A/N: Due to the word count and browser issues, I can only thank Naghi-Tan, RR, Yukino76, and crystalbluefox for leaving a review with a huge THANK YOU! I'm happy that ya'll feel these things – I'm glad to create a story that makes one feel all sorts of emotions! :, D Maybe this chapter will make up for it – but there's still a lot to be resolved!

: : 25 : :

"You're finally here," Law said, watching as most of his crew climbed up onto Sunny, all of them carrying bags and packages with them. They swarmed towards him with happy expressions, calling his name with cheered smiles – but then pushed past him. He scowled.

"Where's Sanji?"

"Where's our little bundle of joy?"

"We brought gifts for our baby!"

"Captain! You're not hiding him away again, are you?"

"So selfish!"

"It's our turn, now! Can't we just keep him from now on? The Strawhats had him long enough!"

"He's due soon, right?"

"Captain!"

"All of you suck," Law muttered, crossing his arms petulantly.

"No, you suck!"

"You barely call us anymore!"

"You stopped sending us drawings!"

"Where is he?"

"I spent all night awake, frantically finishing all of my creations," Bepo said, with a twitch, holding the biggest bag between his paws. "If I can just get his approval, I'll finally sleep with no regrets! Just relief!"

"Oh, we brought you stuff, too," Penguin said, gesturing at Mo, who held up a plastic bag. "Some not-sweets, wax candy, that shit stuff that never feels like fun."

Law scowled even deeper. "I don't even like that – "

"Is he over there?"

"Hey, is that a party?"

"Oh my god, I haven't partied with other people in so long!"

"Let's goooooo!"

As they clamored off Sunny and made their way to the party, Law frowned after them, shaking his head. Only Bepo and Penguin lingered behind. There was an audible cheer as the Strawhats caught sight of them, and the noises clamored upward a few decibels.

"Captain, we live in a sub," Penguin reminded him patiently. "Of course they're a little stir-crazy. By the way…hi."

"Hi."

"What's the plan?" Bepo asked, setting the bag down. "Are we going to meet with the Strawhats later today, to discuss our invasion?"

"They are already aware of our plans. We – "

"Captain," Penguin said, looking at him closely, mouth held to one side. "I see a new wrinkle. Are you putting on sunblock like we told you to?"

"That's his worry wrinkle!" Bepo gasped. "What are you so worried about? Is there a change in the baby's progress?"

Waving away their close proximity, Law said, "Everything is fine. We've had a few scares."

"But the baby is fine?"

"Yes, yes."

"Then, what is this?" Penguin asked, jabbing at the side of his mouth with accusation.

"It's my fucking face!"

Both of them gasped, drawing close to each other, wearing expressions of dismay. Law sighed heavily, shoulders wilting slightly.

"We had a talk about this, captain," Bepo said tightly, wearing a stern expression.

"We even created a safety plan for you. You were instructed to read it before bedtime every night," Penguin added, just as sternly.

Law glowered off into the distance, feeling the weight of their accusatory stares. He exhaled heavily. "He will be underweight, most likely have breathing problems later, and will be…runty. With…dainty little fingers, ski-like feet and a nose you will adore once you see it."

Both of them sucked in hard inhales, straining to hold themselves back as both of them envisioned a baby fitting that description.

"But he resembles Sanji, right?" Penguin asked with a worried expression. "Think of what he looks like now…"

"I couldn't help myself…" Law trailed off, a fist lifting to hide a troubled frown.

"What are we going to do?" Bepo cried, paws to his face as Penguin patted Law's shoulder with expressive sympathy. "What can we do to control ourselves at that moment? No doubt the Strawhats will prevent us from running away the moment we have the chance – what if we substitute it with another lookalike doll, a very lifelike doll, and - !"

"It can't be done. He's aware of our plans, and will no doubt fight us, which will cause some distress."

"Damn. Well, we were aware of the consequences, and we're pirates, too! We steal what we have to to survive!"

"Show me what's been added to the Polar Tang," Law then said, making his way to the ramp.

"You're going to hate it!" Penguin guaranteed, the pair following along with eagerness to show him what had been done.

