Chapter 78
“Well, shit.” Garp thought to herself as she sat in the bathroom of her captains quarters on her navy vessel. Garp was currently taking a bubble bath in her absolutely fucking ginormous bathroom in her captains hoarders, and she may or may not have took a pregnancy test for shits and giggles because A) the thing was about to expire, and B) she’s just been feeling off the past couple weeks. She held up the stick as she sunk into the bathwater with a dramatic grown, the two clear red lines practically taunting her as she glared at it.
Grap let out a long dramatic sigh. “Oh fucking well.” She murmured to herself, her voice muffled by the water and bubbles as she haphazardly tossed to the pregnancy test onto her sink counter. And reached her Den Den Mushi and dialed a number she knew by heart.
The Den Den Mushi rang once, twice, thrice, and finally picked up with a gruff voice on the other end, "Sengoku speaking, what's the commotion, Garp?— what is that noise?” He asked, his tone going from professional and kind of bored to curious in an instant.
“I’m taking a bath. It’s the running water you’re hearing.” Garp said without a care in the world, as if it was the most normal thing ever for a girl to call their guy best friend as they’re taking a bath.
Sengoku splattered, and Garp could hear the people that were in the background either making surprised noises, choking on whatever they were drinking or eating, laughing, or cat calling.
"Oh, for the love of the sea, Garp! What is it that you want?" He sighed heavily. And Garp could almost imagine Sengoku’s face turning redder and redder and redder.
Garp hummed, shifting slightly in her bath, causing the water to slosh around. "Well, Sengoku, remember when we used to talk about how we'd never get caught up in that whole 'love and babies' mess?" She said, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Yes, I do," Sengoku said with a hint of amusement, "And I remember you saying you'd eat your hat if it ever happened to you. Did you find a particularly tasty one?"
“Maybe, or you and Tsuru might have to find me one because I’m not calling for a little chitchat conversation.” Garp said, leaning back in the tub and crossing her ankles. “Tell the admiral I’m about to disappear for a couple months, nine or so until I pop this baby out.”
Sengoku’s laughter died down and was replaced with a stunned silence. “You’re... pregnant?”
“Yeah.” Garp answered nonchalantly, running her fingers through her hair. “Just found out.”
Sengoku’s silence was deafening on the other end of the line. “Who’s the...?” He trailed off, unable to find the right words.
“Well, yep.” Garp said loudly, popping the p. “I’m gonna have a baby. So be a peach and tell the admiral I’m gonna dip for a while, and I don’t know… help me think of some baby names or some shit.” Garp said casually, splashing water around in her tub. “And i’ll drop off the marines that are on my navy ship with me at the nearest island with Navy headquarters. Okay, tootles, bye-bye!” And with that, she hung up.
Sengoku sat there with the Den Den Mushi in his hand, utterly stunned. He didn’t know what to do, who to tell, or what to say. This was big news. Garp was having a baby. Garp, the one who was never caught off guard, never took a day off, and was basically the poster child for the marines. The only thing that came to his mind was that he had to tell Tsuru. He hoped Garp knew who the father was because he wasn’t about to play matchmaker with his best friend and her baby daddy.
Sengoku quickly found Tsuru, who was busy sorting through paperwork in her own office in Marineford. He practically burst through the door, his face flushed with excitement and surprise. “Tsuru, you’re not gonna believe what Garp just told me!” He exclaimed, panting slightly from his sprint across the ship.
Tsuru looked up from her work, raising an eyebrow. “If it’s about her latest fight, I already know. She’s been bragging about it for days. What’s got you so riled up?”
Sengoku took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. “It’s not about that. It’s... it’s about Garp. She’s pregnant!”
Tsuru's eyes widened, and she froze mid-sentence. The paperwork slipped from her grasp, fluttering to the floor like a flock of surprised doves. “What?!” she gasped, jumping to her feet.
