Disclaimer: not mine.
On the Street Where You Live
Of every pirate in the crew, it surprised Nami to find that Brook was the one who treated her the most differently after finding out about the pregnancy. In fact most other crewmembers treated her in almost the same way they did before they knew. Well Luffy, of course, went on and on about his new little nakama and often came up to Nami with an idea of what he could do with the baby once it was born. "When can I take him fishing? I'll teach him the best way to catch a crocodile! I want to take him to see the sky islands so he knows they really exist!" Every day there was something new he needed to tell Nami about.
Now that everyone else knew, Chopper became a little more vocal about Nami's behavior. At lunch he said, "Don't eat that clam Nami! Anything with a shell is bad during pregnancy!" When Nami walked onto the deck with her hair still damp from the shower, Chopper bounded up and asked, "You didn't take a HOT shower did you Nami? Raising your temperature too much is bad for the baby!" And when Nami lounged back on a lawn chair with a book, Chopper shrieked and scolded, "You can't lay on your BACK Nami! That position can cut off circulation to your uterus, so it's bad for the baby!" Just when Nami was about to snap at him that just about everything seemed bad for the baby, Zoro swooped in and distracted the young doctor and hurried him off to a different part of the ship. The swordsman must have warned the doctor about that Nami didn't take kindly to being scolded because the reindeer did calm his fussing a bit after this.
Usopp didn't need any warnings about Nami's temper. He was careful to always be polite and address her in the most respectful manner possible. As promised, he made her a bunch of contraptions for the baby that Nami decided she'd figure out how to use once the baby got here. If Usopp ever slipped up and said something dumb in front of her, he slunk away quickly to avoid her wrath! For her part, Nami thought she was having a very levelheaded pregnancy, but she supposed the pregnancy stereotypes worked against her here.
There wasn't much change in the way Franky treated her, though he did switch from calling her the name "Girlie," to "Little Mama." If Nami had thought that she'd never miss the name Girlie, she hadn't realized he'd replace it with a similarly horrible name. But there was no controlling that man's antics. Franky did however change his behavior with Zoro, often bursting to tears when speaking about the swordsman becoming a father. Other times he'd merely slap the smaller man on the back in a congratulatory manner.
Nami could tell that Robin was curious about Nami's condition, but was too polite to ask. So it was Nami who acted a little differently with the archaeologist often telling the other woman about the changes her body experienced. It was nearly impossible to tell from Robin's reserved reactions whether she thought Nami's situation interesting or appealing, but in any case she provided a good ear for the complaints that Nami was too embarrassed to talk to Sanji about.
But of all the changes in behavior patterns, Brook's was by far the strangest! The skeleton began flitting about and doting on Nami at every chance. He was beginning to act the way Sanji used to- no, he was worse than Sanji ever was! Every time Nami turned around, Brook had written her another song or had made her another cup of tea. A girl could only drink so many cups of tea a day! And as Chopper was constantly reminding her, tea wasn't the best thing for the baby. It was one morning two weeks after Nami revealed her pregnancy that Brook went too far by calling her Nami-sama. It was not her desire to be held to a higher standard than anyone else on the crew, so Nami kicked him in the head. Only after this, did Nami figure out that the skeleton's behavior had nothing to do with his usual perverted requests. It was the pregnancy and life growing within her that Brook was infatuated with. Being dead he valued life more than everything else, and Nami who was busy growing life within her right now must seem like some ancient goddess to the skeleton. Knowing this made his behavior a little easier to bear, though Nami wasn't entirely sure it meant he had given up on her panties.
Nami supposed actually, now that everyone knew, she and Zoro might have been acting a bit differently too. Since everyone knew they could relax and not worry about anyone finding out. It was a good thing too because the belly had begun to affect Nami's gait as she walked. The change was slight yet, but she was definitely having to compensate for the extra weight on the front of her. When Usopp made a joke about her starting to waddle, she left several new lumps on his head- so much for not perpetuating pregnancy stereotypes. Of course, Brook had offered to carry her wherever she needed to go so it would be easier for her, but Nami waved him off uncomfortably.
The cook had started to act a little differently too, but the change in him had been longer in coming. Sanji had started to act more aloof with Nami. The more evident her pregnancy got, the more reserved the cook became. Naturally, he still made every food Nami wanted to eat and tried his best to make her happy; however, recently, he'd begun to advert his eyes from her figure. He still talked to her, but something had changed in his attitude. It was as if looking at Nami's growing figure caused him pain. Nami felt the small shift in his behavior like a wedge driven between them. After all that had happened, Nami had become closer to Sanji and it hurt that he was pulling away from her slightly now. Things would smooth over eventually, Nami was certain, but there was no telling when that would be.
By her third Doctor appointment with Chopper, she was used to the fact that the reindeer had to touch her belly in order to record the progress. She didn't particularly like that fact, but she no longer needed to grind her teeth in order to bear the feeling. It wasn't so bad really. He wasn't trying to hurt her, and he wasn't pulling away because she was dirty. This forced professional touch actually helped Nami start to see that letting someone else touch her wasn't something to be that afraid of. Still, she wasn't about to go trying to play freeze tag again or hug someone anytime soon.
But at twenty weeks along, Nami was so focused on her pregnancy that she hardly had time to think about the night that made her this way. As she pushed herself up off the exam table, Chopper held out a hand to her and said, "Congratulations! You're half way there!"
Nami looked at his extended hand and realized she was supposed to shake it. Her first reaction was to pull away, but if she could let him touch her stomach, she could touch his hand. Chopper was a friend. Determined to get through it, Nami extended her hand and grasped the reindeer's hand and shook it. There! That wasn't so hard.
When she left the sick bay, she was feeling really accomplished. She walked into the dining hall and Zoro, who was waiting there, grined at her, "How'd it go?"
