"They say nothing lasts forever but they're just scared it will last longer than they can love it."

— Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous

Bellemere's apartments were freshly filled with flowers. Vases and several bouquets littered the tables around the foyer. She smelled one full of white roses before she sighed. "Lord Conqueror, I never thought it'd be like this."

Nami held her tongue, nodding.

"So long as he actually loves you," Nojiko said, pulling a flower from one vase to inspect it. The daffodil slowly bent to her nose, bowing.

"Lord Genzou is very polite unlike you girls." She glanced at Nami, raising a brow. "I'm still shocked the Lord Conqueror chose you, Nami. You're … still getting along then?"

Nojiko laughed. "They just had a kid together, didn't they?" When she turned to her with a cheeky grin, Nami pursed her lips, and Nojiko's smile slid away. "Nami?"

She took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm just tired. Tama's been keeping me up. She keeps crawling into my bed."

When Nojiko grinned with bobbing brows, Bellemere sniffed at her before she clasped her hands together. "She's such a dear. Lord Conqueror, she's a handful, but she reminds me of you girls at that age."

Humming, Nami said, "So I should make sure she's not stealing anything?"

"She must be yours if she takes anything!"

"Honestly, I don't know where you two got it from."

Nami finally smiled. "Lord Conqueror, you don't think we might have gotten it from someone just as dirty?"

With a beaming grin, Nojiko caught on, laughing. "Oh, maybe! They were always talking about selling this and that."

Bellemere's eyes bulged, her form stiff as she looked between them. "What's this? Who!?"

Nami placed a hand on her cheek and cooed, "I'll pay with my body. Won't you forgive my darling girl?"

"Isn't that just the worst?" Nojiko snickered as Bellemere turned beet red.

"I said no such thing!"

"No? Oh, then was it … We don't have much, so maybe you'll take kisses instead?"

Cackling, Nojiko held her sides while Bellemere's fists rested on her hips, her visage simmering as her eyes narrowed. "So long as you don't teach little Tama any of that. I have had enough with the two of you. Lord Conqueror, we don't need three!"

"Is that how you got this Lord Genzou?" Nojiko grinned impishly, and a little smile graced Bellemere's lips.

"A lady never tells."

"No, she just offers sordid details as a tease."

"Nojiko!"

Nami relaxed once more as she eased into her chair. The journal poked her side, but she watched her mother and sister. Saw Bellemere smell more flowers from her new beau. How she sometimes touched the necklace of emeralds as if still surprised. Had he given her that too? She wouldn't be surprised. The man seemed to fawn over her.

She wished she could enjoy that. Her mother falling in love with someone who adored her. That they could find each other even as they grew older seemed like a miracle.

He did this for her, she thought, her shoulders sagging. Love was not the end of all things, she knew, but it could still take her mother away. It could ruin me too.

How did she respond to him? What could she even do?

I came here for advice, but I still can't even talk to them about him. Not when Bellemere was so smitten — with both of them, if she was honest. She loved her Lord Conqueror, and this Genzou had wormed his way into Bellemere's heart now too. How could she interrupt that with her worries?

Nami cringed. His first love's reincarnation? Bellemere would eat that right up anyway. She glanced at Nojiko, and she tilted her head before she smiled, standing. "Nami! Let's go down to the kitchens!"

Jerking, Nami stared before she smiled, rising to join Nojiko's side. "I am hungry."

When Bellemere glanced at her belly, Nami turned away and looped arms with Nojiko. "Let's go then!"

"You behave yourselves!"

With a frown for Zoro, Nami shooed him off when they left Bellemere's apartments. He grimaced, but he bowed before he stalked away — hardly a limp to be seen.

They took only a few steps more when Nojiko said, "You've been spacing out all day."

"I have not," Nami said and sniffed when her reaction was a roll of her eyes.

"So how are you doing with your Lord Conqueror?"

Nami grimaced, staring ahead at nothing. She could still see him. Reaching out to stroke her cheek.

"I love you more than anything."

"I don't know." Pursing her lips, Nojiko hummed, but nodded. Nami licked her lips before she said, "I don't know how to explain it anyway."

"There's always the beginning."

As Nojiko took her hand, squeezing it, Nami pouted ahead, turning down the hall to pass maids at work before she still dropped her voice to a whisper. "I think I really did marry a monster."

