RT_Strawhat_Ninja: so this is just a little thing I've had in my head for a while. This is just a little short story about Aka's mother, Donquixote Mizu D Rosa.

--

The woman with pale skin and purple hair hummed as she walked around. Suddenly, she saw a familiar head of blonde hair.

"Doffy-kuuuun!" She called out. Doflamingo turned his head and saw the short woman of 5'1" run up to him. Her long purple hair bouncing as she ran and her skirt swishing around her legs as she held tight to the medical books in her arms. When she finally caught up to her tall childhood friend, she pushed the round glasses back up her face and smiled at him.

"Good morning, Doffy-kun!" She said cheerfully. Doflamingo smirked down at her. He had never cared much for commoners, but something about this woman captured his heart ever since they were children. Mizu D Rosa. Yes, D. Doflamingo knew she was supposed to be an enemy, but he was set on making her his.

"Trebol, I'll be joining Rosa for a walk. Don't disturb us." Doflamingo ordered. Rosa giggled and playfully punched his arm.

"Aww, don't let me drag you from your work!" She said. Doflamingo smirked down at her again.

"I enjoy your company, Rosa. Would you deny me of it?" He asked. Rosa giggled once again.

"Never! Come on, Doffy-kun!" She said. The two walked to their usual spot. A ruined half wall on a cliff over looking the ocean. Rosa sat on the wall, her smooth, white legs pressed firmly together. Doflamingo sat on the ground beside her and the two stared over the ocean.

"Don't you ever miss him?" Rosa asked.

"Who?" Doflamingo asked, looking up at her. Rosa stared down at her lap.

"Roci-kun. Don't you ever miss him?" She asked. A sad look held in her eyes. Doflamingo's younger brother, Rocinante, had disappeared not long after their father was killed. Rosa and Rocinante had always been very close as kids, and it broke her heart when he disappeared. She still stayed close with Doflamingo, though. Maybe because if Rocinante ever returned, than he would probably go to Doflamingo first.

"Sometimes. But all I can do is hope he's okay." He said. Rosa sighed.

"I hope he's doing alright... where ever he is.." she said. Doflamingo decided it was best to change the subject before Rosa started crying. He may be head over heels for the woman, but he had no idea how to comfort her when she cried. Rocinante had always done that.

"Have you ever thought about having kids, Rosa?" He asked, using the first topic that popped in to his head

"Huh? Kids?" She asked. Doflamingo asked.

"Yeah. Kids. The future. A family. Have you ever thought about it?" He asked, staring out over the ocean.

"Hmm... well, I hadn't put a lot of thought in to it, but... I know that if I ever have a daughter, I'm naming her Aka." She said. Doflamingo looked back up at her.

"Aka?" He asked. Rosa nodded with a soft smile.

"After my mother. Lynn D Aka. You would have loved her, Doffy. She was such a sweet heart. She always made sure that I was okay. And she always encouraged me to follow my dreams. But... she was killed in a bandit raid not long before we met. That's why I was so dirty when we met. My mother had just died and I have no idea who my father is. All I know is his name is Mizu Marun. But I don't know anything else." She said. Doflamingo watched her as she talked.

"Aka... it's a beautiful name." Doflamingo said.

"What about you, Doffy-kun? Have you ever thought about having kids?" She asked. Doflamingo's shoulders raised in a shrug.

"Not really. I haven't really had much time to think about those things." He said. They sat in a soft silence for a while before Rosa broke the air with a soft sigh.

"Rosa? Is something wrong?" He asked. Rosa looked ready to cry.

"Doflamingo... there's been something I've been meaning to tell you..." she said. Doflamingo's heart jumped when she said his full name.

"Yes, Rosa?" He asked. She sighed and reached up, pushing her glass on to her forehead to wipe away her building tears.

"I'll be leaving soon." She said. Doflamingo's heart sank.

"What?" He asked.

"I've completed my doctor training. I want to help people, but I want to see the world. So I have decided to leave. I didn't want to leave with out saying goodbye, so... I decided to tell you." She said.

"No." Doflamingo said. Rosa looked up at him.

"Excuse me?" She asked.

"No, Rosa. You are not leaving me." He said, standing up and brushing off his pants.

