Law dragged you out onto the island and was now tromping through the deep snow with you. Every time you fell behind because it was so deep, he'd wait for you to catch up with a smile on his face.

"Talk to me about the latest dream." He started once you were past the tree line.

"I'd rather not." He had you stressed about what he wanted to talk about and this was all it was?

Law stopped and wrapped a hand around your arm. "(Y/n)-ya, I'm not interested in playing this game again."

"I pretty much told you all I feel obligated to earlier. It was just about more of my time as a slave with the Celestial Dragon. Nothing important."

He turned to face you properly. "Anything you remember is important. You'd lost your entire life and it's coming back a little at a time. I'd like to be able to help you."

"I appreciate the thought, I really do, but I'd like to be able to figure some of this out myself. Some stuff is a bit too personal to share anyway."

"Personal?" He tilted his head a little. "Too personal to tell your captain?"

"Uh, yeah? You're more like a boss than anything else. Why would I share my most personal stuff with my boss?" Sure he was your hot boss, but that didn't change much.

"So you're suggesting if I was more than your captain you'd be more willing to talk?"

You weren't sure if he meant what you thought he meant but....the wide smile on his face suggested he did.

"I-I mean, in theory? We're not being serious now, right? It's all just theoretical." You tried to pull back but his grip tightened.

"I'm going to be blunt with you (Y/n)-ya." He walked you back into a tree and you were suddenly aware of how much bigger than you he was. Sure he wasn't huge, but the man had height on you and he was very well toned. "You've been on my crew for about two months now. From the beginning you've found some of the most rediculous things to fight over with me. You're stubborn and can't follow orders well. And I don't think I've ever met a woman with such an attitude and disregard for what comes out of her mouth."

Your stomach did summersaults as your nerves ate away at you. His gold eyes searched yours sharply before softening along with his grip. "But I don't think I'd have it any other way. You've brought something to this crew that we didn't have before and I would like to be more than just your captain, if you'd let me."

He let go of your arm, propping his hand against the tree beside your head instead. You had to admit, you were happy when he dipped down so his face was only inches from yours and his other hand brushed lightly against your cheek. When you didn't flinch or tell him no, he held your face and pressed his lips to yours. He didn't just smell like coffee, he tasted like it too.

A few months ago, hell a few weeks ago, if someone had asked what you'd thought about being touched by a man like this, you would've told them it's be the last thing you'd want. Now, it just felt right with Law. He understood why you were the way you were probably better than you did. He was delicate and had no problem taking his time. It was so different compared to anything you'd remembered from your past so far. Not that you had much to go off of, but still.

You felt yourself melt into his touch, wrapping your arms around his neck slowly, testing how far you were willing to go. There was a slight shuffle as he took it as encouragement, moving closer until his body was flush with you and his lips moved delicately along yours. Warmth radiated off of him and despite the frigid temperature surrounding the air, it was safe to say things were heating up.

The nip he gave your bottom lip wasn't expected, but you found it exciting. The second you responded, slightly parting your lips in surprise, his tongue flicked past them. You fought the urge to let a needy whine as he did it again, taking it slow. Finally when he was content with teasing you, he slipped the wet muscle into your mouth hungrily. You don't remember ever being kissed, let alone like this.

It was enough that the small whine you were fighting bubbled out of your throat and he let out something akin to a low growl in response. But it felt like as soon as he started, he broke off the kiss, panting lightly as his eyes searched your hazy ones.

"So," You panted with him. "something tells me you don't kiss all your crew members like that."

"Really?" He chuckled. "You still feel like making jokes after that?"

"It's a knee jerk reaction sometimes, I swear." You licked your lips, still tasting him on you.

"Are you willing to talk to me now?" He asked, going in for another quick kiss.

"Well you seem to want me to pretty bad."

"Of course I do. How am I supposed to get closer to you if you can't tell me these things?"

"Hmmm, good point. Some things are harder to say than others though and I think a part of me is afraid of being seen differently if I do tell you." You put a hand to his chest and pushed him lightly to create a bit of space.

"You could tell me anything and that wouldn't change who you are now. That being said, you can't say anything to change how I feel about you. You could tell me you were Eustass Kid's lover before and I wouldn't care." Law took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, trying his best to stay relaxed even though his frustration with your hesitation was obvious.

"Who?"

"Eustass Kid, he doesn't matter. That's not the part you should be focusing on anyway (Y/n)-ya."

"Okay, okay." You put you hands up in defeat and sighed. "Just no judging, I don't even know my full story yet and everything I do know sucks so far."

"I haven't made any strange assumptions about you yet, there's no reason to start now." He seemed pleased but kept serious.

"I don't know how to put this...." Coming outright and saying things was easier than beating around the bush, might as well stick with it. "The dream I had this morning involved the Celestial Dragon guy and it got... uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable as in sexual." Law understood the thought process you were going through.

