I do not own anything, and the following is purely fictional based on characters in One Piece. I know Oda talks about not putting in romance because "the boys that watch this show don't want that" but then goes on to sexualize women with unbelievable bodies and actions...so, I DO WHAT I WANT. HUMPH. Lol

"When life gives you ships, make lemons."

Arlong Park was weeks ago, but for some unknown reason it lingers in Nami's heart. Her crew, mostly Sanji and Usopp noticed, decided to throw a party for her birthday.

July 3rd is actually months away, but they will not take no for an answer. Sanji cooks delicious meals such as roasted duck meat with tangerine sauce, and to Sanji's dismay, they learn of her abhorrent dislike for orangettes.

Now, as she sips her drink and listens to funny stories, the evening changes pace. Sanji decides to call upon his fellow crewmen and poetically list reasons they appreciate Nami. Usopp references her strength, not taking into note the moment she stabbed her own hand instead of him to deter both them and Arlong's men. Sanji, of course, takes most of the time to correct everyone else and rattle on about beauty and body. While she watches Luffy sticking various things up his nose, the question is passed to Zoro.

Zoro sits with his back against a barrel, and of course, he looks like he is asleep. Usopp goes to poke him, but hears a vehement "I'm thinking" to his intrusion. They joke about him being deep in thought, Sanji brings a nerve or two to pulse at Zoro's temple. Through the noise and laughter, in a clear strong voice Zoro says, "She's our navigator."

Everyone face palms at his apparently serious answer. "Of course she's our navigator, you stupid marimo. That's not why we appreciate Nami-swan."

Nami looks to Zoro, but her mind is elsewhere. The party feels forced. She knows that as long as Luffy gives his support to her being a Strawhat Pirate, it doesn't matter if others disagree. They are a crew, but it still feels strange to her considering what she has done to them. The past is the past, but it still haunts her. Like her saving Zoro when he tested her allegiance, and the fact that he wouldn't take Arlong's words for their face value. She appreciated that, and yet, she punched him in the gut not knowing how weak his body was. So many others would have been ready to kill her, and yet this crew now sits across from one another while Zoro is forced to tell her what he appreciates about her.

Nami grips the glass in her hand and the pain in her left arm flashes. The tattoo is not the worst; it's just sometimes her mind goes to a dark place. The pain comes and goes now, but only when she lingers in the past and the memories pour over her like hot oil.

She doesn't want to be here right now. Nami doesn't want to fake a laugh, because she wants everyone to like her again. She just…wants to be trusted.

Just then Zoro and Sanji's bickering comes to a close. Zoro pushes Sanji's kicks away with his katana.

"LIKE I SAID YOU RETARDED LOVE COOK! SHE NAVIGATES US TO OUR DREAMS!"

Zoro is known for many things: his wrath, his fighting, his power...but his poetic words? No, not so much, Nami thinks.

Everyone stops laughing and murmuring to look at him. He simply slides Sandai Kitetsu back into its sheath and crosses his arms in his stoic self-approval.

It is Luffy, with chopsticks sticking out of his nose, who speaks with a tilt of his head, "Nani? I don't understand. Nami's dream and my dream and your dream are different."

Zoro opens his eyes to see the rest of the crew locking eyes with him, as if he has grown a second head, or in Sanji's mind, a brain.

"Tsk! Dammit. Do I need to explain everything?" He says with exasperation, running his hand along the back of his head. They all nod ceremoniously, as if listening to a great secret being revealed.

Zoro locks eyes with Nami and grows warm. She looks so sad...as if wanting to hear the perfect answer, as if wanting to throw all that happened between her and us on Arlong Park into the sea. He knows what shame and guilt feels like. He channels all of his into his dream...a dream he took from someone he can never give it back to. He looks at her, and for some reason, smiles.

"Luffy. I mean that she gives us direction. Without her, we would aimlessly roam these waters and never get anywhere. Never grow. Never develop. She helps us navigate to our dreams and that is...because we trust her. We trust her to take care of this ship, our goals, and us. I know I didn't really know what or where I was going until you found me, Luffy. And neither of us knew where we were going until Nami stepped in. No matter how or why she did that...she's with us now. I am confident in her ability to protect my dream."