“Yeah, you heard me right. She’s going to be a mom!” Sengoku said, a mix of disbelief and excitement in his voice. He couldn’t help but chuckle at Tsuru’s shock.
Tsuru’s mind raced with questions. “Who’s the father? Did she say anything about that?”
“No, she didn’t.” Sengoku replied, scratching his head as he leaned against the doorframe. “But knowing Garp, she’ll tell us when she’s good and ready. Or maybe she’ll just show up with the kid and be like, 'Surprise!' and throw it into our arms without warning.”
Tsuru rolled her eyes, trying to imagine the scene. “God help us if she does that.” She sighed, sitting back down and gathering her paperwork. “Alright, let’s keep this between us for now. The last thing we need is for the whole Navy to know before she’s ready to announce it.”
Sengoku nodded. “You’re right. But we have to be there for her, especially when the baby comes. We’re going to be aunts and uncles!”
“Yeah, I know, and we’re terrible at keeping secrets, but for Garp, we’ll manage.” Tsuru chuckled, shaking her head. They both knew that the three of them had been through everything together, and a baby was going to be quite the adventure.
They stayed silent for a second longer before Sengoku spoke up again. “You’re coming with me. I’m not doing this by myself, but Garp asked me to tell the admiral that she was going to take time off. I’m not going to talk to the by myself about this, the admiral scares me, Tsuru!”
Tsuru smacked him lightly on the arm. “You’re such a scaredy-cat, Sengoku. But okay, I’ll come with you. Let’s go before she sends out a search party for her favorite Vice Admiral.”
They made their way to the admiral’s office, their steps echoing down the hallway. The door was open, and the admiral looked up from her paperwork as they approached. Her stern gaze softened when she saw them. “What’s the matter, children?” She asked, setting her pen aside.
Sengoku took a deep breath and stepped forward, his hands fidgeting behind his back. “Well, ma’am, it’s about Garp. She’s... she asked us to report to you that she’s going to take some personal leave… It’s… family matters you could say.”
The admiral's eyebrows shot up, and she leaned back in her chair. “Is everything alright with her family?”
“She’s pregnant.” Tsuru said bluntly and a matter-of-factly without a second of hesitation.
“Tsuru!” Sengoku hissed, his cheeks reddening.
The admiral’s gaze swiveled to her. “Excuse me?”
“Garp is pregnant.” Tsuru repeated calmly, watching the admiral’s reaction. The older woman's eyes widened, and she leaned back in her chair even more, the room seemingly growing quieter with each passing second.
The admiral took a moment to process the information before speaking, “well… that’s… unexpected, but okay. I’ll start her paid leave immediately. Who’s the father?” Her voice remained calm, but curiosity laced her words.
“We don’t know, she didn’t say.” Sengoku said, his voice a tad higher than usual.
The admiral’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. “Alright. Make sure she knows she’s got full support from us. And keep this under wraps until she’s ready to tell everyone herself. The last thing we need is for this to become a distraction or, worse, a target for the media or other parties.” She instructed sternly.
Sengoku and Tsuru nodded in unison. They left the admiral’s office, their heads spinning with thoughts of Garp’s impending motherhood.
————————
Meanwhile, across the ocean, far, far far far far far away from Marineford Garp all but kicked off all of the marines and Navy soldiers off of her navy vest onto the closest island with a marine base on it. “Tootles! I’ll see you all in a couple months!” Grap yelly waving at them as they disappeared into the distance.
Her ship, the Hounder, was now just her and her baby, and she couldn’t help but talk to it. “Okay, baby, it’s just you and me now. Time to go find dear-ol-daddy and tell him the news, huh?”
The ocean breeze ruffled her jet-black hair as she navigated her ship through the vast, uncharted waters, as she sailed around to each of the islands that were protected under the Roger Pirates, jolly Roger, hoping but not really caring if she found the Roger Pirates’ ship, the Oro Jackson.
