A Deep Blue Story

by Hack Interrupted

Nearly 3 years have passed since Sanji last saw Sher.

5. Chapter 5

Oasis in the Sun

1.

Luffy kept both ships running day and night. He wanted to get to the island Nami had selected as their hide out. By now, reinforcements would have arrived at Central Star, by now there would be a bounty on Sher's head. For the time being, running and hiding were the best options. The Rose Red needed repairs and her crew was in rough shape. Between Zack's leg and Duke's hands, Chopper had his hands full treating their mangled limbs. Sher recovered slowly. She couldn't stomach solid food yet, but she was keeping the soup Sanji made for her down. She spent most of the time in Sanji's bed drifting in and out of a restless sleep. When Sanji wasn't cooking, he was at Sher's side. Most of the time he would just lay beside her holding her while she shuddered in her sleep.

Luffy had taken Sanji over to the Rose Red to do some cooking for the crew. Zoro went down to his room to change his shirt before dinner. He had worked out hard on the deck of the Merry Go and he was a little sweaty. He peeked over at Sher when he came in; she was asleep, but mumbling. Zoro set his swords on the bed and stretched his arms. He pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it into the hamper. Sher mumbled louder. He thought he could make out don't touch me. Zoro turned and looked at her. She was clutching a fistful of blanket tightly and she was frowning. Sher was having another nightmare. She had been having a lot of them lately.

Zoro forgot about the clean shirt for a moment and walked over to the sleeping woman. He sat down on the bed beside her and rested his hand on her shoulder. Zoro shook her a little. "Sher, hey Sher wake up." He shook her a little harder to bring her around. Her eyes flew open and the scream died on her lips when she saw who was doing the waking.

"Zoro!" she panted. She was on the verge of screaming bloody murder. She had another bad dream. She sat up feeling dizzy, hearing her heart pounding in her ears.

"It's okay Sher. It was just a bad dream." He sat where he was for a minute watching her try to calm down. "You alright?"

Sher was a little embarrassed that she had to roused from her nightmare. She had been sleeping a lot these past two days. Her body was healing, her strength was slowly returning. She took a few deep breaths. "I'm okay. It was just a dream."

Zoro had an idea what her nightmares were about. "Dreamin about that damn cross again huh?"

Sher cut her eyes up to the swordsman surprised. "How did you…?"

Zoro smiled a little. "I got busted by the marines myself once. Spent three weeks tied to a cross in the yard." He dropped his eyes to her damaged wrists. "Luffy saved me from my cross too."

Sher had heard the story. It was almost comforting to know that she wasn't the only would be crucifixion victim floating around in the grand line. "I remember."

Zoro looked back up at Sher. Her face looked better this evening. The bruises seemed to be a lighter purple and her eye wasn't swollen anymore. "You'll get over it sweet cheeks. In time it will be just another bad memory."

Sher tried to smile. She doubted she would be getting over Drella's torture anytime soon, but she didn't want Zoro to see how deeply traumatized she was. "Yeah, sure."

He could see she was still hiding her anguish. Sher was a tough woman; she didn't want anyone to see her pain. Zoro stared into her eyes holding her attention. "He's dead Sher. He can't hurt you or Duke anymore."

"Duke…" she thought of how twisted and mangled his fingers had been. Frustrated tears wanted to come but she fought them. "Those bastards! Those filthy marine bastards!"

Seeing her get angry was preferable to seeing her break down, but Zoro knew what she was feeling in her heart. He had been down that road himself. He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. "It's okay Sher. I understand."

Sher startled at first, she wasn't in a real huggy mood these past few days, but Zoro didn't let go. She realized that of all the swabs on these two buckets, it was Zoro who could truly understand what Sher had gone through. She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him back. "Damnit Zoro!" she pressed her face against his shoulder.

Zoro held her carefully. He couldn't give her the squeeze he wanted to because of her healing ribs. "I know Sher, I know."

She fought back the tears. "They should all burn in hell!"

"I think most of 'em are," he tried to sooth. Zoro rubbed her back trying to calm her down. "It's not like we showed them any mercy."

Sher stifled the ludicrous laugh that tried to escape. As far as she was concerned everyone on that base needed to die. The bastards that threw stones at her, the bastards that made a sport of her in the yard, the bastards that wanted to rape her. "They all…" she grit her teeth unaware that her fingernails were digging into one of the swordsman's shoulders.

Under different circumstances, Zoro might have enjoyed Sher digging her claws into him. Her warm body was pressed against his bare chest, it was kinda nice. He tried not to smile. This is no time to be a slut, the thought almost made him laugh. "Take it easy sweet cheeks. You keep clawing on me like that and I'm gonna get all horney." Sher straightened at once, releasing his shoulder. She looked up at him with wide eyes and pink cheeks. Zoro laughed a little.

"Sorry," Sher said pulling away from the swordsman. It was slightly embarrassing to find herself in such a compromising position. "I didn't mean to…" Sher dropped her eyes and sighed heavily.

Zoro was grinning devilishly. "Yer hella sexy when yer mad ya know that?" he teased. He liked to see her cheeks turning pink because of his flirting. Knock it off. Sher is Sanji's woman. That made him smile more.

Sher looked at Zoro sidelong trying not to appear as embarrassed as she felt. "Oh really? Is that so?"

Zoro chuckled and stood up. It was too much fun to flirt with Sher. If Sanji came down and saw them like this he would be shiting kittens for a week. The thought made him chuckle again. "That's so," he said with a grin and turned back to his own side of the room. Zoro grabbed a fresh shirt and pulled it on. "So how bout it sweet cheeks? Wanna join me for some grub? Sanji's had some soup going for ya all day. Smells real good." He turned back to Sher. She was smiling a little.

Sher swung her feet to the floor slowly. It still hurt her taped ribs to move around too much. "I suppose so."

Zoro went to her and helped her up. He steadied her with an arm around her waist, still grinning a little. "Nothing I like better then having dinner with a beautiful lady, except maybe drinks afterwards." He dropped her a wink and she laughed a little. Zoro led them up to the kitchen for chow.

2.

Duke was having dinner with the rest of the crew when Zoro led Sher in. Her cook stood and went to her. They gave each other a careful hug. "Yer too skinny captain," Duke teased. "Ya better eat some of this food Sanji made." His hands were splinted and bandaged. He let his captain go and gave her a wink. "Aint so bad havin a couple of pretty ladies feedin' me." Behind him Robin and Nami giggled. Duke couldn't use his hands so they had been assisting him at meals.

Sher pat Duke on the shoulder and stepped back. "You been hangin around Zoro too much," she teased back. "He's gonna turn ya into a slut." Zoro and Duke laughed and Sher smiled satisfied. "So where's Luffy?" Now that she was awake, she wanted to talk to the captain.

"Luffy and Sanji are over on your ship," Nami answered. She was cutting Duke's steak into bite size pieces. "Sanji has been pulling double duty feeding two crews."

Robin smiled sheepishly at the woman captain. "And when he's not cooking, he's with you." She thought it was romantic. Nami had told her about the engagement ring. She wondered when Sanji was going to pop the question. Probably soon, after Sher was feeling well again. She sighed dreamily.

Zoro couldn't resist being a dirty pirate. "They aint bumpin. I'd know. I sleep in that room too."

Ussop stood up blushing as the others laughed. He slept in that room too. He didn't think Sanji and Sher were getting funky after the other guys fell asleep, but Ussop had walked in on them kissing a few times. "How bout some soup Sher?" he asked moving toward the stove.

Sher Duke and Zoro took a seat as Ussop dished out a hot bowl of soup for Sher. "Thanks Ussop." She could see that he was red in the face. He had come down to his room for his sketch pad last evening and walked in on her and Sanji kissing in bed. She blushed a little herself as he set the bowl on front of her.

The soup seemed to revive her more and after dinner she went to sit on deck with Zoro and Ussop. Zoro pulled them all a mug of ale, Sher had agreed to have one or two. She didn't want to risk getting sick and throwing up with healing ribs. They sat on the steps with Sher in the middle sipping her drink and watching the Rose Red sailing beneath the moon. She missed her ship. She missed Evan too.

"I'm glad to see you up and around tonight," Ussop said after swallowing a big gulp of ale. He smiled at Sher. "Ya had me worried for a while."

Sher smiled back at Ussop. "I think I'm getting my strength back."

"That's great. I'm sure you'll be back to your old self in no time."

Zoro was watching the Rose Red. He saw Luffy and Sanji walk to the port rail and Luffy stretched a rubber arm over to the Merry Go. He came bouncing over with Sanji clinging to his back. They landed on deck and started toward the trio on the steps. "Hey guys," Zoro greeted and sipped his ale.

Sanji was happy to see that Sher was up and around. She looked better tonight then she had in days. He lit a fresh cigarette as he followed Luffy over to their friends. "Hey Sher. How you feelin? Did ya get something to eat?"

Sher nodded at Sanji. "I had some soup." She looked at Luffy. He was smiling at her a little. "So Luffy, where we going?" She was sure that Luffy was leading both ships even if Zack was acting captain on the Rose Red in her absence.

"Nami found an island with a secluded lagoon. Tala… uh… Tala…"

"Talamasca," Zoro filled in for Luffy and slugged some ale.

Luffy snapped his fingers. "Yup, that's it Talamasca."

Something about the name sounded familiar, but Sher couldn't quite place it. "A port in a lagoon?"

Luffy shook his head. "No way. The Rose Red can't be seen in port in these waters."

Sher frowned at Luffy a little. "Why not? I still have a mast that needs fixing."

Luffy eyed Sher down. He knew she didn't like to be told where to point her ship, but the Rose Red was a hot target right now. "We'll get yer mast fixed. I'm sure there's timber on the island. Nails will be able to make a new one and we'll all help get it up. No problem Sher." He flashed her a smile trying to win her over.

Sher lifted an eyebrow at Luffy suspiciously. "What's going on in that rubber brain of yers Luffy? It will take a week, longer maybe to make a new mast from scratch. Why the hell not just find a shipyard?"

"Cuz yer ship is hot Sher," Zoro grunted.

"And you probably got a bounty on yer head," Sanji added puffing on his cigarette. It cut him a little to see how eager she looked to get back to her ship. She don't belong there no more. She belongs wid me and Evan.

Sher looked up at Sanji. She knew he was right. "So what? So does Luffy."

Sanji shook his head. "Luffy aint recovering from getting his ass his crew and his ship all busted up. You are. It's better fer you ta stay outta sight fer a while."

