Summary: The second pirate king is crowned, and those whose lives have been touched by the Straw Hat pirates celebrate. Drabble series.

Jero has been serving as bodyguard to the young Queen Vivi for nearly one year now.

He knows by now what foods she likes, and what she likes to do in her free time.

He knows she has no qualms about walking and mingling among the "common people".

He knows she counts down the days until her childhood friend and lover, Environmental Minister Kohza, returns to Alubarna when he's been away for more than a few weeks (and he knows that aforementioned childhood friend is planning to propose in the near future).

He likes to think he's got his queen mostly figured out.

But then, there are times when he thinks he hardly knows her at all.

Times when she sits on a chair in the palace infirmary, her legs drawn up to her chest, cheek resting on her knees, and looking out in the direction of the sea.

It's in these moments that the mature countenance of the Queen he's grown to love and respect slips away and she finally looks her age, with all the restlessness and thirst for adventure that being a headstrong twenty-something-year-old entails.

He doesn't dislike this side of the Queen, but he doesn't quite know what to make of her.

It's always Pell or Chaka or Igaram that reassures him with a pat on the back, saying that she'll be alright, she's just worrying for her nakama.

Jero wonders sometimes how long he'll have to work for her before he's allowed to know the full story behind these moods.

That day comes a lot sooner than he expected, when one morning he's awoken by the sound of a high-pitched shriek coming from the Queen's quarters.

Heart thudding and adrenaline rushing, ready to kill the bastard that dared lay a hand on Queen Vivi, he springs out of his bed, reaching for the sword he always keeps within arm's reach and runs out of his room, which is right next door to the Queen's quarters for exactly a reason such as this.

He bursts into the room, looking around frantically for the intruder, only to see a news coo just disappearing out the open window.

The Queen is completely fine, kneeling over the newspaper she has spread out across her bed, eyes roving over the page as she reads the story that has caught her attention. Kohza is awake as well, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he looks around for his discarded shirt.

She looks up at Jero's entrance, her eyes shining with happiness, and he immediately looks away upon realizing she's only wearing a thin cotton nightgown.

"Jero!" she calls, motioning him closer. "Come! Take a look at this!"

He approaches her slowly, still refusing to look at her until Kohza (who's recovered his shirt by now) throws her robe around her shoulders with a fond chuckle and nudges her to put it on.

"What's got you so excited now?" asks the blond, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

"It's Luffy!" she exclaims, pointing the newspaper, and Kohza immediately perks up in interest, leaning over to get a look.

Jero, recognizing the name of one of the most infamous pirate captains in the seas, edges closer too, curious as to why his queen would be so excited.

Kohza's jaw is hanging wide open by now, expression shocked.

"No way…" he whispers.

"I know, right?" asks Vivi, positively bouncing . "He actually did it!"

Jero is finally close enough to see the newspaper now, and his eyes widen when he sees the headline.

"Vivi? Is everything okay?" asks a new voice, and Jero whirls around to see the former king standing in the doorway, brows furrowed in worry.

"Papa!" yells Vivi, jumping out of bed and running to hug her father. "He did it! He finally did it!"

"Who did what?" asks her father, confused.

"Luffy-kun! HE'S THE KING OF THE PIRATES!"

SkyGem: That's it for this chapter! Please do leave a review and let me know what you thought, and who you want for the next chapter!