hmfan24: Um. So I tried writing a few lemons, but I feel like they're too dirty. Lol, I saw some of you all skipped to the lust chapter! I bet I disappointed you with the lack of a lemon. Haha.

I don't have any other pairings in this story so far. I haven't really decided on any yet.

Surprise Question

When Nami finally left the bathroom, Luffy stopped holding his breath. "Ahhh," he exhaled, "That was close." As he struggled to get to his feet and leave the tub, he reached for the cold water faucet in the separate shower area.

Letting the icy water splash against his skin, he watched his manhood shrink back to its usual size. However, thoughts of Nami's naked, wet body caused it to bob up and down. He sought to conquer his lust in order to fall for her properly, but following the awakening of such hunger, he had difficulty suppressing it. Upon discovering this desire, he found that the lines blurred between his natural reaction to lust and his natural reaction to love. Lust frustrated and annoyed him while love brought a sense of serenity. Naturally, he favored the latter feeling.

Perhaps the two feelings could combine at some point, but today, he resolved to carry out his mission of making Nami his wife. The thought shook him where he stood. Usually, he didn't take much time to make a decision. Maybe he'd feel better if he sent the letter off to Ace, so he dried off and headed to the girls' quarters.

As Luffy slipped down the ladder to the library, his rear end pressed against the top of someone's hot, round head. Nami, with frazzled hair, stepped out of the way. Still panting, she staggered back to the wall until Luffy could get to the floor. His heart raced again, and he couldn't look her in the eye. The sun's light entered the library in a way that he could see her silhouette looking at the ground. All he could hear was her heavily breathing until water splashed and stained the hardwood below her. Gritting his teeth, Luffy instantaneously looked up to her.

Nami whimpered, "Luffy." Standing there so helplessly, she frowned with scarlet burning beneath her watery eyes. The shining moisture beneath her nose along with the fat cascading tears caught the light from the sun. What could she say after all? Sobbing instead of speaking, she bit her lip in an attempt to stifle her noise. She didn't mean to cause him anguish.

Gulping, he wished he could read her mind. Uncertainty rarely held Luffy back like this, but he had to do something soon - she needed him.

No inhibition could restrain him from falling to his knees. His moist palms slammed against the hardwood. "Nami," he began as his weakened elbows tremored. "Marriage is something Ace told me to do when I fall in love. When you get married, you have a party and start a new life together, but we can still do the same things we did before."

"I know what marriage is," she interrupted.

Finally, she was able to smile again. Although she smiled, the mass of sadness in her chest didn't go away. She knew what was coming, and her shaking shoulders calmed down to a halt. Luffy was the man she loved, and he pacified her spirit at that moment. Not every day did she witness her captain flustered. Just a short while ago, she was emotionally in tatters, and Luffy's presence gradually assuaged her despair. She felt like she didn't deserve him, but her greed got the best of her. She wanted him for herself.

Luffy didn't miss a beat to continue. His full heart did not allow him to delay this confession. "I've never felt like this before. You've never looked this pretty. Even though I feel weak, I'm happy, and I want to make you happy, and I love you. Nami, can we get married? Will you marry me?" he begged almost.

Out of breath, Luffy couldn't seem to make eye contact with her. This question wasn't like asking someone to join his crew. No, this invitation was a lot bigger, and he didn't know how she'd respond. He couldn't force her to marry him, but where would that leave them if she turned him down? He couldn't think about that when he asked. At that moment, he couldn't bring himself to look at her expression.

The navigator, in all her foresight, already knew her answer since she left her room. She, too, had a hunger for adventure. "Do you want to do that tonight?" she grinned. Joy filled her heart. Flowers sprouted from her soul as she could hardly suppress her elation.

Around the room, the sun became brighter to her as the air became cooler and lighter. The new light euphoria quickly replaced the anxiety and guilt she felt before. Now, looking into his increasingly bright eyes, she gained a cozy sense of security. He looked so dopey when his jaw dropped. Leaning down, she kissed his forehead.

Before she arrived at the library to meet him, she had experienced doubt in her ability to answer to him properly. She couldn't rid the guilt from her head for long enough to think straight, but when she finally focused on the fun they would have as a couple, her answer became apparent. Luffy was her captain, her friend, and her lover. For a long time, she loved him, and when their relationship became romantic, her love evolved into something more intimate. She laughed just as he picked her up to swing her around.

Nami didn't think of love for most of her life. She never fantasized about a wedding or a charismatic prince. After all, she lived her life either cooped up in a room or constantly fleeing with her boon. Her cynicism hardly allowed for her to make friends outside her hometown. Whenever she attracted attention from men, they'd want her body. This love affair with Luffy was a lot purer, and so, she didn't know how to handle her emotions as they came to fruition. Initially, she didn't enjoy the unpredictability of love, for she had an easier time forecasting the weather. Luffy saved her from Arlong, and she could trust him more than anyone. There was nothing else to contemplate.

