Sweet Dreams
Chapter 11: Her Swordsman, His Navigator

Two days and still no dream induced injuries. Nami should feel happy, but the fact remained that she was still having nightmares. They had nothing to do with the necklace that was now locked away in a safe at Kale's house, but they were terrifying all the same. She assumed they were a direct result of her fears. She saw fire, heard Luffy's screams and frantically searched for Zoro and the others. Waiting… Always waiting. Sleeping on the beach was starting to make her back ache, but Luffy insisted that they stay here and allow the dream villains to come to them.

Everyone was on edge, preparing for a fight, but they found distraction in talking to Kale about the history of the island and a few loose ends; like why the necklace had been in the hands of a souvenir shop owner instead of locked away where no one would ever find it. The answer was simple. The charm had been forged ages ago and passed down through the generations. Few people even knew the story anymore and the necklace had been sold and passed from hand to hand because no one believed the old legend.

The man that Nami stole it from wasn't a local. He'd moved to Rockwell from a different island and set up shop after hearing about the necklace and seeing potential. He was part of the big reason that Rockwell was a tourist destination, since he sold expensive jewelry and came up with the idea to bring the legend back to life by making seeing stone replicas. This was what happened when history wasn't respected and warnings weren't heeded. Greed was a dangerous thing.

They had yet to come into contact with anyone that Nami recognized from her dreams, and she was beginning to wonder if this was the island where it was supposed to go down. Maybe they had removed the necklace soon enough that the future was still theirs to write… Maybe it was over. No… She could still feel it churning just beneath… Something was coming, and Kale seemed to sense it too because he had left to gather supplies in preparation for a possible battle, but promised to return in the morning. The navigator was shaken from her thoughts when she felt her swordsman's hand squeeze hers beneath the table. She hadn't even realized that all conversation had died and all of her nakama were staring at her with questions in their eyes until his calloused hand soothed circles over her own unblemished skin. She flashed them a smile that convinced no one and went back to pushing food around on her plate.

Sanji had prepared a feast each night in celebration. He said it was because each day that passed became another day that they were closer to putting an end to this, but everyone was tense. They needed the action to start and soon. The Straw Hats had never been ones for sitting around and doing nothing. Each night Nami pretended to eat and tried not to let Sanji's heartbroken expression eat her up inside. Their cook was one of the best to ever sail upon the seas but her appetite had vanished along with her sleep. Even without the necklace she was seeing things in her dreams. The injuries sustained in sleep no longer affected her in reality, but the new scenes that greeted her during the night were enough to make her afraid to rest. It was only Zoro's presence at her side that kept her from crying out and waking the others.

They had started sharing a sleeping mat since their first night sleeping in the sand, and Nami was shocked that even Sanji said nothing about the arrangement. Their cook seemed to understand that Zoro was what Nami wanted and what she needed. She chose the swordsman, and Sanji was okay with that. He cared for all of his nakama, and even though he doted on the women in their crew, he would never actually pursue a relationship with them. They were family and seeing the smile that Zoro brought to Nami's face was incentive enough. That didn't stop him from swooning around the navigator, though. Nothing had changed other than the fact that Nami and Zoro now showed affection for each other openly.

"You need to eat something, Nami-san."

Robin was the first to speak, and everyone around the table nodded in agreement.

"I'm just not very hungry," the navigator murmured in embarrassment. The dark circles under her eyes and the slight decrease in her curvaceous form had not gone unnoticed by her friends.

"We need you to be strong, Nami. We can't fulfill our dreams without our navigator," Luffy added, his tone far less playful than it normally was.

It wounded him to see any of his crew members suffering, especially when there wasn't much he could do. He could encourage her to eat. He could make sure that her strength didn't wane, but it didn't feel like it was enough.

Nami was Luffy's closest friend next to Zoro, so when the Captain looked at her with eyes that were almost sad, Nami breathed a sigh and picked up her fork, forcing herself to chew and swallow the delicious food, even if she didn't taste it.

"Nami-Swaaaan," Sanji crooned, at her side in an instant, the hearts in his eyes blurred by overdramatic tears.

"I could make you a smoothie instead!"

The cook was on his knees beside the makeshift table and bench they had set up on the beach, ignoring the eye roll Zoro was giving him with his good eye.

