A Deep Blue Story

by Hack Interrupted

Nearly 3 years have passed since Sanji last saw Sher.

3. Chapter 3

The Uncharted Way

1.

The next day and in the days that followed it was Ussop that accompanied Sanji over to the Rose Red, not Zoro. The swordsman was still annoyed at Sanji's petty jealousy, but tried to be more accommodating. It was best if he just stay away from Sher for a few days and give the cook some time to settle down. Luffy had agreed and sent Ussop with Sanji. He still wanted someone around in case Sanji lost his cool.

Ussop loved it aboard the Rose Red. Sher and Nails tried to make time over the first few days to show Ussop some of Nails more ingenious inventions. The days where afternoon chores were light Sher spent some time with Evan herself. She knew she had to share the child with Sanji and was trying to leave them in peace, but she missed her little guy. She would sit with him for a story or a quick game and then get back to work. By the end of the first week most of the big work aboard the Rose Red was done and the crew had more free time to relax.

It was Ussop's fifth day aboard the Rose Red. He sat amidships drawing a detailed sketch of the bow of the Rose Red. He had drawn a few pictures aboard the ship; most of them had come out quite good. Ussop was pleased with what he was making now. He heard Sanji and Evan laugh and looked up for a minute. Sanji was trying to show Evan how to dribble a ball. Ussop smiled and wondered why Sanji didn't play basketball himself. He had the height. Ussop chuckled and turned back to his drawing.

Sher had just finished writing another long boring entry in the ships log. Mostly numbers, how much of what supplies they had gone through. She would have a list of what they needed by the time they found the next port. She stepped out of the captain's lounge and stretched in the warm afternoon sun. Evan was playing ball with Sanji, Mimi and Charlie had brought out their table and sat to port playing chess. Nails and Zack were swapping out a rope on the fore mast. Ussop was drawing again. Sher had noticed him with pencil in hand a few times. Curiosity killed the cat.

Yes but satisfaction brought him back. Sher decided she wanted a peek in Ussop's sketch pad and went over to him. She came up along side of him to peek over his shoulder. "Hey Ussop, what ya doin?"

Ussop stilled his pencil and looked up at Sher. "I was just drawing the bow." He slid over on the bench he had been sitting on to make room for Sher. "You wanna see?" he offered holding his notebook over the empty spot he had made for her.

Sher took the sketch pad and sat next to Ussop. She studied the drawing he was doing of the Rose Red's bow. It was very detailed, simply amazing. "Wow Ussop this is great," Sher marveled. She had seen some of Ussop's drawings before when she had spent time aboard the Merry Go, but his skills were still amazing.

Ussop could see that Sher was impressed with the sketch. "You like it?"

Sher smiled at Ussop. "Yeah." Her eyes went back to the sketch.

"There are a few sketches I did in there aboard the Rose Red. Take a look if you want to." Ussop knew Sher would like the other pictures in the book.

Sher smiled delighted and turned the book back to the first page. It was a sketch of Nami and Luffy asleep in lounge chairs on the deck of the Merry Go. Sher giggled at the details, Luffy was drooling. The second page was the bow of the Merry Go with Port Shannon in the background. She recognized the boardwalk. "Port Shannon right?"

"Yep. I drew that one the day we met back up with you." Ussop had paid particular attention to the boardwalk at Port Shannon. It had a lot of character.

Sher turned the page. The port side of the Rose Red with the wind in three sails. Ussop had drawn it from the deck of the Merry Go as the ships sailed beside each other. Next was a drawing of Evan. It was beautiful. He was sitting on deck stacking blocks. She smiled at Ussop again. "This is amazing."

Ussop shrugged trying not to ham it up too much as his ego inflated just a little. "I thought you might like that one."

Sher looked back at the drawing of Evan. "I love it." She let her eyes linger there a minute longer. She turned the page. It was the port side of the Rose Red; the Merry Go was in the background. Sanji and Evan stood together in the center of the drawing. They were both smiling.

Ussop thought he saw something in Sher soften up just a little as she looked down at her drawing. She was almost smiling. "Sanji is really nuts about Evan ya know? Evan makes him really happy Sher."

She looked up at Evan. Sanji towered over the little guy. Even had grabbed the ball and was making a run for it. He giggled wildly as Sanji tried to chase him without stepping on him. "That's cuz Sanji's just a big kid himself."

Ussop looked up at Sanji and Evan too. "He really should play more basketball," Ussop thought aloud and Sher giggled beside him.

"The ball might get his hands all dirty," Sher teased with Ussop. Sanji was fussy about two things, his clothes and his hands. Ussop giggled with her. Sher shook her head and went back to the art book. Next was a drawing of Sher herself. She was leaning against the starboard side railing with her telescope in her hand. There was nothing but clouds and ocean behind her. She was facing amidships instead of at the ocean. Ussop had done this drawing when he saw Sher watching Evan on deck. She turned the page feeling too modest to take a good look at a picture of herself. She came back to the picture Ussop was working on of the bow of the Rose Red. She looked up at Ussop again. "Those are great Ussop."

Ussop was smiling proudly. "Well the initial sketches themselves don't take that long really. I can fill in a lot from memory, but the longer I look at something, the better the drawings become."

"You're gonna let me have a couple of these right?" Sher was already adding picture frames to the list of things to buy at the next town. "Signed by the artist of course," she flattered.

Ussop blushed a little. He was a pushover at heart. "Sure Sher, any of 'em you want."

Evan let daddy get the ball because he saw mommy. She was looking at something with Ussop and Evan wanted to see too. He side stepped around daddy and went running to mommy. Mommy was looking at pictures that Ussop made. "Evan see," he asked from beside mommy's knee.

Sher handed the sketch pad to Ussop and picked Evan up. He settled on her lap as Sanji came over. Ussop turned back to the first page to show all of his drawings to Evan. Sanji leaned over Ussop a little so he could see too. "What ya got there Ussop?"

"Some of my more recent stuff," he said turning the page for Evan.

Evan sat quietly until Ussop got to the picture of him. "Me!" he said and squirmed.

Sanji was smiling at the picture. "Dat's really nice Ussop," Sanji complimented.

Ussop smiled up at Sanji wondering if Sanji might want the picture too. "Thanks Sanji." He turned the page and Evan got excited again.

"Evan and daddy!"

Sanji moved closer for a better look at the picture. "Yeah, look at dat son. Ya even got the Merry Go in da background." Sanji supposed he might be missing his kitchen a little.

Evan urged Ussop to turn the page. The next picture was "Pretty mommy," Evan smiled up at his mommy.

Sanji liked the picture, but he liked looking at the real thing from behind his sunglasses too. He lifted his eyes to Sher, she was gesturing to Ussop to turn the page. Sanji straightened as Ussop went to the last page to show Evan. "Those are real good Ussop," he said with his eyes still on Sher.

"Yes," Sher agreed. "Ussop is a very talented artist. He can draw anything," she boasted to Evan.

Evan looked at Ussop and Ussop nodded at him. "Ussop make picture for Evan?"

Ussop laughed a little. He wondered what sort of picture a two year old would want. "I can try to draw something for you if you want," he said turning to a clean page. "What would you like a picture of?"

"Mommy and daddy picture for Evan." He didn't even need to think about it.

"You want a picture of your mom and dad?" He looked from Evan up to Sher. Sanji was still as a post next to him.

Sher was hesitant but Evan was shaking his head on her lap. Sher looked up at Ussop. "Uh… sure."

"Why not," Sanji agreed.

"Okay." Ussop directed, "Why don't you guys go stand over there," he pointed to the rail. He liked things in his images to give it scale. Sher slid Evan off her lap and she and Sanji went to the starboard rail.

Sanji had to speak loud for Ussop to hear him, "Hey, I gotta stand still?"

"No, not really," Ussop called back.

"Good," Sanji fished out a cigarette and lit up. "Thought I was gonna have a nicotine fit," he sighed out a cloud of smoke and leaned against the rail. Sher leaned too, watching Ussop and Evan. "How you doin Sher?"

"I'm good Sanji. You?"

"I'm good." A silence fell between them as Sanji smoked. Ussop was talking to Evan, but he couldn't quite make it out over the wind. "You all done with that captain stuff today?" he asked casually.

Sher instinctively looked back toward the captain's lounge, back in the direction of her messy desk. "I'm defiantly all done with that shit for the day."

Sanji was watching her from behind his sunglasses. His encounters with Sher were usually brief; she was always either quiet or pleasant. "I'm hogging up all your time wid Evan aint I?"

Sher laughed a little. "Well, yeah." She looked at Sanji with a guilty smile on her face. "I usually spend free afternoons with him."

"You wanna spend da day wid us Sher? We can all hang out. Make something cool outta blocks or some hip thing." He smiled back at Sher hoping to break the ice. He wouldn't mind at all if she wanted to spend some time with Evan, with him too.

Sher looked back at Ussop and Evan. Evan looked excited. "I wouldn't want to be in the way." Sher would have her time with Evan again after the ships took leave of each other. They would run together from time to time, but they each had their own way to go.

"You wouldn't be in da way Sher. It be kinda nice to have another grown up around to talk to." As much as he loved talking to Evan, it would be nice to carry on a little adult conversation. He wanted to talk to Sher; maybe he would take Zoro's advice and figure out for himself what kind a woman Sher had become. "How bout it Sher? Hang out wid me and Evan today."

Sher looked up at Sanji again. The wind blew the trail of smoke off of his cigarette overboard. He was smiling a little. "Okay Sanji. Why not." She looked back at Evan. She had missed him most of this week. She could deal with Sanji to see Evan. Why not?

2.

The afternoon went well. Sanji was able to get Sher to talk to him a little bit. Mostly they talked about Evan. It was a start. The next morning there was a meeting of captains and navigators in the captain's lounge aboard the Rose Red. They decided on two different islands they might want to stop and check out. The Merry Go needed some fresh supplies; her hold was a lot smaller then Rose Red's. Both ships could do with some fresh fish. Port Stephen was two days away so they headed there first.

It was late the night before they pulled into port. Sanji couldn't sleep so he wandered up to the deck of the Merry Go for a cigarette. He wandered over to the starboard side looking at the Rose Red beneath the bright moon. He noticed someone on deck walking toward the bow. Sanji let the breeze carry the smoke away from his eyes and looked closer. It was Sher. What's she doin out here at dis hour? Don't tell me she still sleeps on deck. Sanji took a drag off of his cigarette and watch Sher. She stopped to the left of the bowsprit and leaned against the railing looking out at the open sea ahead of them.

Sher hadn't notices Sanji on deck yet. He wondered if he should just leave her alone, it was the middle of the night and they were in the pajamas. He pitched his cigarette overboard. Screw it, ya only live once. He stepped into the kitchen for a minute and selected a nice bottle of wine. He grabbed two glasses and went out. The two ships were still linked by gangplank, Sanji walked over to the Rose Red,

Sher heard someone coming and figured it was Zack or Nails. She didn't turn around to look. "You should be in bed mate," she scolded the intruder.

"So should you captain," Sanji said as he came up alongside Sher. She turned to the sound of his voice surprised to see him there. "Hey Sher, how bout a drink."

Sher saw the wine in Sanji's right hand, two glasses in the other. "Sanji…"

Sanji handed the glasses to Sher, he wasn't taking no for an answer. He reached in the pocket of his robe and pulled out a corkscrew. "I couldn't sleep neither. I saw you when I went up on deck so I figured we could have a little nightcap." He twisted the corkscrew in. "Then we can both sleep real good see?"

Sanji's hair fell in his face hiding his eyes from Sher as he opened the wine. She had tried to be nice to Sanji over the last few days. She could see how taken with Evan he was. Sanji was a good daddy to him. Sher sighed quietly. "Sure Sanji, why not."

