What If

by Dragon-Unicorn99

A collection of one shots, maybe Multi chapter of stories of random thoughts. What if Zoro and Sanji meet when they were younger in Fox's Pray? Or what if the crew never found Zoro in Be Mine? What if this or that? Full of fluff, drama, cute stuff, and maybe even smut. (SanZo) (Bottom Zoro) (Top Sanji) Will not be updated regularly.

2. Two Different Worlds

The sound of rain, thunder, swords clashing and screams echo around the crew.

Luffy fights near the bow, henchmen surround him as he glare at the captain of this ship. Like many before people are after their heads. What better way to up their own image and bounty than by taking down Luffy? Many tried and fail, but that doesn't seem to stop them from coming.

Zoro fights back and forth moving from one enemy to the next. Robin and Luffy can tell the swordsman is letting his frustrations out on these guys. Of course they won't ask. Zoro won't tell them even if they did. Always the one to hold in his feelings.

Nami fights her way to see if they have any treasure, like she always does. And like always they are somewhat broke. With Luffy stomach they always need cash. So she's always looking for ways to get treasure and money. She has half a mind to just turn in Luffy.

Usopp stands on Sunny shooting his slingshot from there.

Sanji fights far from the others, but close to Robin to protect her.

Chopper fights closer to Zoro, he's usually the one who gets ganged up on and hurt somehow. So to be on the safe side Chopper is keeping close to keep an eye on the swordsman.

Franky joins the fight, he would be on Sunny too fighting from there but he feels like he could get ideas if he join the fight.

Robin stood in place fighting, always happy to help her crew.

Brook join Nami in search for the treasure she now deems as her and is insistent on getting.

Though, as they continue to fight there is something off about these guys. Not only is the crew very large but that can't be said about their ship. And with their confidence they seemed somewhat competent but they are very weak. To weak for their numbers. They've met so many crews during their adventures and a common pattern is size equals power. The bigger the crew the stronger they are but it almost seems like they aren't trying. If that's the case then why?

Sanji pauses in his rush to the next enemy at seeing Nami and Brook rushing out with bags of treasure. That isn't unusual of a sight, what is is the fear etched on Nami's face. For Brook it's hard to tell.

"Run! Get to the Sunny!" she shouts.

"Why!" Franky asks having gotten into the groove of things. Nami opens her mouth to answers but Zoro can feel it faster than she can say it.

"Luffy!" He shouts making his way to his captain. Zoro throws his body over the rubber boy, the captain they are fighting smiling. They can barely react to Zoro when everything erupts. A large boom shakes everything, tuning out the noise around them. The world turning white.

Then black.

There's a ringing in everyone's ears. And instead of white there's blue. Slowly the crew sit up, waking more every second, ears stopping with the ring and now listening to the others groaning.

"What-?" Nami starts, but she's not even sure what she wants to ask, her head is still trying to remember what is the last thing that happen and where is she now?

"What was that?" Usopp asks groaning, hand holding is head, face scrunched in slight pain.

"All I saw was white." Brook says, "as white as my bones." His teeth clatter together. At the horrible joke memories hit everyone.

"The explosion!" Usopp shouts to everyone's detriment, causing everyone to groan again. Usopp looks down at himself finding himself in one piece. Chopper shoots up, eyes serious as he gives everyone a look over.

"Is everyone okay, any injuries?" Chopper asks. The crew takes a second to think about it. Nothing seems wrong. Collectively they shake their heads. Chopper is a little suspicious they are all okay after that so he does a small check on all of them. Getting his backpack off.

"Did we survive... an explosion?" Usopp asks looking at his crew mates, the others looking at their surroundings. The sky is blue. The Sunny is bobbing calmy with the wave. The air is fresh.

"It would seem so." Robin answers calmly though something is wrong.

"Something wrong marimo?" Sanji asks with his sleeve rolled up as Chopper takes his pulse. It's his other hand he takes the cigarette he lit the moment he woke up out his mouth and blew in the direction Zoro sat waiting his turn. The swordsman eyebrow furrow, he looks mad.

"Sanji!" Chopper chastises. Zoro just swats at the smoke, glaring at the blonde with a grunt.

"Something feels off." Zoro answers.

"Oh like what?" Sanji asks sucking on his cigarette.

"It's not raining and we're on the Sunny." Zoro points out, he slowly gets to his feet not flinching at Luffy staring at him. Face unreadable.

"Why wouldn't we be idiot?" Sanji says smiling at Chopper who deems him fine.

"We weren't on Sunny during the explosion." Zoro answer. Robin nods, that's true. Now it's clear skies and they are on the deck of Sunny. Almost perfectly in the middle, as if they were placed like this.

"Maybe we are in heaven." Robin says.

"We died!" Usopp, Brook, Chopper and Luffy shouts.

"We're dead!" Usopp shouts as he runs in circles. "I didn't say good bye to Kaya!" He then gets on his knees and starts crying.

"I didn't see Laboon yet." Brook say leaning at a forty five degree angle against the foremast.

"I never saw Doctorine." Chopper cries on his hands and knees.

"I can't be dead!" Luffy shouts.

Nami punches them all. Large bumps forming on the back of their skulls. "Nope we can still feel pain." She says swiping her forehead.

"Even me!" Chopper cries at being hit.

"Since we're not dead then..." Franky begins but not sure how to finish the sentence. He almost doesn't want to ask.

"What ever happened we can think of it later, there's an island." Robin says using her devil fruit to point to the island. Luffy jumps up, rushing to the railing to see the island on the horizon. Nami frowns as she stare at the island. The island they were heading to is, from what she was told, a winter island. Obviously they are close to a spring island, or summer but from the cool breeze she'll bet on spring. Nami looks at Zoro, how'd he know something is off? Nami forgets about it. An island is an island. They could have head to one of the other two points of the log pose, they were caught in an explosion. Nami looks down at her wrist pauseing as she stare at her log pose. All the points are pointing behind them. What?

Sanji watch Zoro. Something about seeing Zoro jump onto Luffy protecting him triggered something in him. He doesn't know what but he doesn't like not knowing. He doesn't know how to figure it out.

---

"So what now?" Usopp ask. They all stand on the dock, Sunny perfectly anchored and Luffy has already ran off.

"Let's stick close for now." Nami says noticing the way people are looking at them. It's not fear but caution. Which she understands they are pirates, but no one can tell who will terrorize them or not. Besides caution she can see the adults looking at them, almost sizing them up. Not to fight, just observing. Why? She can't tell.

"The stares are creepy." Usopp whisper rubbing his biceps together.

"Curious that they aren't fearful of us." Robin says.

"Still don't like the stares." Zoro grunts behind them.

"Let's just join Sanji on his shopping trip." Nami say looking away from the townsfolk and to the crew.

"It's not a long shopping list." Sanji says looking around for a street vendor. Surprisingly they find a couple. Not to many.

"Something on your mind?" Robin ask Zoro as they walk with Sanji back to Sunny. All ears on them.

"Still feels wrong but now the feeling is stronger. Notice there aren't any kids?" He asks, voice low as he look around. Eyes scanning everyone they pass. Usopp and Nami take a look around not having noticed.

"I thought I was missing something." Chopper says, usually he can hear all sorts of things when the get to an island but not this time.

"The town does seem... gray." Usopp says.

"Yeah, there's almost no life." Nami says. She takes a look down at her wrist. The log pose still pointing to where they came from. "I'm starting to really think something is wrong, very, very, wrong."

"How?" Brook wonders.

Nami lets out a sigh, stopping in her tracks. Might be best to spit it out now. With the way things are hiding it might not be best choice. "This isn't the right island." She says.

"How can we be on the wrong island?" Usopp ask genuinely confused, one eyebrow raised. It's not like they were following an eternal log pose.

"The island we were heading towards is suppose to be a winter island." she tells them. All eyes go wide in shock. "That's not all." She says getting their attention again, she shows the log pose. "The log pose keeps pointing behind us, from where we just came from." she says.

"What? As if we skipped a head?" Franky asks. Nami shrugs, frowning, frustrated about not knowing.

"I don't know. It doesn't make sense." she says, feeling as if she has failed her crew somehow. She doesn't know now to fix it.

"That explosion messed us up." Usopp says.

"The explosion?"

"Yeah, from Zoro's animal instincts to Nami pro level navigation skills, it all got messed up after the explosion." He explains.

"True. I am curious to what had happened." Brook wonders. The crew start walking at a slower pace than before.

"Nami what did you see?" Robin asks remembering Nami being the one to warn them all.

"We found the treasure room. As we packed everything I found a chest. I knew it was important to be in a chest so I opened it. The odd thing is it was the bomb." Nami tells them.

"A bomb is odd?" Chopper asks.

"No, at first I thought it was a devil fruit, it was shaped like one but as soon as I touched it it counted down and ticked."

"A devil fruit bomb?" Usopp mutters. "That's kind of genius." Usopp says getting looks from everyone. "Think about it. Devil fruits are a heavily wanted and kind off rare resource. Many people want one, some would kill and they sell more than most bounties do. What better way to trick someone than a devil fruit?" Usopp explains.

"He's right. Make it look like a specific one... it's a dangerous weapon." Zoro adds.

"Kind of useless if it didn't kill us though." Franky points out.

"I think it did it's job. The captain seemed very happy before the explosion went off." Zoro says.

"He did?" Usopp asks a tiny bit scared.

"He was grinning at Luffy and I." Zoro answers as they get on board Sunny.

"We are very confused at the moment." Robin adds.

"True."

"But we are away from them." Brook adds next.

"Also true."

"Come on Sanji! I'm hungry! Cook me something!" They hear the distinct voice of their captain. All heads turn to the blonde who stands there with his cloth shopping bags. Can Luffy smell him? What is he a dog?

"Shut it and be patient Luffy!" the crew pause at the rough voice shouting. That's Sanji voice. Maybe a little more rough than usual but still Sanji. With wide eyes the group rush up the stairs and into the galley. They crowd around the door, eyes on Luffy as he stands by the bar. He turns to look at them. Luffy gives them his signature smile, obviously happy to see them. His smile fades when his eyes land on Sanji's blue one. Luffy tilts his head confused. If Sanji is there, just coming in who is he pestering for food? Luffy turns his head to look at the kitchen.

Slowly rising from crouching behind the counter, a blonde head comes into view. Keeping his back toward them, the suspense killing them. Slowly the blonde turns to them. Now seeing his face they can confirm it is Sanji. Though his hair is longer, his goatee fuller and at the corner of his eyes are very light crows feet. This Sanji is obviously older but can't tell by how much, this Sanji also isn't wearing a blazer or vest, just a striped purple dress shirt and black trousers.

"Who are you and what are you doing?" Sanji asks first, getting into a defensive stance. Calmly the older Sanji walks towards them. Not threatening, but he doesn't seem all to threaten by the younger Sanji. And they can see why when he gets in front of himself. The older Sanji is taller than young Sanji by a full head. Older Sanji looks down at himself, analyzing himself. Young Sanji takes the moment to see the age behind his eyes. The years seem to be kind.

All breaths are held as older Sanji reaches forward, hand going into Sanji blazer pulling out his cigarettes. Sanji pops one out into his mouth. He sets the pack back, then reaches into his pocket to take out a lighter that is very different from the one he has now. As the older Sanji lights his cigarette he goes over to the couch behind the table. He sits comfortably. He takes an inhale of smoke then exhale as he puts his lighter away.

"That's better." He grins taking another huff. "As for who I am," he starts staring at them all, smoking clouding his face as he blow in their direction, "I'm Sanji from this dimension from what it looks like." Sanji says taking out his pouch to put the ashes into. That's the same.

"Dimension! What are talking about?" Nami shouts, not able to believe him. Sanji just raises his curly eyebrow at her. She just saw two of him, though with the age different it be better to believe they jumped in time. That's more believable considering what they know.

Sanji gives them a smile as he taps ashes into his pouch. "It is hard to believe but I couldn't have been the one to travel." Sanji says.

"Why not?" Robin says.

"Nothings happened to or around me." Sanji answers, which is a fair statement, they were just cought in a really weird explosion and are now lost, then takes a look at his younger self, "plus there are two of me," then his eye goes over to the others again.

"Couldn't we have traveled in time?" Chopper asks.

"No. You are all very different from my crew." Older Sanji tells them.

"How?" Sanji asks skeptical.

"How old are you?" older Sanji asks, young Sanji blinks at the random question.

"Twenty one." He answers, the older Sanji just nods as he continue to smoke. Feels as if he's not fully there.

"In my timeline," older Sanji pauses to look at them then away staring off into space, "Zoro isn't here with us." That has everyone freezing. All eyes go to Zoro who flinch at the attention. Before Zoro can ask what happen older Sanji continues, "the Nami of my time line has a scar. Robin and Franky are married, Usopp cut his hair, Choppers the same and so is Brook. Luffy grew his hair out. Zoro's absence changed a lot more than we thought." Sanji says. He takes a quick look at Zoro, the swordsman he knows is thicker. Even before his absence.

"Okay, we are from a different dimension," Nami says rubbing her forehead, "what are you doing here on this island? Alone?" she wonders.

"I'm searching for something." He says, calm on the outside but he's seething on the inside.

"Without the others?" Luffy asks.

"Yup." Sanji dumps the ashes in his pouch.

"Is it the All Blue?" Sanji wonders. Older Sanji blows out smoke.

"No but it's just as precious and important, even more than All Blue." Sanji takes a second. A little shocked there's something more precious and important than all blue. "I had to go a head of everyone and leave them behind but I know they aren't to far behind me." Sanji answers with a smile. He has faith in his crew.

"You seem to have changed a lot in your time." Robin says smiling at the older blonde. "Congratulations." Robin says motioning to his finger. They all take a look to see a black band around his ring finger. They all stare shocked. Eyes going to his face then back to his hand. He smiles.

"Thank you." Sanji looks at it lovingly.

"Are you happy?" Sanji asks his older counterpart.

"Yes. And still in love." Sanji grins. The others stand in silence, patiently waiting for the married blonde to continue, talk about his wife to them.

"Are you going to tell us about her?" Usopp asks. The older cook blinks then bursts out laughing.

"I can, it's not like you are from my timeline but you'd never believe me if I did." He says between burst of laughter. He wipes the tear out of his eye.

After having a good laugh the older cook stands with a serious face. He looks at them. Towering over everyone but Robin, Franky and Brook.

"I was waiting for my crew but you'll all do. The precious thing I was searching for is on this island." Sanji says catching their attention. "Will you help me?" Sanji asks.

"Of course." Luffy answers instantly with his smile.

"Good I already have a plan." older Sanji moves to the younger blonde to help put the groceries away.

"Already?" Nami repeats, watching as the older Sanji quickly put the food away.

"I've been here a day before you all showed up, so I had time to think about this." Sanji says.

"Tell us your plan." Zoro says crossing his arms. Sanji grins. He knows he can trust his nakama.

"Follow me and be quiet." he tells them, very serious about them being quiet. They silently nod.

Older Sanji leads the crew onto the island. Running forward through the streets. Going further away from Sunny and deeper into the island. The buildings start to thin out as they get more into the island. Older Sanji slows down, hiding away from the last building, covered by shrubs and vines. The crew plus older Sanji duck behind a hut. They peak around the hut, seeing a bunch of shady looking men standing around. They obviously got something precious down there. They look at older Sanji for instructions.

"Luffy and Zoro can distract those dudes. A little different from my original but keep their attention." Sanji tells the two. Zoro just nods. Luffy rushes first without hearing anything else from the older man. Zoro rushes after him.

