CHAPTER FOUR

By Aoi Koneko Chan

He had felt that two days was enough to get this tension out of his system, but his katana strokes said otherwise. They were sloppy and distracted or too stiff and weak. He'd been meticulous about trying to get back into his rhythm but there was no helping it. He was completely and utterly messed up by this whole situation.

He decided to stop here for today. He wasn't improving, he was merely wasting energy which in its own way could be good, but right now was ineffectual. He sheathed his katana and went to put them in their cases. What he needed was a cold shower followed by a warm soak and then he could think about lunch.

It was midway through his soak that a familiar childish voice called out his name followed by his trademark 'hee hee hee'. The noises that followed could only be the opening and slamming of several of his sliding doors. He was probably gonna get another lecture from Usopp about the importance of locks. The man was always on him for never locking his door. To be honest, there weren't that many street thugs that could take him in a fight, but as he stepped out of the tub, he could see Ussop's point about the lock. It's damned uncomfortable to try find clothes and grab your swords before confronting an intruder. He would have to be more careful in the future.

He had finished rubbing down with a towel and had just secured it around his waist before an exorbitantly excited Luffy slammed open the door and announced his arrival launching into his usual bearhug. Normally, Zoro would indulge the monkey in his friendly endeavor, but his training failures and being caught in the tub were wearing his patience thin so he simply extended an arm and caught Luffy's face in his palm, before deflecting the fool to the side.

"Zo-ro Naf far–" Luffy's garbled voice sounded behind Zoro's palm. Zoro made a face as the idiot slobbered all over his previously clean hand and sighed.

"Life's never fair, Luffy." He said with a sigh as he let go of his friend's face. He turned to stride out of the bathroom and to the bedroom to change. Luffy would no doubt follow if he wanted to say something, but he'd be damned if he stood around in the nude for whatever discussion the brunette had in mind.

He'd slipped on underwear and was just pulling on some pants when Luffy entered the bedroom.

"Why're you here, Luffy?" He asked as he rummaged for a shirt.

"I'm picking you up for lunch!" The brunette answered happily as he flopped on the queen bed.

Closing the draw, Zoro sent a skeptical look at his friend as he put on the shirt he'd taken out. "You're taking me for lunch?" He started quizzically. "What brought this on?"

Luffy smiled and rearranged the straw hat that sat on his head. Zoro grabbed some socks and sat on the bed next to his best friend.

"You need cheering up, Zoro." The brunette chirped and Zoro couldn't help but let out a dark chuckle. Boy did he ever, unfortunately, life was never that kind. The only thing that could make him happy would be for Sanji to get back together with him, but that wasn't happening. He had a kid. He was married for heaven's sake.

"Yeah, Luffy." He murmured as he rubbed a hand down his face trying to stay away from those kind of thoughts. "Ok. Where were you thinking of going?"

The smaller man grinned at him. "The Baratie, of course!"

Zoro leveled him with the most deadpan look he could muster. "Not happening." He said. "Where else?"

Suddenly, the room got quiet as Luffy stopped bouncing and moved to stand directly in front of Zoro. "No. We're going to the Baratie."

Zoro looked up, unable to keep the shock off his face. Despite the ordering tone of the words, they had been said with such kindness and understanding. It was confusing the hell out of Zoro's mind. Luffy's stance wasn't mean, he wasn't being intimidating, he was acting almost like a mother. It was weird.

"Zoro." Luffy started, in a voice that was softer than he'd ever heard Luffy speak in. "You need to do this. You're a fighter and you need to fight."

"He has a son, Luffy. A family." He stated blankly.

"So, what? You're saying because he has a kid, he can't love you?" Luffy said crossing his hands over his chest.

Zoro rolled his eyes and pulled on his other sock before glaring up at his friend's face. "I'm saying he can't be with me if he has a wife." He spat. Damned Luffy making him say out loud what he hadn't wanted to confront in the first place. Sanji was taken. That was the end of the story. Zoro had rested on his laurels and now he was paying the price. Someone else had seen and appreciated how fantastic Sanji was and now it was too late.