The next morning, Sanji woke with heavy eyelids and a pain in his belly that felt like an unforgiving fist clenching him from the inside. After the intense squeezing stopped and he could breathe again, he looked around the room Franky and Ussop had completed, reaching for some tissue nearby. He couldn't wait to have his senses back – these crying jags had to stop. Hearing the silence of the ship told him that everyone was asleep – they must've celebrated most of the night. He found a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom to take a shower. In the middle of it, he experienced another squeezing sensation that nearly took his breath away. He figured it was only the stress of all the emotional and mental distress he'd gone through last night, the overexertion of physical effort he'd given with his fight with Zoro. After he'd shaved and groomed himself to look presentable, he headed to the kitchen, watching the early morning sun rise over a cloudless sea. The smell left behind by the rain was enough to make him smile, and he brewed some coffee, tea, and made a little breakfast just in case anyone was up.

The kitchen door was pushed in with some hesitation, and he looked over his shoulder to see Larry peeking in cautiously, Law's crew member glancing around before he spotted him.

"Thought I heard you moving around!" he exclaimed cheerfully, visibly perking at the sight of him. Sanji was wearing a smock-apron over a light v-neck sweater that had Franky's stars over the shoulders, the material hanging off him like a blanket. He'd attempted to pin it up in the back, but the struggle to knot it was noticed. He was wearing his black trousers, barefoot. Instead of being struck by the sight of a grown man looking like a mess, Larry was only in awe of having his first glimpse of a pregnant man looking like he was going to pop at any moment.

"Oh man! You're huge!" he gasped wondrously.

"SHUT UP!"

"I meant that in a good way," Larry said hastily, hiding behind the door just in case Sanji threw something at him. "It's fine if it's for the baby. He needs all the cushioning he can get – aiiieee!"

Sanji grit his teeth, growling as he returned his attention to the stove, the sound of the knife's impact against the door reverberating in the quiet. The door squeaked open once more, the sight of Larry's hair being the only visible thing to him. He grabbed another knife in case the man tried to compliment him once more.

"Uh, anyway, captain says you're to report to the sub for a full checkup when you're ready!"

"I made breakfast if anyone's hungry," Sanji muttered, glaring at the table he'd just set. He leaned up against the counter as that intense pressure hit him again, taking a few moments to catch his breath. Once it came back, he asked, "Where's my crew?"

"Uh, I guess everyone's passed out on the island. I don't know. I stayed behind on the sub. We haven't even gone out to look, just yet," Larry said from behind the door, cautiously peeking in.

Figuring he'd go out there to check on them after this checkup, Sanji put the knife down. He grabbed his breakfast – pineapple upside down pancakes with loads of nuts and a drizzling of salty caramel flavoring – and headed out the door. Larry eagerly led the way, gabbing about the scenery, the weather, and the peaceful calm of the island, all trying not to stare in fascination at the Strawhat's cook.

Sanji steeled himself for the encounter. He felt bad for the things that had happened between himself and Law, but he fully felt that he was incapable of being the right person for the man. After all, he couldn't even conduct himself properly with Zoro in the aftermath of their failed fling, and he was sure this was the best decision for them both. It hurt, though, leaving a heavy panging sensation inside of him that made him feel uncomfortable and in clenching pain. Heartache was a bitch to stomach, but he figured he should get used to it.

Once on the sub, Larry led him to the examination room, where Penguin, Mo, and Bepo were anxiously waiting for him.

"Good morning, cook!" they greeted in unison, all of them dressed for the occasion and beaming with excitement upon seeing him.

"Don't mention his size," Larry whispered in warning, all of them nodding.

Bepo lowered his head, fidgeting with his paws. "Um, I hope you liked my gifts…I made them based upon the things the captain sent to us as reference."

"I sure did! Thank you!" Sanji said. "I'd asked for a matching set for the kid."

"His name is 'King'?"

"NO!"

All of them flinched in reaction. Sanji cleared his throat. His voice was louder in this enclosed space, and he felt embarrassed.

"No," he repeated quietly. "That was their name for this stupid doll. I haven't decided on one just yet."

"Are you normally this pale?" Penguin then asked, squinting at him. Sanji couldn't really tell, but the way his face scrunched up made him think Penguin was squinting. He couldn't tell with that hat.

"He's been clenching and unclenching his jaw, too, but probably because he's being self-conscious over his appearance," Larry said.

"You don't look like you've been sleeping very well," Mo pointed out.

"If any of you had a stomach this big, would you?" Sanji asked crankily. "And I'm eating, of course I'm clenching my jaw."

"Does anything hurt, Sanji?" Bepo asked with concern. "Your gait upon your entrance suggested you were having trouble with walking, and your breathing pattern changed for at least ten seconds."

