NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Really guys? No reviews last week? :'( *Saddest Face* - There's only one more chapter after this one, and I'm not posting it if people don't respond. Neener neener. :P thppppppt (I'm also due in two weeks, so if I don't post it sooner it will be posted much later. Just sayin')


Ch. 53 – Zoro IS a Romantic?

Knowing the time crunch they were now all on, Chopper examined Queen Helena again and determined that while the exercise had worn her out, she was well on the road to a full recovery. He approved 20 minutes of exercise a day, under his supervision, until the day of the wedding, and took her off of bedrest.

He allowed Zoro to accompany her to the gym, where they worked almost exclusively on an original kata together. It was Helena's suggestion – acknowledging how much Zoro disliked dancing, she put forth the idea that they could do a kata together in place of a first dance. He failed to tell her that he really wouldn't have minded dancing with her on their wedding day, but the idea of a katana/rapier form was too tantalizing to pass up.

Wedding plans were made and executed far more quickly than Zoro had time to keep up with. He mostly just did what he was told. In the midst of it all, he did his best to get through to Helena, but no matter what Sanji, his self-appointed love-guru, advised him, everything seemed to backfire. Helena handled it all with good humor, but seemed cold and distant at times. She never came to her window again in the garden for instance. Soon he gave up on romantic overtures entirely. She didn't seem to want them anyway.

Helena was better at doing the "little things" Sanji had mentioned. Like the kata idea, or the way she'd made a big deal about a bouquet of piddling weeds, she seemed to have no trouble anticipating Zoro's needs and putting them first. She'd even insisted on taking him shopping, having noticed he didn't have much by way of clothes. He thought he'd regret it – she was a pretty conservative dresser, all starch and straight lines. Did she even own a regular T-shirt? – but to his surprise, she helped him find stuff he liked, like a blue tank top and goggles.

They had a near fiasco when he got measured for his wedding clothes that same day. The short, scrawny tailor had made the mistake of trying to get Zoro's neck measurement without explaining what he was doing. Thinking the bespectacled man was out to strangle him, Zoro went for a sword and Helena had to leap to the poor tailor's rescue.

"He doesn't need a neck measurement anyway," Helena said. "I called you ahead about our special order, remember?"

The tailor nodded, still clutching his chest after the near death experience. "Ah-h-h, y-yes. Your g-groom is not going to be wearing a tuxedo."

"I'm not?" Zoro asked. "Please don't tell me you're putting me in a dress…er…toga again."

Helena just smiled mysteriously at him. "Trust me, you'll like it. Do you think you'll have it ready in time?" She addressed the last question to the tailor.

"A-anything for y-you, your M-Majesty."

Helena smiled at him, thanked him, and they were soon on their way. Zoro tried to wheedle more information out of her, but aside from scolding him about scaring the poor man half to death, she kept her lips sealed about wedding clothes after that.

It was during said shopping trip he realized more than ever that he'd messed something up, but couldn't figure out what it was. While they'd walked, she'd held his arm, which seemed pretty natural. But thinking about what Sanji had said, Zoro had tried to hold her hand and she deliberately pulled away.

It seemed unfair that Helena seemed determined to please him, but wouldn't let him do anything for her. The biggest surprise came the afternoon before the wedding. She'd called all of the Straw Hats together, asking that they meet her in the throne room.

"Zoro," she said when they'd arrived. "I'm sorry we weren't able to have your old master attend. Even passing through the calm belt, we wouldn't have been able to bring him here in time."

"I knew it was a long shot, even without the time crunch," he said with a shrug.

"In any case, I did invite someone I think you'll be happy to see. I wasn't sure she'd make it in time, but she's just arrived."

Helena gestured toward a cloaked figure behind her. The woman threw off her hood, revealing a cascade of turquoise hair and an enormous grin.

"VIVI!" Luffy cried as he and the majority of the crew rushed to embrace the Alabastan Princess, (and Karoo, who came out from hiding behind the throne.)

Vivi worked her way through them, all smiles and laughter and tears, and eventually managed to reach Zoro, who was staring at her in shock.

