Treasure Hunters

Author Notes: Due to my current struggles to get through this story, chapters will be on an every-other-week update schedule. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I have a lot of projects on my plate.

Disclaimer: I still own nothing!

Chapter 17: Struggling to Breathe

Suggested Track: "Weak and Powerless," A Perfect Circle

On the night of Luffy and Zoro's return, the crew decided to drop anchor so everyone could get a good night's sleep. They thought everyone needed the rest, and Chopper was sure that examining the entire little family could wait until morning. They were looking forward to a good night's sleep, but the Fates had something else in mind.

They were awoken shortly before midnight by cries and screams, and it did not begin in the men's room, where Torao slept in Gilly's old crib. It instead began in the women's cabin, and it was not the screams that awoke them. Robin was the first to wake, and it was Sanji's hand on her shoulder that was the culprit.

"Sanji- what?" Robin blinked curiously from her sleep. Sanji didn't say anything but pressed a finger to his lips. Robin then heard it- uncomfortable gasping from Nami's bed. She looked, and saw Nami sitting up, one hand on her middle and moaning softly. Sanji shook his head, and Robin saw the terror on his face. She nodded, got out of bed, and went to Nami's side.

"Nami-swan, let's go downstairs," Sanji said quietly as he helped her to her feet. Robin caught her other arm and helped to keep her upright. Nami cried out in greater pain at being upright, but Sanji kept one hand on the small of her back and the other on her shoulder to support her. "It's okay. Chopper's going to help."

"How long have you been in pain?" Robin asked in a muted voice.

"Since before dinner… I thought it was nothing… it's just getting worse really fast!" Nami chewed her lower lip. "It's… It's too soon, Robin. It's way too soon!" Her voice rose, and Sanji hushed her.

"Please, stay calm, we just need to get you to Chopper so he can help the baby." Robin and Sanji supported her out the door, and Brook, on his watch, heard her cry out. Sanji rushed her over to the infirmary through the kitchen, where Zoro had been heating a bottle for Torao, and Robin went to get Chopper. By the time he got her there and Chopper had joined her, her cries had woken the rest of the crew except for Gilea and Torao. Zoro watched Luffy stroll into the galley with Torao, who had finally woken with soft hunger cries, and Usopp and Franky joined them. Robin, Sanji, Nami, and Chopper were gone into the infirmary, and the others listened as Nami cried out again. Luffy pouted slightly as he listened.

"She does not sound happy."

"It sounds familiar to me," Zoro muttered.

"It seems a little early," Franky remarked.

"Let's just wait for news. I'm sure Chopper or Robin will let us know when he's gotten her to stop," Usopp said calmly. The men nodded in agreement, and they sat and waited quietly, the only sounds they could hear being that of a suckling Torao and a sobbing, whimpering Nami on the other side of the door.

After twenty minutes, Robin emerged and quickly shut the door behind her. "What's the news, Robin?" Zoro asked. Franky was taking his turn with Torao and patting his back very, very softly as he was lulled back into contentment with a full tummy.

"It's not good," Robin said after a moment. She looked at her feet. "She's definitely short of due by at least five weeks, but she's already dilating. Her water's broken. There's no turning back. If she doesn't deliver, the baby will be subject to infection."

"Damn," Zoro sighed. "What a pain."

"What are you talking about, what a pain?" Franky hissed. "It's Nami who's in pain!"

"It's just a pain that we're not at all prepared for this!" Zoro snapped back. "We don't have enough diapers, or an extra crib, or anything!" He looked away. "And besides that, I feel like a jerk because we didn't do anything for her."

"Toto only needs one diaper at a time. We'll just have to wash them more," Luffy replied simply. "And Toto will be very happy to share his bed with his new little cousin. Isn't that right, Toto?" Luffy grinned at the little baby, and Franky looked down at Torao in his arms.

"He's pretty small. You could get like four babies in his crib," Franky murmured thoughtfully. "But I think it might not be safe for the new baby, who's sure to be a little smaller. There's some apple wood for the fireplace in my storeroom… You know, if I go get to work now, I could have a perfect new crib ready by sunup." He got to his feet and handed Torao to Usopp. "I'm going to get started with my lathe and band saw."

"I'll cover your watch, and you can take anything you need from my workroom," Usopp offered. "And if you need me to help, I will!" Franky gave him a thumbs-up, and rushed to get to work. Robin smiled, as Luffy scratched his head.