"Wait-!" Nami starts but stops at Sanji giving her a look, telling her to stop.

"Let him do what he does best." Sanji says, he looks at the others. "We'll sneak past them, let those two do their own thing. Once inside Usopp and Franky go upwards and distract people inside." Sanji tells them, moving to go around the hut and sneak in the door.

Zoro and Luffy get the attention easily enough, almost effortlessly. Sanji sends Usopp and Franky inside. They wait for a minute, letting the sharpshooter and shipwright get a head start. The next one in is Sanji, following behind him are the others. They silently follow behind, going down stairways, the older Sanji skipping steps as he rushes in.

Once on the last floor Sanji pauses, slowly taking a step forward to, going more into the last floor. He's twenty steps in when the others land on the last step.

"What is-?" Nami starts then gasps, at the sight. Prison cells line the walls, little children in rags fill these cells. Hair is overgrown, they are caked in dirt, and their eyes are very dead. Nami covers her mouth. The others stare in shock. Who would do such a thing?

"Horrible." Robin says. Chopper and younger Sanji nod. They've seen a lot but this is the worst ever. And they have been told they are despicable. They've never done any thing like this.

All heads turn to older Sanji as he looks frantically around. He looks around eying every child. Brown. White. Purple. Orange. Green. Red. Blonde. Boy and girl. But none of them are who he is looking for. He moves away going further down the path. The cells turn into individual rooms, with wooden doors to match the beige stones. He starts kicking the doors open, still searching. Nami rushes forward, holding the much taller and buffer Sanji in her arms trying to stop him.

"Sanji, stop! We're supposed to be here in secret." Nami yells, now just holding onto him as he drags her without effort. "Sanji what's going on!" she asks wanting the blonde to stop moving so she can let go and stand herself.

"I-I have to... I-I have to find her!" He shouts, pausing, finally letting Nami stand on her own own feet. "S-she w-was taken from m-me!" he shouts, slowly getting down on his knees. Nami stare at the blonde who is now breaking down.

"W-who was?" She asks. The others joining them.

With his hands and knees on the floor he screams "my daughter!" Nami freezes, slowly she turns around to everyone just as surprised. Sanji's... daughter? "It's my fault! It's all my fault. I promised to protect her but... but I failed!" Sanji shouts.

It becomes silent in the makeshift dungeon. Sanji is happily married, it's understanding that he might have kids in a happy marriage. It's still shocking to hear that he's married, it's different than the Sanji they know.

"What does she look like?" Brook asks. Older Sanji snaps his head up looking at his friends standing there. At the same time not his nakama, they don't know him. But they are still the strawhats and he's Sanji.

"She has very long curly light blonde hair, grey eyes, dark black lashes... oh and light freckles." Sanji says looking ready to cry. The young blonde stares at his older self. He's never seen himself like this, not once. Can't even imagine what he's feeling.

Brook leaves his skeleton, his soul going through the walls. Going from room to room, most empty but some have kids. He skips over the non blonde kids. Skipping over the blonde boys, stopping for a few seconds with each little blonde girl for a second. He stops at the sight of a small blonde girl with long curly hair, sitting patiently and calmly, unlike the others she isn't crying, or huddled in the corner. She sits in the middle of the room on her knees, hands on her lap, eyes closed as she takes deep breaths. She must be the blonde child, any child raised by them isn't going to be normal. He floats around to face her. The lighting is bad so he can't see her face fully but he can see the similarities to Sanji. Brook flinches when she opens her grey eyes.

Her eyes begin to shine. She smiles. "Grandpa Brook!" she shouts getting to her feet, happy to see him.

"Your father is here to pick you up." he tells her. She nods. "Just wait a minute." he commands to her. She nods serious about it. Brook goes out the door, down the many hallways, turning corners, until he spots Sanji staring at the older Sanji as he pace back and forth. "I found her." Brook says, the older cook looks at him.

"Where is she?" Sanji asks in one second he's in front of Brooks soul.

"Follow me." Brook says turning around to float to her. Sanji right on his heels.

"Lili!" Older Sanji shouts. "Lili! Where are you!" He shouts again. "Lili!" the blonde shouts, almost guttural, a desperate shout. It's amazing he didn't come in here kicking his way to her, but they know why he couldn't. They could have taken her hostage before he got to her.

"Daddy!" they all hear. Sanji rushes to her voice.

"Lili! Keep shouting princess!" he shouts.

"Daddy! Daddy! I'm here!" They all hear, her voice exited but not scared. Sanji stops at her door, looking at it, hands roaming, sliding against the door to touch what it's made of. It's wood, and he doubts they left the door unlocked.

"Lili, baby I'm going to need you to get in the corner, the same corner of the door." He says.

"Like we practiced with mommy?" She asks.

Sanji lets out a wet chuckle, "yeah princess, like with mommy."

"Is mommy there?" She asks. Older Sanji, looks behind him to the others.

"No mommy isn't here but don't worry mommy is right behind me. Just get in the corner." Sanji tells her. He waits for a second, letting her have time to get in the corner.

"Okay, I'm in the corner." She says. Without a second more Sanji steps back to twirl and kick the door open. The wooden door breaking off its hinges and flying straight to the wall splintering. Sanji rushes in turning to see his baby girl in the corner staring at him. He rushes to her, scooping her up in his arms. He holds her tight, but he's not able to when the building shakes, rumbling along with a loud roar. A familiar roar.

Sanji walks back out, Lily smiling at them until she spots the blonde. She looks confused, looking between both Sanji's.

"Two daddies?" she asks as her dad hands over to the younger Sanji.

"Keep her safe and to the Sunny. Chopper check on the other kids, Nami and Robin can free the kids. Brook search for any other kids." he instructs, stepping away to stretch his legs. Lili reaches for her dad.

"Where you going daddy?" She asks him. Sanji moves towards his daughter, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

"To get back at the lady who took you. I lost once I'm not going to again." He says seething. He turns to run and get to the woman.

"Daddy!" She calls reaching both hands out for him. He goes to her, into her arms where she kisses his cheek. "Good luck kiss." She says. Sanji smiles again, he gives her a kiss again, and she let's go. He runs off.

Sanji runs out with Lili in his arms, out the building, down the road and to Sunny. Passing the fight and going straight to the Sunny. Sanji feels the way she holds onto his shirt, her hands small as they hold onto him, face in his neck. She takes deep breath. She wraps her arms around Sanji's neck.

"Are you okay?" Sanji asks.

"Is daddy going to be okay? Daddy doesn't fight girls?" she asks, voice cracking.

"He says he'll be okay, so trust your dad... trust me." Sanji says as they walk on board the Sunny.

"Okay... you don't smell like my dad. Daddy smell like mommy." Lily mutters, can hear her frowning at him. Sanji stays quiet. He's dealt with little girls before just not his daughter from an older, different version of himself. He walks into the galley, he stands by a seat, bending over to set her down. She clings to him like a monkey, not letting him go, she wraps her legs around his waist. She's got good upper body strength, she's holding onto him tight. He lets out a sigh, she's strong so he continues, going away to the kitchen, he grabs a cup to pour water in.

"Drink please." Sanji says. She nods so he sets her on the counter. He watches as she holds the cup with both hands. "I'll make us a snack." Sanji says to the little blonde girl. With a better view he can see her white skirt caked in dirt, her pale hands skuffed up. Her blonde curly hair is messy, all meaning that she has been there for a while so she must be thirsty and hungry. He can't over do it, she needs a thorough examination by Chopper.

But they have to wait. Which on a normal day he wouldn't mind but at the moment his mind is filled with so many things.

The explosion.

Meeting an older version of himself.

Meeting a version of himself from a different timeline.

Learning this older version of himself is married.

And finally learning this version of him has a kid.

It's a lot to wrap his head around. He never thought as a pirate he can have a family. After Big Mom... he knew he'll never have that, a wife and kids. He doesn't want it. He's happy with what he's got, his crew and he is the bachelor the others know him for being. He can't figure out how this version did it. The way he reacted in that hallway around those kids, he's truly happy and in love. Not that he thought the older one was lying when he asked but to see just how much he cares for his daughter, he wonders. Why? And who?

Who would be crazy enough to be with...

"This Sunny isn't home." Lili says sitting on the couch.

"This is... a different version of home. One before you were born." Sanji says putting the dishes they used for snacks away. He should start dinner soon. He also has no idea how to talk to her. She's so young, must be three or four. But being on the crew, having grown on the crew she has knowledge most other kids don't and she knows them.

"Mommy tells me stories about Sunny before me. And Mary." She smiles. "Is mommy okay?" She asks looking down. Oh no, Sanji turns to her, going to her on the couch. How can he answer that? He doesn't know about her mom. He wasn't told anything about her, the older cook keeping her secret. Doesn't know what happen when Lili got taken but it couldn't have been good.

"Hey," he says getting on his knees, "your dad said your mom is right behind him along with the others, I know they are all strong right? Just like my crew." He smiles.

Lili nods, "I know but mommy was with Chopper when the bad lady took me and everyone was worried, scared something happened, maybe bad and daddy was watching me when the bad lady came aboard and... a-and daddy and mommy are the strongest together." she looks at him with her big doe eyes, glaze and glistening with tears, her lips pinch together and wobbly.

"I'm sure your parents can work through anything together or apart." Sanji smiles, sure that if he got married to anyone and on Luffy's crew they have to be strong.

They snap their heads towards the galley door opening. Sanji standing up. In walk his crew, they aren't happy but no one is bleeding. Just bruises and scuff marks. Lili jumps off the couch, landing on her feet. She smiles as she blinks away the tears. But the more she blinks the more she sees clearly. These aren't her family. They look it at first glance but they aren't. She steps back against the couch.

"Hey, Lili right?" Nami says seeing the way she stepped away from them. She gives the little blonde a smile but Lili eyes turn misty and her lips tremble again. Nami gets on her knees in front of her.

"Where's daddy? Where's my family?" She asks.

"He'll be here." Nami says with a smile. Lili shakes her head.

"Daddy is fighting the bad lady, daddy always loses against girls. Mommy fights the girls always!" she cries loudly, a fat tear going down her cheek. Nami looks over her shoulder, eyes asking for help but they all look away. Even Sanji. It's true. How can they lie to her? They don't lie.

"Sanji is fine." Luffy says, with eyes on him he smiles.

In time for Sanji, older Sanji, to walk in, a gash on his arm, stomach and chest. Blood on his face and in his hair, covering the bruises. He looks around the room until his eye lands on his daughter. He lets out a breath, sprinting towards her, when he's within arms reach he scoops her up, not caring he's getting blood on her skirt. Though in all fairness it's already dirty.

"Are you okay?" He asks holding her tightly.

"Daddy!" She shouts, holding onto him just as tight. He lays a mountain of kisses on her head.

"I love you." He tells her.

"Me too." she says back, he smiles. The crew steps back giving the two space. Sanji stares. Is this how he is with a kid of his own? He knows kids are amazing but... it's dangerous isn't it? But surely this Sanji once felt like he did right?

Zoro looks over at Sanji, his Sanji. He can't fully read Sanji but he can tell something is bothering him. He looks away, knowing the last person the blonde wants to be worrying about him would be Zoro.

Sanji puts Lily down, holding her head and turning it around to check her face. Nothing. He check the inside of her mouth. She seems to still have all her teeth. Her arms and knees are dirty but no bruises have been formed so she wasn't touched or hurt but... he turns around to Chopper. "Please check on her." Sanji says, swallowing the lump in his throat. Chopper nods, not able to say no to that desperate look in his face. Plus of course he would, the child was kidnapped.

"Of course." Chopper steps up taking his backpack off, he wants to fix the blonde up but knows as a parent he will check not get checked on until after he knows his child is okay. He checks her like he would any child they come across. Checks if she's got a fever. Ask if she's updated on her vaccines. He smiles at Sanji, who answers any question he is asked about her health, happy to see he's attentive to his daughters health. "She's fine. Healthy as can be. Now let me look at you." Chopper says. Sanji nods walking with him to the infirmary. Lili sits on the couch waiting patiently, but gaze on the door.

When Chopper comes out, older Sanji walks out in bandages. Everyone takes a second to admire the muscle older Sanji has built up. Even younger Sanji. Not only did he grow taller but more built too. Sanji always thought he couldn't bulk up but he can if his older self is anything to go by.

Older Sanji helps his younger counterpart in the kitchen make dinner. He asks what happened while he fought the bad lady. Sanji was also curious as he spent his time on the Sunny. Chopper helped every kid that was injured while Nami got all the kids out of there. Franky and Usopp made a clear path out of the building. Zoro and Luffy got the bad guys away from the kids. Robin help get the kids into the town. Brook found any kids that weren't in the cells and Nami got them out. Once that is done they talk to the townspeople about the kids. Older Sanji told them that the woman he fought is the leader. She like to kidnap and sell kids for money. They came across her and the woman saw Lili. Even Luffy can guess what happen next.

That night Lili went to bed with Zoro. Hugging his leg like a lifeline. They all snickered but old Sanji. He just shrug it off. To him it's normal.

"Fly! Fly high, Thousand Sunny-go! The Greatness of everything, it seems like it's in our hands."

The crew walks in to Lili singing rather beautifully. They get to their seats as Sanji cooks them breakfast with his daughter. Sanji and Lily sit on the couch to eat with them. After breakfast they go into town to check on everyone. The contrast of today and yesterday is very noticeable. The townspeople are very happy. The kids are laughing and running around. Of course some kids are from off the island. But everyone seems to be happy.

"Glad to see everyone so lively." Robin smiles.

"Better than yesterday." Zoro says looking around with his arm crossed. He was unnerved yesterday by how dead everyone was.

"When is mommy coming?" Lili asks as Sanji hands her an ice cream cone. Her dad shrugs.

"Not sure, but everyone should be behind us. I'm sure they are worried about us." he answers smiling at his daughter eating her ice cream.

"Hey!" they turn to Nami being trapped in a net. Falling to her knees.

"Woah!" Usopp shouts being next.

"Nami-swan~!" Younger Sanji shouts focus on her rather than himself being capture in the net.

"Daddy!" Lily shouts as someone grabs her from behind. Ice cream abandoned.

"Lili! Damn it not again!" older Sanji shouts, trying to get the net off of him. The net is obviously not made with regular wire.

"I can't feel my muscles," Luffy says deflating like a balloon. Older Sanji watches the young captain, eyes widen.

"Sea stone nets!" He shouts in frustration.

"What!" The crew shout shocks.

"Which means bounty hunters." He continues. "Show yourself! Guardians!" Older Sanji shouts with a growl.

"Vinsmoke Sanji." Someone says, the crew couldn't tell as they are dragged around to form a circle. The devil fruit users uselessly laying as every ounce of strength is stripped away from them. Younger Sanji struggles trying to get out. Eyes on the ladies who were not treated with repect.

"Gaston." Sanji says, angry but calm. Trying not to explode and get his daughter hurt.

"You know him?!" Usopp shouts.

"He's been chasing us for forever now. Well until we got tired of running and fought. He stopped after a while so we thought he gave up." Sanji answers. Gaston raises an eyebrow.

"What happened to the others? You all look..." he his head a turn to take a quick look at the whole crew, not caring that there are two blondes on the crew at the moment.

"Different?"

"Smaller is what I was going to say but that too." He says turning to look at the older Sanji.

