Aisuru's POV

The first day of summer break. I smiled and stretched my arms above my head. Law and Aka stayed at Law's parents' place last night. According to the texts I had received from Aka, they all had stayed up talking about what happened and what the future held until about 1-2 in the morning.

I stared out my window and my mind began to wonder. I felt fear crawl up my back.

What if I was sent back to West Blue?

I started to breath heavily as my scars felt as if they were on fire. I began to choke. I gripped the edge of the couch and tried to calm down.

I didn't even realize Dad had heard me. I didn't even notice that he was holding me until he spoke.

"It's okay, baby. You're okay. You're okay. Come on, deep breaths. Deep breaths. You're okay, princess." He murmured in my ears. I held on to his arms and started to calm down. I rested my head to his chest and he stroked my hair.

"Shhh.. You're okay." He murmured to me again. I felt him kiss my hair. I took a few more breaths and held on to my father. My body wouldn't stop shaking.

"Memory again?" He asked. I nodded. He held me tight and kissed my forehead.

"It's alright, Baby Girl. I've got you. You're safe. I won't let you go ever again." He said. I closed my eyes and held on to him.

"I-Is she alright?" I heard Makino ask.

"Shit. This is the first time Makino has seen me break down." I thought.

"M-Makino..." I murmured. I felt Dad motion her over. I felt her hand on my shoulder. I reached up and grabbed her hand.

"I-I'm so-sorry if I s-scared you." I said softly. I felt her hug me.

"It's okay, Aisuru. As long as you're okay." She said, squeezing my hand gently.

"Do you need anything?" Dad asked me.

"I just need air." I said. I went out in to the back yard and sat on the swing. I took a deep breath and let myself calm down. After I calmed down, I walked back in to the house. I stopped when I heard Dad and Makino talking.

"She doesn't want to go to therapy. She's too scared." Dad said.

"Well... what can we do?" Makino asked. I heard Dad sigh.

"I try to keep her as distracted as possible. That's why I thank god that she's dating Luffy. If she doesn't have time to think, it doesn't trigger." He said.

"It also seems to trigger if someone brings up her mother." Makino said.

"Yeah." There was a beat of silence.

"Maybe I should call Hope..." Dad said. My heart froze.

"What for?" Makino asked.

"Have her talk things out with Aisuru. Give her some closure." Dad said.

"Do you think she's ready to face her mother again? It hasn't even been a full year yet." Makino said. Dad sighed again.

"No. I don't." I took a silent breath of relief.

"I just... I wish there was something I could do to make it all go away. To stop her PTSD. To make her the happy and cheerful baby she was ten years ago." He said. I heard Makino shift to hug Dad.

"You're doing everything you can to help her, Shanks. You don't have to do it alone. I'm here, too. I want to help her just as much as you do." She said.

"You're such an angel, Makino." Dad said. I pushed in to the kitchen where they stood.

"Oh. Aisuru! Are you feeling better?" Makino asked me. I smiled.

"Yeah... a little." I said. Dad reached over and pulled me in to a tight hug between him and Makino.

"You don't need to be scared, Aisuru. We won't let anyone take you away again." Dad said.

"We'll take care of you." Makino said. Suddenly, Makino's phone went off. She reached over and grabbed her phone.

"Hello?" She asked. She took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.

"Alright, go ahead and put out the want ads.... I know, I know... I'll figure it out, Dadan... yes, yes.... okay... thank you, see you tonight." She said and hung up.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"One of our performers at the bar just quit. And he was supposed to play tonight, too." She said. She sighed and Dad grabbed her shoulders and massaged them.

"Who am I supposed to get to fill in for him? The other bands don't have any other songs prepared and all my other solo performers are on vacation." She said. Dad's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Hey... I have an idea." He said. Makino and I looked up at him.

"What is it?" She asked. Dad stood behind me with a bright grin.

"W-wait! What?!" I asked.

"Come on! You've seen her preform before. You know she's got the talent. Plus, you were just telling me you wanted to spend more time with her! Come on, Makino. It's a win-win situation! You get to spend more time with Aisuru, Aisuru can show off her talent." Dad said. Makino cocked an eyebrow.

"You'll have an excuse to come to the bar on weeknights." She said.

"Exactly!" He laughed. Makino hummed in thought.

"N-no! I-I can't! I'm not skilled enough yet! No one will like me!" I protested. Makino grabbed my hands and smiled at me.

"How about this; you come and play a few songs tonight. Just a half hour performance. We'll see how things go. If you like it and the audience likes you- which I'm sure they will- then the job is yours. If you still don't think you're ready, I won't force you in to anything." She said. I looked at Dad. He grinned brightly at me. I nodded.

"Okay... I... I'll give it a try." I said. Makino smiled as Dad hugged me tightly.

Time skip

I swollowed hard as I stepped out on stage. I wasn't going to try anything as fancy as Taylor Davis or Lindsey Stirling would, just sticking to violin covers of Disney songs and a few classic songs. I knew Dad and Makino were watching, and I had seen Law and Aka in the crowd.

I played Colors of the Wind from Pocahontas, God Help The Outcasts from Hunchback of Notre Dame, Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid, The Fiddler's Song from The Fiddler on The Roof, Hallelujah, and finished with You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban.

The bar was really loud. I doubted anyone could hear me playing. I stepped off the stage and put my violin in to its case and then met with Dad and Makino.

"That was beautiful, Baby!" Dad said to me with a bright grin. I shrugged.

"I-I don't think anyone-" I was cut off by a sudden tight hug from a familiar purplette.

"That was amazing, Aisuru!" Aka cheered as she hugged me tight.

"The whole bar went completely silent when you started playing God Help The Outcasts. Law started crying when you played Part of Your World!" She said.

"I-I did not." Law grumbled.

"Aka... I can't breathe..." I choked out. Aka stepped back.

"Sorry!" She said with a nervous laugh.

"No one could take their eyes off of you." Makino told me.

"Really?" I asked.

"You did very well up there, Aisuru-ya." Law said.

"And this is for you." Makino said. Handing me a large amount of cash.

"Wh-what?!" I asked.

"Each time a performer plays, I set out a jar for the customers to put tips in for the performers. Anything put in during the performer's time on stage goes to that performer." Makino explained.

"How much even is this?" I asked.

"Probably around $50." Makino guessed.

"Fifty dollars?!" I asked. Makino grinned.

"You earned it." She said.

"They really liked me that much?" I asked.

"Yup!"

"Yo, Makino! When's that red haired violinist playing next?" One guy asked.

"I think she's my new favorite." Said his buddy.

"I'm going to come back here just for her." I heard a lady say. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks.

"So, what do you think, Aisuru? Think you could do up to an hour performance two nights a week?" She asked. I smiled at her.

"Yeah." I said. Makino grinned and turned to a large, orange haired woman.

"Dadan, forget the ads. I found our new performer." She said. The woman, Dadan, smiled at me.

"Welcome aboard, kid! Give a performance like that every night and we might make you the main show." Dadan said. I giggled and blushed.

"So, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:00." Makino said. I smiled and nodded.

"I'll be here."