Her grip tightened, hard enough she thought her blood might cut off, but Nojiko said, "If he's hurting you, I wouldn't stop at anything to get you out. Bellemere too. If we tell her—"

"He's not. I mean not exactly." Nami realized her hand clutched her throat, so she shoved it to her side instead. "I mean, I think he's actually a monster. From the holy writs."

That had to be it. Nothing else made sense anymore.

Your first love? Don't think you can fool me! I'm the scammer here!

"Nami, he's the Lord Conqueror though. He killed all the monsters. Really, if he's hurting—"

"It's not that!" She stopped to peer up and down the hall. They had stopped at the top of the stairs where she knew words would echo more. Tugging her down the stairs, Nami tried to think, reasoning through it. How do I explain it though? He's a monster. He sucks my blood.

"He told me that I'm his first love. I'm her reincarnation. I just …"

"What a jerk!"

Nami jumped, gaping at Nojiko as she fumed. "Huh?"

"Putting that kind of pressure on you! I don't care if it is true. He shouldn't shove that around under your nose. It puts too many expectations on you, and you're already the Lady Conqueror. What else are you supposed to be now? Do you heal the sick now too? Stupid!"

Blinking through the tirade, Nami's lips quirked up in her awe. Nojiko gnashed her teeth, glaring up and down the hall as if she might spot him and give him a piece of her mind. Nami wondered if he would run if he saw her now.

"Thanks," she said, and Nojiko huffed.

"Well? You have to tell him he's gone too far."

Biting her lip, Nami considered it. Thought of how he would smile, stroke her hair back and kiss her forehead. He'd say something weird, she knew. "That doesn't sound like a good idea really. I don't …"

Nojiko tilted her head, pouting at her before she sighed. She shook her head. A smile teased her lips. "Nami, are you sure you hate it as much as you said?"

Her jaw dropped. "Of course, I do!"

"It's still not fair of him no matter how wide your eyes get about him."

Nami touched her temple near one of her eyes, realizing that they felt wider than usual. "That's stupid!"

"Oh? So then what's really the matter?"

"Nothing!" Nami twitched, blinking when she heard it only to rip a snort out that had Nojiko laughing. "In any case, I — I have to go."

"You should talk to him though. About that. It really isn't fair," Nojiko said, and Nami frowned. "True or not, they teach that souls change like people. After so long, you might as well be someone else entirely."

She stared at her, finding fists in her skirts before she turned away.

###

"That wasn't fair," she said.

Luffy looked up from his desk, a smile tickling the corners of his lips. "Hm? What's this now?"

"What you told me." Nami wanted to pace and gnash teeth and kick her skirts like Nojiko had, but she could only picture him smiling his damned smile. He enjoyed seeing her in a tizzy, she decided. The pervert. The old pervert.

"What did I tell you?"

She sniffed. "You told me that … I'm some reincarnation? Well, I'm not. And — and even if I was, that's just rude. And unfair."

And now I feel like I'm a teenager arguing with Bellemere all over again. Or Nojiko when she's right. Which had certainly not happened earlier today.

He settled back in his chair, taking her in just long enough that Nami fidgeted before she caught it with a scowl. "It's unfair? How?"

"You can't just compare me to her," Nami said, feeling wind return to her.

"Did I?"

"You compared me to your last wife, didn't you?" She found her eyes darting to the bookshelves of his office — too perfect looking to be read often, she figured.

"You've always been a spitfire."

Twitching, she sniffed. "That! I'm not her or the other women or wives or whoever!"

Luffy pouted, and his eyes even dropped to the paperwork before him before he said, "Everyone changes."

She knew it sounded stupid before she said it, "I don't."

He grinned. "Oh. Really." Not even a question! Too dry, Luffy burst out laughing as she burned hotter standing before his desk.

"Well, I'm not changing for you. Know this, I am not about to change or do anything as — as if I'm that first love or even your last wife. I'm me."

The fool grinned. "You liked when I held your hand though. Do you want me to stop?"

Jaw unhinging, Nami shook her head before she could outright gape. "Of course! Besides, it was — it was embarrassing!" The Lord Conqueror's slow smile had Nami wondering how deep and dark her blush had become. "All you want to do is bite me anyway."

His eyes darted to the paperwork before he shifted in his seat. He kept silent for a moment too long before she raised a brow. Finally, Luffy raised his head, straight on at her and he repeated, "Do you want me to stop?"