"Congratulations, Mr. Bushido," she said, clasping one of his hands warmly in both of her own. "I should have warned you about my crazy cousin. Then again, you might have wanted to challenge her anyway if I had!"

"How…?" he asked as Vivi smiled. "Don't you have a Kingdom to fix?"

"Helena-Chan has asked me to be her Maid of Honor," Vivi replied. "Father can handle things for a few days. I couldn't pass up such an honor, or such an opportunity."

"I'm more impressed that you got here so quickly," Zoro said.

"Where there's a will there's a way," she chuckled, but the laughter faded from her face as she noticed one of the crew hanging back. "Miss All-Sunday?"

Robin didn't seem to know how to react any more than Vivi did. The two women stared at one another, backs stiff and posture defensive.

"Is something wrong?" Helena asked.

"She was a high-ranking member of Baroque Works," Vivi informed her quietly. She opened her mouth to explain what Baroque Works was, but Helena cut her off.

"As I heard it, so were you," she said, glancing at Zoro for confirmation.

"That's right," Vivi agreed. "I suppose you could say that in that regard we're equal, Miss All-Sunday. Igaram mentioned he thought he'd seen you with the others. Have you really joined with Luffy's crew?"

"Yup," Luffy responded staunchly, folding his arms across his chest.

Vivi glanced back at him. By the time she looked again at Robin, her expression of alarm had softened into a smirk.

"I don't trust you at all," she told Robin point blank. "But…"

"I understand," Robin answered with a nod. "Please, don't allow me to ruin the festivities." She turned to walk away, but Vivi stopped her.

"You didn't let me finish," she said. "I don't trust you at all, but I trust Luffy-San absolutely. If he has allowed you to become part of the crew, then it is not for me to question it."

"This woman helped save my life, Vivi-Chan," Helena put in quietly.

"All the more reason to respect that you are here," Vivi said to Robin, who turned around again wearing an uncharacteristic expression of mild surprise. "Helena said she had two bridesmaids among the Straw Hats. I see now that she meant you as well as Nami. Come, we have plans to discuss."

Taking Robin and Nami each by the arm, Vivi led them out of the room without further hesitation. Not to be separated so soon after being reunited, Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper dashed after them.

"Robin-San hurt her in a big way, didn't she?" Helena asked Zoro quietly as the room cleared.

Zoro nodded. "I'm honestly impressed Vivi could forgive her that quickly. I still haven't."

"Well, you were right about her," Helena said, nodding approvingly. "Vivi is strong."

"Yeah," he replied sincerely. "Guess it runs in the family."

Helena seemed to balk at the compliment, the same way she had reacted to his taking her hand. Her expression faltered and she looked away. He decided not to let it bother him. He was being genuine– it was her problem if she didn't believe him.

Leaving her to deal with her issues, he rushed off to join the crew. After all, he was as excited to see Vivi again as the rest of them. He glanced back at Helena as he turned the corner and noticed he had managed to coax a small smile out of her.

Well, at least it was something.


"Helena, we need to hurry. Sanji could show up any second, and you need to be fully kidnappable."

Helena forced a laugh. Her heart had sunk with the sun as reality set in that the wedding really was taking place tomorrow. She didn't want to let on as much though. The best way to hide her feelings was to keep talking, so she forced conversation:

"Ann, has anyone ever pointed out how ridiculous this tradition is?"

"In Alabasta the bride just has a bachelorette party the evening before the wedding," Vivi put in with a shrug. "This sounds like it's a lot more fun."

"And a lot more fuss," Helena sighed. It would have been nice to spend tonight alone, not surrounded by people who would insist on congratulating her.

"Quit your whining and let us help you get ready," Andromache insisted, sitting her down at the vanity.

Part of the kidnapping tradition included the mother-of-the-bride and the maid of honor, who were to help the bride prepare to be carried off. Andromache, standing in for Helena's mother, was also a part of her honor guard and had her enormous sword strapped to her back in preparation for the coming siege.

Helena had already donned the traditional garb, which was a simple white chiton secured about the waist by a golden chord. Andromache set about braiding her hair in a traditional set of rows (supposedly to keep demons from nesting in her hair). She would eventually twist them into a bun on top of her head before pinning her laurel crown into place.