"What can we do for the baby?" Luffy wondered aloud.

"I'll get her some ice," Robin said softly. "If we need anything, we'll ask. I'm going to get back to Nami. Sanji's not handling this very well, so she needs someone to support her."

"Eh? Sanji's not okay?" Luffy followed Robin curiously to peer in on the scene. He couldn't see Nami or Chopper, but Sanji was sitting on the floor in his pajamas, his eyes wide, chewing his thumb. Robin closed the door on Luffy's nose, and he went back to sit by Zoro with a slight pout. "Sanji seems unhappy. He should be happy. This is a happy thing!" Luffy grinned. "There's gonna be a baby soon!"

"Luffy…" Zoro started, but realized it was fruitless to try and explain, and simply sighed. "Well, at least you're optimistic."

Robin came out several times for ice and water, and Brook soon came in to switch out watch. Usopp went to take Franky's turn, and Brook sat by the door to listen to what was happening inside the infirmary. Robin knocked him over several times on her way in and out. The minutes passed quietly, with Torao fast asleep on either Zoro or Luffy's lap. At about one-thirty in the morning, Robin emerged with somber eyes.

"I've been asked not to return," she said quietly. "Nami said that Sanji needs to, quote-unquote, 'man up' and support her better. I'm going to go see if I can help Franky at all." She left. A few minutes later, she returned with some large sheets of canvas. "Zoro, go to the girls' cabin and find my sewing box. I'm going to make a temporary mattress for the new crib."

"Good idea." Zoro looked over at the others. "Brook, I've got another one. Go to the crow's nest, grab the biggest sack-cloth training dummy we have. We'll un-stuff it and use it to help fill the mattress out." Brook, understanding, nodded and went to get the dummy.

"Hmm, is there anything I can do to help?" Luffy whined.

"Hold Torao. He's going to need feeding again in an hour or so, and if he gets wet, he's going to need you to take care of it." Zoro kissed Luffy's cheek appreciatively, and rushed to get Robin's needles and thread. Luffy watched curiously as Robin's many fleur began to work at cutting shapes and organizing them into piles. With so many extra hands, it was a quick job, and finished by the time Zoro returned. He and Luffy watched with wonder as she sewed multiple pieces together at a time, and a simple rectangular prism took shape. She took the empty shell and carried it off to wash it, just as Brook arrived back with the dummy.

"Zoro, hold this." Luffy passed Torao to him, took one of Zoro's swords, and cut the dummy open. Zoro chuckled quietly as Luffy and Brook tore the dummy to pieces. Still, Nami cried on and on, but they tried not to think about her pain.

Usopp brought in a set of spring coils for the mattress and returned to his watch, and the mattress was quickly finished with ten sets of hands working on it (nine of which were Robin's, though Brook helped to stuff the deepest part and pack the stuffing in.) Torao had woken twice, once for a change and then for his 3AM feeding. Luffy was taking his turn holding him, humming an old lullaby Brook had taught him with the bottle in one hand and the infant cradled to his chest.

"Duérmete, mi niño, duérmete ya... Que viene su Papa y te comerá…"

"No you will not," Zoro hissed. The air was noticeably clear of smoke, but full of crying. Luffy sighed as Nami's voice rose again, and glanced at Zoro.

"I think she needs… water."

"I think she needs a pain killer," Zoro countered.

"I think she'll be fine," Robin said softly. Brook turned as he heard Sanji yell out:

"Oh god what the hell is it doing?"

Brook spoke up, "I think now would be an excellent time to pay a visit- Not the fro!" Two of Robin's fleur grabbed and pulled Brook's hair, and Robin herself gave him a stern look, before looking back to Luffy and Zoro.

"This process was surely easier for you, Luffy. After all, you naturally stretch, she doesn't. And even you experienced intense pain." There was a loud crash from within, and Sanji's wailing could be heard. "I shall go ensure that our cook is not dead." Robin released Brook's hair and went into the infirmary, shutting the door behind her.

"I sure as hell hope Nami's alright, with all that screaming… but if she wakes Gilly, I'll go tell that baby off myself." Zoro shook his head.

"Poor Nami," Brook sighed despondently.

"I told you, we shouldn't be sad or glum or worried. This is a happy time!" Luffy grinned. "Pain is important in life. Just because she's in pain doesn't mean it's bad!"

"This is a blessed event… I guess," Zoro concurred with a nod. Usopp came back in from his watch.

