Final Chapter - Breaking all rules

Shanks had kept his word and so Solveig had gotten her apple green crib. And while Shanks sat next to his sleeping child he found it actually was nice to look at. The hair color against the color of the wood that was. But mostly his eyes were pinned on the little princess who was peacefully asleep. It was so entrancing, even Luffy and Ace only silently watched her.

Then again, the two boys had been disturbingly quiet ever since she was born and Ace could only guess how scared they had to have been being present most of the time. Especially Ace. Sirja had told him and he didn't envy the boy.

"Can I hold her again, dad?" Shanks looked at Ace and patted the boy on his back. He was absolutely infatuated with the little girl. Luffy wanted to play with Suli like she was a doll, but Ace wanted to carry her around all day, show everyone how adorable she was and rock her when she was uneasy. Shanks had never been more proud of him.

"She's asleep now. And I think I will hit the pillows as well." He yawned lengthily. A week has passed since everything had happened, yet Sirja was still resting or asleep most of the time, only to immediately wake when the little one did as little as whimpering. And Shanks wasn't any better. This had to be emotional tiredness.

Because it really was all so overwhelming.

Luffy and Ace had been a huge change in Shanks' life, but it all paled in comparison the tiny one had brought. Suli slept with them in their cabin, her crib hanging from ropes down the ceiling. But that meant that most of the time it had to be quiet and dim there, so no more late morning talking with his beautiful wife in their bed. Tiny children might sleep almost all day, but they were up at the most inconvenient of times. All that sounded benign, yet it changed his life every day. And so all that was a big deal for him.

And then there had been the 'Welcome, Solveig' party. The very first party Shanks fled from. He vowed Suli would never wear a piece of pink. Ever.

And then there was Mihawk. The man to have openly despised his sons was inseparable from Shanks' daughter. Maybe it was terrifying to see him grin like this, maybe it was just so unlike him, but Shanks did not leave him, or anyone for that matter, unattended when Suli was out of her parent's arms.

But that there was in fact the cruelest truths of them all. Shanks was the only one that hadn't held her yet. Yes, she had slept on top of him, yes, he had carefully laid down close to her when they had all rested in their bed. But picking her up and carrying her around was one thing that he wouldn't be able to do for a while.

The only consoling he got was that the same applied to changing diapers.

Sirja smiled when Shanks put his arm around her. Suli was resting peacefully in her arms, protected from the fierce wind by many layers of clothing. It was in sight, the end of their journey: Kotona Island.

The long journey had worn her down bit by bit but now it all seemed so far behind her. And it all seemed worth it.

"Oh wow... Actual mountains!" The sight was more similar to her childhood home than were she had lived the past ten years. Once her father had gotten promoted they had moved to the sea and the world had seemed so flat to Sirja ever since then.

"Yes, glad you like it, my love. It's actual a vast crater, so the inside is hollow."

"Not hollow, it collapsed over time. Who's a cute little princess?" That was Benn. That last bit too. Sirja exchanged a weirded out look with Shanks like every time when someone switched into baby-mode. It was still borderline cute, but she knew soon it would be annoying. Time to get off this vessel.

"A caldera." Shanks added, for once out-smarting his First Mate. Not that Benn hadn't known, he simply wasn't a show off.

"Uh-huh... Okay. I don't care too much about what's called. Tell me about the village we will live in!" Sirja leaned closer to Shanks.

"Village?! Behind these walls are six settlements that qualify as cities, several towns and in the back country there are mostly villages. Almost a self sustaining community." Shanks sounded truly proud and Sirja was completely speechless. She looked back to the island in the distance and thought it all looked too small to house so many people.

"Wait till we get closer, love. The mountain tops are covered in snow. Now given how that is a summer island, what does that tell you?" He looked at his wife with a smug grin. He felt smart this morning.

"They are this tall..." An absent minded smile had found its place on Sirja's lips. That was really something. And indeed, the closer they got, the more she was getting an idea about the dimension in front of her. Shanks told her the crater walls were about 4,000 meters tall and the area inside a good 100km in diameter, although a third was occupied by several smaller lakes. Sirja gulped. That was huge. And now she had to doubt there were settlements there larger than Foosha. Until Shanks was talking about a capital. A capital. Sirja shook her head slightly.

That she would have to see to believe.

Sirja was relieved several carts were waiting for them up a few flights of stairs above the level of the sea. Shanks led the way for her, their children as well as Makino and Mihawk, who decided to stick around for some time longer.

Somehow Sirja was sure a certain tiny person was to blame for that.

She tried to measure time, but in the dim light of the tunnel it was impossible for her. She looked at Shanks who was once more letting Solveig grab his finger. She wasn't doing much else so far. Except for looking adorable. She was truly a beauty. And looked so much like her father. Maybe it was just an old wives' tale that children always looked like their fathers after birth, but Sirja hoped Suli would keep looking like Shanks. His features looked surprisingly charming on a little girl's face.

