Zoro is sent flying off the deck and splashing into the water. Sanji struggles not to laugh, as his staff just gapes. His crew seems to let out a collective sigh and make their way towards Luffy, who still looks pissed. He catches his captain's eyes and nods before walking over to where Zoro had fallen off. The water is clear as his husband resurfaces, a dark bruise forming on his cheek. Sanji reaches out a hand to help him back on deck. Zoro grasps Sanji's outstretched hand and pulls himself up out of the water.

"Looks like I won that bet." Sanji chuckles, patting Zoro's back, as he spits out a chunk of blood and has a coughing fit.

He only glares at Sanji, water still rolling off him, but before he can say anything Luffy is in front of them. "Captain." Zoro dips his head.

"You left!" Luffy snaps. Sanji can't help but flinch. He hadn't heard that voice from Luffy in a long while and rarely towards another crew member.

"You knew I was leaving." Zoro says, his voice flat. "I even said goodbye to you the morning I left. You just grinned, told me good luck, and that was it."

"I didn't know you hadn't told Sanji!" Luffy nearly yells. "Do you have any idea how it felt that next morning when Sanji asked if I knew where you were, and I had to be the one to tell him you left?"

Ah. So that's the root of his anger.

"I-"Zoro glances at Sanji, water dripping from his still damp hair and sighs. "I'm sorry." It was all he could offer him. Luffy didn't want an explanation for why he had left them-they were all free to do as they wanted but-

"Nearly a year and not a word." Luffy growls. "Nearly a year of watching one of my nakama being worried and miserable."

Sanji is about to protest, but realizes, in the angry lines on Luffy's face, that those memories had haunted him. As captain it was his job to make sure that everyone on his ship is happy. Maybe that isn't the case in other pirate crews, but Luffy always made sure of it, and in those months Zoro was gone-shit. Luffy blamed himself. For not stopping Zoro from going, for Sanji's moods in the months that followed, and possibly even for Sanji leaving the ship altogether.

Zoro seems to have realized it too and quickly says, "I didn't tell the cook for reasons of my own. It was a stupid decision yes, and the cook-Sanji and I have had words about it. That still doesn't excuse what I put you through because of it and if you feel you need to beat me up some more, I get it, but I am sorry Luffy." The deck is deathly quiet, as everyone watches the captain and his first mate stare one another down.

Finally, Luffy's gaze finds Sanji. It wasn't the glare he had been giving Zoro, but a question danced in those eyes. Sanji only nods. He had forgiven Zoro months ago. Now they were just trying to settle down and find a rhythm that worked for them.

Luffy turns back to Zoro and grins broadly, anger dissipating as quickly as it had come. A heartbeat later he stretches his arms around the two of them and pulls them in for a tight hug. "It's great to see you guys together again."

The rest of their crew seem to take that as a hint and gathers around them. Sanji hears Zoro say, so quietly he almost misses it, "I really am sorry captain." It had haunted Zoro too he realizes, leaving them the way he had. They really were a pair when it came to punishing themselves.

"I'm amazed you managed to find your way here at all." Nami says, smirking at Zoro.

"Shut up witch." Sanji kicks him and Luffy laughs as he lets them go.

"Sanji-"he grins and Sanji already knows what he's going to ask when Luffy practically begs, "food?"

"Yeah, give me a minute you bottomless pit." He waves his captain off easily and turns to where he knows Zeff is standing. "Hey old geezer! You mind if I use the kitchen in the restaurant?" He could always use the one on his ship, but the Baratie's was bigger.

"As long as you clean up your own mess punk." Zeff replies, but there's humor in his voice.

Robin loops an arm through his and smiles. "You want a hand?" Like hell Sanji would let the lovely Robin trouble herself, but perhaps a nice cup of tea and chat would be more to her liking.

As if summoned by the thought Nami slides over attaching herself to his other arm and pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I'll join you."

Franky turns to Zoro. "I'm going to assume it was the two of you who broke this platform?" He gives a pointed look at the steel deck split in half, and the several large holes.

Zoro lifts a shoulder, "it was the cook's fault, but yes."

Sanji is about to argue, but Luffy laughs. "You should ask Momo to get you some sea prism stone."

"We actually already have some." Zoro says, "it's on our ship in the back."

Nami and Robin turn and give him twin glances full of concern. Sanji just shrugs, "we needed our own space." All of them had demons they were dealing with and their own ways of coping. The ladies understood that and only gave one another a subtle nod.

"Well-"Franky's voice cuts through the silence. "Why don't we grab it and I can get to fixing this deck?"

Sounds good." Zoro says not understanding, or simply not caring that Franky saved them from explaining any more than they wanted to.

Sanji catches Zoro staring, "What?"

"Isn't this the part where you tell me not to get lost?"

"It's no fun when you wait for me to say it Mosshead." With that Sanji gives him a back handed wave and heads inside with the ladies.