They had decided she should go by herself today since she was really trying to get over her fears. "Perfect as always!" she smiled and sat down next to him.
"As if Nami-san could be anything less than perfect," Sanji called from the kitchen where he was making lunch though the compliment lacked it's usual gusto.
Chopper had come into the dining hall as well now. "He's a strong boy," Chopper was saying, "But considering his parents, I guess we shouldn't be surprised."
All four of them laughed and Nami briefly wondered how Zoro and Sanji managed to not kill each other while she was gone. The rest of the crew began filing in for lunch. As they started to eat, Nami could feel the little flutters of movement inside her womb that she'd become used to these past few weeks. Still, the child had yet to make a movement big enough for anyone else to feel. Nami smiled to herself and ate happily until she felt a large thump just below her naval. What the? It happened again and then a third time.
Wordlessly and with wide eyes, she snatched Zoro's hand away from his plate and laid it flat on her protruding belly. Thump! Zoro nearly jumped as he turned to better look at her stomach. "Was that?" he asked and Nami nodded her head. At that moment Zoro started to laugh as he turned more to her so that he had one hand on her belly and the other on the small of her back. They had already gotten the attention of the crew and now all seven other members were watching them as Zoro informed them proudly, "The baby's kicking!"
The seven confused faces turned into seven happy smiles as cheers broke out all around the table. The baby in her womb kicked more at all the noise, which made Nami laugh. Suddenly there was another hand on Nami's belly and Nami followed the long stretch of an arm until her eyes met Luffy's. There was a wide grin on his face as he shouted, "I feel it! I feel it!"
Though she wanted to slap the hand away and yell at the captain, his happy expression held her off. Really it was like when Chopper had to feel her belly for their exams.
"Can I try?" Usopp was asking from her other side and Nami didn't know what to do. But then the hand Zoro had laid on her back gave her a little pat and Nami knew he meant to tell her that she could do this. She nodded to Usopp who put his hand on her belly beside Luffy's. Zoro moved his hand lower so it was resting just beneath the bump, giving the other two men more space.
Apparently the baby in her womb, who had only just decided to make his presence known today, was enjoying all the attention as he flipped and kicked under the three hands on her stomach. Luffy was laughing, "shishishi," while Usopp gasped.
Across the table, Franky said, "My turn!" and pulled off Luffy and Usopp's hands to make way for his own. The cyborg's large hand opened up to reveal a smaller hand that telescoped across the table to land on Nami's stomach.
"Can you even feel something like that with metal hands?" Usopp asked.
"Of course, bro! I made them SUPER sensitive!" Franky said as already the tears were streaming down his face. "I'm not crying!" he shouted in a choked broken up voice before continuing in a softer tone, "Little guy is... just too... super..." and then added.
Beside the large cyborg Robin reached a gentle hand out to supportively rub his back just next to his large metal shoulder. "Idiot!" he shouted as the tears fell faster, "I don't need encouragement! I'm not crying!" But despite his words, he retracted his hand and leaned into the archaeologist's soft touch.
"Yo ho ho ho!" Brook laughed across the table clicking his bony fingers. "If you would please allow me, Nami-san."
Another slight nod, and Brook's skeletal hand was on her abdomen. The musician turned his large empty eye sockets to her and said, "Amazing," as his hand was bumped by the tiny yet strong movements. "I can feel his kicks against my palm... although... I don't have palms! Yo ho ho ho!"
Then an arm sprouted up on the table in front of Nami and hesitated slightly in front of her belly. After Nami gave a nod in Robin's direction, the slender hand reached out to Nami's big belly and on the other side of the table Robin wore and amused smile as her hand received several kicks.
Chopper had come around the table and was saying nervously while fiddling his hooves, "I know I just felt the baby earlier, but he wasn't moving and so..."
"Go ahead Chopper," Nami said with a small smile.
A tiny hoof came to rest on her stomach to feel the small bumps, but soon transformed into a large human hand. "I can feel a little better like this," Chopper said a little embarrassed, but Nami merely nodded.
When Chopper pulled his hand away, Nami looked expectantly at Sanji. The blond cook was the only one who had not immediately rushed up to feel her belly and he was the only one in the whole crew who seemed less than enthusiastic about the baby. But the cook didn't meet her eyes as he was clearing dishes off the table.
No one in the crew except Zoro noticed this exchange, as they were too busy discussing the movement of the little being inside of Nami. While the crew prattled on, Zoro leaned over and whispered into Nami's ear, "Don't let it get you down. He'll come around. If you are concerned you can always try talking to him after the meal."
Nami nodded. It made her uneasy to see Sanji acting distant, as he was the only one who knew the truth. She didn't think he'd purposefully go blabbing their secret, but he was always somewhat of a wild card. She whispered something to Zoro to which he nodded before turning back to his plate.
Picking up her fork, Nami started eating again when she felt a hand on her abdomen once more. Startled, Nami jumped and looked around to determine to whom the hand belonged. "Luffy!" she admonished, "I'm trying to eat now!"
"Shishishi! Sorry Nami!" the Captain laughed with a dopey grin on his face, "But it is pretty cool! It feels like an alien!" The whole crew laughed at this as they finished up the meal. Nami realized that she was going to have to get used to being touched again since being pregnant meant that her personal boundaries were somehow inconsequential.
As the crew left the dining hall one-by-one, Nami stayed behind in the kitchen where Sanji was busy washing dishes. "Can I help you, Sanji-kun?" Nami asked hoping the address would help soften him toward her.
Sanji sucked his teeth as if she were the last person he wanted to see, but he wouldn't act rudely toward a lady. "You can help dry them if you want, thanks," the cook said pointing to a dishtowel.
They cleaned in a companionable silence for a while, and when Nami was drying the last couple dishes, she spoke, "Didn't you want to feel the baby, Sanji-kun?"
