Everyone back at the ship was being extra careful about not accidentally going anywhere near the mens quarters. Since they had returned Sanji had slammed open the door, tossing his bag roughly to the side and looking nothing but infuriated when he had to wait for Zoro to come in also before slamming the door shut. Lots of colorful words followed, the wooden walls failing to muffle them.

After awhile the other members of the crews began returning. Ussop and Nami came first, Nami demanding to see Zoro so she could kick his ass but it seemed someone was already handling it. Robin's team came back last, the sun already beginning to set. It was the only time anyone else was brave enough to open the door.

Chopper was this brave soul. His eye's bugged out of his head though at the side before him. The two men were wrestling. Zoro had an arm lightly around Sanji's neck, holding him in a headlock as Sanji, now redressed in a different outfit with another vest (he'd hit the lottery finding another in his old things) was bent down, one of his legs angled upward, his foot resting on Zoro's head. They paused seeing Chopper. Chopper's jaw dropped.

"ZORO! What are you doing to Sanji?!" He squealed, anger building up in side him.

"Oi! Chopper no this isnt-"

Chopper raised his arms up and changed into his heavy point before rushing over and prying Zoro off. He showed the man attacking his patient, be him his lover or baby daddy, no mercy as he threw him across the room and into the wall, creating a minor dent. Nami laughed lightly outside.

Sanji stood up straighter, his eye wide as he looked as Zoro peeled himself off the floor. He felt like he needed to say something to his defense, but he was a little shocked at the moment.

"Sanji are you alright?" Chopper said, returning to normal and grabbing the cooks wrist to monitor his pulse.

By that time their noise was bringing the attention of others who came to check out what had been going on. Luffy stretched himself inside. He still had some scuffs around him from an earlier altercation, apparently when they met their own group of marines, but otherwise seemed fine. He clung around Sanji.

"Sanji! How's Peanut?" He laughed loudly.

Sanji gawked at him. The retard! What was he doing asking something like that out loud? What part of keeping it secret didn't he understand? Also how the hell was he smart enough to put two and two together that that was their secret nickname for the baby at the moment.

"Peanut? Why does everyone keep talking about these peanuts?" Asked Nami from the door frame.

"Peanuts? I've always heard they are great for healing properties. Once, on my adventures at sea I cured a whole village of the chicken pox using-"

The Navigator shoved him out of the door frame. "Yeah yeah."
Sanji took his hand back from Chopper and shoved the Captain off.

"Get off of me you Moron. And what do I keep telling you guys? We are out of peanuts, now go!" He grumbled, praying his attempt at a lie would pass the Nami suspicion.

Robin laughed as she too appeared in the door way.

"My, the way they keep talking about Peanuts, you'd think it was the meat we ran out of."
Luffy, who had been knocked down to the floor, sat up and looked around.

"Someone say meat?"
Meanwhile on the outside of the room a short yell could be heard from their blue haired cyborg.

"The hell happened to this wall!?"

"Yohohohoho~! That fortune teller is back!" announced the skeleton man, also outside.

The crew inside the cabin exchanged looks before exiting the room. They walked over to the railing of the ship, glancing down in surprise. It would appear that there were more than just the fourtune teller there. In fact it appeared most of the village had made their way down to the docks just to cheer at them. In the front was the fortune teller and an older woman.

"Pirates." The old woman began to announce, holding her weight against her cane. "Thank you so much for saving our poneglyph. Please, allow us to thank you in a celebration."
The crew didn't even have to look to know that Luffy, who was crouched on the railing in his excitement, was grinning ear to ear. This was his favorite part, when somehow they did something the people appreciated and they got a feast from it. As if they even needed to wait for a response. He jumped up, raising his arms to the sky with a load exclamation of,

"MEAT!"


That night was alive with the sounds of cheering and celebration. It seemed that the towns people had already known about their being saved, probably thanks to their super weird fortune teller, having had a lot of it prepared. It was slightly suspicious, but as usual those things never went noticed and never had to be. The main celebration stayed in the center court yard, torches and lanterns lighting the streets.

The crew was scattered about, Luffy stuffing his face at a cooking station, Chopper and Ussop dancing on a table with their arms linked, Brook standing tall playing his violin and Franky was singing his new ballad. Robin was sitting down somewhere more distant from the noise, discussing something with the native's elder. Nami was gambling and playing cards with older men.