Sanji pulled the cork out and looked up at Sher. "You aint planning ta sleep on deck are ya?"

She smiled a little. "Naw, I hardly do that at all anymore." She held the glasses steady and Sanji poured the wine.

Sanji tipped the bottle. "Dat was pretty hard core. Ya know Sher, when you didn't come back, Luffy was da only one that said that someday I would see you again and I dun even think he believed it." He smiled at the depressing memory of his crewmates teasing that he had been dumped by sweet cheeks. He finished pouring the wine and set the bottle down. He took a glass from Sher and relaxed against the rail beside her.

Sher swirled her wine. "Yeah, well it was a surprise to see you too Sanji."

Sanji was watching Sher from the corner of his eye. Sanji liked her silky robe; black with embroidered roses. The wind tossed her hair back and rocked the ship gently. "I'm glad I got to see you again, not just because of Evan. I missed ya Sher, I always was wonderin' what happened to you." He sipped his wine and let her think it over.

She cut her eyes up to Sanji. It seemed that he was all done being angry with her now. He had finally come to see the bigger picture. Ussop had told Sher a few things about Sanji this past week when they had been wandering the ship together. It was some consolation to know that Sanji had been broken hearted too. "I was always wondering about you too Sanji." She smiled. "Luffy's crazy. He'll do about anything."

Sanji chuckled. "There a few times I was kinda worried that bastard was gonna get us all killed." Sher giggled beside him and the two of them laughed together for the first time in years. Sanji sipped at his wine again. It was so good to hear her laugh like that again with him.

"He doesn't know when to quit. I bet he will find one piece, somehow." Sher shook her head a little and sipped her wine again.

Sanji turned a little so that he was facing Sher. "You should come wid us Sher. We should all go find one piece together."

Sher dropped her eyes to her wine. "I'm not interested in one piece. Besides, the Merry Go is too slow."

Of course Sanji had expected this sort of resistance. Sher was captain of her vessel, not Sanji and certainly not that crazy Luffy. He doubted Luffy would release the helm of the Merry Go either. "You just gonna take yer cut a da grand line and run, is dat it Sher?"

"Yeah, pretty much." She sipped her wine trying to stay calm.

Sanji was sure he knew things about the grand line that Sher did not. The marines hadn't started chasing them yet. "Yer in da grand line now Sher, there's no getting outta here. Once it's lured ya in, it's got ya. Best ya can do is find yerself someplace safe wid a picket fence. I know some nice islands. I'll take you and Evan anywhere in da grand line you wanna go."

She looked back up at Sanji. "I'll go where I want to. This is my ship. I don't need anyone telling me where I have to go or that I'm stuck here Sanji."

Sanji sighed and fished a cigarette out of his robe. "I understand what yer sayin Sher," Sanji lit his smoke. "But I'm telling you now dat if you try to sail dis ship outta da grand line yer gonna have the marines tryin ta sink her."

The captain in Sher realized Sanji was probably right. Nails shooting them the moon as they made their escape probably hadn't made them that popular either. It was a silly memory to have at a time like this, but she couldn't help but giggle. "Yeah, the marines don't like us."

Sanji took a fat drag off of his cigarette and frowned at Sher. "I'm bein serious here Sher. Putting the marines' balls in a knot aint funny. Shit like dat puts a bounty on yer head. Other pirates talk about dis ship too Sher. I heawrd about da Bloody Thorns. You guys sunk the Twin Moon. Some of them guys survived. I would imagine they might want to take revenge against this ship."

"Rose Red can outrun and outmaneuver any ship in the grand line," she started defensively.

"And you don't think something like dat aint caught the attention of other pirates and da marines? They're all talkin about this ship Sher."

"It doesn't matter if they're paying attention or not because they can't catch us."

"Just because they can't catch you don't mean they won't chase you!"

Sher straightened and faced Sanji. "What are you getting at Sanji? Are you telling me to take Evan and abandon ship?" Sher was starting to get mad. She wasn't afraid of the marines or pirates either.

"I'm just sayin I want you and Evan to be safe. If there ever comes a time when it's better for Evan not to be on Rose Red anymore, you tell me. I've seen a lotta great places to raise a kid right here in the grand line."

Sher raised a hand. "Whoa, hold on, wait just a minute here. Are you suggesting I raise Evan in the grand line?"

"Sure, I could open up a nice restaurant, maybe take on some apprentices. Make a nice livin fer you and Evan." It sounded like a fair and simple plan. When things got too dicey aboard the Rose Red for Evan, they would all settle down someplace in a nice sea side town. The Merry Go could find a new cook and Zack could take the Rose Red and sail away forever. It sounded good to Sanji.

Sher's anger turned to surprise. "What? Are you suggesting that me and Evan and you…?"

Sanji shook his head. "Hold yer ponies there captain." He sipped at his wine again. "No not together, just in the same town is all. Wherever and whenever you decide to settle down with Evan, you let me know. I wanna be wid him too. I wanna watch him grow up." It was what Sanji wanted. It was a relief to say it to Sher and get it off of his chest.

This was more then she had expected from Sanji. Not only was he being honest with her about her ship, he was telling her what he wanted when it came to their son. "What about Luffy?" Sher would have never have guessed not in a million years that Sanji would leave the Merry Go before Luffy became the pirate king.

"What about Luffy? Luffy aint my problem. He can take care of himself, they can find another cook. So long as I can still prepare delicious cuisine and see my kid, I'll be happy." He took another pull off his cigarette. It had sat there burning up between his fingers why he run his mouth.

"You would really leave the Luffy pirates?" it was hard to believe it was true. Living someplace with Sanji around?

"A course I would Sher, I wouldn't even be wid 'em now if I had known about Evan. The three of us would still be back in da east blue. A nice little house outside a town. Maybe we'd have a dog."

Sher lifted her glass and finished her wine. She had often wondered what it would have been like if Sanji had come to get her out of jail. A house and a dog in east blue huh? So that's it. She caught her breath after such a deep gulp. Sanji was looking at her funny, that just made her more flustered. "Yeah, well, how bout I'll think about what you said. Why don't you have Nami hook Charlie up with some charts? I'll look into it or something."

Sanji could tell Sher was nervous. Does it bother her that much to think about us? He pitched his cigarette into the ocean and picked up the bottle of wine. He refilled her glass without bothering to ask if she wanted another one. This conversation with Sher was getting interesting. Maybe Sanji wasn't the only one with a few lingering feelings. "Am I really that bad of a guy to get stuck wid Sher? You know I think yer da cat's ass right?" he smiled winningly at her.

Sanji flashed her a silly grin and she found herself smiling back for a minute. Sanji finished his own glass of wine and poured himself another. "I know you're not a bad guy Sanji." She sipped her wine dropping her eyes away from Sanji.

"How come I'm da only one of the old skool Luffy pirates you aint hugged yet Sher? Ya had yerself a great time with Luffy and Zoro, ya been hangin out wid Ussop," Sanji sighed a little sadly. "It's like I got cooties or sumthin."

Sher couldn't help but smile at the word cooties. Her damn smile had a tendency of breaking its leash at the worst times. Zack told her once she even grinned during battle. It was a serious question, but cooties! Sher tried to stifle a laugh, but couldn't. Instead she snorted and that just broke her into hysterics completely. Everything was pretty funny when you were this damn tired. "Sorry Sanji," she said waving off the strange look he was giving her.

"Oh sure," he teased. Sher was overtired, kind of goofy. "My neglect is so funny." He set his drink and the bottle on a barrel close at hand. He took Sher's glass from her and set it beside his. He turned back to Sher and opened his arms to her. "Can I have a hug too Sher."

She looked at Sanji, her laughter dieing off. There was something sad in his eyes. She had been too nervous to hug Sanji, but now he was asking. She took a step closer to him. "Sure Sanji," she said quietly.

Sanji took a step closer to Sher and pulled her into his arms. He felt her arms wrap around him, her cheek leaned against his chest. Sher… It had been a long time since Sanji had held her like this. He squeezed her closer to him smelling the perfume in her hair. Sher, it's been so long. "I really missed you Sher," Sanji said quietly in her ear as he held her close against him.

Sher never thought Sanji would hold her like this. She had given up on that idea before they even got to the grand line. But here we are me and Sanji. "I missed you too Sanji," she guess it was okay to say it.

It was good to hear her finally say it to him. Sher was trembling a little. It was cool out in the night wind, but not cold. Sanji rubbed at her arms for her. Her robe was soft and silky. "You cold Sher?"

Sher looked up at Sanji. He was looking down at her. "No, I'm okay."

It wasn't the cool breeze getting to Sher, it was him. Sanji stared down into Sher's eyes. "You're shaking," he managed to get out before instinct took over. Sanji pressed his mouth over Sher's and pulled her against him. For a moment she was frozen, but Sanji melted her with his kiss.

Kissing Sanji…It was like the years between them had only been a day. It was like kissing him on deck of the Avalon the day she left him. It had the same bitter sweet edge.

Sher relaxed into Sanji. She was kissing him with the same sorry longing. This is what I want Sher. Me and you and Evan. Me and you. It was easier for Sanji to try to let his actions speak for him. If he tried to talk to Sher about what he felt, he might say something stupid again. He wanted to let his lips taste her skin, but he thought that might be pushing it just a little. After a minute Sher pulled away from him and Sanji let go of Sher so she could step back. Her cheeks were dark in the moonlight. Sanji stared at her trying to catch his breath. "Sher…"

"I think we better get to bed Sanji. You should go." She turned away from Sanji and walked away without another word.

Sanji stood where he was for a minute, watching Sher disappear below deck. He wished he could follow. Don't push it. Sanji picked up his wine and finished his glass. She just needs some time to see… he gathered the bottle and the other glass and headed back to the Merry Go. His heart felt lighter then it had in years. Maybe now he could sleep.

3.

The next day the ships arrived at Port Stephen. Sanji was in high spirits today. He was humming the whole time he cooked breakfast with a smile on his lips. Zoro leaned against the counter drinking his juice eyeing Sanji suspiciously. He hadn't seen Sanji this cheerful in quite a while. "What's with you?" he finally asked the cook as he flipped an omelet onto a plate.

"What? Can't a guy be in a good mood?" Sanji wiped the pan and poured in the mix for another omelet.

"Well, you have been pissy Sanji lately." Pissy Sanji was something Zoro called him if Sanji let a bad mood linger. It irritated Sanji more, but Zoro found it amusing.

Sanji picked up another pan off the burner. He gave it a shake and the sausages rolled over to brown on the other side. "Yeah well, I finally got to talk to Sher a little bit alone last night."

Zoro raised a brow. "Oh?" He didn't recall Sanji going back over to the Rose Red after Evan went to bed. Must have been after lights out, way after. He grinned. "So you and Sher alone huh? That's what's got you all jazzed up this morning."

Sanji ignored Zoro's teasing. "Let's just say I gave her a few things ta think about." Breakfast was taking care of itself for the moment so Sanji lit a fresh cigarette. He was quite pleased with how it went with Sher last night. He had been able to get a lot off of his mind. He was sure Sher understood what he wanted, what he was feeling. He knew that as the captain of the Rose Red she could understand the dangers she and her crew were sailing into. She even let him kiss her. Sanji exhaled smiling.

"Did ya?" Zoro had figured that once Sanji came to accept that Sher was a pirate captain now not some sweet cheeks in need of his rescue, he would settle down. Zoro guessed Sanji was beginning to accept Sher for who she was now.

"Yeah, it was nice." Sanji looked back at the cooking omelet thinking about the taste of the wine on Sher's lips.

Sanji's lovesick grin spoke for itself. "Just talking Sanji?"

