A Deep Blue Story

by Hack Interrupted

Nearly 3 years have passed since Sanji last saw Sher.

6. Chapter 6

The Pirate Gods

1.

It would take a little over a full day to sail to Iolis, two if they dropped anchor for the night. Sher stayed on deck making sure that the Merry Go stayed on course. She had a fantastic sense of direction and could sail by the stars too if need be. Luffy and Ussop spent most of the day checking out which supplies the Merry Go would need in port. The ship had been running like crazy without re-supplying. Luffy messed up the kitchen trying to figure out what food they needed. He thought they needed everything and a lot of it!

Sher made a questionable looking lunch. Zoro suspected the thing he ate was supposed to be a hamburger. He wolfed it down thankful to be fed at all. Luffy ate everything with no complaints. Zoro wondered if his captain could even taste the charcoaled mess Sher was feeding them. He chuckled to himself doubting Luffy cared.

After a late lunch Zoro worked out on deck. Sher sat on the steps watching him a little, but watching the sea more. Ussop and Luffy finished their half assed version of inventory and came up on deck too. Ussop watered Nami's trees and Luffy went to his spot on at the bow. Zoro worked up a good sweat (and unfortunately an appetite) working with his weights. He set his dumbbells down and went to Sher on the steps. Maybe he could help her not burn dinner tonight. "Hey Sher," he greeted coming over.

"Hey yerself." She put up a hand to halt him when he was a few feet away. "Hold yer ponies swordsman, I can smell ya from here," she teased.

Zoro was sweaty, but not too terribly stinky. He smelled at his armpit. "It aint that bad." He grinned at Sher. "I'll get cleaned up and help ya cook, how's that sound sweet cheeks? Maybe you can make something that aint burned beyond recognition." Zoro thought of the chicken flavored meat log Sher and Ussop made the other night and busted out laughing. "Good thing Sanji is a chef," he chortled between bouts of laughter. Sher was frowning at him, but the corner of her mouth was curled into a smile.

Sher pretended to dust something off her skirt. "Yeah well, I never said I was a good cook." She lifted her nose at Zoro and looked out over the sea.

Zoro composed himself. It was great having something to pick on Sher about, but he was getting hungry too. Looking at her he noticed something different. It took him a moment to figure out what it was. He stared at her hands on her knees and it hit him. "Holy shit Sher, is that an engagement ring!" Sanji and sweet cheeks getting hitched?

The mention of the ring brought a blush to Sher's cheeks. She looked at Zoro. He was smiling at her a little with his mouth hanging open. She giggled. "How observant," she teased Zoro back.

Zoro's grinned broadened. He looked from the ring she wore up into her eyes. "You and Sanji are getting married?" Sher smiled and nodded. Zoro stopped caring how sweaty or smelly he was. He grabbed Sher by the hands and pulled her to her feet. He yelled over his shoulder so Luffy and Ussop could hear him. "Hey you slobs, check it out! Sanji and Sher are engaged!" he turned back to Sher, she was blushing worse. He pulled her to him and gave her a big hug. "Congratulations sweet cheeks."

Sher hugged Zoro back. Over his shoulder she saw Ussop and Luffy breaking the speed record hurrying over. She laughed a little. "Thanks Zoro."

Ussop came running over with Luffy on his heels. "Really Sher? You and Sanji are getting married?"

Zoro and Sher stepped apart so the others could stand in their circle. Sher smiled and held out her left hand. "Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell us!" Ussop gushed. He was terribly excited.

Luffy was excited too. Sanji and Sher engaged presented the captain with some bright ideas for the future. Luffy grinned. "When's the wedding!"

Sher chuckled and stepped back. "Hey, slow down you guys. Sanji just proposed last night. There aint gonna be a wedding right away ya know." With everything that had been going on, there was no time to announce their engagement to their crews. In a way, Sher was glad. It would give Zack some time to settle down some before he heard the news.

Zoro whistled through his teeth in fain disgust. "That Sanji, what a lucky bastard." Zoro jabbed Sher playfully with his elbow. "Ya sure you wanna string bean like that sweet cheeks?" he dropped her a wink and she laughed at him.

No wedding soon means… Luffy's grin became devious. "So I guess that means we'll be sailing our ships together for a while eh captain?" Aside from Sanji filling in for Duke, there was now another damn good reason for the Merry Go and the Rose Red to sail together. It would be another month before Duke was ready for duty and hopefully a good long while before Sanji and Sher made it official and the cook left the Merry Go.

Sher cut her eyes up to Luffy. She thought he had asked him a dozen times or more about sailing together or both of them looking for one piece. So Luffy gets his way… big surprise. Sher had to laugh. "I think we can work something out Luffy."

Luffy stepped forward and hugged his hana. "I bet we can Sher," he chirped happily in her ear.

2.

Back aboard the Rose Red, Zack awoke from a terrible dream. He dreamt that Sher was going to marry Sanji. Zack was looking for the church to stop the ceremony before it was too late, but he got lost trying to find it. He woke feeling miserable. His head was pounding and his lungs were filling up. He coughed weakly as he came more awake. To his horror, he remembered something equally nightmarish outside of his bad dream. Sher was… was she really wearing an engagement ring? Zack forced himself to sit up. His stomach rolled over and his head pounded worse.

Zack ignored his aching body and reached for his crutches. It took some effort but he finally got to his feet. He stood by his bed for a few minutes waiting for the world to stop spinning. He felt cold even though he was aware he was sweating. Fuck this bullshit. I'll find out for myself. He regained himself and hobbled out of his room.

The trip across the hall to Sher's bedroom door seemed to take forever, but Zack kept going. He reached Sher's door and pushed it open. Zack crutched his way in. His eyes found Sanji in bed. The chef was half asleep with one arm thrown over his eyes. "You," Zack growled. "You son of a bitch…"

Sanji moved his arm away from his burning eyeballs. He peeked at Zack. Sanji didn't want to, but he made himself to sit up. Zack sounded pissed off about something again. "What's da fuckin problem dis time Z huh?" Sanji let out a slow sigh. His lungs were full of crap. Coughing fits had started up today. They hurt like hell.

Zack came to the middle of the room and stopped. He glared at Sanji. It was some consolation to see that the other man looked as bad as Zack felt. "You're the problem around here Luffy pirate." He thought of the ring on Sher's finger. "You asked Sher to marry you, didn't you?"

Sanji frowned at Zack. Sher had just accepted his proposal last night; he wondered how Zack knew already. Maybe everyone did; Sanji didn't know, he had been asleep almost all day. "Dat's right I did and she said yes. We got ourselves engaged." Deal wid dat ya little shit. It hurt his lungs to take in big breaths of air to speak.

Zack's hands tightened their grip on his crutches. No…no Sher you can't! Zack let his eyes fall from Sanji's smug face. "You think you've won don't you asshole."

"I have won Z," for the first time in two days Sanji craved a cigarette. Dealing with Zack was aggravating.

Zack cut his baking eyes up to Sanji. "The captain is never leaving this ship."

"Then you better get used to me. I already told you Z, me and Sher is together."

Zack turned toward Sanji and straightened. "I aint gonna get used to shit. I aint gonna have to. Sher might still be a little pissed at me, but I can bet ya she's real worried about how sick I am right now." Zack grinned a little. "I bet she's worried about me, probably even misses her good buddy Z."

Sanji grit his teeth. "I'm sure Sher and da others are worried about all us sickies."

"I'm sure they are," Zack's voice was eerily calm. "I can't wait for them to get back. I'm sure Sher wont mind nursing her number one back to health. She has done it before ya know. Sher and I have always taken real good care of each other."

Sanji was loosing his patience. He didn't want to hear about Zack and his woman. "You got something ta say Z, spit it out." Go ahead ya little bastard. Talk shit to me. I'll get up outta dis bed and thump yer cripple ass.

Zack's smile fell away. There was nothing in his expression now but hatred. "I will get rid of you, one way or another. I'm not going to let you have Sher."

Sanji wished he was smoking. "Give it yer best shot gimpy," he returned angrily.

Zack felt a sickening mix of emotion churning his stomach. I won't let him have Sher. I'm not letting him take her and Evan from me. "Don't worry, I will." Zack turned and went out letting the door close hard behind him.

Sanji stared at the door for a minute before he lay back down. Sanji had figured Zack might get a little bent when he heard his captain was engaged, but he hadn't expected threats. "Get rid a me huh ya little shit," Sanji grumbled as he settled back onto his pillow. I aint goin nowhere. Sanji sighed and coughed carefully. He didn't want another coughing fit to take over. He wished Sher was in bed next to him, that would calm his nerves and he could sleep.

Sanji rolled over and looked at the empty place where Sher slept beside him at night. Come back soon… I miss you…

3.

The Merry Go pulled into port at Iolis in the early afternoon. Sher tied a scarf around her head and slipped on sunglasses to disguise herself, just in case. Zoro Ussop and Nails picked up supplies for the ship and parts Nails needed for his projects while Luffy and Sher scouted the city gathering the medicines on Chopper's list. By early evening, the Merry Go was re-supplied and Zoro went looking for Luffy and Sher while Nails helped Ussop put things in their place aboard the Merry Go.

Zoro found them coming down the street headed back toward the docks. He met them on the sidewalk as people went about their business all around them. "Hey guys, he greeted as they came to meet him. Sher had the bag of medicines slung over one shoulder. "You find everything?"

Sher nodded at Zoro. "We got everything on the list and then some." She had nearly doubled the order of pain medication and tranquilizers. After their crews got through this virus, Zack still had surgery to go through for his leg. Sher wanted to be sure Mimi could keep Z comfortable when that time came.

Zoro figured they would find all of Choppers ingredients; it would just take some hunting is all. With that matter attended to, Zoro set his mind on something else productive. "How bout we slip into one of these bars, have a few drinks, listen to the gossip." He was sure that by now the pirates were all talking about what happened at Central Star. It was drawing down to dusk; the bars would be busy this time of evening.

Luffy looked around. He thought it was a good idea too. He was curious about the bounty on Sher's head. There would defiantly be one now, how much was it Luffy wondered. "Okay, how about that one?" he gestured to a place across the street where a troop of pirates was heading inside.

"Do we really have time for this?" Sher was eager to set sail.

"I think we better make time sweet cheeks," Zoro said stepping to the curb to cross the street. "We can use some info." He crossed the street with Luffy and a reluctant Sher in tow. They entered the bar and took a table near the back. They ordered a round of ale and their drinks were served quickly.

The pirates in this joint seemed pretty worked up about something. Zoro was sure that they would hear something about the Luffy pirates or the Bloody Thorns come from one of them; he wasn't disappointed. After about ten minutes and half a mug of relatively watery ale, Zoro heard someone at the table ahead of them say straw hat. He nudged Sher and focused on the pirates at the table ahead of them. Sher tapped Luffy's knee under the table and the three did a little eves dropping.

"It's true," the fat pirate said gesturing with his mug of ale. "Bloody Sher is Straw Hat's girlfriend. He went and busted her out of Central Star. Took out the stinkin marines fer her!" the fat one drank.

"I heard straw hat commanded both crews and both ships to rescue his woman!" another pirate threw in his information.

The pirate to fatty's right spoke up. "I heard that they're running their ships side by side."

"That accursed Rose Red! She's a dangerous ship," someone growled from the other side of the table. "Crew of cold blooded murderers and that Bloody Sher is the worst!"

"Bloody Sher's bounty is up to twenty five million beri," another voice from the other side of the table.

Sher cut her eyes over to Zoro. He was frowning. She looked from Zoro to Luffy. Luffy was grinning. Zoro frowning at the pirate talk she could understand, but what the hell is he smiling for? "Luffy?"

Luffy looked away from the pirates back to Sher. He took a big swig of his ale. "This stuff is pretty crummy booze huh Sher?"

Luffy looked back at the pirates ahead of them so Sher did the same. 25 million beri…jeez…that's high…

"Straw Hat's bounty went up too," the voice on the other side of the table continued. "He greased the commander at Central Star for messin with his woman. Some say it was a message straw hat was sendin out to the world."

"What message?" a much drunker pirate challenged.

