This one's for anybody who speculated over whether I'd be doing a sequel fic to Crossfire (which is very, very unlikely and not in any of my plans, despite what you might think on reading the following drabble). This is assuming that the conversation in "If At First You Don't Succeed" leads to other conversations of a similar nature, and I've deliberately left the final result open-ended, so make of it what you will- it could technically go either way.

Sort of an odd choice for a title, I know, but I really wanted to imply that sense of chance- and Wheel of Fortune sure didn't have the same serious connotations. XD

EDIT: Okay, so I've already got people poking me and throwing rotten vegetables in response to the whole "I'm not writing a sequel" thing... so let me elaborate. It's not currently likely- but I've learned to never say never, considering I originally said I'd NEVER touch mpreg with a ten-foot pole, and here we are eighteen chapters, one epilogue, one alternate ending and fourteen drabbles later. *facepalm*

xxx

The utensils that Luffy's been tapping against his empty plate with increasingly exaggerated impatience hit the tabletop with a clatter as the captain bolts to his feet, hat tumbling backwards off his head to dangle between his shoulder blades. He spends a moment or two staring at his coughing, gagging swordsman with enormous eyes before erupting into motion, yelling at the top of his lungs for the Straw Hat's doctor even before he's cleared the dining hall door, leaving it hanging open behind him as he races out of sight.

Standing behind the bar, Sanji slowly reaches out to drag his ashtray closer so he can stub out his cigarette, eyes locked on Zoro's tensed frame as his pale-faced nakama wipes his mouth with the back of his sleeved forearm and carefully sets his mug down, pushing it across the counter towards the cook with trembling fingers.

"O-Oi, maybe you better dump this out- just in case."

"Marimo-"

"Don't- just- just don't, okay? None of that congratulations shit or any of that happy crap until Chopper says it's for sure." The first mate takes a deep, shuddering breath, pushing away from the bar as he rises to his feet. "I-I've been feeling kinda weird since yesterday- but it doesn't mean anything, right? I was helping Franky and Usopp do their repair shit on one of the other ships a few days ago, and a few of the guys over there were down with that damn bug that's been making its way through the fleet. I mighta just picked something up while I was over there."

"Zoro, you don't usually get-"

"I know, I know," The swordsman swipes his good hand across his face, fixing Sanji with a look that the blond isn't quite sure how to interpret because it's fear and hope and trepidation all rolled into one. "-but Yosaku got slammed by it too, and he doesn't get sick either- probably hasn't for years, other than that thing with the scurvy back when Luffy and Usopp damn near killed him and Johnny, and he got over that pretty frickin' quick."

The cook wraps his hands around the mug to give his fingers something to do now that he's sans cigarette, aware that his crewmate's being unusually talkative. Poor bastard's nervous as hell, no matter what he says.

"How long for Chopper to-?"

"Few minutes, but if- if it's- he'll probably wanna run it a few times just to make sure." Zoro's pacing back and forth beside the table now, brow contorted with concern. "Shit, maybe I should drink some water or something, if he's gonna have me pissing in cups all night."

"You want me to grab you a glass...?"

"Nah, s'okay- I'll just wait 'til he tells me whether he needs to do it again." The other man's lips twitch and writhe, and Sanji realizes that he's trying to smile. "But thanks anyway, shitty cook."

"Oi, if it's positive, what're you gonna do, Marimo? You got hot-shot rookies hunting your ass down on a monthly basis now, chasing that stupid title, and they're not gonna stop showing up just 'cause you're-"

"I told you, it's not stupid, asshole- it's considered an honor when it's done properly," the green-haired pirate explains, scowling darkly at him. "I'd have to do something to keep Luffy from running them off, but I'd be okay for a while- at least 'til I, ah, 'til it started showing and then- well, there's a good chance I won't have to worry about any of this anyway, so there's no point freaking out over what I'm gonna do until we know for sure."

"You know, thinking ahead for once just might-"

An approaching clatter of hooves and the rapid slap-slap-slap of their captain's sandals ends whatever the cook might have to say, and when he glances back towards Zoro, Sanji finds his agitated nakama already heading towards the infirmary with nervous yet eager strides.

"Keep your fingers crossed, ero-cook, and wish me luck. I'm gonna fuckin' need it."