Vivi had taken charge of her makeup. She finished long before Andromache, who quickly waved away any offer to help with the hair.

"May I see the wedding dress?" Vivi asked, now with nothing left to do.

"Sure, it's in the closet," Helena said miserably. Something must have crept into her tone, because Andromache and Vivi exchanged a glance, even when Helena forced a smile.

Vivi threw open the large walk-in closet and gasped. There stood the dress in full display on a manikin. Only it wasn't a dress exactly. It didn't follow the now world-wide expectation of a white bridal gown, or even the Iliad tradition of a flame-colored chiton and veil. It was…

"A kimono," Vivi sighed contentedly, gently fingering the red silk masterpiece. A true representation of the wealth of Ilium, it had diamonds and pearls sewn into its golden brocade, making it sparkle in the dim lamplight. "Helena, he's going to love it."

"I figured I'd combine the traditions of our island and his. For part of the ceremony, the brides where he's from wear red too, so I thought…" Helena started, her heart catching in her throat and making her voice crack. Why her emotions were getting out of control now of all times she couldn't say. Fighting to maintain her composure, she again made to keep talking to hide how she really felt. "I've been in touch with Zoro's master. He told me a few things I could do to make this all better for him. I mean…he never wanted this, so…."

Her voice cracked even worse this time, and she could see in the mirror that it had started to show on her face. Swearing under her breath, she hid her face in her hands.

Vivi and Andromache exchanged another look.

"It is hard, having to watch them sail away," Vivi attempted empathetically. "I could hardly stand it, and I wasn't getting married to one of them."

"It's not that," Helena insisted, voice almost a croak as tears threatened to choke her. "Perhaps in part, but…"

Andromache's eyes widened in sudden understanding. "You're actually in love with him," she observed. "Oh, Helena…"

"How is that a problem?" Vivi asked.

"Because I never expected to be," Helena said, revealing her face at last. "Because this fight for my hand was never supposed to be about my hand. I am not the prize here, my kingdom is. You're royalty too, Vivi, you should understand that as well as anyone. We don't have the luxury of marrying for love."

Vivi nodded, but her expression remained perplexed. "But if you've found it, so much the better, right?"

"But I haven't found it," Helena insisted, and the tears finally began to fall, which made Helena swear and hide her face again. "All I wanted was a man I could respect and who would respect me. But now that I love him, I want more than that. I want him to love me."

"And you think he doesn't…?" a male voice asked.

Helena, Andromache and Vivi all turned to see Sanji leaning nonchalantly against Helena's bookcase.

"How'd you get in?" Andromache snapped, moving to draw her sword. "Hector was right outside the door! HECTOR! GET YOUR WOODEN BUTT IN HERE!"

Helena didn't know how long Sanji had been there, but figured it was safe to assume he'd snuck in through the secret passage behind her bookcase. She quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks. It was one thing to cry in front of women, another entirely to let a man see her weakness. Anyway, Andromache and Vivi were family; Sanji was not.

Hector came bursting through the door, his arms already half in branch form.

"He didn't climb through the balcony did he?! I've got soldiers stationed down there!"

"Hey, this little game can wait," Sanji said, remaining where he was despite Andromache's and Hector's threats. "The Queen's got something she's got to get off her chest."

Andromache let go of the hilt of her sword and Hector's arms returned to normal. They glanced at each other then looked intently at Helena, who had turned to face Sanji where she sat in her chair.

"So we're clear," Sanji went on. "You think Zoro'd go to death and back for just anyone? I mean, he put everything on the line for you!"

"As he'd do for any of you," Helena replied in as calm a voice as she could manage.

"But that's not the only thing I mean," Sanji insisted. "Zoro wouldn't make an idiot of himself for any old girl."

Helena glanced at the now wilting dandelions at her bedside. She sighed. "He is trying to make me feel better about the whole situation. It's kind of him, but it's also pity. I don't need his sympathy. He's the one having his wings clipped here."