"Not to mess with his bitch you idiot!" there was a round of laughter at the table.

The pirates went on babbling information. "Didja hear Captain Dark survived his fight with the Luffy pirates? I bet that guy is all kindsa pissed off." More laughter.

"Yeah, straw hat made the marines look like fools. They had their ships sunk in their own port!" laughter again from the pirate gang having drinks oblivious to who was behind them.

"I heard straw hat and Sher are on the run together heading further south."

"Bullshit! The Bloody Thorns will raid ships in the west! I bet Straw hat will be with Bloody Sher too!" a yet unheard voice from the end of the table.

"What a dangerous mix. Straw hat and Bloody Sher. Better watch yerselves boy-o's!"

"Straw hat and Bloody Sher!" one of them whooped. It became a toast at the table. "To straw hat and Bloody Sher!"

Zoro Luffy and Sher sat through another round listening to the conversations around them. Most of the stories were over romanticized versions of Luffy and Sher. The buzz was that Luffy had rescued Sher because she was his girlfriend. Straw Hat commanded his ship and the Rose Red in an attack on Central Star. They wrecked the place up. He slaughtered Commander Drella as a warning for others to leave his girl alone. Luffy thought it was great. He sounded like the hero rescuing the princess. Luffy puffed with pride. Sher rolled her eyes, and Zoro just grit his teeth. Pirates never could get a story straight. After a while they had heard enough to give them something to think about. They left the pub.

4.

They headed back down to the wharf. It was dark; Nails and Ussop would be back aboard the Merry Go and ready to leave. Sher walked between Zoro and Luffy. Zoro walked a few steps ahead of them eyes always watching the shadows. Sher wasn't worried though. Nobody had recognized her or Luffy either. She was lost in thought when she noticed Zoro stop short ahead of her. Sher froze behind the swordsman as someone stepped from the shadows ahead of them.

The great swordsman and bounty hunter Hawkeye Mihawk stepped into Zoro's path. Son of a bitch…you gotta be kidding me! "Mihawk!" Zoro half gasped he was aware that behind him Luffy and Sher had stopped moving.

Mihawk took a step closer to Zoro, but it wasn't him he was looking at, he was looking at the woman behind him. "Twenty five million beri Sher." His hand fell to the hilt of his sword. "The marines want you alive. You're coming with me."

Zoro hurriedly put himself between Mihawk and his friends. "I'm afraid you wont be taking anyone anywhere." He readied his swords. Shit… holy shit are you kidding me? I've got to…! "You're going to have to fight me!"

Mihawk looked away from his bounty to the swordsman. He recognized this one, he remembered their duel. "Roronoa Zoro, I see that you survived." Mihawk took a stance as the younger swordsman did the same. "I have come for the bounty on your woman's head," he tested. He had heard the Luffy pirates were involved with this woman pirate. His eyes flicked up to Sher briefly to make sure she wasn't going to run. She was moving toward someone else behind the swordsman, but she wasn't trying to flee.

Zoro heard Sher and Luffy step closer together behind him. "My woman," Zoro grunted through the sword in his teeth. "Sorry buddy but I aint that lucky. That don't mean I'm letting you near her though either." Zoro heart hammered in his chest as he took another step closer to Mihawk. I can't lose to him this time! Sher will…! "I've been looking forward to a rematch."

Mihawk smirked. Getting information was such easy work. "I hope you have been practicing Roronoa Zoro." Mihawk drew his sword. Zoro had been an interesting opponent previously. He would be great one day if Mihawk didn't kill him now. He decided he wouldn't before the duel even began.

Zoro charged at Mihawk and Luffy stepped up in front of Sher. "Get back," he said moving the two of them back a few steps. This is bad. That guy is Hawkeye Mihawk… Steel clanged against steel as Zoro launched an all out attack on Mihawk. The duel was beyond impressive. The power of their swings, the strength of their swords, the grace of their movements. Luffy felt Sher wrap her hands tightly around his arm. He looked down at her. She was watching the fight with wide terrified eyes. Sher is scared. Luffy looked back up at the swordfight.

Mihawk enjoyed fighting with someone with some skills, but enough was enough. He meant to set sail immediately. "That is enough now Zoro." Mihawk swung his sword up. It sliced Zoro across the chest and sent him flying backward. The chi in the blast knocked the wind out of the young swordsman and he flopped on the cobblestone bleeding and struggling to breath.

Sher saw Zoro go down covered in blood. "Zoro!" she screamed.

Luffy looked from Zoro to Mihawk. He took a step forward, closer to Mihawk. Luffy would fight the guy himself if he had to. He lowered his head and watched Mihawk from beneath the brim of his hat. Zoro gasped in a ragged breath at Luffy's feet. Sher's fingers dug into Luffy's arm. Shit this is bad. "Hey there Zoro, you okay?" Luffy tried to sound unbothered as he studied Mihawk.

Sher tried to take a step closer to Zoro, but Luffy stiffened the arm she held on to to make her stay put. She lifted her eyes up to the swordsman that had cut Zoro. He looked like the devil sent from hell to fetch her. By the gods…his eyes…! She felt the strength running out of her legs. "Luffy…" she whispered.

Mihawk looked over the man protecting his bounty. So she is with the straw hat kid after all. "You there, Monkey D. Luffy. There is a big bounty on your head too." Mihawk noticed the way Sher Cerces was clinging to Luffy. He saw a diamond ring on the woman's finger. The stories that claimed Luffy and Sher were a couple. Zoro wasn't with Sher I aint that lucky; she really must be with Luffy. The kid had stepped up to protect her.

Luffy nodded. "That's true." He watched Mihawk trying to predict his next move.

Mihawk suppressed a smile. Haven't you hooked yourself quite the wild one little Luffy? He sheathed his sword. "Another day perhaps," Mihawk said turning away. "Perhaps I'll return for both of you. You should look after your swordsman. The wound is far from fatal." Mihawk strode off into the darkness. He would set sail alright, but his corse would be slightly different.

Luffy blinked as Mihawk turned and walked away. Holy shit he left us alone! Sher let go of Luffy and hurried to Zoro. He was breathing again, but there was a nasty slash across his chest. Mihawk disappeared into the darkness and Luffy looked down at Zoro and Sher. She was trying to help Zoro sit up. "Come on you guys," Luffy said crouching to help get Zoro up. "We better get outta here, yes?"

"Yes," Sher agreed immediately. She wanted to sail as far away from that demon from hell as she could.

"Yes," Zoro grunted as Luffy and Sher helped him to his feet. He was in pain, but he would live. He was going to need stitches though. "Let's get the hell outta here before he changes his mind and comes back." Mihawk… he just left…

The idea terrified Sher. She hurried them back toward the Merry Go in the dark.

5.

Zack lay in bed for a long time just listening to the sounds of the ship around him. It was late and he floated in the mix of medicines Chopper had given him. The doctors a reindeer and the captain is a rubber man and let's not forget that chick Robin, oh Nails just loves her…and Sanji calls me a freak? Zack chuckled softly, half asleep. That fuckin Sanji… that bastard. Maybe I'll get lucky and he'll die from this. Zack almost felt like he might. There was a steady dull pain with every breath.

He thought about what he should do. Sher was wearing Sanji's engagement ring. She was taking things too seriously with that damn fuckin Sanji. Why? Why would she…?

"Evan and I already have our family and Sanji is no part of mine." That's what ya said Sher. Why are you fallen for that piece of shit now? What did Sanji do, what did he say to fuck you all up like this! Zack sat up. His vision dimmed at the edges for a minute. He wasn't quite sure if he was all the way awake. It sure didn't feel like it.

"Sanji," he grumbled. It's all Sanji's fault. He's got Sher all fucked up. She'll listen to his line of shit…and then he'll hurt her again. Evan too. He'll just fuck up their lives. Zack put his feet on the floor and reached for his crutches. He couldn't feel much and his vision was spotty. He thought he was awake because he was moving. Zack went to his door and pulled it open. He stepped out into the hall.

A guy like him could never be faithful to a wife and a kid. He'll end up hurting them. Zack made it across the hall and opened the door to Sher's room. He'll probably abandon her again. Like he did before. It would hurt Evan too. Zack stepped into Sher's room and looked at Sanji. He was asleep. He didn't hear Zack come in.

Zack hobbled closer to Sanji and looked down at him. Sanji was pale; there were dark circles under his eyes. He was sweating through another fever. Die you bastard. Die right here in the bed I shared with Sher! His metal hand tightened on Zack's crutches. Zack had almost forgotten about his arm, he was so used to it now. Even sick like this there's still enough strength in my arm to finish Sanji off.

Zack stared down at Sanji. Of course it would be easy to just reach down and snap his neck. Sanji probably wouldn't even wake up before Zack killed him. It would be… humane. Sanji was suffering after all. Just helping the poor bastard out.

It wasn't as if Zack had never killed to protect his captain before. Dozens had fallen at his feet. Sanji was just another pirate after the treasure aboard the Rose Red, Zack's treasure. My family you stinking Luffy pirate!

The problem was, Chopper would know. The reindeer would know Sanji was murdered. He would tell Sher. And she would know it was me. She would know I killed Sanji…for her. Would she…hate me…? Zack tried to imagine how Sher might react to coming home to find Sanji dead and Zack guilty. Knowing her she would be rippin pissed and sad. Sher would really be sad… if Sanji died…damnit.

Zack squeezed his crutches with his iron fist. There was still plenty of strength there to crush Sanji's throat into a memory but she would know. Sher would hate me! Killing Sanji would be both easy and pleasant, but it wasn't worth risking losing Sher for good. There was still time to talk sense into her. It wasn't as if she would marry Sanji right away I should hope. He had to tread carefully; Sher had already threatened to throw him off the ship. If he murdered Sanji in cold blood he might as well just say good bye to Sher forever. Damnit. Gods damn you Sanji. I hope you fuckin die.

Reluctantly Zack turned and headed for the door. Maybe someday he would get to kill Sanji, someday before it was too late to stop him from taking Sher away, but today wouldn't be that day. I will get rid of you Sanji, one way or another. Zack went out and headed back to bed. He was exhausted and heartsick. He needed sleep.

6.

They got Zoro below deck to his room. Luffy cleaned him up while Sher got Nails and Ussop to pull the Merry Go out of port. She pointed them in the right direction and filled them in with what had happened ashore. Nails almost had a heart attack when he heard how big the bounty was on Sher's head. Ussop's palpitation came from the mention of the bounty hunter Mihawk.

Once they were underway, Sher brought the bag of medicines down to the guy's room. Luffy had helped Zoro out of his shirt and they had cleaned him up some. Luffy looked green around the gills. Sher stepped over to Zoro and looked at the gash on his chest. It was terrible; it was going to need stitches. "Gods, that's sick." She knelt and dug into the bag. Luffy stepped back to let Sher take over.

Cleaning the wound had stung like a bastard. Zoro was still clutching a fistful of his blanket. "Yeah well it hurts too! I need some fuckin stitches! You gonna do em?" he couldn't help but shout. His pride was just as slashed as his body.

Sher held a bottle in one hand, a syringe in the other. She poked the needle through the rubber of the bottle. "Not with that attitude." She drew out some morphine and set the bottle aside. She glared at Zoro. She knew he was probably the world's worst patient. "You gonna hold still and let me do this or what?"

Zoro eyed the needle. "What is that?" Please be something for the pain.

Sher moved the needle to Zoro's arm. "Morphine, be still." She jabbed him and Zoro tried to relax as she shot the drug into his bloodstream. "You'll be floaty in a few." She set the needle aside and looked at the gash on his chest. She had seen Mimi do stitches plenty of times. "I better stitch this up."

"Jeez do ya think?" Zoro grunted. He was frowning a little. He felt bad that Sher was taking care of him after he had failed to protect her. "Sorry Sher," Zoro took a deep breath. Morphine worked fast. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you from Mihawk either." Zoro relaxed down on his bunk.

Sher sighed tiredly. She had seen how hard Zoro had fought for her. "It's okay Zoro. You scared him away at least."

