"Ace," you tapped on your younger brother's bedroom door, "I'm coming in."

No response. 

You turned the knob surprised to find it unlocked, and let yourself in. Just a lamp in the far corner was turned on, on the lowest setting. Your eyes adjusted to the lack of light as you shut the door behind you and stepped around his flipped desk and broken glass. 

He was buried under a pile of blankets on his bed across the room. Moving some of his belongings out of the way with your foot you took a seat on the floor in front of the bed resting your chin on the mattress. 

"Thatch said dinner will be ready soon." you spoke in a quiet gentle tone. 
"I don't want any." he shifted away from you. 
"It has been two days. You need to eat something." you fiddled with the tag on his blanket, "I made you a cake." 

He sighed. 

You didn't envy him, having to deal with your father dying was terrible enough but for all of it to take place over the course of your birthday had to be worse. The bond the two of them shared was different from yours, as it was with each of your brothers, and Ace reacted to the fading of that bond exactly how you expected him to. Looking around the room you noticed a few holes that would need patching aside from it looking like someone had broken in. 

"I know how you're feeling." you murmured.
"Do you?" his voice was cold. 
"Of course. I've had more time with him than you."
"Then how are you so ok?" he turned to catch your surprised expression. 
"I'm just good at faking it little brother." you moved to sit on the edge of the bed, "My insides are a mess and I'm so filled with anxiety I can't sleep at night. But what good does that do you? Who does it help?" your voice began to tremble. 

Unexpectedly Ace turned over and pulled you into a hug. 

"I'm not asking you to be ok," you murmured into his shoulder, "I'm just asking you to be present. We aren't as strong if we aren't all together. And Pops still needs us."

After a few quiet beats his grip on you relaxed.

"What are we without him?" he asked with a shaky voice. 

You brushed your tears away and pulled back to cup his freckled cheeks, "Newgates."

His tired rubies searched your face for a moment before he hugged you again. 

"Ok, let's go downstairs." 

That evening you rang in the new year and wished Ace a happy birthday as a family of six. It was strange and quiet, but you had also never felt closer to your brothers. 

_____________

"You can go back in now F/N." Dr. Marshall nodded exiting your father's private room. 

You took a deep breath and entered setting your coat at the foot of his bed. 

"There you are, lass." Pops smiled weakly as you leaned down to kiss his cheek. 
"I hear you're giving the nurses trouble."
"I don't know what you're talking about." he chuckled and coughed.
"You can't ask all of them to run away with you." you scolded taking a seat next to him, "Word has gotten out that you're a womanizer."
"It's all lies, lass." 
"Such a troublesome old man." you shook your head. 

He chuckled again watching you smile and sweep your hair out of your face. 

"You know, I'm sorry I never settled and gave you a mother."
"Thatch is close enough." you both laughed.
"Somehow surrounded by all these brutes you turned out to be an amazing woman." 
"Well, I have a great dad." you flushed and swallowed passed the lump in your throat, "What brought that on?"
"I just didn't want you to resent me for it princess."
"Never." you smiled, "I got to be the center of attention far too often and I know exactly who I am. No mom necessary."
"There are other things."
"Pops please." 
"Just listen brat." he turned to you irritated with your interruption. 
"Yes sir." you dropped your gaze as his expression softened.
“Well, now I'm sorry about that." he chuckled, "There are a lot of things I regret doing and not doing, but you kids were my greatest accomplishment. I wish I could have made it to your wedding." he smiled and reached for your hand, "I always thought it would be hard to give you to someone else. But it looks like the person taking over can handle the job."
"It's been two weeks." you laughed through your tears.
"Two weeks with us is an eternity. Besides its been months he's had his eye on you."

You flushed and nodded. 

“I know I don't have to say it but take care of your brothers. They need you to keep them from falling apart… and burning the house down." 
"I promise." you sniffled. 
"That's my girl." he tugged your hand, "Now let's watch TV." 
"You know how to kill a moment." you chuckled climbing onto the mattress and snuggling into his side. 

A few hours later Marco came with Thatch to sit with Pops for the night. You didn't talk much after he said everything he was feeling earlier in the day. Just the occasional teasing joke and of course a "goodnight" and "I love you" before you left.
 
 
You pulled yourself into Zoro’s truck as he picked you up from the center.
 
“It smells delicious in here.” 
“Chinese night.” he pointed to the bag of take-out on the floor.
“My favorite.” you leaned over the center console to give him a kiss.
“I know.” he smirked, “Anything you want to do?”
“Eat and sleep.” you sighed.
 
Everything about the last few days had been absolutely exhausting. You helped Marco and Thatch with getting funeral arrangements started and made sure Ace, Sabo and Luffy were all as ok as they could be. Not to mention all the work that still had to be done at the office and making sure you got as much time with Pops as you possibly could.

Though your visit with him that afternoon had been rather upsetting, you felt a weird sense of calm...or at least calmer than you anticipated this would make you feel.

Despite how tired you were it still took an unreasonable amount of time for you to settle and drift off.

Something rattled against the night stand causing you to stir. You curled up pulling your pillow over your head hoping to drown it out and go back to sleep. Zoro stretched and tugged you into his chest.

A few seconds after the rattling stopped it started over.

"It's your phone." he groaned taking the pillow covering your head to cover his own.

His words drifted through your consciousness finally registering. You shot up with a gasp and snatched your phone up connecting the call without saying a word. It was hard to find your breath and tears were already threatening to run down your cheeks. Zoro sat up too wrapping his arms around you and resting his nose against your neck.

There was a shaky sigh on the other end of the line, "H-he's gone, yoi."