Top of the morning to you, my lovelies.

Well, I've got another one done. And I'm starting on the next chapter, so hopefully it'll be out soon. This one was kinda hard to write, as it has elements of both fluff and drama. A weird combination, but one that I think came together nicely. I also added in some Fan Service, just cause I felt like it.

Just so my readers know, this chapter is going to contain heavier elements of Caminos that appeared in earlier chapters. Which means some people might need to review back to some previous chapters to refresh their memories. Hell I had to go back to some of them to reference a few things, just to make sure the details I put in all worked together.

I wanted to work in something of Mihawk's backstory, which no one really knows anything about. So while I will be attempting to keep to the themes that Oda created him in, keeping him in the style of a Spanish swordsman with ties to the Tepes, as per his namesake. I'm not sure exactly how much of this I will be adding in, but I do want to keep the theme going, as I have too much respect for Oda's designs to screw with them a lot.

This chapter is also a lot in Mihawk's POV, which might be a staple for the next little while. I'll defiantly add in Tamara's viewpoint, but it might not be as heavy as previous chapters.

I must give huge thanks to everyone. You guys are just the best and I hope you continue to like my story. Your guys review keep me going, I swear.

Oh and if anyone is looking for something to make them giggle, check out the You Tube Channel of Piichan. He's got a playlist called "One Piece on Crack." Made me laugh so frikking hard. Defiantly recommended it.

While the urge to increase his pace was there, Mihawk forced his more rebellious side down, continuing to walk at his normal saunter. He was rather surprised with himself, wondering if he needed to delegate more time toward meditation. He'd hadn't even been gone for 36 hours, but somehow his subconscious was filled with anxiety and anticipation, wanting to see his beloved Lady immediately.

The meeting at Mary Geoise had been more interesting than he'd thought. Mihawk had been quite surprised to see Doflamingo there. Kuma's presence had been expected, as far as he knew, the Nikyu-Nikyu user was an oddly obedient Shichibukai. What had been more concerning was the appearance of Laffitte and his petition for Blackbeard as a selection to fill the void left by Crocodile.

Mihawk wasn't sure what to think of that, but it was something he intended to keep an eye on. He'd been highly tempted while at the Marine Headquarters to dip into Yorinaga's file, to see what he'd done or if there was still a threat to Tamara's livelihood. But he'd resisted that desire. If anything, he wanted nothing more than for the world to forget about his Lady's linage, digging into it would only draw attention. Better to let sleeping Sea Kings lay. If there was a threat to Tamara's life, he would remove it. It was as simple as that.

Approaching Shakky's bar, he was forced to rapidly sidestep as Virgil appeared out of nowhere, winding himself around his ankles and meowing in glee. Around his neck was a rather dapper red bowtie.

"I wasn't even gone two sunsets Cat, there's no need to make such a fuss."

The black feline ignored the growl, rearing up to plant his paws on his leg. Mihawk almost sighed, bending down to scoop up the insistent creature before he attempted to climb him like a tree, which Mihawk had no doubt Virgil would try. As the small pet climbed over his shoulders, a new voice that nearly made him smile lit the air.

"Miha...Dracule! Hi!" Turning towards his Lady's excited voice, Mihawk had to forcibly stop himself from jolting, clamping down hard on his internal discipline to avoid letting his expression change.

Sabaody was a warm, humid island. They'd visited summer islands like it before, but Tamara had never worn the clothes that most of the inhabitants favored, her modesty normally leading her to dress in her favored flowing gowns. However, it appeared that this was not the case on this occasion.

Tamara glowed under the bright sunbeams that broke through the mangrove canopy, her expression ecstatic at seeing him. She wore a baby pink strapless dress that hugged her breasts, decorated with diamond sequins that shimmer in the midday light, doing everything possible to draw attention to her cleavage. The fabric was loose underneath it, the ruffled skirt stopping a few inches below her hips showing off long, toned legs that looked to stretch for literal miles. All highlighted by the fact that she was wearing 3 inch high heel shoes. Every mouth-watering curve and smooth surface of pale skin was on display for hungry eyes to devour, begging to be caressed and worshipped.