Finally, after two weeks of sailing, she spotted it—the ship that had eluded the navy for so long. The Oro Jackson looked just as majestic and notorious as she remembered from the last time she seen it.
Garp didn’t waste any time walking up to the railing of her own ship, bringing her fingers to her lips and letting out the loudest, most ear piercing, sharpest whistle she could manage. She had to put her hand over her ears as the sound reverberated back to her, but she knew it was loud enough for the Roger Pirates to hear.
The Oro Jackson’s crew looked around in confusion until their eyes landed on the Hounder. Silence fell over the deck of the pirate ship as they stared at the navy vessel approaching. The captain, Gol D. Roger, leaned over the railing of his own, squinting and using his hand to block out the blinding sun, a smirk playing on his lips as he recognized Garp’s ship. He knew that whistle anywhere; it was a signature move of the woman who had been both a thorn in his side and a surprising ally more times than he could count.
“Garp! It’s been too long!” Roger’s voice boomed across the water, his grin growing wider as the Hounder docked alongside the Oro Jackson. His crew, used to Garp’s unprompted visits just wave and greeted her like an old friend coming for a visit.
“Roger, honey-bunny.” Grap greeted playfully, their ships docked so close together that they just had to lean a little bit more forward over the railing of their respected ships and they would kiss. “How’s life been treating you?”
Roger’s smirk grew wider. “Life’s been great, but what brings you here today, my dear navy pest?” He asked, his eyes darting down to her lips before meeting her gaze again.
“Oh, well.” Garp began, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. “I’m going to disappear for a while. And, well, I have something to give you.” She said, leaning even closer to him their lips brushing together before she reached into her pocket of her Jean shorts, pulling out her positive pregnancy test and shove it she shoved her hand, that was holding the positive pregnancy test, on his chest, pushing him and causing him to stumble as she drop the positive pregnancy test onto the Oro Jackson’s deck. “I’ll see you around Roger pirates.” Garp said, straightening her posture and stepping away from the railing of the Hounder like she just didn’t flirt with a pirate and give him a pregnancy test.
Roger looked down at the pregnancy test, the two red lines glaring up at him like a pair of accusatory eyes. His heart skipped a beat as he processed the information. He didn’t know how to feel—shock, fear, excitement, or maybe all of the above. He picked it up and stared down at it, his eye wide, and his mouth agape.
"You're pregnant?" He finally managed to choke out, looking up at Garp, who nodded. “Yeah.”
Garp’s nonchalance was almost infectious, but the gravity of the situation was not lost on Roger. His eyes searched hers for any sign of jest, but found none. He cleared his throat and took a step back, the reality of the moment setting in. “Is this... mine?”
Garp rolled her eyes, crossing her arms under her ample chest, pushing her already prominent breasts together, her hip cocked to one side. “Well, if it wasn’t yours I wouldn’t have spent the last God knows how long tracking you down.”
Roger’s face grew redder than the sunset as he took another step back, holding the pregnancy test like it was a ticking time bomb. His crew looked on, their expressions ranging from shock to amusement. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "Well, this is... unexpected," he said, his voice wavering slightly.
Garp chuckled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I know, right? The universe loves a good plot twist." She chuckled again. "But you know what? I'm actually pretty excited about it. I never thought I would ever be a mom, but here we are."
Roger swallowed hard, still staring at the pregnancy test. "This is... huge, Garp. I need some time to... to think." His mind was racing, trying to piece together the timeline of their encounters, the moments they had shared, and how this could have happened.
Garp just waved her hand nonchalantly in the air, turning on her heels and walking towards the helm of her ship to steer her ship away. “Yeah, yeah, do whatever thinking you need to do. I just thought you needed to know.” She said, “I’ll see you around, Roger pirates.”
Roger just watched her go, the pregnancy test still clutched in his hand. He could feel the weight of his crew's gazes on him, but he couldn’t bring himself to look up at them. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, trying to sort through the implications of what Garp had just told him. He was going to be a father.
