I'm a little sort of kind of –okalot-embarrassed.

I'm sorry for taking so long c'''''''''''''''8! I'm not even gonna blame the tests, since they were only two weeks and I haven't updated in a month. LET'S SKIP THE EXCUSES. HOWEVER, I TRULY DO APOLOGIZE!

Writing this story was super fun C:!

Thank you thank you thank you for everyone's endless support! It has made me RIDICULOUSLY HAPPY 8D!

I hope eaaaach and eeeeeeveryyyyy one of you lives a

LONG

HAPPY

LIFE

FILLED WITH MUSHROOM SOUP (unless you don't like it…) AND SANJI SWOONS!

After the time skip, between Fishman Island arc and Punk Hazard arc.

The cook was puffing his cigarette and half-heartedly washing breakfast dishes. It had been more than two weeks since he sent the bracelet to her.

Ever since he left Ivy, he'd searched on every island and asked an unlimited number of people about a way back to her world. However, most of them found it funny, and the ones who did take him seriously didn't have answers. When he'd returned to his nakama, the old woman had left.

Sanji had spent most of that day silently cursing her.

The bracelet that had been on his wrist was no longer tight, and he was able to slip it off. But if there used to be any sign of magical abilities to it, it was completely gone.

Then the crisis with his nakama happened, and they separated.

And then Marineford…

He knew he had to focus on getting stronger in the two years he was away, and didn't have the chance or the time to look for any way to be able to see Ivy again. After all, he couldn't for the life of him have a meaningful conversation with any of the okamas he met. They either kept flirting with him or were just too creepy for his liking. So getting help from them was slim to none.

They met Madam Shyarly in Fishman island, who was a psychic, and she happened to be quite knowledgeable with sorcery. When he told her about it, she was reluctant to help him, especially after seeing the future of Luffy supposedly causing a fire and chaos on her island. But after they'd saved it, she was more than happy to look into the issue.

It took her time and effort, but she was able to get a communication with Ivy's world, and it took her even more time and hard work to reach Ivy. She was able to create a doorway to it, but it didn't have the power to move a human from one world to another.

Despite that, Sanji and Madam Shyarly spent the last days he was on Fishman Island trying to find a way to re-work the bracelet, in hope of maybe sending it through the doorway with a letter to Ivy. That way, she'd be able to wear it and, if their plan went the way it was supposed to, come to where he was.

"I was able to regenerate power in it," she had said. "It will have the exact same rules as the time you wore it. Seven days."

And well, nothing had happened since they sent it to her. Sanji was always hoping he'd be welcomed by Ivy saying "Dammit Sanji, you're still smoking?"or "Don't think I don't know about that model-girl picture you have in your shirt pocket."

Though, much to his disappointment, he was only "welcomed" by constant insults from the mossheaded swordsman. Sanji wiped his hands with a kitchen towel and walked out onto the deck. He reached to take out another cigarette when he heard a piercing scream coming from Nami. Everyone on deck was alerted.

"W-Was that Nami?" Chopper questioned nervously, clinging onto Zoro. The cook wasted no time wondering what was going on and instead, practically burned the wood by how fast he ran towards the woman's bath.

"NA-NA-NA-NAMI-SWAAAAAAAAAAAN!" he sang out, barging into the bathroom and scanning the area. He noticed Nami, who had wrapped herself with a robe, staring in horror at something across the room. He followed his crewmate's gaze until it fell on a bundle of…uh…something covered in gallons of soap suds. It appeared to be moving.

The cook was trying his hardest not to get distracted by his fresh-out-of-the-bath nakama and instead, focus on the mysterious moving creature across from them.

"What is that, Nami-san?" he asked, gradually getting closer to it. The bath was filled with steam, making it hard for him to see.

"How should I know?! I was getting ready to get out of the bath when something came rolling in from God knows where and it just got slammed into the wall, so I attacked it with soap-suds because my climatact isn't with me," she said, her voice dripping with irritation. "Just get rid of it, Sanji-kun!"

