Finally i updated once again. Hope you didn't wait for too long. :) I love this chapter, don't know exactly why, but i just do. I think it's one of my best and i hope you think so too *g* Even though i have to say that i'm not really satisfied with the end of the chapter, but oh well. If it's too confusing at the end, please tell me and i try to rewrite it. Not sure if it makes much sense to you xD

And i think that next chapter everythings going to resolve, which would also mean that i already have around half of my story covered. Took me long enough *sweat*

Well, on with the story. Please enjoy reading this chapter as much as i enjoyed writing it. :)

After the crew left, Sanji and Sara stood alone in the galley which suddenly felt way too big. Upon hearing the news of Zoro's disappearance it was as if life left the Thousand Sunny the moment the Nakamas left the ship. The ship, usually engulfed in laughter or fighting noises, suddenly seemed dead, lying calm in the water surrounded by darkness and silence.

Sara didn't know what to say in order to help Sanji, therefore she just walked over to him, wrapped his arms around his waist and leaned her head onto his shoulders. Her hands lightly caressed his back in a caring and loving way to show him that she was there for him. She would listen if he wanted to get something off of his chest.

The instant Sanji felt her warmth he felt safe and secure. He wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on her head, feeling her soft hair and getting tickled by some of the strands. He took a deep breath and noticed how Sara's scent calmed him down. She smelled like freshly mowed grass, due to their picnic earlier and like the ocean. He loved both scents and he was really glad to have Sara by her side.

Quietly he began to tell.

"You know, Zoro was the first one who was asked by Luffy to join the crew. Therefore he was there from the beginning. He is important for us, just like every one of us is important. No one of us can be replaced and the same applies to him.

He can be a pain in the ass and if no one's by his side he would lose his way every 5 seconds. But he's strong and in the few moments he says something important he says the right things.

Even if our captain is the one who holds us together, Zoro is the one who makes sure that no one of us loses respect for our captain. Which is important seeing how much of a child Luffy can be at times."

Sanji chuckled lowly with a hint of bitterness and Sara still stroked his back showing him that it's okay for Sanji to continue.

"He is strong, so I don't really know why I'm that worried about him, but something isn't right. I think it's because of the swords. He is a swordsman for heaven's sake. He can't really fight without his blades. Even if he has a strong will and won't be broken that easily, without a chance to counterattack he's going to be in a bad situation. "

He let out a sigh.

"I know what he's capable of; we're bickering all the time after all. But I can't help but worry about him. I respect him a lot for his principles and for his strength. He's my Nakama. Part of our little family on this ship. You know, just like a father who's protecting his children by brute force alone. "

He chuckled again, this time with melancholy resonating in his voice. Just like talking about good old times that were already over for a long time.

"Hell, he would kill me if he heard me saying something like that. Please don't tell him what I told you, okay?"

"Okay."

She smiled and somehow the words he had spoken caused her heart to get a little lighter.

Sanji lightly kissed Sara's forehead and felt a bit better after telling her everything. He truly was glad to have her.

Just as he was thinking this his fear of losing her came up again. She was important to him. Even though they just met a few days before, she stole his heart and was able to either make him the happiest man on earth or turn him into a broken man.

He was scared that she would regain her memories and leave him after they found Zoro. It couldn't be a coincidence that she was lying unconscious next to his swords. He wasn't sure how the both cases were connected, but he knew they were, which made him feel contradicted.

He really wanted to find Zoro, they were Nakama after all and even though they bickered all the time they also respected each other. It was just their way to show their sympathy for the other.

But what if finding Zoro meant losing Sara? What if she regains her memories because of Zoro and she remembers about a family or even a boyfriend? Would she stay? Would she leave? Will he still be special in her eyes?

He began to tremble and tightened his grip on Sara. She opened her eyes and looked up into Sanji's visible eye and was confused to see insecurity in them.

She lifted a hand to stroke his hair and spoke to him in a low voice, which was barely a whisper.

"What are you thinking about?"

He opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it again, not sure of what to say. He didn't want to lie to her, so he decided to just stick to the truth.

He lowered his head until his forehead was touching hers and let out a small sigh before answering.

"I'm scared."

"About Zoro? I'm sure that he's healthy and well, you'll definitely find him. Don't worry."

"Yeah, I'm worried about Zoro, but what I'm most scared off is losing you."

"Losing me? Why should you lose me?"

"What if you regain your memories and stop liking me?"

She chuckled a bit and pulled him closer into the embrace.