Sanji was preparing something easy for everyone, while fulfilling his captain's orders for meat, with Nami and Robin sipping tea at the dining table. Brook had followed them inside and was playing music softly in the corner.

"I'm sorry it's been quite a while since we last spoke Sanji." Robin finally says.

He couldn't exactly blame her for that. After Sanji had been dropped off at the Baratie Robin had called once a week to simply talk, but after the weeks continued to drag on and no sign of Zoro it had gotten harder for Sanji to pretend he was fine. He couldn't let Robin worry about him. "It's my fault entirely Robin." Sanji still couldn't help the endearment in his voice. "I wasn't exactly being available to take calls." Robin had continued to try for a while, but eventually, Sanji knew, it had been too much.

"So where had he been?" Nami asks, tracing her finger along the rim of her cup.

"Take a guess."

"Dracule Mihawk?" Robin grins into her tea.

Sanji throws a hunk of meat onto the grill and shrugs. "Yes and no. He actually got a message from his-"he pauses nearly saying sister, but wasn't sure if that was a joke the rest of the crew knew. "Do you remember Perona?"

"That ghost girl from Thriller Bark?" Nami questions, taking a sip of her drink. Sanji's heart warms at the faint smile on her face. "Didn't Zoro live with her the two years we were separated?"

"Yes." Sanji confirms easily. "She kind of saved his ass during that time and asked for help just after we left the All Blue."

"But I don't-? Why didn't you go with him?" Nami asks in confusion.

Sanji gets to a point where he can pause and turns to look at them. "Nami, you know how bad it was after...everything."

Nami grips her right arm tightly. He turns away, guilt eating away inside him. Robin catches his eye and gives him a knowing look. Nami sighs, "we don't though. Back in the All Blue the two of you seemed fine, well maybe not fine-"she amends. "But it looked as though you were doing better."

Sanji laughs without humor. "We got really good at hiding it. Neither of us wanted to fight so we just-" he pauses. "We didn't talk, or rather we didn't talk about the important things."

"Idiots." Nami scoffs.

Sanji acknowledges that with a nod and continues, "Perona was in trouble and the Mosshead went to go help her. Mihawk ended up helping as well and they all ended up at his castle. Four months ago He showed up here, we fought, and now-"

"You're trying to figure out the rest." Brook says, finally taking a sip of his drink. "The two of you have been pirates for so long trying to live a regular life must have its challenges."

"It's been difficult yes, but all we can do is take it one day at a time."

"Has he beat Mihawk?" Nami suddenly asks. "We forgot to ask when he showed up asking about Zoro's location. You should've seen Luffy, he was pissed. Of course, this was before we called you and found out Zoro was with you."

She's rambling and he isn't sure why but is glad for the distraction. "It's best if he tells you the story, even I haven't fully heard it yet."

"But you know the answer to my question."

He waves a hand in affirmation, "of course."

"And you really won't tell me?"

She was using her sweet voice and while yes- that was usually enough for him to give her the world, but- "It was Zoro's dream, and not a story for me to tell." From his reluctance he knew they had guessed the answer but wouldn't push it. "How's our sharpshooter?" He asks, turning back to the food.

"Absolutely smitten with his girlfriend." Robin says, and by the sound of her voice he knew she was grinning. "I give it a month before they announce their engagement." Sanji can't help the grin on his face, happy for Usopp also accomplishing his dream. "I'm sure we'll all be meeting up again to celebrate soon." Robin says.

"And your visit back home?"

This was directed at Nami who laughs lightly. "Oh you know took a few more tangerine trees, talked with my sister, robbed everyone blind-"

"so it was as if you had never left?" Sanji laughed.

"Unlike the last time-there was a certain musician who wouldn't stop flirting with her."

"She is very beautiful." Brook remarks.

Sanji recalls Nojiko and has to agree with Brook. Though her sister could certainly handle herself Sanji can hear it when Nami slaps him. The sound reverberates through the galley as well as Brook's laugh. The familiarity of all of it causes Sanji's hand to slip over a pot on the stove. A hand to his right manifests and catches him before the contents fall onto the floor. He turns, giving Robin a grateful smile, but she's only sipping her tea, and laughing with Nami. Sanji realizes with a start that he would do everything over again if he had to-just so all of them could have this. This sense of peace and stability-his family.

"Sanji-?" It was Brook who notices the tears streaming down his face.

At the concern in their musician's voice Nami and Robin turn around. It was Nami who first jumps out of her seat towards him, but he waves her off. "I'm fine Nami."

"But- "

He smiles at her. "I simply realized I wouldn't change this-"he gestures towards them. "For anything in the world."

Robin smiles warmly and Nami just laughs. "You really are a romantic."

"Isn't that the point of being free on these seas?" Brook says, strumming a note. "The idea of romanticism and the adventures ahead yo-ho-ho."