Sanji lifted his eyes to Zoro's devious smile. He hadn't forgotten how Zoro da slut had danced with Sher on the deck of Rose Red, but he had tried to let it go. "What's it to ya Zoro?" he puffed at his cigarette.

Zoro chuckled at Sanji's defensive posturing. "Relax Sanji. I'm just glad to hear that you and Sher are getting along alright now." He sipped his orange juice and Sanji turned the omelet. "So," Zoro couldn't resist teasing, "you bump Sher last night Sanji?"

Sanji frowned at Zoro and plucked the cigarette from his mouth with his left hand. Zoro was laughing at him. "Fuck you Zoro. You dun need to be worryin about me and Sher." He blew his smoke at the swordsman. "You just keep yer slutty body parts off a her." Sanji turned back to the sausage with a little grin on his face.

Zoro rolled his eyes. All was forgiven, but not quite forgotten. "Right Sanji." Zoro finished his juice and waited for his breakfast.

4.

The Merry Go docked in the harbor, but the Rose Red just weighed anchor off shore. Sher did some shopping for supplies with Zack and Duke. Sanji went with Mimi and Charlie when they took Evan to the park. Nails went shopping with Robin and Nami, the others went to eat.

Nails made a particularly good find that day. Having two women with him must have brought him some good luck. He found both pieces he needed to fix Charlie's old victrola. It had been damaged when Rose Red had pulled away from the hurricane, they had been lucky they didn't keel over. The ship took on a lot of water that night. The victrola hadn't played since. Nails could have it fixed in a jiffy. He could have it playing music for them all again tonight. He smiled telling his lucky lady friends about the victrola as they headed back to the dock.

Zack and Duke were loading up the long boat to make a trip back to Rose Red. Sher waved a hand at Nails and the ladies as they head over. Nails excitedly told his captain about his find. His mates seemed just as excited about his find as he did. He suggested an after dinner party aboard the Rose Red so both crews could listen to Charlie's old records. Nami and Robin agreed with Nails right away and Sher caved in. She wasn't planning to party it up with Sanji around tonight, but whatever.

Nails and Zack carried the victrola up on deck under Charlie's watchful eye. Duke carried up a box of records then set to serving drinks as the Luffy pirates came aboard. Mimi came up on deck and went to stand with Charlie. He stood close to the victrola listening a piano sonata he had put on.

When Sanji came back up on deck after Evan had fallen asleep, the party had already started. Most of the group was clustered around the victrola. Sher's navigator was already getting another record ready. Sher stood next to Luffy. They were kinda leaning on each other, but no huggy stuff. They were talking to Zoro and Zack. Sanji lit up a cigarette. Da gang's all here, aint dat nice. Duke had spotted Sanji and was bringing him a glass of wine. Sanji took it. "Thanks Duke."

"I got everybody served now Sanji, even me. Let's go give Charlie's records a listen shall we?" he wanted to show off Charlie's treasure.

"You bet." Sanji followed Duke over to the others as Charlie changed the record.

Luffy saw them coming. "Hey Sanji," he greeted. It was his way of inviting Sanji to join them. Zoro had told Luffy today that Sanji and Sher had talked some things over. It was okay for them to hang out now.

"Hey Luffy," Sanji returned stepping over to him and Sher. A new song started up, something with violins.

Zack had found it got easier to ignore Sanji as the days had passed. Sher talked to him a little bit more now, but Sanji wasn't putting any moves on her. He took a big gulp of ale. He recognized the song. "Why don't you let me show you how a real gentleman dances with a lady," Zack directed at Zoro. He handed the swordsman his mug of ale and stepped over to Sher. He extended a hand to her. "Captain, may I have this dance."

Sher smiled at Zack and handed her mug to Luffy. "Certainly mate." She took Zack's hand and he led her away from the others. His left hand fell to the small of her back and he held her hand as they began to waltz.

Zack knew the Luffy pirates were watching him waltz with his captain, he just didn't care. Dancing with Sher gave him an excuse to hold on to her, something he had been missing for a while now. He was smiling at her. "How's it going Sher?"

Sher hadn't really had much time to sit and talk with Zack these past few days. They had caught up a little while out shopping today. "Not bad Z. We should be in the Asguard region by this time next week."

Sher had agreed to sail with the Merry Go to the Asguard region, but there were a lot of islands there the crew of Rose Red wanted to check out. He figured the Luffy pirates would take off for a while. He probably wouldn't have to see them again for months. He liked Zoro and Ussop well enough, but it would be nice to get Sanji off of this ship. "We're about to get pretty busy then eh captain?"

There was money to be made in Asgusard. "We got some pirating to do."

Zack turned them gracefully and pulled Sher a little closer. Not too much, he was still being quite the proper gentleman. "Anything you say."

Sanji was watching Sher waltz with Zack beside his crewmates. He puffed down his cigarette. Zack was being a gentleman, but that didn't mean Sanji liked seeing him holding on to Sher. It was better then the raunchy grind she did with Zoro da slut, but it somehow seemed to bother Sanji more then Zoro's dirty dancing. Cuz she fucked that guy. Sher gave it up to that bastard.

Mimi and Charlie joined in the waltz. Duke extended a hand to Nami and she took it giggling slightly. To her amazement, Duke was as graceful as a gazelle. That made her laugh all the more. Luffy was watching everyone with a big smile on his face.

Sanji pitched his cigarette. "Screw dis." He finished his wine quickly and set the glass down. He cut past Duke and Nami taking a second to watch them. Duke was a giant man; Sanji was surprised to see how gracefully he moved. Well he is a chef. Sanji stepped up beside Sher and Zack. "Mind if I cut in?"

Sher and Zack looked up at Sanji. Zack smiled a little and stepped back. "You are our guest," he said looking Sanji in the eye.

Sanji had a pretty good idea what the punk meant by that. If anything, you're da guest buddy. I'm Evan's father; you're just 'occasionally'. Sanji returned Zack's smug grin and took over dancing with Sher. He watched Zack go walking back toward Zoro.

Sher hadn't expected Sanji to interrupt her waltz. He held her closer then Zack did as they danced. "Uh… Sanji?" she frowned up at him.

Sanji decided to give Sher something to think about before she thought he was being too pushy. "Hey Sher, I was thinkin' dat maybe tomorrow you could bring Evan over to da Merry Go. We'll have lunch and he can see my kitchen. What do ya say Sher?" he spun her a little letting it sink in. "My produce is a mess. Luffy fucked it all up. I gotta system ya know."

The invitation had surprised her, but the mention of his 'system' got her smiling again. Everything in Sanji's kitchen had a proper place and damnit, it better be there or else! He was always yelling at Luffy Get outta there before ya fuck everything up! Sher hadn't been on the Merry Go in a long time. The ship was likely as haunted with memories of her and Sanji as the Avalon had been. "I dunno Sanji."

"Come on Sher," Sanji persisted. "We're gonna be near Asguard soon right? Youz guys are probably gonna wanna go yer own way fer a while aint ya? Luffy aint one to sit still too long neither."

Sher frowned up at Sanji. It was weird to see him so excepting of her plans. Sanji had said his peace last night. Half of it had been the 'you better knock your shit off or you're gonna get in trouble' lecture, he had made his intentions toward Evan pretty obvious too. "We'll run together again in a little while Sanji."

"I know dat," he kept talking. He wasn't crazy about the Rose Red taking off on her own for a while; he didn't want Sher to disappear with Evan again. "If you tried to run away from me Sher, Luffy would hunt ya to da ends of the earth," Sanji teased trying to lighten things up. He wondered if time away from Sher would give them time to think, mostly about each other he hoped. Sanji wanted to be on Sher's mind as much as she was on his. "So let's do lunch together on da Merry Go and I'll straighten up my damn crisper."

Sanji was trying to fast talk her into getting his way. "I don't know. Mimi," she played the trump card. Sher was mother and captain, but Mimi was in charge of Evan. The sad fact was, she just did a better job.

Sanji looked down into Sher's eyes. "Mimi what? Mimi's not his mother Sher, you are. None of these guys you got here are Evan's father either, I am. We're his parents. Is it so wrong of me to want the three of us to hang out a little bit? Don't you think Evan would like it if you brought him over to see my kitchen on da Merry Go? We'll bake some cookies or sumthin."

She could see Sanji's point. There was no doubt that Evan would probably love it, but the Mimi comment was a bit over the line. "Sanji," she warned.

"Oh come on Sher, just say yes. Its real easy see? Yes. Yes, yes, yes." He smiled down at her trying to win her over. She was frowning a little but Sanji thought he had won.

Sher let out an exaggerated long suffering sigh. "Fine Sanji. We'll spend tomorrow afternoon on the Merry Go." She looked away from his satisfied grin.

Sanji turned them again brushing up against Sher as he did so. His smile got a little bigger. "See Sher, dat wasn't so hard was it?" Sanji chuckled. He had gotten his way.

Sher rolled her eyes. Sanji was just being Sanji. She smiled. "Screw you Sanji. Now I gotta rearrange my day." Not really, but it was worth reminding him she had a ship to take care of.

"Don't worry about it Sher, we'll have a great time." Sanji laughed again. He already was.

5.

As promised the next afternoon Sher and Evan accompanied Sanji over to the Merry Go. Sanji served lunch to his hungry crew and Sher helped him with the dishes afterward. It was nice to have her at the sink with him again. Evan enjoyed pulling on Luffy and stretching him out of place. Of course Luffy was just as amused as Evan. He laughed until there were tears squirting from his eyes.

Sanji took some time after lunch to get his kitchen organized while he made cookies with Evan. Sher helped too, she stirred the frosting and kept Evan from eating the dough. Sanji had his kitchen under control by the time the cookies were cooling. They spent the rest of the afternoon on deck. Sanji sat close to Sher with Evan on his lap. Once in a while Evan would wander over to one of Sanji's crewmates. He was particularly fascinated with Luffy and Chopper. They were both more then accommodating to the little guy.

Sanji asked Sher to stay for dinner too, he didn't want this day to end, but she said no. Evan would need to settle down before bed. Sanji had been able to talk to Sher a lot today. It was like having her back again, like she had never left. "Okay then, how bout we have a drink after Evan goes ta bed. I'd kinda like ta know what plans ya got for da Rose Red. Ya know, where you guys goin? When we gonna meet back up again. Dat stuff." He asked her loud enough for all hands on deck to hear so she couldn't refuse him.

Sher couldn't tell Sanji to piss off with all the Luffy pirates grinning at them. She sighed defeated. Sanji knew just how to get his way. "Yeah sure, fine," she grumbled.

Sanji laughed and threw an arm around Sher's shoulder. She frowned at him a little and he laughed. "I'll bring da booze."

Sher and Evan returned to the Rose Red at sundown. Sanji cooked up a nice dinner for his mates humming to himself again. He was aboard Rose Red before Evan went to bed. Sher stood with him until Evan went to sleep and then they headed up to the captain's lounge. Sanji had hoped they would sit in the captain's sitting room off of Evan's room downstairs, the one off of Sher's bedroom, but her sea charts were up on her messy desk.

Sanji poured them each a glass of the good rum he had been hiding away on the Merry Go as Sher spread sea charts out all over the coffee table. They drank their way through about half of the bottle as Sher pointed out no less then a dozen places she intended to take Rose Red.

It would be a long run in Asguard. It would take at least a month for her to realize her ambitions. Then there was the sailing time it would take for the two ships to meet back up into consider as well. Sanji wasn't real crazy about the idea of it being months before he saw Evan or Sher again. "Dat will take a while huh Sher?" he said leaning away from her maps puffing on his cigarette.

Sher sipped her rum. This stuff had a kick meaner then Sanji's. It burned all the way down and she let out a hot breath. "Yeah, I was thinking when we were done here we'd turn north a little. Luffy mentioned a few places he's like to go. We could probably meet back up in say… a month and a half? Maybe two?"

