Letting your armful of beer glasses clank down onto the counter, you rested your weight upon the wooden slab, heaving a tired sigh.
It had been another long and hard day of serving both the people who decided to stay the night at your inn, and the individuals who floated into your restaurant and bar, hoping for a good meal and a cool drink after the dreadfully hot and taxing work day.
Finally deciding to take a moment to yourself before you did the rest of the tidying, you trudged over to one of the many tall stools lining the bar and plopped yourself down into one rather ungraciously.
Resting your head on your hand, you contemplated, using your other hand to try and smooth out a scratch that had somehow engraved itself upon the counter.
First, you thought about today, what you had to prepare the next day, the two types of beer you probably needed to pick up in the market.
As that last thought hit you, you groaned as you let your head drop.
Darn it all, you hated having to restock on beer.
The kegs were just so heavy, and they were a pain to go and purchase on your own. You could just roll them down the street, but that would compromise the flavor and texture of the thing, and that was just something you couldn't allow to happen, no matter how much you wished your conscience would let you.
And your last thoughts flitted to the man you had married.
Sanji.
You hadn't seen the man for quite a while this time. If you had to guess, probably around three months.
Glancing at the calendar on the wall, you shook your head in amusement.
Oh, who were you kidding? You knew exactly how long he had been gone. You kept track of all of the time you spent without him with tiny x's in the corner of the boxes, counting the days you slept alone in your own bed, without his witty banter, constant flirting, or even the sight of his adoration-filled eyes to keep you company.
When days were especially difficult like this one, you found yourself wondering if you shouldn't have picked a more…stationary husband.
But that thought alone made you want to slap your own face.
Because no matter how long he was gone, or how many nights you spent just staring at the ceiling, worrying for his safety and praying he was alright, you wouldn't trade it for the world.
You loved the man you married, with all of your heart.
And he always made sure to make it up to you whenever he returned.
He would cook you delicious meals, lavish you with affections, and make sure you wanted for nothing.
And even if he didn't so all that, even if all he did was sit with you and keep you company, just listening to your complaints and stories from that day, it would be enough.
Because you loved him, and he let you know he felt the same, every single day he could.
That didn't make your worrying cease, though.
You didn't really have a steady way of communication between the two of you, with him spending his time on a pirate ship and all.
Someday you knew that he would never return. That the rest of his crew would return without him, bearing the terrible news that he had succumbed to sickness or death. Or perhaps they would not tell you at all, leaving you wondering for years, decades, about what had happened.
Shaking your head, you willed the thoughts away.
No, you wouldn't think of such things anymore.
You just had to trust him, and hope and pray for his safe return.
Steeling yourself, you pushed up on shaky arms, making your way back around the counter to finish those dishes you had been putting off.
Dipping your hands into the suds, you set to work.
As you set the last plate down, having dried and polished it to a shine, a pleased smile lifted the corners of your lips.
No sooner had you thought the day was done, the door to your establishment opened violently with a loud BANG!
Your head whipping around, you looked at the source of the sound, wondering just who in the world would be so rude and obnoxious as to enter like that.
But your displeased expression was soon replaced by one of complete joy and surprise.
For in your doorway stood your tall, blond man who looked like he had run a mile, his chest heaving with exhaustion and his eyes wild.
As he stalked his way over to you, your voice pealed with laughter.
When he reached you, he took a moment to lean down and kiss the back of your hand before standing back up and taking your head between his hands.
Leaning down to rest his forehead against yours, he swept your hair behind your ear, cradling your face softly as he let out a contented sigh.
"Oh, how I've missed you, my love."
Placing your hand on his, you gently caressed the back of it with your thumb. Closing your eyes, you let the two of you be enveloped in silence, the quiet feeling nice after the hustle of the day.
After a few minutes of just basking in each other's presence, he shifted and pulled himself just far enough away to comfortably gaze into your eyes.
A smirk quirking on your lips, you brushed a rare out-of-place strand of hair back into place, evidence of just how quickly he rushed over to you.
"It was long this time, wasn't it?"
When he just raised an eyebrow at you, you elaborated, "The time you were away, I mean."
"Ah, yes." He leaned back even more so the two of you could shift and find somewhere to sit, causing you to comfortably snuggle into his side.
Putting his arm around you, he placed a kiss on top of your head, his heart feeling like it would burst out of his chest, "You have my apologies, dear. Will you ever forgive me?"
"Oh, I don't know." You wished to tease him just a bit, payment for making you wait so long. "You might have to try a little harder than that, Sanji"
You felt him stiffen at your side, and you looked up to see actual fear and apprehension creep its way into his eyes.
