Category: Mild Romantic Fluff, Family Fluff

Characters: Trafalgar Law, Nami, Nojiko, Ginzo

The brush made soft swishing sounds as Nami meticulously combed it through her long, tangerine locks. Over and over again, she drew the grooming tool through the strands which had long since been pried free of knots. Nami was not usually so compulsive about her hair, but today she had to find a way to channel her abundance of nervous energy, and somehow repeatedly brushing her hair alleviated dome of that pent-up, toxic tension. After a while, her hand stopped moving to hover halfway down her stream of orange tresses, while her nut-brown eyes absorbed her anxious reflection.

Today, she was returning to Cocoyashi Village after several long years at sea, with her boyfriend Trafalgar Law, no less. That situation was stressful enough to drive anyone crazy. With a weary sigh, she set the brush down on the nightstand. Luffy and the other members who had been there to see the takedown of Arlong had been very insistent on returning to Cocoyashi as well, and the others were just as excited to see Nami's home and meet her sister, so Law had moored the Polar Tang to the Thousand Sunny so they could travel together. His crew was just as excited to learn more about Nami's homeland, considering she had essentially become part of their family from dating Law for so long. They had all agreed to give Law and Nami one day alone on the island by themselves to spend time as a couple getting to know Nami's family and friends, but after that, they were going to be let loose on the island and there was going to be a raucous party for sure. Honestly, the time alone part is what was making Nami a nervous wreck.

Nami and Law had begun seeing each other shortly after the business in Dressrosa. There was just something magnetic that had drawn her to him; she had seen past the foul attitude and dangerous look to find a man who was both kind and passionate (though he tried so desperately to uphold his reputation as the disreputable Surgeon of Death, Nami really had him wrapped around her little finger at this point). Their relationship was quite something. One wouldn't be able to tell they were even dating without knowing them well, because ninety percent of their interaction was sharp jibes and snarky quips at the other's expense. It wasn't until they started getting handsy with each other that it clicked in people's heads. The beginning of their relationship had certainly been interesting, a cat-and-mouse chase that Nami had quite enjoyed playing. Nami smirked at herself in the vanity mirror as she recalled it. Such things were really quite so far in the past. Now, Luffy was Pirate King and the World Government had been effectively dismantled into a more fair, democratic order. Even though all that had occurred just a few months ago, Nami felt like it was a life age away, after sailing for several months with nothing short of peaceful bliss.

Her gaze slid to the reflection of the door as someone knocked lightly on it, then entered. It was Law, dressed in his usual gothic garb that accentuated his dark skin and roguish appearance, with his trusty sword propped on his shoulder. Even now that things were different, he still insisted on carrying the thing around. Nami supposed it was just habit, and also a fair bit comforting. Law was still a very guarded person, even around Nami sometimes, though they had been together for so long.

"We just spotted the island. We should be docking shortly." Seeing the nervous look that appeared on her features, Law crossed the room to reassure slide a hand to her back, gently massaging her at the tense point between her shoulder blades. She felt the apprehension melt into relief simply at his touch; he just had such a way of relieving her anxieties, even if for only a moment. "There's nothing to worry about. It will go fine." Law would never be caught dead being so soft and gentle around others, but when they were alone, he often had sweet things to say. Nami turned in the chair to face him properly, and his hand migrating with her body to remain resting on her shoulder. As she leaned into his arm, it slipped upward to cup his cheek, and she responded by placing her own hand over it. Her fingers absently traced the black ink marking his skin; she knew the patterns by memory now.

"I know. I just want them to love you as much as I do."

"How can they not? I mean, it's me we're talking about." Of all the self-centered, egotistical… Nami began to think with a shake of her head. That damn self-confident smirk was plastered on his lips, the one she had seen so many times before and the one she just couldn't help but absolutely adore. Smiling demurely, she rose from the little cushioned chair of her vanity to lean up and press a soft kiss to his lips. It was just a small one, a mere taste of what she had to offer, and she definitely left Law wanting more because his face chased hers as she retreated. Giggling, she cupped a hand over his mouth with a teasing wink.

"Ah-ah, later. Let's take care of the task at hand first, and then you can kiss on me all you want," she tutted before walking towards the door, taking extra care to swing her hips seductively as she did.