Two months with no Evan and no Sher. "Dis is really gonna suck fer me ya know dat Sher?" Sanji leaned back against the couch and sipped his rum. He made a face and swallowed. "If dis rum don't kill me first. Is it just me or is this stuff killer?"

Sher smiled a little. She could already feel how warm her ears were. "It's some pretty potent shit Sanji. I think it's creepin up on us."

Sanji took a drag off of his cigarette. He was feeling it too. He was floating just a little. "I'm gonna miss youz guys ya know?"

Sher gave up on her charts and leaned back too. "We'll miss you Sanji."

Sanji reached for the ashtray and crushed out his cigarette. "You'll get to see Evan every day. I gotta go months. Dat just sucks." He sipped his rum again. "You and Luffy is some hard headed bastards you know dat?"

"We can't sail together all the time Sanji. I need to command my own ship. I could never settle for being less then a captain again." She sipped her own spiced rum to emphasize her point. She favored Sanji with a look that said it all. I'm the captain and I'll do what I want.

"Oh really?" Sanji stared at her. "Yeah I figured dat Sher. Being captain has gone to your head a little. I'm not so sure I can fit in dis room wid yer ego."

Sher sat up surprised by the sudden insult. "What?"

"You know which pirates been cruising the waters in Asguard, I know ya do cuz I heard Nails and Zack talkin about it. Yer boy Zack, he likes to talk to Zoro. He dun like me too much. Dat's okay, I dun like him much neither. You guys are going after the Arizona aint ya? Take em out quick and get an assload a treasure. Aint dat right Sher?" Maybe it was the rum, but being direct with Sher seemed best right now. A raid was exactly the kind of crazy dangerous shit he didn't want this ship doing with his son aboard.

"Mind yer own fuckin business Sanji!" maybe it was the rum, but yelling at Sanji seemed the most natural reaction. "You better stop trying to tell me how to run my godamn ship! I'm the captain!"

Sanji raised his voice to be heard over her. "Dat's right, yer da captain. All bow down to da captain of the Bloody Thorn pirates." Sher was glaring at him. Her cheeks were flaming red. "If yer gonna do what I think yer gonna do Sher, dis better be da last time fer you and Evan. If you take out da Arizona you will have marines lookin fer yer ass."

Sher had plans to take out the Arizona, but not just that ship either. "I'm not done here yet Sanji."

Sanji set his glass on the table and turned to face Sher. "Then you let me take Evan and settle down somewhere wid him."

"Out of the question!" Sanji was calm, but Sher was not. She slammed her drink down on a stack of charts and faced Sanji.

"Be a pirate captain or be Evan's mother Sher cuz it's pretty clear to me you can't do both."

It was like a slap in the face. "Who in the hell do you think you are? You come waltzing in after almost three godamn years…"

"Cuz you abandon me and didn't tell me I was gonna have a kid."

Sher was furious. "You abandon me Sanji! You left me sitting in that shitty jail cell while you guys all took off to the grand line! All I had was the Avalon and another mouth to feed on the way!"

Sanji recoiled. He hated himself for not looking for her. "Sher, look, I'm sorry. I'm here for you and Evan now."

"Don't bother," She growled hatefully turning away from Sanji. She picked up her drink and took a shot. "I don't want nothin from you."

Sanji sighed and slid closer to Sher on the couch so they were practically hip to hip. She scowled up at him. "But I want something from you Sher. First of all, I wanna make sure my boy is safe. If you aint willin ta give up dis ship and be his mother, I'll leave da Merry Go and be his father. We can all jump ship together if ya wanna I think dat would be pretty sweet. You think about it and let me know."

Sher was flabbergasted. "How dare you give me ultimatums?"

Sanji wasn't done yet. If it was going to be over a month before he saw Sher again, he wanted to leave her with some things to think about. "Second thing I want from you is I want you to swear to me that you aint gonna try and ditch us. I'll make Luffy chase ya down Sher, I mean it."

"Sanji," she warned. She was on the verge on knocking his block off.

Sanji could see that Sher was furious. She did look pretty when she was all flustered like this. "And da third thing I want from you," Sanji leaned in closer to her face. "I want you ta think about me and you Sher. I still love you and I want you back. If you aint done bein a pirate yet Evan and I will wait fer you someplace." Her frown fell away replaced by a naked look of surprise. Sanji hooked an arm around her waist and leaned them into the couch. Before she could answer him, Sanji was kissing her again.

It must have been the rum cuz Sher found herself kissing Sanji back despite the fact that she was completely pissed at him. She broke her mouth away from his trying to catch her breath. "Fuck you Sanji," it didn't come out sounding like the threat it was meant to be.

"Please do Sher," Sanji breathed against her neck and kissed her again. He shifted their weight so that he was mostly on top of her on the plush couch. Sanji reached for her curves.

Sher knew she shouldn't be doing this with Sanji, she outta be tap dancing on the demanding bastard's kidneys, but… Sanji… it's been so long. His hand was sliding up her thigh bringing her skirt with it. He broke his mouth away from hers and kissed her neck. "Sanji…" she had to stop this.

"Don't say it Sher," he breathed against her ear. "Don't tell me to stop," he nipped at her neck. "I want you. Let me remind you what it is that's so special between us. Let me love you." He closed his mouth over hers again. There was no more resistance from Sher. Sanji let all of his heart go to the woman he loved.

6.

His mates hadn't seen Sanji come shuffling back to the Merry Go in the wee hours of the morning, but it looked like as though he hadn't got much sleep. He yawned and smoked his way through cooking breakfast nursing a glass of juice. He wanted to hurry up and feed the crew and get out of here. He wanted to see Evan and Sher.

Zoro was first in the kitchen for chow. "Mornin' Sanji." He looked the sleepy cook over. "You look like about five pounds of shit in a one pound bag this morning"

Sanji swallowed some juice. He would get Duke to fix him up of that hangover stuff when he got over to the Rose Red. "I was up late." He set his glass down and poured Zoro a glass of his own juice. He slid down the counter to the swordsman.

"Sweet cheeks kept ya late huh?" Zoro teased. He could tell Sanji had been drinking half the night with Sher.

"Somethin' like dat." He lit up another cigarette. It tasted like shit this morning. He thought about Sher. She had told him last night after we got hot on da couch that she had some things to do around the ship today. She would probably be stuck doing inventory in the hold with her mates all morning. That was alright, it would give Duke's juice time to work its wonders on Sanji. Sher had promised to spend the afternoon with him and Evan after I got me dat again on her big fancy desk. His lips curled into a little smile thinking about it. Last night with Sher had been wonderful. He was sure she felt the same.

Zoro decoded Sanji's smile as he sipped his orange juice. "No way," Zoro chuckled. "You nailed Sher last night didn't you?"

Sanji blew smoke at Zoro. "So what if I did. It aint none a yer business ya slut." Sher had asked Sanji to keep last night to himself until she had some time to think. She would have some kind of an answer for him the next time the two ships met up to run together. Sanji didn't really want to spend the next month or longer with his crewmates bugging him about Sher all the time either. For now, discretion was the better part of valor.

Zoro didn't need Sanji to admit anything; the look on the cook's face said it all. "I see," Zoro sipped his juice again. Sanji's scowl got something nagging at the back of Zoro's mind. He wasn't sure what it was yet, he was still waking up. "It's my turn to hang out on the Rose Red today. Luffy's got some stuff for Ussop to do."

"I don't need no freekin babysitter."

Zoro shrugged as if to say not my fault. "Luffy's orders."

"Fuck Luffy," Sanji grumbled. If Sanji got his way, he and Sher would be taking Evan and getting out of the pirate business. He wouldn't be listening to Luffy's orders much longer. It wasn't until later that Sanji realized he had a lot to thank Luffy for.

7.

Morning was starting to get old. Zoro was hanging out with Zack to the aft of the ship, keeping him company why he did inventory of various rigging components. Sanji was feeling better; he was watching Evan try to draw pictures like Ussop. Sher was down in the hold with Duke and Nails. Mimi and Charlie sat on deck, playing chess again. This time Mimi was winning.

Zack closed up the last of the lock boxes. He scribbled a final note on his tattered notebook. "Alright, that's that."

"That's a long list," Zoro noticed. "You don't need that much stuff do ya?"

Zack smiled at Zoro wondering if he was always this suspicious. "We like to keep the Rose Red self sufficient. We can be out to sea for some pretty long stretches."

"Long stretches huh?" Zoro remembered Sanji asking Luffy and Nami about the Asguard region, particularly a ship called the Arizona. "What are you guys up to Zack?"

Zack just kept smiling. How do you keep a swordsman in suspense? "Nothin' man, really." He stared back up the deck to leave his list on Sher's desk. Zoro followed. "So what are you guys going to do once we get to Asguard?" only a few more days!

Zoro followed Zack up into the captain's lounge. Zoro could smell rum and cigarettes, but there were no traces of either around. He noticed the way Zack seemed to frown at the smell in here. "That's up to Nami and Luffy. Personally, I don't care."

"Just along for the ride huh?" Zack tore off the notes he had taken in his pad and set the sheet on Sher's desk on top of a stack of sea charts.

"Mostly."

Zack turned and faced Zoro again ready to get out of here. The swordsman was watching him. "Look, I know that Sanji was over here with the captain last night. They went through an assload of sea charts. Those," he waved a hand at Sher's desk dismissively. "The captain was still runnin her jaws when I passed out. I don't care that your friend Sanji was over here talkin to the captain so stop lookin at me like that."

Zoro frowned a little. Apparently Zack had no idea what happened after he fell asleep. "What?" Zoro shrugged. "I don't care either."

Zack laughed a little and shook his head. "Whatever. I think I'll go give the captain a hand. You comin?"

Are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss this for all the gold in the grand line. "Sure." Zoro followed Zack out. He waved to Sanji and Evan and followed Zack downstairs.

Sher was taking notes while Duke and Nails shouted numbers. It was stuffy in here, but she left her hair down. She noticed this morning as she dressed that Sanji had left some love bites on her. She kept her collar up and her hair down. It covered the one below her ear. Zack led Zoro into the hold and they mixed into the fray. "Hey guys," she greeted still doing math in her head.

"What do you need me to do now captain?" Zack reported for duty. He smiled at her waiting for orders.

Sher jot down the number 32 and looked up at Zack. For a second their eyes locked and Sher began to sweat. "You're all finished on deck?"

"Yeah. I left you a list on your desk."

She looked over at Nails. He was almost done counting a crate of some of his more explosive toys. "I dunno Z, what else? You tell me."

Nails looked over his shoulder and said to the captain, "Twelve and I would like at least a dozen more captain."

Sher scribbled the number 12 down twice. Zack sighed. He knew you tell me meant there was some cruddy job she wanted him to do. He was sure he knew what it was too. She had mentioned it to him yesterday. "I guess I could be tarring up the bowsprit."

Sher smiled at Zack. "That's the spirit mate."

Zack rolled his eyes. "Ya gonna sit next to me at lunch if I'm all sticky captain?" he teased. He turned back to Zoro. "See ya topside." Zack turned and went out to start tarring the bowsprit.

Zoro stared at Sher. She looked up at him and her cheeks flushed a little. She knows I know. "How you doin Sher?" Zoro asked keeping his tone even.

"Good Zoro, how are you?" She quickly turned back to Duke. He was ready with a number.

"Forty six," Duke called over his shoulder.

Sher wrote down the number. Zoro took a step closer to Sher. "Your office reeks of cigarettes and booze. I'm not the only one who noticed." He spoke quietly so that her mates barely heard him mumble at all.