"Wings clipped?" Sanji asked. "I'd say you've been pretty good about keeping him free of a cage."

"But he still has to come back here, doesn't he?" Helena insisted. "If I could release him from that I would, but neither of us can break our word so we're stuck. That's why I…" her lip quivered but she stilled it with the force of her will, sticking her chin up with the pride of her station. "That's why I don't expect him to stay loyal to me. He'll meet someone else during his adventures, I'm sure of it, and I couldn't deny him happiness. I love him too much for that."

"Woah, woah, don't you ever let him hear you say that," Sanji cried, straightening up. "Just what kind of man do you think he is? He takes his word seriously!"

"Yes, I know," Helena murmured, her heart sinking. "That's part of the problem, isn't it?"

Sanji let out a low whistle. "Phew, you're one tough nut to crack, you know that? Guys, help me out here. Am I the only one who thinks she's failing to see what's right in front of her face?"

"Well," Hector started uncomfortably. "He did kiss you, at the ball."

"Everyone saw that, did they?" Helena asked.

"Mm, yeah, pretty sure everyone saw," Andromache put in, rolling her eyes.

"I may have even heard about it," Vivi said with an awkward chuckle, twiddling her thumbs.

"You know, I thought it meant something too," Helena replied with a soft smile. She rested her head on her palm, drumming the fingers of her other hand on the vanity counter. The smile quickly disappeared, and her drumming fingers became a fist. "But despite what we said to each other then, or almost said to each other then, he changed his mind."

"What makes you so sure?" Sanji demanded.

"Because he told me," Helena replied with dignity, straightening up on her stool as though she sat on her throne.

"He told you?" Sanji said incredulously. "Are you sure you heard him right?"

"Allow me to put it into context for you," Helena smirked sadly. "– on the edge of the River Styx, when he knew me to be dead, when we had no hope of my returning, he said, 'I never said I was in love with you.'"

"He said that?"

"He couldn't even pretend for me in that moment, at the end of it all." Helena shook her head slowly, an almost fond smile curling her lip though this quickly faded. "Which is alright, I suppose; it's the truth, after all. He is a kind person, but as you've said, he's a man of his word, so I must take him at that; his word."

A woebegone expression crossed Sanji's curly brow as he looked heavenward in disgust. "That idiot," he muttered. Taking a few steps toward her, hands open and imploring, he came to kneel at her feet.

"I'll have you know, he's told me differently," he said, looking up into her eyes.

She wanted to believe him, but she also knew Sanji's penchant for romanticism. Meeting his gaze with a steely one of her own, she didn't answer.

"You're going to have to hear it straight from the horse's mouth before you believe it, eh?" he asked, taking one of her hands in both of his own. "I guess that can be arranged. Yoink!"

Using the hand he already held, he suddenly pulled Helena toward him and lifted her in a cradle. Andromache and Hector gave a start and went for their weapons, but by then he'd kicked open the window and leapt over the balcony railing with Helena in tow.

He landed in a crouch in the midst of the soldiers stationed in Helena's garden, Hector's branches smashing down around him.

"Ha! That was easier than I thought it was going to be," the cook laughed. "Alright, guys, lend me a hand here!"

Helena didn't put up the struggle she knew she should have. She was too amused to see the rest of the Straw Hats (Zoro aside) pop out of hiding.

"Isn't this cheating?" she asked.

"No one said I couldn't bring back up," Sanji pointed out with a mischievous smirk. "Anyway, we're pirates! Who said we always had to play by the rules?"

The crew leapt to Sanji's aid. Just before Usopp set off a smokescreen, Helena noticed that even Vivi had joined in the fray. With a cheeky grin, the Princess used her peacock slasher to tie Andromache's hands behind her back and yank her back into Helena's room before she could ride Hector's branches down into the garden.

Leaving the rest of the crew to deal with Hector and his men, Sanji soon had Helena safely outside the walls of her garden and into the street.

"Your chariot awaits, milady," he said, indicating a literal chariot. Taxy stood inside it with the reins of Cabby, his yellow and black dappled horse, in hand. He waved cheerfully at Helena, his impish grin a clear indication that he was delighted to have been recruited in the traditional kidnapping.

