Hello everyone I hope the new year started alright for you!

Ghost, thank you for reviewing despite whatever is going on in your life, hope you're doing ok.

Huge thank you goes to Rexica for proofreading this chapter and maybe more importantly, for reminding me that I planned on updating today^^' check out her one piece fic 'disinhibition', it's amazing!

Last year I was asked what ao3 exactly is. It's a site like ffnet, called archive of our own. They host stories and art and do not restrict the authors' or artists' creativity by making them responsible for what children can see and what not, so yeah, the steamy stuff will be there.

Last time Robin decided to put an end to her rashness and try the scientific approach which leaves the rest of the strawhats to deal with the consequences of a woman on a mission and let me tell you Nami is not taking this well.

It's been 6 days since they had left Daquil island behind; 6 days since Robin had come back from the bustling capital of the island with a shit ton of books, and 6 days since he or anyone else of the crew apart from Chopper had seen her.

It's been four days since Robin had thrown Chopper out of his office with nothing but his emergency bag and a thank you.

It's been 3 days since Nami had started getting on his back about it.

It's been 15 minutes since he became aware that Nami knew exactly what Robin had been researching recently, and more grating, why.

"Honestly, how can you be so careless? What if we were attacked by the marines now, or other pirates? I don't know what you've done to her, but it must be pretty fuckig bad if she won't even let Chopper help her!" She screamed at him and like the last 483 times this day didn't care about the spit she got in his face. He let out an exasperated sigh, trying for the umpteenth time to explain to her that he had nothing to do with Robin's decision to barricade herself in the infirmary.

"Not quite sure if you're calling me an idiot or a monster there, Nami, but I have nothing to do with this."

She ignored his objection, steamrolling right ahead, "Oh really?! Then why hasn't she come out, and why the fuck is she in the infirmary of all places?"

"Fuck if I know; she hasn't told me shit. Robin's a grown ass woman, so let her be if she thinks she needs to be in there for whatever reason. She is eating the meals and drinking all the coffee Sanji sets aside for her, and I'm sure she'll hand Chopper anything he needs. Maybe she's writing a fucking encyclopedia or something. I. Don't. Know." He was positively seething, bad enough that he was starting to worry even though he knew how engrossed the woman could become when reading something interesting. But Nami's constant screeching… He loved her dearly and would maim anyone even thinking about harming her, but if she wouldn't soon stop getting in his face like that he'd cut her fucking head off!

She stopped the screeching alright, glared at him instead. Fists balled, jaw tightly pressed together. "Oh really? Well, isn't it your fucking job to know as her fucking master or whatever the fuck you are to each other now?" She hissed, thankfully quiet enough so he could be sure the rest of the crew hadn't heard, but damn… he leaned back against the railing, all the fight knocked out of him as he stared blankly at the woman he thought his sister.

He hadn't stopped to think how this would affect her. This whole thing had to be… she was probably disgusted by both of them; him for wanting Robin like that and her for allowing it. Actually, he'd thought she understood, having been the one to tell Robin that her cravings were alright and that it wouldn't be the same, but… maybe she wasn't as sure about it as she'd let on… still… this utter contempt directed at him. Fuck, what kind of vermin did she take him for? She'd known him now for how long? It's not like he became a different person just because she now knew of preferences that had always been there, for fuck's sake.

"Fuck you, Nami."

She gasped, and her brown eyes widened as she seemed to - for the first time - think about the words that had left her mouth. She looked away from him, shame evident on her features. "I'm sorry, Zoro, I… I shouldn't have…" she stammered before coming to stand to his right, staring out at the idle waves with an air of desperation. He didn't turn to face the sea with her, wanted her in his sight. Damn, these were about the only situations he actually missed his full sight. He huffed in hesitant acceptance. It's not like he was one to hold grudges, but damn, that had cut quite deep.

"I really am, Zoro. I know it's not the same, I know you won't go against her will, I know you respect her… it's just so hard to comprehend." her voice was small, tiny even. She was sorry, didn't know how to deal with the situation and lashed out like she always did. Shit, maybe they should have been a bit more careful with her. But how the fuck could they if she'd been sticking her nose in their business before they had even known what their business was?

She sighed again. She'd been out of sorts for a while, now that he thought about it. Hadn't even noticed… too busy with his own shit.

"What's your problem?" He asked, glad that his lack of tact never seemed to be a problem on this ship. She knew exactly what he'd been trying to ask.

"I don't know, really, I guess… I guess now that you two have each other, I'm afraid to lose you?" She answered with a sad chuckle, belittling her own feelings.

