Back with Sarah, Mr Gold, and the Pirate Heroes...

      Gold was still driving and didn't know where else to go. He thought of Storybrooke his old hometown, but he still felt he shouldn't since the mayor Regina banned him and Belle from the town. Where else could he go?

Sarah was asleep still in her seat, the passenger seat. Buggy was sleepy, but awake and Luffy laid on Buggy's lap asleep.

Buggy wasn't happy with Luffy sleeping on him, but he knew he was just a kid really that was afraid.

"So where are we going?" Buggy yawned.

Gold sighed, "I'm not sure."

"If we could get to water, the three of us know how to handle a ship. And the undead wouldn't be able to climb on board."

"Just let me handle it, I know my way around this place."

"Fine!" Buggy huffed, sulking and folding his arms.

Sarah woke up hearing them argue, "..Papa?" She then coughed. So hard that her ribs ached.

"It's alright, dearie. I'm right here," Gold placed his hand on her forehead.

"That cough....is it still just a cough? Because...I had my mouth on hers earlier, which means we would both be infected and that won't end well for you or the straw hat," Buggy said, panicking

Gold then used his magic to check, "it's not the infection. So don't worry about yourself, clown. You'll be fine."

"Why do you hate me so much? What have I ever done to you?"

"You brought this problem. You brought trouble to us, my town, my friends.... isn't that a good enough reason?!" Gold snapped.

Buggy went quiet and looked down. What Gold said still didn't make complete sense. He wasn't mean to Luffy all the time. But he couldn't be bothered to argue anymore.

"Papa, don't blame them...," Sarah frowned, "It's not their fault...especially Buggy's..."

Gold then looked at her briefly, "I....I'm sorry, Sarah. I'm just worried that's all."

"I know you are, but I know they both won't let anyone hurt."

"Sarah, we had to flee our town as it was being detonated, because of the virus....which was fished out of the ocean with our two guests here. People have already gotten hurt."

"Can we not just focus on what we're going to do as of now, going forwards?" Buggy said, "I can't change what's already happened, I wish I could. If I could then I would choose to not be here."

"If you weren't here you'd be dead now," Gold said, "which is a good point actually...why aren't you dead? How did you survive that ice?"

"I don't know, pops. Your guess is as good as mine."

"No wonder the government wanted to test you and the boy."

Buggy then looked up, "they want us back....to test on us? Like we're Guinea pigs or something?" he shivered.

"Papa, stop, you're scaring them." Sarah reached over and held Buggy's hand, "it's ok, we won't let them get you."

"Sarah, dearie...we can't guarantee that."

"It's alright," Buggy then tried to reassure her, "they won't get us, and your pops is right, we're not your responsibility. Don't worry. We'll be okay," he gently squeezed her hand, "thank you."

She nodded, but looked down, she really didn't want them leave, she liked Buggy...she even felt she was slowly falling for him...

Sarah wasn't the only one noticing this though. Gold was worried that Sarah might develop a crush on the quirky pirate clown.

"That ship you mentioned earlier...," Gold said then to Buggy, ".....as soon as we find a harbor or port you two can find yourselves a new life at sea."

Buggy looked at him, surprised, "you mean for all of us to hide out, so we're safe from the undead—"

"No, I mean for you and your little friend to go your separate way to us. The two of you would be safer at sea from the government."

"Papa! We can't just leave them!" Sarah teared up, "they are our friends now."

"Sarah...."

"Look, I actually think it would be best to stick together for now, I mean, there's safety in numbers so they say," Buggy interrupted, "we've got a better chance of surviving this if we do."

Gold sighed, "alright. Just for now."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. Just like in the Walking Dead series, they needed alot of people to stick with to survive." Sarah knew this wasn't like the movies, this was the real world.

"What's the walking dead series? It sounds horrible," Buggy asked, warily, "and did they survive? Where are they? Maybe they could help."

"It's a show on...the magical box you mentioned, they were just actors, but they went something similar to this, but the monsters were very slow and easy to kill, but so many of them that it took many many years for the humans to defeat them. They were also called Zombies. So even if we could meet the actors from the show I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be able to help...," Sarah looked down.