"Oh, Sanji, I would love that," Nami murmured with a grateful smile. His smoothies had been the only thing she could really finish these days since it didn't require the energy to chew. She could never say no to something chilled and orange.

Sanji sprang into action after he recovered from the blow of her smile, wriggling like a noodle in the wind as he practically skipped over to the blender to prepare her nutrition packed beverage. Seeing Nami smile for the first time in hours had the rest of the crew visibly relaxing. It was as if a weight had been lifted and the tension broken. Nami was often the force that allowed them to be easygoing. The navigator allowed them to relax because she always brought them through even the most treacherous of paths unscathed. Nami could find a safer channel even when there wasn't one to be had, and the crew relied on her more heavily than they realized sometimes. Seeing her so unlike herself had been taxing on everyone.

Nami was not strong in the same sense that Luffy and the others were. Her strength did not come from her fists, though her Clima Tact was definitely a force to be reckoned with. No, her strength came from being the proud daughter of a soldier. Her strength was harnessed from the fact that she had survived years of torture, slavery and solitude. Her strength was quiet but steady. It showed itself in the way she helped those who did not have the ability to help themselves, and the calm composure with which she normally conducted complex maneuvers on the Sunny. Nami was strong, but everything felt like it was crashing down on her at once and her strength was starting to dwindle. Zoro had seen her at her worst but this was different. This time it almost seemed as if she was ready to give up, and the swordsman wasn't having it.

It was fairly early in the evening still when everyone was satisfied that Nami had eaten enough to regain her strength. Tired of sitting around waiting for something to happen, Luffy joined Usopp and Chopper in a game of tag along the shore. They were prepared if someone tried to attack them, so it was okay to have a little fun. Robin was pouring over a book in one of the lawn chairs while Franky savored a cola next to her, a little misting fan popping up out of his bicep and spraying over the archeologist. She didn't get to experience the pleasure of swimming in the ocean, so the sweet smile she flashed at the cyborg made it clear that she appreciated the gesture, the cooling sensation a relief from the sweltering heat. Franky shot her a little wink and continued to sip at his beverage as if the gesture had been coincidental instead of thoughtful.

Brook was enjoying his evening cup of tea at the table and chatting with Sanji while the cook straightened up their mess from supper. It did not escape anyone's notice when Nami stepped away from their makeshift camp, her sandaled feet softly clicking against the wood of the dock as she headed for the Sunny.

Luffy paused in his games to share a look with Zoro, who simply nodded and started after the navigator, his hands behind his head as if he was bored instead of worried. If she wasn't going to talk about what was eating her up with the entire crew, maybe she would talk to him if they were alone. This wasn't like her, and it needed to stop before her smile vanished completely.

It wasn't difficult to find her once he stepped foot onto the Sunny, following the scent of mikans until a curvy silhouette came into view beneath the branches of one of the trees. Nami had a watering can in hand but instead of tending to the trees she loved so much she was staring off into the distant harbor, eyes searching.

She was so lost in thought that she didn't even hear Zoro's footsteps approaching from behind her, but the scent of metal and the sake he'd had with dinner drifted to her in the wind and ensured that she didn't jump when something warm brushed against her arm. Nami shivered, intensely aware of Zoro's hand softly drifting over her skin, coaxing her to look at him instead of the ships coming and going. They hadn't really discussed where this thing between them was heading, and they hadn't kissed since their almost official first kiss in the girl's quarters, the night after Nami had claimed her reward. Still, the feel of Zoro's touch always affected her in an intense way, causing a shiver to run through her slender form, which Zoro immediately mistook for being cold.

A strong arm came around her shoulders and tugged her against his chest to bring her out of the wind, and although the breeze wasn't the reason for her shivers, Nami let him do it, her head coming to rest in the crook of his neck. She never would've thought that the man she often referred to as a brute could show so much affection, especially for her. Zoro was still Zoro of course, just a slightly gentler version. They still bickered and he wasn't quite comfortable with going all out in the romance department in front of other people. He wasn't the damn love-cook. There were moments like these, though, when Nami felt that they just fit. She wasn't one for public displays of affection on a regular basis either, and she enjoyed their playful banter and teasing. This was enough. This was the reason, one of them at least, that she had fallen for Zoro and not anyone else.

"You know you shouldn't go running off like that," Zoro grunted into her hair, secretly intoxicated by the scent of her tangerine shampoo.