"Bullshit. I don't know why he left, but it wasn't because of me." Zoro looked up at Sher, Luffy was standing behind her. There was a squeamish look on Luffy's face. "Hey wait a minute. He said something to you didn't he Luffy?"

Luffy rolled his eyes up and tried to remember. "Sure. He said something about the bounty on my head."

Zoro frowned a little. "That means Mihawk knew who all of us were then. So why didn't he collect the bounty for either one of you guys?"

Luffy shrugged and smiled. "Who knows? He said he might be back."

Zoro thought Luffy foolish to take Mihawk so lightly, but he had other problems to deal with right now. At least they were all safe and headed back with the medicine. Zoro relaxed into his bed melting into it. He started to float. "Okay Sher. Sew me up sweet cheeks. I'm ready."

Sher rummaged through the bag again and set out what she would need to stitch Zoro up. "You better hope I can sew better then I can cook swordsman." The gash was nasty; it was going to need a lot of stitches. Gonna be here a while.

Zoro rolled his already glassy eyes up to Sher. She was getting a needle ready. "Sorry Sher," he said quietly. "I couldn't protect you from Mihawk." Zoro was beginning to succumb to the morphine but his mind still worked for the moment. If Mihawk had wanted to take Sher with him, there would have been nothing Zoro could have done to stop him. I'm just not good enough yet!

Sher started stitching Zoro. He flinched as the needle poked through his skin so close to his open wound. "You stood up to that guy Zoro. That's all that matters."

Luffy was hanging back behind Sher trying not to watch the stitching. "You woulda got back up and kept fighting if he had tried to take Sher," Luffy said matter of factly. "You aint hurt that bad ya big pussy."

Zoro smiled. The morphine made getting stitched up feel weird. "Yeah," Zoro agreed dreamily. "I wouldn't let him take Sher." He looked up at her again. She was frowning with concentration. Luffy was right, he would fight to his death if he had to to protect Sher. Zoro knew that his captain would too. "You're Sanji's girl but we love ya too sweet cheeks. You're kinda like our sister." Zoro chuckled a little. "No that aint right. Not a sister. I'm not a total incest bastard."

Sher shook her head and Luffy snorted a laugh behind her. "I get ya Zoro. I love you guys too. Now be still so I can do this." Sher was nervous, but the first few stitches looked pretty good. Not as good as Mimi… Sher sighed thinking of Mimi and Evan. She missed her boy.

Zoro smiled up at Sher one last time before he slipped into a morphine dream. I'm glad you're still with us sweet cheeks. Don't worry we'll protect you …

7.

Captain Alphonse Dark sat at his big desk looking over the reports sent to him from a small Island in the east blue called Day. This is where Bloody Sher first began to gather her crew. A woman doctor, to deliver Sher Cerces child.

The woman pirate is a mother. The child would be about two years old by now. Where is that baby now? Who was the father?

There was a stack of letters on his desk from all over the grand line and east blue too. It would take time, but Dark could track the Rose Red. He would find out every thing there was to know about the woman pirate, every secret Sher Cerces had.

What was her tie to the Luffy pirates? Were they merely partners in crime, or was there more to it then that? Three Luffy pirates slaughtered a third of his men and straw hat killed the Commander. Dark had been beaten senseless himself by the smoking blond. He sighed angrily at the memory and reached for another letter on top of the pile.

Dark would be up most of the night reading reports, but that was okay. He would do whatever it took to catch the woman pirate.

8.

Luffy went back up on deck before the stitching was over. Zoro fell asleep, Sher needed to concentrate and Luffy needed some air. Ussop and Nails both looked exhausted. Luffy wanted to sail through the night, they would sleep in shifts. He sent them both off to bed for a while and went to his spot at the bow of the ship. He sat there for a while thinking about Mihawk. He hadn't challenged Luffy for Sher. Luffy doubted it was because he was afraid of the wanted captain. So then why? Mihawk hadn't even hurt Zoro that bad. Just enough to knock him on his ass and bruise his pride. Why?

When Sher was done with Zoro she left the room so the guys could get some sleep. She went topside and saw Luffy at the bow. She headed his way to let him know Zoro was alright. "Hey Luffy," she called coming up behind him. Luffy turned to Sher. "Zoro is all set. Everybody's takin a nice nap."

Luffy nodded. "Okay. We'll let em sleep for a while. I'm wide awake anyway."

Sher went over to Luffy and leaned against the rail. "Yeah, me too." She thought of the bounty hunters scary eyes. "Luffy…"

Luffy adjusted his hat so it was smushed further down on his head. "It's okay Sher. Zoro woulda got back up and if he didn't I woulda taken care of that guy." Sher had been genuinely afraid of Mihawk.

"Twenty five million beri, I'm gonna have alotta guys like that lookin for me." It was a horrible reality to face up to.

Luffy shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. I run into bounty hunters once in a while. Its nothing we cant handle."

Sher stared at Luffy. His confidence never ceased to amaze her. "What do you think Luffy? What should I do?" she was pretty sure she already knew, she was ready to agree with him.

Luffy smiled at Sher. "Stick with me Sher. We'll run our ships so far into the grand line nobody will know who we are. Come with me and find one piece." It was simple Luffy logic. If Sher and the Rose Red stuck by Luffy he could protect them both. Luffy would have another ship he could be on when he started to go stir crazy on the Merry Go. Two ships and two chefs, double meals! They would go get Evan soon and Luffy would have someone fun to play with! And best of all he would have Sher to pal around with and talk captain stuff to.

Sher laughed a little. "I don't know about the whole one piece thing Luffy… but sailing together further into the grand line sounds like it might be a good idea."

Luffy nodded again. "The best thing for us to do right now is get moving and keep moving. You can call it running if you want to, I prefer to think of it as exploring." Luffy dropped Sher a wink. He was getting his way. Luffy was getting excited.

"Exploring huh?" Sher wondered how long they would have to keep moving. She didn't like the idea of doubling up the captains, but Luffy would be accommodating. "Listen Luffy, I got enough loot aboard the Rose Red to keep the ship sustained for about a year."

Luffy chuckled. Sher's last haul had been seven million. "A year? Wow!"

Sher shrugged. It was only part of the fortune she had intended to usurp from the grand line. "Yeah well…" She turned and looked out at the sea. "I think your right. We just need to go, get the hell away from here. Just get Evan and go." Sher realized she needed the Luffy pirates protection tonight. They were willing to help, she had to accept it.

"We can go get Evan whenever you want to Sher." Luffy was sure she missed her son. Luffy thought Evan was adorable. Chibi Sanji!

"I want to be able to just go get them and get gone. I'm not really sure where August is though. I need Charlie to make me a map or something." Sher sighed and leaned out over the rail a little putting her face in the wind. It was cool and smelled like salt.

Luffy watched Sher. "We can do it however you want to Sher. I'll let you guide my ship. You can be my captain too." He grinned at her. Luffy knew that sometimes situations seemed to find him, but he would try to let Sher have control over their ships too. Where they went wasn't that big of a deal to Luffy so long as they were looking for one piece. "I'm gonna be king of the pirates," his excitement was building. The next few months were going to be a lot of fun for Luffy.

Sher smiled a little. She knew that Luffy could understand a captains need to point her ship her way. "Okay Luffy. You get yer way. The Rose Red will sail with the Merry Go. We'll head further into the grand line. I'm sure Nami or Charlie can think up some far away place for us to go." She turned to look at him. "I guess I need you guys to protect me too don't I?" Sher was good with her guns, but Mihawk had scared her so bad she almost wet her pants. He was fast, intuitive. There was no way she could get a shot off on a guy like him. She would be dead before she could draw.

"I'll protect you Sher. You and your ship and your crew. We all will." Luffy didn't want Sher to worry. He didn't like the look in her eyes when she was afraid. It made him angry. Almost as angry as when Drella called his hana a whore. A flower should never wilt in the shadow of fear and lies. "You're gonna be with me now Sher, its gonna be alright." Luffy leaned back a little and looked up at the stars. His grin never faltered. "Besides, straw hat has gotta look out for his girlfriend right?" Luffy giggled.

Sher rolled her eyes. "Sure Luffy. Wouldn't want to want to disappoint the other pirates right?" she laughed a little at some of the foolish rumors they had heard in the pub. Dumb ass pirates. Whatever.

Luffy laughed up at the stars. "This is gonna be awesome!"

9.

Early the next morning, Sher spotted a marine ship on the horizon. Reluctantly she made them turn the Merry Go away from the marines. It would add on to their time to sail back, but it would avoid an encounter with the marines for now. Sher directed Luffy to wake her in exactly four hours so she could put them back on course. Sher went below deck and collapsed on Sanji's bed.

She looked up at the pictures still tacked over his bed. She reached up and stroked Evan's cheek. Evan… Sher rolled over and hugged the pillow. It smelled like cigarettes and cologne. It smelled like Sanji. Sher hoped that he was feeling better. She was worried about him. Z looked terrible when she left too. She sighed missing all of them.

10.

Duke and Robin were feeling the least miserable, the virus was more like a flue for them. Duke went into the captain's room with a fresh towel for Sanji late in the afternoon. He was trying to be helpful. Sanji was awake but he looked terrible. "Hey Sanji. How you feelin?"

"Shit-ty," a coughing fit took over. Sanji gagged his way through it as Duke moved closer. Duke stuck out his arm and when Sanji quit choking he grabbed the towel. He wiped the tears from his face as he tried to catch his breath. His chest was on fire.

"Take it easy." Duke looked down at Sanji nervously. He looked as bad as Zack did today. Everyone but them seemed to be getting through it none to bad. Sanji smokes and Z was fucked up to begin with cuz of his leg. "The captain will be back soon. We'll get ya fixed up Sanji."

Sanji caught his breath and nodded. He had lost track of time being in and out of a fevered sleep again all day. "Sher's on her way back right?"

Duke nodded. "By now they should be getting close. We'll probably see em by morning."

Sanji relaxed into bed and rubbed his face with the towel to get the sweat off his brow. Sher's comin. She'll be here soon. Sanji closed his eyes. He was very tired. "Okay" he managed to get out.

"Get some rest Sanji," Duke said quietly. He turned and went out. Maybe he should have Chopper check on Sanji once more before lights out.

11.

Mihawk arrived on Syrackas in the early evening. He could hear the party further inland from the shore. He sighed annoyed. That guy does nothing but party his fuckin balls off. He tromped up the shore toward the sound of the party in the dieing light. It was a short walk to find the crew sitting around a bonfire and getting stinking drunk. Mihawk spotted the red head across the fire and made his way to him. "Shanks," he called a greeting.

Shanks looked up and saw Mihawk moving past his cautious looking crew. "Mihawk! Well hey there buddy, what brings you here?"

Mihawk reached Shanks and stared down at the pirate. "I saw that straw hat friend of yours. Luffy." Mihawk reached into his cloak and grabbed Sher's wanted poster. "I assume you've heard about Luffy and Bloody Sher by now."

Shanks was curious, excited. "Luffy busted her out of prison. I heard that much."

Mihawk dropped Sher's rolled up wanted poster in Shanks lap. "Sher Cerces was with Luffy when I saw him." Shanks was unrolling the wanted poster. "She was wearing an engagement ring. I saw it when Luffy stepped up to protect her."

Shanks stared down at the wanted poster of Sher Cerces. "This is Luffy's woman! Why that sly son of a bitch! Look at her!" Shanks whistled. He couldn't help himself.

"I've seen her," Mihawk said patiently.

Shanks turned to Yassop. "Hey, check it out! This is Luffy's girlfriend!" he held the poster out and Yassop reached over and grabbed it.

Yassop looked at the bounty before he looked at the picture. "So this is Bloody Sher eh? Luffy's really gone and got himself mixed up with a woman like this?"

"Yeah, lucky bastard!" Shanks beamed excitedly. He laughed and Yassop laughed with him. Luffy… I can't believe it! He turned back to Mihawk. "Engagement ring huh?"

Mihawk nodded. "Roronoa Zoro challenged me to a duel. He said that Sher was not his woman. She was holding on to Luffy and he stepped up to protect her when I laid Zoro out flat on his back."

Shanks grinned. He had heard what Luffy had done to the Commander at Central Star. "Luffy fights for her."

