A/N: Ok, due to request, I've written a second chapter to "One Step at a Time". I am still uncertain as to whether or not I should have just left it as a one-shot, but hey! the more the merrier. Hope you all enjoy. Dedicated to Slipmaskin and Smouse.

"Where the hell is that idiot!?"

Nami's frustrated shriek echoed across the deck of the Merry. Complete and utter silence greeted her infuriated outburst.

Of course no one has an answer! She thought savagely. How anyone could be expected to know what the stupid moss head had been up to was beyond her. It was only to be expected, she supposed. Zoro was always, without fail, the last person back on the ship when they landed on a new island (apart from the times when he never left the ship as he was on watch). What could he possibly have gotten up to?

Yes, alright, so there had been some more moronic bounty hunters who couldn't resist the chance of bagging a few hundred million beli, but Zoro could deal with them! Couldn't he!? Well, they HAD been stronger than the rest of the Strawhats had expected…and Luffy DID have more trouble with this bunch than he usually did…and Sanji WAS currently having Chopper fix three broken ribs…so therefore there WAS the possibility that the swordsman might not be able to defeat them…

Nami crushed that train of thought as soon as she realized where it was heading. There was no way that Zoro would lose, right? And yet…where the hell was he!?

Unknown by Nami, the rest of the crew were having similar thoughts. Usopp refused to believe that the man he looked up to so much might not be coming back, but Usopp had never been good at handling doubts. Chopper sniffled apprehensively while he bandaged Sanji's chest, while Sanji himself was clenching his fists tightly, mentally threatening to torture the marimo with everything he could think of if the swordsman dared to not return. Robin looked a touch less detached to the rest of the world as she usually did, as if something other than history actually mattered.

But Luffy was his stubborn self. He refused to think that Zoro would lose. After all, he'd promised that he'd never lose again. Well, not until he got to fight Mihawk, at least. And in Luffy's straightforward thinking, that was all that really mattered. Because Zoro had promised. And Zoro NEVER his broke promises.

The atmosphere on the Merry was tense, to say the least. In fact, the tension was so thick you could have sawed it in half with a chainsaw. Nobody wanted to voice the unspoken horror they were all thinking of. Except for Luffy, of course.

Luffy had an unshakeable faith in his swordsman, and sat quietly in his "special seat", patiently waiting for Zoro's return. Somehow, even he had realized now was probably not the best time to ask for meat. So he sat there and waited for the green-haired man to come home.

Time crawled by, each minute feeling like hours. During this time, Chopper had finished bandaging Sanji, Usopp had come up with yet another story to tell his crew and even Robin was looking a smudge worried. Sanji had smoked half a pack of cigarettes and Nami had probably taken years off her life span by stress. Still, Luffy remained rather oblivious to it all.

Sanji was probably going to die of a premature heart-attack. The waiting was killing him, the tension and worry gnawing away inside him. His 14th cigarette probably wasn't doing much good either. But, no matter what, he'd wait it out. He'd wait for the annoying, stupid, moronic, direction-impaired marimo. Because there was no way in hell Zoro'd just lie down and die. They were nakama, damn it!

Usopp was looking very, very hard for something he prayed he'd see. He was going to tell the story he'd just finished inventing to everyone tonight. It just wouldn't be the same without Zoro. After all, Zoro was one of the manliest men Usopp had ever met. He was the perfect role model for the cowardly...um, no…careful sniper. Usopp gazed longingly out onto the bare winter landscape. If only…hang on a sec…was that…Usopp hurriedly adjusted his goggles in time to see a bloodstained, green-haired man step out of the snow forest. His shout rang across the Merry, startling everyone into action.

"ZORO!!"

Every head turned in the direction Usopp pointed in. Just in time to see the swordsman stumble and fall, rolling a little down the snow covered hill.

"Zoro…" whimpered Chopper, immediately reaching for his medicine kit. Relief swamped Usopp as he hurriedly clambered off the ship. Nami let out a pent up breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding and a small smile crossed Robin's normally passive face. Sanji fumed at Zoro for making his precious ladies worry, trying to pretend the lump in his throat had nothing to do with the miraculous reappearance of the marimo. Luffy laughed and grinned at everyone with an "I-told-you-so" expression on his childish face. They all rushed down to greet Zoro together, sand and snow flying in their wake.

Zoro was not feeling too good. He felt so light-headed he wondered it he was still walking in a straight line. Hell, he wondered if he was still walking at all! His vision was blurring and fuzzing. He thought he heard someone yell his name, but he wasn't sure. So he kept plodding on, repeating his mantra in his head. He'd never forgive himself if he gave up now.

Suddenly, something slammed into his stomach, knocking him off balance. A confused grunt forced his way out of his throat before he swayed and almost fell. Immediately after the first one, two more things slammed into him; one into his knees and one into his shoulder. The thing on his knees cried and sniffed and lectured him about his health at the same time. Chopper…he realized distantly. The person around his shoulders yelled at him about taking care of himself and a long, pointy nose jabbed into his neck every time a word was emphasized. Usopp. Couldn't be anyone else with a nose like that. Finally, the thing melded into his haramaki gibbered on and on about everything and anything, exuding energy and excitement, his vibrant aura swamping Zoro.

His eyes caught a flash of orange and a fist hit him in the head as the extremely angry navigator berated him for holding everyone up again. That and raising his already unpayable debt by a few million dollars. And yet somehow he couldn't help but hear the worry in her voice. He saw the raven-haired woman standing a little back from the scene, relief shining in her dark eyes. And finally, in the midst of all the confusion, he heard the swirly-brow say "…directionless, idiot marimo!"

"Screw you, dartboard-brow!" he heard his own faint, reflexive reply. It felt so good to be amongst his nakama again. Safe, warm, welcoming. Just like home. He enjoyed the feeling for a moment. Then the darkness closed in and Zoro crumpled to the ground.

Zoro woke up in the infirmary. His wounds had been washed and bandaged, and he was lying in soft, white sheets. He could hear voices floating down from above. His nakama were having some sort of party, it seemed. Luffy's cries for meat, Usopp's extravagant stories, Chopper's gasps of awe. The aho-cooks declarations of love for the two women who simply laughed. Yes, this was definitely home. Zoro sighed and closed his eyes, settling back into the warm blankets, savouring the welcome atmosphere. He'd join them later, when he was ready. But for now, he'd try to get as much sleep as possible. The party could wait. Unless they had sake. Lots and lots of sake.

A/N: Ok, so how was it? Did you like it better one-shot or did you like it like this? I know the ending was kind of strange, but I really couldn't think of another way to finish it! Thankyouze all for reading now please review and tell me what you think (you can flame me all you like...)! =]