A/N: Sorry for the wait- Kate got a new toy a few weeks ago-. It's an older
laptop- but it still amuses me greatly
That and I had a HUGE set of tests to study for- otherwise I would fail summer session... stupid summer class. The worst part is I have to take these classes. If I do not, there is no studying abroad for me.... Therefore, they took priority.
Now, they are done for a week or two, and I found time to type. You will be glad to hear we are coming to the dramatic conclusion... in about three chapters I want to wrap things up. So, thanks for the reviews and all- enjoy chapter 16!
-
Chapter 16
As they had expected the morning came and the temporary family were forced to face the sun. Today the Going Merry would pull into the port of Niku Island. From there the once happy and go lucky crew of five would separate some what. Luffy, Zorro and Usopp all seemed a little too at ease with the imminent split. That is what unnerved Nami at the moment.
'How can they just let Sanji go?' She wondered. Especially Luffy. Luffy had always been so adamant about having each of the current members joining him in his quest. The red head navigator continued to wonder as she lay in bed. She had woken up only minutes ago to the strange feeling of something brush against her stomach. Letting a sigh escape her lips, Nami couldn't help but feel content at the affectionate stroking. Without waking the baby laying on the bed in her arms, Nami tried to turn her head to look at the man who's chest her back was up against.
The dumb smile on his sleeping face made Nami forget the worries that had already awoke within her mind. She also felt very forgiving as she let his hand wander a little. Normally anyone who touched her like that would be looking at a beating, however, Sanji's actions seemed innocent enough. His hands were stroking the baby's back at first. The light touch of his hard-working hands caused a slight heat to again rise as they slowly moved to her stomach. Sighing once again, Nami relaxed back into the warm body in her bed.
Her slight movement was enough to awaken the cook she had shared her bed with for the last few nights. Sanji once again let his eyes slowly open, finding himself in a comfortable and relaxing position for the second time, he didn't want to get up.
'Today is going to be hard.' He thought to himself as he lay there contemplating what the future held for him and the baby. Sanji couldn't even imagine raising this baby without the woman who was in his arms now. The baby's real mother just didn't seem like the kind of woman that could hold anything to Nami. However, it really was not his choice in identity of the baby's mother. That was something he should have thought about long before that one night he couldn't even remember.
'No use crying over it now,' he told himself, 'although if I was to do it over again, Nami would be the only woman for me.' He sighed while pulling her closer. As his hands continued to affectionately caress the warm skin in his arms, Sanji halted as a giggle came up from the silence.
"That tickles." She told him, doing her best to hold back the laughter that wanted to well up. Swatting playfully at his hands, Nami mumbled something into the mattress as she turned her head.
"I suppose I had better get up. Otherwise we'll have a repeat of yesterday." Sanji sighed as he let one of his hands rise to stroke her hair.
"Forget about them. They can learn to make their own food. Stay." Nami groaned grabbing a hold of his hand on her stomach. She knew she was being childish keeping him there, but she just didn't want to get up and face the day ahead. "Can't we just stay here forever?"
Sanji knew how she felt. He too wanted nothing more than to bask in the warmth of the bed together.
"They'll also need you to calculate the remaining course to the island." Sanji said seriously. No matter how they wanted to keep the day away, it was not going to happen. Rising up to his knees, Sanji looked down once more on the red headed woman and little baby. Meeting her eyes, Sanji gave her a weak smile. Tucking some misplaced hair behind her ear, Sanji allowed Nami to toke hold of his hand as he let it linger on her cheek as she rolled onto her back.
The silence in the room lingered for a time before it became somewhat uncomfortable. Not wanting to let the moment go, before getting out of bed, Sanji leaned down and kissed the navigator senseless.
"I'll see you above deck." He said as he picked up the baby and straightened his attire. Returning to the world outside their happy escape, Nami could only watch as Sanji and the baby climbed the steps and went out of sight.
Nami knew it was also time for her to get up. Sulking in bed was not going to help her any. Even though she was not a stranger to heart ache and partings, Nami couldn't stop her heart from feeling empty just knowing that tonight there would be no Sanji to cuddle, or surprise her with a refreshing cup of tea... things were changing.
-
Above deck, things were going on as any normal day would. Zoro was already shirtless and mid-way into his endless morning exercise repetitions. Sanji had breakfast on the table with Usopp and Luffy beginning to devour the food as usual. Setting together a separate tray of food for the temporary family, Sanji readied himself for his last meal together with Nami.
It was sad to say, but the others, who had become his family, did not seem to bother him as much as leaving the navigator without a special meal. The wide-awake baby, who was freshly changed and in a new pair of baby clothes, murmured a bit as Sanji tucked him against his chest.
