Author's Note:

Hi everyone. This is a special posting because this day, not so many years ago, I was born.. Yay me!

Anyway, just so no one's confused the first time—this one's from Nami's point of view...

"I can't fucking believe this!" After all that work to come up with that stupid plan and then I have to set sail with the rest of these idiots for a month—to which was the worst decision I have ever made and I'm going to write that down in my log book and underline it three fucking times so I can make sure I never try something like this again, like getting stuck being the only one left standing between that moron of a captain and the fridge—to go on a treasure hunt—the treasure being the only redeeming light of this whole trip—while those two other idiots get to vacation on a summer island, it turns out that Robin didn't actually need to break into the base and sabotage the system. There's apparently another way to get around the check point that other pirates have been using for years. "This was such a waste of time and resources!"

Robin, sitting at her normal seat across the table on the lawn deck, looks up from her book chuckling and I sincerely hope that it's the book that she finds so amusing. "At least it wasn't a total waste," she says leaning her chin on the back of her hand propped up on the table's surface. Looking at her, I'm glad to have her back here with me, because I've missed her company the most. I'm also glad that she finally ditched that stupid wig she's been wearing. The look on Sanji's face when she tore it off was priceless.

I sigh, because even though life here was Hell, I guess she's right. "Yeah, you guys did manage to steal those horrible Sea Prism bullets from the marines, so I should be happy with that."

Robin smiles at me as she turns back to her book, "Yes, it seems that our trip might have been successful in more ways than one."

I cock my head to the side. What does she mean by more ways than one? I feel like there's been something she knows, something she been keeping to herself, and I want in on it, because from the sound of things, it seems like pretty juicy gossip.

"Sorry to keep you lovely ladies waiting, my mademoiselles," says the ever eager voice off our lovesick cook. God, it's nice to have him back too. I almost forgot how easy he makes it around here for me. Not that I'm going to stop indulging myself, but I guess I could throw him a bone every now and again.

"Thanks, Sanji-kun," I say taking the fruity cocktail he's offering me and he smiles at me with that stupid dreamy look in his eyes again, freaking hearts for eyes and that stuff.

"Don't mention it, Nami-swan!" he says as he moves over to Robin who closes her book and pushes it aside to take her drink.

"Thank you, Sanji-san," she says meeting his eyes as she takes it and if I hadn't been watching, I'd have missed it. For a moment, Sanji's lips twitched and his normal flirty nature drops. It's only for a mere heartbeat and then he's noodling again.

"You ladies are far too generous," he says hugging the serving tray he has close to his chest and smiling much too wide for his face. It's such a familiar sight that I try to tell myself that I shouldn't think too much on what I just saw. Sanji's seemed to really have a spring in his step since we got the three of them back on the ship and Usopp—

"Sanji?" Speak of the devil. Usopp comes over, hands still covered in grease that he's smearing on his thighs as he approaches and I shake my head at him. "Oh, Nami, uh, Robin, heheh... Do you know where Luffy is? I need his help with—"

I feel like groaning. "Don't bother. He and Zoro disappeared a half hour ago or so, so I'd just wait for them to reappear later if I were you." Why Zoro couldn't have been distracting Luffy earlier when I was at the point of ripping my hair out, is beyond me. Just my luck they were probably in the middle of a lover's quarrel or something... Which actually might explain that fight that broke out on deck...

"Oh," Usopp says, a light blush coloring his cheeks. "Really? Um, I guess I could wait until..."

"Why not ask Franky if you need assistance?" Robin offers stirring her drink idly with her straw and Usopp shakes his head, his ridiculous hair bouncing around animatedly.

"Nah, he's busy right now and it can, uh, wait," he says glancing from Robin to Sanji and then to me. What the Hell?

"Then if you're not doing anything at the moment, could you help me with something," Sanji says, smiling at Usopp and again Usopp glances awkwardly around.

"Sure, uh, what do you need?" he asks nervously.

"Dishes," Sanji says with a smile as he starts back for the kitchen. Usopp looks after him confused for a second and then jumps like somebody just slapped him.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Uh, bye guys!" he says jogging after him.

I take a sip of my drink thinking about the last time Usopp and I talked over the communicator and wonder how he's been holding up. It must be hard harboring feelings for someone for so long before hopelessly giving up like he did. And he's been keeping it together so well around Sanji. I just wish there was something I could do for him, you know, that doesn't involve me spending money or just flashing him, though I'm not so sure that would really cheer him up anymore...

"Usopp-kun seems to be in higher spirits since we got back, wouldn't you agree Nami-san?" Robin says as she turns back to her book.

"What?" I ask curiously.

"Oh, nothing. Just speculating out loud..." Robin says wearing a highly amused smile.

Continuation of Author's Notes:

Well, this is the end of B.T.W. I answered some of the questions, I hope. And for anyone that wants to know why Robin couldn't just take the gun and go, it was kind of because of the sea prism stone that the gun was a) made of and b) had inside. She couldn't touch it. Also, she was trying not to reveal who she really was... or any of them for that reason. Her devil fruit powers are a pretty dead give away... I just thought it was kind of obvious, so I never explained it... why she revealed it afterwards... to the captain of all people... well, she had a little private chat with the woman that I never bothered to write that was very convincing.

Response time!

YamiLuvsSkittles: Thank you for reviewing my story. Glad the length didn't stop you. This is the longest fanfic I've written and most of the plot was hacked out while working a ticket booth this summer. If you want more about this story, I'm going to be posting the first of a few drabbles this weekend so look for them. They'll have me as a writer and an illustration done by the same artist as the last ones. Once again, thank you for the confidence booster! I'll keep writing them for everyone to enjoy.

(P.S. Shout out to the artist that drew the images! You're amazing!)

SniperingSardine: And now, SniperingSardine. What am I going to do with you. You always make writing these review fun. I look forward to your well prepare love. And yeah, there are a lot of side to Sanji. We'll see more sides of him in this relationship in the drabble to come including a little slice of Candy-chan. To answer you other question, no I haven't played Unlimited Cruise, I usually don't play RPG. I might look into it though. I'm really really happy that you like my Usopp! I try to write him well because he's one of my favorite character and the one that I can most relate too. I know it's stupid, but when I was getting a root-canal done on one of my front teeth and it really hurt, I just kept thinking that Usopp has take worse damage then this in Alabasta, so this isn't soooo bad... It might just have been the pain killing stuff they shot me with talking though... Anyway, thank you for those words especially. Oh, and you mentioned Nami... Was there enough Nami in there for you *snicker* I seriously had this epilogue written before you wrote the review, so I just thought it was funny.

But seriously, there is more about Usopp and Sanji and the rest of the crew in the drabbles "Forging Ahead"that I'll be posting so everyone should look for them in the future... starting sometime this weekend. I don't know... me and the person that this fanfic is gifted to are celebrating our birthdays on Saturday, so who knows when we'll get to it...