Hey everybody,

I don't really know what to say, except I'm sorry... I always try my best to keep up with my schedule and post on time or inform you if something's interfering with scheduled uploads, because I never want to let you guys down. But now it did happen and I didn't post for several weeks without telling you beforehand and for that I am truly sorry. As some of you might have suspected I had my final exam last and this week, which I prepared for since October 2019, and it was kinda tough on me^^' Actually, I thought I was doing mentally really well and would even enjoy uploading this fic during that time, because it would be some good distraction. Well, I was mistaken - obviously - and some other stuff happened, which kind of made things a little bit more difficult.
For that reason I wasn't online often enough to actually post something. I did write a little bit (and finally finished the first draft of a huge project of mine) but it was kinda tough for me during the last few weeks. And to be honest, even though the exam is over now, it's still kinda tough, because a lot of work has piled up the last few weeks.
Hopefully I will be able to take it a little bit slower at the end of the month, but until then I have to ask for your understanding and maybe your patience, especially if it comes to answering your lovely comments. Quite honestly they give me a lot back and make me really happy and I sometimes read them more often than I'm probably willing to admit^^', so I want to answer them not in a rushed manner, so it might take me some days.

Thank you guys for sticking with this fic, although I have been somewhat unreliable (and I'm sorry for lamenting, just wanted to tell you guys what has been going on and that I don't plan on letting you hang in the air again) and with that I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well and the next upload will probably be friday evening, so see you then ;-)

Chapter 8

-Sanji-

It was, as always, early in the morning when he woke up.

With tired eyes, he looked at the surrounding bunks. Chopper and Franky to his left. Usopp above him, Brook lay on the sofa as usual. The two berths to his right were empty. The lower one had been empty for the last few days; Zoro had been sleeping in the sickbay since the accident. But that Luffy's was also empty troubled him.

Last night, Luffy had awaited him with his infamous captain's face. It was always quite scary when their perpetually grinning leader got that serious. When Luffy looked at somebody out of the shadow of his straw hat, there was no escape and there was no mercy. Sanji could picture Luffy talking to Zoro afterwards, but the fact that he had not gone to sleep at all could not mean anything good.

It had been Robin's turn to take on night watch, as far as Sanji could remember. He could only hope that she had been cautious enough to intervene in any kind of emergency.

Exhausted, he got up.

Today he would have to somehow persuade Zoro to at least talk to Chopper about the newest development and after that he would somehow have to persuade him to use this wheelchair. Now that Zoro was willing to fight on instead of giving up, Sanji had to make sure that he would not lose hope. It was his responsibility. At least he had the feeling, because somehow he was to blame for the whole situation and he wanted to take advantage of the possibility of a miracle at all costs.

After he got dressed quickly, he walked outside and was greeted by the last minutes of the night, with a silver lining already on the horizon. Stretching himself extensively, he made his way to the galley, but then he stopped.

There, on the small piece of meadow in the shadow of the darkness lay an overturned chair, not just any chair but the wheelchair Usopp and Franky had built especially for Zoro, and there, few feet behind it, almost at the mast, Zoro lay with his arms crossed under the back of his head, obviously asleep. Luffy had chosen Zoro's belly as a pillow and slept peacefully half on top, half beside him.

Sanji shuddered, the temperature was still far away from any snow to fall, but it had certainly not been warm throughout the night and after the storm the grass had to be clammy.

Uncertain, he thought about waking those two sleepyheads when suddenly a green pair of eyes stared at him. Zoro was awake.

His serene gaze was on Sanji and very slowly he put a finger on his lips, as if he didn't want the chef to say anything. Sanji looked at the swordsman for a moment and then at his captain before finally nodding. The shadow of a smile wafted over Zoro's face before putting his hand back in his neck and closing his eyes.

Sanji shook his head. He would like to know what had happened last night. But whatever Luffy had done, Zoro was back. Grinning, he went into the kitchen and started preparing breakfast.

A little later, Robin came in. Despite the night watch, she looked dazzling as always.

"I wish you a very lovely morning," he saluted as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning to you as well," she smiled back, taking a sip.

"I hope the night was pleasantly quiet," he continued, scrambling the eggs in the pan.

"Pleasantly? Indeed. Quiet? Not so much," she said simply, and began to set the table.

"Huh?" He looked at her. "What happened?"