"My heart feels like it could burst, Nami," cheered Luffy before he lowered her to share a passionate kiss. He had to remind himself to practice restraint and not kiss her too passionately. A lingering peck on the lips sufficed. As he placed her on the floor, he marveled at her. His cheeks perked up with pride. By that night, she'd be his wife.

Later that afternoon, Usopp watched the deck as Nami and Luffy frolicked across the green lawn together towards the fore. He smiled. The scene reminded him of how he played with Kaya in his childhood. While he didn't understand a lot about love, he enjoyed witnessing the whimsical experience. He never predicted his dear friend Luffy would pursue that kind of felicity. Vicariously, he wanted to gift Luffy with an opportunity to express his feelings. Maybe one day he'd return and fulfill his romantic tale, but for now, he wanted to grant the experience to his dear friend.

In the aquarium lounge, Usopp managed to get ahold of Robin, Brook, Franky, and Chopper. Zoro vouched not to get involved, and Usopp decided Sanji wasn't emotionally ready to get involved. He wanted to plan a special date night for the new couple. There was no need for their Nakama to sneak around behind their backs just to love each other. In order to foster a loving relationship within their ship, he thought they needed to express their support as a crew. The general squabble had ended, and they needed to regroup. "I think we all support Nami and Luffy's new relationship, but what if we pulled together and gave them a super romantic night together?" Usopp suggested.

Franky snickered, "Super romantic? I see what you're thinking. Sex is super romantic."

"N-No, not sex," blabbed Usopp. His face lit up in a red hue. "Nami and Luffy are too young for something like that," he added.

Before Franky could express his confusion, Brook chimed, "No one on this ship is too young for sex. Youth is the best time to do it."

Chopper and Usopp were dying of embarrassment from the conversation. That's not what they wanted to picture when they thought of their friends. However, on second thought, imagining Nami naked wasn't too unpleasant for Usopp. Shaking his head, he cleared his throat. "I was thinking about a dinner. A dinner!" he exclaimed, "I could make some fireworks. Brook could play some music. And we'd all give our best wishes to the happy couple."

Robin might not have shown it through her small smile, but she felt enthusiastic that everyone was finally willing to show their support. Well, there were two exceptions - one yellow and one green. They were closer to embracing the love affair than they had been before. "Sanji could cook," she volunteered him. Usopp gave her a thumbs up, and she nodded, "I am sure he will play along." While he might not agree immediately, Robin knew she could convince him somehow. The only one left would be Zoro.

As the group of pirates continued planning out the night, Sanji leaned against the exterior wall of the aquarium bar. He managed to hear a bit of the Straw Hat's private conversation. Whether they'd believe him or not, he too had smiled upon Nami's blissful innocence as she chased Luffy on the lawn. Seeing the woman so full of joy made it difficult for him to harbor any remnants of resentment towards the relationship. In fact, he found himself hoping something came of their relationship. He trusted Luffy's integrity, and so far, the captain had been able to make her happy.

But no sex! He gritted his teeth despite the cigarette hanging from his mouth. Maybe he should have added that to their discussion earlier, but Luffy couldn't have possibly harbored those kinds of feelings.

Nami and Luffy weren't intentionally going behind everyone's back when they decided to change course to the nearest village. To Nami's relief, they still bantered like usual over silly things like which village was closest. Naturally, Nami ended up winning that argument. Euphoria drowned out reservations about how this would affect their future. She didn't even feel the pressure lust because love diminished it the moment Luffy suitably proposed. (Before, he had just told everyone they would get married without asking her.) When the two disembarked into the small shopping district area of the island, they failed to look back as they marched forward.

In the quiet little town, the women to men ratio must have been small. All eyes were on Nami as she cruised down the central market of the city. Not all these suitors were particularly unattractive. One man had bulky, muscular arms; one had jeweled gold rings on every finger. Only one was bold enough to approach Nami with gumption and a swagger of confidence and pride. Maybe he didn't notice her coveted captain playing with a puppy not far from her side, but he took her hand and swept his silk white hair to the side.

Clearing his throat, he spoke, "Excuse me, miss, you look dazzling in that bikini top."

She didn't turn to his voice. Someone had just graciously told her where the central government office was, so she didn't have much time to talk. "Thank you," she stated. That was that - no sly smile or seductive saunter. "Luffy," called the navigator before she attempted to proceed forward. The man behind restrained her. Still, Luffy's oblivion annoyed her more. Why was he playing with that damn dog anyway?

