A/N

Hey guys! It's been about two months since I updated any of my stories. I know it's so unacceptable and frustrating, but I had midterms, a school trip and then, for some reason my computer broke down and I lost all of my files where the new chapters were included as well. I'm sorry, sorry, sorry! I promise to make it up to you in the next few weeks with both Troublesome Complications and a new story I'm thinking about. I know it's evil I'm not finishing one story before I start another, but I can't help it, the ideas keep haunting me! Thank you all so much for your inspiring reviews and follows/favs (dancing like Chopper at the moment)! Anyway, here's the epilogue for Struggling. I tried to make it as less OOC as possible, but I feel like it's still kind of off. Not to tire you any longer, enjoy! Slight Robin/Franky.

Chapter 2: A little down the road

A soft night air blew while the Thousand Sunny Go kept traveling in the New World, in hopes of a new adventure. Nothing else could be heard other than the faint whistle of the wind and the snores of the men escaping through the windows. A dim light was the only thing that accompanied the crew's archaeologist in the crow's nest while she kept watch. It was one of the rare occasions one of the women had to guard the ship while the others slept peacefully in their rooms. She didn't really mind since she was occupied with a new book she purchased at the last port. The book provided some cultural information about the island of Teriuyoko the crew had spent about a week at. There was not a Poneglyph there, however, Nico Robin was really intrigued by the traditions of those people and was really fond of learning more about the island's history.

At some point, she heard heavy steps climbing up the crow's nest. She was alarmed at first, but she relaxed when she was met with the image of the ship's cyborg. He stood at the door, leaning on its frame. His loud voice disrupted the silence when he spoke.

"Oi, Nico Robin. I didn't know you had the shift tonight." He stated.

"It has been time since my last shift. And as long I have the company of a good book, I don't mind it." The cryptic woman answered truthfully.

"You shouldn't miss your beauty sleep." Although you don't need one, he thought but decided not to say it out loud. "If you want, I can take over. I will be up either way. I'm working on a new design."

"That's very kind of you, Franky-san." Robin gave him a slight smile. "You can keep me company if you want. It's very quiet tonight." She really had grown fond of the shipwright since Enies Lobby. The man had tried to save her despite his initial doubts about her and she appreciated. She could not help, but feel comfortable in his presence.

"That would be SUPER!"Franky was conflicted about what to do at first, but couldn't help but take a seat next to the archaeologist. He noticed her face under the light of the moon and was taken aback by the way it showed off her beautiful face. He found her cute even before the separation at Sabaody, but now she really had become a breathtaking woman.

The comfortable silence continued for some time until it was abruptly interrupted by a cry.

Crying echoed through the ship from one of the room windows. Inside that room lied in a cradle a two-month old green-haired baby girl had trouble sleeping. And as a part of the Strawhats, she was loud and demanding.

Next to her room, the sound of a loud snore kept going on and on. The snore belonged to the Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro who could sleep through anything including his daughter's wailing. His hand was around the slender waist of the navigator and his head was buried in the crook of her neck. Even in his sleep, the directionally challenged swordsman held on his girlfriend for dear life as if he'd be lost without her. However, said woman was twisting and turning awaken by the baby's cries. Although Zoro's grip was hold even when asleep she managed to turn around to face him. She kissed his neck and he slightly stirred. When he seemed to fall asleep again, she addressed him in a sleepy voice.

"Zoro…" When he didn't bother, she called him again a little louder. "Zoro, wake up." When he didn't show any signs of waking up she opened her eyes and smacked him on the head. "Wake up, moron!" she screamed at him.

Zoro instantly woke up, holding his head. He was extremely irritated his sleep was interrupted and more specifically because the aggressive orange haired woman decided to wake him up in not such a nice manner. "What do you want, Nami?" It's three in the morning dammit."

"Kuibe is up. Take care of it!" she said closing her eyes and turning her back to him.

At that point, he noticed that indeed the baby was crying. It had become a routine for them to have to deal with sleep deprivation every night since their daughter was still not able to sleep through the whole night like most newborns "Why do I have to go again? I put her to sleep yesterday!" he asked frustrated. Zoro sure loved his sleep.

"What kind of father are you?" Nami answered in return obviously sleepy herself. "It's two steps away, lazy ass." She muttered.

"Why don't you do it instead? I want to sleep. She's your daughter, too."

"I had her in my belly for nine months. You should now make it up to me for at least another 7 months." She said nonchalantly. "Plus, if you don't go, I'll triple your debt." She stated matter-of-factly.

"That debt doesn't scare me anymore, witch." He said reaching for the blanker turning his back to hers as well.

Nami turned to face him again and when she found his back instead of his face, she decided to play her trump card. She traced his back with her delicate fingers sending shivers down his spine. Even after all this time, her touch had such effect on him and he hated her for that. She moved slightly up and with the other hand she reached his neck. She reached his ear and whispered in a seductive voice: "Zoro..."

"Mhm?" he acknowledged her presence without turning around or doing anything.

She smiled evilly and he could feel it by the touch he felt on his ear. "If you don't go" she made a little pause, "we are not having sex again. Ever again." She then withdrew and took her sleeping position once more.

