Disclaimer: do not own
A Lot of Living to Do
A week and a half later, Nami came rushing up the ladder into the crow's nest one evening. She ran enthusiastically up to Zoro and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"You're energetic tonight!" he said catching her easily and returning her hug.
"Of course! I have something to show you!" She took Zoro's hand and led him to the bench insisting he sit down. "Look at this!" Nami began unbuttoning her shirt from the bottom making Zoro rather nervous until she stopped unbuttoning before she was level with her bra. Then she pulled aside the blue material of her blouse to reveal her abdomen.
"It's your stomach," Zoro said confused.
"Of course it is," she replied exasperatedly whacking Zoro in the head, "but look! Don't you see it?" She was practically pouting and she turned to the side to give him a better view.
And then he did see it! The sight made him gasp slightly as he stared at the exposed skin in wonder. There, in the middle of Nami's stomach, was the slightest hint of a bump. In truth her stomach still appeared as thin as it ever had, but just above the waistband of her skirt the smallest swell protruded and curved gracefully upward. It was so small that you would miss it if you weren't looking directly for it, but Zoro found himself staring at that small bulge with an immense amount of pride. His fingers twitched as he longed to feel the little bump, but he balled his hand into a fist to keep it from moving off his lap. Just because Nami was showing him didn't mean she was okay with his hand on her skin there. He had taken to protectively touching her stomach lately, but that was always over her clothing.
Either Nami noticed this small jerk of his hand or she wanted him to feel the bump as much as he wanted to feel it because she had grabbed his wrist and said, "Here," as she placed his palm over her stomach. At first he tried not to move too much, but he desperately wanted to run his hand over the whole area to feel it's shape and how it grew. So very slowly he began to move his hand up over the bump amazed at the firm feeling of it under his hands. Looking at Nami for guidance, he noticed that she had closed her eyes.
"Is it too much?" he asked pulling back his hand, thinking she had closed her eyes in an attempt to put up with the contact.
"No," she said quickly and grabbed his hand back. "No, I like it." Her small hands were covering his now and she moved his hand around her belly so he could really appreciate the new growth.
"That's great!" Zoro said earnestly. Nami nodded. Then the swordsman's face changed instantly as he grew serious and said, "It's going to get bigger and bigger!"
Laughing Nami agreed, "That's the basic idea."
"I know that. I mean," Zoro corrected, "How are you going to climb up the ladder with a belly sticking out? It's so far... you could fall! ..." Zoro's face took on an expression that Nami was not used to seeing there. How had he continued letting her climb up here this long? "You can't climb the ladder anymore!" the swordsman said in an almost barking tone before crossing his arms, "It's too dangerous!"
"Zoro," Nami said playfully reaching a hand out to touch his shoulder, "You're not going to turn into one of those guys who gets completely over protective during the pregnancy are you?" Her blouse was still open and the swell of her abdomen was just level with his gaze. The expression on her fact was positively catty and she swayed back and forth a little as she teased him.
"Me?" Zoro asked, laughing defensively. After a moment he answered, "Never! I just don't like you climbing all the way up here."
Now Nami was laughing. Taking his hand she lead him to the futon. "Come to bed, Zoro. If you're that worried, tomorrow we can stay in the library."
This seemed to satisfy him and he allowed Nami to pull him down onto their makeshift bed without complaint.
Pregnancy changed many things for Nami, but that was to be expected. The nausea had gotten better and given way to a ravenous appetite. It seemed Nami was now making up for all the food she missed in two months! It was a good thing Sanji liked cooking for women because she was constantly going to the kitchen in search of new foods. The cook seemed to enjoy the challenge of her pregnancy too because she never came into the kitchen asking for what he had. He would make rolls and she would come in looking for something sweet. The day he cut up fruit, Nami wanted something salty. When he made soup, she wanted something cold. And when he had made her a delicious frozen drink, she wanted something crunchy. Sanji was always having to "whip something up" for her, but the cook didn't mind. Being in on the secret and being in such demand made him feel important.
Still, something she was not ready for was the disproportionate emotions that came from her wildly changing hormones. Little things would set her off just as easily as big things. When going through her wardrobe looking for clothing that would conceal her growing bump, Nami had found the tattered remains of the shirt she'd been wearing on that night. Why had she not burned the damned thing? A shaking feeling seized her and she began to cry. The tears streamed from her eyes and refused to stop.
Three hours later she was still crying and likely would have continued had Robin not sent Zoro in after her. When his large hand touched her shoulder, she came out of her trance and looked up at him. It wasn't until then that she noticed she'd been curled up with her needs to her chest hugging the ripped clothing. Holding it up for Zoro to see, she needed no words to explain her pain. He took the shirt from her hands and wrapped his arms around her shaking shoulders. She remembered him whispering words into her ear, but she did not remember a thing he said. In that moment, the fact that he was there was so much more important than the words he used. Nami allowed him to hold her until her pain had subsided and she could look up at him again with her hope filled face.
