The limo pulled up to the empty lot. There had been a building here, but after the damages it sustained from two mafia families tearing through it, it had been torn down. You stepped out of the back of the limo, the gravel of missed debris from the recent demolition crunching underneath your boots.

Donquixote Doflamingo, Edward Newgate, and Trafalgar Law exited the limo after you. The weather was getting colder, but winter wasn't quite here yet. It'd been some weeks since everything had happened, and your life was finding a new rhythm.

You were now officially (Y/N) Newgate, only daughter to Edward Newgate, CEO of Grandline Automotive, Inc.

Monet, Vergo, Diamante, Marco and Thatch had perfected a turn around story for you while you were recovering, and once you were ready it had been practiced to perfection and released to the world. It sounded absolutely asinine to you from the beginning, but the media and the world had eaten it up, and Monet and the Family's network had fabricated undeniable proof to go along with it.

The short version was simple enough: You were Newgate's daughter from the start. Your then-pregnant mother - meant to become Pops' wife - had been kidnapped from the Newgate estate by Sakazuki, who was so desperately attracted to her he had done something unforgivable. Afterward you were raised by your deranged false-father until the tragedy at the Moim. It seemed most of the world thought the Moim was a convention for businesses, and that maybe only one or two had criminal connections – so admitting everything happened there wasn't going to ruin your, or Pops', public images.

Unwittingly your true blood-father saved you from being ruthlessly murdered by Sakazuki and raised you without knowing you were his daughter for the last two decades.

It was all complete hogwash, but the public and the media had eaten it up. Pops had been a father to you for so long that it was natural to act like father and daughter, and the interviews had gone as smooth as silk. The bonus from it all was that you were now legally his daughter and never had to speak of your biological father again. Pops had always made a better father anyway.

The Marines had lost face in the fallout from it all, and to add salt to the wounds, the allegations of Edward Newgate being head of a criminal organization had been shown to be false. The origin of his underworld ties had come from Sakazuki's office, and once his integrity had come into question, everything under his control had been crumbling. His absolute justice had rotted the foundation beneath him so epically that they World Government had released a statement denouncing the philosophy entirely.

"You okay, (Y/N)-ya?" Law questions as you looked around the lot.

You nod. "I remember coming here," your voice is barely a whisper. "I woke up half-way through the drive, I think." You rub your arms absently. "I got tasered for kicking up a fuss."

You step forward, putting a hand out to a wall that wasn't there anymore as memories slowly start coming back to you. Flashes of memories fill your head, pieces of the hours spent here before everyone had descended upon the safe house. Your father had already started the process of trying to break you, but you couldn't bring yourself to put it to words.

You survived it, the people around you didn't need to hear the terrible details.

Doflamingo's hand slips over yours and you realize you're trembling. He pulls you into an embrace and holds you quietly while you just shake your head, trying not to cry.

"You had signs of layered bruising," Law says after a moment. "I found at least six sets of taser burns, maybe more, but it was hard to tell from all the other wounds. Your face was swollen, and your lips were split in multiple places. The inside of your mouth was shredded from the force of the blows to your face pushing against your teeth. You had stress and hairline fractures on twenty-seven bones. Two toes were broken, and you had several dislocations in your fingers and one shoulder."

You're trembling stills, and you squeeze Doflamingo before taking a step back.

"We might not know what happened, but we saw the end result." Law explains. "You don't have to verbalize anything you don't want to, (Y/N)-ya, I just want you to know you're not going to spare anyone here. We already know."

After a few moments you started speaking. "He told me I'd been out for days, that we were thousands of miles away from any help and no one would find me. He told me to call him father. That... that was how it started. How it ended too, I never said it."

You walk around to where the back of the building had been and look into the woods beyond. You take a step but stop after a moment and stay out of the trees. You're quiet for a long time as the memories of the night play through your mind.

The details didn't matter anymore, you survived.

"I didn't know where we were when he dragged me into those woods. It didn't matter. He fell in the dark and landed bad. I got dragged down with him, but I didn't hit anything solid. He was disoriented, but I couldn't know for how long. Instead of running, I ended things.

"I was weak, but by the time he caught up with what was happening it was too late. I made sure I felt his heart stop, I didn't want to see his face looming over me ever again." You turn your back to the woods and face the three of them. "My only fear was that I'd die in those woods and none of you would know, and it hurt. It hurt to think that..."

You hold a hand out and cover your eyes with your other hand, sniffling and taking a moment to steady your voice. If anyone touches you right now, you'll lose control and won't be able to say what you want to. "Thank you, all of you, for coming out here for me."

"Oh, lass." Pops' big arms wrap around you. He's been leaning into his fatherly role lately, and it was obvious the old man was delighted for it to be official. "That's how family works."

"She's not his family yet," Law grumbles, jerking a thumb toward Doflamingo.

"She's not your family at all." Your boyfriend shoots back.

You and Law laugh at the same time, and even Pops' starts chuckling. "Let me tell him, let me!" You manage to gasp before anyone can say anything.

The look on Doflamingo's face was not amused at all, "If he's your brother -."

You put your hands up and shake your head. "No, n-... er... well, yeah, I guess legally we are now."