Heat flared through his bloodstream at the sight of her, beads of sweat forming on his back and neck from the increase in his core temperature. Mihawk was so captivated by her appearance, he completely missing Shakky, who was walking up behind dragging along floating resin bubbles filled with items and smirking in amusement. Aside from the first time he'd met Tamara on Kuraigana, he'd never seen her with so much exposed skin before. His mouth was dry, heart pounding in his ears and he couldn't move an inch, even as she happily trotted towards him.

"Welcome back. How was your trip?"

Her voice, musical and joyful, managed to snap him from his daze. Despite wanting nothing more than to reach out and yank her close, Mihawk pulled on his immense self control. Hard. Bowing his head so the brim of his hat blocked his view of Tamara, he responded in a more gruff tone than he wanted while struggling to reign in his desires.

"Uneventful for the most part."

Shakky joined them, commenting blandly, "You don't sound pleased."

"Dealing with the Marines is never enjoyable, Shakuyaku. You should know that." On his shoulders, Virgil yowled out a note that suggested displeasure, "Why are you dressing up the Cat? I don't think he approved of the attire."

Tamara giggled, "He looks great, very handsome. Everyone at the Amusement Park thought so too, he was a star. Oh here, let me take those things inside, Shakky-san. I'll put them away."

The distraction gave Mihawk another few precious moments to collect himself as the women exchanged hands. Tamara skipped inside the bar, her boundless energy palpable in the air. Once the two older adults were alone, Mihawk turned to give Shakky a narrow eyed glare that would have made an Admiral flinch back.

"You do realise if you weren't Rayleigh's life-mate, you'd pay dearly for that."

Shakky swallowed a laugh, knowing that she'd probably pushed her luck with Mihawk about a far as she could. Even she had limits with him. It hadn't been easy, convincing Tamara to wear the scandalous outfit, but she was good at persuasion. And the girl had forgotten about her modesty a few hours into the shopping spree she'd dragged her on, "I have no idea what your talking about Mihawk. Come on inside and tell me what happened at Marineford."

"You are out of your mind if you think I'm going to tell you anything after that little stunt."

"I have a bottle of Ambrosia I've been keeping out of Silvers greedy hands."

A long pause followed that comment before Mihawk reached up and unclipped the decorative collar from Virgil's neck, much to the felines delight, "Hnn..."

With the bottle of expensive wine tucked away in his belongings to be consumed at another time, Mihawk relaxed back into the high back couch. Night had started to fall on the island and with it, the bar was starting to pick up patrons. Which lead to Shakky needing to be available downstairs and him secluding himself out of sight. His presence in the main lobby would cause problems, either by scaring off customers or creating brawls. He had no desire to be on the receiving end of the barmaid's ire for either issue.

Rayleigh was still missing, wandering the archipelago somewhere. Not unusual, even as a retired pirate, the need to constantly move was something difficult to suppress. Mihawk was surprised that Shakky had been able to remain in one place for as long as she had. Already, he could feel the urge to move on stirring in his blood, a desire to sail towards the sunrise.

Taking a long swallow of the dark red liqueur, Mihawk leaned back into the cushioned support. It had been rewarding, coming to Sabaody. He'd gotten a good sparring match in with the Dark King, some valuable information from the Navy and his Lady was opening up more. Overall, he was quite pleased with the trip.

Speaking of his woman, Tamara wandered quietly into the room. She was dressed more normally now, clothed in an ankle length blue and white dress with kimono styled sleeves. She sent a shaky smile at him as she entered, but didn't speak, moving instead to the small bar on the wall. Her aura was chaotic, nervous energy jumping around her.

Now Mihawk frowned unhappily, wondering what in the world had happened in the last few hours to upset her so much. All he'd done was talk briefly with Shakky before taking a quick trip to a few of the Groves to arrange a trade of the Marine vessel he'd procured for something that didn't make him feel dirty every time he stepped onto it. But it appeared in the short time he'd been gone that something had occurred to put his Little Thing on edge.

He remain silent, watching as Tamara poured a glass of whiskey from Shakky's collection. An unusual choice for her, she wasn't normally one for hard liquor. Which made him all the more concerned for whatever it was that was bothering her. She walked over to where he sat, pausing near him and took in a deep breath.

Before he could question her, ask what was wrong, she promptly stepped into his space and sat sideway across his lap. He reflexively placed an arm around her back, resting his hand on her hip for support and stretched his legs slightly so she was perched more comfortably.

"Normally, I'd be quite pleased with your forwardness, but I am getting the distinct impression I'm not going to like the following conversation."