When he noticed the pained expression leaving her eyes, Zoro lifted her chin with one large hand using his thumb to caress her jaw slightly. The small gesture coaxed a smile from her and she closed her eyes to enjoy the feeling of him so close to her.
But not all her emotions were rational. One morning she'd been very upset because she didn't have the right color shoes to go with a certain shirt and she'd been so depressed that she could scarcely get through her day. Deciding to wear the brown shoes, Nami ate her meals and charted their course without her usual gusto. She must have looked such a mess because Zoro had pulled her aside just after lunchtime to find out what was wrong with her.
He asked what was bothering her while his hands brushed the long orange strands of her hair away from her eyes. Seeing his reaction to her melancholy made Nami realize how silly her predicament was. It was in a nervous guilty voice that she admitted her biggest worry that day was because she lacked a pair of royal blue sandals. When Zoro said in an annoyed voice he'd seen her wear blue sandals before, she had to reply that yes she owned a pair of light blue, navy blue and midnight blue sandals and just didn't have any royal blue sandals.
The look on his face was priceless then. His lips were pressed into a tight thin line while his eyebrows tried to see just how close they could get to the tip of his nose. Even his posture was rigid. All day he had been concerned about her when she was upset about shoes? His reaction made Nami laugh at the absurdity of the situation and she put her arms around his neck apologizing for her inappropriate response. When she smiled like that it was hard not to forgive her, so he simply pulled her against him and told her not to make him worry so much.
Just as Zoro had so eloquently predicted, Nami's belly got bigger and bigger. By just seventeen weeks, Zoro could see it even when Nami was wearing a loose t-shirt over a pair of shorts. The time had come to let the crew know.
It couldn't have worked out better time-wise because they had just landed on an island and Chopper was able to rent a special sono-surveillance snail that would allow them to actually see the baby inside Nami's womb.
Nami still refused pelvic exams, but Chopper felt a little more at ease knowing they would be able to see the little creature and make sure everything was fine. It was no surprise to Chopper when Zoro showed up on the day of her appointment. If having him there helped Nami comply with the practice, then it was all the better.
Chopper got the snail ready. Its round eyes were pointed to a screen as they would act as a projector. A cord protruded from the snail's shell ending in a small balled wand. This would send sound waves through Nami's womb and give them a visual representation of the fetus. Nami was glad to find out that she didn't have to let the snail actually crawl over her belly.
As Chopper lifted her top and spread a clear jelly over her abdomen, Nami held onto Zoro's hand. Almost as soon as the wand touched her stomach a loud thumping noise could be heard. "That's you're child's heartbeat," Chopper informed the pair with a big smile moving the wand around. "And that," he added pointing to a small spot in the middle of the screen that was pulsing in time with the beat, "is your baby's heart."
There was a slight pressure on her hand as Zoro squeezed it and Nami knew he found the experience just as surreal as she did. Nami looked up at the green hair man and smiled. It was amazing to see the little being that they'd begun to think of constantly. Up until now it had seemed like some abstract concept, but there was no denying that a baby was inside Nami's womb. It even looked like a small baby and sucked on its thumb the way infants might do. They turned back to the screen as Chopper moved the wand around on her abdomen to reveal the baby's head, arms, belly, legs, hands, feet, fingers and toes. The reindeer was taking measurements and kept telling them that the baby was right on track. Eventually he asked, "Do you want to know the sex?"
They hadn't talked about it before hand so Nami and Zoro took a moment to look at each other for confirmation. When they both nodded at each other, Nami turned back to the doctor and said, "Yes."
The wand moved again and Chopper focused on the baby's legs and went up from there. "Looks like your having a boy!" he shouted happily as the very obviously male anatomy flashed across the screen.
Nami and Zoro were both beaming as they took in the information. A boy! A son! It was suddenly very real to them both in that moment and Zoro squeezed Nami's hand once more.
After Nami was cleaned up and they had left the sick bay, it became apparent that the crew was planning a barbeque on the beach, as the three of them were the only pirates left aboard the ship. Filled with the image of their small son nestled firmly within her womb, Nami looked at Zoro and said, "I think it's time we let them know what's happening." When Zoro nodded, Nami said, "Great! I'm going to go swimming!" and sauntered off in the direction of the women's quarters.
Zoro laughed. Nami had certainly gotten her spark back as well as her bold personality. There were still plenty of times when the darkness threatened to creep up on her, but Zoro was always around when that happened. He decided he had better change into swim trunks as well and quickly. Things were about to get interesting!
The last few weeks had been an interesting experience for them both. Holding Nami was easy, but it became a little awkward for Zoro when he needed to speak comforting words. Mostly he got by with little phrases like, "It's alright now," and "I'm here." Still, she had a way of pulling words from him that he never intended to say.