Sanji wipes the tears from his face and grins broadly, before turning back to the food, as Brook starts up a tune.

"I assume the deck is fixed?" Sanji asks a disheveled Zoro, as he sets the last plate on the table. "You look like shit." Nami and Robin had gone ahead to find everyone, and he had no idea where Brook wandered off to.

"That was the easy bit." He growls, running a hand through his hair. Sanji scowls as the droplets of water scatter everywhere. Gods he's like a wet dog. "No. I look like shit keeping Luffy away from the kitchens. You're welcome by the way."

"Where is he now?"

"After I dragged him out of the water I left him with Franky and Jinbei."

"Why was he in the water?"

"How the hell should I know?"

"Well, where is everyone?" Zoro just gives him a look and he knew he would get the same answer.

"Better be prepared to stop Luffy from eating all of it right away." Zoro laughs, sitting at the table and throwing his feet up. "He hasn't stopped pestering me since you went inside."

Sanji gives a pointed look at his feet. With a roll of his eyes Zoro places them back on the ground. "The old man has a message for you by the way."

"What did I do now?"

"I don't think anything for once. All he said was, 'see you at dinner.'"

Zeff was letting him, and his crew have some time by themselves. He almost smiles. "You realize this means we're going to have to deal with both of them tonight?"

"Should be fun."

"Always nice to know you're up for anything."

"I'm always up for anything if it involves you."

Sanji turns to look at him again. "What's with you today? You're acting odd."

"Am I?" He sounds surprised, or distracted Sanji isn't sure.

"Hey- "but Zoro doesn't get the chance to say whatever it is as Luffy wraps himself around Sanji in an attempt to get the food. Sanji, used to this, easily escapes the grip and kicks their captain away.

"Nee Nee Zoro!" Chopper appears on top of the swordsman head. Without waiting for a response, he continues. "This place is great. Sanji, you grew up here?"

He knew Chopper meant after leaving Germa. "I didn't think you would." He pats the small reindeer on the head. "It's like being on the Sunny, only anchored."

"Yeah, but I love the Sunny, and this is your home. You love it here, so I'm happy for you."

Sanji gives Chopper his warmest smile. It was hard to remember that though Chopper looked like a child, especially in this form, he was only a couple of years younger than himself and Zoro. A part of him wonders if, like Brook's humor, Chopper uses his innocence as a defense mechanism. They've all seen their fair share of horrors and their adorable doctor was no exception.

A moment later the rest of their crew appear, and they all take their place for lunch.

"Your other family won't be joining us?" Robin asks, accepting a glass of wine.

"My old man has done us the courtesy of giving us some time to catch up." Sanji takes his seat next to Zoro.

"Where did they go?"

Sanji waves a hand. "There's a nearby island Zeff likes to run away to in order to get drunk. I'm sure he's there and the others-"he shrugs. "Who knows."

"Wait-"Nami turns to him, nearly dropping a plate of food in the process. Robin catches it with a hand and passes it to Jinbei, completely avoiding Luffy in the process. "Is this an island we can stock up in?"

"It is. Zeff and I go there to get supplies for the restaurant, among other things."

With a mouth full of rice Zoro says, "that place is filled with weaklings."

"It's not a place for fighting!" Sanji scowls shoves him. "And close your mouth you disgusting bastard." In response Zoro shoves the rest of his rice ball into Sanji's mouth. After nearly choking Sanji scowls. "You're just mad because you had to deal with that stupid-."

"He wanted to-"

"I know." Sanji cuts him off, annoyed with himself for bringing it up in the first place. The last thing he wanted was the ladies to hear something so vulgar.

"I'm not going back there. Not for a while."

"I'm not forcing you to go."

"What-?" Franky begins, but is cut off by a chorus of

"Nothing."

Sanji turns back to Nami. "I can take you there this afternoon if you'd like."

Her face lights up. "That would be wonderful, thank you Sanji!"

Nami winks at Zoro.

It happens so quickly Sanji isn't sure if it happened at all. A second later he's forced to stab Luffy's hand with his fork to keep him from eating his share. "Would anyone else like to come?"

There was an immediate chorus of yes and he turns to face his captain, who just looks eager. Though it was hard to tell when he has a mouthful of food. "Luffy, I need you to promise me something."

Luffy swallows the food and frowns. "I promise not to eat all the food."

He blinks. "What? No. We have plenty here, eat as much as you want."

"Dangerous words." Zoro murmurs.

Sanji doesn't take it back. They really did have plenty of food and he could easily compensate his old man if needed. "No. I need you to promise me not to cause trouble in town. The old man has spent the last 15 years establishing ties with the merchants and-"

Luffy holds up a hand. The face of the Pirate King stares back at him. "Sanji, this is your home. You and Zoro's. We won't do anything to mess that up."