The Cook and Swordsman however, where else where. Sanji was sitting off away from the crowd, holding a glass of water in front of his mouth. He longed for his expensive wine, hell any type of wine, to drink and celebrate. He was also itching forever for a cigarette. He glared at the Marimo sitting lazily against the wall, one hand scratching his chest while the other was holding a bottle of sake, chugging it.

He let out a satisfied gasp when he was done, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before grinning over at Sanji and his glass of water.

"S'wrong Cook?" He asked a little teasingly, knowing full well that it was the restrictions bothering Sanji again.

Sanji sighed, looking back out on the crowd. Instantly his eyes went to the dancing ladies and it was killing him not to go swoon over them, but currently there was a weight holding him down, almost literally. So here he was, hanging out with the only person he knew he could share his misfortunes with. He turned back to the Marimo before reaching out and snatching the bottle and setting it off to the side away from him.

Zoro scowled. Grumpy ass cook, out to rain on his parade yet again.

"What's got your panties twisted?"

Sanji looked him down, his eyes narrow. "If I can't smoke or drink, you can't either." He instructed.

Zoro just gave him a confused, 'huh?' kind of expression. That made no sense, of course the cook couldn't do those things, didn't mean he couldn't.

"Says who?" He challenged him, raising an expectant eyebrow.

The cook shrugged, looking back to the crowd.

"Says me you shit head. The least you could do for getting us in this situation."
"Tch!"

The altercation was just a moment away from getting much louder and vocal when someone approaching gathered their attention. It was a random woman Sanji had been watching. He blushed as she approached and wholeheartedly accepted the glass she handed to Sanji.

"This is our islands native brew. Please enjoy!" She said with a smile, then glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, the fortune teller is ready to tell your fates, please you must join her."

Sanji glanced into the drink just for a moment, eyeing the purple liquid before following her glance.

"Ah! Yes , of course, we will join her soon Mademoiselle!"

The girl giggled before returning back to the crowd. Sanji sighed watching her go, envying the him from the past that would have followed her into that mass of people to celebrate, in more possible ways than one-

"The hell you shitty Marimo!" Sanji shouted, standing up and looking at Zoro.

The damn swordsman had snatched the drink from him in his moment of reminiscing and chugged it. He grinned satisfactory as he too got up from his seat.

"That was for me you neanderthal."
"To bad, it's got alcohol in it cook, so off limits." Explained Zoro triumphantly, relaxing his shoulders and beginning off toward where the rest of the crew had begun to gather.

"Still! It wasn't for you!" Growled Sanji in return. Did this guy really think he was just entitled to anything that had alcohol in it?

Zoro shrugged, setting the drink on a table as they passed it.

"You're the one that goes on about not wasting." He muttered slowly.

It seemed to shut Sanji up, just for the moment. He definitely wasn't a slight bit flattered Zoro even remembered that from his daily ramblings or anything. Still! He needed to stop being such a damn alcoholic! Nami waved them down to the last two remaining seats at a table the fortune teller had set up.

On the ends candles were being burned into the night sky. The Fortune Teller was wearing a tad bit more make up on her skin, with markings that appeared ceremonial. Unfortunately it would seem she had already started down the line telling some of the others their fortunes before the couple sat down. Sanji's nervousness that had vanished only momentarily began to creep back up his back. Maybe he could pretend sick and get out of having his fortune told?

Though he wouldn't have time. He was so instantly immersed in his concerns he hadn't realized his turn approaching. It was until the Fortune teller lightly took his hand into hers and stroked his palm that his eye seemed to widen, everything coming to focus. She met eyes with him and he pleaded with her silently, all the while still sending her quite the compliments. Everyone, of the crew at least, as the villagers were still going mad in celebration, seemed curious.

Zoro and Chopper were very still, holding their breath also. They knew about Sanji's condition openly and wouldn't really mind everyone else knowing but.. the wrath they'd face of a Sanji who was exposed was enough to scare them still. The fortune teller let out a soft hum.

"You don't have to continue keeping it a secret from your friends. They will still accept you." Her words were kind and sweet, but caused a shattering sensation inside Sanji.

His heart began to beat very fast. She hadn't even said it out right but how to put him on the spot like that! Now it seemed, hell now it was obvious he was hiding something from them! If the crew hadn't been suspicious before they certainly were now. Nami narrowed her eyes as she sat next to Sanji.

"Sanji." She began, a bit of seriousness to her tone.

