Hey everyone, here is the next chapter

This is a bit of everything, and there will be one more chapter after this. There is a possibility there will be two, but I'll try and keep it to one

I hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Marco watched as Ann moved into the galley, sitting down at his table, starting to take food from the table. Marco started up some chatter with the woman, having noticed she didn't speak much with the others, which the man got. None of them had been acting favorable to the woman, some had been worse than others, but still. As they were sitting and enjoying the breakfast, Thatch suddenly appeared next to Ann, placing a bowl with watermelon and curry down. "Here, Ann. Small snack." It had Ann frown a bit. "At breakfast? I thought I could only get it at dinner." Thatch frowned at that. "What? No, you can get it when you want it. Who said you could only get it during dinner?" Ann shook her head. "No one did, I just thought it was like that." Thatch chuckled. "Well, you can get it whenever you want, even outside meals. I will make sure to have it ready for you. Cravings can hit anytime." It had Ann smile at the chef. "Thanks, Thatch, it means a lot." Thatch waved his hand. "It's nothing, Ann. I want to help with what I can." Ann gave a smile back, before she started to eat the snack, the chef leaving to continue his day.

Marco was glad Thatch was making progress with Ann. Ann looked happy as she snacked on the snack, Marco continuing to speak with the woman. Ann was a lovely woman, and he wondered how they could think anything bad about the woman, how no one had asked the woman who the father was, how they just assumed it was Shanks and acted on that false information. They should have asked who it was to be sure they got it right, but they hadn't. Marco knew he hadn't acted much different towards the woman, but many others had, especially Claus and Paul, who had been best friends with the woman, but had really messed up with this. It would take time, but he hoped they could mend some fences. Right now, Ann didn't want anything to do with the two unless it was necessary, which Marco got. They had really messed up.

-x-

Ann moved a circle in her room, hands on her hips as it was really hurting. Her legs hurt too, but her hip was the worst. Her abdomen still hurt at times, but it wasn't as bad, so she tried not to think about it. She hated how everything hurt. She was sure being pregnant wouldn't be this bad, but it was. Of course, it didn't hurt as bad as it had…. the night she had lost the other child. Oh, how Ann wished she hadn't, twins would have been perfect. But it wasn't meant to be apparently. She still felt mad and upset on the others, who had been acting so mean. She really wished she could go back and clarify everything so none of this had happened. She missed everyone… She missed the pranks she did with Thatch, she missed how she and Claus and Paul had fun, how everyone was always so jolly and had fun. Now it seemed like everything was different. Ann gave a groan and swear as she moved another round in her room, before she stopped, trying to think. She usually knew who was on watch, having memorized it for pranks months ago, and if she was right, Marco should be out. She really hoped she was right. If she wasn't, it meant Thatch was out. And he really had been trying to act nice, but Ann wasn't ready to forgive him just yet.

As she made her decision, she carefully made her way outside, heading a round on the ship, and when she was halfway, she was met with Marco, making her smile. "Hi, Marco. Could I join you for a round?" The man nodded, giving a smile. "Sure you can, yoi. Your hips hurting?" Ann nodded. "Yeah… My legs too…" Marco moved a hand to her shoulder. "It's normal, unfortunately. Let's walk." Ann nodded and started to walk with Marco, speaking with the man about different things. They didn't meet many as they walked, which was great. As they were walking and talking, Marco asked about the baby, making Ann chuckle. "I'm having a check in three days, to see what gender it is, if it's possible to see. We couldn't last time as he or she was lying the wrong way. I'm really excited for it." Marco nodded. "Which I get. Are you checking it on the island we're heading too? We are docking in around 2-3 days, yoi." Ann nodded. "Yeah I know, and I'm excited for that too, but no. Bay wants to do it when we're either heading away from the island, or when everyone is on the island, when it's calm you know." Marco nodded. "I get that. It's always the calmest on the ship when we're docked or the night when we have left, yoi. Are you heading alone?" Ann nodded. "Yeah. I wish Sasori could join you know, so he could see it himself, but I'm going to try and call him after the check, hoping he have the time." Marco nodded. "Do you miss him, yoi?" Ann nodded, feeling her eyes watering. "I do. I feel all alone in this." Marco moved an arm around her shoulders. "You aren't all alone, we're all here for you. If you want, I could join you." Ann blinked. "You- you would?" Marco nodded. "Sure, I would love to join, so you don't have to be there all alone. If you want to that is." Ann smiled. "I would love it if you could." Marco smiled back at her, before they headed on the round again.

