A/N: I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and a successful Black Friday. A big thanks to my reviewers and hopefully you like the new chapter :)

After two months of traveling with Zoro, Nami had to admit that they really made a good team. However his sense of direction was even worse than she had originally thought, but being the navigator she was at heart she made up for it. Then again the swordsman was also stronger than she had thought, which in return was making up for her lack of physical strength. They both had fallen into a comfortable routine rather quickly, which had surprised her. She was used to work alone and she was sure that Zoro had been more of a lone wolf himself, but despite that they bickered a lot she found herself enjoying his company.

None of them had brought up their pasts or families, but Nami was more than glad for it. She was slowly starting to consider Zoro a friend, but telling him about her past and why she had to collect so much money would only complicate things.

They had just arrived at a new island and like usual Nami was the one who would try to find out a few useful information about their next target. Normally she would met up with Zoro at one of the hotel rooms they had booked and Zoro would take care of their target. Then they would get the money for turning said person in. However this time everything was different and it would change their relationship forever.

For the first time it wasn't difficult for Nami to find their new target. This town was bigger than the ones they had been to and it almost took her all day to get any information about the man they were searching for. It was already late when she finally found him in a run-down bar. Normally she observed their target before talking to him to find out what he was doing the next few days. However this time she was impatient and miscalculate the man's reaction. Nami used her usual flirting method to get information like she had done with all the other targets, but this man didn't just let her leave with the promise that she would see him again.

At first everything went as planned and Nami left to meet up with Zoro at the hotel, but a few minutes into the night she was grasped and shoved against a wall. The man that she had just talked to stood close to her, a disgusted expression on his face.

"I have heard of an orange-haired thief that tricks pirates into fighting her partner. If I'm not mistaken that is you, isn't it?"

At his words Nami flinched. Zoro and her had made themselves quite a name already, but she hadn't thought that it would backfire on her one day. It was understandable that as a pirate the man hated bounty hunters and by the looks of it he was ready to make her pay. Due to her information gathering she knew that this man was ruthless and would beat up anyone who was in his way. She would never admit it or show it to the man in front of her, but Nami was scared. This pirate was stronger than her and if he would decide to fight her, she wouldn't have a chance to win against him. It seemed that her fear were realized when the man reached back. Closing her eyes all she could hope for was that a certain swordsman would show up.

"Let her go." The voice she had hoped to hear said in a cold tone.

When she opened her eyes she saw Zoro standing there, one sword on the pirate's throat and his other two ready to strike as well. In that moment she felt relief flow through her and she knew that she was safe. She might have only met Zoro two months ago, but she knew that he would never let anything happen to her. Almost relaxed she watched how the pirate let go of her and faced his new opponent.

Zoro made short work of the man. He had been worried when Nami hadn't come back to the hotel as quick as she normally did and went to look for her. Due to someone designing this town so weirdly it had taken him some time to find her, but it seemed that he had chosen the right moment to show up.

When their target lay on the ground defeated Zoro approached Nami, who was leaning against the nearest wall. His eyes quickly scanned her for injuries, but she appeared to be unharmed. Just to be sure he asked her anyway.

"Are you okay?"

The navigator only nodded. Now she was safe and everything was alright, at least that was what she thought.

After they had turned their target in and collected the money they went back to their hotel. They went to her room first so Nami could count the money in peace while Zoro looked through bounty posters for their next target. However now that she had a moment to think about what had happened, fear slowly settled in her belly. In the situation she had kept calm and hadn't given the pirate any hint at her fear, but now that she was safe and with someone she trusted her emotions were closer to the surface.

Meanwhile the swordsman was unaware of Nami's feeling and after she was done counting the money and he had told her about who he thought should be their next target he stood up to leave for his own room. He was about to open the door when Nami stopped him.

"Don't go." Her voice was shaking and so unlike her. "Please."

When Zoro turned around and saw the woman in front of him it pulled on his heartstrings. In the time they were already traveling together he had never seen her like this. Normally she was determined and even bossy, but now she seemed vulnerable for the first time. Zoro knew that he wasn't good with emotions or comforting, especially not when it came to women, but he couldn't just leave her like this. Going purely on what is instincts were telling him, he pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her back.

That was the moment Nami's resolve broke completely. When was the last time someone touched her with so much care? It must have been when Bellemere had still been alive. At first she tried to hold back her tears but it was useless. She buried her head deeper into Zoro's chest and her hands gripped his shirt tightly. All the emotions she had held back for so long were finally coming to the surface and she let them all out. His gentle touch never left, if anything his hold on her tightened to reassure her that he was there for her.

Zoro could only hope that his presence help her a little bit. He knew that life could be hard and that this pirate had threatened her today must have scared her. Surely she would never admit it, after all Zoro knew that Nami was a very proud person, but it was obvious how she really felt about what had happened this evening.

Slowly the navigator felt her exhaustion from the day take a toll on her, so she pulled Zoro with her to the bed. She didn't know what it was that made her trust Zoro so much after just two months, but somehow she knew he wouldn't take advantage of the situation. Just like she had hoped, he lay down with her and hold her gently. No more words were exchanged between them and Nami felt herself drift into the most peaceful sleep she had in a long time.

In the morning Nami was the first one to wake up and she wasn't surprised to see that Zoro was still asleep. When she took a closer look at his face she had to smile slightly. He looked younger when he was asleep and his normally unreadable face was completely relaxed. Seeing him like this made a warm feeling appear in her stomach. She had known from the beginning that he wouldn't take advantage of the situation and he really hadn't moved at all during the night. Her head was still laying on his chest and his arms were still around her. Never before had Nami woken up in someones arms and she was sure that she wouldn't fell this good if it had been anyone else but Zoro. She had slept so well and for the first time since she had lost Bellemere she felt completely safe exactly where she was.

It was strange that she was feeling this way, but looking at the man besides her, she had her reason for this emotion. It might have only been two months that they were traveling together but she considered Zoro her first real friend. Sure, they were complete opposites and they bickered a lot, but she had never felt so at home with anyone else outside of her family. Friendship was a whole new concept for her, but she was willing to try it with Zoro.

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)