She shrugged. "Nothing important. Luffy and Zoro just had some fun."

"Fun? With the wheelchair?"

She nodded: "They ran up and down the gangways, including slides and stairs, and several times Luffy swung them from one place to another. It seemed very amusing."

"Why didn't I wake up? They probably haven't been quiet. I should have heard that," he muttered, helping Robin.

"Oh, they really weren't that loud. Zoro often cautioned Luffy. However, both Nami and Brook were up in between to check. But neither of them intervened."

"No surprise." Sanji placed the filled bowls on the table. Just the idea of those two idiots rushing over the deck was funny. He shook his head slightly. Luffy had always had his own way.

Behind him, the door opened and Nami came in.

"Have you seen those two idiots out there?" She asked without any greeting. "If things go on like this, Zoro will soon be sick as well."

"Oh, I absolutely trust his immune system." Robin's quiet smile seemed a little warmer than usual.

"But what kind of kink is that, lying on wet ground all the time?" Now Nami looked at Sanji as if she expected a serious response from him.

He shrugged his shoulders and handed her a cup of hot tea.

"I think he just wants to be outside." It was Robin again who answered. "He has spent the last few days almost entirely indoors."

"I didn't think he was actually going to use the wheelchair," Sanji muttered, when finally everything was set up. "Yesterday he didn't seem too excited."

"But when Luffy asks you for something, it's impossible to refuse." Brook just came in and finished Sanji's sentence, a smile on his skull. "However, Zoro already seems to be awake. At least I think he winked at me."

"Oh no," Nami sighed, "an injured Zoro is already difficult, but a sleep deprived Zoro is unbearable."

"Oh, he's not that bad," Robin laughed and sat down at the table.

Sanji wanted to oppose her, but he actually had to admit that she was right. Zoro wasn't quite as unbearable, at least sometimes.

At that moment, some loud cracking noise echoed over the deck, followed by a loud: "Damn it, Luffy!"

All four people present exchanged some serious glances.

"Should we check on them?" Nami asked, worried and annoyed.

"That won't be necessary," Robin replied, dropping her crossed arms. "They will probably join us in a few minutes."

"Could you please wake the others, Brook?" Sanji got up and picked up the last missing things from the fridge. "Once Luffy is here, there won't be much left for the others."

With his well-known laughter, Brook stood up and left the galley.

Through the still open door the two idiots came in. Zoro in his wheelchair, his right arm on the rest supporting his apparently heavy head, as always he seemed slightly unnerved and otherwise calm, Luffy pushing him in and grinning from ear to ear.

"Finally, breakfast!" He laughed. "Because of Zoro I haven't eaten in like forever."

But his voice did not sound offended at all, while the swordsman rolled his eyes and let his captain push him to the table. The chair, which had stood there only a few seconds ago, had miraculously slid against the next best wall.

"What do you mean? You had dinner with all of us yesterday," Nami grumbled, and Sanji could see her trying to act like this was just some normal conversation. It was as if a wild animal was present, no frantic movements, no dangerous topics. After all, it was the first time Zoro was willing to join a meal on his own.

"Yes," Luffy confirmed, slightly huffily, "but I really wanted a little midnight snack and Zoro..."

"You know that the fridge is only locked because you never stop eating until everything's gone," Zoro interrupted him slightly irritated. "Besides, I'm not allowed to drink alcohol at the moment," he added in a small voice and actually pulled a face.

"I don't think I've ever seen you not drinking any booze for more than a few days, Marimo," Sanji joked, giving his favorite foe a cup of coffee.

"I don't think so either," the swordsman sighed, apparently too distressed by this sad state of affairs to offer him parole.

"You were quite loud throughout the night. I hope that doesn't become a habit," Nami exhorted, looking at the two idiots seriously.

Captain and first Mate exchanged glances and Luffy grinned his huge grin again, while even Zoro could not prevent a crooked smile. It really seemed like they had spent a fun night.

The next moment, the rest of the crew came in, more or less sleepy, except for Brook, who was humming a cheerful song. They all got big eyes when they saw Zoro sitting at the table, but none of them said anything as if they were afraid that one single false word would chase him away.

And so the breakfast started and to Sanji's great joy it was exactly as it should be. Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Brook were as always screaming around, while Franky was torn back and forth, whether he wanted to join in or rather mime the adult.