"I'm fucking fat, I've been told I have a waddle, so of course I'm going to be out of breath faster," Sanji said, setting his unfinished breakfast aside. "Let's get this over with, I want to see my crew."

Bepo helped him remove his apron and sweater, giving him the privacy he demanded as he changed into a plain hospital gown. He had worn an undershirt that was nearly bursting at the seams – with wrap bandages to flatten his chest. He was very self-conscious displaying himself in front of people he barely knew, but Bepo did his best to give him a decent cover, whispering that he didn't have to remove his undershirt or wraps.

"Is there anything stressing you out?" Mo asked as Sanji returned to them. Mo armed himself with a blood pressure cuff while Penguin adjusted his stethoscope, pressing the warmed metal against Sanji's chest.

Hesitating, Sanji asked, "Where's Law?"

"Catching up on sleep. He told us to do this in his stead."

For a moment, Sanji bit his lip. But it made sense for Law's qualified crew to take over where he couldn't, and he probably only did so because it wasn't a secret how excited they were to participate. He still couldn't help but frown, sure that Law made himself absent because of last night. Sanji was very sure he'd hurt the surgeon's feelings. Of course the man had some – but this was only for the best. Sanji was certain that he wasn't the one for Law; for many reasons, of course.

The four of them froze, staring at him with observation. Quickly, he said, "Okay, good. Finally."

"Um…?"

"Is…something wrong with that?"

"Would you feel comfortable if it were him?"

"Should I go wake him up?"

"No, no, it's fine…just get this done and over with. He needs to sleep." Sanji sat on the edge of the table, using the stepstool Larry provided as help. It didn't feel comfortable – his stomach was giving him trouble, feeling as if the baby was somehow squeezing his insides like a vice as he did so. But how could something so small cause him such physical distress? He attempted to stretch his back in an effort to relieve the pressure, finding it slightly difficult to breathe normally.

"Is everything okay?" Penguin asked as Mo approached Sanji with the cuff. Bepo had the fetal heart Doppler in hand, eager to use it.

"It's fine. Just…it's fine, everything's fine," Sanji said quickly, holding out his arm.

"It's been projected that you are now 30 weeks along, give or take considering the process of the Tobbleborg's growth," Penguin then said, as Mo attached the cuff and made quick adjustments. He snatched the Doppler out of Bepo's hands and tossed it aside, much to the bear's dismay. "I'm sure captain informed you of everything that is normal at this stage."

"Yes. Both of them kept me updated."

"Anything unusual that you're experiencing?"

"Everything about this is 'unusual'," Sanji answered with gritted teeth.

"Are you experiencing some pain?" Larry asked with concern.

Sanji didn't want to discuss the distress he was feeling, because it was no one's business.

"No."

"Okay, let's try this again. Any unusual cravings for you? You might be lacking in vitamins, or – "

"Chopper has me covered."

"Your blood pressure is a little too high for my comfort," Mo reported, Penguin nodding as he looked over the numbers.

"I'm going to take blood samples, now."

"We're going to get a sonogram done, today. Would you like to see the baby?"

Nervous, Sanji couldn't help but think that Chopper or someone should be with him. He felt a little alone sitting there, with people he didn't really know, and the intense feeling of seclusion made him feel another wave of clenching pain that made him react with the force of it.

"Sanji, are you feeling any pain at all?" Penguin asked sternly, frowning at him while the others looked alert.

"No! I'm just…it's fine, I'd like to see him," Sanji mumbled, rubbing his sweaty palms on his thighs.

Bepo left the room while the others readied him for the ultrasound, talking cheerfully about mundane things, moving like a fluid machine themselves. Sanji felt confident in their handling of him, the way they spoke of the little things that pertained to the pregnancy, the excitement in their tones. But he realized that they were only killing time, and it made sense when Law came in behind Bepo, sleepily rubbing his eyes as Bepo pulled the smock on around him and gave him numbers Sanji didn't remember the others saying out loud. Mo leaned over and whispered hastily into his ear; the surgeon was wide awake at that point.

"Blackleg-ya, how long have you been experiencing these contractions?" he asked immediately.

"'Contractions'?" Sanji repeated dumbly. "I'm not experiencing anything."

"These repeated spasms you're feeling – don't lie."