"Devil fruit. Also they aren't my crew." Sanji answers dumbly for him, eyes on him as he held onto Lili arm. She's calm but that's because they taught her to be in these situations, it's hard to tell if he's hurting her. She could be holding it in to be calm.

Gaston's eyes land on the other blonde. "I see." He says.

"Let my daughter go." Sanji growls.

"A pirates child is just as bad as their parents." Gaston gives a wicked grin to the older blonde.

"She hasn't done anything!" Sanji struggles, eye wide.

"Don't waste your time, it's sea prism stone. It's unbreakable." He says. Older Sanji calms, stopping his struggle but starts to grin.

"That's what you think." Sanji says but he can't break it, the one who can isn't here.

"Can you let us go we aren't the ones you want!" Usopp shouts.

"Maybe but a straw hat is a straw hat." Gaston grins. Nami looks over at them, her crew. Is this it? Captured in a future timeline. The younger cook struggles, looking at the crew, all struggling like him, Luffy and the other devil fruit users are motionless. Not able to get out. Sanji looks at his older self. What did he mean by that? Earlier.

"Older me!" Sanji calls to him. Blue eye meeting blue eye. "What did you mean? Earlier when he said it was useless and you said that's what he thinks?" Those not affected by the sea stone look between both blondes.

"There is someone who can cut sea stone." he answers.

"That's impossible!" Gaston shouts, the others nodding in agreement.

"Not for the strongest swordsman." The older cook answers with a grin mirroring Lili. Zoro eyes widen, head slowly turning towards the blonde. What did he say?

Zoro doesn't get to ask about that when a severed head falls next to him, causing him to jump a bit in shock. The net is loosened but he's still stuck to the ground. Zoro eyes then goes from the head to the feet walking past him, going into the middle of the circle. All are defensive.

Older Sanji brightens at the new comer.

"Marimo!" Older Sanji happily shouts. Way to happy coming from the blonde. Zoro stood in front of the young Zoro, across from Gaston. With Wado across his shoulder, hand on his jutted hip the older Zoro eyes them all. Just like the older blonde did when they first meet. Just like the blonde this Zoro has changed. He also has light crows feet, hair is longer but still in the same style. His face hasn't changed but his body is drastically different. While Zoro has never been slim, after their two year training Zoro has been bulky, especially around the hips and waist. Now, they can see now wide his hips are, chest bigger, thighs thicker. And Zoro clothes help show it off. He's not wearing his usual clothes, and sure sometimes they change it up but Zoro outfit now is so out there for him, or maybe in. Zoro wore a white button up shirt, sleeves roll up, and is slightly loose. It looks like Sanji style rather than Zoro. His black ankle pants tight around his waist, hips, and upper thighs. He also isn't wearing boots, but black slip on shoes. He looks like he's retired rather than on a crew. Zoro steps forward to step closer to the middle of the circle. He stops, staring at Lili.

"You better let my baby go." Zoro commands, deep and threatening causing them all to shiver. Gaston lets her arm go. Lily rushes forward, eyes watery.

"Mommy!" She shouts hugging Zoro leg. He rest his hand on the back of her head, holding her close to his leg. Holding her close.

"You're annoying Gassy, and you just crossed a line." Zoro says, eyes narrow at the man.

"Your crew crossed the line by killing my wife!" he shouts. Zoro rolls his eyes.

"I did it, the crew had nothing to do with it. I was alone with a baby, I needed to protect her." Zoro says soothingly patting Lili's head, the little girl rubbing her check against his thigh as her hand fist his pants. "Lili close your eyes." He tells her, his hand with Wado being by his side. His thumb pushing his sword out the scabbard.

"Okay mommy. Love you." She says letting him go and covering her eyes with her hands. Zoro just smiles.

"I love you too." Zoro says, with a quick slash in a circle all heads fall, body falling back with a loud thud and squish. "Stay right there." He says then walks forward.

"Mommy, are you okay?" She asks as Zoro stands in front of Gaston, who takes a step back.

"I'm fine. Just worried." Zoro answers, but it's blocked out by Gaston screaming. The swordsman stabbing the man's foot, both of them right in the middle and right through the shoe. When the man falls to his knees Zoro slices both his hand, just like his feet. Right in the middle. His sword dripping with blood.

"Why- why aren't you killing me?" He asks holding his hands together in pain, blood slowly dripping to the floor. Zoro wipes the blood off on Gaston's coat, his blade grazing Gastons skin. Gaston looking up at Zoro in horror.

"That's to easy. And not punishment. Your bounty hunting crew are all dead, your alone and injured. That's what you get for being arrogant and trying to hurt my family." he says. He sheaths Wado, turning to walk to Lili. The older blonde blushes. "If you don't want more injuries I suggest running." Zoro warns, throwing a glare over his shoulder. Gaston runs, turning with his tail tucked between his legs, wobbling away on his injured and bleeding feet. Zoro gets on his knees, in front of Lily. "Are you okay Lili?" He asks worried.

"I'm okay, he was hurting my arm a little, did you punish him?" she asks finally opening her eyes.

"Yeah, no one hurts my baby." Zoro says bringing her into a tight hug. He lay kisses on the crown of her head. She lets out a fit of giggles.

"Umm... that's sweet but... help!" Usopp shouts. Zoro looks at the long nosed one. Then looks at Lili.

"Who should I free first?" he asks her with a smile as he cup her face.

"Daddy!" She says happily, though Zoro didn't smile.

"Okay. Daddy first." Zoro says standing. He grabs Wado and stands in front of the blonde, hovering over him.

"H-hello my l-love." Sanji smiles, though it's strained, the man looks scared. Zoro stays silent as he brings Wado up and slashes down. Slashing close to the blonde, to close for comfort. "Thank you. I love... you." Sanji says but Zoro just walks away. Freeing everyone else. Going around in the circle. The younger Zoro and Sanji slowly exit the net, both shocked about plenty in the current situation.

Older Zoro smiles as he frees Luffy, helping the young captain up. Smiling at him. "Thanks Zoro."

"No problem." Zoro says back. He turns to Franky. "Collect the nets. You too Usopp." he commands. Turning to Lily again. He picks her up, holding her.

"Why me?" Usopp asks, Franky doing as he's commanded.

"My hands are full and I just freed you." Zoro answers calmly. Usopp takes the loss, turning to help Franky.

"You're Lili's mom?" Nami asks circling Zoro to observe him.

"Yes." Zoro answers with a smile feeling Lili rub her nose into his neck.

"Zoro." Older Sanji says. Zoro turns to him him, eyes narrow, dangerously. Sanji gulps. That's not a good look to be under.

"Sanji." He says coldly, and they all feel the chill. The crew taking a step back.

"I'm sorry." Sanji says getting down on his hands and knees, forehead to the ground. "It's because of me that Lili was taken. If I had just fought... none of this would have happened. I'm sorry." Zoro stares coldly, for a second. His expression going back to neutral. He sets Lili down on her feet.

"Go to aunty Robin." Zoro tells her. She nods, skipping to Robin. Zoro stands firmly in front of Sanji. He crosses his arms. "Sanji get up. I'm not mad that you lost or couldn't fight." Zoro sighs. The blonde lifts his head, slowly.

"You're not?" he asks shocked.

"You don't hit women, that's your decision, I think it's stupid but I respect your decision."

"So you're not mad Lili was taken?" Sanji asks causing Zoro eyebrow to twitch.

"Of course I'm mad that she was taken, but the timing was bad. I couldn't fight with Charlie being just born, Chopper was with us. Nami and the others just got us out the storm. Lili was stuck in the room waiting for everything to be done with and you were there with me. We were all tired." Zoro explains, Sanji slowly getting up to his feet, eyes wide.

"Charlie? The baby is a boy?" Sanji asks hypnotized. He reaches forward touching Zoro shoulder.

"Yup, the baby is a boy. Charlie like we agreed." Zoro smiles. Sanji lets out a chuckle.

"A boy." Sanji says.

"Yup."

"We have a boy." Sanji says again a big smile on his face.

"Yup, all healthy." Zoro answers still smiling, Sanji lets out a chuckle.

"We have a baby boy!" Sanji says pulling Zoro to him, grabbing his face to kiss him. Deep and passionate. "A boy." Sanji says pulling away to hug Zoro tight.

"I'm glad you're happy," Zoro rubs Sanji back, slowly moving to cup the blondes face. "But... I'm still pissed off!" He shouts grabbing the blondes ear, pulling it as he stomps to the Sunny. "What were you thinking going off on your own!" Zoro shouts passing the the crew. Franky and Usopp staring as they continue to gather all the nets, the rest just stare in shock.

"Ow! Ow! My ear!" Sanji shouts, Zoro pulling his head down as he sprints forward, making it hard considering he's taller than the marimo now. The others moving to catch up with the two.

"I can't believe you just snuck off while I was sleeping on your own!"

"You were recovering from giving birth!" Sanji says back.

"I know!" Zoro says pushing Sanji back, finally letting his ear go. The blonde rubbing his ear face scrunched in pain. "But you could have talked to me about it before! This," Zoro says showing his matching wedding band on his finger, pointing to it, "this means we are in it together, we talk before we make big decisions like the one you made! Do you know how worried I was! It didn't help that my hormones were all over the place!" Zoro shouts, eyes misty as he paces back and forth, hands on his hips. His emotions aren't calm just yet.

"I needed to get to Lili!"

"Lili would have been fine! We have a vivre card for her. We made sure to teach her. This is why we teach her! You sneaking off hurt!" Zoro shouts.

"Hey, hey." Sanji says calmly and sweet, taking Zoro's head in his hands. "This isn't like when Lili was born. I promised to protect her and I failed. I had to go after her, I would have talked to you but I didn't want to waste any time." Sanji says frowning at the memory, the emotions he felt coming back. He felt regret. The whole way searching for Lili he questioned his own morals.

"I was worried." Zoro croaks. Sanji rubs his thumb against Zoro cheek. Not pointing out the tears.

"I was too. Getting Lili back was my priority and I did get her back. Along with finding... us." Sanji says. Zoro snickers, that was a shock to see. He didn't know what to think. First thing first is daughter.

"I love you." Zoro says. Sanji smiles, pulling Zoro into a kiss.

"I love you too. So much." Sanji says against Zoro lips. Zoro pulls Sanji into a hug.

"I love you both!" Lili shouts running to hug their legs. Both parents smile. Zoro pulls back bending to pick Lili up. She hugs him. Wrapping her arms around his neck. She gives him kisses, a little sloppy but Zoro continue to smile. Sanji smiles as he watch his family. Zoro moves Lili to rest on his hip. Done kissing her mom Lily rest her head on his shoulder. Happy to have her mommy there again. Zoro looks at Sanji happy to see his husband there. Safe. Lili sits up, tilting as she stare at Zoro. Now noticing something is very different. The young blonde pulls her hand back, then slapping Zoro stomach making him flinch, not in pain just surprise. Zoro looks at his daughter, thin eyebrow raised. "Where is the big tummy? The baby is gone." Sanji grins. Lili looks at Zoro, very curious about the disappearance of the big tummy.

"Gone. The baby is out of me." Zoro answers setting Lily down on her feet. She looks up at both parents curious. Sanji moves close to Zoro.

"Are you okay?" Sanji asks. Zoro nods.

"Fine. I wouldn't be here if I weren't." Zoro says. Eyes now glued to the blonde. He takes a look at Sanji, the shirt very tight on the blonde. Almost bursting at the seams. "What is up with your shirt?" Zoro moves his hands to touch the white shirt on Sanji. "This isn't your shirt." Zoro says with full confidence.

"How do you know?"'the younger Sanji asks.

"I do all your laundry." Zoro answers, still touching Sanji, the swordsman can feel underneath the shirt, it's hard and a little rough. Like bandages. Without a warning Zoro opens the blondes shirt without ripping any buttons off. Zoro stares wide eyed at the bandage around his stomach and chest. "What happened?" he asks worried, touching the bandage softly.

"I fought her." Sanji says, Zoro looks more surprise than before.

"You fought her?" Zoro repeats, stunned.

"No one messes with my family." Sanji repeats what the swordsman said earlier. Zoro smiles at Sanji not caring about the fact the blonde is reaching underneath his own shirt, pale fingers touching heated skin. "You haven't been eating well." Sanji says looking at Zoro.

"You know how I get." Zoro answers. Sanji nods, he knows the marimo worries too much. Underneath his finger he can feel Zoro stomach rumble quietly.

"I'll make us lunch." Sanji smiles turning to Lili who is playing with Luffy. The captain turning at the mention of lunch. "It's time to go home!" he shouts at Lili, moving his hand to hold onto Zoro's hand. The crew follow behind the couple.

Once on Sunny Sanji, Zoro and Lily head to the galley. Franky and Usopp put the sea stone net in storage. Sanji gave Lili a cup of water. When she finish she goes to play. Nami, Robin, Brook, young Zoro and Sanji sit at the table with older Zoro.

"So you two are married?" Nami questions because that's the last thing she would ever expect from them both. Chopper, Franky and Usopp joining them.

"Yes." Zoro answers drinking water.

"How long?" Nami asks.

"I'm surprised you both have Lili. You know we are a pirate crew?" Usopp points out. Zoro gives the sharpshooter a look.

"Yeah we know." Zoro rolls his eyes.

"Lili wasn't planned. And we've been married for three years now." Sanji says moving around the kitchen, the younger Sanji sits at the counter watching his older counterpart cooking.

"Zoro, Sanji told us that you left the crew. What happened?" Robin asks. The older Zoro looks at his husband then Robin.

"I was taken from the crew." Zoro says looking down at his glass of water. They have a feeling they shouldn't say anything more.

They watch Zoro take care of his daughter, it's oddly fitting for the man. He's always been very attentive to others. The most being Usopp and Chopper so to see him caring and kind to his own daughter it's not that shocking. What is surprising is Zoro's calmness of being called mom by Lili, or the pure love in Zoro's eyes when he looks at her or Sanji.

Watching the couple sit next to each other as they eat, acting and talking like couple, is something no one ever expected to see even younger Sanji and Zoro. Of course they teased each other but no matter what is said they can still see the love. And there's a lot of it.

Sanji sighs as he takes off his blazer, hanging it on a hanger and setting it aside. He could not believe himself. His older self. He understands being a pirate is hard but to fall in love with Zoro and marry him, along with having two kids out of it... he's judging himself. Why?

And he can't help but look at Zoro, but it's hard to read his face. Zoro seems calm on the outside, even when the older couple is flirting so openly with each other. The younger Zoro gives them a look then continues what he's doing. Does he care? Maybe he doesn't but Sanji does care. Especially when he remembers.

The blonde walks in only to pause in his tracks. With a towel wrapped around his waist his eyes land on the far end of the bathroom, sitting in the large bath is the older Sanji with the older Zoro on his lap. The older blonde smile up at Zoro who is also smiling. The older marimo leans forward kissing the blonde, whose hands come out of the water, sliding up Zoro's sides up to his shoulder blades keeping him in place. Zoro cups the blonde face as they continue to kiss, very passionate. Sanji spots Zoro's hand sliding down the older blondes chest into the water, not wanting to see them continue any further Sanji clears his throat. To his dismay they don't stop immediately. Having the kiss last a long minute before finally turning their heads, as if they will never get to kiss again.

The older blonde looks at him like he did the most horrendous thing known to man. The older Zoro looks at him calmly, but Zoro's eyes obviously roam his body, making the young blonde want to skirm.