Nami stiffened, agape. The words left before she could scramble for them back. "That's just stupid! You — besides, you said it wasn't killing me, and …"

She still didn't know if she believed that, but the mere idea that the strangely heady sensation might end …

I'm a fool. I could tell him so, and he'd stop and just drink his pig blood or something else. Hot in her face, Nami clutched her skirts as she envisioned herself on that kitchen slab again, only trussed like a whole pig for him. He'd like that.

Nami turned away from him, and he chuckled. "Well, if you don't want me to stop, I can't disappoint you." When she glanced at him from the corner of her eye, Luffy turned the corner of a piece of paper, as if distracting himself or even actually considering how occupied he might be. "Either way, I'm … busy tonight. So you and Tama can sleep peacefully without a monster in your bed, right?"

Blinking, Nami glanced at the papers again. It was a decent stack, but she had seen larger before, and he would drag her through the bath anyway. Still, wasn't that a good thing?

"Fine. I'll actually sleep at least."

His smile peeked out. "So when you pass out, that isn't sleep?"

"I don't pass out from what you do to me if that's your insinuation!"

Luffy hummed. For an instant, he saw through her, hand over his mouth before he said, "I should get back to work."

She started. No 'So I need to work on you?' from him? Not even a self-satisfied smirk that told her he knew she lied. I'm not though. Lying.

Nami fidgeted. "Well. All good then."

At once, she could feel the rambling want to bubble out. Instead, she turned on her heel for the door, bracing herself for any tease or taunt for her back. When she peeked over her shoulder, a foot out the door though, Luffy had bowed his head over the desk, hand in his hair. A fist. In his hair.

The other hand drummed fingers quietly on the paperwork before pushing it around. She opened her mouth, but …

For some reason she could not explain, she remembered that look in his bedroom. The one after she had fainted. When they had played pretend.

What was it I asked again? She chewed her lip.

"What are you?"

Did he bow his head in prayer again like she had imagined then?

Who are you praying to?

###

As the sun rose over the walls of the garden, Nami frowned over the robes she wore. A kimono? The silk was a cavalcade of vibrant embroidered and dyed colors, running along the hems of long sleeves and a wide base. Dark gray and black were nearly encompassed by bright yellows, ruby and wine reds, and a midnight blue in the shape of a lake with a moon hanging over it where birds flew in a V.

She had not realized how elaborate the simply cut robes could be. The orphanage's proprietor had worn simple colors. Even Tama's felt more reserved! It had to be the fact that the seamsters had more room to play without lace to block the beautiful colors and art of their thread. She stroked the bright orange bow around her waist — an obi? — still not sure about the choice. The color didn't match the rest at all, but this was apparently normal fashion in Wano? Even yellow on pink! Nami still hardly believed that, but the seamsters and Tama said it was so.

Nami raised her eyes to Tama. She had found butterflies in the garden and stalked them through the bushes and flowers, sometimes waiting patiently before she would pounce. Butterflies covered Tama's kimono too, of all colors and kinds she had never seen before, though Tama had named each one.

Now, again, Tama jumped for a butterfly, net swinging. Her net never made contact though. Where would she keep them anyway?

Beside her, Vivi giggled. "She's so lively."

"She told me once that she wants to be an assassin," Nami said, and Vivi scoffed.

"Certainly not! That's hardly an office for a young lady like your daughter!"

She smiled, her mind turning to the book in her sleeve — those she had found immediately convenient. "I don't think it's too far off from her new mother."

Vivi pouted at this. "Lady Nami, you're not a killer."

Her shoulders stiffened before she could stop her visceral reaction. "It's not an awful job. Assassins have done good before. Ousted bad rulers."

She chewed her lip, wondering if the Lord Conqueror had sent any. Somehow, even picturing him as the World Eater, Nami couldn't summon the thought of Luffy doing that though.

"No good has ever come of killing," Vivi said, her chin raising stubbornly. "None!"

"What about rabid dogs?"

Her pout returned. "Something like that is different. Rabies spreading like that uncontested would devastate a city. Some outlying towns in my own country have disappeared completely after it's come through."

Nami bowed her head. Was that what the Lord Conqueror was? It wasn't like he carried a disease. Just fangs.

Vivi's hand found hers with a gentle squeeze. "Lady Conqueror?"

Shaking her head, Nami said, "In any case, she's a little girl. Dreams have always changed when they grow older. I was awful and told my mother I'd be adopted by rich people."