Sher sighed and looked up at Zoro. It was pretty obvious that he had everyone figured out. Zoro could read Sanji like a book, Zack too she guessed. "Zoro," she started.

"Can I talk to you for a minute alone Sher? Good." He grabbed Sher by the arm and tugged her along. "We'll be right back guys."

Sher let Zoro drag her out of the hold. She frowned at him but he frowned back. "Alright, in here." She opened the door to the private office beside her bedroom. Zoro followed her in and Sher went to her desk to sit.

"You don't have to be so formal captain," Zoro teased.

Sher sat at her desk and eyed Zoro wishing it wasn't too early for a drink. "What do you want Luffy pirate?"

Zoro shrugged. "I don't want nothin Sher. I'm just curious about you and Z."

"What about Zach," she deliberately used his full name.

"He's your lover isn't he?"

Sher supposed she shouldn't be shocked by Zoro's bluntness, but she was. "No!"

Zoro crossed his arms over his chest. "No, or just not at the moment?"

Sher stared at Zoro with her mouth agape for a moment. "I ended it with Z months ago. It wasn't like there was much to it. We're good friends…"

"Good friends that just got a little lonely at sea?" Zoro didn't take his eyes off of Sher. The swordsman had been able to tell that Zack was carrying around some pretty heavy feelings for his captain, now he understood why.

Sher sighed and dropped her eyes. "Z has always been good to me. He has always been there for me when I needed him."

"Unlike Sanji," Zoro meant to keep picking it all apart until he had the whole truth.

Sher frowned at Zoro. "I guess you could say that."

"What is it you ended with him Sher? What was the deal with you and Zack?" No need to dance around the subject, probably no time for that either. Zack was in the dark about Sanji and Sher for now, but that wouldn't last long. The kid was too devoted to Sher not to figure it out sooner rather then later.

Sher had kept Zack to herself for a very long time. She knew that her mates knew something had gone on between them, but nobody ever said anything about it. She put an elbow on the desk and leaned on it a little. "Z and I got together a little bit on our way to the grand line. It was alright then, but once we got here we went back to being captain and first mate. It's better that way, especially for the Rose Red."

Zoro remembered how long the Rose Red had been in the grand line. He couldn't help but frown a little. "So when was the last time you two…?"

"It's been a long time. Months."

"So let me get this straight. On your way to the grand line you and Zack had a great time doing the mattress mambo," Zoro was a little mad at Sher, he liked Zack. "And once ya got here, what? It was just occasionally?"

Sher's jaw dropped. Her own words had come back to bite her in the ass. She could see Zoro was irritated. "You got something to say, say it."

Zoro smiled a little. Alright Sher, you asked for it. "You used Zack to get over Sanji."

"I never used Z!"

"Sure ya did Sher, and he wanted you to. Sometimes people got a fucked up way of loving each other." Sher looked a little pissed, but Zoro had shut her up. "I know you bumped Sanji last night, it's written all over both of your faces. Ya hiding some love bites today there sweet cheeks?" Sher flushed, but Zoro didn't stop. He was on a roll. "All I had to do was look at you, either of you and I could tell. Do you think Zack wont notice? He's got you memorized." He took a step closer to Sher's desk and rested his palms on it. He leaned over her giving her the hard eyeball. "I'm willing to bet there have been long stretches in between bumps, maybe even months, but ya always end up back between the sheets don't ya Sher. I'm pretty sure that's what Z thinks too."

"I am his captain and there is nothing like that going on between us anymore."

"Are you going to tell him about Sanji or are you going to leave it to him to figure it out on his own? He will Sher. Zack knows his captain like the back of his hand."

"There is nothing to figure out," Sher growled back. "What I do with Sanji is none of Zack's business." It was a cold truth, but a captain's privilege. "Yours neither."

"What are you going to do about Sanji huh Sher?"

Sher looked away from Zoro to the ledger on her desk. "We can meet back up in about two months or so."

"Two ships passing in the night eh?" Zoro doubted that situation would last very long. He already had an idea what Sanji wanted and the guy had a way of getting what he wanted outta ya. "Sanji's crazy about you and Evan. He's not going to give up on either of you Sher. He wants you both."

Sher was still wrestling with her feelings for Sanji. "Yeah well I'm a little busy now he can catch up to me later."

Their run together was almost over. Sanji and Sher would part company for a while, have some time to think. Zoro didn't think Sher was ready to give up being captain of this ship for anyone, not even Evan. Sher was afraid to commit to anything but Rose Red, and her loyalty to her ship was absolute. She certainly seemed to enjoy the privileges of her own command. "I see."

Sher wanted desperately to reach for the flask in her desk. It was pretty raunchy bourbon, but any shot sounded good right now. She didn't want to think about Sanji or Zack, she wanted to count boomers and get the hell away from Zoro. "You're a real pain in my ass ya know that Zoro?"

Zoro stood up straight. "Thanks Sher, I try real hard to be an asshole. It's nice to be appreciated." He noticed that she couldn't hide her smile in time. Sweet cheek's smile had a will of its own. "Well then, if it's alright with you captain I think I'll just loaf around yer ship for a while. I'll let you get back to work." Zoro turned and went out. He had given Sher enough to think about.

He went back topside and found Zack at the bow of the ship. He was slopping tar onto the head of a string mop. Zoro shadowed him the rest of the day.

7.

After dinner Sher went up to the captain's lounge to make some more notes in the log book. She had spent most of the afternoon with Evan and Sanji on deck. She had some catching up to do, numbers to record. She sat at her desk and opened up the log book trying not to think about what she and Sanji had done in here just last night.

Zack wrapped at the door twice and came in. he had another scrap of paper in his hands. "Here ya go captain," he said walking his notes over to the desk. He handed her the slip of paper.

"What's this?" she looked at the list. "Kitchen stuff huh?" she set the note in with a pile of others.

It still smelled like cigarettes in here. "Jeez Sher, crack a window would ya. Some of us can't stand that stink." He went to the window closest to her desk and popped it open. He stepped to the one next to it and did the same. He looked out the window up at the moon. "Clear skies tonight. Sailing will be a breeze tomorrow."

Sher knew Zack was anxious to raise all sails and go flying out of here. She wanted to let the Rose Red sail with seven sheets too. "Not much on the sheet for tomorrow. We should be coming into our last port before we split with the Merry Go. Sometime tomorrow night maybe. I guess you and Nails could sleep in a little if you're willing to hit up those three posts to port with a fresh coat of paint."

Zack smiled at Sher. "Consider it done captain." He stood where he was watching her as she returned her full attention to the log book. Zack understood she was busy getting a shopping list together, but she had all day tomorrow to do it too. It would have been done already if she hadn't spent the afternoon with Evan and that damn Sanji. "You wanna have a drink with me? I'll go pull us a couple of ales and we can sit and shoot the shit?"

Sher began sorting over her stack of lists. "Maybe in a bit. Luffy and Zoro are coming over. We'll all have one then."

Sure Zack would have a drink with Zoro later, but for now he just wanted to sit and have one with Sher. There hadn't been much time since Port Stephen to spend with Sher. He missed her company. Zack strolled over to the desk and looked down at Sher. For a minute, he thought he saw her straightening up a little. "Come on Sher, you can do this in the morning. I'll even help ya if you want me to. Let's have a drink." He reached over and closed the log book. Sher looked up at him and their eyes locked. Something… something is wrong. "Sher?"

Sher swallowed hard. "I'm trying to work here Z, do you mind?"

With Sher looking up at him like this Zack could see what she had been hiding behind her collar all day. No way, that's not a… he reached over the desk and pulled the collar of her shirt down. There was a hickey below her ear. Sher slid her chair back and pulled away from him, but it was too late. Zack saw it. He stared at Sher as she got to her feet. "What did you do Sher?" he breathed.

Sher's heart picked up the pace and she started to sweat. "Look Z, I think we need to talk," she started.

All of the pieces fell into place. This room reeked because Sanji had smoked a lot of cigarettes in here. He had been here all last night with Sher. "You fucked Sanji last night didn't you Sher?" Zack clenched his iron fist.

Sher stepped around the desk over to Zack. "It's not what you think Z."

Zack's stomach rolled over. "You did, didn't you? You went running right back to Sanji and he fucked you!"

Out on the deck, Luffy had come aboard with Zoro and Sanji in tow. He heard the yelling coming from the captain's lounge and quickly moved that way. "Hey, you guys hear that?"

"Sounded like shouting." Zoro thought he heard Zack. Luffy was hustling to the captain's lounge and Zoro stepped behind him. He noticed Sanji was coming along to check things out too.

Sher wanted Zack to calm down. "I think you need to chill sailor, right now."

Zack wasn't going to let Sher pull any of her captain crap on him. Not over this. It wasn't ropes or rigging Sher had shared with the Luffy pirate, Sher had given Sanji her body. "Don't give me your shit Sher!" Zack stepped closer so that they were toe to toe.

The door to the captain's lounge popped open and Luffy came in. "Hey guys, what's going on?" Sher and Zack looked like they were about to throttle each other. Zoro and Sanji stepped through the door behind Luffy.

Zack looked up at Luffy, then Zoro then Sanji. He narrowed his eyes at Sanji. "You," he growled. "You son of a bitch!" Zack tore off after Sanji. He almost had his fist in Sanji's face when Zoro grabbed a hold of him. Sher was running up behind him. That damn Sanji was looking at Sher. "Let me go godamnit I'm gonna kill him!"

"Knock it off Z!" Sher screamed from behind him. Zoro had managed to catch a hold of Zack, but he was still trying to go after Sanji.

Sanji looked from Sher to Zack. "You kill me? Dat's pretty funny. I'd love to see you try it," he snarled at Zack.

Zack lunged forward again. Zoro's grip on him was tight. He didn't want to fight Zoro to get to Sanji, but he would if he had to. "Let go of me Zoro!"

"Settle down sailor," Zoro tried to calm Zack down. He was ready to tear Sanji a new asshole. He knows. I figured this might happen.

Sanji was thinking the same thing Zoro was, from a slightly different perspective. Zack had found out about him and Sher. He just had to dig. "So she told ya about us huh?"

Zack had figured that Sher had been with Sanji, but Sanji just confirmed it. He broke his metal arm out of Zoro's hold. "You piece of shit! Stay the fuck away from my captain!"

"Zack stop it!" Sher ordered from behind again. Zack was going to get loose. Zoro was grinning.

Sanji wanted to fight Zack. He would make sure that the punk never went near Sher again. "Let him go Zoro." He glared at Zack. "I aint gonna stay away from nobody ya little shit. Not Sher and not my kid. I'm comin back for both of them ya hear me?"

Zoro shook his head. Sanji was underestimating Zack. He let go of Zack and Zack charged after Sanji. Sanji leapt back out onto deck with Zack's fist inches from his face. Sher tried to run past Zoro to go break it up so he grabbed her. "Stay out of it Sher or you're gonna end up getting hurt."

Sher stood at the threshold looking out at Zack and Sanji on the deck. "Then do something Zoro! Stop them!"

"I can't."

"Then let me!" Sher wriggled in Zoro's hold..

Luffy stepped next to Zoro and Sher. "You can't stop them either Sher," Luffy said watching Zack swing at Sanji. "Look at them Sher, they want to do this. I'd almost say they had to do this."

Sher looked up at Luffy confused. "What the hell is wrong with you Luffy? They're going to pummel each other!"

Luffy watched as Zack's fist finally connected with Sanji's face. Sanji went tripping backward a little but rebounded and kicked Zack in the stomach. Zack staggered back a few steps, caught his breath and charged again. "I know they are Sher, they have to. They're both fighting for something they want, something they believe in. Sanji wants to make you and Evan his family, Zack doesn't want to lose his captain." Luffy frowned at Sher a little, something he rarely did. "Getting involved like that with your mate is a bad idea Sher. Shipmates should be your good friends, your companions, but not your bed buddies. You should know that as a captain." He looked back at Sanji and Zack. They were still at it, swinging and dodging. "You had a hard time of it though Sher, I understand that. Even good captains make mistakes sometimes. You are still Zack's captain no matter what though, right Sher?"