She frowned at Sanji. Knowing he was right didn't make it any easier to hear. "Yeah yeah," she grumbled and sipped at her ale.

"I got it all figured out Sher," Luffy said confidently. "A week or two on Talamasca, then we'll go get Evan in the Merry Go."

She could understand why Luffy would want to go after her son in the Merry Go, it wasn't as big or as obvious as the Rose Red, but "It's better to go get Evan on the Rose Red. Faster."

Luffy nodded. "It's true that the Rose Red is faster, but the ship shouldn't be seen in these waters Sher. After we get Evan back, we'll all head further into the grand line. Put some distance between us and the marine ass we kicked all over the place."

"Oh yeah!" Ussop cried out. "I blew those fuckers straight to hell!" he took a big swig of ale puffing with pride.

Sher knew that it was Ussop's marksmen skills that had cleared the way for the Merry Go to rescue her and Duke. She patted his thigh. "You sure did."

Ussop blushed a little loving the praise. "Anything for you babe."

Sher and Ussop tapped their mugs together grinning. Sanji stepped forward. He looked from Zoro to Ussop. "Is one a you sluts gonna move yer ass so that I can sit wid my woman or what?"

Zoro chuckled. "Jeez Sanji, don't you know anybody that's not a slut?" the others broke into laughter and Sanji puffed his cigarette indignantly.

"Fuck you swordsman," Sanji teased back. He was too tired to argue.

3.

Late the next day the ships eased into the lagoon on the south side of Talamasca. They slid the gangplank into place and Sher stepped back onto her ship for the first time in what felt like forever. Her mates were on deck waiting for her and Duke. Sanji Luffy and Zoro came over with them. Nails was first to greet them. He hugged Sher carefully and squeezed the big cook hard. Charlie was next, and hobbling behind him was Zack. Sher hugged Charlie and looked at Zack as he came to them. She saw the crutches and his busted leg. Sher stepped forward to hug Zack next.

Zack hustled out of the lounge when he saw his captain come aboard. The others had got to her first, but he didn't mind. Sher looked a little rough, too thin and a little beat up, but she was smiling at him. "Captain!" he hurried over to her.

"Z!" Sher was happy to see him. He looked a little worse for the ware, but he was still very much alive. His eyes were bright and he was smiling broadly.

Zack reached Sher and let go of his crutches. He wrapped his arms around Sher using her to stand up. "Captain," he hugged her against him. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Same here sailor, same her." Sher was happy to be home.

Zack knew that he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it. "I missed you so much Sher," he whispered against her ear as he hugged her. "I was so worried." He shifted his weight slightly so that they were face to face. Zack pressed his lips to Sher's and kissed her.

Sanji was standing a couple of steps behind Sher. He saw Zack hug her, then the little bastard kissed her! Sanji stepped forward. It was no little peck on the lips Zack was giving his woman. He saw Zack trying to part Sher's lips with his own. "Hey!" Sanji snarled. "Hey hey hey!" He stepped up beside Sher as she turned her face away from Zack's. Sanji glared at Zack.

Zack flushed a little. He had almost got a little too carried away. He couldn't help it really. Sher's soft lips were intoxicating. "Sorry captain," he said quietly staring down at her. She wasn't looking at him, she was looking at the crutches he dropped to hug her.

I'll make ya sorry ya little shit. Real fuckin sorry. "Take it easy there gimpy," Sanji growled reaching for Zack's crutches. He didn't want Zack holding on to Sher anymore. That little kiss had been proof enough that the little shit still wanted Sanji's woman.

Sanji held Zack's crutches out to him and Sher helped him adjust his weight off of her and back onto them. Zack's kiss had been a little too friendly. Sher frowned at him. "You make a mess of my log book?" she wanted her mind elsewhere. Sanji was giving Zack the hard eyeball, biting on his cigarette some.

Zack chuckled a little. Sher was mad, but Sanji was stone cold furious. "I did my best captain." He smiled winningly at her. "I'm not as good at it as you are."

That was a fact. "When was the last time somebody did inventory around here? How are our supplies?" She looked up at the captain's lounge eager to get to her desk and see what kind of a mess she had aboard this tub.

"Umm," Zack hadn't thought about much beside Sher in better then a week. "I have some lists. Charlie and Nails have been keeping track of a lot of stuff. I'm not sure about everything though, Sanji has been in the kitchen."

"I been feedin' yer ass," Sanji snapped defensively.

"Okay guys, enough with the testosterone already," Sher barked. Behind her Luffy smiled. She sighed aggravated. Good to be home eh? "If you make a mess outta my ship's log I'll bust ya back down to chore boy," she growled turning to go to the lounge. "Enough with the welcomes, we got work to do."

4.

Sanji and Duke went to the galley to start up an inventory. Duke was relived and happy to be back in his kitchen again. He offered Sanji some wine while they counted sacks of potatoes and rice; Sanji accepted gladly. He was still pretty pissed over da little shit kissing his woman like that. The wine put him in a better mood and loosened his tongue. Duke was an easy man to talk to. "You believe dat guy? He practically stuck his tongue down her throat," Sanji complained making some notes in Duke's notebook.

Duke chuckled. Sanji had poured him a big mug of ale and Duke was sipping it through a straw. "Zack's crazy about the captain. Sorry Sanji, but that's just how it is. Don't think that the captain is gonna let him get away with that though. If he wasn't all busted up right now she'd have him swabbing the deck."

Sanji finished his glass of wine and poured himself another. "Yeah well, dat guy better realize dat it's over wid him and Sher. Daddy's home." Sanji lit a fresh cigarette and took a deep drag.

Duke nodded. "Sher told him that a long time ago Sanji, but the heart does what it wants despite what the brain tells it."

It was good to hear Duke confirm what Sher had told Sanji herself. It was all over with her and dat little shit. "I dun care what dat guy does wid his heart. It's what he did wid his lips that steams my clams."

Duke sipped at his ale. Drinking through a straw would get him tipsy quick. "You broke Sher's heart, Zack put it back together. They had a thing for a little while."

Sanji exhaled frowning at the other chef. "What are ya telling me dis shit for huh? You think I wanna hear dis shit?"

"Z is my mate Sanji. I love the son of a bitch. Sher will deal with him, its best to let her handle it." Duke smiled and sipped more ale. "You're crazy in love with her aren't ya Sanji? You mean to take our captain away. I'll warn ya now, the only way yer getting her off this ship is kicking and screaming."

Sanji could understand what Duke was trying to do. Zack had been his mate these past years, they were good friends. It was better to let the captain handle da little shit. "I'll throw a burlap sack over her head if I have ta," Sanji said relaxing again. He smiled at Duke as he fished in his pocket. "I don't think dat will be necessary though." Sanji pulled the ring box out of his pocket and popped it open. He showed the ring to Duke.

Duke's mouth fell open as he looked at the big diamond on the engagement ring Sanji produced. "Holy hell!" Duke sipped his ale again. "You're gonna ask the captain to marry you? Are you crazy?"

Sanji puffed on his cigarette. "Crazy like a fox."

Duke laughed heartily. "Good luck with that mate. But let me give ya a piece of advice, get used to this ship and get used to being the captains bitch cuz there's no way Sher is giving up the Rose Red. You might as well call this place home Luffy pirate."

Sanji laughed too. He closed the box and slipped it back into his pocket. "We'll just see about dat big guy." In his heart Sanji knew. It would likely be a battle getting Sher off of this ship and settled down in the house with the picket fence, but Sanji would never give up. And things were different now.

Sher was a wanted pirate captain. Her ship would be chased by every marine vessel that caught site of her. There were battles ahead for this ship and her crew. Sanji didn't want Evan to have any part of it, Sher neither. He wanted his family safe and that meant leaving the Rose Red. Whether she was done being a captain or not, Sher couldn't deny the cold hard facts. Sanji would have to make her choose between her ship and their son sooner or later.

5.

While the chefs were in the kitchen, Sher was trying to sort out what Zack had written in the ships log. His penmanship was terrible, but Sher was able to decipher most of his chicken scratches. Evan had been off the Rose Red for close to two weeks. It pained her to think of her little buddy so far away.

Zack hobbled into the captain's lounge carrying two notebooks. "Here ya are captain. Mimi and Choppers notes from the infirmary. We're out of morphine." He crutched his way over to the front of her desk and set the ledgers down on it.

Sher leaned back in her chair giving Zack the hard eyeball. She had missed him, she had worried about him. She kept it to herself how happy she was to see him again. She could tell from reading the log he had made the right decisions when it came to her son and her ship. That couldn't stand in the way of her doing her duty as his captain though. "You like this ship Z?"

Uh oh. Zack started to sweat. "I love the Rose Red, you know that Sher."

Sher tented her fingers. "So you don't want me kicking your ass off my ship in the next port?" She was going to have to be a hard ass to get through to him.

Zack blinked surprised. "I did my best captain! The logs can't be that bad!"

"The logs are fine it's your behavior that is unacceptable."

She's mad that I kissed her… "Sher?"

"What the hell were you thinking kissing me like that? I'm your captain Z, not your girlfriend. You were out of line sailor."

Zack figured he might get in trouble for kissing her in front of everyone. Even when she had been with him, it had been on the down low. "Come on Sher, I was just happy to see you. I missed you." He sat on the edge of her desk and looked down at her. "I miss you Sher. I miss us. If it weren't for that damn Sanji…"

Sher stood up. "That's enough Z!" She sighed frustrated. "There is no us. There hasn't been an us in a long time."

Then why did you let me into your bed after you dumped me Sher? "You were fine without Sanji around," he grumbled. Zack had been making progress until the battle that cost him his leg.

Sher was getting angry. "This isn't about Sanji," she growled.

Zack frowned. He was getting angry himself. "Sure it is Sher. He's the one fucking you now. He's got you all fucked up. Is it that good huh? Better then me?"

Sher was just as shocked as she was pissed. Zack was usually pretty direct with her, but this was too much. "What!"

Zack slid off the desk and balanced himself on his crutches. His anger was inflating like a balloon. "Is that it Sher?" he narrowed his eyes at her. He couldn't hide his hurt anymore. "Sanji does it for ya? That loser that left you and Evan to fend for yourselves? That fuck went and had himself a great time with his pirate pals while you were drinking yourself to death! I was there Sher I saw it!"

Sher clenched a fist. "That is enough Z!"

Zack didn't think so. He was angry and hurt, but he wasn't ready to give up on his captain, his love. "It will never be enough. That guy can never make up for what he did to you and Evan."