"Cockblocked by my own self." Sanji says lowly as Zoro slides off his lap, sitting next to him, as he laughs at the blondes comment.

"Dramatic, but it's good we got interrupted," Zoro says watching the young blonde take his shower, he could feel the stares. The older blonde looks at him questioningly. "No condoms." Zoro answers the blondes unasked question.

"We don't need those." Sanji huffs and the other blonde is dying on the inside. He didn't need to know any of what they do or need.

"Right, and now we have two kids to care for." Zoro says.

"We'd have a lot more if it were that easy." Sanji tells his husband, Zoro only letting out a scoffed laugh. "Would you stop staring at me-him." Sanji huffs, the young blonde turning his head to look at them to see Zoro's eyes still on him. He only smiles then turns to look at the blonde.

"Sorry, I forgot that's what you looked like." Zoro says with a grin on his face.

"Do you miss when my body was like that?" Sanji asks. Zoro looks down at the older blondes body, then back to his eyes.

"Nope, wouldn't be able to satisfy me." Zoro leans forward kissing the blonde, who responds with a smile.

"Oh god." Sanji mutters, not as quiet as he wanted though. Zoro just lets out a laugh. They look up to see Sanji frowning at them, ready to soak in the hot water they are currently hogging.

Zoro stands up, moving closer to the young blonde. "I'll let you soak in peace." Zoro gives the young blonde a look, one that hasn't changed after all these years, letting him know he's being teased. Sanji just frowns more, eyes roaming the older marimos body, stopping for a second at Zoro's crotch then snapping at his face, the marimo not caring in the slightest. "I'm going to check on Lili." Zoro says over his shoulder, then the door is shut. Sanji eyes the door before turning back to his older self.

The man calmly sitting there, head back, eye close, body spread in peace. They haven't gotten a chance to talk themselves, alone, like now. Sanji moves forward. Dipping his body into the hot water, still hot even though they were here for who knows how long. At some point in the evening the two disappeared.

Sanji flinches when older blue eyes land on him. He is caught staring. "Something wrong?" He asks. Sanji shakes his head. Then he pauses to look at him. Actually...

"Why?" Sanji wonders.

"What?"

"Why Zoro?" Sanji only watch as the older blonde nods. He hums, thinking of an answers, eye close as he cups his hands, gathering water and dripping it over his broad shoulders. His growth making a little more sense seeing Zoro, if they have... you know, often it makes sense he'd bulk up. Zoro isn't heavy but it's not like the man weights as much as a feather.

"Because I love him." Is what the older blonde answers, but it doesn't really answer the youngers questions.

"Why do you love him? How?" All he gets is a smile.

"It wasn't like it happened one day after the next. It happened over time. And you saw right?" Sanji asks. Sanji tilts his head curiously, what is the older talking about?

"His-" Sanji starts realizing it.

"Yup," the older interrupts, "how Zoro has a vagina and not a dick. It was an accident but after I learned about it I got to know Zoro. I learned who Zoro is and found it pretty lucky that he likes me back. I almost fucked it up, so don't do what I did." Sanji says, he stands up, showing off his muscles. "I'll take watch tonight and get breakfast ready so you can rest tonight." Sanji smiles at his younger self, who can only sit in the water dumbfounded.

He sat there soaking in the water until he feels dizzy. Drying himself and getting dressed. Sanji walks by the galley hearing faintly Lili and Luffy talking to the older couple for food, Luffy ask for food while Lili ask for milk before bed. Zoro laughing at the two but proceeds to mother them both.

He rushes up the crows nest, finding who he is looking for. Zoro sitting on the floor, meditating. He rushes forward, mind focus on one thing, he reaches forward undoing Zoro's sweats.

"Hey!" Zoro shouts shoving the blonde in a daze. "What the fuck!" Zoro says grasping onto the blondes wrist stopping him, but Sanji is determined. "Stop!" Zoro says kicking the blonde away from him. "What the hell?" Zoro asks fixing his pants.

"Do you have a dick?" Sanji asks. Zoro stares at him, he's obviously lost his mind.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"The older Zoro doesn't, he's got a vagina." Sanji says, Zoro looks surprised, for a second. That does explains the kids though.

"What the hell? Is that why you were assaulting me?" Zoro wonders, sliding further away from the blonde.

"I was just checking."

"And what would you have done if it were true?" Zoro wonders crossing his arms over his chest.

Sanji just sits there in place. What would he have done? He doesn't know. He just wanted to make sure. Maybe he's still convinced that they were pushed forward in time. Sure the older Sanji said they aren't on the same time line but the older blonde hasn't been completely honest. Though, he hasn't lied to them. And he's right, if he told them the truth they wouldn't have believe him.

Sanji looks up to see he's standing against the railing. He must have come out to think. He always like the fresh air as he thinks. Sanji turns, walking to the galley. He would like to talk to the older man more. He just can't wrap his head around the marriage and family he has with Zoro. What was the turning point? Just because they are from a different time (supposedly) doesn't mean certain things won't happen to them too.

He pauses as he looks through the window on the door, eye widen at the sight of Zoro bare from the waist down, sitting on the table, legs open showing himself. Zoro moves his hand down to his glistening wet pussy. He inserts a finger, tongue licking his lips, face red but expressive with pleasure. His eyes slowly turn to the older blonde who walk with a grin on his face, the younger blonde's small box of condoms in his hand. The young blonde now knows why the older told him to rest. He planned this. But they must do this often.

"Fuck it's been so long." He hears the older groan, voice deeper and more gravely with sexual need. The older blonde is liking where this is going. The younger blonde ducks away, hiding away from them. Zoro moans, the sound burning the younger blonde ears.

The sound of skin slapping against skin and moans fill the room soon. The creaking of the table is a sound that follows, being under the weight of both Zoro and the strength of Sanji straining the wood.

"You feel so good," Zoro says with a very wet moan, eyes glaze with lust as he stare up at his husband, hovering over him. Enough that Zoro can see his whole face, eyebrows pinch with pleasure, teeth clench but letting out deep groans from the throat, blue eyes blown dark around his pupils. Zoro holds down, hard and strong, on the blonde large bicep and forearm. The swordsman throws his head back, thunking it against the table, mouth open as he let out obscene noises, not caring enough to be quiet, mind too far gone to think about anything other than the feeling of Sanji's member sliding in and out of his pussy. The girth of the cock stretching against his walls, sliding against his good spots. Stimulating every part inside him. Sanji's rough pace making his toes curl.

Sanji grit his teeth, groaning as he look down at Zoro. His whole face expressive and open. Looking at him with that wanton face only he will have the privilege to see. Sanji's hand go from the table to Zoro, sliding down his sides until they rest on his hips. The blonde can feel the pregnancy fat Zoro still has. Mostly around his hips, though Sanji has no problem if it stays. With a bruising grip Sanji holds his hips as he thrust fast, knowing Zoro likes it when he goes fast by the way Zoro walls clench around him, or how wet Zoro is. It feels good for him too but he knows from experience that nothing will get Zoro to lose his mind like going deeper, but he can't in this position. He gets down on Zoro, laying on him, thrust slowing to shallow thrust. The swordsman moans have turn soft and low, looking down at his husband questioningly as to why he slowed down? And what is he doing?

Sanji continues, moving Zoro legs around his waist, then moving one hand under his back, the other down to his ass. With everything in place, Sanji finally stands, Zoro hold up in his arms. Zoro wrapping his legs more firmly around Sanji, also wrapping his arms the blonde neck. Of course he didn't want to fall. As Sanji carefully walk to the couch, Zoro takes deep breaths, trying not to think about the way he can still feel Sanji hot cock pulse inside him. Feel the way his pussy clench at the same time.

Sanji falls back on the couch, hand sliding down the beautiful back of his husband to grab a handful of ass that his husband has, he looks up to Zoro face. The swordsman moving his legs to rest against the soft cushions of the couch. Thighs hot against the blonde own thighs. Zoro look down as he links his fingers together, moving his legs to make sure he can get a good purchase on the couch. Sanji eyes go down the swordsman body. A light layer of sweat starting to build up making his body start to glisten. The blonde taking note of the way Zoro breast seem to be round and soft. They haven't been like that in years. Not since Lili stop breastfeeding. Sanji continues down to Zoro belly button, the swordsman stomach flat but no strong ridges where his abs are. Hidden by a thin layer of fat. Zoro will get it back in no time. The blonde will enjoy Zoro body post-pregnancy while he can. The cook stop, eyes on where they connect. The blonde has always thought the swordsman pussy is picture perfect. Still is. Perfectly framed by beautiful thick highs. Sanji looks back up to see the Zoro staring at him. Sanji messages Zoro ass, the other moaning softly. Like this they both can feel how deep Sanji is, and they love it.

Zoro moves, using his thighs to lift himself up, cock sliding out until only the head remains. Using the blondes shoulders to keep him up, Zoro feels the way his thighs tremble. He may not be able to keep this up for long. Zoro falls. The blonde dick piercing deeply inside. Just how he likes it. He mewls, sparkles flying throughout his body, from his core to the very tips of his fingers and toes. He continues his pace, letting out moan after moan. Looking down at Sanji, his face also showing his pleasure. The blonde moves forward, burying his face in between Zoro chest. He licks up, tongue going against the scar, hand sliding up Zoro spine softly making his lover shiver and halt in his movements for a second. Sanji moves his head. Eye ogling the dark nipple of Zoro. The blonde takes a small kitten lick against the nipple. Zoro moan, pushing his chest closer. Sanji hums, grinning as he licks his own lips, then dives in. Flicking the nipple with his tongue, over and over again. The swordsman rotating his hips, stuttering at the pleasure. Mouth hung open letting out noise after noise.

Sanji opens his mouth, lips wrap around the dark nipple, latching onto the nipple and sucking. Zoro stops mid lift, hand going to the back of the blonde head, gripping onto the blonde strains of hair. Sanji pulls back slowly, licking his lips again. His eye looks up to Zoro. "Sweet." is all he says, and the swordsman can't help but blush.

"Pervert. The milk is for Charlie." Zoro says breathless. Sanji grins.

"Right now you're mine." Sanji tells his husband, leaning back as he place his hands on Zoro hips, his feet place on the floor firmly. Without warning the blonde thrust up. Zoro throws his head back.

"Fuck! Keep going don't stop!" Zoro shouts, moving his hips to meet the blonde thrust, one hand moving down his body to his clit, pressing against it, his highs gripping against the blonde thighs, shit that feels so good, along with the hot and hard member abusing his insides he can feel himself getting to the edge very fast. The blonde holds onto the soft hips extremely hard, enough to bruise them. Sex with each other always feels this good. "I'm s-so clo-close!" Zoro moans shaking his head placing his hand on Sanji shoulder, both hands holding on tight, bruising the blonde much more easily than he can.

Sanji moves one hand, reaching down, thumb pressing hard and rough against Zoro clit. The man always like it rough. Zoro about screams, stopping his motions. He quickly moves to grab hold of the blonde wrist.

"D-don't, I-I'll squirt all o-over." Zoro moans breathless. Eyebrows pinch together, worry on his face. Sanji grins, continuing his onslaught of thrusts. Zoro's grip tightens.

"Make as much of a mess as you want. I'll clean it up." Sanji smiles up at his husband. Zoro loosens his hand around the blonde wrist, he places his hand on the couch behind Sanji head. Zoro starts rocking his hips along to the blonde thrusts. The cook moves his middle finger against the clit, pressing against it hard, Zoro let out a wet moan, leaning forward, rocking his hips hard onto the cook's dick and hand. His husband then starts rubbing his clit, hard, in a circular motion.

"I-I'm going t-to c-cum!" Zoro stutters loudly.

"G-go a head," Sanji urges, loving the way his husband is during sex, always finding the way the marimo is expressive during sex beautiful and sexual. Turning him on more and more. During his pregnancy he love just how horny the swordsman got.

"Sanji!" Zoro screams as he cums, the cooks member being pushed out as Zoro body wracks with trembles all over, squirting on his lap, coming out like a faucet. Sanji rut against Zoro clit, his head rubbing against him, causing more liquid to pour out of Zoro. Face buried between two soft mounds, leaving marks against tan skin.

Zoro and Sanji takes deep breaths, the younger Sanji sliding down against the wall, he saw everything and heard it all. He almost feels betrayed.

"Sanji?" Zoro questions as his husband turns him around, backing facing blue eyes. Sanji reaches down, ignoring the wetness of his pants, he loves it when Zoro squirts on him, holding the base of his dick to line himself up with the vaginal opening. Zoro squirm, his folds and clit sensitive.

"I haven't come yet, even if I did, like one round is enough to satisfy either of us." Sanji says peppering his husbands shoulder blade with kisses. Zoro lets out a soft chuckle about how true that statement is. The marimo reaches down, helping guide the head of the cook's member to his vaginal hole.

The young Sanji cover his ears as the moans start again, the sound of squelching and creaking is accompanied with them. Sanji turns his head, eye picking something up from the corner of his eye.

Zoro slowly ascends the stairs. He pauses for a second, quirking an eyebrow at the blonde squatting on the floor, covering his ears almost in horror. Zoro steps forward, going up the rest of the way up the stairs. Stopping next to the blonde, blue eyes on his untied boots. "What are you doing?" Zoro finally asks. The cooks closes in on himself.

"Ah~! Keep going, keep rubbing like that!" Sanji can see from the boots that Zoro flinch from the noise. Ears now registering the moans, groans, squelching, slapping, and creaking. Slowly the blonde looks up, from black boots to a shirtless torso shining with sweat, to a bright red face. Eyebrows twitching. Zoro peaks into the porthole, into the galley, eyes roaming until landing on his older self spreading his legs as he impale himself on older Sanji cock.

Zoro steps back, he lets out a breath. He can confirm what Sanji had told him is true, not that he thought he was lying. Why else would the blonde bother him and then try to pants him? Still nice to confirm things with his own eyes. That can also be said about the older versions marriage. Good to know they actually like each other. The love also seems to still be there too.

"Guess I'll fill this tomorrow." Zoro says low as he looks at his empty water bottle. With that he turns around, going back down the stairs. Sanji shoots up. Following him stunned by his calm and nonchalant attitude. How can he be so calm?

"T-that's it?" Sanji wonders, having to find his voice. Zoro stops, the blonde holding onto his arm. He turns to face the blonde. A little surprise to see his face scrunched up in anger.

"What do you expect me to do? They're married. Even if I did feel like you I can't stop it, I also can't break them apart. If you haven't noticed, even if we tried they are stronger than us, they have at least six more years of experience than us. They can beat our Luffy easily." Zoro says eyes steady. Sanji slowly let's him go.

"How'd you get six years?" Sanji wonder. If they got stronger in two, he can't imagine their strength in six.

"Lili is six years old." Zoro answers, the blonde blinks, dumbfounded by the answer and in which Zoro had answer.

"How do you know?"

"She told me when we went to sleep last night."

"She's so small." Sanji says, Zoro gets that, he also thought she was four at least but he just shrugs. Not everyone is tall.

"I'm going to bed." Zoro says turning to walk into the men's quarters. Sanji left alone on deck. Lily is six. The older swordsman and cook have been together for at least six years. That's almost a decade together. They haven't been married that long though. Still they've been in a relationship together for so long. The blonde can't wrap his head around that, it won't sink in, that's how long they've been in love and it's still going strong from what he just witnessed. Enough they have a second kid. How can he love someone that much?

Sanji moves his feet, he's going to bed too. He shouldn't think about anything.