"Doffy, there's nothing left for me here!" She said. Doflamingo turned on her slamming his hands down on either side of the woman, glaring harshly in to her pure silver eyes through his sunglasses.

"You will not leave me, Rosa, understand?! You will stay here!" He yelled.

"Doffy, stop! You're scaring me!" She said, leaning back in fear. Doflamingo go grabbed her arm.

"You aren't leaving this island, do you hear me, Rosa?!" He yelled again.

"Doffy, stop it! You're hurting me! Let go, please!" Rosa begged. At this point, tears slipped down her face at a fast pace. Doflamingo dropped her and she fell to her knees. Rosa held her arm and cried softly. She whimpered under her breath. Doflamingo sighed deeply.

"Try to understand, Rosa. It's a dangerous world out there. I can't protect you from it if you aren't here where I can reach you." He said with a sigh. Rosa continued to cry, trying not to sob. Doflamingo sighed again.

"I miss Roci..." Rosa whimpered softly, trying to stop her tears. Doflamingo turned.

"Go home, Rosa. You're not leaving and that's final." He said and left her there, sitting on her knees and crying. Rosa rocked back on to her butt and pulled her knees to her chest, folding her arms in them and letting herself cry.

"Rocinante... where are you?" She cried.

Later that night, Rosa left a piece of paper on her kitchen table and headed to her small boat on the docks. It was a few hours after sunset, so she knew that Doffy was at his home until tomorrow morning.

The paper on her table was a note left for Doflamingo.

"Dear Doflamingo,
I'm sorry to do this, but after yesterday, I realized that I cannot stay here and I know that there is no way that you will allow me to leave, so I left late last night. By the time you're reading this, I have long since left the island.
There is so much more to the world than just this island. Yes, it is dangerous. But I must brave it if I am to become stronger. I appreciate that you desired to protect me, but I must take this journey.
Also, Doflamingo... I know about how you feel about me. I'm sorry, but I just don't love you like that. Which is another reason I must leave. I'm sorry, Doflamingo. I hope to see you again one day.
Take care of yourself.
-Mizu D Rosa."

"Here's to my new life as a wandering doctor." She said softly as she sailed off in to the night.

Time skip

Rosa sat in a bar and sighed softly.

"Something troubling you, miss?" The bartender asked. Rosa smiled at him.

"Oh, I'm just having a hard time finding certain medicinal herbs is all." She said.

"A young doctor, huh? Well just up the hill out side of town to the North, there's this sweet old lady named Anis that grows medicinal herbs. She may be able to help you." The bartender said. Rosa smiled at him.

"Thank you, sir." She said. Suddenly, two of the men behind her began to fight. They were both very strong men.

"Hey, cut that out! Someone call for the marines!" The bartender said. Rosa ducked to hide herself. The door burst open and in came a squad of marines and broke up the fight.

"Take them out of here and keep them separate. I want them both fined for disturbing the peace." The captain said.

"Yes sir, Captain Rocinante!" The troops said and dragged the men out. Rosa looked up at the marine Captain.

Tall, slender, long legs. The shining, shaggy blonde hair. The piercing amber eyes. It had to be.

"Rocinante?!" Rosa called out. The captain turned and scanned the bar for who spoke his name.

"Roci, is that you?" Rosa asked as she looked up at him. Finally, amber met silver. A bright grin on her face as she realized it was true.

"Roci, it is you!" She said.

"Rosa?" Rocinante asked. Rosa launched all 5'1" of herself on to the taller man. He caught her and immediately fell on his back.

"It's definitely you!" She giggled. Rocinante grinned up at her.

"Long time no see, Rosa-chan." He said to her.

"I missed you, Roci." She said. He smiled softly at her.

"I missed you, too. I'm glad to see that you're safe." He said. The two stood up and walked together back to the Marine HQ.

"So is she your girlfriend?" Sengoku asked Rocinante when he introduced Rosa to him. Rosa giggled as Rocinante became flustered and panicked.

"N-no! Sh-she's not... we're not... aahh... she's an old friend of mine!" Rocinante finally saved himself. Rosa giggled at him again.