Ann felt glad Marco offered to join, she really felt alone, she felt as if she had lost everyone she knew, that everyone had left her. But she would do her best to try and forgive everyone, it would just take time.

-x-

Claus moved into the pharmacy, Paul close behind, hoping they could find what they were after. It was a huge pharmacy, and Claus had no idea where to check, so he looked for someone who worked here, glad when he saw one in the white coats that didn't look to busy. "Excuse me? Could you help me find something?" He asked the worker, who moved and looked at him. "Sure, what are you after?" That had Claus let out a breath "I have a friend who is pregnant, and is having some pains with it, and I hope you had something that can help?" The worker nodded. "I think have something that can help. Is it her legs, hip, back, or something else that's hurting?" Claus blinked, trying to think. "I think her hip and maybe legs?" Th worked lifted an eyebrow. "You don't know?" Claus sighed. "I am unsure, but I think it's her hip and legs." The worker nodded. "Okay. Come with me." The worker then headed to a shelf at the end of the store, taking a few things from it. "I have this pad, which can help back pain and hip pain, but it needs to be cooked to be warm. I also have these pills, safe for a pregnant woman and she can take 2 pills 3 times a day. That is the max dosage, and I suggest you don't do the max dose, as one pill usually is enough. For her legs, I have some socks that can help." Claus nodded, this all sounds perfect. "Yeah, I'll take all three." The worker smiled. "Good, good. Let's head to the register and I can ring you up."

They then headed to the register and when the price came, it was quite expensive, but they needed it to help Ann, and when they split between himself and Paul, it was bearable. He really wanted to be friends with her again, she was a lovely woman and a great friend. He really wished he could go back in time and fix this, make so he never did anything of the bad things he did, that he never acted unfavorable to her. When he had paid, he was thinking of heading to Ann to give the things, but had a feeling the woman didn't want that. So he was thinking of heading to Marco, but he couldn't make them trust them more, so they headed to Bay, giving the pills, pad, and socks to the doctor, who gave an approving look, telling she would give it to Ann herself and would say who bought it.

Claus just hoped it would be enough to be a start. He knew the woman was evading them, and he got that completely. They had made so she had lost a baby. He just needed to keep his hopes up he could fix this.

-x-

Ann blinked when someone knocked on her door, moving to open it to see Bay there. "Bay?" The doctor smiled, having some things with her. "I have a few things for you, that can help." Ann nodded, letting the woman into her room, closing the door behind her. When Bay was inside, she took a pad up. "Someone really wants to make it up to you and bought this, it's a pad that can help hip and back pain. It is heated up and ready to go. Just hand it to a nurse or chef and they can heat it up again. I also have some socks that can help your legs to be less painful and swollen." Ann nodded, taking the two things, noticing the pad was really warm, and that sounded good. "Also," Continued the doctor, taking a small bottle out. "I have these, its pain medication, safe for a pregnant woman. You can take two pills 3 times a day, but should try and keep it to 1 pill 3 times a day, but it is safe to take two." Ann nodded, taking the bottle. "Thanks. Who- who got it?" Bay sighed. "Claus and Paul did." Ann blinked. They had gotten this? She then looked at the small bottle, feeling unsure. "I promise," Started the doctor. "That it's safe. The seal was not broken before I checked them, and the pills are the right ones. There is no foul play here and I promise they want to help you. They really do feel bad."

Ann wasn't sure what to do. She didn't know what to think. Did they really feel bad? They had fixed the bath for her, and now this? They also had let her avoid them, making so she could move around where she wanted and they always left when she came into the same room, or moved more tables away for her. They really seemed to try and do their best. But was she ready to forgive them? Ann wasn't too sure about that. "Thanks. If you see them, can you say I say thanks? I appreciate it." Bay nodded, before she left, leaving Ann alone in her room. She then moved to the bed, moving to lie down, bringing the pad to be on her lower back, giving a sigh when the heat felt really good on her aching back and hips. She was contemplating whether she should take a couple pills or not, but still felt unsure about that, if it was safe. The two had really been mean before, and she wasn't sure if she trusted them yet. But then again, Bay had said it was safe, and she trusted Bay. She should try one pill, and if she felt weird, she would head to Bay. So Ann opened the bottle, seeing the seal broken as Bay had checked, before she took a pill, hoping it would help the aching.

