L.

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Life sucks then you get Married

Chapter 2 Alcohol and Hotels

I sat in Zoro's car while everyone pilled out and waited for the reception to begin. The weather was cool. Not hot but cool enough. I rode with Luffy and Zoro again. Like hell I was going to ride with my dad after all that awkwardness.

They held the reception at an expensive hotel; completely renting out the entire thing.

When I say entire I mean entire.

No other guests stayed there save for the wedding guests, party staff, and hotel staff.

Oh yeah, everyone here also gets to crash at this hotel for the weekend.

Now that's money for you.

Makes magic happen.

Not that I'm complaining; I love money. Did I forget to mention that?

I glanced around to see almost everyone mulling around the hotel parking lot; drinking, laughing and in general having fun.

After the wedding everyone was invited to the reception. Like we already didn't know.

I spotted my dad, Sanji, Sanji's father, some friends and family.

So it turns out that I'm engaged to this guy named Sanji.

Remember the blonde haired guy?

The one that kissed my hand?

Yeah. Him.

You can thank my father for that one.

It's an arranged marriage but Sanji seems more than a little eager to be wed.

"Hey Nami you okay?" I looked up to see Luffy standing over me, blocking out the heat of the sun and holding a bottle of Brandy in his hand.

"Mmmm…" I was confused, annoyed and little hungry.

"Hey…" He kneeled down in front of me and patted my knee. "Tell me what's wrong Nami…"

I wasn't in the mood to socialize but with Luffy kneeling there in front of me, his big eyes probing and worried; well I just couldn't help but smile a bit.

He made things just seem a little brighter.

"Luffy, can I tell you something?" I looked over his head to see Sanji and my father talking in front of the hotel under the shade of some trees.

"Of course."

I looked back down at Luffy and fiddled with his hands resting in my lap, the bottle of Brandy now sitting on the roof of Zoro's car. "So you see that blonde guy over there?" I jutted my chin in his direction.

He turned around to glance at him then looked back at me. "What about him?"

"I'm engaged to him."

Luffy got this look on his face, a weird one. Kind of like he was pissed but trying not to show it.

"Luffy?"

"Engaged?" He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.

His hands were shaking too.

"Yeah…" I stood up and grabbed his hand. "Luffy?" He was starting to worry me.

Ever since the business dinner incident happened I had a little talk with him about not beating up anyone no matter how pissed you were at them he's been trying to control himself. Like really trying.

"Nami why the hell are you engaged to that bastard?" He adverted his eyes from the blonde and stared down at me. "I don't even know the-"

"Nami!" I glanced to the side to see my dad looking at me.

Time to go.

I looked up at Luffy and placed one hand on the side of his cheek.

Poor guy. "Luffy, it's an arranged marriage." I let my hand fall to his chest and played with the lapel. "Let's go-it's starting."

He sighed and closed his eyes and I pushed him back and closed the car door.

I didn't want Zoro blaming me for someone stealing his ride.

"Let's go." He gave me a half smile and took Zoro's keys from my hand and put it in his jacket pocket then wrapped his arm around my waist and grabbed the bottle off the roof.

I knew what he was trying to do.

I'm not stupid.

We walked past Sanji and my dad on the way in; and earned a very disapproving glare from my dad.

I love Luffy.

He's so protective it's sweet.

We entered the hotel through the front entrance and were immediately greeted with wedding decorations and hotel staff. The place, I have to admit, looked amazing. The staff did a fantastic job. Everywhere you looked was decorated with white balloons, favors, flowers, even candles.

Burning candles I might add.

And I think they were scented as well.

"Right this way please." A young woman about my age or a little older smiled and motioned for us to follow. She had short blue hair and wore glasses.

She led us though one of the many halls and up to one of the grand rooms situated towards the rear of the hotel.

"Nami, come with me." My dad rested his arm on my shoulder and glared over my head at Luffy who still had his arm around me.

Oh boy. Troubles brewing.

"Our table is with Zeff's and his son. Sorry Luffy."

Knew it.

Poor Luffy and Zoro.

Wonder if I can get out of it.

"Actually Zoro and I will be joining you guys." He grinned at my dad and tightened his grip on me.

"Oh? And how do you know that?" Dad was getting angrier by the second.

I felt like a diamond ring sitting on the most expensive display case in Sephora; with two annoyed and desperate customers fighting to buy me.

What with my dad on one side practically digging out my shoulder and Luffy on the other dislocating my hips and all.

Why was I cursed with such beauty?

"Cause I made sure Usopp sat us together." Luffy grinned and yanked me towards him as he grabbed our table cards and opened the door.

