As the sun came up, the first rays of light gently woke Zoro from his hammock on Nojiko's front porch. The soft hues of morning cast a serene glow over the landscape, signaling the start of a momentous day. Stretching off the remnants of sleep, he found solace in the quiet before the storm.

Today marked the start of their biggest adventure yet. The Grand Line beckoned, its call getting louder with each passing second. At that moment, he heard Nami stepping onto the porch. Her steps were light but purposeful, like a cat's, but not quiet enough for him not to hear them.

"You're early," he greeted, not opening his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Oh, for the love of…!"

Nami's startled voice had a mix of exasperation and amusement that almost made Zoro smile, his face turned in the opposite direction from where she was.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Just sleeping," he replied, his tone nonchalant, turning his head towards her.

Nami snorted, crossing her arms and shaking her head. Her lips curved into a mocking smile.

"Well, maybe that's why your lack of manners is even more absent than usual," she teased him.

"What are you talking about?"

Zoro squinted in her direction, not feeling too offended for some reason.

"What? On your island no one said 'good morning' or was that you were the rude exception?"

Zoro pursed his lips, a mischievous thought popping up in his mind when he saw her mock frown.

"If you insist… Good morning, ma'am." He couldn't help but laugh when he saw Nami clenching her teeth menacingly, probably remembering the same moment as him, back in Baratie. "Happy, or does ma'am still need a proper bow?"

"I am gonna slap you one day." She threatened, but the twinkle in her eye betrayed her amusement.

Zoro scoffed lightly, but didn't feel threatened at all.

"Do your worst," he teased her, still smiling daringly. "Here I am."

While closing his eyes again, he heard her sigh something that sounded like 'what an impossible man' with some inner fun, but did not add a word. She did not fulfill her threat, as he expected, but she did not leave either. On the contrary, she slowly approached his position right after and leaned on the nearest wooden post, looking at him.

"So, did you sleep here?"

Zoro stretched and put one hand behind his neck, looking back at her.

"Just a bit," he shrugged. "I didn't want to overdo it."

Nami raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing.

"Overdo? What are you talking about?"

Zoro tilted his head, unbelieving. Wasn't it obvious?

"Well... someone had to keep watch." He tried to explain, but she was still confused.

"Watch... for what?" She asked, her skepticism still evident.

Zoro kept his eyes locked on hers when he replied, slowly:

"Given recent events, we should be careful..."

Nami, strangely, didn't seem concerned.

"Arlong isn't around anymore, and the Marines I'd say are staying quiet at the port. Who else do you expect to come visit this unimportant place in the world?" She shot back, rolling her eyes.

"You never know." Zoro said with a shrug.

Nami shook her head. He recalled a few times when she'd acted so carefree.

"You're a real paranoid sometimes."

Zoro snorted before the accusation, but didn't reply.

"Are the others inside?" He asked instead.

"Yeah, they're still sleeping." She confirmed, then added in a more acid tone, "Not really the early bird kind, if you ask me…"

"Well, someone has to be it, right?" Zoro replied calmly.

"Definitely, but I still think you should have slept inside." Nami's voice softened slightly, a concern he did not fully understand peeking through her sarcasm.

"It's fine. I don't have problems sleeping anywhere." Zoro reassured her, stretching his arms.

Nami shook her head a bit, as if she wasn't convinced, but didn't reply. They stayed silent for a minute, watching the sun rise in the horizon.

"I'm going to make coffee," Nami announced, clearing her throat and stirring. "Do you want some?" She asked, without looking at him.

"No, I'm not really a coffee guy."

"You don't say..." Nami's eyebrows raised, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

"Surprised?" Zoro asked, staring at her with interest.

"For some reason, I'm not," she admitted with a hint of irony, which grew stronger when she asked, "What 'type of guy' is our brave guardian for breakfast, then?"

Zoro pursed his lips, hearing the sarcasm and ignoring it easily.

"Do you have beer?" He asked.

Nami shook her head, looking mock-serious.

"Actually, you drank all of it already. Just in case you don't remember," she said, mockingly.

Zoro, on his part, raised his eyebrows and mimicked her with a hint of disappointment.

"What a shame. I'd kill for a drink right now."

