When they returned to the Sunny, Usopp got bandaged up by Chopper, also getting scolded by the crew. They all apologize for not telling them where were. Of course they were all adults in the matter but that didn't matter to the crew, especially Luffy. They were family and they stick together.

"Hey. Have you guys seen Usopp?" The cook called out to the crew. They were all doing their own thing on the deck of the Thousand Sunny.

"I haven't seen him." Franky said, seem to be creating a new invention.

"Did you check his room?" Robin asked, reading her book.

"Yeah…I think he was playing with Nia a little a while ago." Nami said, a matter of fact.

"Hmm."

Usopp was in his room, with Nia playing in her child form. She was looking at his inventions. While on the other hand he was doing something else.

"W-wha-what are you doing, Usopp-kun?" Nia asked, holding his staff in her small hands.

"Oh… Just making something…." Usopp smiled.

"Oh? Let me see. Let me see!" Nia asked, running up to see he was doing. When she glances at it, she could figure out immediately what it was.

"Is that…?" She pointed at the object. Usopp didn't answer her question but rest his head in her pink hair. Nia loved that but she knew what his answer would be even though he wasn't finish.

Suddenly, a knock came at his door.

"Usopp? Are you in here?" It was Sanji. Usopp freaked out, not wanting him to enter his room right now.

"Sa-Sa-Sa-Sanji?" Usopp panic. Nia gazed at her friend, wondering what was wrong. Usopp looked around in his room and was real quick to react as Sanji open the door.

"What's wrong? Why are you acting like that?" Sanji looked to see that Usopp was laughing strangely. Nia was at his side, before running up to the chef.

"Oh….Nothing. Ha! Ha! Ha!" Usopp was sitting on the floor, laughing in a strange tone again.

"Sanji!" Nia called to the cook.

"Hey Nia-chan." The cook smiled as he lifted her up and started to swing her around in the air. Something that Usopp never really noticed with those two. Maybe it was Nia never really hang out with Sanji before, or at least Usopp never saw it, until now.

"Did you need something, Sanji?" Usopp asked. Sanji kind as of annoyed by that statement, seeming by the tone of voice he wanted him to leave.

"I'm just coming to check up on you." Sanji lifted Nia over his shoulders. Nia touch the cook's hair cheerfully, like it was own child. Usopp glance at the two of them, and wonder how Sanji would be like it he became a father.

"What's wrong?" Sanji asked the sniper, who seem to be in a daze.

"Oh….It's nothing." Usopp lied. Sanji didn't buy it for a second. But he pretended to go along with it for the time being.

"So…What's going on?" Sanji asked.

"Usopp was working on something." Nia cheerfully brought up.

"Nia!"

"Oh? What was he working on Nia-chan?" Sanji asked her teasing Usopp.

"Nothing interesting at all!" Usopp's face was red with embarrassment.

"Oh I doubt that." Sanji teased, almost smirking. "What was it?"

"Nothing…I was…just working on a new invention. See?" Usopp brought a few new gadgets that Sanji never seen. So he was telling part of the truth. Sanji knew there was more to it then the sniper was leading on here. He wouldn't get so fluster if he was "just" working on new invention.

"I see…It looking into something that could help us on later adventures." Sanji smiled taking a closer look at the weapons he was making.

"I hope so…I want to help my crewmates as much as possible." Usopp showed a little blush by Sanji's compliment.

"I think so. You pull through when the worst cases come." Sanji smile, nudging Usopp's shoulder a bit. Usopp couldn't look at him. Sanji chuckle, but then noticed something was underneath Usopp's bed, next to the cooks fingers.

"What is that?" Sanji started to pull what seems to be a big book of some kind.

"What?" Usopp turn to see that Sanji found his other project that he was working on.

"No! Don't look at that!" Usopp tried to take his project back but Sanji dodge his hands away.

"So…Is this the other project you were so fluster about?" Sanji teased.

"No! It's just something I don't want anyone to see." Usopp still tried to take it back but it was no use.

"Sanji!" Usopp whined. Sanji only chuckled and finally started to look closer at the book. He looked at Usopp upset face and figure that it was something that he didn't want to see, then he should mind his own business.

"Here…Usopp." Usopp looked up and see that he was giving back his book. The took it back immeditaly.

"It just…Want this relationship….to last… If this is something that you don't want to show then I won't look in it."

Usopp looked at Sanji playing with Nia. His face looks happy but in his heart; sad. He hurt Sanji.

"Here…..Just don't laugh at me ok?" Sanji and Nia looked to see Usopp looking in the other direction. Sanji could see that he trying to being fair in this relationship.