After catching up for a bit, Rocinante offered Rosa to stay at his place with him for a while. Until she decided to move on again. He even let her make medicines there which she greay appreiciated.

Time skip.

"Rosa... would you like to go on a date with me?" Rocinante asked with a heavy blush. Rosa stared up at the tall man and a bright grin stretched across her face.

"I'd love to, Roci!" She said. Rocinante grinned down at her. After that, the two went on many dates together. A few months later, Rocinante told Rosa that he loved her and she had happily jumped in to his arms and accepted him with a kiss.

After many years of dating, Rosa and Rocinante sat with Sengoku and another marine vice admiral, Garp, at dinner. According to Rocinante, they were the two closest to him.

"It certainly is a delight, having you here now Rosa. Rocinante is much more lively at work. It's good seeing him in such an upbeat mood." Garp said. Rosa smiled politely at Garp.

"Thank you, Garp-san." She said. He grinned at her. Rocinante swollowed his food, for once not choking, then cleared his throat to gain the attention of the table.

"Rosa, I really have been happier ever since you came back in to my life. I love you, with all of my heart." He said. Rosa gave him a bright loving smile.

"I love you, too, Roci." She said. Rocinante drew a deep breath and eased himself on to one knee before her, pulling a delicate diamond ring in a box from his pocket.

"Mizu D Rosa, will you marry me?" He asked with a shaking voice. Rosa's eyes watered and her smile grew bigger.

"Yes! I love you so much, Roci!" She said and leapt in to his arms, kissing him happily. Sengoku and Garp grinned happily at the young couple.

Time skip

Rosa sighed softly as she leaned against Rocinante one night. The man put down his book and looked over at his wife.

"Is something wrong, Rosa?" He asked softly. She looked up at her husband with a soft smile on her face.

"Roci... I want to have a baby." She said. Rocinante's eyes widened in surprise at her request.

"You... You do?" He asked. She blushed shyly and nodded. Rocinante smiled at her and captured her in a heated kiss, pulling her closer to him until there was no space between their bodies.

"Then what are we waiting for?" He asked in a low voice. She giggled and kissed him again. He pulled himself up and on top of her...

And slipped right off the bed.

"Honey, are you okay?" She asked. Rocinante popped back up and kissed his wife's head.

"I'm just fine, darling. Let's get back to business, shall we~?" He asked. Rosa giggled.

"I love you, you goofy man." She said. Rocinante pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

"I love you, too."

Time skip

"You're what?" He asked with a shocked face. Rosa grinned happily up at him.

"I'm pregnant, Roci! We're going to have a baby!" She said with a bright grin. A joyous laugh left Rocinante as he scooped the tiny woman up and spun around with her in his arms.

"I'm going to be a father!" He cheered out, his voice echoing across the Marine HQ.

"What's all the commotion out here for, Rocinante?" Sengoku asked as he approached the couple as Rocinante pulled himself from the ground. He had slipped after he safely put Rosa back on her feet. Rocinante grinned at the man that raised him.

"Sengoku, you're gonna be a grandpa! Rosa and I are having a baby!" Rocinante said happily. Sengoku' eyes widened in surprise at Rosa. She giggled happily and placed a hand gently on her belly. Rocinante carefully wrapped his arms around his short wife with a bright grin on his face.

"I'm going to be a father, Sengoku! I can hardly believe it." Rocinante said, happy tears building in his eyes. Rosa turned her head and kissed his cheek. Sengoku let out a hearty chuckle.

"Congratulations, you two! It's about time that you had a baby!" He said with a laugh. With that he returned to his office, no doubt to call up Garp and tell him the joyful news.

Four months later, Rosa lied in bed, staring down at her slightly larger tummy as Rocinante pressed loving little kisses to the swell and spoking lovingly to the baby growing there.

"Hello, baby. You're gonna be a pretty little baby, aren't you? Yes you are. Oh, I can't wait to meet you, little baby. I love you so much." He said, pressing more loving kisses to the swell. The baby kicked right where Rocinante's hand was. The man's face lit up with joy.

"Rosa! They kicked!" He said excitedly. Rosa giggled at her husband.

"I know, dear. I felt it." She said. Rocinante sat up and kissed his wife, one hand on her stomach, the other on her cheek.

