Disclaimer: Oda owns One Piece.

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He chose a spot outside the mansion and dozed off while the rest were happily engaged in a conversation. To his surprise, Perona is fitting in and is quite getting along well with Caimie. He supposed it had something to do with the designer and model thing.

To see her there after many, many years, Zoro was surprised but managed to hide it through his usual veil of nonchalance. Just how small is the world that their paths crossed? And to think she is good friends with Vivi. And not to mention Robin.

Speaking of the devil, Robin's beauty had matured from the last time she had spent time with them and it also surprised him to learn that she was married. He supposed the night was full of surprises for him.

"Still the lone wolf?"

He cracked his eyes open to find Robin standing in front of him, her right hand offering him a glass of wine. "Thanks," he muttered and sat straight, his back comfortably leaning on the trunk of the tree.

"So its Luffy and Vivi huh? It never occurred to me that Luffy would get married. Among the three of you, I always bet on Usopp to be the first since he had the high chances of wanting to settle down," she mused. "Mind if I sit beside you?"

"Not really. Help yourself," he motioned, his left hand patting the space near him. "So you're married now."

She smiled. "I am. He's a good guy."

He smirked and sipped on his wine. "I supposed he is."

They remained there in silence until Robin broke it. "You and Nami knew each other." It was more of a statement than a question.

He grunted. "Way back."

"I wouldn't pry. It seemed a topic you do not wish to discuss," she said and watched the people inside. She observed the pink-haired who was jovially discussing something with Caimie. "I've never seen Caimie talk to a stranger happily about her passion."

He followed her gaze. "Perona was once a model before she quit so I think they have something in common – it goes with the designer and model thing."

She glanced at him and raised her brow. "Is she someone special?" she asked though Luffy had already said something about that.

He stared at Perona who was making faces before she hit Luffy in the head. "She is," he answered resolutely. "She's special."

Robin nodded her head. "I see. She looked like a nice woman."

Zoro grinned though she was unable to catch it. "She is though at times she is just a handful as Luffy is. But that's one of her quirks. So tell me, when did you decide to settle down?"

She had a bemused smile. "A couple of years ago. Two and half years ago."

"An archeologist like you?"

She shook her head and played with the glass. "No. He's an architect. Sometimes he tagged along with me for my dig."

He glanced at her this time. "You've got quite a man."

She glanced at him as well then smiled gently, seeing an uncertain look that crossed his eyes for barely a second but she understood. She shook her head. "You were just as perfect. It wasn't your fault our relationship ended so soon even when it had just begun."

He stared at her with impassive eyes before he looked away. "I'm sorry."

Her hand held his left arm gently. "You should not be. We had something going there but I felt like you could not open it up. Back then, I wanted a man who I could understand and who could do the same with me. But the walls you built around you are too thick for me to break." She looked at the people outside and saw Vivi giving her a questioning look. "You were nursing an old wound then."

"I wasn't," he said contritely.

She only nodded, her eyes knowing. "You should probably come inside. Luffy is calling you," she said when Luffy was waving at him with both arms. Zoro looked at his best friend trying to act silly once again. Robin stood up with a soft chuckle. "Even until now, I am amazed at how the two of you got along so very well despite your contrasting personalities. I am going back in." as she walked away, she remembered something. "By the way, Zoro, it makes me happy to know that there is someone who could finally understand at a level no other female could."

He only grunted as he watched her walk away. He could count a few women in his life. Kuina – but she died at a young age. Nami. Tashigi. Robin. Vivi and Perona. He had a relationship with the first three before. Nami left him for Kaku, he ended things with Tashigi and Robin had to end up their relationship due to her career back then. In one way or another, he drew some parallelism between Nami and Robin. While his relationship with Nami ended on a bitter note, it was a different case with Robin though.

"Are you still going to laze around there?" Perona asked even while she was still distant. She was making his way towards him. "Come on in."