Vivi blinked. "That was what you wanted to be when you grew up?"

"Of course!"

She burst out in laughter. "Lady Nami! That's ridiculous!"

"And it ended up coming true anyway, didn't it?" Nami stared out over the gardens in their lush greenery. Blossoms grew in corners she had never expected to see them. Life brimmed.

"This? This isn't adoption. It's a marriage, my Lady," Vivi said, smiling warmer.

Nami pursed her lips. "I suppose it is."

"What has happened though?"

Blinking rapidly, Nami turned to her. "Happened?"

Vivi's lips thinned though her eyes appeared more pensive than accusing. "Lady Nami, you're always bravely staring him down. Even now, but lately, it's seemed different."

Her jaw dropped. "Staring him down? Me? I just don't stand for his idiocy. As if no one else has done the same."

She frowned back at Nami and tilted her head. "You're the only one. Even I've flinched away. It's always easier when you're in the room, but there's something hard in there."

Lips sealing, Nami checked on Tama, but the girl was nowhere near, having found some flowers to awe over and pluck. Could she tell Vivi anything? And even if she did, it might undermine any chance to keep her rule after he …

Vivi squeezed her hand again. "What's wrong?"

Nami took it back with a shake of her head. She touched her throat, searching for marks that he had never left on her in the end. "It's just something I have to do."

"Have to …?" Her little frown deepened, though a light in her eyes sparkled before it dimmed again. "I suppose it has nothing to do with wifely duties if that's your ordeal. You've always said they were enjoyable."

She smiled. "Vivi! That's downright scandalous coming from you!"

Instead of the furious blush as she had expected, Vivi frowned. "It must be something dreadful."

Mouth closing, Nami stared at her. This wasn't Bellemere or Nojiko after all. "I can't even explain it."

"It's something the Lord Conqueror has asked of you?"

Nami's eyes widened. A part of her wanted to scream that none of it was his idea, and yet horrible thick tears sprung to her eyes on the instant. She had no chance to control them. Just the thought of him telling her to kill him had summoned a waterfall, and Nami's chest heaved when she struggled to stop up the torrent. Vivi's mouth gaped wide as Nami bowed her head.

"What right does he have to beg this of me! I would do it — I would! He doesn't have to ask!" Gentle hands touched her back, stroking and trying to soothe, and Nami realized she had bent in over her knees. Tiny hands touched hers. "I hate it! How dare he!"

"Lady Nami? It's all right! Just tell me what's wrong."

Nami clung to the little fingers. Hands that fit in her palms still. "I'd rather risk it than—!"

"Would you want to give your baby these fangs?"

"Better that than—!"

Her teeth clenched as she fought the sobs.

Tama squeezed. "Nami?"

Looking out through a blur, she found her worried face, crying too before Nami sprung her arms around her. She clutched Tama to her chest. "I love you!"

When Tama clung back, she sniffled as her daughter's words reached her in a wailing sob. "Love you! I love you too!"

Nami smiled tremulously through her tears. "I'd do anything for you, Tama. I'd kill for you."

And she would have to.

Beside her, Vivi became clearer as their cheeks dried. While Tama curled comfortably in her lap, Nami stroked her hair, still clinging. When their eyes met, Vivi covered her mouth and glanced at Tama, but must have seen the slow rise and fall of Tama's chest in her slumber because she asked, "Who did he ask you to kill?"

And Nami stared her down.

"Him."

An odd mix of horror and awe filled her eyes before Vivi whispered, "Can he die?"

"He says he can."

"I know there's the Many Who are One, but to think it's real …" Vivi lowered her head, her eyes darting away before she said, "So it's true?"

Nami's heart throbbed, an ache in her chest that burned hotter for this. "I never even thought of that."

Her? She deflated. If she truly was his first love come again, didn't that prove that she was the Many Who are One? One woman reborn again and again into his wives.

"It is true?" Vivi pressed again, and Nami peeked at her. What did that mean? "You're someone's reincarnation then?"

Nami snorted. "Isn't everyone?"

"Not in my faith," she said before she fidgeted. "I noticed something though. About the Lady Conqueror."

Brow furrowed, Nami's head rose. "Me?"

"Well, all of them. July 3rd, right?"

Nami frowned. "My birthday?"

"Yes, but it's also the day the last Lady Conqueror died." Nami stiffened while Vivi tilted her head and said as if offered up on a platter, "Twenty years ago?"

