AN: OK for all of you guys out there... this is it! Thanks for sticking it out with me. All of the wonderful comments have been sooooooo appreciated. I tried my best to respond to everyone, but i'm sure there are some that I either didnt have an way to contact or just got caught up with life and just let them slip through the cracks. But THANK YOUto all that have read and stuck with me... even after the first few chapters that reallllly sucked. I got a whole lot better after i got my beta. So... TY bunny!
The edited part can be found on my LJ if you're interested. And before you guys flame me with "They're too OOC"I already know this... but it's my story and i was tired of all the agnst so i wanted a semi fluffy ending... sry.

Epilogue

Luffy and Nami were very open with their affection, light touches and kisses were exchanged between the two of them often. They would sit up on the figurehead, Nami wrapped in Luffy's arms, and laugh about everything and nothing. Sanji would find himself staring at them in longing, but in an entirely different way than before. Now his thoughts would drift to a certain swordsman and wish that the two of them could be so open with their relationship.

It had been a week since they had slept together, and Zoro had yet to make any move other than a too short kiss in the cargo hold a few days ago. Sanji knew that Zoro wanted him just by the hungry looks he would receive when they passed on deck, but the lack of physical attention was starting to get on the cook's nerves. He guessed that some of it was due to the extra person that climbed into Zoro's hammock at night. Teki was still having a hard time sleeping without nightmares and it killed Sanji that he had become jealous of a child. Still, Sanji needed attention too, and he was determined to get it. How he would do so was the only question now.

If they had been a normal couple, the cook could just walk out on the deck, sit in the swordsman's lap and shove his tongue down the bastard's throat. Unfortunately, the only person who really knew that they were together was Robin, and Sanji refused to let the others know in such a blunt way. Or maybe that was just what he needed to do. The only thing holding them back from doing anything was the fear of what the others would say, right? So, if everyone knew they were together, all this tension would be gone and they would be able to do other intimate things again. It seemed logical to the cook, and he immediately began to plan his strategy.

Zoro sat on deck with his eyes closed, pretending to take his post training nap with his son. Teki lay sprawled out a foot away, lightly snoring. The swordsman could see the frustration in Sanji's eyes when they passed, and it hurt. He had gotten exactly what he wanted, but now he had no idea what to do with him. Sanji had always been such a lady's man that Zoro was worried he would want to keep things between them secret, so he didn't make any first moves. Well, unless you count the kiss he took in the hold. He had checked to make sure no one was around and did his best to keep it short should anyone be looking for them. Unfortunately, the kiss only served to fuel his sexual frustration and forced him to take matters into his own hands in the washroom directly thereafter.

Soon, the Merry would have to land somewhere and he could ask Luffy or Robin to watch Teki for him. They both knew that he and the cook were together anyway, even if Sanji didn't know they knew. Zoro would brave through dinner at whatever place the cook would choose, and then they would find the cleanest inn they could afford and make up for lost time. Zoro smiled a perverted grin as he thought of all the things he would be doing to the pale body now that it was a bit more healed.

Unfortunately, Nami had seen the look on his face and almost flew from Luffy's arms to go talk to her only female friend on the ship. Robin braced herself when she saw the navigator running in her direction. Hushed whispers were exchanged and plans began to form.

Usopp had refused to pay the money from the bet because, one he had never agreed to do it, and second, there was no actual proof that the men were involved with each other that way. So they had slept together in a room with only one bed. That had happened on several occasions in the past and no one thought anything of it. This was nothing different. Nami intended to prove him wrong.

After lunch, Zoro had spent the afternoon training with Teki and helping the boy learn to fish. They had pulled in several nice sized fish before Luffy was yanked overboard by an angry shark that had been snagged by the Captain's hook. Zoro dove in and took care of the situation, bringing back both the meat and the half drowned Luffy to the ship. The swordsman was surprised when Sanji came out to inspect the catch and winked at him. The cook even bent over right in front of him to pick up one of the smaller ones and gracefully threw it back into the ocean. It took three tries to get Zoro's attention when the blonde asked him nicely to clean the fish so they would be ready to cook for dinner. Something strange was going on and Zoro decided to keep on his toes.

Robin and Nami set their plan in motion right after. The girls asked the cook to make them something cold to drink since it was so warm, and suggested that maybe Zoro might like something too since he had been working so hard all day. Not catching the hints at first, Sanji protested telling them that if the buffoon wanted a drink he could go get one his damn self. While standing at the counter making the frosted beverages, Sanji looked up and noticed the large amount of sweat seeping through Zoro's shirt as he continued with his daily weight training. Maybe it was a good idea to make something for him as well.

Zoro scowled as he watched his blonde hurry to do the women's bidding. It wasn't long before Sanji came out of the galley with a tray of drinks; some more decorated and tended to than the rest. He closed his eyes and continued to swing the weights, exerting just a little more effort due to poorly hidden jealousy. A cool hand was placed at the small of his back and he froze in mid swing. Turning his head he was met with a frosted glass filled with lemonade slush. Raising his eyebrow in question, he sat down the weights and took the offered drink. Sanji's lips curled into a seductive smile before he turned and walked away with a slight sway in his hips.

