Humble Abode
A small cottage sat in an shallow outcropping in the forests close to the edge of town. It was a humble cottage, a small garden gracing the front, full of lively colours and heady aromas. Set off behind the cottage was a small dojo where Zoro would train and offer the occasional lesson to kids from town. Zoro sat Olivia back down on the ground as they reached the dirt path that led up to the cottage.
He watched as she skipped up the drive disappearing through the door and into the cottage. A few strides later he followed her in and was greeted with the gurgle of activity that often filled his place. He glanced into the small alcove that hosted the kitchen space and saw Robin at the counter chopping some vegetables, a third hand sprang from the back of the stove and was stirring the contents of a large silver pot. Her long dark hair was tied back at the nape of her neck and twisted up into a know, tendrils falling free here and there. She wore a dark purple tank top under a sheer camisole paired with a long flowing black skirt. Her feet were bare and she moved around the small kitchen with a easy grace and familiarity. Robin was at ease in the kitchen, her cooking skills might not match Sanji's but they had been a pleasant surprise when life after piracy had started.
Zoro let out a low whistle as he leered at his wife, Robin looked over her shoulder and offered him a smile. Suddenly a slim arm appeared on his shoulder and slender fingers threaded lovingly into his short locks before disappearing in a poof of sakura blossoms.
"How was the festival?"
"Crowded." Zoro grunted as he pulled off his boots.
Robin's light laughter followed him into the sitting room where everyone else was gathered. Nami sat on the window seat that overlooked the front garden absently rocking the small form in her hand while she chastised her husband for being too rowdy.
"You had better not break another one of Robin's antiques, baka. I don't care how much treasure we have."
"Awww Nami..."
Luffy was silenced by one of Nami's tamer glares and went back to wrestling with Kei, the five year old son he shared with the former navigator. Kei was practically the spitting image of his father. They shared the same wild, untameable mess of black locks that framed a sweetly rounded face. Said face was currently adorned with a huge grin as he rolled around the floor with Luffy, albeit a bit more carefully than before.
Zoro crossed the room to peer down at the infant Nami cradled. She was wrapped in a soft pink cloth, a shock of reddish-orange hair and her cherub face the only thing visible. She gurgled when she saw Zoro's familiar face and Zoro extended a finger which the baby immediately popped into her mouth. Nami immediately popped it back out and smacked Zoro on the shoulder.
"Oi! What was that for woman?"
"Don't put your dirty fingers in my baby's mouth. If she gets sick you're going to pay for the medical bills and be the one to stay up when she's crying through the night."
Zoro grunted and let the word insane slip out unintelligibly. The orange-haired mother simply glared and rooted through the bag at her feet until she pulled out a neon pink soother. Baby Rie took it greedily, her small eyes falling closed as she sucked hungrily. Zoro couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the freakishly bright soother, he didn't think he had ever seen anything that bright before and that included Sanji's face when Robin and him had announced their relationship to the crew.
"Luffy bought it. Kei didn't know to stop him." Nami explained with exasperation but Zoro could see the fondness in her smile.
Zoro laughed and tossed himself on to the large leather sofa. Stretching out he draped an arm over his eyes and let his body sink into the buttery smoothness of the sofa. He droned the usual chaos around him out, secretly looking forward to the evening when Luffy and his family left and he was alone with Robin and Olivia and some quiet. Speaking of his daughter she wasn't among the chaos and he hadn't seen her since they got home.
"Oi Luf. You seen Olivia?" Zoro asked, half sitting up.
"She said hi on the way to her room but that's it."
Zoro picked himself up off the sofa and headed to the back of the cottage where Olivia had her own small room. He knocked lightly on the door, not really expecting an answer and sure enough none came. He opened the door to peek in and the kimono lying on her perfectly made bed confirmed his suspicions. He slipped out the sliding back doors and crossed the ground over to the dojo.
The dojo was small, it had a supply room, a training room where he stored his weights and the open room where he conducted his lessons. The door to the supply room was left open and he found Olivia in the center of the open room. She had changed into a pair of dark, loose-fitting pants and a red t-shirt, her feet were widened in an attacking stance the bokusen gripped tightly in her small hands. He watched as she moved through a set of katas, already showing promise and natural instinct despite only being eight.
"Loosen your grip a little, let the motion flow through your body not just your arms."
Olivia paused in her movements and looked over to where Zoro stood in the doorway. She nodded and Zoro could see her brow furrow as she forced her hands to relax. She took a deep breath and let it out and Zoro could see the tension evaporate from her wrists and shoulders. This time when she did her katas he could sense the flow of energy surging through her stronger than before. Pride surged in Zoro at how well she adapted to the advice.
Zoro watched he go through the movements a few more times before deciding dinner would be ready. Robin was used to having to fetch the two of them from the dojo but it didn't mean she liked it. The dojo had become his special place with Olivia, the sacred spot all the more special because it was something he shared with his daughter. Olivia put away the bokusen she had out and locked up the supply room before heading back over to him. She wore an impish grin that could only indicate trouble and Zoro laughed as she launched herself at him, grappling to climb on his back. He reached around to help her, one hand resting under her while her small arms circled his neck.
Zoro and Olivia slipped back into the cottage just as Robin announced that dinner was ready. Each spot was set with a bowl of miso soup and some dumplings, Zoro's mouth watered as the aromas filled the small room. Dumplings were Robin's specialty and Zoro could live off them. Laughter and chatter filled the room as the group dug in, pausing only to swat Luffy's outstretched hand away or pour some more tea. By the time Robin brought out the chicken teriyaki and yakisoba the pirate king was sporting several new bruises courtesy of his wife.
"Monkey D. Luffy stop stealing food from your son!"
Nami's cry startled Rie who was in her bassinet beside the table. A piercing wail broke through the air making Zoro's ears ring. He certainly did not miss this stage of Olivia's infancy. Luffy was out of the chair before Nami put down her chopsticks. He scooped his daughter up and started making various faces until not only Rie was smiling but Kei and Olivia were giggling at the table. Luffy took Rie back to his chair and bounced her on his knee while he continued to shovel food into his mouth.
"Rie's hair is like Ryoki's right daddy?" Olivia said suddenly, her eyes on the tuft of orange.
"Who's Ryoki?" Kei asked.
"Sanji's son."
"How do you know Ryoki?" Robin asked, the question on everyone's mind.
"We saw him at the festival, we're going to eat at his place tomorrow."
Olivia continued to babble away about their run-in with the cook, ignorant of the look Zoro was getting from Robin. She raised one perfectly arched eyebrow, her cobalt eyes curious.
"Uh.. yeah we ran into the cook's kid, or well he ran into us. Sanji showed up and made a fool of himself over Olivia and invited us for dinner tomorrow. He said he'd call you later with the details."
"Daddy said we would go. Can we mama, please?"
"Of course darling, it will be nice to see Cook-san again and finally meet Ryoki."
"I want to meet Ryoki!" Kei whined around a mouthful of food.
"Don't talk with food in your mouth, Kei." Nami chastised.
"Sanji's here! We should have a party!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Maybe we should find out Cook-san's plans first."
"Good idea. We shouldn't invite ourselves over to the dinner but if Sanji's going to be around perhaps you could suggest a get together Robin."
Dinner continued on with Robin and Nami planning the potential party amidst invite suggestions and comments from Luffy. Despite the gruff exterior Zoro felt a bit of excitement growing in the pit of his stomach. It had been awhile since he had seen most members of the crew and the way the others were talking it looked like they were planning a Strawhat crew reunion. So much for the peace and quiet he had been hoping for.