Her jaw dropped. No. "That's …" She licked her lips. "That's a crazy coinci—"

"October 11th was her birthday which is the day the Lady Conqueror before her died. They married when she was twenty — your country's majority."

Nami thought of that ball in the Eastern Hall. Where all the young women excitedly tittered in new gowns, bobbing and weaving through their steps. On their birthday. The day they all shared.

He was looking for me. This time, her tears were silent, and she held Tama closer. If I'm really his lover's reincarnation, doesn't that mean … She didn't want to even consider it, but she forced the idea through, sorting it out through her mind. That woman so long ago had loved him.

Didn't that mean that she had grown to love him?

###

Nami frowned at the sight of Robin waiting for her and Tama in the foyer. She raised a cool brow, but smiled as Tama trotted to her with a beaming smile.

"Welcome back, Lady Conqueror, Lady Tama"

"Robin, I played with butterflies!"

"That sounds lovely, my lady."

Gliding past her, Nami checked her face in the bathroom mirror with a sigh and pout. As she had known, she could not avoid the red, puffy marks of tears all over her eyes. She sighed before turning on the sink to wash her face, using the cooler water to get the swelling down. She still had a long day ahead of her.

When she came out with a dry face, Tama darted out the door. "I'm gonna play with Nojiko!"

Nami huffed, smiling until Robin's eyes prodded her. When she turned to her, Robin asked, "Have you discovered anything?"

She grimaced at Robin's eternal slight smile. "I've found out about the line of his other wives."

"That's trivial in comparison."

Stiffening, she whirled on her. "Not to me! When was anyone going to tell me about this!? I was stuck trying to find information in other areas. I wasn't expecting to find any sort of truth in his writ! And now I'm the reincarnation of his lover!?"

Robin frowned. "If it's true at all. He could be lying to you through his fangs."

Nami twitched, raising a fist to her. "And if it's not!? I'm the one he takes to his bed! Why should I share anything I've found with you if you won't tell me stuff like this!"

"What does it matter?"

She drew back with a chill.

The knock at the door made her stop short of outright slapping her. She turned to gape at the door as it opened to allow Zoro to peek inside.

"Lady Conqueror, you might want to keep the shouting down. I hear the Lord Conqueror is coming this way."

Nami paled, staring at him before she spun to Robin. "And am I to understand he's one of you as well? Who else? Usopp? Hell, why not even my old lover, the Lord Sanji?"

Robin smiled. "Lord Sanji found us and asked to join actually. And Usopp is completely unaware of our workings."

Her jaw dropped before she shook her head with a growl. The nerve of these people! "I can't — At least he tells me things! This cloak and dagger stuff is annoying!"

Zoro snorted. "You're the one who promised to kill him."

Shoulders hunching, Nami said, "So leave me to my job and just keep your promises to me."

The two shared an unreadable glance before Robin said, "If we told you everything, we might be here all week. I don't think the Lord Conqueror would allow us to just sit you down and talk."

"Try me." Nami growled when Robin sighed. As if she were an annoyance!

"This is not much more that we know."

"You're telling me. How about you start from the beginning?" The responding frown was not reassuring. Yet she had no other source but a monster's. And he told her that he loved her while he dragged her under him. Nami clenched her hands into fists. "Has anyone suspected he's the World Eater?"

Robin shuddered, but said, "There's been theories, but the best as anyone can figure from the writings is that's not the case. All the ancient records refer to them as separate beings. That's what the Apostles of the Three Brothers and his writs agree upon. Beyond that …" She actually shrugged and shook her head.

Nami's very veins froze. "Even you don't have much else?"

"Not whatever you're searching for, it seems."

She lowered her head. What am I looking for? No one would offer the answer to Nami just like that. It appeared she would need to find salvation elsewhere.

"As a reminder, he is on his way," Zoro said with a snort.

Nami glanced at Zoro's feet, and he shifted backward before he caught himself with a flush. She said, "I'd like to leave before he arrives if that's the case."

Zoro's eyes narrowed, but Robin raised a hand to keep his silence. "I could go with you to meet Tama."

If they crossed paths with him, they could do little and less against him, and yet, he had been so distant the past day or so. Would he bother?

Idiot, she thought and headed for the door. "Let's go."

Nami checked her face one last time, but most of the redness had cleared away, so she rushed out of the foyer with Robin trailing behind. If she held her head high enough — didn't check for him by turning her head back and forth — Nami would not see him. However, luck had not favored her attempt, and their paths crossed on their way to Tama's room.

