The sigh that came from the passenger side of the car was the sixth one he had heard in the past 2 minutes and he was sure that if he heard another one he was going to pull over and shove his shoe up the person's-

"Are we home yet?"
"How many times are you going to ask me that moron? We just left the fucking hospital."
"Yeah? Well I can't get away from it fast enough. How long was I in there anyway?"
"Long enough for me to get the house clean."
"You didn't touch my stuff did you?"

Sanji almost chuckled at the desperate edge to the man's voice but refrained himself by reminding his childlike side that the man had just gotten out of the hospital and still had stitches.

"No Marimo, I didn't touch your shit."
"Good, you know I've always wanted to ask someone this. But why is it that your stuff is stuff, but someones else's stuff is shit?"(1)
"You know I have no idea."

The larger man shrugged and winced slightly as the movement pulled on his stitches, he looked out the window and took a deep breath of fresh air as he rolled his window down; Sanji's quiet squeal as the cold air rushed into the heated car made a smile tug on his face.

"Are you insane? It's below thirty degrees out there and your rolling down the fucking window? You realize we live in Ohio right?"
"Yeah, I know. We've lived here how long?"
"A while but still I'm just making sure. I mean you are rolling the window down with an inch of snow on the ground."
"I wanted fresh air. I hate hospitals, mostly the way they smell."

Sanji nodded, he could understand that, he remembered the day his father passed away and how he had been thinking the same things, he shook the thought off as they pulled onto their street and had to stop short a few feet from their drive way to look at the house that was lit up like the fourth of July.

"It's only the first of December and your neighbor has lights up already?"
"Bon Clay does this every year, and every year he gets more and more."
"Good thing he's rich, his electric bill has to be horrendous. "
"Yeah no kidding. I usually don't do anything."
"What? Not even a tree?"
"I go over to Ace's most of the time, why would I need to?"
"Yeah that's true I suppose. You think it would be to much to put a tree up this year?"

He looked over as they parked in the driveway and saw the thoughtful look on the others face and realized his eyes drifting down to the lips that he could still remember the feeling of over his, he felt his body temperature rise and blinked, he hadn't thought of that in the few weeks that Zoro had been in hospital...so why was he thinking of it now? He shook him self from his thoughts as Zoro began to talk again.

"-Won't be that bad...yeah we can put one up. Fake or real?"
"Real. Duh, as if you have to ask. Can't ever have a fake tree."
"Fine, but your picking it out."
"Something tells me you've had bad experiences in picking out trees?"
"Oh just the fact that the last time Nami let Luffy pick out their tree the moron picked a Blue Spruce and had me carry it...took forever for the fucking welts to go away and the itching to stop."

Sanji felt the laughter bubbling up in his throat as the image of the swordsman came to his mind covered in calamine lotion floated to the surface. Shaking his head he opened the drivers side door and shivered as the cold air hit his face, shutting his door he went around and helped Zoro out of the car and let them both into the house. Zoro blinked as the living room came into view, it felt wonderful to be home but the extra feeling the tugged at his heart made him pause. The living room was glowing softly with a few scented candles, and the kitchen looked new; Sanji must have done it while he had been in the hospital. Red and Black tiles were laid into the wall behind the sink, the floor had been redone with marble and the counters were Black setting off the White tiles in the wall. The cabinets were stained a dark cherry and the stove looked new as well. All in all it was beautiful and Zoro was glad he had put his faith in the blond. The house had a warmth to it that he was sure had never been there before; a homely feeling that had him wanting to curl up on the couch with a mug of coffee and watch sports all day. He back at the blond as he busied himself in the kitchen he had put together himself and Zoro again had another unknown feeling tugging at his chest, Sanji looked as if he belonged there; like he was made to be in the little kitchen that used to look as plain and normal as the truck in his garage. Taking a deep breath he walked slowly to the living room and settled down gently onto the couch and felt sleep creep into the back of his mind. He felt his body relaxing more and more the longer he sat there, he was home and it felt so much or comforting than he ever remembered it and as the smell of food began to drift through the small house his mind cleared and he fought his body as it tried to make him sit straight up; but he did allow his eyes to flare open.
This feeling...the warmth in his chest, the fuzzy thoughts, the nostalgia...it was all something he had felt before, years ago that he never thought he could or would feel again and as Sanji placed a bowl of soup in front of him he felt the feeling swell and threaten to take over. He looked over at the blond as he sat on the couch as well and the urge to reach out and touch him was to much to fight. It felt like an out of body experience as he watched his hand lift and reach out to brush finger tips against the pale cheek, the cook froze. Zoro's mind conjured the picture of the blond from the hospital that day, crystal tears trailing down his face, his pale cheeks flushed pink...the worried expression haunting his mind. A part of him felt guilty for making the other worry but another, darker, part of him rejoiced as he relished the thought of Sanji caring enough about him to worry that much. It was a battle that seemed to rage inside him every time he saw the blond now, but at the moment; as Sanji's eyes gently closed and he leaned into the large tan palm of his hand, all he could think of is how right it felt to be in the same house as the blond.
Just as he started to lean over and bring the blond closer the sound of his door banging against the wall as it was thrown open had both men jumping up, one to fall back onto the couch with a loud curse and the other to shift into a fighting stance; that is til voices began to filter through the doorway and into the house making both men mumble a string of curses.

