Chopper was a mess. He felt guilty for what had happened. In his search for knowledge, he made Katara and Robin uncomfortable. In addition, Zoro became fearful for their archeologists health. Chopper was a doctor for crying out loud! Is a strawhat is worried about someone's health, it really shouldn't be when he is around. That meant he wasn't doing his job right. "I'm sorry Zoro." He said with his head down.

"What?"

He looked up at the other who was sitting on the floor where he was dropped, "I made her do it."

This helped calm the swordsman slightly. This was most likely a misunderstanding and not Katara trying to fight with Robin. Said girl spoke up, "We were learning the extent of her powers and asked for a demonstration. She didn't harm any of us."

"Then why were you scared?" Zoro quickly asked. He would never admit it but it made him nervous. Something bad would have to have happened to make this usually stoic woman fearful.

Robin saw right through him, laughing lightly, "Weren't you? It's nerve wracking to lose control of your body."

"I mean yeah..."

Two feet landed on the main deck, "Where's Katara?" Sanji asked.

"She ran away." Chopper said, glum.

"Well aren't you going to get her?? I'd go but I still have fresh produce to take care of. She's still apart of the crew so even if she made you shit your pants or whatever happened, you should still haul ass and go find her." Sanji said, honestly mad that this was happening again. The last time it was robin who left and they ended up waging war on the world government because they couldn't get her back in time.

Robin nodded. "I will go. Ussop and zoro, come with me." Robin, walking up to chopper, putting a hand on his hat said softly, "Take care of sanji, okay?"

"Right." He said, a little more confident knowing that Robin still trusted him.

——

Luffys group kept a close eye on said boy, making sure he didn't leave until they brought back the supplies to the ship. What they didn't expect however is for the navigator to get side tracked. Like a sixth sense, she looked up to the sky and then out to sea. Something was changing but she couldn't tell what until a large gust of mist hit her. They weren't too far from the coast since this was a small island, but it still struck her as unusual. "Hey luffy, I wanna check something out. Wanna come with?"

"YES!!" He shouted, throwing his barrel over to franky who managed to catch it despite holding three other ones.

Brook frowned as much as a skeleton could, "I wanna gooooo."

"No brook, you stay with franky. Grab a barrel or two! Pick out a whiskey!"

"Oh how delicious. YOHOHOHO!"

Nami and luffy ran to the mist. Nami more so than him since she was the only one who knew where she's going. Luffy didn't complain though. Anything was better than chores.

"Woah." Nami muttered seeing something resembling a waterspout appear along the coast, moving quickly along it.

"Is that normal?" Luffy asked.

"No, not really."

"Let's go look at it better!" He jumped towards it, grabbing nami around the waist.

"LUFFY NO, I WAS GONNA SAY YES!"

Luffy laughed and shot themselves to a nearby beach, making sure to not let nami tumble to the ground (for the main purpose of not getting hit more by her).

"HEY!!! WATER THINGGG!" He shouted, looking at the pillar of water coming from the sea, quite high into the air. It seemed to have a mind of its own. But what surprised both of the pirates is that it stopped as if it heard him.

"Okay, now that is not normal." Nami said, almost disturbed but intrigued by the phenomenon all the same.

A minute passed and luffy squinted at it, "So is it like a water spout?"

"I guess? Usually those come down from the sky though."

"Maybe it'll respond if I call it again. It seems to be coming closer anyway."

"WHAT?"

"HEY WATERSPOUT!! KEEP COMING OVER HERE!!"

Nami punched him in the head, "NO, IDIOT WERE GONNA GET CAUGHT IN IT AND DIE! WE GOTTA RUN!"

Luffy held his head, "No I got a good feeling about this. Let's stay."

"YOU'RE INSANE!"

The waterspout kept coming closer and got smaller as it did, a figure appearing from out of it.

Luffy gasped, "See look! It's Katara!" She stepped down and the waves splashed forward then receded back with the tide. Her hair was devilish from the wind and posture timid and eyes red with old tears dispute the incredible show of power she had a moment ago. "A sad Katara? What happened? Who do I need to beat up?"

"No, no one." She shook her head.

Nami rubbed her arm, "Are you sure? Because he will."

"Yes I'm sure."

Luffy frowned, "Then why are you sad?"

Katara kept her eyes down, biting her cheek. She really shouldn't be crying like this. Not over something that happened so long ago. She could still remember the calming presence of Sokka and Aang that day after she defeated Hana with bloodbending. But she wasn't with them anymore. She didn't know if she would ever see them again. She just wanted them to hold her again. She wanted her family. She wanted Sokka.