"This seemed like the easiest way to temporarily stop you from going on a bloody rampage." Tamara exchanged his wine flute with the crystal glass she'd prepared, taking a small sip of the liquid before bobbing her head in approval, "Shakky-san has good taste."

He narrowed his eyes, ignoring her attempts to change the subject, "And why exactly would I be needing to be restrained?"

She shifted slightly, setting the wine glass on the side table before twisting her fingers together, eyes darting around. Now very concerned, Mihawk loosened his hold on her waist, raising a hand to brush softly at her hair, "What is it, Mi Pequeña? Tell me..."

Tamara exhaled again, turning her face towards him and seeming to think carefully before responding.

"I...had a visitor while you were gone."

Mihawk felt rage starting to bubble up in his blood. Flicking his gaze over her quickly, he determined that she wasn't injured in anyway, so repressed his desire to growl unhappily, choosing instead to take a mouthful of the harsh whiskey. The burn of alcohol helped to calm him somewhat, which made him wonder when Tamara had come to know what to do to sooth his temper. Pushing aside that thought, he spoke with what he hoped was less bite than he was feeling.

"What kind of visitor?"

White teeth grabbed a lower lip and Tamara looked away from him again, hesitantly speaking of her encounter.

A Few Hours Earlier

Folding up the cute pink dress, Tamara placed it in the suitcase alongside her other clothes. She'd bought more than she really should have, Shakky was a bad influence in some ways. But it had been a lot of fun too. Still, she was looking forward to sailing on the ocean again. Turning and digging into the shopping bag again, she pulled out a pair of shoes.

A sudden shriek left her mouth, the heeled footwear clattering to the ground as she jerked back in shock. On the bed Virgil was instantly on guard, hackles raised and a vicious snarl aimed at the intruder. Nina woke as well, uncurling from her hip in a flash and wrapping protective coils around Tamara, hissing menacingly over her shoulder.

"Please do not attack, my Lady. I assure you, I mean you no harm."

"Who the hell are you!? How'd you get in here!?" Tamara yelled at the dark haired man who was currently bent down on one knee, head bowed submissively. As he opened his mouth to respond, she plowed on, "No wait, don't answer that. I don't care, get the hell out of here. Right now!"

She was very confused and more than a little afraid. There'd been no sound of someone approaching her room and Shakky certainly wouldn't have let just anyone walk into her home. As Tamara looked around, she also realised that the door was still closed, as were all the windows. Which did not ease her anxiety in any way.

"If my Lady wishes this humble servant to leave, then leave I shall. But I would beg an audience, if only for a few brief moments."

Tamara paused, eyebrows pulling together in slight confusion before recognition hit. It was the accent he spoke in, a rolling velvet timbre that was oddly familar, even though she'd only heard it a handful of times. She exhaled, still very much on guard, but now also puzzled at the same time.

"Who are you?"

The cloaked man stayed where he was, bowed before her and spoke without looking up, "I am a mere servant to the blood of Carpathi, my Lady, and by that vow, a servant to you as well."

His words sounded honest and he had yet to move a single muscle, seeming to be doing everything possible to not frighten her. Tamara looked over the man that she now knew without a doubt to be someone from Mihawk's native island. The accent was just too distinctive and he'd said himself that none outside his homeland had such a language.

"Why do you want to talk to me? I would think that Mihawk would be the one you'd want to speak to."

"My Lord has forbidden me from approaching him and this loyal servant must obey."

Now Tamara felt very uncomfortable. She'd never asked about Mihawk's history, only heard a few tidbits when he'd felt like speaking about it. Which she was fine with, she didn't care about what had happened in the past. But this man appeared to have connections to him and she really didn't know what to do.

"If Mihawk doesn't want to talk to you, I don't think I should either."

"Then you need not speak, my Lady. But I would beg you to listen. Please, allow this servant but a few words."

She bit her lip, still unsure, "I don't know..."

His head rose then, the first movement he'd made since his silent entrance. Nina jerked forward, fangs flashing and stopped a foot away from the man's face. Virgil lunged as well, pausing on the edge of the mattress, muscles tense and prepped for a strike. He did not react, appeared to have no fear of either animal, "If my Lady wishes this servant's essence, it is hers to take."