"Okay okay this is getting old." I pulled myself out of their grips and stepped forward into the open doorway. "You two stay and argue and debate over this stupid topic and I'll go in and find our table. Kay?" I frowned and walked in.

Seriously. They can act like little kids.

Well I expect it from Luffy but my Father? Now that was just weird.

Which meant he was serious about the engagement.

Which means he has something even more troublesome installed.

I looked around the room, I should really be saying inside garden but whatever.

It was decorated in white.

Blinding white.

The walls were white and covered in falling flowers, there was a crystal white fountain in the center with white roses decorating it and the tables were scattered about the large room. They, of course being white. Along the flooring forming little pathways were white rose petals.

I told you Kaya was weird.

I made my way along one of the paths, noting that some of the guests had already found their tables and were already drinking the fine wine supplied on the tables. Our table was in the front, nearest the bridal table; which was long and again, white.

I quickly glanced at the table to see Sanji and Zeff had already located it and brought drinks as well as a few more snacks.

Okay time to find someone before-

"Nami!" Please be Zoro please be Zoro. "That is you right? How are you? It's been awhile." Oh shit I know that voice very well.

"Ace!" I turned to see a tall, lean, well built man with semi-short black hair hidden under an orange cow-boy hat standing there with a huge grin on his face. He wore a simple, black suite with a white button down half way open showing off his toned muscles.

"The one and only." He grinned and strode up to me. "Come on give me a hug. It's been years." He laughed and picked me up in a warm embrace.

His name was Portgas D. Ace.

Luffy's adopted older brother.

He's a really amazing guy and gave Luffy the straw hat he always wears.

Which is why he never takes it off.

"So I didn't think you'd be here." I smiled as he held out his arm for me to take. Which I did.

"I'm the photographer here." I felt his grin as he led me though the double doors that led to a balcony outside. "Luffy recommended me to Usopp and I was offered the job."

"Ahh..Makes sense. He misses you you know." I breathed in the calming, flower scent as I leaned against the balcony.

Beside me Ace chuckled. A deep, hearty chuckle.

The kind that brings a smile to your face no matter what.

"I miss that guy…is he here? How's he been? You two hook up yet? Does he still have the straw hat?" His questions threw me for a loop as he leaned beside me, lacing his fingers and looking out over the huge garden adorned with roses and lights waiting to be lit.

"He's here, been good, hook up? Ah no. And yeah, wears it every day." I smiled thoughtfully.

A calm, cool silence settled over us.

It's always been that way with us; we never really had to talk to be around each other. Never felt that need to fill all the silences. Which was something I had always liked about him.

"Hey, there you are." A deep, male's voice spoke from behind.

"Why Zoro is that you?" Ace laughed and shook his hand as I looked over my shoulder at the two.

"Ace? Well what do you know…this is the last place I'd expect to run into you." Zoro grinned and nodded at me. "Well the guests are starting to find their seats so I think you should too." He cocked his head at the open door and indeed, people were locating their seats and sitting down.

I sighed.

That meant that I had to be with dad and Sanji.

Well at least Luffy and Zoro will be there.

I turned to see Ace holding out his arm once again for me to take. Such a gentleman he is.

Well at least with girls he knows and likes.

"Hey, where's your seat?" I whispered as we followed behind Zoro.

Ace leaned down to my ear as we neared the table and be pulled out my chair. "Close to yours." He whispered in my ear and helped me sit down and removed the coat that I completely forgot I was wearing.

"Well there you are Nami." I glanced to my left to see my Father scowling at me.

"Mhmm…" Though honestly my attention was trained on Ace who walked to the table opposite ours and took a seat behind Luffy.

"You should be more co-" I tuned him out in favor of watching the show right in front of me.

Luffy wasn't the most observant guy in the room. Nor the smartest.

Ace casually sat behind his brother and with an evil grin, snatched the straw hat off his head.

Which Luffy immediately reacted to of course; jumping up and tacking Ace.

That didn't cause a scene at all.

"Nami! Listen to me as I'm speaking!" My father chided me and growled in the back of his throat.

"Sorry Daddy…" I trailed off; my eyes trained on Luffy as Zoro casually picked him off of Ace and shoved him back into his seat, reprimanding him about his behavior.

"Nami." He warned.

I sighed and tore my attention away from Luffy and Ace and they laughed and hugged one another then exchanged the usual how have you been bit. "Yes Father?" I droned out and looked up at him.

"Nami once again this is Sanji." He motioned to the guy seated beside me.

In all honestly I didn't even realize who I was sitting next to.

I looked up at him to see him gazing down at me, a smile on his lips as he silently handed me one of the white roses.

"That is his Father, and-" Once again my Fathers voice fell on deaf ears as I gazed into Sanji's eyes. It was the first time I was actually paying attention to him. He was staring at me with such intensity my face started to heat up and my fingers began playing with the rose petals. There was something gravitating about him and it was really starting to bother me.