Even if he knew any trouble they did get into wouldn't necessarily be their fault, considering everything that was going on in the world, but he was still grateful for the promise. "Thank you, captain."

"Is this your home then?" Nami asks Zoro, who takes a long swig of his sake.

"I think all of you will agree that I've left the cook by himself for too long."

There are murmurs of agreement, but Sanji, flushed, kicks him. "You make it sound like I just sit around waiting for you to come back!"

"I only meant-"He scowls. "That I should've taken you in the first place.

"You're damn right."

"But to answer your question Nami yes, this is my home." Zoro shoves Sanji back. "And I don't plan on going anywhere."

"So you have beat Mihawk." Robin says it as a statement rather than a question.

"Yes." He says it so matter of factly it takes a moment for the admittance to hit the rest of the group.

"What?!"

Luffy only grins widely and Robin smiles into her tea. "You never did tell me the story." Sanji notes, grabbing a rice ball and biting into it.

"I didn't realize there was that much to tell." Zoro scoffs, batting Luffy's hand away from his plate and downing a large cup of sake. "I challenged him and won."

Sanji wanted to kick him, but he had a point. Unless you were witness to the fight you probably couldn't explain it and given Zoro was too busy thinking on his feet to remember much other than his next move and winning.

"Is that why you wear Hawkeye's knife?" Jinbei asks, gesturing to the necklace around Zoro's neck.

Zoro lets out a laugh, grabbing another bottle of sake, and throwing an arm around Sanji. "No. I have this because the cook didn't want it after Mihawk gave it to him."

"Why was he trying to give it to you?"

Everyone turns to look at him and Sanji finds heat going to his face. He turns away as Zoro wipes dregs off his face and grins. "Because the cook beat him too."

"I didn't beat him!" Sanji protests quickly, as the rest of the group, including Luffy, stare at him mouths agape.

"If you hadn't had a flashback of Mary Geoise in the middle of the fight you would've beat him-twice." Nami and Robin both look at him at that, but Zoro continues. "I knew it, your old man knew it, and Mihawk knew it too. Why do you think he left after that?"

"Hopefully he left in order to tell the rest of the world that you beat him." Sanji leans into him and grabs one of the wine bottles off the table.

"We still need to find an island where I can take people who challenge me." Zoro notes, grabbing another rice ball and shoving it into his mouth.

"What's this 'we' you're going to be the one who's fighting. Why are you involving me in this?" He downs nearly the whole bottle and finds Zoro's gaze on him. "I'm just going to end up feeding them after you beat them."

After a long pause Zoro turns away from him. "I doubt you want your old man to kick me out." He accepts another bottle Jinbei hands him.

Sanji lets out a long sigh. "Do you just want my help so you can find your way to and from the island?"

Zoro spits out his drink and slams the bottle onto the table. "You are never going to let that go, are you?"

"Not until you actually admit how bad you are with directions." Zoro opens his mouth to protest, but Sanji stops him. "You got lost just the other day on our ship."

"You moved it somewhere!"

"It's always docked in the same place and it's layout is the same as the Sunny!"

"I love that by the way." Franky cuts in. "Who did the design? I didn't realize you knew the ship that well."

"It was my home for years." Sanji smiles warmly, finishing his bottle and accepting a bowl of fruit from Nami. "I have a friend on the island I was telling you about who's good with ships. Why don't I introduce you later?"

"That would be super, thanks!"

Sanji nods and turns back to Zoro. "Mosshead, you know I love you, but when are you going to get it through your head that you are worse than Luffy is at getting lost."

Zoro is quiet for a long while until he finally sighs. "What does it matter anyways? You or someone else is always there to get me to the right place."

He had a point, and it wasn't in his nature to acknowledge weakness. Sanji sighs deeply and grabs another rice ball, only to shove it into Zoro's mouth. "Stubborn bastard."

Zoro manages to get the rice down by downing the rest of his bottle and having a coughing fit. He curses Sanji but doesn't do any more than that.

"You know for two people with a history like yours you seem to be doing rather well with this domestic lifestyle." Jinbei notes.

"It's-"Sanji shares a look with Zoro. "We're trying."

"Can't imagine it's been easy."

"It's not." Sanji admits, "and if I'm being honest I don't know what I'm doing."

Zoro tenses up beside him, but it's Chopper who asks gently, "what do you mean?"

"I love being back here." Sanji clarifies quickly. "You all know how much it means to me to be back here and doing what I love but-I'm afraid of becoming too much for the old geezer and the staff here."

"You're not." Zoro deadpans. "Honestly cook-you know this. And don't give me the whole, 'maybe it'd be better if I went off and started my own restaurant somewhere,' when you know this place is your home."

"So when we start attracting the wrong type of people here and putting my staff in danger-"

"Your staff can handle themselves pretty damn well all things considering and if not-you and I are the strongest people in the east blue. You really think we can't deal with whatever shit happens around here?"