With a cock of his eyebrow, the cook leaned towards the thing to get a closer look.

"Oi," he said, trying to get its attention. He heard a groan, followed by soft coughs.

"Gee, Nami…" it complained, trying to get up. Sanji felt his stomach make a 360 degree flip. He knew whose voice that was. Somehow, the room's temperature seemed to rise.

He could feel a lump form in his throat. "…Ivy-chan?"

The bundle of lather stopped moving temporarily before turning towards Sanji in a quick jerk.

Indeed, it was Ivy. Her eyes were practically glowing from excitement. After an awkward slip due to the ridiculous amount of soap, she reached towards Sanji and gave him a tight hug.

"Sanji!" she exclaimed, going through fits of laughter and coughing. The cook was in so much shock he could barely return the hug properly.

"Mellorine!" he replied merrily, hugging Ivy with one hand and patting the back of her head with the other. Nami stood in her bathrobe at the other side of the room, flustered. The rest of the crew had started gathering outside the bath.

"Is that a girl hugging Sanji?" Usopp asked in complete disbelief.

"I bet she got blackmailed," Zoro guessed.

"IS THIS WHAT THEY CALL LOVE?" Chopper asked, his eyes widening as he stared at the two hugging figures.

"More importantly, is that the girl we've been waiting for?" sensible Robin pointed out.

"And why would such a lovely girl be covered in soap lather?" Brook wondered aloud.

"Who cares? She's superrrrrrrr adorable!" Franky said.

"Luffy, what are you doing?" Zoro asked irritably, observing his captain, who was poking at the soap suds on Ivy's face.

"Ahaha! This stuff is FUN!" he cried out. Ivy laughed.

"Hi Luffy!" she exclaimed, freeing one of her hands and giving his hair a ruffle. "Your hair is way softer than I expected it to be…"

Luffy pouted. "No! My hair is spiky and wild!"

"So this is the infamous Ivy we've been hearing nonstop about…" Nami concluded, crossing her arms.

"Ah, so it is," Robin said with her knowing smile, observing Ivy carefully before exiting the bathroom.

"Took her long enough to get here," Zoro mumbled. "The shitty cook hasn't given us a rest. Ivy-chan this Ivy-chan that Ivy-chan-give us a flying break!"

"Indeed, Ivy-san! Sanji-san has been completely out of it lately, and I don't doubt you're at fault here," Brook said jokingly, laughing his ever famous yohohoho.

Nami went out and back into the room in no time. However, this time, she had her climatact. She tapped it several times on the wooden floor.

"Boys. Out," she ordered, pointing towards the door. The crew looked disappointed, minus Zoro, who was more than glad to get away from the fuss.

"But Naamiiii!" Luffy whined. "I wanna have fun with Avy-girl!"

"I believe it's Wavy, Luffy-san, not Avy," Brook said matter-of-factly.

Nami sighed.

"It's Ivy you idiots," Usopp finally said. He and Franky got the message, and followed Zoro out the door.

Nami zapped the two remaining crewmates and kicked them out. Quite literally.

She then noticed Chopper, who was at the corner of the bath simply staring in wonder at Sanji and Ivy, who had completely ignored the crew's whines and were merely looking at each other, exchanging happy smiles.

"Chopper, the same goes for you," Nami snapped. However, she softened once looking at the innocent look of the small, clueless reindeer. "We're going to spend time in the aquarium today. If you go along and help me get Luffy to settle down, then I'll make sure Sanji makes you some extra dessert, deal?"

That convinced him. He was out in no time.

Nami took one last look at the cook's unfamiliar self. He was always so perverted and lovey-dovey…what in the world happened?

Heh…Robin and I have got to have a talk with this girl she thought as she exited last.

That left us with the infamous two.

"How did you convince your dad?" Sanji asked.

"Are you okay? Have you been smoking too much?" Ivy answered with yet another question.

"Would you like me to make you mushroom soup?!"