Zoro, who sat between Luffy and Robin, gulped his food down almost as quickly as the captain himself, but did not participate in their silliness. The two ladies talked calmly and civilized about this and that.

Those who watched closely - and Sanji was among such observers - could see that although the swordsman did not even get involved in any of those conversations, he listened very attentively.

An inner warmth filled Sanji as he watched all of them Although everyone had tried to behave as normally as possible, it only now seemed like it used to be.

"So, how do you like your new vehicle?" Franky finally asked, pointing at Zoro's wheelchair, while Zoro only looked back with raised eyebrows and a condescending face, but it was Luffy who answered.

"It's great! No, it is awesome! I like the red button the most!"

"What? The red button?" Usopp and Franky exchanged a quick glance. "But that's the panic switch."

"Yeah, we noticed. Several times," Zoro grumbled, and Luffy laughed.

"Once we almost fell overboard." Luffy grinned even wider.

"Yes, because you pressed the green and the yellow button at the same time."

"What?" Usopp grew pale.

"What are the buttons for?" Brook asked amusedly.

"The yellow button puts Zoro in a standing position, but for this the leg and abdominal belts have to be applied otherwise he would fall out and the green button is the turbo drive."

"Yes, talking about belts and stuff," the swordsman grumbled unimpressed.

Sanji grinned.

Zoro could act like the last night had been awful all he wanted, but he couldn't deceive Sanji. Obviously, he had enjoyed it.

"And I really liked taking the slide downstairs."

"Oh, you meant that time I fell out and you ran over me?"

"WHAT?!" Now it was Chopper who seemed extremely concerned. "Luffy, is that true? You could have seriously injured Zoro!"

Luffy laughed. "Oh, it wasn't that bad. We had a lot of fun, right, Zoro?"

The addressee shrugged. "If you say so, Captain."

"And do you know the latest news?!" Luffy jumped up and was swinging his knife around in ecstasy.

"Luffy," Zoro grumbled threateningly.

"Zoro feels his legs again!"

For a moment it was dead silent. But only for a moment.

The fried egg of Nami's fork slipped back onto the plate. Usopp choked on his orange juice. Brook's jaw fell rattlingly on his plate. Chopper's eyes grew large and unconsciously he stood up. Franky almost fell from his chair.

Only Robin seemed to remain calm, with Sanji unable to see her face. He himself was surprised, but less so by the news than by the way in which he was informed.

"Damn it Luffy, you stupid... Ngh!"

Zoro had thrust his elbow into Luffy's side, who surprised had ripped his hands down, accidentally jamming his knife into Zoro's thigh. Two finger widths dug the jam-smeared blade into the flesh.

Again, it was quiet.

"You wanna fuck with me?!" Zoro yelled in anger and pulled the sticky knife out of his leg. "What part of Let this stay between us for the moment did you not get, you idiot?!"

He threw the knife on his plate, drops of blood and jam scattering over the tablecloth.

"Oh yes right, you said that. I'm sorry, I forgot, my bad." Luffy laughed embarrassed and rubbed the back of his head.

"So?" Nami asked. "Is it true? You got a feeling again?"

Zoro sighed. "Yeah, sure. Right now I'm feeling this stinging pain caused by the stupidity of my captain."

"Stay serious, Zoro." Now Nami sounded like herself again.

"Why did you want to keep it secret?" asked Usopp. "Don't you trust us?"

"It's not that." Suddenly Zoro looked at Sanji, even though he didn't know why the other was looking at him or what he wanted to tell him with that look.

"Now listen. It's..."

However, whatever Zoro wanted to say, he wouldn't finish his sentence. Chopper jumped up, turned into his giant figure, and literally rushed towards him, gripping Zoro's new vehicle and dragging him along.

"Chopper, what the…?"

"I'm going to examine you now whether it suits you or not!"

"No, wait. I don't..."

"Shut up! Your opinion is irrelevant!"

Loudly, the door to the sickbay slammed shut behind doctor and patient. A rather surprised crew remained behind.

"So?" Franky asked perplexedly, "Did I get this right? Zoro, who was said to never be able to walk again, can walk again?"

Sanji could see a cheerful redness spreading over all the faces he could see. Hope. That was hope.

"No," he replied, before that hope could become too great. He knew why Zoro had not told the others, he finally understood.

"What?" Nami looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged.

