Chapter Text
It was a cloudy late afternoon when a big bird landed on the deck with a woven basket in his beck. Rayleigh walked over to the bird and knelt down. The bird sat the basket on the deck. Rayleigh's eyes widened when he opened the blanket. There was a baby in the basket. He couldn’t tell the gender but it had black hair and freckles. “What is it?” Scopper asked him as he walked over with others on deck.
“Get Roger,” Rayleigh told him seriously when seeing a letter from Rouge. Tora ran off to go get Roger. Scopper’s eyes widened when he saw the newborn. Roger came on deck and walked over to his first mate.
“What’s wrong? Tora said it was urgent,” Roger asked him. Rayleigh picked up the basket and turned to his captain and best friend with a sad look. He handed the basket to Roger. Roger grabbed it and looked inside it. His eyes widened as he looked up at Rayleigh.
“There’s a letter for you in it,” He told him. Roger grabbed the letter. He knew it was from his wife before seeing her name. He knew her handwriting. He handed the basket back to Rayleigh as he took the letter. He opened it up and read it.
—
Roger, my love,
I write to you for the last time with terrible but great news. I have given birth to our beautiful daughter, Ann. You had picked it and I think it suits her wonderfully. I do hope she got to you alright and unharmed. The bad news is I will not be able to be with you any more. Giving birth to her has left me weak but I do not regret it. Look after Ann and show her all the love of the father I know you can be. I’ll look over you guys from above. I love you both, my love and my beautiful baby girl.
Your love,
Rogue
—
Tears slid down Rogers cheeks as he read his wife’s last words. He put the letter in his pocket and grabbed the little girl out of the basket, waking her up. She was so small in his hands. He held his daughter to his chest as the tears slowly slid down his face. His crew looked at him sadly. They could guess something bad had happened, but Roger had a fond smile on his face as he looked at the baby girl.
“Roger..” Rayleigh called out to him mournfully. Roger wasn’t sure what to feel. His wife had just died but he now has a daughter. He was sad from his loves death but he was happy to see his daughter. He promises he’ll be the best dad he can for Ann and to protect her.
Everyone crowded around him worriedly, to hear what had happened. “Is that..?” Crocus asked. Roger nodded as he whipped away his tears. Ann held onto Rogers shirt as she yawned.
“Everyone, this is Ann,” Roger announced to everyone. “She’ll be with us for now on.”
“What happened to Rouge?” Spencer asked him.
“She sadly died not long after birth,” Roger told him sadly. They gasped. They knew Rouge was Roger's true love. They’ve also met the women. She was a wonderful and beautiful woman.
None of them knew how to take care of a baby and that their road of adventures is only going to get harder because of this. Despite that they are going to look after Ann and keep her safe. Roger is going to keep her a secret till she can at least protect herself. He doesn’t want to lose another important person to him.