The week after were full of making plans and calls. They had to move things in and out of places. It was hectic and blurred a little. He had talked to his father and Shanks. He's taking the house so everything needs to be moved out. The other's already knew about it before, it was all discussed with each other.
Perona is taking Zoro's apartment. She's been wanting to be on her own for a while now so she took this opportunity to. Ace is going to move in with Marco, Luffy is moving in with Law and Sabo is also moving to his own place. For Ace and Luffy it had been a long time coming. They were dating their partners for a while, they couldn't do it with Zoro. They all were watching out for him but now he seems better. Zoro doesn't need them anymore, didn't need them to baby him.
All their rooms cleared up, even Zoro's. He cleaned it up, emptying it out. Moving things over to the master bedroom instead. Perona, Nami and Robin helped with the Lili's room, Zoro didn't want to do Arin's. Since he's old enough he could decorate with whatever he wants.
Zoro had to have a last home visit then sign the last paper before Arin and Lili are his.
With those signed Zoro waited one more night. He went to work, did his duties and Sanji picked him up from work.
"You seem excited." Sanji points out.
"I am. I've been planning this for what seems like forever."
"And now it's finally happening." Zoro shakes his hands to stop the trembling. He was so nervous. It was finally happening. After Dadan first suggested it he didn't think he could but having them over, having them spend the night changed everything.
When they got there Sanji and Dadan packed what things that Arin and Lili owned. They did it as covertly as they could. When they finished Zoro asked Sanji to watch Lili while he talked to Arin. He wasn't able to see him since he was in the hospital. That was a long time ago. He stood out into the backyard and saw Arin sitting by himself on the grass, back facing the house. The other kids looked at him, they either recognized him or it was his uniform that caught their attention.
Quietly he sat next to Arin on the grass. "How come you're not playing?" Zoro asks. He sees Arin flinch and hear him gasp. But he doesn't turn around.
"Didn't feel like it."
"Why not?"
"Just because."
"Thank you for visiting me in the hospital." Zoro says.
"Are you ok?"
"Better. I had some problems, felt hurt a lot and I didn't know what to do about it."
"Do you know now?"
"Yeah. I talked to my brothers, my sister and friends." Zoro says. But Arin continued to look at the grass. "You like them right? My family and friends." Zoro asks.
"I like them." Arins nods.
"Would you like to see them?" Zoro asks. Arin turns to look at him.
"I could?" He asks shocked.
"Would you like to go now?" Arin stands up and nods. "Well if you come with me your not coming back here." Zoro says.
"I'm not coming back." Zoro shakes his head.
"You'll be staying with me."
"Really?" Arins asks.
"Yup."
"For how long?"
"However long you want, until after you turn eighteen. Then it's your choice to stay or move out." Zoro says.
"How about Lili?"
"She's coming with us too."
"I'm really not coming back?" Arin asks.
"You're really not coming back, unless you want to." Zoro says. Arin shakes his head. He goes to hug Zoro.
"I want to stay with you, I don't want to be back." Arins cries in Zoro shoulder.
"Sorry I left you alone for so long." Zoro says hugging him back. "Why don't we go home?" Zoro asks. Arin nods. Zoro picks up Arin and he meets Sanji at the car with Lili. They all get bucklet in.
The whole ride home Arin asked if he really is staying. Zoro answered every single time.
He seemed to finally have accepted that he's not going back and enjoyed the car ride home. Home, something he didn't really have before, at least not as good. He loves his mom but it's nothing compared to how much love Zoro has shown him, protected him. He's never had to hide, to be quiet, he could laugh and he doesn't have to be afraid when he sleeps.
When they made it, Sanji helped with the things as Zoro helped by taking Lili. Arin tried to carry his things by himself but most of them were heavy for him to carry. Zoro set Lili down on the small cushion for her to lay on since she's still young to raise her head or crawl. Arin walks in after him to see Luane and Nami sitting on the couch.
"Luane?" he asks confused. What was she doing there?
"Arin!" Luane smiles, she jumps off the couch and hugs him. "I've been waiting to see you again."
"Me too." He hugs her back. Luane goes to say goodbye to Nami who stood up. Zoro being here is her signal to leave, she was only watching Luane till they came back. Arin looks around to see that it's different. Things have moved around, and look different. "It's different here."
"This is where we're going to be living from now on." Zoro says making sure Lili is in place and wont hurt herself.
"Not the apartment?"
"No that's Perona's home now." Zoro says. "This is our home now."
"D-do I get my own room?" Arins plays with his hand, nervous about the question.
"Yes, and so does Lili." Arin smiles. He gets his own room, not having to share it with Lili, not have to share it with other kids.
Sanji helps Zoro put Lili's things away. When that's done Sanji watches Lili and Luane as Zoro helps Arin with his room. He has a few trinkets and pictures to put up but not much. He's got an empty canvas now.
Arin lay in his bed in his plain sheets. They were green. They were a little boring but that's all that Zoro had and he said they would go shopping for more things that he wanted later.
He couldn't sleep. Not because he is afraid of the dark, that got beaten out of him while with Dadan. He was with the other kids and they all slept in the dark, no night light. It took a while but he's no longer afraid of the dark. He can't sleep because he's afraid of something else, afraid that he'll wake up back at Dadans. He loves Dadan, she's amazing but he didn't like it. They were happy here and there but they all knew why they were there, their parents were either dead or did something bad.
Arin got up and went to Zoro's room, it was open as he said it would be. He walks in to see the bassinet next to Zoro's bed. The books did say that is was healthy for the baby to sleep next it's parents for a couple month before moving to it's own bed/room. Arin silently goes around. Does he ask? Does he just hop on the bed? What does he do?
"Zoro?" Arin whispers. "Zoro?" He whispers again. "Zoro." He says in a normal tone. "Zoro." He says again. He didn't want to wake up Lili. He reached forward and poked Zoro's cheek. He jerks awake and looks Arin.
"Arin? What's wrong?" Zoro rubs his eye and looks around. Lili sleeping peacefully in her spot. He then looks at Arin. He was nervous but otherwise safe and not hurt.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
"Sure." Zoro says picking Arin up and laying him in the empty spot next to him. It wasn't like it would be the first time. In his apartment Lili and Arin had to sleep with him then too, since he only had one room and one bed.
Arins gets comfortable and starts falling asleep. The sheets and pillows smell like Zoro. His bed is clean and smell nice but they smell new and don't smell like the dyer, freshly clean. Right now, on Zoro's bed, it smell like someone. He's not alone.