"Not so fast," Helena said, easily breaking free of Sanji's grasp. She spun away from him, the braids of her half-finished up-do whipping out around her as she settled into a kicking stance. "I'm not about to go quietly, pirate."

"You're so beautiful when you're fearsome, Helena-Chan," Sanji noodled, then went on more sedately. "Wait, I got you outside of the palace. Doesn't that make you officially good and kidnapped?"

"Technically I can put up a fight until my home is out of sight," Helena informed him. "But since I can see the palace from almost anywhere within the walls, I'll give you a sporting chance. Let's just say it's until you can get me into the chariot."

"Fair enough," Sanji said, launching at her.

Helena knew he wouldn't be able to kick her, so to make it fair, she didn't draw her swords. The point was to put up a struggle, not hurt anyone. He didn't go for an attack anyway – he made to grab her, but she easily dodged around him. –then over him. –then around him again.

"You're enjoying this far too much," Helena snickered. The cook had started giggling like a fool as he dove for her.

"Hey, I like this tradition," Sanji said, holding up his hands and wiggling his fingers in anticipation of nabbing her. "It's not everywhere that the best man gets to flirt with the bride."

Helena snorted. Trust him to see it that way. "You do remember that you only get to take me on a date afterward, right? One that Zoro pays for," she felt the need to clarify, just in case he had anything else in mind. "And afterward Zoro walks me home. That's it. This doesn't take the place of the wedding ceremony anymore."

"But then, I could just charm you away from him, couldn't I?" Sanji flirted, then placed a hand tragically to his forehead. "What are oaths and vows in the face of love?"

She furrowed her brow disapprovingly, dodging another attempt to grab her and kicking him the backside as he passed, partially in punishment for the flippant comment.

He toppled the ground, but quickly flipped around. "Hey, I was just kidding! I already told you, there's a bro code, remember?"

Vaulting toward the wall of her garden, she got about half way up before Sanji recovered. He released a single, powerful kick at the foundation. The wall rocked as cracks radiated from his flexed foot and she fell back into his waiting arms.

She worked herself free as he leapt toward the chariot. Airborne, she made to kick him in the small of his back, but he pivoted on his heel and blocked the kick with one of his shins. The power of their combined kicks sent Helena flying, and forced Sanji into a backward skid.

Before she could land, he dashed underneath her, so she let loose a flurry of kicks. He smirked at her like he'd expected it. Again blocking her easily with his battle-hardened shins, he didn't hit her, but used her own momentum to push her higher into the air.

"Taxy, let go of the reins!" he called, dashing toward him. The little man had watched their struggle in complete fascination, but he did as asked just in time for Sanji to kick through the yoke attaching the chariot to Cabby, and then kick the front of the chariot.

Leaving Cabby to balk and whinny in shock, the chariot flew backward with Taxy holding on for dear life. Sanji had timed it perfectly. Helena had no time to change course, and landed neatly inside the chariot, laughing as she braced Taxy for the remainder of the skid.

"Well," she said, grinning at the pirate cook. "I suppose I'll have to let you treat me to a drink or two. Where are we headed, Sanji-San?"

"Whereveryou'regoing, it'snotinMYchariot," Taxy grumped, indicating the now broken yoke. Helena winced and quickly handed him money for repairs.

"On foot then, milady?" Sanji asked, offering her his arm.

"On foot it is," Helena replied, taking it.

Sanji didn't actually make her walk for long. They soon managed to wave down another chariot cab, which was more than delighted to give them a lift. It wasn't long before Helena recognized where they were going.

"Are you taking me to Homer's?" Helena asked.

"You guessed it," Sanji replied with a smirk. "Zoro mentioned that it's your favorite. I figured we'd make it easier on the poor guy."

Helena's smile faltered.

"What?" Sanji asked. "Too many memories there? We can go somewhere else…"

"No, it's not that," Helena shook her head. "I just didn't think he knew my favorite restaurant."

"See, you're not the only one taking notes," Sanji insisted. "That Kimono is stunning, by the way. I'm not sure that stupid Marimo deserves to see you in it."