Sher stormed around her desk and got in Zack's face. "You better shut your mouth right now sailor!" Zack was stirring up bad memories. She was getting angrier.

"Why don't you tell Sanji to piss off? We were all doing just fine before he showed up."

"Shut up about Sanji already. This isn't about him, this is about you."

Sher was already furious with him so Zack kept going. He would leave his captain with a thing or two to think about. "Sure, it's about me. I'm the bad guy right?" Zack hissed through his teeth disgustedly. "I'll bet you every beri that I got saved up that piece of shit doesn't love you like I do. Not in his heart and not in your bed."

Sher's hand came up in a flash and connected with Zack's cheek. "How dare you!"

Zack let go of his crutches and grabbed the furious woman by her shoulders. "That's enough Sher!" he shook her a little. "I can't take it anymore! Wake the fuck up!"

"Let go of me Z," Sher warned.

"I won't. I can't. I'll never let you go to Sanji. You should be with me not him and you know it!"

Sher pulled away from Zack. He almost fell over, but Sher didn't care. She glared at him furious as he grabbed her desk for support. "I'm not the one that needs a wake up call Z, you are. It is over between us and what I do with Sanji is none of your business. I'm your captain and if you can't accept that then get the fuck off of my ship!"

Zack stared into Sher's burning eyes feeling the sting of her slap and her words. For now, it was best to back off. He swallowed hard. "Whatever you say captain," he snarled. Zack picked up his crutches and steadied himself. His words might have angered Sher, but he gave her something to think about. Hopefully he had planted the seed of doubt when it came to that damn Sanji. He looked at her once more, and then hobbled out closing the door behind him.

Sher sighed heavily. She was angry at Zack. Angry at herself too. Luffy had been right. Getting involved with her mate had been a bad idea. She didn't want the Rose Red to lose Zack. She owed him her life and she knew it. Sher clenched a fist. "Damnit." She had never needed a drink more in her life then she did right now.

6.

Sher stayed at her desk and started making lists of needed supplies. After Zack had left, she went ahead and poured herself a glass of decent whisky. She downed the first drink pretty quick and poured another. She sat staring at the log book with a pencil in her hand and the half empty second glass in front of her on the desk. She was trying to concentrate on making her lists, but her mind wanted to wander.

She couldn't help but think about Zack. Sher owed him a lot and she knew it. She could remember the day he had saved her from the sharks, the day he lost his arm. While Zack was bleeding all over the deck Sher had been hanging over the railing pukeing booze and salt water into the sea. They had been lovers in those days.

Is it that good huh? Better then me?

Sher looked for the notes she had made in the margins about cannon balls. Her mind didn't want to focus on her work. She could still remember the first time she let her first mate take her to bed. Zack had been a giving lover. He had made her forget Sanji, the only other man she had ever been with. Things had been pretty hot and heavy between them for a while, before things got dicey here in the grand line. Sher ended things with Zack then. There was no time for their quiet affair with ships to raid. She picked up her glass and downed half of what was left.

That guy can never make up for what he did to you and Evan.

Zack loved the hell out of Evan, the whole crew did. She could still see Zack playing monster with her son on the deck of her ship. Zack would chase Evan around growling and making silly noises. Evan would run giggling and screaming. Eventually Zack would catch him, tickle him a little or throw him up in the air and catch him. Sher remembered the first time Zack ever held Evan. Evan was just a tiny baby and Zack was nervous as hell. He beamed with pride when he got the baby to fall asleep in his arms. He had been a good pseudo father to her son. Sher sighed tiredly and scribbled some numbers down on a scrap paper.

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.

The door to the lounge popped open and Sanji came in. "Hey Sher. Dinner is ready. Ya gonna come and eat wid us?" he walked into the middle of the room looking at Sher. She looked aggravated; she had hit the booze already. Sanji frowned. "You really should eat something before ya go and get yerself sauced Sher. Yer still healing."

Sher looked up at Sanji. "I'm busy." She turned her attention back to her log book.

What's got into her? Sanji took a step closer. "You can do that later. Come have dinner." There was a dark look on Sher's face.

Sher sighed annoyed. "I'm not hungry." That was the truth. Her stomach was a tight little ball, she didn't want to eat. But I wouldn't mind drinking myself stupid.

"What's a matter Sher? You look pissed." Sanji wondered if Sher had laid Zack out yet. From her foul mood, Sanji guessed she had.

She picked up her glass and knocked back the rest of her drink. "I'm busy Sanji. I'm up to my ass in lists and logs. I have a lot of shit to do."

"You want me ta bring ya some chow?" he offered. He wanted to turn her bad mood around. He was hoping to spend some time with her alone after dinner. They would be sitting in the lagoon for a week or longer. Her damn lists could wait.

She shook her head and flipped through the log book. She didn't want to deal with Sanji right now. It was too hard. Some of the things Zack had said about him had hit home. She could feel her old anger at him rearing its ugly head. "No. I'll get something later."

Sanji knew something was wrong. Sher wasn't just busy; she was worked up over something. She was short and cool to him. She downed her booze like it was water. "What's wrong Sher?"

Sher didn't look at Sanji. She jotted another number down on her scrap paper. "I said I'm busy. I have to get a handle on what's been going on on my ship." She wanted to get up and pour another drink, but for the moment she resisted. Just get out of here Sanji. I can't look at you right now. She flipped through Mimi's log book looking at her notes.

Sanji thought there was more to her attitude then messy ship's logs. "You talked to Z didn't ya? Did he give ya a bunch of shit? Is that what's got yer panties in a knot?" that little shit got her all pissed off like this?

Sher frowned up at Sanji squeezing her pencil tighter in her hand. "Not that it's any of your business, but yeah. I had a talk with my number one."

"Not my business?" Sanji was a little surprised and annoyed. "He tried to stick his tongue in yer mouth. I think dat makes it my business."

Sher was getting angrier. "My crew is none of your concern."

"But yer little boyfriend is," Sanji snapped back. He was getting angry himself.

"Shut the fuck up Sanji. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh I don't huh?" Sanji knew damn well what he was talking about. "I know all about you and dat freak. I know he still wants to do ya too."

Freak? Sher felt her anger rising. "Don't you talk that way about Z." She squeezed the pencil tighter.

Sher was sticking up for Zack. Sanji was hurt, angry. "You tell that little shit to stay da fuck away from you?"

Sher glared at Sanji. "I said I talked to him didn't I? I put Z in check." She didn't want to talk about Zack with Sanji. She didn't want to talk to Sanji at all right now.

That loser that left you and Evan to fend for yourselves

Sanji lit up a cigarette. "I don't like him putting his hands on you Sher," Sanji couldn't help but admit it. "Yer my woman not his."

The pencil in her hand was as strained as her mind. "What the hell gave you that idea?"

Sanji's eyes widened some. "What the hell does dat mean? You sayin me and you aint together Sher?" Sanji took a fat drag off of his smoke. "What the fuck is goin on here? You were fine wid us back on da Merry Go."

The pencil snapped, so did the captain holding it. "This isn't the Merry Go. This is my ship! My ship, my crew, my business!"

"Sher," Sanji hated this ship. He hated her being captain. "Me and you and Evan is outta here soon."

"Like hell!" Sher said getting to her feet. "I'm not leaving the Rose Red and neither is Evan! I'm not letting you take my son anywhere!"

Sanji could see how mad Sher was, but he was getting just as angry. "Evan is my son too."

Sher coughed an angry laugh. "Yeah right," she growled.

Sanji frowned at Sher. "I'm a good father to him Sher."

"Sure ya are, now."

"It aint my fault you never told me about him! If I had a known about Evan I woulda been wid him! Yer not being fair…"

Sher cut him off. "Woulda been with him my ass! You wanna know what's not fair huh Sanji? I'll tell you what's not fair! You thinkin you can just stroll on up here and pick up right where we left off. You left me Sanji. You left me sitting in that shitty cell while you went off with yer buddies to the grand line. While you were playing with your friends I was taking care of Evan without you!"

Sanji thought they had worked through this. He was willing to accept his part of the blame, but Sher was at fault too. "Don't you mean Mimi was?" he couldn't keep the words from slipping out.

"You son of a bitch," Sher hissed. She let go of her broken pencil and it dropped on her desk in two pieces. "You've got no right to talk shit to me. Everything I have done has been for Evan! This ship, this life, it's all for him!"

Sanji thought that if anyone had a right to talk shit to Sher, it was him. He was Evans father and Sher's future husband. "Yer a fuckin pirate Sher! Dat aint no life fer Evan!"

The empty glass was in her hand one second, flying at Sanji's head the next. "Get out!"

Sanji dodged the glass flying at him. It hit the wall behind him and shattered. "Hey!" perhaps he had pushed Sher too far. She was fuming.

"I said get out!" Sher wasn't going to stand here and listen to Sanji tell her how to raise her boy. Evan's life aboard the Rose Red was a happy one.

Sanji took a step back trying to figure out what to do. Sher was mad, but Sanji was aggravated too. "Calm down ya crazy bitch. Whatsa matter wid you throwin' shit at my head!" Sanji was hoping that this wasn't a preview of married life. He didn't want to spend the next forty years or so dodging flying dishes.

"Crazy bitch? You callin me a crazy bitch?"

Oh shit. Did I say that out loud? "Ya tried ta bean me in da head!"

"Then get out!" she screamed clenching her fists. Sher tried to put her temper in check. It was hard. She resented Sanji's criticism. He hadn't been the one providing a life for Evan these past few years, Sher was. She had turned to piracy because of their son. Everything she had done she did with Evan in mind. Her life was like this now because she had needed a way to take care of Evan on her own. She could feel tears of anger and hurt stinging her eyes.

Sanji realized that Sher wasn't just angry. She was hurt too. He puffed at his cigarette nervously. "Sher…"

Sher looked at her desk. She couldn't face Sanji anymore. "I said get out."

Sanji sighed looking at his woman. "Okay Sher, I'll go. I think you could use some time ta calm down." He back peddled toward the door. "I'm gonna go get something ta eat before Luffy inhales it all. I'll save ya a plate." Sanji slunk out and closed the door behind him.

Sher let out a long sigh and sniffed back her tears. She went to the liquor cabinet and pulled out the bottle she had been drinking from. She twisted off the cap and downed a generous swallow. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Fuckin Sanji…She took another swallow and brought the bottle back to her desk with her.

7.

