Roger grimaced in pain, baring his teeth.
"Ow, ow, ow! Rouge, I was wrong!"
Ace, Sabo, and Anne: "…Mom/Godmother, do you actually know this pervert?"
Rouge released his ear, dabbed the corner of her eyes, then suddenly broke into a radiant smile.
"Of course I know him."
She gave Roger a gentle shove on the back.
"Go on. Introduce yourself properly."
Roger rubbed his ear and straightened up.
"Nice to meet you, kids." He grinned broadly, flashing a set of gleaming white teeth.
"I'm your father."
Ace: "…Huh?"
Sabo: "???"
Anne: "…Oh."
The very next second, Ace's roar echoed across Twin Moon Village.
"This has got to be a joke!!! I…"
The sea breeze swept past. The disguise mist beneath the straw hat quietly dissipated, revealing a face Ace knew all too well. The same grinning, shameless face from the family portrait hanging in Uncle Reed's room.
Ace's voice abruptly shifted pitch, turning into a howl. Or maybe a scream.
"My dad!!!!"
Just then,
"Enough!!!"
Rouge smiled gently as she explained to the three children.
"He wasn't using a 'similar' technique to Evade God…"
Her voice trembled.
"…He created Evade God."
The three kids were struck dumb, as if by lightning.
"Ace~"
"Mom, I'm here!"
"Anne~"
Their previously stiff faces instantly turned adorable. They rushed to Rouge's side, pressing her hand onto their heads and even rubbing against her affectionately.
"Sabo~"
"Mom! I'm here too! I saw your clothes still weren't dry, I'll take care of them right away!"
Each of the three tried, in their own way, to awaken maternal affection.
Rouge shook her head lightly.
"That's not urgent. And there's also Roger~"
By now, Roger was drenched in sweat.
"The children's father~"
Roger's clothes were soaked through. On such a bright, sunny day, the rain was truly heavy. Just look at how wet Roger was.
Roger glanced around at the four of them and said, "You can explain to your mom why you were shouting so loudly earlier. Nobody heard you, all because Mom keeps feeding you meat all the time, leading to unbalanced nutrition. Tonight, let's have some bitter melon to improve your diet."
Rouge's smile grew even gentler. She twirled a lock of hair around her finger.
"Oh? Maybe Mom's been too soft lately."
She slowly walked toward the vegetable patch in the corner of the yard. Cold sweat instantly soaked the backs of the three kids and Roger.
"Mom still remembers how to grow bitter melon, coptis, and even that super bitter fairy cactus we brought back from Skypiea last time," Rouge hummed as she picked the gourds.
"Tonight, we're having a very special feast. A dinner full of a mother's love and bitterness~"
"Wait! Rouge!" Roger dropped to his knees and hugged her leg. "This is all my fault! I shouldn't have shown up so suddenly and scared the kids!"
Ace immediately followed suit.
"Yes, yes, yes! Mom, it's our fault! We shouldn't have failed to recognize Dad!"
Sabo adjusted his glasses.
"Godmother, I suggest Father eat alone. After all, he's been gone for so many years…"
Anne said solemnly, "Mom, Anne can eat double portions of meat as punishment. Anne's share can go to Ace and Sabo."
Rouge tilted her head, her sweet smile deeply unsettling.
"But Mom prepared this dinner especially. A meal filled with love~"
Just then, Ace suddenly pointed at the sky.
"Look! A dragon flying up there!"
Everyone looked up. The three kids and Roger turned and bolted.
Rouge continued smiling gently.
"Anyone who doesn't come back for dinner tonight…"
"For the next month! Will! Eat! Bitter! Gourd! Oh~"
They had only run a few steps before all four of them froze at the same time. They exchanged glances, then silently turned around and walked back, as if nothing had happened.
Ace scratched his head and laughed dryly.
"Ahaha, Mom, that was all a misunderstanding!"
Sabo pushed his glasses up, face serious.
"We suddenly remembered our clothes aren't fully dry yet."
Anne nodded gravely, her small face solemn.
"Yes. Anne is very well."
Roger rubbed his hands together, smiling obsequiously.
"Rouge~ Let me help you cook~"
Rouge maintained her gentle smile. The bitter melon in her hand gleamed with an ominous light.
"Oh? Is that so?"
At that moment,
"Yo, is everyone here already?"
Reed's voice came from the doorway. The four of them lit up instantly!
"Uncle Reed!!!" the three kids shouted in unison, as if they had just seen their savior.
Roger grew even more excited, tears welling up in his eyes.
"My boy! You came at the perfect time!"
At that moment, it was as if countless rays of light shone behind Reed. Even the sun paled in comparison. The light of justice illuminating the land.
"Looks like you're all getting along very…" Reed began, then looked at the four pairs of shining eyes and Rouge's disturbingly gentle smile. He immediately understood.
He lifted one leg and smoothly turned around.
"Ah, I just remembered the ship isn't tied properly…"
"Brother~" Rouge's voice drifted over. "Where do you think you're going?"
Reed froze, then slowly turned back, forcing a very polite smile.
"Sister… I was just stretching…"
Rouge lightly raised the bitter melon in her hand.
"Since everyone's here, why don't we all try my special 'Mother's Love Bitter Feast'?"
Everyone: "…"
Reed took a deep breath, then suddenly lunged at Roger, grabbing him by the collar.
"You old bastard!!! What did you do?! You jerk!!"
Roger: "??? I regret it too!"
"Reed~" Rouge's voice rang out again. "Would you like to eat bitter melon with your brother?"
Reed immediately let go of Roger and stood at attention.
"Sister! I'll go help in the kitchen right now!"
With that, he dashed into the kitchen without looking back, so fast he left afterimages behind.
Roger and the three kids were stunned.
"…"
At that moment, Oden's family and Tesoro's group walked in. Reed had originally gone inside to make sure everything was alright.
Oden laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha! Reed, you've finally received the punishment you deserve!"
Hiyori and Momonosuke tilted their heads.
"What's wrong with Uncle Reed?"
Seeing the new guests, Rouge instantly regained her elegant composure. Though Kozuki Toki still wore a smile, everyone could sense something subtly different about her.
She gently adjusted her dress and offered a warm smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Roger's wife, Portgas D. Rouge."
Kozuki Toki, holding little Hiyori, returned the greeting gracefully.
"I'm Toki. These are our children, Hiyori and Momonosuke."
At that moment, Stella walked over, cradling newborn Lati in her arms. Little Lati slept soundly against her mother's chest, her rosy cheeks irresistible.
"This is our ship's doctor, Stella," Reed said as he slipped out of the kitchen, introducing them casually. "And this is little Lati, just born."
The three mothers exchanged smiles, warm as drifting petals. Rouge gently brushed Lati's cheek.
"What a lovely child."
Toki leaned in as well.
"She looks just like her mother."
Stella smiled softly.
"Thank you for the compliment."