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Sabo grabbed a blanket as you brought the hot beverages into the conservatory. Making yourselves comfortable, you both sat down on each end of your sofa staring into the sky. Thanks to Sabo, washing all the dishes was a piece of cake, so it was only right that you made him a nice hot drink before sending him off to bed. You also thought it might help soothe any nerves he could be having.

For a few minutes, you both sat there in awkward silence, sipping away at your drinks with nothing but unclear thoughts and daunting topics. Both you and Sabo had been through a different hell to get to where you were and neither of you was sure that if you said something, it wouldn't unintentionally hurt the other.

'...I can't take this anymore!'

"...We used to do this a lot when we were kids," you laughed awkwardly "... On nights like these when I couldn't sleep, you always found me counting stars"

Sabo glanced in your direction but you chose to gaze up into the dark bejewelled canvas. He had to force his eyes to turn back to the stars in the sky instead of finding them in yours.

"I remember" He smiled fondly, taking another sip of his steaming beverage "A hot drink would've been nice back then"

You blinked then stifled a small laugh.

"Yeah, I can't deny that" you giggled "But it's not like they'd last with Luffy around"

"True" He grinned

The atmosphere evolved into a pleasant and calming ambience.

"...I remember we were a lot closer back then too" Sabo continued.

This was intended as an innocent statement, but Sabo's voice came off as a bit suggestive and being around the number of pirates you'd been around you couldn't help but react.

"WHA-!" You blushed, recalling how Ace and Luffy used to find the two of you cuddled up close in the morning "W-Well that was because we had to stay close for warmth! Th-The nights were cold, remember!?"

Your hands flew to your hair to fidget. Sabo looked confused at your reaction but soon the realisation of what he'd just said struck him. pink blossomed across his face. Quickly his hand shot up in a stopping gesture as the other desperately tried to hide his face.

"N-No! I didn't mean it like that!" He scrambled around for words "I-I meant we were closer as friends!"

As your face calmed down you started to register what was being said.

"I feel like now, there's a brick wall between us. It's frustrating to me" He admitted "Especially when everyone else seems to have broken through that barrier and I'm the only one left"

'A brick wall?' you hummed in thought

"If anything It feels more like a stone wall if you ask me," you stated in a matter of factly tone

"What?" Sabo sweatdropped

"I mean a brick wall sounds so big and tough" You crossed your arms across your chest, deep in thought "And then it's cemented together as well, I'm not sure about you but I can't physically break through a brick wall"

"... Your point (Y/n)?" Sabo inquired completely lost

"Well, I understand that there might be a wall but making it a brick wall means It can only be broken by sheer force and seeing as how I don't have that kind of power, the responsibility falls solely to you" you explained "But that's not the case"

You put down your mug and turned to face Sabo on the couch. You'd tucked your knees in and brought them up to your face, carefully wrapping your arms around them.

"Rather" you continued, "I think it's a stone wall. There's no cement so we can communicate with each other through the gaps, and both take our time taking one stone at a time from the wall. It'll be a team effort where we can support each other. Of course, it will still be hard work but eventually, we'll make a hole big enough to see each other smile, then another to hold hands and before you know it we'll be on the same side"

You held out your hand as an invitation for his.

"We'll get rid of this wall together, and truthfully I don't think there's much left" you beamed at him.

Sabo stared at you for a while, processing the words and deciphering the meaning. He then looked down at your outstretched hand. Seeing it there voluntarily after everything he felt he'd put you through, the scar on his face began to burn as the memories stormed back with a vengeance. The flames of his sinking ship; your fearful face, crying out in the distance. Your hand was also reaching out back then. It hurt. It was suffocating. His vision blurred.

Sabo broke out into a cold sweat and his breath became laboured. He was clutching onto his chest for air, his nails slowly digging into the scar on his face.

"S-Sabo?" you panicked scrambling out of your sheets.

"...I... I-I can't breathe..." he panted

His eyes were like wild dots, unable to focus on anything. He was about to collapse, he knew it was coming but suddenly. It stopped. A soothing calm washed over the searing burns of his scars. Like nothing, he'd ever experienced before. A steady pulse.

"That's right Sabo, just focus on me, I'm not going anywhere" your voice echoed through his mind

Sabo's vision cleared and he slowly regained his senses. He felt your hand resting across his face, your thumb gently caressing the scar around his eye. His other hand was also positioned over your chest, feeling the steady rhythm of your heart.

"There you are" You smiled reassuringly, welcoming the person behind the beautiful sea-blue eyes.

"...How did you know that would?" Sabo's voice was shakey.

"Liv used to do this for me when we were... when all I could hear were the screams aboard that ship. It helped me to cancel out and focus on one thing. I'm just glad it still works"

Sabo flinched at the mention of your past, but you continued to draw circles across his cheek. Rubbing your thumb against the back of his hand you smiled thoughtfully as you reminisced.

"I guess sometimes you gotta go backwards to go forwards, right?" You reasoned.