"Wife?" Luffy echoed. And Zoro grit his teeth. "Huh, you think he would have mentioned that to me. He told you, huh?" Luffy asked.

It was probably the way that the brunette spoke about it all so casually that irritated him but it made Zoro fall off his guard. "No." He muttered. "He didn't have to. He has a kid, he's–"

"–Zoro." Luffy barked and the older man stiffened at the tone. "Are you seriously telling me that you of all people, just assumed something?"

A moment of silence passed between them. Zoro had no answer.

"Because I know how much you hate it when people assume things about you, so I'm sure you wouldn't just jump to assumptions like that, right?"

Damn Luffy. His tactic was so obvious, and yet, so simple. He had jumped to conclusions rather than stick around to hear the actual truth. He'd grown into one of those adults that read into situations and refused to go further thinking they knew everything that would happen. They were the people Zoro had mocked as a teenager, the ones in the films that he and Sanji said were dumb because they were too scared to just talk out their problems. But it was scary. Zoro was afraid of being hurt more than he already had been and that was another reason to be annoyed at himself. Stupid Luffy pointing this out to him. Another beat of silence before Zoro finally broke.

"What do you want me to say, Luffy?" He sighed as he looked down at the carpet.

"Say you'll come to lunch with me. See Sanji. Talk with him properly. Don't assume anything." The younger man rested a hand on his beloved hat. "You've got nothing to lose Zoro, and everything to gain."

Zoro let out a deep sigh as he thought over his friend's words. Things were definitely bad when Luffy made logical sense. He was right though, there really wasn't that much to lose. He just had to be confident enough to try. The worst that could happen would be the same as the past four years and really, if Sanji did really want to move on, perhaps it was for the best if what was left of his romantic feelings were crushed beyond all hope. He took another deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Fine, Luffy. You win. Let me get dressed?"

Luffy beamed at him brightly and clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm so looking forward to Sanji's cooking!" He grinned as he laughed.

For the first time that day, a genuine smile settled on the swordsman's face and he rest a hand over the one on his shoulder.

"Me too, Luffy. Me too."

The smaller man chuckled patted his shoulder and headed for the door. "Oh, and Zoro," He said stopping in the threshold. The man in question raised his head to meet his friend. "You're not wearing that, are you?" He teased before running out into the living room away from Zoro's feral growls.

As the elaborately decorated doors closed behind him, Zoro let out a calming breath. He hadn't expected to be back so soon. To be honest, he was a little self-conscious of how needy he probably would look to the blond, but Luffy's words grounded him and he bolstered his spirit.

"Sanji!" In seconds, the brunette had left his side bounding over into the kitchen, the shouts that sounded from the closed doors showed that the chefs there weren't too happy with Luffy's unannounced blast into the kitchen. Zoro stood awkwardly at the entrance before he decided to at least wait by the bar for the idiot brunette so as not to look like a complete loner. Sooner or later Luffy would be kicked out by the chefs and then they could see about getting seats. He hoped Sanji didn't mind him coming again. He sighed. He was frustrated with himself for getting so wrapped up in what the blond thought again. He was so lost in his never-ending battle in his mind that the gruff voice to his right startled him.

"Back again, huh, broccoli?"

Zoro whipped his head around to see Zeff's familiar face pinning him with an ascertaining look. The old man didn't look as pissed off as the last time they'd seen each other, but one could never be certain with the old seaman.

"Luffy brought me for lunch." He answered lamely as he sat down at the bar. It was true, but even to his ears it sounded like a thinly veiled excuse to see a certain long-legged chef. The old man just hummed, continuing to wipe the glass he'd been holding before putting it aside and grabbing a new one. Silence passed between the pair and Zoro inwardly cursed himself for sitting down and Luffy for leaving him alone in such an awkward situation. After half a minute, Zoro couldn't stand it, not with how things went down between them two nights ago.

"So…" He started, trying to sound casual as he fiddled with a paper coaster. "Is he happy with her?"

