Normally on shitty nights like these Sanji would hunker down in his hammock with a certain moronic swordsman at his side and actually be able to sleep as if there weren't a giant storm brewing just outside. He didn't actually like sleeping with Zoro or anything, he just needed the moron to weigh down his hammock for him when they went over big waves and stuff, that was it. Nothing out of the ordinary at all.

But much to Sanji's disdain, his Neanderthal was on the first watch of the night and wouldn't be back any time soon. So there the cook laid, swinging wildly in his hammock, waiting for either the storm to pass or for his extra weight to return later in the night. Sanji let out an annoyed huff at the loud snores of his cabin mates and wondered how they could sleep through such a terrible storm when he suddenly heard... What on earth was that? The blond listened patiently, trying to make out what the sound was when a sudden strike of lightning lit up the men's cabin with a bright flash. Immediately after the room had darkened again, Sanji heard a quiet, almost inaudible whimper, and that's when he knew what it was.

"Erin?" Sanji called, sitting up quickly. He began looking towards what he thought would be the general direction of the couch that the girl had been sleeping on for the past two weeks. "It's okay sweetie. Mommy's coming."

All he received in response was another whimper, slightly louder this time, as another clash of thunder sounded outside.

The blond cook reached blindly for a pair of sweatpants that he had taken off and thrown on the floor earlier in the night. He made a slight grunt of approval as he finally found the fabric and quickly pulled them on so that they rested low on his hips. Sanji squinted in the darkness, as if it would help him see better, and began to stubble in what he thought was the right direction. He continued to walk in a somewhat straight line until another flash of lightning let him see that he was now only a few feet away from the couch but not much more than that. He reached out his hand and bent over slightly and moved forward, sweeping his and in front of him, until his hand brushed against a small shuddering lump.

"Erin, it's mommy. You're going to be okay, I promise," he called, squeezing what he thought to be the little girl's shoulder. She seemed to be hiding under a large blanket and let out a quiet cry as a particularly loud clap of thunder shook the ship to its core. Sanji moved until he was able to sit somewhat awkwardly on the edge of the couch and lay down next to his little girl. He instinctively curled around her small body as he began to unwrap the blanket that Erin was currently cocooned inside of. As soon as she was untangled, Erin latched onto him and sobbed quietly into the crook of her adoptive mother's neck. Sanji let out a quiet sigh and did he best to spread the blanket over the two of them with Erin still tightly clinging to him. "Shhh..." he murmured, hugging the little girl tightly as lightning flashed and thunder continued to sound just outside the door. "You're such a brave little girl aren't you? You're so strong and kind. You're wonderful Erin. You're wonderful," Sanji cooed as Erin continued to cry freely, slicking his chest with tears and snot.

"Mommy," Erin cried, pressing herself flat against Sanji's chest.

"Go to sleep sweetie," he pleaded, rubbing his hand along the expanse of her small back and giving a quick kiss to the top of her head.

Erin continued to whimper quietly, causing Sanji to let out a tired sigh when he realized that she wasn't going to be able to sleep, and neither was he, if he didn't try something else. He thought back, trying to remember a past never existed. A time before Zeff, a time before everything. There was a song that he could recall, a lullaby of sorts, that was about the All Blue and was often used to sing children to sleep in the North Blue. Well he could give it a shot he supposed. He wasn't exactly a great singer but he could at least carry a tune.

Hear the water flow, never mind the cold
The ship is sound, you're safe here in the hold.
Arctic birds and rain fly overhead,
Rocking boats and oceans for your bed.

Sanji sang quietly into Erin's golden hair. He felt her shift slightly in his arms, seeming to make herself more comfortable. Her sobs had turned into quiet whimpers as Sanji continued sing of a time long ago.

Have you seen the emerald greens and deep dark turquoise
Shimmering weeds swaying in the flow?
Elegant driftwood bones embrace you,
Glimmering fish hook eyes below.

Erin had stopped crying at this point, her grip around Sanji's neck had decreased considerably and it seemed that she was just holding onto the last threads of consciousness.

I promise you I won't ever let you go,
Although the waters rise and the cold winds blow.
Silver shapes that swim circles round your bed
Whisper liquid dreams to your sleepy head.