Sher was frowning at Luffy even though his frown was already gone. It sounded like he was lecturing her on how to be captain. "Yes Luffy, I'm the godamn captain of this ship!"

Luffy cut his eyes over to Sher. "There's no need to yell at me. I'm not the one who made this mess."

Sher heard Zoro grunt in agreement behind her. "Luffy!" Sher warned.

"Don't worry about it Sher, I'll make them stop. I just want to give them a chance to beat some of the frustration out of each other. They'll both be sore tomorrow, but at least they'll be done fighting."

Sher shook her head at Luffy. Out on deck Zack and Sanji were beating the snot out of each other. "Somebody is going to get hurt."

"A little, but then maybe they'll think twice before they decide to do this crap again."

Luffy logic was the damnedest thing. Sher saw Sanji kick Zack in the chin. A second later Zack punched Sanji in the gut. "You'll stop them Luffy?"

Luffy nodded watching the fight. "Yep, before anyone really gets hurt."

Sher couldn't believe she was agreeing with Luffy, but he was right. He would stop the fight before Sanji or Zack could get hurt, for now they were holding their own against each other. Both of them knew how to give and take one hell of a beating. If Sher tried to break it up they would just get mad at her. She shook her head. "I can't believe we're letting them do this."

"Well, they aint killin' each other or tearing up the ship," Zoro tried to reassure Sher a little. "You know they're holding back some. If they weren't I figure Z woulda made mashed potatoes outta Sanji's face and Sanji woulda kicked Z right off the ship."

Luffy giggled. "That's for sure. They're probably not going all out because of Evan too. He's in bed right Sher?"

Sher thought this was a strange time for Luffy to bring up Evan, but she saw the point he and Zoro were trying to make. Sanji and Zack weren't going all out; they were mindful not to damage her ship, maybe trying not to kill each other with Evan drifting off to sleep downstairs too. She looked back up at the two men fighting on deck. Blood was running down Zack's face from a slice above his right eye and his nose was smashed and bleeding. Sanji was bleeding too. There was a cut on his left cheek and blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. Sanji dodged Zack again and kicked him in the back. "Luffy…"

"In a minute Sher," Luffy said quietly watching his cook.

Zoro put an arm around Sher to hang on to her in case she wanted to break it up before Luffy did. "Hell of a way to end our first journey together eh captains? Oh well, at least everybody's got their cards up on the table now."

Luffy knew that what Zoro was saying was mostly right. He also knew that the captains standing here hadn't shown their hand yet, not to their crew, not to each other. Luffy didn't have to spend a lot of time aboard the Rose Red to know what was going on over here, what they were up to. Sanji's theory had been correct too. If Sher and her mates went after the Arizona, they would all end up with a bounty on their heads. Sher would be joining Luffy on the marines wall of wanted pirate captains. Luffy decided he better make time to talk with Sher before the two ships parted company.

Luffy waited until it looked like Zack was starting to tire before he interceded. He wrapped them each in a rubber arm and held them away from each other. "That's enough you two. Aren't you done yet?" He gave them a minute to catch their breath and let them go when Zoro and Sher arrived behind him. Sanji was watching Zack, but Zack was focused on Sher.

Sher walked up to Zack frowning. She already knew the best way to handle this, even if it did seem a little mean. "What the hell do you think yer doin brawling all over my deck number one? Ya got blood all over the place!"

Zack frowned a little at Sher. Whatever else might be going on in his head, Zack's ear was still ringing from one of Sanji's kicks, Sher was still captain of this ship. Zack did his best to straighten up, he was pretty sure he had a couple of cracked ribs, but he wasn't about to let Sanji see that he was in pain. "Sorry captain."

Sher took Zack's chin in her hand and turned his face for a good look at him. "Look at you swab, yer all fucked up." She let him go scowling at him. "Get your ass down to the infirmary and let Mimi fix you up. Now sailor." Sher stepped back toward Luffy. Zack shot Sanji one more cold blooded look and headed below deck.

Sanji lit up a cigarette. It muted the taste of blood in his mouth. He stood there bleeding watching Sher. Waiting for her to come over to him, maybe yell at him too.

It was Luffy who got to Sanji first though, "Sanji, you should let Chopper get a look at that cut under your eye." It looked beep enough to need a stitch or two. Zack's iron fist did that; no normal fist could even scratch Sanji.

Sanji puffed. "I'm fine, just need to wash my face is all." He watched Sher as she came to stand between him and Luffy.

"Just listen to Luffy, would ya Sanji?" Sanji didn't look as banged up as Zack did, but he had a nasty cut that should be looked at.

"Fine, but only if you come over to da Merry Go wid me." The captain seemed to have Zack under control, he would be busy for a while getting his face stitched up too. Dat guy is gonna be sore all over tomorrow. Sanji didn't want to give Zack the chance to speak to Sher before Sanji could. If he was going, so was she. Sanji started toward the gangplank hooking Sher's arm in his own as he moved by her. Sher resisted a little at first, but Zoro gave her a slap on the ass from behind. Sanji blew his smoke at Zoro and they all headed over to the Merry Go.

8.

Sher sat between Zoro and Ussop on Zoro's bunk watching Chopper sew two small stitches into Sanji's cheek. Sanji sat on his bunk getting stitched, twiddling his lighter in his hand impatiently. He watched Choppers face as his weird hands did the doctors work. Every so often he peeked up at Sher. She had noticed the pictures tacked to the wall behind him over his bunk. The ones that Ussop had drawn of Evan playing blocks and Sher at the rail of the Rose Red.

Chopper finished and stepped back. He reached his hand in his bag and pulled out a band aid. He covered the two new stitches with the soft pad. "You're all set Sanji."

"Thanks Chopper." He waited for Chopper to take his voodoo bag and step away before he lit up a cigarette. "See, I told youz dis was nothin," he directed at the trio on Zoro's bunk as he smoked.

Sher got up and went over to Sanji. She couldn't help but notice what he had done with Ussop's drawings. "You guys shouldn't have been fighting at all Sanji," she sighed.

Sanji grabbed Sher's hand and pulled her to sit down on his bed beside him. "Why not? He thinks he's right and I know I am." He smiled a little at Sher and pointed at his band aid. "See, I even let him hurt me a little."

Sher frowned at Sanji. "That's not funny Sanji."

"You worried how bad I hurt him? I took it easy on dat guy Sher."

"You want me to thank you guys for not going nuts and destroying my ship!"

Sanji lost his smile. He was aware that his mates were watching and listening. "What did ya want me to do Sher? He came after me. He called me a piece a shit."

The captain in her couldn't help but be angry they had fought on her ship; the pirate in her had just wanted to watch the fight. Sher shook her head to clear her thoughts. "You antagonized him Sanji, but that's no excuse either. Z is gonna be doing all of the shit jobs for the next month for pulling a stunt like this."

"Cut the kid some slack," Zoro butted in from his bunk. "Z will be alright after he settles down."

Sher frowned up at Zoro. "He undermined my authority as captain," she growled as Luffy walked in. Luffy stopped in the doorway and listened to Sher. "I gave him an order and he didn't follow it. On my ship, that's called mutiny motherfucker."

Zoro recoiled. He didn't want Sher turning that anger on him. She favored him with a look Zoro found to be meaner then a snake. He felt bad for Zack, but clearly he couldn't help the guy out. Maybe he could try again after Sher was done fuming. He raised his hands in surrender. "Alright Sher, you deal with it your way."

"Of course she will," Luffy said matter of factly. "Sher is the captain."

Sher nodded at Luffy and got to her feet. "I'm going to go say goodnight to Evan. I think you guys just better hang out over here tonight." She looked at Luffy. "Let's get the navigators together in the morning. Make some final plans."

Luffy nodded at Sher and moved away from the door as Sanji stood up beside her. "I'm going to say goodnight to Evan too." Sher rolled her eyes over to him. "Don't gimme no shit Sher. I didn't get ta tuck him in neither." Sher shook her head and walked out, Sanji followed.

9.

Sher led Sanji over to the Rose Red and down to Evan's room. She resisted the urge to detour to the infirmary and check on Zack. She would just have to deal with him later, better to wait until morning when all was calm again. Evan was snoring when they came in. Sher bent and kissed him and moved out of the way so Sanji could too.

Sanji stared down at Evan. He looked more like Sher when he was asleep. It was the pouty lips and long eyelashes. Sanji was quiet for a minute, letting Sher settle down. He didn't want to hear anymore of her angry captain bullshit. He needed to make her talk to him as a woman and the mother of his son. When he was fairly sure she was calm again, Sanji spoke quietly. "I meant what I said to him Sher." Sanji looked up into Sher's eyes.

Sher thought of the drawings tacked up next to Sanji's bed. "You meant what?"

"I'm coming back for you, both of you." He stepped closer to Sher and took her hand. "I wanna take care of Evan and I want you to be wid us. We belong together Sher, you know we do."

She remembered the way Sanji had presented his ultimatums to her right before they gave in and ended up in each others arms. "Look Sanji, I already told you I'm not willing to give up what I've got going on here."

"Not yet, I know dat." Sher wasn't as done playing pirate captain as Sanji wanted her to be, but he was more then ready and willing to take Evan off of this ship and someplace safe to wait for her. "And I already told you Evan and I will wait for you."

"I'm not letting you take Evan." Sher looked back at her sleeping son. It was better to get out of here if Sanji wanted to have this talk. She didn't want to raise her voice and wake Evan. Sher pointed to the pass door to her room. "Through there."

Sanji didn't need to be asked twice to lead them into Sher's bedroom. It was nice in here, but not too girly. All of the hardwood furniture was secured to the wall or the floor. Sher had a big bed with a dark red coverlet thrown over it. Sher came in behind Sanji and closed the door. "Have a seat," she gestured to an overstuffed reading chair.

Sanji was looking at her dresser. She had framed Ussop's drawing of the Rose Red. The picture of Sanji and Evan was also framed. Sanji noticed the one picture she hadn't got around to framing yet and he picked it up. It was the drawing Ussop had done of mommy and daddy for Evan. Ussop had embellished the picture for the little guy. In the drawing, Sanji was holding Sher's hand and the two were looking at each other with all of the love Sanji felt for Sher in their eyes. Sher wasn't wearing her grubby work clothes either. Ussop had drawn her wearing a pretty dress. She was smiling up at Sanji in the picture. "Dat's real nice," Sanji said smiling at the picture a little sadly. If only it was that easy.

"Evan likes it," Sher said and sighed quietly.

Sanji looked up at Sher again. "I like it too. Dis is how things outta be Sher." He set the drawing back on her desk and took a seat on her bed. He patted the spot next to him. "Come on over here Sher. I need to talk to you."

Sher thought so too. She went and sat down on the bed, making her self comfortable. She stared at the bruise coming in on the left side of Sanji's mouth. "Evan and I aren't leaving this ship Sanji."

If Sher put Evan in danger on her next voyage, Evan would be. "I'm a patient guy Sher. I've already waited for you for years, what's a couple more months right?"

"Just what is it with you guys that makes you think I'm just going to go running back to you Sanji huh? In case you haven't noticed, things have changed. I have changed. What makes you so sure I want to be with you?" Sher was frustrated with the way everyone seemed to be making all of her decisions for her, telling her how things were going to be.