---

Sanji jerks up, he hears Nami shouting for Luffy to be quiet. Sanji looks around, Brook and Franky walking past his bunk. He rubs his eye and he look around the room. Was it morning already? He stops when he spots Zoro tying his boots on. He grabs his swords looking back to them. "Hurry Usopp," Zoro says moving out the door, Usopp shuffles going quick but quiet. Sanji moves to look around, mind slowly coming to reality. He moves around, getting ready himself. His eyes land on the small child sleeping on their extra bunk.

Right, the older couple occupied the galley, with that he fell asleep knowing he can sleep in. He gets ready doing his morning routine, slow and leisurely but quiet, aware of the child.

When he finally walks out to join the others, he feels very refreshed, having been able to get a full nights of sleep. He has his schedule, and is use to it but that doesn't mean its a healthy schedule. He walks in to everyone unusually quiet. Luffy sat munching on his spoon, a large bruise peaking through locks of raven hair. Sanji moves, eyes on everyone unnaturally quiet and eating, he grabs a plate, piling his plate with food, sitting down at the table. Sanji has to let himself be jealous of his older self. The food taste better, there's so much, and it makes him feel better. He can't believe the older Sanji had time to ravish Zoro, clean the mess they made, maybe sleep and cook. Sanji's eye lands on the older Zoro laying on the couch, back facing the table, sleeping with how the snore is echoing in the room beside the clattering of the older Sanji cleaning the kitchen. Sanji looks around once more. He's got a feeling on what happened. Their captain must have been loud, old Sanji kicked the captain, then warned him to be quiet. Seeing this the others must have listened. The older Sanji is extremely scary.

The galley door burst open, all eyes going to the small figure. Lili stood there rubbing her eye, with her messy hair sticking out, pink pajamas, bunny slippers. She lowers her hand, her crazy hair moving to cover half her face. To everyone she look like a mini Sanji with Zoro's eyes. To Sanji he can see his mother. Lili eyes land on Zoro sleeping. Like she's possessed she sprints to to Zoro, jumping on his back, laying her head on his bicep with her leg hooked over his waist. Zoro continue to snore, while Lily hung on Zoro. He must be used to it.

The snoring stops, for Zoro to grab Lily and lay her on the couch, her head resting against his chest, resting his arm over her, her foot resting on his waist. Zoro's snore continue. Robin smile at the cute scene, taking a quick glance at the younger Zoro who eat in peace, not caring about the scene.

"Never thought I'd see Zoro so caring." Nami jokes to get a reaction out of Zoro who just gave her a look, then continues to eat. The orange head huffs that it doesn't work. Her eyes land on the blonde who also ate calmly. Her eyes narrow, now that she thought about it ever since learning about the love life of the older blonde and older swordsman the two haven't said or asked anything. She wonder what their thoughts are about it. They've been so quiet.

Slowly, the older Zoro sits up. "Awake?" Brook wonders. The older Zoro shakes his head.

"I forgot." Zoro mumbles setting Lily down, moving her to lay comfortably on the couch.

"What?" Robin asks.

Zoro moves to the large den den. He dials the number, they all watch as the snail rings. A second after they hear the distinct click of the other end answering, but what answers is loud crying. The crew jump in shock by the sound. Zoro looks over to Lily who turn her head to him. She crawls to her mom, laying her head on his lap. He smiles patting her messy hair.

"Who is it?" Asks a very angry sounding Nami.

"It's me." Zoro answers.

"Zoro! Finally! Did you find them?" she asks loudly and eager.

"Like Zoro can find anything." They hear Usopp in the background.

"I did." Zoro answers frowning.

"Good. We should be close to you so stay safe until then."

"Don't worry about us, we're safe. How is Charlie?" Zoro asks.

"Zoro," Luffy whines, "when are you coming back? Charlie won't stop crying."

"We'll meet him soon don't worry. And Zoro don't worry about us, Charlie is just not happy to be without you. He cries most of the time but that's it." Robin reassures.

"What has Chopper said?"

"He's healthy, still on the small side but considering what he can guess about Lili, he's a healthy weight." Robin answers.

"Stay where you are." Nami informs. There's a click, ending the call, the kitchen engulf in silence. Zoro puts the snail away. Trying not to move to much.

"It's good to know that you'll be reunited with your nakama but what about us?" Usopp asks. They have been here for almost three whole days. In all those days they haven't learned how to get back. Now they have to wonder: will they ever go back?

"How will we get back?" Nami asks.

"You can tell us what happened but I doubt we can help. I'd wait for our crew. Our Robin might know something." Zoro says.

"Zoro is right," Sanji says walking to his husband with a plate, "we have had so many journeys so Nami and Robin may remember something, or have an idea that will help." Sanji hands the man his plate and fork. "For now we wait, like what our Nami said."

"She'd be upset if we didn't listen." Zoro answers.

"I want to meet my older self!" Luffy yells raising his hand. Nami sighs.

"There's nothing else we can do." Nami says.

Guess they'll just have to wait.

Chopper stares at the older Zoro, a little concerned about what had been said. "Is there something wrong with Lili and Charlie size?" he asks watching Zoro eat. Older Sanji walk pass with another full plate.

"Nothing to be concerned about," he smiles, "it's just that they are small in size."

"What do you mean?" Nami wonders.

"Lili is six years old." The younger Zoro answers as he eats.

"She is?!" Nami shouts shocked, along with the others. "How do you know?" Nami asks her Zoro.

"She told me." he answers which makes older Zoro grin.

"She's rather small." Robin points out staring at the little girl still resting on Zoro's lap, attention going to her. Of course they know she's eating well, her father is Sanji, so what is with the small size?

"Charlie is like this too?" Chopper wonders.

"Yeah, when Lili was born she was very small, we thought it was the conditions of her birth but that doesn't seem to be the case." older Zoro answers as he switch plates with his husband.

The crew finish their meal in silence. The information they got from learning Lili age is a lot to process. This means the couple have been together far longer than they thought. Once done the crew move to do their own thing.

Older Zoro slowly makes his way into the crows nest. He had forgotten how things were. The Sunny has changed. He spots his younger self meditating on the floor. Zoro looks around. It feels like so long ago when the crows nest look like this. Almost wild and messy. Zoro goes over to the weights that are out in the open, not put away in a safer, more secure place like on his Sunny. Zoro does his basic stretches, he hasn't done an extreme workout in months.

The younger Zoro cracks his eye open to watch his older counterpart. Routine is vastly different. Intrigued Zoro continues to watch. His mind remembering the day before. "Can you cut sea stone?" he asks regretting opening his mouth as of course he can he freed them all. Older Zoro pauses, he turns to face the younger Zoro, calm as always, or he expected to be asked that question.

"Yes. Why, you want to learn?" Zoro wonders with a grin.

"Well yeah." Zoro says, with how many devil fruit users the crew has that must be valuable to know.

"I'll teach you if you answer a few questions of mine." Zoro says getting closer. Zoro just nods.

"Ask."

"Why do you seem fine with knowing Sanji and I are married? The young Sanji looks about ready to jump of the deck." the older asks, the younger only raises an eyebrow, silently asking; how can you tell? The older grins, "I've been with Sanji a long time, some things don't change." he says. Younger Zoro turns his head away.

"Weirder things have happened." Zoro answers simply. Older Zoro raises a brow at the younger. Them being married isn't weird? Everyone finds it weird but Zoro, he seems calm about it, too calm, the only one who quickly accepted it (besides Luffy, who seems to just not care), why?

Why fight something you don't care about? Or maybe it's not that, why fight something you agree with? "Do you like your Sanji?" he asks. Older Zoro blinks, seeing for himself the way the swordsman whole body flinch, having been caught. If that wasn't enough of a tell then the way his ears pink is. The young swordsman turns his head slowly to his older self. Eyes wide, blush across his cheeks. Now he knows what Sanji means when talking about his cute reactions when embarrassed. "You do." he answers for himself, smiling. "Have you done anything?" from the way he looks sullen the answer must be yes but it didn't go well.

"I already confessed, and was rejected." is the very short answer.

"Ah, sorry." is all the older Zoro can think to say. Seeing another version of yourself happy with the one who rejected him must suck.

"Not your fault." Zoro shrugs it off.

"But still, I'll try not to be too open with my husband."

Zoro shakes his head. "No need for that. It's kind of funny to see Sanji freaking out." Zoro grins. They stare at each other for a moment. "How did you and your Sanji get together?"

"We actually became friends. He's actually the one who confessed to me, I sort of rejected him but we ended up dating. It wasn't easy. At first it was a learning experience but then he hurt me, but I was taken away before I could process my emotions. When I was taken shit happen to my head, I was also pregnant so that didn't help."

"But you ended up married."

"Yeah," Zoro smiles, "Sanji had to make it up though."

"How?"

---

Sanji stretches, awaken from his nap. Sanji looks up at the crows nest, knowing his husband must be up there. A little disappointed to have woken up from his hap alone. The ladies generously taking Lili with them. Of course after Zoro threaten them. Zoro has always been protective of Lili. He makes his way to the kitchen, the urge to make his love a snack is strong.

He walks in to, shockingly, find his younger self in the kitchen, still cleaning dishes. The younger of the two pauses, turning around to see than man standing there hands in his pocket, eyes judging.

"What?" Sanji asks with all the attitude. Obviously he didn't want to be around the older blonde. The older blonde just smirks, walking forward into the kitchen area.

"Obviously wondering why you are taking so long to clean? I came to cook my husband a snack." he says still smirking, ignoring the way the blondes curly eyebrow twitch. Sanji starts pulling ingredients out and a bowl, planning on making a fruit bowl or salad. "Maybe I'll make little marimo one too." he mutters to himself.

Younger Sanji growls, "you... why are you married to Zoro?" he asks not to nicely.

"Again?" Sanji pauses to look at the younger blonde. "I married him because I love him him."

"But..." Sanji turns to him, eyes searching his own eyes all he finds in his older eyes is happiness and age but the older man is more than happy.

"I know how you feel but of all people you should know how Zoro is. He's many things but over all he's the most loyal, dedicated, and earnest person we'll ever meet and I've never forgotten how lucky I am to have married him. Especially after I almost lost him." Sanji says having turned back to continue making the snack. A small smile on his face, eyebrows furrow up. Sanji has calmed down, staring at him.

"You almost lost him?" Sanji remembers him mentioning that night. "What happened?"

"What do you think? Of course I fucked up. Then Zoro was taken after we had a fight, he was gone for a whole year. During that time Zoro went through his pregnancy without me. When he came back..." Sanji takes a deep breath, with a small shake of his head he continues, "things weren't the same and I had to try really hard for Zoro to forgive me. He wouldn't let anyone near Lili for the longest time." Sanji turns to his younger self, face serious. "Don't be so blinded from the past." Sanji warns him.

"Is it so good being married to him?" Sanji wonders.

"We've been happy but it wasn't easy. But don't force yourself, just because it worked for me and my Zoro doesn't mean it will work for you." Sanji says plating the fruit. The older blonde takes the plate, leaving to deliver the snacks. Sanji slowly moves to continue to wash the dishes. He just can't wrap his head around it. Seeing the family dynamic, they have twisted something within him.

There was a time when he thought he would have a family but that is a crushed thought. So he gave up on the thought, why would anyone want to be with him? He's too much for many woman, he usually ends up scaring away most woman. His personality is also not something anyone can get along with. If all that wasn't enough there is his biological family to run people off. Being a pirate doesn't help. He's come to terms with the fact he won't find love, which he doesn't mind. He's got his dream to fulfill anyways. Love would get in the way of that.

He's brought back to a couple weeks ago, before all this. One night, as they sail in the night, everyone asleep but Sanji who is doing some prep work and Zoro who is on night watch. After a quick snack Zoro confesses to him. Sanji can't remember what he said, his head was reeling, not able to believe that the swordsman is speaking the truth. Then Zoro is gone. In the morning for breakfast Zoro acted like normal, eating before going to sleep having been up all night. Sanji didn't think more, letting it go.

Now he's curious, did Zoro confess? If he did why him?

Sanji dries his hands, turning to walk to the door. He sets the towel on the corner of the table, then goes to the door, opening it without a second thought only to pause at the slight resistance and voice. "Ah!" Sanji takes a peak and finds Zoro holding the tray of bowls in his hand. Eyes trained at his hands, making sure nothing fell. Zoro takes a breath, standing straight. He makes eye contact with Sanji who is staring at him as if he's grown a second head. Zoro only takes a step to the side to allow the blonde to open the door fully and exit. But he doesn't move.

Then Zoro thought maybe he's holding the door open for him but quickly dismissed that thought as the blonde stands in the way. Zoro waits for a moment but with no movement. Not waiting any longer Zoro squeezes through the blonde and door. Zoro heads to the kitchen. Sanji stops him with a hand to the shoulder. Zoro looks over his shoulder to the blonde. "What?" he questions.

"What about the other two?" he asks. Zoro turns his body as one eyebrow raise.

"In the crows nest flirting, I figured I'd leave them be and bring the dishes down." Zoro shrugs.

"That's kind of you." Sanji points out, eyes narrow.

Zoro continues to the kitchen, stepping up to the sink, "older Sanji made me a snack, I'll pay it back."

"You never do that for me." Sanji says.

"You never make a snack specifically for me." Zoro retorts. Sanji frowns.

"I make you things." Sanji says back.

"No," Zoro shakes his head as he turns the water on, "you make Nami and Robin things, the rest of us are after thoughts." Zoro corrects. Sanji opens his mouth, but closes it, huffing as he crosses his arms because it's true. He doesn't want to let any one hungry so he makes everyone food, but he's mostly focused on the ladies.

"Do you want to get special treatment?" Sanji wonders. The blonde goes over to sit at the counter.

"From you? No thanks. But it felt nice to know I was thought off." Zoro answers. Sanji blinks at Zoro honesty. What's going on with him? He's being weird too, he's not making fun of the swordsman. They are actually talking, it's been a while. They don't talk often but when they do it's nice.

"Is that because I rejected you?" Sanji wonders, hoping Zoro doesn't think he's crazy.

"Yeah." Zoro answers low. So Zoro did confess his feelings.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be? You have your feelings, I have mine."

Silence stretches between them. Until Zoro finish. Leaving the blonde alone in the galley again, with his own thoughts.

After some thought he can see what the older blonde is talking about. Zoro is one of the most loyal people he's ever met. The fact that Zoro, multiple times has put his faith in Luffy, has put his life on the line for Luffy shows their connection. How about his dedication, not only to his swordsmanship but to his position on the ship, to the crew he doesn't half ass anything. The man hasn't so much as lied to a baby. Zoro is nothing but honest.

Sanji doesn't know how long he lay on the couch until the door opens. The blonde moves his arm to see who it is. It's Zoro. Older Zoro. He walks in with a small smile, stepping towards the blonde. Zoro tilts his head.

"You okay cook?" Zoro asks him as the blonde sits up.

" 'M fine." Sanji answers rubbing his eyes. Zoro nods.

"Do you want to cook lunch or should my Sanji do it?" Sanji feels his heart race at the loving tone Zoro's voice took when mentioning his husband. Sanji look over at the man, eyes warm as he look at the blonde.

"I'll do it." Sanji says, cooking will help calm his racing mind. Sanji moves off the couch.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Zoro asks. Sanji pauses a second. The man shakes his head.

"Fine."

"Okay." Zoro says knowing that's not the truth, also knows Sanji won't talk if he doesn't want to. He turns around to go out the door.