Finally, he looked up to find his first mate, Silvers Rayleigh, staring at him with a knowing smirk. "I take it congratulations are in order, Captain," he said, his tone a mix of amusement and solemnity.
Roger let out a nervous laugh, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I guess so," he replied, still trying to wrap his head around the news. "I need to talk to her, but first, I need to figure out what the hell I'm going to say."
Rayleigh clapped him on the back. "Well, you've always had a way with words, Captain. I'm sure you'll think of something." His smirk grew wider as he walked away, leaving Roger to his thoughts.
The Roger Pirates watched as the Hounder pulled away from their ship, the wind carrying Garp’s laughter across the water. The tension on the Oro Jackson was palpable, each pirate wondering what their captain would do next.
Roger stood at the railing, his mind racing. He had always been the free-spirited pirate, living by his own rules, but now he had a responsibility growing inside of Garp. He felt a strange mix of fear and excitement, a cocktail of emotions he hadn’t anticipated. He knew he had to talk to her, but he didn’t know how to approach the situation. He had never been in a serious relationship before, and the thought of being a dad was both terrifying and exhilarating.
The Roger Pirates exchanged glances, the whispers and murmurs of the crew growing louder. They had seen their captain in many situations, but never had they seen him so...flustered. Crocus, the ship’s doctor, stepped forward, patting Roger on the shoulder. “Cap’n, if you need to talk, I’m here for ya. I can’t say I know much about babies, but I’ve seen a few in my day. Maybe I can help ya out?”
Roger looked at him, his mind swirling with a tornado of thoughts. “Thanks, Crocus. I just need some time to think.” He managed to squeeze out a small smile. The crew dispersed, giving their captain the space he needed to process the news.
Back on the Hounder, Garp sailed her ship away, humming a tune to herself, her eyes on the horizon. She had hoped for a more dramatic reaction from Roger, but she knew him well enough to know he needed time. She couldn’t blame him; she had dropped a bombshell, and she had done it in the most Garp fashion.
But never mind that. Garp had just gotten her first work paid leave paychecks this morning. Let’s just say they gave her a fuck ton of money and she’s about to go an a shopping spray, and well make a prenatal appointment, she hasn’t had one of those yet.
And that’s how Garp found herself an a Islands port town called "Serenity," known for its quaint shops and friendly inhabitants. The salty breeze of the sea was replaced with the sweet scent of fresh baked goods wafting from the nearby bakery, and the cobblestone streets were lined with colorful buildings.
Garp I just made herself a prenatal appointment at the towns Planned Parenthood health centers. The nurse that was working at the front desk had said her appointment would be in two days so now she’s shopping for herself and baby stuff.
Garp wandered the streets of Serenity, her eyes scanning the various shops for anything that caught her fancy. She peered into the windows of baby boutiques, looking over the tiny outfits and plush toys that seemed to beckon to her.
"Ah, this one looks like it'll have everything I need," she murmured to herself, pushing open the door to the most adorable little shop she'd seen yet. The tinkle of a bell alerted the shopkeeper, a plump, cheerful woman who bustled over to greet her.
"Welcome to Little Sailor's Treasure Trove!" The woman beamed, "Is there something special you're looking for today?"
“No, just shopping around.” Garp replied with a grin, her eyes scanning the shelves filled with baby clothes and supplies.
The shopkeeper nodded enthusiastically, her cheeks dimpling. "Well, you've come to the right place! We have everything from onesies to cribs. Let me know if you need any help!"
Garp nodded, her eyes already drawn to a rack of tiny plush baby jumpsuits and onesies, and Grap winter town. She picked up one of the shopping baskets and walked over to the rack. Picking any and everyone she thought looked cute.
