Aisuru's POV

I smiled as I tuned my violin.

This Saturday.

This Saturday, Makino, Dad, Luffy, Mihawk, Dawn and I were all going to go to a group dinner. Dad claimed it was to celebrate that Dawn and Mihawk had finally decided to try their relationship again and were officially back together. But I knew that Dad was planning to propose to Makino!

I don't think it was possible for me to be happier. I don't think that I could even be upset by anything at this point. My birthday wish was coming true!

On my birthday date with Luffy, when I made my wish, I wished that Makino and Dad would get married. Then, the other night, when Dad came to my room to talk to me about Makino, he told me he wanted to marry her! So he put me up to finding a ring with her so she would have no idea! I mean, yeah I kinda hinted at it when I told her that I had a dream of them getting married, but she didn't seem to suspect anything.

Maybe I should be a secret agent instead of a violinist.

Nah, secret agents never come home to see their families. I want to see Makino and Dad.

Ooh, what if Dad gets Makino pregnant? I'll be a big sister! I smiled at the thought of a baby brother or sister that I could play with and take care of while Dad and Makino had their date nights.

"You're awfully smiley tonight, Aisuru. Something good happen?" Asked one of the performers, Damian. I smiled at him.

"Not yet, Damian. But something good is coming. I can feel it." I said. He chuckled at me.

"Oh, hey, I spotted your boyfriend out in the audience when I was up there. Looked like a bunch of your friends are back from vacation already." He said. I grinned and knew what that meant. Ki and Zoro were back from camp.

"Thanks, Damian! Have a nice night!" I said.

"You, too, Aisuru. Have fun out there, Show Stopper." He said. That was the nickname I earned here. Show Stopper. Because apparently, when I went out a preformed, The whole place went silent. One night, I was told my playing stopped two guys from fighting. I smiled and finished tuning my violin, ready to play my set.

Shanks's POV

I held the ring box in my hand. I wasn't going to propose until Saturday at the group date. But I couldn't help but feel anxious. I was going to be asking Makino to marry me. Aisuru had already assured me the she wasn't going to say no. But still... What if something went wrong?

I shook my head in attempts to shake the thoughts from my head.

"Come on, Shanks. Don't psyche yourself out. If you work yourself up too much you won't be able to do it Saturday." I said to myself. I looked at the clock and smiled. It was time for Aisuru's performance at the bar. I put the box in my pocket and pulled on my jacket. I opened the door and froze completely.

There, standing with her fist raised like she was about to knock...

Was Hope.

"Hope?!" I asked in surprise.

"Oh... Shanks... Hello..." She looked to the pavement. I blinked. Why was she acting as shy as she was in high school when she first asked me out?

"Um... What.. What are you doing here?" I asked. She sighed.

"I came to see Aisuru." She said.

"Oh.. I was just heading out to do that myself." I said. Her head snapped up to me, her long blonde hair falling in her face.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"She got a job. She's working right now." I said. She returned her gaze to the pavement.

"Uh, you can come with me if you like. I'm also meeting my girlfriend there." I said. Why was I doing this?

"Sure." She said. She followed me out to my car and climbed in the passenger side. I felt very awkward. Hope hasn't treated me like this since the divorce. That was ten years ago. Ten years of hateful looks and now she's suddenly the Hope I married nineteen years ago?

"So... You already have a girlfriend?" She asked. I glanced at her.

"Have for six years now." I said.

"Oh... What.. What does Aisuru think of her?" She asked. I laughed.

"Those two act like best friends. They're always giggling about something. Whenever Aisuru's not spending the weekend with her friends or boyfriend-"

"She has a boyfriend?" Hope asked. I grinned.

"Yup. Whitebeard's youngest boy. You know, the one I'd walk home from school all the time? Luffy?" I asked. She nodded.

"Great, She's got a taste for Mafia men, too." Hope sighed.

"Nope. Luffy's not interested in the Mafia." I said.

"He's not?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Nope. He wants to run his own business. He's planning on partnering up with one of his buddies to open a restaurant. He'll own the business, his pal will be the head chef." I said. I heard Hope breath in relief.

"Thank god for that." She said. I nodded.

"Speaking of Mafia..." I said.

"He's dead." She said. I looked at her. She looked out the window.

"The paramedics said he had a heart attack, but I think I've been married to enough mafia men to know a hit when I see it." She said.

"Sorry for your loss." I said, though in truth I wanted to cry in relief. Hono was dead. I didn't care who or how. He was dead. Aisuru was safe.

"Who did you send to kill him, Shanks?" She asked. I glanced at her.

"You think it was me?" I asked. She scoffed.

"Who else would-" She started.

"Hope." I said firmly. I felt her gaze on the side of my face.

"I've been out of the mafia game for eleven years. And if I was going to send someone to kill that bastard... Do you really think it would have taken me ten years after he took my daughter away from me?" I asked her. She was silent for a moment. That was a first.

"Then who would send someone to kill him?" She asked.

"Well... She is dating Whitebeard's youngest boy... Luffy may not want a thing to do with the business, but Newgate has always been protective of family and those his family holds dear. About a month ago her back was all over the news." I said.

"You think Newgate?" She asked.

"Wasn't Newgate driving Hono out of this territory that made you take Aisuru to the West Blue in the first place?" I asked. She fell silent again.

"You must have really loved him." I said.

"No... I didn't." She sighed. She looked out the window.

"Yes. I cheated on you with him. I was young and stupid. But that was also my excuse for marrying you." She sighed.

"After we divorced and he took us to West Blue, I realized my mistake and I realized who he really was. I tried to get away, but... He found us every time I ran. Even when I tried dropping Aisuru off on Dawn's door step, he dragged us both back. I realized that I just put myself and my daughter in a situation that we couldn't get out of. Calling you was out of the question. Anytime I touched a phone I'd find myself naked and chained to the bed before I could even press a number." She said.

"I was stupid. I had everything I ever wanted in life. A husband that loved me. A sweet daughter, a home. And I threw it all away because I became my father; money obsessed and power hungry." She said.

"Hope." I said, gaining her attention.

"Shanks, I know there's no chance for us. Even though I admit that I was stupid for letting you go, I know that I can't get you back." She said.

"Hope. Look at me." I said. She turned her eyes to me as we came up to a red light. I looked her in the eyes.

"We were doomed from the start." I said. She stared at me. I sighed and turned my attention away from her and back to the road.

"After I started work in the Shipyards, I found myself looking at other women. The only reason I never actually made a move on any of them was for Aisuru." I confessed. She laughed bitterly.

"Seems like the only good thing that came out of our marriage was her." She said. She sighed softly.

"The only reason why I'm here is to get closure from her. I know there's no amount of apologize I can give that came make up for what I let him do to her. I never should have taken her from you." She said. I glanced at her.

"I'm sorry, Shanks. For everything. Let me know when you marry your girlfriend. I'll gladly sign the consent of adoption papers." She said. I sighed in relief.

"I'm happy to hear you say that, Hope. I plan to propose to her this Saturday." I said.