"What are you thinking about, love?" Shanks smiled at her before his gaze dropped down once more. So cute. Yet a slight jealousy would probably remain for a while, the curse of having a lovely daughter like this.

"Oh nothing... Just how pretty of a girl you are." Sirja grinned mischievously and even Makino couldn't help a grin, even if she did her best to hide it behind her hands.

"Indeed, I never noticed before either. Let me have another look." Mihawk extended his arms, again that weirdly happy smile on his face, but Sirja held her closer.

"Ours. Get your own." She said, pulling Solveig closer before poking out her tongue. But there...was no comeback. Instead the man exchanged a glance with Makino.

"Oh gods, no..." Shanks buried his face in his hand.

"What are you saying, Shanks?! I'm so happy for you two!" Sirja beamed at her two friends. Then she frowned. "For how long have you known? Why didn't you tell me!" But she laughed brightly, no offense taken.

"For two months. It just never seemed the right time." Makino admitted quietly. Sirja had to admit she was right. Too much had happened and all so suddenly. But now things were calmer and she would make the very same fuss about Makino that everyone had made about her. A combination of gratefulness and payback, she guessed.

They exited into bright sunlight. Looking over her shoulder Sirja saw steep rock walls, the very tops covered in generous amount of snow and glistening beautifully in the sun. She would find tracks up there over time. What was wilderness in the eyes of most, was serenity in hers.

Then Sirja looked ahead and she had to admit that city could qualify as a capital. A few buildings overlooked the tall city walls, but most would be only revealed once they'd close the small distance. Everyone in the cart was silent, even Ace and Luffy. And for each one the sight of the approaching city meant something different.

For Shanks it was gratitude. This was the best fortress he could find in the past years and he was indeed lucky to have found such generous people residing there. Before his first arrival eight years ago this had been nothing but a few scattered villages. But even back then Shanks had seen the potential of this place and formed a treaty with the inhabitants. Back then he was no yonko. Back then he was just a pirate with a dream to surpass his late captain. To have a family one day. And to have achieved that he would be entirely grateful, and proud.

Sirja was overwhelmingly relieved. Her life had changed tremendously in the past two years when she had to run from home. Back then she had nothing, now she everything she could ever wish for. So often on this trip had she thought about what would have happened if she had walked into another bar, or would have continued her journey alone. Or if she had never been forced to leave in the first place. And these thoughts had frightened her regularly. Of how easily her life could have taken a different route. Yes, the road behind her had been rough as well, but in the end it was more than worth to have walked it.

Ace was intimidated by the vastness of everything. His parents had told him a few things, but this here was beyond his imagination. And he was happy, he found, and he understood even at the young age of 10 that this was not to be taken for granted. It was something brittle and valuable and something to grow with the people you cared for. He looked around to his mother, father, brother and sister. It didn't matter so much where he was, he thought. They were here with him. And that was the only important thing.

Luffy dreamed of leaving this place. Not because he didn't like, because he did, but because this was only one more step to what he truly longed for: to be a pirate. And for that he would leave one day. At the same time it was comforting to know there was a place where all the people he held dear were together. He wouldn't have to wonder where to find them, wouldn't have to worry they were in danger. No. When he looked at that city all he saw was the end of worrying. His life would be out there, somewhere else, but his mother and sister would life here, in safety. And the rest could take care of themselves just fine.

Then there were Makino and Mihawk. Begrudgingly the man had to admit that this was a rabbit pulled out of a hat. It was beyond his expectations of what Shanks had told him when they had made the deal of giving Makino a home in exchange for training him. It was a generous offer to share the safety with his bride and child. But that was so much like Shanks, to gain much and give it all away with a smile. He understood his friend a bit better now, he thought with a small smile. Makino was mostly excited. But amidst all the joy, for her it was also sad. The man she loved wouldn't be able to visit very often. Yet she still smiled. For a long time she had mourned the loss of her home and former life. But then she had found real love, started to travel with her friends and would now get to live with them so close by in a place more beautiful than even Foosha. And her modesty hardly allowed to wish for more.

They arrived inside and Sirja was once more impressed. The people celebrated Shanks' return, like, well like an emperor's return. They didn't hate him, didn't fear them, but simply wanted him around. And Shanks was happy to be here as well. Sirja saw it in his face, even if the bright smile was no indication. His arm was around her waist, so he wasn't waving like any other regent might, but that wasn't even necessary. The streets were filled with flowers and music played. She laughed when she recognized the tune and smiled up to Shanks who leaned down to kiss her gently.

So that was what separated a yonko form a pirate, she thought. That, Luffy, Ace and the peacefully napping child in her arms.

And her, Sirja suddenly realized. She smiled brightly. People say you could never have it all. But with Shanks by her side they would be breaking any rule.

That is it.

It was a journey for us as well, and not always a smooth one.

But I am glad you were with me and I am very grateful for everyone that stuck around.

Thank you, so very much.

I hope to see you for the epilogue soon.