A/N: thank god my pc is finally restored. I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I'm glad that you guys loved the last chapter I hope you like this one as well. thank you for waiting. :)

Chapters? hmmm... just go with the flow. hahaha. :)

YukiHannah87 awkward moment indeed.

R.N. Zuzu your review inspired me. haha. thank you for waiting. :)

CHAPTER V

"Where you going?" Nami asked.

"I'm going out." She was all dressed for riding.

"It's very unusual of you to go riding. You've been acting weird lately. Are you sick or something?" She put her hand on Robin's forehead to check if she had a fever.

"I'm fine it just been a while and I want to go out alone." Robin responded.

"Robin it's not safe. Take Zoro with you." the orange haired maiden suggested.

She wanted to go to a place where she could find solitude. She just wanted to get away from the manor and get away from Zoro. Sometimes she would catch herself unconsciously staring at him. She is attracted to him and she doesn't know why; she just is. She couldn't think straight these past few days. So she decided to go out for a while but Nami was right. It was not safe outside. The last time she went out alone she was assulted and nearly kidnapped by two men. If it weren't for Zoro she would have died.

"Fine. Tell him to prepare the horses." she sighed. Her plan for solitude was ruined.

After a few minutes Zoro came back and announced "The horses are ready my lady."

Robin mounted her horse and went out while Zoro followed her trying not to get lost on his way.

"May I ask you my lady, where exactly are we going?" he asked her as they were getting far away from the town.

"No place in particular. I just want to ride." she responded.

An idea suddenly popped into her mind and it involves testing Zoro's sense of direction.

"Why don't we have a race. See that very tall tree over there? First one to get there wins." She pointed at the tall tree at the end of the road.

"I hope you can keep up." she told him before she dashed off and disappeared.

"Hold on-. Tsk." Zoro scowled as he tried to keep up with her.

The tall tree was just straight ahead but Zoro's lack of sense of direction made him lost his way.

"That woman. She drives me nuts. Where the hell is that tree?" he scratched his head. He was definetly displeased.

Robin was just around the corner silently giggling and observing Zoro as he finds his way to the tree.

"Shit, which way is north?" He led his horse yet again to the wrong way.

"Poor thing." Robin couldn't help but smile every time Zoro cursed which way was the tree. She was really amused by him. She knew that he had a poor sense of direction but she didn't think it was this bad. She had fun playing around with him.

On hour had probably passed, and still he was lost. "Maybe its time to tell him which way to go." she thought. She was about to go to him when her horse saw something started galloping out of control.

"Woah, easy girl. stop." she tried to calm her down. She can no longer keep the horse calm the horse, it started to run fast without control. She had no choice but to call for help hoping that Zoro would be close enough to hear her plea.

"HELP!" She called out.

He heard her voice calling for help. He immediately tried to follow the sound of hooves galloping. He passed through a few trees and saw Robin fastly approaching.

"Zoro, Help I can't control her." She cried as they ran passed though him.

"ROBIN!"

Zoro was quick enough to react and immediately sprinted forward to catch up to her uphill. He slowly closed in to her horse and extend his arm. "Quick grab my hand." he yelled.

She reached out to him and grabbed his hand. Robin leaped at Zoro pulled her and transferred her to his horse. Zoro slowly came to a stop as Robin's horse continue to wildly gallop straight down the hill. Zoro dismounted the horse and assisted Robin down.

"What happened back there?" he asked.

"I don't know. I was about to go look for you. Something made the horse uneasy and the next thing I knew I couldn't control it." Robin was obviously shaken by the incident; she was still trembling in fear.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I shouldn't have..."

Zoro tried to calm her down by hugging her, reassuring her that she is no longer in danger. "You're safe now."

"Let's stay here for a while before we go home." Zoro suggested as he tied his horse to a near by tree.

"Stay here. I'll go find your horse." he said before leaving.