Sanji laughs at that. "I suppose if anything happens in the east blue the two of us can take care of it." Maybe that was what he needed. Not the crazy life-threatening adventures they tend to have travelling with Luffy-but a protector of the east blue. Luffy grins widely at him as if reading his thoughts.

Zoro only shrugs. "Sounds good to me cook-I already told you I'm happy to be here. I achieved my dream and now the only thing I want to do is spar with you and eventually give Wado back to her proper owner."

This surprises Sanji. "Her father gave you that sword to give you a connection to her. He's not going to let you give it back. That sword is as much yours now as it was hers."

"As I said cook-eventually. That could mean forty-maybe fifty years from now."

"When someone finally beats you for the title?"

Zoro shrugs, "Maybe even longer than that."

"If you still have the title of greatest swordsman at 70, I'd be concerned for the next generation." Sanji jokes. The others nod their heads in agreement-Zoro included.

Robin-still laughing reaches for the plate of watermelon. Zoro is closer and moves to hand it to her. Sanji catches the moment Zoro sees the ring. "When did the two of you get married?" He stammers, nearly dropping the plate.

There's laughter down the table again, but Sanji is a bit ashamed of himself. He had honestly forgotten that their crewmates getting married was probably something Zoro would've liked to know.

"It happened about three months after you had left." There was no hint of anger in Robin's voice, as she bites into a large piece of the fruit. It seems, like Luffy, the rest of the crew had forgiven him. "We had just picked up supplies from a nearby island and had been travelling for a few days." Her voice trails off as if remembering and a faint smile appears on her face. "It had been a lazy day and everyone was out on the deck doing one thing or another. Nami and I were arguing-"

"We were having a light discussion at most!" Nami argues.

"Of course, and you breaking your wine glass had nothing to do with the discussion." Robin quips. Nami's face goes red and she downs her mug of ale. Sanji remembers that. He had been watering the plants when he had heard breaking glass. He and Chopper had rushed over. Chopper to check on her hand and Sanji to help clean up the mess. He never did learn what the actual argument was about, but he does remember what happened next as Robin continues, a hint of humor in her voice. "A little while after that it had grown quiet. I called out to Franky, who was in the middle of something with Usopp, and said 'What do you think of getting married?"

"What? The two of us?" Franky chimes in, helping Robin with the story.

"Unless you had a third person in mind I don't know about."

"Would you be opposed?"

"Not particularly."

"I will keep that in mind for later, but no. I would not mind getting married. When were you thinking?"

Robin chuckles again at the memory and says, "I then asked the captain if he would be willing to do another wedding ceremony. He didn't mind as long as we had a huge feast afterward."

"I argued that we would need to stop by another island first if we wanted to have a feast like that again." Sanji smiles at the memory and turns to Zoro. "After ours I knew what the captain wanted and there was no way I had enough on board for that."

"About a month later we stopped on an island Sanji got what he needed. Franky insisted on making the rings himself and found the material he needed in town. Usopp and Chopper decorated the deck and we were married that night." Robin takes another sip of her wine and hands appear forcing Franky to face her. She smiles at him and he leans down to kiss her.

"I assume that's the kind of wedding you wished you had?" Zoro murmurs in his ear, but his tone wasn't mocking just-genuine curiosity.

"Yes." He admits and with the look on Zoro's face he quickly adds, "But I wouldn't change anything about ours."

"You're not serious?" He scoffs. "All we did was fight through the whole thing."

"All we ever do is fight." He almost laughs. "Why should our wedding change that?" Zoro cocks his head as if agreeing and glances briefly to the kitchen. What was with him? "Hey-"Zoro quickly faces him again and Sanji crosses his arms. "Seriously, what's with you?"

"Seriously nothing."

"Zoro-"

"Sanji!" Luffy wraps himself around Sanji's middle and grins. "When can we go? I want to go exploring."

As usual their captain's timing was terrible. He really was like a child. Sanji stands up and Luffy unravels himself. "Just remember your promise Captain."

Luffy grins at him. "This is your home, and you know I keep my promises."

He did know that. "Alright, then we'll head out as soon as I'm done cleaning up."

"I'll do it." Zoro stands up and takes the plate Sanji had been holding. Sanji, along with the rest of the crew just stare at him mouths agape. "What?" He scowls. "You act as though I haven't helped you clean up enough times before." This was also true. "And I'm not going back to that damn island so doesn't it just make sense?"

"I-yes." Sanji blinks. "Yes, thank you Zoro." He stands and kisses him swiftly. "We'll see you when we get back?"

Zoro grabs his arm and pulls him in for a deep kiss. It catches Sanji off guard and he easily falls into his rhythm. After a few moments they hear Franky wolf whistle and break apart. "What was that for?" Sanji asks, trying to catch his breath.

"I love you idiot."

