I can get used to it'

[Time Skip]

Well to your surprise Luffy was right. It seemed that Dandan prepared way more food just because you were here. She kept trying to pile food onto your plate but you just kept giving it to the Luffy.

"Are you sure you don't want anything else?" Dandan cooed as she picked up your plate. Luffy was about to respond but he was shut down quick "NOT YOU TWERP!"

"Thank you but I'm fine" You smiled.

"You're so well mannered it's so nice" Tears streamed down Dandans face as the other bandits just nodded.

"Um (Y/n)...it is just (Y/n) right?" Dogra asked

" Yeah it's just (y/n). I'm an orphan so I don't know my last name and I never took anyone else's. Didn't feel right" you started fidgeting with your (h/l) (h/c) hair. A small habit you developed when you were uncomfortable. This habit was noted by Sabo and Ace and they didn't seem to like where the conversation was going.

"Well (Y/n), you seem like a nice girl. Way too nice to be hanging around those trouble makers. So why do you still hang around them?" Magra questioned.

"Cause she wants to be! She's our friend!" Ace yelled, slamming his plate down.

"Best friend!" Luffy added.

"Now stop making her uncomfortable!" Ace finished, as he crossed his arms over his chest. Signalling the conversation was over.

your heart ached at the word 'friend' you weren't classed as family, or a sister. No just friend.

'R-right I-I'm just their friend... I met these guys after they exchanged cups... so of course I'm just their friend'

"I-it's ok Ace... If you really want to know? They make me feel at home. That, and I like their ambitious nature. They have a dream to venture out and become pirates and it's admirable... to venture out I mean" you corrected.

"Pirates huh?" A new and more gruff voice asked. Suddenly you could feel the room became awfully tense; Dandan and the other bandits spat out their drinks, and the colours drained from the brother's skin.

"And do you aspire to be a pirate young lady?" Said the gruff voice.

"Uh no sir. I don't really like to fight so it wouldn't be suited to me" you replied, not quite sure what was happening.

"Well that's good! At least the number of fools hasn't increased" you could here the knuckles popping from behind.

"GARP YOU'RE BACK SO-

"B-but why me...?" She whined just before passing out.

Dandan was now laying motionless on the ground. You froze.

'She's passed out cold. What do I do? Wait....Did she just say Garp? As in their Grandpa, Garp?'

"I'm very sorry you had to see that sweetheart. It seems you've become a new edition to the family. I'm Garp but from now on you'll address me as Grandpa" he smiled patting your head in a gentle gesture. You started to get a bit red from the action. Causing him to laugh a hearty laugh.

"Grandpa...?" You muttered as if trying out how it sounds.

'Grandpa?... does that mean he wants me to be apart of his family. He's the first person to ever say that to me. I think we'll get along...' you just smiled at the thought.

Garp by this point has now turned towards the boys. The genuine smile he once had, now replaced with the most cynical grin you'd ever seen. "And as for you boys..." he began. Knuckles popping once again

You turned to see the boys as well, only to be met with two completely terrified faces and one very determined one.

"Time to truly beat the ever living snot out of you" said Garp. And so he did.

They're cries for help were heard from all over.

[Time skip]

Garp came back to the hideout to say goodbye to Dandan but mainly to you. Dandan made it very clear that if I ever needed anything that I could always come by and talk, which was very reassuring. By the time you had found the boys they were almost lifeless. After dragging/assisting each one back to the tree house, you had made it your priority to look after them. Which meant asking for a lot of time off work.

"Geez you guys, you could've at least tried to survive. It feels like I'm raising you from the dead" you frowned.

It was late and they were all resting. you were tired, but as their friend it was your duty to look after them. If you were being honest, when you first found them you were so worried. You actually thought your grandad killed them.

You placed the final bandages on Aces face as he slept. He was always flustered when you tried to do it while he was awake, especially around Luffy and Sabo.