"Oh, you minx," she heard him growl after her. She chuckled under her breath; just because they were a true item didn't mean that Nami had abandoned her teasing of him. If anything, it was far worse. "I'll get you later, Nami…" he promised darkly before following her out onto the deck of the Thousand Sunny. He had dropped the honorific for her after a while, honoring her by simply calling her by her name. It was just one of the many little things that reminded her that she was his, utterly and completely… Just like he was hers.

In the course of their little exchange, the Sunny had almost fully approached the island; Zoro standing by the balustrade of the ship with one leg propped up and the mooring rope in his hand, ready to hop down and secure the boat to the docks. As she walked out onto the green lawn of the main deck, Luffy abandoned his perch at the figurehead to dash to her side and wind his rubbery arms several times around her hips.

"Nami! Please make sure to bring back yummy food from Nojiko! Please, please, please! Oh, and say hi to old Pinwheel Gramps for me! Be sure!" he chattered incessantly in her ear while propping her head on her shoulder to look at her for big, pleading eyes. Becoming Pirate King hadn't changed Luffy in the slightest; it was a wonder such a childish, demanding man had toppled entire governments and become the most famous, fearsome pirate to ever live. He still had zero concept of personal space, too, even though he knew very well she was dating Law and the former Warlord did not take well to people being too familiar with her, even her own crew.

"Oi. Straw Hat-ya. Don't be a pest," he scowled as he shoved his sword in the space between Luffy's arms and Nami's body to forcibly pry him off. All he really succeeded in doing was making Luffy stretch more, but the Straw Hat Captain got the gist well enough. Sticking his tongue out at him, he retracted his arms to cross the haughtily at his chest.

"You're so mean, Trafalguy, not letting me give Nami hugs anymore…" he muttered under his breath and promptly sat down where he stood, like a monk in protest. Although Luffy was far from holy. He was more like an unholy mongrel demon than anything. Law responded by pulling Nami against him by gripping her waist instead. Nami found his jealous streak amusing and responded by snuggling her face into the crook of his neck.

"Don't be so grumpy, Law. He just likes being affectionate, that's all."

"Well, he can go be affectionate with someone else," he muttered back into her tangerine hair. Nami just giggled again while tracing the pattern of his back tattoos over his coat absentmindedly. When the Sunny docked and it was time to depart, she joyously chorused her goodbyes to everyone, promising to tell them all about her day upon their return to the ship, before she and Law descended the ladder to land on the small wooden dock that belonged to Cocoyashi Village. There was no one manning the dock at that time, given that they never had many visitors, but the large ship as well as the Jolly Roger painted upon its sail had attracted the nearby village occupants. A large crowd of them hovered at the edge of the dock, and front-and-center was a scarred old face that Nami had not seen in a long, long time.

"Ginzo!" Nami gasped as soon as she clapped eyes on him. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes, and she didn't even bother wiping them away as she sprinted full-speed at the man. He received her with open arms and a bellowing laugh as she slammed into him, knocking him full onto his behind and squeezing him in a crushing hug as if her life depended on it. "Ginzo! I missed you so much!" she sobbed into his shoulder while he patted her head soothingly.

"Nami, my dear! How you've grown! You've grown out your hair… and gotten so tall! My, you're a beautiful woman now!" his fatherly voice rumbled in her ear, thick with emotion. They held each other for several minutes before Nami's sobs of joy quieted into little sniffles, and she pulled back, wiping at her tearful eyes with the heels of her palms. He swept a swathe of her orange hair out of her face, smiling warmly at her while thin trails of tears rolled down his rough, scarred cheeks. "If only Bellemere could see you now… She would be so proud of you," he sighed gently while continuing to rub her head. Choked up, all Nami could do was nod. The entire time, Law had just been hanging back letting her enjoy her family reunion. Suddenly remembering what she was actually there to do, she jumped to her feet, pulling up Ginzo before turning around to wave Law over.

"Ginzo! Everyone! There's someone special I want you to meet," she told them. Law looked mildly uncomfortable as he walked over. Nami let go of Ginzo to scamper over to him and wrap her arms around the thick muscle of his bicep and lean her head against his shoulder. "This is my boyfriend, Trafalgar Law~" she chirped brightly.