"I…just thought…I don't know, they woke me up. It doesn't hurt or anything, I just thought - "

"You guys must put into account what sort of monster this person is, to take a tremendous amount of pain before realizing that they are in pain," Law told the others impatiently. To Sanji he said, "I hate to repeat myself, but yours is not a traditional pregnancy! Anything done in exertion is bound to have a consequence!"

"I didn't even do anything - !"

"All your fucking rage fits and climbing around, and - ! Ugh, prep him. I'm going to open him up to check on the thing's progress," Law then ordered, the others quickly moving around hastily to prepare the room.

Panicked, Sanji sat up, unsure of what was happening. Bepo stood at his side with a soothing noise, saying, "This might be normal, Sanji, don't worry. Braxton-Hicks contractions are only preparation for the real thing. Practice, if you will."

"At 7 months, a baby can survive outside the womb," Law told him with a scowl.

"I want Chopper, or someone from my crew, here," Sanji demanded, looking at his stomach.

"Want me to find Roronoa-ya? I'm sure he can expedite the process of expelling this child from you very soon."

With a bitter frown, Sanji resettled back atop of the table, fingers pulled into tight fists at his sides. Larry hastily placed pillows behind his head to make him more comfortable. "Just…do what you have to do."

He heard a smack coming from that side, but focused intensely on the lights above him. He tuned out their voices to think, trying to ignore the incoming wave of panic and fear he felt. The set up made him think of his mother, once again, trying to picture her in his position; listening to the various medical personnel work around her, speaking words he wouldn't understand, focused intently on the children curled up inside of her rather than her, herself. Maybe it was okay that he was in this alone, right now – he'd shown too much of himself at Whole Cake Island, and to show his crew the fear he felt now, for his child, would only induce them into some kind of a panic.

He couldn't keep letting the swordsman do this to him, especially in his 'delicate condition'. Damn, he hated that term. It made him feel like a ninny. With that in mind, he resolved to toughen up – his child needed him to be strong, to show some confidence, to be positive. The world wasn't all that bad – it was filled with more good than bad, and he had to be a good example. Even if it felt like things were breaking his heart, he had to be strong for his child.

"Bed rest," Law decided nearly fifteen minutes later, the others backing away.

"I can't do that right now. We're almost there," Sanji told him.

"Blackleg-ya, your monster sack is reacting to the tremendous amount of distress you've put it into with the actions caused last night. With you…give us privacy," Law then said to the others, all of whom were listening with fascinated expressions.

They hastily obeyed the short order, and once the door clicked shut, Law continued with, "With you continuously putting yourself into such stress over Roronoa-ya's attacks, it doesn't feel as if the child is in a safe environment. With high blood pressure producing a continuously agitated state on already taxed organs, there's only so much that the Tobbleborg could regulate when sharing with Max."

"Not Max," Sanji said tiredly. He struggled to sit up, releasing an involuntary grunt as he did so. He gave up the effort with a hard exhale.

"Everything you feel, Dexter feels," Law reminded him, taking off his gloves as Sanji scowled at the name. "Bed rest. It's up to you, where."

"Here," Sanji said quickly, not looking away from the lights.

"Huh?"

"Here. The sub."

Bewildered, Law looked a little off-balance before he asked sharply, "Why? Robot-ya and Nose-ya put so much work and effort into your room for yours and William's comfort – "

"Less anxiety here."

Still a little puzzled by Sanji's choice, the cook not making any eye contact with him, Law then figured that it was only to get space from the swordsman. But it did mean that Law couldn't advance to the island like he'd wanted to. This sneaky Strawhat could steal away from the sub while they were anchored, and traipse around the island to fulfill his own agenda before Law and his crew realized he was missing.

"Then, Penguin will inform your crew of your condition and request, and those other guys will move you to a more…comfortable room," he said uneasily. "But there's nothing grand, here. We don't normally keep guests outside of the operating room."

"Am I not welcome, here?" Sanji asked bitterly.

"It just didn't seem you'd be comfortable here without your crew. That's all." After a few moments, Law added, "If you're expecting me to react as Roronoa-ya to your rejection, you're dead wrong. I understand. You weren't the first."

Sanji exhaled shortly, feeling the squeeze once more. After a few moments of riding that pain, he said tightly, "Which is why you left, last night."

Seeing that he was in the middle of a contraction, Law instructed quietly, "Breathe. Don't hold. Holding your breath denies Winston oxygen. Just give it a couple long exhales, long inhale."

