Disclaimer: One Piece does not belong to me.

Someone on tumblr requested Zonami domestic life. This was the result :)

An Adventure of a Different Kind:

The waves pounded, a low, guttural crush upon the shore. The churning water was dark. Billowing clouds collected on the horizon.

At the edge of the water, a young girl ran to and fro, chasing the tide as it rolled up and receded. Captured in the wind, orange hair twisted about her. Her shrill laughter surpassed even the rolling thunder of the sea.

Perched on a rock, Zoro sat, legs folded beneath him. His hands rested on his knees and his katanas lay neatly over the rock, still a reassuring presence at his side. For the better part of the last hour, a persistent itch had tickled the tip of his nose. Now, with the breeze picking up, the itch was aggravated. He ignored it. It was as much of a mental exercise as it was a physical one. A man who did not have absolute command over his own body was not fit to wield a blade.

It had been years since he and Nami had made any extended journeys over the ocean, but that was no excuse not to be in top form. Besides, after the time they'd spent with Luffy and the crew, it was clear the sea would never leave either his or Nami's blood. And it wasn't going anywhere. Someday, to the wide waters they'd return.

So for now, he trained. Despite the dogged itch, his fingers didn't so much as twitch. In fact, the only movement on his person was his eyes. Blinking against the wind, they rolled, following the girl who teased the waves, watching to ensure she easily escaped to water that chased at her heels.

At six, Akisame had long since learned to swim. But he didn't like the look of the water. He was no navigator, but even he could tell it was starting to get rough out there.

"A storm is coming. We shouldn't stay long."

His eyes flicked up. Nami crossed the sand. Caught in the ocean air, her bright dress swayed about her knees. Around her face, long wisps of hair fluttered, tugged free from their tie. And at her hip, she balanced a toddler. Rai's hair was nearly the color of his own, perhaps a shade lighter.

And then he remembered: Akisame. His eyes flicked back. She giggled, backpedaling a good distance away from a rolling wave.

When he looked to Nami once more, she was smiling. This smile, it was one he knew well. Her eyes squinted into crescents as barely visible dimples creased the corners of her cheeks. It was unabashed, content. Not for the first time did he consider that perhaps, the rumors of the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock were false. Here, now, it was hard to believe the most beautiful woman in the world didn't stand before him.

As his stare lingered, she scrunched her nose. "What?"

His lips twitched. But that was all the movement he allowed.

As she settled in beside him, shifting the toddler to her lap, his gaze returned to their daughter, dancing before the waves.

"You're doing that training thing again where you don't move for hours on end, aren't you."

He didn't move.

"Of course you are." Patting his knee, she turned to the sea. On the shore, sand sprayed as Akisame sprinted to and fro before the water. "She's training, you know. She told me this morning."

He blinked. Training? If anything, it looked like a game.

"She wants to be fast like you. So she's trying to outrun the ocean." Nami sighed. "I asked her about the weather when she got here. Didn't seem to have the faintest idea that a storm was coming. All she wanted to do was train. That one wants to be just like you."

His lips twitched once more. On the shore, she ran, arms pumping at her sides and her expression set in determination. However, when the cold water pressed up, catching the back of her feet, she leapt up. The beach erupted in shrieking giggles. She might have his determination and aspirations that followed after his own, but it was Nami's spirit that Akisame had undoubtedly inherited.

On Nami's lap, their youngest child giggled. Pointing a chubby finger at the darkening waves, the child shrieked.

Nami leaned forward, pressing her nose against the child's wispy, green locks. "You can tell, huh Rai? A storm is coming. It'll be here soon."

Straightening, she looked out, double checking the waves. "Fifteen minutes. Then we need to get home."

Fifteen minutes. He supposed that would be enough to conclude his training for the day. Besides, if the storm was going to get as bad as Nami seemed to think – and she was never wrong – he wanted to make sure everyone got home, himself included. A couple summers past, strong winds had driven a tree to collapse, busting in a window. Chances were, nothing like that would happen again, but he was going to be there, ready, just in case.

Smoothing a hand over their son's head, Nami began to hum. The tune was light, bouncing, and as it left her lips it seemed to float away on the wind. It sounded suspiciously like one of Brooks.