The shocked silence was simply deafening. Nami blinked in confusion, having expected happy cries or shouts of congratulation. Ginzo wasn't even trying to hide his reaction; he was staring open-mouthed at Law, who just had his head tilted slightly upward in a cold, prideful stare. Well… It is Law, after all… He never was the type you would bring home to your mother, she reasoned with a slight face of pity for her family. After a few seconds of stunned silence, the people managed to roust themselves and began to cheer excitedly for her.

"Good for you, Nami!"

"Our Nami is all grown up, bringing a man home…"

"What a very handsome man." Ginzo, meanwhile, was not smiling but scowling proudly and rolling up his sleeves.

"Now listen here, youngster! You may have won Nami over, but just remember that if you break her heart, you have a whole village to contend with!" he scolded sternly. Law's mouth twitched upwards into an amused smirk, and Nami just knew that the snide remark was dancing on his tongue. Pouting, she tugged at the ends of his dark hair to make him look at her out of the corners of his eyes. The golden irises rolled nearly into the back of his head when she mouthed, "Be nice," but he nodded in obedience.

"Of course. I'm very serious about Nami. I intend to take good care of her," he answered through clenched teeth. She was definitely going to have to pay for making him humble himself in front of her father figure, but that was all right. More than anything, she wanted Ginzo and Nojiko to see the man who loved her with every fiber of his being, not just some tattooed scoundrel who had seduced Nami with ill intent. Ginzo seemed satisfied enough, crossing his arms while nodded his head with an accomplished smile. It was then that Nami realized that her sister was not among the crowd.

"Ginzo? Where's Nojiko?"

"Eh? Oh, she hasn't come to town today. She must be at your house."

"Great! Law and I are going to head straight there. See you all later, okay?" Nami beamed and tugged on her boyfriend's arm. The crowd parted as she barreled past them, although she wasn't sure if it was because they wanted to keep a respectable distance from Law or because they had not forgotten Nami's pick-pocketing ways. Either way, they were able to quickly move through the village because of it. She was highly aware of Ginzo's piercing stare burning into their backs. She was sure that he would be at the house in no time at all, eager to interrogate Law further, which was fine. As they neared the edge of the village, Nami settled for holding Law's hand rather than hanging on his arm. She absently laced their fingers as they fell into an even pace, his long stride matching hers to keep from overtaking her. "I think Ginzo likes you!" she smiled widely at him.

"You're kidding. He looked like I absconded with you like some thieving heathen."

"He did noooooot," she frowned, but she knew it was kind of true. Ginzo didn't look happy at all. She heaved a heavy sigh and tottered sideways a little so their arms rubbed together as she walked. "I honestly don't know what I was expecting… Ginzo's very protective of me. It wouldn't have mattered if I had brought home the chivalrous prince of some foreign country; he'd still be acting like this." She wasn't sure if that relieved or saddened her. Nami would've thought that Ginzo would trust her to know what she was doing, considering she wasn't a child anymore. Her bottom lip poked out in a dismal pout and she looked up at Law pitifully, all but begging for reassurance. He looked at her with those sharp golden eyes for a moment before sighing and agreeing to do so, closing his eyes to bonk their heads together.

"It's fine. He doesn't bother me one bit. Anybody would react that way to his daughter bringing home a man," he shrugged, then looked at her pointedly. "But I'm not gonna pander for his good graces. He's either gonna like me or he's not; I ain't gonna put on a sappy act for him." Despite his stern rebuke, Nami found herself smiling.

"All right, all right. I do want them to like you for you, after all," she conceded.

They had walked quite a long ways during their conversation, and the territory was exceptionally familiar to Nami despite not being there for several years. A shiver suddenly traveled up her spine, and she knew exactly why. Stopping in her tracks in the middle of the road, she squeezed Law's hand tightly as the scars on the back of her shoulder began to burn like the day she had first inflicted the wounds upon herself. They had come to a junction in the road, and the path leading west led to her nightmares. Law frowned at her, then instinctively looked down the trailing path, beholding in the distance the very faint outline of a collapsed gate.