Buggy was all kinds of confused, but he pretty much got the gist of what she was saying. He could tell she could use a distraction though. Something to focus on, to help her through the fear and doubt. He gently lifted her chin up "hey.....once all this is over, will you show me? I would quite like to see more of the magical box with actors in it."

"If we can find one working...hopefully."

"We will find one," he reassured her.

"I mean I could use my phone. It works that way also."

Buggy then smiled, excitedly,  "it does? D'you wanna hop in the back and show me? You can trade places with Luffy, he likes sitting up front."

"There's plenty of space in the back for all three of you," Gold said.

Sarah crawled in the back and turned on her phone and showed him some video shorts on YouTube, one of pirates cosplayers. Especially ones of Buggy and Luffy.

"They look like us!" Buggy smiled happily, "how about that!" he chuckled and casually put his arm around her shoulders, so she could rest against him, "Show me more."

So she played a Mario meme cartoon she found.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Buggy laughed gleefully, "moving artwork! What's a croissant? Are they nice? I'd like to try one."

"It's like a buttery pastry from France. You never had one?" She thought they could've made them before. "Also that's called animation."

Suddenly the car came to a stop. Mr Gold muttered something and then pounded his fist hard on the steering wheel which made a loud honking noise making Sarah, Buggy and Luffy jump.

"Shit!" Gold cussed under his breath. He then tried to stop the honking, but the car wouldn't. First the battery dies and now the honker wouldn't stop honking.

"P-Papa..." Sarah shivered.

"You have to make it stop! How does it work?" Buggy tried to crawl through to the front, but was struggling to fit through, especially as Luffy was pulling on his coat.

"What's happening?! Are we under attack by a battle ship?!"

"Uh, yeah, but it's just a bad dream, kid. Go back to sleep."

Gold popped the hood and got out of the car, "I need to disconnect the cable that connects the  horn to the battery."

"I can cut it," Buggy pulled out one of his knives and climbed out too.

Sarah comforted Luffy when he hugged her shaking.

Gold and Buggy fiddled around beneath the hood and finally the horn stopped, but once they got back into the car Mr Gold was muttering to himself.

"So the battery is dead. Who knew it was even alive," Buggy sighed.

"That's bad, right?" Luffy asked.

"It sure as shit isn't good. It means we're not going anywhere in this sardine tin on wheels."

"Just give me a minute, I'll think of something!" Gold huffed.

"...uh...Papa...?" Sarah noticed near the car was a zombie groaning at them out on the other side of the road.

"It's alright, Sarah....it should go away," Gold tried to reassure her.

Buggy shook his head, "but it won't. It's alright, I got this. I'll lead it away. Just everyone else....stay put."

"No, you could get hurt," Sarah grabbed his sleeve of his jacket.

Buggy shook his head, "do the history books talk about my ability to split myself into pieces and float? It won't catch me. I'll be fine, trust me."

She forgot about his ability. She then watched him, but they were wrong there was more than one. There was an entire horde of them.

Buggy reopened the cut on his hand so the blood got the attention of them all. He then split into many parts and floated away, watching from above as they all followed.

"Come on you scurvy bastards!! You know you want some fresh meat!"

Luffy gripped on Sarah nervously, "I can't watch. I'm too nervous!"

Sarah teared up and hugged onto Luffy shaking.

Gold then tried the ignition again and this time the engine fired up, "oh thank god! It might not get us far, but it'll get us away from here," he then revved the engine and began to drive away, "this is our only chance, while they're distracted."

"NO!!! BUGGY!!!" Sarah screamed as she watched leaving him behind.

"We can't leave him, he's my friend!" Luffy cried "please!"

"I will turn the car around and go back for him. Don't worry I have a plan...," Gold reassured them. Gold then turned the car around and drove back the way he came. He hit several of the zombies as he drove back. Luffy grabbed on to Sarah as they got bumped around.

"Catch up to us and get in...!" Gold yelled through the window as he drove past Buggy overhead.

Buggy then flew faster until he reached the car, Luffy opened the back door for him and gradually all of his parts flew in and reattached. Buggy then quickly slammed the door closed as Gold sped away.

