A/N:Special Thanks to EzraEssence for giving me the idea about Nami in this chapter. I still own only this plot, the wonderful characters are all owned by Eiichiro Oda. If you have not read his wonderful manga, then you are missing a lot… In fact I buy two copies when I get them, one to read, and one to save. Enjoy this chapter; it has a lot of fluffy ZoLu-ness. And thank you all for reading and reviewing, it keeps me writing this story.

Zoro's room was empty, even though he had been here so long; he had no personal affects or even anything that said what kind of person he was. Luffy sat on the bed, absently swinging his legs back and forth. Zoro sat down next to him and was silent, letting Luffy be the first to talk.

"So you think you could protect me from the experiments?" Luffy was not sure why he felt so comfortable around this green haired teen, he thought as he lay down on the bed, looking up at Zoro.

Zoro looked at Luffy and slowly nodded his head. "I think so. First things first though, we need to get Chopper."

"What are we going to do once we find him?"

Their eyes met then, Luffy's full of curiosity; Zoro's full of some unknown emotion to Luffy. "I don't know."

"What makes you think I need to be protected?" even as Luffy had said those words; he knew what Zoro would say.

"I don't think you need to be protected; I just thought that your sister needed to know that we care about you as much as anyone else."

Luffy nodded his head and they sat there silently gazing into one another's eyes for a moment before Zoro broke the moment by looking away. Something in his eyes unreadable to Luffy.

He hadn't known them long, yet he felt like he had known them far longer than an eternity, and something made him realize that he had been waiting for this moment all his young life. Reaching over, he cupped Zoro's face in his palm and turned his head so they were looking directly into one another's eyes once more. It seemed to happen in slow motion; he leaned in and softly brushed his lips against Zoro's.

He didn't know why he had kissed him, something just compelled him to. As quickly as his lips brushed against Zoro's he pulled away, absently trailing his tongue over his lips that could still feel the soft ones of Zoro.

"Sorry…" he mumbled as he got up. "I don't know why I did that."

He was about to reach the door and pull it open when Zoro reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling gently so that he landed on the older teen's lap. Strong arms wrapped around his waist, effectively pinning him to the spot; while Zoro buried his face into Luffy's neck, inhaling the soft musky scent of the younger teen.

"I feel it too." Zoro said against his neck, sending shivers up and down as the tiny hairs were gently caressed by the older teen talking and breathing.

"I don't know what it is…" Luffy allowed his body to relax against the stronger one, absently closing his eyes. "All of you are haunting my dreams."

"Even me?"

"Especially you."

Zoro just nodded his head, knowing that if Luffy wanted to talk about it he would, and if not, then nothing he could do would change his mind. He just wanted to be here for Luffy, give comfort and support. If the younger teen wanted more, then he would give it to him.

"I feel like I have known you all my life." Luffy's voice was slightly raspy and full of emotion. "It scares me some…"

"It shouldn't." Zoro lightly kissed the spot behind Luffy's ear, sending a wave of pleasure through the younger teen. "I would never hurt you."

"I know." Even when he said it, he knew it was true, Zoro would never hurt him and he would do everything in his power to make sure no one else ever hurt him.

Luffy wanted to stay awake, he truly did, however as the comfort that he was taking from Zoro settled his mind and body, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

His dream this time was pleasant; he was with Zoro in the dream. It was just the two of them. They were laughing while in a tiny boat. He felt as if he had found someone that would be more precious to him than anyone had ever been. He knew he was happy, the dream made him feel that way. He was with someone that was dear to him; even though he didn't yet understand it.

Zoro stayed awake and held Luffy while the younger teen slept. All night he slept good, only mumbling slightly in his dreams. In the early hours of dawn, Zoro too finally fell asleep.

Luffy woke up feeling more refreshed then he had ever felt in the morning. He carefully untangled himself from Zoro, being extra careful to not wake the older teen.