He shook his head. "I'm fine here."

Perona sighed and stood in front of him, her hands on her hips. After a beat, she spoke. "So I met two of your previous women and they are friends. They seemed nice."

He closed his eyes. "Perona…"

"You look bothered."

"I'm not," he argued.

But being Perona, she never gave up. "Is it because Nami is here?" she asked with a questioning look.

He sighed and opened his eyes to glare at her. "No. I am not bothered and I am definitely not bothered because of her."

Perona stomped her foot childishly. "Then it is Robin. You said you had something going with her but she left for her dig. Do you still harbor any feelings for her?" she sat beside him, uninvited. "Why don't you tell me about it?"

Feeling his eyebrow twitch, Zoro glared at her. Sometimes, he wondered if she had adapted Luffy's persistent attitude. "First, I don't harbor any feelings for her. I do not linger on what was on the past already."

"Uhuh." She grunted and stood up before he pulled him up as well. "C'mon, it doesn't do you good lingering on the past. If they truly do not bother you, then come on in."

He let himself be pulled up rather than allowing her to babble on and on. This is when Luffy and her are the same. They are so insistent on what they wanted though Perona does it in a demanding way compared to Luffy who was doing it rather childishly. Still, they both know that they could get their way.

"When I met Robin, I was still so unsure of myself then. I guess I started doubting everything about myself ever since Nami had duped me for my rival. It's not like I am bothered about their presence, Perona. It's just that I could not help but wonder if there ever was a future for me and Robin – knowing it was my fault she wanted out. She tried so much to reach out but I wouldn't let her."

Perona stopped walking and looked back at him. Then she smiled so warmly that Zoro knew he never regretted saving this woman's life. "You had made something big for yourself now. One look at you and no one would ever think you were a guy full of uncertainties in life. Just be happy for Robin now. She married a great guy."

Zoro sighed. "She did. She's a woman shrouded in many mysteries. She was just like you when I first met her you know. She was tempted to end her life once." He walked so he could stand beside her then they resumed walking back to the house. "Despite how she looked, she's fragile in the inside and I feel relieved that there is someone who could protect her now."

She lightly touched his arm then tugged at him. "She's someone you cared so much about."

He nodded without a word. When Nami broke up with him, it made him stronger and wiser. It made him choose a woman nicely. And he never believed in the old saying that says first love is stronger. For him, what he felt for Robin was by far stronger than what he had with Nami. He couldn't help but regret on what might have been.

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She could not understand why she felt a sting in her heart when she risked a glance at his direction and saw how Zoro felt so comfortable around Robin and Perona's presence. For some reason, she felt – jealous. It surprised her to learn that after so many years of not seeing the man she had dumped for someone richer, she suddenly felt jealous towards her friend and the pink-haired. Really, just how selfish could she get?

"I didn't know you were acquainted with Zoro before," Vivi caught her attention.

The redhead turned to her friend and smiled forcefully. "He's someone I – "

"Zoro is really a spoilsport," Luffy interrupted with a small pout and he joined his woman. "Even in other occasions, Zoro preferred the solace he could get away from a crowd."

Vivi gave Luffy a warning look for his lack of timing. She turned to Nami. "Don't mind Luffy's childish complaints. You were saying?" she urged.

Nami felt her face heat up in embarrassment, knowing she was about to reveal that she was in a relationship with him when they were in high school. Meeting Vivi's gaze, she felt compelled to admit it though. Vivi had always been honest and she wanted her friends to be the same.

"I hurt him before," she admitted softly.

Even Luffy gave her an interested look. The redhead forced another smile. "It was one of the things I was never proud of doing."

There was an edgy look from Luffy's eyes as realization dawned on him. "You were the one – the girl who dumped him?" he asked softly, his voice filled with surprise.

"I was," her smile was slanted and she refused to meet Luffy's eyes. Instead, she met Vivi's and gave her an apologetic look. "I never thought I would see him again."