"Remember the candy I bought for you and your nakama? You forgot to take it back with you! SO I GOT YOU SOME!" she said, pulling out a bag.

"Is it just me or is this room too stuffy…." Sanji stated.

"You look so grown up," she exclaimed. "Your jaw and-"

"You cut your hair even shorter!" Sanji pointed out.

"You two are giving me a stinkin headache!" Zoro snapped from outside, interrupting them. Soon, however, a harsh bonk was heard and, sadly, the sound of Zoro was no more.

"Nami," they both said knowingly.

Once they'd made it out of the bathroom, for it was slightly awkward to have a proper talk in there, they noticed the deck completely empty. Sanji silently thanked Nami for giving him the time he needed alone with Ivy. And so, with a jolly grin, he took Ivy by her hand and led her towards the Sunny's figurehead.

"This is so weird…to actually be here," she said. "It looks so surreal when I'm watching it, but it's just as realistic as the world I come from."

Sanji smiled. "Tell me. How have things been?"

"Well, I got into college and it's been…okay, I suppose. Wait, do you even know what college is…? Baah. No biggie. Not a subject that I'm too psyched about, anyway. I've been good! Dad has gotten slightly less strict. Well…sort of. I mean, he doesn't constantly ask where I've been, so, that's an improvement."

"Ahh, your dad. To be honest, I was thinking about that. If I were ever to propose to you-"

Ivy laughed before gesturing for him to proceed.

"If I were ever to propose to you, do you think I could merely take you away without having to ask for your hand?" he asked in his utmost politeness. Though, after seeing the baffled expression on Ivy's face, he gave her a playful wink.

Her ears had turned pink. "Gee, I don't know about that, Sanji. What do you think? I mean, if you were to do that, surely my dad would find out sooner or later and he'd come after you. And to be frank with you, I'd be scared for his life. Seeing all those fights you've been through, you're ten times the strength of the dumb wrestlers I see all the time on T.V."

"How hurtful, Ivy-chan!" Sanji sounded offended. "I would never hurt your father!"

Sanji nodded his head towards the crow's nest, which Ivy gladly climbed up. As soon as the cook closed the door after them, Ivy held out her hand.

"Hmm?" Sanji said, staring at it. Does she wanna hold hands or-

"Sanji," Ivy's voice was stern.

Aha, nope. She doesn't wanna hold hands.

"Hand them over."

The cook felt his heart beats increase. Shit…she does know about them…

"Hand what over, Ivy-chan?" he asked.

"Your pride and joy," she replied sarcastically, nodding towards his blazer pocket.

The cook reached out to caress Ivy's hair. "Ahh, my dearest Ivy-chwan! Short hair looks nice on-"

"Sanji," Ivy said, moving her head away from his hand. "Come on. Give them."

The cook sighed in defeat. With reluctance, he put his cigarette in his mouth and fiddled in his blazer pocket. After a moment of hesitation, he took out three pieces of paper and handed them over to Ivy, who gave the cook a disapproving glare.

She unfolded the first paper.

"A blonde model. Hmm…pretty, but not your type," she said before wrinkling the paper and throwing it behind her. The cook cringed.

She unfolded the second one.

"Ahh! Lookie here…isn't this a photo of Nami in a bathing suit?" she asked before folding it up and putting it aside. She felt it was rude to wrinkle a picture of a person she already considered to be a friend.

She was expecting the third one to be of Robin, but was surprised by a picture of Chef Zeff. She couldn't say it was the most pleasant picture, since it showed Zeff pulling Sanji by his hair. The cook looked away. It seemed he was more embarrassed about that picture than the two previous ones.

Ivy clamped her mouth shut, struggling not to laugh. "I'm…I'm sorry! You're so cute!"

"Ivy-chan, I'm sure you won't, but to be on the safe-side, I ask you not to spread the word about that picture. Especially around Marimo," he requested, clicking his tongue. "Damn bastard would embarrass me in front of all the lovely la-"

Ivy stopped laughing.