As expected, Nami rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"It's seven in the morning, Zoro. You can't be serious." She said.

"Why not?" He demanded, arms folded. "It's cereal anyway."

By the look on her face, Nami didn't seem sure if she should laugh before that answer or stay firm. For better or for worse, she chose the second option with clear effort.

"You're not having alcohol in my house just after waking up," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "Absolutely not."

"It's not your house." Zoro reminded her.

Nami pursed her lips, visibly upset. "It's my sister's," she pointed out slowly, "and I grew up here, so I make the rules for you lot." After this statement, she straightened up and declared, "Take it or leave it."

Zoro arched both eyebrows, analyzing the situation for a second. He already knew how rigid Nami could be with them all to keep peace and order in their crew. Wanting or not, Zoro admitted internally that he had missed it—just a bit.

"Fine," he surrendered within a couple of seconds, almost giving out a small, conciliatory smile. "Whatever you both may have."

If Nami noticed the stress on the third word, she didn't show it. In fact, she seemed to relax a bit and even smile back.

"Does green tea work for you?" She asked, without any trace of disdain or sarcasm.

Zoro nodded.

"Yeah, it does."

"Alright."

Right away, Nami went into the house and Zoro heard the sound of kitchenware clanking in the background for a few minutes. While waiting, the green-haired young man looked up at the sunrise, which seemed to mirror his own laziness at that moment. He thought he should try to train a bit, as his wound was healing faster now, but didn't move right away. In fact, he would have fallen asleep again if it weren't for the sudden smell of tea coming to his nose in the precise instant he closed his eyes again.

"Thanks," he said, slowly getting up to sit on the hammock with his legs hanging on one side, as an improvised flexible chair.

Nami just nodded with a tiny smile before sitting on a wicker armchair in front of him, facing the tangerine grove in the distance. At least, until the moment several minutes later when Zoro whispered:

"A berry for your thoughts."

As he should have imagined, Nami jumped a bit with surprise at hearing his voice. Zoro didn't know why he had thought of saying that. Something made him say it. He saw Nami looking lost in her own mind. Her first ironic answer made him laugh.

"Really?"

Zoro shifted in his seat, averting his eyes as a sudden discomfort took hold of his body. He was never so willing to go further in their relationships with anyone, not since Kuina died. What the hell was happening to him? Unfortunately, it was too late to step back.

"It's just a way of speaking." He excused himself. "I don't want to run out of money."

That last comment was a bit more biting, and Nami seemed to notice it, but only sighed while laughing softly as well before answering:

"I was just thinking that… I'll miss this. I just got Nojiko back in my life and…"

She got quiet, as if she didn't want to say anything that could compromise a bigger secret she was still thinking about. Zoro tilted his head, curious.

"Are you having second thoughts?" He asked, without any reproach.

"No, I made up my mind before we even went after Arlong," she admitted, blushing a little in the dim light. "In fact, I would say I did the moment I saw you all in Coco Village for the first time."

Zoro took a deep breath. He was surprised by the direction the conversation was taking. He missed having alcohol in his hand, but he was also feeling something new: comfort. It was a small, daring part of him, the opposite of the hurt one that closed after Kuina's death. It felt good to have a conversation that was so full of sentiment.

"I guess Luffy does have that kind of attraction power." He tried to joke then, even if he also felt the truth in each of those words.

Partly, he was just trying to defuse the situation, as he felt with sudden and weird clarity that it was an uncomfortable topic for Nami. But then she said something that took him by surprise:

"If he does, it must be contagious."

He squinted, unsure of how to respond to this new knock on a side of his heart he thought was safe behind multiple protection walls. He glanced at Nami, who was looking at him with an amused expression.

It's just your imagination, he tried to convince himself, immediately dismissing the strange feeling that ran up his back. It can't, and it won't be, anyway.

"Well, as long as you don't do it for the waiter, I'm happy enough," he answered, cautious but unable to avoid a lighter tone that Nami seemed to appreciate.

She chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I don't know him very well," she admitted then, almost to herself, "but he seems like a good guy."

Her voice was thoughtful, and she bit her lip as if pondering something deeply. Zoro scoffed, barely suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, and shifted in his seat, trying to hide his irritation.