"...That doesn't make sense (Y/n)" Sabo deadpanned

'Ack!' You flinched 'busted'

"Pfft...You always did have a way with words, even if they were contradictory" he snickered

"Yeah yeah, laugh it up" you groaned.

Pulling up your sleeve, you carefully dabbed away at the sweat which had formed across his brow. Your fingers brushed against the rough, scarred skin on his face. Through it, you felt so many hardships that were faced alone and yet you were appreciative of it. A testament to the fact that he survived through it. That he's still here.

"I truly am happy that you're home" you smiled "Don't forget that"

And just like that the doubts that had been festering away at the back of his mind vanished. With embarrassingly little effort Sabo had lifted you onto his lap and pulled you into a hug. His face rested on your collarbones. This position was welcomed, very quickly; the reason being that you were in the prime position to stroke his hair with minimal resistance/awkward situation.

'I have issues...' You accepted 'but no regrets!'

"Thank you " he muttered into your shoulder, his ears burning bright red "I needed to hear that"

That night you chose to stay sat in front of Sabo for a little while. Not only did you want to make sure that he was ok but you also felt relaxed by his side. Little did you know, that sat out of sight nearby, a small flame flickered out as the young man eavesdropped on the conversation.

"I guess I really did have nothing to worry about" The freckled man yawned tracking himself back to bed "You win this night lil' bro"

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Thunderous waves crashed against the hardwood, forcing the large vessel to lean once more. The sails flapped vigorously as the ship creaked and groaned under continuous stress. Your chains rattled as you brought your legs closer to your chest. For you, this was all white noise compared to the guttural screams of your cellmates.

"AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGghhhhh!"

"PLEEEEAASSEEE STOOOPP!!!!"

"AAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!!!"

'I'm next' You flinched curling further into your little ball of safety.

"GGGAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!!"

"NO! DONT! DONT TOUCH ME!!!"

"NYYYAAAAAGGGGHHH!!!"

Tears seeped from your eyes while you pressed your palms against your ears to try and block the noise.

'They're going to hurt me' you trembled 'I miss Ace, Sabo and Luffy! I want to go home!'

A pair of arms enclosed you and brought you close to the owner's chest. There was strength in those arms and defiance in their grip.

"Don't listen (Y/n), Just block it out," her hold tightened "Listen to my chest, do you feel it?"

Feeling the rhythmic thump against your ear felt encouraging. It was unwavering, persistent, and determined. Everything you needed to get through. Your breathing slowly corrected itself. But the sound of footsteps approaching could only be dampened for so long.

"Don't worry, I won't let them touch you"

The jail cell creaked open...

"(Y/N)!" The man in front of you shook you gently "...Oh thank heavens"

You were snapped back to reality. It had been a couple of months since the mutiny and many things were still in early development. Since that point, you'd been suffering from severe night terrors almost every night, but you didn't to be a burden so you chose to suffer in silence. It was only until Jim (future father of Isaac) found out after a slip of the tongue, did he drag you to go see the doctor.

"... This is much worse than I thought" Kero sighed rubbing the temples of his head.

Kero (the future father of Ian and Liam) was the island doctor and a very distinctive individual. He was unkempt, apathetic and tired but the words coming out of his mouth were always considerate. Pirates plundered his previous home and in the chaos, he was sold as an enslaved person. His love for plants was unrivalled, even now, it's a mystery how he was able to make all those smoke screens and sleeping gas during the mutiny. Of course, when it came to job allocations, he was allotted to the medical, rather than manual labour. He didn't complain but his exhaustion, and lack of enthusiasm when speaking always caused many misunderstandings.

"I'm sorry" you whispered

"No no (Y/n)! I didn't mean you, I meant I should've noticed this sooner and helped you" He grumbled "I think you're a bit young to start on the current medicine we have in stock right now, I'll have to ask Briggs to see if he can source something more child friendly"

He began pacing the floor in front of you as he rambled about the lack of available supplies and tools. Then he paused. Then he took a few steps back and reached for a leather book.

"(Y/n)" he knelt to your eye level and made sure he had your undivided attention. "I won't give you the adult medication yet, instead, I want you to try a little exercise"

Kero gently placed the leather book in your hands and continued his explanation.

"Every night, before you go to bed, I want you to write in this book. I want you to write about your memories in as much detail as possible. They can be good or bad, but once you write them, you must leave them in the book" he looked at you sternly "Never let them leave the pages"

"Like a journal?" You simplified

"Sure! Let's call it that! If it doesn't work then don't be afraid to come back to me and I'll give you something else" he crossed his arms

"Th-Thank you, Dr Kero!" You admired the book, all the blank pages for you to fill at your desire.

"Now scram!" Kero sighed "kids like you shouldn't spend all their time in med bays"

"Ah! Yes sir! Thank you!" You scrambled out of the room to find Jim.

From that day, you wrote all your experiences in your journal; the good and the bad. And from that day, you were able to sleep. Even when people read your journal, you knew it was better they did that, than going to sleep to face the screams...

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