The look in Sanji's eyes was full of hurt and sadness as he looked at her. "Nami-san, how am I supposed to sit there and pretend to be happy when I know how that baby got there? It's the same as it was that night, all I can do is sit back and watch these things happen to you. I can't fix things for you. Do you want me to smile like the oblivious crew and take pride in something that I know caused you so much pain? How am I supposed to do that?"
Nami looked down and unbuttoned the bottom three buttons of her blouse. This entire ordeal had taught her just how much physical contact could hurt and how much it could heal. As she spoke, Nami moved the material of her shirt aside and placed her hands on the smooth skin of her exposed belly. "He wasn't there that night," Nami said indicating the baby inside her, "so you can't hold it against him. And he isn't a punishment or a reminder; he's the light that makes me feel whole again. Sanji," when she spoke his name she looked into his eyes, "This little life was given to me to help me find my way out of the darkness. I know he's not even here yet, but already I care about him so much. When I think about him, I can't even regret what happened because then I wouldn't have him."
Sanji's eyes went wide at this declaration and he continued to stare at Nami and her bump. Looking at her, he didn't see pain or a woman who had been broken and shattered by doubt. Standing before him was a radiant woman, full of life! Pregnancy agreed with her and looking at her, Sanji could see why Zoro was so protective and so enthralled by her. A fond smile had come to her lips as she gently rubbed her belly.
"He's kicking again!" she said, "I think he likes your cooking." She reached out a hand to Sanji and waited expectantly.
After a few moments, Sanji let her take first one of his hand and then the other and place them gently on her abdomen. Her own small hands covered his and her child kicked at him from within her. Overcome by emotion, Sanji fell to his knees before her with his hands still feeling the life pulsing in her womb. It was so easy to fall in love with life, and this small creature inside Nami was asserting itself and shouting to the world "I'm alive! I'm here!" It had a new life all its own! He wasn't a remnant of the past, but a promise of the future.
Maybe this was what he had been so afraid of- feeling that little life and knowing that he had to let go of his anger and resentment over that night. For Nami, he wanted to rage at the world, and yet here was this innocent expression of happiness telling him that everything would turn out fine if he just let go.
"Sanji," Nami called to him and he looked up at her with unshed tears in his eyes. "We wanted to ask you to be the Godfather. You alone know the pain and the struggle we went through to get here. You were there with us and there for us after it happened. Will you stick with us through the good stuff as well."
There was that 'we' again- the one that ultimately excluded him. But no, she was saying they wanting him with them. They didn't want to exclude him at all; in fact they were asking him to share what they had found in this small wonder that wasn't even born yet. It wasn't sit back and watch Nami have a baby, watch that baby grow up, watch Zoro and Nami raise a child. Godfather! That meant they wanted him to have an active role in the child's life-a permanent role. Sanji rather liked the sound of that.
In an instant the cook was on his feet and had wrapped Nami in a hug. "Of course!" he said and despite his earlier words, he sounded excited.
Though Nami initially stiffened, she took three deep breaths and then lifted her arms up to the back of Sanji's shoulders returning the hug. She told herself this wasn't something scary, Sanji had always been there for her and was there for her now. He'd always be there for her- and her child- in the future. It wasn't so hard to return his hug. And yet, it wasn't the same comforting embrace that she had with Zoro. There was nothing about this hug that made her desperate to cling to the man and after a few seconds, Nami let her arms drop and stepped back.
It was then that Sanji seemed to remember himself and said, "Ah! Sorry, Nami-san. I got carried away. I didn't frighten you, did I?" And he had been doing such a good of restraining himself around her too.
Nami waved him off. "Really, it's okay. I'm getting better with that." Then she smiled, "Didn't you see today with the crew? Everyone touched the baby and I didn't flinch at all! It's the most I've been able to handle since that night!"
"Yeah," Sanji smiled, "You were great today."
"Thanks, Sanji-kun!" she said beaming up at the man.
And because he'd been avoiding her slightly since he'd found out about the pregnancy, and since she'd been too preoccupied with the pregnancy to really pay much attention to anything else, the two pirates silently agreed to spend the afternoon catching up.
Nami helped Sanji get the food ready for dinner and enjoyed an extra snack in the meanwhile. Her appetite had come back and was now a rival for Luffy's! It was good to sit and talk amiably about something other than that night. And when Sanji called the crew for dinner, both Sanji and Nami felt that much of the damage had been repaired to their fragile relationship.
When Zoro entered the dining hall with Brook in tow, Sanji heard the swordsman ask Nami in a quiet whispered tone, "Did you ask him?"
Nami nodded enthusiastically.
"Good!" said Zoro before straightening up and Sanji smugly realized that even Zoro had actually wanted him to be Godfather to that little baby. Heartened, Sanji said, "Let's eat!"
Dinner was always a wild affair on the Thousand Sunny. There were always at least three people talking- sometimes shouting- and laughter filled the room. Of course that is to say nothing of the mad scramble to stuff yourself with food while there was still food left! By the end of dinner, everyone was in a good mood.
Luffy, being both full and silly, leaned back on the bench, pointed to his bloated belly and said, "Look Nami! I'm having a baby too!"
Soon enough Usopp and Chopper were pretending to feel the "baby" in Luffy's stomach and carrying on until Luffy let out a great belch and snapped back to his former size.
Most of the crew laughed, but Sanji kicked him in he head shouting, "Don't do gross things at dinner!"
But even after getting kicked, Luffy just laughed. The crew finished up their rowdy meal and retired for the night.
When Zoro came to her room that evening, Nami was already laying under the covers. He crossed the room to the wardrobe and started to pull out pajamas. Nami's cheeks began to blush crimson, but she was determined to ask him something anyhow. "Zoro," she called quietly sitting up slightly in bed, "you should just wear pajama bottoms and not a top."