Sanji finished with another quick kiss to the girl's forehead and a whispered "Goodnight Erin." It was evident that she was asleep now and soon enough Sanji would be as well. He cuddled up next to her, finally able to ignore the sounds of the storm raging outside, and fell into a deep sleep.

Zoro burst into the men's cabin a wet, sloppy mess. He shook his hair out much like a wet dog would, waking up Usopp with the stray droplets. "Is it time for my watch?" the sniper asked wearily, blinking as a flash of lightening lit up the room.

"Yeah," Zoro answered gruffly, throwing off his coat and boots to some far corner of the room. He wanted nothing more than crawl into bed with the shit-cook and sleep for the next 37 hours without interruption. Tonight's watch had been rough and he just wanted to lay down, hold Sanji's body against his, run a hand through his golden hair, kiss that soft spot behind the cook's ear, touch his... "AUGH! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?"

Usopp jumped at Zoro's sudden outburst and nearly fell on his face as he tripped over his own boots. "A-are you okay Zoro? Did something happen?"

Zoro scrubbed angrily at his wet hair, trying to prevent the strange onslaught of metal images he was suddenly getting that seemed to revolve around the cook. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, just fine."

The sharpshooter gave Zoro a questioning glance before sighing and leaving the other man to his own devices. It was best not to bother the swordsman when he was like this or he would just end up getting more flustered than he already was.

Darkness returned to the cabin once Usopp had closed the door, muffling the billowing storm that still raged outside. Zoro looked around for a moment, trying to get his eyes used to the darkness. He squinted and saw a large lump on the couch which he assumed to be the love cook. The swordsman tread carefully through the darkness, being careful not to stray too far off from the path to the couch. He eventually made it, although it took a bit longer the probably necessary, and reached out to grip Sanji's arm. "Oi, love cook!" he whispered harshly, "Move over."

Sanji blinked blearily and turned his head over his shoulder to look at a large shadowlike figure towering over him. "Fuck off Marimo there isn't enough room."

Zoro's eye twitched in annoyance and began to poke Sanji's cheek in attempt to annoy him. "Come on," he whined "We've both fit two people on the couch before, just scoot over already."

"I can't shit for brains. Erin and I are already sleeping here," Sanji retorted, slapping the swordsman's hand away. "Go sleep by yourself."

Zoro blinked in surprise and scanned the dark couch until he spotted a second, much smaller, lump sleeping right next to Sanji. "She's only the size of like, half a person. So that makes two and a half people. We could fit if you'd stop being such a diva about it," he reasoned, starting to poke Sanji's cheek again.

"I'm glad you can do basic math shit for brains, congratulations. You are smarter than a fifth grader," Sanji grumbled angrily, beginning to move over to make room for his oversized boyfriend. "You can only sleep here if you promise to be a good Marimo and stop poking me already! God, why the hell are you so fucking persistent?"

As soon as there was enough room, Zoro flopped down on the couch, causing the springs to squeak quietly. He reached around and hugged the bitchy blond from behind, much to the other man's annoyance. "Because I love you," he murmured in answer, kissing the base of Sanji's neck.

Sanji's face heated in embarrassment, causing his hold on Erin to tighten slightly. "Stop saying that already. What is up with you lately?"

Zoro shrugged, nosing behind Sanji's ear. "This whole 'Being a Dad' thing has been kind of getting to me. It's making me all sentimental and shit," he muttered, smiling as the cook shuddered next to him.

"Go to bed asshole," was all Sanji said in response, burrowing his red face in the couch cousins.

"Goodnight Honey."

Sanji hissed, kicking Zoro's shin hard enough to bruise. "Goodnight, Darling."

"Sleep tight Mr. Prince."

"Nighty-night sweetheart."

"Baby-cakes."

"Sweetie-pie."

"Cuddle Bunny."

"Boo-boo Bear."

"Marimo Babe."

"Curly Cutie."

"AUGH! That's enough Zoro. You win, just let me go to sleep!"

"Goodnight Sanji."

"Goodnight Dumbass."

A/N: Okay this chapter was inspired by jarofbittersweet's prompt on tumblr: Erin gets scared of a storm and Sanji has to sleep with her to calm her down. Later, Zoro comes in and sleeps with them as well. If you guys have an idea for what you'd like to see in the next chapter then please contact me. Oh and the song/lullaby was Ocean Lullaby by Zulya and the Children of the Underground. Thanks for reading!