Once Sanji followed that instruction, Law continued with, "I left because my crew was sneaking on board with gifts they wanted to give to you, and having them catch you in your then-state of emotional distress would have done nothing to calm the situation you were in."

Sanji looked at him with some skeptical action, unsure of how to react, or even what to say.

Seeing that the cook didn't recognize the gesture, Law said awkwardly, "I'll have those guys prepare the room for you, then. I don't know if you'd like it – it's more of a closet than an actual room."

"Stop," Sanji told him, Law pausing in mid-step towards the door, "stop being so fucking nice."

Law heard the agitation in his voice. He wasn't sure what to say in response. Normally, people would be grateful for what limited 'niceness' he applied to those on the table, not disturbed. Clearly, this man was used to being treated a certain way.

"Ask me nicely," he mumbled.

"I - ! I don't understand!" Sanji exclaimed, struggling to sit up, breathing out once he accomplished the task. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, giving him an incredulous look. "I – warned you weeks ago what I'm capable of. I asked you to help me – I'm – I'm such a mess, I'd – I don't deserve this – treatment! It's really bothering me how – this thing with moss, I can't even - !"

"Rest," Law told him firmly. "Those things don't matter, right now."

"It does," Sanji insisted, looking at his hands. "Because I'm – so grateful for the kindness you're showing, but…I don't know what to do with it. I'll just – mess it up, or mistake it – that's what I'm doing, mistaking it, right? I'm taking advantage of it because - !"

"I don't feel 'taken advantage of'," Law said, reddening faintly. "I recall voluntarily participating, last night."

Reddening similarly, Sanji mumbled, "My hormones are wacky. And I insisted on my part because I thought you were like me."

"Like I said…you weren't the first. If it makes you feel better, I was curious. So it could be understood that I'd taken advantage, as well."

Sanji felt a little better; but only for a second. There was another part of him that felt minutely crushed. Seeing his expression, Law said gently, "When your hormones are back in order, you'll realize what you've dodged, anyway. Trust me, it's for the best."

Feeling saddened, Sanji examined his expression, but Law held his firmly. There wasn't anything there that could give Sanji the indication he needed to latch onto. So it made him feel that maybe they would be 'okay'. Still, there was a part of him that felt horrible.

After a deep breath, Sanji then said, "Just make sure it sounds like I'd overexerted myself over last night's preparations for the celebration. If shithead's name is mentioned, there will be too much discord caused. All right?"

Law removed his smock, tossing it to the side as he made his way to the door. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."

"…Bastard," Sanji muttered, covering his face with both hands to hide his agitated expression.

: :

After he'd been moved to the room, Sanji stared out the small window to his left. He was feeling slightly claustrophobic; the room had been a closet, but it fit a cot bed that had been crammed against the wall, allowing no space for his feet to hang over. Most of the boxes had been removed and the room hastily cleaned, so it smelled of some freshener. Bepo had given him a plethora of his crocheted blankets, one of which had baby turtles crawling over it, so he'd admired it for some time before realizing how still and silent it was within the submarine.

Thinking about the things that had happened, he felt awful. He felt guilty for the hope he'd felt when Law told him those things, because surely that was something they both had in common. When they'd indulged in kisses, Sanji didn't feel as if he had to hold back. There wasn't the same sort of tension that he'd felt with Zoro – there wasn't the feeling that someone would find them in the moment, or the feeling of fire and restrained passion; just comfort and indulgence, and Sanji had convinced himself that everything would be okay.

Then that thing with Zoro happened, and mucked everything up inside of him. It unsettled him, left his heart and mind a mess; much like how he used to after all the private times they shared, because he felt he had to hold back, or prepare himself to pull away quickly. He'd felt tense and he'd reasoned that it was only because neither wanted to be caught in this compromising position. But it was that sort of thing that he'd looked forward to, because Zoro risked it to want him. Even despite his troubles – Zoro had wanted him. After his return with that business with Big Mon, it had all fallen into pieces, and this continued between them. Tension and anger, where Sanji just couldn't understand Zoro's animosity.

Zoro had started it.

So why did it end like this?

Compared to being with Law, who made everything feel like it was okay, that he was desired as much, that it would be okay to get caught – but Sanji felt fear in that he didn't deserve that. Law would just wind up treating him the same way as Zoro because Sanji knew in his heart what he wanted.

More.