Zoro kept one eye on Sanji and the other on Zack all through dinner. Zack looked miserable, Sanji was agitated. Zoro guessed that Sher had laid Z out and maybe Sanji too. She never showed up for chow. Zoro had a drink with Zack after dinner, but after just one Zack made himself scarce. Sanji and Duke stayed in the kitchen talking while Sanji did dishes. Zoro finished his second ale and went out on deck for some air.

He looked toward the bow and saw Sher standing at the rail. She was throwing a rope ladder over the side of her ship. Zoro strolled over to see what was up. "Hey Sher," he said coming up behind her. "Ya missed some good eats."

Sher turned around and faced Zoro. "Wasn't hungry."

Zoro noticed the way she staggered slightly when she turned around. He walked closer to her and smelled the booze. Is she's drunk? "What are ya doin Sher?"

Sher had drunk herself into a better mood. She had killed the bottle of whisky while the pirate crews ate dinner. After her good buzz got rolling she decided she needed some down time. She tied a jug of Duke's homemade gin to her waist and came out on deck. She was gonna go ashore for a while. Sit on the beach and get stinkin' drunk. She smiled at Zoro. "I'm running away fer a while. You gonna tell on me?"

"You're going ashore?" he noticed that she was packin more booze. He wondered what it was in the jug that hung at her hip.

Sher nodded. "Gotta get the hell outta here."

Zoro stepped up beside her. Looking down at her he could see that that she was on her way to getting plastered. "We haven't even been on the island yet. You don't know what's out there in that jungle." It was the truth. Zoro was worried about predators. Night had fallen, it was time to hunt. "I think you better …"

Sher cut him off. "Don't tell me I can't go ashore Zoro." She wanted to get off of the ship for a while. She didn't want to be in the same place as Zack or Sanji anymore tonight. She just wanted time away, time to herself.

Zoro supposed he could understand Sher wanting to go hide someplace for a while. He was pretty sure she had exchanged words with Zack and Sanji. The faces they made at dinner said it all. She just wanted to get away from them, to go where they couldn't bug her anymore, at least for a little while. "Okay then, why don't you let me come with ya? I wouldn't mind feelin dry land beneath my feet."

Sher giggled. "I'm swimming to shore. You still wanna come?"

Getting wet hadn't been part of his plan for the evening, but Zoro wasn't about to let Sher go ashore unprotected. "Sure why not. You're gonna share that booze with me right?" he nodded at the jug on her hip.

Sher's smile turned devious. "This is the good stuff. Duke made it himself. It will knock ya for a loop swordsman."

Zoro grinned at the idea. He loved strong booze. "Alright then sweet cheeks, lets go."

Sher went down the ladder first. They swam to shore together and Zoro followed her down the beach. She was leading them away from the ships. Zoro got the idea she didn't want to look at either one of them right now. He supposed he couldn't blame her. Sanji and Z had likely given her a hard time. If it had been easy, she wouldn't be half cocked. The jungle was quite. If there were predators here, they were further inland.

They found a quiet stretch of beach to sit and drink. The Merry Go and the Rose Red were blocked from view by the trees at the last bend. Sher relaxed and brought out the booze. She handed it to Zoro smiling devilishly. "Go ahead. Try that stuff."

Zoro pulled the cork and sniffed at it. It smelled strong. He smiled and took a cautious sip. It burned all the way down. He puffed out a hot breath and took another swallow. He handed the jug to Sher. "Holy crap."

Sher giggled delighted. She was proud of Duke's home brews. "Duke is da shit." She took a swig off the bottle. Sher made a face as the booze went down. With this stuff, she couldn't help it. "Damn!"

Zoro chuckled at her. "Ya gonna make it Sher?"

She laughed a little. She felt better being off the ship, away from anyone that might feel compelled to lecture her some more tonight. She set the jug in the sand between them and started out at the sea. "Yeah I'll make it. I think I'll be okay now," she sighed.

Zoro let a long silence fall between them as they passed the jug back and forth. Sher seemed to relax, Zoro was relaxing too. The couple of ales he had were just the warm up for what he was drinking now. The first few sips of Duke's booze had gone down hard, but it was smooth sipping after that. The jungle was still pretty quiet behind them so Zoro set his swords beside him in the sand. Sher passed him the jug again and he took another swig. Finally Zoro asked, "Those guys givin' you a hard time sweet cheeks?"

Sher stared at the reflection of the moon on the water. "I guess."

"You hand Z his ass for kissing you like that?" he passed her the jug.

Sher sipped. "Sure did." She handed back the booze. "I had to. Luffy…Luffy was right. Getting involved with my mate like that was a bad idea."

Zoro shrugged. "Shit happens I guess. Yer only human Sher." He took another pull of Duke's brew. Zoro figured it had been hard on Sher taking on her ship and crew so soon after Evan had been born. Sanji hadn't been there for her, Zack had.

Sher shook her head. "As captain I should have known better."

Zoro didn't want to argue with her. They were both right as far as he was concerned. He passed back the jug. "What about Sanji?"

"Sanji," Sher grunted. She took a long drink. "He just wants to control me. He wants me off my ship. He doesn't understand what I've been through for the Rose Red, for my crew, for Evan either." She sighed tiredly and stared at the moon.

"What are you gonna do Sher?"

"What is there to do?" she shoved the jug in Zoro's hand. "I'm going to fix my ship and go get my son. Evan belongs with me and I belong on my ship."

Zoro took a long drink himself. "The marines are going to be looking for you sweet cheeks. I imagine they've got a bounty on your head now."

Sher turned her head and looked at Zoro. "You taking Sanji's side?"

"No," Zoro answered immediately. He leaned forward resting his arms on his knees. "Can't a guy worry about you without you biting his head off?"

Sher dropped her eyes. "There's nothing to worry about. Luffy has had a bounty on his head for years. The Rose Red is faster then the Merry Go. Nobody's gonna catch me. I'll never let that happen again." The stiffness had left her arms and her hands were her own again, but her wrists were bruised.

Zoro took another deep drink of Duke's brew. He studied Sher in the moonlight. Her face was healing up pretty good. He could imagine the beating she had taken to get those marks on her. It made him angry and a little sad. "You okay Sher?"

Sher took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I can feel my fingers again." She emphasized her point by yoinking the jug back from him. She took another long sip trying not to think about Central Star.

He could tell she didn't want to talk about it. Zoro didn't blame her. He didn't like to think about his three weeks on the cross either. "Back to your old self huh sweet cheeks?" he teased pulling the bottle away from her again.

Sher smiled at Zoro as he drank. She knew he had been worried about her, he just didn't say much about it. He had shown the marines no mercy when the Luffy pirates came to rescue her and Duke. "Just about."

Zoro handed her the booze. His cheeks and ears felt warm. "We'll be dancing again in no time." Sher drank and Zoro chuckled. "Sanji didn't like that too much."

Sher swallowed. She was on her way to plastered. "I could care less what Sanji wants."

"You mean likes, what Sanji likes." Sher looked at him confused and Zoro laughed. "We already know what Sanji wants. He wants you Sher."

Sher shook her head and handed the jug to Zoro. "He doesn't want me; he wants to make me into some Suzy home maker bitch. Gods I'd shoot myself." Zoro snorted laughter and Sher giggled. It hurt some to laugh and she winced. "Oww damnit."

Zoro caught his breath. The idea of Sher trying to be Suzy anything she was not was ridiculous. "You okay? Does it hurt?"

Sher hadn't realized she said oww out loud. She looked back up at Zoro. "Huh?"

He took a slug of Duke's brew. "Hurts to laugh huh?"

She smiled at Zoro sadly. "Yeah, I guess." She dropped her eyes. Laughing wasn't the only thing hurting Sher right now. She thought about Zack and Sanji. She was so angry with both of them right now that she could spit nails.

Zoro saw Sher's good mood slipping away. He leaned a little closer to her so he could get a look into her eyes. "Hey, sweet cheeks." Sher lifted her eyes and looked at him. He could see anger, sorrow, frustration; a mix of emotions in her eyes. He felt bad for her. Z and Sanji were leaning on her pretty hard lately. "Hey come on," he said resting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't drive yerself nuts thinking about those two jerks."

"They're your good buddies aint they? I'm surprised yer not on their side. Well, one of em anyway." She looked away from Zoro. Sure he was her friend, but he was Sanji's mate and he had made fast friends with Z.

Zoro took Sher's chin in his hand and made her look at him. "I'm not on anybody's side. There is no side. You're gonna do what you want right? Neither one of those guys is gonna tell you what to do. You're the captain and you're your own woman."

When Zoro turned her head, the world seemed to tilt a little. "I…" she felt dizzy.

Zoro saw Sher sway and slid up next to her. He let go of her chin and dropped his arm behind her to steady her. Bad nerves and too much moonshine. "Take it easy sweet cheeks," he tried to sound like he was teasing, but he was just a bit worried. Maybe they should stick a cork in Duke's brew and head back. They had been sitting out here drinking for an hour, maybe longer. Nobody even knew where they were.

Sher grabbed the front of Zoro's damp shirt to steady herself. She took a breath and pulled herself together. "I'm okay."

"You sure?" he was looking down at her. Her cheeks were rosy. At least she wasn't turning white. He knew Sher could handle her liquor, but she was still recovering.

She brought her eyes up to meet Zoro's. "Yeah."

Zoro looked down at Sher and swallowed hard. She clung to him loosely; their faces were only inches apart. Sher might be a little beat up, but she was still damn pretty in the moonlight. He could remember the way she had dug her nails into him the last time he had held onto her. Don't think about that shit. Sher is Sanji's woman. Before Zoro had a chance to shake the thoughts loose, they were kissing. He felt Sher's warm mouth against his own. Her hands slid up his chest and around his neck. Zoro pulled her closer.

Kissing Zoro seemed like a good idea. He could relate to her, understand her in ways that Z or Sanji could not. He was never mean or judgmental, he was just her friend. Her very flirty friend. Why not share her pain with him? Just kiss him, just let go of everything else for a minute. She didn't have to be his captain or his baby's mother. She could just be a woman. Zoro could understand. He was kissing her back.

Shouldn't be doing this. Zoro carefully pulled Sher up against him. He knew he shouldn't be kissing her, but he didn't stop. If Sher needed this from him, he would give it to her. She didn't want to be the captain or the mother right now, her choice of location made that clear. You couldn't even see the ships from here. The Rose Red, Sanji, even Zack were all far away from her now. She was just Sher, just a woman.