"Umm..." Sanji's voice freezing the older marimo. "Are you happy being married to... me?" Sanji asks sounding worried, sad, and almost hurt.

"If I wasn't we wouldn't be together for so long and have another kid." Zoro says. Sanji turns around.

"But I'm a Vinsmoke. You know that right? About my family." Sanji looks scared.

"Yeah I know." Zoro raises one eyebrow. "And I have no family. So what?" Zoro says. Sanji blinks, eye wide.

"You don't care?"

"Course not. I didn't fall in love with your family, I fell in love with you." Zoro humphs with a cross of his arms over his chest. He blinks, cheeks warming. "I mean... I fell in love with my Sanji. My husband." Zoro corrects, both standing in silence. He leaves without another word. Leaving Sanji alone with that confession. His heart feels warm.

With lunch being set, the couple come first then Zoro, they start eating as they wait for the others. They are halfway through their first plates when they hear "mommy! Daddy! We're back!" All four smile at Lili.

"I smell food!" Luffy shouts, the four shielding their plates as the captain rushes in.

"You better wait for everyone before you eat." Sanji growls, glaring at the captain. Luffy sits down. Slowly everyone walks in, Lili rushing forward to hug her parents. Young Sanji gets up to serve the ladies. He takes a quick peek at his older counterpart sitting with Lili on his lap, the blonde setting up a plate, Lili happily talking to Zoro about what she did. They look like a family.

They are a family.

"It's going to rain heavily tonight so we're planning to stay at a hotel. It may turn into a large storm." Nami says having gone through most of her plate.

"We'll stay on Sunny." Older Sanji volunteers himself and his husband, his arm wrapping around Zoro waist.

"Want us to take Lili?" Robin wonders. Zoro and Sanji look at each other then back at Robin.

"Please." they both say making the archeologist smile.

For dinner they eat on the island, the day before around diner was empty but today its busy. People are getting ready for the storm. The young Sanji stays behind helping the older blonde in making sure everything is safe and secure. The young Sanji goes around making sure nothing will fall and break, he catches both the older Sanji and Zoro in the aquarium, blanket and cushions set for them. Both don't seem to care that they will be the only ones here during a storm. He catches Zoro smiling at the older Sanji. Eyes full of love. The older blond moves, leaning down to kiss his husband. The kiss is long. Sanji checks the anchor making sure both are lowered. Then he makes his way to the hotel just as it starts raining and getting windy.

Sanji takes a second in the large lobby, spotting Robin and Usopp standing around. He checks on them, nothing serious is happening, just getting some food and snacks. He didn't enjoy the smile they gave him. He finds Nami going to help Robin and Usopp, she gives him directions to his room he'll be sharing. He knows Robin and Nami are sharing a room, they also must be taking care of Lili. Chopper may or may not be with the girls. The rest will be divided. He won't know who he's paired up with until he's there. If he doesn't like it he can always switch.

He enters the room, taking in the simplicity of it. A small living room, a very small kitchen, opened into the room area which is just a bed. A large bed. He spots a duffel bag near the foot of the bed. Now that he thinks about it, why is there only one bed? Who is he sharing with?

A door opens, letting out steam, out comes Zoro with Lili in his arms. Zoro has a towel around his waist as Lili is wrapped in the fluffy towel. She is smiling at Zoro. She giggles at Zoro, who gives her a small grin. It connects with Sanji. The three will be sharing a room. He wonder who thought of this.

"It's second daddy." Lili exclaims happily. Zoro stares at him for a second. Then turns away without a word. He carefully sets Lili down on the bed. She waits patiently as Zoro get her clothes from the bag. Zoro helps her get dry, she grabs the clothes dressing herself, explaining she's a big sister and can do it herself. Zoro watches just in case she needs helps. Sanji startles when Zoro takes his towel off.

"I'll be back." He says then leaves without a second look back. He catches Nami, Robin, and Usopp with boxes of food. "Can I switch rooms?" He ask, mostly towards Usopp. The three give him a look.

"All the boys are squished into one room, are you sure?" Nami asks back. Sanji blinks.

"We only got three rooms, one for Nami and I, Chopper is welcome, then all the boys beside you and Zoro, who will be sharing a room with Lili." Robin explains.

"We were going to take Lili but she put up a fuss about being with Zoro. We didn't want Zoro and Lili to be stuck in a room with all the boys so we were able to squeeze a room just for them. Though we knew you wouldn't enjoy sharing one room with all the guys so you can share with Zoro." Nami says with a glint of mischief in her eyes. Sanji really doesn't want to be around Zoro but he also doesn't want to be stuck in a room with Franky, Luffy, Brook, and Usopp at the same time. He gets that enough. With the situation as it is now Luffy would be energetic all night.

Sanji lets out a defeated sigh. The choice is simple. "Here." Usopp says, all three knowing his choice, it's simple really. "Food rations. And dinner. Since we don't know how long the storm will last." Usopp hands over a wooden crate and a boxed dinner.

Sanji takes both, "what about Zoro and Lili?" He wonders. Usopp waves them off.

"People with children were given dinner first so they already ate." Usopp tells him. Before they separate, Nami tells him their room numbers in case anything happens. And to take care of Zoro and Lili. Sanji makes it back to his room. He takes a few deep breath before entering. As soon as he open the door he can hear Lili talking.

"I have pictures too," she says happily, Zoro just grunts. Sanji closes the door behind him, walking in to see Lili sitting on Zoro lap as he brush her hair. "I'll show you." Again Zoro grunts more concentrated on her hair. The windows clatter from the strong wind shocking them all. "How come mommy and daddy didn't let me stay with them? During storms we always stay together. Mommy stays with me in mommy and daddy's room."

"They miss each other and want alone time." Zoro says as he starts braiding her hair. Sanji moving to set the crate in the kitchen. He tries not to focus too much on Zoro.

"But they always have alone time." Lili says pouting.

"They want more alone time. Besides you have me here." Zoro says with a very soft smile on his face. Lili looks up at him. They stare into each others eyes.

"I guess that's fine." She says, looking down at her lap. "Mommy and daddy love each other very much." she states. Zoro grunts. He's seen their love. Sanji sits at the small table in the corner, eating his dinner.

"Done." Zoro says putting the brush back in her bag. Zoro looks over the blonde head to the clock. It's very dark but it's not late. To early for a kid to sleep. "There's still time before you should sleep, what to you want to do?" Zoro asks. Lili tilts her head to think.

"Let's play cards!" Lili exclaims, she crawls to her bag, rummaging through it. She pulls a deck of cards out, she crawls to Zoro sitting in front of, with some space in between them. "Let's play Goldfish." she suggest.

"I don't know how to play." Zoro says. Lili beams at him. She lightly pats his knee.

"I'll teach you." she says happily.

As much as Sanji tried he couldn't not look at Zoro. Staring at the way Zoro eyes soften as he listen to her. Smiling softly as she show him how to play. He obviously knew how to play. Zoro has always been good with kids, especially girls. Especially with older children. With Lili, parenthood seems to come easy for the swordsman. The thought at first doesn't match but he's seen Zoro with Chopper, taking care of the reindeer, washing his fur. Of course the whole crew takes care of him, the doctor being the youngest. He's seen on multiple occasions Zoro mothering Usopp, collecting anything the sniper left on the floor and either putting it away or putting it somewhere safe. Watching Luffy to make sure he's safe, jumping in when the captain falls in the water. Making sure Nami has a blanket when she falls asleep drawing her maps, or her book she left out is in her room, ready for her. Zoro just has this mothering side of him.

Sanji clears the table. Then puts the food from the crate away. He doesn't want it to spoil. He moves, thinking that he didn't bring a suitcase or duffel bag like Zoro and Lili obviously did. He would like to take a shower before sleeping. Where is he going to sleep? He doesn't know where he's going to sleep but he would like a shower first. His eyes roam to the couch, the only other place to sleep. The blonde blinks. There's a bag on the couch. Sanji opens it, and he sees his pajamas and more casual clothes for tomorrow. He wondered how it got here but he knew deep down it has to be Zoro. Zoro mothers them all. He takes care of them all.

Quickly he gathers the things for his shower and goes into the bathroom, Zoro and Lili in a serious game of goldfish. Sanji can not believe now easy taking care of a child comes to Zoro. Sanji isn't bad, he's no asshole but he needs a moment, or two, to get in his mind that there is a child on board. Cooking is usually the time he does it.

Sanji walks out to the lights dimmed, games but away, Lili laying in the middle of the bed with Zoro on her side. "That's a lie." Zoro says softly. A tone the blonde doesn't hear even with children. Special only for Lili.

Lili pouts at being caught. Then her lips slit into a large grin. "You know me just as good as mommy does." Lily states. Zoro smiles, proud by that fact.

"We are similar." Zoro states rubbing her forehead softly. Sliding a finger from the middle of her forehead down the bridge of her nose to the tip softly, slow but not too slow.

"Mommy does that to me too." Lili says with a yawn too similar to Zoro's that Sanji can't not recognize.

"It's to make you go to sleep." Zoro says to her.

"You have to read me a story first." She informs him. Her eyes land on the blondes. "Second daddy," she calls him happily. He gives her a grin. "Are you sleeping with me and second mommy?" Sanji blinks owlishly at her. Eyes going to the other side of her, empty and with enough room for him. He looks to Zoro who took a quick look but focus on trying to get her to sleep with that trick.

"If he wants." Zoro says giving Sanji permission, in this case saying he doesn't care. It's up to Sanji. "I don't know any stories." Zoro tells the little blonde. Her eyes go back to Zoro letting Sanji go to his bag to get some of his toiletries ie a toothbrush, cup, and floss.

"Then I'll tell the stories. I know a good one. Uncle Usopp told me it. He said the story is true to." She says happy, letting Zoro continue the trick of his.

Yeah right. Zoro and Sanji think.

"He said it happened before I was born. Mommy and daddy fought a bunch of monsters in a secret temple. They got lost from the others. While Luffy and auntie Nami and others work hard to open the door but they got stuck. Then the doors magically open. Then in the next room they found clues to open the next door. But in the next room they were lost. No clues. Then the door magically opened. That happened over and over until they met mommy and daddy. You all found big slug monster that went boom when it died, covering yourself in monster slim. Another story... is... when..." Sanji listen from the other side of the room. Her stories getting slower and slower, softer and softer until the room goes silent.

Sanji walks out to see Lili sleeping with Zoro sleeping next to her. Arm over her stomach protectively. Silently Sanji turns the lights off, then makes his way to the couch to sleep. It's not like he's never done it. On Merry he'd sleep on the couch that was down in the boys bunk room. The room is filled in darkness, the only sound the rushing of the storm.

He hopes the storm passes by fast.

---

Lili snaps her eyes open. She blinks. In the distance she can hear the storm raging on and the room is a bit dark still even though it must be morning. Lili smiles, that means she gets to be with second mommy and daddy. Though second daddy doesn't want to be around her she still has second mommy. Second mommy is just like mommy. She's excited about being with them.

She looks down at the weight on her tummy, to see an arm. She follows it to see second mommy. He's still sleeping. She beams. It's been so long since she's slept with mommy. Ever since she declared herself a big girl. Mommy keeps using that against her. Lili can't prove him wrong. Lili feels something move against her on the other side. Turning her head she comes face to face with second daddy who is sleeping. Lili beams. Just like old times. She stays quiet, wanting to spend more time like this with them. Stuck in between them.

Sanji slowly wakes up. He feels great. A nice long sleep. No one bothering him to cook. He's able to take his time. There is no rush. Feels better than when older Sanji took over. At least this time he didn't see anything he didn't want to. He blinks awake, coming face first to Lili wide grey eyes. Sanji tilts his head. He's on the bed, but he was on the coach when he went to sleep. He must have climbed in some time last night. Sanji looks over to see Zoro still asleep. He lets out a breath, that's good, he doesn't want to get caught.

"Morning." Lili says softly, almost in a whisper. Sanji smiles.

"Good morning. Are you hungry?" He asks, it's a little weird to see so many of his own features mixed with Zoro's. Somehow she looks so much like his mother.

Lili shakes her head. Though, Sanji knows she must be hungry. It's a little curious to how calm she is and silent. Luffy is never quiet. A rumble comes from her stomachs. Sanji looks down to see Zoro hand over it. A puff of a laugh comes from the marimo, didn't notice the loud snores have stopped. Lili blushes, caught in her lie. She pouts. Sanji laughs, moving to get the covers off.

"I'll start on breakfast."

"Okay." Lili says sadly, but she doesn't move. Neither does Zoro, laying there with his eyes closed. Lili watches Zoro for a very long moment. Enjoying the warmth. Then she pokes Zoro in the cheek. He grunts. "Time to get ready?" She wonders. Zoro opens his eye, from where he lay he can see Sanji working in the kitchen. Might as well get started, once he's done they'd get up anyway. Zoro grunts with a nod.

Lili and Zoro get their clothes, going to the bathroom. Sanji watches from his spot in the kitchen. Those two walking in sync. She obviously spends her time with Zoro, so much so, most of her mannerisms mirror Zoro. Once those two have finished brushing their teeth and are changed they walk out sitting at the small, round dinner table. Sanji feels a tremble go down his spine. Scared about now domestic this all is. A family of three. And sure, it's not that different from if they were with the crew but with it being just the three of them adds to that family, domestic picture. Lili must be used to this.

Sanji is not.

---

Sanji watches the sea, smoke in between his lips. He will compensate the younger Sanji later. For now he focus his attention on the clear sky, calm sea and bright sun. The storm went on for two whole days. Plus the evening it started and stopped early this morning.

The storm was short. Not the shortest he's had to go through and certainly not the longest. He spent that one with Zoro. And Lili but she can't possibly remember considering she was barely one year old then. Sanji of course will never forget.

Sanji doesn't know how long he stood there watching the sea but long enough for the crew to come back. "Good to be back on the Sunny." Usopp says laying down on newly dried grass.

"What a long storm." Robin says, Nami next to her as they head to their room. Older Sanji spots young Zoro putting Lili down on her feet. She looks up to see her father there. Happily she runs to him.

"Daddy!" she shouts jumping into his arms. Sanji hugs her tightly.

"Have fun?" He wonders. She nods.

"Where's mommy?" She asks looking around.

"In the galley eating." Sanji tells her. He watches as she runs up the stairs carefully.

"Food!" Luffy shouts running behind Lili.

"Hey..." Usopp starts sitting up, Robin and Nami walking out of their room. Usopp looks at the older Sanji. "How long until your crew gets to us? It's been so natural that I forgot we aren't from this world." Usopp says.

"Should be any day. Earliest is tomorrow. The storm could have pushed them back." Sanji says.

"Are you sure they can help?" Nami asks.

"My crew has gone through many weird things on the grandline. We can help." Sanji says confidently.

"We have been here a rather long time." Robin points out.

"Think it's affecting our world?" Nami asks.

"Could be." Usopp says.

"But we truly won't know until we get back." Robin says.

"Guess we can only wait." Chopper points out.

"At least we have entertainment." Brook says. Usopp looks at him to asks what he means but catches the skeleton looking out to sea. Usopp looks himself.

"Marines." Usopp says getting onto his shaky legs. The rest turn to see, a small fleet of ships are heading towards them. On a normal day no one would break a sweat but this isn't their marines. Those marines are from six years in the future. Six years of strength they don't have.

But Sanji and Zoro do.