"Love you too Mosshead." Sanji answers instinctively and just stares at him. What was going on with him? It was not that the affection was new, especially not in front of their crew, but today it was just-a lot. Was he forgetting something? It was not his birthday or the Marimo's. Wait-what month was it? He is so lost in thought it takes Zoro nudging him to realize that their entire crew is looking at him. "What?" He says stupidly.

Zoro rolls his eyes, but it is Brook who says, "Yo-ho-ho I asked whose ship are we taking?"

"Oh- I figured it would be easier to take the Sunny." He shifts easily back into the host. "That way when we do get everything you need, we don't have to transport it from one ship to the other."

"That- and people's reactions to seeing the pirate king's ship is always worth it." Franky laughs

Sanji stifles a grin. Yeah, there was that too. A part of him genuinely loved the feeling of being both admired and feared, but when people saw the Sunny, it was Franky who deserved to be the proudest. It was their ship, but it was his dream and he deserved to have his ship recognized for what it was.

Luffy throws his arms around him and grins, "Let's go!"

It was dark out when the group had finally returned. Luffy had kept his promise and other than a few scuffles with the type of locals Sanji himself must deal with on the daily nothing happened. They got the crew the supplies they needed and found whatever other small things they wanted.

As they docked and climbed down Sanji can't help but notice how eerily quiet it was. His staff should've been back by now and at least one of them would be out on deck smoking, or at the very least they would've seen their boat pull up and came out to greet them. He doesn't feel any threat so- "Old man!" He calls out.

Thankfully he hears the familiar sound of Zeff's peg leg from the third floor. He glances up to see Zeff glaring down at him from the balcony. "What do you want Eggplant? I'm just changing for dinner."

He assumes everyone else is either doing the same or is in the kitchen. He just raises a hand in salute and says, "See you at dinner then."

"Twenty minutes!" Zeff shouts back down and then disappears back into his room.

"Like I don't already know that." Sanji murmurs and turns to find the confused faces of his crew. "He's super adamant that we all eat dinner together and on time every night."

"So-"Brook almost laughs. "Like you when we were living on the ship."

He pauses as that realization comes over him. Oh gods, was he turning into Zeff?

Robin laughs, covering her mouth with her hand. "I think it's sweet."

She was right. It was nice to have a good enough father figure that he could mimic his mannerisms. "I'm going to go get changed. I'll meet you guys there."

"Same place we had lunch?" Nami asks, grabbing Luffy by the cheek to stop him from going immediately.

He can't help the laugh that escapes him. "Yes."

"See you in a bit then."

He waves back at them and makes his way back over to his own ship and wonders where Zoro had run off too.

Sanji is about to round the corner when he physically runs into Zoro and nearly falls back. "Whoa-"Zoro stretches an arm out to stop him. "You alright? I was about to go and get you."

He scoffs, wiping dust off his shirt. "I'm on time."

"Didn't say you weren't."

Sanji laughs, taking Zoro's hand and leaning in for a kiss.

"Eggplant-that had better be you!" Zeff's voice carries over the sounds of the sea.

"Shitty old man. I'm on time." Sanji grumbles, kissing him and rounding the corner to where dinner was being set up.

The rest of their crew were already there, and Jinbei was doing a rather good job of holding Luffy back. Honestly, their captain was so bad when it came to food. Sanji takes a seat, Zoro sitting down next to him, and looks at the spread on the table.

It wasn't what he expected.

All his favorite dishes-and Zoro's were out in front of him. Every type of spicy seafood pasta, rice balls, sea king meat, shrimp scampi, and a ridiculous amount of sake, booze, and wine. "Okay what is this?" He asks, as everyone else takes their seats. "It would be one thing if everyone's favorites were here, but why is it just me and Zoro's?"

Zoro begins laughing. "Gods you really don't remember do you? I thought you were just messing with me this morning but-"

Heat goes to his face. "What? What am I forgetting?"

Zoro just shakes his head and loads a good portion of Sanji's favorite dish onto his plate. "Just eat dumbass, I'll explain in a bit."

He opens his mouth to argue, but just doesn't have it in him, not when it seems everyone is in on whatever this was.

"How was the supply run?" Zoro asks Luffy, who already had three large chunks of sea king meat on his plate.

He proceeds to eat one whole and grins. "Nami and Franky say we got everything so we're good. Oh! And I did get into a fight with a man about my old man, but it didn't cause a lot of trouble, so Sanji wasn't mad."

Zoro looks at Sanji at this and he only nods. Of course it involved Dragon's takeover of Mary Geoise, but Luffy was right. The man had been causing a scene and trying to get Luffy to fight him and his gang, but one glare from Luffy's conqueror's haki and they had passed out. "Where are you headed next?"

Nami sighs and gives him an almost apologetic look. "We're heading to the North Blue. We've seen a lot of what the Grand Line and New World has to show us. Now we want to test our luck in the other seas."