" I just needed to think," Nami murmured, brown eyes closing of their own accord as she relaxed against the first mate, allowing him to lend her his strength as the weight on her shoulders seemed to drain away.

It was unnerving how his presence could put her so at ease. It wasn't just because of the romantic aspect that had suddenly leaped into their relationship. Zoro had always made her feel safe. Nami had always trusted him. Zoro opened her up, revealed the deepest parts of her soul and accepted what he saw. She wasn't about to go screaming her love for him from the bow of the Sunny or anything like Sanji, but Nami was almost certain that she had fallen in love with the man who would become the world's greatest swordsman. If she was honest with herself, she would also admit that it had been happening long before they had ever even heard the name Rockwell; before she'd ever stole—purchased a cursed seeing stone.

Zoro wasn't an openly sentimental man. He didn't spend his days weeping over memories, though he did cherish them, or dwelling on things he might have done differently. However, when it came to Nami, something seemed to shift inside of him. He didn't feel obligated to swoon over her every move or beg her for forgiveness when they argued or anything, but he could admit that his heart jumped just a little when she settled herself against his chest like she belonged there or saved a smile just for him, a smile that was entirely differently from the ones she shared with anyone else. The treasure-hungry, demanding, infuriating navigator had wormed her way into corners of his heart that he didn't even know were there, and while it was unsettling it was also pleasant.

He didn't have to be anything other than himself with Nami. The way he touched and handled her was no different from the way he used to, the only change being that he could touch and hold her intimately without fear of being knocked upside the head, or admitting that he felt something for her. Zoro was not sentimental but he also wasn't an idiot. Real romantic love was something that men and women in their line of work rarely found, so when the right person came along, when they made you feel in ways no one else ever could, you took a chance.

Alone on the upper deck in the shadow of mikan trees, Zoro stared at the orange haired woman in his arms and mulled these thoughts over. He'd been avoiding making a move the last few days because in the wake of everything going on it hadn't seemed like the right time. Holding her now and seeing the way the tension in her body left at his touch, Zoro didn't feel like holding back anymore. Nami was his, and he wanted his intensions clear. He wanted to lay everything bare. He was willing to make himself vulnerable if it meant that they stopped skirting around the subject and came to terms with the fact that there was something between them worth pursuing.

Clearly feeling his eye on her, Nami tilted her face up to meet his gaze, wonder in her expression. He'd been silent for several minutes and she was beginning to wonder what was going through his mind. When Zoro slowly closed the gap between them, recognition flitted across her face, but he saw no signs of hesitation or unwillingness. Emboldened by this, he allowed his lips to hover over hers for a moment, her breath tickling his lips as the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly into a smile.

Nami stared, her heart thundering so hard against her chest that she feared it might bruise. Zoro had never initiated a kiss with her before; at least not one that he couldn't brush off on circumstance. He had been the one to kiss her after their bet, but this was different. She registered the feeling of calloused fingers brushing her jaw, her cheek, the tips of them resting slightly in her soft orange hair. A smile that answered his own pulled at her lips without permission, but what took her off guard the most was the look in the swordsman's eye. Gone was the usual playful glint, instead something softer met her. Zoro kept most of his more intimate emotions hidden beneath the surface, but in the time that she had come to know him Nami had learned that his eyes revealed much more when you knew how to read them.

She didn't have time to talk herself out of thinking that Zoro might love her too, because suddenly he moved forward that last quarter of an inch and claimed her lips with his own. His kiss was gentle and a bit hesitant at first, unsure of how she might react, but the moment Nami relaxed and wound her arms around his neck, Zoro's muscles loosened up and he kissed her with a newfound certainty. Had he been afraid she would reject him?

Allowing a soft sigh to escape, Nami lost herself in his kiss, admiring the way she fit into every contour of his muscled form; the way his left arm naturally fell into place in the small of her back while his right hand moved to bury itself into her hair. One of her own hands snaked up from the nape of his neck, dragging her fingers through his surprisingly soft green locks. She barely registered the sound of the watering can clattering to the ground at their feet.

The world around them ceased to exist and Nami felt lighter than she had in weeks, months… years. Zoro had planned to kiss her only for a moment, but the intensity of her reaction sparked something inside of him that made it nearly impossible to pull away. She wasn't close enough, even pressed against his chest, and Zoro tried to compensate by tilting his head just a little, changing the angle of the kiss, a jolt of fire burning through him when Nami's breath hitched in response.