Opening the door, he noticed that the hall was silent; he made his way back to his own room. When he saw Boa pacing in front of his bed, he momentarily felt guilty; he had forgotten that she was here.

"Luffy!" she exclaimed when she saw him, "Where have you been all night? I have been worried sick about you."

"Let me…" he tried to speak, only to have her pull him into her arms and smother him against her ample bosom.

"You should have come back; from now on I will not let you leave my sight."

"Boa," he fought against her, pulling away from her, "I am fine. I slept good. No nightmares or anything."

She scrutinized him and slowly nodded her head, "Fine, so where were you?"

"With Zoro…" he turned so that she wouldn't notice the blush creeping up his neck, only thing was, she was his sister and knew him too well and ruffled his hair.

"I should kill this other boy. He is trying to steal you away from me."

"No one is stealing me from anyone, and if you so much as hurt him, I will never forgive you."

"Luffy, you barely know this boy."

"I don't care, I feel like I have known him my whole life." His voice was defensive, yet the next words he spoke were softly spoken as if he was still getting used to the idea; "And besides I sort of like him."

"What do you mean? You sort of like him, like him for what?" trepidation was edging into her tone.

"I don't know." Luffy headed to his shower, and added, "Just leave him alone." Before he went into the room and shut the door so he could shower. Effectively silencing her.

Boa didn't know what to do, she had never felt threatened by anyone concerning her relationship with Luffy, even Ace didn't compare to how she knew that Luffy would only find a small measure of comfort with anyone other than her, and now he had stayed the entire night with someone and not once screamed out from his nightmares. It made her feel insignificant, like she was being replaced by this strange teen that might hurt her brother. She felt the tears well up in her eyes and fought to keep them from spilling out.

The buzzing coming from the speaker above the door startled her; she had not been expecting that. It must be the alarm clock that signified they all get out of bed.

When Luffy entered the room once more, he looked good, and Boa felt a twinge of jealousy as she realized that it was not her that had given him the comfort to sleep so well.

"I'm going to go to the cafeteria." Luffy said as he pulled on a clean tee shirt. "You can take a shower and then join me. Or you can do whatever."

Boa wanted to say something to keep him there, yet no words came out from her throat. So she just watched as he left, thinking that he was growing up way too fast for her liking.

Usopp was waiting for him in the hall, as they walked down to the cafeteria, he said; "Your sister freaked out last night. Did you stay with Zoro?"

A slight blush heated up his cheek as he nodded his head, "I fell asleep and he let me sleep in there."

"He's a good guy," Usopp said, "A little quiet, yet I think he is okay. I don't know his story though, in fact no one does except maybe Chopper."

"Is Chopper still missing?"

"He was still M.I.A. last night." Usopp said as they entered the cafeteria. "We put the plan, 'rescue Chopper' into motion tonight."

"So what is the plan?" he asked as they got there trays of food and headed to the table to eat.

"Nami knows how to do computer stuff so she is going to hack into the security system so we can get into the secure area." Usopp's voice was barely above a whisper. "Once we get in, then we have to find him, and get him out before anyone sees us."

"What about those security guys that you seem to hate?"

"Hopefully they won't be here." Usopp waved at Nami and Vivi as they walked into the room, Sanji was fawning all over them.

"We will just have to kick their ass if they are." Luffy grinned good naturedly.

Nami sat down next to Luffy on the opposite side of Usopp while Sanji got her food and Vivi followed Sanji. "Luffy," she whispered to him, "You and Zoro… what is the deal? Are you gay?"

"Nami!" Usopp had heard, he was shocked at the question.

"Well tell me so that I know." She whispered loudly.

"Nami," Usopp said, "I think we should not pry into Luffy's love life."

"I need to know." She explained.

"Why?" Usopp wanted to know, "Do you like Luffy?"

"Of course I like him." She said, "But I know someone who has a major crush on him." With that said she glanced pointedly at Vivi who was laughing at something Sanji was saying.

"So you and Vivi both like Luffy?" Usopp asked in a whisper.

