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When Roger first started his adventure on the Grand Line, he never actually thought they would ever end up with children on the ship. Shanks had been a complete surprise. Right after the fight at God Valley, they opened up a treasure chest to find a literal baby among the treasures inside. With no idea who he belonged to, Roger proclaimed they had a new nakama.
Roughly seven years later, they ran into a young, orphaned boy named Buggy. Roger knew the second that Shanks and Buggy met, that he was not leaving that island without him. He had nowhere to go. No one to take care of him. What could Roger say? He was a softie. He had a giant soft spot for children. So, he ended up with another boy on his ship.
It was so fulfilling watching the two.
Officially, they were the apprentices of the Roger Pirates.
Unofficially, they were his boys. His sons.
It was before Shanks came on the ship that they had found the island just before the last one. There was still one more to go, but afterwards they had learned that the Road Poneglyphs were the red ones. Roger knew they wouldn’t be able to read them. That they had to find someone or something that could help them.
Until then, he was going to enjoy his life. Continue sailing the seas with his nakama and watching his boys grow up.
No matter what life would throw at them, and whatever they could possibly go through, he knew the strength that were among those boys. Among his other nakama. These people were his family. A large found family that he gained over the years.
It brought him a lot of joy seeing all of them. Spending every day with them. This place was his home. The Oro Jackson. His faithful ship, who was just as much as nakama as the others were.
Roger stood across the deck, watching as the party around him played out. The music that was being played by the musicians. Buggy and Shanks were moving around the men. Laughing and playing around without a care in the world. Roger smiled, holding his tankard up to his mouth before taking a drink. A smile gracing his face for a moment as he lowered it.
He never wondered once what his life might have been like had none of these men been here. They were all together for a reason. Finding each other. Just small pieces being woven together to make something greater. He couldn’t do this life without them. They were all a special part of it.
He couldn’t imagine life without any of them.
Especially his boys.
They brought a very specific… almost innocence with them.
Even with all the things they have seen and gone through themselves, they could still have those innocent smiles as if nothing had happened.
They were his kids.
No matter what happened, they were his family.
Roger paused as suddenly he was hit by two different little bodies, pulling a choked noise from him as he looked down to see the boys wrapped around his midsection. Their broad grins looking up at him.
“Come join us, Captain!” Shanks exclaimed, the straw hat tipping off of his head as he flashed a toothy grin.
“C’mon!” Buggy added, pulling at Roger’s jacket.
“Alright, alright. I’m coming.” Roger replied, placing down his tankard on the rail as he allowed the boys to pull him away. Each of them taking one of his hands in theirs. Either way, it made a smile come to his face.
He was so proud.
So proud to be their Captain.
To be one of the people that these boys looked up too. The stars that would be in their eyes when he would show off his haki or Swordsmanship. How happy they got when he would announce their next adventure.
He would do anything to make sure those smiles stayed on their faces.
If only they could stay like this forever.
One day, they would grow up, spread their wings, and fly away from their home. Becoming their own, independent men.
He just wanted them to stay this little just a little bit longer.
Those innocent smiles. Their laughter. The joy they saw in the world.
He wanted to shield them more from the darkness that lurked around them. A cloud that he could keep away for the time being. One day, they would learn of it, even if they were tipping the iceberg now. There would get a point that he wouldn’t be able to. He could dream that he could just a bit longer.
It was nice having them on board. The smiles that they brought to the others’ faces whenever they did something. How proud they would be when they accomplished something.
They were already so strong. Understanding what life on the sea meant when they were pirates. They could only shield them from so much before they would have to see the true horrors of the world.
But he could just grasp this moment just a little longer.
They were still just his boys for right now.
Roger bellowed out a laugh, scooping them up into his arms as he started stomping around. The fits of laughter that they went into reaching his ears. The happiness that came to himself as he did so.
This was their home.
They were his boys.
Even if they weren’t blood, they were still family.
This was something that he would continue to treasure for the rest of his life. He would watch as they grew more and more each day. Getting stronger like he knew they would. He wanted to see them achieve their dreams. He was proud to be the man who could be viewed as their father. He would continue to defend them until the moment they could do it themselves without needing his assistance. Even then, he would still be there.
He would always be there.
Rather it was physically or just in memory.
What could he say?
They were his boys.
Roger placed them down, grinning as he flashed one of his trademark grins. Shanks and Buggy shared a look, screaming out a second later as Roger bellowed, “I’m going to get you!”
“Catch us if you can!” Shanks shouted.
Buggy turned, sticking out his tongue. “Slow poke.” Buggy snickered.
Roger smirked.
It was on.
The two boys started weaving through the others as Roger pretended that they were getting ahead of him. Their laughter continuing to carry around the deck.
He moved around, going around his nakama as he watched the two boys. Their backs were to him as he could hear them whispering to each other. Within seconds, they had backed up right into his legs, stopping to look up at him with wide eyes.
“Got you.” He stated, grinning again as he reached down, placing his hands on the top of either of their heads.
Yeah, this was perfect.
Just his nakama, him, and their boys on their little home on the sea.
He wouldn’t exchange this for anything in the world.