It felt good to kiss her, incredible to hold her warm body up against him. He knew she was kissing him out of frustration. Sher felt like she was backed into a corner. Better me then some guy that would take advantage of her. He eased Sher back down on the sand kissing her heatedly. She'll make me stop. She loves Sanji; she just needs to face it. If Sher didn't stop them soon, Zoro would have to. Sanji's woman or not, sweet cheeks was pushing Zoro's buttons. Her lips were as intoxicating as Duke's booze. His hand slid up her thigh.

Kissing Zoro had been alright, but he took them to the sand. The kiss was turning into more then she had bargained for. He was touching her. I can't do this… She thought of Sanji. Sanji's kiss, Sanji's touch. It was nothing like this. Zoro was gentle with her, but it wasn't like it was with Sanji. Because Sanji really loves me… Sher broke her mouth away from his slightly panicked. "Zoro… stop."

He pulled away from her at once. Zoro looked down at her flushed face in the moonlight. He could see the panic in her eyes. Looks like she's figuring it out. "Sher?"

"I… I can't." She slid away from Zoro and sat up. He sat beside her looking at her. Her cheeks were burning.

She's never even kissed a guy besides those two. "Is it Sanji?" he wanted them both thinking about his mate. Lucky bastard. Zoro took a deep slow breath and tried to cool his jiving hormones.

Sher felt terribly embarrassed. What the hell was I thinking kissing Zoro! "Sanji…" Zoro was right. Whatever might be going on with her and Sanji, it was enough to stop her from letting another man at her. She sighed defeated. "I guess it is."

"You love him Sher. I know you do."

She looked up at Zoro. He didn't look upset that she had stopped them, if anything there was patience in his eyes. "You knew," she suddenly realized. "You knew that I would stop before we …"

Zoro nodded and grinned a little. "Yeah, I knew. I thought you needed to know too. You're turning me away because you're in love with another man Sher. You're in love with Sanji. Nobody but him will do. You can deny being committed to Sanji all you want, but the truth is you are. You are Sanji's woman. That's what you want to be."

"Sanji's woman," she sighed. Even though the booze was working on her, she could still see the truth clear as a sunny day. Kissing Zoro had opened her eyes. He had made her see how much she loved Sanji. "I guess that I'm lucky it was you huh?"

Zoro shrugged his shoulders and reached for Duke's brew. "I'm your friend Sher. I wouldn't pull any punches with you." He took a big swig trying to drown his horney. "I just wanted you to see for yourself what it is you really want." He grinned at her slyly. He would be thinking of Sher's kiss for a long time himself. "Lucky for Sanji what you want is him."

She smiled at him a little, still feeling slightly embarrassed. "Lucky Sanji huh?"

"Yer hot stuff sweet cheeks, ya know that? If Sanji weren't my buddy and you weren't hung up on the guy," Zoro growled and nipped at her playfully.

Sher smacked Zoro in the arm joking with him too. She giggled a little. Sher's heart felt lighter then it had in a long time. She knew her heart now and her heart wanted Sanji. "Gods, he'd kill us both if he saw us like that."

Zoro shook his head. "Sanji don't need to know Sher. He'd just scream at you and pick a fight with me. He wouldn't understand I was trying to help you guys out. He thinks I'm a slut ya know." He emphasized his point with another swig of Duke's brew.

Sher knew Zoro was right. Sanji could hardly understand what Sher was thinking as it was. She had a hard time deciphering her feelings herself. "I spent a long time missing him. I spent a long time hating him too. It was like I trained myself to stop loving him." She sighed and Zoro passed the booze. Sher took a big swig.

"You guys will work it out Sher. Sanji is crazy in love with you." Sher passed the jug back to Zoro. He smiled at her. "And if things don't work out with Sanji, I'm here for ya sweet cheeks," he teased and dropped her a wink.

Sher giggled a little. "You really are a slut aint ya?" she teased back.

"I try." They both laughed.

Zoro and Sher sat on the shore a while longer drinking Duke's bathtub gin. After a while, they went back to Rose Red.

8.

Sanji had looked for Sher all over Rose Red before he saw the ladder over the side of the ship. Zoro was nowhere to be found either. Sanji figured out that they had gone ashore together, but why? He better not be putting a move on my woman da slut. He was standing on the deck of the Rose Red smoking a cigarette when he heard them coming. Sanji went to the rail and looked for them in the moonlight. The pair waded into the lagoon and swam back to the Rose Red. Sher came up the ladder with Zoro close behind her. "Hey," Sanji greeted slightly annoyed.

Sher came over the rail and Sanji stepped over to her. He was scowling a little and she smiled at him. "Hey Sanji." Looking at him she knew. Sanji really was the love of her life. Zoro came aboard behind her.

"Hey yerself Sher. What are you two doin?" he eyed Zoro suspiciously.

Zoro grinned. Duke's booze had given him a good buzz. He had the jug of gin tied to his waist. "Just checkin out the beach."

Sanji puffed his cigarette annoyed. "What you need to check out on da beach in da dark? Is dat booze?" he gestured to the jug at Zoro's hip. "Takin my woman off alone in da dark wid booze? Ya need yer ears boxed swordsman?"

Zoro chuckled, but Sher stepped in between the two of them. She was feeling pretty good herself now. She laughed a little at Sanji's jealousy. "It's alright Sanji. We just went for a walk."

Sanji looked away from Zoro da slut back to Sher. She seemed to be in a much better mood now. "You okay now Sher? Ya aint gonna hit me or nothin are ya?" he could still recall dodging the glass she threw at him vividly. Sanji was cautious.

Sher laughed a little. "Yeah well…"

Zoro started away from them heading back toward the Merry Go. "You two kids have fun. I'm gonna go get into some dry clothes. See ya sweet cheeks." With that Zoro left them. Sher needed to talk to Sanji alone.

Sanji watched Zoro go then turned back to Sher. "You should get outta that wet stuff too. You'll catch a cold."

Sher just looked at him for a minute. Sanji appeared less agitated with Zoro gone. "I think we need to talk Sanji."

Sanji took one more drag off of his cigarette and pitched it. Sher looked like she was in a better mood, but he hadn't forgotten what she had said earlier. "You gonna dump me Sher?" he asked quietly.

She shook her head. "No Sanji I'm not dumping you." She turned and headed for the stairs. She pulled out her hair tie and shook her long wet hair. "I gotta change. You coming or what?"

Sanji didn't need to be asked twice. He followed Sher below deck to her room. He took a seat in her reading chair while Sher pulled dry clothes out of her dresser and threw them on the bed. "You wanna talk to me Sher?" he asked a bit nervously. He was a little worried what she might have to say to him.

Sher pulled her wet shirt off and reached back to unhook her bra. "Look Sanji, I'm sorry I yelled at you like that." Her bra hit the floor next to her shirt and she slid out of her wet shorts. "I was just… I was just pissed. Z got me pretty mad."

Sanji stared at her naked body as Sher turned to face him. "I see," he said trying not to leer at her. He couldn't help it, seeing her naked was arousing.

Sher grabbed a towel hanging from a hook near her dresser. She threw it over her head and rubbed some of the water out of her hair. "I set him straight Sanji. If he can't accept me as his captain and nothing more, I'll put him off this ship." She hung the towel back up and sighed. Zack was a good first mate, one hell of a sailor. She didn't want to lose him, but enough was enough. She couldn't go on like this anymore.

Sanji was stunned. He never would have guessed that Sher would threaten to throw him off her ship. "You serious Sher?"

Sher faced Sanji again. "Yeah, I have to be."

Sanji got up and went to her. He took her in his arms and pulled her against him looking down into her eyes. "What about us Sher? What about me and you?"

Sher wrapped her arms around Sanji. She looked up at him and smiled a little. "I want to be with you Sanji. We can work something out."

Her body was cool from the swim but Sanji was more then willing to warm her up. Her words made his heart happy. "You mean it Sher?"

"Yeah, I do." Sanji smiled at her a little and kissed her. Their kiss became passionate and Sher let herself go to Sanji. This is what I really want.

Sanji backed them over to Sher's bed and laid her down gently. Her broken ribs were still healing, he would be careful with her. It felt like it had been forever since he had touched her, loved her even though it had only been weeks. "Oh Sher, I missed you so much," he breathed against her neck as she helped him out of his clothes.

They made love slowly, carefully. Sanji didn't want to hurt her, but he had to have her. Sher felt the same. When it was over they lay in bed. Sanji held Sher close to him. "I love you Sher," he sighed and kissed her. Even though she wasn't feeling a hundred percent yet, the sex had still blown Sanji's mind.

"I love you too Sanji." Sher felt content, peaceful and a little sleepy. She snuggled against him letting him wrap her into his arms.

"I was thinkin dat since I'm cookin' for both crews now that maybe I should just stay here on da Rose Red wid you." He watched her for her reaction. Sanji wanted to be with her. He had become used to waking up with his woman in his arms since they escaped Central Star. He wanted to keep waking up to her and her to him. It would bring him one step closer to what he wanted.

She smiled a little. "You suggesting we live together Sanji?"

He smiled back. "Yeah, I guess I am." He looked down into her tired eyes. "How bout it Sher? Wanna give it a try?"

She studied Sanji's hopeful face in the soft lamp light. Live with Sanji… be with Sanji… "I… I dunno…" it was a big step.

"Come on Sher, let's try it. I wanna be wid you. Don't kick me outta yer bed and send me back to da Merry Go. Let me stay. Let me hold you all night long and wake up to yer beautiful face every morning. It's what I want." He had worried she might resist him moving in with her. Screwing around and occasionally sleeping over was one thing, living together was another.

"Sanji…" he took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. He was begging her with his eyes. Letting him move into her room here aboard the Rose Red was one step closer to living with Sanji in a house with a picket fence. "I…" she was still a little scared.

"Say yes Sher. Let us be together." He stayed focused on her eyes. He wanted her to know how much he wanted to be with her.

Sanji…Sher gave in. "Alright Sanji. Let's give it a try."

Sanji grinned. His heart was filled with happiness. "I promise you Sher, I'll make you happy. I'll give you a good life." Sanji kissed his woman again thinking of the ring box in the pocket of his pants on the floor. Soon Sher. I'm gonna make you my wife.

9.

The next morning Zack, Duke, Chopper, Nami and Robin stayed aboard ship while the others went ashore to investigate the island. Nails could build them a new mast, but he was going to need good timber to do it. Not far from the shore the island turned into dense jungle. There was no sign of large predators as they worked their way inland. Bigger trees would be further from the shore, beyond the hurricane zone. The problem was that the island hadn't been hit in years. They would have to clear a path from the trees Nails selected back to the shore. Backbreaking work in sticky heat.