"Why is that," he asked with a smirk even though he planed to heed her request.
But his question made her blush rather prettily and he wasn't sorry he asked. "Because I like the feeling of your skin on mine when you hold me at night."
"Then I won't wear a shirt," he said and pulled his day shirt off for emphasis.
With a small smile, Nami laid back down. She pretended not to look while he changed, but the further along her pregnancy got, the more curious she'd become about Zoro's body. Of course right now he was only swapping his trousers for his pajama bottoms, so she wouldn't see anything too scandalous- just a glimpse of his underthings as he changed. Truth be told, she'd blame all that on the hormones brought on by the pregnancy.
Eventually, Zoro slid into bed next to her in some soft cotton shorts and she cuddled up to him right away. His eyebrows shot up when his hands came in contact with bare skin. "What's this?" he said pulling back the covers to examine her outfit.
Tonight Nami was wearing a comfortable pair of sleeping shorts and a tank top that said "rock"- only this tank top was cropped under her breasts to leave her entire pregnant belly exposed. "I know how much you like to feel my belly," Nami explained not adding how much she liked how it felt when he held her in her bikini.
The swordsman smirked and then put his hand on her stomach feeling for the little life within. It seemed that the baby was being quiet tonight, so Zoro sat up and put two hands on her belly and pressed his cheek to it as well so his mouth was right near her stomach. "Hey, Little Guy! It's me! Uhh... Dad. If you're awake, let me know. Come on." Zoro was rewarded with a swift kick to the chin. "Ow!" he sat up and rubbed his chin with a laugh. "He is strong." And then he was leaning back down and pushing gently on Nami's stomach. Every time he'd press down in one spot, the baby would turn and kick there. If Zoro moved so did the baby. Watching this strange playtime made Nami laugh.
"He's got good aim," Zoro said approvingly.
"He probably thinks his home is collapsing!" Nami countered with a smile.
Shrugging Zoro bent down and whispered loudly to Nami's belly while rubbing, "I think your Mommy wants us to stop playing for now. Goodnight Little One." Before he had time to think about it, he had planted a gentle kiss on her belly.
When Zoro stretched back out beside Nami, she was fixing him with an unusual look. "What?" he asked.
"You called me, 'Mommy,' it's the first time I've heard it applied to me," Nami answered quite seriously.
"I can call you something else if you like. Ma, Mother, 'Little Mama'..." Zoro began listing variations of Mother but Nami cut him off.
"No! Mommy is fine. I think it was the way you said it that struck me anyhow," Nami offered.
Zoro was a bit confused, "How did I say it?"
Thinking of the best way to answer this question Nami shrugged. "Like we were a 'we' instead of a separate 'you' and 'me."
"Is that bad?" Zoro asked uncertain.
But Nami shook her head, "I liked it." After a moment she blushed and added, "I also liked when you kissed my belly. It was sweet."
Now Zoro's cheeks had taken on a slightly pink hue. In the moment he had been excited about his son, he hadn't been thinking about actually kissing Nami's belly. But that is exactly what he had done. And here he was supposed to be staying away from her except for comforting her enough to give her a sound night's sleep. "Sorry," he breathed.
But then Nami had rolled toward him and pressed a kiss on his cheek. "Don't apologize. I said I liked it."
Zoro could feel the spot on his cheek where her lips had just touched as if they were still there. In fact, that spot on his face had gotten very warm and a kind of tingling sensation had taken over him. Nami was settling back against him and he could feel her bare skin on his torso and arms. The skin contact between them really did feel great. They laid on their sides facing each other and Zoro wrapped his arms protectively around her. He began to small rub circles on her back and could soon feel her nipples tightening under the flimsy fabric of her tank top and he realized she wasn't wearing a bra.
Part of Zoro was quite excited by that idea and wanted to explore her body, but he knew that he'd made a promise to protect her. Sometimes that promise might even meant protecting her from himself and his own selfish desires. So with great determination, he pressed his lips to her forehead and whispered, "Good night, Nami."
That night was all the encouragement Nami needed to change their usual greeting from a hug to a peck on the cheek. She'd kiss his cheek the mornings when he'd leave for his workout and she kiss his cheek when he came to her in the night. The slight pressure of her lips pressing into his cheek shouldn't have left a big dopey grin on his face all morning, but it did. And he could feel the tingling of where her lips had touched even hours after the kiss was over. Since he liked that small display of affection so much, he would return the favor at night placing one gentle kiss on her abdomen and another on her forehead. Every night they would fall asleep in each other's arms. Holding those precious treasures in his arms made Zoro feel stronger for all that he had to protect.
And yet, despite how good things were between then, Nami still found herself standing at the railing Friday afternoon looking listlessly out to see. In most of her life, she'd only come across situations that eased when you took care of them. Eating got rid of hunger; sleeping got rid of exhaustion; joking with friends cured boredom and sadness. Yet, she was now experiencing a different sort of feeling and no matter how much she tried to quell it, it only got stronger.
Every time she came into contact with Zoro, she wanted more contact. She would feel the need to touch him build up in her throughout the day instead of being satisfied when she touched him, even a slight tough was like throwing more timber on an open flame. And that momentous need seemed to burn Nami more with every passing day. Now that she knew the feeling of his cheek under her lips, she desperately wanted to know what it felt like for her lips to touch a few inches over and meet his lips. Part of this insistence was probably due to pregnancy hormones, but most of it had to do with the closeness they now shared.
The strangest part was that she still wasn't completely comfortable with contact yet. She'd been able to tolerate hands on her belly or any other similar affections, but if her friends went to touch her shoulder or arm, she'd still pull away. If she really focused, she could tolerate the touch, but it did take a great deal of effort. Yet with Zoro that boundary wasn't there. Sometime her body felt like it was begging for him to touch her anywhere, possibly everywhere.