His arm tightened around her body and brought her closer to him at the same moment that she stood on her toes in search of even more contact. Her nails lightly grazed his scalp when her fingers tightened in his hair, and she relished in the way the swordsman suddenly shivered from the action, a grunt his way of requesting her to do it again. Another scrape of her nails against his scalp as she tightened her fist left another shiver in its wake, but this time it was Nami's as Zoro lightly nipped at her lower lip in response.

She had never ached for anything so much in her entire life as she did the swordsman, not even treasure. Her knees nearly buckled when she felt his teeth lightly scrape her lip, her cheeks flaring hot to match the rest of her body. She was powerless when he swiped his tongue across the abused flesh and Nami's lips parted instinctively, allowing Zoro to experimentally touch his tongue to hers as Nami absolutely melted against him. She took back her no tongue policy from before.

Her swordsman was meticulous in everything he did; be it swordsmanship, penmanship or kissing apparently. He learned to read her reactions quickly and swiftly reduced her to a trembling mess against the solid wall of his chest. He wasn't exactly what he would call experienced but he was a perfectionist. Apparently, so was Nami, because she jumped into action with him and Zoro was finding it difficult to keep his own footing. There had never been time for romance in Nami's life. She had been a child when Arlong enslaved her, and saving her village had been far more important. Now she had a home again and people who loved her like family, and she had never dreamed that she would ever be given the opportunity for more. What could be better than nakama? Falling in love with one of her best friends and being loved in return could be even better, apparently.

Romance hadn't exactly been in the cards for Zoro either. He'd never considered himself a romantic type of guy, and since bounty hunting to get by while working to become the world's greatest swordsman was dangerous work, the idea of finding someone who could handle his lifestyle and his somewhat jaded personality had always seemed far-fetched. He had definitely not expected the one woman who got under his skin with expert precision to be the one for him. Nami irritated him but she also saw him for exactly what he was and didn't flinch. The navigator saw his fire and pushed right back at him with her own flame.

It had gone completely unnoticed to the couple that the sun was setting, because Nami could only feel the way Zoro's hands began to shift and rake over her flesh, settling tightly at her hips as if to anchor himself; and Zoro could only focus on the way Nami simultaneously pressed herself against him and dragged him down to deepen their kiss. Emboldened, Zoro swirled his tongue against hers in a sudden need to dominate her mouth, but Nami met him with her own hunger, skyrocketing his temperature so much that he thought he might spontaneously combust.

Her slender hands had been latched in his hair, but slowly they began to inch down as Zoro's own fingers twitched with the urgent need to explore. The soft pads of her fingers drifted down his neck, tickled over his collar bone and slowly traced the scar across his chest. Zoro almost forgot to breathe as he gripped Nami's hips and nudged her to back up, nearly stumbling himself when he pressed her back against the main mast and molded himself against her. His breathing was labored and his heart was racing so quickly that he wondered in the back of his mind if anyone had ever gone into cardiac arrest kissing the woman that they loved and desired. It didn't matter. His heart could take it.

Nami wasn't faring any better, her breath coming out in little pants as she dared to explore the planes of Zoro's chest, something she had wanted to do for far too long. The texture of his scar was different from the rest of the hard muscle that surrounded it, but the raised flesh caused a shiver and a jolt of pleasure to lance through her for some reason. She was overwhelmed by the scent, feel and taste of him, her head so light that she felt she might faint.

Zoro's fingers flexed against her hips, resisting the urge to shift upwards and touch her bare skin. He didn't know why he feared that it would be his undoing if he gave in. His resolve slowly crumbled with every move of her fingers against his chest, goosebumps trailing in their wake. When she suddenly shivered upon touching his scar, Zoro couldn't take it anymore. His hands shifted from their place on her hips and ghosted over her bare sides, his thumbs spread out to glide over her stomach in the process. He didn't know how she stayed so soft in the harshness of the sea salt air, but it was so purely Nami.

