Zoro's fingers weaved in among Sanji's blond locks and he held him close, slightly turning his head gently towards his chest and letting out a deep sigh. His heart was racing so fast but he was relieved at least now that Sanji had passed out from the pain and wouldn't consciously have to endure it anymore. Unfortunately, chances were high that he may never open his eyes again regardless. That could have been the last time he and Sanji spoke. But still all that was important was that he was breathing.

His gums hurt so bad they could bleed from the way he hinged them shut, releasing all the earlier emotions he could before calming down and finding composure. Luffy was out there finding Chopper, all they had to do now was make sure he got here in time. He had to tell himself they would. They were the crew that always found another way, this wasn't an outcome he was going to easily accept. He only wished Sanji wasn't feeling it alone.

Not really noticing he shifted his arm, his hand brushing against the cook's bump and feeling a tiny but defined kick against it that seemed to restore his energy. Satoru. Lightly he massaged the spot before looking back at Sanji's face. This was his family now, they'd be okay, and he knew it. There was no need to panic and get the sword out to try and save his son now. Zoro should just get everything ready the most he could for when Chopper burst through the door.

First being getting Sanji inside the infirmary where any procedures would be going down. He doubted something happening this fast they'd even risk a run to that hospital they docked here for. If anything someone could run for blood if they really needed it. Right now the cook needed to be on Chopper's operating table.

The Marimo glanced down. Sanji was already up into his lap and in his grasp and he gently shifted him, curling the other arm under his legs and cradling him in his arms bridal style. It made him sadly chuckle in the silence, just at the way an unconscious Sanji curled inward and he felt him against his chest. Idiot, he always bitched about this before cause it was humiliating or something if Zoro held him like this but he bitched even more when he was pregnant and Zoro tried doing this.

The swordsman didn't really see why. He never minded the bump. He actually found it quite endearing. He kissed the cooks forehead though, and cautiously got to his feet. But he supposed Sanji had every right if he really wanted to, to be self-conscious. Soon, as Zoro thought about the future, he wouldn't have to worry about that. His body would go back to normal and they would have a precious prize from his suffering. Hopefully.

Dammit this was so stressful. He knew he had enough training to stay calm in this situation but it was fucking hard and it was killing him to be gentle and not shake the cook away now and make sure he was okay. But he couldn't do that. He adjusted his arms around his sleeping beauty more, ignoring the way his face winced up and his body shuddered against the pain. He waited a moment, for Sanji to gasp out in his unconscious state before starting to walk slowly towards the infirmary door, navigating surprisingly well around the table and chairs until he got there and kicked open the door.

Carefully, he placed Sanji down on the infirmary table and glanced around. Zoro honestly didn't know what the hell he was doing.

"What the fuck am I supposed to do?" He quickly said under his breath stepping over to Choppers table and shifting papers around.

All of this crap made absolutely no sense to him, it was like it was written in a completely different language. His eye scanned quick, grabbing anything with Sanji or Satoru's name, hoping it would read 'how to deliver a baby' with no avail. He spun on his heel to look back at the wall and at the ultrasound machine. It wouldn't help him get Satoru out but he could check and see if he was okay with it, he'd watched Chopper use it enough times.

But that wasn't necessary. He felt his son kick under Sanji's skin, it was like a light request to his dad to hurry and get him the hell out of there. Which he would if he just knew how! Then Zoro's eyes fell on Chopper's equipment. There was no way he'd know what he was doing with those, but a small panicked voice in his head was trying to convince him otherwise. Just a light slice to the top, pull Satoru out and stitch Sanji up right? It was that simple! He could stitch wounds up he'd done it a few times and had it done to him enough times to know the zigzag pattern by heart. He and Sanji could be fucking chest scar buddies if he could just…

"Zoro!" Chopper's squeal came across the infirmary and from the kitchen door, the tiny doctor's eyes wide. "What are you doing? Put that down!"

His tiny friend's demand brought him back to reality and he looked down at the scalpel he held in his hand. Fuck he was losing his shit! But what else could he do, he tried the whole keeping calm thing but it wasn't working especially not when Sanji's body was gasping and panting in pain and he couldn't even tell him if it was enough for him to bare. Any moment Zoro didn't know what could happen and if it would be the last for his cook or for his child.

He dropped it quick back onto the tray though because, fuck, Chopper was here. Finally! He could kiss the damn fur ball all over if he could just so long as he got here. He turned around to watch him quickly trot over, not even paying attention to the mob that was the rest of the crew wanting to get in. A trained nurse Luffy apparently was keeping them away like Chopper had told him to.

Chopper rushed in, forming into his heavy point to get a full good look at Sanji and grabbed his stethoscope. "How long has he been unconscious like this?"

Zoro didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth to speak but he didn't even have a valid answer to give him. Chopper brushed it off, listing to places on Sanji's chest and then his stomach. Then he moved to Sanji's face. Gently, he turned it side to side then lifted his visible eyelid to look at the pupil.