If something was wrong with Sanji she felt they all deserved to know. Though she wasn't the only one to believe that. Ussop and the others who weren't already aware had a growing curiosity, but also a nervousness of the importance of said secret. Could they handle any betrayal? They honestly hoped it wasn't that. So the navigator continued to ask what they all were pondering.

"What Secret?"

Zoro clenched his jaw and glared at the table. Okay so the fortune teller knew enough not to open her mouth about the pregnancy, but what the hell was that? Was she trying to start chaos among them? He glanced at Sanji concernedly. Great, he knew this wasn't how Sanji wanted to come out with it but he wasn't sure what the hell he'd need to say to get out of that one. Because if he didn't, life on the crew would only get tremendously harder if doubt was implied.

Chopper stood in his seat, glancing down the table at Sanji. Internally in his head he was pleading with him to just tell them. But his legs were also threatening to shake because of how outright nervous he was about this confrontation. What would Sanji do? Sanji's face flushed and he looked down at the table then back at the fortune teller.

His mouth was open slightly as he tried to search for the words, several lies trying to make their way to his lips. He needed to tell them something, but he couldn't tell them that! After repeating the same introduction word, I, several times, finally he decided to add to the confession. It wouldn't technically be a lie, but definitely something he'd never admit to otherwise, even if it were painfully obvious. He secretly crossed his fingers in his mind.

"I..." He closed his eyes momentarily, digging his nails into his palm. "Zoro and I are dating."

He braced himself for the response. It wasn't the real secret, per say, since it was something the crew had to already know, but it was also something he'd never said out loud or admitted to under any circumstances. They had to all know though, simply because it wasn't normal for two men who fight nonstop to suddenly climb into each others hammocks at night, regardless if for supposed 'body heat' or not.

There was a bit of silence and then the rest of the crew, minus Luffy who was stuffing his face with more meat he'd snatched off someones plate, burst into laughter. They were smiling and relieved, making their 'we knew that', 'it was obvious', comments. Sanji's face grew more red and so did the top of his ears. He wanted to shrink. Even if it was an already known fact that had been so embarrassing, he wanted to die. Who knew what they'd do in response after he told them the real news?

Zoro was kind of dumbstruck. He'd honestly never expected Sanji to say that. Yes, he was quite aware of that fact but still, Sanji had been pretty resistant to admitting to it before. He felt sort of bad that the cook had been placed in such a situation that he had to resort to telling that and gaining just laughter. He gave him a pat to the shoulder.

"Come on now cook. That wasn't hard was it?" He tried playing it off as well.

Chopper nervously laughed at their attempt. The others seemed to be buying it though so he tried going along with it. He couldn't help but notice the Fortune Teller watching them all, kind of confused. Yes, she knew that wasn't the secret but it seemed she could finally see he was trying to keep it from them still. She sighed a little, forcing a small smile of encouragement. It made Chopper smile though. If they looked passed how she had put Sanji on the spot, what she said was very encouraging, if Sanji would only listen.

The Fortune Teller turned then finally to Zoro. Chopper and Sanji were instantly reminded that he hadn't been the only one at risk of getting the secret out. If she mentioned anything about becoming a father... the whole crew would be all over that! She studied his face and held out her hand, as if requesting it from Zoro. The swordsman looked her hand down but then lightly shook his head, his expression hardening.

"No." He said, making Sanji want to kick him for not being more polite about it. "I make my own future, I don't need anyone else to tell me how it goes."

For once Sanji was relieved at Zoro's idiotic outlooks. The Fortune Teller stared into Zoro's eyes before smiling, something that wasn't expected. She just got told no yet she seemed satisfied, as if something she'd seen or predicted came true. She nodded.

"Very well then.." She said softly before turning back to look at them all, studying their expressions. Everyone seemed very satisfied with their answers, certainly Luffy stuffing his face with the meat he was promised to soon have. "I hope that you will choose to honor us with your presence as long as you can. Your log pose has not set yet, is that correct?"

Nami's eyebrows rose a little bit as she lifted up her wrist to glance at her log pose. The woman was right, it hadn't set yet. She lowered her wrist before tilting her head slightly.

"Yeah that's right. How long do the log poses usually take to set?" She asked.

The Fortune Teller glanced down at Nami's log pose and offered a polite smile.

"One week."