"Franky finished the crib in good time, he's taken over for Robin's watch so she can stay with Nami," he explained. At the mention of her name, Robin emerged again, her complexion somewhere between pale and pink. The gathered looked at her expectantly for an update, and Robin sighed softly.

"She's very close, and she's very scared, but she asked me to leave." Robin sighed. "There's nothing we can do but hope for the best."

"Nami!" Luffy shouted, loud enough to be heard in the infirmary. "Don't be afraid! I'm still alive and I did it twice! You can do it!"

Nami smiled when she heard Luffy's voice. "He's the best brother I never had," she whispered to Sanji. He was shaking and wide-eyed, but he still clutched and kissed her hand.

"We've got the best damn crew on the ocean. They're all cheering for you." He wiped the sweat from her pallid brow. "We're going to make our crew and family bigger. I know you can do it." Chopper checked the monitors he had attached to Nami as she began to breathe heavily again.

"Oi, Nami!" Chopper rushed to her side with a towel ready, and Nami cried out again…

"I'm going to rip them off, Sanji, ya hear me? Rip! Them! Off!" Zoro, Usopp, and Brook all shuddered at this cry, as Luffy laughed and continued to snuggle Torao. Usopp folded his hands in mock prayer.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of two of our kind's bravest and most valiant…" Zoro turned red, Robin turned pink, and Brook and Luffy both burst into laughter.

"Oi, oi, it's not like he needs them," Zoro muttered, and Luffy simply chuckled. There were more cries from within the infirmary, and suddenly, silence. After a few minutes of tense quiet, the door swung open, and Sanji appeared with a damp, blood-spotted towel and a baby wrapped tight in it.

"Nami asked me to let you see him, but he can't stay. Chopper says he ain't looking too good." Sanji wore a wide-eyed, terrified grin, and the crew silently realized that the baby was not crying. "It's the only boy I've ever loved. We haven't picked a name yet. Five pounds seven." The crew gathered around to look at what Sanji held. He was small, with a scrunched, pale face covered in tears and a shock of nearly-white hair. The baby wheezed softly, gasping like he was drowning, as Sanji slowly massaged the boy's chest. "It's okay, little guy…"

"Sanji!" Nami cried out from within, and Sanji finally stopped smiling.

"Shit." Sanji rushed back into the infirmary, with Robin on his heels, and the door slammed shut again. Zoro, Usopp, and Brook gaped in silent shock.

"I wonder what happened," Luffy said, scratching his head. He passed Torao to Zoro and pressed his ear to the door, alongside Brook and Usopp. Franky entered and surveyed the scene. He finally looked to the most responsible one there.

"Swordsman-bro. What's going on in here?"

"I haven't got a damned clue," Zoro admitted, before sitting on another chair with Torao cuddled tight in his blanket. "It's a boy, we saw him, but it seems like there's something still happening in there. Baby didn't look good at all." Zoro shook his head somberly. Then, there was a cry, a very strong baby's cry, and they heard Sanji cry out with joy. Luffy, Usopp, and Brook got shoved against the wall as Sanji shoved the door open again, this time wearing a bigger grin.

"It's a girl!"

"What?" Franky howled, looking accusingly at Zoro. Zoro looked ready to panic.

"It's a boy and a girl! They're twins!" Sanji laughed eagerly, spinning around on his feet. "Nami had twins!"

"Oh my god," Zoro muttered, getting to his feet. "Can we see her?"

"In a few minutes. We need to clean up, but Nami wanted you to know," Sanji said, grinning even wider. "She did great, she really did great. We'll let you know!" Sanji quickly closed the door again, and Franky began to sob with joy.

"Ahh, there's two! Super!" Franky rubbed his eyes, and Luffy, Brook, and Usopp all peeled themselves off the wall and cried as well.

"It's a miracle!" Usopp wailed. The door opened, and Robin peered out.

"You can come in now," she stated calmly, "but you have to be quiet."

One by one, the crew tiptoed in. Nami was half-asleep on the bed with a cool compress on her forehead, but held a small baby close to her chest. Chopper was setting up a clean linen sheet over a small cart, with an oxygen tank enriching the air around the first infant. Sanji was staring at the baby on the cart, wide-eyed, as Robin sat back at Nami's side. Nami managed a cheerful grin at her comrades.

"I did it!" She squeaked in a hoarse voice.

"How are you feeling, mama?" Usopp asked with a grin, crouching near her.

