After their first night together, the weeks progressed in much of the same manner. They'd find islands, go and beat the crap out of someone they just met and would set sale again. Except one thing changed. Everyone noticed it. Especially Sanji, Zoro and Luffy. Usually, no matter how much Luffy ate, his stomach would flatten again within a couple hours. Lately though his stomach was growing rounder. Not at a worrying rate but it was still unusual. The others still didn't know about Zoro and Luffy's relationship and both were very reluctant to let them know. In the weeks that had passed the only time they ever had a chance to be alone were on the nights that Zoro stood watch from the crow's nest. It had become like a game to them; screwing without the crew members knowing. Of course Sanji was the only one who knew right from the start. That is because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

One day after breakfast, Sanji walked up to Luffy and sat down next to him. Quietly he muttered, "Oi, Luffy. What's wrong with your stomach? It's bigger." Shrugging, Luffy placed his hands on his stomach and stared at the roundness of it. "Does it hurt or anything? Maybe you've been eating too much lately." There was a sarcastic tone in his voice although he was quite serious.

"Nope. It feels completely normal. And I don't get sick." His bluntness made Sanji cringe. So if he wasn't sick and he felt normal, what could it possibly be? He thought silently for a minute and then like a typhoon it struck him.

"Masaka!" His eyes opened and his jaw dropped heavily. The lit cigarette that was in his mouth dropped to the deck. "Luffy!"

"N-nani?" Luffy nearly fell off the ship when Sanji thrust his hands onto his stomach. His eyes opened wider. The little round bump on his stomach was soft like fat. It was harder. Like there was a wall protecting something. There's no way. He doesn't have a uterus. And he doesn't have an ovaries. Or eggs..... If that's the case.... What the hell is in his stomach?!

Loudly, and forcefully Sanji screamed, "Zoro! Get your ass over here!"

Zoro, who'd of course been asleep against the mast, slowly got up yawning. "Urasai, shitty cook." At his own pace he ambled over to the two of them, rubbing sleep crust out of his eye as he went. "What is that's got you all huffed up, eh?"

"Feel!" Sanji grabbed Zoro's wrist and thrust his hand into Luffy's stomach, again nearly knocking him over. After a moment Zoro's eyes shot open in surprise. Against the palm of his hand he felt the lump, soft, yet hard, at the same time. It wasn't possible. Definitely not. Luffy just sat there, confused and naïve.

"What? What's going on? Huh?"

Sanji and Zoro looked at him and in unison replied, "Luffy, you're pregnant!"

"Wha-? Eh? WHAT?!" This response sent him tumbling backwards in surprise. "Joudan! I can't be! Ne? Ne?!" Now he sounded desperate. For as stupid as he was he understood that it wasn't possible for a man to carry a baby. And yet here were two of his mates telling him that he was.

Sanji was pacing back and forth along the deck, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. There was only one way to confirm it but that would mean letting someone else know. And that one person couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. But they had to! If at all possible they had to stop the baby from growing. Or whatever it was! Finally he made a decision. "Luffy, Zoro, we have to tell Chopper. He's the only one that'll know whether or not he really is."

"Ueh." Zoro backpedaled a little. Tell someone else? That was what he'd hoped to avoid. "No way, curly brows. No fucking way. Not doing it." He scowled.

Sanji stomped one foot onto the deck and got directly in Zoro's face. "Tell me marimo, if Luffy really is pregnant, WHAT THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH A FUCKING BABY?!" Steam came out of his nostrils as he huffed in anger.

"Eh...!?" Zoro shoved back, getting nose tip to nose tip with the cook. "How the hell am I supposed to know?" He screamed. "You trying to pick a fight with me or somethin'?"

Really pissed now Sanji took Zoro by the shoulders and began to shake him violently. "No you moron! I'm trying to save everyone the pain of having to take care of a child! Not one person on this ship is fit for it, let alone you two!" When he finally stopped circles swam in front of Zoro's eyes. Breathing slowly Sanji resumed calm. "Tonikaku, we need to let Chopper know. Today." Sanji stalked away to find the small reindeer.

Once the dizziness subsided, Zoro turned to Luffy and the lump on his stomach. There was no way possible that Luffy could carry their child. Or anyone's child for that matter. He was surprised to see that Luffy's hand still rested there. On his face a tiny smile occupied his lips. It was serene and yet... Sad. "Lu-"

"Hey, Zoro. If I really am... Well, you know, pregnant, I don't want to get rid of him or her. I want to have our baby." Zoro was caught of guard by the seriousness of Luffy's voice. He wasn't joking. It just like when they fought to save friends. It was the same kind of determination, except this time it was a softer determination. Luffy couldn't let a life go even if it meant trouble for everyone around him. That was just the way he was. Zoro set a hand on his shoulder and grinned.