"It appears to be that way. The crazy bastard did attack a marine h.q. to rescue her. He Pulverized the Torturer; Drella was the c.o. on Central Star."

Shanks shuddered at the idea of Luffy's girl being in the hands of Commander Drella. The world was a much kinder place with him gone. "Drella's had it comin for a long time. Good for Luffy. Prick probably tortured his woman."

"I would imagine so," Mihawk said in his same patient tone.

Shanks lifted a bottle of wine to his lips and downed a big swallow. "So why don't you have a seat, have a drink, and fill me in on what you've heard about Luffy's girl and her ship. The Rose Red isn't it?"

Mihawk was satisfied he could get Shanks to engage in more serious conversation. He sat down and Shanks handed him an unopened bottle of wine. "Yes, the Rose Red. Its one of the fastest ships in the grand line. A raider actually, a very efficient one."

Shanks sipped his wine. "So Sher is a pretty dangerous pirate captain herself?"

Mihawk uncorked his wine. "Indeed." He took a big swallow.

Yassop passed the wanted poster to Lucky and he hooted, "Hot stuff!"

Shanks grin deepened. He was impressed. Luffy was making quite the name for himself here in the grand line. Shanks found his choice in Sher a perfect match. Luffy needed someone just as crazy as he was, Sher seemed to fit the description and she's a total hottie! Alright Luffy! "So tell me what they're all sayin about Luffy and Sher," he directed at Mihawk from under his hat. Shanks was getting ideas. Maybe he would have to stretch his sea legs.

Mihawk talked well into the night re-telling tales he had heard from pirates and marines. He talked of the Rose Red, the Bloody Thorns and captain Sher Cerces. He repeated the gossip he had heard about Luffy and Sher. They had been in Coffee Town together some weeks ago. Luffy took Sher up to the best room in the best inn in town for the better part of the evening.

Shanks drank his wine and listened, chuckling occasionally. He was happy for Luffy. He missed the kid. Maybe a little sailing would do Shanks some good.

12.

Sanji was half asleep when he heard noise coming from Evan's room. He opened his eyes and looked over at the pass door. He was feverish, weak and a little disorientated. Sher? He sat up and waited for the dizzy spell to pass. When he felt steady Sanji got up and made his way to the door that opened up on Evan's room. "Sher? Is that you?" Sanji pushed the door open. It wasn't Sher, it was Zack.

Zack stood holding on to the rail of Evan's crib bed staring down at the empty space where his little buddy should be sleeping. He was sweating, his head was pounding. The fever was making him somewhat delirious. He had come in here thinking he heard Evan crying. He heard Sanji, but he didn't look up at him. He thought of hugging Evan good bye before he put him and Mimi off the ship. "I miss him," Zack finally said quietly.

Sanji leaned against the door frame. He wasn't sure how long he could stand here, not long was his guess. His legs felt weak and rubbery. "I miss him too Z. Don't worry, we'll go get him back soon."

"And then you'll take him away," Zack was breathing hard. His lungs felt like a swamp in his chest. Evan… my Evan. "My son. Evan is my boy."

Sanji wondered if Zack was delirious. He looked worse then Sanji felt; there was sweat running down his face. "I think ya better get back ta bed Z. Ya look terrible."

Zack chuckled softly. "Why don't you drop dead?"

Sanji sighed tiredly. "After you," he grumbled back at Zack.

Zack reached down and picked up one of Evan's teddy bears. "He calls this one Pete," he thought aloud bringing the bear up to his face. Zack smelled the toy. Strawberry preserves and baby shampoo. Smells like Evan.

Sanji leaned some more of his weight against the door frame. He wouldn't be able to stand here very much longer, but somehow he couldn't bring himself to go. He stood watching Zack holding his son's stuffed animal. It took Sanji a minute to notice that it wasn't just sweat running down Zack's cheeks. There were tears too. Though Sanji hated to think about it, he knew Zack loved Sher and Evan almost as much as I do. Sanji took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. It hurt to breathe. Sanji's lungs weren't as fresh and clean as the other sickies on board. He was a smoker, a heavy smoker no less. "Hey Z…"

Zack set the bear next to Evan's pillow. He shook his head slowly. "Why did you have to come back? Why couldn't you just leave us alone?"

"Cuz Evan is my son, my flesh and blood and I love Sher," Sanji caught his breath. It took something out of him just to speak.

"I love Sher," Zack's voice was soft. "She and Evan are my family. My wife. My son. You're nothing." Zack looked up at Sanji. The chef looked pale and weak. "You're worse then nothing. You're a monster like the things in Evan's story books. You just show up and take what you want not caring whose life you destroy in the process."

Sanji frowned at Zack. Zack might think Sanji was some kind of bad guy, but Sher loved Sanji enough to accept his marriage proposal and Evan loved his daddy too. "It aint like dat Z. I aint forcing Sher ta marry me. She wants to."

"You're stealing my family." A coughing fit tickled its way up Zack's chest. He broke into jagged coughs holding himself up on Evan's crib.

Sanji watched Zack nervously as his body shook through the coughing fit. Sanji had a few of them himself. It felt like burning up inside. That's what ya get fer talkin shit ya little bastard. I hope it hurts. Sanji waited for Zack to stop choking and catch his breath. "Ya gonna live?" Sanji growled.

Zack hung his head breathing slow shallow breaths. His head was pounding, his chest burned. He closed his eyes against the spinning room. "Just die Sanji. Just fuckin die already!"

Sanji could see that Zack was ready to fall over. "Tell you what Z, when you is feelin all better yer more then welcome to take yer best shot at me."

Even with his eyes closed Zack still felt like he was turning circles. Sanji's voice sounded far away. There was just dizziness and pain. So much pain. "Sher…" he croaked. Zack lost his balance and the strength ran from his legs. He fell to the floor bringing his crutches down with him. He landed on his ass and put his arms out for balance. The hard landing had kept him from passing out, for now at least.

Sanji forced himself to stand and took a step toward Zack. Z needed to get back to bed now. "Hey Z, you alright?" he made his way to Zack's side. Just because he didn't particularly like Z, didn't mean Sanji wasn't going to help him. Cruelty wasn't in his nature. Zack would need a hand up, if Sanji could help at all in his condition.

Zack was able to focus again. Sanji was standing to his right. "Fuck you asshole," Zack snarled. With the strength he had left Zack grabbed Sanji's leg in his metal hand and yanked. Sanji came crashing to the floor beside Zack. Zack grinned satisfied.

Falling had made Sanji dizzy. He landed flat on his back and banged his head too. "Oww! Dat hurt ya little bastard!" yelling at Zack stole his strength for a moment. He glared up at Z. Zack was grinning, but he was still crying. Sanji propped himself up on his elbows. "What da fuck is wrong wid you huh? I was gonna help yer cripple ass up asshole." He forced himself to sit up and could go no further.

"Fuck you Sanji. Just die." Zack had to sit still for a few to get some strength back. He would rather die then let Sanji help him up.

Sanji managed to get in a good breath. "Would ya stop telling me ta die already? It feels like I'm half way there." He was mad Zack had drug him down to the floor with him, but it was hard to feel hate seeing the other man cry. Does he even know he's crying?

"I almost killed you yesterday," Zack said closing his eyes. He could remember standing over Sanji as the cook slept in Sher's bed.

Sanji frowned at Zack. "What?" he must be delirious.

"You were asleep," Zack spoke slowly as if in a dream. "I came into the captain's room. You were asleep. I might be half dead, but there is enough strength in my right arm to snap your fuckin neck. I stood over you, thinking about killing you. It would be so easy."

Sanji felt something sink into his stomach. He didn't think what Zack was saying right now was some part of a delusion. He thought he might be sweating a little harder. Stood over me…snap my neck? "You tried ta kill me Z?"

Zack's eyes were still closed. His strength was returning very slowly. "There would be no try about it Sanji. If I wanted to kill you, it would be done."

Sanji's lip curled into a snarl. Ya think so ya little shit. "Then why didn't you?"

Zack let out a slow breath and opened his eyes. His face felt hot and wet. "Cuz she would know. Sher would know I killed you. It would make her… sad. Unlike you I can't bring myself to hurt Sher even if it means that I have to keep suffering myself."

Zack just had a way of making Sanji pissed off and guilt ridden at the same time. "I'm not gonna hurt Sher, Z. I love her. Evan too. I'm gonna take real good care of em both from now on. They're my family."

"They are my family!" Zack roared. The outburst made him dizzy again and he swayed. He felt Sanji steady him with a hand on his shoulder. Zack tried to knock it away. "Don't touch me you bastard!" Zack overexerted himself. To his dismay he collapsed up against Sanji. "Don't…touch me…" he panted.

Sanji held Zack up and let him lean against him. Zack's whole body burned with fever. "Dat's enough Z. I'm gonna stick a fork in ya cuz you're done." Zack need to calm down and get to bed. Sanji wondered if he should go get Chopper.

Zack couldn't move. The strength had run from his limbs. "Bastard," Zack hated being held up by Sanji. He would rather have hit the floor. He couldn't move his limbs to hurt Sanji, but his mouth still worked just fine. "You think you're entitled to Sher cuz you knocked her up eh Sanji? Well, yer not the only one that ever got Sher pregnant ya know. I did too. She coulda had my kid."

Sanji lifted an eyebrow trying to figure out if Zack was just rambling from delirium. He spoke in that same eerie calm voice. "What the fuck you talkin about Z?" Evan was the only child aboard this ship.

It was hurting to breathe from talking so much. "Back when me and Sher was together. She got pregnant, but we…we didn't know until she miscarried. We drank a lot back then…" Zack couldn't talk anymore. If things had worked out differently, if they had suspected she was pregnant, if they hadn't been getting so shitty drunk every night… Evan woulda had a little brother or sister and Sher and I would still be together…

Sanji frowned. Sher had never mentioned this before, but something told him that Zack wasn't just making it up. Sanji swallowed hard. "You shittin me?"

Zack breathed slowly to catch his breath. The pain in his lungs was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. "No."

"Sher never said nothin…" Sanji was stunned and a little hurt too.

"Like she'd tell you that," Zack mumbled. He knew that Sanji didn't want to hear anything about Sher and Zack from anyone.

Sanji swallowed a lump in his throat. "I'm just sayin she never told me." He wondered why Sher had kept it from him, his hatred of her relationship with Zack he supposed. It cut Sanji to think of Sher and Zack in such an intimate way.

"Yeah well…" Zack had never missed Sher more then he did now, not even when she was a prisoner of the marines.

Sanji studied Zack's face in the dim light. He was still crying. "When?" Sanji wanted to know. He prayed to the gods that it had been a long time ago.

"On our way to the grand line."

Sanji knew how much he loved Sher for mothering his child; he supposed he could speculate what Zack was feeling even if he didn't want to. Sanji knew Zack was in love with his woman, he had just hoped that it was more of a captain and number one or a fuck buddy thing. It bothered him to think that Zack loved her so deeply, that he would have made Sanji's family his own. Sanji sighed tiredly. "Sorry ta hear dat Zack."

"No you're not," Zack scoffed. "If Sher had my baby I woulda married her. Maybe we wouldn't have even come here. She'd never have seen you again."

"But dat aint how things happened. I'm here Z and I aint goin anywhere." Sanji's voice wavered. He felt drained, depressed, but he wasn't willing to give an inch when it came to Sher or his son.

Zack turned his head and looked at Sanji. "How can you say you love her when you just left her like that? I gave Sher my life. I gave her my heart, my arm, even my gods' damned leg! Everything for her, that's how much I love her Sanji! Sher loved me too, I know she did. I know she still does!"

