Hello, all, here it is! The special SaNa epilogue! I hope you enjoy it (it's my first out and out attempt at a love scene like this, so it may be a little silly).

I'm still not sure about the SanRob epilogue. For now this will say, "Complete," but I may change my mind later. For now, you SanRob fans can check out my fic "Gives You Hell" for what fluff it brings. ZoTash fans, too.

Reader Review Corner!

ShaolinQueen: I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! And I'm still not sure about the other one… Hmm… Oh yeah, this reminds me: I'm in the middle of writing the new story's first chapter!!! It'll be up soon, hopefully.

Dancing Nightmare: Psh. Any fight scene + "He's a Pirate"=EPIC! I'm glad you liked it so much though. Yeah, I'm a Zoro/Sanji nakamaship whore, too (though I still can't see them as a couple -_-).

Three-days-late: Nah, you're not a jerk. Glad you liked it, and hope you like this, too. Oh yeah, and you call Sanji a pimp here, Miss "I'm gonna make Sanji get with every girl in One Piece (and then Zoro, too)"? Heehee, just playin' with ya (I love "A Date With Sanji," in case you didn't figure that out).

Mysterious Panther: Yep! XD Oh, and I got your (not-so-subtle) hint there. Hope you like this!

RusalkaHime: Thank you!!! And yes, it is going to be called "Room For Two," because I decided it fit the plot better.

On with the show!!!

A Chef's Hands

By Dandy Wonderous

Special Epilogue

Two days after the attack, Sanji was up extra early to start on breakfast. He had been cooking lately with a sort of obsessive fervor, as though to make up for the time he had been away from his kitchen.

He wasn't really sure why he was making bread, though. They didn't really need any, but here he was, kneading dough like a man possessed. Maybe it was because it was something that he could feel with his entire hand; could feel and know that they were really working again.

I'll just make French toast, I guess, he decided.

For a long time it was quiet and still, the only disturbance being the small thump of the dough when he would flip it over. He would squeeze it unnecessarily hard, reveling in the feel of the tensing muscles. They got tired easily, so he really shouldn't be doing this. But he couldn't stop. The feeling was intoxicating, more addictive than any cigarette.

The door creaked open ever so slightly, and he tensed a little in irritation at being interrupted. It was probably Luffy hunting for a snack, and it annoyed the cook to no end that he would have to turn away from his new drug of dough kneading to get rid of him. But when the intruder entered his aggravation immediately melted into pleased surprise.

Nami stared at him, curious and slightly embarrassed. "What are you doing up this early, Sanji-kun?"

"Making bread, Nami-san!" he cooed, though somewhere in the back of his mind he realized that this might sound just a tiny bit ridiculous.

Apparently Nami didn't think so-he was the cook, after all, not her, so she left all food related matters to him. "Oh."

Sanji returned to kneading his dough, the pleasure of the routine movement invading his mind again, enhanced by the company of a gorgeous woman. He would have been quite content to go on like this forever (or at least until his Nami-san required something of him), but the navigator spoke up again.

"Should you really be doing that? Chopper told you to take it easy."

"Nami-swan is so sweet to worry about me!"

"I'm not worried about you, idiot. I just want to make sure you don't ruin your hands, or we'd have to get another cook."

"Oh… O-of course, Nami-san."

She regretted her words instantly at the wounded expression that was shooed away almost the moment it appeared. He seemed to hesitate, then kept right on, working with the dough just as furiously as he had before.

"Sanji-kun?" she said gently.

"I'm sorry, Nami-san, but I just can't stop." Thump, knead, knead. "It feels so great to have my hands back… I just can't stop cooking."

Well, she couldn't begrudge him that, so she sat down at the table and stayed still, watching him.

"So, Nami-san?" he continued conversationally. Thump, knead, knead. "Why are you up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep," she shrugged.

"Would you like a drink or a snack, perhaps? I'd be happy to get you anything you desire!" Thump, knead, knead.