"Zoro! Marines." older Sanji shouts, cigarette finished. Older Zoro walks out with a sandwich in hand. Lili behind him with a sandwich in her hand. Luffy following behind, also with a sandwich. Zoro steps close to his husband.

"Looks like a whole fleet." Zoro says calmly.

"Want some exercise?" Sanji wonders.

"Yeah, I'll wait till they closer." Zoro says, then takes a bite out of his sandwich.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Robin wonders, knowing as soon as the ships get closer they will fire their cannons.

"As long as they don't get too close." Zoro answers.

"Will you be fine with one sword?" young Zoro wonders, eye lingering on the one sword on the older's hip.

"I only need one sword to defeat them." Zoro answers. Sanji grins proud. Zoro using one sword is equivalent to Mihawk using his necklace sword.

The crew, besides Luffy, watch nervously as the fleet gets closer. Older Sanji continue to watch calmly as Lily and Zoro finish their sandwich. Sanji watching lovingly as his husband and daughter eat their snack. He's so glad to have both back.

"That was good." Zoro grins patting his stomach.

"Good to know you enjoyed it, we did skip dinner last night." Sanji says with a sultry grin. Zoro gins back and his red ears tell them more than any of them needed to know. Zoro steps up to the railing unsheathing it, ready to jump over.

He instead sheaths his sword. The crew look confused, even older Sanji and Lili.

"Something wrong?" Young Sanji asks.

"I'm going to stay here." Zoro says.

"Why!" Usopp screeches, not wanting the marines to get closer to them more than necessary. Zoro doesn't answer, instead a bright light flashes across the marine fleet, obliterating the ships into scraps. A couple of them are sinking fast, others are sinking slow but all of them are done with.

The straw hats and Lili stand there with their mouths to the floor. If Zoro had gone would he have survived? Good thing he didn't. His animal instincts always on point.

"What was that?" Chopper asks trembling.

"That looked like the gon cannon." Franky says, able to recognize that light anywhere.

"Sunny!" Lili shouts holding her half eaten sandwich in the air, large smile on her face. The others turn to see Sunny coming towards them and fast. And the closer she gets the easier it is to hear the distinct sound of a baby crying gets.

When it gets close enough they hear the click of the speakers, "Zoro come calm down your baby!" the voice of an older, very tired, slightly angry Nami. Shivers run through them. That is ignored as the older (?) Sunny comes to rest right beside them. An older, tired Usopp smiles as he takes a look around. He hops up the railing jumping across.

"What did you and Sanji do? Where did you find another Sunny?" Usopp asks as he turns his head, eyes locking onto his younger self. "There's another me!" he shouts tripping over his own feet and landing face first into the grass.

"Uncle Usopp!" Lili shouts, running then jumping onto him where he lay.

A familiar chuckle sounds, next to jump over is Robin, a smile on her face but they can see the bags and how tired she is in her eyes. "You two seem to be busy with your own adventure." Robin says landing on the grass gracefully. She steps closer to Zoro as a whimper sounds from her arms. Older Zoro meets her half way. He takes the baby from her arms, soothing him quiet.

"Finally peace and quiet." Nami says joining them. She lays down next to Usopp who seems to have passed out. Robin falls to join the them. Next thing they know they are asleep. Zoro looks down to see Charlie has also gone to sleep.

"I'm going to put him to bed in our room." older Zoro informs his husband. Zoro jumps across easily.

"I want to too!" Lily says jumping onto the railing. Zoro just turns, extending his hand. Lily jumps over successfully only to lose her footing upon landing. Zoro is there to catch her from falling face first into the grass. "That was close." she says holding onto Zoro who carry both kids to his room.

"They came faster than I thought." Older Sanji says looking at the three from his crew. Can only wonder where the others are.

"We still can't ask them anything." Young Usopp says looking at his older self.

"Let them sleep, they need it." Zoro says having taken a seat on the foremast.

"More waiting." Nami says, shoulders slumping. Seems like they're never getting back home.

---

Usopp wakes to a start. The sky dark, head a little fuzzy, and he wants to sleep more. He recognizes the figures standing above him, his crew mates. He looks around seeing he must have past out on the deck. He stretches himself. He vaguely remembers seeing himself. He blinks. He saw himself. He snaps to look at his crew. No baby. Silence. He can still go to sleep but he doesn't feel like it, he's going to lose his mind if he doesn't get answers.

"Come on, we slept enough." Nami gets him up. Usopp stands on his feet, eyes landing on the Sunny. But he's on the Sunny. Memories flood his mind. He did see himself, and the others.

"So this is what a baby between you and Sanji looks like." Nami says but not. That came from far away. Usopp looks at the galley door. The others must be thinking the same. They rush to the galley.

Opening the door reveals younger versions of themself, all crowding their Zoro who sit on the couch with Charlie in his arms. Lili sitting next to him.

"He's really cute." Chopper points out.

"Yeah that's a little shocking." Usopp says.

Older Nami chuckles bringing attention to them. "This bring backs memories." She says looking at Zoro. He grins back.

"It does." Zoro says.

"What do you mean?" Nami asks herself.

"We reacted the same way when Zoro came back to us. Imagine our surprise at seeing Zoro again after a year with a newborn baby in his arms." She grins.

"At least he's not screaming at the sight of you." Zoro says kissing Charlie's forehead.

"True." Nami says stepping in the room, following behind her is the others. She takes a good look at the younger versions. Noticing all the differences between them. "How long did we sleep?" she wonders.

"Sixteen hours." The younger Robin answers. Nami nods. She makes her way to Sanji, her Sanji, in the kitchen.

"You! What the hell were you thinking!" she shouts angrily, smacking the blonde hard.

"Can you please not? I got punished enough from Zoro." Sanji says blocking the orange head attacks. Nami does stop.

"Fine, I'm sure Zoro did worse." Nami rolls her eyes. With her arms crossed she turns to the very large group. "So? What happened? Why are there two of us?" Nami asks, but her tone on the demanding side.

"Who cares there are two of me!" Luffy shouts.

"So cool!" The younger Luffy shouts. The two taking a look at each other. Nami shakes her head.

"So?" she looks at Zoro.

He shrugs. "Sanji was already with them when I found him and Lili." Zoro says, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. Nami turns to Sanji, who is busy preparing dinner it seems.

"I can answer that." The younger Robin answers.

"Can always count on Robin." Nami says nodding. Both Luffy, Chopper and Usopp nod.

Robin smiles. "After an explosion we found ourselves here. From what your Sanji has told us about you he concluded we are from the past of a different dimension."

"Dimension?" Older Usopp shouts.

"Not just our past selves?" Robin tilts her head. The older crew examines themselves and each other. The younger squirming as they are scrutinized by themselves. "I see." Robin says coming to a conclusion.

"Are we that different?" Younger Robin wonders, to have come to that conclusion so fast they must be.

"The main giveaway is Zoro being here. For us he was gone a whole year." Usopp says.

"That's what older Sanji told us."

"How do you think we can get back?" Chopper asks.

"First we need more information." Older Robin answers.

"Let's eat first." Sanji says, making his way to Zoro who sat breastfeeding and Lili. Handing both a plate of food.

"Yes!" Older Nami shouts sitting down.

"Feels like it's been forever." Older Usopp says as he sits. The others joining. Squishing to get a spot at the table.

As they ate both strawhats sat in silence as they ate, eyes on each other. Looking at the difference of everyone. Eyes on older Zoro feeding Charlie, they weren't told that could happen and it seems to be normal as the older versions don't seem to have a problem with Zoro doing that. Younger Zoro keeping his eyes on his older counterpart. Always curious seeing himself as a parent, a mother. Never saw himself as a parent but he knows he won't be a bad one.

The older versions of the straw hats, after looking at their younger self (and crew) decide to continue their discussion. Happy to be eating Sanji cooking again. "Have you thought of a clue yet? To find a way back?" older Robin wonders. All eyes go to her except both Luffy who continue to stare at each other as they stuff their face.

"No clue." Younger Nami says shaking her head. They don't have a clue where to even start and ever since they meet the older blonde one thing after another keeps happening. They also forgot, especially when they took Lili out to the town.

"Maybe this island is a clue." the older Zoro says burping the baby.

"But we walked around." Usopp says shaking his head.

"Then why'd you get sent here?" older Luffy asks stuffing his face more.

That's a good point. It's one thing to be send to a different dimension but to also be sent forward in time as well? There must be something here. They did run into Sanji but is he the only reason?

"Is the log pose set?" Older Robin asks the young navigator. The orange head looks at her wrist. All arrows still pointing behind the island. She makes eye contact with the archeologist, shaking her head. The woman smiles. "Then it wouldn't hurt to explore again. All of us." she says looking at the young crew. She has a feeling they must have missed something. It must have been a shock to learning they moved in time and dimensions. These young version of Sanji and Zoro are not together, after years of seeing love behind those two eyes it's obvious to the crew.

The crew nods. And since it's late already they head to bed. To their respective Sunny. Of course the older versions went to sleep the fastest. Sixteen hours of sleep is not enough when considering how long they have gone without a good night's sleep.

With an extra eight hours of sleep they wake up still tired but better than before. They eat in chaos, twice the chaos. With both Sanji working food got on the table fast and cleaned fast.

"Are you sure?" Sanji asks his husband. The older Zoro saying he'll stay on the Sunny with the kids.

"Yeah, we'll be distracted if we went. I'm sure the others want a break from kids." Zoro answers looking at his crew who had taken care of Charlie for him. "You guys should focus on getting our younger selves back." Zoro says motioning with his chin to the young strawhats. Sanji turns his head to the young crew then back to his husband. He nods.

"Will you be fine?" Sanji asks, Zoro raises an eyebrow, giving the blonde a 'really' look. Sanji smiles and chuckles. "Okay got it." he says. He leans forward, placing a kiss on Zoro cheek. "We'll be back." he says.

Zoro nods, watching his husband join the the others. "Bye daddy! Bye second daddy! Bye second mommy! Uncle Usopp! Bye second uncle Usopp!" Lili shouts from the railing. Zoro stands next to Lili as she yell bye to each of them, a smile on his face.

Sanji watches as his older self walk backwards eye on the Sunny. It's smaller but there. "Worried?" Sanji asks himself. Blue meets blue, and the younger blonde can already see the answer.

"Yeah. It's Zoro." Sanji says, twirling to face forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with himself. The older Sanji looks at the young Zoro walking with them, older Usopp has a finger hooked on his collar. Young Sanji looks where the older is, quickly turning back after he sees what his older self is looking at.

"He's strong." Is all the young blonde says.

Older Sanji smiles, "yeah he is but," Sanji looks back at the younger blonde, "he's not invincible and when he's stuck against a wall he will sacrifice himself for those he loves. He's the strongest swordsman now but he still hasn't gotten rid of that self sacrificing part of himself. He still jumps to protect Luffy, but now it's Lili and Charlie. It makes me worry, I don't want to lose him. I thought I lost him once, I don't want to feel that again." Sanji is speechless, the emotion in each word. He can't believe it came out his mouth.

"Does anything stick out?" Older Nami wonders as she look around.

"No. The town is better than when we first got here." Younger Chopper answers.

"What happened when you first got here?" Robin asks for older Nami who chased both Luffy.

"All the children were taken." Young Usopp answers.

"We helped older Sanji free everyone and get Lili back." Younger Brook answers.

"Then some bounty hunter caught us." Young Franky recounts.

"Older Zoro saved us." Young Chopper answers.

"Then the flood happened." Young Nami adds.

"So many things at all once." Older Robin says thinking, wondering if it's all connected. As they talk Zoro looks around, not getting a look at the town since they were captured by the bounty hunters. He doesn't remember anything then but it's better than when they first got there.

Zoro ignores the talking, they are only recounting to the older versions what they went through anyways. His ears picking up almost a chime. Like a bell. Nothing suspicious but something told him to pay attention, it's important and to look for it. He stops walking, head turning here and there trying to find the bell.

There's another chime. He snaps his head in the direction it came from. Eye scanning the area slowly. He hears another one, now sure it's coming from this direction. But nothing is standing out. Parents, adults, kids running, the few old people, everyone looks like they belong. Shopping. Playing. In groups hanging out. All typical of a small town. Zoro hears a fourth chime. Eye narrow, focus on finding it, his instincts telling him to find and go to it.

He stops. Eyes landing on a small shop. The sign different from the rest of the towns. The words 'fortune telling' in thin black lettering and covered with drawings. Zoro blinks. A woman stands there, in front of the door, a brass bell in her hands. A bright white veil cover her head, falling to her hips, grey cloth covering her eyes but Zoro can tell they are looking at each other. Her white, grey, and black long sleeve, turtle neck, floor length dress very odd in this spring weather. Her sleeves puffy, pinned down by silver cuffs on her wrist. She gives him a smile.

From where Zoro stands he can't tell if she's dangerous or not, not seeing her eyes doesn't help. His instincts telling him to go to her but not if she's got ill intentions. With a hand on Wado scabbard he walks forward.

"Zoro?" Older Usopp calls his name. Like in a trance Zoro continues walking towards the woman. Usopp stands confused, watching the swordsman. This getting the others attention.

"Where's he going?" Older Nami wonders dragging both Luffys behind her. Older Usopp shrugs his shoulders. They give each other a look.

"He's getting away!" Younger Usopp shouts pointing to Zoro walking away from them. All of them rush forward to get him.

"Zoro!"

"Marimo!"

"Zoro!" They shout after him but he continue to walk to the woman. They all stop shouting at him as he steps in front of the woman. She gives him a smile.

"Welcome." Is all she says. Zoro narrows his eyes at her. She only continue to smile at him as she backs up, opening the door to her small shop. Zoro takes a step back, hand on his scabbard holding tightly to it. She lets out a giggle. "No need to be weary. I mean no harm to any of you." she says. Zoro blinks.

"What do you mean?" Zoro asks.

"Don't you want to get home? I can do that."

"Why are you helping?" She only smiles, stepping to the side to let him in.

"If you can all come in?" She asks gently. Zoro turns around, finding the crew and the older versions all standing behind him shocked, curious but on edge. "Please. I will answer any questions you may have."

It takes a long silence before the older version walk in. Then the younger versions do. The store looks small but it's feels large. Purple and black curtains decorate the place. A large dark wood round table sat in the far back. The woman closes the door behind them. Thin curtains cover both the window and the small window on the door. They watch her in silence as she walks past them to get to the far wall, sitting at the round table, back against the wall. A crystal ball set in front of her.

She gives them a look over, smiling at them. "So you want to get back home correct?" She asks looking down at the crystal ball.

"Of course! We don't even know how we got here in the first place." Younger Usopp says. She nods at them.

"I'll help you, but before I do any questions?" She wonders. The whole crew look at each other. Is she serious?

"Why are you helping us?" Older Nami asks. "We are pirates." She points out looking at the woman suspiciously. No one really goes out of their way to help pirates, they have to search really hard for those few.

"I help everyone and anyone, as long as they ask kindly." she says, then looks at each person in the room, not questioning why there is only one Zoro. "Though our paths cross far to often. I always help you all."

"You've helped us before?" Young Robin asks.

"Not in this world but in others yes."

"Are you from another dimension?" Both Choppers ask.

"No, I'm from this one but I can see across all dimension." She smiles, as if what they are talking about is normal. To her it may be.

"How?"

"My devil fruit is unnamed but if you don't awaken it it's useless."

"Useless how?"

"I can't swim but I have no power. Until I awakened my devil fruit. It's been kept hidden from everyone. And I make sure of it, all of me do."