He deliberately kept his eyes away from Zeff. Sanji had always told him that he sucked at lying and needling for information and the blond had also complained a lot in their younger years about how Zeff seemed to always know when Sanji was telling untruths. The quiet stretched for such a long time that Zoro felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention. Why was he so jumpy about this? His mind flew through a million thoughts. At least one small comfort of Sanji kicking Zoro out of his life would be he wouldn't have to feel Zeff's intimidating gaze anymore. He had just caught up with that train of thought and wondered how the hell he'd gotten to that idea in that short amount of time when Zeff set down the glass he'd been wiping and spoke.

"I'll tell you this much, broccoli. There's no wife."

Zoro's head shot up and met Zeff's eyes. Did that mean he had a chance? What had happened to Sanji's partner? Were they not together anymore? Was it a one-night stand? How had Sanji ended up with the kid? Could Sanji still have feelings for him? Was there ho–

His deliberations were cut off when Zeff interjected again. His tone sharp, his voice commanding.

"But if you think of dragging him through hell again, there'll be hell on your doorstep, you hear me?"

Steel grey eyes held his own in a stare that promised a world of pain if his words weren't respected. Zoro found all he could do was nod in agreement, his words echoing through his skull. From any other person, that would have been a clear 'no chance, ever' but this was Zeff. That was as clear of a green light go ahead for a second chance at their relationship as he could hope from the old dog. Even when dating Sanji, the old man had never been particularly welcoming. It probably didn't help that he was usually just as stoic as the chef and they both saw Sanji as the most important person in their lives. Zoro had always felt that Zeff thought he was not good enough for his precious Sanji. But those words just now – that threat – was almost like a bright and shining welcome that he felt overwhelmed by emotion.

He was a little confused, Zeff's attitude a few days ago had been so contrary – almost a giant fuck off and get away from my son – that he had expected the old chef to never accept him. Now he was giving him the go ahead. He must have shown his confusion on his face because the old man put down his dish towel and let out a weary sigh.

"I only want what's best for him and his kid." Zeff said in a low voice keeping the conversation away from the prying ears of other patrons. "If you don't think you can be there for the both of them, don't even bother trying. I promise I will give you back twice as much pain as you cause for either of them."

Zoro felt himself nod. There was no way he wanted to hurt anyone. He felt his nod wasn't sufficient so decided to put it into words.

"There's no way I want that." He said just as softly. "I've learnt my lesson already. I don't want to go through that again. I won't do that to him again either."

Zeff just hummed and left it at that. The two waded in companionable silence. Zoro soaking in the knowledge that he had Zeff's blessing to try again, Zeff subtly observing the stupid broccoli whose emotions were written plain on his face. The stillness didn't last long though because Luffy came crashing through the doors once more, a pissed off Sanji on his tail.

"I can't believe you just burst in there! You're not a chef! You're not even a customer, you shouldn't even be back there!" The stupid little monkey just laughed his trademark 'hee hee hee' ignoring all of the blond's reprimands. Zoro looked up at the scene and smiled at the ticked off blond. This was just like the old days. Sanji would pretend to be pissed off at the manner-less actions of Zoro and their friends, but really he was just a big softy, a giant mother hen to the whole gang. He loved taking care of people and Zoro really knew so many people that needed taking care of. Exhibit A – Luffy.

Currently the lanky lad was being scolded by Zeff and the cook but he couldn't care less. Zoro hid a smile behind the palm of his hand. It really looked like a boy being told off by his grandfather and mother. The cook would be super pissed if he voiced that, so he kept that tidbit to himself deciding to tune back into the actual conversation.

"–that's why I said, we're going over to your place for lunch!" Every nerve in Zoro's body stood at attention. Had he heard Luffy correctly? Did the little ball of energy just say they'd be going upstairs for lunch? This was not what he'd signed up for. He wasn't ready for that. He'd only just got himself in the headspace where Zeff accepted his attempt to pursue his son. He just found out Sanji didn't have a wife. It didn't mean he wasn't in love with the woman who had his son. Zoro had always heard that foreign girls were a lot more promiscuous than Japanese girls. It seemed like a lie, but what if it were true? What if she simply didn't want to be married? What if Sanji actually loved her?