Suddenly, a spry figure popped up in Nami's peripheral vision startling her out of her deep thoughts. Looking at the figure, she noticed that Luffy was gripping his hat against the wind and grinning at her like a Cheshire cat. His smile was infectious and Nami caught herself returning his look. "What is it Luffy?" she laughed softly.
"Ah!" he exclaimed as if he had been the one to get startled. "Well we were on the deck and Robin said you looked plentive, but didn't explain what it meant. So I decided to come over her and make sure you were okay."
Laughing and in better spirits, Nami said, "I think she said 'pensive' Luffy. It means I'm thinking."
"No wonder you were looking so unhappy!" Luffy exclaimed. Then he grinned. "Whatcha thinking about, Nami?"
Nami looked up at one of her oldest friends and his innocent smile. Today she found his steadfast grin encouraging. "Just trying to sort through my feelings, Luffy," Nami answered honestly.
"You have mystery feelings, Nami?" Luffy asked concerned. When Nami nodded, Luffy said in an overly serious voice, "I get those sometimes."
Nami didn't mean to laugh at this, but a small giggle escaped her lips. "What do you then?" Nami asked.
"It's like this," Luffy explained as he looked out to sea and held his hat on his head. "Eyes closed. Wind in your face. And you stop thinking. You just feel for a few seconds and the wind will blow your heart in the right direction."
"How do you know it's the right direction?" the navigator hesitantly asked her captain.
"Because it hasn't been the wrong one yet! You try it, Nami," Luffy suggested with a large smile.
So Nami looked out to sea once more and closed her eyes. This time she put all thoughts and words out of her mind. Her long hair whipped wildly around her in the breeze and Nami concentrated on not on her thoughts but her feelings. After a few minutes, her mind emptied to a deliciously blank state where she was warm and comfortable.
She could feel strong arms wrapping around her from behind and holding her close. Nami didn't need her eyes to know whose arms they were- she'd memorized their feeling long ago and she didn't know anyone else who smelled like steel. He leaned over from behind and pressed his lips to her cheek. Then he rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered three words into her ear.
Nami's eyes snapped open and she was again holding onto the railing next to Luffy, only now her knuckles were white with tension. Zoro was nowhere around. Her wide eyes must have betrayed her epiphany because Luffy said, "Figure it out?"
Nodding enthusiastically, Nami said, "I think I did, Luffy. How insightful!"
"Shi shi shi!" Luffy laughed as he scratched his head. "Things like that are easy for me!" Then he paused for a moment and seemed to ponder something. He spoke again, this time with a less certain voice. "Hey Nami, since I helped you out, can I feel the baby? Sanji says we can't be bothering you all the time to feel him. But I thought since I did help..."
Nami laughed. So that was why the crew had gotten less touchy as time went on. "Of course, Luffy!" Nami said turning around and leaning her back against the railing.
Wasting no time, Luffy placed two hands on her stomach and then pouted. "Hey, Nami. He's not doing anything!"
"Try talking to him," Nami suggested. "Sometimes, the sound really gets him going."
"Okay," Luffy smiled and then bent down to Nami's tummy. "Hey Tiny Nakama! It's your captain! You have to start moving around now, captain's orders!"
The small fetus reacted to the sound of Luffy's low booming voice and began to kick. Luffy looked up at Nami with a very pleased expression, "See! He knows his captain!"
Nami grinned back at him and said, "I guess he does."
"You aren't bothering Nami-san are you, Luffy?" asked a voice coming up on Nami's right.
The tall cook was looking at Luffy as if the latter had been caught with his hands in the fridge.
"It's alright, Sanji," Nami said, "Luffy helped me with a particularly vexing problem so I told him he could feel the baby."
"Well," Sanji said hesitantly with a harsh look at the captain, "As long as he isn't bugging you."
"Not at all," Nami said while Luffy flashed the cook a large grin. "Would you like to feel too Sanji?"
Sanji's hands had joined Luffy's in an instant and soon they were all marveling at the small wonder inside of Nami's belly.
Having finally gotten some clarity that morning, Nami spent the afternoon joking around with her crew. The more time she spent joking around with them now, the more she realized they were still the same large family they had been before. It was really Nami that changed and once she understood this, she could easily find her way to fit back in. She smiled and laughed at the boys while complaining to Robin how immature they were. It felt just like old times.
So that night she was in a good mood as she sat on her bed waiting for Zoro to come in. Even her good mood however couldn't stop the butterflies from clenching in her stomach. She knew what she wanted, but had no idea about Zoro. The door creaked open and Nami jumped to her feet and greeted him with a yelp, "Zoro!"
Fearing something was wrong he was across the floor and had her scooped up in his arms in an instant. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Nami said planting a kiss on his cheek in her now usual greeting. "But I wanted to talk about something."
As she lead Zoro to the bed, she missed the guarded look that came into his eyes. They sat down and Nami hesitantly began fiddling with the hem of her nightshirt. "Zoro," she said, he voice full of emotion. "I don't want to pretend anymore."
His heart sank. He'd been fearing those words for so long, but he saw the progress she made every day. Weeks ago he had realized that she wouldn't need him for too much longer. He had been holding onto a sliver of hope that once that need ended she would still want to be around him, but he never held out too much on hope. If she wanted to be rid of him, he would keep his promise to keep her safe and let her be. He wouldn't force his presence on her when she could stand on her own.
"I understand," the swordsman said in a voice that betrayed no emotion at all. He stood and crossed the room to the dresser. "I'll pack my things."
"Zoro?" Nami was confused. She'd just told him she wanted to make their relationship real and he was leaving? What kind of a response was that? It didn't take much to set her off these day, so by the time she managed to get across the room and take hold of his arm, there were tears in her eyes. "Why are you leaving? Didn't you hear what I just said?"
