The calmness of night was something Law never came to understand. Sometimes it managed to soothe him, if he was lucky even lull him into sleep with the gentle rhythm of the waves. However, other nights the silence made him feel lonely. He had always been, he realized. And he knew vengeance wouldn't be as satisfying as he had thought. It wasn't. Now that Doflamingo was taken down, he verified it.

What was he to do now?

That night was another of those terrible nights were he wouldn't be able to sleep due to those dark thoughts. He found himself outside of the huge ship that would be taking them all to Zou. It was a starless night, darkness overwhelming and engulfing him. The sound of water crashing against the wooden surface wasn't helping him, and he knew far too well to expect it to.

Usually, on these nights, he liked imagining how his life would have been if Cora-san had survived. How different it all would have been. As much as it pained his heart, and increased his anxiety, it was his guilty pleasure.

That night, however, he didn't feel completely lonely. It was really late in the night, even early in the morning, the party having ended barely hours ago. And yet when he knew he was alone on deck, he and his thoughts, he didn't feel alone. He was not, at least not completely.

"You shouldn't have done that..." Law jumped startled, looking around, but finding nothing. He sighed, massaging his temples and thinking it was just his imagination. "I told you to live your life free, you didn't have to come back to Doflamingo..."

"What...?" The voice was back again. He felt a shiver when something soft, almost ethereal, seemed to seek place onto his shoulder. He recognized that voice, and that touch, as surreal as they felt. His breathing hitched unnoticeably as he turned around slowly, what happened to be a hand slipped from his shoulder.

And he saw it. Him.

Blond mess of tresses, sickly white complexion, dark eyes and a goofy smile. Law almost fell down at the sight, his heart skipping a few beats at the sight.

"It's been a while, Law!" He had muttered, voice echoing slightly. "I've missed you so much!"

It couldn't be. His eyes were as wide as plates as his body started shaking. Had he fallen asleep and was dreaming? Maybe it was just a joke from some crazy crewmember... But no one really knew about Corazon.

The blond man frowned then, receiving no answer from the other paralyzed man. However, soon enough, Law's hand appeared to be getting nearer, hesitantly, towards his form. Corazon stared at the tattooed hand, eyes narrowing at the inked words on his digits.

"Those are some strange tattoos." He commented jokingly, not wanting to upset nor shock his beloved 'son' any further. Although Law's surprise was meeting no boundaries already. Finally, his trembling hand came to touch the man's arm. Flinching softly, as if he had expected the form to vanish or even his fingers to come through it, he grabbed it, feeling a pulse beneath; slow, soothing, gentle, what he was looking for. "I'm so sorry for the delay, but I finally found a moment to come and pay a visit... So... Hel-" Before he was nearly tackled to the floor by a very impressed Law.

"C-Cora-san! What is this? How can it be possible? Are you really here? I can feel you, I missed you so much!" He was babbling so quickly, every question demanding, and his statements desperate as his voice quivered. Rosinante chuckled, returning the gesture with a loving smile while caressing the dark-haired man's back.

"It's a long story... Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time... But, long story short, I'm here to spend these last hours with you, since I've missed my lovely son so much as well." Law pulled away, nodding his head.

He still could hardly believe that the one in front of him was his cherished benefactor, knowing that there are many abilities out there able to form illusions and put people in a daze. However, he couldn't help but let his heart beat faster at the thought of him being with Cora-san again.

Deep in thoughts, he failed to notice that he had tripped, a loud thud bringing him back only to find Corazon on the floor. A small smile pulled at Law's lips, followed by a low chuckle. The memories kept flowing back, filling his heart with a warmth he had deemed extinguished already.

"Not even death can change you." That comment actually hurt Law, because he knew he wouldn't be there with him forever. Deceased people had to go away. A small smile broke on the blond man's lips.

"Guess you're right." He sat up, as Law did the same next to him. "What do you want to talk about?"