"If you say so…" he grumbled, crossing his arms defensively.

Nami raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

"You don't like him?" she probed, leaning forward slightly.

Zoro clicked his tongue with unease, avoiding her gaze, and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I don't like his pedantry," he said, his tone more subdued.

Luckily, Nami seemed to agree on that. She nodded, her expression turning serious for a moment.

"Yeah, he seems like the kind of guy that loves to flirt," she said.

"There you have it. So don't give him any reason to talk, or he'll never shut up," Zoro advised seriously.

His eyes locked onto hers, emphasizing his point. Nami, for her part, just shrugged lightly and took a sip of coffee without looking away from the swordsman. Her movements were relaxed now, almost languid.

"I'm sure I'll be fine," she told him then, with a confident half-smile. She then raised an eyebrow and asked, "Or maybe… is it that our swordsman is jealous?"

Zoro stiffened without even wanting to, snorting. His eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly masked his reaction with a scowl.

"Jealous?" he repeated, thinking he had not heard well even if he knew he did. "Of what?"

His voice was defensive, almost indignant. To add to his confusion, she just laughed quietly and shook her head with amusement. Zoro realized for the first time how light her laughter was, almost musical.

"Relax, sword-guy. I was just teasing you," she admitted then, making him chuckle softly in return when he recovered from the surprise. "Anyway, I have to say I am really happy to have you all, guys, in my life. This will be a great adventure." Her voice softened, and she looked at him with genuine affection.

"We all have something we want to achieve," said Zoro thoughtfully. "Have you decided what yours is?"

His tone was curious, inviting her to share more. Nami looked at him sideways.

"What makes you think I don't have that?" she countered in a biting tone, raising an eyebrow.

"I heard you talking to Luffy," Zoro replied simply, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to read her expression. "Back in Baratie."

"And here I am, thinking I wasted my time reading stories to you," she joked, her voice remaining pleasant. "You're a scoundrel."

"No, I just pay more attention than you think," he answered, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, his eyes glinting with a mix of challenge and camaraderie.

Nami snorted, her lips barely sketching an amused smile, and seemed to think about it while looking away. The fleeting gesture lingered on her face, suggesting she appreciated his words more than she let on.

"Maybe..." she admitted. Zoro leaned forward a bit more, interested, his eyes focused intently on her. She seemed to feel his attention but continued without any fuss. "Ever since I was a child, I loved maps. I didn't have any money, but I managed to steal a book from the village a few days before everything went south..." She told him, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Zoro noticed a distant look in her blue irises, as if she was reliving those memories. "You probably know already, but it was precisely that which saved my life when Arlong came to invade us."

Zoro nodded slightly. Her voice wavered, betraying the pain those memories brought.

"But I have to admit that after traveling the East Blue for so many years and hearing so much about Luffy and Arlong's interest in the Grand Line, something in me just..."

She stopped short, pursing her lips and lowering her chin as if suddenly embarrassed. Zoro tilted his head, urging her to continue with his eyes.

"Just... what?" he asked gently, more than he had done in years with anyone.

He saw Nami hesitate, biting her lip, but didn't push her further. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth.

"I'd like to make a map of the world. Nothing would make me happier," she admitted.

Her voice was filled with quiet determination when she raised her eyes to meet his.

"Not even gold?"

He couldn't help but tease her a bit, already knowing her weak spot. On the other hand, he was aware that it took a lot for someone like Nami to open up to someone she barely knew. But he also knew that they were more similar than they both cared to admit. Maybe that was why they felt comfortable together. After that comment, he curled his lips into a playful smirk, even more amused when Nami grinned back, pretending to mock him in response.

"How funny."

Zoro barked a deep, hearty laugh without being able to suppress it, something he hadn't done in a long while and that felt better than he imagined.

"I told you, I know you better than you think," he reminded her, still smiling.

Nami leaned back, her gaze turning sharp. Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying him.

"Don't think so much of yourself," she said softly, sarcastic. "Haven't you ever heard that 'even a broken clock is right twice a day'?"

Zoro had never heard it, but he could admit it was a big, simple truth. He nodded thoughtfully.