Sanji couldn't take much more of this. Sher and Zack was always a topic best avoided. Sanji didn't like to hear about it. Sanji lifted a hand and cut Zack off. "If Sher was in love wid you she wouldn't be wearin my ring. I asked her ta marry me and she said yes. Dat is da way it is Z. And don't you even think fer a minute that you love dat woman more then I do. I might have been a flirt in town but I never had no piece a ass on da side like youz two fucks." It almost felt good chastise Sher right along with Zack. Sanji wasn't just hurt that Sher and Zack had been lovers, he was pretty freekin pissed about the whole thing too. "I held da Merry Go in Ices fer weeks listening ta Nami and Zoro and eventually every freekin body tell me dat Sher got cold feet. Dat she decided she didn't want nuttin ta do wid da grand line…or me neither." Sanji sighed and hung his head. "After a while, I believed em. Thought maybe I scared Sher away. I was gonna ask her ta marry me when she met us in Ices, but she never showed up. I thought…"

Zack was watching Sanji with eyeballs that burned. The fever was baking him from the inside out. "Liar," it came out a hiss."

Sanji cut his eyes up to Zack's. Sick or not there was still plenty of hate in his stare. "Fuck you Zack. You don't know what the fuck yer talkin about. You don't know a gods damned thing about me or about me and Sher. I spent a long time wishin I didn't love her so freekin much, but as soon as I saw her again… I can't even explain it too ya. Fate brought us back together. I am meant to be wid Sher. I can feel it when I'm wid her, when I look at her!"

"Shut up," Zack snarled. He tried to push away from Sanji a little, but he couldn't yet.

Sanji did just the opposite. Rather then stow it, he kept going. It was time to make Zack understand; time to make him deal with reality. "Me and Sher belong together. We always have and we always will. Whatever happened while me and her was apart is nothing anymore."

Zack was furious. He wouldn't let Sanji run away from the past two years. "You can't erase it. You can't erase what I had with Sher!"

Sanji's heart was beating harder in his chest. "I'll erase you ya little fuck if ya don't leave Sher alone!" he could feel angry tears stinging his already burning eyes. Zack frowned at him. Sanji caught his breath and went on. "Look Z, whatever ya had goin on wid Sher, its yer business, but dat shit is in da past. It's over. She's wid me now. She's back where she belongs. I love her in ways you couldn't possibly understand. She and Evan are everything to me."

Zack sniffed back a sob angrily. "Yeah well they're everything to me too."

"No they aint. Take a look around you Z. Sher aint da only mistress of yer heart. You got her too, da Rose Red."

Zack frowned at Sanji. "So what, you get Sher and I get this ship? Fuck you Sanji."

"I know Sher will want you ta have her. In a way yer kinda right when ya said she still loves you. Yer her number one Z. Yer her friend. I can't say dat I appreciate dat ya banged my woman and all, but I am grateful dat you was there fer her and Evan." His eyes were too hot to hold back the tears. Sanji felt the fever kicking his ass.

"I don't want your fuckin gratitude." Zack looked away from Sanji. He knew some of what Sanji was saying was true. He was Sher's very best friend in the world. It was only slightly gratifying to know that hurt Sanji a little.

Sanji sniffled looking at Zack. "Did Sher ever tell you about us? About what it was like? It was a good thing, a great thing. We was real happy together. We was really in love. We still are. She's more then my first love Z, she's my one and only, my true love. You believe in dat shit?" Zack didn't look at him. Sanji swallowed and went on. "I believe in dat shit every time I look at Sher. And Evan… he looks just like me. He's so…perfect. Perfect like my love fer Sher and her love for me."

Zack didn't want to think about what Sher was feeling for Sanji. He was hoping it was old ghosts until he saw the ring on her finger. "How can she…" the hot tears flowed. "How can she love you… that bitch…"

Sanji sighed heavily. Zack was pretty broken up. Sanji wasn't exactly giddy either. His pajama top was wet with sweat and tears of his own making. He did feel bad for Zack in his own way. It sucks to lose, don't it buddy. "I never meant to do Sher no wrong. She knows dat. I could never stop lovin her neither. She knows dat too." He shifted his weight so that Zack was sitting up on his own. Sanji slowly got to his feet. "I thank da stars and da sea and da gods every fuckin day dat she is giving me a second chance. I aint never leavin her again." Moving was harder then standing, but Sanji forced himself to the door. He stepped back into Sher's bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Zack let himself fall to the floor. He did his best to curl up into a little ball. Sher… After a while he cried himself to sleep beside Evan's crib.

13.

The Merry Go arrived in the lagoon mid morning. Luffy bounced Sher and the bag of medicine over to the Rose Red post haste. Sher passed the bag off to Luffy and hurried to her room to check on Sanji. He was in bed, twisting in a feverish sleep. Sanji! Sher hurried to his bedside. She put her hands on his face, he was burning up. "Sanji, Sanji wake up," she called to him.

Sanji heard Sher's real voice calling him out of a horrible dream. "Sher," he grumbled sleep fuzzy. His eyes rolled beneath their lids.

"Yes Sanji, I'm here," Sher was worried. Sanji was in rough shape.

Sanji's opened his eyes half way. Sher was there holding his face in her hands. Sher, yer back… he tried to smile. "Hey beautiful…"

Sher kissed Sanji. She was going to go get Chopper now. "Hang in there, I'll be right back." She stepped away from Sanji and hurried out into the hall. The door to Zack's room was open, Sher heard Chopper and Luffy in there so she went in. "Chopper I need…" Sher didn't finish. She saw the doctor injecting Zack with something. Zack looked terrible, he looked like… Oh gods is he dieing!"

Chopper finished with his unconscious patient and turned to Sher. "I know. I'll get Sanji next." He slipped the needle back into its case and gathered the various vials of medicine he had pumped into Zack just now. Chopper would be back in a couple of hours to hit him up again. Zack was in dire straights.

Sher saw all of the bottles Chopper stuffed back into his bag. There were a lot. "Z…?"

"He's in shit shape," Chopper growled gathering the last of his things. "Now that I have the proper mix of electrolytes I can finally get an i.v. into him." He picked up his bag and hurried to the door. He had a round of injections for Sanji next. "Excuse me," he bumped his way between the two captains and headed into the hall.

Sher stared at Zack a minute longer then looked at Luffy. He had turned and watched Chopper go to Sher's room. Luffy looked up into Sher's worried face. "Luffy?"

Luffy swallowed hard. "It will be okay Sher. They just need to rest. Chopper will fix them up." He took a step closer to Sher and took her hand. "Lets go see if we can help with Sanji."

Sher looked at Zack one more time and let Luffy pull her back to her room.

By that afternoon Chopper had the sickies on a proper medicinal schedule. He set Zack up with an i.v. he was dehydrating on top of everything else. He secluded himself in sick bay working on a brew to counter the virus; he came up with something before dinner. Chopper made another round of house calls to inject the sick with what he hoped would bring them back to better health.

Sher burned dinner, but she didn't stick around to eat it. She went back below deck. She went into Zack's room and sat by him for a while. His breathing was slow and shallow. His eyes rolled in his morphine dream. Don't die Z. Please don't die… Sher watched him sleep for a while. She wiped the sweat from his brow. Sher kissed Z softly and stepped quietly out of his room.

She went to her room and went in. Sanji was asleep, but fidgeting. It looked like maybe he was having a bad dream. She went to the bed and sat down beside him. She rested a hand on his cheek. He was still warm, but not as bad as he had been this morning. "Sanji," she called softly to see if he would wake easily. "Sanji?"

Sanji was dreaming. In his dream he walked down a pleasant country road. At the end of the road there was a big house. From behind the house Sanji heard Evan laughing. Sanji stepped through the front gate and headed for the back yard. He thought this must be his house. As he came around the side of the house he heard the laughter of a second child. Sanji rounded the corner and saw Evan playing with a younger child. Zack was watching them play with a smile on his face. Sher came out of the house and went to Zack. None of them even seemed to see Sanji at all. Zack took Sher into his arms. Why don't you play on the swing with sissy Zack said to Evan and then he turned and kissed Sher. Sanji's heart stopped when he realized what he was seeing. Sher and Zack as a family with two children, what could have been.

"Sanji wake up. Please wake up." Sher leaned in and rested her forehead against his.

The dream fell apart. Sher? Sher! "Sher?" Sanji groaned coming awake. He reached up and put his arms around her. Sher was here, with him. It was just a bad dream.

"I'm here Sanji," she said softly as Sanji stirred beneath her. "It's okay, you're going to be just fine."

Sanji hugged Sher closer. Its okay, she's here wid me. "I missed ya Sher."

Sher kissed Sanji. "I missed you too."

Sanji tried to shake the dream from his mind. He was still feverish, he felt lousy. His chest hurt, his heart ached. He opened his eyes and looked at Sher. She had cuddled up to his chest. Sanji had done some thinking since he had that little chat with Z in Evan's room, he had a few nightmares too. In one of them Sher had shot herself. Sanji had dreamed that one after thinking about her miscarriage and the brief story she told him about considering using her gun on herself. Even sick Sanji's brain still worked. He did the math. Sher had become suicidal after Zack's accident, after she lost their baby. It tore him worse then the most heinous coughing fit to think of Sher and Zack as a couple. It hurt him, it made him angry. Sanji felt disconnected. As he came awake, the medicines made him lightheaded, loopy. "Sher…"

"Can I get you anything Sanji?" She propped herself up and looked down into his tired eyes. "You hungry or you want a drink?"

Sanji stared up into Sher's eyes. Why didn't you tell me Sher? Sanji swallowed hard. His throat was dry. "Yeah…a drink…" it still required some effort to speak.

Sher sat up and poured Sanji a glass of water from the pitcher on the nightstand. He sat up slowly next to her. Sher handed him the glass carefully, she wanted to make sure he wouldn't drop it. Sanji guzzled the entire glass and handed it back to her. "Easy Sanji," Sher said nervously. She poured him another glass, but Sanji waved it away.

Sitting up made his head pound. He hung his head catching his breath, his hair fell into his eyes. After a long minute Sanji was able to speak again. "Get me a cigarette, would ya Sher?" he nodded at the dresser. It had been days since Sanji smoked, but he needed one now. He would ask Sher for the truth himself, but first a smoke.

"I don't think you should be smoking Sanji," Sher said with a frown.

"Just get me a fuckin cigarette!" Sanji snapped. He didn't mean to yell, but he needed a smoke. He needed to calm his nerves.

Sher stood up. She was a little surprised to hear Sanji yell at her like that. Nicotine withdrawal? "Fine," she grumbled. Sher went to the dresser and pulled a cigarette from the pack. She stuck it in her mouth and lit it.

Sanji watched Sher light his cigarette from behind his hair. That's hot. The smell of smoke wafted over and Sanji straightened. Sher stepped over to the bed and handed Sanji the cigarette. She set the small ashtray on the bed next to him. Sanji took the cigarette and inhaled a tentative drag. Thank da fuckin gods… Sanji let his eyes fall to the ashtray as he exhaled. "Thank you," he said quietly.

Sher figured it Sanji had probably gone a good long while between smokes being sick like this. There seemed to be something else wrong with him too though, he wasn't looking at her, he wasn't reaching for her. Usually Sanji was all hands. He must feel really shitty. "Been a while between butts eh?"

Sanji nodded a little. Now that he had his cigarette he could forget about it and set his mind on other things. Sanji took another slow drag and let it out easily. "How come you never told me Sher… you and Z was gonna have a baby…"

For just a second, Sher thought she had been struck by lightning. "Who told you that?" it came out in one quick breath.

Sanji cut his eyes up to Sher. The look on her face was answer enough. Sanji felt his heart twist in his chest. "Zack did."

"Z…" he told Sanji? Why! What did he say?

"Ya kinda lied ta me a little Sher. You made it sound like you and Z was no big thing, but… it was a thing wasn't it?"

Sher shook her head. Bad memories were creeping up on her. "I didn't lie to you Sanji…"

"You didn't tell me he knocked you up!" Sanji yelled cutting her off. Yelling made him see spots in front of his eyes. Sanji frowned. "You made it sound like Z was just yer fuck buddy fer a while, but there's more to it then that aint there Sher?"

Sher stared at Sanji's angry face with her heart in her throat. She was stunned; she didn't know what to say. She thought about Mimi yelling at her as her body rejected the baby she carried. "It was an accident…."

Sanji swallowed hard again. He wasn't sure what she meant; the pregnancy or the miscarriage, or maybe both. He took another drag off his cigarette and dropped his eyes. "Yeah I'm sure Z stickin his dick in ya was an accident too," he grumbled angrily.

