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Baterilla.
That was where they currently were. After a lot of investigating into the rumors that they had been hearing, Shanks had believed this was the place that they needed to be. It had been widespread over the seas. The rumors that Roger had a child . Shanks had vaguely recalled Roger speaking about a woman who had Roger’s attention and lived on this island. He didn’t know much about her. Roger didn’t speak about her much. Only mentioned her in passing. This island had to be the place where she lived. He had also heard the rumors that this was where Roger had ended up before turning himself in. It was the last ditch effort to know.
They were staying hidden. The island had previously been crawling with Marines. All of them were looking for the possibility that Roger had fathered a child. Shanks knew what had happened here. What happened to the mothers and children. The massacre that had taken place as a damn precaution. It was so sickening. It had been easy for them to stay under the radar.
At the moment, none of them had bounties, but they still had to hide the ship. If a pirate ship was seen, then eyes would be right on them. Roger had been very careful to make sure that neither he nor Buggy had ended up with bounties as children living on the Oro Jackson. Despite that, Shanks had no doubts in his mind that he would be recognized if he was seen.
Baterilla was a beautiful, tropical island. It was a peaceful island that was now scarred by bloodshed. Everyone here was afraid. Shanks could tell that much as he traveled throughout the villages. He didn’t even know where to begin to look. He also didn’t want to tip off anyone, so asking about it was out of the question.
Shanks was keeping himself secluded. Staying under the radar as he walked around. It felt like he was wandering aimlessly around trying to think of the first place to go. It would help if he knew what she looked like. Roger kept her a secret for a reason. Safety. It was stupid. He shouldn’t be looking for her. He couldn’t help it.
Shanks had been searching the entire island, beginning to wonder if he even had the right place. The Marines had focused on this area, where Roger had been spotted before his execution. This had to be the place.
Just whenever he had started to lose hope that he would find her, he did .
It had been completely out of chance. Both of them had run into each other right on the street. Both of them stopped in their tracks to look at one another as Shanks found himself watching her. She had beautiful strawberry blonde hair and freckles dusted her face. She had soft wine-colored eyes that fixated on him. She had a gentle smile on her face the entire time and a knowing look on her face.
“I wondered if I was ever going to meet you.” Her voice was so soft. Her smile matched it as she placed a hand on her stomach and Shanks just knew . This was her. “Hello, Shanks.”
He had found her.
Her name was Portgas D. Rouge. The more time Shanks spent with her, the more he sawy what Roger would have seen. Shanks could see exactly why Roger was head over heels for this woman. She was such a kick-ass woman. She was strong, caring, and compassionate. The lengths she was willing to go to protect her unborn child were admirable. Shanks and his nakama stayed by her side, doing everything in their power to not only protect her but also make sure that she had whatever she needed.
She had kept telling him that it was unnecessary. That they didn’t need to stay with her, and she had everything handled. Shanks wasn’t about to leave a nakama behind. This woman was the person that Roger had fallen in love with. He would do anything for her. Even just spending a bit of time with her told him all he needed to know.
Portgas D. Rouge had to be one of the most badass women he had ever met.
“This really isn’t necessary, Shanks.” Rouge stated as she rocked in her rocking chair. Keeping a tired smile on him.
“Nonsense!” Shanks exclaimed, grinning as he turned back to look at her, “You’re nakama, Rouge-san.”
Rouge laughed softly, caressing more at her pregnant belly. It should be any day now. The Marines were long gone, and Rouge was finally allowing her baby to grow. She was exhausted all the time. Shanks had a strong feeling that he knew what was going to come of this and he hated every single second of it. Shanks just had this feeling in his gut every time he looked at her. She was exhausting herself. Rouge was doing absolutely everything to protect her unborn child, and Shanks felt like he knew how this was going to end.
Before he knew it, the day had come. Rouge had gone into labor in the middle of the night, and they had done everything that they could to get her to the hospital in time. Shanks sat at her bedside the entire time. Holding her hand as she went through the stages of labor. He just curled his hand around hers, clinging onto it. They had spent months with her. Doing everything that they could. Now the moment was here.
The entire time, Shanks held her hand. Being the best pillar of support that he could as she worked to bring her baby into the world.
Then, he heard it.
The loud, piercing cry of a newborn infant.
Rouge was lying back on the bed with her newborn in her arms, and Shanks stood there with a smile on his face. She cradled the newborn to her, tears in her eyes, as she looked at the baby—a baby boy. He was so small.
“If it’s a girl… Ann.” Rouge murmured, “And if it’s a boy… Ace.” Rouge smiled a bit more, nuzzling her cheek against the infant’s. “Those names… He picked them. So, his name is Gol D. Ace.” Rouge closed her eyes, cradling the baby closer to her, “Our son… Our little boy.” Then her gaze turned to him, “I want you… to take him. Give him a good life.”
Shanks let out a sharp breath. She knew what was coming. Shanks fought back the tears as he stepped forward and whispered, “I will. I promise.”
Rouge looked back to her baby, holding him close as she whispered, “Oh, Ace.”
Shanks choked, watching as her eyes completely shut and her body went slack. “Rouge!” The midwife exclaimed, “Stay with us!”
All Shanks could do was force a smile onto his face as he stepped forward, pulling Ace out of her arms as the Doctors made their attempts to save her life. It would be in vain. She had given everything . She had given everything for her baby, and Shanks would do whatever he could to fulfill his promise to her.
Shanks turned his gaze down to Ace and smiled softly, “It’ll be okay, Ace.” He turned his gaze to look at Rouge one more time. She had a smile on her face even in death.
“Shanks!” It was Benn.Shanks turned his gaze towards the door as Benn looked down at the baby before back up at him. Understanding came to his face before he said, “Vice Admiral Garp is here and he’s heading this way.”
They had to go.
Shanks looked back to Rouge once more. His gaze had fallen on her smile. He would keep his promise to her. “I’ll take care of him. I promise.”
Shanks turned and quickly took off. Benn threw his cloak over his shoulders, and Shanks pulled the hood up to cover his head and hide Ace underneath the fabric.
They had been as quick as possible. Making their way across Baterilla and to where they had hidden the Red Force. They were rushing now. Gathering everything up and preparing the ship to leave.
“Let’s set sail!” Shanks ordered.
“Yes, Captain!”
Shanks stood on the deck, turning his attention out to Baterilla as the Red Force pulled away from the island. He kept Ace close to his chest, lowering his hood as he found his eyes settling on the same hill that overlooked Rouge’s home.
Standing there was Monkey D. Garp . He was just watching them. Watching as they left.
Shanks inhaled sharply as he noticed that Garp smiled at him. He knew . But he wasn’t trying to stop them either. This wouldn’t be the last that they saw of Garp.
Shanks turned his attention down to Ace in his arm, bouncing the baby for a second to soothe him as he whispered, “Welcome home, Ace.”