"B-aka. If you want a kid you can have a kid. You're a bit young though. You're what, seventeen?" Luffy nodded, rubbing his stomach now. "Then again..." He muttered in sudden realization. "I'm only nineteen....." Groaning he grabbed his hair in frustration. "We're too damn young to have kids!"

"Nani o, Zoro?" A familiar voice came up behind him and a hand tapped his shoulder. "What do you mean kids? Were you sleeping again?"

Startled he flinched. "O-oh, Nami. Yeah. It was just a really weird dream that I for some reason had kids." Nami began laughing. The image of Zoro with kids was hilarious. Zoro wasn't fit for being a dad. He was too grouchy and slept too much. "Ah! Don't laugh!" Just then he noticed Luffy laughing to. "Oi! What are you laughing for?! You're the only who's giving b-!" He clamped his hands over his mouth just in time.

"Were you just about to say that Luffy was going to give birth? That's absurd! That's way too stupid. Even for you Zoro! Luffy you know men can't have babies, right?"

Luffy nodded. Why hadn't Zoro just told her? It's not like it was bad they were having a baby. At least he didn't think so. The late night sex wasn't bad but it felt horrible hiding secrets from his crew. Satisfied with that answer, Nami walked away still giggling. Once she was out of earshot Luffy asked Zoro, "How come you won't tell them? Is it that embarrassing that we're together?"

Zoro didn't know how to respond. How to explain something like that to someone who just didn't get the social rules of society? Carefully he replied, choosing his words as well as he could, "It's not so much embarrassing Luffy as morally wrong. We're two men who like, love, each other a whole lot. Not everyone is as open minded as Sanji. If one of the crew found out and they didn't agree with this lifestyle they might leave this ship. They'd leave this crew. And we all know that everyone of us is needed on this ship whether or not we like it."

Luffy slid from the Merry's head and onto the deck so he stood next to Zoro. Getting right into his face, close enough that Zoro could feel his breath he murmured quietly, but fiercely, "I don't care that society doesn't like it. Why should you care? You don't care that the government whom you once worked for as a pirate hunter is now after you for being a pirate. You didn't care that society didn't like your pirate ways. Why would you of all people care what other people think about who you like?"

"I was given the name pirate hunter. I never called myself that. And I don't really care but... Come on! It's Nami. Do you want her always teasing you? Seriously that bitch has a tinge of evil in her." Zoro argued, scowling. He pushed Luffy gently away from him. "And we'll tell them when you have him or her. If you are... Pregnant." At that moment, Sanji reappeared again with Chopper close at his heals. Chopper's eyes were wide in disbelief. Never before had he dealt with a male pregnancy, let alone heard of one. He wondered slightly if they worked the same way as a female pregnancy. Briefly. He, as a doctor, knew it was physically impossible for a boy to have a baby. Yet in the current situation it fit well. Luffy's stomach was round and hard.
"C-can I touch it?" He asked hesitantly, jumping to hide behind Sanji's legs.

"Of course baka! You're a doctor aren't you?" Sanji looked down at him with one eyebrow raised.

"D-d-doctor? Where?"

Zoro snatched him by the scruff of the neck and growled in his face, "YOU Chopper. You're the doctor."

"Eh? Eh? EH?!" Chopper looked from one face to another suspiciously. Then slowly he smiled. "You don't mean that! Shut up! I'm not happy that you called me a doctor at all!" He was so happy you could nearly see the sparkles that surrounded his eyes.

"Urasai na, baka reindeer!" Sanji and Zoro cried at the same time.

He gulped as he landed back on the deck. No use in angering the men. Slowly he approached Luffy. When he was close enough he placed one of his hoofs on the round lump. Every few seconds he'd move his hand to another spot. Luffy couldn't stop giggling. Apparently he was kind of ticklish. Sanji smoked nervously near-by. Zoro snored, fast asleep, against the figurehead's spine.

"Luffy, have you felt any different lately? Any change in your eating habits or trouble sleeping at night?" Chopper asked as he continued to examine the young man's body.

"Uhmmmmm....." Luffy paused to think. "Nope." He smiled his natural goofy smile, making Sanji want to kick him harder in that moment than he had ever wanted to kick anyone. Wasn't the idiot worried? Soon the others would start asking questions and how was he supposed to respond? Luffy's digestive system died?

Finally Chopper announced, "Finished!"

Zoro snapped awake and Sanji raced to sit next to him, getting in his face.