"Sanji, no matter what kind of memories I'm going to regain, my feelings for you will still be there. So what if I have a family or friends somewhere … So what if I have a different life somewhere … It doesn't mean I'm going to forget you or the time we spent together. Feelings can't be turned off like a light bulb. They may have the ability to change, but even that needs time. There is one thing I am sure of and that is that you will always have a special place in my heart. A part of it belongs to you after all."

She lifted her left hand to caress Sanji's cheek with his fingertips and bit on her bottom lip.

"I love you, Sanji."

She gave him a small, loving kiss on the lips and put as much emotions in this one touch as she could to emphasize her words.

"I love you, too. Thank you … For everything."

She smiled at him and he felt his heart beat fasten.

He gave her another kiss, longer than the first one and with more passion, but tender nonetheless.

"Do you mind if I leave you alone for a few minutes and take a quick shower?"

"No, it's alright. I'll wait just right here. I definitely won't leave you. "

He smiled and started to let go of her reluctantly. He prolonged the touch as he still held her hand even though he slowly moved back towards the door. He only let go when their arms were already stretched and the inevitable couldn't be avoided any longer.

After Sanji closed the door behind him Sara sat down at the table and immediately drifted off deep into her thoughts.

She felt like she should be the one to worry.

What did those mysterious memories mean she had had today? Why were they so contradicting? What did a memory of Zoro have to do with a memory of a little girl, which she presumed was her. It didn't make any sense to her.

At the same time she felt some kind of unknown fear shadow over her heart. Something was about to happen and it will happen tomorrow. She didn't know why it was that clear to her, but she just knew that tomorrow everything will change. And she didn't want that.

She was happy the way it was, except for the fact that a friend of the man she loved was missing. She wants to stay with Sanji, wants to eat the food he cooks for the rest of her life. But she knew that something was about to happen which would make it impossible for the both of them.

This thought led her to the confusing flashbacks again and her mind circled around like that for a few minutes longer, not finding any conclusion.

Sara felt helpless and she knew that she knew the answer to everything deep in her heart, but it was as if something locked it up. Forbid it to come up into her consciousness.

She was too absorbed in her thoughts to even notice that Sanji came back into the galley, with his hair still a bit wet.

He frowned and looked at her with worry in his eyes. He walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her, which made her jump out of surprise.

"What's the matter Sara? Why are you looking like that?"

She relaxed in his embrace and leaned in closer to the touch.

"I'm scared."

"Scared of what?"

"What if I get my memories back and I find out that I'm a bad person? What if I'm some kind of thief or something like that? You're a good guy, you wouldn't want me anymore."

Sanji began to laugh and lovingly stroked her hair to reassure her.

"Don't worry. There's no way I wouldn't want you anymore. A thief? Well, I'm a pirate, so what? Actually that would make things easier and I wouldn't feel like the bad guy anymore."

Sara wasn't really satisfied with that answer and turned around to look at him with a frown.

"It was just an example. You know what I mean."

He looked straight into her eyes and saw that she held the same love for him that he had for her.

"Yeah I know, and I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to worry about such things."

Even though she still had the fear that something is going to happen she was relieved to hear him say that.

He lifted his hand, caressed her cheek and gave her a kiss on the mouth.

"I love you."

He kissed her again and she kissed him back tenderly and lovingly.

Sanji moved his hands to the small of her back and her neck to pull her closer to him. Slowly he let his tongue slid over her lips and her tongue, getting drunk on the pleasure of tasting her.

She wrapped one of her arms around his waist and lifted her other hand to grab his hair in her sudden need to feel more of him.

Their movements became faster and more hurried until Sara broke the kiss completely overwhelmed by her emotions. She was short of breath and craved for more touch, craved for the feeling of his skin.

With trembling hand she unbuttoned Sanji's shirt and let her hands wrap around his bare torso.

Kissing his chest at the place where his heart is she quietly whispered to him while listening to his now fast heart beat.

"I want to feel more of you, Sanji. Please hold me tonight."

Baffled and not knowing what to say he looked down at Sara who also raised her head to look into his eyes. What he saw was determination, love and a hint of lust. Enough to make his blood boil and his mind go crazy with the pictures that flashed through his mind.

He leaned down and captured her mouth with his lips. This time filled with passion and the desperate craving for the woman that stole his heart.

He broke the kiss to pick her up in bridal style and carried her out of the galley to find a better place to prove his love.

She cuddled closer to him and had the feeling that she has never been that save before. Knowing that he would do everything to protect her.

'I love you.'

See you :)