Café Curious

12

Aka, Bepo and I decided to take a walk in the park today. I had one hand tight on Bepo's leash and the other in Aka's hand as she was reading through various things. Some was mail, others were work related.

"Hmm, I'm wanted for the DiNozzo-David engagement photos." She said.

"Ah, is it Anthony-ya DiNozzo Jr. And Ziva-ya David's?" I asked. She nodded.

"Hm, I wonder if she's already told him she's pregnant." I said.

"Whaaaat?" Aka squealed. I nodded.

"She came in a few weeks ago. She said she'd been feeling ill for around two months. We did a check and sure enough." I said. She hummed happily.

"Well, when we get home, I'll inform Marco that I'll take the job." She said. She shifted papers around.

"Oh, seems Ace and Aoi have finally decided on a date. And Aoi has informed me on our invitation that I'm going to be Maid of Honor. Looks like we'll be flying back out that way in a couple of weeks." She said.

"I'll have Shachi and Penguin house and dog sit for us." I said. She slid her papers back in to her carrier bag. She came around and stood infront of me and stretched up to wrap her arms around my shoulders. I bent down a little bit so she could reach. She tilted her head up and kissed me. I wrapped my free arm around her waist.

"I love you. So much." I hummed to her. She smiled and kissed my chin.

"I love you, too." She said as I rested my forehead against hers.

"Bork!" Bepo barked and stood up on his hind legs, one of his front paws on my shoulder and the other on Aka's. Aka giggled.

"We love you, too, Bepo." She said. I didn't take my eyes off of Aka as she rubbed the dog's head. I felt Bepo lick my cheek. I rubbed behind his ears.

Time skip.

Aka was currently with Aoi and the other bridesmaids. Ace invited me to the bachelor's party, but I declined. There was someone I needed to visit. Someone I hadn't seen in a very long time.

I set the flowers down and sat down, crossing my legs and smiling at the sight before me.

"Hello again, Cora-san." I said softly. I smiled at the gravestone.

Here lies Donquixote "Corazon" Rocinante.
Loving brother.
Adoring Father.

I sighed softly.

"I'm sorry it's taken me so long to see you again. I know I always make time to come visit you, but, I've been busy. Aka-ya and I live halfway across the country from here now, so coming to visit once a month isn't exactly available to me. Oh, so speaking about Aka-ya and I... Well, we've been dating for over a year now. I can safely say that... I'm head over heels in love with her. I can hardly remember my life with out her. She makes me smile and laugh. She brings this feeling to my heart. A feeling I haven't felt in a long time. Not since Lami died. Not since you died. And well, that's kind of why I'm sitting here instead of being at Ace-ya's bachelor party." I smiled and touched the buldge in my jacket pocket.

"I've already bought the ring and I've already prepared myself mentally. All I need now is your blessing." I said softly. My shoulders suddenly felt a light pressure, almost as if I was being hugged. I smiled.

"I'm going to take that as a yes. Don't worry, Cora-san. I'll take good care of Aka-ya. I'll never let anything hurt her. I'll protect her for as long as I live." I said. I stood up and walked a short distance away to the one grave I had the hardest time visiting. I laied down the second bouquet of flowers on the grave and sat down once again. I drew in a sharp breath.

"Hello, Lami. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to visit you. But... You remember what you told me before you died? "Find someone that will stay by your side until the end. Find someone that makes you want to live. And when you do, never let her go." Well, Lami, I think you'll be pleased to know that I have. I think that you would have liked her, had you two been able to meet. I love her more than anything in this world. And, well... I plan to marry her." I chuckled when I felt a familiar pressure on my shoulders.

"I can almost see how you two would have been to each other. You would have been a perfect model for her. I know for a fact that you would have been best friends." I sighed softly.

"I miss you, Lami. But I know we'll see each other again one day. And you and Aka-ya would be able to meet. Well, I better get back before Aka-ya starts to worry." I stood up and dusted off my jeans.

"I love you, Lami. Give mom and dad a hug for me. I'll see you around." I said and turned.

"I love you, too, big brother." I heard a voice whisper. My eyes widened and I turned. I barely saw the ghostly form of my baby sister fade away. I smiled and turned back to return home. I knew that my sister and soon-to-be-father-in-law were watching over me.

3rd person POV

"He's grown up to be quite the man." A man with blonde hair said. A little girl stood next to him.

"Yeah, but he's still Law. If we weren't watching over him, he'd get in a lot of trouble." She said.

"Oh, yes, speaking of watching over Law, tell me, Lami-chan. How did you know that it was a good idea to make my daughter wake up early to go to the café that same day Law was going to be there?" He asked. Lami smiled up at the man.

"Well, Cora-san. I know my big brother, and I had been watching Aka-chan for a while. They were both really lonely and needed someone interesting in their lives. I saw Law-nii heading towards the café, so I woke Aka-chan up and made her go to the café and everything worked out the way I hoped! But better!" Lami said, smiling brightly.

"Well, I guess after their wedding, I can rest easy, knowing my little girl is taken care of and looked after." Rocinante said. Lami smiled.

"You can rest if you want, Cora-san! But I'm going to keep looking after Law and Aka. You never know when they might need a little help." She said. Rocinante ruffed her hair with a smile.

"You're right." He said. "I'll trust you to take care of that, Lami." He said. The girl grinned brightly.

"You can count on me!" She said.

--

RT_Strawhat_Ninja: heya, guys. So, it's February now, and, well...

I hate this month.

I lost an important person in my life two years ago in the month of February.

And it seems that my depression is at its worst in the month of February than it is through out the rest of year. It's been that way ever since I can remember.

So, please bare with me, just for this month. Updates are going to be slow and I'm not going to be my usual sarcastic self.

Sorry.