A/N: (2 chapters in one day??) Most of my stories are unplanned, meaning I just start typing and typing until the story ends. I never really know what's going to happen next until it actually happens… if that makes any sense. But for this story, I actually wrote down a list of events that happen in order so I won't go off track. I have a tendency to do that when I write Nami and Rock interaction. ;) Anyway, hopefully that will make things neater.

Don't Lie to Me: Chapter 4

"Lumina, just listen—" Nami tried to reason with the small brunette girl who had just returned from the city. But Lumina kept pushing her toward the door.

"A date with Rock? Honestly, Nami, why would I do something like that?" She cried, ushering Nami out until she was standing outside the Villa.

"It would just be for one night," Nami continued. But Lumina closed the door in her face. Breathing out slowly to control her temper, Nami turned on her heel to see Rock leaning against the front gate, grinning like a fool and clapping very slowly. The angry redhead placed one hand on her hip.

"That went well,"

"Shut up."

Rock tried to control his urge to laugh. "C'mon, don't get all cranky."

"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you," Nami warned. "You're the one who's lucked out on the date."

"Which would mean you lost our bet," Rock reminded her almost instantly.

"Too late. I already gave your money to Ruby."

Rock laughed spiritedly. "I thought you might've! Not a problem, though. Ruby's my mom, I don't think I'll have any trouble getting it back from her."

This comment got Nami thinking about Michael and Holly again. She could practically see them in his eyes every time he smiled. She tried to shake the image from her mind. But then Nami remembered that the picture from yesterday was still in her pocket. Maybe if Rock saw it, it might jog his memory.

"Hey, c'mere," Nami ordered. Rock decided to humor her and walked toward the Villa. Nami took out the folded picture and handed it to him. "Do you know who these people are?"

Unfolding the paper, Rock looked down to meet the gaze of Michael and Holly. He studied it carefully, having more seriousness in his eyes than Nami had ever seen him have. After a long minute, Rock opened his mouth to speak.

"The girl's kinda cute…"

Nami snatched the picture away from his hands, disturbed that Rock called his maybe-mother 'cute'. Then she repeated, "Do you know who they are?"

Rock shook his head. "Not a clue. Who are they?"

Nami sighed again, running a hand through her hair. Nami wanted to tell him her theory—he had a right to know—but she was at a loss for words. This information was heavy, and Rock probably wasn't used to making his brain carry so much knowledge at once. Nami, however, had always been blunt.

"I think…" Nami said the words slowly. "…they're your parents."

They were both silent. In fact, it seemed like the entire village had frozen; no sounds or movement.

"But Ruby and Tim are my parents." Rock told Nami in a voice that was usually reserved for Nami to use when she was trying to make Rock understand something beyond his mental capacity.

"Have you ever wondered why you look nothing like either of them? Or why you carry none of their traits?" Nami pressed. "I found this picture in Ruby's room. They're names are Michael and Holly… I found it right behind this other picture of Tim and Ruby when they were young. They're with this little boy who looks just like them… Maybe the little boy is—"

"Is what?" Rock demanded. Nami was startled. She'd never heard him raise his voice before. "What are you saying?"

"I'm just saying it makes sense, okay? You say you don't remember your childhood very well, which is probably why you don't recognize Michael and Holly. Maybe you're not Tim and Ruby's biological son. Maybe you were… adopted."

"Nami, I think you're going insane," Rock said. "Tim and Ruby would've told me if I was adopted."

"Not unless something horrible happened to your real parents…"

"Tim and Ruby are my real parents!" Rock finished exasperatedly.

There was another long silence in which Nami was losing her patience. She walked past him, down the stone path leading away from the Villa. "Fine. Believe whatever you want. I don't care."

Rock pursed his lips and chuckled. He knew Nami sometimes got these wild ideas in her mind, and she was so stubborn that she never gave them up. But this idea seemed like the craziest one yet. He knew Tim and Ruby were his parents. Why wouldn't they be? He had never even seen Michael or Holly before. How could some complete strangers be his parents?

--

It was rare for everyone to sit down together at the kitchen table for dinner at the inn. They all had different schedules, and when someone was finally available for an evening, someone else had sudden plans. But tonight was a free night for everyone, so Ruby decided to cook the best dinner ever and have what she called their "family meal".

"The food's great, Ruby," Tim complimented after they had all sat down to eat.

"Yeah, thanks, mom," Rock agreed. Nami glared at him.

"I was just so excited that everyone was available tonight," Ruby smiled gently. "We haven't all spent some time together in quite a while."

"That's true. I love having our family meals together," Rock looked over at Nami as he stressed the word 'family' just to bother her. But Nami was closer to snapping than Rock thought. She averted her gaze, pretending like it didn't affect her, having a perfect poker face. If she couldn't get Rock to believe her, then maybe he'd believe his "parents"…

"I found a stray kitten today," Ruby went on about her day. "She was hiding in my garden and she looked so frightened… I couldn't bare to just leave her there."

Tim glanced at his wife. "A kitten? We're keeping it?"

"Why not? I thought we could all think of a name for her," Ruby looked around the table as everyone ate. There was a beat before anyone spoke.

"How about Holly?" Nami suggested nonchalantly. Everyone at the table froze in place, staring at her. Then she knew for certain that there was something not being told.

"Uh… why that name, Nami?" Tim asked nervously.

"There are plenty other good names…" Ruby nearly whispered.

"I don't really like that name," Rock chimed in loudly.

"I think it's a pretty name," Nami added casually, continuing to eat.

"Well, we'll think of something later," Ruby suggested to end the awkwardness that was quickly building at the table.

"So, Ruby," Nami went on. "I couldn't help but notice that nice picture of you and Tim that's on your desk in your room."

"Oh, thank you," Ruby laughed. "That's such an old photograph…"

"But who's that little boy in the picture with you?" Nami asked innocently. "I don't recognize him."

"Oh, he's just…"

"What picture, mom?" Rock asked suddenly, confused.

"Oh, nothing, dear,"

"Then who's the boy?" Nami asked again.

"I've never seen this picture before," Rock added as Ruby continued to fluster with words.

"It's just such an old photograph…" Ruby mumbled.

"I'm just curious…" Nami shrugged like it's no big deal.

"What's she talking about, mom?"

"ENOUGH!" Tim shouted, banging his fists on the table. Ruby, Nami, and Rock all turned to him, shocked. "I think I'm finished."

Tim pushed his full plate away from him, stood, and exited the kitchen. Nami looked at Rock, then at Ruby. They were both staring at the table. Ruby quickly shuffled after her husband, leaving just Rock and Nami. This is when Nami expected Rock to make some joking comment about how much he enjoyed their dinners together. But instead, he said nothing. He just stood and left like Tim and Ruby had.

Nami sighed as she sat alone at the kitchen table, pushing the food around on her plate aimlessly, completely losing her appetite. So, just like the others, she stood and left.

A/N: I really hope they didn't seem out of character. I know Rock is usually cheery and funny all the time, but I figure we all get upset sometimes. And Nami is quite devious. But she just wants Rock to know the truth, which is considerate in her own way. Anyway, it's like 1AM and I am beat…. But I just needed to finish before I went to sleep! ;)