"Does that lead to…?" He didn't utter the name aloud, but the implication of his quiet question was still enough to make Nami's breath hitch in her throat. It had been so long, but her tortuous life under Arlong had never truly left her. Every once in a blue moon the nightmares would seize her and she would awake screaming in the night, drenched head-to-toe in sweat with her hands burning with the ghost of skin torn raw from unrelenting hours at the desk drawing maps. Sometimes she was that scared little girl watching as Bellemere was shot in the head, or Nojiko or Ginzo had their throats ripped out by his sharp jaws… Other times she was forced to watch as her crewmates were torn limb-from-limb and she was near-drowned in their hot red blood as punishment for leaving. More recently, Law had been the centerpiece of her grotesque night terrors, Arlong's sharp claws tearing his beating heart right out of his chest while Nami watched, sobbing…

Standing on the earth that had been Arlong's territory for so long brought the visions fleeting before her waking eyes, every one of them, both reality and horrid fantasy. With a strangled groan as her unseeing eyes stared straight ahead, she melted down to the ground, but still kept a strong grip on Law's hand as she fell. "Hey! Nami!" he cried in alarm and crouched down next to her. "Nami… It's okay," he murmured soothingly and pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear to lay a hand on her clammy cheek. At his call and his touch, she was drawn back to reality. The pristine landscape of Cocoyashi Village replaced the laughing visage of the Fishman. Trembling, she turned to look at him with weary, hazy eyes. "He'll never hurt you again." He always told her that when she awoke writhing beside him. Like always, he took her into his arms in a tight, firm hug, and Nami buried her face right in the center of the inked heart on his chest, inhaling sharply as the nightmare receded to the back of her mind. She sat there for a minute, becoming calm in his gentle embrace, before uttering, "I'm okay now." He pulled back to look at her questioningly, ensuring she really was all right and not putting on a brave face, and she smiled gently at him. He then nodded and stood up, helping her back to her feet. She had known that this experience would be a whirlwind of emotions, but jeez, she was already exhausted and she hadn't even made it home yet.

"Let's go."

The familiar scent of citrus danced on the wind as Nami's humble home came into view. The tangerine orchard was doing splendidly under Nojiko's care. It was not yet time for the trees to bear fruit, but it was approaching very soon, as the trees were smothered with thousands of little white blossoms that put the aromatic tint in the air. They had already begun to fall, littering the ground in a shower of shed petals that energetically leapt about at the slightest breeze, rolling across the green grass. Breathing in the scent made Nami feel instantly at ease. I'm home at long last, Bellemere… she thought with a soft smile.

"Nami?" at the surprised call, Nami turned to see Nojiko emerging from the grove of trees, bearing an empty watering can and a dumfounded smile. Nami beamed and waved happily at her adopted sister, who couldn't decided whether she wanted to gawk at her grown-up baby sister or the man holding her hand. Nojiko hadn't changed much in the years, only adding a bit more blue ink to her body and growing a tad bit taller. Her hairstyle remained the same, unlike Nami's, which now cascaded down her back to swish around her waist. Nojiko set down the watering can to run over, and Nami released Law's hand to envelop her sister in a hug. "Oh, it is you! It's been so long. You have to tell me everything- especially who this is hanging on your arm!" she gasped when she pulled back to look at Law. She looked him up and down, lips pursed as she sized him up.

"My name is Trafalgar Law."

"Mhmm. I'm Nojiko, the disapproving older sister. How do you do?" she clicked her tongue and held out her hand to shake. Nami thought Law wouldn't take such sass well, but she found that he was completely amused, shaking Nojiko's hand with a smirk of pure confidence and challenge. Nami nibbled on her nails a bit as Nojiko flashed him a purely sadistic smile. I thought ginzo was bad! Nojiko is gonna murder him before the end of the day! Ugh, what am I gonna do?

"So? How did you meet Nami?"

"I entered an alliance with her captain." Thankfully, Law left out the damning bits, like switching her and Sanji's bodies.

"Uh-huh," Nojiko frowned suspiciously. She had her fists dug into her hips as she stood on her tip-toes to glare into his face. "You look like a thug."

"Nojikooooo!" Nami whined pleadingly and pulled on her arm. "Law is very good to me! We've been together for a long time now! Please, just give him a chance! For me…" Nojiko pursed her lips as she side-eyed her, then sighed and fell back onto the flats of her feet.

"All right, fine. But one wrong move, buster, and I'm kicking you out! I don't care how big and tough you are! This is my house and my sister, and so I decide what goes on and what doesn't! Capiche?" she growled with her finger jabbing into his chest with every word. Law watched her with every motion, the very embodiment of a bristling lion, only betrayed by the amused smirk on his lip. As Nojiko whirled around to stomp into the house, shouting about cooking dinner and Law was gonna like it, he tossed her a rare smile.