"No thank you, Sanji-kun. I'll just… sit here for awhile."

"Yes, Nami-san, whatever you want!" Mellorine! Nami-swan wants to spend time with me!

Thump, knead, knead.

Thump, knead, knead.

Thump, knead…

Shit, I almost forgot. "Nami-san?"

"Hmm?"

He stopped to rub his hands clean on a dish towel and then reached into the pocket of his slacks. He pulled out a small change purse and tossed it onto the table. "That's yours."

"Huh?" Confused, she straightened up and picked up the purse. Upending it, she dumped the coins into her hand and stared at them in confusion. "Sanji-kun, what-"

"I owe you that, remember?"

Confusion turned to realization. "Sanji-kun, I already told you not to worry about the paper-"

"It's rent, Nami-san," he said patiently, smiling at her. Then he returned to his bread dough. Thump, knead, knead.

Nami was shocked that he had taken her seriously. But then again, if anyone was going to take such a demand seriously, it would be him. With a slightly reluctant sigh, she dropped the coins back into the purse and got up. She walked over and put it down on the counter next to him.

He stared down at it in confusion. "But Nami-san-"

"Knock it off, Sanji-kun. You know I wasn't being serious."

He pushed it at her insistently with his elbow. "But Nami-san, I took your room. And… and you took care of me all that time. So you deserve it."

Oh, so that's what this is all about. "Sanji-kun, don't worry about the room, okay? I would've done it for anyone. Besides, this is your cigarette money, right? Last thing I need is you being all bitchy from withdrawal."

Why was she being so harsh to him all of a sudden? She didn't get it; she didn't mean to, but she just kept saying stupid things.

He hesitated, unsure, then took the coin purse and put it back in his pocket. "If that's what you want, Nami-san."

Thump, knead, knead.

He started up again. "I just thought you deserved it, Nami-san, for taking care of me like you did."

"It wasn't just me," she pointed out. "Chopper did a lot of it, and Robin, and even Zoro… We all pitched in."

Thump, knead, knead.

"But no one else…" His cheeks tinged with pink. "Well… You know."

Ah. Now she got it; she had been his shoulder to cry on, and now he thought he needed to make it up to her somehow, repay her. Wasn't that just like Sanji, thinking he owed people things and always looking for some way to repay them.

Thump, knead, knead.

Thump, knead, knead.

"I didn't take care of you for money, Sanji-kun. You should know that."

"I'm sorry, Nami-san, I didn't mean to offend you!" He seemed genuinely concerned.

"You didn't, Sanji-kun, I can see how you might have thought that."

"No, Nami-san, I could never think bad about you!" He stared down at the dough. "I just thought… that you needed something…"

Thump, knead, knead.

"…To make up for that wasted time."

Thump, knead, kne-

He froze as her arms wrapped themselves around his waist comfortingly. "I was helping my nakama when he needed me, Sanji-kun. I don't think that was a waste of my time."

"N-nami-san?" Mellorine, mellorine, MELLORINE!

"So stop thinking that, idiot."

She had meant the hug to be short, just to let him know that she was there for him, not his money, but suddenly she realized she wasn't letting go. That's enough, Nami, she told herself. You can stop now.

But she didn't, and she couldn't really figure out why. She held him even tighter, until he twisted around in her arms and was holding her, now, too.

They stayed like that for a long time, and Nami was surprised and confused at how right it all felt, how her head fit so perfectly in the little crook between his neck and his shoulder and the way his arms rested so comfortably on her back. It was something like the night she held him when he was so broken and vulnerable, except this time neither of them were broken or vulnerable, they just were, and it felt wonderful, shooting a thrill of adrenaline through her entire body.

And she supposed that it was that adrenaline that led her to looking up into that big blue eye, so uncertain and at the same time so happy.

The second their eyes locked he moved, cupping her face in one hand-one gentle and fully functioning hand, only a faint scar left from where the dagger pierced it-and pulling her closer. Up to his face, up to his lips.