"You weren't supposed to see the dress!" Helena chuckled, nudging him in the ribs.

"Hey, I'm just a groomsman, not the groom. Anyway, I won't ruin your surprise," Sanji insisted. "Ah, here we are!"

They tipped the cabby and Helena allowed Sanji to walk her to the door. "The rest of the wedding party should join us here soon," he said, opening the door for her.

Helena stepped through only to pause, eyes wide.

"Is something wrong…?" Sanji started, but then he realized what had caught her attention. "YOU!"

The "you" to which he referred was none other than Roronoa Zoro, who sat contentedly sipping a beer at the bar. He looked calmly up at them from his tankard as the door swung shut behind them.

"Oh, hi guys," Zoro said casually as though greeting them in the middle of the street.

"How didju…?! –When didju…?! –Why're you…?!" Sanji blustered as Helena burst out laughing.

"You should have chosen a less obvious pub, Sanji-San," she pointed out.

"Huh?" Zoro asked. "No, I thought I'd stop for a pint before I went searching for you." He put down his drink as the realization suddenly hit him: "Wait, so does this mean I've already found you?"

"NO!" Sanji insisted, scooping Helena into his arms and kicking open the door.

Zoro leapt to his feet, and soon a chase through the streets of Mycenae began in earnest. Groom chased groomsman, groomsman carried bride, and the bride laughed all the way.


The night was still young by the time everyone returned to Homer's. It passed in laughter, dancing, good food, and plentiful spirits. The rest of the crew had everyone practically swinging from the chandeliers (so to speak. The pub didn't exactly have chandeliers).

Helena had soon joined her old friends in a dance or two. She hadn't invited Zoro to be her partner, choosing instead to dance with her father, who had two left feet next to her.

Zoro leaned back against the bar and watched. It made her happy to dance, what did it matter if she didn't want him to join her? Soon he became aware of the presence of his best man, who leaned against the bar beside him, smoking a cigarette.

"You're a total idiot, you know that?"

"Are you really trying to start a bar brawl on the night before my wedding?" Zoro asked, taking a swig from the tankard beside him.

"No, I'm trying to cure the incurable," Sanji said, his temper rising. "You're more romantically impaired than I thought."

"Hey, I've tried everything that you've told me to do," Zoro said calmly. "It's not my fault you give crappy advice."

"That's because even my simplest advice was a whole step ahead of where you are, nimrod!" Sanji spat. "How are the little things, or the big things, or ANY of the things you do supposed to matter if you've already told her outright you don't love her?"

"Huh?" Zoro's confident expression faltered.

"'I never said I was in love with you'?!" Sanji quoted, deepening his voice in a sardonic impersonation of Zoro. "Ring any bells, Moss-for-Brains? Did you actually say that to her?"

"Oh, that," Zoro replied, genuinely dumbfounded. "Yeah, I did. But I also didn't say that I wasn't, so…"

Sanji sighed, his anger deflating like a hot air balloon running low on fire. "Fine, I get it. She's not your problem after tomorrow, so what does it matter if you let her go on thinking that? But if you want my advice…"

"Nah, I don't need your useless advice anymore, Curly Brows," Zoro said decisively. "I think I can work this one out on my own, thanks." He promptly grabbed his tankard and set about draining it.

"So what, are you just going to sit here and drink and stew about it all night?" Sanji muttered, watching Zoro's bobbing Adam's apple as he gulped the liquor down.

"Nope," Zoro replied, wiping the foam off of his face and roughly placing the now-empty tankard onto the bar.

As Sanji looked on in astonishment, Zoro marched straight toward Helena where she danced. He didn't wait for the set to end or waste words asking her father for permission to cut in. He simply grabbed her by the wrist, pulled her to him, and kissed her then and there.

There wasn't anything reserved about it, either. It was the type of kiss that had her bending backwards with the sheer force of it, as he both supported her in the crook of his elbow and kept her trapped against him, just in case she tried to push him away. Within seconds the dance fell apart around them completely and the entire pub had burst into cheers and applause.

"Luffy, what's Zoro doing?" Chopper asked just before Vivi covered his eyes, giggling.

