Garp was furious, the police so far could find nothing on his Grandsons attackers. It was horrible knowing that people like that were still on the streets, attacking defenseless people in the night. Monkey D. Garp ordered that the force keep looking and to inform him if any news came up. Luffy had also been to the clinic for a check up, everything was fine except for a few cuts and bruises and the emotional scar on his heart and mind following the attack. But in someway he felt that it was best to just let go and move on with his life. Which he happily agreed to. Ace had left the house just before Luffy and Garp set out to town and promised to pay the Franky family a visit on account of Usopp, hopefully that was one problem getting sorted, too bad the teen had a few more. Vivi, Usopp still being on good terms with him, not wanting to face Marco and Thatch ever again and just overall seeing Sanji, Zoro, Nami and Usopp again like the old days.

"How're you feeling?" Garp asked as he and his raven-haired grandson arrived home in the afternoon.

Luffy smiled a little and turned the key to unlock the front door, "I'm fine jiji"

"And your legs?"

"Fine, they softened up and unlocked during the car ride but you really didn't have to carry me…" That was something that Luffy never wanted to happen ever again...ever. Talk about awkward and childish.

Garp gritted his teeth, "You ungrateful little-!" He broke off remembering Luffys condition. "Just get inside and then I want you go get some rest"

"Can't, Gramps I'm needed in town later, as a matter of fact now actually" Luffy started, squeezing around Garp to get back outside but felt a rough strong hold on his shoulder. "Oh no your not, the Doctor recommended you rest!" Garp reminded him, pulling him roughly inside to the warm house.

"But, but-" Luffy stammered, was he serious. He needed to clear this all up now! He really did not want to leave it another day. Most certainly he did not want school to be awkward when he eventually returned knowing his grandfathers protectiveness and stubbornness.

"Listen, if you like you can invite a friend up to see you. Its cold enough to snow" Not that Luffy wasn't grateful for all this attention he was getting, it could be annoying when his Grandpa acted like this. But overall, he guessed he could invite Usopp around and if not him then Vivi. Just to clear the air as best he could and that meant telling them about Ace.

"Fine, just let them in when they arrive please" With that, Luffy trotted upstairs the fast as he could before he was helped up.

...XxXxXxX...

Much to Luffys glee and deep awkwardness, both Vivi and Usopp stood in his bedroom looking both concerned and irritated. That was to be expected, how would you feel if your friend ditched you twice or if someone you liked got dragged off by the meanest guy in school never to be seen or heard of again.

"Hey guys" Luffy asked slowly, waving a little from the comfort of his bed.

"Monkey D. Luffy! You disappear off the face of the earth for the entire weekend with no calls, texts or messages and you invite us around while you're in this state and say 'hey'!?" Vivi ranted from the top of her lungs, her blue hair even fell out of its hairdo with how much she was flailing around. "Also also, why are you covered in cuts and damn bruises..?"

"Vivi let me explain" Luffy began only to be shushed by the lunatic blue-haired girl who was now getting awfully close to him.

"Your Grandfather told me and Usopp you were at the clinic getting a check up!"

"Vivi let me-"

"Did you fall or hurt your self deliberately?!"

"Vivi-"

"Or was it that madman Ace-!"

"Vivi!" Luffy yelled at this top of his voice, so much that it made him cough dryly but he was glad the girl stopped ranting and raving. "Look, first things first, I'm fine its just cuts, second I was at the clinic because my legs locked up again you know they do that and lastly, no Ace did not do anything" Luffy panted harshly, looking the girl in the eye who calmed down, she looked a little disappointed in herself. "I'm sorry… I was just worried I guess" The girl sighed, taking a seat on the end of his bed.

"Its okay, i'm fine really" Luffy smiled kindly at the girl then looked at his long-nosed friend who had been silent and still this whole time.

Usopp took his gaze away from the window and hesitantly looked back at his lifelong friend.