Nami was slowly drowning in sensation. Zoro's hands against her naked skin sent currents of electricity pulsing through her, a sharp throbbing quickly pooling in her lower body. She couldn't seem to stop herself when she clawed at his coat in a desperate attempt to bring him closer, a feat that was impossible considering he was practically welded to her body. She was shaking visibly by now, a little whimpering sound of want escaping her throat and causing him to swallow hard when the pads of his thumbs lightly traced the underside of her breasts, the strip of flesh available due to her too small bikini top.

"Oi, Zoro," Luffy called into the darkness where the Sunny's silhouette was all that could be seen, "are you and Nami sleeping on the Sunny?"

At the sound of their captain's voice, Zoro gathered what little self control he had left and broke the kiss, although his hands remained where they were, his rigid form still tense and shaking slightly. Nami opened her eyes, hazy from pleasure, and immediately turned red. They couldn't see her… They were too well hidden by the trees and the mast, and it was now black outside. She relaxed a little with the knowledge and tried to catch her breath, a jolt of pride running through her when she saw that Zoro was having difficulty catching his own as well.

"We're coming, Luffy," Zoro grunted loud enough for their Captain to hear, forcing his voice to sound steady, although it didn't sound as natural as he wanted it to. He wondered if he should add that they were just talking, but they would form their own conclusions regardless so he didn't bother.

When his dark eyes shifted back to look at her, Zoro found a smile waiting from him, and even in the darkness he could see that Nami's eyes were soft with happiness and something deeper. The lust was still there, evident in the way her hands were still fisted in his coat, but they had to join their nakama before they came searching for the two themselves.

"When I said that I needed to think, I didn't mean for you to render me incapable of thought," Nami murmured so quietly that Zoro had to lean in close to hear her, a soft chuckle swiftly following her statement. Male pride shot through him like a bullet and suddenly Zoro was smirking.

"I think you've been thinking too much lately," the swordsman stated, his voice husky from their activities, "and I thought I would help you get out of your head."

His playful words hung between them in the air for a long moment, both of them debating on whether or not to continue or return to camp. Unfortunately, they knew that they would have to rejoin the others. They needed to stick together if they were going to succeed in battling the demons from her nightmares.

With reluctance Zoro's hands slowly slid back down to Nami's hips before giving up their hold on her altogether. He didn't bother moving since the navigator's hands were still fisted in his coat, a smile pulling at his lips when she pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him again, this time soft and sweet, her emotion and intention clear in the way she met his mouth lovingly. Zoro responded in kind, moving his lips to respond to hers so sweetly that it made her heart jump. They parted after another minute and Nami finally released him from her grasp, practically grinning when the swordsman stepped away from her but draped an arm almost lazily around her shoulders as they started the walk back to their camp.

A fire had been started and the sleeping mats lain out. The one that Nami and Zoro had been sharing was freshly made and donned two pillows instead of one, another sign that their nakama were okay with their relationship.

"Nami-swan," Sanji gushed as the two walked into the firelight, "you look so beautiful when your cheeks are flushed. Are you cold?"

The cook seemed suddenly concerned for her health because there was no way the man walking beside her could be the cause of her pale face suddenly alight with color again. Nami's blush deepened and she chuckled nervously, catching the way Robin giggled behind her hand and Brook sighed and muttered something about romance.

"I'm perfectly fine, Sanji-kun," Nami assured, her tone one that they hadn't heard in days. Nami was happy.

Zoro tried to don the indifferent face that he always wore, but for some reason a smile kept tugging at one corner of his mouth. Luffy was grinning as he studied his crew members. The air felt lighter, the atmosphere positive again. The smile and sudden bubble of laughter that escaped Nami when Franky commented on the fact that her hair was a mess made Luffy's smile widen. There it was. That was the smile that he had promised Nami he would never allow her to lose. That was the smile that belonged to their Nami, and Zoro had clearly been the cause. The captain and first mate exchanged looks, Luffy grinning like a loon and Zoro answering in kind with his own half smile.

After spending another hour chatting around the fire, each straw hat eventually settled into the sleeping mats side by side. The heavy mood was now gone and the normal light hearted hope they always felt cocooned them. Zoro was already settled on his side underneath their blanket when Nami removed her shoes and crawled in beside him, cuddling against his chest when he covered her with the other half of the bedding.