Just last night, she had turned to him as they lay together on the futon in the library and in a small meek voice asked, "Zoro, would you still care about me this much if it were for that night?" Her doe-like amber eyes were forlorn and just looking at the uncertainty in them was painful. The mood swings that accompanied pregnancy were harder for Nami than they were for most pregnant women because she would go from feeling high on life to suddenly being shrouded in darkness all over again. Without having Zoro to balance her out, she would have been in a lot of trouble!
Probably, when a pregnant woman asks this question you should tell her of course, but Zoro didn't like lying. He wasn't good at it, and Nami deserved more than fake words. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the orange hair back from her slightly round face and said, "It's impossible to know. That night happened and became part of us both. It pushed us together in ways that we wouldn't have dreamt possible before. Without that night, who knows what would have happened."
Blinking back tears, Nami nodded quietly whispering, "You're right, it's just..."
"Just that being here with me like this seems so natural now?" Zoro asked finishing what was most likely her sentence. When her glassy eyes shone up at him, he knew he had been correct and he said, "It's that way for me too. I don't know what might have pushed us closer if it weren't for that night, but maybe something else would have. Otherwise it wouldn't be this easy."
The answer satisfied Nami and a slight smile won out over tears. "Thanks, Zoro," the woman said in a soft voice. "It sounds silly, but you are such a good friend to me and I hate thinking that most of it came only as a result of that man's tricks."
Nodding Zoro pulled her into his chest. "Shh. You don't have to explain it to me. I understand." As he spoke, the swordsman rubbed the back of her neck with his strong fingers. "But when that feeling sneaks up on you remember that we were nakama first and that we always will be. Even before him, I would have done anything to protect you. Maybe it's stronger now, but that feeling was always there."
With a sigh of relief, Nami's eyes fluttered closed, her long lashes tickling the bare skin of Zoro's chest. When she faced him in her sleep, he could feel the warm mound of her swollen abdomen pressed up against him as her light breath fell on his chest. No matter how it had come about, Zoro would protect this woman in any way he could.
Shaking his head to bring himself back to the present, Zoro dressed in his swim trunks quickly, knowing Nami would be waiting for him. When he finally exited the men's quarters, he wasn't quite ready for the site that greeted him. Nami was clad simply in a light blue bikini and a lime green wrap skirt while her orange hair flowed down and framed her obviously pregnant body. The beautiful bump where his child slept was visible to any and all eyes. Though Nami's confidence was often still shaken, today she carried herself proudly. It was a bold move showing off to the crew like this, but Zoro's pride swelled at the fact that Nami was going to gladly to show off her pregnancy to them all.
When Nami walked onto the beach a few minutes later in her bikini with the long green wrap tied about her hips, a hush fell over the crew. Zoro watched their faces as one by one the crewmembers took in the sight and realized what was going on.
In front of Zoro, Nami stood none too modestly rubbing sunscreen on her arms with her belly visible to the entire crew. Perhaps it was because it was still early in her pregnancy, but the only place her body had expanded was that bump on her abdomen. The rest of her figure still looked the same with the exception of her slightly fuller breasts. In a word, she was breathtaking. He could feel the dumb looking grin spreading on his face as he watched her, but he didn't care. This woman was carrying his son inside of her and now everyone would know; the idea was enough to drive away all other thoughts from his mind.
It was Luffy who spoke first. He leaned over toward Usopp and said in a loud whisper that he probably though was subtle but in truth was heard clearly by the whole crew, "When did Nami get so fat?"
"You idiot!" Usopp hissed back at him "She's not fat!"
"Well she looks fat to me!" Luffy hissed back.
After a little squeak, Usopp used both hands to cover Luffy's mouth and hushed the stupid captain. "Idiot! She'll hear you!"
But it was too late, she already had. Nami fixed the boys with a dangerous look and took a few steps toward them. "Monkey D Luffy!" Nami all but shouted at her captain causing him to swallow nervously. "You should know better! It's rude to call a pregnant woman fat!"
Luffy's eyes nearly bugged out of his skull as he pulled away from Usopp and shouted, "PREGNANT?"
"Yes," said Nami holding one finger up in the air. "Also," the finger she was holding up now aimed squarely at the green-haired swordsman, "Zoro's the father. If anyone has a problem with that they can take it up with him."
Feeling that he ought to do something since most of the crew was looking at him now, Zoro crossed his arms over his bare chest and made a stern face.
There was an elongated moment of silence in which no one knew the proper thing to say before the entire crew began speaking at once. Zoro and Nami watched the chaos smugly. It was funny to see who had "known" it and who received a complete shock that morning.
Chopper had fallen back next to Usopp relieved that he didn't have to keep the secret anymore.
Luffy was saying in shock, "You knew!"
"Of course he knew! He's the doctor," Usopp informed their captain with a smack to the back of the head knocking the captain's hat forward over his eyes.
"Did you know?" Luffy asked righting his straw hat and pointing at Usopp.
"Well no," the sniper admitted still looking rather nervous, "But I told you they were flirting!"