"Sanji!"

"Would you have married him if ya hadn't lost the baby Sher? Would you have married Z?" Sanji was trying to keep his hurt and anger in check, but the medicine had loosened his tongue. He knew he was upsetting Sher, maybe even hurting her, but he couldn't stop. "Did you love him? Enough to marry him?"

It was like being in one of those horrible nightmares where the monster is creeping up behind you and you can't move. Sher was frozen. She remembered blood, her gun, Zack crying and holding her. Horrible bits and pieces from long drunk days. "…I…."

Sanji tried to think of Sher's feelings. She sounded sad and nervous. He took another drag off of his cigarette. "I asked you if you loved him Sher. Answer me."

"Of course I love Z, he's my number one," she started to babble. It was somewhere next to never Sher thought about her and Zack being together. It was just better that way.

Sanji turned his head slightly and looked up at Sher. The color had run from her cheeks, her eyes had a vacant look. "I don't give a shit if he's yer number one. Dat aint what I meant. You can love yer mates all ya want. I asked you if you loved him as your man." Just saying it made Sanji's temper inflate.

Sher frowned down at Sanji. She was unaware that she had begun to shake. "It wasn't like that Sanji."

"He was fuckin you. He got you pregnant fer fucks sake Sher! You told me yerself dat youz guys was together fer a couple of months," Sanji crushed his cigarette into the ashtray. He felt angry tears sting his hot eyeballs. "You loved him, didn't ya?"

Sanji's hair had fallen into his face when he looked down to put out his cigarette. Sher couldn't see his eyes, but she heard the hurt in his voice. "Sanji…"

Sanji felt miserable, his chest hurt from the cigarette, his heart was hurt by Sher. "You almost killed yerself after you lost da baby. Dat's how it went down right?"

"I…." Sher sighed remembering a past she would rather forget. "Yes." Sher squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that wanted to flow. She tried to push Mimi's hateful scolding from her mind. You drunk bitch….

Sanji took a slow deep breath. Sher's breathing had changed some. It sounded like she was crying. "I… I'm real sorry you had to go through something like that Sher." Sanji was sure he heard her crying now. You should cry Sher. Getting all boozed up and fuckin around wid yer little boyfriend like that. Sanji knew it was her heavy drinking that had caused the miscarriage, hell it was her drinking that got her in bed with Zack in the first place. And her drinkin was my fault right? Sanji shook his head. Fever heated tears slipped down his cheeks. "I… I just can't believe… you and dat guy…. It hurts so bad." Sanji couldn't hold back any longer. He hung his head and cried.

Sanji broke down in front of her and Sher could take no more. She was crying herself now, but it didn't matter. Right now the only thing that mattered was Sanji. She sat on the bed beside him and wrapped her arms around him. Sanji put his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He buried his hot wet face against her neck and cried. "Sanji…" Sher let her own tears flow. It had been a long time since she had cried over her retched past. "Oh Sanji," she wept.

Sanji held his woman tight. "I coulda lost you," Sanji sobbed against Sher's neck. If things had been different, Sher might have given Zack a child or maybe she would have succeeded in offing herself. Sanji cried harder. "How could you love somebody else Sher? How?"

Sher shook her head. "No Sanji, it isn't like that." Seeing him like this was heartbreaking. "Sanji, please. Try and understand…"

"You're the only woman I've ever really loved Sher. You… just you. I knew from da very first day I kissed you on da Merry Go that I would love you forever. Just you Sher…just you." Sanji tried to bring himself under control. He was crying like a baby, but it seemed like the only way to elevate the pain in his heart.

"Sanji…" Sher rubbed his back trying to ease him. Sher ran a hand through Sanji's damp hair wishing there was a way she could make him understand how much she loved Sanji back. "I love you Sanji…so much."

Sanji sniffed back a sob and looked into Sher's eyes. She had been crying with him, now she tried to smile at him. "Sher…" Sanji pressed his lips to hers and kissed her. He wanted to kiss her tears away, wanted to kiss her until they both stopped feeling so sad. Sher wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Sanji…I do love you so much. Sanji was sick, not dead. He pulled Sher down onto the bed beside him and kissed her. She thought Sanji was still too sick to get too railed up, but she wanted to lay with him. Wanted to kiss him and hold him. That would be alright.

Sanji held Sher close to him in bed and kissed her until he felt some of his sorrow draining away. Its gonna be alright. I got her now. Everything is gonna be okay. Another strong emotion took the place of Sanji's sadness. Even this sick his body still reacted to Sher's kiss, to the feel of her body pressed against his own. Their kisses became more heated. Sanji wanted to show his woman just how much he loved her. His hand slid up to the swell of her breast and Sanji nipped at her neck. "Oh Sher," he breathed against her ear. "Let me love you."

Sher did.

14.

The next morning Sher let Sanji sleep in. She felt his forehead before she got dressed and again afterward. It felt like his fever was gone. I hope so. Sher went to find Chopper. He was preparing syringes for morning injections in the infirmary. "Chopper," Sher said coming in. "I think Sanji's fever has broken."

Chopper looked up at Sher. "Oh, you're the doctor now?" he snapped. Sher recoiled and Chopper sighed angrily. "Sorry Sher, glad to hear Sanji's on the mend. The others seem to be doing well too… except for Zack that is."

"What about Z?" Sher asked nervously. She hadn't checked him this morning.

Chopper set some things down on the counter. "Look Sher, your number one is in tough shape. He…" Chopper hated giving up bad news. "He slipped into a coma last night."

"What?"

"I think it's septic shock related, its in his blood stream, the infection…"

Chopper lost Sher at coma. "What the fuck do you mean he's in a coma? Z is gonna get better aint he!"

"Do you want me to explain this to you or not?" Chopper yelled, he didn't care how early it was or who he woke up.

Sher stared down at Chopper. Her heart was thumping in her ears. "You better explain yourself rodent," her hand dropped instinctively for the gun that wasn't there.

"I'm a reindeer not a rodent!" Chopper tried to calm himself. Bickering like this was useless. "Look Sher, Zack's immunity system was severely weakened when his leg got blown apart. His body was trying to heal; tissue damage, broken bones, you get the point. This virus moved in and his body tried to fight the invading organism and heal at the same time. White blood cells spread too thin. I think he went into the coma due to shock. Do you understand me Sher?"

Sher nodded. It felt like she had just swallowed hot lead. It sat heavy and burning in her stomach. "I understand."

"Good." Chopper sighed and went on. "I'm doing what I can to stabilize him right now, but…" Chopper frowned.

"But what?" Sher swallowed hard.

"I have to take his leg Sher. From a medical standpoint, he would be better off without it. Its beyond damaged. He's shattered from the knee down. The infection goes to the bone. He can't fight both at once."

Sher felt the cold fingers of panic creeping up her backside. "Are you saying that Z will die if you don't operate?"

"More then likely, yes he will. He's out of it so the permission to operate has to come from somebody. You're his captain. Make the choice for him Sher, and make it today."

Sher didn't even need a second to think about it. "Do it. Save him." Sher took a step back toward the door feeling the cold blooded pirate captain in her scream from the inside. "If you don't, I'll shoot you." Sher turned and stomped out of the infirmary.

"Great," Chopper threw up his hands. "I always work so much better under pressure."

Sher hurried down the hall to Zack's room. She pushed open his door and stood holding it open staring at Zack. It looked like he was sleeping. No, not sleeping. Coma. His skin was ashy. He breathed in slow wheezing breaths. Gods…Z…damnit… She stood there frozen in place watching Zack struggle to breath. Don't die Z. Please don't die on me! There was noise behind her, Sher turned expecting to see Chopper heading in to check on Sanji, but Chopper wasn't standing at her bedroom door staring at her. Sanji was. "Sanji…"

Sanji felt a whole shit load better today, at least he did until he saw Sher standing half way in Zack's room. He watched her with wounded eyes. "What's going on Sher?"

Sanji… "It's Z…he…" she had to swallow the lump in her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears away.

Sher looked like she was ready to snap. Shit, is he fuckin dead? Sanji hurried across the hall to Sher's side. He looked in on Zack. He was breathing, but jezuz, he looks dead! "Holy shit," Sanji breathed. He wondered how someone that looked that far gone was even still alive. Sanji looked down at Sher. Her fists were clenched.

"He's in a coma. Chopper is gonna operate. Gonna take his leg so he wont…" Sher started to break up. "So he won't die!" She looked up at Sanji with tears standing in her eyes. "He's… Z is…."

He's dieing. "It's okay Sher." Sanji pulled Sher to him and hugged her. He looked at Zack over her shoulder. Sher squeezed Sanji back. Zack is dieing. Can he even handle going under anesthesia like this? "Chopper will take real good care of Z. He'll be okay Sher." Sanji wanted Sher out of here. He didn't want her looking at Zack too closely. He looked like a corpse already. He pulled her to his side and stepped them away from Zack's door. Angry tears brimmed Sher's eyes. "Come on Sher, let Z rest."

Sher let Sanji lead her away from Zack's room. It was hard to look at Zack right now, it made her lose hope. Z is tough. He'll be okay… he'll pull through this… Sher leaned into Sanji and he led them back to their room. His arm around her was comforting, it was a relief to see Sanji doing so well this morning. She didn't want to fall apart over Z in front of Sanji; Sher didn't want to hurt him anymore. They went to the bed and sat down. "Chopper will be in to look at you in a minute Sanji."

Sanji kept his arm around Sher. He wanted to keep her close. They had laid together talking things through after they made love last night. Sher had tried to make it clear to him that she loved Z as her number one, as her friend and nothing more. Sanji still wondered about that. He wondered what Sher would do if Zack really did die. "I'm feelin a lot better today Sher." He gave her a squeeze and she looked up at him.

Sher lifted her hand and rested her palm on Sanji's cheek. "I was worried about you Sanji." His eyes still looked sad.

Sanji took Sher's hand and kissed it. He could see relief and worry all mixed up in her eyes. I was worried about you too Sher. "I'm okay." He wanted to kiss her, but Sanji was feeling better this morning. He wasn't sure he could trust himself not to try to get her in bed. He certainly didn't want Chopper walking in on that. "I'll show ya later," he tried teasing. He just wanted to see her smile. She did, a little.

"I better go burn breakfast before Luffy starts eating raw meat," Sher tried teasing back. Sanji smiled some and it made her feel a little better. She kissed him and got up. "Can I bring you something Sanji?"

Sanji shook his head. Hell no. "Naw, that's okay Sher." Maybe Chopper would let Sanji out of this room for a while so Sanji could cook something decent before the day was through.

Sher sighed. "I'll bring some juice down for you when I come back." She turned and headed for the door. At least cooking would distract her for a while.

Sanji waited for Sher to leave before he let out a long sigh. It still hurt some to breath. deep. Shit. Sanji got up and went for his cigarettes. He plugged one in and lit up. It wasn't as if Sanji doubted Chopper's abilities, but how much could he really do for a guy that was already at deaths door? Sanji would ask him when he came in. if Zack was going to die, Sanji wanted to be prepared to take care of Sher. That bastard is her best fuckin friend he thought exhaling a cloud of smoke. Z dies and Sher will… Sanji wasn't quite sure, but she knew it would hurt her. Damn you Zack… Sanji took his smoke and his ashtray back to the bed to lie down and wait for Chopper.

15.

Chopper stepped into the captain's room frowning. He could smell the cigarette smoke from down the hall. There was an ashtray on the nightstand next to Sanji in bed. "Smoking again already you son of a bitch?" he scolded as he made his way to the bed.

"No fly's on you," Sanji grumbled and rolled his eyes.

Chopper set his bag down and pulled out the case with the ready syringe. His sensitive nose smelled more then just cigarette smoke in here. "You shouldn't be smoking yet, or getting laid for that matter." He opened the case and pulled out the needle. He grinned at Sanji's oh shit! face. "Roll up your sleeve."

Sanji quit gawking at Chopper how da hell did he know? and rolled up his sleeve to receive the shot. "What is dat stuff?"

Chopper tapped Sanji's vein until it lifted some. He stuck the needle in. "It's a mix of vitamins and pain reliever. Mostly B12 and C."