"Nami…"

"Still, I'm happy he looked alright and satisfied."

"He is," Luffy was the one who answered curtly, as if the fact that he is facing the first female who hurt his friend hurt him as well. "He made a lot for himself. I don't understand why you dumped him before for the glitters of gold." And he left them, shocking Vivi and shaming Nami.

Vivi turned to Nami and covered her mouth. "Nami – I – I am sorry for his behavior. I – I couldn't – " Vivi found herself looking for the right words. In a very swift moment, the jovial mood had changed and turned gloomy. It was also the first time she had seen Luffy act so suddenly rude.

Nami reached for Vivi's hand and clasped it gently. "I deserve that. In fact, I deserve more than that. Hurting the boy who protected me before was one thing I am very ashamed of. I was tempted by Kaku's wealth."

"But – "

"It struck me now that I never did apologize to him."

This time, it was Vivi who held her hand. "Then you have the chance now. Chances like these rarely happens in life Nami so grab it. You might never have the same chance again. tell him how sorry you are." She looked over Nami's shoulder and smiled. "Look, he is making his way back here with Perona. Why not talk to him?"

"I really don't know what to say. You saw it earlier."

"Just tell him you're sorry. Then hey, maybe old flame can be rekindled?" she suggested in a teasing tone while Nami shook her head.

Trust Vivi the romanticist. She felt herself being pulled up. "Go." Vivi urged her as Perona and Zoro stepped in. The pink-haired went towards Luffy and the rest while Vivi held Zoro up. "Hey Zoro."

"?"

"You see – "

"I was wondering if we could talk?" Nami cut her off before she could go any further. She stood beside Vivi and gave Zoro a silent look. Vivi took the chance to silently slip away.

Zoro stared at her for a moment before he sighed. "If it was about years ago, there's nothing to talk about Nami. And don't apologize if you intend to. I have you to thank actually," he said and tucked his hands on his pocket. He gave a sincere smile though you could barely see it since he always hid it behind the shadows of a scowl. "I became stronger and wiser because of you. Come on, let's join the rest," he said and ruffled her locks before he left her there, standing astounded.

Just like that? No hard feelings? He really moved on? Nami bit her lip. It made things more difficult for her to say the right words of apology. He knew how to take the stuffing out of her mouth. She glanced at the ceiling and told herself –

Watch and see how the man you had taken for granted is everything you'll ever want for a man in life.

And she truly felt regretful knowing what she had with him ended because of her greed.

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Whew. Sorry for the late update. I have no real reason except that I was enjoying my vacation and it took me longer to upload this one. I was planning to update the story a few days ago but I got busy with something else. So let me once again thank the following people who reviewed.

Buchielle – hey, good to see your name here. I wasn't expecting you to be into a One Piece fic as well. And yeah, indeed, Zoro is one hot blooded male.

Kyleen Ayanami – hullo, glad you liked the 2nd chap.

Thormac- I remember seeing your name in one of my One Piece fic and I want to tell you how glad I am that you still follow it.

Echo Uchiha – hi, thank you very much, you always support my stories by leaving me a review and I feel grateful for it.

Fmdevil – hehe, Perona is fast becoming my favorite too and glad we had something in common. I even felt the same disappointment you did when Oda didn't add her. I was gunning on her to be the next nakama. Then again, I supposed we can't always have everything.

yuMeNami – yeah, a broken past. Hope you continue watching out for this one.

AquaGekko23 – I was doubtful at first when I kept them in character and thank you for reassuring me I did well, however, I think they were all kinda OOC on the third chapter.

Whattup' penguin – who wouldn't love a high school drama? Hehe, I am glad you like it so far.

MASSEXPLOSION – thank you so much.

KiaCoral – thank you so very much and I would like to know what movie came to mind, ehehe, glad you liked the interaction between Zoro and Perona.

Minatochan145 – thanks for the review. I appreciate it.