"The doctor said that we'll know the gender by the next check up. But I'm wondering if I want to be surprised or if I want to know." She said. Rocinante rested his forehead on hers.

"I already want to know. I want to know if I'm talking to a little warrior or a little princess." He hummed. Rosa giggled at him as she kissed his lips.

"I think I want to know so that we can make he proper preparations now." She said. Rocinante smiled. He pulled Rosa to his chest and lied back down.

"Do you think the baby will like me? What if they hate me? What if I drop them?" He started to worry. Rosa giggled at him and kissed his jaw.

"Roci, honey, the baby is going to love you. I know it. And you won't drop them. You're too protective of a father for that." She said. Rocinante smiled at Rosa. He kissed her forehead and gently rubbed her tummy.

"You truely are my saving grace, Rosa. I love you." He said. Rosa smiled at him and nuzzled in to his chest.

"I love you, too, Roci." She said.

"What are we going to name the baby?" Rocinante asked.

"Well, I already know that if it's a girl I want to name her Aka. Donquixote D Lynn Aka." Rosa said. A smile stretched across Rocinante's face.

"Donquixote D Lynn Aka... I like the sound of that." He said.

"Hmm... but what if the baby is a boy? What will we call him?" Rosa asked. Rocinante thought for a moment.

"How about Krieger?" He said. Rosa hummed.

"Donquixote D Krieger? I like it." She said.

(A/N: Krieger is the German word for warrior. Fun fact. It's also a family name for the males of my family.)

They cuddled in for the the night, Rocinante keeping his hand on her belly the whole night.

Time skip

"One more push, Mrs Donquixote!" The Doctor said. Rosa let out a scream as she pushed again. Rocinante kept a solid grip on her hand as she clutched his with bone crushing grip. The cries of a little baby girl filled the air. Tears sprung to Rocinante's eyes as he heard the innocent baby's screams. The doctor cleaned her up and put the naked baby in Rosa's arms.

"Hi. Oh, hello my baby girl. Hello my little Aka." She cooed to the baby girl. The baby whimpered and cried.

"Rocinante, come here." Rosa said softly. Rocinante knelt by his wife and new daughter.

"She's so tiny..." he said softly.

"It's okay to touch her." Rosa said to him. Baby Aka let out another cry. Slowly, Rocinante reached out and touched his baby daughter's cheek. Aka's cries stopped and she calmed.

"Wh-what did I do? Did I break her?" Rocinante asked in a panic. Rosa giggled at him.

"She just calmed down is all. Looks like someone is a daddy's girl." Rosa hummed. Rocinante rested his head on Rosa's shoulder and continued to stroke Aka's cheek. She let out a little splutter and a tiny smile crossed the baby girl's face. Rocinante smiled as the baby girl reached up and grabbed her daddy's pinky finger.

"Ah." The baby girl squeaked out. Rocinante began to cry.

"She's so precious." He said.

"Go on and hold her, Roci." Rosa said.

"A-are you sure? But what if I slip? What if I drop her?" Rocinante panicked. Rosa giggled.

"Roci, just hold her. You'll be fine." She said. Slowly and carefully, Rocinante lifted Baby Aka in to his arms and held her tiny body to his chest. The baby let out a content sigh and snuggled in to her father's chest. Rocinante let out a soft laugh as soft tears slipped out of his eyes.

"Oh, Rosa. She's so precious. I love her so much." Rocinante said softly. Rosa smiled up at him.

"I told you that you'd be fine." She said. Rocinante bent his head and kissed the baby's forehead. She let out a little happy squeak, making Rocinante laugh.

Time skip

"Peekaboo!" Rocinante cooed as he pulled the blankie away. The now one year old Aka began to laugh happily. Rocinante grinned as she laughed and kicked her little feet.

"Oh, my precious little princess, you are so cute!" He said and tickled her. She squealed in delight and laughed and kicked her feet more. Rosa walked in to the room, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

"I was right about someone being a daddy's girl." She chuckled. Aka giggled and waved at Rosa.

