RT_Strawhat_Ninja: WARNING: DESCRIPTIONS OF SELF HARM IN THIS CHAPTER! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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Today, was my day off, however, Aka had wedding pictures to take for the DiNozzo-David wedding. I was basically home alone all day.

Until I got a call from Rosa, inviting me to lunch. I figured I would join her for lunch considering that Aka-ya wasn't home.

So now I sat across from Rosa on her favorite restaurant, Black Bear Diner.

"So, Law... tell me... Why do you love my daughter?" She asked me. I stared at her.

"I'm sorry? I think I may have misheard your question." I said. She set down her tea and looked me in the eyes. I immediately felt intimidated.

"Tell me why you love my daughter. What is it about her that you love?" She asked. I stared and immediately began to chuckle and laugh.

"I fail to see how my question is amusing to you, Law." Rosa said as I finally calmed down.

"I fail to see how you are not amused." I said. Rosa folded her arms and stared at me.

"What's not to love about Aka-ya?" I asked. She cocked an eyebrow at me.

"She's so smart and talented. She's so strong and brave. She never gives up, despite the odds. And to add to that, she's beautiful. Especially when she smiles." I said. Rosa took another sip from her tea.

"What is it about her that you love the most?" She asked. I sighed.

"Where to begin?" I asked. I rubbed the back of my neck.

"She's so determined. She puts her all in to everything she does. When she's told "you can't do it, it's impossible" she immediately snaps back with "watch me". There hasn't been a day that has passed since I met her that she hasn't amazed me. She never fails to take my breath away. Any stress or frustrations that build up during the day all just melt away when she kisses me." I sighed softly.

"To me, she's perfect. She's an angel that caught me when I fell." I said. Rosa was watching me carefully.

"Forgive me for being so cautious, but considering what happened with me and my husband..." she started.

"I can't blame you for being protective. She's your only daughter." I said. She nodded. I sighed again.

"Rosa-ya." I said. She watched me as I shrugged off my jacket to show the black muscle shirt I wore under it. I raised my arm like I was going to scratch my back, revealing my inner arm by my tricep and the many scars that were there. Rosa's eyes widened in shock.

"Those are..." she gasped.

"Self harm. Yes. Before I met Aka-ya, I was miserable. I had lost everything. My hometown, my parents, my little sister, my hero. I was alone. It wasn't until high school that I met a boy named Monkey D Luffy-ya. He never let me be alone. He always dragged me to be with his friends, followed me home from school, bugged me while studying, so on and so on." I said.

"Monkey D Luffy? Why, that's one of the boys that Aka grew up with before Newgate took in him, Ace and Sabo." Rosa said. I nodded.

"Luffy-ya has always been very persistent. But his dedication is one of the reasons why I have come to respect him. He always insisted that I would spend my weekends with him and his brothers, demanding that I sit with him and his friends during school, he refused to leave me alone. And while I appreciated that he cared, I still wasn't quite happy. Ask any of his friends. They'll all tell you I was cold, rude and reclusive during our time together." I said. Rosa nodded, but continued to glance at my now lowered arm.

"I pushed on through high school, college, and so on just because I promised Cora-san that I would accomplish my dream. But I just wasn't happy. I got so low that I took a razor and just started cutting my arms where no one would ever see. No one could question." I said as I pulled my jacket back on. Rosa gave me a sad look. She opened her mouth to speak, but I raised my finger to stop her.

"Then, I met Aka-ya. Well, saw her really." I said. Rosa's mouth slid shut and she watched me, waiting for me to continue.

"At 5:30 in the morning, I was in a Red Hair's Café. I had a half hour before I had to return to the hospital to finish any paper work and attend to patients before I was sent on vacation. I'll be honest, Rosa-ya, I was so low that I didn't intend to return from that vacation." I said. Her eyes widened.

"But then, after ordering my coffee, I turned around to find a seat and I saw Aka-ya. She was doing the very thing she loves to do the most. Taking pictures. I could see her smile as she worked from where I stood. I just sat and watched her as she did her passion. I just couldn't help but want to see more. So every morning, 5:30am on the dot, I was back in that Café. Hoping I'd get to see her smile. I didn't even realize that I no longer had the desire to hurt myself." I said. Rosa blinked rapidly.

"Day after day after day after week after week after month. I'd be in there watching her. Finally, one day on another vacation, I turned from ordering my coffee and she was waiting for me in my usual spot. I sat with her and we began to talk. After that, every morning at the same time, we'd meet up in that Café and talk. Sometimes she'd take pictures of me and the things around us. Then she asked me out on a date." I said. Rosa giggled.

"She was the one to make the first move, huh?" She asked with a giggle.

"She's always been brave." I said with a smile. I sat back as our food came. After the waitress left, I continued.

"After that first date, I finally realized it. I was happy. I was happy for the first time since my little sister died. All because that angel smiled at me one early morning." I said.

"How... How were you during the four years the two of you were separated?" She asked. I smiled at her.

"I wasn't as bad as I had been, but I was lonely. Many nights she and I would send messages back and forth. Video chatting a few times. It wasn't much, but it helped. But when I finally got to hold her in my arms again... It felt as if I was holding that missing piece of my life." I said. I smiled softly.

"I was terrified when I decided to propose to her. What if she said no? What if she wasn't ready? What if she didn't think I was really meant for her? When she said yes, I almost cried I was so happy." I said. Rosa smiled softly at me

"Law... does Aka know about these scars? I mean, surely she has seen them, considering that you two have made love before." She said.

"No, she has no idea. The last time I cut, I was 23 years old. These scars are very faded and easy to conceal. I would prefer she didn't know." I said.

"Why?" Rosa asked me with a scowl.

"Because it would break her heart to know I used to hurt myself. I don't ever want to make her cry unless it's with joy." I said. Rosa sighed softly and she gripped my hand.

"Thank you, Law." She said. I stared at her.

"I know my baby girl is in capable and loving hands. I know that you'll take care of her." Rosa said. I smiled softly at my future mother in law.

"Of course I will. She's my goddess, my world, my everything." I said.