Chopper stuttered, "Luffy wa.... Luffy wa tasan!" His eyes welled with tears as he delivered the news. Now what had his idiotic crew gotten him messed up in? Sanji groaned, already having been prepared for the worse. Zoro's face was hard and emotionless although inside him boiled like a cauldron ready to explode.

"Is there anyway to get rid of the fetus without leaving a scar?" Sanji demanded, gripping the thin shoulders of their doctor. Sadly Chopper shook his head.

Not that it mattered. Everyone looked up as Luffy declared, "I want this baby."

"Luffy!" Sanji pleaded, "You can't be serious! We don't have the means to take care of a baby. You're not supposed to be able to get pregnant in the first place!"

"Iya. I want it Sanji. I don't care."

"Don't be so stubborn! Kite o! If only this once listen to us! That baby is going to die if you give birth to it! And if it doesn't die at birth it's going to die while we're at sea! Can't you understand Luffy?"

"Sanji!" Luffy screamed suddenly. "If there is one thing in this world I'm positive about I'm positive about this. This baby already means the world to me. It's our baby. Our kid. Who's to say that it will ever happen again? I'm not taking chances." With that Luffy turned away, angry and ecstatic all at once. Their baby. Their very own little boy or girl.

Defeated and angry Sanji slouched away to the kitchen where he would prepare whatever meal that needed making. Chopper followed after him, still bewildered by the pregnancy but also very determined. No matter what he had to keep Luffy's secret, even if it killed him. He also what he meant when he said 'their'. Was there someone who got him pregnant? Zoro, of course, stayed behind. There was something he desperately wanted to say to Luffy but in that moment he could bring himself to say it. It could wait until the next day or the day after. Or the next week or the next month for all he cared. Deep inside the pit of his soul Zoro wanted that damn baby too, no matter how uncharacteristic it was of him.

Later that evening, when everyone was either asleep or doing something distracting, Luffy went up next to Zoro and leaned over the railing of Merry. Zoro looked up with an eyebrow raised. "Na, Zoro."

"Mm?"

Luffy laughed softly into his hand. "I'm being too selfish again aren't I?"

Unconsciously Zoro wrapped his arm around Luffy's waist and pulled him closer. "Yeah. You are. But you wouldn't be you if you didn't absolutely get what you wanted would you?" He put his head again Zoro's shoulder and sighed. The sunset was beautiful that evening and the two of them were thankful they had someone to share it with.

"You do want him or her right?" The question came out of no where and once again caught Zoro off guard. It was a miracle to think Luffy too thought of things like that.

Stammering he replied, "Of course. Even if it is fucking weird and out of the ordinary." Luffy laughed long and hard at the reply. Things felt normal between them (save the hugging part... and the baby part). If things could stay this way forever they knew that their lives would be perfect.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cool air brushed against his neck as Zoro kissed him. A hand roamed near his slowly growing arousal and he could hardly take it. Their breath was ragged, even though they'd barely started. When Zoro's lips reached his ear he nibbled in it and whispered, "Is this good for the life that is supposedly growing inside you?"

Luffy's grip reached further down to grasp the firm ass as he replied softly, "It can't possibly be bad. I've heard having sex can actually improve the baby's growth." Zoro nibbled further down his neck.

"A person like you should use a word like that... Sex. It's just weird." He growled when he felt Luffy pinch him. "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that, haho?!"

"'Til I get it."

Even though Luffy couldn't see it Zoro rolled his eyes. His lover never ceased to amaze him. The night wore on. The sound of lovemaking could be heard for miles around but the comrades that slept below them heard nothing. The next morning Sanji woke up to find the two curled together in the crow's nest. Laughing to himself he covered them and then immediately set to making breakfast. From that day on he would feed Luffy only the amount of meat he needed to keep his body operating. Other than that he would eat as many vegetables, and as many fruits, as allowed. At some point he would ask Nami to borrow a few of her tangerines to keep his calcium level up but for the time being he was fine. Whistling quietly he set to work, ready for another beautiful day.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Months flew by in a blur. Before he knew it, Luffy's belly constantly looked as though he was using gomu gomu no fusen. The others, Usopp, Nami, and Robin, assumed it was just because he was eating so much but the others knew the truth. It's been nearly impossible to avoid fatal fights. As soon as things got too dangerous Chopper or Sanji pulled Luffy out of the fight and tied his to the mast. There was no way, after the fight he put up, was he going to kill his kid. One day Luffy suddenly doubled in pain at the breakfast table. Six other heads turned to look at him. Jokingly he told them, "It's nothing! I'm just hungry, really!" The three others that knew put on a passive face, hoping that the others would take it like they were mocking their stupid captain. "I'll be right back so go ahead and eat."