"So was I right?" he asked in a confident tone, feeling like for the first time in days he was in control of the discussion.

She held his gaze for an instant, as if she wanted to show she wasn't ready to answer, but when he didn't look away, she sighed deeply, cleared her throat, and crossed her arms, staring away from him.

"Let's just say that despite my childhood dislike of pirates, I would admit that gold and treasure are some of the perks of being one." She confessed, hinting at a challenging smile and sparkling eyes with mischief.

After that, even if he wanted to follow up with her mood, Zoro felt something weighing on him again from the depths of his soul that wanted to sink his intentions deeper than he thought possible. Nami's words brought back an unpleasant memory from his childhood. He thought it was forgotten and overcome long ago. His expression darkened, and shadows crossed his face.

"My father was also killed by pirates," he whispered, unable to suppress it.

"And you now want to be one?" she demanded.

As he could have guessed, her eyes opened wide, her mouth slightly agape, and she even straightened up, as if she couldn't believe him. Her surprise was obvious.

Only then did Zoro decide that it was a good time to share some of what was on his mind. It was as if they were back at the Baratie, guessing things about each other, but this time without alcohol. It was a weird feeling, but not as bad as he thought it would be. He looked at her with sadness and resolve in his eyes.

"The truth is, I never had much to live for after Kuina died," he said in a low voice, filled with a resignation he thought he had buried deep in his heart. "I just wanted to leave my village to fulfill our promise as soon as I could."

"And the best use of swords was to kill pirates..." Nami finished for him, her tone softening a bit, but still a bit wary.

"What can I say? Marines are boring," Zoro replied, a small, rueful grin tugging at his lips.

"Oh, yeah. I agree," Nami said, her lips curling up in understanding. "But still, that doesn't answer my question..."

Zoro turned the small teacup between his long fingers.

"I guess, like we said, Luffy has that kind of appeal. And, despite everything I might have thought in the past, he has already earned my allegiance. I can't change that," Zoro said, his voice firm with conviction.

"Yeah, he's good at getting people to follow him," Nami agreed, her eyes softening with affection for their captain.

At that moment, the first sounds of people waking up and starting to move inside the house came through the door. Zoro and Nami exchanged a silent, understanding look, and finished their drinks before standing up almost at the same time. Even though Zoro liked those quiet moments, it was time to get back to work. He stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles.

"Hey, Zoro."

"Hm?" He turned to her, raising an eyebrow in question.

Nami hesitated for just a moment.

"If it helps, my mother used to say that no matter what we did in the past, it doesn't determine what we'll be in the future."

Her voice was soft and almost wistful. Zoro looked at her attentively.

"What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Nami's eyes softened, reflecting a mix of nostalgia and hope.

"No matter what happens, I know we'll make them proud. All the people that loved us at one point. Don't you think?"

Nami's lips curled upwards, her gaze steady as she looked at him. Zoro took a moment to consider her words, then nodded firmly with a spark of determination in his eyes.

"I'll do my best," he replied, with a firm conviction.

Nami smiled even more. "I'm sure you will."

Zoro mimicked her gesture, agreeing. He wanted to add something, a thought on the tip of his tongue. However, at that moment, they heard Luffy screaming their names, breaking the spell of their private conversation. With a shared, resigned look, they decided to join the rest of the crew for their last breakfast on the Conomi Islands.

As they ate and drank, surrounded by the usual chaos, Zoro couldn't help but steal brief glances at Nami. Each time their eyes met, an unspoken understanding passed across the table. They'd only been sailing together for a short time, but a new bond had already been established between them. It wasn't romantic, far from it, but there was something special about it. Perhaps it was because he hadn't felt anything similar since before Kuina died. Maybe it was because of that sudden and warm realization, while they were drinking, eating, and getting ready to set sail, that he thought:

So, this is what it's like to feel like family.

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to this fun space for me to write in English. This chapter is a bit longer, but I hope you're enjoying the stories so far! I'm not sure how many I'll be able to create before the second season comes out in 2025, but I'm excited to see what happens! If anyone has any ideas, please leave them in the comments. Your feedback will help me practice and improve my writing, and I'd love to hear from you!

Love you all!