Sanji was melting. There was no way that he would live through the next few days without dying of heartache. This situation was worse than seeing the Mermaid-Princess. Nothing could have prepared him for the cuteness of a toddler Zoro.

He would forever deny the high pitch of his voice when calling for Chopper. The doctor came barreling through the bunkroom door. "WHO IST HURT SANJI?"

"Mosshead-"he choked pitifully, and pointed to the bunk of the swordsman. He should have sent somebody else to wake up the Mosshead for breakfast. A blush crawled up his neck and he was itching for a cigarette. Women were cute and deserved the world, a cute baby in the arms of a women could make him swoon, but seeing Zoro as a Toddler, lost in the clothes of his grown-up self, was making his heart thump painfully.

Chopper was at a loss for words and stared down at the sleeping Zoro. "What happened?"

"I don't know. Everything was fine yesterday."

Chopper blinked and started examining Zoro, careful enough to not wake him. "He has a little wound on his neck. I will have to do some bloodwork. Take him to the infirmary."

Grey eyes blinked blearly open. Zoro's gaze swept over the two of them, before returning to Sanji. Little arms lifted, his hands making grabbing motions as sounds gurgled out of him.

Sanji recoiled. "Why do I have to take him? Do it yourself!"

"I can't! What If I drop him?"

"And what if I do?!"

A small sniffle broke their staring contest, whipping around to the Toddler sitting in the bunk bed. "Up", he whimpered and lifted his arms towards Sanji again. The longer the silent stretched, the more his underlip wobbled and a keening sound started.

"Pick him up before everyone will come!" demanded Chopper. "Up, up, up, up!" was chanted in the most hysterically pitch.

Sanji was trembling, he took the red belt adult Zoro used to tie his coat and wrapped the toddler into it, cradling him in his arms. The child burrowed into him and quieted down almost instantly. Feeling his heart thumping painfully against his ribs was making him blush. If not for the toddler, he would hide his face behind his hands.

Chopper nodded satisfied. "Let's go."

The introduction to the crew was as chaotic as possible. After Chopper concluded that Zoro's Body was already working on neutralizing the effects of the insect bite, he started working on an antidote and told Sanji that it would take a few days to get him back to normal. Sanji took the toddler to breakfast with the crew.

They soon found out that Zoro didn't retain his memories, could barely talk, and that he did not like to be handled from anyone that wasn't Sanji or Luffy. He tolerated the others but started fussing soon enough.

Usopp and Nami took some of Chopper's clothes and fitted them to Zoros small frame. Finally wearing something, Luffy took him and started playing with him. His boisterous personality was more than enough entertainment for a child, and Sanji could pick up his kitchen duties.

In the confinements of his kitchen, with his back turned to Luffy and Zoro, his cheeks heated into another blush. That child was way to cute. He never thought he could see such a soft side of Zoro, whatever happened the next days, would be forever branded into his memories.

A small crash alerted him to the two people/children playing in the galley. Suspiciously turning around to a deafening silence, he leaned over the Counter.
Luffy was looking at him with big eyes, clasping his hand over Zoros mouth and trying to hush him. Sanji felt his eye angrily ticking as soon as the toddler started wailing behind Luffys hand. Plucking the child from Luffy, he grabbed his captain at the jaw. "What happened?"

"We played" Luffy said sheepishly. Feeling his cheeks being squished under the hands of his cook, he added "Zoro is not as sturdy as usual."

Sanji kicked him out of the galley "And don't come back until I tell you to!"

Softened blue eyes tracked the movement of little hands drying eyes. "Now, now. No need to cry Marimo-chan." Petting his soft green hair, he put him down to finish the meal prep.

The next days were tiering for Sanji's heart. Chibi Zoro re-claimed every spot adult Zoro inhabited and then some. He was a quiet child, not able to talk much, but quick on his feet, not yet able to hide his emotions and just as sleepy as his adult form.

That first night made his heart overflow with fondness. They didn't want to change the sleeping arrangements to much, so they tucked Zoro into his own bunkbed, glad that he could not fall out. He was more than happy when Chopper cuddled with him, just like he did with adult Zoro. During the night Sanji was woken by small cries, almost drowned out by the rest of the mans snoring.

Trying to get his bearings, he almost fell while climbing out of his bunk. Being painfully aware that the cries were coming from Zoro, he squatted next to the lower bed. The moon was bright enough to see the small face, wet with tears and snot. "Hush Marimo-chan", was murmured into the night. A little hand grasped the offered finger and sniffles were abating as soon as moss green hair was carefully petted.

Sanji knew he could not get up, leave him, and get back to his own bunk, just as he could not take him up with him, to scared of him falling out. Setting his resolve he scooped Zoro up, nestled into the lower bunk, careful not to wake Chopper, and settled with the child in his arms.