Sanji watched Chopper. "You givin dis stuff to Zack?" he started off the questioning.

Chopper pulled the needle out and pressed a cotton ball over the hole. "Zack gets this and a whole lot more."

"Is he dieing?"

Chopper looked up into Sanji's face. He was frowning a little. "You care?"

"I care about Sher." Sanji kept his eyes fixed on Chopper.

Chopper sighed. He suspected Sanji and Zack were rivals for Sher's affections. He had been taking care of Zack long enough to know that he was in love with Sanji's woman. He called out to her in his fevered dreams. Sometimes he spoke as if he were having a conversation with her. "Zack is in love with Sher."

Sanji swallowed. "I know dat. I know she cares a lot about him too. I think she would get kinda upset if da little bastard keels over."

"She threatened to shoot me," Chopper grunted. " 'Save him or I'll shoot ya'. Something like that."

Sanji doubted Sher would shoot anybody, but it bothered him to hear of her being so protective of Z. "Can you help him?"

"I've got to amputate that leg. It's not just the tissue that's infected its bone too. His chances of survival will increase almost exponentionally without that damn leg to worry about." Chopper moved the cotton ball and reached for a band aid. "Hopefully I can operate in a day or two." Chopper stuck the band aid on.

"Why not now?" Sanji didn't understand much in the world of medicine.

Chopper frowned. "He's still too weak ya moron. He could go into cardiac arrest. As soon as this virus abates some, I'll be able to do the surgery then."

Sanji returned Chopper's scowl. "He gonna make it dat long?"

"I will not lose a patient," Chopper growled and meant it. He put his things back in his bag and closed it up. He looked at Sanji once more. "Lay off the cigarettes." Chopper turned and went out.

Just the word cigarettes made Sanji want one. He refrained for now and lie back in bed. He was feeling better, but still not a hundred percent. He just needed a little more rest. Chopper could take care of Z, Sanji would worry about Sher. Its gonna be okay Sher. I'll be here for you no matter what happens.

16.

Sher did a decent job with breakfast; she could cook eggs at least. Zoro asked about Sanji and Zack, Sher filled him and the others in. After he ate, Zoro went down to check on the sickies while Luffy helped Sher with the dishes. He stood looking down at Zack for a long time. The kid really did look like he was dieing. Well don't that just fuckin suck. Zoro sighed heavily and went across the hall to check in on Sanji.

Sanji was awake having his first cigarette of the day. "Hey Zoro," he greeted the swordsman as he came in.

"Morning Sanji, how you feeling today?" Zoro came in and stood beside the reading chair. Sanji looked better today but there were still dark circles under his eyes.

"Better," Sanji said exhaling smoke. He ashed his cigarette and swung his feet over the side of the bed. "Guess that medicine Chopper sent ya after is da good stuff."

"Pain in my ass," Zoro grumbled half heartedly.

Sanji noticed something that looked like a fresh bandage peeking out of Zoro's shirt. "You get busted up Zoro?"

Zoro grunted. "Very funny asshole."

Sanji frowned. "What? I was just askin. Looks like yer wrapped up."

"That's probably because I am wrapped up ya ass. Seventeen stitches." Zoro thought about Mihawk's eyes and suppressed a shudder.

Stitches? What da hell? "What happened? You run into trouble or something?" he eyed Zoro suspiciously. Zoro looked confused.

Zoro frowned at Sanji. "Sher didn't tell you?"

Sanji felt his fingers tighten around his cigarette. "Tell me what? What da fuck happened?"

Zoro sighed. Shit, sorry about that sweet cheeks. He thought Sher would have told Sanji what happened in Iolis by now. Zoro leaned against the chair. "After we got the medicine, we hit the bar for some info."

"Youz got into a bar fight?" Damnit I told her to keep a low profile!

"No. We just had a couple drinks and got some information."

"What information?" Sanji took a big drag off of his cigarette. It hurt his lungs some, but he barely noticed. "What's da story?"

Zoro sighed quietly. He didn't like being the bearer of bad news. "Everybody's talkin about Central Star. Rumor mill, ya know."

Sanji figured as much. "What they saying?"

"They're saying straw hat rescued his girlfriend and greased the c.o. as a warning to marines and pirates alike to leave his woman alone."

"His woman!" Sanji felt his anger rising.

Zoro shrugged. "Pirates can't get a story straight Sanji, you know that."

"Sher aint Luffy's woman she's mine." He crushed out his cigarette annoyed.

No shit. Zoro rolled his eyes and waited for Sanji to get over his jealous fit. "Anyway," he went on. "We were on our way back to the ship when he came looking to collect the bounty on Sher's head."

"What bounty? He who?" Sanji felt his nerves jacking up. Bounty? Damnit I knew dis shit was gonna happen!

Zoro stared Sanji down. "Mihawk came after Sher. She's worth twenty five million and the marines want her alive."

Sanji took it like a punch in the gut. "Twenty five million…. You mean Hawk Eye Mihawk? Dat swordsman!"

"Yeah. I fought him again, but …I lost. Luffy stepped up to protect Sher and he just… left." Zoro still wasn't sure why.

Sanji was reeling. The bounty on his woman was huge. Big enough to attract one of the most dangerous men in all the seas. "No freekin way," he half gasped. Sanji got to his feet. "Son of a bitch!"

Uh oh. "Hey, take it easy Sanji. We got away. Sher is fine."

Sanji ignored Zoro. He stomped to the door. Twenty five freekin million? Why da hell didn't you tell me Sher gods damnit? He pulled the door open and headed into the hall. He was vaguely aware Zoro was following him.

"Hey Sanji," Zoro chased after the pissed off cook. "Hey, take it easy."

Sanji didn't. He flew up the stairs and hurried to the galley with Zoro hot on his heels. Sanji threw the door open. Luffy and Sher had just finished the dishes. They were at the sink drying their hands. They turned and faced Sanji and Zoro as they came in.

"Hey Sanji," Luffy greeted trying to smile. Sanji looked upset and Zoro looked frustrated. What the hell?

"Don't you hey Sanji me!" he barked at Luffy. Sanji glared at Sher. "Twenty five million Sher? Hawk eye Mihawk? Why da fuck didn't you tell me!"

Sher looked from Sanji's angry eyes to Zoro. He shook his head. Thanks Zoro you asshole. She focused on Sanji again. "Sanji, it's okay…"

"No it's not okay Sher!" Sanji was yelling. He could feel his heart hammering hard in his chest. "Why da fuck didn't you tell me dis shit last night huh? Why I gotta hear dis shit from Zoro huh Sher?"

Luffy stepped closer to Sanji putting himself between Sanji and Sher. "Calm down Sanji. Stop yelling at Sher." Luffy didn't like it, not at all.

"Shut the fuck up Luffy! Stay outta dis!" he turned his angry eyes away from his captain and back to his woman. "I warned you ya stupid bitch! I told you dat you'd end up wid a freekin bounty on yer head!" A huge bounty no less. This was bad news.

Luffy thought stupid bitch was way out of line. "Hey, calm down Sanji." Luffy felt himself getting angry. Sanji's girl or not, he had no right to call her names. Not while I'm standing right the fuck here asshole.

Sanji frowned at Luffy. "Protecting yer girlfriend straw hat?" he growled.

"Sanji!" Sher snapped. "That's enough!"

Sanji turned his frown on Sher. "I'll tell you what's enough." His hand clenched into a fist. "Twenty five million beri! Dat's enough Sher!"

"Chill out Sanji," Zoro spoke up from behind. "There is nothing that can be done about the bounty. The one on Luffy's head went up too." Zoro looked at Sher sorrily. Shouldn't have opened my big fuckin mouth.

Sher stepped up next to Luffy. "Look Sanji, these guys scared Mihawk off." She didn't want to think about the bounty hunter with the scary eyes.

Sanji was furious. The bounty was huge, hiding Sher and protecting her would be far more difficult now. "Zoro got his ass kicked," Sanji growled. The rumors were aggravating Sanji too. "Yer little straw hat boyfriend protected you!"

Luffy had enough. He took two quick steps forward toward Sanji. "Yep, that's right asshole. I protected Sher. And I'll do it again. I will always protect her."

Sher could see this was turning ugly. Sanji was even pissing Luffy off. She quickly stepped past Luffy to Sanji. "Sanji, it's okay. I'm fine. Everything is fine."

"It's not fine!" Sanji was yelling in her face now. "Just what in da fuck do you think yer gonna do now huh Bloody Sher!" Sanji could see his peaceful happy future falling apart in front of his eyes. "How da hell are me and you and Evan…"

"We're going to run," Luffy said calmly hiding his eyes beneath his hat. "We're going to run these ships so far into the grand line that nobody will ever find me and Sher."

Sanji snapped his head up to look at Luffy. Sher reached for Sanji's hand and he pulled away from her. He frowned down at Sher. "First da shit wid Z and now dis. You better quit keepin shit from me Sher. I mean it."

"I wasn't keeping it from you Sanji," Sher felt herself getting angry. She was hurt too. Sanji had never pulled away from her like that before.

"You didn't tell me."

Sher sighed frustrated. "Yeah well we were kinda talking about other things Sanji."

Sanji shook his head. The bounty and the rumors on top of everything else… "Fuck you Sher." Sanji turned and stormed out slamming the door behind him.

Sher looked after Sanji. Her eyes floated over to Zoro. He looked terribly guilty. Sher hadn't mentioned what happened in Iolis to Sanji last night. She and Sanji had other things to discuss, more important things. Besides, she was okay. Zoro and Luffy had protected her. "Shit," she said in a breath.

"Sorry Sher," Zoro said stepping over to her. He wondered what conversation Sanji and Sher had last night, something about Zack. Whatever it had been, it was more important then pirate rumors or even Mihawk. "I thought Sanji knew. I didn't think he would flip out like this. The guy's got a big fat hair up his ass."

Sher shook her head. "I shoulda told him."

"I don't see why he's gotta get all bent outta shape. It's not like we didn't know they would put a bounty on you after the shit at Central Star. Luffy's had a bounty on his head for years. We've always managed just fine before." Zoro looked from Sher to Luffy. His captain was hiding his eyes beneath the brim of his hat. Luffy? Is he pissed?

Sher got moving. "I better go try to calm him down." She stepped past Zoro and went out. She had to talk to Sanji and make him except reality. She was a wanted pirate captain now. He was just going to have to deal with it along with the rest of them.

Luffy took a long slow deep breath and let it out. He turned and threw the towel he was holding on the counter. He didn't like the way Sanji had just yelled at Sher, but he supposed he could understand why his cook was upset. It was a big bounty, but it shouldn't come as any surprise. They had wrecked up a marine base and busted her out.

"Luffy?" Zoro was watching his captain trying to gage his emotions.

Luffy looked up at Zoro. "I think I'll go see if I can do anything to help Nails with the mast. You coming?"

"You pissed?" being direct always worked best for Zoro.

Luffy frowned a little. "He didn't have to yell at her like that. Sher is safe with us."

"I know she is, Sanji does too. He's just upset about the bounty. Probably a little bent that the world thinks Sher is your partner too."

"Sher is my partner now Zoro."

"I don't mean that kind of partner Luffy." Zoro knew that Luffy and Sher had discussed their plans for their immediate future. After the Rose Red was repaired and Evan and Mimi were back aboard the two ships were going to run together, maybe even indefinitely. "Sanji is a jealous guy, you know that. I'm sure it's bugging him that the pirates and the marines think Sher is your girl."

Luffy shook his head. He knew Sanji was protective of Sher. "He didn't have to call her a stupid bitch. Sher is not stupid. She knew raiding ships could put a bounty on her head, but that's the life of a pirate. It was her choice. I think she's a great captain."

Zoro thought Sher's bounty had more to do with Central Star then the raid on the Arizona. "Yeah, well…" he sighed. Zoro thought back to the attack on Central Star. Something was tickling the back of his brain, but he couldn't figure it out just yet. "Alright Luffy. Lets go give Nails a hand." Zoro turned and walked out, Luffy followed.

17.

