Childhood Witch

Chapter 3: Thank you

Tessa's POV#
Sanji had cooked the crew some dinner and once everyone finished they just sat in the kitchen talking about random things, while sanji washed up. I walked over to Sanji

"Hey Sanji. Could you please get everyone's attention for me. I wanna say something to them all"

Sanji nodded "EVERYONE!!!!" he yelled and everyone stopped talking and looked at him.
"Tess has something she would like to say to all of you. So please pay attention" he nodded at you and you walked out of the kitchen and in front of everyone.

"I just really wanted to thank you all. To thank you for taking out Caesar. Because he had kidnapped me and conducted experiments on me for 11 years, but after I got away 3 years ago I had to go into hiding because I was afraid he would find me. But now that he has been defeated, it takes a weight off my shoulder. Now I don't have to be afraid that he is going to find me and take me away. And that is all because of you guys. So thank you. Thank you so much" I said. Bowing at the end to hide my tears.

"Tessa-chan look at me" Luffy said to me, I did as told and looked up to see that his hat shaded his eyes "there is no need to bow on this ship. We are all equals as far as I am concerned. And I am sorry that you had to become an experiment, no one deserves that. But from now on, I assure you that no one will hurt you ever again. Because if you are Sanji's nakama, then you are my nakama, and I always protect my nakama." Luffy said ending with a smile.
I just cried more. And louder. Everyone except Sanji and Robin freaked out. Sanji walked up to me and gave me a tight hug to comfort me.
"Don't worry. She is just really happy. When she is really emotional and happy she will start crying really hard. But it's just because she is really happy" Sanji explained to the rest of the crew.

Sanji's POV#
Tess cried for a little longer and then she stopped and I could feel she had even breathing. She was asleep. How does she fall asleep while standing up. I called Nami to come over.
"Where can Tess sleep?  She has fallen asleep here"
"Well.... She can take my bed for now. Me and Robin can share a bed."
"Alright. Which bed is yours?"
"The purple one"
"Okay. Thanks Nami-san"
I picked Tess up so I was carrying her bridal style, and carried her to the bedroom. I placed her down on the bed, took her shoes off and tucked her into bed. I looked at her and she was just beautiful
"I am so happy that you are back in my life, I have missed you so much, more than you think." I kissed her forehead and left her to sleep.
I made my way back into the kitchen to finished cleaning up when I find Brooke was alone drinking some tea. I just continued into the kitchen and started cleaning.
"You love her, don't you Sanji?" Brooke questioned more as a statement.
"What are you going on about?  She is my childhood friend. I don't love her" I denied.
"You can deny your feelings all you like, but it is obvious to everyone around you. I don't think Tessa has realised it yet though. The way you look at her just shows how much you really love her. But your actions speak much louder. You have not swooned over Nami-san and Robin-san at all today. You barely acknowledged them when Tessa was around." I just stood there in shock. "Just think this over" Brooke finished as he walked out the door.
Do I really love her? I thought of her everyday for 13 years. I never forgot her face. I loved seeing her face everyday as a kid, and that had not changed. I don't know why I started swooning over girls all the time. Maybe to try and get my mind off her. But it never really worked because I always thought of her before I fell asleep.

Oh my God. I am in love with my childhood friend.