The night of Garp's retirement party approached quickly and Nami found herself pondering over what Ace and Sabo had told her whilst soaking in a much needed bath.

"And Hancock?"

"Still as obsessed as ever, unfortunately."

No one uttered a word regarding the ordeal after Garp and Luffy returned from the kitchen and she spent the rest of the night pretending like she didn't just find out her boyfriend was involved in an arranged marriage.

Nami had planned to ask Luffy about it later that night but held off.

I mean, if he hadn't ever mentioned Hancock, it must have been for a good reason... right?

Nami sunk herself lower inside the lavender-scented bath water and sighed, causing bubbles to ripple to the surface.

She was overthinking again.

It's not that she didn't trust Luffy. There was no shred of doubt in her mind that he loved her and the drama surrounding the arranged marriage was behind him.

It's Hancock she didn't trust.

The feminist in her wanted to scold herself for jumping to such conclusions without even meeting the woman first, but if everything Ace and Sabo told her about Hancock's failed attempts to win Luffy over were true, then she'd definitely be expecting her to make a move tonight.

Shaking her head to dismiss her intrusive thoughts, she stood to drain the tub and began getting ready for the party.

About an hour later, Nami eyed her appearance in her full length mirror and her lips twitched, forming a smug smile.

She settled on a messy but cute bun and donned a silky blush pink off the shoulder dress that flowed to her knees. Her makeup was minimal considering she was more of a natural beauty anyway and didn't need much, but the small touches of blush and eyeshadow were just enough to still accentuate her face divinely.

Perfect.

She looked good. Real good.

There was a light knock on the door followed by the sound of creaking that shook her from her thoughts.

Nojiko popped her head in, smiling when she saw Nami. "You look gorgeous, Sis." she stated, entering the room.

Nami mirrored her smile, turning back to face the woman. "Thanks, Nojiko. You do too."

Taking a seat at the foot of her bed, Nojiko patted a spot in front of her. "I have some news." she smiled.

Curiously, Nami tilted her head and plopped down. "What is it?"

"Soooo Ace asked me to be his girlfriend." she squealed giddily, immediately bringing a hand up to cover her mouth in disbelief from saying it aloud.

A huge smile spread on Nami's lips and her eyes widened, squealing along with her sister. "What?! Oh my God, Nojiko congratulations!" she threw her arms around Nojiko in a tight hug.

"Thank you! It's about time right?" she laughed, hugging Nami back just as tightly.

Nami gave a short chuckle. "Duh!" she pulled back, beaming at her older sister. "When did he ask you?"

"Last night. We met up after your dinner plans with Garp." suddenly Nojiko squinted, eyes boring into Nami's. "How did that go by the way?"

"Oh you know, fine."

"Really? Are you sure there's nothing you want to talk about?"

Great.

Nami knew that look entirely too well. Nojiko was playing dumb and she knew exactly how it went assuming her suspicions were correct and Ace slipped up in telling her.

Not even bothering to hide her anxiety, she looked at a spot on her bed, her lips tightening into a thin line. "...It went well, before I found out Luffy was in an arranged marriage and his ex fiancé is going to be at the party and I'm freaking out and worried and also paranoid because Ace and Sabo said she's been trying to swoon Luffy and I just don't know what I'm gonna do." she spat quickly, catching her breath.

"Woah woah, calm down kiddo." Nojiko gripped both her shoulders. "Why are you so worried? Don't you trust Luffy?" she challenged.

Nami furrowed her brows. "Of course I do! I just don't understand why he never mentioned anything. I mean... what if I'm getting in the way? What if Luffy changes his mind about me?"

Hearing her say that caused Nojiko to frown. "Why on earth would you think that? Nami, you're not getting in the way. Luffy chose you, didn't he? Plus, I'm sure he didn't want to bring up something that he knew would worry you."

She swallowed the anxious lump in her throat.

Nojiko did have a point.

She needed to trust everything would be alright.

The girl nodded, beginning to chuckle awkwardly. "Yeah, you're right."

Nojiko patted her knee comfortingly. "Trust me, you have nothing to worry about." she took a glance at her phone screen to eye the time. "You ready to strut your stuff?"

Nami stood from her bed, nodding determinedly.

The party was to take place at Garp's home which left Nami in awe as soon as they pulled into the gated paved driveway.

"Woah." Nami mumbled, eying the view outside the car window.

It was a beautiful white two story mansion and everyone seemed to be at the lavish event.

Nojiko followed the signs to a parking spot and upon climbing out of the car, she hooked their arms, glancing over at Nami as they headed inside. "You ready?" she smiled.

Nami nodded, an anxious smile became apparent on her face. "Ready."

