What's Not To Love

Chapter 25

"Well you look better than before." Nami said as she watched Zoro place the twins in their crib.

Robin moved next to Nami and smiled at her. "We had a very interesting conversation."

Nami stared at the slender women before looking back at Zoro who paid them no mind at all. Turning back to Robin, she moved closer to her ear and whispered to her. "About what?"

Robin smiled and leaned over towards the orange haired women. Whispering back, she said, "I'll tell you back at our room."

Nami frowned for a second but smiled a moment later. She walked over to Sanji's bed and sat on it. "You'll be able to sleep better here so that's a plus."

Zoro turned away from the crib in shock. "What?"

Nami began kicking her feet against the bed as she looked at Zoro. "You didn't think we didn't notice, did you? It was so obvious that you haven't been sleeping lately."

Zoro's mouth opened and closed a few times, not knowing how to respond. He thought that he covered up his sleepiness so well. Falling asleep wasn't the problem for him. It was staying asleep that was problematic. It didn't help that the twins woke up frequently nowadays and that they got up earlier than Zoro normally would.

"You don't have to worry too much." Robin said as she looked at some of the clothes in the Cooks closet. Turning back towards Zoro, she continued. "Not many people have noticed in my opinion. Perhaps it's just Nami, Luffy and I that knows. Maybe the cook too?"

"Luffy knows?" Zoro asked surprised. Nami and Robin were a given but....Luffy?

Robin let out a small laugh. "Of course he knows." She watched in amusement as Zoro glanced between the two girls in suspicion. "We didn't need to tell him. It seems he noticed it himself."

Zoro frowned and went to turn back to the crib but stopped. He thought back what Luffy said earlier. Was he actually concerned about me and not the kids? Was that why he was so angry?

"Something wrong?"

Zoro turned his head away from Nami and shook his head. He placed stuffed animals next to the twins who had dozed off already. He smiled at them before yawning louder than he thought he would.

Robin and Nami stared at Zoro's back for a second in silence. They glanced at each other and nodded. Nami jumped from the bed and walked towards the door, followed by Robin. Zoro turned and stared at them as they got ready to leave.

"We can talk more tomorrow," Nami said as she opened the room door and turned around to face the green haired man. "You should get some rest."

Robin nodded in agreement. "You seem really tired already. Don't push yourself."

With that, both girls left Zoro by himself in the room.

Zoro stared at the closed door as he stretched his arms above his head. They were right. He was tired, but he was also trying to stay awake a little. He wanted to think for a second and this was the best time to do it.

Zoro walked over to the bed and sat down. He laid with his legs off the bed and his arms folded behind his head. Staring at the ceiling, he thought about his conversation with Robin. She was right, of course. He was thinking too much about his current situation. He needed to decide if his feelings for Sanji were still strong or if they were fading. He still felt attracted to him but...since the whole Izzy thing, he's felt distant from the cook. Not being near him kept him safe from getting hurt but it hurt him mentally and weakened him physically.

Zoro clicked his tongue. He turned to face the twins bed. He frowned at the thought of them growing up without enough contact with Sanji. He was being selfish in keeping them away. Even when Sanji and him were together, he kept the kids with him mostly. It was all selfish and unnecessary. In the end, he wasn't protecting anyone. Not the kids or himself. He was making things..difficult.

Zoro turned back towards the ceiling and closed his eyes. He sighed deeply before opening them back off. He thought back to what Sanji told him. He remembered the sadness that appeared on Sanji's face when he told him that he didn't understand and that he didn't care about how Sanji felt. Zoro bit his lip in thought. Did he want to get back together with Sanji? Was he forcing them apart without solving the problem at hand?He sat up and stared at the door. That's not what he wants. He wants to be with Sanji or atleast in a place where co-parenting is possible.

Zoro stood up and went to Sanji's closet and let his hand touch a couple of his shirts. He sighed again and brought one of the sleeves close to his nose. He took the shirt off the hanger and went to the crib. He draped the shirt over the crib rail in an attempt to make the kids feel close to Sanji. He stared at them for a moment before going to the closet and taking out another shirt. He cut the light off and brought the shirt with him to the bed and placed h it near his head as he laid down.

Zoro closed his eyes and let his mind wonder. He didn't want to admit it, but he actually needed Sanji. Sanji made him feel strong even when he didn't really feel it. He could talk to Sanji about a lot of things and vice versa. They needed each other and Zoro knew that. He knew that but what was it that was making him hesitate. Was it the possibility of being hurt or the possibility of hurting Sanji?