Sarah jumped onto him and hugged him crying.

"....." Buggy wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

"Awe that's cute. She really cares," Luffy giggled, "I wasn't worried I knew you would be fine."

"He and I were worried." Sarah corrected Luffy.

Buggy looked and Luffy and smirked, "awe straw hat cares?"

Luffy blushed, "you know I do really, you big goofball."

Buggy playfully thumped Luffy's arm, knowing it wouldn't hurt him.

Sarah hugged Buggy more, "I was very worried they would get you..."

Buggy kept his arms wrapped around her to comfort her, "so you care too, cupcake?" he looked down at her, smiling and booped her nose, "that's sweet."

"...well...you and Luffy are my friends..."

"I know I know, I'm only teasing, Sarah."

She then blushed realizing when he said that. She gripped on him more.

He chuckled, "you sure have a firm grip on me there, sweetie. Are you afraid I'm going to run off and leave you or something?"

She nodded and sniffled.

Buggy smiled down at her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "you're sweet."

She then blushed, "thank you..."

"Don't mention it."

After a while Gold spotted a motel off the highway. It was quiet so he pulled into the parking lot. He came up with a plan, they would take two rooms and rest for the night while the car battery was charged.

Luffy and Sarah went and found keys for two rooms and went up and waited in one of them. Meanwhile Gold removed the car battery and Buggy carried it to the room for him, as Gold grabbed the cables to charge it.

Once that was settled, Luffy and Buggy went into their own room and Gold and Sarah went into theirs.

Sarah was shaking and still scared for what happened earlier. Gold double checked the door was locked and lay down on the bed. He was exhausted from having driven for so long.

"Are you okay, Sarah?" he yawned, "you seem quite shaken up."

"...there were so many of them...," she then coughed again, but ran to the bathroom and vomit.

Gold got up and went in to the bathroom to check on her, "you're all worked up, Sarah. Try not to worry. What's important now is you get some rest."

Sarah looked down and panicked, "Papa...is that...blood?"

She was panicking now for she think she vomit blood.

"You've had a nasty cough, it's quite common to cough blood because your throat gets sore from coughing. You're not infected. Probably just still a little sick. It's important you eat and rest."

He helped her up and helped her to the bed. She was now shaking scared.

He used his magic again to check on her, "I promise you don't have the sickness, Sarah. You just need rest, and medicine might help your sore throat," he gave her 2 paracetamol pills from a pack he had in his jacket pocket. He then gave her an energy bar and a glass of water.

"Eat that, sweetheart. Then you need to get some sleep."

She then nodded and slowly ate. So much was going on. Her stress levels went high again that she broke down. Mr Gold looked at her sadly and wrapped his arms around her. Sarah sobbed on his shoulder and gripped on his jacket as he held her.

"It's alright, dearie, I'll hold you tonight," he lay down beside her, holding her as he comforted her, "everything will be alright."

She snuggled close to him. Her head on his chest and tried to calm herself down while listening to his heartbeat. "You promise nothing will happen to us?"

"Nothing will happen to us. I promise I will keep you safe, always."

She gripped on him tightly, "I love you..."

It had been awhile since she said that to him. Gold smiled as he yawned and closed his eyes, "I love you too, dearie. Sleep well," he kissed her forehead.

Sarah grabbed her bag and pulled out a crochet doll of Buggy. Her bestie Jasmine "Jinx" made it for her. Since the girls loved the pirate wars back in high school. They were more interesting than the plague doctors. She held the doll close and tried to sleep.

For Buggy and Luffy...

Buggy tucked Luffy in the bed by pulling the blankets up to him and carefully took his straw hat off and set it on the nightstand.

Buggy chuckled softly to himself, seeing how Luffy was already sleeping again. He ate and slept so much.

"Sleep well, kid," he said quietly. He then climbed into his bed and switched out the light. He was so sleepy he was hoping he would sleep soon, but once again he was having difficulty relaxing. He felt so wired after everything that happened the past couple days. He should be exhausted, but he too longed to be comforted. He missed his friends, Cabaji and Mohji. Even Ritchie he missed.

