Whew! Another chapter out of the way! I'm glad to be writing this again! Apologies for it being a tad bit short, but I hope you all like it anyways!

I do not own One Piece.

The atmosphere was tense. Everyone in the room stared at Ace, Sabo, and Luffy with expressions that ranged from shock to anger. The trio had just told them the story of why they left Dawn Island, and no one looked more pissed than Garp and Whitebeard.

Thatch tried to calm down his boiling blood, but was finding it quite the challenge. The nobility… Thatch already didn't like them, but to hear about the Gary Terminal and what they did. Every fiber of Thatch's being was screaming at him to go to Dawn Island and take vengeance for the brats, but he knew that would only serve to make himself feel better.

He looked around at the expressions of everyone else. They all either looked too surprised or too livid to speak. Pops looked like he was ready to murder someone, and Garp's expression was torn between wanting to beat the everlasting daylights out of the nobles and wannabe pirates and blaming himself for everything that happened.

Thatch's heart went out to the man. He doubted that Garp would've let pirates, former or otherwise, remain on his home island had he known about their existence. The marine obviously cared about his grandsons, even if he did show it in odd ways, and to hear a story like this had to be a harsh blow to the old man.

He shifted his gaze over to Zeff. His expression was unreadable, but Thatch could tell that he too was angry at the people of Goa for the stunt they pulled. The brat standing next to him looked at the three brothers in amazement. He guessed that the brat didn't get to talk to people like them very often, which he had to agree with. There weren't many kids out there like the three who stared back at all of them while they polished off their hundredth plate of food.

"I see. So that's why you left." Garp said in a low tone. His fists were shaking as he glared a hole through the floor.

"Yeah, but we got Sabo back and sailed off together. So it all worked out." Luffy said with a bright smile. Thatch felt a fond smile stretch across his face, despite himself. Leave it to Luffy to find the bright side of things.

"It was a risky move, now that I look back on it, but I'm glad we did it." Sabo said, and started eating another plate of food.

"We couldn't let them take Sabo again, and I don't trust the nobles enough to not finish the job and kill the remaining survivors." Ace scowled. Thatch found himself agreeing with the brat. He wouldn't put it past them to do such a thing, especially after the effort they put into setting the fire.

"To think, there were pirates on my home island this whole time…" Garp trailed off with a heavy edge in his voice. The Vice Admiral was kicking himself hard for his oversight.

"Garp, I know we already agreed that the brats stay with me, but I feel I should tell you this anyway. If you try to take them back to that wretched place then I will fight back with tooth and nail." Pops said with an edge of his own.

Garp gave a dry chuckle and said, "I won't defend myself then. Taking them back is the last thing on my mind after hearing this."

"Did you really agree to help them set the explosives?" Sanji asked and Ace flinched.

"Yes. I foolishly thought that was the best thing to do at the time." Ace said around clenched teeth. Thatch suddenly realized why Ace took so long to open up to them, or part of the reason at least. The last time he put his trust in someone that wasn't his brothers, he and Luffy almost died. He gazed at the kid in sympathy. Sabo put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Ace visibly relaxed.

"But it doesn't matter now, Ace. We're together again, and pirates." Luffy hugged the freckled kid.

"Yeah, Luffy, you have a point." Ace said with a small smile, and ruffled Luffy's hair underneath his hat.

Garp, who had been silent for a while, suddenly stood up off the floor. Everyone turned to look at the disgruntled marine. Garp looked down at the brats with an apologetic expression, and they stared back at him with wariness and confusion. He walked over to stand right in front of the three, and kneeled down. Ace immediately put himself between Garp and his brothers. Garp didn't take any notice as he wrapped his arms around the trio and gave them a tight hug. Garp didn't say anything, but the meaning was clear. He was sorry, and would never forgive himself for allowing that to happen to them.

"Well, I think this scene takes care of any doubts that we had about his care for the brats." Izo said with a small smile.

"Agreed." Vista said with a nod of his own. Garp let go soon after, and the brats looked at him in bewilderment.

"Alright, I believe I've overstayed my welcome." Garp said as he actually turned to the door. Thatch guessed that he didn't want to repair another wall.

"Wait! So you're leaving just like that?" Sabo asked, obviously confused.

"Yeah, I need to head back to Dawn before I'm expected at headquarters." Garp replied before he turned back to his grandkids.

"Aren't you going to tell us what that hug was about at least?!" Ace demanded, shaking himself out of his shock.

"Why you, brat! Can't a guy hug his own grandsons every now and then?!" Garp yelled back before he calmed himself again.

"Take care, you three. And Whitebeard," Garp turned to the pirate captain, "… thanks."

Whitebeard nodded, and Garp turned around. He called out to his men to set sail as he exited through the doors. His order was met with an enthusiastic response, and the marines made their leave.

"Well, that was something." Haruta after things grew quiet again.

"Hey Pops, I've gotta ask something. Are we going to make our own trip to Dawn?" Fossa asked, and Pops stared at him for a second. Thatch knew the Fossa was asking if they were going to take revenge on behalf of the brats, and patiently waited for Whitebeard to respond. He wanted to teach the nobles a thing or two himself.

"I know you all want to seek vengeance. I do too, but we have to reject our desires thins time. We already caught the attention of the World Government by just being here. If we want to keep them away from the brats then we can't attack a kingdom at random." His response was met with begrudging understanding.

Thatch knew Pops was right. Now that the brats were sailing with them, they had to put their well-being ahead of their own desires. Even if they all wanted to show the nobles that they weren't as hot as they thought they were.

"Hey, Sanji! Are you ready to join my crew yet?" Luffy asked, completely shifting the mood from brooding to amused.

"What part of 'no' don't you understand, you rubber idiot!" Sanji yelled back, and a few of the commanders chuckled.

