"Thank you so much for helping me out," the young medical student said. "Zoro don't try to make me laugh next time!"

"I can't help that I am hilarious..." Zoro smirked. Somehow he was more relaxed around Chopper. He seemed more friendly and open in a way. Robin smiled and appreciated this side of Zoro. He cared about Chopper just as much as she did. Come to think of it, Zoro was a role model to the younger boys and the first port of call if they were in any sort of trouble.

"The world of film and theatre are missing out on your stellar impressions of females." Robin chimed in with the teasing.

"If I started auditioning for female roles, they wouldn't cast anyone else. I'm doing my bit for society to let other people have a chance at making it big." Zoro went along with the joke whilst flexing his biceps.

"I'll love you and leave you, I have to email my peers, we have a presentation due." Chopper hugged them both and scuttled off to his room.

"That boy is so busy, I hope he doesn't burn out." Robin said.

"Glass half empty as always." Zoro replied.

"Elaborate."

"You're always so negative about everything. Lighten up man."

"Darling you're not exactly a beacon of light either. I'd say we were both quite sinister, demonic even."

"Even after my awesome acting?"

"That perplexes me, swordsman. You were a different person today. Maybe we could be friends after all?" Robin sounded hopeful.

"I think I'm the only guy in the house at this point who won't fall for you woman."

"First you address me as man and now woman, which is it?"

"Woman."

"I have a name."

"So do I, what's your point."

"I don't like getting too familiar with people." Robin was shocked as she doesn't normally say what she's thinking. She's far too reserved for that. Zoro doesn't reveal his thoughts either, that's why he probably understands her more than the others do. They shared similarities but they were never civil for a long period of time to enjoy them.

"Dodgey as hell," he replied as he jumped off the chair and walked towards the door. He nodded before he disappeared through the doorway leaving Robin alone with her thoughts. Robin missed talking to the cook, he was so interesting to talk to and he made her laugh a lot. Zoro also made her laugh however she shouldn't be unfaithful to her boyfriend by thinking about these other men around her. She had someone and she enjoyed the privacy of the bubble she shared with Crocodile. A bubble filled with archaeology and expensive restaurants. She didn't like him for the money, it was just exciting to be with an older guy. He did seem smitten with her though, and she was aware that she made a fatal error by dating her boss. If they broke up she wouldn't have a job. Because she had spent the first twenty years off her life essentially homeless this didn't worry her too much. Something Zoro said re-invaded her mind. Am I really that negative? How did he notice? Does he know me better than I think he does? Sanji and Zoro, one was an excellent conversationalist and the other was better at understanding things. She would never go for them, they were too good for her. She couldn't bear to think of dating someone in the crew only for things to go wrong. Luffy would definitely kick her out and this was the first home she had. She wanted to enjoy it for a little while longer. There she was with her negative thinking again. Is it possible to watch your mother get shot in front of you and not be a negative person? How did bambi turn out?

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Luffy was trying to recruit people to go on an adventure he had heard about. A couple of boy scouts had informed him of a mountain range that was an hours drive away. It was apparently a very dangerous hike, possibly life threatening if you slipped. This encouraged Luffy further as he wanted to share this new experience with his friends. Hiking, canoeing and climbing were available along with camping and roasting tasty marshmallows and sharing stories.

"Look Luffy, I have campophobia, my doctor wouldn't be happy with me going." Usopp explained his latest excuse. "besides there won't be any wifi there and my fans will suffer."

"Usopp, you know I don't care about your scaredy cat excuses, you're coming and that's final."

"Says who?"

"Says me." Luffy spoke with so much conviction that Usopp could not argue with him. How was that boy so confident and why do I only feel confident behind a screen or webcam, Usopp pondered.

"Who else is coming."

"Everyone that lives under this roof unless Chopper says they can't."

"It's going to be so much fun, I'm going to make Sanji prepare bento boxes and we can make food in the morning and we can eat it at the top of the mountain we climb and it's going to be so yummy making smores and marshmallows and we better pack enough food." Luffy said in two big breaths.