"Can you explain what your devil fruit does?" Robin wonders.

"And what it's got to do with us?" Usopps asks.

"As you are aware there are infinite choices to make and most seem insignificant but everything is a chain reaction. Whether you have toast for breakfast or cereal. It makes a difference. My devil fruit allows me to see each one, each choice and each outcome. Like many, our future depends on the straw hats fate. How will the king of the pirates become after? Your future effects others, more than you realize."

"What does that matter?"

"To you nothing. Is that what you'd like to hear? Because your feelings affect people, weather that be on the crew or the people you meet. You, Zoro, are the catalyst." They all look at her confused. She, from nowhere, gets out a piece of paper and three colored pencils. "Dimensions and time are like a tree. From the roots to the branches there are so many choices and changes. For you there is the main line. The base journey of you all meeting and fighting. Then from there you have branches coming off at different points, changes in choices, changes in people you meet, feeling you either have or don't." she explains as she draws a tree in black.

"What does Zoro have to do with that?"

"Everything." With the red pencil she circles a point on a higher branch, further up the edge of the silhouette. "This red circle represents the dimension you are in." She says showing them the drawing, pointing at the circle. She sets the paper down and with a blue pencil she draws another circle on a different branch lower, closer to the trunk. "The blue circle represents where the young ones are from. The same tree but different branches. Now what does this tree have in common?" She watches as the group look confuse as they think. Obviously the don't know. "The end results are the same. As they should be. And they branch in the same way by different means." She looks at Sanji, the older one. He stood there looking glum. "Right Sanji." She asks.

"Zoro right?" Sanji asks. She nods. The older ones seem to somewhat get it but the younger ones don't.

"Please explain, just to see if you got it right."

"Something happens to Zoro. For us it was Zoro being taken away. They haven't had that." The older blonde explains. This causes the young ones to frown and look at the older group.

The woman nod. "That's the start. What do you think the end is?"

"Sanji and Zoro getting together." Older Robin points out.

"Yes and no. It does end with those two but not always ending together. There are some tragic endings, sadly. It depends on your choices. If I were to guess the me from your timeline saw that you needed to come here to help make the right choice. I can not tell you what that is but I can help you get back. This is a warning to all of you. This tree," she says showing them her drawing, "can be considered a branch. Each of you have your own tree, intertwined with each other. More so than others. Choose wisely but also don't overthink it." As they stand there thinking she gets up from her seat, attention on her. "Now to help you get back." she says, attention fully on her. Getting home is why they are there. "Zoro. Here." She hands him a box. Slowly he opens it.

"It's the bomb!" Nami shouts jumping back, along with Brook.

"It's what send you here. I had to recreate it. When you are ready just activate it. But when you do be far from the island. I made it in a rush so it may take people with you." she says, Zoro closes the box. "Zoro must also be the one to activate it or it won't work." She adds. Zoro stares at the woman. She's hiding something but Zoro knows whatever it is must happen. Not that he cares. He's strong.

She says goodbye to them. Waving as they get further away. Watching as they leave. Hopeful that they will make the choices that lead to happiness. She knows they deserve it.

On the way back to the Sunny, they decide to do some shopping. Tonight will be a feast, the last night in this dimension as they set sail in the morning.

As soon as they get back older Sanji goes to check on his family, the others get ready for the party. Young Sanji begins cooking. The older cook joins him midway, a large smile plastered on his face. They don't talk. Just cook, both can hear the loud murmur of the crew speaking. Can hear Lili talking and laughing. Can hear both Luffys being an idiot. And they can hear older Zoro laughing, followed by a small squeal from Charlie.

Once they serve the food the noise gets louder. It doesn't go unnoticed, the way Sanji keeps his distance from Zoro. They can't tell if Zoro noticed, if he has he doesn't seem to care. He talks to his older counterpart, playing a bit with Lili, fighting off Luffy wandering hands, but mostly he sits there drinking and eating. Mostly drinking.

The fun doesn't stop until late in the night. Way later than they wanted. Luckily there wasn't a time frame they had to follow. So when morning comes and they are still tired they are in no rush to get moving. When they finally decide to get a move on the older versions sail with them. Only stopping when the island is on the horizon. The older versions follow Zoro vivre card there so it would be dangerous to lose sight of the island. Not wanting to follow the log pose all the way back. They say their goodbyes, the older giving their younger self advice.

The older watch from their Sunny as the other Sunny sail to the horizon. Staying away from them. The younger version look at the Sunny from the horizon.

"So how do we do this?" Usopp asks looking at Zoro.

"Last time I just touched it." Nami says. Zoro opens the box and takes the bomb out. As soon as he touches it he can feel it vibrate.

"What next?" Zoro asks holding the bomb in his hand. Usopp and Nami look at each other then shrug.

"I suppose we let it tick until the end." Robin says.

"Do I have to hold it?" Zoro asks looking at the devil fruit looking bomb.

"Yes!" They all shout at him. The woman (who they didn't get the name of) told them it had to be Zoro, but she also never mentioned that Zoro had to hold it the whole time.

"To be safe." Robin points out to the swordsman. Zoro just nods silently, eying the fake fruit in his hand.

They wait for the timer.

Once again they are consumed by a bright light and a loud booming sound.

Zoro feels pain.

They all groan as they wake up. Taking time to get the ringing in their ears out of it. The same as before. They look around, the sky is darker, grey clouds covering them. Nami stares at the sky, they look like they are on the right track.

"Are we back?" Usopp asks looking down at his hands. He slowly gets to his feet as he looks around. It doesn't look like where they were.

"I think we are. It's getting cold." Nami says rubbing her bare arms to warm herself up. "We should go forward." Nami says standing up, as happy as she is being back the weather doesn't look good enough to celebrate. She looks over to see Sanji staring at the grass. "Something wrong Sanji?" She wonders. Slowly Sanji looks up and looks at the crew.

One is missing. "Where's Zoro?" Sanji asks. They all stare quietly. Then they move closer to Sanji, pausing when they see what he was staring at. A large blot of red cover the patch of grass.

"Chopper!" Luffy shouts, all turn their heads to Luffy, the captain staring at the wall, the aquarium on the other side. Zoro sits on the ground, laying against the wall covered cuts, blood soaking in anything, his clothes, haramaki, and even the grass.

"Zoro!" The young doctor rushes to the swordsman. Zoro doesn't answer, his eyes are half open and even the look in them shows he's not paying attention. "What happened?" Chopper asks getting his backpack off, setting the bag next to Zoro.

They watch in silence as Chopper gets Zoro patched up, too worried about him losing too much blood to move him. Once he's fine, Chopper moves him to the infirmary room, while the others question what happened.

They sit in the galley as they wait for word about Zoro's condition.

"If we think about it Zoro was protecting Luffy, maybe us getting sent to the other dimension got in the way of that." Nami suggest.

"When we came back the injuries Zoro was suppose to sustain got back to him?" Robin wonders adding to what Nami was guessing about.

With that guess out the crew sail in silence. For hours. Nami leaves first, Zoro wounds look very bad so they know Chopper will need more medicine. Who knows now long Zoro will be asleep for. After two hours they know it's going to take long before Chopper is done. All they can do is wait now.

---

When Zoro opens his eyes he's confused about why he's in the infirmary. He moves his head, turning to see if anyone's inside. He's alone. Zoro takes a deep breath. He remembers being in so much pain, but he couldn't see anything or hear but with his haki he could feel there is no one there. They are alone so what is going on? When he can see he had stumbled away from the crew. He was in too much pain to move or say anything. He saw his crew wake up before his vision began to blur and fade.

He doesn't hurt anymore but his body does feel numb, so it's hard to move. He can feel the Sunny rock from side to side. Zoro can hear the bustling of the pier. Even the scrunching of footsteps. It must have snowed. Nami did say they were suppose to head to a winter island. So that means they are back.

Zoro blinks at the sound of the door opening. He sees the cook walking in, trying to be sneaky. Even though they are the only ones on the Sunny at the moment. He watches as Sanji nervously walks up to him. "What are you doing?" Zoro croaks. Sanji pauses in place. Blue meets grey.

"You're awake." Sanji says. Zoro raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Zoro answers after a long pause of silence. "What are you doing here?" Zoro asks again.

"Just checking on you." Sanji shrugs looking away. Zoro continues to look at him deadpanned. No way that's it.

"You've been staying away from me." Zoro points out causing the blonde to flinch.

"Yeah," Sanji says drawing the syllable out. He lets out a sigh. "I was worried." he says. Zoro continues to stare, looking confused.

"Why?" Zoro asks.

"After seeing you... I had time to think over some things I've heard being said. I've learned some things about myself."

"Like?" Zoro asks sitting up. He tries to, but groans, laying back down, taking deep breaths to ease the pain.

"I'm insecure." Sanji says looking at Zoro worried.

"Really? You? The ladies man?" Zoro says sarcastically, looking at the blonde. The cook frowns at the swordsman.

"After Pudding I told myself that I'll never marry. I'll never have kids. It's best that way." He says checking Zoro to see if any of his wounds have reopened.

"Why?"

"Who'd love a pirate? What kind of love life can I and my significant other have as pirates?" Sanji answers sitting down on the chair for Choppers desk.

"You're lying." Zoro says frowning, not liking being lied to. Sanji hides his surprise with his bangs. Zoro watches as Sanji takes a deep breath. Then Sanji looks at Zoro, mouth pinched tight and eyes watery.

"Everyone knows I'm a Vinsmoke. My family has done so many bad things. We don't have a good reputation." Sanji explains, hands clenching his knees.

"What does your family name have anything to do with you?" Zoro wonders.

"Whether I like it or not I'm a Vinsmoke. After Pudding, marriage scared me. With my last name it draws the worst of people. I'd rather continue staying a bachelor." Sanji says.

"What about kids? You seem like you'd want them."

"No," Sanji shakes his head, "I don't want kids."

"Is there a reason?"

"I don't want to pass my blood. Worried I'd make a bad dad."

"No one's forcing you to have kids but... I think you'll make a good dad." Zoro gives him a smile. Sanji smiles back.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Do you want kids?"

"Hell no." Zoro says seriously stunning Sanji.

"Really but you were so good with Lili?"

"Yeah, she's a kid. It was interesting to see a kid from a different version of us, plus she was raised around the crew." Zoro says smiling.

"True."

"True what? You were scared to be around her?" Zoro says teasingly.

"I wasn't scared, I just... didn't understand the older version of myself but I think I do."

"Mmh." Zoro grunts with a nod not sure what the blonde is talking about. But he seems to be in a better mood. He lets out a large yawn, feeling fatigue. Eyes dropping. Zoro rubs his eye. Sanji lets out a chuckle.

"Go to sleep marimo." Sanji smiles watching Zoro get comfortable, eye closing slowly. The blonde rest back against the chair, rolling it over to Zoro who is sleeping soundly. Sanji carefully reaches over to grab Zoro hands. Fingers are thin but a bit long, heavily calloused. They are warm though. Sanji watches Zoro sleeping face.

He can see it now. His older version was right. Zoro really is rare. An honest, loyal, strong, but surprisingly goofy person. He can feel free around the man. Be himself. Be honest. Zoro doesn't really judge people for their action but he is caution around people he doesn't know. He's safe.

Sometimes it's Zoro who needs to be protected. That's what his older version told him before they left. And Zoro got hurt. No one protected him.

---

"Zoro!" Chopper shouts. Sanji smiles as he finishes up the soup he's making. As he turns the galley door opens to Chopper in his human point with Zoro over his shoulder. Sanji chuckles at Zoro face. The swordsman seems to be sulking at being caught. "You should be resting!" Chopper shouts as he sets the swordsman down. Zoro grumbles, turning his head away as he crosses his arms.

"I'm fine." Zoro grumbles. Sanji shakes his head as he plates the soup. He laughs as he walks in the infirmary to Zoro pouting like a child.

"You need rest, stop moving!" Chopper shouts, moving past the cook. "I'll be back." the doctor warns. Zoro clicks his tongue knowing he won't be able to train without Chopper showing up and dragging him back to the infirmary.

"Here." Sanji says stepping up to place the tray across his lap. Zoro lets out a sigh, giving up for now. "Why don't you just rest?" Sanji wonders.

"I think I'm close to figuring out how to cut sea stone." Zoro grumbles taking a spoon full of soup. Sanji watches the swordsman eat, there's a warmth and almost cuteness with the way he'd stuff his cheeks and as he chews there's a peaceful look on his face. The blonde never knew he made that look until now. He finds he enjoys that look.

"The older marimo helped right?"

Zoro nods. Face determined to figure it out. Sanji takes a seat on the desk chair. Zoro turns his attention to the blonde expecting him to leave not sit next to him. Sanji gives the marimo a grin, the swordsman blinks but the blonde spots the way the swordsman ears turn pink.

"What's your honest opinion on seeing the other versions of us?" Sanji asks. Zoro pauses, swallowing the food in his mouth.

"Honest... what?" Zoro asks confused.

"What did you think about seeing your older self?" Sanji wonders.

Zoro looks down at his bowl, spoon swirling around. "I seem... happier." Zoro answers after a while. Zoro smiles sweetly at the memory of himself. "I'm happy for them."

"I was shocked."

"Yeah, at first, but nothing to be done about it now." Zoro shrugs loosing his fond smile.

"True." Sanji says, silence spreading between them. Sanji watches as Zoro continues to eat. Sanji thinks back to the many scenes of his older version and husband, how happy they are, how open they are with each other. True equality. That's what Sanji always wanted, especially in marriage. To know the other would not dangerously lie to him, or hurt him on purpose. Maybe... "hey Zoro. Go on a date with me?" Sanji asks hopefully.

Zoro snaps his head to the blonde. Did he hear right? Zoro opens his mouth to ask him to repeat. "Zoro!" the two jump in their skin at the captain's voice. Luffy barges in, looking mad. The captain looks at Sanji, the blonde takes the hint, standing up, leaving the room.

---

"Go slow, Zoro needs to walk slow, he may get tired early too." Chopper says to the blonde. Sanji smiles.

"I know." Sanji answers. Zoro is still healing so his body gets tired easily. Sanji has been watching Zoro heal so the blonde knows Zoro isn't there in terms of training and has been trying to ignore Choppers advice.

"No alcohol and nothing too greasy. And don't smoke around him." Chopper says seriously. Sanji smiles, knowing what Chopper is telling him. The doctor is to cute to tell him off. So worried about Zoro, the doctor truly loves Zoro.

"Where exactly are we going?" Zoro asks walking towards the group. He is wearing a black pea coat lined with fur, black gloves, tight pants and boots. Ready for the winter island. Sanji wore something similar. No boots though.

"It's a surprise." Sanji says holding his hand for Zoro to take. Zoro frowns but places his hand on Sanji open palm.

"Enjoy your date!" Usopp shouts at the two.

"We'll be back." Sanji smiles. Zoro just waves with the brightest red face any of them have seen. Getting worse as everyone giggles with them leaving. Watching as Sanji carefully helps Zoro off Sunny not wanting the swordsman to hurt himself.

"Are you sure about this?" Zoro asks still holding hands with Sanji.

"I wouldn't have asked you if I wasn't serious." Sanji says as they walk into the snow covered island. "Let me try." Sanji says, tone asking for a chance.

"Okay." Zoro answer. He trust the cook, he's just nervous. To embarrassed to look at the blonde he focus in front of them. The warm light from the city lights making everything feeling cozy.

The two walk forward hand in hand.