Sanji took Sher's hand and leaned closer to her looking down into her eyes. He could still picture her wearing his shirt and nothing else last night leaning against her fancy desk and sipping the strong rum. It had compelled him to take her again. "I know you still love me Sher. There is something real special between us and I don't just mean Evan either. I know things are different now but our feelings for each other haven't changed. It's like all da time dat stood between us never even happened. I know you felt it too Sher."

Sher looked up at Sanji trying to keep the heat out of her cheeks. Sher thought she had been over Sanji a long time ago, but after last night she couldn't lie to herself anymore. She hadn't abandoned her feelings for Sanji; she had just locked them away deep in her heart where she would never have to feel them again. "The Rose Red," she tried to focus.

"I know Sher. You got a lot goin on right now. I'm not askin for you to jump ship just yet. I understand it could be a while before yer ready ta leave here and make us a family, but I do believe ya will do it Sher. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not next month, but sooner or later yer gonna realize dat being wid me and Evan is what you really want. You said you came to the grand line to get rich fer Evan. You're doin it for da house wid the picket fence in east blue right?"

She couldn't pull her eyes away from Sanji's. All of the things he was saying were hitting home. The captain found that the woman in her that loved Sanji and Evan wanted to be the one to answer. "Yeah, that's right Sanji."

"We can all be together. That's my deepest dream. I wanna be wid you and Evan. I love you Sher." Sanji leaned over and kissed her. She startled for a second, but Sanji wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Sher melted into Sanji and he held her tighter. I won't give up Sher, not on Evan and not on you. Look into your heart. See what it is that you really want.

10.

Zack went to bed miserable and woke up sore. Mimi had stitched up his brow and covered it with a bandage. She had taped up two of his ribs too. He spent most of the rest of last night in the galley drinking with Duke; he hadn't dared go look for the captain. She might have just beaten him up some more. Dawn was breaking when the need to pee got Zack out of bed. He staggered out into the hall in the dim.

Zack was shuffling toward the bathroom when he thought he smelled cigarette smoke. It was way too early for Sanji to be on board. Smoke stink from last night? Zack frowned as he moved through the dark hall. He was tempted to turn back toward the captain's room, but he didn't think the smell was coming from there. It was coming from ahead of him, further up the hall.

The door to the bathroom popped open and Sanji stepped out. He was barefoot and shirtless, finishing a cigarette. He saw Zack coming toward him. He looked pissed off, but he also looked pretty freekin surprised to see Sanji coming out of the bathroom. Guess he didn't know I stayed over. Sanji grinned a little as he walked closer to Zack. "Mornin' Z. How you doin?"

Zack stopped in his tracks and glared at Sanji. The Luffy pirate did the same. Zack kept his voice low so that he wouldn't wake any of his mates. "Enjoy it while it lasts Sanji cuz once we pull away from the Merry Go it is over. I'm not letting you take my captain away from us and I've got shit loads of time to be the voice of reason in her ear."

Sanji blew smoke at Zack. "I don't think what you got to say means jack shit Z."

"Really?" Zack was getting angrier, but he was staying quiet. "Well ya know what Sanji," he snarled the other man's name. "My captain listens to every word her first has got to say, especially when it comes to this ship. She aint got time for boyfriends and if she gets a little lonely and needs a good fuck, I'm right here." He was pleased with the frown he had worked out of Sanji. There was genuine hatred in his eyes. "Just because you got lucky this time Luffy pirate, don't expect it to happen again. I will never sit back and let Sher go running back to a piece of shit like you. You abandon her Sanji; you've got no right to Sher at all. I am the one that took care of her; I am the one that was there for her. I am the one that she will listen to and I'll be more then happy to take Sher to bed and make her forget you all over again. Why don't you think about that on those long nights out at sea eh Sanji?"

Zack was fixing to be more trouble then Sanji had bargained for, Zoro had hinted as much. "You fuck wid Sher and I'll hurt you for real next time," Sanji warned.

Zack smiled hatefully. "I'd love to fight you on dry land Sanji. You weren't the only one who took it easy because of this ship."

Sanji's lip curled into a snarl. Obnoxious punk. "You wanna make a date asshole?"

Zack chuckled. "I doubt that will be necessary. I'll have Sher straightened out before she sees you again. I've got no worries." Zack had accomplished making Sanji feel as pissed and threatened as Zack did right now. With his mission accomplished he pushed past Sanji and headed into the bathroom.

Sanji watched Zack go wondering how much trouble the little bastard was going to try to make for him. He knew Zack wasn't about to surrender his captain, things were going well for Sher and her crew.

You abandon her Sanji

Sher had said something like that too. He left her sitting in jail while he sailed off to the grand line. Sanji hated himself for it, had tried not to think about it. Now he had to. He needed to know why Sher's heart had turned against him. What had she been through that made Zack hate Sanji so much?

I'll be more then happy to take Sher to bed and make her forget you all over again.

Forget me again huh ya little shit. I dun think so. As far as Sanji was concerned, Zack was just some fucked up version of the 'rebound boyfriend'. Sher would make her subordinate suffer if he showed his petty jealousy, but perhaps Zack had other ways of talking Sher into doing what he wanted. Sanji wasn't crazy about leaving the freak alone with Sher for a month, maybe two. He shuffled back down the hall to Sher's room.

He would talk to Sher this morning; his crew could fend for themselves for once. Sanji wanted things straight with Sher before they set sail. Time was running out. She stirred as Sanji crushed out his cigarette. Sanji went and sat down on the bed and watched Sher come awake. "Mornin' beautiful," he said with a little smile.

Sher stretched and yawned trying to wake up. It had been a long time since she had fallen asleep with Sanji beside her. She had tried to get him to leave last night, but he wouldn't. Deep down, she didn't mind. "Don't you have a crew to feed?"

"They can eat each other fer all I care," Sanji said still smiling. "This is probably our last day on da Rose Red together fer a while Sher. "I'm spending it wid you and Evan. I think we need to talk a little more."

Sher wasn't awake enough to argue. "Jeez Sanji, haven't we talked enough?"

Sanji looked down into Sher's sleep puffy eyes wondering what she had been through, wondering what had made her turn to Zack in the first place. "Maybe just a little more, okay Sher?" Sanji leaned over and kissed her. He was pleasantly surprised she pulled him down on top of her. It was obvious what she wanted to do right now, and talking wasn't it. Sanji pushed Zack out of his mind and focused his attention on Sher; she was still naked under the blanket. Sanji decided their talk could wait, he couldn't resist early morning sexy.

11.

Sanji wanted to lie around in bed with Sher for a while, but no luck. She dressed quickly reminding him she had to met Luffy and get the navigators together one more time this morning. She promised they could talk later and headed topside while Sanji got dressed for the second time that morning.

Sher went into the galley to grab some juice and maybe some toast. To her surprise Luffy and Zoro were sitting with her crew having breakfast. Luffy was shoveling French toast into his mouth mumbling about how good it was and how Sanji never made it like this. She looked from her crew; Zack was sitting between Zoro and Nails stirring his scrambled eggs with his fork and not looking up at her, back to the Luffy pirates. "What are you guys doing here so early?"

"Eating," Luffy shoved another forkful of French toast into his mouth. "I was starving," he said with one hand over his mouth as he chewed.

Duke handed Sher a glass of juice. She took it and guzzled half of it nervously. "What about Nami?"

Zoro sipped his own juice and stabbed a sausage link onto his fork. "You know that girl sleeps in. Why not sit and have breakfast with us Sher."

Sher looked at Zoro; she caught the way Zack had looked at him too. Luffy patted the seat next to him and Sher sat down. "Just toast Duke," she addressed the cook. "I gotta lot of work to do finishing up those lists."

Luffy swallowed a huge mouthful of food and chased it with his orange juice. "We gotta take on some supplies in Coffee Town too. We can all see the sights together." Luffy grinned at Sher trying to brighten her mood and lean him his way. Before Luffy rested his head tonight, he would have his moment alone with the captain of this ship. No doubt about it.

"Sure Luffy," Sher sipped her juice and waited for her toast.

Zack cleaned his plate and stood up. He took it to the sink then headed for the door. He stopped for a second and looked back at Sher. "I'm gonna go get the blood off yer deck captain. After that I'll finish the bowsprit. That okay with you?" It was damn hard to look at her this morning. She hadn't just fucked Sanji again; she had let the bastard sleep in her bed with her. Zack swallowed his jealousy before it could show.

Sher nodded coolly at Zack. "It's a start mate, now move yer ass." Zack nodded and went out. Sher sighed quietly and leaned back in her chair.

Luffy finished his juice and looked over at Sher. He spoke quietly, just to her. "I figure after our meeting this morning you'll probably want to spend the day with Evan and Sanji." Sher looked over at him and Luffy smiled again. "Promise me you'll come ashore with me when we get to port. I wanna talk to ya too before we split up. Captain stuff."

Sher frowned a little at Luffy remembering the way he had stood back and watched Sanji and Zack fight last night. Luffy always did like a good fight. "You got it Luffy."

Luffy giggled a little. "Good then it's a date! More juice please Duke!"

12.

Sher spent the rest of the morning holed up in her office making her log book entry and generating a list of supplies that the Rose Red would have to take on in Coffee Town. Sanji went over to the Merry Go to get cleaned up while Mimi gave Evan a bath. The two ships pulled into port in the late morning. The captains and the navigators got together right after lunch and plotted the course. The two ships would split up in Coffee Town and meet back up six weeks from now in Port Christie. It would give Sher pleanty of time to take care of business.

Sanji was able to talk Sher into taking Evan to the park with him while Mimi and Charlie did some shopping. He knew she couldn't stay with them all day, there was still some shopping to do herself for the Rose Red. He had already tried to get her to push the list off onto her crew, but Sher wouldn't hear it. She was the captain.

Evan was making nice with another little man in the sandbox. Sanji and Sher sat together on the bench watching him play. Sanji reached over and took Sher's hand as they watched their son. "Hey Sher," Sanji had been dreading this conversation, but if they had it in a public place they would both have to keep their cool. He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Can I ask you something?"

Sher looked at Sanji. He looked upset, depressed. She thought it might be because tomorrow they would be saying good by again. "What is it Sanji?"

"What's da real story with you and Z? What were you doin fuckin yer first mate ta begin wid?" he kept his voice calm and quiet. He didn't want to start a fight, he just wanted some answers. "He seems ta hate me pretty good and I don't think it's just cuz me and you is together again."

Sher sighed and looked down at her hand entwined with Sanji's. The trip to the park had been an ambush; Sher couldn't yell at Sanji in public, but it least that worked both ways. "Sanji…" she hoped he would drop it, but she knew better.

"He thinks I abandon you, so do you don't ya?"

Sher shrugged. "Well, you did. Not knowing about Evan isn't excuse enough. If you had really loved me Sanji, you woulda come to find me."

It hurt him to hear, but he had to know it all. "I didn't abandon you Sher. Don't even think for a minute that I didn't love you either." He gave her hand a squeeze. "I made them sit in Ices fer two whole weeks. After dat, I figured you wasn't comin back, that I scared ya away wid all my grandious plans for our future." Sanji sighed defeteatedly. "I was gonna ask ya if ya wanted to get married when we left Ices, but ya never showed up to be asked."

Sher stared at Sanji. He had never told her that before. "I… I didn't know."

"What happened after ya got outta jail?"

Sher took a breath to compose herself. "They let me out when they found out I was pregnant. I headed to Ices, but you guys were long gone. I sailed east blue for as long as I could thieving myself a fat stash. I was sick a lot near the end, that's how I met Mimi. Her son had died a little over a year before I met her. She was a good doctor too. She came aboard the Avalon and I had Evan in the bed we made him in." Sanji gave her hand another squeeze. His eyes were sad. "It was too cramped on the Avalon for the three of us, so I put almost all of what I had into the Rose Red about a month after Evan was born. I decided that my savings wasn't big enough to support Evan for long, but the treasure in the grand line… I met Z in a bar the second time me and Mimi wrestled Rose Red into port. I needed more hands on deck, and he needed to get out of the shitty town he was stuck in so he came aboard as my first."