"–you just can't invite yourself over!"

Worse, what if Sanji's son decided that he hated him? What would he do if the kid was adamant about having his mother or no one? How could Zoro compete with that?

"–great idea. Eggplant, get his stupid egghead out of here and take the broccoli too while you're at it. Leo'll be waking up soon. I didn't come down here for nothing. Stop making excuses and get your ass up there!"

"Fine. Are you coming Zoro?"

At the sound of his name, his head snapped up from his thoughts and he locked eyes with Sanji. The man gave a quirk of an eyebrow at the lack of reaction before Zoro's brain finally caught up with the conversation and he nodded and stood from the barstool.

"Great. Come on you moochers." The blond turned and walked behind the bar and into the staff area. Luffy and Zoro followed suit. Many years of friendship had given them all free back stage passes in the bar area to the stairs that led up to the condo above the Baratie. For Zoro, it was almost surreal. How many times had he followed the blond up this same climb to spend the evening in each other's arms much to Zeff's distaste.

He let loose a soft chuckle as he remembered his first visit to the father and son's abode. Sanji's shift had just finished and he had invited a slightly buzzed Zoro upstairs. He remembered Zeff's piercing glare as the two walked through the bar area, the small thrill of adrenaline of being on the 'staff side' of the bar. He remembered watching long legs look even longer as the blond climbed the steps before him. Zoro recalled watching that tight ass sashay his way up and the soft voice the cook had used when he realised Zoro still stood at the foot of the stairs instead of following him up. He felt the phantom beating of his heart as he pounded up the stairs and offered a nervous grin to the blond who gave him a look of confusion before unlocking and opening the door.

The two of them had awkwardly shuffled around the place for a minute, all too hyper aware of each other's presence in this more secluded space. They'd sat on the couch, picked what movie they wanted to watch. Sanji had gone to make popcorn and bring drinks. Zoro had jokingly commented on Zeff's death glare and Sanji had been so adorably oblivious to the whole matter and Zoro laughed good-naturedly when they finally settled down together and got to watching the film. It was near the end when Zeff's keys rattled in the door and the two of them looked up from the couch to greet him as he entered.

Zeff had shot another intense glower at him and Zoro had felt his skin crawl. He was suddenly all too aware of how Sanji and he were seated. The blond was sprawled all over him practically using Zoro as a mattress. Blond hair was pressed up against the kendo champ's neck and Zoro's right arm was wrapped around bony shoulders. Sanji was cuddling Zoro with no restraint. He remembered Zeff's eyes narrow as he saw this and the spike of fear that ran up his spine at the deadly gaze. The old man had shuffled his way into the kitchen and Zoro had finally plucked up the courage to ask Sanji if his father was against being gay or something of the like.

Sanji had been so innocently confused by the question, it seemed to come out of the blue for him. It was at that moment that Zoro realised Sanji was completely oblivious to the power play Zeff initiated between the old chef and himself and he remembered smiling sweetly down at him and bestowing a kiss on a confused, but welcoming, blond's lips. When the room dropped several degrees, he'd had enough mind to pull away and keep the rest of the night painstakingly PG for Zeff's benefit. It seemed that the old man was really not used to seeing his son in a relationship and it was then that Zoro realised he'd need to convince the old man that he was good enough for the hot blond. Zeff had never made it easy though.

Luffy's excited chatter brought his mind back to the present.

"Oi, Luffy." Sanji started quietly as the energetic brunette practically bounced into the kitchen. "Leo is still resting, so pipe down a bit."

Luffy managed to calm down and sat on one of the bar stools, Zoro decided to follow suit. Sanji prepared some glasses of water

"Is that his name, Leo?" The smaller man asked a wide grin on his face. "It's a great name!" Zoro caught Sanji's proud smile and his heart fluttered.

Sanji looked just like a father.