"I guess this is what we have to look forward to, huh" Marco asked with a small laugh while Luffy and Sanji continued to bicker. Ace and Sabo chipped in here and there on Luffy's behalf.

"Yeah, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

XxXxXxXxX

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! How many times do I have to say it?"

"But we're about to leave."

"I know, but I'm not changing my answer."

"Come on! Pleeeeeaaaaseeee?!"

"Let go of me!"

Sabo sighed as he watched Luffy's final attempts to get Sanji to join his crew. Sabo was actually surprised at how insistent Sanji had been the entire time. Not once did he ever give into Luffy's whims, and held his ground pretty strongly. Even Zoro had conceded in the end. Sabo wondered what Sanji's secret was to resisting Luffy. It was a power not many people had.

"Dammit! How many times do I have to say it?! I'm NOT joining your crew!" Sanji yelled and finally managed to kick Luffy off of him. Luffy dusted himself off with a pout.

"Fine! If you don't want to join now then I will just have to come back and try again in ten years!" Luffy said with fierce determination.

"Good luck with that, rubber brain." Sanji grumbled before he walked back into the restaurant. Luffy turned to Sabo and Ace, pout still on his face.

"Forget about him Luffy. He's not worth it." Ace tried to reassure their little brother.

"No! Sanji is going to be my chef! I will accept no one else!" Luffy insisted, and Sabo felt himself sweatdrop.

"You're determined to take my Little Eggplant away from me?" Zeff asked as he walked up to Luffy.

"Who?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.

"He means Sanji." Sabo clarified.

"Oh. Yeah, I do, Peg leg!" Luffy said with a smile.

"My name is Zeff, you brat. And good." Zeff said which made Sabo and Ace share a confused look.

"You're happy about that?" Ace asked.

"I sacrificed my leg to save his life, and now he thinks that he should stay here for the rest of it to pay me back. When all I really want is for him to follow his dream." Zeff explained, and Luffy looked at the chef intensely.

"What's his dream, old man?" he asked.

"His dream is to find the legendary sea: The All Blue." Zeff answered returning Luffy's gaze. They stared at each other for a few seconds, and Sabo briefly wondered if he should stop them. Finally Luffy's smile returned at full force.

"I gotcha, old man! Don't worry. I'll come back in ten year, and I won't leave until he says 'yes'." Luffy promised and Zeff smiled.

"You'd better, brat." Zeff said before he too walked back into the restaurant.

"How do you keep doing that?" Ace asked, and Luffy turned to him in confusion.

"Do what?"

"How do you keep finding future crewmates so easily?" Sabo asked, equally as puzzled as Ace.

"I dunno, but I'm happy that it keeps happening." Luffy shrugged happily, and Sabo smiled at him fondly.

"Hey, are you brats coming or what?" Marco asked from the ship's deck where the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates were getting ready to set sail.

"Keep your shirt on, Pineapple Head. We're coming." Ace said, and Marco glanced at him in annoyance. A few nearby crewmates laughed at the nickname. The three of them made their way onto the deck, and saw many faces they didn't see in the restaurant.

"Wow! This crew is bigger than I thought." Sabo couldn't help but remark.

"No kidding." Ace agreed, and Luffy looked around the huge deck in amazement.

"THIS SHIP IS HUGE!" Luffy yelled and started to run around the deck much to everyone's amusement.

"Zehahaha! Well of course it is! It needs to be for a crew this size!" said a man with a large body, and curly black hair. He was sitting on the deck and had a few cherry pies in front of him. This caught Luffy's attention, and he ran over to the new guy.

"Hey, old man! What are you eating?" Luffy asked as he eyed the pies with curiosity.

"Cherry pie. The best dessert in the world." He said as he took another bite out of the slice he was holding.

"Be careful, Teach. He'll eat all of your pies if you aren't careful." Thatch warned in an amused tone.

"Zehahaha! That's okay. I don't mind sharing with the brats. Go on! Try a bite!" Teach encouraged, and Luffy grabbed a slice. Sabo looked at his little brother in confusion. Normally, Luffy would just grab an entire pie. What was with him?

Luffy took a pretty big bite, and started to chew. His face scrunched up after a few seconds, and his face turned blue. Luffy forced himself to swallow and dropped the rest of the piece back into the pan.

"Gross!" Luffy yelled and started to wipe his tongue. Sabo, Ace, and everyone who had seen him eat stared at Luffy in shock.

"YOU MEAN THERE ARE FOODS HE DOESN'T LIKE?!" Sabo, Ace, and Thatch all yelled at the same time, and Teach gave a hearty laugh.

"Zehahahahahaha! You don't like them? Oh well, more for me then!" he said and finished the slice he held in his hand. Luffy scrutinized him for a few seconds with his tongue still hanging out.

"You're a weirdo." Luffy said, and walked off to explore the rest of the ship. Sabo and Ace followed him, and the crewmembers who overheard Luffy chuckled.

"What gives, Lu? You mean you really don't like cherry pie?" Ace asked, still shocked about Luffy's rejection of the pastry.

"Cherry pies are disgusting. And that guy is weird for liking them." Luffy said, and Sabo couldn't help but laugh.

"You're really something else, Luffy." Sabo said after he calmed down.

"Shishishishi! Hey, where do you think we're going now?" Luffy asked and put his hands behind his head.

"Wherever the Whitebeard Pirates take us." Ace said, with a hint of bitterness. He had moved passed needing help for the most part, but Sabo could tell that a part of him was going to be sore about it for a while.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we're going to have lots of interesting adventures with these guys." Sabo reassured his brothers.

"Yeah! Hey, do you think we'll run into Shanks?!" Luffy asked hopefully.

"We'll see, Luffy. We'll see."