Zoro looked at her and tried not to let the anger of her rejection show through. "You said you don't want to pretend with me anymore. So I'm getting out of your way so you don't have to pretend. I told you I won't force anything on you so... why are you crying?" he finally seemed to notice the tears on her cheeks and despite the rejection he was feeling, he couldn't keep himself from reaching out and brushing the tears off her cheeks. He would still keep her safe even if it was at a distance.
By the time he finished talking, Nami realized he misunderstood. She shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that," Nami said softly.
Trying to ignore the pounding in his chest, Zoro asked, "What did you mean?"
And her delicate fingers linked around the back of his neck and pulled his head down to her own. It was a sweet kiss full of her hopes for them and the longer they kissed, the more Zoro felt pulled to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and felt her hands pulling him closer. Then her tongue was against his lips begging for entrance. His lips parted and he allowed his own tongue to come out and meet hers happily. The kiss made him realize just how much he had wanted to kiss her these past few months.
Now that they had started, it seemed neither pirate could stop. Soon enough, Zoro had Nami pressed up against a wall while his tongue explored her sensual mouth. His hands were on her hips trying to pull her as close to him as possible. And Nami was moaning into his mouth giving the kiss a pleasant vibration. Her hands had moved from his neck to his shoulders and had now made their way under his shirt lingering on their way. Beneath her fingers, his pulse tapped out a rapid beat of exhilaration.
When they finally parted, Nami's lips were swollen and her eyes were sparkling with desire. "What I meant, Zoro, is that I didn't want to pretend anymore. It's silly to have to pretend to be your lover when I already feel so much for you. I want it, Zoro. I want not just the touching, but the kissing, the holding and more. I want you!"
Zoro looked down at her if he couldn't believe the words he was hearing. This woman that he had grown to care about so much, this incredible woman who had decided to bear his son actually wanted to be with him. And not just as a show, but because she wanted him. Pulling her to him once more, Zoro brushed his lips lightly against hers since he didn't trust himself to speak. Then he pulled back with his hands cupping her face so he could look into her eyes. Those large amber orbs were shining with feelings and Zoro could see just how much she cared for him. His heart was thumping so quickly it hurt.
There in her eyes he could see everything he would fight to protect. They were friends and at the same time more than friends, lovers and yet more than lovers. This woman was one that he would spend his whole life caring about. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest he shut his eyes and held her while a new feeling of rightness washed over him. For the first time, he allowed himself to think the one simple thought that had been on the edge of his mind for months: mine. He almost couldn't believe that fate had this in store for him; though truth be told, it wasn't the straightforward path that most couples traversed. But no matter how difficult their journey- and it was by no means over- the results were sweeter for their struggle. With renewed resolve, Zoro whispered against the long strands of Nami's orange hair, "I'm not good with that feeling stuff, but I promise I won't let you get hurt again, Nami. I will protect you with everything I have for as long as I live."
Looking up at him with a smile in her eyes, Nami said, "I know." And she kissed the tip of his nose. "I might not be a great fighter, but I'll fight for you in the ways I know how. There are still goals you need to reach- I'll guide your way. I'm not good at too many domestic things, so even with a child I won't exactly be the kind of girl to sit home and play house. I'll be right there by your side."
"Yeah," Zoro smirked, "I wouldn't have it any other way." He tangled his hands in the ends of her long hair and kissed her lips again. Holding her in his arms made him feel whole. With a kiss to her forehead he said, "Let's go to bed." Nami nodded and they retreated to the bed. Though Zoro had held her every night for the past few months, it felt different knowing she wanted to be with him. It actually took quite sometime for them to drift off to sleep that night because every available moment of consciousness was spent on the new marvel they had found in kissing one another.
Zoro had thought that they would probably continue the same behavior that they had previously shown in front of the crew. He didn't expect their new commitment to make a difference in the way they acted during the day, but when Zoro and Brook climbed down from the crow's nest for lunch, Nami raced up to Zoro, threw her arms around his thick neck and planted the sweetest kiss on his lips right in front of Usopp, Chopper and Franky.
"I'm all sweaty," Zoro observed, though he was happy to hold her. Behind him Usopp's jaw was hanging open, Chopper was blushing furiously and Franky was crying a massive stream of tears behind his sunglasses. It was one thing to know Nami and Zoro had been intimate, it was different to actually see them kiss. Even the kisses on his cheek had only happened in the privacy of her bedroom.
"I don't care," was her reply as she kissed him again. There was a happy glow about her and Zoro took pride in the fact that he had put it there as he tangled his hands in her hair and kissed her back affectionately, not caring who was staring at them.
A large crash sounded from the kitchen and all the crew rushed over to see the commotion. Luffy- who was often the first crewmember in the dining hall for meals- explained: Sanji had been getting the lunch ready when he turned around, swore, and dropped almost everything he was holding. Judging by the way he crumpled on the ground facing the window, he had caught a glimpse of Zoro and Nami's kiss. There was a dazed expression on the cook's face and Chopper insisted on taking the man into the sick bay before lunch.
Chopper returned a few minutes later. "Sanji will be fine. He's suffered a minor shock and just needs to rest."
The crew sat down to a mostly quiet meal, which was good since the blond cook was still recovering from his shock next door.
Zoro knew without being told, that the cook would be looking for him before the day was out and he was right. The blond man had recovered in enough time to make dinner and sought Zoro out when the dinner mess was cleaned up. The green swordsman was leaning on the rail of the aft deck staring out to sea wondering if he really was lucky enough to deserve such a woman.
Wordlessly, the tall cook came up and leaned against the railing next to Zoro and took a drag on his cigarette. After a long moment of silence, he glowered at Zoro and said, "Want to tell me what the hell you were doing on the deck with Nami today?"
