Thank you so much for all of the reviews! It's nice to know that even after my couple of bad years there that people still are reading this story and I think by the time this story is over, you will all be satisfied, whether you are a fan of Nami or not. Also something I should probably mention is the, just as in Pirate Queen, there is some OOC moments. Sorry! Probably should have made that clearer sooner! Anyway, please enjoy.

Chapter 4

Nami opened the door to her bedroom to find Nathan standing there by her bed and Zoro seated behind him.

"He was looking for you so I brought him here. I figured you would show up eventually." Zoro said.

"Th-thanks..." Nami stammered nervously as she approached Nathan. She still wasn't sure how the crew felt about her.

Zoro stood to go.

As he put his hand on the doorknob, Nami cried, "Zoro, wait!"

He paused and turned his head to look at her.

"Please...don't hate me..." she said quietly.

"Nami, I don't hate you. None of us hates you. Well, except maybe Vivi, but that's understandable. We're just frustrated with you. You have a wonderful son who's missed you and you have friends who care about you. You need to stop this whole pity party and get on with your life. What happened with Luffy is your business and we have no part in that." he replied.

"Well, I am getting on with my life. I'm leaving the crew to go back and take care of Baratie so you won't have to worry about me anymore." Nami said defensively. What Zoro had said was the truth but it still stung.

Zoro shrugged. "Suit yourself." he said, and walked out.

"Mommy..." Nathan's small voice came from behind her and she felt a small pull on her shirt. She turned around to face him. "Are we really leaving?"

"Oh Nathan," she said as she sat on the bed and put him on her lap, "Mommy has messed up these past few days. I haven't been around to make sure you're okay and I've hurt one of my friends really bad."

"Can't you just say you're sorry?" he asked innocently.

"It's not that simple sweetie." she replied as she kissed the top of his head. "Besides, I think daddy would want us to go back and take care of his resturant for him. He loved this crew but he also missed the All Blue and making people happy with his food. Me and you will do what he can't do now. Won't that be great?"

"But I'll miss everybody..." Nathan said sadly.

"I will too, baby, I will too." Nami said as she pulled him to her tightly.

Later, her suitcases all packed, Nami left her room to go find Franky. She started by looking in his workshop near the bottom of the ship and, to her luck, she found him.

Hearing her approach, Franky looked up from what he was doing and, seeing Nami, set down the parts he had been working with and came over to her. "What brings you down here?" he asked.

"I was actually wondering if I could borrow something of yours..." Nami replied hesitantly.

Franky shrugged. "Why not?" he said. "What do you need?"

"I actually need a small ship. You know, something that could get me from here to, say, the All Blue." Nami said.

"Oh, right. You're leaving aren't you? Sorry to hear about that but I can't say I blame you. I'm sure you want away from all this and what better place than Baratie, right? Well, anyway, I'm guessing you'll need a boat big enough for you and your son and something that can carry probably a week's worth of supplies. I have something to those specifics but it will take a couple of days to prepare." Franky told her.

"That's fine. I appreciate it a lot!" Nami said with gratitude.

"It's no problem. I was going to work on it soon anyway. See you later Nami." Franky said as Nami turned to leave.

Making her way back to her room, Nami decided it was best to grab Nathan and get something to eat. It was almost lunch time and without a chef aboard, meals where more of a get-what-you-make-yourself deal rather than an organized point in the day.

As she turned the corner of the hall that led to her room, she nearly collided with Robin.

"Robin! I'm sorry! I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going." Nami appologized.

"No worries navigator-san." Robin said with a smile. "You have a lot on your mind I imagine."

"Oh, yeah. So I guess everybody knows then. Luffy and Zoro have big mouths." Nami muttered.

"I suppose they do. Anyway, I was coming to see if you or Nathan wanted any tea. I am making some and have extra if you like. I'll be in the galley if you decide to join me." With that, Robin walked back down the hall Nami had just come down, turned a corner, and disappeared from sight.

"I truly will never understand that woman." Nami said to herself. Then, turning her attention back to what she had been doing, she went on to her room and opened the door.

The first thing she noticed was that it was very dark, which was odd since she remembered leaving a light on when she left.

"Maybe Nathan went out and just put the light out." she thought. Still, she reached for her weapon, which attached under her skirt to her thigh.

Suddenly, she heard a muffled cry from the corner of her room behind her. She spun around toward the sound, pulling out her perfect climatact in the process. By the time she was facing the corner, the climatact was already assembled and held between her two hands in a combat-ready position. Taking one section, she quickly created a ball of electricity to lend light to the room, giving the place an eerie glow. What she saw nearly took her breath away.