When he headed directly for her, Nami had to force her feet to still, waiting until he halted before her. His frown had her fidgeting, but he asked, "Where's Tama?"

Nami blinked, seeing that he had come from that direction, and she stiffened. "Did you check her room first?"

"I did, but she's not there."

Robin nodded. "M'lord, m'lady, Lady Tama said she was going to see Lady Nojiko."

"Oh, right!" Nami cursed herself for an idiot once again. Tama had certainly told her before.

Yet, he frowned, cocking his head to the side. His eyes narrowed at her, and Nami stared back as confusion grew inside. Finally, he shook his head. "I just came from there before I went looking for her. I didn't see her."

Her thoughts turned. How long had she talked to Robin and Zoro? It couldn't have taken much longer than a few minutes at most. And Tama had left, but had she come back? Had she heard anything? And Zoro hadn't exactly been watching the halls while talking to them. Could a little girl have slipped past his notice? Paling, Nami rushed around him, leaving him wide-eyed before he followed.

When she heard Robin do the same, she called over her shoulder, "Go search the other halls!"

Robin's concerned glance at Luffy had Nami scowling, but she did as bid and disappeared into another hall. When Luffy took her arm to squeeze her wrist, Nami nearly spun on him, but found her fingers grasping for his hand. And she knew.

Where is our baby?

They backtracked and even took wrong turns to mimic a lost girl. They called her name. Soon Luffy had the palace guards' voices join, filling the corridors, but none summoned a response or a little violet head. Heart pounding, she realized her shouts had Luffy's alongside it. As their eyes met, the worry in his stunned her to the quick. But should it have?

She said she loves me, she thought, heart stinging. She knew that she also loved him as her god, but what about as her father? Tama wasn't there to answer though.

"Where were you this afternoon?"

Nami startled, turning to him before her eyes widened when she recalled the conversation she and Vivi had over Tama's sleeping head. She had been sleeping. Hadn't she?

"The Eastern Hall garden," she whispered.

He went at once, but she dragged her feet before she forced herself to run to catch up. Was it her fault? Instead of hearing something suspicious in the foyer, had Tama heard that he asked Nami to kill him? Nami ran after, breathing hard as her mind whirled. Could she lie? Explain to Tama to make her understand like Bellemere had before?

I'm worse than the worst mother. She'll hate me for the rest of her life.

How did one explain murder?

Cringing as she reached the Eastern Hall, Nami peered into the garden where Tama had played with the butterflies. Sunset encroached across the sky, and she wondered how long they had searched the palace already. How much ground before they finally tried here?

Nami stopped at the archway, shaking as she lifted her hands to her mouth. When she opened her mouth, Luffy called Tama's name, but Nami couldn't join her voice. If Tama had heard all of that, didn't that mean she hated her now?

"Tama! Where are you!?" He glanced back at her, and his lips turned down in worry. "Nami?"

She shook her head, cringing when he stepped toward her.

"Nami, what's wrong? I'll find her. I promise."

Covering her lips, Nami nodded, but dropped her gaze. His eyes burned into her, poking and prodding without touch until she fidgeted.

"What happened?"

Fingers searched for ribbons and lace to tug at, but only found the smooth silk of the kimono. She hunched her shoulders as he stepped closer, arms sliding around her until he tilted her chin back to face him.

"Nami."

Trembling, Nami clutched his lapels. "I think she heard me. She must have. So she's run off, and now my baby is gone!"

Luffy pouted, thumbs smoothing across her cheeks. "She heard what?" She bit her tongue, and he sighed. "I can't help unless you talk to me. I wish I could hear your prayers, but I can't."

Nami blinked, not sure why she stared so. She knew all that. But he would be furious with her anyway. And she couldn't hide it any longer, so she whispered, "Tama must have overheard me talking to—" she winced "—to Princess Vivi about how you asked me to kill you."

"Is that why you were crying before?"

She gaped, touching her cheeks where her face cramped all over again. Hadn't most of it gone already? "She came to comfort me. She told me she loved me, and when I thought she was asleep …"

He frowned, but it wasn't the look of that stern man over his desk. Luffy tilted his head, cupping her face before he laid his forehead to hers. "I went to talk with your family." Tensing, she twitched her head up, but he was so close, it made their lips nearly brush as he whispered, "I wanted to see Tama before tonight."