"Doing a lot more than flirting if you ask me! Ow! SUU-PER!" Franky said posing enthusiastically. "When is the little guy getting here?" the cyborg asked.
"Franky," Chopper asked wide eyed, "How did you know it was a boy?"
The cyborg looked a little confused as he scratched his head and said, "Because a super guy like Zoro has a son first." Then he added a little more loudly with a strong pose, "Fathering sons is a man's romance!"
Robin was looking at Nami's growing belly affectionately saying, "Oh my, you've really gotten yourself into it this time eh, Ms. Navigator?"
Nami shrugged good-naturedly and laughed.
Brook had begun arguing with Franky on whether a woman carries a child for nine or ten months before giving birth as they tried to figure out when the little guy was coming. By this point Chopper was too exhausted dogging Luffy's "but how'd it get in there" questions to the two them that months didn't matter; it's forty weeks more or less.
During the confusion Nami turned to Zoro and nodded toward the shore. Zoro followed her taking their towels and lying them on a rock. Nami untied her wrap and Zoro adverted his eyes to be polite. But he couldn't help but peek back and check out her rounded figure. He was amazed by the changes pregnancy brought to her body and even more stunned at the feelings those changes stirred in him. Though he didn't quite allow himself to fully realize what those feelings meant yet, the possessiveness he felt for her was beginning to show.
Following Nami into the ocean, Zoro was all too glad to leave the commotion of the beach behind. They waded into the gentle waves until the water hit the bottom of Nami shoulders.
"That went well," Nami observed.
"Eh," Zoro pointed out, "It's technically still going on, and I don't think it's really sunk in yet."
With a shrug, Nami says, "Well who will say something bad after that tough-guy look you gave them?"
"Hey!" Zoro said defensively splashing at Nami, "You're the one who made them all turn and look at me. What was I supposed to do? Wave?"
Laughing, Nami got closer and splashed him back, "Personally, I think you should have curtseyed!" And then Nami pushed him as if she were trying to dunk him under the water, but she was too small to achieve such a feat. Realizing the mistake, Nami started to back away slowly when Zoro grabbed at her arm.
"Oh, no you don't!" he said playfully stopping her from leaving.
With a laugh. Nami turned and pulled away, but he was too strong and she just ended up pulled back into his chest. She was facing away from him now and Zoro reached his hands up and rested them on her shoulders and began to rub lightly.
"It was daring of you going out in just a bathing suit and confront them like that," Zoro observed. After the incident, Nami had been careful to cover up more. After finding out about the pregnancy, she was feeling more confident and started wearing shorts and skirts again until she was trying to hide the small bump, but seeing her go out in a bathing suit was something Zoro hadn't expected.
Before she spoke Nami took a deep breath at the truth she was about to reveal. "It might sound strange, but I actually like looking at my body again. That's why I can wear a bathing suit. After the night on the island, I didn't like to look in the mirror. What I saw looked so dirty and lost. But it isn't like that anymore. When I look at myself I see... life!"
Zoro's hands had squeezed her shoulders gently, and Nami leaned into his touch as she said, "I feel like my body is doing something good now." Her voice got quieter as she whispered, "It makes me feel beautiful again."
Without thinking Zoro answered, "You are beautiful, especially pregnant." The words had left his lips before he realized he'd said them and once they were out he almost couldn't believe they came from him. He'd never complimented her appearance before. What was it about this woman that loosened his tongue so much? He wondered if Nami would call him out on it or not, but all she did was laugh.
"Well, we'll see how I look when I'm huge and fat at the end of this!" Nami joked.
Zoro almost kept quiet, but the unusual morning they'd had seeing his child and telling the crew had made him feel brash as well. In for a beli, right? Once more he spoke without letting himself think too much, "It won't matter. I've never seen anything more remarkable."
Nami turned in his arms to face him and he felt himself blush. It matched the color in Nami's cheeks as she asked, "Do you really mean that, Zoro?" Now the skin of that swelled abdomen was pushing up against his stomach and her hands came to rest gently on his chest.
"Of course," he breathed, looking into her eyes. "What you're doing is incredible."
They stood staring at each other both lost to their own deep thoughts. Zoro's hands were still on her shoulders and hers were still pressed against his chest. And then Nami lowered herself and rested her head on his chest, moving her arms around his waist. Zoro let his own arms wrap around her and she smiled into his chest. It wasn't the first time he'd held her like that against his bare chest, but it was the first time holding her when she was wearing so little. Everything- her legs, her breasts, her stomach, her cheek- it was all touching him in the most enticing way. The amount of contact between them set his skin on fire and he tightened his arms around her trying to feel more of that luscious skin. His blood began to race, and just under his shorts there was an all too familiar twitch.
Immediately the guilt settled in crushing down on him with such a force that it threatened to stop his breathing. How could he be so coarse? So vulgar? This was the woman he swore to protect, the mother of his unborn child, and he was turning her into some sort of object? He had promised her that he wouldn't ask anything more from her! How sick was his own mind to wander in a direction he knew would hurt her? If she could only see the way he'd thought of her just now, she would run from him screaming.