"Ace, are you sure this is alright? I mean he just got out of the hospital."
"Aw C'mon, it's not a problem Vivi."
"Yeah, but Brook told me that Sanji was picking him up today. Don't you think we should give him some time to settle back in?"
"Are you kidding me? If I know Zoro, which I do, he'll want a beer and a large basket of fried mushrooms with a good flick."
"But how do you know?"
"Cause I've gotten him from the hospital to many times to count and that's always what he does."

The cackle that followed this statement let the house owners know that the waitress and arsenic investigator were not alone.

"Hehehe, Ace and Zoro always watch some weird movies after when this happens, last one was a movie about these really tall blue people...ne Ace what was it called?"
"Avatar."
"Yeah, that one! It's was really cool."

Another feminine voice joined in, Sanji could only guess that they were shedding their jackets and shoes.

"Luffy, you really are dense you know that?"
"Heh, yeah I know. But you love me right? Ne Nami, don't you love me?"
"Of course I do, but that doesn't change the fact that your dense...Hey Ace, who all did you call anyway?"
"Everyone. Franky and Robin should be here soon; they said they had news to tell us anyway, Viv invited her boss; said he knows Sanji. I think Zoro's friend from across the street is gonna come over as well. Ussop and Kaya said they would try to make it over for a movie if they had time, apparently Ussop's job needs him late tonight so there's no telling."
"Oh, well that's not that much...are you cray? The man just got out of the hospital, give him some time to get settled."
"Yet your here?"

No answer came from the red head as the rounded the corner, Ace's face broke out into a smile and Nami's eyes narrowed as she took in Sanji's flushed cheeks and the deadly glare Zoro was giving the freckled man. She grabbed Luffy's arm before he could make his way over to the two of them and cleared her throat. The others looked around at her, different looks registering on their faces. Ace and Luffy's a mixture of pending disappointment and excitement on seeing their recovering friend, Vivi's nervous look doubled, Sanji and Zoro both looked confused and nervous.

"I think we should do this tomorrow. They look really tired Ace."
"Yeah, but-"
"No. You and Luffy both are to hyper to be around Zoro like this. I know you guys do this every time but I doubt all the other times he was almost cut in half. Am I right?"
"Yeah, but-"
"Than there you have it. We'll do this another night once he's settled in and rested enough to deal with the two of you."

She could see the grateful look the injured man gave her and let a knowing smile slip onto her face, she hung back as the others filed out the door, Ace chatting to Franky on the way out the door; Sanji looked over at her as she put a petite hand on his arm.

"Take good care of him for us Sanji."
"I will Nami dear, he is in good hands I promise."

She nodded and walked out into the fluttering snow, Sanji shutting and locking the door behind him; he walked back to Zoro who was still sitting on the couch, a thoughtful look plastered to his face. He looked up and at the blond as he sat back down heavily onto the couch. Zoro watched as Sanji crossed his legs and leaned back into the cushions and felt his mouth go dry as the blond arched his back lifting his arms above his head stretching. It brought back the thought of what he was about to do before Ace and the others interrupted them. It was something he had thought about almost constantly since that day...reaching over he grabbed Sanji wrist as it was brought back down from the stretch in a firm but gentle grip making the blond look over at him. Zoro pulled on the wrist slightly silently telling the blond to scoot closer and felt a triumphant feeling leap into his throat as the blond didn't fight but did as he was prompted and got closer to the other man on the couch, as he did Zoro released the wrist and let his hand drift up on the thin arm, the feeling making his fingers tingle. Again he felt as if he were watching him self as his hand reached Sanji's shoulder and pulled the blond to him, his hand drifting further up on the back of the blond's neck and pulled Sanji to meet him half way and gently, almost as if he were testing the blond, touching hid lips with Sanji's. The sigh that fell from the pale lips under his made his pulse quicken and made him pull on the blond more forcefully eliciting a soft moan from him, the sound making Zoro moan in response. But before Zoro could put any more force to it Sanji pulled away and looked at him, the light blush dusting his cheeks endearing to the swordsman.

"You need sleep."
"What? How can you tell me to sleep after that?"
"Cause I know for a fact that you barely slept in the hospital."

Zoro sighed but stood up slowly, he turned to the blond and held out his hand making the cook raise an eye brow.

"C'mon, let's go get some rest."
"Okay."

Sanji took the offered hand and allowed himself to be tugged to his feet, but as he tried to turn into his own room Zoro gave a gentle pull on his hand, he looked up and saw Zoro nod in the direction of his room; shrugging Sanji decided to see what the green haired man wanted and was surprised to be led to Zoro's room, and to his bed. He let a small smile slip onto his face as Zoro lay down and opened his arms for the cook who took the hint in stride and lay down and allowed him self to be pulled to the man's chest. Laying his head softly on Zoro's chest he felt the man sigh and drift almost instantly to sleep, the warmth from the others body making his own surrender to blissful oblivion as well.

1. This is a skit from George Carlin, it's pretty funny if you've ever heard it you know what I'm talking about, if not, look up George Carlin: stuff.

Okay, so another chapter down and a few more to go. I'm really enjoying this story and I hope everyone who reads it is too. I hope this chapter is good enough for the moment, I'm kinda at a block right now when it comes to ideas, between Christmas shopping and getting ready for boot camp in a few months every thing is kinda hectic. And for those of you curious to if I'll continue to write once I get of of basic, yes I will and hopefully by that time I'll have a few new ideas for some new stories.