Queen of the Pirates

Mafia AU Filler Chapter 3

With the summer reading program right around the corner, Nami, Robin, and I have made our way to the local family-owned businesses to buy some of the prizes that people will be able to win. The bigger prizes we've already ordered, but there's a whole bunch of smaller prizes that we like to get to fill out and ensure that everyone will get something.

"Look at all the different puzzles," I gape at the giant wall of puzzles at the back of the fourth store we've been to today. "I used to do puzzles all the time when I was younger with my mom. Something about piecing a picture together with her was a lot of fun."

"They are a good way to pass the time," Robin grabs a box of a thousand-piece puzzle with a log cabin the focus. "I haven't put together a puzzle in a long time though. Maybe I'll buy a really big one for all of us to build during our next winter trip."

"I'll need a lot of wine to do that, but it sounds fun," Nami holds up the list we made. "We have down that we need to get six puzzles of each size that this place has, so from what I just saw, that is going to be sixty different puzzles."

"Awesome," I breath out, pulling a five-hundred-piece puzzle of a pirate ship off the shelf. "Can you go over what we've already gotten so far?"

"A multitude of gift cards to the candy/treat shop, more gift cards that work at all the local restaurants, more than enough bookmarks for everyone that signs up, about three dozen notebooks with fun covers, two dozen candles, some animal plushies, and more packages of stickers than I could count."

"Now we're getting puzzles, but I'm assume there are more items to check off?" Robin asks.

"Yes," Nami nods. "We'll get the puzzles, some fidget toys, board games, and various other toys that catch our eyes here. Then we still have to pick up some kitchen and baking items, blankets, video game accessories, and books for all ages."

"We're saving the books for last because it is my favorite," I smile, placing a couple puzzles on a table that's been set up for us. "The blankets are a close second."

"We've been pretty focused on getting what we need, but it now feels like we have some time to talk," Robin says, placing a couple puzzles she's picked out on the table. "It's been a couple days since our night together with everyone, so I doubt much has changed."

"Nothing has changed for me," Nami says. "I'm just keeping on top of all the money like I always do, enjoying treats that Sanji makes for me, and wondering when I get to take Akari shopping for something other than books."

"Soon, soon," I wave her off, focusing in on the largest puzzles. "As much as I love doing this, I really shouldn't have started a trilogy the other day. I can't stop thinking about what could happen next."

"You really do not stop reading, do you?" Robin teases.

"I've been a bookworm my entire life, so I don't think that's changing any time soon. I'm blessed with the time to read, and I am going to take it."

"Akari would bring a different book every day to school," Nami says. "She's read thousands of books since I've met her, yet she still has enough time to do all the other things she wants to. The balance in her life is incredible. Never misses a meal, spends plenty of time with a husband that is beyond busy, works out, and finds time to do the little things she enjoys. All while continuing to be a cute bookworm."

"That's because I limit myself to how much time I read in the day. I know it seems like I spend all my waking hours reading, but I don't. I start the first hour or so of the day with breakfast in our room with Luffy before we get ready, and the last couple of hours of the day after dinner I spend with him as well. No reading at all during those times. Oh, and we eat lunch together, and I don't read then either. I may read a lot, but it isn't all the time."