Sher went back down to her room. Sanji was sitting on the bed puffing down a cigarette. She came in and stood by the door. He looked up at her with angry eyes. Like I need this fucking shit today. "Sanji, look…"

He cut her off. "I don't wanna hear yer shit Sher. You shoulda told me about da bounty on yer head. Shoulda told me dis shit about Luffy too."

"What shit?" she sighed exasperated. "There is no shit! It's a bunch of pirate rumors Sanji, that's all it is."

"And the twenty five million beri Sher? How is me and you and Evan supposed ta live in peace wid dat kinda price on yer head?" Sanji had hoped that in time he and Sher would take Evan and settle down somewhere. Away from this ship, away from that little bastard Zack. Now living in peace on an island somewhere seemed like an impossible dream. Sanji was crushed.

Sher took a deep breath. "We're just fine here on the Rose Red. They can't catch us."

"You got caught before."

"Because I fell overboard ya ass!" Sher's patience was thinning. She didn't want to stand here and argue with Sanji. She wanted him to rest and she wanted to look in on Zack. She was terribly worried about him and couldn't let Sanji see it. It would just upset him even more.

Sanji took a deep drag off of his cigarette. It tickled his lungs and he suppressed a cough. "You sayin we're stuck on dis fuckin tub?" No. No freekin way!

Sher narrowed her eyes at Sanji. She couldn't help it. The captain was damn protective of her ship. "This fuckin tub is my home. Evan's too."

Sanji hated the idea of Sher and Evan staying here on the Rose Red, here with Zack. "It shouldn't be. Dis never shoulda happened Sher."

"Well it did. Deal with it!" she snapped.

Sanji stared her down. He could see she was getting angry. "Why you gotta be so protective of dis ship Sher? Home is wherever me and you and Evan make it."

Sher was beginning to come unwrapped. Her emotions churned up in her stomach. "The Rose Red is home. It's gonna stay that way for a while." She couldn't leave now, they had to run. There was no way she would abandon Zack in this condition either. "Luffy and I are going to sail these ships as far into the grand line as we can go."

Sanji sighed disgustedly through his teeth. He couldn't help it that he was acting like a jealous fool, especially after everything he and Sher had talked about last night. "Straw hat and Bloody Sher," he growled. "You gonna get yer little boyfriend to protect you?"

Sher's hand tightened into a fist. Sanji worrying about rumors was just stupid, petty. "Don't be an ass Sanji; you know damn well there is nothing going on between me and Luffy. Stop being such a jerk."

Sanji wasn't up for name calling this morning. It made him angry that she could even stand there and call him a jerk after last night. His temper got the better of him and Sanji opened his mouth before his better sense of judgment could stop him. "You gonna have Luffy's baby too huh?"

Sher froze. She stared at Sanji in disbelief for a moment. He brought his eyes back up to hers. You bastard.

Sanji regretted the words as soon as they were out. Sher was looking at him with eyes full of hurt and anger. Shit… "Sher…" She turned quickly opening the door. "Sher wait!" Sanji scrambled to his feet, but it was too late. Sher ran out of the room letting the door bang shut behind her. "Sher! Sher come back here!" Sanji hurried to the door and pulled it open, but Sher was already gone. Shit…why did I go and say something like that?

Sanji knew why, he was hurting. It crushed him to think of Sher and Zack together. He couldn't bring himself to bitch about Z now that he was at deaths door, so Sanji had just displaced his anger taking it out on Sher and Luffy instead. He stood at the door wondering if he should go after his woman. Oh man… she's probably really pissed. Sanji sighed aggravated and went back inside. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Damnit Sher… why you gotta do this crazy shit? Why you gotta hurt me like this?

He thought of his dream, him and Sher and Evan in a house someplace safe. A dog maybe and a restaurant of his own. How da hell is that ever gonna happen now? Sanji shook his head sadly and crawled back into bed. After a while, he cried.

18.

Sher flew up the stairs to her office. She didn't even notice Zoro and Luffy amidships as she went. The tears in her eyes were blinding. How could you Sanji? How could you be so cruel?

Zoro and Luffy saw Sher go racing into the captain's lounge behind them. "Sher?" Zoro called after her, but Sher ignored him. She went into her office slamming the door behind her. Zoro looked from the lounge to Luffy. Luffy was looking at the door too. Was she crying? "You catch that?"

Luffy nodded once. "Sher was crying."

Zoro sighed heavily. "Damnit Sanji, what did you say now." He took a step toward the lounge but Luffy put out a hand and stopped him.

"I think Sher needs to be alone right now Zoro."

"She was crying Luffy. Obviously she's upset."

"I know. I saw. But Sher is the captain of this ship and I'm not letting you go in there."

Zoro was stunned. "What? Should I just let her go crying her eyes out then?" he frowned at Luffy.

Luffy was calm. "The captain's lounge is her safe haven now that Sanji has moved in with her. It's the only place she can be alone. That's why she went there. No one should ever see their captain cry."

Zoro was getting agitated with all of Luffy's damn captain talk. "She's not my captain she's my friend."

Luffy nodded again. "Sher is my friend too, but I am your captain. Leave her alone for now. That's an order."

"When the fuck did you become such a cold hearted bastard?" Zoro snapped. Just leave her alone and let her cry? That's bullshit.

Luffy frowned a little at Zoro. "The only one who should be comforting Sher right now is Sanji. He's the one that made her cry. It's his job to fix it."

Zoro stepped away from Luffy annoyed. "Whatever Luffy," he grunted. Zoro did an about face and headed for the stairs.

"Where are you going Zoro?" Luffy was sure he already knew. Zoro looked mad, ready to tear Sanji a new one.

"I'm gonna ask that idiot what he said to Sher."

Luffy hurried between Zoro and the stairs. "It was probably just something stupid." Or he said something mean.

Zoro stopped because Luffy was in the way. "Yeah? Well I wanna know what it was."

"Let it go Zoro. Come on, lets go give Nails a hand."

Zoro was getting angry. He didn't like to see his sweet cheeks crying and he didn't like Luffy telling him he needed to mind his own business either. "Fuck Nails and fuck you too Luffy. Sher is in there crying and I wanna know why."

Luffy sighed and stood his ground. "Don't you think Sher has enough to worry about right now, huh? Her son is gone, her first mate is a wreck, her ship is busted up and she's got a bounty on her head. There's alotta things Sanji could have yelled at her about, but it's none of our business."

"How can you say that? Sanji and Sher are our friends. Don't you want to help?"

"Of course I do, but not this very minute. Whatever is going on they obviously need some time to calm down." Luffy was fairly certain that Sanji and Sher had some argument when she went after him. Sometimes people say stupid things when they're all tensed up like Sanji was right now. "If you try to talk to Sanji now he's just gonna say 'eat me asshole' and you know it. Then you and Sanji will be fighting too. Just let it go for now. We can talk to them both later, for now lets just help Nails. We need to get this ship fixed and get out of here."

Zoro frowned. He was pissed, but Luffy was right about the ship. They needed the Rose Red back up and running. Gods damn it. "Fine," he sighed. Zoro turned away from the stairs and Luffy followed.

19.

Sher sat at her desk crying for a while. She let it all out and then composed herself slowly. After she was calmed Sher opened the bottom drawer of her desk. She pulled out a small photo album she kept hidden in there. She sat it on her desk and flipped through it. Pictures of her son, her crew, her ship. Pictures taken on the way to the grand line. Evan… she missed him terribly. She missed being there every night watching him close his little eyes and fall asleep.

The last picture in the book was one that Charlie had taken. Sher stood between Zack and Nails. Zack was holding Evan and they were laughing at each other. Z…please be okay. Sher was worried. Zack was going to have to go through surgery again any day now. Damnit…Z. There was a knock on the door and Sher closed the book. "Come in," she called stuffing the photo album back in the drawer. She kicked it shut and looked up expecting to see Charlie he always waits for me to say come in. It wasn't Charlie standing in the doorway, it was Sanji. He was looking at her with sad eyes. Sher straightened in her chair. "Sanji," she greeted coolly.

Sanji stepped in and let the door swing shut behind him. For a long minute all he could do was look at Sher. He could still see the hurt and anger in her eyes. Sanji swallowed the lump in his throat. "Hey Sher. Mind if I come in?"

"You should be resting." Sher looked away from Sanji and reached for her log book. She wasn't so sure she could handle another conversation with Sanji right now.

"What I should be doing is apologizing to you," Sanji said quietly. Sher still didn't look up at him. Damnit… I hurt her. Sanji walked over and stood in front of her desk looking down at her. "Sher… I'm real sorry I said that. It was…mean."

Sher opened her log book. "Don't worry about it Sanji."

"I am worried about it Sher." She still didn't look at him. Sanji rested his hands on the desk and leaned over getting closer to her. "Look at me Sher…please."

She didn't want to. His words had hurt her. Sher forced herself to look up at him. "Forget about it Sanji."

"I can't." Sanji sighed. He and Sher had talked a lot last night, but all the talking in the world couldn't erase the pain. "I shouldn't have said that Sher. I'm sorry I did."

Sher swallowed hard. She could see the hurt in Sanji's eyes. "It's fine Sanji."

No it's not Sher. "I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to…"

"I know Sanji." Sher dropped her eyes. It was too hard to face him right now, looking at him made her want to cry.

Sanji reached over and took Sher's hand. "Sher…please. Don't do this. Don't shut me out like this. I know what I said was wrong. I know not coming to find you when you didn't show up in Ices was wrong."

"Sanji…don't. We already discussed this."

"I love you Sher. I always have. I was a fool to let you go," Sanji's voice wavered as he struggled to keep the miserable tears away. "I never want nothin ta come between us again." He squeezed her hand harder wishing she would look at him. "I'm gonna marry you Sher. Me and you and Evan are gonna be a family. I don't even care where anymore. I just wanna be wid you."

Sher looked at Sanji's hand holding her own. "Sanji…" she looked up into his eyes. They shimmered with the tears he was trying to hold back. Sher felt her heart breaking.

"I just love you so much I get a little crazy sometimes ya know? It cut me bad to hear about you and Z, and then I hear all dis shit about Straw Hat and Bloody Sher…" Sanji sniffled. "It just hurt me Sher."

Sher couldn't stay mad at him. She loved him too much. She got up and went around the desk to stand in front of him. "I love you Sanji. You. I always have, even when I didn't want to. You are the one I want to spend my life with." She tried her best not to choke up, but it was damn hard. She felt the bitter tears sting her eyes.

Sanji wrapped his arms around Sher and pulled her to him. He held her tightly. "I don't wanna fight no more Sher. I don't wanna hurt no more. I don't want you to hurt neither."

Sher hugged Sanji back as the first tears slipped down her cheeks. "Oh Sanji."

"Sher," he felt his own tears flow. "It's gonna be okay. We're gonna go get Evan and then we can all get outta here. I'll protect you Sher. I'll protect both of you. Forever."

Forever… Sher buried her face against Sanji's shoulder and wept.

20.

Sanji helped Sher with dinner later that night and the crews finally had an un-burnt meal for the first time in days. After they ate Sher and Sanji talked to Luffy and Charlie about going after Evan and Mimi. Luffy insisted they take the Merry Go. The Rose Red could stay in the lagoon and repairs could be finished. Luffy would sail with Sanji, Nami and Charlie to go get Evan. Charlie knew where August was and Mimi would go with him.

Ussop and Zoro would stay behind to help Nails with the mast and protect the ship and her captain if need be. Robin would stay to continue looking after Duke. As much as she wanted to go get her son, Sher had to stay with her ship. Her crew, especially Zack, needed her. August was about a four day sail from Talamasca. Neither Sanji nor Sher wanted to be apart that long, but it was for Evan. Chopper decided that Luffy's crew would be fit for duty the day after tomorrow. They could set sail then.

Sher checked on Zack once more before bed. She thought he looked a little better. She hoped that it wasn't just wishful thinking. Sher went off to bed, she went to Sanji. He took her into his arms and loved her. They spent their last day together and the next morning Sher kissed Sanji good bye. She stood on the deck of the Rose Red with Zoro and Ussop watching the Merry Go sail out of sight.

Bring him home Sanji. Bring our son home.

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