Suddenly he felt arms around him. He looked and saw Luffy snuggling close to him because he was feeling lonely.

Buggy's initial response was to shove him off. But then he hesitated. The poor kid had clearly been afraid today. Buggy rolled his eyes and chuckled to himself. He then closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Out in the outside world, it was quiet. No sounds of wind or anything. The only sound were crickets and frogs calling in the night. Suddenly they immediately stopped making noise. As if something was wrong.

Sarah was awake when she heard the noises stopped. She then got up on her feet and quietly walked to the window. Suddenly she slightly jumped seeing a corpse looking back at her. She shivered and had her back against the wall.

Buggy startled awake when he thought he heard a noise. Did it come from the room nextdoor? Sarah and Gold's room? He wasn't sure what the sound could be, maybe someone hitting the wall? He was about to go back to sleep, but it was bothering him so he got up and went to the door. It was then he opened it and saw the corpse out on the balcony.

"Shit!!"

Suddenly a large break noise came from next door as if the corpse got inside and then a scream.

Sarah ran to the bathroom with Mr Gold. He held his cane just incase it would break in. And that's what happened. The corpse punched a hole in the door and tried to crawl inside.

"LUFFY!!" Buggy yelled, as he hurried inside the room and began slicing at the corpses with his knives, "A LITTLE HELP HERE!!!"

Luffy woke up and jumped out of the bed. He ran in and punched them while using his gum gum powers. They were a little wonky since it been decades since he used his powers. "Why isn't my rubber powers working? Have I gotten weak?" He then kicked one in the face. He snapped his head hearing Sarah scream. He then run to the door and ripped it open.

The corpse was ontop of Gold trying to bit him, but instead was biting his cane.

Luffy stretched out his arms as far as he could and punched the corpse off of Mr Gold, "GUM GUM BAZOOKA!!!"

Buggy and Luffy then hurried into the room to check they were okay. Sarah then helped Mr Gold up. He almost dropped, but Buggy caught hold of him. "Papa!"

"My leg!" Gold groaned.

Sarah grabbed his cane as Luffy and Buggy helped him up and walked him out the motel. "We gotta go, there might be more!" Buggy said.

Gold shook his head and begged the boys to stop. He leaned against the wall and shook his head. He would slow them down since he couldn't run. Sarah teared up looking at him worriedly.

"This is bullshit!" Buggy cussed, "we're not leaving you behind. Luffy, you grab Sarah. I'll take the car battery and Gold."

Luffy nodded and picked Sarah up," don't worry, we will be very fast this way,"

Buggy tossed Luffy the car keys, Luffy then blew up like a balloon and jumped over the balcony. He landed safely in the parking lot.

Buggy then grabbed hold of Gold even though he tried to stop him. He sperated his body and floated down to the car. Whilst the other three got into the car Buggy reattached the car battery than jumped in.

Gold then started the engine and sped away.

"Easy," Buggy bragged.

"We make a pretty good team," Luffy high fives Buggy.

"I'd just like one night of sleep. Is that too much to to ask? One night where we're not being hassled by zombies," Gold groaned.

"What are zombies?" Luffy asked.

"Another name for the undead," Gold told Luffy.

Sarah held her bag as she sat in the back seat with Buggy, Luffy was up front this time.

Buggy then noticed the crochet doll of himself hooked on her bag.

Buggy was surprised seeing the doll. He gently nudged Sarah's arm and whispered to her, "....is that me?"

She looked down and nodded, "yeah...my best friend made for me when we were in high school learning about you and Luffy in history. She is a huge Luffy fan so I made her a Luffy doll. She then made you for me..."

"That's sweet," He smiled slightly as he looked at the doll more closely, "it's really good. She got my nose just right. Just don't tell Luffy he has a fan. He already thinks everyone is his fan."

Sarah giggled, "I won't, and the only thing different is your outfit. Your captain hat seems a bit bright, and you're wearing red and white shirt, light teal pants and your jacket matches your hat. You look more like an actual pirate."

"I look more like a pirate, or the doll does?" he teased.

"You," she giggled.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I look flashier like this. A little bit like a pantomime character maybe, but I look like a fun guy."

"...good. You're...handsome...," she blushed.