"Tonight?" Nami slowly chewed on that, a dreadful thought coming to her while he smiled so radiantly.

"Your gift came in."

Her skin crawled, and she pushed him back, his eyes bulging as she bared her teeth in a snarl. "I don't want it anymore!"

Luffy gaped as he clutched her shoulders. "But it's—"

"I want another gift!" Sucking his lips into a flat line, Luffy blinked while she snorted. "Give me your—" She flushed, choking before she barreled over him before he could get any of those smooth words in edge-wise. "Give me your heart!"

He closed his mouth, black eyes staring. Nami squirmed with a hot red face. Of all the dumbest things she could have said! But she wasn't sure if she could say it another way especially when he smiled, eyes soft and dark as he held her cheeks again. Her hands pressed onto his chest, one gripping his shirt into a fist to pull him closer while the other waited, feeling.

His smile warmed. "So long as you think I still have one."

Nami sniffed, blinking away tears. "Of course, you do, idiot. That's why I want it."

When the bushes ruffled in the garden, Nami stiffened, but his arm looped around her waist with a smile.

And a little voice said, "Nami, you're crying again?"

She turned, gaping at the image of Tama as she trotted out with a bundle of wild flowers, dandelion weeds, and even some of the gardened tulips clumped together in her hands as an explosive bouquet. Tama hesitated at the bottom of the stairs when they stared at her. She looked at the bouquet before she pouted.

"I wanted to bring Bellemere and Nojiko some flowers …"

"Tama, we were—!" Nami shook, wiping tears away as she ran down to her level, and her knees hit the grass. Tama smiled! She was smiling at her! "We were looking all over—!"

Sudden fear and realization filled her eyes, and Tama's mouth fell open to bob. "I — I—!"

Luffy kneeled beside them, pouting. "Tama, you're not hurt?"

Shoulder pinching up, Tama peeked around while she clutched the crazy bundle of flowers to her chest. "No?"

He patted her head with a grin. "Good."

When she glanced at Nami with her own nervous smile, Tama squawked as Nami flung her arms around her. "Good! You're safe!"

"Huh? Course I'm safe!" Tama wiggled in her embrace. "Nami, you're squishing the flowers!"

Nami gave her one more squish before releasing the pouting girl. "Let's get you to Bellemere and Nojiko then, okay? They're looking too."

Tama paled. "I'm sorry!"

"You did nothing wrong," Luffy said before he poked a drooping tulip. "Save those apologies for the gardener."

"Ack! I'm sorry!" Tama trotted past them, going for the hall while Nami wiped her tears. When Nami and Luffy joined her, Tama stopped often to glance back at them as they followed. She smiled and waved with the flowers cradled in one hand, several falling away without her notice. "Come on! Hurry up!"

Nami huffed a laugh as a guard passed, sliding to a stop. "Lady Tama! Ah, Lord Conqueror?" He turned to shout down the corridor, "She's been found! Lady Tama's been found!"

Tama fidgeted, gaping when someone answered and yelled further away to extend the message. Shaking, tearing up, Tama spun to them. "Lord Conqueror, I didn't wanna scare everyone!"

"Tama, everyone's scared because they love you," Luffy said, smiling when she gaped.

"Uh … they do?"

Nami covered her mouth as he kneeled to her level, patting her head with a grin. "Of course. I love you very much."

The smile radiated from her, lighting the hall and leaving Nami feeling cold as he picked her up. Held her in an embrace with his cheek atop her head. She took a step and didn't realize it was a run until she made impact on the other side. Arms flung around them both, and Tama burst out in giggles. Nami dug nails into him, and his eyes widened across from Tama. When Nami raised her head, scowling and clawing his shoulder blades, Luffy searched her gaze before he bowed his head, smiling.

"I love Nami too!" Tama snickered, one little fist finding her kimono.

"I love you." Her eyes teared up when black eyes glittered back. "I love you too."

She squirmed between them, and Luffy allowed her to slip down to her own feet, but took her hand while he offered his arm to Nami. "Let's go."

"No! You're doing it wrong!" Tama shoved between them suddenly, and he gaped as Tama switched to his other hand while she grabbed hold of Nami's. "It's like this!"

The tears burst free, but Nami smiled. "Yeah, like this."

Nami squeezed her hand back, giggling when Luffy pouted. Their eyes met over Tama's head, but his hand tightened on Tama's.