With a mouthful of food Luffy adds, "Traffy wants to show us something and he says it really cool!" Ah. There it was. Trafalgar Water D. Law. If he wanted to show Luffy something it could only mean trouble. He shares a look with Nami who only nods. Of course they would watch their captain's back. He shivers at the thought of them meeting with Germa again and prayed they didn't have anything to do with whatever it was Law wanted from Luffy. "Oh-Zoro, before I forget, I wanted to ask if you wanted to come with us."

Sanji knew this was coming and even though he knew the answer, couldn't help but grip Zoro's hand tightly under the table.

Zoro takes a bite out of his chunk of meat and grins. "Sorry captain, but curly-brow gave me a job here."

Luffy only shrugs as if expecting it.

Zeff nearly chokes on his wine. "Why is this the first time I'm hearing of this?"

"Relax old man." Sanji swallows the last of his wine. "I figured we could use a proper bouncer."

"I assume he's going on your payroll?"

"Of course." Though Zeff probably didn't want to know what that meant. "He'll only be dealing with the real problem ones, so the rest of you can still get your need to fight out of you. That good enough for you geezer?" Zeff only cocks his head and that was agreement enough for Sanji.

Luffy gives Zoro a long look and then shrugs. "Good. I'm happy for you both and you'll always be welcomed back on the Sunny."

Zoro just nods his head in thanks and adds, "same goes for you captain. If you ever need us we're a call away." They had never discussed it, but Zoro was right. If Luffy called they would be there in a heartbeat.

"So kid-" Zeff's voice breaks the silence. "What's it like being the new Pirate King?"

Luffy's grin was blinding. "It was the hardest journey I'm ever going to have to face but I came out of it the freest man in the world."

"So it was worth it?"

"Every step."

"What was the hardest part of the journey?" Patty asks almost nervously and Sanji wonders how long he'd been trying to find the courage to ask.

He sees the pain flash through Luffy's eyes before he answers. "Being separated from my crew and having to make the decision to put our adventure on hold for two years."

Sanji is honestly surprised it wasn't the battle a Mary Geoise, but he supposes at least there they had all been together. That and the person who did die ended up coming back. He can't help but think of how hard it was for Luffy when he lost Ace. The rest of his crew goes silent, the echo of that fight always fresh in their minds. There were so many times that could've been considered the worst, but for Luffy he realizes it would always be when he was separated from his family.

He doesn't realized tears are falling from his eyes until Zoro puts a hand on his knee and subtly hands him a napkin.

"So the brat refuses to tell us and his-"Zoro glares at him before Zeff could call him boytoy again. Zeff glares right back. "Husband-"he amends, "won't tell us but who the hell lost a bet and had to get themselves captured by the navy?"

He knew Zeff had only asked to distract them from their thoughts and was grateful, but that was honestly not the question Sanji would've expected him to ask. "That story is really bugging you huh?"

"We don't understand why you won't just say it!" Carne argues.

Sanji is about to argue when-

"It was me." Brook laughs from his place next to Chopper. "I didn't understand the rules at the time when I asked to play."

Zeff glares at Sanji like it had been his fault. "He asked to play! And when Nami turned him in, it took us less than a day to get him back!"

"You weren't recognized?" Zeff turns to Nami in surprise.

She downs her glass of wine and grins. "I have a trick that allows me to change my appearance."

Sanji knew she was talking about a combination of makeup and costumes but decides to let his staff guess at her meaning.

"So, you really are-dead?" Baaz asks nervously. He was sitting next to Brook and Sanji noticed that he hadn't touched anything on his plate.

Brook seems to have noticed too and subtly moves closer to Chopper. He knew the fear wasn't on purpose but realizing you're sitting next to a dead person had to be at least a bit unsettling.

"Yes." Brook says because it's never been a secret. People just have a hard time believing what's right in front of their face. "Through a series of events I would rather not get into, but thanks to a devil fruit, I am the only surviving member of my old crew."

"Can you die?"

"I don't know." Brook admits. "I'm 96 years old, but after spending 50 years by myself not eating, not decaying, I don't know my limitations." He continues, "the only thing I know for sure is that I can't swim. Yo-Ho-Ho"

The attempt at humor doesn't exactly hit the mark as the realization dawns on his staff. His crew, mostly Luffy and Chopper begin laughing as Brook gets out of his seat and does one of his ridiculous poses. To distract himself from thinking about his existence, or to cheer them up he doesn't know. Honestly it was so hard to tell with Brook if he was joking around, or if this was sort of a cry for help. Sanji shares a knowing look with Zoro.

Brook, seemingly done with dinner pulls out his violin and strums it. Sanji recognizes the tune as Bink's Sake and grins into his wine. This was about to turn into a party. Sure enough Chopper and Franky get out of their seats and begin dancing. Sanji can't help but laugh at the look on Zeff's face. He wasn't upset, but a surprise party hadn't been what he was expecting.