"Luffy, you've been acting strange lightly. Are you feeling alright?" Nami asked worriedly, sticking a hand out to touch Luffy's forehead. He jerked back sharply. "Nani? Jeez Luffy! You're acting weird! Stop it right now."

"Nami, heki!" He lied, standing. "I just need some fresh air. Chopper, could I borrow you for a minute? Maybe Nami's right, but I don't want to get examined in front of everyone while they eat." Chopper nodded, pushing his plate away. He lumbered out the door, fully prepared for what was to come next. "Oi, Sanji, save some food for me." Luffy demanded. "And a lot of it!" Sanji nodded and nodded again when he whispered into his ear.

After the two had left the room Zoro couldn't sit still. His foot tapped on the ground and he felt anxious. When he couldn't take it anymore, he stood and stormed out of the kitchen without a word.

"Moh, what's wrong with those two Sanji-kun?" Nami grumbled, staring at the door. "Luffy suddenly get's fat and now that he's sick Zoro can't sit still!"

Sanji shrugged nonchalantly. "Dunno. Stupid marimo is probably just worried about training."

Under her breath Nami murmured, "Usotsuki. I'll find out sooner or later." Below the deck of the ship Luffy laid back sweating like mad. Chopper held a scalpel above his stomach and Zoro sat near-by, his foot tapping so fast it was blurry. What if it died? After all this what if their kid died? Maybe this was how every parent felt when his kid was first born.

Placing a wet cloth on his head, over his eyes, Chopper asked, "Luffy, are you ready?"

"Ready as," a contraction, "I'll ever be." His entire body contracted again. Colors swam behind his closed eyes. Dying. He was dying. If the baby wasn't out of him soon he was going to die. Luffy let out an ear piercing scream as the surgical knife cut through his rubbery skin. That was probably the only reason the baby survived. His skin was made of rubber so he easily expanded.

"Just hold on Luffy!" Chopper cried, his hand steady but his heart shaking. Slowly he made the incision, making it just large enough to remove the infant inside. "Oi! Zoro! Get a blanket. Hayaku!" Chopper ordered, removing the small human. Its skin was pale pink and it was covered in blood. Right now Chopper was more worried about Luffy but the baby's appearance bothered him. Swiftly he cut the umbilical cord and wrapped the small thing in the blanket the moss-haired man handed him. Roughly he shoved the bundle into Zoro's arms as he turned back to Luffy. His body heaved with the effort to keep him alive. If he didn't act soon the captain would bleed out. With expert fingers Chopper began to stitch him up. When the stitches were done he wrapped Luffy tightly in bandages. His entire body shuddered and sweated.

An eternity later his eyes opened as bright as they had always been. "Sensei, is it a boy or girl?" Relieve Chopper let out a whoop of joy. It had been a success. Next time he wrote to Doctorine he would have to remember to include this miracle. "Chopper!" Luffy ordered impatiently.

"Luffy," came a voice from the corner, "it's a boy. It's a great, wonderful, baby boy." Luffy's eyes searched the dark cabin and found Zoro in the corner holding something in his arms. Slowly he sat up.

"Let me see him, Zoro." With immense care Zoro brought the baby to him and placed the small joy in his arms. For the first time in months Zoro saw a genuine Luffy smile.

"What are you gonna name him?" Everyone looked up to see Sanji standing in the doorway, cigarette in hand.

"Ahoka! Don't smoke in here!" Chopper screamed, swiping the cigarette from Sanji's grasp. Irritated he was half tempted to light another one but decided against it. It was too early to ruin the child's lungs.

"Akira." Luffy mumbled, staring into Akira's face. "Akira D. Roronoa Luffy."

Someone climbed, three someones, climbed down the ladder to the bedroom but the boy on the floor didn't notice. He was preoccupied by the little fingers that stuck out from the blanket. "A-aah. You left us out again, mina. Hidoi na!" Luffy's head did snap up though when he heard the voice. Nami stood with her hands on her hips, staring at him. "Akira huh? What a nice name. Does he have god parents? How come you didn't say something sooner? We were bound to find out sooner or later." She paused a second and then smiled. "Huh. Wait. You did. Eight months ago when he was still just a little lump."

Zoro began to blend into the background but was pushed into the light by some of Robin's pesky hands. "Aren't you proud, swordsman-kun?" She teased, laughing as he face flooded with color. He didn't reply.

Luffy scooted to sit in a proper upright position but clenched his stomach. "Haha. Guess I probably shouldn't move too much yet. Yeah. I've decided on God Parents. If Zoro approves of course."