So what if her skin was soft and the swell of her abdomen was rubbing against his stomach? So what if her large breasts, which were barely contained by that bikini top, were pressed so firmly against his chest that it made his mouth water? So what if her citrus scent was so powerful that he could practically taste her? It was no excuse for weakness on his part. Part of his unspoken promise to her involved keeping her safe from men- all men! Even he himself was included in that category. He couldn't let himself get so careless! The nature of his thoughts would only cause her more pain. How heartless could he be?
Strengthening the power of his arms around her and suppressing those waves of desire, he resolved once more that he would not let anything bad happen to this woman ever again.
On the shore, Sanji stood watching the pair from over the grill. He wanted to feel jealous and rage about the swordsman holding Nami like it was his right. But instead he found himself simply happy that Nami seemed so content. It occurred to him that he'd never be able to make her look like that. Soon Robin came to stand next to him.
"They really are happy aren't they?" she asked softly. Sanji shrugged. Of anyone else on the crew, Robin should have known more of the truth as she was Nami's roommate. His suspicions were confirmed when the older woman smiled mysteriously and spoke once more. "I was worried for Nami for a while, she seemed so lost and so defeated. I know she acted strong and I don't think most of the crew knows, but I could hear the words she shouted in her fitful sleep. I'm glad she's found her place again."
"I can't pretend to understand it," Sanji admitted to Robin, "But he makes her happy. And I've questioned him as well. He will protect her no matter what. I've decided to be content with that."
Robin smiled and placed a hand on the cooks arm. "That's very big of you, Sanji," she smiled. "Looks like our playboy love-cook is finally growing up."
Nodding Sanji spoke in a low voice, "We were all faced with the choice: grow up and get strong or get left behind, lost in whatever feelings consumed us. In the end, we move forward in the only ways we know how."
The hand lightly resting on his arm, squeezed gently. "Your time will come, Mr. Cook. Just let things take their natural course."
Sanji took a drag of his cigarette and smiled. "Thanks, Robin." He was glad to have someone to talk to even if only for a moment.
"Oi, Nico Robin!" Franky was calling as he bounded up in his heavy body. He was smiling mischievously at the moment, but his face was tear streaked and it was obvious he had been crying buckets. "I have an idea. Luffy said it's fine with him, I just wanted to make sure it was okay with you."
The cyborg bent low and whispered into the archaeologist's ear. In the end, Robin smiled and said enthusiastically, "I think it's a great idea, Franky."
"!" the large man shouted as he did his signature pose. 'Talk about men who needed to grow up!' Sanji thought to himself as the large man in a Speedo and Hawaiian shirt went running off toward the ship.
A short distance from the grill, the boys were having their own little chat. Luffy and Chopper were sitting up excitedly while Usopp's arms moved wildly around in the air to emphasize what he was saying. Next to the three, Brook looked on with his gaping blank eyes as he calmly sipped on some tea.
"This is bad. This is bad. This is so bad!" Usopp was saying. "I'm telling you! We need to be careful!"
But Luffy scratched at his chin and looked up with a befuddled expression. "What's so bad about a baby?" Luffy asked.
"Nothing!" Usopp hissed before he got closer to Luffy and the small reindeer for dramatic effect and asked, "You know what happens when a woman gets pregnant right?"
Luffy and Chopper shook their heads while Brook watched curiously.
"Well," Usopp started, "As their bodies get bigger and bigger, it becomes too much for their minds to control! What once was the nice woman who lived down the block turns into a stark raving lunatic!" Usopp shouted this last bit causing both Luffy and Chopper to gasp. The reindeer began to nervously chew on the tips of his hooves forgetting momentarily that he had known pregnant women in the past. The atmosphere was beginning to get very tense!
"Suddenly," Usopp continued his theatric performance, "Your friend has become a monster! You guys know how scary Nami was before right? Imagine what she will be like now!"
"Hey guys, what's going on?" Nami asked as she and Zoro returned form their dip in the water.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Usopp, Luffy and Chopper shrieked in a chorus of screams before all jumping to the ground and hiding behind the log they were previously sitting upon.
Zoro's eyebrow twitched as he looked at the three men. "What the hell is wrong with them?"
"Ah!" Brook said setting his teacup down, "they are afraid that the pregnancy hormones will turn Nami-san into a crazy woman."
There was another small shriek before Usopp whispered harshly, "You weren't supposed to tell her that, Stupid!"
With a sigh, Nami waved a hand and said, "Oh please! Only boys are afraid of pregnant women. I thought everyone on our crew was supposed to be a manly man of the sea!"