There was no need to hide it, the cook would find out soon enough. With half a shrug, Zoro answered in a bored voice. "Kissing her, probably."
The cook's jaw got tight as his teeth clenched and his eyes narrowed. He turned to look at the large man standing next to him, and growled, "You were supposed to protect her not seduce her you fucking marimo! I don't know why I thought you could do something so simple." He had grabbed the collar of Zoro's shirt and was now inches away from the other man's face.
Zoro glared back at the cook, "I've never stopped protecting her asshole! And I never will! Ever day I strengthen my body, mind and sword so that I'll be able to cut down the man who hurt her when we meet him. Every night, I hold her to protect her from the dreams that haunt her sleep. And all the while she grows heavy with my child. Did you really think I wouldn't fall for her?"
"Fell for her? What does a guy with muscles for brain know about falling for anyone?" the tall cook taunted, blowing smoke in the other man's direction.
"I know enough to hang on to her when I've found her and no shitty cook is going to come between us." Zoro's teeth flashed as he snarled his reply to the cook.
Sanji nearly shouted as he answered back, "At least I respect her enough to keep my distance after what she's been through!"
When Zoro spoke, his voice was soft but biting, "You're just pissed that I can make her happy when you can't."
There was a tense moment where Sanji glared daggers at the swordsman, before shoving the other man back from him. With an exasperated sigh, the cook ran a hand through his shaggy blond locks and then crumpled over onto the railing. He took a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly. "I just don't see why she has to need you so much."
Sensing that the other man had gotten his anger out, Zoro leaned next to him on the rail. "She needs you too, you know. Differently, but she still needs you."
"Yeah," he blond laughed hopelessly, "when she needs a friend."
"Best friend was the word she used when she told me," Zoro added. Though his words were kind, his voice remained flat. The effort of remaining civil with this cook who obviously had feelings for Nami, was a little more than Zoro cared to expend. But he had promised Nami, and so for her sake he would try to smooth things over with the other man.
Sanji looked in Zoro's direction. "Did she really say that?"
Zoro nodded and said, "You should talk to her about it really, if you have doubts about us or doubts about your relationship with her. But you are the only other person she can really open to completely. She'd be upset if you let this get between you."
"Easy for you to say," Sanji claimed taking another drag of his cigarette, "You're the one who got the girl."
Shrugging, Zoro said, "Such is fate. But things won't always be so for you. There are more women out there. Or men if you'd prefer."
"Watch it sword-brain!" Sanji gripped at Zoro's joke.
"Alright, alright," the large man said waving his hands, "Just don't let whatever pitfalls you are hitting affect Nami, okay?"
"What does it matter? She's got you," Sanji's demeanor was defeated and his voice soft as his fingers toyed with his cigarette.
Zoro whacked Sanji on the back of his blond head with the handle of his sword earning an "ouch!" from the other man. "Grow up. I'm sure you'll be back to your usual swooning over all girls routine in no time, Love-cook."
"I can only hope," Sanji whispered to the sea.
"Whatever," Zoro shrugged crossing his arms. "We done here?"
"I guess," Sanji said.
Zoro left the depressed cook to go train a bit more before bed. He said he'd be civil to the cook, but he never agreed to stroke the man's ego. If Sanji was having issues, the cook would have to solve them himself.
That night when Zoro snuggled up to Nami with his hand tucked under the bottom of her shirt and his lips kissing her ear, he decided that things couldn't get better than they were for he and Nami. The woman in his arms shifted and her breast grazed against him and Zoro stifled a groan. The hardest part of being with her was not asking more of her. He had already begun wanting her back when he first saw the evidence of his seed inside her. The closer they got, the harder it was to stay away from her. And yet pushing her too far would be disastrous. He cared about her enough not to muck things up. Now, if he could only find some way to be near her and not get too excited, then everything would be great.
For now, Zoro simply pressed his lips to her ear and neck and throat before bringing them back up to her sweet mouth capturing her parted lips in a display of his passion. As he kissed her, she rubbed her hands all over his chest and back creating such delicious sensations in him. It would be hard to keep his hands off of her, but he was bound and determined to do it.
As far as Nami was concerned his kiss was even better than she imagined. Hid body was firm but his lips were soft. That coupled with the way he held her made her head spin. It was in these moments, with his lips pressed so firmly to her own, that Nami felt enjoyment again. And it was almost enough to last her from one kiss to the next. Here, with Zoro, she was safe.
As time wore on, Nami began to get bigger and life at sea was not as easy as it once had been. What she'd told Zoro about domestic pursuits was true: she had always been crap at those girly things- Zoro, Luffy and Usopp knew that fact well enough since they had been forced to eat her cooking before Sanji joined the crew. There was only one domestic task Nami was good at: sewing. That was why it had always been her job to repair Luffy's hat.
So as Nami got larger and it became harder to walk around the ship, she decided she was going to sew her child's receiving blanket. In addition to hat repair, Nami was often entrusted with mending for the other crewmembers, but sometimes- especially after fights- some clothing was just too tattered to be repaired. They made lovely scraps though. And that was what Nami was sorting through when she picked out a piece of green fabric from the pants Zoro was wearing on Thriller Bark. Here was Luffy's vest from Skypia. And she had the old coat Sanji had worn when he'd first joined the crew. There were a few old shirts of Franky's that wouldn't fit the cyborg anymore and a few tattered overalls from Usopp. One of Brook's old silk cravats was amongst the pile as were a couple of deep purple dresses Robin had owned. Even Chopper had ripped a shirt or two to shreds after one of his transformations. Most of the desert costumes from Alabasta had made it into this pile. From her own clothing, she selected the top she wore when they'd faced Arlong and the skirt she wore when she first joined the crew.