"Right. And that part wasn't in the history books?" he joked, playfully.

"...no, it was all me." She blushed more and looked away shyly.

He smiled and leaned closer so he could whisper in her ear, "....you're cute. Especially when you're blushing."

Sarah blushed looking him. She was so shy for how close he was. "Are you...flirting?" She whispered.

"...yeah...I guess I am," he gently brushed her lips with his fingertip, but did it quickly in case Gold noticed him in the mirror.

She blushed more at him. She looked over if her father was watching. He wasn't. So she kissed Buggy quickly on his cheek.

He smiled and blushed slightly, "so....can you show me some more stuff on your iPhone phone?" He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him. He did want to learn more new things, but he also wanted the excuse to snuggle close with her.

"Well, I could show you my history books of you and Luffy and the others." She pulled out her history book. "History of Pirates" it was titled. She opened it up and while looking for Buggy's page, he stopped her when he saw a familiar pirate. It was Captain Jack Sparrow. Davy Jones' first nemesis before the other pirates.

"Jack....," he smiled in surprise, "look at him, he's in the book too! This is great," he then looked sad, "we lost him....to the curse. One of the zombies got him..."

Sarah felt bad, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay.....he fought until the end. He was a flashy bastard," Buggy then laughed, "he was flashier than me. All the ladies loved handsome Jack."

"...," Sarah continued to flip more, passing a female pirate and a man that was part of Jack's crew and the two were a couple. Which was true. Then came to the Straw Hat crew, starring Luffy next to Zorro.

"Will Turner and Lizzie Swan," Buggy said seeing them. He then rolled his eyes and chuckled, "it should say here, under Luffy....eats all the time, and sleeps a lot."

Sarah giggled, "it just says first to ever have a devil fruit to give powers besides Buggy d Clown his top nemesis."

Buggy chuckled, "it would be so much fun to write the real facts. Hey, I could tell you and you could write a book. Then you could be rich. You'd have enough money to live on forever then."

"...I could. But what if someone comes for me to find you and Luffy?"

".....you'd have to wait until we left before you publish it. Then you'd be safe. Can you draw? You could illustrate the book too."

"Yeah I can...," she blushed.

"Perfect! You will have to draw me and Luffy. Just not together. I don't want people thinking we were best friends."

Sarah giggled at him blushing, "alright. Got it."

He then noticed a picture of his crew. Himself and Cabaji.

"Cabaji..." Buggy said softly "he was my first mate....my best friend. He was just as good a swordsman as Zorro."

"...I assume they both didn't make it either."

Buggy shook his head sadly, "no they didn't. There was just too many of them. They took everyone.....except for me and Luffy and they would've turned us too if we hadn't—," he then went quiet and sat forwards, "oh my god....I just remembered."

Buggy was now having flashbacks.

"How...how did you survive?"

".....a marine....he used power to freeze us.... Alvida was about to kill me. After everything we went through and she was going to eat my face...."

Sarah felt bad. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, "if that ever happens to me...I promise I won't hurt you. I will fight it."

Buggy then looked at her, "and if it happens to me....you have to promise me you'll end me....or get Luffy or your pops to do it. Actually your pops would probably enjoy offing me."

"...I couldn't do that...I would just...run from you...because I couldn't bare to hurt you."

Buggy held her face, "I never want you to have to run from me. Actually....I won't let anything happen to you. If it did....you could just bite me, I'd be okay with that."

Sarah looked at him worriedly. She didn't want to do that either. She then leaned up and kissed his nose.

Buggy blushed, "....just how old are you exactly, honey bunch?" he asked, quietly.

"...26" she replied.

"Good. I had to check because I want to kiss you. And as soon as we can, I will.....unless you don't want me to."

"...," she blushed even more, she then nodded.

Buggy then had an idea. He held the book open and lifted it so it was covering their faces. He was just leaning in to take the chance to kiss her when Luffy turned around in his seat.

"So what are you guys talking about back there?!"

Buggy jumped and pulled away quickly, lowering the book.

"Nothing. I was sleeping. The whole time."

"And...I was reading to him...to fall asleep." Sarah blushed beet red.