Shaking his head to clear the heavy lust that had just hit him, Zoro took a sip and sighed at the smooth texture of the frozen drink. He could really get used to this, but why would the cook go through this much trouble if he wanted to keep a low profile? Noticing a shadow creeping up on his left, Zoro braced for impact. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper attacked him at once, grabbing for his special drink and whining about how they didn't get one too. Sanji stood in the galley doorway about to scold the childish nakama when Teki took advantage of his father's occupied state and snatched the drink, only spilling a little, then ran for the safety of a small crawlspace he had found earlier playing hide and seek. The cook had to brace himself against the doorway to keep from falling over while from laughing at the crestfallen looks on all four of their faces. Zoro's angry glare received another wink before Sanji ran to answer the calls from the women.

At dinner, Teki ran into the galley first, demanding that Sanji sit next to him. The cook smiled and assured him that he would try. When Zoro passed by him, he inconspicuously rubbed his hand across the rounded flesh of the swordsman's ass, playing innocent when Zoro whipped around to question him. During the meal, Zoro had been seated at the opposite end of the table from Luffy with Teki on one side and Chopper on the other. He nearly jumped when he felt something rub up the inside of his calf and suppressed the desire to throw his plate at the brazen cook currently ignoring him.

Zoro sat watching Teki and Sanji wash the dishes and tried to decide just what he was supposed to do about Sanji's forward actions during the day. He couldn't possibly want him to act on those suggestive moves, could he? It was hard to believe, but perhaps that's what he was expected to do. When the last of the dishes had been washed and dried, Zoro rose from his seat and stretched. He watched Teki run out to play and felt Sanji's presence close behind him.

He whirled around to face the blonde and yanked him forward by the slender black tie hanging loosely around his neck. Zoro crushed their lips together in a heated kiss, letting a shiver of desire run down his spine at the soft moan that escaped Sanji's mouth as their lips moved against each others in a greedy manor. Sanji's hands tightened on Zoro's arms, and then slid up to encircle his arms around the swordsman's neck. They each sighed in bliss when Zoro grabbed the blonde's slender hips and ground their growing arousals together.

"It's about fucking time you did something, Shitty-swordsman." Sanji panted into Zoro's mouth when they broke slightly from their kiss.

"Fuck you, asshole. I thought you didn't want the whole ship to know or I would have done this a lot sooner." Zoro growled and started kissing down the pale slender neck, annoyed that he had to stop his ministrations at the troublesome collar of Sanji's shirt. "Are you saying that you don't care now?"

Sanji grabbed the short strands of Zoro's hair and yanked hard, exposing the thick tanned neck and licking a long strip from Zoro's collar up to his chin. Sanji grinned when he felt the man shudder in delight and moan quite loudly. Not wanting to get caught like this, the cook let go his hold on the green hair and pushed Zoro away just far enough for him to release his hold on the slim hips. Quickly, Sanji shut the open galley door and locked it, working off his tie at the same time. He hung his jacket over the porthole to block at least one of the windows and give them a slight chance at privacy. The lock clicking was the only prompt Zoro needed, and soon he had his swords propped safely in the corner and began working on removing his own clothes. Taking a cue from the cook, he hung his own shirt over the opening above the sink.

They met in the middle of the room in a flurry of discarded clothes and hands reaching for every possible inch of skin they could reach. Sanji gave up on trying to un-button his shirt and allowed his lover to rip it open, eager to feel their naked bodies touch. He took the gold earrings into his mouth and gave a tug, loving the feel of Zoro's hardening cock rubbing against his hip. Sanji ran his hands down Zoro's bare back and under the waistband of the black pants, chuckling when he realized the swordsman had gone commando. Sanji rolled his hips against Zoro's thigh trying for as much friction as he could get while waiting for the bastard to get their clothes off.

Zoro did his best to not simply rip off every piece of clothing they wore. He knew they would need to wear something out of here and if he ruined one of Sanji's suits, the cook was likely to never forgive him. He had been allowed to rip the shirt, which was enough to ignite the primal lust that had been lurking just under the surface. As Sanji began to tug on his ear, the sensation went straight into his cock and he ground himself into the blonde. Warm, rough hands traced down his back and into his pants to cup his ass.

(Lemon cut)

"Oh fuck! Zoro! Fuck I love you." He cried out, body shaking in orgasmic bliss.

Zoro hesitated slightly as he heard the words he'd been longing for finally escape from his lover's lips.Letting Sanji's legs fall to the floor, Zoro rolled them over and held the blonde tight against him. He ran his hands across the soft skin of Sanji's back, down to his perfect ass and back up to tangle briefly in his hair before repeating the pattern. Sanji had just started dozing when Zoro shifted to grab for his pants. Grumbling and hugging the tanned body tighter, Sanji protested against the movements of his comfortable pillow. Zoro chuckled and tapped Sanji's nose, making the blonde open one eye in annoyance.