So, even if they wanted to leave they were virtually stuck on the island. Not that they did, Luffy was being pampered like some sort of king with his plates of meat at every meal, Sanji cooking or not. They were offered some rooms in the local hotel a few days later, still being treated as special guests. Nami of course had no complaints, she quite enjoyed staying at hotels when she could to get away from the cramped ship and it helped when it was free.

She began to hand out their room keys. Sanji was secretly hoping that since the first celebration night, where he had announced the already obvious relationship he had with the swordsman, which only led to the impression the crew was allowed to remark about it, he'd catch a break with this. Please no obvious swordsman rooming situation. He was just going to annoy the hell out of him when they were alone again.

However, his hopes were crushed once he was handed their key and without saying anything else and bitching about the snickers that got along with some comments about not being to loud, he strolled inside the hotel room and fell face first into the beds comforters. He made a sound of annoyance into the fabric before sitting up and glaring at Zoro while he walked in.

The swordsman just stared back at him a little dumbfounded. He hadn't been having nearly the bad time Sanji was apparently. Was it really that annoying that they got roomed together? Shouldn't Sanji think of it better for his secret? Zoro was kind of excited about it, but maybe he was just getting ahead of himself. He dared to approach and sit on the bed next to Sanji.

Sanji took a moment to catch his breath, realizing yet again his hormones might've gotten the better of him. He wasn't really mad at Zoro again, he was just frustrated at the chain of events and needed to keep reminding himself that. He just sighed and his face softened, quietly motioning to Zoro his fit of anger was over. So the swordsman moved to ensure it came back. He lunged forward, wrapping an arm around Sanji and bringing him back with him into the bed.

"The hell Marimo!?" Sanji spat in his surprise.

Zoro just chuckled, moving up to hover half way over the cook, a grin on his face. He watched as Sanji came to a decision on how to react, but only to pin his hands down. It made the blondes blue eye widen a little more.

"The Fuck!?"

Zoro leaned down, pressing his lips into Sanji's, earning him a mouthful of muttered threats. They eventually died down though, the blonde molding his own lips into Zoro's before the swordsman pulled away, studying the blondes face.

"It's been days since the last time we were alone like this..." He began lowly, his eyes trailing down Sanji's inviting neck and chest. That dress shirt would need to go. "You think I was just going to let you get away?"

Sanji swallowed thickly, scowling up at the green haired idiot. What was he getting at? There were other ways to go about this dammit. Maybe there was a reason he had been avoiding him! He forced his head up to look in a slight panic where the Marimo's free hand began trailing. It moved to his vest, teasing before beginning to unfasten it.

It made Sanji really wish that damn idiot wasn't applying his weight to his legs so he could kick him the fuck off. He wanted to, hell he probably still could, but ultimately wouldn't. His cheeks started to flush.

"Zoro..." He whined, still annoyed, it earned him a pleased Marimo expression.

The vest was no rocket science to the swordsman. Hell, actually he had become quite the master of getting Sanji's fancy suits and clothes off him. However he was always, like now, still a little pissed at the need for so many buttons on a dress shirt. Really, why were these needed?

Sanji turned his face over into the comforters of the bed, closing his eyes a moment in slight humiliation, feeling the last buttons of his shirt be undone. Then, came silence and the release of his hands. His eye opened again, a little confused at the lack of noise and he moved his face back to peer at Zoro.

Zoro had moved his hands to rest lightly on the sides of Sanji's hips. He knew the cook was watching, but didn't really mind, he was focused on something else. He bent down slowly to Sanji's growing pouch, which had already grown bigger since the last time he'd seen it in private like this, much to Sanji's distaste. Then, sincerely he placed a single kiss on Sanji's soft flesh.

It sent a shiver down Sanji's spine and he glanced away embarrassingly, propping his arms on the sides of him so he could watch Zoro as he finally gazed back up at him, that grin still returning.

"Geez you shitty Marimo.. You could have just asked.. to see."

Really, what was the need to act like that just because he wanted to see Sanji's diminishing figure. The cook just couldn't wrap his head around it. Perhaps Zoro just liked being a total asshole and putting him in these situations?

Zoro shook his head a bit before rolling back over on the bed at Sanji's side. He lazily placed an arm around the front of Sanji and dragged him closer, feeding off the cooks discomfort at the affectionate display. He nuzzled at the blonde's neck a little.

"Just checking my boy." He explained, though Sanji wasn't buying it.