"You're my aunt, technically." Law corrects.

"Ah, right! Pops' had a son, and he married Law's mom and ta-da," you gesture to Law.

"Your last name isn't-." Doflamingo starts, but stops, realizing he might be wandering into uncomfortable territory.

"Newgate was a heavy name, and my son had no interest in the family business." Pops explains easily, still hugging you lightly as he speaks. "He changed his name when he was 16, and then took his wife's name when they married."

"I grew up knowing about Grandpa, but it wasn't until college when I met (Y/N) that I ended up coming to Grandline city to visit and met him face to face." Law explains further. "After that I decided to open my clinic here."

Doflamingo's expression was neutral, but you could tell he wasn't terribly thrilled about the revelation. You pat his arm reassuringly and smile. "It's cold, let's go back."

.

.

.

.

A month after your walk around the lot with Doflamingo, Law and Pops, you were putting the finishing touches on your Christmas outfit. You'd moved in with Doflamingo and were adjusting to your new life. You were even willing to consider quitting your jobs and becoming an official member of The Family, but you'd requested to have until after the holidays to make that decision.

Changing your routine in the middle of what would probably be a string of happy celebrations, between your adoption to Newgate and the survival the last year's insanity, seemed like a little too much to do all at once.

There was a soft knock at the door, "Come in!" You call out, slipping your heels on and turning toward the door.

Doflamingo steps inside, a crisp white suit with a Christmas red tie, and blood-red almost black shoes. A color reversal of your own Christmas red dress with white accents. He did like to show you off while also showing that you were his - matching without matching exactly. You twirl for him before he could ask and smile.

"Are you ready to go, my love?" He questions a satisfied smile on his lips.

"Mm, I am. We have some time still, don't we?" You step closer, letting him hug you loosely.

"We do, but I have something to show you before we head out. Will you indulge me?"

"Much as I can, I shall." You reply as he kisses your forehead gently before leading you out of the room.

The Donquixote Family estate was done up in tasteful Christmas decorations, and had been for the last couple of weeks. A surprising number of family members enjoyed the holiday, and you'd seen Monet and Vergo wearing Christmas hats since November. Sugar and Dellinger were obvious fans, and Machvise was baking so much you were worried the local flour prices would spike because of it. Gladius was another surprise when it came to Christmas, you'd caught him with bits of tape and wrapping paper stuck to him and had eventually helped him wrap a ton of gifts. He didn't quite have the talent for it.

Doflamingo took his jacket off and put it around your shoulders before leading you out into the back garden, to the well-cared for Wisteria tree. There were no blooms, but lights had been threaded artfully through the branches and vines, and paper-blooms decorated it, creating a convincing illusion that they tree itself was still full of life. You remembered the first time you came to this tree, after having spoken with Monet, and it had quickly become one of your favorite places in the estate. Even without the blooms, there was just something calming about being near the tree.

There was a quiet moment as the two of you enjoyed the peace of the area.

"It's beautiful." You murmur.

"It's the first year we've tried something like this, I'm glad you like it." He replies. His glasses were tucked into the front pocket of his shirt, and he was smiling down at you.

"You all did this for me?" You question, caught a bit off-guard.

"It was a family effort," He assures you as you turn back toward the beauty of the tree, appreciating the effort a little more than you had earlier.

"But this," He states quietly, and you turn toward him in time to see him kneel next to you. "Is entirely for my benefit."

The small box comes from his pocket and your heart skips a beat.

"You needn't become a member of The Family," He explains, "but I would love for you to become a member of my family. To stand beside me as an equal in this life. To lean on me and allow me to lean on you, as we already have in the past. (Y/N), I love you in ways I didn't even know existed, will you marry me?"

Your hands are up to your face, and you nod silently, trying your best to not cry just before going over to your father's place for the party.

A mischievous smile curls his lips, and he reaches out for your hand. "Let me hear you say it, my love."

"Yes!" You gasp, stepping forward and hugging him. "I'll marry you, Trouble!" It's a little unfair how easy it is to hug him even while he's on a knee like this. You lean back and he slips the ring on your finger, kissing the top of your hand before pulling you into a proper kiss.

Leaning back, you kiss him one more time before smiling into his eyes and running your fingers through his hair. "You might not survive this party," you muse.

"I've already spoken to your father," he replies.

"Mm, but I have five brothers now, and a protective nephew." You tease, causing him to roll his eyes. "My friends are going to be there too, and you'll be on your own."

"I have survived far worse than your friends and family, my love." He stands up, tilting your chin up and stealing another kiss. "And I won't be on my own – you said yes."

You feel the heat rush through you so swiftly that you aren't sure you need his jacket to keep warm. The party was going to feel terribly long, but there was more than just a flimsy promise of thanks, or a passionate desire of interest between you two.

You had family ties in this city now, in more ways than one.

~Fin

A/N – Bonus chapters to come, but that's the whole proper tale. (2 lemon chapters and a Christmas Special are in the works <3 Thanks for reading!)

Additional A/N - No more bonus chapters, I'm working on Family Ties Book 2! and the bonus chapters that were pending will be folded into the upcoming story =D