"S-Sanji?" He questioned, his voice wavering.
You nodded.
When all you did was look at him after that, he tried again, his voice soft, "You've never called me that since we've been married. Only when you're angry."
Feeling like he was going to add something, you stayed silent.
"Are you…angry with me? For taking so long to come back to you?"
Acknowledging his feelings and joining his serious tone, you spoke sincerely, reaching up to cup his face with your hand, which he gratefully nuzzled into, "No, I'm not angry with you, love. I'm sorry if it seemed that way. It's not your fault some of your voyages take longer, and I know that. I just worry about you is all." Petting his hair and looking into his eyes, you continue, "I worry if you've been hurt, if you've been sleeping enough. I know you don't exactly like to share your pain with other people."
Some people just chalk it up to his gentlemanly nature, but you knew it ran deeper than that.
"I know that you get up before everyone else on the ship, and you're the last one to go to sleep. I know how long you spend in the kitchen, taking care of everyone else's needs instead of your own."
And you loved that about him: his selflessness, his love and willingness to take care of other people. The way he noticed the little things and took them to heart. It's what you loved about him, it's what made you marry him, despite how poorly some people perceive him.
"You're my husband, Sanji. Is it not alright for me to worry about you?"
Even though you could tell he wished to say something, he let you finish your speech, ever the gentleman.
When he realized you were done speaking, he wrapped you up in his arms, hugging you firmly to his chest, his breath in your ear.
"No, my love. There's nothing wrong with that, nothing at all."
With the way his chest was fluttering, you could tell he was trying to hold back tears, "What did I ever do to deserve such an amazing woman as you? You're so kind to me, so wonderful." His body curled in on yours, pushing the two of you ever closer, "I thank the gods every day you agreed to marry me, that I get to be yours."
The two of you just say like that for who knows how long, both of you tangled up in the other, your arms around his waist as he still desperately hung onto your shoulders.
Leaning back after a while, you look up into his eyes, hoping to lighten the mood a little bit, "And don't you forget that for one second." You gently poked his nose, watching as it scrunched, "You're mine, all mine."
A lovesick expression bloomed across his features and he breathed a content sigh, "Yes, my love. All yours."
Chuckling, you let your head fall back onto his chest, your ear pressed into the steady beat of his heart.
Sanji truly couldn't believe that he was able to marry you, that he was finally able to find the one person who truly understood him. Who realized the cause behind all of his actions, and saw what he dared not voice and take credit for.
He never told you that he got up before the rest of the crew, but you knew that he did.
He never told you he was the last one to go to sleep, to meal prep for the next day or just in case someone wanted a late-night snack or warm beverage, but you were able to put the pieces together.
You knew him, and you saw him.
And he couldn't be more thankful for that.
The longer the two of you sat there in silence, the quieter and more steady your breath became, until finally Sanji realized you had fallen asleep, comfortable and content in his arms.
Staring down lovingly at you, he gently rearranged you so his right arm carried the weight of your legs, while the other supported the rest of your slumped body. Carefully standing up, he carried you to your room, making sure to keep your neck supported as he lowered you onto the bed.
Feeling kind of guilty he was the reason you weren't able to prepare for bed, he decided that even though he wanted to allow you to sleep, you'd probably actually be angry with him if he allowed you to sleep without a shower and change of clothes.
Pushing a lock of stray hair away from your face, he spoke softly, "Beautiful, you need to get up."
Upon hearing his voice, your eyes blinked open blearily, "What?"
Chuckling, he helped you sit up, "You need to get ready for bed, pretty."
Not wanting to accept reality, you groaned, "I don't want to."
"What-?" Your response surprised him, causing amusement to sparkle in his eye, "You don't want to?"
At the shake of your head, he grabbed your hand once more, placing a gentle kiss upon the back of it.
"Would the lady like some assistance?"
At your sleepy nod, he just shook his head at you lovingly before helping you stand up, walking you over to the bathroom.
In the next half hour, he helped you bathe, brush your teeth, and helped you into a silky nightgown before escorting you back to bed, pulling the covers over you, watching you snuggle into the warmth.
Thinking you were asleep, he turned around to make his way to the door.
"Are you leaving?" Your voice was slightly muffled, but still filled with concern.
Turning back to you, he waved his lighter at you.
"No love, I'm just going out for a smoke, then I'll make sure I smell nothing like it before I join you."
Too tired to even scold him over the habit you hated so much, you merely nodded before letting your eyes close and drift off to sleep.
Smiling at you with so much affection, it hurt him to think about, he glanced at you one more time before heading outside, trying to hurry as much as he could to get back to you and your warm embrace.