Luane and Arin stood in the front of the school with Lili holding onto both of their hands.
"It's almost that time." Arin says.
"For the grave visits." Luane says. Arin looks at her with a nod. Every year they all go to the memorial to visit Jamie's grave. Luane and Arin weren't that clear on who that was but he is important to Zoro most. Sanji always to tell him that he's taking care of Zoro and that they are all happy. They also visit another grave sight, for a childhood friend of Zoro named Kuina. She was like a sister to Zoro but she passed away. They had met her father, sensei as Zoro called him. They take classes for kendo from him from time to time. Sadly, Sanji and Luane couldn't visit Sora, Sanji's mother and Luane grandmothers grave sight so what they did is make a small shrine for her at him. That was thanks to Zoro. With Sora's picture there is Kuina's and Jamie's pictures next to her. Luane always picked the flowers for the vase to put in that year and they leave a small bento box in front of the picture. It became a tradition for the family. "I wonder what flowers should go into the vase this year?" Luane questions herself. Last year was roses.
They all jumped in their skin when a car came to a screeching halt in front of them. Luane and Arin groaned. They knew that car. It's Sanji's. Why was he driving like a mad man? He ran out and opened the back door for them hop in. He seemed like he was in a hurry though. "Let's go kids." He says. They walk to the car and get into their spot and buckles up. Not a second later did Sanji start to drive. "We're making a pit stop before heading home." The three kids looked at each other.
"Are we going grocery shopping? We don't need anything." Arin points out.
"We have plenty of toilet paper." Luane says.
"We don't need anything important." Lili says softly.
"You kids don't need to worry about it." Sanji says focusing on driving. This had the kids worried. Whe Sanji acted like this that means he's in trouble. With who they don't know. It could be Zeff. Or Zoro. Or Nami. Or Robin. Or Perona.
Sanji parked. The kids left their backpacks in the car as they stepped out the car. Sanji picked Lili up, grabbed Arin's hand who took Luane and ran inside the mega mall. It had stores for clothes to rings and everything in between, they also had supermarkets for food, a movie theater, restaurants, pet shop and anything else they'll need.
Sanji ran around with them everywhere. He looked around but didn't buy anything. After an hour of searches he took a break with the kids, setting Lili down on her feet. Arin seemed calm out of all three of the kids, Luane look confused while Lili seemed worried about the man who had helped raised her along with Zoro. "What do I do?" Sanji asks. He looked as white as paper and like if he didn't do whatever he did he'll die.
"Where did you get that?" Luane asks Arin who sat on the bench and sucking on a lollipop.
"We were at that one shop with the expensive watches. They had a whole bowl of candy. I got one before we left." Arin says showing them his lollipop with a grin.
"What flavor is it?" Lili asks.
"I think is sour fruit. Or something like that." Arin says looking at it. He forgot the name that was on the wrapper.
"Can I try it?" Lili asks.
"Sure." Arin gives it to her.
"Me too." Luane asks. Arin nods at her. Arin laughs at the face Lili made. It was to sour for her liking. She hands the lollipop to Luane who nods. She didn't mind it.
"It's good." She says giving the lollipop back to Arin. "Do you think we can go back and get some ourselves?" Luane asks.
"I want to." Lili says timidly.
Sanji fell to his hands and knees. His kids seem to be ignoring him. That hurt. He was having a crisis and they didn't seem to care. "My own kids." he mumbles. "Won't help me." He sounded like he was on the verge of tears.
"Help with what?" Lili asks.
"I'm guessing it has to to with what today's date is." Arin says. They see Sanji's whole body flinch. He was caught.
"Yes." Sanji says defeated.
"What's today's date?" Luane asks Arin.
"It's August twenty-third." Lili answers. Sanji looks even more defeated.
"What is... oh." Luane says after thinking about it. She looks at Sanji upset. "How could you forget?" She asks. It was really important.
"Yes, I know it's bad but... I need help. What should I do for our wedding anniversary?" He asks the kids.
"I don't we should get involved. If Zoro does learn about this he might be mad at us for helping with your mistake." Arin says.
"Yeah dad. This seems like a you problem. We might get in trouble for helping you when it's you who forgot." Luane says. That stabbed him.
"Mama Zoro would be very upset with you. You never forget." Lili says with a head shake. She is very disappointed in the man. He's getting lectured by kids.
"What do I do?" Sanji asks them.
"If you didn't forget we wouldn't be in this situation." Arin says looking at him.
"This seems like a good time for you to reflect." Luane says.
"Tell mama Zoro you're sorry for forgetting. He always tells us to be honest with our mistakes." Lili says.
"Thank you Lili. The only one that's not a traitor." Sanji says. That didn't seem to hurt Arin and Luane at all.
"You shouldn't have forgotten. Then you try to rope us into it too." Arin says.
Zoro stood there laughing. He put the dishes away as Sanji washed them. He told his husband the story of what he went through earlier that day. "They really didn't help you?" Zoro asks.