Tamara felt her heart start to pound. Everything was so confusing, she didn't know what to do. Obviously Mihawk didn't want to associate with this man, but at the same time, he was clearly desperate to get the Shichibukai's attention, yet unwilling to go against his wishes. So he was using a loophole, speaking to her knowing full well she'd feel obligated to tell Mihawk about the meeting.

"Are you prepared to die then? Willing to risk your life on this? Because you won't survive once Mihawk learns you've gone against his orders."

Caspian did not change his expression, looking over the beautiful blond with clear eyes, "I will accept my Lords punishment, if it means Moldovien survives. I only wish..."

"Stop!" He bowed his head again at the harsh snap. Tamara frown darkly at the man before her, tapping Nina's body gently to make the snake-whip retreat from her target, though she kept a close eye on him.

"I don't want to know why you're here. It's not your place to tell me anything. If Mihawk wants me to know about it, he'll tell me. I won't hear it from you. Understand."

He didn't speak again, only responding by bowing lower to the ground. Exhaling and feeling a stress headache coming on, Tamara blew out a quick breath at a stray strand of hair that had fallen in her face. She bent down to pick up the shoes she'd dropped, speaking as she moved.

"I'll tell Mihawk you're here and that you want to talk to him. What happens after that is out of my hands. So you'd better...Ehh?"

Tamara looked around her room in sheer bafflement. The space was empty again, only holding her and her two pets. Who both looked as confused as she was. A check of the room showed that there was still no signs that any exits had been used. Everything was sealed shut.

She remained still and quiet after speaking, looking up at Mihawk through her lashes and waited with baited breath. He didn't move at first, eyes focused past her at the far wall. They stayed like that for some time, neither sure what to do. Finally, he acted, shifting and raising the glass to his lips, taking a heavy swallow of alcohol.

"Hnn..."

Tamara's expression turned to slight confusion, eyebrows pinching together, "Are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Bewilderment turned into concern and she stared harder at the Warlord. That had not been what she'd been expecting. While she still had a lot of trouble reading Mihawk's moods and expressions, she knew him well enough to know that when he didn't want to deal with something and it insisted on continuing to bother him, nothing good would come from it.

"This is not what I was prepared for. Honestly, I'd have thought by now you'd already be storming around Sabaody."

"I've no need to chase after something so insignificant."

Now Tamara knew without a doubt that Mihawk was repressing his anger. Even if he outwardly appeared calm and collected, she knew better. He was far to prideful to allow anyone to defy him. He was putting on an act. Perhaps he was afraid she'd get upset or frightened, which was stupid. She already knew he'd never hurt her, so his temper didn't really bother her that much. It was more the fact that he was trying to deal with this issue alone, trying to push his past away, shield her from whatever was happening. She knew from personal experience that wasn't something that was easy to do and she didn't want him to have to handle this on his own.

But there was little she could do for now. Mihawk was by far the most stubborn person she'd ever met. If he didn't want to talk, there was no way she was going to get him to open up and she wasn't going to push the matter any further. At least not yet. Still, it was hurtful that he was pulling away from her, even if was his way of trying to protect her. She'd thought they were closer than that, thought that he trusted her more.

Sighing softly, Tamara moved to stand up, "Alright then, if you're sure. I'm ready to leave whenev-" her words ended on a high pitched yip when Mihawk's arm around her tightened, pulling her rump back into his lap with a soft thunk.

Whipping her head around, she flushed hotly at the curved smirk on his lips. He drained the last drops of whiskey from the glass, setting it aside before wrapping both arms around her, pulling her closer. Tamara felt her heart flutter as he buried his nose behind her ear, nuzzling into her hair and inhaled deeply, a rumbling purr vibrating in his chest. Her stomach flipflopped as fire suddenly filled her blood vessels. She felt her head tilt back, bearing more of her neck to his explorations, something that happened without her conscious decision.

"Y-you're taking advantage of this situation..." Tamara was honestly amazed her mouth was even capable of speech, given the tremors quivering through her. A sensual chuckle that caused a clenching in her lower belly and made her clamp her thighs together followed her comment.

"Pirate."

"Y-you...Mmm..." her eyes fluttered closed with a hum as his lips brushed the sensitive skin of her neck, the scratch of the stiff bristles of his goatee creating a delicious friction. Dear God! Was it suppose to feel this good? Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, a warm, rough sensation sent jolts of electricity shooting down her nerve endings making her gasp breathlessly.