"She's just like you."

"No wonder you're being so obedient. If someone else yelled at you like that, you would've dismembered them by now," Nami sighed as her shoulders sagged. God, she was exhausted and it wasn't even noon. Law chuckled under his breath and wrapped an arm around Nami's shoulders.

"It's fine."

"What happened to not taking shit from nobody?"

"Well, that's hardly a way to get your family to like me, now is it? And besides, I actually find it very amusing that they're willing to be so defiant in the face of the Surgeon of Death. So much more interesting than people shaking in their boots," he answered. Nami was floored; she had thought he was faking it, but he really was in a good mood! I don't know whether to be scared or reassured, she thought as she reached up to ghost her fingers across Law's hand that was hanging lazily from her shoulder. Together, they walked into the house to join Nojiko, who had broken out pots and pans to cook a traditional Bellemere dish, with signature tangerine sauce.

Ginzo joined them after a short while, as Nami had expected, and they took turns interrogating Law in a feeble attempt to find something that they could use as an excuse to bar him from dating Nami. The navigator was on pins and needles the entire time, mortified that her family was making such a fool of themselves over her. Law just played right along, though, ignoring all the venom to placate the two with honeyed words belying a thinly veiled challenge. He made his claim on Nami very clear, his arm wrapped around her the entire of the afternoon and evening, all while playing the perfectly devoted and chivalrous boyfriend. He didn't lie about anything, though, but just managed to spin it all in his favor. He truly was a dastardly cunning individual. It really warmed Nami how much effort he was putting into getting the two to admit defeat and like him, though she knew it sickened him to no end to have to play such a game instead of going feral and making them like him. It was overwhelmingly successful, though.

"I give up," Nojiko sighed to her as she walked up behind Nami as she was doing dishes. Ginzo was sitting at the table, having admitted defeat quite a while ago and now laughing raucously at some snarky quip Law had uttered. "He's rough and uncouth and definitely thuggy-looking, but he loves you to no end, doesn't he?" the blue-haired woman smiled bitterly as she leaned against the counter.

"He really does," she said as she looked over her shoulder at him. Law wasn't paying attention, too engrossed in conversation with Ginzo. "I can't imagine life without him," she murmured, her hands stilling in the soapy water as she just watched him. She really couldn't. One day, she wanted to settle down with him here in Cocoyashi, growing her mother's tangerines and maybe raising a few children of their own here… Such conversations were yet to be had, however. Law and Nami still had plenty of adventure to burn from their system before that. Nojiko chuckled and procured a basket of tangerine muffins, setting them on the kitchen counter before nudging Nami with her shoulder.

"Go see Bellemere, and then hurry on back to the ship. I'm sure Luffy and the others are chomping at the bits waiting." Nami nodded in agreement as she pulled her hands from the water to dry them on a dish towel. "Hey," she added, catching Nami's arm to hold her back as she went to rejoin Law, "and be sure to come home soon… The both of you. There's always a place here for you."

"Thank you, Nojiko." The two girls hugged for a few minutes before Nami finally willed herself to pull away. She took the basket of muffins to walk over to the table. Law had noticed her intention to leave and had risen, politely bidding Ginzo farewell before walking over to circle her waist with his arms.

"Ready to go?"

"Mhmm. I just want to stop by Bellemere's grave first."

"Come back, you young'uns, you hear?" Ginzo demanded from his seat at the table, his face scrunched up as he tried not to cry. Nami walked around the table to give him a loving peck on the cheek, which sent him over the edge; grumbling, he pulled his hat down over his face, but couldn't hide the few tears that spilled from his eyes.

"We will, Ginzo. We'll be here for a week. You'll be sick of us soon!" she laughed before exiting the house. Despite the fact that it had turned out well, Nami still couldn't help but exhale deeply and place a hand over her heart as soon as the door shut behind them. "Phew! That was so stressful."

"For you? I did most of the hard work!" he whined, nudging her in the ribs with his elbow. Nami squirmed at the tickling sensation, swinging the basket around as she wriggled away from him a few paces. He snorted and began walking, but slowed his pace as she scurried to fall back in step with him. Sighing again, she laid her head on his shoulder as they walked under the moonlight.

"Thank you, Law, for trying so hard. It made it so much easier for me… I was really scared that they wouldn't approve of you. That would make this so much harder…"

"I know," he sighed in reply, bumping his head with hers before straightening up again. "I thought it would be annoying, but honestly, I wanted them to like me too."

