Chapter Text
Aly POV
The hug Luffy gave me once he woke up was bone-crushing and eye-popping. “Lu… ffy… come… on… can't… breath!” I groaned.
His limbs loosened up, but he refused to fully release me, even as he stuffed his face with food. “You almost died, Aly!” he sobbed. “I don't want you to die!” He shoved an entire ham into his mouth. “Yum!”
I tried to wriggle out of his grip. “I'm fine now though, so let me go!”
He shook his head stubbornly. “No!”
I looked pleadingly toward Ace and Sabo, but they were conveniently not paying attention. And Kane was helping Law prepare one of the many ships for our departure. Releasing a loud huff, I resigned myself to the current situation. It wasn't like I was actually upset. I was just annoyed.
Eventually, Law and Kane returned, and I tried to free myself again. “Luffy,” I said. “You need to let me go.”
Luffy pouted, but set me down. “What if something happens to you again?” His eyes were wide with concern.
I looked over my brothers, who all had a similar look on their faces, and I sighed, holding out my hand. “Give me back the pieces of my vivre card.”
They all took a step back, eyes wide. “No!”
“Why would we do that?!” Ace exclaimed angrily.
I placed my hands on my hips. “I appreciate the fact that you all came to save me, but you can't do this every time I get hurt.”
“What if you die?” Sabo asked quietly.
I set my jaw. “If I die, I die. I will not have you guys putting your dreams on hold because of me.”
Law hesitantly placed a hand on my shoulder. “Aly, could we talk really quick?”
I scowled. “Fine.”
Law teleported us into the crow's nest. He cupped my cheek. “What's this really about?”
I couldn't meet his gaze. “I just feel like I've messed everything up, just by existing. I'm not sure how much has changed, and it scares me. What if Luffy fails because of me?” My voice got quieter as I spoke, ending in a near whisper.
Law frowned. “Do you regret marrying me?”
I looked up at him sharply. “No. Never!”
His forehead smoothed out. “Alright. Do you regret saving Ace's life?”
“Of course not!” It seemed offensive that he would even suggest that!
He pressed his forehead to mine. “Then shut up and let people love you.”
My mouth dropped open, and I blinked. “That's…”
He put an index finger to my lips. “A week ago, I witnessed nothing short of a miracle. Luffy literally turned into a sun on the battlefield. I believe that he will become the King of The Pirates, and I don't think anything you do could possibly change that. Honestly, his ambition scares me slightly.” Law kissed me gently, and pulled me over to the bench. “Aly, what is your dream? If you could do or be anything in the world, what would you want?”
I hadn't asked myself that question since I was nine, and a lot had happened in the interim. What do I want? I know what I want, but… “My dream is unattainable,” I said stiffly.
“How can you be certain? You still haven't even spoken it aloud.”
My eyes prickled. “I want…” My chin trembled. “I want kids, Law!” I cried.
Law POV
My heart panged as the words left Aly's mouth. Kids. She wanted kids. Neither of us were capable of reproducing. As I held her tight against my chest, I had a sudden thought. “What if we adopted?” I murmured.
She hiccup-laughed. “What sort of an orphanage would let pirates adopt?”
I finally decided to voice a thought that had been running through my head since we left Wano. “Who said we would still be pirates?” I posited.
Aly stilled. “Is that what you want?”
I sighed. “My dream for so long was just to take down Doflamingo, but when Luffy defeated him, I realized it wasn't truly my dream.”
“Then, what is your dream?” she asked curiously. “I told you mine, so it's only fair that you tell me yours.”
“It might sound kind of dumb, but I want to set up a clinic on a small, peaceful island. Treating the people of Wano after the war was gratifying in a way I can't even describe, and I want to settle down. I want a place to call home, surrounded by the people I love.”
Aly's eyes were bright as she looked up at me. “That doesn't sound dumb at all, Law. It sounds nice. It sounds like a future where we're both happy.”
I drew her up into a deep kiss. As long as we're together, I'll always be happy.
<><><><><>
“Slow down, Lami!” Aly shouted, racing after the little, red-headed girl. Lami giggled and ran faster.
I chuckled, taking long, slow strides up the mountain path. Aly was adamant that we take a vacation as a family, but I didn't realize we would be visiting her mom. Part of me was nervous, and Aly wouldn't admit it, but I was pretty sure she was nervous, too. She said she hadn't seen her since before she was taken, and that was nearly fifteen years ago.
I caught up with them both at the edge of a large clearing. Aly had our energetic daughter in her arms, but her eyes were locked on the building in front of us. I reached for her hand and gave it a small squeeze. “It's okay. I'll be right by your side the whole time.”
She flashed me a quick, nervous smile. “I know. It's just, it's been a long time.” She took a deep breath. “Alright. I can do this,” she muttered, taking a bold step forward.
Together, we approached the door, and Aly knocked three times on the gnarled wood. It looked like there might've been paint on it at some point, but it was impossible to tell for certain.
“That better not be you again, Garp!” a woman screeched loudly from inside the building.
I heard a barely audible gasp from Aly, and the corner of her mouth turned up. She pushed the door open, and entered the house. I followed behind her. The interior was dimly lit, but not dark. A large red-headed woman sat near the middle of the room, and several men were scattered about. When they saw us, they leapt to their feet, brandishing weapons. “Intruders!” the woman shouted.
Aly stuck out her tongue. “That's no way to greet your daughter, Dadan!”
Dadan peered at Aly before her eyes blew wide in shock. For a moment, I was afraid she was going to pass out. “A-Aly?!” she breathed.
All of the men dropped their weapons. “Aly!” They surged forward and swept her up in a giant group hug.
“Careful, guys!” Aly exclaimed. “You'll crush my daughter!”
Dadan's eyes focused on Lami, and she looked fearful for a second. “You're not gonna pull a Garp on me, are you?” she asked anxiously.
Aly laughed. “No. I just wanted Lami to meet her Grandmother.”
Dadan wrinkled her nose. “Grandmother makes me sound old!” she complained.
Lami wriggled out of Aly's hold and ran over to Dadan. She grinned up at the large woman. “Nana!” she crowed.
A twinkle shone in Dadan's eye as she gently scooped up our daughter. “I can live with ‘Nana’,” she said.