"D-did you just..." Had he just licked her? What was happening and why was she so powerless to stop it? Did she even want to?

"Payback," came the low growly response.

"For what?" she managed to squeak out, receiving only a deep chested thrumming as an answer.

Mihawk suddenly stiffened under her, head turning slightly towards the door before he pulled back, loosening his hold. Still a bit dizzy and lightheaded, it took Tamara a few moments to recover. Within that time period, Shakky appeared, walking into the room. The elder women arched an eyebrow at the couple, smirking wickedly.

"Am I interrupting?"

Tamara blushed and Mihawk responded casually, "Not at all. I was just about to leave."

She blinked, standing up at his encouragement, watching him rise and becoming even more confused, "Huh? I thought you said-"

"We'll set sail in the morning Little Thing. Make sure you get some rest."

Without another word, Mihawk strode from the room Tamara stared at his retreating back, wanting to say something but having no idea what to say. Shakky looked back to her in concern.

"Is something wrong?"

She bit down on her lip, finding the slight sting of pain somewhat comforting, given what was happening, "I don't know Shakky-san...I really don't know."

The moments of contact with his Lady flashed through his mind, temporarily pushing back his rage as he walked. He could still taste her sweet skin, hear the soft whimpers in his ears. Mihawk wasn't sure if he was annoyed or relived that Shakky had come in when she did. His primal desires still hummed strongly in his blood, but he worried if he was pushing forward to fast. How far would she have let him go?

Pushing away that temptation, he refocused on his goal. The last thing he wanted to deal with right now was ghosts from his past. White hot anger surged through him again, causing him to clench his fists so tightly he created crescent marks on his palms. Stalking across the ground of the island, Mihawk felt Yoru humming on his back, attempting to comfort her master.

How dare he! Caspian was as loyal and obedient as any servant could ever be. Mihawk hadn't even considered the possibility that he was still trying to persuade him to answer the call and he'd dared to attempt this by approaching his woman. Servant or not, this insult could only be answered with death.

Entering into an empty grove, Mihawk paused. Gritting his teeth, he viciously snarled out loud to the still air.

"Show yourself Criado! I've no patience for your games!"

His voice echoed in the area, fading off and leaving silence in its wake. For a long while, it appeared as though nothing would come, that the grove would be occupied only by him.

Then a minuet shift in the wind occurred, something so minor that it could have been completely missed by just about everyone. But Mihawk wasn't everyone. His golden eyes of which his epithet stemmed from shifted, looking to the left.

"Thine servant hears and obeys, keeper of the Sigil Throne."

Mihawk stood stoically in place for a few heartbeats as the dark haired male remained kneeling behind him. The next movement was so fast one would have sworn that Kizaru had granted the Warlord his lightspeed. The next thing Caspian knew, a hand was clenched tight around his throat and he was dangling off the ground, air being choked from his lungs.

"You dare to oppose me, maggot. What right have you to even lay eyes upon her, let alone dare speak to her. You forget yourself, servant."

His voice was thunder, an all powerful force that shook lands and terrified men, the grit toothed snarl vibrating through flesh and bone, causing soul chilling terror in any that heard it.

The man held in the iron grip did not fight. He did not struggle or resist, not even raising hands to hold the arm that suspended him. He did not beg for mercy or plead for his life. Mihawk may as well have been holding up a living mannequin, one that did nothing but suck in desperate breaths, struggling to fill its lungs.

While his rage was sky high, consuming him in its flames, he still found himself hesitating. Caspian would never fight back, even if ordered to do so. He would remain passive and meek until the very end. Somehow, the thought of murdering this man in cold blood made him hesitant. Mihawk never did like ending lives without cause. His arm trembled and for a moment he was bombarded with images of the past.

A young Mihawk sat on marble stairs, blood dripping from a wound in his forehead. Steps sounded and a taller, older male sat beside him, "You will get stronger, young Lord. Do not fear."

That same man knelt before a shadowed figure, head bowed, "I take responsibility, my King. I was not watching the young Lord closely enough." The sound of flesh on bone filled the air, something that should have been Mihawk's burden to endure.

Two teenage boys, very similar in appearance, save that one had dark eyes while the other had oddly rimmed golden ones looked over a paper covered table together, while a quiet figure stood to the side, silently waiting to serve with a small, proud smile on his face.