"Really? I wouldn't think you would care about things like that."

"Of course I do. I'm not heartless."

"Right, you just steal other people's hearts and make them heartless."

"I stole yours," he purred and ducked his head down to run his nose through her hair, making her giggle.

"Mhmm. You sure did, Dr. Heartstealer," she laughed, then looked up at him with a small, happy smile. "… But really, it makes me glad that you take those things seriously." He just hummed slightly in response, his hand tracing patterns into her arm. By that time they had arrived at the cleft overlooking the glittering sea where Bellemere had been buried. Law was quiet as they approached the small cross of wood, and Nami detached herself from him to sit down on her knees and place one of the little muffins at her gravesite. She noticed a recent addition, a spinning pinwheel; Ginzo must've left it there upon her leaving, signaling her coming-of-age. It made her smile.

Bellemere… I've finally come home. I've seen and done so much, thanks to Luffy and the others… And you. You were always with me, Bellemere, giving me the strength to move forward. I've even managed to fall in love, too. I wish you could meet him, Bellemere. The two of you would probably butt heads, actually. He's stubborn, like me… and like you. He's got his quirks, but he really is a wonderful man who treats me well. You don't have anything to worry about, Bellemere. Nothing at all.

After her silent conversation with her mother, Nami sat there a moment, listening to the sloshing of the waves far below and looking up at the starry night sky where Bellemere was smiling down upon her, before rising to her feet. She turned around to see that Law had crouched down, staring intently at the grave. She didn't ask what he said to Bellemere. Such things were to be private, known only to the person and the spirit being spoken to. She waited patiently for him to finish and stand up. He walked over to her, circling her waist with an arm to pull him up against her and drop a kiss into her tangerine hair.

"I love you, Nami, you know that?" It was rare for him to be so blatantly romantic, meaning that conversing with Bellemere had really struck him in some way. Nami was exceptionally moved by that.

"Mhmm. I love you, too," she murmured into his shoulder, hugging him with her free arm while the basket of muffins hung at her side. Law held her for a moment, but only so; he wasn't the sappy type, even under all the pretenses. He pulled back, settling for just keeping his arm around her shoulders.

"All right. We should get back. I can practically hear Straw Hat screaming from here."

"You really do bust his balls a lot, you know?" she laughed as they began walking back down the path. The basket swung in her hand as they tromped down the hill.

"If he wasn't such an idiot, I wouldn't feel so compelled to," he grimaced.

"I think it's because you really like him but don't want to admit it," she teased, sticking out her tongue at him. He cocked a dark eyebrow at her.

"Absolutely not. He's just so damn clingy. Even if I ran away, he'd find me. There's no escaping him."

"Well, that's pretty true. Luffy would track you down!" she laughed.

"I guess it's not all bad," he purred suddenly, seductively sliding his hand down to nestle in the small of her back. "I did gain something out of the deal, after all- his sexy little redhead navigator." Law was no longer sweet but purely saucy, returning to his old self. Nami could feel the payback already, with the way he was teasingly rubbing circles into the sensitive skin of her lower back. "And she's gonna pay for teasing me this morning, with interest for that little performance I had to put on tonight," he rumbled in her ear, followed by a playful nip. Nami felt heat flare in her belly at the overtly instigative action, and she arched her back a little, his touch suddenly making her very hot.

"Oh, you are a devil," she huffed as she eyed him out of the corners of her eyes. His golden irises were pulsing with a smoldering heat. Nami was suddenly very aware that they probably wouldn't make it to the ship for quite a while yet, because she knew that look very well…

Well, Bellemere… Maybe you have a good reason to worry after all, she thought coyly as she snuggled into Law, silently begging him to continue his inciting ministrations. I certainly have to be at the top of my game to contend with Dr. Heartstealer here. I can't let him completely get the upper hand, now can I? she thought roguishly as she suddenly pushed him hard in the chest to knock him over. "I never pay back, let alone with interest! You're gonna have to catch me!" she laughed as she took off running down the path, clutching the basket of muffins to her chest so its swinging would not decrease her speed. She heard his curses faintly over the rushing of the wind in her ears and her own snickering.

But don't worry, really, because I give him plenty of hell! He's gotta earn a girl like me, after all!