He lowered his chin a little, feeling the warmth from Zoro's arm around the top of him, holding him in place. He was thinking of all the things he could do to get back at Zoro once he was in the clear for fighting again from Chopper.

"You don't even know if it'll be a boy." replied Sanji bitterly. "Damn you're so cheesy, stop worrying so much."

Zoro just laughed in his ear. "Alright, when you stop Cooking, curly brows."

Sanji turned his agitated face over to look into Zoro's eye. "Tch! Bringing up the eyebrow now? You don't know when to quit do you shit head?"

Zoro didn't have much to retort to that, instead leaning in to give him another peck. It was the usual but also most dangerous way to try and shut Sanji up. This time though it worked flawlessly, both of them sitting there a moment with their eyes trailing elsewhere, feeling the others body close, thinking of many different things, but all revolving around each other.

Sanji was exhausted though. It was something that was becoming more frequent much to his annoyance, though the reassurance that in the next few months he'd have his energy back from the doctor was a nice touch to keep him sane. He rested his eyes a moment, secretly enjoying the hold that was on him. It was comforting and the swordsman had been right. It'd been forever since they could do something like this, usually it was just closeness in a hammock, not so much holding each other.

Being able to listen to Zoros breathing alone without the added slumber noises of the rest of the crew and then smelling his own special musk. It was embarrassing to admit to but even if he was constantly on the swordsman as such filth, he actually enjoyed Zoro's personal scent. The smell of alcohol loafing around him, along with the smell of outside where he'd been training or the smell of the Sunny... Then of course the always personal Zoro only touch to it.

Sanji's cheeks warmed again and his eye flew open, much to the surprise of the other who had also closed his eye and was tempting sleep to take him. The blonde sat up quickly, pushing Zoro off of him. What was going on? How was that of all things making him excited? One minute he was just observing the noises and thinking about shitty things and then out of no where, he gets turned on by the stench of that thing next to him?

Well obviously there was no way in hell he was about to let the moron know that. He had enough things over him and knowledge of how to torture him already, this wouldn't fly at all.

"Oi! Where are you going?" Came Zoro's voice as he sat up in slight alarm, watching as Sanji tossed his legs off the side of the bed to get up, his shoulders low as he tried holding his shirt together.

"Just gotta go get some fresh air is all- The hell?!"

Sanji wasn't fast enough. Zoro wasn't stupid, he wasn't just going to let the cook get away, certainly if hes acting like some weird idiot in the process. He grabbed Sanji around his waist and pulled him down again. The cook began squirming and kicking to get out of his grasp.

"Let me go you moron!" Another hopeless demand from the cook.

Zoro scowled, trying to look down at the Cook's face, whom he dragged into his lap refusing to let go. The hell was up with him? Was something wrong? He wasn't just going to let him walk off without telling him shit anymore. But then, his eye caught sight of something and his anger drained from him. His face softened, his expression blank.

Sanji stopped squirming, feeling the pause in Zoro's frame. He dared to glanced up at the swordsman, seeing his glance locked on something. Just that made him nervous, because he had a feeling what had been caught in that gaze. He followed it and looked down at his pants that were still tightened on him. Sanji could die at what met them, his nice pitched tent. All because the swordsman smelled like alcohol or some shit. Well Fuck.

Zoro's face came back to life slowly as he raised an eyebrow, a smirk threatening on his lips. He peered back down at the blondes face.

"Really?" He asked, his curiosity peeked. "I never knew you liked cuddling so much, Cook. That's cute."

Sanji's face flushed more, even if there wasn't any more room for that to be possible. He clenched his teeth, hating every inch of the swordsman's shitty face staring at him in that moment.

"As if! Don't flatter yourself shit head, it's not voluntary!"

That probably wasn't the best choice of words from Sanji's part, it only seemed to fuse Zoro's interest more. The Marimo lowered his hand past Sanji's exposed pouch to the rim of his pants, slipping his hand underneath. Sanji let out a noise of surprise in response, squirming again while trying to ignore Zoro's touch. It would end up being another long night.


Author's Note: Aren't I a damn tease. XD Sorry~ No sexy times right now ;u; laters. Poor Sanji, they're closing in on you! ;u; xoxoxo ps. XxYoukai-KaitouxX mentioned that pregnant women get turned on by the smell of their lovers and I just couldn't not include that. XD I do read all your suggestions ;u; ~ you guys help me mold the story! Thanks for reading chapter 9 ~ Hope it fit your fancy! ;D