"Hi, baby. Is daddy playing with you?" Rosa asked. Aka giggled again and turned towards Rocinante again. She grabbed the blankie and lifted it up and down as fast as her little arms would manage. Rocinante raised the blankie over her face then pulled it back down.

"Peekaboo!" He said, causing the baby to laugh again. She shrieked with laughter. Rosa laughed at the baby girl. Aka looked over at Rosa and giggled. Rosa reached out and brushed a little wisp of purple hair away from the baby's forehead. The baby giggled again and turned back to her father, arms stretched out to him. He reached over and tickled her again. She squealed with laughter.

There was a knock at the door. Rosa smiled and sat up.

"That would be Sengoku and Garp-san. I go finish the last touches on dinner, you go let them in, dear." She said. Rocinante leaned over and kissed his wife's cheek.

"Yes dear." He said. He handed a little yellow teddy bear to baby Aka to distract her from his briefly missing presence. Aka really was a daddy's girl.

Rocinante let the two superiors in to his house. Upon seeing the baby girl sitting on the blanket in the living room, a big, goofy smile crossed Sengoku's face and he knelt down in front of her.

"Well there's the pretty little girl! Aren't you a cute one?" He cooed to her. Aka stared at him for a moment, then she began to cry. Sengoku blinked.

"What did I do?" He pouted. Rocinante laughed as he entered the room, then immediately fell forward on to his face in front of Aka. The baby giggled at her father's clumsiness.

"Awww, what a cute little laugh!" Sengoku tried again. Aka looked at him and started to cry again. Sengoku pouted again. Rocinante got up on his knees and Aka reached over to her father. He picked up his baby girl and soothed her.

"Don't take it personally, Sengoku. She's just shy with new people." He said. Garp smiled down at the baby girl in Rocinante's arms.

"Well hello there, pretty little girl!" He greeted her. A smiled broke out on Aka's face as she giggled and patted Garp's cheek, running her little fingers through his beard.

"Oh, well aren't you just a little sweet heart?" Garp asked her. Aka let out a laugh and reached out to the older man, indicating she wanted him to hold her. Rocinante held the baby girl out to him and he held her up. She squealed and giggled happily and kicked her little feet. Sengoku fell in to the emo corner postition and Rocinante patted his back.

"There, there. She just knows that Garp has had experience with babies before. She'll get used to you. You're grandpa Sengoku after all!" Rocinante tried to cheer him up. Aka squealed and giggled happily at Garp.

"She's just as giggly as my son was at this age." Garp said. Sengoku scoffed.

"I can barely imagine Dragon cracking a smile, let alone laughing." Sengoku said. Garp ignored him and continued to play with the little baby girl. Aka held to Garp's fingers and giggled happily.

"She's just a little darling, Rocinante! And so tiny!" Garp said with a laugh. Aka laughed with him. Rosa walked back in to the room.

"Dinner is ready gentlemen." She said with a bright smile.

"Hello, Rosa. You're looking beautiful as always." Sengoku said. Rosa smiled kindly at him.

"Thank you, Sengoku." She said.

"Rosa, its good to see you in good health!" Garp said with a bright smile.

"Thank you, Garp-san. How is your family?" She asked. Garp sighed.

"Dragon is causing as much trouble as ever. Him and his Revolutionary Army." Garp grumbled.

"Well, it seems he's taking the role of rebellious son to the next level." Rosa sighed.

"Ba!" Aka squeaked and patted Garp's cheek.

"Aww, are you trying comfort me, little one? You're such a sweetie!" He cooed. Aka giggled at Garp. Rocinante took a step towards the kitchen.

"Dada!" Aka called. Rosa and Rocinante stared at the baby girl in Garp's arms in surprise. She was beaming as she reached out towards Rocinante.

"Dada!" She squeaked. Rocinante's eyes turned to stars and he scooped up his baby girl.

"Aaahhh! My baby girl said her first word!" He cheered happily.

"Dada!" Aka laughed.

"Rocinante, careful!" Sengoku called out. Rocinante tripped and fell backwards. He quickly pulled the baby girl to his chest and protected her from the impact, taking it all in his back.