Three sets of eyes peeped over the top of the log to look at Nami. To their side Brook added his own opinion. "That is right! Real men have nothing to fear around a pregnant lady! Pregnancy it a miraculous time! The only time people may create life! It is indeed a time to be so revered, that I would not even ask a pregnant woman to show me her panties! Nevertheless, if one wished to show them to me I would never object! Just so you know, Nami-san."
In a burst of anger, Nami's foot collided with Brook's head, the spiky heel of her sandal practically puncturing a hole through his thick skull. The force of the kick was so great that the teacup even flew from Brook's skeletal hands and crashed a few feet away.
There was a great yelp as Luffy, Usopp and Chopper dove for cover under the log once more so that only their rear ends were visible over the top as they all shouted, "Nami-san! SO SCARY!"
This only caused Nami's eyebrow to twitch more while Zoro doubled over in a wealth of hysterical guffaws. After a whack on the head, Zoro straightened up and shouted to the three men under the log, "Hey! There is nothing different about Nami so just deal with it!" Then in an undertone he added, "Besides acting afraid of her is what will really piss her off!"
"Zoro!" Nami shushed him angrily with a pout. Of course all that anger disappeared when Zoro slung an arm around her waist and whispered something into her ear.
From their vantage point of peeking over the log, Usopp whispered to his companions, "You know what this means right?" Luffy and Chopper nodded their agreement before the sniper continued, "Anytime Nami gets scary-pregnant-angry, all we have to do is push Zoro in front of her!"
Sometime later, after everyone had calmed down, Nami and Zoro went over to sit down by the other four pirates to wait for food. Robin was still talking to Sanji by the grill.
"Hey Nami," Usopp was asking, "What are you going to do now? In the long run I mean."
"That's right!" Luffy said suddenly realizing that a pregnant Nami might have trouble with the pirating life.
"Well, Chopper says I should be fine to sail if there are no complications through the pregnancy," Nami informed the men.
"Yes," the doctor added giving his professional opinion, "I know how to help Nami during the pregnancy. Only, I think that once she gets in her eights or ninth month it won't be advisable for her to sail as we want her to have access to a hospital when she goes into labor."
"So we have to stop for a month or two so that Nami can have the baby," Luffy observed attempting to comprehend the situation. "How long after that can she start sailing again? I don't want to stop too long if the marines are after us."
"Well," Chopper said tapping his chin with his hoof in thought, "It would be best not to take the baby out on the boat until he's at least six weeks old and has a better immune system. So I'd say Nami should plan on staying on land until the baby is two or three months old. He'll probably be alright after that, "
"That's good!" said Luffy, "That's not too long to wait. Shanks made my home island his base for a whole year and he still became Yonko! Even if we have to spend a few months waiting, we will still reach the One Piece! Only," Luffy's face drew serious with concern, "Let's make sure it's on an island with lots of good meat!" At this statement he gave a decisive nod.
Normally, Nami would have laughed at this, but she was too busy being shocked that Luffy didn't just expect her to give up her life and become "just a mother" after the baby came. Her mind created a picture of having to live on an island and sell mikans to support her family while her friends sailed on ahead. It wasn't the life she wanted, but how would they know that?
"Hmm..." Usopp added thoughtfully. "We are going to have to build some new furniture, but it shouldn't be too difficult. Babies are pretty small anyhow. Ah! I will make Nami one of those papoose things to carry the baby on her back! That way she will be able to concentrate on navigating without having to worry about holding or chasing the baby!"
Brook sipped a cup of tea and said, "You are most fortunate, Nami-san. I know the perfect lullabies that will put the little one to sleep easily whenever we need. And I can gear it specifically so it will affect babies only! Yo ho ho ho!"
Chopper was also deep in thought. "I will have to get some books on pediatrics. There are vitamins and immunizations. We well have to give him check-ups often too. Hmm... Usopp you should make one of those charts that we can mark how tall he is as he grows."
"Yes!" Usopp said nodding, "Franky will want to help with the design, I think."
Even Zoro added, "We'll need some practice kid swords and some small equipment for him to climb on so he can train to get strong. Kids love that sort of thing. Maybe Franky can build some of those too." With a sly grin he looked at Nami and said, "Best part is that he's half yours so I won't need to 'borrow' funds for it." The last part made Nami crinkle her nose and pout at his new "debt-loop-hole." She'd have something to say about that, but first...
"Wait. Wait! Just wait. How do you all know I'm not planning on giving up my life of piracy and finding a cozy little cottage somewhere?" Nami asked incredulously amused that her crewmates all assumed she would simply continue the same pirating lifestyle. "I might be planning to make my own little mikan farm and sell them on an island. I might not have any intention of being a pirate anymore." When she had first found out about her pregnancy, this was the scenario she had pictured. She was certain that no one would want her on board with a baby. It was too much trouble. And yet, here was her crew embracing the idea as if it weren't a burden but an adventure.
"You're not are you?" Luffy shouted suddenly grief-stricken. "We won't get anywhere without you! Nami you can't leave! And you definitely can't take him!" Luffy pouted seriously and pointed at her tummy. "He is my new nakama! I'm gonna teach him how to punch!"