"Well, shall we?" Sanji whispered to his son as he picked up the tray with his free hand. Luffy and Usopp hardly noticed the blonde chef leave the room, until the door shut.
"Luffy?" Usopp poked his captain, who was still packing away the meat Sanji had made.
"Naa?"
"You're just going to let him go today? No fight or nothing?" The liar said scratching his elongated nose.
Luffy shrugged his shoulders, not giving an answer. This was due in part of not really wanting to be disturbed during his favorite time of day- Quality time with his stomach. The other part of him that actually was thinking now did not have an answer either.
"We'll wait in port for a few days." Luffy finally said as he slowed down his inhaling of the food.
"I get it, let Sanji think things over..." Usopp nodded.
"Yeah, and so that we can get more meat!"
-
Sanji had met Nami at her door. She was surprised to see him standing before her with a tray and a bright smile.
"Care to join us?" He asked in a calm voice. Blushing a bit, Nami smiled back with a nod. "I've set us a table near the back of the ship. If my lady would follow me." Sanji continued to pour on the 'charm.' Nami had to hold back a laugh at his actions. Throughout their quiet meal near the back of the ship, Nami wanted to ask Sanji so many questions. However, neither had the courage to bring up the impending parting.
The two enjoyed each other's company, and that of the baby's until the sun was rather high in the sky. Sanji had already cleared away the meal's plates and brought out special drinks made out of fresh tangerines he had snuck from the grove.
Spending a lighthearted morning as they were today was something that they hardly would get to do while on the Going Merry. Thankfully, Luffy and the rest of the crew had better sense than interrupting. Sanji did not know what he would have done to them if they ruined his last day with his Nami- san. However, Sanji quickly decided the punishment would have been painful... severely painful.
-
"Land Ho!" Usopp's loud voice could be heard from the crow's nest. Both Nami and Sanji's heads quickly turned to see if in fact there was an island ahead.
To their disappointment, there really was on the horizon an island. The couple's eyes came back in a silent understanding as they tried to form words.
"Well, I had better get our things together." Sanji said with sigh.
"I should also get going..." Nami added downheartedly. Without saying anything more, Nami quickly left the cook's side. Entering the cabin to start plotting an entry course, Nami tried to forget everything. Her love for charts and math seemed to be missing this time as they pulled into port uneventfully.
'I hate goodbyes.' They both sighed to themselves as they tried to go about their activities.
That and I had a HUGE set of tests to study for- otherwise I would fail summer session... stupid summer class. The worst part is I have to take these classes. If I do not, there is no studying abroad for me.... Therefore, they took priority.
Now, they are done for a week or two, and I found time to type. You will be glad to hear we are coming to the dramatic conclusion... in about three chapters I want to wrap things up. So, thanks for the reviews and all- enjoy chapter 16!
-
Chapter 16
As they had expected the morning came and the temporary family were forced to face the sun. Today the Going Merry would pull into the port of Niku Island. From there the once happy and go lucky crew of five would separate some what. Luffy, Zorro and Usopp all seemed a little too at ease with the imminent split. That is what unnerved Nami at the moment.
'How can they just let Sanji go?' She wondered. Especially Luffy. Luffy had always been so adamant about having each of the current members joining him in his quest. The red head navigator continued to wonder as she lay in bed. She had woken up only minutes ago to the strange feeling of something brush against her stomach. Letting a sigh escape her lips, Nami couldn't help but feel content at the affectionate stroking. Without waking the baby laying on the bed in her arms, Nami tried to turn her head to look at the man who's chest her back was up against.
The dumb smile on his sleeping face made Nami forget the worries that had already awoke within her mind. She also felt very forgiving as she let his hand wander a little. Normally anyone who touched her like that would be looking at a beating, however, Sanji's actions seemed innocent enough. His hands were stroking the baby's back at first. The light touch of his hard-working hands caused a slight heat to again rise as they slowly moved to her stomach. Sighing once again, Nami relaxed back into the warm body in her bed.
Her slight movement was enough to awaken the cook she had shared her bed with for the last few nights. Sanji once again let his eyes slowly open, finding himself in a comfortable and relaxing position for the second time, he didn't want to get up.
'Today is going to be hard.' He thought to himself as he lay there contemplating what the future held for him and the baby. Sanji couldn't even imagine raising this baby without the woman who was in his arms now. The baby's real mother just didn't seem like the kind of woman that could hold anything to Nami. However, it really was not his choice in identity of the baby's mother. That was something he should have thought about long before that one night he couldn't even remember.
'No use crying over it now,' he told himself, 'although if I was to do it over again, Nami would be the only woman for me.' He sighed while pulling her closer. As his hands continued to affectionately caress the warm skin in his arms, Sanji halted as a giggle came up from the silence.