Nojiko gave her arm a slight squeeze. "Hey, everything will be okay."

Giving her a reassuring smile, Nami sighed. "Thanks, Nojiko."

They walked along the stone pathway leading up to the entrance of the mansion and sauntered in before being greeted and let inside by two doormen dressed in black suits.

Stepping into the large foyer, Nami glanced around the room, feeling out of it. The spacious mansion was packed with a plethora of elegantly dressed party-goers and Marines, she didn't really recognize anyone other than Garp-San, whom she spotted a bit away surrounded by a group of people, and Sanji-kun, who was replenishing appetizers at one of the buffet tables since he was asked to cater the event.

"Nami!"

Turning to the source of the voice, she beamed upon seeing Vivi, Robin, Zoro, Chopper, and Usopp in the distance, Vivi was already waving in her direction after calling out to her.

Feeling relieved to see more familiar faces, she turned to Nojiko. "I'm gonna go say hi, is Ace already here?"

Nojiko nodded. "Yeah he is. Have fun, and hey-" she placed a hand on Nami's shoulder, "-remember what I told you, okay?"

Nami gave her sister a reassuring smile and nodded before turning to approach the group.

Immediately she greeted her friends, making her round of hugs.

"I haven't seen you guys in forever." she announced.

No one brought up that it had only been a week because, to the tight-knit group, it felt much longer than that.

"You look so pretty, Nami." Robin announced.

Vivi raised Nami's arm to get a better look at her dress. "Seriously! You polish up nicely."

Nami giggled. "Thanks, so do you all. I still feel out of place though."

Zoro crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back against a stone pillar. "Seriously. Who woulda thought the old man was loaded?"

The group erupted in chuckles.

Furrowing her brows, she gave another quick once over of her surroundings. "Do you guys know where Luffy is?"

Everyone looked around and then Usopp mumbled something that made her heart sink.

"Oh shit."

In response to Usopp, Nami's eyes trailed over to see Luffy standing at a buffet table talking to a raven haired woman.

Oh shit indeed.

That must be Hancock.

There was no denying her beauty. Ace and Sabo had mentioned to her that she was unquestionably dubbed as "the most beautiful woman in the world" by those who knew her, especially within the Navy.

Nami began to feel extremely insecure in her presence.

The friends silently exchanged concerned looks.

"...Nami?" Chopper called after a while, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll talk to you guys in a bit." she said before mindlessly marching up to Luffy with urgency, her feet moving all on their own across the large room.

As she came closer, she saw as the woman pouted childishly before clinging onto Luffy's arm.

Nami flinched with furrowed brows at the action

Too goddamn close!

"You've been impossible to reach, Luffy! You haven't returned any of my calls." Nami heard her say, now standing by Luffy's side.

Luffy gently pried her off of him, pushing her out to a distance.

"Luffy."

"Oh Nami! There you are!"

Hancock peered at her not so subtly. "And who might you be?" she asked, seeming unimpressed.

"Hancock, this is Nami-"

Nami took a step forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "-his girlfriend." she finished for him.

Hancock merely stared at her before turning to the raven-haired man. "Luffy. Is that true?"

Already feeling irritated, Luffy nodded, his features turning stoic. "Un." he voiced, confirming the woman's worst fears.

That smug look on Hancock's face after sizing up Nami is what really made her snap and before Hancock could say anything about the declaration, Nami quickly interjected, taking another step forward to get right in her face.

"His girlfriend. Got it?" she voiced low.

Nami then 'smiled sweetly' and took a step back to Luffy, clinging to his arm. "Please excuse us." she muttered before dragging Luffy as far away as possible from her.

She took a deep breath to herself.

Never in her life had she felt as jealous as she did in that very moment and she didn't like it one bit. Nojiko told her she had nothing to worry about, but she couldn't help feeling her blood boil slightly at the thought of Hancock all over Luffy.

"Nami? You okay?" he asked, feeling her tense up.

"I'm fine, Luffy." she plastered on a smile before turning to observe the couples dancing in the ballroom to distract herself from the inner turmoil she felt.

But Luffy wasn't an idiot. He knew Nami better than most and he definitely could see past her forced smile.

"Nami."

The woman hummed in response, turning to look at him.

"Dance with me." he smiled, awaiting her answer.

Her eyes widened slightly. She was a bit taken aback by his proposal because the entire time time she's known Luffy, not once has she seen him dance. "You know how to dance?" she asked.

Chuckling awkwardly, he reached back to scratch the nape of his neck. "I took lessons when I was a kid so I might be rusty, but if that'll make you happy, then I'll gladly dance with you, Nami." he held out his hand.

