After Zoro settled down, the four of us walked back to the house, leaving Lily's lifeless body in the middle of the floor. It was dark outside but we didn't know if it was still night time or early in the morning. It felt like time has stopped forever while we were in there. Struggling, I supported Zoro with Luffy's help. Marissa would catch my fall or held onto my bad arm. Even with help it was hard for me to carry Zoro. The four of us walked in silence, still stunned by what just went down. Zoro suddenly stopped us from going any further.
"Luffy, Marissa, can you guys walk on ahead? I want to talk to Jade alone," Zoro turned to Luffy desperately.
"Why would you want to do that? What if marines come after you?" Luffy asked. Marissa elbowed Luffy in the stomach and he suddenly realized what Zoro wanted to do. Marissa grabbed Luffy's hand and the two disappeared into the trees. Zoro walked over to a nearby tree and pressed himself against the trunk to catch his breath. He plopped down onto the grass and offered me to sit next to him and I gladly accepted the invitation. The grass was cool but felt nice against my heated skin. Zoro lifted his hand and began to stroke my hair with that smile I grew to love. I grabbed his other hand and stroked it gently; trying not to make any more bruises. The two of us stared at each other, not caring how many hours have passed. Our hands interlocked and twisted in and out of each other's fingers.
"I'm sorry," Zoro finally spoke. I shook my head, not accepting.
"For what?" I asked wondering why on Earth he needed to apologize.
"What do you mean for what? For what I did to you, I'm sorry for ignoring you for the past couple of days. I didn't realize how not talking to you was hurting you so badly," Zoro sounded sincere.
"Zoro, I'm the one who should apologize. I'm the one who overreacted with this whole ordeal. Lily told me that you talked about me nonstop. If I would've known that I wouldn't have been such a bitch," I apologized. Zoro looked at the grass.
"Yeah, that would've been useful information," Zoro chuckled. The first I heard him laugh in a long time.
"I should've sent Sanji or Marissa to look out for you, follow your every move," I joked. The two of us laughed together and I never felt so happy in my entire life. I told him about Lily's ruined plans until we finally decided to head back. Zoro tried as much as he could to help me support him. As we walked to the house, the two of us walked in silence.
"I love you," Zoro said faintly. I turned to him and smiled.
"I love you more," I bragged.
"No I love you more," Zoro tried to sound high and mighty. Throughout the entire walk the two of us tried to prove how much we loved each other. Zoro won by claiming how many times he's risked his life for me.
"What did I do to deserve you?" Zoro asked when we were a couple of steps away from the house.
"I don't know, you must have done something right," I teased as I knocked on the door with my foot. On the other side I heard footsteps and my mom opened the door with tears running down her eyes. Luffy and Usopp took Zoro from me and carried him over to the couch that was left open just for him. Luffy and Marissa sat on chairs that were pulled over from the table. Everyone was surrounding the couch with concern. I turned to Luffy and noticed that he was already bandaged up. Marissa stroked his arm for comfort.
"Sweetheart what happened to your arm?" my mom asked. I turned to my left arm and gasped in horror, I didn't realize that my arm was twisted in a disturbing angle.
"Oh uh, Lily snapped my arm in half while I was trying to fight her. She made me look pathetic and helpless and I couldn't do anything," I wanted to sound cool, I didn't want to complain and say how the pain was so unbearable I couldn't even move in front of everyone.
"Alright guys, give me some space so I can work on Zoro," Chopper ordered as he grabbed his supplies from his blue bag.
"I'm fine Chopper, it's just a scratch," Zoro denied. As he moved, he winced in pain and closed his eyes to try and ignore it.
"Sweetheart, that looks more than a scratch," I teased. Marissa rolled her eyes at the not-so-funny joke. For hours Chopper worked on Zoro's wound, cleaning out the blood while mom worked on my arm. When it was time for the stitches, Chopper ordered me to hold Zoro's hand to make it easier for him. But for me, it was almost worse than getting my arm broken. Zoro's fingers squeezed until I couldn't feel mine. It was as if all the blood was leaving my hand.
"Zoro, I can't feel my fingers," I shouted over his cries.
"You're not the one who's getting stitches!" Zoro shouted back. I finally shut up and waited until the pain was finally over. When it was time, everyone helped us to bed. Mom put Zoro in another guest bedroom and helped him into bed. I kissed him goodnight and was lead back to my room. My bed was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, it was welcoming, and it was home. Mom helped me get changed and placed my arm into a comfortable position. She kissed my forehead.
"Good night my dear," She whispered. I smiled at her and my eyes closed. I welcomed the darkness.