"I think he's eating her," Luffy replied in confusion. Nami promptly knocked him over the head.

Usopp whistled. "That's right, Zoro! Way to use all the moves I taught you!"

"What's that, Long-Nose?!" Sanji demanded, cocking a leg as Usopp drew his slingshot to defend himself. "I'm the Love Guru here!"

Two of Robin's hands appeared. Grabbing Sanji and Usopp by the back of their belts, she pulled them backwards and out of the way so that she could get a better view.

Zoro held Helena there until the initial shock and resistance left her, and she finally relaxed and kissed him back. – not that she had much choice. When Zoro finally did release her, she had to stumble to find her feet.

She stared at him in a dumbfounded stupor, completely at a loss for words. He was having a hard time believing what he'd just done himself! But though his face had gone redder than it ever had in his life, he refused to back down from what he'd started.

Now sure that he completely had her attention, he grabbed her by the hand and started toward the door of the pub.

"Zoro, what—?" she managed to say at last, stumbling after him.

Little gestures, big gestures, proposals, demons, gods, prophecies. Zoro was sick of having to puzzle through it all. It was time to set the record straight, and he was going to do it in the most direct way he knew how. Maybe actions were supposed to speak louder than words, but not in this case.

"We need to talk," he told her simply.


"Zoro, where are you taking me?" Helena demanded as he dragged her through the streets of Mycenae.

He didn't answer, just kept plowing forward with his hand clamped around hers. She was strong, but he was stronger, and his determination kept her tripping after him.

"Zoro!" Helena attempted, glaring at what she could see of his face. His clenched jaw formed a hard line in the light of the streetlamps.

Finally they broke the line of houses and their feet kicked up sand as they plowed onto an empty stretch of beach. Here Zoro paused.

"I guess this'll work," he muttered to himself.

The crescent moon reflected off of the glittering ocean, gleaming off of the sails of distant, nighttime fishing boats. Hushed waves flowed gently against the shoals. Away from the lights of the city, stars positively covered the sky in glittering splendor.

Deserted, quiet, beautiful; it was a distinctly romantic setting. Helena's temper finally got the best of her at the sight of it:

"Zoro, STOP IT!" she growled, tearing her hand from his and putting a yard or two of distance between them.

"Stop what?" he asked, his back to her. "I'm just looking for a quiet place for us to talk."

"No, you're not," she seethed. "Not after a kiss like that. You're looking for a place to keep up this charade, and quite frankly, I'm done with it."

"Charade?" he asked, turning toward her with furrowed brow. He sounded genuinely confused, which infuriated her further because it didn't compute with what she was convinced he felt.

"Yes, charade," she insisted. "You're toying with my heart, and I can't handle it anymore. You know how I feel about you, and your pretending to feel the same is only making things harder for me. Please, just stop for both of our sakes."

"I'm not toying with you," he told her plainly, taking a step toward her. "Helena, I…"

"Stop!" she insisted again, eyes stinging with the threat of angry tears. "I know Sanji put you up to this. You already told me the truth of how you feel before; you don't need to keep doing this."

"That idiot cook didn't put me up to anything," Zoro insisted with a crooked smile, taking another step toward her. "Helena…"

She hated that she liked the way her name sounded when he said it. She hated the false sincerity in his eyes.

"I don't want to hear it."

"Helena…"

"Stay away from me!"

She shoved him as he tried to close the final gap between them. Though he rocked backward a step, he didn't lose his footing. Refusing to back down, he took her gently by the shoulders and spoke before she could shake herself free:

"Helena, I love you," he said, trying to get her to meet his gaze.

She paused in her struggles, staring hard over her own shoulder and away from him. He was lying. He had to be lying…

"Is there anything more I can do to prove it to you?" he asked.

She bit her lip, squeezing her eyes shut to try and reign in her emotions.

"I'm not good at this," he said with a quiet sort of desperation, "I've tried to show you how I feel in every way I can think of. I realize that I am not the best with words either, but you know me well enough by now to know that I mean what I say, right? …Helena?"