Kataras hands rose to her eyes, hot tears cascading down, her cries more prominent as she realized why she's so sad. As she processes that she may never see them again. She cracked a sob and fought the urge to break down completely. "I miss Sokka!" She cried, trying desperately and failing to wipe the tears away.

"Who's that?" Luffy turned to Nami who's eyes widened and hand went over her mouth. This poor girl... She knew that she would eventually break down over this whole situation and leaving such a loving family behind, but didn't expect it to come out like this. Especially with luffy of all people.

"Her big brother..."

A pang hit Luffys heart as he heard those words. He looked back at Katara and saw that old version of himself, breaking down because of the loss of ace.

Strong arms wrapped around Katara and she wrapped her arms around his waist, clutching onto his back, sobbing onto his vest. 

He let her cry it all out, knowing that she didn't need any kind words from him. It was her brother that she wanted after all. All he could imagine what he would have needed in his worst hour was someone close by who cares. Who would make sure that he wouldn't go through it all alone. Jimbe really did know what he needed back then.

Maybe he could be there for her like he was for him. The main difference being that he too, shed tears for his departed brother in that embrace.

——

Robin, Ussop and Zoro upon arrival found Luffy, arms wrapped around Katara, chin resting atop her head, a sad longing on his face and Namis' hand rubbing his back.

They arrived quietly, robin being the first one to test the waters, rubbing Kataras back with her hand and then embracing the both of them.

Nami left luffy momentarily to whisper to Ussop and zoro, "They both miss their brothers."

That was more than enough of an explanation for them. They both went to them and joined. Nami took the liberty to take a rest from all the emotions and search robins coat for her mini transponder snail to check back in with the sunny and franky who also both had one.

The snail purred and sanji was the first to pick up, "Robin-san!! I was so happy to hear the ring! How are you, my lovely lady?"

"Sanji, it's actually Nami."

"NAMI SWAANNNN!! Did you all find Katara yet?"

Luffy looked up from the pile of hugs, stretching his neck to see the transponder and nami, "What do you mean find Katara?!"

Everyone let go of the group hug, not wanting to get in trouble with their captain.

"Ummmmmmmm nothing actually. Dinner will be ready in an hour." Sanji quickly said and hung up.

Back on the boat he begged the gods for forgiveness for hanging up on his beautiful nami-swan.

"FOOD!" Luffy screamed, grabbing Katara and stretching his arms to make her go on his back to carry her, not feeling quite ready to let her go again.

—-

Luffy and Katara went inside the dining hall, a burst of aromas appearing when they opened the door. "Woah." The latter gasped.

Sanji, having heard the comment smiled with pride. The crew grew used to his gourmet cuisine and stopped giving compliments or comments such as that, so he appreciated it all the more.

"Great, huh?!" Luffy grinned and sat at the counter to watch Sanji cook and hopefully steal a few bites when he wasn't looking. Katara sat next to him, finding herself most comfortable with him.

"Better than anything I've ever smelt."

Sanji could cry tears of joy right now. And he did. "Katara!!! You're such a kind soul!!" He felt like he was going to melt into the stew he was making.

She laughed at his dramatics; Luffy giggling along with her.

"Would you like an appetizer!? I know I didn't ask you what you like, but I made it with my heart and soul!" He smiled, pouring bowls already. It vaguely reminded her of her gran-gran, always wanting the kids to be fed.

"Sure."

"ME TOO ME TOO!!"

Sanji rolled his eyes and served them both, "I know, you monster."

Katara gave a small, "Thank you."before grabbing her spoon and took a bite. Sanji watched as her face lit up and she took more spoonfuls. "This is amazing. Oh my spirits! It's even better than the earth kingdoms!"

"Is it really that good?" Sanji was starting to think that on her journeys she hadn't been eating right.

Katara answered by slurping loudly, a compliment to the chef in her eyes- but perhaps a surprising feature in his- looking up to see a funny look on his face, so she laughed and put her face closer to the bowl, seconds away from spitting up everything in laughter. If there was seaweed in this, she knew it would have gone up her nose during that first snort.

Sanji had a new favorite. She was always smiling and laughing, is polite, AND compliments his food. How could he not adore her? It reminded him of old times with the going merry, everyone much younger, and full of life and laughter. Now he just chain smokes. And hell, Zoro's face made so few expressions, it could be a rock and no one would know. This younger spirit may have been just what their crew needed.

Unedited. 1809 words