After half an hour, she felt glad when the pain lessened in her hip and back, having a feeling it was the pills. She was glad they worked, but feeling more glad it was the right pills and Ann felt glad by that. Maybe the two really wanted to make it up to her? How could she be sure about it? Maybe she could ask Thatch, they were in his division after all. They weren't chefs, but helpers to the kitchen and just generally helped around everywhere. Not everyone could be chefs, and the two seemed to like and enjoy their positions. Yeah, she should try that tomorrow. She also needed to try and be around Thatch too. He had really been trying to act nice and be nice, the food said as much and she really appreciated that. Yeah, she would try and speak with Thatch tomorrow.

-x-

"Thatch, could I speak with you?" Thatch turned to look at Ann, nodding to the woman, feeling shocked she wanted that. "Sure. What do you want to speak about?" Ann let out a breath. "It's just, Paul and Claus have really been trying to act nice, and I wondered if they'd said anything to you? I don't know if they're being truthful or not…." Thatch blinked. So that's was what she was wondering about. He knew the two had been trying their best, having been acting really bad to the woman before, much worse than what he had been, and the two had spoken a bit about it, trying to get ideas on how to help. "Yeah, they really want to help you. They feel really bad about what they did. They- we- acted on something that wasn't true." Ann nodded. "Marco told… That you thought it was Shanks' kid… I didn't know you disliked him that much." Thatch sighed. "We don't, or we thought we didn't. It's just, he's so old compared to you. And we don't really like him that much. But it is all our fault, not yours. We did wrong." Ann nodded. "Yeah, it's just hard…" Thatch held his hands up. "And you have every right to be mad, you lost a child." Thatch saw Ann nodding, eyes going a bit blank. It would be sore for the woman, she had lost the most precious thing one could. "Listen, Ann, I really feel bad too. About how I acted. I have no excuse for it, but I really feel bad about it." Ann nodded. "I know, and your help have really been nice. It's just a bit hard for me." Thatch nodded. "Which everyone gets. You have every right to be mad and upset with us. But we do feel bad for everything." Ann nodded. "I know. Thanks, for speaking with me. Maybe… maybe I'm getting ready to forgive a bit." That had Thatch glad. "You don't need to, but everyone wants your best." Ann nodded, before she left.

Thatch was really glad Ann was coming closer to forgive them. They didn't deserve it, but they wanted to be close to the woman again. Thatch missed her on his pranks and just being around the woman. He could only hope she would forgive him. And he hoped Paul and Claus could mend some fences too.

-x-

Ann moved towards the infirmary, Marco next to her, going to join her to find out the gender of the baby. They had docked yesterday and most were at the island, making so the deck was calm. As they were walking, Marco had started up some talk, to have something to speak about while they walked. "How far along are you now, yoi?" Ann hummed. "Around 7 months, I'm not completely sure how exact in weeks, maybe around 26-27 weeks I think." Marco nodded. "That's fine. Are you excited to find out the gender?" Ann nodded. "I am! I really hope for a boy." Marco nodded. "Why is that, yoi?" Ann hummed. "It feels right. And if it is a boy, I want to call him Sabo. In memory, you know." Marco nodded to that, and Ann had a feeling Marco got it. She had told them about Sabo, how he had died when they were young.

As they got to the infirmary, they headed inside and Bay moved them to a private room where a machine was, the same kind looking that had been used the last time, although that was when she was at Sasori's ship. As they were inside the room, Ann sat down on the bed, Bay preparing the last things, before looking at her. "So, do you feel ready? It might happen we can't see the gender." Ann nodded. "I know, but I hope for the best. I just want to know he or she is healthy." Bay nodded. "That's good. Let's get started. If you could lift your shirt." Ann did, and Bay put the thing on her stomach, to see how the baby was fairing, just like it had been last time, Ann looking at the screen as a picture popped up, Bay checking over the fetus that was there, Ann recognizing it from last time. "Let's see," Started the doctor. "It's lying the right way, so I should be able to…" Bay moved the thing a bit around, in slow motion, before she smiled. "Ah, yes, see here." Bay pointed to the screen, pointing to some shadows. "Is the genitalia It's a boy." Ann moved a hand to her chest. It was a boy, it was as she had hoped. "A boy. A little boy." Bay nodded. "Yes. Let me just check the other things too, to see if he's healthy." Ann nodded, and Bay moved the thing more around, checking the baby over, doing some measurements on the screen. But as the image moved, Ann frowned at a point, feeling she saw something wrong. But it changed too fast so she couldn't see to be sure, and when it moved back, it was fine. Probably in her mind.