Sleeping next to him felt more intimate now. There was a sizzle of anticipation and excitement just beneath the surface and Nami almost felt too wired to get any rest. Zoro seemed to be having the same problem, because when she lifted her head to look at him, he was already staring at her. They stayed like that for a long moment, his eyes roaming her face and pondering something. She wasn't sure what that something was until the swordsman leaned a little closer, and Nami assumed he was going to kiss her. Instead, his lips found her ear and he whispered something so that only she would hear.

Nami's heart leapt in her chest and her face darkened with a blush, the firelight dancing just enough across her features that Zoro could see it when he pulled back. There was no doubt in his face, in fact this was the most open that Nami had ever seen the swordsman, his face relaxed and smiling at her. She wanted to kiss him, but first she smiled right back and grabbed a fistful of his coat, dragging him down to her. Her lips brushed against the earrings in his left ear before parting and softly whispering something against the shell. She hadn't noticed that Zoro was tense, but when she finished she could feel his body noticeably relax in relief. He didn't pull away from her, and Nami didn't release her hold on his coat. They stayed like that for a few heartbeats before Zoro turned his head just slightly enough to capture her lips, careful to keep the kiss gentle. He couldn't allow her to get him all worked up again with all of their nakama sleeping so closely around them.

Nami seemed to have a different opinion, because she forced herself to stay quiet when she suddenly took Zoro off guard and nipped his bottom lip, trying not to giggle when a soft growl greeted her in response. Zoro liked that apparently, and Nami filed the information away for later, sighing quietly when he abandoned the thought of a gentle kiss and instead parted his lips to allow her entry. Nami relished in the feeling of victory when she moved to explore the inside of his mouth, the crackling of the fire muffling the increase in their breathing.

They were lucky that Luffy was on one side of them and Chopper on the other, because their captain could sleep through almost anything and Chopper was mumbling to himself about cotton candy, completely distracted by his dreams. The others were too far away to hear the quiet sound of kissing or the jingle of Zoro's earrings when Nami ran her fingers along the lobe of his ear.

Zoro's hands swiftly moved into Nami's hair, permeating the air around them with the scent of her tangerine shampoo as her own hands fisted into his coat against his back, her nails gently raking over the fabric and eliciting a shudder from the first mate. Zoro's kiss was dominating this time, overwhelming Nami with the feel of his lips, teeth and tongue as she matched him stroke for stroke, but he was making it difficult to focus and she was quickly losing the upper hand, though she found that she didn't mind letting him take the lead… She kind of liked it, actually.

The swordsman had shifted from his place at her side and hovered over her slightly, the blanket making it appear as if he were lying right on top of her, when in reality only his torso covered hers. It wasn't enough contact for Nami. She needed more of Zoro's warmth; more of his touch. As if to convey the message, Nami's body arched against him against her will and she clamped down on the quiet moan that tried to worm its way up her throat. Although she loved Zoro's attentions, the last thing either of them wanted was to be caught making out by their nakama. That would just be awkward.

If her eyes had been open, Nami would've caught the darkening of Zoro's nose as he blushed just slightly when her body bowed to meet him, effectively pressing her figure against him. His own brain screamed at him to get closer, but the rational part of him knew that they were already getting dangerously close to completely unraveling.

Practically panting, Zoro broke the kiss and had to bite back a laugh when Nami's eyes flew open and she glared. Instead of pulling away like she thought he would, though, his lips brushed feather light against her jaw to the side of her mouth. Nami sucked in a breath, her head falling almost helplessly to the side in invitation as he trailed searing kisses along the length of her jaw, his breath tickling and causing her to shiver. Zoro wasn't really sure what had possessed him to progress to her jaw, but based on the way Nami responded to him, he would have to be an idiot to stop.

Listening for a hitch in her breath, he made his way to the lobe of her ear, his breath ghosting softly over the shell of it similar to the way he had done moments before upon whispering to her, but this time instead of whispering, he brushed his lips across her earlobe before gently nipping her there. He smirked when Nami gasped quietly, her hands tightening on his coat. Releasing the tender flesh of her ear, Nami practically jumped out of her skin when his lips suddenly drifted down and found the pulse of her neck. Apparently that was a sensitive spot for the navigator, because she squirmed underneath him when he grazed his teeth against it and then kissed the spot to sooth it.

"Zoro," Nami breathed –gasped beneath him, the sound causing the swordsman to tense.