In the dead silence, the ocean caresses the ship and birds call in the distance. Zoro still locks eyes on Nami until a boot launches him onto his side.

"You stupid marimo. This isn't about you or Luffy! Nami-swan isn't here for you, you idiot swordsman!"

And just like that, the laughter progresses as the crew mocks Zoro for his tough delivery of fanciful words. Usopp and Luffy take turns making their faces smug and downcast, while trying to maintain Zoro's hard and deep voice.

Nami simply blinks. She blinks quickly so that the tears will not run down her pink cheeks. Luffy promised her she wouldn't cry again...and yet, that is what she needs now. She bites her lip and feels a drop fall into her cup.

Never has Zoro shown any sign of trust in her like that. At least not in words. He is not a man of words; he is one of action. Never had she felt like she was an equal member of the team. Strength wise, she felt Usopp and her were always being protected...or scared. However, for the powerful, at times scary, and constantly clueless Zoro to look at her, give her his trust in words..., and more so, say his dream was in her hands, she feels something rising in her. It is confidence in more than just her skills. It is confidence in her character. In herself. All thanks to that dumb swordsman.

Luffy feels her silence and tension. He quickly turns to her to ask, "Nami, what's wrong?"

Everyone stops their actions to inquire about her. She starts sobbing, and Sanji is quick to turn heated eyes at Zoro. Luffy hides his face under the brim of his hat, only showing a stern tight line instead of a smile. However, the sobbing noises quickly become loud exhales. Laughing. Nami is laughing. As she wipes a tear out of the corner of her eye and her face beams up at them, she shoots up off her barrel. She closes the space between her and Zoro, while everyone watches her mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Wow, Zoro. I didn't know you cared for me like that."

Zoro draws back as Nami inches closer. His face twists into confusion and fear, as her eyes dance with unknown intent.

"You know this won't lessen what you owe me, Zoro."

Zoro opens his mouth to speak, but silence remains as Nami pushes herself onto her toes and places a kiss on his cheek. As she comes down, she sticks her tongue out and says, "But that just cost ya!"

Nami continues to laugh and walk towards her room, waving "goodnights" to the rest of the crew while Zoro stands flabbergasted. His face shows sheer confusion and a bit of anger, but his heart is beating a beat faster than he likes. Her quiet whisper echoes in his mind, "I promise to take care of our dreams. Thank you."

Just as he is about to infer what she means by the kiss and the thank you and the words, a sharp kick is halted by his blades before it can plant itself into his face.

"How dare you make my precious Nami-swan kiss your filthy ugly mug!"

"I do not control that witch, you perverted curly brow."

As they quarrel on, Usopp stares into the empty place Nami once stood at, and turns to Luffy. "That was weird wasn't it, Luffy?"

Luffy, still with chopsticks in his nose, replies, "Why? Nami is happy. Zoro is right. I always believed in Nami and knew she would keep our ship and our dreams safe. That's why she's our navigator. I never doubted her skills...but maybe Nami needed to hear it like that. And if that made her happy...then I'm happy!"

Usopp looks at his captain, a usually very childish and rash boy, but in this moment, he is very insightful. Usopp looks back at Zoro who is busy arguing and fighting with Sanji, but Usopp sees how Zoro's mind seems elsewhere. He is sure Luffy is right but Usopp feels that there is more that happened between Zoro and Nami just now...but that isn't his business.

UPDATED!

So, I wanted to flesh things out more- i.e. Zoro and Nami's POV. So, I've included 2 more chapters for that.

For a look into what I am using as my "research", check out the following:

Youtube: watch?v=l-Wa4urWyZ8

zoronamiplus dot weebly: analyses-of-their-relationship

So just Google the Youtube link, titled "Zoro and Nami Moments". The other link is a dot com with a dot between "plus" and "weebly", and the specific page underlined as an html:)

Originally:

Ah, and just like that PART 1, is up:) I thought of making this just one giant story, but I kinda like that they are "separated" stories, like Book 1, 2, etc.

This is, by no means, a book- but I do hope you stay on for the lemons. ALL THE LEMONS~

And, please, give feedback. Reviews. I would love to know what to improve:)

#JesusLovesYou