Disclaimer: I don't One Piece

My first crack at a romance between Sanji and Nami, don't flame me, I burn easily...

Title: Just As Promised
Summary: She waited fourteen years for him, but he never returned. When he does, he must learn how to move on in life, but something else makes him fight for her and what she has.
Rating: T
Pairing: SanjixNami, LuffyxNami
Genre: Romance

.:Fourteen Years Ago:.

"N-Nami-chan," he breathed quietly, his arms still wrapped around her waist tightly. His frown on his face was engraved in her head as she looked up at his dark blue eyes. "You don't have to go...we can make a living, just you and me out in the All Blue..."

The grip on his shoulder tightened, she buried her head in his chest.

"We can't go any farther, Sanji, this is Raftel...we've made it to Raftel, I've finished my map, Luffy is Pirate King, Robin found her Rio Poneglyph, Franky-"

"But there's still more things to look for!" He threw his hand back towards the sea to emphasize his point, the night had made their vision limited to several kilometers. "Zoro hadn't found Mihawk, Chopper's crying for more adventure...I hadn't found the All Blue yet, I need someone to be with me when I do...please, I don't want to die in the Grand Line alone..."

"And you won't because...because you're going to be with me," Nami replied, persuading him to abandon the All Blue was harder than how she thought it would be. "Don't be stupid, you'll kill yourself out here..."

"I...I'm sorry, the All Blue calls for me...but, how about this? You can wait for me in Cocoyashi Village for five years, can you be that devoted to me?"

"Five?!"

"Three years then, tops, I just need more time out here..."

Nami looked away slightly but had eye contact with him still.

"...promise?"

"Yes..."

.:Present Day:.

A lamp stayed on, her head faced it to gain a wake up call from both it and the sun's rays. That moment...no, that was nearly a decade ago, he still can't be alive.

Sighing, she got up and rubbed the sleep away. Ah, the day was going to be boring as it was the day before...and the day before that....and the day before that too and so on. Nothing happens, Cocoyashi had provided her protection from th Marines and other pirates...the one who provided protection for Cocoyashi was none other than the King of the Pirates himself who migrated back to the small vilage every now and then for the past eleven years. Feared by all and yet wanted by all, none dare to venture unless they begged for a death sentence. But to be ethical, at least there was enough peace and quiet to raise a family.

And, well, she did end up raising a family with Luffy after waiting faithfully for her former lover for nearly a decade. Three kids at home and a family yagara kept at sea. Two of them shared the appearances and strength of Luffy, the eldest, however, was nimble with blond hair and blue eyes. All four of them (since Luffy spent most of his time at sea with the middle child) lived in the same home as Nojiko did after she moved out to the Doctor's son's home, leaving Nami to tend to the mikan groove with her children.

Nami opened her window, the view of the garden was always nice to see first thing in the morning. She remembered, during the party after Along Park was destroyed, both she and Sanji sat there on the swing set talking before they suddenly shared a drunken kiss...(sigh)...no, day dreaming won't help bring him back....if he ever comes back, that is.

"Mommy?"

She turned to see her youngest daughter (age 7) standing at the door with a basket in her delicate hands. They stared blankly at each other.

"What's wrong?"

"...nothing, Lily, I'll cook us breakfast..." Her eyes looked ahead into the hallway. "Where's Rose?"

"Outside again, she wanted to feed the birdies so they won't get hungry!"

"Can you get her for me?"

"Yes Mommy!" Lily smiled, she scampered off with her red hair dancing behind. Nami threw a glance at the swing set to find that Rose was simply swinging on it with a pouch of seeds at her side, she got off to let Lily on and push her. "Higher, Rose-oneechan! Higher!"

Rose (age 14) laughed,"All right, but promise me you won't fall, I can't catch you, ya know!"

"I promise!"

"...promise?"

"...yes."

Nami turned away with a smile and whipped tears from her eyes,"Yes..."

-Chan: Used on women or girls who are younger, it's less formal than -san

-Oneechan: Older sister

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