Bay then said everything was fine, before she was let go with a picture of the fetus. She was ecstatic it was a boy, she had always wanted a little boy. She then went on with her day, looking at the picture every time she could, but hiding it from the others, not wanting to show it. And when evening came, Ann was with Pops in his room, Bay having sent him to it when they were out and Ann had followed. "So Ann, I heard from Marco you had a checkup today, how did it go?" Asked Pops, making Ann smile. "It went fine. Bay said everything was fine, and, I don't know if Marco said it, but I'm having a boy." Pops smiled at her. "How lovely. Marco didn't say anything on it, just that you had a checkup. How do you feel that it's a boy?" Ann smiled. "I love it. I've always wanted a boy. I want to call him Sabo, in memory of him." Pops nodded, having a comforting look. "It sounds to be just perfect. He would have loved it. What does Sasori think of it?" Ann let out a breath. "I don't know, I'm going to try and call tonight, in a bit, and I hope he answers, if not I have to wait until tomorrow. But I think he would let me name him when he hears why. He knows who Sabo was. And I can't wait to say it's a boy." Pops chuckled. "I get that. He will be happy, I am sure of it." Ann nodded. "Yeah, I hope so myself."

She then sat and spoke a bit more with Pops, before she headed to her room, trying to call Sasori, feeling ecstatic when he answered. "Sasori!" She heard a chuckle. "Hello, Sweetie, how are you?" Ann chuckled back. "I'm fine. Hey! I had a checkup with Bay today!" The Den Den blinked. "You did? How did it go?" Ann nodded. "It went fine, and, we're having a boy!" The Den Den was quiet for a bit, before it looked shocked and happy. "We are?" Ann nodded. "Yes!" The Den Den looked happy. "I am so happy about that! We're having a boy! I'm sorry you had to be alone in this." Ann shook her head. "I get it, you're busy for a bit. And Marco joined me." That had the Den Den let out a breath. "That's good. Did the doctor say anything else?" Ann nodded. "Yeah, she said everything was fine… ...but…" Ann felt her face fall, the Den Den looking worried. "What, Ann?" Ann let out a breath. "When Bay was checking and she went over the heart, it looked like it wasn't beating… I remember it from when we checked. But she moved away fast, so I'm not a hundred percent sure. When she went back, it looked like it was beating again… And Bay said everything was fine. But I feel unsure…" The Den Den shook its head, having a comforting look. "It was probably nothing. You said it moved fast, maybe the imagine was just behind. She did say everything was fine." Bay had, so it was probably all in her head. "Probably, I wish you were here though, I miss you." The Den Den gave a kind look. "I know, but just a month or two more, and I can join you again for a couple days before I need to leave again." Ann knew, and she was excited for it, wanting Sasori with her.

But everything was fine for now, and they were having a boy! Now she just needed to wait until Sasori came back to her.

-x-

"So," Started Bay, looking at the Den Den. "You wouldn't be too worried?" The Den Den shook its head. "No, it happens the heartbeat stops now and then, but if it starts to beat again fast, it's no worries. But it never hurts to keep an eye open." Bay nodded, glad to hear that. She had taken a chance not saying anything. But the heart had not been beating the first time she went over the fetus. But the next time, after some shaking, it had been beating. She just needed to hear what another doctor, who had more experience with pregnancies, thought, and she was glad she had. She would be sure to keep an eye open and keep Ann under close observation. She just needed to do it without the woman thinking anything was wrong.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

It might have been a bit short and not the most exciting one, but the next one will have more stuff in it. To the heartbeat, when I had an internship at a maternity ward we got a case where the heart was seemingly not beating for a minute, before it did with some movement and sugar water, and we didn't tell the mother, just conferred with a doctor who said it could happen

If you have any scenes you would like to see, don't be afraid to leave a comment

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