"Do what you want." He muttered.

Luffy hit him hard in the back of the legs, sending him stumbling forward. "Anyway, I was originally going to ask Shanks to be the God Father but then I realized that he's A: older than me and B: will probably die long before I will. So then I went back through all the people I've met along my travels that could possibly be suited for fatherhood. Ironically enough there was only one in the entire world I could think of and he's on this ship. Sanji, would you be Akira's God Father? Can you promise me that if I die you'll take care of him like he was your own?" Sanji nodded gruffly, his jaw on the floor. Never had he expected to be asked to be a God Father. The gesture was almost humbling. "And as for a God Mother, my thoughts never left the ship. Just like with Shanks I thought of the older girl first which in this case is you Robin but then I told myself that you were almost thirty. You're still young, but having a child at thirty would make you ancient by the time I die so I thought younger." Luffy fixed his eyes on Nami. "Nami, no matter how much I annoy you, would you take the job of being God Mother?"

Tears swam in Nami's eyes. She couldn't have been happier. "Yes Luffy! You dumbass! You could be the head of the marines and I'd still take your baby if you asked me to be God Mother!" Luffy grinned even wider. That settled things. Now Akira was set for the world with two (violent) parents and two (violent) god parents, who were going to love the kid as much as they could.

"Oi, Luffy," Sanji began, tapping his foot. He needed a cigarette. "How come you didn't think of asking Ace?"

Luffy's grin dampened a bit. Just a bit but it made Sanji regret asking. "Well because I don't know where he is half the time. Seeing him in Arabasta was just luck."
"Oh." He replied softly.

The room grew silent. When Chopper, who at some point had disappeared, returned he shooed everyone out of the cabin besides Luffy and Zoro. "I'd like to give Akira a check-up. I'm a little worried because he wasn't crying when he came. Most babies are noisy. And he was so pink." His voice grew hesitant and worried.

A shocked look spread across Luffy's face. He'd never even considered something might have gone wrong. Reluctantly he handed Akira to Chopper. Chopper took him and unraveled the blanket. With a stethoscope he started the examination. Luffy sat near-by, jumping with anxiety. He was antsy. What if something really was wrong? What if Sanji was right and the baby had died during birth? The thoughts bothered him (as they were on a very serious matter). Zoro too stood by, his thick arms crossed over his chest. Half an hour or so later Chopper turned to them with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face. "He's healthy! Completely and totally healthy!" Without realizing it Luffy had been holding his breath. Slowly he exhaled in relief. Zoro let out a silent sigh of relief. Things were going to get so much different now with a baby on the ship.

"He's gonna be hungry soon so you should probably ask Sanji for something he can drink." Chopper said as he packed his stuff away. "But you know you two... I hope he won't have as bad of a sense of direction as you. Especially not Zoro. Luffy can at least follow someone!" Zoro hit him in the head. "Well it's true." Chopper huffed, climbing up the ladder.

Once he was gone Zoro sunk down next to Luffy and put an arm around his shoulder, pulling him closer. Luffy laid his head against his shoulder, giggling. "What a day."

"Yup. That's the truth for sure."

Day slowly turned to night and by the end of it Luffy was absolutely exhausted. Babies sure were hard work. Although he didn't cry, Akira was all for attention. They couldn't leave him alone for more than thirty seconds it seemed. Every two hours the kid was hungry again. It was absolutely ridiculous. Sanji got tired of it and in the end put stuff in the fridge that could be heated instantly. It was so easy even Luffy could manage. During that time, Usopp set to work making a crib type thing. Akira was still too small to sleep by himself, maybe, but when he got bigger he could sleep there. From below you could hear the pounding of a hammer, and an occasional swear word. When he'd finished, he'd managed to attach a not so shabby crib to the wall. It was directly on the floor so they didn't have to worry about the legs snapping, and the side bars were close together so that the little tyke couldn't get any body part stuck (like his father so often did).

As the day passed, the baby was passed from one pair of arms to another. For the most part Nami held him, staring into his face with eyes that just screamed I'm a mother! She was fit for it. Robin, and her many arms, held the baby. Mostly her extra arms held him and rocked him while he read but essentially she held him. Sanji was lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to be the only who held him while he was feeding. The poor guy was a mess afterward! Zoro and Luffy rarely held him. Luffy mostly sat on the figurehead, and no one trusted him enough to hold Akira while he was in such a dangerous place. Zoro slept up in the crow's nest, oblivious to the world.

Finally the day concluded, with everyone having more than their share of excitement. Tomorrow would be a new day with a new nakama! That night Luffy slept on the couch where Chopper usually did while holding his bundle of joy close to his heart.