These scraps, Nami diligently hand washed and hung to dry. They were cut into perfectly matched sized squares and carefully organized these pieces into the quilt that she would sew together. The first two squares were from her blue dancing outfit and the wild shirt Zoro had worn in Alabasta. From here an entire blanket would take shape. A blanket made with love from the well-worn fabrics that had been worn but the members of the Straw Hat pirates. The moment her baby was born, he would be surrounded by the Straw Hat's will to protect each other.
Aside from her new project, life on the Sunny followed the same predictable pattern of mayhem. Sailing was easy enough since there was very little the sea could throw at Nami that she couldn't navigate out of; but docking was another issue entirely- especially on a boat full of overprotective men. When they got to an island, Nami was not allowed to go onto the island, until the others checked it out she had to wait on the Sunny with her two bodyguards Zoro and Sanji. Nami argued that an island was probably perfectly safe until Luffy pissed somebody off, so she'd be better spent visiting the island first and then being confined to her cabin. But neither Zoro nor Sanji would hear such arguments.
Even when Luffy had scratched his head and said, "Shi shi shi. Nami that makes sense. Okay you can come with me!" Zoro and Sanji had both shouted, "NO WAY!" and smacked the idiotic captain over the head.
So Nami agreed to staying on the ship the first day while the men scoped things out. She was able to get on land the second day and enjoy some restaurants and shopping, but it wasn't the same with Zoro and Sanji tagging along. Nami found herself nostalgic for the days when she and Robin could just go off and shop. They would hang out and talk, try on clothes and gossip. But these days Zoro and Sanji trailed five feet behind them.
Robin laughed and said, "Boys tend to get that way when their women are breeding."
"Ugh. When you say it like that you make me feel like cattle!" Nami replied laughing with her friend. Behind them, Sanji and Zoro walked seriously and stoically taking their guard responsibilities very earnestly.
Still it was nice to have them there since just their ominous presence was enough to keep people from messing with the girls- they also helped convince greedy shop keepers to lower their outrageous prices.
"See those two angry looking men over there?" Nami asked hitching a thumb in their direction as she leaned over the counter to whisper to the rotund man.
"They look very strong," the round shop owner answered apprehensively.
"Don't let their looks deceive you- they are much stronger than they look!" She gave the sweaty owner some time to process that statement before she said, "They like it when I'm happy. But if I leave somewhere looking upset, they go back to settle things with the people who made me unhappy." Nami gave the owner a cheerful smile while the owners eyes darted between her and the two strong body guards. "It's a little annoying to drag them around all day but you can't beat having friends like those."
Nami lifted a delicate hand in the direction of her two friends. Zoro nodded in reply and Sanji lifted his own hand in return. Neither smiled as they rather disliked shopping. Turning back to the owner, Nami said, "Sorry what were we talking about? Oh the price! Right. I'll have an eighty percent discount thanks!"
Smiling widely, she watched as the shopkeeper adjusted the price and put the clothes into shopping bags. Robin laughed behind her hand as Nami paid the man a ridiculously small sum for the amount they were buying. Once the transaction was over, Zoro and Sanji collected the bags and Nami linked her arms through both men's arms and said, "Anyone else hungry?"
"Ah, Nami-swan," Sanji started, "lets return to the ship and I will make you the most delicious lunch!"
"Nah," Nami said stopping in the middle of the road and thinking. After a moment, she added brightly, "I want tacos!" And no sooner had she said it than the small party was moving in the direction of a nearby taco shop. It was nice being the one everyone turned to for decision-making.
At dinner that night, Luffy and Sanji were having their usual argument. "But Sanji," the captain pouted, "how come Nami gets so much food?"
"Because," Sanji raged at the rubber man, "Nami is eating for two!"
"That's not fair, Sanji! That's only because Zoro picked her. Zoro, next time, give me your baby so I can eat all the meat!" Luffy shouted authoritatively.
This caused the swordsman in question to choke on his food and start coughing. Nami, Chopper and Robin were all giggling like fiends, while Usopp waved his hand saying, "Luffy I don't think it works like that."
Franky was egging him on though, "Zoro's already got Nami, Straw Hat. But Cook-bro hasn't got anybody. Maybe you should have his baby instead."
"Really, Sanji! Can I have your baby then?" Luffy asked turning to the blond cook.
"DON'T SAY REDICULOUS THINGS!" Sanji shouted as his foot came crashing down on the Captain's head.
"Luffy," Chopper explained, "It takes a man and a woman to make a baby."
"Okay," Luffy declared with new resolve, "I'll have Robin's baby then!"
This caused new fits of laughter all around before Robin could calm down enough to say, "It wouldn't work like that, Luffy. It's the woman who has to carry the baby and I won't do anything like that until after I've found all the poneglyphs."
Now Luffy really pouted. If no one would give him a baby, then he wasn't going to get any extra food.
"Here, Luffy," Nami said, "Have some of mine. Sanji always give me more than I can eat anyhow."
"I have to!" the cook declared pointing an accusing finger at the captain, "Luffy always tried to eat it all since he knows you get more!"
But Luffy was too busy grinning and stuffing his face to reply. Nami laughed as she picked at her food. When she was done she laid her head on Zoro's shoulder and was rewarded by his arm wrapping around her. Here eyes were closed, so she didn't see the look on Sanji's face as he stood up and started clearing away the dishes. Soon enough, the crew began retiring for bed and Nami stood up and grabbed Zoro's hand to lead him to her room for a night of blissfully sweet kisses.
Author's Note: Aww yay! Is this a step in the right direction? I was going to split it up and make you wait until next chapter for any kissing, but I was feeling nice! :) A slow step in the right direction.
Thanks again for reading! You all make me so happy! If I don't get more posted before then (which let's face it, I probably will) have a happy holiday! :)