He'd said her name again because she had started to shake. She had started to shake because she knew he was right. She'd convinced herself he was pretending because he had never said it, but now that he had said it, she knew deep down he wasn't the type to manipulate through words.

The dam within her finally broke, and the emotional flood to follow came out in an ugly mess. She cried so uncontrollably that when she spoke she sounded like an hysterical child, taking a sobbing gasp between each syllable:

"But…you…said…you…did…n't…love…me…I…don't…un…der…stand…"

As she tried to wipe her tears away with trembling fists, his arms encircled her with a tenderness she never would have expected from him. Shaking violently, she hid her face in his shoulder.

"That didn't come out right back then," he told her. She made a fist and pounded it against his chest a few times before grabbing a trembling fistful of his shirt, unsure how to channel the mix of emotions flooding her. He half-chuckled, one hand closing over her shaking fist, but when he spoke again his tone was sincere. "I'm sorry, ok? I told you, I'm not good with this kind of thing."

"I'll…say," she heaved.

He laughed, apparently relieved to hear her sense of humor return. Though the sobs didn't stop right away, she relaxed her fist, allowing him to clasp her hand where it rested over his heart.

For a while neither said anything as her tears slowed and eventually stopped. Before she knew it, and without knowing who had started it, she found herself kissing him.

"Does this mean you still love me too?" Zoro asked, pulling away just enough to tease her. "Just checking."

"What do you think?" she asked coyly, still sniffling a bit and wiping tears from her face. She wrapped her long arms around his neck and pulled him to her, kissing him the way he had been trying to kiss her all along. It was a long time before they stopped.


Zoro was last to arrive back at the crew's shared room in the palace. Even the sight of Sanji waiting up for him in the hallway wasn't enough to put a damper on his good mood.

"Sooo," Sanji asked. "How'd it go?"

"We worked things out," Zoro said simply with a shrug.

"Yeah?"

"Remember how I didn't say that I don't love her?" Zoro went on. "Well, she gets that now."

"Oh?" Sanji prodded. "Where'd you guys go?"

"We walked on the beach," Zoro yawned, stretching sleepily. He made to enter their room.

"And?" Sanji prodded, giggling and nudging him with his elbow. He was blocking the hallway so Zoro couldn't get past him.

"And talked," Zoro went on tetchily, trying to sidestep him so he could reach their door.

"Walked and talked. That's it?" Sanji intoned incredulously.

"What else did you think we were doing?" Zoro asked, one brow raised.

Sanji sighed. "Yeesh, you really ARE hopeless, Marimo. And so old fashioned. It looks like someone needs to give you the talk before your actual wedding night."

"No thanks," Zoro replied, pushing Sanji aside at last.

"You'll regret not knowing," Sanji insisted.

"I'm the Hurricane Lover, aren't I?" Zoro shot slyly back at him, his hand on the doorknob. "Don't worry, Love Cook. I think we'll be just fine."

In truth, he didn't have any concerns about the wedding night because he'd already determined that a honeymoon so far as he understood it wouldn't be happening. The last thing Helena needed was to be left with a child. – he hadn't yet had a chance to discuss it with her, but he was relatively certain she would agree.

Lying in his bed that night, Zoro didn't fall asleep right away. He hadn't been entirely honest with Sanji – it had been more than a walk and talk. Not that he and Helena had been up to anything Sanji had insinuated, but there were certain details the love-starved Cook just didn't need to know about. Holding her hand, kissing her. –Some things were too sacred to share. Things like the way it had felt to hold Helena as she cried her frustration out. He hadn't known what to do when she'd finally dissolved into tears, but he had a feeling he'd handled things all right.

Staring at the crescent moon outside his window, he thought for a moment of how it felt to finally reach a point of solidarity with the woman he loved. –how it felt to allow himself to be in love at all. Naturally he couldn't help a certain sense of euphoria, but it was starting to worry him. As nice as it was to have his head in the clouds for a little while, he had to come back down or he might lose sight of his dream.

He closed his eyes and smiled. Well, the nice thing about it all was Helena was solidly in his court. She wouldn't let him drift from his dream, even if he wanted to, right?