Ah fuck. Of course. The horrible fear of losing her loved ones was deeply ingrained in her very being. In his own, too, if he was being honest. The thought of losing any of them as he had lost Kuina… debilitating. It had to be so much worse for her. He didn't think, just shifted slightly to tug the redhead against his chest. She stumbled a bit before fisting her tiny hands in his robe and bawling her eyes out like a little girl.

Should really have thought about this sooner. As tough as she was, one did not simply forget the years of fear and dread. He could only imagine how life under Arlong's thumb must have been for her. Her whole village held hostage, the only family she still had solely alive because she did not act up. Gods, the responsibility for a whole island on her shoulders when she'd been just a kid. Everytime coming back from a heist fearing that they'd be gone, fearing that she'd done something wrong, taken too long… fuck.

"Should've said something sooner, idiot."

She huffed, voice quivering, "oh yeah, and what then? Knowing you, dumbass, you would have felt responsible, and god knows what you'd have done then. Robin deserves this. You do too, I guess"

She wiped her nose on his robe and he let her, the thing was already soaked anyways and gods forbid Nami would use her own clothes for that, would add it to his debt, most likely. Whole thing was already ridiculous; it wasn't like anyone would ever be able to pay her back with her horrendous interest rates, and they wouldn't dump her ass on a fucking island if she lifted their debt… hell, they wouldn't even find an island without her. Not quite ready to let go, she shifted in his arms to lean against the dry side of his chest. Damn witch… he pat her head.

"Nothing will change, you know, even if we end up together. We're still nakama," he offered after a stretch of silence.

She pushed away from him, looking up with a scrutinizing gaze, "even if? Isn't that uncharacteristically pessimistic of you?"

He scoffed as she settled against the railing again. "It isn't. It's realistic. She doesn't know if she's ready for a relationship, or if she ever will be, and I won't pressure her into anything she doesn't want."

She hummed in agreement, "Well, she doesn't want emotionless sex, that's for sure… we've had enough of that to last a lifetime… more than one."

He answered with a grunt, yeah, no shit.

"To be honest, I'm surprised. With all the tension between you two the last couple of months, I would have guessed you'd jump each others' bones the moment you were alone," she laughed punching his shoulder just hard enough to hurt herself.

"That obvious, hu?" Damn…

"Ya, not sure if the others have connected the dots yet, but they definitely know that something's up. Sanji's probably in denial though."

He snorted a laugh, ha, damn cook! They stood there in companionable silence, her leaning over the rails, watching the sunset, and him with his back against them, watching her.

She too deserved happiness, and he wouldn't gain his own on her back. She was right - he tended to make rash decisions when it concerned the crew, fueled by his own fear of losing them. Sometimes those decisions were detrimental to himself, not caring about what his sacrifice would do to the rest of the crew, because he had decided that it would be best for them. Thriller bark was to forever remain a secret between himself and Sanji, because if Nami and the others thought him rash now, what would they think if they knew about that?

This did not only concern himself though. He had to think of Robin, too, but…

"Next time come to us sooner." he repeated.

"I will."

"We'll figure something out, but you won't lose us just because we may or may not be in a relationship," he affirmed.

"If all else fails, we could always adopt you," Robin chimed in from the outer door of the infirmary, huge tome pressed to her chest, teasing smile on her lips. Nami gasped and whirled around, glaring accusingly at the elusive archeologist.

"Don't you dare make fun of me, Robin, I've been sick with worry!" She seethed.

Robin apologized, had lost track of time. Had she even bathed in the past few days? Her black hair was a mess, hanging in greasy strands, dark circles under her eyes… had she slept at all?

"You look like shit, woman."

She didn't take it as an insult, no hurt tainting the proud smile she carried as she approached him. It seemed like they were finally over this shit. About fucking time, too, because even if she was smelling like a dying ferret right now and looking more like Brook than herself, the woman was still fucking gorgeous. "Here," she offered him the book. Not a real book he now saw, just millions of pages stacked together, hastily glued at the back. "I've done my research, as you requested. I've added a list of my personal preferences and drafted a provisional contract, both of which are in the appendix. I'll go and have a bath now, then we can discuss any adjustments you'd like to make after I'm done," she stated before sauntering off without another glance back.

He stared at her retreating form. Dumbstruck. He looked at the heavy thing in his hands, ignoring the witch's hysterical cackle at his expense.

Damn… she really hadwritten a book.

I hope you enjoyed this little Zoro/Nami sibling interlude. I've always seen them like this and since the strawhats are a big happy family I think it's important for them to make sure this relationship won't disturb the peace on the Sunny. Easier said than done with everyone having issues of some kind.

Like I said, hope you enjoyed. Let me know what you think!