"Not that I care about that, Ivy-chan!" he offered. I have got to change the subject.

"The past aside, would you like to take a look around the Sunny?" he asked.

Sanji could swear he saw a few flower pedals from the corner of his eye before they exited the crow's nest.

The cook felt his stomach make a knot.

That was definitely Robin-chan. Which means now she knows I keep pictures of hot ladies with me. Which means she knows about the picture. Which means she heard everything and might be reporting things to the crew. And that includes…Marimo…

"SHIT," Sanji snapped. Ivy blinked.

"Huh?" she said.

"Not you shit, Ivy-chan…him shit…" Sanji tried explaining. Somehow, Ivy got the message.

The two made their way to the aquarium, which Ivy was utterly impressed by, and were welcomed by innocent faces of the straw hats. Sanji eyed them carefully, starting from Usopp who was on the far left until he reached Robin on the far right. She gave him an amused smile before shaking her head and mouthing "No worries."

The cook heaved a sigh of relief.

"What's up with you?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah, Sanji-bro, everything alright?" Franky added.

Nami, before Sanji could make up an excuse of some sort, took Ivy by her hands.

"Sorry, Sanji-kun. We'll be borrowing her for a bit," she said, a wicked twinkle in her eyes. Ivy looked back at the cook, a suspicious look on her face. Though, before he had time to protest, Robin and Nami led Ivy out the aquarium and up onto the deck once more. They sat together on beach chairs.

"So, firstly, to introduce ourselves. I'm Nami, the naviga-"

"Oh, I know all about you. Both of you," Ivy explained. Nami cocked an eyebrow.

"Hmm. Except, we don't know very much about you. The main thing Sanji-kun would say about you is how endearing you were, your short hair, and that your favorite dish is Mushroom soup," Nami said with a shake of her head. "Ehh… I hate mushrooms."

"Perhaps you could tell us how you were able to charm our cook," Robin requested, getting to the point. "We're very much interested in that."

Ivy laughed, though a hint of nervousness showed in her outburst. "Charmed him? You think I charmed him?"

"Hehh, Ivy! Sanji-kun clearly likes you for things other than your looks," Nami said, revealing a hint of a smirk.

Ivy bit her lower lip, lost in thought. "Well…"

Meanwhile

"Ehhhh?! Come on, Sanji! You never actually told us how you-" Usopp began, but paused before saying the L word.

Sanji shot a glare towards the sniper. "How I what?!"

"Started…y'know…" Usopp continued awkwardly, fidgeting. "L-Liking her."

"You're so brave for saying it, Usopp!" Chopper mused.

Zoro clapped sarcastically.

"Problem, marimo?!" Sanji snapped.

"Huh? You're taking my clapping as an insult?" Zoro asked. "Then I'll make sure I clap more often."

Franky stretched out his hand between the two fighting nakama. "Alright, you two, knock it off."

"Tch," Sanji spat, sitting down again. "Shitty swordsman."

"Well? Are you gonna tell us?" Usopp pushed.

"Ehhh," the cook sighed. "Get lost. I'm gonna go make lunch. And I'd appreciate it if you shitheads didn't interrupt."

"You're not worth the trouble," Zoro muttered.

"Say it one more time-" the cook threatened before Usopp pushed his back gently and led him out. Sanji walked out the aquarium, only to be welcomed by the sounds of his three beloved ladies. He decided it wouldn't do very much harm if he eavesdropped. Just a little.

"Ahhh so your dad doesn't approve of him?" Nami asked. "No wonder. Sanji-kun's a bit y'know."

Y'know…? Sanji thought, slightly confused.

"That's interesting…so, did you come here against your father's will?" Robin enquired.

"No, he did agree for me to come, due to a promise he made me years back," Ivy explained. She laughed nervously. "Otherwise I don't know what I would've done. It was as if picking between him and Sanji. That would've been really…awful."

"So that's how special Sanji is to you? He's as special as your family?" Nami asked, no more mockery showing in her voice.