Nails found their trees just before noon. He marked them and they tromped their way back to shore. Sanji went back to the Rose Red to cook lunch. Nails stood on the shore staring back in the direction of his trees. They would have to clear a decent path to bring the trees to shore where Nails could get to work on them. "It's gonna be shit work captain."

Sher swatted at a mosquito. "So what else is new," she grumbled.

Zoro grinned at Sher. "You know how to swing an axe sweet cheeks?"

Nails chuckled. "Captain is almost as good as Duke when it comes to swingin sharp objects around."

Sher thought of Duke's hands and sighed. The way Duke used to be. Damnit…

"I can take out a bunch of those trees at once no problem," Luffy offered.

"Sure but then we still gotta move all that shit outta the way," Nails reminded. "It's gonna be shit work," he repeated. Nails spit into the sand. This is gonna suck.

After lunch Nails, Sher, Luffy, Ussop and Zoro started with what would be three long shitty days of hauling trees and prickly bushes out of the path. They had to try not to bang up the wood Nails would use too much. Sher spent most of the day tying ropes and directing traffic, she couldn't lift much without aggravating her healing ribs. Luffy tried not to tear up the jungle too much to make their path.

After Sanji finished the dishes he went back to the Merry Go to pack some things. He wasn't going to take everything all at once; he didn't want to make Sher nervous. He packed some of his clothes into duffel humming to himself. From this day forward Sanji would really be with Sher. He would fall asleep beside her every night and Sher would be the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes in the morning. The thoughts made Sanji happy and he smiled. He hefted his bag and went to the kitchen. He grabbed his case of knives. Duke had some nice ones, but Sanji preferred his own. They were more comfortable in his hand. With his favorite things in hand Sanji went back to the Rose Red.

Sanji was amidships when Nami spotted him. She had been watching the work on the beach from the starboard side of the ship. She noticed his luggage and lifted an eyebrow. "Hey Sanji," she greeted as she intercepted him on his way to the stairs. "Whatcha got there? " Nami grinned. She thought she knew.

Sanji shrugged, still smiling. "Just some of my stuff."

"Shacking up with Sher?" she teased.

Sanji adjusted his duffel and reached in his pocket for a cigarette. "Yeah actually I am." He lit his smoke watching Nami's eyes grow larger.

"You're leaving the Merry Go?"

"Not really. Not yet anyway. It's just easier to use da galley on dis ship ta feed everybody. If I'm gonna be over here all da time, might as well make myself comfortable." He took a fat drag off of his cigarette.

Nami was smiling. She was happy for Sanji and Sher. "Comfortable eh? You settling in with Sher or what?"

"Tryin to. I figure it's a good time fer us to get used to livin together."

Nami chuckled. Paling around with Duke and taking care of the big guy, Nami had learned a thing or two about this ship and her crew. Sher's first mate wasn't going to like this. "Have you asked her yet?"

Sanji could feel the ring box in his pocket. "Not yet."

"Waiting till she's feeling better before ya freak her out huh?"

"Just waitin fer da right time." Sanji didn't think Sher was quite ready to be engaged just yet. He was hoping living together for a while would make her see what he wanted, what Sanji knew she wanted too.

Zoro shouted curses at Luffy down on the shore and Nami looked that way. She sighed a little. "Looks like we'll be here for a while. I guess you'll have all the time you need."

Time is on my side. Sanji exhaled smoke and grinned. Time with Sher was all he needed.

As the sun began to sink into the sea those on shore were attacked by bloodthirsty mosquitoes. After the first fifty feet of path was cleared they headed back to the Rose Red scratching at their fresh bites. Sher went down to her room to change out of her dirty clothes. She opened her wardrobe to grab a skirt and saw Sanji's suits hanging next to her clothes. She stepped back staring into the closet stunned. It was beyond weird to see her things hanging side by side with Sanji's shirts and jackets. Sher grabbed a skirt and quickly closed the door of the wardrobe.

She threw the skirt on the bed. She noticed her bed was made. Sher hadn't done it, Sanji must have. She swallowed hard. Holy crap I really am living with Sanji… She went to her dresser and pulled open the drawer where she kept her shirts. There was a clean ashtray on top of her dresser sitting next to an unopened pack of cigarettes. She scratched at a mosquito bite on her arm absentmindedly as she stared down at her dresser. After a minute she grabbed a clean shirt and got changed. Sher went up to the galley to check on dinner.

Sanji was cooking, Duke was standing behind him and they were talking about what temperature pork had to be heated to to kill harmful bacterium. Duke noticed Sher come in first. He turned and greeted her. "Hey captain. How did it go ashore today?"

Sher noticed Chopper had re bandaged Duke's hands. His fingers were individually splinted now. "Shit work Duke. How are you?" she nodded at his hands.

Sanji stirred some beans and turned to look at Sher while Duke answered. "Chopper lined my fingers up for me. He says I should be ready for duty in about a month. Sorry it's takin so long captain."

Sher shook her head. "Don't worry about it Duke. You just mend up."

Sanji had the stove under control. He looked Sher up and down. Her arms were dotted with mosquito bites. "Hey Sher. Wanna drink?" he asked smiling at her.

Sher looked up at Sanji. He looked happier then she had seen him in a while. "I guess you could pull me an ale."

Sanji pulled a mug out of the cupboard and drew Sher a glass of ale. She stepped to the other side of the bar and he handed it to her. "How was yer day beautiful? Looks like da mosquitoes made a snack outta ya."

Sher picked up her ale and sipped it with her eyes still on Sanji. "It got buggy when it started to get dark." He really does look happy….

"Cuz you was in da jungle. You better not get malaria or some weird shit," he teased. Sanji was in a fine mood. He knew Sher had been down to their room, had seen the evidence of Sanji's invasion. He chuckled. Sher looked nervous. "Whatsa matter Sher? I'm not dat bad of a room mate. I made da bed and everything." Sher's cheeks darkened and Duke laughed behind Sanji.

Sher opened her mouth to tell Sanji to shut up, but before she could speak he leaned over and kissed her. It was nice, Sanji kept it polite with Duke in the room. After he kissed her he turned back to the stove. Sher caught her breath and sipped her ale. "Fine then, you can be the one to keep the place tidy." Sher was never a neat freak. At the end of a long sail there were usually piles of laundry all over her room. She kinda liked the idea of having someone straighten out the mess for her and she smiled.

Duke chuckled again. "Boy are you in for a ride Sanji. The captain here is a slob."

"Hey!" Sher turned to Duke. He was grinning from ear to ear.

Sanji laughed as he flipped steaks. "Yeah I know. She never could keep her room clean."

"Or her desk," Duke continued the teasing.

Sher frowned at them both. "I'm a little too busy to be worrying about making the bed ya jerks." She sipped her ale again. Sher knew she would never be Suzy Homemaker. She knew now that Sanji didn't care either.

The door to the galley popped open and Zack and Nails came in. "Food!" Nails groaned. He was starving. He came up and stood next to Sher, Zack stood beside him moodily watching Sanji prepare dinner. "Feed me Sanji!" Nails bleated.

Sanji grinned at Nails. He was covered with mosquito bites too. "It's almost ready. Youz guys wanna drink?"

Nails bumped shoulders with Sher. "I'll have what the captain is havin." He smiled at Sher and she smiled back.

"Same here," Zack grumbled looking away from Sanji's happy face. What's he so fuckin cheerful for? He turned his attention to Nails and Sher. "How's it going on shore? Any idea when we'll have a new mast?"

Sanji handed Nails his ale. "Thanks Sanji," he said to the cook as Sanji turned to draw one for Zack. He turned his head to his mate. "I found some good trees. No sign of rot and they're pretty straight too. Problem is they're inland." Nails sipped his drink and went on. "We'll have a path cleared out in a couple of days. The woodwork itself will take some time though."

"So we're stuck here for a while then huh?" Zack grunted. Sanji set his ale in front of him and Zack looked up at the grinning chef.

Sanji smiled at Zack. The little shit wasn't going to be a problem anymore. Sher had set him straight. "It's cool. We still got plenty of supplies. Da Merry Go is gonna need fresh water soon though." He turned back to Sher. "Luffy mention that?"

Sher nodded. "We were planning to look tomorrow."

Sanji shook a pan tossing its contents. "I'll go wid ya to look for water Sher," he volunteered. He wouldn't mind strolling through the jungle with Sher alone.

Sher sipped her ale. "If you wanna help Sanji, there is a path to clear. I'm afraid I'm not much help hauling that shit out of the way."

"Take it easy captain," Nails said and sipped his ale. "Yer still busted up. Besides, you were a lot of help today. At least you gotta good sense of direction."

"Anything I can do to help captain?" Zack asked trying to keep his voice even.

Sher turned to Zack and let out a long tired sigh. "Actually, yeah. I need you and Charlie to finish inventory in the hold. Double check with Chopper too on what we need in the infirmary." She sipped her ale watching Zack. He appeared calm, but Sher could see the storm clouds behind his eyes.

Zack stared into Sher's eyes. Her words last night had hurt him, but he was trying not to let it show. The more time she spent with Sanji the further from Zack she had become. "Sure captain." He picked up his mug and downed a generous gulp of ale.

"Hey," Nails piped up. "Did Z tell ya about the cool new leg I've been working on for him?" The captain shook her head negative. Nails was instantly excited. "It's kick ass cool! I gotta go over some stuff with Mimi, but I think my schematics are right on!"

Zack stared gloomily into his mug. His right leg was in horrible shape even with all of Chopper's doctoring. Nails design would make Zack mechanical from the thigh down. "No more swimmin for me," he mumbled quietly.

Sher forced herself to smile at Zack. She was still a little upset with him, but it was best to just let it go. "Don't say that Z. I'm sure Nails will figure something out."

Zack looked at Sher. He rested his metal elbow on the bar and wiggled his fingers. It was a quiet reminder that he had sacrificed his arm for her. "Sure."

Sher looked away from Zack. She watched Sanji moving food onto serving platters. A few minutes ago she had been hungry, but guilt was stealing her appetite. "You want some help getting that stuff on the table?" she asked Sanji.

Sanji poured steaming vegetables into a dish and turned back to Sher for a second. "Sure thing beautiful," he said grinning at her. "We're about to be invaded by hungry pirates."

Sher smiled and Zack hid a snarl behind his mug of ale.

10.

After dinner the two crews lingered in the galley having drinks and talking. Sher helped Sanji with the dishes. Zack noticed that in that short time Sanji kissed his captain three times. Once on top of her head, once on the cheek, and once on the lips when he thought no one was paying any attention to them. Zack swallowed his anger and chased it with another mug of ale.