"No. Luane and Arin ignored me and did their own thing while Lili only gave me advice. I would show her something I think would be good to get you. I would asks her if you might like it. She looked me straight in the eye and said 'give mama Zoro something you would give him not me.' She wasn't much help but it was better than the other two who seemed to be making fun of me for forgetting the whole time." Sanji says.
"I told you in the call that'll I'll be late and that if you had anything planned to cancel it. I didn't know when I'll be home." Zoro says.
"I know but I still felt bad that I forgot about it entirely."
"It's not your fault. You were catering that wedding. From our own experience I know it could be hectic."
"I know. We've been married for three years now and I already forgot an anniversary." Zoro could tell by his tone that this is really affecting him. He turns Sanji to face him and give him a kiss.
With a smile he tells him, "as long as you don't forget that I'm the one you're married to I don't care. An anniversary is just a date it's not more important than you or our kids." Zoro gives Sanji another kiss, Sanji returns this one.
"Thanks." Sanji smiles.
"Mama Zoro." Lili says walking up to them. With a worried look on her face she points to the living room. "Luane and Arin are getting that look on their face again. I think they are really into the game." She says. Zoro lets go of Sanji and picks her up.
"Let's stop them before they break the t.v again." Zoro says. "I really think we should sent them to sensei's more often." Zoro says. Sanji lets out a chuckles as he continue to wash the dishes.
"I agree but I think we should get them into a sport club. Something that has them running back and forth for a couple hours." Sanji says. Zoro nods. That might be better.
Sanji flipped the patty to see the nice brown side up, waiting to cook the other side. "Where's you hubby?" Nami asks from her seat on the picnic table they set up in the backyard.
"Sleeping." Sanji answers. "He's been working long days the last week. Coming home later than usual."
"Must be hard," Robin says.
"Well he is the chief of the Police department. I'm surprised it didn't happen before." Sanji states as he set a plate of food down on the picnic table.
"It's also not as bad as you forgetting your wedding anniversary." Nami says then laughs at Sanji face. It went from shocked to embarrassed.
"Which one of the traitors told you?" Sanji asks.
"Traitors? I don't know who the traitors you speaking of but it was Tashigi who told me. I saw her the other day. It seems Zoro came into the office laughing about it so he told Smoker and Tashigi what happened. She thought it was funny because something similar happened to Smoker."
"I'm guessing he didn't mind." Robin says seeing as nothing bad happened.
"No, he didn't mind. He came home late that night plus he thought I would have forgotten since I was catering that one wedding but he wasn't sure." Sanji looks up from the table he set and whistles at everyone. "Lunch is ready." He says. Everyone took their seats. The kids next to Sanji. Nami, then Robin and Franky with their two year old son. Usopp and Kaya. Chopper. Brook. Jinbei. Carot. Ace and Marco. Law and Luffy. All in an oval.
"Where's is Zoro?" Chopper asks.
"He should be up soon. With all the kids laughing and the smell of food he'll be down." Sanji says.
"I'm already down." Zoro says walking to them shirtless. Sanji sighs. Zoro walks to the table with a yawn.
"Zoro! Where's Sabo and Perona?" Luffy asks. Usually he know where they are.
"During last night's riot we found a body so they're working on that." Zoro answers.
"That's scary." Usopp says. Zoro shrugs it off. Sanji gives Zoro a kiss as he sits down.
"Do you know more?" Robin asks.
"He seemed to be dead before the riot started. Since that's Sabo's department and Perona they were sent to handle it." Zoro says serving his plate.
"Hungry?" Sanji asks.
"I haven't been eating munch this week." Zoro says.
"Why not?" Sanji asks.
"Paper work, then dealing with... Tim's execution is coming up." Zoro says. Sanji grabs the marimos hand.
"Are you okay?" He asks. Everyone stares at him silently. They were worried. They remembered what he did.
"I'm fine. Smoker is dealing with that but keeping me updated. There's also a lot of people at the precinct because of the protests. I just haven't been able to get a rest to eat or sleep." He says. He grips onto Sanji's hand.
"Sound busy." Kaya says.
"It is but it's finally settling down." Zoro says with a smile.
"Zoro have you ever killed anyone?" Arin asks. They all look at each other before looking at Zoro. Sanji shrugs at Zoro. It's his choice, he didn't know what do or what the right thing to do is.
"I have." Zoro says.
"Do you feel sad about it?"
"No. The person I shot was going to hurt someone else. But I didn't like it." Zoro says.
Luffy changed the mood. Zoro silently thanked him. He didn't want to be the center of attention anymore. Sanji sat there holding Zoro close as he munched on the last of what sat on his place. Nami saw Sanji whisper something into the police officers ear who smiled back and nodded. Zoro whispered something back into Sanji's ears and covered his mouth as he laughed.
Nami smiled at them. "What's wrong?" Robin asks, seeing the woman smiling uncharacteristically at the couple.
"I always knew they were just meant to be."