He had to bend just a little, and then they kissed.

It started out slow, as neither of them really knew what to do. Kissing seemed to be a new area for both of them; Nami may have seduced many men into doing her bidding, but never had she kissed one, and she doubted he had had much time for the experience, either, all his flirting aside.

So first they were just touching lips, both feeling around experimentally. It didn't last long, though, as instinct began to take over. Sanji pressed down harder, then opened his mouth just enough to really taste her lower lip, and then she did the same to his upper lip. Then his tongue danced lightly on her teeth, and she played coy with it for a moment before granting it entry. Her arm circled his shoulders and she found herself gripping his shirt as though to hold him in place, or maybe herself, as she felt light-headed enough to float right off the floor. His other hand, no longer crushed and mangled, wound itself ably into her hair, lightly stroking the orange strands.

They finally pulled apart, he still planting light kisses on her lips while she gasped a little for air. With one last touch he pulled back, panting a good deal himself.

Once he had enough breath to speak, he said the only word he could in that situation. "Mellorine!"

She smiled a little and leaned back against his chest. "So, do you believe me now, Sanji-kun?"

"Yes, I most certainly do, Nami-san!" he cooed in pure elation. Then, a little more nervously, "But Nami-san, does this mean… that you love me like I love you?"

She stiffened a little, and he felt it.

"I mean, because if you don't that's fine, I mean-"

She silenced him with one finger pressed gently to his lips. "I just think love is a strong word at this point," she explained. "But I do care, really care about you… And apparently I also like you… in that way."

He laughed a little at that. "Actually, Nami-san, I think that's the way I feel about you, too."

She squeezed him tighter. "So, we agree we are in like with each other."

"Yes, Nami-san."

"Then we're officially a couple!" She grinned up at him.

"Mellorine," he whispered, and then their lips were together again.

This time when they pulled away she gave him a coy smile. "But just because you're my boyfriend doesn't mean you get any slack in your debt!"

"Of course, Nami-san! I would never expect you to lower it for me!"

"That's good, 'cuz I won't." She laughed and hugged him one last time, then she pulled back and held him at arm's length. He didn't seem to happy about the change. "You finish your bread and get back to breakfast," she ordered lightly.

"Yes, Nami-swaaan!" He whirled to do her bidding and was about to start kneading the dough again when he realized that it had long ago lost the need for that. He grinned self-consciously and got it ready for baking. "By the way, Nami-san, earlier you said I was an idiot."

"Yeah?"

"Well, I'm obviously not." He gave her a playful smile. "After all, I got the girl in the end."

She laughed and turned to leave. "By the way, Sanji-kun… that would never have been enough money to cover the rent you owe me."

Then she turned back around, yanked his face down to her level, planted one last strong kiss on him, and then exited the galley.

Sanji stared after her swinging hips before collapsing into a happy lovesick puddle on the ground.

The whole ship could hear his delighted shout. "Mellorine!!!"

The End

A/N: Yeah, I know; no, "I love you Sanji, omg, marry me!!!" from Nami… But you gotta walk before you run. I like them being like this first better, anyway (I actually kind of hate fics where she just suddenly realizes she loves him and says so). Even Sanji really feels that way, because of his flirtiness. Even so, they still made out, so it's still good. And think of it like this; they're starting out liking each other here, but later… Yeah.

I could have been really sexy and been like, "Come on, Sanji-kun, let's go see what else those hands are good at kneading…" But I don't do lemons. Feel free to envision your own if that's what you want.

Oh, yeah, and I don't know what was up with the whole "thump, knead, knead," thing. I just used it once to show a pause in Sanji's talking, then I used it again for another pause, and suddenly it became representative of all the pauses in the conversation! Doesn't it feel special.

I'm really glad you guys liked this story, and I hope you're around for the next one!!!

This is Dandy Wonderous, excited about torturing Zoro and Sanji (mentally) in her next fic, signing off!