"Honey, are you okay?" Rosa asked worriedly, kneeling beside her husband. He opened his arms and Aka sat up on his chest, a bright grin on her face still. She giggled and laughed. Sengoku and Garp sighed in relief. Rocinante propped himself up on one elbow, keeping Aka balanced with the other.

"I'm fine." He said. Aka laughed and patted her father's cheeks.

"Dada!"

Time skip

"Daddy!" A four year old Aka squealed as her father returned home from work.

"Hello, little princess!" He said. He kelt down and opened his arms for the little girl. She ran forward and jumped on her father, making him fall backwards and roll a little bit.

"Daddy... Mama is sick." The four year old said when they stopped rolling. Rocinante sat up and frowned.

"Mama is sick? How sick?" He asked. Aka looked down, her hair falling in to her face.

"Well... she said it's nothing. But she's been coughing a lot... and sometimes there would be blood..." Aka said softly. Rocinante's heart dropped in fear. Standing up with his daughter safely tucked in his arms, he carried her in to the house.

"Rosa?" Rocinante called out as he set Aka on the couch, giving her little teddy bear to her and entering the kitchen.

Rosa stood bent over the sink, hand clasped tightly against her mouth as she coughed violently.

"Rosa!" Rocinante ran over to her one hand gripped the counter beside her, the other resting on her back.

"Rosa." He said as her coughs subsided. She pulled her hand away from her mouth and his gut clentched at the amount of blood in her palm and on her lips and chin.

"..Rosa..." His voice shook.

"It-its fine, Roci. I'm fine. It's just a little blood." She said weakly.

"Rosa, this is far from fine! You are coughing up blood. Even a small amount isn't a good sign!" He said.

"Roci, please. I'm a doctor. I know if something is bad or not." She said.

"Then you know that I have to take you to the hospital." He said. Rosa shook her head.

"I'm fine, Rocinante! Honestly!" Rosa insisted. Rocinante tilted her head up and his amber eyes bore in to her silver ones.

"Donquixote D Rosa, don't you dare tell me you are fine. I am taking you to the hospital right now and we are getting you treated. I'm not risking a thing, understand?" He asked with a firm voice. Rosa's head dropped. She hated it when he talked like that. It reminded her of how her last conversation with Doflamingo went.

Gently, Rocinante pulled her to his chest and hugged her softly, stroking her hair in a loving manner.

"I don't want to lose you, Rosa. I need you. Aka needs you." He said with a gentle voice. Rosa felt a wave of guilt his her and she nodded. They pulled away. Rosa's eyes widened.

"Roci, your uniform.." she said.

"It can be replaced. Come on. Aka, little princess, come on! We're taking Mama to see the doctor." He called.

"Okay, daddy!" Aka called, climbing off the couch and pulling on her little shoes and then running over to Rocinante.

Rocinante now sat in the office of a doctor with a forlorn look on his face. Rocinante was frozen to his spot. He couldn't react. How were you supposed to react when you were told that the illness your wife had was incureable and she had two years to live?

"From what we've deducted, the disease was contracted from hazardous air she inhaled as a child. It's been in her bloodstream ever since. This has been building up for years. She had to have known about it, Rocinante." The doctor said.

"... Aka.. my daughter... does she-?" He started.

"We were concerned about that and ran a blood test. The disease is no where in her system. From what I can tell, is that you were also exposed to the same air, but you are immune to it. Your daughter gained that immunity." Rocinante released a breath of relief.

"And I think that Rosa's pregnancy with her prolonged her life for a few years." The doctor said. Rocinante shook.

"I'm afraid to ask..." he said.

"If she hasn't gotten pregnant, Rosa would have died two months ago." The doctor told him. Rocinante's head dropped to his hands and tears poured from his eyes. What else could he do? His wife was dying, and there wasn't even medication to treat this disease. His body shook with silent sobs.

"Keep her on bed rest. It's best that she doesn't do any heavy activity. If she does, it could make her death come sooner. I'm sorry I can't help." The doctor said. Rocinante composed himself and took his wife and daughter home.

Time skip

"Aka, honey, will you run in to town and pick up your mother's medication from Dr. Alistor?" Rocinante asked.

"Sure thing, Daddy!" The six year old said.

