Have some Sanji-action in this one! Again, forgive me my mistakes and feel free to show them to me, cause english isn't my native language. Also like in the other chapters I mostly use the german OP-names.

Have fun reading and feel free to leave a review!

Nami.

She could hear his voice in her mind, whispering her name. Why did she hear him in her head? Why? And why did she enjoyed it so much?

"Nami ..."

Inwardly sighing and gazing at an indeterminate point in the distance, she dreamed about Pauly saying her name... not outraged or angry, just as he did when he was upset about her short skirts or cleavage. No, the tone was gently, downright timid. It was almost as if he was standing next to her.

"Oi, Nami!"

Nami startled. She almost fell off her chair, because she hadn't registered how much she was lost in thought. Puzzled Nami raised her head, only to look in the slightly worried-looking face of the blond ship carpenter.

"Is everything allright?" Pauly asked, a cigar between his teeth. Nami blinked two or three seconds, just puzzled.
"Pauly? What are you doing here?" she wanted to know, struggling with her self-confidence.
"I ... uh ... Tilestone and Louie-Louie and I, we, we were just on our way to have a beer when I saw you sitting here all by yourself, uhmm ... well I thought, I could say hello ... " he stuttered.
Nami had just gained her composure back and smiled up at him. "Well ... hello!" she said.

An awkward silence between the two arose in which Pauly didn't know what to do with himself and in which Nami looked at him astonished. It seemed like he wanted to say more than 'hello' but couldn't bring himself.
Nami wasn't sure that she welcomed his presence. On one hand, he forced her, now that he was standing right in front of her, to reflect on Robins words... and she didn't like that. But on the other hand, she was glad that she was no longer alone, 'cause it started to get dark.

Finally it seemed that Pauly had defeated his weaker self. "Nami, listen to me ..." he began uncertainly, searching for words. Nami had no idea what he wanted from her so she just looked at him with the proverbial question mark over her head. She couldn't help to recognize the slight blush on Pauly's face and she also couldn't help but admit that she liked the sight. He was really shy - in an incredibly sweet way.
"I ... I ..." he stammered and eventually had to take a deep puff from the cigar before he looked into her eyes. "... I wanted to apologize" he finally said.

This confused the young woman totally, but Pauly already went on: "The morning two ... two days ago. I still have no idea w-what happened during that night, but ... but you shall know that I am a not like that, you know, that kind of man. I don't pick up any drunken women, I would never do, I ... and ... and usually I also serve my guests breakfast instead of throwing them out."

A few streets away.

There was something good about the Aqua Laguna - it had helped Sanji to an incredibly valuable salt. Satisfied with himself and the world the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates strolled through the streets of Water Seven. A beautiful city full of beautiful women. He'd totally forgotten about the time and just when it was already dark, he realized how late it was. Nami and Robin must be allready back from their shopping trip and he wasn't at their apartment to proffer them a delicious dinner. At this thought Sanji suddenly became unhappy. In his mind he saw the two women completely desperate sitting at a table and hope for his return; he could not let them wait any longer.

Sanji wondered how he could get fast from its present location to the apartment. Unlike Zorro he had a sense of direction and was even in a labyrinthine metropolis like Water Seven rightly. If he was able to get a Jagara, he could soon be on the channels and back in no time and if he wasn't mistaken, there was a small square full of cafes... there he should get one of those animals.

Sanji scurried along the roads. On a corner he remained abruptly when he heard a he-too-familiar voice say 'Pauly? What are you doing here?' . He immediately floated on cloud nine. This was clearly the voice of Nami, he would recognize her anywhere! But there was someone with her. Instantly Sanji fell in spy-mode and peered cautiously around the corner. Frowning, he watched as Pauly was with her at a cafe table and talked to her. Alone. No Nico Robin or someone from the Galeera-Company in sight. What did the guy wanted from Nami?! Didn't he need to build a ship or something rather than harassing beautiful women? Sanji could not help but overhear the two. And he didn't like what he heard.

Ultimately the cook clenched his hands into fists and stepped onto the street.
"Hey blondie!" he called out to Pauly, ignoring skillfully the fact that he himself was also blond.
Nami and Pauly turned around roughly synchronously to Sanji. The navigator went pale. Why in the world was Sanji here? As much as she appreciated the lovelorn cook - and she liked him very much – but if he had even heard a shred of Pauly's words, then that meant trouble.
"Hey blondie what was that about picking up women?" Sanji was now running up to the two. "Nami-sweetie, did this guy bothered you somehow?" he asked with amorous voice. But before Nami could launch into an explanation, Pauly opened his mouth. Apparently Sanji's words had provoked him more than she had assumed.
"No one was picked-up and certainly not Nami! Why would I want a women that dresses like this?!" Pauly snapped.
Nami put her face in her hand.

