Hallo and welcome back!
Thank you all for your feedback on the last chapter. I'm sorry if a pregnant lady is something you can't identify with.. neither can I, so I try to not focus on the pregnancy but on all the things that come with it, especially in their situation, so please bear with me…. I mean… I can't really identify with an orgasming male either, but look at all those chapters that no guy has ever complained about so far ;-p
Viking, I replied to your comment on Ao3.
ghost, now I'm really intrigued what the other guess was… Glad you liked it, I always find it infuriating when there is a seemingly great relationship and everything goes down the drain because people are keeping secrets like that. I think they are way past that phase where such a reveal would be an issue for them personally or their relationship.
As always, thanks to Rexica for beta reading this mess, I'll be forever grateful!
Last time, Robin found out she was pregnant and let Zoro know. They bounced some possible solutions for this problem and now all hope lies with Tashigi, let's find out what she has to say to that… maybe
The tiny slip of land was coming closer, and the Marine ship anchored at the shore seemed overbearing in comparison.
"So, what are we doing here? Nami said I can't play with Smokey, and that island seems boring," their captain called from Sunny's figure head, and before he got a chance to answer, Nami cut in. "Apparently your first mate has a meeting with captain Tashigi." Her irritation about the whole thing radiated from her like pain from an infected wound. This conversation couldn't possibly end well for him.
"I swear to god, you lunkhead, if you got that marine pregnant while being with Robin, I'm gonna rip your fucking head off," she hissed, and he was pretty sure she meant it, and not just his head either.
"Why the fuck would you think that?" He blurted out way too quick if her narrowing eyes were any indication. Fucking shit, Tashigi having his child was just way too close to the truth. "I'm no expert in medicine, but I think I'd have to fuck her bef-" he tried to bring her on another track, but his words got stuck in his throat as his captain's head craned between the two of them, upside down. The boy's brows were drawn in contemplation, and he knew without a doubt that whatever was going on in that rubbery brain of his would make this situation even worse. The head rotated in thought, further than necessary to be right side up, until the captain's eyes shone bright with realisation. His muscles tensed as he steeled himself. The sound of one rubbery fist smacking down upon an open palm on the figurehead almost made him jump.
"So, this is about the time you did the naked fighting with Tashigi?"
Oh gods have mercy. The head snapped away, and he had barely enough time to dodge both Nami's fist and the shit cook's burning foot. For fucks sake, why couldn't they mind his own fucking business? And it wasn't like they had just now learned about the incident either. They had been ready to flay him alive back then if Robin hadn't directed him in the library and later announced their relationship. He drew his sword, ready to defend himself against two furious crewmates when their movements were halted by dozens of arms. Thank fuck that his woman was on his side on this.
"I'm sure there is an explanation for that. They are both fighting with swords; they could easily tear clothes in a fight. This meeting is probably harmless. Based on their previous interactions, I'd wager it's about either a revanche for that aforementioned drunk squabble, or she finally wants that sword of his," she mused, releasing the two from her hold. "If it would appease your worries, I can accompany him. I'm sure neither of them would mind."
Fucking bullshit, on his side, bitch had set him up, more likely. Granted, this probably was the easiest way to get them off their backs, without having to answer questions they didn't yet have the answers to, but still… He grunted in consent, and she countered his angry glare with that radiant smile of hers that was only ever directed at him. Gods be fucking damned, he was totally whipped.
The two of them entered Mini Merry together, and he could feel her nerves as if they were his own. Fuck, they probably were. This was their only chance. If Tashigi turned them down, there was nowhere else to go but Law. Not like they hadn't talked about other options; they just didn't exist. Dragon? Hadn't even raised his own kid. Revolutionary army was just as bad as being pirates. Mihawk? He was just a pirate now. Yeah, that was pretty much the end of their own personal acquaintances, and he sure as fuck wouldn't leave his kid with the mom from Water 7. Everyone else was friends with the crew as a whole and quite openly so. Vivi might have been possible, could take it in after finding it abandoned in the streets, nobody would question that. Would be totally in character for her…. But with Robin's involvement in the Alabasta crisis… yeah couldn't ask that of her.
He held her hand until dock 2 opened to reveal them to the waiting marines; squeezed it, to comfort her or himself he didn't know. Didn't want to. He'd be strong for her. She tried not to let it show, but he could clearly see that it troubled her every second of the day. No matter what their future would bring, what Tashigi would say, he'd be there with her. Fucking shit. He didn't condemn her decision in itself. Understood where she was coming from. What she feared for their kid, she had gone through that. It was a fate she didn't wish on anyone, much less on her own child… but fuck. He was a selfish fucking asshole, and he wanted that child. Wanted her to keep it, to raise it, train it, watch it grow, scare off the boys and girls hitting on them… yeah them, gods damn him he wanted a whole fucking litter of kids. With a last squeeze to her hand, he let go, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and stared ahead with the same impassive glare as her.
Tashigi was already waiting and so was Smoker, sitting a few meters behind Tashigi on a rock, smoking two of his cigars as usual. Fucking hell.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, ignoring Tashigi in front of him.
The marine grinned at him. "If you two lovebirds want a private meeting with my captain, I'm pretty fucking sure it's gonna be interesting. We also don't want her to be hanged for colluding with pirates, do we?"
Fuck, he was right… what they'd be asking of her was dangerous for her. Hadn't thought about that. He looked at Robin. She was uneasy, doubting their plan as much as he did right now.
"So, Roronoa, what's this urgent business you have with me?" Tashigi asked, posture stiff, obviously wary of his intentions. Rightfully so. Fuck, this was a lot harder than he'd imagined it to be. He looked around, saw the bunch of g-5 crowding the railing trying to get a grasp of what was happening, and he didn't have to look back to know that their own Nakama were no better.
"Can we uh… go a bit further away from our crews, maybe?" Robin asked next to him, and the insecurity in her voice did not only put him on edge but visibly raised the suspicion in their company.
Smoker got up and strutted further away from the two ships anchored on the coast. "Sounding more and more like collusion to me. Good thing I came along." He called back to them as they followed. Stopped behind one of the many slopes making up the coastal line of the island.
"So, out with it," the marine bellowed, and he was pretty sure he saw Tashigi flinch at the tone.
He looked at Tashigi, who was just as uneasy with the situation as them despite not yet knowing what the situation was. Robin's hands were knitted tightly together in front of her. Lacking eloquence be damned, he'd be the one having to do the talking. Fuck.
How on earth could he break this news? Ask her to put her own career on the line, her life?
He sighed. No nice way to put it. Not for him. Just out with it. "Robin is pregnant."
Mwahahaha, wouldn't you like to know? Just so you know, I'm totally fine with keeping you guys in limbo for the next two chapters, feel free to make a guess or voice a preference: Adoption, Abortion, or raising their demon spawn themselves?
Next week the strawhats have an appointment with their friendly neighborhood surgeon.