"This medicine has to cure mommy for sure! I know it will! I'll be back in a little bit, daddy! I'll be back in a little bit, mommy! I love you!" She called and ran out he door with her little satchel.

It broke his heart to lie to her and send her out to pick up the "medicine" that was actually just cough drops for Rosa, but Rocinante wouldn't be able to bare having Aka there when her mother died. Rocinante knew it was time. Rosa could barely open her eyes. After she reached the bottom of the hill, Rocinante walked in to the bedroom and sat down by his wife's side.

Rosa weakly smiled and began to cough violently.

"Rosa!" He called, carefully wrapping an arm under her and helping her sit up so the blood wouldn't flow back in to her lungs.

"I've got you. You're okay." He murmured to her.

"Roci... I'm so sorry." She said weakly as her coughing finally subsided. Rocinante fought back his tears.

"Sshh. It's okay, honey. I'm here." He said. She smiled weakly up at him.

"You are so amazing, Roci... you've been a wonderful husband... you're a wonderful father... every day since I married you I've only fallen more in love with you... I'm sorry that I never told I was dying." She said. Rocinante rested his head on hers.

"It's okay, my love. You've been an amazing wife and a wonderful mother. I love you so much, Rosa. I always have and I always will." He said.

"Roci.... Take care of our baby girl... and... don't let your brother know she exists... Your brother is insane, Rocinante... I don't even want to think about what he's do to her... if he knew she was ours.." she coughed. Rocinante shushed her softly.

"I will, Rosa. I'll protect our baby until the day I die." He said. Rosa smiled at him.

"Thank you, Rocinante... for everything.... I love you, Donquixote Rocinante." She said. Rocinante cupped her cheek.

"I love you, Donquixote Mizu D Rosa." He said. Rosa coughed violently again, sending blood splattering across the bed and walls. After her coughing stopped, Rocinante didn't care about the blood, he just pressed one last kiss to her lips. He felt her weakly kiss back before her whole body went limp. Her final breath dusted over his cheek as he began to sob.

"Rosa? Rosa, no! Rosa! Rosa, please! Rosa.... don't leave me... please..... I love you... Rosa..." he sobbed out.

Rocinante returned to the kitchen and sat down in a chair, not nothing to clean the blood from his hand or face as he sat and waited for Aka to return home.

The door opened as the sound of little feet filled the quiet house.

"I'm back with the medicine! The doctor said that it will cure mommy for sure this time!" She said. The little girl with purple hair and silver eyes with that little sliver of gold in her right eye entered the kitchen, holding the bag of cough drops.

"Aka...." Rocinante said with a soft voice. Aka froze when she saw her father.

"Daddy?" She asked. Rocinante closed his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Aka. Rosa is dead. She was gone before you even made it to town... I'm so sorry." He said. Aka dropped the bag and ran to the bedroom of her parent.

"Aka, no! Don't look!" Rocinante called, trying to catch his daughter, but tripped before he reached her. The door opened and Aka witnessed her mother's messy dead body.

Rocinante quickly covered her eyes with his clean hand before she could see too much. But she had already seen enough. The little girl vomitted, then began to cry for her mother. Rocinante turned her around and held her to his chest.

"Shhh, shhh, baby. I've got you. Daddy's got you." He said softly. Tears fell down his own cheeks as he listened to his daughter sob.

Rosa's funeral was a few days later. Sengoku held Aka in his arms as Rocinante spoke quietly with Garp.

"Grandpa?" Aka asked softly.

"Yes, little one?" Sengoku asked her. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Promise you won't let daddy die?" She asked. Sengoku hugged Aka a little tighter.

"I promise, sweetheart." He said. Rocinante returned to Sengoku and Aka and took his daughter from his arms.

"I'll see you later, Sengoku." He said. He carried Aka home in silence.

"Daddy... I miss Mommy." She said. Rocinante wanted to cry, instead, he held his little girl tighter.

"I know, sweetie. I miss her, too. But don't worry. She's an angel now. She's watching over us." He said.

"Mommy will always protect us." He said.

And thus, the life of Rosa ended.

--

RT_Strawhat_Ninja: that was long. 5000+ words, wow...

So how is everyone feeling?

*brick nearly misses my head*

GEEZE