She picked up a set of four plush baby jumpsuits. Each of them was designed after a different type of bear. A brown bear, a black bear, a panda bear, and a polar bear. Another set of plush baby jumpsuits she found was of a cat and a dog, the cat was a black cat, and the dog was a Dalmatian. And there was another where it was a brown cow, and a Black and white cow. She picked one that looked like a fox, another outlook like a shark, and her all-time favorite one she looked like a black and green dragon. The dragon themed baby jumpsuit was so lush so thick, and it was definitely going to be the first one she’d put her baby into.
She probably bought one of every single jumpsuit, onesie, pants, shirts, Jackets, shoes, socks, and everything in between that store had. Plus whatever baby furniture she thought looked cute. She paid for everything without a second thought, and made an order for all the furniture she bought to be delivered to her ship at the docks.
Garp left the store feeling a little lighter and a little more excited than when she walked in.
Her hands were full of bags of baby clothes and toys, she headed down to her ship. She how to stay in this town for at least three days since her appointment was in two. As she Wander down to her ship she thought about her to do list.
Make a prenatal appointment. [Check]
Shopping for baby stuff. [Check]
Clear out a room in her ship, preferably the one beside her capsules, to make a baby room. [Not done]
Get decor for the baby room. [Not done]
Think of names for the baby. [Not done]
Go to the prenatal appointment. [Not done]
Find out the gender of her baby. [Not done]
Buy herself pregnancy stuff. [Not done]
Buy herself maternity clothing. [Not done].
She could do all of that later, but she needs to clear her room out now because all the furniture she just ordered will be at her ship by 5 PM.
So, that’s exactly what she did. The room connected to her captains, quarters on her ship, that was supposed to be her office, but she never used it, was now going to be turned into a baby's room.
Garp worked tirelessly, moving out the heavy wooden desk and chair, the bookshelves that had dusty books to one side of the, making a little area where she could still have her ‘Office’ but the rest was going to be babies. The room was large, almost the same size as her captains quarters.
The furniture she had ordered was delivered, and the delivery man built it and set all of it up for her. All of the furniture she bought was made out of dark oak wood, and they looked like they belonged in some mythical fairytale book with the intricate designs carved into the wood and the intricate designs the furniture was. The crib looked like a ship riding on a wave. The ship looked like it that should belong in a museum, it was so detailed and had a gold trimming. The dresser had little carvings of sea animals on it. The rocking chair looked like it could tell her secrets of the ocean.
Garp took a step back and admired the delivered men’s work. The room looked like a mix between a ship and a baby’s nursery. It was perfect. She had bought a plush octopus lamp that changed colors, a mobile that played shanties, and a baby blanket that had a map of the Grand Line stitched into it.
The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the room, making the gold trimming on the crib sparkle.
Garp sighed contentedly, her hands resting on her growing belly. The room looked like a dream come true, a perfect haven for her little sailor.
———————
Meanwhile, far far far far away from Garp and Serenity Roger was not having fun like Garp. He was currently huddled up in his own captains, quarters of his ship, the Oro Jackson, with Silvers Rayleigh, his first mate and his best friend. He was holding the positive pregnancy test, turning it over in his hand like it was a map to treasure island.
"What do you think, Ray?" Roger asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rayleigh leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful. "I think this changes everything, Captain." He took a sip of his drink, the amber liquid glinting in the candlelight. "But whether it's for better or worse, that's up to you."
Roger nodded slowly, his thumb tracing the two red lines on the pregnancy test. "I know I'm not ready for this. I'm a pirate, not a father." He sighed heavily, his eyes never leaving the small plastic stick. "But if Garp's having my kid, I can't just abandon it."
Rayleigh's gaze softened. "You've always had a good heart, Roger. I know you'll do right by the child." He paused for a moment before continuing. “But you have to consider Garp’s feelings in this too. She’s going to be carrying this baby for nine months, and she’s going to need support.”
Roger nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I need to talk to her, face to face." He stood up, his resolve firm. "We're going to Serenity. We have to sort this out."