He woke up to his crew noisily taking pictures and cooing over the two of them. He kicked them out, embarrassed beyond believe, but later pinched a picture for himself.

"I need to go to grocery shopping." A flick and he took a deep breath from his cigarette. "One of you has to keep him." Sanji saw the two women exchanging looks. "I don't trust the rest with him, but I don't have time to look after a toddler with no sense of direction."

He was miffed at their carefully, but not perfectly contained fondness. He was babysitting the brat all day long. He would sit with him in the kitchen, walk around with him on deck, watch him play with Luffy, let him sleep on him and take up every ounce of space he had. He needed a moment to himself, to breath and to remind himself, that it was only temporary, that as soon as adult Zoro was back, they would be fighting and bickering, not cuddling and sleeping.

Robin must have noticed the tense set of his shoulders and the missing charm he usually dumped on them. "Of course. We will give you a bit of time."

He nodded his thanks, turned around and marched off the ship.

The market was bustling, and Sanji felt better bargaining with shop owners, doing something remotely normal, than he had the last two days. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Nami and Robin, walking into a boutique. Frowning, he hoped they kept the mosshead with them. Feeling put out for the concern that was brewing in his belly Sanji light a cigarette. Hunching over in a dark alley, grasping his hair in his hand, he started into nothingness. Thinking about all his feelings and antics. Sighting dejectedly, he let his head thud against the wall in his back. He was in love with his stupid crewmate and God help him, this was pure torture. I will just wallow for a bit and then go back to shopping, he promised himself.

The next stall was a kind elderly woman that made a fair price for fruits. Looking down at insistent tugging on his pantleg, grey eyes looked up at him determinedly. Sanjis gaze softened as he scrutinized the toddler. The girls must have taken him shopping, because he was dressed just as Zoro when they met. Green pants, fluffy green belt, white shirt, only the swords and boots were missing. Not that they were in any way safe for a child to have.

"Up!" he demanded.

"In a moment Marimo-chan", he said softly and turned back to the lady.

"Oh my, he is so cute. Such a special hair color! Does he have it from his mother?"

Sanji closed his eyes, painful scenarios of Zoro and unknown women playing through his mind, that would be fruitful interactions, resulting in a child like the one still tugging at his pants. He was in love with someone that would never be his.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to bring up painful memories" the shop lady said. That brought Sanji back to reality.

"No, it's fine. Thanks for the fruits." He picked up Zoro, settling him in his elbow and picking up his shopping. "Come on Marimo-chan, where are your babysitters?"

After a cold night-watch Sanji was tired while making breakfast. As soon as the first people shuffled in and sat down, he put the food on the table. He picked up the rice and mashed veggies for Chibi Zoro, put the plate down before him and petted his hair "Let's eat Marimo-chan."

The quiet that followed his statement was too deafening, even to his tired mind. Looking around he noticed a varying amount of amusement and underlying horror in the faces of his crewmates. Slowly his hand petted the head again, feeling that it was bigger than he remembered and higher up than yesterday. Sanji looked down with wide eyes, directly into the stormy grey eyes of an adult Zoro. The blushed that flared to life painted his cheeks a dark red, travelling up to his ears and down to his chest. Why, oh why had nobody said anything.

Stepping back as if burned, he turned around and fled the galley.

Sanji fumbled with his cigarettes while leaning on the railing next to the Figurehead of the ship. Calm down. This was bound to happen. And you're just tired, he probably won't even remember what happened.

Heavy Footsteps could be heard when Sanji finally took the first drag. Feeling the nicotine calming his nerves, he ignored the presence beside him.

"Cook-"

"I'm not apologizing asshole."

A low chuckle reached him, and he gave Zoro a stinky eye. The smirk of the swordsman only grew.

"No more Marimo-chan for me?"

Sanji felt the heat back in his cheeks und hide half of his face under the pretense of taking a drag. "So you remember?"

"Yeah… You would make a good father, love cook." Surprised Sanji turned around and scrutinized Zoros profile bevor the swordsmen turned around as well. Talking like this was a treat. They so rarely did it, mostly hiding it under the disguise of booze.

"You will have cute kids mosshead." The following snort surprised Sanji.

"Not happening, I'm not into women."

"You- I – We - what?" Sanji spluttered. Dare he hope?

The Tips of Zoro's ears turned red, and Sanjis hope blossomed into butterflies. Feeling elated he smiled and watched the swordsman. "Could go back to Marimo-chan." And oh… he loved the dusting of red on Zoros face.

"Stupid waiter."

"Silly mossy."

The end

Note:

Thanks for reading! The market scene was inspired by Prapon0904 on X