Zoro knew she had won at that moment. "Evil witch." Nonetheless, we got out of bed and put on his boxers that had been thrown on the floor previously. He still was angry at his love but stood up and went to tend to his daughter. He couldn't deny he could do anything for the little one and the fact that they had left them crying for so long without doing anything was one of the reasons he finally agreed on going without any oppositions. He knew Nami was still suffering the after effects of pregnancy as well so he wouldn't push his luck further.

"Love you." Nami whispered.

"Too bad, because I hate you. He heard her chuckling and he could not help but grin. He loved that woman too much to stay mad at her for long.

When he entered the room, the wailing of the small person grew louder. Zoro took the baby in his arms and greeted her. "Hey, Kuibe. Can't sleep again?"

The baby answered him with another loud cry. Zoro sat on the floor with the baby in his arms. He started swaying girl in hopes of putting her to sleep. It was not very successful. Maybe she's hungry, he thought. Fortunately, Nami had taken care of the issue of milk supplies and there was a bottle in the mini fridge in the room.

At that point, Kuibe had calmed down a bit and so, it would be easier to reach the kitchen, heat up the milk and put her to sleep again. He carefully exited the room and started approaching the kitchen. On his way there, he noticed slight laughs and the word 'SUPER' emitting from the crow's nest. He recognized the owners of these sounds as the shipwright and archeologist. He knew there was something going on between the two for some time now and he could not help but feel happy for his friends.

He finally reached the kitchen. He heated up the milk as quickly as possible. Some months ago, he didn't even know how to turn the oven on, but after the daily night incidents, he had been accustomed to doing the basic of using the kitchen. He filled a pan with some water and put the bottle inside it. When the water boiled, he turned off the system and put the pan in the sink. He pulled the bottle out and after testing the temperature of the liquid by purring some on his arm, he felt satisfied with his work.

He slowly directed the bottle to the kid's mouth and waited for her response. Kuibe grabbed the bottle with her tiny hands and started sucking on it. The crying had finally come to an end and he started walking back to their room. If the child didn't have green hair like him, he would seriously debate on whether it was Luffy's child or not. The baby had such an appetite and in such crazy hours. However, as he watched her, he couldn't help the smile that decorated the features of his face.

He entered the nursery room once again and took a sit on the floor, his back leaning on the wall and baby in his arms. After Kuibe had her hunger satiated, she started relaxing in the man's arms. Zoro started swaying her in a slow rhythm until the baby finally closed her eyes. She had a grip on one of Zoro's fingers with her little palms.

Zoro could not understand how such a beautiful creature had his DNA, the DNA of a demon. After a lot of thinking, he came to the conclusion that that's what happens when love is involved in all of this. He started feeling drowsy and he closed his eyes. "Goodnight, kiddo. I love you." He said smiling again.

Morning came and the sun rays got in the room through the window. Nami shifted slightly and started waking up. She yawned and turned on her side to reach for her baka boyfriend. However, when she attempted to place a kiss on his chest, she found out he wasn't there. She reasoned that maybe he had woken up early and decided to train a bit before breakfast.

She made her way out of the bed, put on some clothes and her slippers and went to check on her daughter. And then it dawned on her.

The little girl usually was up 2 or 3 times a night and the fact that she only remember been woken up once really worried the mikan haired navigator. She rushed to the room thinking that something must have happened to her daughter only to be met by a sight she wasn't used to. On the floor beside Kuibe's bed, there was Zoro sprawled on the floor with Kuibe in his arms. Only a short snort escaped his lips validating that he was asleep. As his chest rose up and down with his breathing, so did the girl in his arms. What really made the image in front of her that unique was the fact that both the green haired people in front of her had smiles plastered on their faces as they slept.

Tears started blurring her vision at the delight she had watching this sight. Part of it was due to the hormones still clouding her feelings as a result of the pregnancy, but on the other hand she could not help but be blessed in her opinion as she saw this part of Zoro that no one else had the chance to see.

He really was a good father and a loving man despite the fact that he didn't express his feelings that openly or often. He showed his love through his actions and that was the main reason she fell in love with him.

She whipped her tears away with her sleeve and approached the sleeping duo. She knelled beside them and placed a kiss on both their cheeks. The swordsman opened his eyes slightly and smiled upon seeing her. Waking up next to Nami was one of the best things because she was so beautiful when she had just woken up. She took her sleeping daughter in her hands and sat beside Zoro on the floor.

He put his arm around her and pulled her to him. She happily obliged and also put her head in the crook of his neck. He planted a soft kiss on her hair, inhaling her citrus smell. She couldn't help but smile at the feeling of safety and love she felt when in his arms.

She then turned to him and kissed him on the lips softly but with the same urgency all of their kissed had. He kissed her back with but pulled back when he felt something wet on his own face.

He touched her chin and made her look at him. "Oi, why are you crying?"

She laughed a little and shook her head. "It's nothing, just the stupid hormones. Don't worry." He was still a little worried and his expression showed that. "I said don't worry. It's because I'm happy." Her genuine smile validated her statement and Zoro smiled himself.

"I love you, Nami." He said looking at her in the eyes with such emotional intensity.

"I love you, Zoro." She answered leaning on him again. They closed their eyes again and the family fell asleep all together.

When Robin entered the room to call them for breakfast as they had delayed and was met with this image, she couldn't help but smile.

Ta-dah! So that was all. I'm debating on whether to continue the epilogue about how Kuibe grows up so let me know what you think! Remember to review, follow and favor the story if you liked it. See you again soon!
-T