Two days ago I watched Role Models, which a funny movie with a good message and horrible language, so don't let your innocents watch it, folks. Anyway, about the time that one guy was proposing to Beth (sad, I can remember her name but not his and he's one of the main characters), something in the back of my mind whispered, "Engagement."

That night I watched The Proposal, which is an EXCELLENT movie, and again I thought of "Engagement."

Then yesterday I was watching Bride Wars, and at that point I was like, "Okay, I get it. Enough with the weddings! I'll write some on it tomorrow!"

So here's some more of this little story! I realize, at this point, that the story's almost entirely about Sanji, but fear not! Nami shall get her day! Especially since a lot of the planning will be done by her once this initial stuff is out of the way. And I have stuff planned for the other characters, too, so they'll have some stuff. Especially Luffy and Zoro, seeing as they live in an apartment with a man hectically trying to pull off a wedding.

Reader Review Corner!!

Abra Cadaverous: Thanks! Dunk it in your coffee? Is it like a cookie? Oo, oo, I want a story cookie!!! No need to rub that in… -_-' Yes!! I shall heat you all with fluff and warm fuzzies!!! *determination* Rambling's fun, though. XD

Three-days-late: That's okay; we still have the rehearsal dinner (I have seen a really wild rehearsal dinner where I was sure that my aunt and her son's future mother-in-law were going to kill each other). And I feel like working in a few fights at different points. With who is for me to know. XD I don't know. He's certainly the biggest prude I've ever seen. XP Yeah. It gets worse. ^^

ISNAS: Thanks! He is. XD

Silver Child of the Sea: Thanks!! Genzo is not explored enough, so I like having him (and Nojiko) in the story. ^^ Jeez, you're so behind! They've been up for forever!! XP XP

Meilinn: Aw, thanks! Oo, me too. XD

Nerica: Thanks!! Haha, you sound like me. XP

Yumi: Thanks! Oh hey, that's cool. AU OP is fun if it's done right (*points not so subtly at three-days-late* Her's are better). ^^ All of Sanji's facial expressions are fun. XP

Well, here we go…

Engagement

By Dandy Wonderous

Episode 4: At the Baratie

"You're in a good mood today."

Sanji glanced at Zeff sideways from the fish he was filleting. "Why do you think that?"

The old man rolled his eyes. "You've only broken one table and three ribs."

"Oh." The blonde shrugged, hands moving the knife skillfully. "I guess I am."

Zeff raised an eyebrow. "You've got that tone."

"What tone?" he asked innocently.

"The one where you really want to tell me something but don't have the guts to."

Sanji scowled. "Like I would ever be afraid to tell you something."

"Then spit it out," he challenged.

Sanji hesitated, studying his fish intently. "Well, Nami came over night before last-"

"Oh, so this is woman-related," Zeff interrupted. "I'm probably not interested, then." He started to walk off.

"I asked her to marry me," Sanji blurted out.

"What!?!" yelled not only Zeff, but every other cook that had been secretly eavesdropping on their conversation. They looked away sheepishly as Sanji gave a death glare to each of them.

Zeff scrutinized his foster son for a long moment, until the young man's stony continence cracked and he shifted his weight subtly from one foot to the other. Finally he turned sharply and walked briskly off, his peg leg tapping ominously with each step, click, click, click. "To my office," he said over his shoulder.

Sanji followed with a façade of confidence that he didn't feel. Surely Zeff approved of Nami, surely he approved of his decision… right?

They entered Zeff's office, the door slamming shut with a foreboding bang, and Sanji folded his arms in annoyance. "Well?"

Zeff mirrored his pose, his own arms crossed over his chest. "So you asked the little girl to marry you."

"Nami's not-"

A hand was raised to quiet him. "I'm assuming she said yes, with the way you've been mooning around all day."

He nodded in confirmation.

Zeff continued to stare at him, and again Sanji felt uncomfortably nervous. "And how exactly are you planning on paying for this?"

Sanji hadn't exactly been expecting that. "I've been saving," he answered defensively.

The old man raised an eyebrow. "For a wedding? The ring? An apartment?"

Sanji nodded.

"What money have you been saving? I know I don't pay you that much. Unless…" The eyebrow lowered and his forehead furrowed. "You're using your All Blue money?"

Sanji didn't answer, but his eyes darted to his feet before meeting Zeff's again.

"You've been working for your own restaurant for a long time, eggplant," said Zeff skeptically. "And now you're throwing it all away for some girl?"

Sanji scowled, his eyes hardening and replacing the nervousness with anger. "She's not just "some girl," and I'm not throwing anything away!"

"So what are you going to do about All Blue?"

Sanji didn't falter. "I'll keep working for it. My dream's not gone, it's just… on hold for a different dream."

Zeff stared at him, the hard set of his eyes, the firm set of his jaw, and nodded. "Well, it's your life," he said, shrugging.

Sanji blinked once, then relaxed with relief. "So you approve?"

"No. You're dropping your dream for a woman!"

The young man sighed and ran a hand down the back of his neck. "You just don't get it."

"Hmph." Zeff turned around and stomped across the office to his deck, muttering something about never needing a woman before. He opened a drawer and rummaged through it, stopping briefly to glance up at Sanji and snap, "Who's doing the catering?"

"Well, there's this really nice Mexican restaurant that Nami likes, and… I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" He held up his hands defensively. "You are, okay?"

He hmphed again. "Maybe I don't want to do your shitty catering."

Sanji rolled his eyes. "I'll be paying you."

Zeff scowled and muttered something about Sanji's money, then found what he'd been searching for. Without warning he tossed it to the blonde, and Sanji snatched it out of the air.

It was a cigar. And not a cheap one.

Sanji looked up at his foster father as he rounded the desk. "What's this?"

"Congratulations," Zeff replied huffily. Then without warning he kicked the man through the door. "Now get back to work. And don't smoke that damn thing in the kitchen!"

End of Episode 4

A/N: I don't really see Sanji as the cigar type. But whatever.

Also, when I wrote Zeff when he said he didn't need a woman, I thought I might… well…

Let's just say, don't be surprised if some ZeffxKureha slips in here. XD

And on that subject, I can almost guarantee there will be UsoKaya and Frobin in here, in passing. The main focus is SaNa, but they might get mentioned on a date or whatever. (*whispers* Actually… there's a certain Frobin chapter planned…) LuVi and ZoTash may pop up, too, if I feel like it. But I kind of want to keep Zoro and Luffy single. 'Til the wedding, anyway.

And, last note: for all intents and purposes, the poll is now CLOSED!!! I'm trying to write the location episode tonight, and I can't do that with the poll open. So if you haven't voted, well… too bad. *shrug*

For now, this is Street Thug Dandy Wonderous, Level 10 Maniac, signing off.