"No you idiot, I like him as a friend." Nami swatted Usopp's arm.

"So who do you like," Usopp asked Luffy, "Vivi or Zoro?"

Luffy looked up just then, and noticed Zoro walking in, their eyes met and for an instant, Luffy felt as if time had stopped.

"I guess that answers that." Nami sighed as she noticed the interaction between the two. "Don't worry, I think Vivi will be able to get over you." She patted Luffy's shoulder and scooted away slightly.

Luffy looked away from Zoro first, he glanced at Nami wondering what she had meant, then it hit him, he did like Zoro for more than a friend, why else would he have kissed him last night? He had never thought of himself as being gay, he just thought that one day he would find someone to love and have them love him in return. Never once thinking what sex the person would be.

Once Zoro got his food, he joined them, Nami scooting over for him to sit between Luffy and herself.

"So is everyone ready?" Zoro asked as he absently ate a piece of toast.

"I think so." Nami said first, "I just need to be excused from the group."

"I can give you an excuse." Sanji wiggled his eyebrow at Nami suggestively.

Nami rolled her eyes and said, "In your dreams Sanji-kun."

"I can tell Robin that you are sick and in the bathroom." Vivi stated.

"What can I do" Luffy asked as Boa walked into the cafeteria commanding all eyes to focus on her beauty.

"Keep your sister occupied." Zoro seemed mildly upset as the woman glared at him.

"I want to help too though." Luffy nearly slammed his fist on the table in his frustration at being told to baby sit his older sister.

"I would love to keep her occupied." Usopp grinned.

"You have a girlfriend." Nami glared at Usopp.

"I will keep her occupied." Sanji said decisively. "Luffy can help you out Zoro."

"What about me?" Usopp complained.

"You will help me." Nami said, "I can't believe you would cheat on your girlfriend."

At her words Usopp blushed slightly and mumbled, "She is not really my girlfriend."

"What do you mean?" Nami demanded.

"She is just a good friend of mine." Usopp admitted. "I had a crush on her a couple of years ago, yet we are just friends. She likes to listen to my stories."

"So that is why she has never come to visit you." Sanji commented.

"That, and I do live about four hundred miles away." Usopp said.

Luffy got up as Boa approached with her tray, "See you all in a while. I have to go do something." He said vaguely.

Usopp got up and said, "I'll go with you."

Luffy waited long enough for Usopp, ignoring the glare that Boa gave him. Once they were heading down the hall, Usopp asked, "So what are we going to do?"

"I am calling Ace." He said as he approached the front desk where there was a phone.

"Your cousin?"

"Yeah."

"You think he will help?"

"Yeah." Luffy said as he dialed his cousin's phone number, "I think we won't be able to stay here once we find Chopper. We will need him to be here so we can leave."

"Good thinking." Usopp said as Luffy listened to the beeps that indicated that Ace's phone was ringing.

When Ace answered, Luffy was relieved. "Ace," he said, "I need you to come here today."

"Are you still in that place?" Ace asked.

"Yeah, I think we are going to need to leave here though later. So bring the van, not your bike."

Ace had an old van that he had converted to a camper a few years back, along with a Harley Davidson that was his pride and joy. "What is all this about?"

"Can you do this for me without me having to say right now? I promise I will tell you as soon as I see you."

Ace sighed and said, "Fine, Marco and I will be there at seven, that is what Boa said visiting hours are."

"Thanks Ace." Luffy smiled and gave Usopp a thumbs up, "I promise I will tell you everything when we see you."

Hanging up the phone, he hurriedly told Usopp what Ace had said.

"So your cousin will help us get away from here?" Usopp asked, "They could take us to my hometown. My gang could hide us. But what about your nightmares?"

"Last night I didn't have any." Luffy smiled, he was more than a little optimistic about his recovery.

Usopp didn't say anything, they were heading into the group room, and others not in there close group were already in there. When they took their seats though, Usopp whispered to Luffy, "That is because you were with Zoro all night huh?"