Brook, like the others, was taking a break from his life on the sea. He'd resumed his career as Soul King, entertainer extraordinaire. Franky had gone back to Water 7.

Robin island hopped often, still searching for ruins concerning the lost poneglyphs – though he'd heard from Usopp that the archeologist had been known to stop in at Water 7 from time to time.

Usopp had gone back to Kaya with many adventures tales – both real and fabricated – fresh upon his tongue.

The love cook had returned to Baratie and had, what he'd heard was a joyous, curse riddled reunion with his mentor, Zeff.

Drum island had first called to Chopper. And the young doctor had returned there for a time to visit Dr. Kureha and ensure that the island's people were well. But he hadn't stayed. Eager to learn more medicinal techniques, he ended up island hopping, much like Robin. It was said that in the last few years alone, he'd saved hundreds.

And as for Luffy – it was impossible to predict where he'd be from one month to the next. Personally, Zoro didn't think Luffy had much of a plan at all. He simply went. But that wasn't to say he had absolutely no plans. Nearly every sixth months, like clockwork, Luffy arrived on their island, bellowing his presence outside their home. "Uncle" Luffy's visits were for Akisame and Rai, the highlight of the year.

He assumed Luffy had a similar routine for the rest of the crew.

Twice a year, seeing Luffy with that too-wide grin upon his face, never failed to hit him with a wave of nostalgia. He knew it was the same for Nami too. When Luffy came, they both felt it: a nearly uncontrollable itch, a drive to return to the sea and resume their wandering adventure.

But here, he was happy. Nami's hums mixed with Rai's giggles and Akisame's laughing shrieks, a subtle melody. No, he wouldn't trade this for the world.

And it wasn't like their days at the sea were through. When the crew had split, going their separate ways, they'd not called it an end, merely a hiatus. Once they had lived out this portion of their lives, they would return, coming together on the ocean once more. Perhaps older, but likely no less foolhardy than they'd been before.

Yes, they would wait. The adventures that awaited them on the wide seas would still be there when they returned. He had an adventure to occupy him now anyway.

"Alright. Time to go."

Hugging Rai to her chest, Nami pushed herself off the flat rock. Cupping a hand to her mouth, she called Akisame back from the water.

Two more minutes and he'd reach a full hour and a half. Breathing slowly, he forced his muscles to be still.

Nami called again.

At the shout, Akisame jerked to a stop, glancing back over her shoulder. Foam-tipped water pounded the shore. Too late, she remembered her game. She turned back in time for the churning water to strike her knees.

Zoro was already moving. Boots pounding over sand, he sprinted, his exercise long forgotten.

She fell back, the rushing water sweeping her feet from under her.

And he snatched her up, pulling her back before she could drop into the churning water.

Sloshing from the shallow water, he hugged Akisame to his chest. Small arms wrapped around his neck. At the back of his neck, damp fingers clutched together, dripping cold drops down his back.

Voice muffled against his chest, she spoke, uncharacteristically quiet. "I didn't mean to make you get wet."

He stepped onto dry sand, his boots squelching beneath him. "It's alright. I'm just a bit damp."

She peeked up. "I'm sorry."

He didn't know how she managed to look that contrite and so dang cute all at once. Surely she'd gotten that from her mother. And hell if it didn't work on him.

Ruffling her hair, he smiled. "Nah, don't apologize. Just keep working. Get faster."

She bared her teeth in a wide, determined grin. "I will!" She wiggled in his arms. "And then – I'm going to become the strongest swordsman in the world!"

He raised a brow. "I think you mean the second strongest."

She scrunched her nose. "No, the strongest!"

"You're gonna have some competition then."

"You'll let me win."

His steps faltered. "I will not!"

Her head tipped back and she giggled, unabashed.

From across the beach, Nami hurried to meet them, large towel in hand. Even at a distance, he could see the scowl on her face.

"Akisame Bella Roronoa, what did I say about never turning your back to the ocean? Especially in weather like this!"

Akisame sunk in his arms.

"Yeah, the looks not gonna work on her. Your mom invented it."

His daughter wined.

As Nami approached, he looked over his shoulder, once more at the sea.

For now, this was all the adventure he could ever need.

The cute lil' family. I love the fluff. Almost as much as I love angst :)

Thanks for reading!