The cook, gently took the book away from Usopp's trembling hands. Looking at it, he noticed that it wasn't a book, but in fact a sketchbook. After taking a long look at it, he decided to open it. With that he eyes widen at the sight before him as Nia made a gentle smile while nuzzling against his face.

"Is this….me?" Sanji asked. Usopp's face was still in another direction, but nodded very slowly.

Sanji looked back at the picture at started to blush. He was amazed at how detailed it was. It was drawn in pencil, with Sanji cooking in the kitchen with a smile on his face.

"Is this…how Usopp sees me through his eyes?" Sanji thought. He looks back at Usopp. He look like he was in shame. Why? This drawing was amazing. He was always a good artist but Sanji never really see him draw before. He wanted to embrace him. He was being so cute. He knew that he probably shouldn't startle him, but he couldn't help it.

Two loving hands reach out to wrap around his boyfriend's body, making the boy freak out.

"Wah!" Usopp gasp. Sanji knew he was embarrass but he didn't care. He wanted to touch this boy.

"This….drawing…is beautiful Usopp…"

"Don't say that….I really didn't want you to see it. It's too embarrassing." Usopp squirmed in Sanji's embrace.

"But you DID let me see it." Sanji teased. Usopp knew that. He felt so guilty about not letting his new boyfriend see what he was working on. Sanji of course knew that but it was cute, in its own way. Nia knew that as well.

Sanji try to glance at his lover but Usopp looked away.

"Hey…..Sanji…..?"

"Hm…."

"Did you….think it was wrong….For me….to have the fight with Luffy two years ago?"
"Eh? What brought this on?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while now….I just….didn't want abandon the Merry….She was our crewmate too…I….just…." The sniper breathed. Sanji could hear that his voice was sad, he eyes wear filled with tears. The sniper didn't want the chef to see him this way.

The cook, took ahold of the snipers chin, demanding him to turn his face. Usopp looked like a mess. Sanji didn't mind it though.

"I think….That you leaving the crew was a stupid decision! You idiot!"

"But I was so weak before!"

"Why? Cause you weren't strong like the rest of us? I told you before everyone has things they can and can't do..."

"I Know…I know that now…but." Sanji didn't buy that.

"Listen to me…Who was the one that was able to save Robin-chan? Who was the one that was able to have my back in times of need? Who drew the captain's flag that resembles the straw hats.

"Usopp…You may not be the strong one of the crew. You may not be our captain. But you are our Sniper.

"You are our family, my friend, my lover, my boyfriend… And so what if you're not the strongest. So what if you can't cook. So what if you couldn't fix things. So what that you couldn't be our navigator, Doctor, or even a shitty Swordsman."

Usopp glance at Sanji.

"Usopp…With your negative self you were to beat people like Perona. Even though it drives me insane to say that it help you beat her. You can still do many other things. You can invent cool things. You can strategies. You're smart. Heck you can even touch a spider. Yeah….I can understand your feelings for the Merry. We all didn't want to leave her…even me. But She was nowhere beyond repair. You know this. Luffy didn't want to see her leave. But I think I know the real reason why you left. Because Kaya gave us that ship. That fact it was something close to your home. That fact that it felt like you were abandoning Kaya's gift to the crew. It was also because you lost the money. Because the fact that you couldn't even protect that, made you feel like you were so weak to even be within this crew. You were too ashamed to face us. But neither me, Chopper, Zoro, or even our Captain or Nami, cared about the money. We only cared about you. And if I ever got to meet Kaya, I believe she wouldn't blame you for what happen to the ship. So would you stop being so negative and letting your insecurities get the better of you. We never thought you were weak and we aren't going to start now."

"Sanji…." Usopp closed his eyes…trying to hold back his tears a bit. Sanji could probably guess that this wasn't even going to be the last time he would have to tell him this, but he knew that he would be a "Brave warrior of the sea" someday. All he could do is just watch over him.

"Ok…."

"Now…Let's take a better look at your drawings shall we?" Sanji took the sketch book again, and started to flip through the pages. He started to see make beautiful drawings of objects, animals, and even the crew. He even seen Nia in a sketch.

"These are all beautiful, Usopp…"

"T-Thank you." Usopp's cheek were red. Sanji chuckled, and brought Usopp closer and kissed his dark cheek.

"Do…..you think? I can request a drawing from you sometime?" Sanji ask. Usopp blinked at him, surprised. He never got a request from any of his crewmates before. Beside from their captain who request him to draw the flag for the Merry.

"I don't see why not." Usopp fiddled his fingers together. Sanji chuckled as they both look through his sketch book together.