He forgot how to breathe for a moment when his name left her lips, her body taut and pleading as her hands continued to tug at him. He knew what she wanted, and he completely lost the ability to resist her when she reacted to him that way. The rational part of his brain must have died from a nosebleed because before he even knew what he was doing, Zoro shifted off of the sleeping mat and moved on top of the navigator, his own shallow breath unsteady when her thighs parted to cradle him as he settled between them, fitting as if designed to be there. He was doing his best to keep most of his weight on the arm he had firmly pressed beside her head, but Nami seemed to want as much of his weight as he was willing to give.

Her hands pulled him down and he didn't have the fight left in him to resist, slowly allowing more of his weight to settle on top of her as she slammed her mouth against his in a kiss so hot with electricity it burned. One of Nami's legs bent at the knee and hitched up over Zoro's hip, her small foot lightly brushing his backside in the process. He was quickly losing control of the situation, not that he had ever had control over it in the first place, but his free hand seemed to take that as an invitation to touch her, because suddenly his fingers were sliding down her side, over her shapely bottom and along the thigh she currently had pressed against his side.

Nami squirmed beneath him, doing nothing to quell the heat as goosebumps followed Zoro's path along her body. She didn't know what had come over her. It wasn't like they had ever been in this situation before so she wasn't sure where her sudden boldness came from as her hands untangled from the back of Zoro's coat and instead slipped beneath the fabric, along his sides, and finally resting against his bare back, toying with his haramaki.

She felt the swordsman's body shift above her, a sudden shock of pleasure jolting through her at the movement and the feeling of something hard between them, before the hand he had been previously using to hold himself up slowly drifted over her collar bone, his fingertips almost shyly trailing the outline of her bikini top from the strap down. Nami broke the kiss and buried her face against his neck to stifle the moan that she couldn't hold in, her swordsman breathing raggedly against her ear.

Zoro purposely avoided her chest, unwilling to let himself to go there just yet, and instead allowing his hand to drift down over her taut stomach, feeling her abdominal muscles contract in response to his touch, before moving on to her hip, where he grasped her outer thigh and encouraged her to wind her other leg around his hips. Nami immediately complied, now cradling the swordsman in the circle of her legs as his mouth once more found purchase against her pulse.

Zoro relished in the way Nami wriggled underneath him, her hips pinned under his when he gently nibbled at the pulse in her neck. The evening air was chilly, but Zoro felt like he could catch on fire, his forehead beading with sweat as he suddenly flung the blanket off of them, the fabric falling down to cover them from the waist down, just as Nami's hands began pulling at his coat, trying to remove his arms from the sleeves. Understanding what she was up to, Zoro yanked his arms free, and almost growled in frustration when he realized that his sash was still tied, holding the fabric against his torso.

Sensing his distress, Nami wanted to laugh. He was still a brute at the end of the day, but he wouldn't be her Zoro otherwise. It was difficult to focus with Zoro's lips against her neck, but Nami somehow managed to snake her hands between their bodies and tug the red sash free, allowing Zoro's coat to fall off to the side and his bare back to feel the breeze. She wanted to kiss him again, and she was just about to pull him back to her lips when his tongue suddenly darted out to taste the soft junction between her neck and shoulder, effectively making Nami's whole body tense and bow against him.

She could feel him smirk against her skin, having learned something new, before repeating the action. Nami gasped, her nails digging into the flesh of his back, but if Zoro felt pain he didn't show it. Experimenting, he latched his lips to that spot and gently nibbled then sucked, chuckling breathlessly when Nami's legs tightened around his waist, practically crushing him against her prone form. When he pulled away, he blinked at the purple bruise swiftly forming on her neck, and knew that she would probably smack him for it tomorrow, but he didn't really care because Nami swiftly claimed his mouth again. He would gladly take the beating tomorrow. Being with her like this was worth it. Kissing Nami was like sparring with the most exciting opponent he had ever come across. He made a mental note to see if he could teach her to use a sword. She would probably be a natural.

Their exploration of each other was nearing dangerous limits when Nami's hips suddenly rocked against Zoro's without warning, forcing them both to pause mid-kiss and gasp. Shit. Zoro quickly lifted his hips away from hers before she could feel the effect of what she'd just done to him—had been doing to him. He'd been so caught up in their kiss, in her touch, that he hadn't even realized he was becoming aroused and Nami could probably feel it. When he broke the kiss, Nami was looking at him with hooded eyes, her lips kiss swollen and her expression tense from her own arousal. He felt better knowing that he wasn't the only one.