Slowly the party broke up. There was a lot of grunt work to do tomorrow and those that had spent the afternoon ashore were exhausted after such a long day. Sher snuck off to the bathroom for a long hot shower when the Luffy pirates returned to their own ship, minus Sanji of course. Zack was in his room when he heard the other pirates go. He waited about fifteen minutes and went up to the captain's lounge. Sher wasn't there so he hobbled downstairs to her room. He had a few questions for his captain, nothing that couldn't wait until tomorrow, but he wanted a few minutes alone with her.

Zack rapped twice on Sher's bedroom door and pushed it open. "Hey captain," he said stepping in. Zack froze. Sanji was sitting in Sher's reading chair with a book in his lap smoking a cigarette. Sanji was in his pajamas. "Uh…" Zack was surprised.

Sanji looked up at Zack. "Usually when you knock on someone's door ya wait for them to say come in," Sanji frowned a little at Zack. He didn't like that he had just walked in. What of da little shit just walked in on Sher while she was changing? What if he walked in on Sanji and Sher in bed?

Why is he in his pajamas? Zack ignored Sanji's scolding. "Where's the captain?" his throat felt dry and Zack swallowed hard.

"She hit da shower," Sanji took a drag off his cigarette. "You need something Z?" Sanji thought it was a little late to be bugging Sher. His frown deepened.

"The loot book," Zack answered looking away from Sanji and taking in the room. There was a suit hanging on the wall, Sanji's shoes were beneath it. The door to Sher's wardrobe was open enough for Zack to see inside. More of Sanji's clothes were hanging next to the captains flowing skirts. Zack felt his heart dive into his stomach. "What…" he whispered as his mind worked. Did that fucker move in!

Sanji leaned forward and crushed out his cigarette. "What's it look like? Aint it up in her office?" he marked his place in the book and set it on the table next to the ashtray.

Zack noticed something else out of place about Sher's room. It was spotlessly clean. Sher never kept her room this clean. Sanji's stuff, Sanji in his pajamas. "You join our crew or what?" Zack tried to keep the malice out of his voice.

Sanji stood up and faced Zack. It wasn't as if he had announced that he was moving in with Sher, but there were enough of his things around to make it obvious. Sanji thought his p.j.'s said it all. "Not exactly, but I am cookin fer everybody on dis ship. It just makes more sense fer me ta stay over here."

Zack let his eyes go back to Sanji's face. Sanji was smiling a little. "Makes sense huh? Looks to me like you just moved in on Sher."

Sanji sighed patiently. "I moved in wid Sher. Me and her is together Z, I think you better get used to it."

Zack was terrible at keeping a straight face. He glared at Sanji with eyes that burned. "I don't need you telling me what to do Luffy pirate. You aint my captain."

Sanji rolled his eyes. He was getting aggravated. He had tried being nice to Zack these past few days, Sanji hadn't even clobbered da punk when he kissed Sher. "No, I aint yer captain," Sanji sighed. "But I aint goin no place Z. I got Sher back and I aint never letting her go again. Deal wid it."

Zack felt rage turn his stomach. "You aren't good enough for her," he growled.

Sanji didn't want to spend the next few weeks or months or however long it's gonna take ta get Sher off a dis ship dealing with Zack's bad attitude. "Neither are you, but dat don't change what's going on here. Sher is yer captain, but she's my woman. Me and her and Evan is gonna be a family on or off dis ship."

Zack's grip on his crutches tightened. The idea of Sanji trying to make Sher and Z's little buddy his family enraged Zack. "You don't know a fuckin thing about Evan."

"I know he's my son," Sanji snapped back feeling his patience with da gimp sliding away.

Zack narrowed his eyes at Sanji. "He's only your son cuz you busted a nut in Sher."

I'm gonna kill dis little bastard. Rather then do something rash, Sanji pulled a fresh cigarette from the pocket of his robe and lit up. "Get it straight Z. Sher and I never wanted ta be separated in da first place. We're together again and that's how it's gonna stay. I appreciate what youz guys have done fer Evan and fer Sher too, but daddy's home. They are my family and I'll be da one taking care a them from now on."

Zack wished with all of his heart and soul his leg wasn't busted up right now. He was ready to kill Sanji. "You hurt Sher so bad…"

"She wasn't da only one hurtin Z. My heart was busted up too. I thought she ditched me," Sanji answered trying to clam down. He puffed his cigarette. "I waited fer her in Ices fer weeks."

"But you never bothered to look for her! You just left her!"

Sanji stared at Zack's furious face. He knew that Zack was trying to stick up for Sher. "I'm sorry shit went down like dat, but there's nothing I can do ta change it. It's in da past, I can't change da past. I can make it up to her and Evan though. I will give them both a good life. I aint never leavin her again." Sanji spoke calmly, almost melancholy. He was hurting himself over not finding Sher sooner.

Zack shook his head and turned away. He wouldn't be fooled by Sanji's sweet talk. "Whatever," he grumbled and hobbled to the door.

"Z," Sanji said to Zack's retreating back. "I love her. Evan too."

"Yeah, well so do I." Zack went out letting the door close hard behind him.

Sanji took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I know ya do Z. Yer just gonna have ta get over it. He took a drag off of his cigarette and sat back down. I'll spend da rest of my life making it up to Sher and Evan. He picked up his book trying not to feel the weight of his heart and went back to his reading.

Sher came back to her room feeling refreshed, but still tired. Sanji was sitting in her chair reading when she came in. She smiled at him a little. Brought his jammies and everything. "Hey Sanji."

Sanji looked up at Sher and smiled. "Hey yerself beautiful." He closed his book and set it on the table next to his ashtray. He watched Sher slip off her robe and throw it on the bed. Sanji liked her silky nightgown.

Sher sat on the bed and looked around her room. "Makin yerself at home I see."

Sanji chuckled. "It took me two hours ta dust da place Sher. When was da last time ya cleaned up in here?"

Sher shrugged. "I dunno. Couple months ago maybe," she laughed a little.

Sanji left his chair and went to sit next to Sher on the bed. He studied her face in the soft lamplight. "Ya look a lot better Sher. How ya feelin?" her bruises were fading and the cuts on her face were reduced to cat scratches.

Sher looked into Sanji's eyes. It was weird having him here like this with her, but if felt good at the same time. It felt right. She could still see the worry in his eyes as he looked her over. "I'm okay Sanji. A little tired, but I'll live."

"Yer still to skinny. Ya gotta eat more." He pulled Sher into his arms and hugged her carefully trying not to think about how horrified he had been when he saw her tied to the anchor at Central Star.

Sher hugged him back. "I'm okay Sanji," she repeated. She was feeling better, healing up just fine. She didn't want Sanji to worry.

Sanji kissed Sher's forehead. "Yeah yer okay. Yer gonna stay that way too."

Sher pulled away enough to look up into Sanji's eyes. "Is something wrong Sanji?"

Sanji wondered if he should tell Sher about his little encounter with Zack a few minutes ago. He decided against it, he didn't want to give her a reason to think about Z. "No. I'm just glad to be wid you Sher." He pressed his lips to hers and ended their conversation.

11.

The tedious work of clearing the path resumed after breakfast. Nami and Sher went in search of fresh water. Nami wanted a better look at the island so her map would be perfectly accurate. Sher wore her guns on her hip, just in case. There had still been no sign of large predators, birds and bugs mostly. They found a stream rolling down a slippery hill to the east of the lagoon. Nami sketched out a map while Sher marked trees to guide the path. Neither of them envies the poor bastards that were going to have to drag barrels all the way out here and then lug em back loaded.

Zoro ended up being the one lugging water back to the Merry Go all afternoon. Ussop helped roll the empties out to the stream and fill them, but Zoro had the strength to carry them full that Ussop didn't. Sher walked in front of Zoro beating back the path with a machete. They cleared another twenty feet by late afternoon.

The third day seemed to go by the fastest. All hands went ashore to help out, even Zack and Duke made the trip to shore to 'help supervise'. They were finally hitting area's that weren't too terribly thick with trees, but the bugs were terrible. Everyone was bug bit and stung up by dinner time. It was chow and off to bed for the exhausted pirate crews. Sanji was annoyed that he had come down with a headache. Sher laughed him off and told him to go to sleep.

The next morning Sher was up before Sanji. It was a bit unusual. He was almost always the early riser. He was still sawing logs when she was half way to dressed so she woke him up. "Go feed the crew."

Sanji's headache still lingered. Nami didn't show up for breakfast, the others figures she slept in. After breakfast Nails, Sher, Luffy, Zoro, and Ussop went ashore to finish up their path. They spent the better part of the day deep in the jungle. When Luffy's stomach insisted it was lunchtime, they head back.

Nami was in bed with a headache. Sanji was going to lie down after lunch because of his own freekin headache. Chopper thought it was likely heat exhaustion from busting ass ashore yesterday. Clearing the path resumed after lunch. They stayed in the jungle until they were losing the light.

Sanji made dinner, but he didn't stay to eat it. It was obvious his head was still hurting. He retreated back to bed. Robin took Nami some soup. Zack didn't eat much. He had asked Chopper to up the dose of his pain medication; he had been getting body aches since last night. Zack was sort of floating on his medicinal cloud. Sanji was asleep by the time Sher came down to bed.

The next morning Sher woke before Sanji again. She was lying against him, his body felt unusually hot. Sanji? Still half asleep Sher reached up and pressed her palm to Sanji's forehead. He was burning up. Sher forced herself awake and sat up to look at him. Sanji was pale, but there was the color of the fever on his cheeks. "Sanji!" Sher shook him a little to wake him up. "Sanji, hey. Wake up."

Sanji floated out of a dream. It was incredibly hot in here. Sher was looking down at him. "Jeez Sher how hot ya gotta have it? Open a freekin window."

"You have a fever you idiot. I'm gonna go get Chopper." Sher slid out of bed and grabbed her robe.

Now that Sanji thought about it, he did feel terrible. Freekin crummy. "Yeah, okay." Sanji closed his eyes again and slipped back into his dream.

Sher checked the infirmary first, no Chopper there. She went up on deck and headed over to the Merry Go. Zoro came out to greet her. "Hey Zoro, Chopper over here?"

Looking for Chopper meant someone else was sick. "He's with Nami right now. She's sick. Running a fever."

Sher stood facing Zoro. She swallowed hard. "Sanji too."