"Sanji, can you hear me? Saaanji."

Then the tiny doctor unraveled the scope from where he'd let it rest around his neck and back on its hook, moving to where he stored his medications and IV's that the hospital generously had been letting them borrow without even knowing it.

"I'm going to put him on some medications and wake him up. It's time."

"Time?" Zoro repeated but instantly felt stupid for his words. Of course it was fucking time. "What do you need me to do?"

Chopper stretched out the blond's arm, finding and pining a vein for the IV and pushed it off to the side. He grabbed a bottle of something off his desk, wet a rag and placed it under Sanji's nose.

"We need to lift him up so I can give him a spinal." He explained.

"Spinal?"

"He won't feel a thing I promise."

Zoro's heart nearly stopped however while watching how easily the doctor was able to coax Sanji out of his slumber. The blond's eyes grew wide and he gasped out, his focus on nothing in particular but Chopper was there, having prepared for this a long time ago. He gently placed a clear gas mask over Sanji's nose and mouth.

"Oi, is he going to be alright? Why does he need that?"

Chopper looked back at Zoro, his face calm but serious. "Zoro, if you are going to stay in here with me I need you to remain calm and trust me. It's just to calm him down as he comes awake."

The doctor looked back to Sanji, whose eyes had glued to him now, his throat visibly swallowing nervously. It was a heaven sent the doctor was willing and knew how to deal with these idiots. He gently removed the oxygen mask and set it aside, giving a reassuring smile to the cook.

"Welcome back Sanji!" He chirped. "Are you ready to have a baby?"
Like that wasn't the biggest understatement of the year. The cook lifted his hand and clung onto Chopper's tight, relief washing over him and he could freaking cry. He'd never been so happy to see the doctor. Or maybe he had been once before but that didn't even matter because he was here and he hadn't died like he thought he had. It was a miracle really.

"Chopper, it's time it really fucking hurts and I…"
"I know, I know it's alright Sanji. Just relax." Chopper explained calmly, looking over to Zoro and gesturing him over.

"Help me get him up we've got to inject him in his back…"

Outside of the infirmary was silent. No one really knew what to even say, they all had mixed emotions about what was going on. They had just wanted to get things to celebrate Sanji's birthday and cheer him up, they had no idea that they would be keeping Chopper from his patient and risking Sanji's life. It was a very guilty feeling, but also exciting, because soon nine would become ten.

They were just whispering random things, wondering out loud how things were going when the door to the infirmary opened fast and Zoro slid out of it, leaning right against the back of it again and taking a big breath. He closed his eye a moment, then opened it again to meet the whole rest of the crew staring at him expectantly.

Ah, it was only normal they would want an update of some sort but what was he even supposed to tell them? He didn't really remember any of the medical terms Chopper had given him and what not he just… Well here went nothing.

"He numbed Sanji and… Now he's doing the procedure... Sanji told me to leave… Something about his insides… Not to come back inside until there was a baby crying…"

Nami, who had been crying in her worry let out a laugh. Same old Sanji, kicking Zoro out until the end. That had to be a good sign meaning he was okay.

"Does Chopper need a nurse or something though..?"

Zoro shook his head. "If I'm not allowed to see his insides I think he'd rather die than have you see ."

No one could really argue against that. Luffy sensed the tension around the room. He'd had enough drama in his crew to last a life time, he was ready for things to be happy and care free once more. He turned to their sharpshooter and nudged him in his side, forcing him to change his sullen expression.

"Hey Usopp, what do you think Satoru will look like?" He grinned.

It seemed to do the trick, Usopp's face slowly beginning to change and brighten as the creative ideas flowed into his mind. "He's going to be the strongest pirate on the whole grandline of course! Enemies will be able to spot him from miles away with his curly purple hair."
"Oi, where the hell is he getting purple hair from?" Came an anxious father to be, ignoring the laughter that followed.

"Nah, no way, he's having green hair, I'm calling it." Franky glanced over at Brook and lightly chimed his cola against his tea, as if that automatically made it some sort of bet or arrangement.

They would have discussed more, but there was a shrill cry from inside the infirmary that they'd never heard before aboard the Sunny. The crew burst out into cheers and Zoro never opened a door and slammed it so fast in his entire life.

Sanji was still down on the table where he'd left him, his face staring straight up at the ceiling as he was unable to move, thanks to the anesthetic that Chopper had given him. His face was pale and there was surgical paper draped across his abdomen.

"What's he look like? How is he? Chopper?" He asked, though his words were slightly drowned out by a very healthy set of lungs.

Zoro's face quickly shot over to where Chopper had changed his desk into a makeshift miniature examination table. His eye widened, his stomach dropping when he saw him. He was beautiful. So tiny, he gave Chopper a run for his money on the scales of absolutely adorable. His face was strained as he cried out, shivering and not caring for the cold real world at all.

"Holy shit…" He wasn't even sure he had said it, just watching and seeing, knowing this tiny creature was his son.