In front of his eyes was a ring of gold, beautifully crafted and obviously very expensive. Leaning up and bracing himself on his elbows he looked down into the face of the man who had changed his life in so many ways. He watched as Zoro fumbled for the words to say what he was thinking.

"This was made to match my mother's ring. When we were at the last island I had it resized." Zoro placed the ring in the cook's hand. "It belongs to you now."

Sanji lifted the ring to look at the inscription. 'My Everything' just as Zoro had called him that night. Sanji felt his heart pounding in his chest as he realized the significance of the gift. If he had been a woman, who he most definitely was not, it would have been akin to a proposal of marriage. Sanji felt the nervousness in the man under him as he studied the ring with a blank expression. The cook had no intension of making this easy for the bumbling idiot.

"So where's the other one?" Sanji asked.

Confused, but willing to see where the question would lead, Zoro reached over again and fished out a second ring from his pants. Sanji took that ring as well and looked it over. It had been worked on recently, enlarged by the look of the new areas of gold where the etchings didn't quite match. The inside was blank, void of any endearments like the one he had been given. This must have been his mother's ring he had spoken of. Curious, Sanji tried the old ring on, finding it too large for his slender hands. Putting it to the side he tried the ring he had been given and smiled when it fit perfectly. He left it on his hand and reached out to place the other ring on the respective finger on Zoro's hand.

"We'll have to get something engraved on it. Maybe 'Property of Blackleg Sanji' would work." Sanji laughed at the irritated look he received and kissed the pouting lips of his swordsman. His. It had new meaning now.

"Just know that if I get lost that I'll make sure to show people that so they know where to bring me." Zoro bit back, a little unsure if he liked being labeled like property.

"Well it's that or having it tattooed on your ass." Sanji let out an undignified squeak when Zoro suddenly rolled them over and pinned the cook to the ground.

"I refuse to drop my pants to show who I belong to, but I'm sorely tempted to put a warning on yours."

Sanji's eyebrow rose in question.

"It'll say 'If you can read this you're a dead man'."

Sanji laughed and leaned up to kiss Zoro soundly on the lips. "And what do I say to Luffy and the others when they see it."

"Run." Zoro growled playfully and nipped at Sanji's nose.

They lay on the floor laughing, Zoro draped over Sanji, both still naked and completely sated from their lovemaking. A knocking on the door interrupted their tender moment and both jumped to start pulling on clothes. When the banging began again, it was accompanied by the pitiful whine of the ship's Captain.

"Are you two done yet? I'm hungry! Sannnjiiiiii! Please!" Luffy called out pounding on the door so hard it was creaking.

The two men looked at each other and blushed deeply, wondering just how much the entire crew had heard. Sanji pulled his shirt on and frowned at the missing buttons and torn cuffs. Zoro smirked proudly at the destruction he had caused. Knowing that there was nothing they could do about it now, Sanji slipped on his shoes and opened the door, not caring that Zoro was still buttoning his pants and had yet to even find his haramaki. Sanji pulled out a cigarette from his jacket pocket as he uncovered the round window. Lighting it slowly he opened door and took in a long drag before answering the starving man.

"I just fed you. Nothing else until morning." The cook said pointedly as he glared at Luffy.

"But you gave Zoro something!" The captain argued. "Nami said that you were letting him sample your most private recipe. I wanna taste!"

Sanji blanched as Zoro tried to cough and cover up the laughter that had escaped. The swordsman groped the cook's ass as he walked by, ducking under the kick aimed at his head.

"Sorry, Luffy, it's a well guarded secret. No one else is ever allowed to taste." Zoro patted the disappointed guy on the back as he walked past.

Luffy pouted at Sanji and sulked off, leaving the cook to sort out his feelings. He finished his smoke and headed down to the men's quarters to get some sleep. Teki and Chopper were sharing a hammock and sleeping soundly, while Zoro was on the couch, leaving Sanji the empty hammock. Sanji toed off his shoes and pushed them to the side before crawling on top of the half asleep swordsman and nuzzling the ticklish spot behind Zoro's ear. The sleepy man wrapped his arms around Sanji's slender frame and held him close. Sanji looked down at his hand and turned the gold band in the dim light. He sighed as he felt Zoro's fingers comb through his hair softly.

They woke the next morning to a sleepy little boy trying to crawl on the pile with them. Teki giggled as his parents tried to shift around and make room for him. They ended up with Zoro on his side, back against the couch and Sanji flat on his back with Teki curled up on his chest. Sanji did his best commit this setting to memory, knowing it was the first of many family moments to come. He looked over to see Zoro smiling at them and lifted his head to press his lips against Zoro's. They both blushed when Teki began giggling, Zoro deciding to tickle the boy for ruining the tender moment between them. Nami poked her head through the trap door and smiled at the sight of the three of them laughing and enjoying themselves. She quietly shut the door and went in search of Usopp who was hiding in the crow's nest, intent on collecting her winnings once and for all.