Well. He was a father. He knew that, but in this moment, it was like it finally sunk in. For some reason though, that soft smile on Sanji's face didn't make him feel inadequate, or unloved. In fact, for once, Zoro could distance himself from Sanji's actions and saw that soft smile, that swell of paternal pride for what it was – a father who was so proud of his own son. Inexplicably, it was extremely attractive to Zoro. He couldn't put his finger on why, but all the same, Sanji how he was now, was strikingly gorgeous.

"–too small. I want Leo to have some more space, maybe a backyard, I don't know. The apartment's nice but when he's older, it'll be cramped for the three of us."

Zoro zoned back in hearing the patter of tiny feet on wooden floors. He turned to the door just in time to see a shock of blond hair come hurling 'round the corner only to squeak and jump back. Sanji's throaty laugh was quick to follow.

"Come in, Little Lion. You can't keep being scared of new people. Come meet papa's friends." Sanji called softly.

Zoro sucked in a breath at the familiar sound of French lilting off his ex's tongue. It had been one of his favourite things. Sanji's voice in his mother tongue. Sanji's Japanese was so fluent that he'd often forget that it was his fourth language. Back in university, it was one of the many things that attracted a flock of girls to his side, so Zoro hated that he too was swooned by the language of love. He'd spent many nights head resting in Sanji's lap, long lithe fingers stroking through his hair as Sanji whispered unknown words in soft sultry French. He'd forgotten how much he'd loved that.

Zoro watched as the little blond chattered quickly as he ran to his father's side. Zoro couldn't understand what he was saying but the chirruping lilt of the little boy's voice brought a soft smile to his face. Once the little one reached his papa, he was lifted by strong arms and set on the cook's hip and Zoro finally got a good look at his face as Sanji swung him round to meet their gaze. Zoro let out a huff of air as he took in the similarities. Really, Leo looked almost the spitting image of Sanji. Same cherubic face, impossibly large bright blue eyes soft silky strands of golden hair, perhaps only a shade or so darker than Sanji's own. The two were crazily similar and Zoro was struck with one thought.

There's no way they couldn't be related.

They looked too impossibly alike to be anything other than father and son. It was like looking into a mirror that showed Sanji's childhood. Zoro smiled as he noticed the ever so slight start of a curly brow forming. This kid was so darn adorable.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Leo. Please take care of me." The little blond called from his father's arms. Luffy gave his usual laugh along with a 'me too, I'm Luffy!' And the two chattered away for a while before big blue jewels were turned on him and he gave his most welcoming smile.

"Nice to meet you, Leo. I'm Zoro. I hope we get along well." He'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. He was actually completely filled with mortification at the thought of scaring the little bite so much that Sanji would avoid him. But the kid just beamed back at him and wrapped his arms around his father's neck chittering in a burst of French.

"Vraiment? Leo, you cannot keep going back to French. You need to learn to speak Japanese when we have guests. When it's just you, me and grand-père, French is ok, but not with guest, d'accord, mon petit chou?"

Luffy chuckled loudly. "You say that Sanji but look who's also speaking French!"

His giggles were infectious and quickly he had Leo onside laughing at his silly papa. Sanji's face was the perfect amount of sheepish and embarrassed but he chuckled softly alongside his son and friend. Zoro joined in with his usual smirk of a grin. Just like Sanji to catch himself in his own words.

"Ok then." Sanji said settling his son on the tiled floor opting for a segue to a new conversation. "What do we want for lunch?" The question was thrown out there for them all and in two seconds flat both Luffy and Leo were giddily bubbling with excitement shouting their favourite dishes before Luffy began a chorus of 'Feast! Feast! Feast!' that spurred little Leo to catch onto the chant and shout along. Sanji rolled his eyes and tossed his head, flicking the hair from his eyes for a brief moment. It was one of those things he did when he was being dramatic and Zoro loved every second of it. The blond just looked so ridiculously good. It was like he was born to be a model if he wasn't so amazing at cooking.