"That tickles." She told him, doing her best to hold back the laughter that wanted to well up. Swatting playfully at his hands, Nami mumbled something into the mattress as she turned her head.
"I suppose I had better get up. Otherwise we'll have a repeat of yesterday." Sanji sighed as he let one of his hands rise to stroke her hair.
"Forget about them. They can learn to make their own food. Stay." Nami groaned grabbing a hold of his hand on her stomach. She knew she was being childish keeping him there, but she just didn't want to get up and face the day ahead. "Can't we just stay here forever?"
Sanji knew how she felt. He too wanted nothing more than to bask in the warmth of the bed together.
"They'll also need you to calculate the remaining course to the island." Sanji said seriously. No matter how they wanted to keep the day away, it was not going to happen. Rising up to his knees, Sanji looked down once more on the red headed woman and little baby. Meeting her eyes, Sanji gave her a weak smile. Tucking some misplaced hair behind her ear, Sanji allowed Nami to toke hold of his hand as he let it linger on her cheek as she rolled onto her back.
The silence in the room lingered for a time before it became somewhat uncomfortable. Not wanting to let the moment go, before getting out of bed, Sanji leaned down and kissed the navigator senseless.
"I'll see you above deck." He said as he picked up the baby and straightened his attire. Returning to the world outside their happy escape, Nami could only watch as Sanji and the baby climbed the steps and went out of sight.
Nami knew it was also time for her to get up. Sulking in bed was not going to help her any. Even though she was not a stranger to heart ache and partings, Nami couldn't stop her heart from feeling empty just knowing that tonight there would be no Sanji to cuddle, or surprise her with a refreshing cup of tea... things were changing.
-
Above deck, things were going on as any normal day would. Zoro was already shirtless and mid-way into his endless morning exercise repetitions. Sanji had breakfast on the table with Usopp and Luffy beginning to devour the food as usual. Setting together a separate tray of food for the temporary family, Sanji readied himself for his last meal together with Nami.
It was sad to say, but the others, who had become his family, did not seem to bother him as much as leaving the navigator without a special meal. The wide-awake baby, who was freshly changed and in a new pair of baby clothes, murmured a bit as Sanji tucked him against his chest.
"Well, shall we?" Sanji whispered to his son as he picked up the tray with his free hand. Luffy and Usopp hardly noticed the blonde chef leave the room, until the door shut.
"Luffy?" Usopp poked his captain, who was still packing away the meat Sanji had made.
"Naa?"
"You're just going to let him go today? No fight or nothing?" The liar said scratching his elongated nose.
Luffy shrugged his shoulders, not giving an answer. This was due in part of not really wanting to be disturbed during his favorite time of day- Quality time with his stomach. The other part of him that actually was thinking now did not have an answer either.
"We'll wait in port for a few days." Luffy finally said as he slowed down his inhaling of the food.
"I get it, let Sanji think things over..." Usopp nodded.
"Yeah, and so that we can get more meat!"
-
Sanji had met Nami at her door. She was surprised to see him standing before her with a tray and a bright smile.
"Care to join us?" He asked in a calm voice. Blushing a bit, Nami smiled back with a nod. "I've set us a table near the back of the ship. If my lady would follow me." Sanji continued to pour on the 'charm.' Nami had to hold back a laugh at his actions. Throughout their quiet meal near the back of the ship, Nami wanted to ask Sanji so many questions. However, neither had the courage to bring up the impending parting.
The two enjoyed each other's company, and that of the baby's until the sun was rather high in the sky. Sanji had already cleared away the meal's plates and brought out special drinks made out of fresh tangerines he had snuck from the grove.
Spending a lighthearted morning as they were today was something that they hardly would get to do while on the Going Merry. Thankfully, Luffy and the rest of the crew had better sense than interrupting. Sanji did not know what he would have done to them if they ruined his last day with his Nami- san. However, Sanji quickly decided the punishment would have been painful... severely painful.
-
"Land Ho!" Usopp's loud voice could be heard from the crow's nest. Both Nami and Sanji's heads quickly turned to see if in fact there was an island ahead.
To their disappointment, there really was on the horizon an island. The couple's eyes came back in a silent understanding as they tried to form words.
"Well, I had better get our things together." Sanji said with sigh.
"I should also get going..." Nami added downheartedly. Without saying anything more, Nami quickly left the cook's side. Entering the cabin to start plotting an entry course, Nami tried to forget everything. Her love for charts and math seemed to be missing this time as they pulled into port uneventfully.
'I hate goodbyes.' They both sighed to themselves as they tried to go about their activities.