Blood coated his hands, the still form of a dark haired woman on the ground before him. Behind him, the silent servant begged in a voice that shook with horror and guilt, "Forgive me, my Lord. Please forgive me..."

Reality came back and Mihawk spun around, flinging away Caspian with enough force to send him flying into the truck of a mangrove tree. The crash landing kicked up dirt and sent splinters of wood flinging through the air. Jagged harsh breaths puffed out of his mouth and Mihawk cursed his lack of control. But the rising of old memories, emotions and feelings he'd buried for years was causing his impenetrable shielding to crack on the edges.

The dust settled, showing Caspian kneeling once again, coated in dirt but still very much alive. Mihawk turned his head away, struggling to hold onto his composure. "You had no right."

"It is true, my Lord. I overstepped and I will forever regret it. But I do what I must to ensure your future."

Mihawk snarled dangerously, "My future does not involve you or anything you represent. I severed ties, there is nothing left for me there."

Caspian remained quiet for a long time before he spoke in a soft, submissive voice, "And for your Mate? Do you believe it right to keep this from her, to never let her know what she is a part of?"

"She is a part of nothing! As am I!"

"You know that to be false, my Lord. None more than I wish it were so. Would that I could leave you in peace, let you live the life you so want. But it is not to be. The Left Hand is dying, my Lord. And with it, so does the life of your homeland, your family and your legacy. While you may reject them, they do not offer the same to you. Will you truly choose to deny your Mate the opportunity to know your blood? Leave her shrouded in darkness? How is that fair to her?"

He was trying to manipulate him, Mihawk knew this. Caspian was loyal, but that did not mean he wouldn't use dirty tactics when needed. However the problem was that he was right. Tamara knew nothing of his past and he intended to keep it that way, to live for the present and future as he had always wanted. She had enough problems to deal with, he refused to drag her into his.

Turning his back to the kneeling man, Mihawk switched to his native tongue, the accent feeling heavy on his lips.

"Thine servants duty is done. Never more will thee answer this one's summons. No longer does thee attend to this one. Begone, one who is forgotten."

There was no sound from Caspian, he remained motionless. But his response what not what Mihawk wanted to hear, "Mine Lord has not the power to sever this one. Forever mine vow was spoken, and forever mine vow shall last."

Mihawk spun to lash out again at the dark haired man. Only to find him gone, the spot where he'd been showing only crushed vegetation where his knees had rested. The Shichibukai almost howled in frustration, but shoved down the urge deep inside himself. Whirling again, he stormed off into the night.

Dawn was breaking by the time his temper had cooled enough that he felt safe to be around other humans without decapitating any of them. Walking silently into the bar, he headed to the upstairs levels. The house was quiet, all residents resting as they should be at this hour.

Or perhaps not. Stepping into the lounge room, Mihawk paused at the sight of Tamara, fully awake and dressed in the same gown she'd worn last night. She stood in front of the northern window, arms hugged across her chest and saffron halo buzzing with anxiety.

Guilt ripped through him. She shouldn't have to deal with this, the phantoms of his previous life. It was his duty to shoulder, she needn't be involved in it. Clicking his heels on the floor to make her aware of his presence, Mihawk walked up behind her. Tamara turned at the sound, cerulean eyes glancing over him, searching for any wounds.

"I told you to rest, why are you still up?"

"Insomnia, I guess. Couldn't settle." She shrugged her shoulders, looking away from him and biting down on her lip before continuing, "I won't ask what happened. But...are you really okay? And don't you dare lie to me like you did earlier."

Now he paused, hesitating to speak. He had lied before, masking his anger and distress, distracting her from his turbulent state. But Tamara was far to smart to be pushed aside so easily. He didn't want her involved in this, he needed to protect her. So he prevaricated his response,

"I dealt with a problem. That is all."

She frowned, unsatisfied and unwilling to drop the matter despite his obvious insistent, "That's it then? You're satisfied with that?"

Mihawk felt irritation at her persistence gnaw at him. When had she suddenly started talking back so much, she'd always been an obedient follower before. Then it clicked in his mind. She wasn't a follower anymore, she was stepping forward, wanting to be more involved in his life, wanting to support him in all things, behaving like a partner. He hadn't had anyone act like that in years. He was the 'Strongest Swordsman in the World'. He always stood alone, a bastion of power and strength, isolated on a pedestal none could reach.