"What in heaven's name will I do with the both of you! A feast? Ok then, but it'll take some time. Leo, why don't you take Luffy-ojisan and Zoro-ojisan to the living room and show them how you play piano? Put on a concert!" Sanji suggested. At the word 'concert' the young boy's ears had perked up and a beaming smile stretched across his face. He wasted no time running around the bench to reach at Zoro and Luffy's hands tugging them earnestly to follow him into the next room. Zoro's bewildered face brought a chuckle out of the cool blond. The swordsman only had a moment to look back at the smirking chef quizzically before the tiny pianist had coerced him off his seat and began pulling with a surprising amount of force for a teeny kid.

Zoro sat through three songs before Luffy decided he too wanted to play and had Leo start teaching him 'Frère Jacques'. After listening to Luffy fail epically for a minute, he stood up from the 'audience seats' and moved towards the mantlepiece. Strewn along the top were an array of photographs. A soft smile unfurled on his face as he caught sight of familiar pictures. When he had been dating Sanji, these same photos were up, though he noticed a few new additions. A slightly more modern frame held a depiction of what must have been baby Leo. The kid looked only a few hours old at most, it was obviously taken just after the birth. The kendo teacher scanned the rest for any other add-ons. There was one of a toddler Leo in a swing set with Sanji behind him. It was a beautiful photo. Leo's eyes were full of excitement and Sanji looked like he was having the time of his life. He wished he could have been a part of that.

It was that thought that made Zoro realise that with Sanji in the shot, someone else must have taken it. Zeff hadn't gone to France at all in the past four years and the bitter feeling of realisation suddenly sunk to the bottom of Zoro's stomach.

It was obvious who had taken the picture. Leo's mother. Who else? The more rational side of his brain scolded him saying that Sanji could have had a friend do it or any other random person off the street for that matter, but it didn't stop that one nagging thought to continue. Zeff said there was no wife, but that didn't mean that Sanji didn't want a wife. Hell, there must have been a reason Sanji had stayed in France for this long without returning. The more he thought about it the more unsure he became. If Sanji had fallen in love with the woman who was Leo's mother, he naturally would have tried to be with her. It was so crazy to his mind that someone wouldn't want Sanji, but it could happen. Leo was obviously around three or four, so why had Sanji taken so long to return to Tokyo if he planned on raising him here? Probably, Sanji had been trying to convince Leo's mother to be a part of their lives here and after four years he'd finally realised it wasn't enough. He was ripped out of his thoughts by a persistent tugging on his pantleg.

"Zoro! Come play!" Leo beamed. The man in question blinked down, completely phased from being torn away from his mind's ramblings.

"Uh, yeah…sure kid." He managed to pull together and offered a weak smile at the sunny blond. Leo didn't seem to mind and just tugged him all the more over to an overflowing toybox. Zoro glanced around and saw that Luffy had abandoned him with the little guy, soft laughs from the kitchen told him that the brunette was in there with the blond, no doubt there'd be cursing and yelling soon as Luffy tried to steal a bite…or ten. He had a second to regain his balance as Leo sharply tugged him down to the floor. Really, the kid didn't know his own strength. For such a thin body, he sure had some muscle.

"You can pick which one you want and we'll build a castle to live in!" Leo exclaimed excitedly holding out three lego men dressed in different attire. The business man looked boring and the construction guy was obviously missing a hat of sorts, but the ninja looked pretty intact.

"Which do you want, Leo?" He asked.

The kid paused a moment looking between his figures, his eyes lingering on his ninja. "Papa says let guests choose first." He replied holding them out all the more. Zoro let out a soft smile. Just like Sanji to instill manners in his kid even one so young.

"Well then, I'll be the construction guy. I'm good at building." Zoro looked over to see Leo absolutely beaming with happiness. He set to work dumping out all his lego bricks over the floor in one fell swipe, the noise made Zoro cringe at the volume before he pushed a fair few over to his new playmate.

"Then, I'll be the ninja and we'll protect the castle together!"

Zoro couldn't stop the smile unravelling on his face. The two worked together mostly in silence with some chit chat thrown in. When Zoro began making ridges on the curtain wall, Leo thought it was 'sooooo coooool' and begun working his way around the top adding the extra pieces. Feeling appreciated, Zoro went on to create some turrets as well to attach to their masterpiece. With each new addition, Leo's praises got louder and more excited and Zoro's smile became looser.

