I let out a groan as I laid flat on my stomach. Mihawk had been gone for a week now, leaving me to deal with Zoro and Perona.

"I wish Mihawk would hurry home, I miss him." I grumbled out into my pillow.

"How can you possibly miss him so much?" Perona asked with a frown.

"Because I can! Why do you care so much?" I yelled as I glared up at her.

"Are you always this needy? Mihawk should be back soon. Besides it's just been one week." Zoro grumbled out.

"And? It feels like it's been years! He's never been gone this long!"

"Okay, spill. How the hell did someone like you get with someone like him?" Zoro asked with a frown.

"What do you mean?" I asked with a pout.

"Actually, now that you mentioned it.. I'm curious too. I mean you're so lively and kind and... Mihawk is... him."

"Oh! You're wondering how we got together! Well it's actually a really funny story-"

Five years earlier

I let out a scream as I ran from a very pissed off Marine. I had foolishly spilt beer on him, which caused him to get pissed at me.

"I'm sorry! It was an accident!" I exclaimed as I ran up the stairs, making my way towards a giant castle.

"Get back here you bitch!"

I made it to the door and as about to throw it open, when it sprung open and I ran into a hard chest. I roughly fell backwards, landing on my ass. I rubbed my behind as I raised my head up and locked eyes with a man.

My eyes went wide as I found a tall, lean, and muscular man with black hair, a short beard, mustache and sideburns staring down at me with yellow hawk like eyes. My mouth fell open as he raised an eyebrow.

"You bitch!" A voice yelled out.

I sprung to my feet and ran past the man, hiding behind him as my body started to shake.

"Hey! Don't think that this piece of shit will save you!" The marine snapped.

"I'm sorry! I swear it was an accident!" I exclaimed as he started towards me.

The marine had nearly made it past the tall man, when I saw a flash of movement. I watched as the marine fell backwards, and the man held a hand out.

"That's enough. I don't have time to deal with you, leave now."

"Who the hell do you think you are! This bitch insulted me! She had to pay!"

"And how, pray tell did she insult you?"

"She spilt beer on me! My shirt is ruined!"

"Get a new one." The man said as he threw some coins at him.

"Fuck you! That bitch is going to-"

Before he could take another step, the man had pulled a giant sword out and aimed it at him.

"Again, get a new one." He ordered.

"Fine! But she has to leave at some point! And I'll be waiting!" The marine exclaimed as he picked up the coins and walked away.

I felt tears stream down my face as the man turned to look back at me. He let out a sigh and with out another word bent down and picked me up. He carried me inside, where he bandaged me up.

"Thank you! I owe you my life!" I exclaimed as I fell to the floor and bowed.

"Get up, you owe me nothing." He said as he set his sword down.

I looked up at him and let out a gasp as he walked past me.

"But- you saved me! I'm in your debt!"

He let out a sigh as I followed close behind him.

"You owe me nothing, leave whenever you please." He said as he picked up a glass and poured himself some wine.

But I ended up staying and soon I found myself cleaning his castle and cooking for him. Slowly but surely I grew more comfortable with Mihawk.

"You're back!" I exclaimed as the door opened.

I rushed up to him and watched as he removed his coat. My eyes went wide as I saw a scar along his shoulder.

"What happen!?" I exclaimed as I rushed to his side.

"My bounty got a lucky hit on me. It's nothing." He said as he rubbed his shoulder.

I ran out of the room, and rushed back with a bandage. Before he could argue with me, I got to work on bandaging his arm up.

"You really should be more careful. I don't like seeing you hurt." I whispered as I worked on cleaning his wound.

He gave me a nod and we set in silence as I finished up. After I finished up, I left to allow him to go about his day. I started to prep for dinner, when I found that I was missing some spices.

"Mihawk! I'll be back! I have to go and grab something from the store!" I called out to him.

I got no reply back, so I slipped my coat on and walked out the door. The store wasn't far and I hadn't really thought about the Marine in awhile, but as soon as I walked thru the door he was there.

"Look who it is, and she doesn't have her body guard." The marine said as he stalked towards me.

"Leave me alone.. if you touch me Mihawk will have you're head!" I exclaimed as I backed away from him.

"Like he gives a damn about you, you're nothing but a good lay to him."

"I-"

He roughly grabbed a hold of my hair and yanked on it, causing me to scream out in pain. The marine threw me to the ground and laughed as I withered in pain.

"Mihawk! Help me!" I exclaimed as the marine started the kick me.

In a instant the kicking stopped and I heard the sound of a thump. I slowly opened my eyes to see the Marine dead on the ground, Mihawk standing over him. My eyes welled up in tears as I slowly raised my head up.

"I do believe I warned you." Migawk said as he stared down at the dead body.

He turned to look at me and his eyes hardened as he saw tears stream down my face. He crouched down and set his blade on the ground as he cuffed my face with his free hand. He whipped my tears away as a frown appeared on his face.

"Come now, there is no need for those tears. You're safe." He said as he caressed my face.

I let out a whimper and launched myself into his arms. He let out a sigh and gently pat my back as I hugged him.

"You came for me." I whispered as I buried my nose in his neck.

"Of course I did, you fool." 

Present

"From that day forward we became inseparable." I said as I let out a hum.

"That is-"

"SO ROMANTIC! Who knew that he had it in him!" Perona exclaimed thru tears.

"Romantic? He just saved her life... I.. How does that lead to you ending up together?"

"Oh we aren't together." I explained. "At least not romantically."

"What?! But you always tell him that you love him!" They both exclaimed.

"I do love him, but he doesn't love me. And I'm okay with that." I said as I sent them a giant grin.

We all left to get some sleep and I found myself staring at the picture of me and Mihawk. I looked so happy in the picture, while he looked the same. A day after the picture had been taken, Mihawk allowed me to share a bed with him. Since that day I found all of my belongings in his room and I had yet to sleep in my old room.

Yes it was true we weren't together, but that didn't stop me from wanting more. Since he had saved me I had found myself hopelessly in love with him. A part of me wishes that he felt the same, but I knew that he probably would never love me.

I let out a sigh and fixed my pillow. I stretched before I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me. I rolled over on my side and felt tears stream down my face as I stared at the small knife on my desk.

Mihawk had given it to me after the incident with the Marine. It was perhaps my most treasured belonging. 

"When will you be home?" I whispered as I picked it up.

"Have you missed me that much?" A deep voice grumbled out.

I shot up and turned to see Mihawk walk into the room. My face light up as I threw the covers off of me and rushed towards him, launching myself into his arms.

"You're home!" I exclaimed.

His arms wrapped around me as I locked my arms and legs around him and buried my face into his chest. I heard a deep chuckle leave his lips as he carried me over to our shared bed.

"Yes, it appears my job took longer than expected. I apologize." He said as he set me down.

I kept my arms around his neck as I set on my knees.

"That's okay. It's good to have you home." I said as I let out a hum.

He gave me a nod as I felt his hand move up and down my side.

"I heard you talking to Perona and Roronoa."

"Oh... I hope you're okay with me telling them about how we met."

"Truthfully I don't care. Though I must confess that I don't like you lying to them."

I let out a hum and pulled away from him.

"What did I lie to them about? Did I get something wrong?" I asked as I set back on my knees.

He let out a chuckle and moved a strand of hair away from my face.

"You told them that I don't love you. Which is a lie, though I haven't voiced the words, I can assure you that I do cherish you." He said as he cuffed my cheeks.

"Mihawk... I-"

Tears welled up in my eyes as he stared down at me. He let out another chuckle before he leaned down and captured my lips with his.

"Perhaps I should show you just how much I love you." He whispered against my lips.