Luffy hated to admit it but Usopp really shouldn't be upset that much with him, either should Vivi. But these guys were his friends so he should apologize. "Usopp, I'm sorry"

Said boy just sighed and scratched the back of his head then walked over the teen sitting up in bed. "I know you were at Aces party rather than my house, I'm not dumb...besides a little birdy with orange hair told me"

Luffy gritted his teeth, Nami. She was so unreliable.

"And that other girl with pink hair who likes body shots"

Perona.

"Usopp I'm sorry…" Luffy finally admitted, lowering his head. He had caused so much un-needed sadness among his friends over a certain teen named Ace. There he goes again, blamed Ace….if he wanted to get into a serious relationship with him then he needed to stop pointing fingers.

But that decision needed to wait. "I really am, both of you" The raven haired finished looking at the both of them.

"Its okay….just call every once and a while and I want you ask you something" Usopp began, also walking over to stand beside the bed while folding his arms.

"Hm?" Luffy looked up to show he was listening.

"Why did you randomly leave the arcade?" The question had kept him awake at night. Usopp recalled thinking of that day in the game stop, when he just turned around and Luffy was randomly gone.

"Oh yeah that…" Luffy scratched the back of his head. Did he really need or want to tell them about the Marco and Thatch incident, as far as Luffy was concerned...he just wanted to forget about those two. "I just needed to go" A loud sigh echoed through the room. "There you go, lying again" Usopp huffed. "You've been lying the whole week, what gives?"

He needed to tell them everything, or else he would just continue to lie and that was something he wanted to kick. "Guys...I like Ace"

"Ace?" Usopp asked, his eyes showing interest now.

"You like him?" Vivi also chimed in, "As a friend right?"

"No" Both Usopp and Vivi looked at each other, their eyes widening a little.

"Luffy?"

"Ace is really protective of me...he showed that to the whole school during the fight with Morgan, remember?" Luffy started, gripping his comforter as if looking for comfort in it somewhere. "Well he has been visiting me almost everyday and basically begged me to come to his party" He heard Usopp snort.

"So you agreed like a good boy is that it?"

"No!" Luffy quickly calmed himself. "For a while I was panicking you know scared of what he might do and-"

"So you were being threatened, in other words" Vivi spoke up, looking a little tense. "You should call the cops, he's over 18 right?"

"You guys just let me finish….listen part of me wanted to go to the party rather than your house, Usopp, no offence" Usopp shrugged. "And so I did, at the party we kind of got into an argument and lets just say I kind of put Ace in the hospital"

At those words, Usopp and Vivi choked on their own spit,

"What?!" Vivi leaned closer to Luffy, her loose top was now showing all kinds of cleavage to Luffys face. "What happened?!"

"Nothing important but anyway ever since then hes just been around me. I know it sounds weird! But he has and I like it."

It felt like a huge weight was lifted off the boys chest as he breathed a sigh of relief. "I like Ace...hes a good guy once you get to know him"

The two other people stared at Luffy but not too much in shock thankfully. "I see" Vivi said quietly. "I always knew he liked you" She forced a smile.

Luffy had to admit he felt bad for the girl, he knew she liked him and imagine what she must be feeling now. "So you like him back?"

Luffy nodded.

"I see, well good for you and him!" She smiled, taking both of the boys by surprise. "You guys are perfect for each other" She blushed and giggled, suddenly the room felt a little gloomy.

"Vivi..I still like you as a friend, infact a best friend" Luffy tried to console. "Better than Nami" The blue headed girl only laughed. "Its fine, its not like me to get jealous...its how I was raised, I guess its just a shame" She finished with a shrug.

"Usopp, I really want to clear the air with us too" Luffy admitted, biting his lip. "What is there to clear, its okay" The long-nosed boy replied closing his eyes. "Just no more lies and tell me everything you get up to in the future" Again Luffy agreed.

That was it, no more lies and he let himself think that that was the Usopp and Vivi problem out of the way, now it just leaves Marco and Thatch but that could wait, besides why should he apologize to them? Maybe because he was going to spend more time around Ace now?

...

:) Happy Holidays ^_^