It was an experience he couldn't even describe in words looking down at this little miniature person that he and Sanji had made, that he couldn't have even imagined how he would appear and only communicating with him through small pats and nudges. There was a stupid grin on Zoro's face and all problems, all drama and all stress from the last nine months washed away from him, never to be thought of again.

"Zoro, oi fucking Marimo! Are you in here? That you?" Sanji was straining his head turning it over now wanting a look but Chopper and Zoro's body were successfully creating a wall and keeping him from seeing anything. "How does he look? Is he alright?"

Chopper was checking Satoru over and wiping the fluid away from his face, his eyes and nose, sending a smile back towards Sanji. "He's fine Sanji, he's alright."
There was a large lump in Zoro's throat but he looked over at Sanji, met his eyes. "Ten fingers and toes cook."

There were a few curses from the examination table, Sanji dreading being strapped and torn away from his baby so soon, or rather the other way around and it was killing him. It was lucky though he was numbed from practically the neck down and didn't have a care in the world for his exposed body. He'd already demanded Chopper check Satoru over first before even trying to stitch him up.

Which didn't take long to do at all. Satoru's cries lightly faded, his eyes frighteningly moving around the room, the bright colors and unknown sounds were so new and foreign to him he didn't know what to be doing.

"He looks so healthy Sanji." Chopper exclaimed again, his voice hinting he might just break out into happy tears.

The doctor looked up at Zoro who was just staring down at his son lovingly before holding Satoru up.

"Zoro come here, it's important now for Satoru to have skin to skin contact and keep him warm. I need you to hold him for me while I take care of Sanji."

The swordsman hadn't the slightest clue what that meant, like was he expecting him to take off his clothing entirely, but Chopper shook his head. Holding Satoru close to him, he reached out and pulled open the part to Zoro's robe that crossed in front of his own chest. Zoro just froze allowing him, watching as the doctor tucked his tiny newborn baby inside, using it like a swing and keeping it close to his skin.

Zoro's arms wrapped around him and he didn't even know what to say. Hell he had just seen his child for the first time in his life a few moments ago and now he was holding him here, feeling the way his body curled inward against his, craving his heat and closing his eyes, several smaller whimpers escaping his throat, his hand, so tiny, reaching out and fisting against Zoro's chest.

Satisfied Satoru was safe in his father arms, Chopper went back to work. He turned around and rushed back over to Sanji to uncover him and his tools and fix him up, not too happy to have waited this long but confident enough he could still handle it and save the day on both sides.

"I know you aren't hogging our kid to yourself now are you Marimo?" Sanji snapped irritably from his oblivious state on the table.

He felt kind of like a floating head would, the way he didn't feel the rest of his body but even if he were one he wanted to see his baby, this was one of the cruelest tortures. Not to mention the asshole swordsman got to hold their kid and have skin to skin contact first! Satoru was his little baby, his little mystery whose been tagging along with him for so long.

Zoro glanced over, his face softening with a smirk. "He likes me better already."

He moved to turn towards Sanji, but hesitated, feeling Satoru shift once more against his chest. "Wait close your eyes we gotta do this right."

"Marimo… I swear to god if I wasn't fucking stuck on this table…"

"Just do it Cook."

He was lucky Sanji was too thrilled and exhausted to be too irritated. He closed his eye obediently, cursing for him to hurry up this wasn't fair.

The swordsman looked up at a clock on the wall. It wasn't yet March the 2nd, the cook's birthday, with at least twenty minutes to spare, but still there was something he really wanted to say. He moved and with his foot, glided the rolling doctor chair over and sat down cautiously, so that Satoru was at the same level as Sanji's eyesight.

"Alright open 'em."

Sanji opened his eye so fast and it found Satoru in less than a heartbeat. His reaction just like Zoro's, his heart melting, seeing him there so peaceful and curled up against his father, who already similarities were apparent. He was perfect so perfect. He longed to reach out and touch him, to curl him into his chest and never let him go. He let out a sound reminiscent of an excited whine.

His eye traveled up to Zoro then, who was very much eating up the reaction, goofily.

"Happy Birthday, Sanji." He dared to tease, already giving Sanji the most unique imaginary images of their wonderful and perfect son with a damn bow on his head.

"You idiot." Sanji sighed breathlessly, with a smile.

Author's Note: Ah Poor Satoru XD brought into this world and doesn't know what to think of it, just knows its freaking cold and he doesn't like it. But this warm guys kind of okay.
Gahh I hope you liked this chapter its probably the most important one of the whole freaking series and I stressed out about it so I hope I did it some justice maybe and just.
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Thank you so much Torchi-Chan for betaing again! Theres one more chapter after this when we really get to see and meet Satoru and omg hes the cutest little shit. Ive been waiting 8 months to write this guy you know!
Reviews totally welcome I gotta knowwww what you guys think XD

ps. I didnt know anything I was doing in this chapter in terms of the medical stuff and procedure and can we just forget that part ever happened and now we have the adorable creature that is Satoru? PEANUT LIVES