"I'm going to teach him how to shoot!" Usopp added pointing his thumb at his chest.
"I will make sure he is growing well and teach him what he needs to know about first aid so he doesn't get too hurt!" Chopper said in his tiny voice.
"I'm going to teach him the joy of music," laughed Brook as his bony fingers drummed a rhythm on his femur.
From the grill Sanji shouted, "I'm gonna make sure he knows how to cook a decent meal and how to treat a lady."
"And there are quite a few languages I can teach him to read," Robin said softly beside Sanji.
"Ow!" called a loud voice from inside the ship, "I'm gonna teach him to be SUPER!"
Zoro didn't say a word, but he reached out and grabbed Nami's hand silently conveying to her all he planned to do for and teach to their son. There were unshed tears in her eyes as her fingers closed around Zoro's, and it occurred to Nami then that this baby belonged to the whole Straw Hat crew! It was there in their cautiously excited looks. The men in front of her were already imagining the little boy playing, fishing, fighting and more. She and Zoro might be mom and dad, but the child had six uncles and one aunt just in the crew alone. Nami laughed. Part of her had feared that this might separate her from the crew, but it seemed to have made them closer. It again reminded Nami never to underestimate the power of her nakama.
Probably anywhere else in the world people would tell you that once you got pregnant your life had to change. That you'd have to give up your dreams and do nothing but raise children. They'd tell you your life belonged to that child now. These people would say you couldn't be a mother and a pirate- that you'd have to choose. They'd expect her to be like those other woman and wait for the pirate who fathered her child to maybe someday return. Nami wasn't made for pining away on an island while her livelihood sailed away without her. It was amazing how her nakama simply knew that. They had all just assumed she'd be carrying on with them as if there were no difference. Then again, her friends were never very good at playing by the rules!
"Food!" Sanji called and suddenly everyone was grabbing for meat before Luffy could take it all. The crew laughed and talked enjoying their meal thoroughly. There were many toasts to Nami and Zoro, and much talk about what the baby would do, what he would look like, and how he would learn to fight. The crew even discussed what he should be called.
"Shut up, Luffy!" Zoro shouted while a vein pulsed in his forehead, "we are not naming him Fred!"
With his rubber lips stretched around the bone that was hanging half-way out of his mouth, the Captain pouted, "Thwat thwy thot? Febt ith a thood thame!" Of course he meant: But why not? Fred is a good name!"
"No!" Nami and Zoro shouted in unison, officially shooting down the name and at the same time making Luffy's over-stuffed face fall in disappointment.
There was one more surprise in store for Nami that night! Exhausted after the barbeque, she walked to her room to rest before meeting Zoro only to find that the room had shrunk! Her bed and wardrobe were nowhere in sight, and she was looking at the massive body of Franky the shipwright sitting with one ankle crossed over his knee on their comfortable couch.
"Hey girlie!" he said pushing his sunglasses up over his forehead. "A little birdie told me you've been spending your nights sleeping on the floor in the crow's nest and the library."
Nami's eyes went wide at his declaration and her mind began to turn over excuses of why she'd be spending her nights away from her bedroom.
"Ow! Don't give me that look! It's not exactly a secret anymore is it?" Franky laughed as he pointed at her still exposed abdomen.
Nami found herself laughing too now as she realized that every one expected that she had been sleeping with Zoro figuratively. She no longer needed to keep it a secret that she literally spent her nights with him.
"Anyhow, Luffy agreed to this, and I talked it over with Robin to make sure she was fine with it too. We've set the women's quarters up more like an apartment. The main door still opens to the sitting room here in the center, but you have a room over there," Franky pointed to the right, "and Robin has a room over here," he then pointed to the left. "Your wardrobe and personal belongings are all in your side as well as your bed, which has been made a little bigger for you!" Franky added with a wink. "There is also a door that opens into a nursery. It's empty right now. You can think what you want in there later!"
Nami rushed over to the door the cyborg had indicated and yanked it open as she eyed her new room. Her things had been transferred over quite nicely and the bed looked so much more comfortable than the floor she'd been sleeping on! Her back gave a cry of relief just looking at it! "Thank you, Franky! This is really great!" Nami said excitedly and remembered a time not too long ago where she would have thrown her arms around his massive neck in thanks at such a gesture. But she still wasn't ready for that. Instead she just smiled.
"Hope you an' the Swords Bro like it!" Franky winked and then leaned closer and whispered, "I also put an extra drawer in the wardrobe incase you wanted him to move any of his stuff over."
Nami blushed crimson at the suggestion making the cyborg laugh.
At that point, the main door opened and Robin walked in and called "Ah, Mr. Shipwright. I see you've finished the preparations."
"Yup," Franky said wagging his eyebrows suggestively, "Now both beautiful Straw Hat ladies have some privacy. Now go look at your room Nico Robin, it's quite SUPER!"