In the corner was a dark, slender figure, but that was not what frightened Nami. What frightened her was the gloved hand over her son's mouth and the knife that was held to his throat.

"Let him go!" Nami screamed, raising the climatact.

"I don't think you want to do that." the figure said in a cold, dead voice. They pressed the knife harder to Nathan's throat and he squeeled.

Nami flinched but did not lower her weapon. "What do you want?" she asked as calmly as she could.

Unbeknown to both parties was the single eye that was slowly disappearing from the door.

"Nothing much. A ride really. I think you can make sure that is provided for me?" they asked. Nami was pretty sure the person was female.

Trying to get Nathan out of the way, Nami went along with the game. "Well, we're on a ship aren't we? What other mode of transportation could you possibly hope for?"

"No need to get smart with me," she replied, "Or this child may have to suffer."

"I'm sorry. I didn't intend to imply that-"

At that moment, Nami was interrupted by the implosion of the wall between them. As dust and debris flew around her, she lost sight of Nathan and her intruder. Thinking it the best moment for action, she ran through the dust toward the spot she had last seen them. Seeing Nathan's foot, she looked up and seeing the woman's shadow was a good head taller than him, she swung her climatact as hard as she could. Feeling it connect, she heard the clatter of a knife followed by the solid thunk of a body falling. Grabbing Nathan, she ran toward the hole in the wall that led straight out to the hallway.

Clearling the dust, she immediately collapsed in a fight of coughing, hugging Nathan tight to her.

"Drink this navigator-san." Robin said, handing her a cup of tea.

Nami gratefully took a few steadying sips and then gave the rest to Nathan. Then, looking around, she asked, "You...the wall...how...?"

"It was not me who did the damage to your wall. The men are taking care of things. Come. Longnose-kun is making you and your son something to eat." With that, Robin helped her up and the three went to the galley.

When they entered, Chopper was standing there. "Is everyone okay?" he asked urgently.

"They're fine doctor-san. Don't worry." Robin said with a reassuring smile.

"I don't get it. How did you guys know to come?" Nami asked as she took a seat.

"I came to bring you the extra tea. I thought you may not have wanted to join me here after all. I heard you screaming at someone and so I took a look. When I saw what was going on, I went and found swordsman-san. He found cyborg-san and captain-san and brought them with him. I also asked doctor-san to wait here incase he was needed. Then swordsman-san made the hole in your wall and you handled the rest." Robin explained.

"Thank you Robin. I don't know what we would have done if something hadn't happened." Nami said gratefully.

"Sounds bad to me. I mean, why would someone be so desperate to sneak aboard our ship and take a hostage?" Usopp asked.

"She wanted a ride. I don't know anything else. Still, we've been at seas for days. Why is it she's just now making her prescence known?" Nami pondered.

"I would say we will soon find out." Robin said as Usopp served them all bowls of steaming soup.

A few minutes later, Zoro entered the galley followed by Luffy.

Everyone at the table looked at them expectantly.

"Well..." Usopp finally asked.

"Well what?" Zoro retorted.

"Well who was that woman in my room?" Nami cried.

"It wasn't a woman. In fact, it was a girl and she can't be older than fourteen. We came here to get Chopper to take a look at her. She looks like she might be in bad shape. She's down on one of the cots in the sick bay right now. Franky's watching over her." Zoro said.

"What? Okay, you have to be mistaken! Fourteen? Is this some kind of joke?" Nami cried.

"No, it's not and you've already nearly killed her. What were you thinking Nami?" Zoro asked.

"I'll tell you what I was thinking!" Nami yelled, outraged. She stood up and slammed a fist on the table. "I was thinking that she was about to kill my son and that she sounded way older than any fourteen-year-old I've ever heard! In fact, I'm going go see for myself." With that, she stormed out of the galley before anyone could stop her.

Everyone remained seated for a moment in silence and then it seemed as if everyone moved at once. They ran toward the sick bay in a frenzy of bodies, all trying to either learn the truth or stop Nami.

Upon arrival at the sick bay, they all stopped. Nami stood motionless over the cot, her eyes wide in horror. "What have I done?" she whispered.

For on the cot indeed layed a girl dressed entirely in black who, as Zoro had said, could be no older than fourteen. Her short, silky, black hair was matted with blood that came from a massive welt on her right temple. Her breathing was shallow and she appeared very pale.

"Told you." Zoro muttered as Chopper raced into action.

Everyone else just stood in silence, watching Nami, who felt all their accusing glances.

This chapter seems shorter to me for some reason. Not sure why but it does. Still, there really wasn't any other place I wanted to stop it. The plot is starting to go in a different direction now and I'm getting excited. I've been dying to reach this point! So, hopefully you will never have to wait too long again!