"Quite simple. Even if he can feel his legs, that doesn't mean he can walk again. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't have gotten comfortable in that wheelchair."

He could see the mood dropping again.

"But he will be able to walk," Luffy stated without a doubt.

"Do you know that or are you just hoping for it?" Brook asked, resting his head on his right hand.

"I know, of course. Zoro will be defeated by nothing and no one. As long as Zoro fights, he will win."

Even Sanji could not disagree, although it contradicted any logic.

"So that means that…," Franky began, kind of shocked, "that Usopp and I spent all those nights working for nothing?"

"Well, I think the wheelchair is great!" Luffy grinned.

"I'm not talking about that damn wheelchair! That thing was done within half an hour!" Angry, Franky pulled out whole packs of papers and threw them on the half-empty breakfast table. "We have already completed all plans to adapt the Sunny for him. I've even started building the elevator for the lookout and designed new training equipment. Was all of this in vain?"

He was stunned, but Usopp grinned much more relaxed.

"Somehow I have no problem with that at all," he muttered, smiling softly, his arms folded. "Somehow I can live really well with this development."

Nami shook her head and sighed loudly, but she also smiled slightly. "You guys are just crazy idiots, all of you." Then she got up. "Brook, lookout. Franky, you will..."

"I will be cleaning up the workshop," the cyborg grumbled.

"Well, for all I care. Usopp, you help Sanji clean up."

Usopp shrugged his shoulders, still this extremely pleased and almost satisfied smile on his lips.

Franky got up, still grumbling under his breath, and walked out.

"Don't you think Franky reacted kind of weird?" Nami asked, confused.

And again it was Usopp who laughed quietly. "I think Franky is just incredibly relieved. You should have seen him the last few days. Every time I did as much as mentioning Zoro's name, he couldn't stop crying. When we just came in with Zoro sitting at the table he was about to lose it, I'm telling you."

Sighing, Nami shook her head again, while Brook also got up to take on his post.

"Are you okay, Robin dear?"

Sanji looked down to the archaeologist, who had recently been disturbingly quiet. At first she did not react, but then she looked up to him and he could see the tears that were about to break out.

"Everything is fine," she replied in her usual voice, standing up and leaving the room.

"Somehow everyone is really weird today," Luffy laughed, fetching the last bun and running outside.

-Zoro-

"So?" Questioning, he observed the young doctor, who looked at his notes.

Chopper did not answer, but pinched his eyes concentrated, as if trying to decipher a complicated riddle.

"Come on, Chopper. I'm waiting..."

The reindeer was still staring at his documents.

"That's not possible," he finally muttered, finally looking at him.

"What's not possible?" Zoro crossed his arms and looked at the other calmly, while Chopper himself repeatedly shook his head. But then Chopper looked at him with a slight grin.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter. The important thing is that you do feel your legs again."

Zoro tilted his head.

"What do you mean by that?"

Chopper shrugged and hopped on the bedside, putting a band-aid on Zoro's leg after disinfecting the small wound.

"I have checked all the examinations again and from a purely medical point of view it is impossible for your feeling to come back."

"You want to tell me that I shouldn't be able to feel anything?"

Chopper nodded. "Actually, your condition shouldn't have changed, but obviously it has."

"And what does that mean now, Chopper?"

The young reindeer shrugged again and threw his small clipboard back onto the desk.

"No idea," he said light-heartedly.

"What?"

"Yes, I have no idea. Obviously you're recovering, even though you shouldn't be able to. You said yourself that your feeling is already much better than yesterday. So I suspect you might make even more progress in the future. Who knows, maybe you will be able to walk again at some point. I can't make a distinguish prediction."

"What does that mean, Chopper? What happened?" Zoro was confused. Chopper was a doctor, he needed to know what was going on. Why did he say such weird things and at the same time look so calm?

"A miracle, Zoro," he whispered, "this is a miracle."

Slowly he sank into the pillows, tried to understand.

"That means I'm going to be able to walk again? That means I can become healthy again?"

"No idea. If you train and stick to a strict rehabilitation plan, continue taking your medication and give up alcohol until you fully recover, then it could work. But I can't tell you for sure, I really don't know."

Slowly, Zoro leaned back, placing an arm over his eyes, enjoying this calming darkness.

"But I do," he muttered, filled with new energy of an irrepressible power, "I know."