Chapter 2
Newgate smiled down at his youngest child; she was the reason he, Thatch and Ace were still alive. The reason why the majority of his precious family was still alive. He hadn't been able to prevent the events of Teach's betrayal but he had been able to weaken their impacts. All because of this young girl... young woman now he supposed. She had been gone for only 5 years for them but it was obvious from not only her growth but the age of her children that it had been far longer for her.
"So how exactly did you know we were here?" Bucky asked, suspicious but no longer because of the group's intentions.
"Observation Haki. It's the ability to sense your surroundings with an increased awareness of living beings and their intentions." Izou commented from his spot on the far side of the gathered commanders.
"Are we not allowed to get hugs too, Little sister?" came the call of several mock indignant voices. I sat up, leaning away from my comfortable spot against Oyaji's side to find the sources of the call. It was from primarily Namur, Jozu, and Haruta, but I could also see Duece and Mattaius nearby.
"Hmmmm... Nope! Oyaji first. Then Thatch again, then Ace, then Marco. Then I should introduce myself to the Straw-Hats seeing as the great powers dumped my family on their boat. Then... pfff... Kehehehehehe!!! Your faces!!!!! Keshishishi!" I burst out laughing no longer able to hold my facade of ignoring one of my first families. Whitebeard had been chuckling fondly during my little spout but he broke into full laughter at the reactions of his sons. I smiled up at my Oyaji before jumping down to hug the rest of my brothers that were hoping for one. Mattaius was the last one to receive a hug before I was able to finally meet the rest of the Straw Hat crew.
“I would like to formally apologize to you Monkey D Luffy, captain of the Strawhat Pirates, and to you Strawhat Pirates, for the unintentional invasion of your ship.” I said to the gathered crew, giving all of them a bow. I could see that Luffy appreciated the gesture more because his nakama needed it and less of him needing the gesture. Zoro, I knew, needed the gesture most because of how serious he was about the honor of his crew being upheld.
I could see that my twins were anxious for the opportunity to explore the island and the ships that were docked there. Remus and Harry seemed content to just questioning any and all Whitebeards to death with a wide variety of questions. I smiled as I saw Maritza and Katya cuddled into Izou’s side listening as he and Namur told them different stories.
“Mama! Can Ed and I go explore?! Please!!!” Owen whined from his spot closer to the forest.
“Adventure! Yosh!” Luffy yelled.
“Luffy-san, may I ask that you watch over my twins if you are planning on adventuring into the forest?” I asked softly. Luffy looked at me slightly stunned.
“Okay… why me?” He replied.
“Because I doubt that my twins will be able to exhaust you with their antics and I know that you are more than strong enough to protect them if you run into trouble.” I stated. It was all true, despite what those might think. Without Thor or Loki’s help, I would have nearly died from exhaustion just trying to keep up with the twins after they started walking. Luffy blinked in surprise before grinning brightly.
“Yosh! You can count on me!” Luffy exclaimed before turning towards Owen and Edmund and the three of them disappeared into the surrounding forest.
“Are you sure you are okay with our captain looking after your kids while they explore?” Nami asked. I smiled at her before holding up three fingers and saying “Three, two, one…”
“God dammit Luffy! Sabo, come on!” Ace called out and began running towards where Luffy and the twins disappeared into.
“When I was here the last time, Ace rarely shut up about Luffy and the crazy adventures he seemed to get himself into. Besides, Oyaji explained that Observation Haki isn’t something that people can really turn off completely. Even if they got into trouble that would require someone other than Luffy, Ace or Sabo, I doubt they would be in danger for too long because the rest of you would sense it around the same time.” I answered her honestly. Nami stared at me a little stunned while Zoro smirked from his spot a few feet away.
“You knew that Ace and Sabo would follow Luffy as soon as he left. Thus giving your children even more protection.” Zoro said.
“Guilty as charged. And I’m pretty sure-”
“I’m going to follow them, love. We’ll be back later.” Steve told him as he walked past and gave me a short kiss before heading into the forest.
“Yup… was pretty sure Steve was going to follow them all eventually.” I remarked. Zoro snorted.
“You’ve got them all pegged. What about your other man?” He asked eye glimmering with excited curiosity.
“Bucky? Oh, he and Franky are-”
“Franky and Usopp offered to show me some of their workshop, darling. Maybe I can bring Tony some more ideas for the prosthetics.” Bucky told me as he dropped a kiss on my forehead and following the cyborg back to the ship we landed on. By this time, Nami and Zoro’s jaws were slack as were Robin, Jimbei, Brook, and Sanji’s as they had been listening in as well.
“Bucky lost his arm a while ago and my nephew/brother has been working on getting him a newer better one every single time he finishes one. Bucky likes helping Tony out with any ideas and any projects he’s working on, usually it’s Tony’s mechsuit.” I explained to the group of Strawhats around me.
“And the others in your family?” Sanji queried.
“Well, the first thing the twins wanted to do when we arrived was explore Sunny, so I knew they’d want to explore the island as well. Remus loves to learn history and extinct or magical creatures and Harry shares most of his curiosities with Remi. Maritza likes to join the twins when they let her explore with them but she doesn’t like forests and is generally happy to listen to Remi and Hart talk about things or whatever they are learning about. Katya is still a little young, so I can’t say things with accuracy but she enjoys stories and music when she’s not napping. Speaking of naps… Katkat, Arta I think it’s nap time.” I called out to my daughters who were nestled together on Namur’s lap.
“No!” Maritza whined, while Katya reached her little arms up to me. I walked over to Namur to collect my youngest, settling her on my hip as I talked to Maritza.
“Do you want to stay with Namur and Izou for your rest time or with me?” I asked. Maritza tapped her hand on Namur’s knee while I glanced up to make sure he was okay with her decision. Namur just smiled, wrapping an arm around her so she could snuggle in closer.
“Mama… sing Vines?” She asked softly looking up at me.
“Sure Arta. Leaves from the vine, Falling so slow. Like fragile tiny shells, Drifting in the foam.” I smiled down at my eldest daughter who was slowly losing her battle against sleep.
“Little soldier boy, Come marching home. Brave soldier boy, Come marching home.” Remus sang quietly from his spot by Marco and Atmos.
“Ash in the snow, Falling so slow, Like fragile broken hearts with no place to go.” I continued, smiling gently at my eldest children. Harry smiled as he moved closer to me from where he had been sitting next to Remus.
“Little soldier boy, Taken from home, Forced to fight a war, That was not his own.” He sang with a plaintive edge to his voice.
“Little soldier boys, Cold and alone. Brave soldier boys, Never made it home.” I sang in soft answer.
“Leaves from the vine, Changing so slow. Like empty fallen souls, Looking for a home.” Remus sang.
“Little soldier boy, Thought he could soar. Brave soldier boy, Fallen in the war.” Harry replied.
“My little soldier boys, I need you home. Brave soldier boys, Come marching home.” I finished our song looking down at my daughters. The proof that my soldier boys made it through several wars.
“I’ll hold Katkat if you need, Mum.” Harry said from his spot beside me. I smiled at him but shook my head.
“I should be okay for now, but thank you for offering, Hart.” I spoke softly seeing as Katya had actually fallen asleep by the end of the song. Harry grinned before heading back to Remus.