"Yeah, it wasn't great. It was as bad as being branded a slave. Going through the dream, memory, whatever you want to call it, makes me think about how I was nothing more than an item for probably a good part of my life." You nodded, more to yourself than Law, worrying at your lip with your teeth.

"You may have been treated like that but that doesn't mean you were (Y/n)-ya. I've told you before, the past doesn't define you. Don't let it get to you so much." He placed the hat on your head, like he did the day before. "I already thought you'd gone through something like that. Beautiful women don't get the luxury of escaping such treatment from the dragons and your reaction to being touched suggested the same thing."

"Compliments will get you no where, convoluted or not." You let the bill of the hat cover your eyes and shield yourself from seeing his expression. There was no way he couldn't see the blush that dusted your cheeks.

"Nonsense." He adjusted the hat so it rested on your head properly. "They seem to have quite the effect on you."

You puffed your cheeks out in a pout. "I can't believe none of this bothers you."

"Would you rather it did?"

"....No."

"Then don't question it. What do you say we head back? It's a bit too cold for my taste." That was it. He treated you the same, well, besides the fact that he basically told you he wanted a more intimate relationship with you.

It was exactly what you wanted. It made you feel confident that no matter what else you remembered from your past or what happens in the future, he'll still care for you.

On the walk back to the ship, he kept an arm wrapped lazily around your waist and went at a slow pace. For someone who wanted out of the cold he had no problem spending more time in it. Something told you it was more like he wanted the alone time with you. The chances of the crew not hounding you about this would be slim to none and Law was preparing himself for that.

Bepo was on the ship's deck when you arrived, either keeping a look out or already planning tomorrow out for when the Heart pirates left the snowy island. He went through an array of expressions when he saw you and Law so close together. First delight when his eyes met his Captain's, to surprise once he connected the dots, and then he was taken over by a flustered state. Somehow it must have not crossed his mind that the Captain and you would start to like each other.

"Captain, (Y/n), we're all set to leave tomorrow." He tried to sound casual but there was a light shade of pink you could see through his fur, decorating his face.

"Good. Let everyone know they can have the rest of the day to relax. We'll leave first thing in the morning."

"Yes captain!" Bepo scurried inside, you and Law following after.

"You said before that quiet islands have secrets but I don't think this one did." You took one last glance at the tree line and went inside.

"This island itself didn't but that locket did and possibly still does."

"Maybe..." Your hand went around your neck to fiddle with the cold metal. "I think the boy and I are probably related like you suggested but I don't know about the man in the other photo."

"None of his features matched yours so I doubt there's blood relation. He looked a little too old to potentially be your partner, unless you like your men older." Law teased, drumming his fingers across your hip.

"Real funny." You rolled your eyes at him. "I don't think it's that either. I didn't feel anything that suggested that when I looked at the picture. It's going to take some thinking to figure out what my relation to him is." It was going to nag at the back of your mind until you did, he was important somehow.

The two of you passed some of the crew as Law led you to the kitchen, receiving a few looks and even a wolf whistle. You were too absorbed in your own thoughts to pay them any attention while your captain shot them annoyed looks over his shoulder.

"You'll get an answer eventually. Until then we'll continue sailing around and doing whatever strikes our fancy for a while." He released you and worked on starting a fresh pot of coffee.

You swore he went through that stuff faster than anything else on the ship. While he was doing that, you pulled yourself up to sit on a section of countertop. He'd want to stick around until it was done brewing so you might as well get comfortable. No one else was here, they were probably all in the rec room or in the dorm with it being so cold outside.

Law went to settle himself between your hips, now waiting for the coffee to finish, but you put a hand on his chest to stop him. "Woah tiger, I'm fine with being touched, so far that is, but I'd like to know what you're hoping to get out of this before getting too handsy."

"A relationship with you." He said like it was the most natural answer, smiling at you with his hands on either side of you on the counter.

"I'm not sure if I want to go all the way down this rabbit hole yet so you're going to have to slow your roll."

He backed away and leaned against the counter beside you instead. "Alright."

You thought he'd fight you on that. That was much easier than expected. "You're fine with that?"

"Yes. And even if I wasn't it wouldn't matter. I'd prefer not to make things difficult for us." He was still smiling away at you, unfazed by your hesitation.

"When I first got on this ship I thought I wouldn't have time or want to be in a relationship with anyone. It looks like I was wrong on both accounts but I still want to be careful with myself. Does that make sense?"

"You don't have to justify yourself with me (Y/n)-ya, I understand." The coffee pot grumbled as it finished brewing and Law poured a cup for each of you. "Just know that you're always welcome to make the next move whenever you're ready."

"Aye aye Captain." You giggled, accepting the warm cup he offered.