At the same moment Sanji stood angry in front of the much larger man.
"You take that back immediately! Nami's clothing style is perfect as everything about her! "
"I take nothing back!"
"You do well, immediately!" At the last words Sanji already targeted Pauly's face with a kick. The carpenter just could bend backwards and dodge the kick, so Sanji only hit the cigar which flew out of Pauly's mouth in a high arc.
Outraged Pauly catched for breath. What number of cigars was lost today? Those things didn't grow on trees!
Pauly's arm shot forward and at the same moment a rope from his jacket sleeve, which was aimed at the leg of the cook to bring him to fall.
But Sanji escaped the attack with a quick backflip. The hands in his pockets and a cigarette in his mouth, he got ready to immediately attack again, while Pauly prepaired to further Rope Action.

But they weren't able to continue.

Boiling with rage at these two testosterone idiots Nami had risen meanwhile. "Stop it!" She shouted imperiously. She gave Sanji a sap and Pauly a blow in the ribs, after which the two rivals jumped and stared intimidated at the petite woman.

"But Nami, he started it!" they both said in sync.

"Sanji" Nami began with laboriously suppressed frustration. "I know you just want to protect me, but Pauly didn't bother me in any way. Really. "A cheeky grin crossed her face as she looked at the carpenter. "He couldn't, not even if he wanted to. He's too shy" she said. These words seemed to be clear to Sanji because he loosened his stance and looked to the completely outraged and stunned Pauly. "Hmm well, Nami ... but if he touches you, then-" Sanji began, but Nami quickly laid her hands on his shoulders. "He will not" she assured him and gave him a lovely smile and a deep look.
That was enough to let Sanji levitate on cloud nine again.

"Alright Nami-dear I trust your judgment," he purred, looking at her completely crush. "I was just about to go back to the apartment to cook a delicious dinner for you and Robin, you can come with me if you want" he offered her.

Nami shook her head gently.
"I still have to discuss some business with Pauly. I'll come back later" she said, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
Sanji looked at her with a slightly skeptical look, then shrugged.. When Nami had to discuss something with someone, it mostly turned around Berry. Also Paulys debts were an open secret, so Sanji concluded that it had to be about money. .
"As you wish, Nami ..." he said, eyeing Pauly again urgently. He even gave him an 'If-you-do-something-to-her-then-you-are-dead'-look before he turned back to Nami, who suddenly looked at him with heartbreaking big doe eyes.
"Oh, and Sanji ..." she whispered softly, "... would you do me a favor?"
"But every time Nami!"
"Would you take my groceries into the apartment? They are sooo heavy and you're so strong and-" She didn't have to keep talking, because the chef had allready all bags on his arm.
"But of course!" he warbled with amorous glance.
Nami's smile widened when she finally pushed him toward some Jagaras.
"Thanks Sanji, see ya later!", she said goodbye.
"Until later then!" replied Sanji and went to an abandoned Jagara.

Pauly had watched the whole scene in silence and sulking. When he was with Nami alone at last, he gave her an offended look.
"I could very well if I wanted to ..." he muttered.
"What?" asked Nami, who hadn't understood the murmur and just again stood beside him.
"Nothing," Pauly said hastily and before she could dig deeper he added to: "You and him, you two, you ... are you...?"
Nami looked at him briefly shocked, but then laughed.
"No, we are not. Sanji and I are very good friends. "
Pauly could not help but sigh of relief.
"Your friend is crazy, you know that?" he grumbled.
Nami poked him in the side.
"As crazy as we all. He just has a strong protective instinct and after what has happened with Robin, you can't blame him, can you?"
Pauly thought about her words. "No ... I don't think so" he said, not sounding offended or angry anymore. On the contrary, his words were even accompanied by a hint of sadness. Nami didn't fail to hear this undertone.
"You would give your life for each other, right?" he said, smiling briefly but weak. "I also thought that I had such friends ... until they became traitors."

Nami's heart sunk. At this moment, she felt Paulys suffering. "Pauly ..." she started, but the carpenter shook his head and looked at her with a smile.
"Come on," he said suddenly, "I want to show you something."