Hallo and welcome back!

I have to say, I've never enjoyed hate coming my way quite this much, it was a delight to read all your comments! I have to say though, this isn't really random. There were seeds planted for this, and, let's be honest, such an operation from the government should be random from the pirates' POV, shouldn't it? Is it really surprising that the higher ups would suspect Smoker and Tashigi to fraternise? They've worked with the pirates before…

That being said… I had hoped you people would be more into a bit of drama, but with an overwhelming amount of "Please let him live" responses… I guess my poll can go fuck itself? Everyone in favour of that notion say "Aye"

I'm really happy how some of you liked the dynamic between Zoro and Nami, it's always quite gratifying if you point out the things I like, too!

As always, huge thank you to Rexica for beta reading this mess

Last time Smoker and Tashigi took Zoro in for his execution, but granted him enough time to get his things in order. Now let's see how the remaining Strawhats deal with that soul crushing situation.

At first she'd thought she'd feel resentment for Smoker and Tashigi, hate them for taking her man away, for taking her child's father away. But when the young captain boarded Sunny with so much regret in her eyes, with such a demure pose, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Never would she have thought herself to be capable of such compassion, and she blamed it entirely on her crew's bad influence. This all wouldn't hurt so much if she were still the woman she'd been 3 years ago, however broken she had been... she hadn't felt this much back then.

Things were a far cry from the usual. Usually, seeing the G-5 would make their captain jump around in joy, would make Sanji swoon in anticipation, but everyone was quiet. Stared at the woman with passionless eyes. Wasn't it kind of ironic that she who was losing the most seemed the most comfortable?

Tashigi didn't seem bothered by the chilly welcome. She came straight for her anyway. Kneeling down in front of her to offer her the blade with snow white sheath.

"We had to take him with the swords to make it believable, but they are not ours to keep," she said without looking up.

If it wasn't for their child, he probably would have wanted her to have it, wouldn't he? She hadn't expected to just get his blades handed back, had assumed to have to work for it. This was welcome. One less thing to worry about.

She took the offered blade and asked Luffy to take the Kitetsu and Enma from the trembling G-5 soldiers, who balanced the two blades with the volatile energies in a bag between them, ever careful not to get too close. She knew Luffy was as immune to them as one could get.

"Thank you, Tashigi. I'm sure he appreciates getting them back without a fight. I imagine we'll get him back quite weakened."

She got up, an uncharacteristic grin on her face. "If we're lucky, Smoker-san convinced Sakazuki to keep him fed, since it wouldn't do much for the marine's prestige to hang the shadow of a man."

That did lift a weight from her shoulders. None of them would want to see him like after Thriller Bark ever again. And he himself the least of all. She put great trust in his strength, both physical and mental, but even she wasn't sure if he could come back from that again. He had been broken. Oh god, what were they doing to him? A high profile prisoner like him… No, he was strong. He wasn't her younger self. She had been just a child. She had been a girl. He was used to pain. And after Kuma, there was nothing they could do to him to… There were so many ways to break a human. So, so many. She knew. She had felt it, used it. They didn't have to use pain. They could break him into a million pieces without ever moving a finger against him. They-

"Robin." Her captain. Sweet, innocent boy with his boundless optimism.

"We'll get him back," he said, his voice carrying a finality that dared her to suggest differently. Had he been that convinced when they had come for her half a lifetime ago? They had gotten her back before they could actually get to her. The government wouldn't make the same mistake twice, started the torture as soon as Smoker had turned his back, no doubt.

The time with the Revolutionaries had taught her a thing or two about Sakazuki. Guy was as sick as they got, and if she got the chance, she'd rip off his arms and fucking stuff them down his throat.

A hand flew to her bulging belly. She couldn't. She'd have to stand back, sit this one out. Protect their child while their family went to rescue her man. It didn't sit well with her, but she knew it wouldn't sit well with him to see her on the battlefield, and after the magma bastard no less.

She took a deep breath. It couldn't be helped. They couldn't change the present, they'd just have to deal with it like with everything else. Leave it to luck. Her baby gave a happy kick at the notion. Hush, don't get all moronic like your father.

"Thank you Tashigi," she said with a smile that definitely betrayed all her worries. "We appreciate your help."

The woman nodded, but the optimism in her eyes dimmed.

"We got a location, but after consulting with Garp-san… it seems to be a trap. Everyone assumed to be close to your crew has been ordered to different coordinates. I'm sorry."

Another deep breath. Of course it was a trap. "Don't worry, we'll manage, we always do," she reassured, but it didn't do much for Tashigi. Didn't do much for herself either. How were they supposed to find out where to go? They didn't mind fighting their way through to him, risking their lives trying to save his… but he would never forgive them if they died in some backwater place not even marginally close. Haunt them in the afterlife.

Tashigi squared up. "If… if you're too late, if anything…" she stopped herself, visibly gulping down the tears, making her wonder just how close the marine was to Zoro. "We will make sure your child is safe. No matter what," she ended with fierce determination, and she couldn't help herself but hug the girl to her chest, breaking the moment. She felt small but strong hands against her back. She sobbed and cried and screamed, and she was sure she was a pitiful picture. She didn't care. The crew had been so emotional about the whole thing that she hadn't felt like she had the luxury to let go and now… now that a bit of the pressure had lifted, she gushed tears like pulling the knife from a wound.

"Horohorohorohoro, is this a bad time?"

Well well well, just who might that be? Just kidding, we all know who that is, but what is she doing here? …. Alright, I give up, please tell me what you think of this short chapter and drop a kudos if you haven't.

If you want a preview of the next chapter sometime this weekend follow me on Twitter ( nitwentyone), if you don't I still hope to see you next week at the execution site!