Chopper suddenly muttered something about raccoon dogs loudly in his sleep and broke Nami and Zoro from their spell. Glancing up into the sky, Nami gauged the location of the moon and gaped. They'd been completely lost in each other for the better part of three hours. If they didn't get some sleep they'd be dead the next morning. Following her gaze, Zoro couldn't hide his trademark smirk as he carefully rolled off of Nami and settled beside her instead.

"It's two in the morning," he murmured softly, his arms immediately coming around her when she moved to rest her head against his chest and cuddle her body against his side.

"You're ruining my beauty sleep," Nami grumbled, frustrated but not with Zoro, her body still humming from his ministrations. From the rapid pounding of his heart against her ear, she guessed that Zoro was in the same boat.

"Goodnight, Nami," Zoro chuckled, gripping the blanket and pulling it up and over them again.

"Goodnight, Zoro," Nami sighed, content with where they currently stood in their relationship.

Zoro's breathing eventually evened out, his snoring starting shortly after. Nami smiled against his chest, her heartbeat finally returning to normal as she allowed her eyes to close, the rumble of his chest lulling her into the first fitful sleep she'd had in days.


BANG

Nami frowned in her sleep, fingers searching for muscled chest and haramaki but falling upon empty air.

BANG

The navigator groaned, suddenly aware that the light of the rising sun was warm on her skin, the light creeping in on the back of her eyelids and slowly waking her. It took a moment for her foggy brain to register that something smelled of gun powder.

BANG

Nami's eyes shot open as the beach beneath her shook and the explosive sound of canon fire met her ears. Panicked honey-brown eyes searched for her nakama, only to find them all standing next to their sleeping mats, having been ripped from their sleep only moments before her, staring off at the commotion down the beach.

BANG

The ground shook again from the force of the canon, and when Nami untangled herself from the blanket and got to her feet to stand beside Zoro, her eyes suddenly widened. About a mile down the beach, the city of Boulder was being pummeled by the explosions, the source a massive ship flying a black flag… Nami's heart leapt into her throat as her eyes fixed on the jolly roger flapping in the wind.

"Oi, who would want to attack the cit—Nami?" Luffy started but stopped when he saw Nami take a step forward, sheer terror written all over her face.

The image of a skull painted all in red and dripping like blood waved almost manically in the air, the cross behind the skull made up of canons. Nami's blood ran cold as she recalled seeing that same flag briefly in her first nightmare, when at first her dreams were nothing more than random images. It wasn't until she caught sight of a massive man shouting orders from the bow of the ship that Nami felt the full brunt of what she was seeing. The ship she'd been searching for was here, and the captain was even more terrifying in reality.

"That's him," Nami gasped, "that's the man who tries to kill me."


A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Oceanwind (my loyal friend and beta), shipfiend (for taking the time to PM me after discovering the story this last year and in turn sparking the fire that became the flame of inspiration) and HatakeHinata (for keeping in touch with me to this day since I first started writing this story and checking in to see how I was). You three, along with everyone else who continued to reread and review are the reason that this chapter exists and this story continues. Thank you! –bows-

I honestly cannot believe how easily this chapter flowed from my fingers after abandoning it for so long. I feared upon starting the chapter that my muse had gone for good; that I would never get excited to continue. Thankfully, I was wrong. I'm a little rusty on my One Piece knowledge these days but I'm brushing up on my knowledge. In the meantime please be patient with me. I'm not sure how many of my long time readers are still here, but I'm back and this time I'm not going anywhere. I went through a major creative slump after this story was plagiarized, but I finally feel like I found my way back to the girl who found so much joy in writing. Sharing my imagination with all of you is just a bonus. Thank you for sticking with me. Thank you for loving my words so much that you waited patiently for two years. For my new readers, I hope that you're enjoying the story so far. I'm not sure how many chapters there will be, but there will definitely be more to come! I'm considering including a lemon for this story, but I've never actually done one for this site due to the censorship rules. Would anyone be interested in seeing that included? I thought that I would add it as a one shot companion fic, that way if the chapter did get flagged the main story wouldn't suffer. Happy reading, everyone!

- B