"I'm guessing you were always able to see what I've been doing." Law supposed thoughtfully. Rosinante nodded, rolling his eyes.

"It was quite the shock to see my son becoming a ruthless pirate Captain. I didn't want you to end like that." He scolded slightly, and Law looked away.

"I had things to do... And stop calling me your son, it's... Embarrassing..." Cora-san pouted, throwing an arm across Law's shoulders and whining.

"But I see you as my son, Law! Don't be so mean." He turned serious then. "It was dangerous, trying to take Doflamingo down... I nearly died again when you almost..."

"But I didn't." Law sighed. Rosinante shook his head and sighed, finding it an unsatisfying conclusion to that talk. As worried as he had been, and as he hadn't wanted Law to go through all of that, deep down he felt proud that he was able to stop his brother.

"I would like to meet that Straw Hat Luffy who helped you." He broke the silence again. Law chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

"I think you two would have gotten along fairly well..." A strange silence fell again, not awkward, but still reminding Law of those times when Cora-san would use his fruit to mute the world around them. He thought: he couldn't have his Devil Fruit now, but it still felt oddly familiar.

"Hey, Law." Law hummed, pausing once he realized the tugging at his lips as a smile of his own. He looked at the blond guy, who grinned brightly. "I would love to hear everything about you these last thirteen years... Tell me about your new family."

At some point among those hours of talking, catching up and happiness, Law had fallen asleep, spread on the wooden surface, breathing evenly. He was still exhausted after the battle against Doflamingo and his crew, yet Cora-san didn't feel offended when his lids started to drop, only when the sun was rising. He had smiled, paintless lips muttering those last words he had said to Law back down, once again, as a farewell.

"I love you, Law." He ruffled the boy's hair, getting a calm smile from him in his dreams. Getting up, he heard someone behind him. A flash of (H/C) and wide (E/C) orbs were enough for his smile to widen once again. He faded slightly as you stood as surprised as Law had been hours ago.

"Eh?" You wondered, looking around, trying to convince yourself it wasn't just a hallucination. A gasp left your throat, though, when long arms wrapped themselves around your body from behind. "W-What? Rosinante?"

"It's me, (Y/N)." He spoke gently, though with that raspy tone in his voice. Fresh tears streamed down your cheeks as your breaths left you erratically, chest heaving up and down and arms raising to feel his own flesh. A small smile appeared on your lips as you let yourself sob once, nuzzling the back of your head against his broad chest.

"Rosinante." You whispered, biting your lip in an attempt not to let your cries out. He chuckled and hummed, yet it sounded sad.

"I'm sorry." He apologized, and you turned your head to look at him. He looked just like thirteen years ago, and your heart fluttered at the thought that he was the one hugging you. "I spent my only time here with Law... I wanted to be with you too... I'm sorry..."

"Don't be..." You shushed, and his embrace tightened. "I know he needed your presence more than I do... And I just wanted to feel you once more, even if just for some brief instants." You turned around completely, chests pressed together. Seeing tears in your eyes, he quickly went to wipe them away, only to see his hand turning filmy. "I love you so much, Rosinante. I never stopped loving you."

"I didn't either..." He whispered, shiny droplets at the corners of his eyes, no make-up to blur or erase. Leaning towards you, he closed the gap softly, lips meeting after thirteen years of coldness. Yet a shaky breath left his lips as he realized he couldn't feel your lips, he couldn't taste you. And you were starting to lose your grip on him, morning sun making itself be known, and he was fading like thin dust. You sobbed, arms falling finally only for you to squeeze them around your own body.

Your legs trembled as you sobbed, shaking your head wildly and letting yourself collapse. Hoarse whimpers left your lips as you tried to hug yourself tighter, nails scraping the bare skin of your arms and drawing blood.

"Don't go... Please, don't go away from me yet."

He wouldn't be back. And even though you had believed only one more of his touches would be enough to satisfy you, only then you realized: you would never have enough.