"Exhausted… exhilarated," Nami replied softly. "Usopp… Cora. Hold her?" She sat up just enough to hold the female infant out, and Usopp took her to his chest.

"Hey, thanks," Usopp chuckled, and he examined the new baby. Sanji smiled again, though still staring at the tiny boy.

"She's as beautiful as her mother, isn't she? A beautiful little princess. She's perfect," Sanji babbled, before pressing his hands against the edge of the cart the boy lay in. Cora was a little bigger than the boy, but not by much, her head was covered in very light red hair, and she was crying softly. Usopp hushed her softly and dabbed her eyes with the corner of the blanket. "I could never sleep again because of all the happiness I'm feeling right now."

"Does he have a name yet?" Franky looked at the thinner boy under the tent.

"Sanji… Name him Mika?" Nami suggested sleepily.

"Mika's a good name. Mika's perfect." Sanji nodded, and turned back to him. Nami then beamed.

"How's little Mika doing?" Sanji didn't seem to have an answer for this. Franky and Brook both looked down at the baby, who was still bluish and gasping for breath.

"He's doing wonderful, my swan," he assured her quietly. Usopp nodded, lowering his eyes back to Cora.

"Let's put Cora down too, okay?" Chopper suggested. "I want to let her get a little extra oxygen too, just to be sure." Usopp nodded, and handed her over. Chopper gently surrounded the little pair with warm rolled-up towels and placed a plastic sheet over the linen to isolate the oxygen-rich environment. "They'll be okay in there." Nami sighed contently and closed her eyes, and Robin folded her hands onto her lap. She was already completely asleep.

"At last, she'll get some rest," Robin sighed softly. "Let's hope that she is still a mother to two when she wakes."

"Don't say morbid shit like that, Robin," Sanji muttered. "Chopper, do you have any idea why he's having trouble breathing?"

"I can't say just yet, but I'll do some tests in a few hours if he doesn't improve by then." Chopper turned to speak to Sanji, and the rest of the crew listened as well. "His APGAR scores are really low, though. He didn't respond to stimuli, his color is bad, almost no muscle tone, irregular heartbeat, and his lungs are barely functioning. On a scale of ten, he's consistently a two. Cora's considerably better, though. Started at a five, and moved up to a seven." Sanji nodded somberly, and closed his eyes.

"Hey, Toto, come and meet your new baby cousins!" Zoro felt Torao snatched from his arms from a distance, and Luffy carefully opened the tent and lay Torao down neatly next to Mika.

"Hey! Take him out!" Sanji hissed.

"Nawh, lookit. Cousins." Luffy beamed, very proud of himself. Sanji's eyes seemed to fill with rage. "They're cozy warm." Sanji paused, and looked again.

"Yeah, I guess." Sanji smiled weakly; Torao dwarfed the two premature newborns. "Little ducks in a row."

"Luffy, that might be too much oxygen for him," Chopper said.

"Okay." Luffy gingerly removed Torao.

"Everyone should go to bed. Nami's going to be sleeping, and the twins will need lots of quiet," Chopper suggested in his most authoritative voice.

"I'm staying right here," Sanji muttered, and took the stool from beside Nami's bed and took a seat by the twins. "Going to stay right here until my boy's doing better. He needs his father."

The crew was quiet, looking from eye to eye, and one by one, they filed out to return to bed or their watch, except for Sanji, Nami, and Chopper.

"You lied," Nami said once she woke up and got a good look at Mika. "He doesn't look well at all." Chopper had decided that Cora was well enough to be out of the oxygen tent, and Franky set the crib up in the dining hall so she could be near her parents, but Mika was still struggling to breathe.

"He's doing okay, that's what's important," Sanji murmured. "He's still breathing. Keep breathing, little guy." Sanji pressed his hand against the sheet that kept the oxygen in. "He's still cute." He rubbed his eyes slowly.

"How long have you been here?" Nami leaned on his shoulder.

"Haven't left since last night, just for a minute to change. Just watching him." He shook his head. "He stopped breathing twice. Chopper revived him." Nami realized that Sanji's hands were shaking.

"You need a cigarette?"

"Yes, I do," he muttered. "But I'm not going to leave. Chopper thinks that if he gets one good, full breath just to fill his lungs out, he'll be off and running. I want to be sure he gets it."

"Sanji, you need a cigarette and some sleep."