"Mhm…Who would've thought…" Ivy's voice trailed off.

The cook was wiggling in his place enthusiastically when he heard an "oi" coming from behind him.

"Move it, swirly-cook," Zoro said, not bothering to lower his voice. Sanji gave his crewmate a kick in the leg.

"Shut up! They'll know I'm-" Sanji began, and paused before he admitted to what he was doing.

Zoro cocked an eyebrow. "Were you eavesdropping?"

"As if, shitty mosshead!" Sanji snapped.

"Oi oi. You left to cook lunch some time ago. Don't try convincing me you were just hanging out puffing that damn cigarette of yours," Zoro shot back as he passed the cook and walked towards the crow's nest. The cook gritted his teeth, doing his best not to fight Zoro and make an unnecessary commotion.

By the time lunch was ready, Ivy and Nami were on perfect terms to the point that made Sanji slightly jealous. He'd glance at them from the door of the kitchen, trying to make eye contact with Ivy, however it failed. She was even starting to get close to Luffy, who kept amusing her by tying himself up in bizarre ways. That rubber power of his was definitely interesting. At the same time, though, he was relieved she bonded well with his nakama.

The cook was so lost in thought that he forgot to get rid of his cigarette ashes, and they ended up falling on the kitchen floor. With an irritated tch, he bent down to wipe it up. Gradually, the crew started gathering in the kitchen for lunch. And, much to Sanji's dismay, Ivy and Nami were taking their time to come.

Despite that, Ivy's face brightened once she entered and saw him, and quickly made her way to sit next to his seat. Everyone was quick to dig in. Ivy was almost, not quite, but almost wolfing it down as much as Luffy was, which surprised the cook.

Awkwardly, Ivy glanced at Sanji.

"Please don't look at me like that... Not my fault I couldn't eat your food for more than two years…" she demanded, quickly returning to her share.

With a gentle smile, the cook sat up.

"OI, BASTARDS!" he snapped. "And my dear Nami-san and Robin-chan~!"

Everyone paused, not including Luffy, and stared at Sanji.

"What?" Zoro asked irritably.

"Did you accidentally put dish detergent in the food again…" Usopp whispered, placing down his fork.

"Oi oi! That damn marimo was the one who did that and put the blame on me!" Sanji explained hurriedly. He shot a glare at the swordsman. "Ass."

Zoro smirked and kept quiet.

"ARE YOU SICK?! OHMYGOD I KNEW I SHOULD GIVE YOU GUYS MONTHLY CHECKS…" Chopper panicked, getting too energetic and slipping off his seat. He ended up falling on his bottom.

"It's not that! Chopper, I'm fine!" Sanji said. "Will you let me speak?!'

With that, the commotion settled down.

Sanji gave his neck a few stretches before putting his hand on Ivy's head. Her ears were turning rosy pink again.

"Ehh…" he began, realizing that having everyone's attention was more nerve wrecking than he thought. Though, when he glanced at Nami, she gave him an encouraging nod, which helped.

"This is Ivy," he finally said. "And she's my mellorine."

Any shuffling or little talk was completely silenced.

"Hold it…like..." Franky began.

"Like…like your…" Chopper continued.

"You're saying…She's…the mellorine?" Usopp exclaimed.

Ivy's face was practically swelling up by that time.

"Isn't mellorine food?" Zoro asked.

"AHAHA! I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING!" Luffy laughed.

Nami was quick to cause them brain damage before returning to her seat.

Franky immediately began to cry. "I knew it! I knew it from the first time I lay my eyes on her! She's the one!"

"So it was love…" Chopper mused.

Sanji sat back down and proceeded with his food, and the crew slowly followed. Ivy, however, didn't return to her eating. Slowly, and for the first time with no reluctance, she slipped her hand into Sanji's free hand and gave it a firm press.

"Hey, Sanji," she said with a smile. "You know…you're not a player."

The cook looked at her curiously.

"You're a pure gentleman."