A/N~ Hey everyone I'm back! There is still one more birthday I have to deal with this month but most of the chaos is over for now. I finally got the wifi set up in my apartment earlier today and only just finished this chapter. In the meantime the picture in this chapter was found on zerochan. Enjoy!~

He awoke to the sound of his crewmates shouting and groggily stood to join them at the ship's railing. Usopp was pointing towards something in the sky which seemed to be rapidly falling. Out of curiosity he took the binoculars from around Usopp's neck without much care to the fact that he was now straggling his long-nosed friend and gazed at the falling object. For a moment as the blurry view of the binoculars cleared he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Some random woman was falling from the sky. Before their ginger haired navigator could point out how this should be impossible he found himself dropping the binoculars, and an unconscious Usopp, to the ground and running along a nearby rock fixture to the cliff edge at its other end.

Once he reached the edge he jumped and managed to launch himself far enough to catch you, his body curling up into a ball instinctively to brace for the water's impact as he started to fall. But instead he felt two rubber arms wrap around you both before launching you at full speed back toward the ship's deck.

He held onto you tightly the whole time you were flying through the air but as soon as he hit the deck he finally let go. Instantly, his reindeer friend was checking on him and you while asking a flurry of questions regarding how he physically felt. It was then as he caught his breath that he finally took a good look at you. And he felt captivated as he gazed at you, to the point that he didn't even hear his crewmates bombarding more questions at him. And even as they started to talk amongst each other he didn't hear, until they were discussing who would watch over you until you woke up. At that moment, while the cries of your friend who followed you were finally being heard, he nonverbally volunteered for the job by picking you up and carrying you to the infirmary.

~a few months later~

You had made yourself a place in the crew assisting Chopper soon after joining and got along with just about everyone. However, Zoro seemed to avoid you whenever possible, which broke your heart more than a little bit. So any moment to get close to him, be it keeping him from getting lost or even to treat injuries like the ones he suffered at Thiller Bark, were cherished. You had always admired him and thought that he was just so darn cool while watching the show, and those months actually spending time with everyone had not diminished that. If anything it had caused you to develop special feelings for him.

Now you were stuck on Kuraigana Island watching him train after having helped clean up a little around the castle. You remembered when you first arrived with the moss head in tow, he did everything he could to protect you from those crazy apes, only to end up getting even more injured. It hurt you to sit back and let him fight on but you knew that you shouldn't intervene even if you could. But when it came to Mihawk's attitude towards you and him you couldn't quite hold in your feelings and left the whole room completely astonished as you got real close and looked the legendary swordsman straight into his piercing golden eyes as you proceeded to lecture him about his manners. Before eventually being dragged away by Perona to help her treat Zoro's injuries.

But now despite you're current reminiscing you still heard Mihawk enter the room behind you.

"Miss (y/n)" he addressed you.

"Hawk-eyes" you replied while gazing out the window at Zoro, who was training.

It only took two strides for him to join you at your perch and after a few moments observing his student he spoke again.

"Do you have feelings for Roronoa?"

A blush exploded on your face as you continued looking at Zoro. Though you contemplated whether it was even Mihawk's business, you figured that lying or avoiding the question would not be the best idea.

"Yes, but I don't think he shares those particular feelings."

The tension in the silence that followed was thick enough to need Mihawk's skill to cut through. When suddenly Mihawk drew himself in real close to you and gazed directly into your irises as he cornered you with one arm resting above your head on the wall behind you. His gaze shifting for a second toward the window which dragged your attention back to it.

Zoro was looking directly at the two of you, anger evident in his expression before he ran towards the castle at full speed. Mihawk backed away at that moment and walked out of the room while replying.

"I think I have to disagree with you on that last point dear."

You were left completely stunned. Even when Zoro had finally found his way to the room you had not moved a single inch, your thoughts racing through your head at lightning speed. But this trance was soon broken when you felt Zoro's hands on your shoulders and heard him asking.

"Hey! Are you okay?! Mihawk didn't try anything weird, did he?!"

You were touched by his worry, but had to stop the poor boy before he gave himself a heart attack. Smiling softly you gently caressed his face and forced him to look you in the eye. "I'm fine Zoro. Mihawk was just testing the both of us."

He gave you a dumb founded look.

"Testing?"

"Yes Zoro he was testing our reactions and yours spoke volumes." You stated bluntly.

His face turned the brightest shade of red you had ever seen and you had a hard time containing your giggles. Quickly he pulled away from you straightening his back and facing away from you in embarrassment.

You still had a grin on your face but couldn't help but sigh, and it turned sad as you continued. "I think he guessed that you would react like that, though I don't think it was for the reason he believes."

He stayed unmoving and kept his silence. You looked down as you tried to suppress your tears.

"After all, we're crewmates, so of course you would care enough to try and protect me. Plus since it was Mihawk, I don't think it would have been much different if it were someone like Nami or Robin instead of me. Although it is impressive how fast you got here without getting lost."

As you felt the tears welling up Zoro had turned to face you.

"Yeah all of that is true."

You felt your heart breaking.

"But had it been anyone else other than Mihawk, and the other girls in the crew were in that situation, I would have known that Nami and Robin could take care of themselves. When it comes to you though, it wouldn't have mattered who it was. I'd have cut them to pieces regardless."

You stared at him stunned and waiting for him to explain further. His breath hitched before he continued.

"I started my journey to fulfill my dream and become the strongest swordsman with one reason, to keep the promise I made to Kuina. But over time I gained another two reasons: one to help Luffy become the Pirate King."

He stepped closer to you, then embraced you so that your face was buried in his chest. So close that you could feel his heartbeat against your cheek and his chin rested on your head. The scent of your hair filling his nostrils as he steadily breathed in.

"The second is that you have become so precious to me that I want to be more than strong enough to be able to protect you."

As his words clicked in your head you lost control and the tears you held back began to flow as you wrapped your arms around him. Neither one of you had said those special three words. But they really didn't need to be said. And as the two of you had gotten over your nervousness after that moment it opened a door for the both of you to become closer.

~ At the reunion on Sabaody~

After Perona left you and Zoro had somehow gotten separated. You weren't too worried though since you figured that you would meet up again on the Thousand Sunny. Once there you had been practically tackled by your fellow crew who were still waiting for the monster trio. At first you hadn't told them about the new relationship between you and the swordsman. But when the boys finally arrived and most of the crew were worried about Sanji with his projectile nosebleed Zoro went straight to you.

"Sorry I took so long." He said with a smirk.

"No problem. That was probably about ten minutes faster than you normally take." You replied with a cheeky smile.

He chuckled a little. "If you were anyone else I'd have made you regret those cocky words by now."

"Well then, I'm very glad to be me."

He then took that moment embrace you just before placing a gentle kiss on the top of your head.

Robin and (f/n) had apparently been watching you with his new camera in hand and took a photo of the moment. Muttering to himself all the while. "Finally! Took those two long enough." His only response from Robin being a small chuckle.