They had such different paths – it wouldn't work. With Zoro, it would have. They were on the same destination, they were on the same boat, they shared the same sort of instinct. It wouldn't work with Law that way, considering the surgeon's temporary agreement to an alliance, and Sanji definitely didn't feel he deserved that treatment.

He chewed his nails. Damn, he wanted a cigarette so bad. To chase away these confusing feelings, these hurtful pangs -

He looked down at his stomach, protruding further away from him than before. Why was he stressing so much over all of that when he had this? When someone small and vulnerable needed him, relied on him? Why was he so selfish, like Zoro said he was?

Maybe this the Vinsmoke part of him – greedy for wanting more.

He felt ashamed of himself for being this way. He needed to be a better person.

Looking out the window, looking into the depths of a bay he couldn't see from Sunny, he watched fish floating with the current. Too deep to see what the surface looked like, he could stare out at the darkness and imagine the depth in terms of pressure and temperature. Hear his thoughts more clearly than before.

He heard the vibration of incoming footfalls, and quickly shifted his expression, prepared himself for whoever was coming. The mesh of voices he caught before the door opened cheered him slightly. The mini-transponder snail tossed at him had him moving quick to catch it, Law looking stressed as Luffy's voice caused the snail to re-enact the rubberboy's expressions.

"Awwwww wwwhhhhhyyyy? That's so dumb!" Luffy was saying, his whine filling the entire room with more volume than needed.

"What's 'dumb'?" Sanji asked, sitting up on the bed, propping the pillows behind him.

"SANJI! Are you okay? Does this mean you're having it, then? These pains? Torao was using really big words and sounding all hoity-toity, so - !"

"No," Sanji assured him, rubbing the side of his belly where it ached the most. From the corner of his eye, he could see Law leaning against the doorframe, examining his nails. "From what I understand, since it's getting closer to the actual time, that thing is practicing."

"Ah. Still doesn't make sense, but whatever. Why do you have to sit down there? Why not up here? You wouldn't have to do anything!" Luffy whined.

"Listen up, kid. I overdid it, yesterday," Sanji told him lightly, fiddling with a turtle, "I shouldn't have been doing all that in this state I am, now. The bigger I get, the harder things are. Doesn't mean I regret it, though. Didn't you all enjoy it?"

"Well, yeah! But – if this was going to happen, you didn't have to - !"

"I didn't have to, but I wanted to. There's a difference."

"Yeah, I did, but - ! If you needed to take it easy, then come back to the ship and do it!"

Sanji could picture his captain sprawled out on the couch in the dining area, one leg over the edge, the other kicking the cushions impatiently. Laying on his back, whining to the ceiling. He pictured Ussop or Nami nearby, which would explain some of the voices from earlier.

It made him feel lonely, again. Separated from his crew with a troubling situation he had no control over, and while they were only just feet away, he couldn't help but feel so very alone. This room was too small and too far into the sub, and he felt emotionally wrecked. Maybe he was just tired. Maybe it was just all these damn hormones. So hearing Luffy whine for him made him ache inside.

"So selfish," Law muttered off to the side, but just loud enough for Luffy to hear him.

"It's not that!" Luffy shouted into the snail. "It's just – c'mon, I have anxiety issues. I know he's in a safe spot, and, like, right below us, but still! It's better being up in the sun than down there, right, Sanji?"

"I agree with you, but…this is something that needs to be done," Sanji told him. "And stop complaining. I swear, if I start to lactate again - !"

"What's that?"

"Nothing. Just…don't whine."

"Sanji, you sure everything's okay?" Nami asked, her tone full of worry. "Because it's weird of you to hide away like this. It's starting to make me think there's something bigger going on than we know about."

"I'm absolutely fine! As the doc here explained it, the bug is practicing for when it's time," Sanji assured her cheerfully. "It's getting closer, and I'm…a little nervous about it. It might be part of the reason why these contractions started as they did. I'm just as anxious to be normal again."

"So exciting!" she cried happily. "Soon, we're going to have baby in hand! Have you given thought to all the names I've shared with you?"

"Ah, I'm still thinking about it," Sanji admitted sheepishly.

"Franky was upset about the kitchen doors," Ussop warned him. "Says you need to stop kicking things. If it isn't Zoro wrecking the place with his weights, it's you kicking off the handles to every room you enter."

"Locks are unneeded for most of these places," Sanji muttered.

"Are we too much trouble?" Luffy then asked with worry. "Is that why you needed space?"