Sanji had heard some of this before. Zack had said he had been there since Evan was two months old. It bothered Sanji to think how much time Zack had been able to spend with Sher and his son, but he tried not to let it show. Sanji nodded for her to go on.

"I picked up the rest of my crew pretty quick and pointed us toward the grand line. I hit the bottle pretty hard for a while. It was Z that was there for me Sanji. He became my drinkin buddy, the guy that pulled me out of my own puddle of puke and got me home. He roughed up anybody that tried to mess with me in the bars, he even took over captains duties when I stayed in bed with a hangover." Sher sighed at the horrible memories coming back to her. "I was just… so lost without you Sanji. I had Evan and Rose Red and the grand line… just everything pressing down on me like a big fuckin weight."

"So when did you two go from drinkin biddies ta bed buddies? What's up wid dat Sher?" Sanji was still all calm on the outside, but inside he was a mess. Sher had been through a lot of unnecessary pain all because I didn't go look for her.

She frowned a little. She had been expecting some horrible comment from Sanji, but he was keeping his cool. "He had been aboard for about eight months the first time it happened. I remember cuz Evan's first birthday was coming up. We went into town to buy him some preasents and afterword we hit the bar. I spent a few hours in there getting shitty and listening to the stories about what happened in Arlong Park. After a while, Zack dragged me outta there. We went back to the ship and had a few more drinks…"

Sanji didn't need the graphic details he got the point. His heart twisted in his chest. "But dat wasn't da only time was it Sher?"

She looked back at Evan. He and the other child were constructing a fort of sand. "No, it wasn't. We were… together… for a couple of months, but once we got to the grand line it was over."

Sanji felt the knife in his back. A couple of months? "Have you been fuckin him since ya got to da grand line?"

"It happened a few times, but he knows that there cant be anything like that between us." She looked at Sanji again. He looked crushed and furious at the same time. "The last time was months ago Sanji and it was the last time."

No wonder Zack hated him. The guy thought that Sanji had just knocked Sher up and run out on her. In a way, he had. When she fell apart over losing Sanji and taking on the responsibilities of mommy and captain, Zack had picked up the pieces. "I'm not so sure he understands that its all done wid you two Sher. The little fucker is in love wid you."

Sher shook her head. "No, he loves the Rose Red."

"Sure as long as yer on it to do the captaining. He's just waitin for his next shot to get you in bed. He wants you on da Rose Red almost as much as I want you and Evan wid me somewhere."

Sher was trying not to get upset. "Z is loyal to me and my ship. That's all it is Sanji."

"He hates me for what I did to you. Dat's okay cuz I hate me too." Sher looked up at him with surprised sad eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't come lookin fer you Sher. Can you ever forgive me for what I've done? For leavin you all alone wid Evan like dat?" Sanji was feeling the bottom line and it told him that this mess was his fault. None of this would have happened if he left the Luffy pirates in Ices and went to find his woman. Sanji sighed sadly. "I shoulda gone lookin fer you. I knew dat in my heart and in my gut. Why da hell didn't I!"

Sher tried to smile at Sanji. "It's okay Sanji. It's in the past. That shit is all over now."

"What about us Sher? I don't want us to be all over now or in da past. I wanna make a life wid you and Evan. I gotta lotta lost time ta make up to both of you."

Sher's emotions wrestled within her. Part of her wanted to tell Sanji to piss off, that he got what he deserved from her which was a big ol' pile of nothing. The part of her that had hurt so deeply because of him. Evan wasn't the only life in her hands either, she had a crew to think about and they had made some pretty big plans. She didn't deny that she still loved Sanji, but she was far from ready to settle down with him and Evan someplace yet. "I need more time to think about this Sanji."

"I love you Sher. You know I do," he was ready to plead with her if he needed to. He wanted to bring her around to his way of thinking before Zack bent her ear for the next six weeks. "I understand how you feel about yer ship and yer crew too, I got mates of my own ya know. Every one of em means a lot to me too, but you and Evan mean more then all a them put together." He slid closer to her and put an arm around her. "This is what I want Sher, me and you and Evan. I wanna make you happy."

"I am happy Sanji." She tried to smile again, but it felt fake on her lips.

Sanji leaned his face closer to Sher's. "Do you love me Sher?" he knew she did, but damnit he wanted to hear her say it just once before we gotta split up.

"Of course I do Sanji…"

"You know what I mean Sher. Are you as in love wid me as I am wid you?" Sanji could see how hard it was for her to admit it, to say it out loud to him.

Sher looked up at Sanji struggling with her emotions; loving him and hating the demanding bastard at the same time. "Sanji I…" he pulled her closer staring down into her eyes. "I love you too Sanji."

All of Sanji's unpleasant feelings melted away in an instant. He felt light as a feather. He kissed Sher, smiled at her and kissed her again. "I want you to be my woman Sher. I want us to be together, a couple ya know."

Sher could see how happy her words had made Sanji. She felt her own heart lighten at his smile. "I know what you want Sanji. I guess we can work something out, but I'm not leaving the Rose Red…"

Sanji didn't need her to finish. He already knew what she was going to say. She wasn't ready to jump ship just yet, but in time she will. Maybe she'll miss me enough to be ready to settle down next time we meet up. Sanji kissed Sher again, he didn't even care who was watching. He was too happy to care about much right now. All Sher needed was a little time, then he and Sher and Evan would finally be able to be a family. "It's all gonna work out Sher, I promise. Daddy's home to stay." Sanji hugged her tight and kissed her again.

13.

Later in the afternoon Nails and Duke showed up to confinscate Sher. She went with her mates and finished the shopping. They were headed back to the dock when Luffy came jogging up to them. "Hey guys," he greeted stepping up next to Sher and throwing an arm around her shoulder. Luffy looked over at Sher. "You didn't forget did you? We have a date captain." Luffy favored her with a huge grin.

Sher remembered Luffy wanted to talk to her. She smiled back at him. "Captain stuff right?" he giggled and nodded. Sher turned to Nails. "Go on you guys, get outta here. I'll catch ya later." Her mates nodded and carried their bags in one direction while Luffy spun them around to face the other.

Luffy led Sher back into town and to a huge inn. He already had a room on the top floor overlooking the sea. The materdie should have brought first dinner up to Luffy's room by now too. Luffy brought Sher up to his room, his food was there. A huge table was covered with steaming dishes and they all smelled good. "Oh boy!" Luffy beamed as he sat at the table to dig in. "Come on in and have something Sher."

Sher sat at the table next to Luffy as he proceeded to stuff his face. She reached for the huge pitcher of meade and poured them each a mugfull. "Aint you gonna eat with your crew?"

"Sure I am, but this is first dinner. If I get a little full now I wont make such a pig of myself later." Luffy swallowed some chicken and smiled at Sher. He took the meade she offered him and chased his food down with a cool drink.

Sher snorted a laugh at Luffy and sipped her own drink. "I see." She sipped again. "So what do you wanna talk about Luffy? How come you dragged me up here?"

Luffy finished his mashed potatoes in two heaping forkfuls. "The Arizona is a merchant ship mostly, but they do have a contract with the marines."

Sher took a bigger sip watching Luffy move on to green beans. He was shoveling first dinner down his throat pretty quick. "Yeah I know."

Luffy finished his first plate and set it aside. He reached for the fish and chips next and put the plate in front of him. "Carrying payroll mostly. There's a lot of gold on that ship." Luffy looked up at Sher as he popped a french fry in his mouth. "I'm guessin that you guys are going after all of that gold."

Sher supposed it was natural for Luffy to be curious about her pirate escapades. It was funny how he had figured it all out without anyone ever saying anything to him. Well, he is a captain. Sher's naughty smile escaped again. "Yeah, so?"

Luffy returned Sher's devious grin. "It's gonna put your face on a wanted poster Sher. Maybe they'll hang it up right next to mine."

Sher shrugged and took a drink as Luffy forked half of his fillet into his mouth. "I don't really give a shit Luffy."

Luffy washed the fish down with another generous gulp of meade. "I figured you'd say something like that." He stared at Sher, forgetting his food for the moment. "You're not ready to give up being a captain are ya Sher?"

Sher shook her head. "I owe it to Evan and my crew to make us all stinkin rich."

"Then why don't you just come with us to find one piece?"

"Easy Luffy, I got my own plans ya know?"

Luffy already knew what kind of plans Sher had. The Bloody Thorns would become fearsome raiders of the grand line with her leading them. "What's going on with you and Sanji? Are you guys, ya know, all back together now and stuff?"

Sher's cheeks darkened and she hid behind her mug. "We're still working some things out Luffy."

Luffy stabbed the other half of his fillet on his fork. "You guys are in love right? How do you intend to keep something like that going if you go for months at a time without seeing each other and being together?" he stuffed the fish in his mouth and watched Sher while he chewed.

"Why should it matter if we go our own way for a while?" Sher was getting defensive. There was a strange look in Luffy's eyes.

"You might be able to pull that crap with Zack, but Sanji aint gonna go for it."

Sher's eyes widened in surprise. "Luffy!"

Luffy swallowed hard. "Zack is willing to sit on his hands and wait for you to come to him. My guess is that's how it always has been with you two." He ignored the frown Sher was giving him for the moment. "But Sanji, he'll chase ya Sher. He'll hound you until he gets his way. He isn't going to give up until he's got you and Evan at his side."

Sher scowled at Luffy. "Look Luffy, there is nothing going on with me and Z anymore. I told him that a long time ago and I'll tell him again if he needs to be reminded. I'm his captain, not his squeeze." Sher paused to take another swig of her drink. "As for Sanji, well don't worry about it. I aint takin your cook nowhere and I aint leaving my ship."

Luffy sat watching Sher holding his mug in one hand. After a minute he took another drink. It looked to Luffy like Sher was in full captain mode. It was a good thing considering the dicey plans she had for her ship. "Okay Sher, we'll do it your way for now. But I still want you to think about sailing with us. I'm sure us two captains can be pretty damn accomidating to each other while we're lookin for one piece."

Sher nodded once at Luffy. This little argument was over. "I'll think about it Luffy."

Luffy smiled at Sher again. He wouldn't mind at all if Sher led the way for a while. She was smart and tough, maybe she could bring Luffy closer to one piece. It would be nice to be sailing with another captain too. Sher and Luffy were equels in a way the others were not. "Aye aye captain," he said with a grin and drank again.

14.

After a big meal in town the two crews went back to the Rose Red for drinks. One by one they staggered off to bed as the long night wore on. It was late when Sher finally led Sanji below deck to kiss his son good by. Sanji wasn't ready to go just yet so he took them to Sher's room for a while. They ended up in bed again. Sanji spent the night with Sher holding her close while she slept peacefully.

In the morning Sanji said his good by's to Evan and Sher. He made it a point to kiss her passionately in front of Zack. Sanji disembarked as Sher headed off to do her captains duties. The ship was readying to leave port. Sanji looked back at the Rose Red. Zack was watching him go from the bow. Sanji lit up a fresh cigarette and glared at Zack. "Behave yerself around my woman Zack," Sanji shouted a warning.

Zack smiled at Sanji and saluted him with one metal finger. Sanji frowned at him, but Zack was done with Sanji for now. He turned his attention back to getting this ship the hell out of port.

Sanji exhaled a cloud of smoke. Stay away from Sher ya little bastard or I will hurt you. Sanji turned and headed back to the Merry Go. He really hoped that time would fly. He already missed Evan and Sher.

40