If that boy could marry food he definitely would, Usopp thought to himself.

At dinner, everyone was mentally rescheduling their busy lives around Luffy's adventure. Sanji was secretly grateful for the challenge of making food that would last them the whole trip, anything to get his mind off Robin. Everyone was mildly excited apart from Robin. Crocodile had planned a weekend getaway for them both that weekend and she was unsure of how to break this news to the crew. Fortunately she was seated next to Luffy, she impulsively whispered the situation to the boy, not realising what she had done.

"He can join us Robin, don't worry!" Luffy grinned and was excited to meet Robin's boyfriend.

Sanji felt like he had been shot in the heart. That bastard was going to be there and Sanji would rather die than make food for him. He's the reason Robin didn't give him a chance. Who the hell was he? Sanji questioned the identity of the man that Robin was dating. In any case this was a blessing in disguise as now he would be able to suss the guy out. If he was a douchebag Sanji may even have a chance of convincing Robin and then they would break up. If he was a decent guy, things would be difficult. The only reason Sanji would intervene was if Robin's heart were in danger of being broken. He didn't care that she had broken his, after all she was awkward about feelings and emotions. He would still protect her and Nami whenever she chose to date. No one has the right to hurt them.

After dinner, Robin dialed a number she had learnt off by heart. He finally picked up.

"Hey beautiful, what can I do for you?" Crocodile answered the call with his smooth voice. It was enough to make the ladies swoon. Every lady apart from Robin.

"There's a camping trip, you're invited, it's the weekend that you planned our getaway I hope you don't mind." Robin said with no emotion in her voice."

"Camping with your little buddies, I'd be delighted to show my face and meet them." Crocodile patronised.

"They're really good to me, behave with them."

"I'm sure we will click, I've been looking forward to meeting them I don't know why you haven't invited me round for dinner. Don't you think you should before we all go gallivanting across the fields, plains and mountains together?"

"Good point, come over tomorrow and meet them, try not to flirt with Nami." there was a slightly detectable tone in Robins voice. Little did she know that Crocodile openly flirted with women in front of her just to convince her that he wasn't head over heels for her. His reputation as a ladies man would go down the drain.

"That depends on Nami." Crocodile laughed and hung up the phone call. Robin asked herself why she was with a gambling, flirtatious man like Crocodile when she realised that he could go for any supermodel or Hollywood actress. He wasn't only a big name in archeology, he was on the rich list and he owned a casino as well. He had a dark side yet so did she. They deserved each other.

Robin knocked on Nami's door.

"Hey sis, what's cracking?" Nami grinned at her.

"Guess who you're going to meet tomorrow."

"No."

"Yes. It's because he's joining us on our camping trip."

"I am so excited to meet him, you've told me nothing about him. Now I can rate him out of ten."

"I rate him a seven."

"Geez Robin, you're in a relationship and you don't sound like you're in love one bit. Don't you feel butterflies in your stomach around him, don't you feel like you want to make an extra effort just so he'll notice you?"

"He already notices me, I wear fish nets a lot. Nothing says notice me like fish nets and long black boots. Why do I dress like a French hooker? "

"Your style is sexy and I love it. Never change."

"I don't think I love him, but you don't need love really. Does it even exist?"

"I love money, that exists."

"Hmm."

Later on that night, Robin lay in bed and thought about what Nami had said. She felt none of those things for Crocodile but that hardly mattered. She was unlikely to feel anything, it took a lot for her just to make friends. Emotions are a disadvantage, Robin thought to herself as she went back to her book.

Zoro lay in bed and thought about his session with Chopper and Robin. It was fun, he'd like to spend more time with them. They were like a family within a family. She needs to lighten up though, he thought. Mind you, she did laugh a lot at his acting. Maybe he was a beacon of light after all.

Sanji lay in bed with an e-cigarette. It was useless but he liked to feel like he was smoking. Crap, crap, crap Robin get out of my head.