Persistent, the man grinned, "My lady, you are beautiful enough to be someone I'd like to spend my time with and possibly my life." As he proceeded to lean his face towards the side of her neck, he inched his hands towards her bottom. Suddenly, a fist collided with his face, and he flew backward into a small shop selling sharp weapons. Fortunately for him, he was mostly unscathed from the swords and knives.

Nami snapped around, "Luffy! Why did you punch him?"

Luffy knew that the man wasn't supposed to touch Nami as he wanted to touch her. The way he knew was how his gut reaction beat the shit out of him in one swift punch. Although he knew the man was a creep, he couldn't articulate why he hit him without reason. "I don't know," he laughed, "I didn't like the way he looked." His fingers twitched into a fist again for some reason. Maybe he wanted to punch the guy again, but he wouldn't if it made Nami mad.

She put her hand on her hip. "That's not funny," she lectured, "You shouldn't punch people just because they look at me. I'm a beautiful woman. Men are always going to want to talk to me." It took a lot effort to stop herself from smiling. She didn't think Luffy could be the jealous type. Upon a brief reflection, she noticed the dull and spacey look on Luffy's glazed eyes and agape mouth. "Are you even listening to me?" she sighed.

Not another moment could pass before he approached her for a kiss - profound and passionate again. For some peculiar reason, the way her breasts bounced when she reprimanded him, he had the compulsion to kiss her and much more often. Maybe he always felt that way through his mild frustration. The other suitors backed away after he punched the most obnoxious man, and they cleared out further when the two lovebirds publically displayed their affection. Luffy liked that for an inexplicable reason. He swept her up and briskly jogged forward before he knew where he was going. "Your mouth tastes like fruit," he noted.

"You can't just kiss me whenever you want," Nami breathed. Her face was red for a myriad of reasons she couldn't explain. However, lying back and looking up at Luffy's bold grin, she felt fluttering in her stomach that wouldn't turn off. So, she accepted her fate and nuzzled his warm shoulder. She shook her head. "Do you even know where we're going?" asked Nami.

"Nope," he replied with a chuckle trailing his response.

She commanded, "We're going to the city hall which is left not right!"

Everyone hurriedly prepared the deck for romance as the day progressed into night. Candles ablaze, delectable herbal aromas filled the salty air of the sea. Simple touches of vibrant red, orange and yellow flowers brought the most significant hues to complement each other. The music hit the right notes, and the night was ideal for falling in love. Most of the crew grew excited as the sun dropped towards the horizon. Even Sanji couldn't wait to see Nami's reaction.

Franky alerted everyone when Luffy and Nami approached the shore. While the Straw Hats assumed the biggest surprise was waiting on the ship, the happy couple had yet to share with them the greatest shock of the night. Climbing to the deck, they didn't hear everyone scurry into hiding. Luffy immediately noticed the decadent buffet of a variety of meats and cheeses. Mainly, the wine appealed to Nami.

The absence of everyone briefly made Nami suspicious. This situation seemed like a trap.

Nonetheless, she and Luffy made their way over to the table. She watched the captain grab at every food item he wanted, but she couldn't find the appetite. What if she upset them by being so negligent of their presence before? After all, she failed to announce her departure. Sanji must be having a difficult time witnessing her comfort with her husband-to-be. She frowned and scanned the horizon. Perhaps they went into town, but then, why would they leave so much food out and candles, too?

"Nami," Luffy whined, "You're not eating." She didn't respond. Instead, she looked back to the village. Then he remembered something.

Getting up, he quickly paced to the female sleeping quarters. He excused the odd banners and balloons that blocked his way. The object he sought lied on the coffee table. Quickly, he turned back around to meet Nami on the deck. How could he have forgotten to give her this? "Oi, Nami," he called, "I was supposed to give this to you earlier, but I forgot." He carefully placed the rock on the table. Why couldn't he look at her? Part of him was afraid she'd say this gesture was stupid, and that concerned him. Typically, he didn't care what she thought.

And, was he blushing? Although slight, red tinted his cheeks.

Nami's heart melted. Warmth filled her chest as he saw how humble Luffy became when presenting her this gem. Wait, diamond! "Woah," she exclaimed, "This is a huge diamond." While gems and treasure were her weakness, she realized this wasn't for sale. This diamond was a sign of betrothment for them, and for that, she would cherish it. "Thank you," she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. All the occurrences of that day became real to her. This presentation cemented the occasion.

"What?" said Robin from her hiding spot.

Luffy scratched the back of his head and grinned, "Do you want to put your thumb on the paper now?"

"The marriage registration form? Of course," she smiled.

"MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FORM?" everyone exclaimed.

hmfan24: Ah, this chapter is short because I have a lot of homework to do and I'm moving next weekend. Sorry not a lot happened. I'm pretty sure there will be a lemon next chapter, but I'll make it completely skippable for people who don't want to read something like that.

Let me know what you want. What pairings. What citrus. And what do you think will happen next?