Robin sat down by a tree and waited for him to comeback. She noticed the sky was slowly turning grey and the clouds were heavy. Zoro came back an hour later after getting lost again in the forest.

"I can't find your horse." he informed her. Rain started to drop down on them, showering them.

"We need to find shelter quick." Zoro immediately untied his horse and assisted Robin up and mounted it after her. They dashed off to search for a temporary shelter. They found a cottage nearby.

Zoro peaked through the windows to see if there was anyone inside. It seemed that no one was. He kicked the door open and led Robin inside. They were both drenched in rain water.

Zoro started a fire to warm them.

"I don't think the rain will stop soon. We should stay here for a while. Now, get undressed." He pulled off his boots and stripped off his doublet and linen shirt.

"What?"

"Don't you want your clothes dry?" he hanged his clothes near the fire.

"There must be something dry here to wear." she searched around to look for clothes to temporarily wear.

She found a cabinet full of women's clothing. Who ever lived there probably a woman living alone.

"I have to change. Please turn around." she said to Zoro as she started stripping off her wet clothes.

Even with a fire it was still cold. Robin was shivering and the rain wasn't stopping anytime soon.

"Here I found something to keep you warmer." He handed her a blanket.

"Aren't you cold? We could share the blanket. It'll be warmer that way." She suggested.

Zoro sat beside her and wrapped the blanket around them.

"You know I haven't really thanked you for saving my life. Twice." she said as she looked towards the fire.

"It's no big deal. Its my duty to keep you safe.".

"I am truly in grateful I have someone like you looking after me." she continued to talk as she rest her head on his shoulders.

"I will always be here to protect you."

Robin closed her eyes and slowly drifted to sleep felt warm and safe in his arms.

Zoro was walking through the forest or more like getting lost in the forest. He passed though some thick bushes and found himself infront of a tall tower.

"SAVE ME ZORO!" Robin screamed from the balcony.

He was quick to act. He immediately drew his sword and rushed towards the tower.

"Why can't i reach her?" Zoro panted as he chased her through the seemingly endless tunnel. A white light flashed as he covered his eyes for a moment. His eyes finally adjusted and saw Robin with a shadow of a man behind her.

"You're too late. This happens when you fail to protect the one you love." the man spoke.

"NO!" Zoro screamed as the shadow drove a sword though her back. He caught her before she fell to the ground.

"Robin" he uttered as she lay dying in his arms.

"I'm sorry, I failed to protect you." tears flowed down his face.

"Why are you crying?" Robin cupped his face.

"All I ever wanted was you. I love you and now..." he sobbed.

"I've waited long enough for you to say those words."

"But now its too late. I'm too late." he cried.

Robin puts a finger on his lips. "Its not too late. All you have to do is wake up."

"What?" he confusingly said.

"Wake up Zoro!" she repeated.

He can feel someone shaking his body. "Wake up Zoro you're just having a bad dream." Robin's voice snapped him back to reality.

Zoro woke up in a cold sweat and realized it was all just a dream. A terrible nightmare and that the real Robin was by his side. He immediately roused up and pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. "I thought I lost you."

Robin stroke his hair. "Shh... I'm here. I'm safe. It was only a dream." She hushed.

"It was just a nightmare but the thought of losing you pained me." he let go of her.

"I know this might sound crazy but I just wanted you to know how I feel..."

"Every time I see you my heart beats so fast it feels like its going to explode. I try to ignore it but I cant. I hope that it will go away soon, but it didn't. I'm tired of just keeping this to myself." He finally had the guts to say it to her.

"This is all too sudden. I- I-" Robin's heart started pounding.

"I love you Nico Robin and I want to be with you." he confessed.

"I want to tell you that I feel the same way about you. but I can't, I can't be with you." She took his hand and put it down.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because I am a lady and I cannot be ruled by desire." She was the daughter of Lord James of Ohara and she had a duty to fulfill.

"If only I am free to follow my heart."