Zoro nodded. "Robin says she has a headache, that's how it started for Nami and Sanji. You better go check the rest of your crew. I'll send Chopper over to Sanji as soon as he's done here." This could be bad…

Shit… "Right." Sher did a 180 and hustled back to the Rose Red. Duke was in the galley, he admitted he wasn't feeling too smooth. Headache, body aches. Nails was in the galley too. He was perfectly fine. She head below deck to Zack's room.

He was barely awake, but tried to sit up when Sher came in. He was burning with fever too. "Hey Sher…I feel like shit…."

Sher made Zack lay back down and went to find Charlie. He was reading in bed. He told Sher he felt rather exhausted today, bed rest was all he needed.

Sher hurried back to the Merry Go. She found Luffy and Zorro in the lounge. They both looked fine. "Who's sick over here?"

Luffy turned to Sher. "Nami and probably Robin has got it too."

Sher nodded. "Sanji and Zack both got it bad. Duke and Charlie seem to be getting it too. You guys are okay though?" Sher's mind was already looking for the common thread that tied the illness together.

Luffy pointed to himself then Zoro. "We're fine. Ussop is too."

"Me and Nails are okay too."

Chopper came in carrying his bag. He looked right at Sher. "Who on the Rose Red?"

She looked down at the doctor. "Sanji in my room, Zack in his room. They both are burning up. After ya look at them ya might wanna look at Duke and Charlie too."

Chopper frowned a little at the number of patients. "You and Nails are unaffected? Yer not sick are ya?"

"No, we're both fine."

Chopper eyed Sher and his mates beside her. "After I look at the others I wanna see all three of you in the infirmary on the Rose Red."

Luffy shuffled his feet. "Aww man, how come? We aint sick."

"I know you're not sick, it's precisely why I want to see you. How come they are sick and you guys are not." Chopper hurried to the door. "I expect to see you all soon." He went out letting the door bang shut behind him.

Zoro waited until he was sure Chopper was gone. He hissed annoyed through his teeth. "I don't wanna be his fuckin Ginny pig."

Luffy cut his eyes over to Zoro. "Ginny pig?"

Zoro folded his arms across his chest. "Come on Luffy, don't you get it? We are where he is going to get all of his healthy samples."

Luffy shuddered. "Samples? Like I gotta pee in a cup?"

Zoro frowned. "I dunno maybe that too, but likely what he wants is blood samples from each of us."

Luffy shuddered again and Sher turned to follow Chopper. "I'll give Chopper a hand. There are a lot of sick people on my ship." Sher returned to the Rose Red to try to help out.

12.

All work ashore was put on hold while the healthy tried to care for the sick and themselves. Sher admittedly wasn't a great cook, but she tried. She and Ussop made dinner. She carried a tray down to Sanji. He was mostly awake. Chopper had given him something to reduce his fever and elevate pain. He sat up in bed smiling at Sher dreamily when she came in. She smiled back. "Dinner," she brought the covered tray to Sanji.

Sanji smiled at Sher and took the tray. "Did you make dis?" Sanji pulled the cover off of his plate and looked down at the food. Holy jeezum crap…

Sher smiled. "I cooked dinner tonight. Ussop helped a little." It doesn't look that bad does it? Naw… everybody ate it… She watched Sanji eyeing his dinner.

Sanji picked up a fork and turned over a charred tube of some sort of meat. "You made dis huh?" he moved the fork from the mystery log to some rice. He speared a forkful and popped it into his mouth. Oh gods…It's terrible. The rice was horribly undercooked. Sanji tried to swallow it whole but it was dry as dirt too. He reached for his glass of juice and downed half of it. "Jeez Sher are ya tryin ta kill me?"

"What?"

Sanji laughed a little. "If dis is what yer feedin da crew I better hurry up and get better." He looked at his plate and poked the log with his fork. "What da hell is dis?"

"It's kinda like a chicken tender only… bigger." Sher and Ussop had thought it a great idea at the time.

Sanji looked up at Sher. Her smile had slipped loose again. He held the tray out to her. "Here take dis mess." He passed the tray off and slid down to the end of the bed shaking his head. "Just be glad I can cook, if you had ta cook all da time it would probably kill us." Sher set Sanji's terrible dinner on the table. Her back was to him when he reached for the ring box in his pants. Sanji slid back up to his spot. "Come over here Sher, there is something I gotta ask ya."

Sher took one last look at the dinner and covered it back up. Sanji wasn't going to eat that crap. Now that she thought about it, the others had downed a lot of ale with their dinner, even her and Ussop. She turned back to Sanji. He was sitting up in bed grinning at her. Sher walked over and sat on the bed next to him. She reached up and felt his cheek. He was still warm, but not burning up. "You should be resting Sanji."

Sher's hand was cool sweet relief on his face. He grabbed her other hand and brought it up to his other cheek. Sanji closed his eyes for a minute. "I am resting," he sighed.

Sher wouldn't argue with him. The medicine made Sanji feel better, but he was still sick. "You should be laying down resting."

Sanji smiled and hooked an arm around Sher's waist. "Then get in bed wid me woman." He leaned back down on the bed bringing her with him. She lay across his warm chest still cooling his cheeks with her hands. Sher was smiling at him. Sanji took a long deep breath and let it out slowly. It felt like his lungs were mucking up a bit.

"I think the point of bed rest is to actually rest in bed," Sher said with a grin. Sanji was too sick to do anything but get a good nights sleep.

Sanji relaxed against his pillow looking up at Sher. "You happy Sher? Me and you, like dis? Does it make ya happy?"

She looked down into Sanji's tired eyes. "Yes Sanji. It makes me happy."

Sanji smiled. "Me too." He pulled Sher closer with one hand while the other grabbed hold of the ring box. He squeezed it in his hand. It's too soon. She'll say no…. "Sher…there is something..."

Sher got comfortable against Sanji. They could lay here and talk for a while. "What is it Sanji? What can I do for ya?"

That was an open ended question Sanji would have answered differently had he been feeling just a little better. Just ask her. The worst that can happen is she'll say no… but even if she does say no, she'll know I'm serious. "You can," he brought the box up between them and popped it open, "agree to be my wife."

Sher's eyes fell on the ring and her heart stopped for a second. "Sanji…"

Sanji reached up and took Sher's left hand in his own. He had gone this far, night as well go for it. He pulled the ring from the box. The box fell to the blanket beside him. Sanji moved his ring closer to Sher's finger. He looked up into her eyes. She was staring at him wide eyed. "Will you marry me Sher?"

Marry me…marry …marry Sanji… It was like a dream. Like something she had wished on a star for, but kept secret for fear it wouldn't come true. Yes…this is what I want! "Yes," Sher gasped a little and her smile broke loose again.

For a second Sanji thought he heard wrong. Yes! She said yes! "Yes," he beamed up at her. Sher nodded and Sanji slipped the ring on her finger. "Engaged ta be married. How do ya like that Sher?" Sanji asked with a grin. He pulled Sher down to him and kissed her. She said yes!

13.

The next morning the sick seemed to be on the decline. Chopper spent most of the morning in the infirmary. Just before Sher could try to cook up another horrible meal Chopper got her and Luffy to come to him up on deck. He was carrying a list and frowning as she scurried amidships. Sher and Luffy met him in front of the galley.

"How are Sanji and Z?" Sher asked right away. They both seemed worse today.

Chopper frowned at Sher. "They're getting worse. Zack was in no condition to try to fight off this dysentery or whatever the hell it is to begin with and Sanji is a heavy smoker. This shit is kicking their ass." Chopper paused as the captains' faces fell. Now that he had their attention, he went on. "Whatever we are dealing with here is viral. There is only so much that I or any doctor can do for a virus, however I do believe I can reproduce the anti bodies I found in you guys blood stream. It would give our sick mates a better fighting chance. There are a few other things I need to have to try to boost their immune systems too. Gotta get the white cell count back up."

"You have a list?" Sher swallowed hard. Luffy had stepped closer to her and was looking at Chopper.

Chopper handed the list to Sher and looked up at Luffy. "Get the Merry Go ready. You guys need to leave now."

Nami was moved to the infirmary and Robin took Mimi's room. Zoro Luffy and Ussop readied the Merry Go to sail. Sher went below deck to check Sanji and Zack once more. She would have to navigate the Merry Go in lue of a navigator. She was sure she could find Iolis, it wasn't far. They could get Choppers medicine there too. There was a big city.

Sanji was half awake. He hadn't smoked a cigarette in almost two days. Sher came in to kiss him good by. He hugged her and held her close. "Don't go getting lost on me. I got big plans fer you ya know."

Sher kissed Sanji. "I hope you start to feel better. We'll be back soon."

Sanji kissed Sher again pulling her closer. He didn't want her to be gone three or four minutes let alone three or four days. "You be careful Sher. Keep a low profile."

"I will Sanji," she hugged him harder wishing she could stay with him, but she needed to hurry after the medicine.

Sanji looked down into Sher's eyes. "I love you Sher."

She smiled at him. "I love you too Sanji." She kissed him again and headed out.

She crossed the hall to Zack's room. She opened the door and looked in on him. He looked up at her half asleep. She took a few steps into his room. "Hey Z, how ya doing?"

"Sher…" Zack felt hot, his body felt numb, his brain too. He tried to reach for her, but his arms wouldn't move. "Sher…"

Sher stepped to Zack's bedside. He looked even worse then Sanji. Because of his leg. Damnit. "It's okay Z. We're headin out to get some good medicine. You just hang in there okay? Try to get some rest."

Zack was able to move his hand. He grabbed for Sher. He caught her left hand in his own and felt something dig against his palm. He looked down at Sher's hand, at the engagement ring on her left ring finger. Engagement ring what? No! "Sher…" his voice cracked and broke up. Zack coughed a little.

Sher squeezed Zack's hand. "It's okay Z. We won't be gone long." She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. It looked like he wanted to say more, but Sher had to go and Z needed to rest. She turned and went out as quickly as she had come in.

No Sher wait! He wanted to scream. The coughing had burned his chest and stolen his breath. Sher come back! Tell me that wasn't… Don't tell me you're going to marry Sanji! Zack tried to sit up, but couldn't. He collapsed on his bed feeling the first fever heated tears sting his eyes. No Sher…no….

Sher boarded the Merry Go where the Luffy pirates were waiting for her. Nails had joined them as well, he was going to go get the rest of the parts he needed for Zack's new leg. He wanted to do what he could to help and Chopper told him he would just be in the way on the Rose Red. It was almost lunchtime when the Merry Go sailed away from Talamasca headed east to Iolis.

35