Despite being away on vacation, Marco couldn't help but conduct the old winter solstice rituals- the old religion and its ways was something, even after all these years, he couldn't quite shake.

No matter how many years have gone by and lifetimes he had lived through- or people he was with- he still went about preparing a mini feast as if it was time hadn't changed everything. Picking fresh tea leaves, mints, thyme, basil, and fennel along with stir fried vegetables.

Shakky walked into the room with quiet steps, her arms laden with thick furs. Having gotten rather use to the ritual even if she never fully remembered.

"Hey little chicky." She called to him gently.

Looking up from grinding the sesame seeds, Marco snorted at the nickname. "Hi auntie, where's uncle?"

"Doing the same as you. I suppose," dropping the furs, she gathered her own supplies to start cleaning them, offering an off handed "I missed you."

Laughing Marco at the bout of affection, knowing she had only vague knowledge of what it truly meant, "Missed you too."

For a long moment they both worked in silence. Shakky with water, brush, and towel, while Marco grinded seeds into fine dust.

Marco sighed heavily, his voice growing fond and wistful. "It is the winter solstice, once more. And while I enjoy are small celebration, I miss the festival by the Goddess Tree, our home cities meals, the fire lanterns that lit the sky, the-" His voice shook as he chocked on the very memory, "The dances the royal family held- the music that filled the castle."

Shakky put down the pelt and took a drag from her cigarette, eyes glazed in thought, "I know, I know none of us remember like you. But the whispers that my mind give me. The laughter and music of the castle, the warm sun shinning down on our blessed island. Your uncle… I remember dancing with him at the winter solstice… he always relaxes this time of the year."

The sesames seeds were turning into a fine paste and he knew that he would soon need to smother the goose, but he couldn't help but pause and smile at his aunt's words, hands gliding up to finger at the chain that sat snug around his neck. "Yeah, uncle and I, are a lot alike." He said softly, the image of his uncle and aunt dancing under the moonlight of the last winter solstice brought his comfort.

"Be as that may," She said amusingly, "I seem to remember a few festivals where you disappeared with your love too."

Smiling softly to himself, he couldn't help but to tell her, "The last Winter Solstice before- well before the void, he welded together some of my old chain links and the jewels from our bounding ceremony. I-" taking a deep breath, "I saw him. My father came across him, he sails on our ship now. He- He's still so hot headed… brave too, that stubbornness of his, that led armies to war… it's all there- he's still Asce." He laughed to keep himself from crying.

Shakky stood swiftly, striding across the room to wrap her arms around Marco's shaking form.

"He doesn't remember, I know that- but sometimes I look at him and I am back in the palace. I have kept track of as many of our people as I could, I swear that to you Auntie. I have found my mother, brother, and brought as many of our people to Whitebeard as I could. I have celebrated every winter solstice as our religion dictates. And he has come back to me." He whispered, "I can't help but feel things are being set in motion, a bounty for a man that bares a striking resemblance to Lawrence was released in the papers. I had hoped to track him, see if it is really him but father is calling me back saying something about my mother and some of the others on the crew acting strangely."

"Hmmm, I can send your uncle out, see if he could track down Lawrence, you know we send as many as we can your way." She spoke calmly, weaving her fingers through his hair and pulling his head towards her stomach to hold him close.

"Thank you."

"You will of course, stay for the ceremony and restock supplies."

Glancing up at her, Marco couldn't help the smile that played at his lips, "I know I have said this before, but I'm glad you and uncle are here."

"You are right," she laughed, "You have said that before. Now enough of this depressing conversation, tonight is supposed to be a celebration! We welcome you and I'd be honored to sing and dance for you chicky as long as you promise the next time you visit you let me do your hair and stop cutting it so short! I would hate to see what Acse and your mother would think of this mop. They would want to see those waves of yours once more. You hear?"

Chuckling Marco agreed to the demand with a bowed head.

That night Shakky danced the lunar dance of the veils and sung far into the night. Marco himself sung the queens song, as was tradition, to end the festival.

In the morning Marco was ready to set back out, hugging his aunt and uncle lovingly before heading out. Rayleigh watched him go with a wave before heading back to the bar to start tracking Lawrence, a promise to send word to Marco playing at his mind as he wonders if this meant the other two princes were out in the world.