"He's not getting better. He's not getting that breath. His lungs aren't ready. He can't eat, either." Sanji shivered, still not looking at Nami. "Chopper had to give him milk in a little plastic syringe, he couldn't suck from the bottle. He… he tried, though." He cracked a sad smirk. "It's my fault, you know. You oughta be mad at me."

"How is this at all your fault?" She sighed, tousling his hair. "You didn't hurt him."

"My smoking," Sanji mumbled. "I smoked around you. I smoked around you the whole time before I knew you were pregnant. I probably messed him up. Cora's lucky."

"He's probably just having trouble acclimating," Nami reassured him. "He's breathing right now. Sitting here isn't going to help. Chopper's already gone to get you a reliever, I'm going to stretch my legs." She smiled and pulled him to his feet. He still stared down at Mika.

"He needs me, he needs his daddy."

"You'll worry yourself sick, come on." She dragged him outside, leaving Mika behind. Sanji glanced down briefly at Cora as he passed her, and sighed to himself.

Sanji took a smoke a few feet away from Nami, as she ate a snack. She sighed quietly. "I guess I knew the babies couldn't be perfect, not after everything that happened. I'm just happy Cora's as healthy as she is, and we're lucky Luffy and Zoro gave us all of Gilea's baby clothes and some of Torao's."

"This is karma punishing me," Sanji muttered, taking a sharp drag. "Punishment for everything I've ever done wrong."

"Please, like you haven't gotten paid back before. It's just what happens. Aren't we lucky enough to have two little babies?" Nami rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm happy. Aren't you happy?"

"Yeah, I am. And I am really proud of you." He kissed her cheek. "You're pretty damn strong, you know that?"

"Someone has to be tough here, Sanji." Nami sighed softly. "Take another smoke, I'm going to go back."

"No, it's enough, it'll hold me off. I should try and cut back anyway," Sanji muttered, and he stubbed the cigarette on the railing. "I know you hate it."

"I don't hate it that much, Sanji," she assured him gently. "Reminds me of someone I knew." The two of them together went back through the galley towards the infirmary, where Usopp had taken up the watch, but they heard his voice before they saw him.

"… and so that's when your uncle, the great Captain Usopp, climbed up the whale's back and fired a flare into the sky! My ten-thousand followers rose up from the bottom of the ocean in their submarines and began to fire on the terrible sea monster, even as I stood atop his back and tried to dig through its skin to get to the jewels in his belly…"

"Some story, Usopp," Sanji chuckled softly. Usopp stopped and looked up. He had been acting the scene out for Mika with some of Gilly's toys, as well as a hand-made Sogeking figurine.

"Well, I figured he could use a little fun. Besides, he's young enough to believe my stories." Usopp quickly shoved the toys back in his pockets. "I'll just go now."

"Wait just a second." Nami stopped him, and looked back at Sanji. "Sanji, I want to-"

"I think I know what you want to do. Go ahead." Sanji smirked. Nami looked back at Usopp.

"Usopp, I'd like to ask you to be Mika's godfather." Usopp's jaw fell.

"Really?" He grinned. "Honest? You want me to be his godfather?"

"Yes, I do." Nami beamed. "You've been helping me take care of him since before he was born, and I think you're the best man for the job."

"Wow, I'm really honored," Usopp chuckled, obviously overjoyed beyond expression.

"We owe you, man," Sanji added, offering his hand to Usopp. "He'll do good with you on his side."

"I would've been on his side anyway, but I'll cheer him on as best as I can!" Usopp shook his hand eagerly. He then looked back to Mika, who still wheezed with every breath he took. "He's going to be okay. I know he is."

End Notes: Luffy's lullaby to Torao is a variant off of a traditional Spanish lullaby. The original translation is: "Sleep, my child, sleep now, or the cucuy will eat you." Luffy has replaced the bogeyman with "your father." Hence, "No you will not."

Next chapter- the fate of the twins is revealed, and the crew continues their journey!

And now, it's time for our bonus...

Small Straw Hat SBS!

This week, we profile...

Roronoa D. Torao:

Representative Color: Turquoise

Animal Resemblance: Rooster (It will actually make more sense later.)

What Chopper thinks he smells like: Unidentifiable, soap (under 2.) Mud, dirt, ocean air. (2 and up.)

Favorite Island and Season: Winter on a Summer island.

Favorite Food: Bacon, Spaghetti Carbonara

Family Member: Younger nephew

Nationality: Filipino

If you have any questions about the Small Straw Hats, message me or leave a review!

Even if you have nothing to say, be sure to leave a review with your thoughts!