Luffy begins laughing again and grabs the plate nearest him. It was one of the several dishes of pasta on the table and he manages to put the whole thing in his mouth and pulls it out empty. His cooks' gape at him and Sanji can't help the grin. It was impossible to get use to his captain's endless stomach. Luffy downs it with a mug of water and grins in contentment. "Zoro!" Luffy licks his fingers. "You did great. That pasta was good."

Sanji drops his fork onto his plate and stares down at the food. The dish wasn't perfect, but it was good. He had just assumed one of the cooks was having an off night. "You-"He faces Zoro, "you made this?" The table is suddenly quiet, and all eyes are on the two of them.

Zoro puts down his mug and faces him fully. "I did, other than dessert I made everything on the table." He throws an arm around the back of his chair. "And you really don't know why do you?"

He really didn't and finds himself mad at himself over it. Zoro doesn't cook, but he was clearly prepared to try and for what? For Sanji to go through this whole meal and not even realizing what a kind gesture this was?

"Tell me." He finally says, and his voice is weak, ashamed that he needed someone to give him the answer.

Zoro sighs deeply, realizing his train of thought is spiraling. "It's our wedding anniversary."

It feels as though the floor is opening under him and he was going to fall through. It's all suddenly so clear. The sex this morning, the barely fight, the glances between Zoro and the girls, and Zoro encouraging them to get off the Baratie. Hell, even Zoro disappearing for hours on end every day suddenly makes sense.

He turns to face Zeff and leans back in his chair. "I assume you had a hand in this?" His voice comes out cold and he isn't sure why.

"Who do you think taught him how to make your favorite dish?" He only grins back. "He already knew how to make his own but asked for my help making yours over a month ago. I was more surprised he knew what it was."

Of course he knew. It wasn't as if Zoro asked about that kind of thing it was just-he's more observant than anyone gave him credit for.

"Gods, how is it that you were the one to forget?"

Sanji honestly didn't know and was truly sorry for it. There was no excuse. Those days following their wedding were hell, but Sanji had still remembered every year after that, except this one.

Five years

Gods they have been married for five years now. He turns to Zoro, "I'm sorry. It's truly shitty I forgot and you- "

"Actually remembered for once?" Zoro grins, finishing his drink.

"I was going to say it's shitty I forgot, and you went to the trouble to do something nice anyways."

Zoro rubs the back of his head and Sanji can see a small blush on his cheeks. "Yeah, well-how is it?"

It was clear he had wanted to say something else, but maybe just not in front of everyone. Sanji lets out a laugh and picks up his fork again. He takes longer then probably necessary to take another bite of the food. "It really is good Marimo."

"But nowhere near your standards?" He scoffs.

"No." Sanji admits, and he sees Zoro's jaw twitch. "But you've always had your own ridiculous standards for the things you're good at. You wouldn't hold me to those standards if I suddenly decided to take up swordplay, and I won't hold you to mine when it comes to cooking." He smiles warmly at Zoro then. "The food is good Zoro and I genuinely appreciate the gesture. Thank you."

"Happy anniversary then shitty cook." Zoro snorts. "And I'm glad you like it because your old man is the worst when it comes to teaching."

There are murmurs of agreement across the table. "You chumps wouldn't know a proper meal if it cooked itself in front of you!" Zeff barks out. Sanji isn't sure how many mugs of booze he's had, but if he had to guess he'd say a lot. "Except for you brat-maybe." Sanji realizes Zeff is talking about him and blinks. Yeah, he was drunk if he was giving out praise.

"How about a toast then for the couple?" It was Robin's suggestion, and they all gladly raised their glasses.

"Happy anniversary Zoro and Sanji!" Luffy calls out, grinning like a fool, but Sanji wouldn't have their captain any other way.

As everyone swigs back their drinks Sanji grabs Zoro by the back of his head and kisses him deeply. "Happy anniversary Marimo." His voice turns dark. "Whatever you want the next few days, food, sex, spars, you name it and it's yours. I really am sorry."

"And so you're willing to spend the next few days making up for it?" Zoro grins, deepening the kiss. "What if I asked for ten passes for each of those things and tonight, I get a free pass for anything?"

Ten passes for whatever food he wanted, another ten for sparring, and another ten for sex. Knowing Zoro he would use most if not all of them within the next month. "Fine."

Zoro breaks away and stares at him. "You're serious? I expected more of a fight." He eye turns to a slit. "What game are you playing?"

"No game." Sanji laughs. "I fucked up tonight and I'm sorry. If thirty passes are what it takes to make it up to you then fine."

Zoro leans in and kisses him again. "So, it's a deal?"

"It is." Sanji grins and deepens the kiss. "Thirty passes and one free one tonight."

"You may grow to regret this."

"Maybe, but happy anniversary Mosshead."

"Happy anniversary shitty cook."