Except for her...she'd dug in nails and fingers, climbed up the steep cliff face and now was pulling herself onto its surface. It was abnormal and more than a little unnerving. Mihawk didn't know how to react to it, caught off balance. It made him snap back testily.

"The matter is settled, there is nothing more."

Her lips pulled back from her teeth in a surprisingly fierce expression, "I told you not to lie to me! You're in pain and you're not letting me help you. That is not how this is going to work, Mihawk. You don't get to pick what I'm involved in and what I'm not. You can't shove me in a bubble and expect me to be okay with it."

"I will place you wherever I need to so long as you are protected and safe."

"So you want me with you as long as I'm three steps behind so you can take the hit while I watch from the sidelines! Is that it!? I'm not made of glass, you know!"

Her comment made Mihawk remember his battle with Winters, which did nothing to ease his rising temper, "This conversation is over. We'll leave once you've rested a bit. You're far too argumentative when you sleep deprived."

"I'm argumentative!? That's funny! Absolutely hilarious!"

Tamara stormed past him, face red with anger. For a moment he almost reached out to stop her, but resisted, still floundering and struggling to fully understand what was really happening. As she was about to leave the room, she spun back around,

"Just so you know, I have never, nor will I ever be with someone if I'm not treated as an equal. If you want to ignore whatever is going on, that's fine. But don't you dare try to use me as an excuse. I will not be a burden, not to you or to anyone else. I've dealt with my demons and I'm still standing. Can you say the same?"

Mihawk whipped his head around, but she was already gone. Briefly he heard the front door of the bar slam shut. His heart thudded hard in his chest as he warred with his protective instincts. Mihawk sagged back against the wall, massaging his temples and struggling to push back the headache forming. The tethers of his past were pulling stronger and stronger. He wasn't sure how much longer he could fight against them.

But he couldn't involve her in this, it was too dangerous. He couldn't loose her like he lost Maria, it would break him.

Ok...everyone still with me?

Man this was hard to write. I love writing the fluffiness, but trying to put into words Mihawk and Tamara having a fight was tough! But they are a couple now, and as anyone in a relationship knows...couples fight sometimes.

I really hope I didn't make Mihawk seem to OOC. Its tricky because he's always shown as such a monotone character, cool and collected all the time. So trying to work out a dilemma for him in a way that still keeps him true to form is hard. Hopefully I managed it. So yah, in this fic, Mihawk's got history, and not one that's going to be very nice. There'll be more on that later. I also wanted to show how much Tamara has grown, how she's able to handle herself now and not constantly relying on Mihawk to protect her, although we all know he'll never really stop doing that.

In any case, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and that I didn't hit the feels too hard. I got a ton of review for this chapter, so shout outs might take a while.

Cookie-koko: You're always the first one to review my new chapters. Its awesome. Love seeing your feedback Cookie. XD

desirae668: Glad I helped you nod off to dreamland Desirae. I enjoy small details in stories I read, so I like to add them in. Hopefully I don't get to involved in it, sometimes too much takes away from other aspects. Hope you like the bits of fluff added into this chapter. Poor Mihawk's getting hot and bothered way to often lately.

Love Stories00: Mihawk's got pride issues, everyone knows it. Its part of his charm. XD

Guest: You guys rock so hard. Thanks so much for sticking with me.

Nevermorea: You crawled out of the blanket fort! Or are you back in? Eh, either way, I'm sure you've got lots of cookies. So glad to have you with me Never, you always make me smile. Hope this chapter doesn't hit your feels too hard. XD

WhiteyWolf26: You know, I never even considered pulling the Revolutionaries into this story, that's actually got a few ideas flowing through my head. You are brilliant Whitey. XD So happy to have you along on this ride.

Ally: I'm so glad you found my story too Ally. You're praise made me so happy, thanks so much for your comment. Its just awesome.

Douchaa: I'm not sure I've seen your name on my reviews yet, so welcome to the party. Thanks so much for following along, I'm always happy to have new fans.

TheComprehensiveJellyfish: Well, we have our foot in the next plot hole now Jelly. Hope you're ready for it. And I added some fluff too, can't let that opportunity pass by.

dragonfire-217: Hey! you caught up, that's awesome. So glad you're enjoying the story, thanks for leaving so many reviews, each one really means a lot to me.