She cheesed hard at the declaration and took his hand, promptly being led to the dance floor.

The orchestra began playing a waltz as the pair joined the other couples. Luffy placed his left hand against the small of her back and used his right hand to hold hers, intertwining their fingers.

Nami, in turn, placed her left hand atop his shoulder and squared her shoulders before looking down at their feet. She was no professional by any means, but she had more or less an idea of the movements.

"Just follow my lead." Luffy mused.

Looking back up at him, Nami nodded, letting him guide her motions. Eventually, she got the hang of it and they both moved together in perfect rhythm to the melody.

Luffy twirled her and she couldn't help but laugh giddily as he did it another time and his joyous laughter mixed in with hers. When the song ended, Nami playfully curtsied after Luffy bowed in her direction.

The orchestra then began playing a slow song. Most of the couples cleared the dance floor, but Nami reached up to wrap her arms behind his neck, eying him tenderly. She didn't even need to ask him for another dance, immediately, Luffy's hands settled on her hips and he tapped his forehead to hers.

"What's wrong, Nami?" he asked softly.

Nami sighed internally. Nothing could ever get past him, that she was certain of.

But should she tell him?

They swayed back and forth to the melody, the slow paced chords of the music filling the quiet pause with some kind of noise.

"Nami?" he called again.

With embarrassment, she pulled away from him to look him in the eyes. "I... heard about your arranged marriage with Hancock."

His lips parted, wondering why she was concerned. "And that worried you?"

"Yes. No. I don't know... I mean-" she swallowed the anxious lump in her throat. "Why didn't you tell me?" she glanced down at their feet somberly.

"Because I didn't think it was important. Nami, you don't have to worry about Hancock."

"Even though she's the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Luffy's face contorted, looking at her with a very confused expression. "Who? Hancock?"

Nami looked away, pouting as she recalled the title Ace and Sabo had told her was bestowed upon the woman. "Yeah."

The man wanted to laugh at her reaction but held back, feeling a bit of guilt wash over him.

"Nami, to me, you're the most beautiful woman in the world and no one can convince me otherwise." he assured.

A huge smile spread on her face and she looked at him with pure love reflecting in her eyes.

The sparkle in her gaze left him breathless. How on earth does she do that?

"You know what? You look quite dashing." she said, now eying his attire.

"The same could be said for you. You look beautiful, Nami." he tightened his arms around the small of her back and buried his face in the crook of her neck, a spot he's grown very fond of.

The woman sighed delightedly, pulling him closer to her.

Wow.

Instantly, she could feel her worries melt away with the warmth of his arms enveloping her.

Propping her chin on his shoulder, she found herself with an impulsive desire to reiterate those three words that swarmed her mind time and time again.

Still swaying to the music with him, Nami angled her head to whisper softly in his ear. "I love you."

Her words rang wonderfully and he felt that satisfying pang in his chest once more along with a tightening feeling. Luffy pulled away from her and took in her expression with warmth.

"I love you too, Nami. Only you."

In that moment, she was convinced her heart would burst. "Luffy." she mused, halting her movements to gently bring her hands up to his face, cradling both his cheeks.

His breath hitched at the action. To think he could ever love any woman that wasn't Nami, was beyond him. Only she could elicit these feelings from him.

While his face was encased, she leaned forward to softly press her lips against his.

Basking in the feeling of her gentle motions, his droopy eyes fell shut.

Remembering they were still on the dance floor within a multitude of people, she pulled away.

Luffy didn't let her get far though. One of his hands slid down and found purchase on her hip, pulling her flush against him.

He wanted everyone to know who he belonged to.

Swaying with her once more, Luffy moved in to connect their lips again.

Their motions were sweet and languid. Nami felt a wave of initial embarrassment wash over her, but it quickly faded when she felt him pull away for only a second to angle his head in a new position, deepening the needy kiss.

As his mouth moved delightfully against hers, she could feel the erratic pumping of her heart.

And in that moment she knew, she really did have nothing to worry about. This was the man she trusted, the man she was head over heels in love with. The man who taught her what happiness was and who would chose her over any other woman time and time again.

Feeling deprived of oxygen, he unfortunately pulled away this time, smiling at her with lowered lids. Nami reflected his smile, feeling warm and fuzzy from the swarm of emotions she felt.

And all she could see was him. No one else mattered. Not Hancock, not the couples dancing around them, not anyone else but him.

She was lost in the depths of his onyx eyes and wished they could stay like this forever.

To be continued.

A/N: So what do you guys think? I personally love a jealous Nami haha. Leave your thoughts in the comments and thanks to all of you who have supported this story so far.