It wasn't long before they'd finished their creation and were admiring it together. Leo circled their fortress obviously pleased with the craftsmanship before he grabbed the two lego figures and plonked himself on Zoro's lap. Zoro dazedly took the construction worker lego man that was thrust under his nose as the little boy seated in his lap babbled on cheerfully about how their game would work creating intricate plotlines that went in one ear and out the other. Sensing a lack of attention from the green haired man, Leo's head swiveled up, neck arching as he looked at the tall man upside down.

"Zoro! You listening?" He pouted.

A brief moment passed as Zoro took in this new feeling. The sense of trust that was unashamedly displayed by this small child made his heart swell. His hopeful blue eyes stirred a protective force within him. He grinned down at the ridiculous face of this upside down pouting child.

"Yeah," he said softly. "I'm listening."

Twinkling eyes glistened as Leo giggled and rolled his head back further to push into Zoro's chest. A soft chuckle left the swordsman's lips and he impulsively grabbed the little bugger and leant back, lying on his back as he held the wriggling kid up in the air. Squeals of delight echoed around the room and Zoro brought the kid back down to his chest and began mercilessly tickling the little lion. After a minute, he let up and the kid flopped bonelessly over him, face flushed with a massive grin. Three seconds later chubby hands made a poor attempt at their own tickle torture and Zoro smirked.

"You're gonna have to better than that, kid." He taunted lightly. "I'm not ticklish at all."

Golden hair flopped over an eye as Leo pouted and tried to continue his tickling to no avail. Soon he tired and gave up but plonked on top of Zoro his pudgy fingers poking at the green head's cheeks.

"No fair, Zoro!" He whined halfheartedly as he continued his prodding. The kid stopped and let out a very Zeff like 'ah well' sigh.

"I like you, Zoro." He grinned before resting his head on the broad chest below him.

Zoro's heart fluttered.

"I like you too, Leo." He replied.

He'd never been this close with a kid before. Sure, he taught classes full of kids and of course he wasn't always strict, but being a teacher required a certain level of professionalism. It wasn't like he had many friends with kids either and he wasn't exactly the first person someone thought of when they needed babysitting. Though, Leo's quick and natural acceptance of him and his personality was super refreshing. He'd forgotten how nice kids could be – humans who held so little prejudice, who could love and live openly, not caring about status or stereotypes or political correctness. He brought a hand up to rest on the boy's small back. If this was what it was like having a kid, he could see the appeal. The blond snuggled into his chest for a while before pushing off and staring him right in the eyes.

"Zoro, let's play now!" He called. Zoro smiled as he sat up, Leo giggling as he slipped into the elder's lap.

"Sure, kiddo." He hummed. The boy picked up the two figures he'd dropped and started placing them in the castle. Zoro watched on with a soft grin. Yep, he definitely saw the appeal. He hoped Leo liked him as much as he did the kid, because he now knew one thing with certainty. Sanji having a kid was not a minus or a flaw in any way shape or form. Leo was an amazing kid and Zoro could see himself coming to care for the boy as if he were his own. Just twenty minutes with the munchkin and he'd already stolen Zoro's heart, just like his papa.

Uploaded on 15th March 2018

Chapter four for you all! Thanks for reading along :)

Shout out to Subaru's dreams and Raigon for your reviews! Thanks a bunch!

Subaru's dreams... Yes I intend to play mean... I'll say this much, Sanji's not a push over and he's a pretty damn smart character in the OG series too. Zoro has a lot of convincing to do... I'm curious about your predictions and Sanji/Leo's mother thoughts. I have a lot planned out and tonnes of backstory in my mind as well, so I'm pretty curious about how my writing portrays character relationships to my readers... Thanks for leaving your comment!

Raigon I'm glad you liked the Leo-Ace interactions... how's about the Leo-Zoro ones? No worries about the breadcrumbs, they're just there if people are curious ;P Also because I like it when authors leave hints along the way that I look back on and be like 'OH! I should have realised at THIS moment...' yup, more so for me and my writing style. (And trying to get better at it!) Thanks for your review!