"He's a vice admiral in the navy right? That means when you become pirates you'll have to face him" you sighed. "Geez you guys are gonna cause me so much grief when you leave." You were about to stand and put away the medical kit, but you were stopped by a hand gripping onto your wrist.

"Then why not just come with me?" Ace whispered.

You looked at him in shock. His blazing eyes were locked onto your (e/c) eyes.

"I'd protect you" he continued "you wouldn't ever have to worry cause you'd be right there"

"I-I...uh... Well I..." you were getting to lost in his eyes that you couldn't formulate a proper response.

'snap out of it (y/n)! you have still have a job to do'

"Ace, I can't just forget about Luffy and Sabo. Their my friends as well. I would love to go see the world with you, with all of you, but I would be dead weight. You can't risk that if you want to be king of the pirates" you sighed as Ace frowned.

It seemed as though anticipated your answer yet still hoped for there to be a chance to change your mind. His hand slid down to yours, he watched it carefully as if he was holding something fragile and fleeting. In response to his action you just rubbed circles on the back of his hand in order to ease his concerns.

"Stay like this for a while"

It definitely wasn't a request but it wasn't like you minded. You were happy he wanted you around. moments like this with Ace were rare, so you never shunned him away.

"What would you think if Rodger had a kid?" Ace broke the silence, still analysing your hand.

"As in the pirate king Rodger?" you hummed. "I'd feel sorry for the kid. He would constantly be seen for what his father has done and never for who he is. Many people would shun him for even being alive, but if he existed he'd deserve to have a chance at life just like everyone else. It's unfair to judge someone for something they have no control over." you huffed.

"thank you... thank you... thank you..."

The grip on your hand had increased significantly as the toughest boy you'd ever seen, silently sobbed beside you. He bolted upright and held and wrapped his free arm around you as he sobbed on your shoulder. You had no idea what to do so you hummed a small lullaby and rubbed circles on his back.

Eventually Ace fell asleep in your arms and of course you put two and two together and realised who Ace really was. Sure you were surprised but 'Ace would always be Ace' you reminded yourself as you laid him down and covered him.

Everything was peaceful... Everything was quiet... Everything was perfect...

so why did everything have to go wrong?

[Time skip]

The blue jam pirates attacked and forced Sabo to return to his home, tears streamed down your face as you all begged and even screamed for him to stay, but he just kept walking and walking and walking. And then he was gone.

You, Ace and Luffy were all in custody of the blue jam pirates. You were forced to do labour with the hope that you'd see Sabo again; it was so painful and your arms ached. You were falling behind when it came to delivering the boxes, even with Ace and Luffy's help. So they decided to put you to better use

"take her to the docks and sell her at the market, She's young and pretty, she'll fetch a good price instead of rotting here"

Just like that you were ripped away from the only other people you cared about. You tried to fight but were already so exhausted from working so hard. Ace and Luffy got beaten up in an attempt to try and save you. All you could do was watch your life slowly slip away.

You witnessed the fires of Grey terminal. Your origami flower was singed slightly at the edges, and you could do nothing to help.

But the real nail to the coffin was Sabo. You could see him on his ship as he was setting sail, how excited he was, you were meant to witness that with Ace and Luffy by your side. You could only watch in true horror as his ship was set alight. You couldn't stop the tears from falling. There were no words to describe the feeling of dread in your heart.

There was a moment in the chaos when he looked at the shore, and saw you. The world just stopped. You and Sabo were the only ones who existed, and neither of you could do anything to help each-other.

The second blast hit and Sabo disappeared once again. You wails were silenced by the cacophony of noise around you.

The ship set sail a few hours later and in all that time the only thing you did was stare at your origami vivre card. It was the only thing that gave you hope. Luffy and Ace were definitely still alive and when they set sail. They'll find you.

"Luffy... Ace... I promise to find us a home, just stay strong... just stay strong" you muttered to yourself as the waves lapped against the ship and lulled you to sleep.