"Nami-San…" His deep voice spoke my name and my senses automatically tuned into his voice. My name rolled off his lips with such ease it was as though he was talking about diamonds.

"Yes?" I managed to breath out softly, still fiddling with the rose.

"You are a-"

"Ouch!" I pouted and immediately looked down at my finger to see red tricking out of the small wound.

"Nami-San!" Sanji quickly yet gently grabbed my hand and inspected the small wound. "My apologies My Love, you hurt yourself because of the flower I gave you." He stated simply then licked the offending wound.

"A-Sa-" I stuttered.

It was too fucking weird.

"Nami!" My head shot up to see Luffy and Ace staring at Sanji as he grabbed a napkin and dabbed my finger.

"My Love?" Ace repeated, analyzing the man who was now re-inspecting my finger.

Beside me my Father cleared his throat and smiled.

A big, creepy, full out smile.

"Since this incident happened." He motioned at Sanji and me. "I might as well make the announcement."

Okay diamond, no one's analyzing your worth yet-not if I have anything to say about it.

"Daddy!" I pouted at him. "Now's really not the best time for that!"

Thank whatever God was on my side because just then one of the hosts came on the mike to begin the grand entrance of the bride and groom.

Well this night will certainly be interesting.

Life sucks then you get Married Life sucks then you get Married

So after many hours, many drinks, many dances, and several suitor proposals I was tired, a bit drunk, hungry and in desperate need of some coffee.

About seven shots into the night my dad was up and about bragging about me and my arranged marriage.

Needless to say soon as the word got out several of the other company sons started to offer themselves suitors.

See my dad is a business tycoon. Always on the lookout for a new venue then taking it over; making deals and signing contracts as he goes. It's also a well known fact that anyone who goes into business with him almost never fails.

Meaning that he has a lot of business partners and those partners tend to have sons that are more than willing to step up and take this diamond off the market.

But as it seems my dad made this little deal under the radar.

And now that the diamond is sitting pretty on the pedestal, everyone wants it to be up for grabs.

"Nami-San are you alright?" I looked up from my seat to see Sanji kneeling in front of me.

"Pfftt I'm fine…" I squinted at him. "Why's there two of you…? You have a twin?" I patted the side of his cheek then giggled. "No no…just you…and I told you not to…call me that." Was it just me or was the room starting to spin?

Through bleary eyes I saw Sanji stand up and remove his jacket and drape it over my shoulders. "Okay enough drinking for you My Love." He whispered and pried the glass out of my hand.

"Huh?" I looked behind him to see Zoro coming. "Hi you!" I grinned sloppily at my friend and waved.

"You're drunk." He stated simply and kneeled in front of me.

"Hi." I grinned and patted his head.

"You're really drunk." He sighed and shook his head. "And I'm a bit wasted too…" His eyes looked up above me. "Take upstairs to her room." He ordered then looked back at me and grabbed my hands. "Nami. Listen to me."

I nodded.

"Sanji will take you to your room. Do not fight him. He is your…your fiancée."

I nodded and kept on nodding.

I was a shitty drunk.

That's what happens when your dad has all the liquor you could desire.

"Okay Nami-Swan." Sanji came around to the front and grabbed my arm the second Zoro stood up.

"I'm not a swan…am I?" I looked down at my lap.

"Can you stand?" He pulled me up.

"Yeah!"

I fell.

He wrapped his arms around me to stop me from crashing to the ground.

"Yeah! See!" I grinned up at him as he adjusted me to pick me up.

"I'M A PIRATE!" I looked around and saw Luffy standing on a chair waving what appeared to be a stick around.

"See you later." Zoro kissed my forehead as Sanji looped his arms under my legs and held me close to his chest.

"I wanna be a pirate too!" I whined to him as Sanji began walking away, through the open doors.

Okay, I admit it.

When I drink I act like a whinny little brat.

"You are My Love you are." Sanji whispered and walked down the hall to the elevator.

"I am?" I stared wide eyed up at his face.

"Yup."

I nodded slowly.

I was a pirate and I didn't even know it!

"Where we going?" I asked as he stepped into the elevator and clicked a button that looked like the number seventeen.

"To bed."

"Why?"

"Because that's what pirates do when they're tired."

"I'm not tired." But even as I spoke m y eyes began to droop down.

"I know you're not." His voice echoed in my head and my mind went blank.

Before I drifted off, I swore I saw my dad and Zeff looking at us and smiling around the coroner of the elevator.

But hell, it could have just been the alcohol.

Life sucks then you get Married Life sucks then you get Married

L.

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