"No -!"

"Yes!" Law interrupted, suddenly swiping the snail from Sanji's hands. "All of you are! I'm telling you my patient needs space - !"

"OUR PATIENT, YOU BASTARD!" Chopper's voice boomed from the front of the sub, Sanji startled and relieved at the nearness of the reindeer.

Law lowered the snail with surprise as Luffy's voice boomed out, "Space isn't something we glorify around here! Space is something located in the sky, and not between us! Space is something given to bad guys, not friends! The only space he needs is a room away from us! I feel unsettled with him going through trouble and us not being able to be there! Give him back, Law!"

"Listen, you little shit – you entrusted me with this thing, despite your demands, I'm going to do what I'm supposed to do," Law said, marching away from the room, Sanji sluggishly climbing out of bed to follow. "However your little furball made his way down here - !"

"Operation Hideaway was a success!" Ussop cried cheerfully, his and Luffy's voices mingling together with celebration.

"BEPO!" Law shouted.

"I'm so sorry!" came the polar bear's wail.

Sanji snatched the snail from his hands, startling him with his appearance. The sound of Chopper hurrying down the corridor towards him gave him some comfort. "Look, Luffy, just…give me a day on this, okay? Chopper will check me out for himself. This is something that I need to do, it's for the safety of the kid, okay? It's a precaution. That way, if something changes quickly, then I'm where they have the equipment to fix it right away."

"Ugh," Luffy muttered, the snail reflecting this as Law pulled Sanji back to the room, Chopper catching up to them with a huff of breath. "Okay. I guess. I don't know. Just keep the snail on you, okay? I might have some questions, or something. It just feels weird, being separated like this. It doesn't feel right."

"It'll be fine, Luffy, I'm here, now," Chopper assured him as he helped Sanji climb back onto the bed. "He looks good, he's fine, and all the tests have been cleared! What matters is that he's stabilized! Maybe if you're good, Torao will allow you guys to visit with Sanji, one on one – "

"No, never, none of you are allowed on my sub," Law muttered petulantly. "I'll be tempted to kill you all the moment you step through those doors."

"Oh, Traffles," Luffy chuckled. "Hey, Sanji, maybe you can feed him that prune pie you gave me when I was all stuffed up that one time."

"We'll see," Sanji chuckled.

After they hung up, Chopper said, "I'll be right back, okay? I brought some stuff down with me."

"You and Bepo will be skinned and steamed later tonight," Law threatened him as the reindeer looked at him with a gasp.

"My plan would have gone off without a hitch if you hadn't called those guys," Chopper snapped at him. "I would have had my things set up before you even noticed!"

Sanji lifted his eyebrows as Law frowned. The reindeer hurried off, shouting, "Don't go over any procedures without me, asshole! I mean it! I can hear you!"

"With the way Luffy was whining, I thought he would've been the one to call," Sanji said slowly.

"I was only asking if they had any sugar, don't get anything twisted," Law said with exasperation, moving for the door, inhaling sharply to yell once more.

Sanji reached out and caught a belt loop, forcing him to a stop. Too nervous to look up, Sanji mumbled, "Thank you. I needed to hear from them."

He could feel the weight of Law's stare on his head, but he couldn't bring himself to look up. Only because he knew he'd feel weak; because if he looked up into that face, now, he'd make another mistake. Something fluttered over his lap, and he looked them over, seeing that they were sonogram pictures. The sight of his child made him catch his breath. His legs were straightened out, arm at an angle, pushing against his confines. In another he was in the midst of kicking him, arm crooked against his head. Which explained the constant movement, but just seeing the baby as it was made something burn intensely inside of him. This was more real than some doll, than all the movements he'd felt, the responses the baby gave upon hearing certain voices. He burst into a bright grin, shoulders shaking with a light laugh.

Before anything could be said, the older man was kissing him fiercely, and Sanji went with it because it felt nice. All the warm feelings he'd had previously made him feel that this was okay, and his mind stopped working. He reached up to latch onto him, hungrily taking everything that was being given to him, feeling as if he were being devoured.

"AGGGGHHHHHH!" Chopper screamed in pure horror from the doorway, dropping his suitcases and Sanji's backpack. Racing in as Bepo peered in cautiously, he screamed, "This is not how an examination should be done! GET OFF!"

"Captain! You promised!" Bepo cried as he hurried in after Chopper. "This is not what we meant by bolstering our alliance!"