That night, when Zoro met her in the library, Nami didn't have the futon pulled out. Instead she said, "I have a surprise!" and she lead him to the newly redone room.
"Robin's room is on the other side, so this one is just for me," Nami informed the green-haired man.
Zoro entered the room and eyed the double sized bed. "Just for you?"
"To share of course!" Nami smiled. After hesitating a moment, Nami went over to her wardrobe and opened the doors. Many clothing items were hanging on bars at the top, while the lower portion consisted of a dresser. Just as Franky said there were now six drawers to the chest instead of five. Nami pulled the top one open to reveal an empty space. "Franky said he put this extra drawer in for you," Nami told the swordsman blushing, "In case you wanted to bring some stuff over."
Raising his eyebrow, Zoro asked, "Should I bring some stuff over then?" He would never presume to simply move into this new space with her. So far all the nights they had spent together had been in common territory. The thought of moving his stuff here and calling this his room seemed so big. If he moved stuff here it wouldn't be like all the times they'd crashed in the crow's nest or the library, it would be something more. Perhaps he should expect that considering that they were a family more or less now.
Slowly Nami nodded her orange head and gave half a shrug. "If you are going to be staying here every night, you might as well. Did you want to go get some stuff now?"
She had been slow to react, but her words were devoid of any true hesitation. This made his pulse quicken so he replied, "Yeah. I think I will if that's okay." And then Zoro disappeared to go pack a bag.
Nami used the opportunity alone to change into her night clothing. It would be nice to sleep in a bed and wear pajamas again! When she had been meeting Zoro to stay elsewhere, she always ended up sleeping in her daytime clothing since she'd have to walk back later. Tonight she dressed in a comfortable sleep shirt and a pair of thin cotton shorts and wondered what Zoro would be wearing.
There was a knock on her door a little later and she let Zoro in and led him to her room. It was strange to watch him put his things away in her wardrobe, but it made sense for him to do so. And when he finished, he climbed into bed and beckoned her to come over. He was wearing a grey t-shirt and a pair of black, green and grey plaid bottoms. The material was soft against Nami's skin and she snuggled into Zoro's warmth.
"What a crazy day," Zoro said. He couldn't stop thinking about the fact that they were having a boy. A son. His son. Their son. It was strange the way something you never asked for or expected could take hold of your life and turn into something so important to you. Now that Zoro knew he was having a son, the more he found he actually wanted one. Thinking about the little life growing inside of Nami made him want to be a father. The more he thought about it, the more amazing it seemed.
From the way they were lying, The bump in Nami's stomach was pressing into his side and he knew that the child, his son, was in there. His eyes kept drifting down to that bump when he thought she wasn't looking. But evidently Nami was looking since she laughed and grabbed Zoro's large hand as she rolled onto her back. Lifting up the bottom of her shirt, she placed his hand on her abdomen. "Better?" she asked.
Zoro grinned and rolled to his side to face her. "Yeah," he said rubbing the small bump on her belly, "that's better."
They lay there enjoying the closeness for a while. For the two of them, this shared connection was something special. After the initial incident, neither had thought they'd ever feel comfortable with someone else again. But the way they so desperately clung to each other now not only comforted them but also affirmed that no matter what had happened they were still whole. It was really the reason that Nami not only could stand for Zoro to touch her but also yearned for his touch; she wasn't hiding the truth from him. He had been there and felt her pain. And he was still here holding her. He didn't shy away from her because she was tainted or dirty.
During the day, Nami could laugh with the crew- and these days she was even enjoying herself- but she knew she was still hiding some of the truth from them. Here with Zoro, she didn't have to pretend. He accepted her entirely: her pain, her past, her future. That was a powerful feeling and the main reason she felt safe nestled in his arms.
The rubbing on her abdomen slowed as Zoro pushed his torso up from the bed. For a moment Nami froze, not knowing what he was going to do, but she trusted him so she wouldn't flinch away. Zoro was bending his head low over her abdomen; he stopped about two inches away from her exposed belly and whispered, "Good night, Little One."
The moment was so touching that Nami felt herself filled with raw emotion. When Zoro turned to look at her, his smile was so genuine it made Nami's heart speed up and her breath catch. As he laid himself beside her once more, he leaned toward her own ear and whispered, "Good night, Nami."
And then he laid still beside her, his long muscular body stretched out next to hers and his calloused hand resting gently on the swell of her belly. His face was so near her own that she could just barely feel the tip of his nose touching her cheek. Her eyes closed of their own volition and Nami whispered, "Good Night, Zoro." Before drifting off into a peacefully dreamless sleep.
Author's note: I totally lied and got it up sooner than I expected! Yay! :) Hope you don't mind that it waxed a little fluffy. The next chapter, I think, is one of my absolute favs of this piece, so hopefully it will be up sometime this weekend/early next week. We are building to the part I know you are all waiting for! ;)
Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing! You guys make me feel so happy! I am glad you are liking this story!