For two days Zoro sat at home without a single word.

He'd left the party early telling anyone who asked that you weren't feeling well and were waiting in the car for him.

He drove home alone cursing himself for getting lost all evening. He couldn't even bring himself to blame you because if he'd stayed in one place you would have come across him eventually. He gripped the steering wheel tighter as his anxieties piled up. This was only the third time he'd driven since the accident and it took a lot more effort with no left eye. He carefully followed every direction the GPS gave him.

Madara greeted him excitedly when he entered the apartment. He didn't turn on any lights or even lock the door. Madara followed him to your room and watched as he plugged your phone in placing it on the nightstand. He flopped onto the bed pulling your pillow under his right cheek. A mix of your shampoo and perfume surrounded him. He wished his last conversation with you wasn't him grumbling about wanting to finish the nap he'd started.

It's not like you were never coming back but with your crazy family, who the fuck knew? He shook the thought away. Law would call soon and he'd be bringing you home.

Soon turned out to be a lot longer than he expected.

A soft buzz lulled him out of his slumber. He blinked and stretched reaching for the phone on your night stand.

"Hullo?" He mumbled still mostly asleep.

"I'll be there to get you in four hours." Law muttered.

Zoro sat up straight suddenly very alert.

"Is she OK? Have you seen her?" He didn't bother to mask the worry in his voice.

"There's been a ... Uh complication." Law breathed.

"What does that mean?" Zoro stifled the growl that crept up his throat.

"They found out about our plan, which is why they came for her sooner. Needless to say, they don't trust me or Corazon, so I haven't been able to get to the house to see her. Look, they need her so I'm confident that they haven't done anything to her." Law felt uncomfortable fibbing to someone to protected their feelings.

He wasn't confident at all. They did need you for appearances but he was also well aware of all the atrocities they could accomplish without killing you.

"I'm getting her back if I have to break in and do it myself." Law couldn't help the eye roll that followed Zoro's statement.

"Just get stuff together. I'm sure she's worried about that damn dog too so make sure you make arrangements for him. I'll explain things in better detail on the drive back."

"Sure." Zoro grunted hanging up your phone.

Madara's head rested calmly in his lap while he counted to twenty and rubbed his ear. When Zoro felt he'd calmed down enough he slid off the bed and began packing.

"You wanna go play with Luffy?" He tapped the mutt's nose.

_______________

You weren't sure just how long you'd been locked in the bedroom at your uncle's house. The bruises from the ropes they'd had you bound with when you arrived were starting to yellow. But you had new wounds to worry about. Doffy had yet to make an appearance. You had only seen and heard from his 'family' as he liked to call them, really, they were just a misfit group of people no one should ever be involved with.

All meals had been ignored for fear of being drugged. You were starving and tired but unwilling to give in. Sleep was usually interrupted by the sound of people partying and fighting in the main part of the house. You wondered how long it would be for Law and Corazon to come for you.

The door creaked open slowly as the familiar blond lumbered in.

"There's my troublesome niece." He chuckled, "Why are you sitting on the floor?"

"I'm fine where I am." You winced straightening your spine and pushing your shoulders back.

"Refusing to eat I see." He turned to the plates of spoiling food piled on the vanity.

"I don't trust you." You stated flatly.

"That's probably for the best my dear niece." He crouched down in front of you.

"Why are you doing this? Just make your precious Baby marry Fernando."

"Fernando doesn't want Baby unfortunately. Besides we must carry on the bloodline and you were just unfortunate enough to be an only child. Don't you want what's best for the family?" He rumbled peering over the rim of his rose tinted glasses.

"What good have they done me? Fuck the family." He wrapped his long fingers around your throat and yanked you forward.

His shaky breath fanned across your face as veins sprouted up on his forehead and neck.

"I refuse to sign anything." You coughed.

He loosened his grip, "Forgeries are simple. We only need you for appearances and of course to reproduce. In fact, once you've had your first born if you still wish to leave I can put you out of your misery myself."

"Fuck you." You spat in his face.

He slammed your face into the floor breaking the skin above your left brow.

"Making me mess up your face so close to your wedding. ~" He cooed grinding your face into the wooden slats.

Warm blood smeared across your forehead as you mashed your teeth. You blinked away the tears that prickled on the brim of your eyelids, not allowing yourself to show weakness.

"Doffy I can only cover so much with makeup." Viola's voice jerked him to a halt.

"Seems I got lost in a moment of nostalgia." He chuckled releasing his grasp on the back of your head.

"Not much has changed I see F/N?" Her heels clacked across the floor stopping next to Doflamingo.

"Clean her face up and try to get her to eat she looks like shit." He tapped your foot with his and walked out of the room.

"I'll be right back." Viola murmured exiting the room.

You pulled yourself back into a seated position using the collar of your shirt as gauze to stop the blood now gushing out of your brow. Viola returned to clean and bandage your face.

"Here." She handed you a prepackaged protein bar, "It has been five days you have to eat something."

You weakly tugged the wrapper open and devoured the bar without even bothering to taste it.

"Why did you give that to me?" You asked shaking the crumbs out of the package.

"We'll be on the move soon." She whispered, "It'll be better if you have some strength. Now let's get you cleaned up. Can you stand?"

You only shook your head in response.

She hoisted you up off the floor sliding her arm under your shoulders and pulling you into the bathroom. You held Your breath while she lowered you onto the toilet seat and began to fill the bathtub. Gently she tugged your shirt off revealing a myriad of deep purple bruises decorating your ribcage.

"They did this to you?" She gapped, "No wonder you couldn't get up."

Your muscles relaxed in the hot water.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

You couldn't remember anytime growing up where Viola had been especially mean to you when you were alone with her.

She began to wash your hair, "They have done horrible things to my family and I will do anything including risking death to put them away."

"So when you said we'd be on the move you meant - "

"Law." She interrupted, "Now keep quiet. And try not to provoke him."

After bathing and dressing you, Viola moved you slowly to the bed.

"Try to get some rest. I'll try to bring you something safe to eat later." She brushed your hair out of your face.

"When are they –" She pressed her finger to your lips.

"Soon. Try to behave." She stood knowing whether you spoke to them or not they would still find an excuse to torment you, "Get some sleep while it's quiet."

A few moments of silence were all it took for you to drift off. You weren't sure how long you'd been asleep when the sound of gunfire shocked you awake. A countless amount of shots were fired mixed with slamming doors and furniture skidding across the floors. You slipped off the bed and crawled under the vanity tucking yourself behind the small bench seat. Foreign voices shouted words that were too muffled by all of the chaos for you to actually understand. Heavy foot falls entered the hallway. You held your breath as the locked door was kicked in.

A huge silver haired man stood in the doorway searching the room.

"F/N?" He called in a gentle voice as if he were looking for a child.

Was he a friend or a new foe?

"I'm in the room now, I don't see her." He spoke into an earpiece and moved to the closet rummaging through a pile of clothes.

Gun fire and shouting continued downstairs. A stray bullet shot through the floorboard whizzing passed your foot causing you to yip.

"Tashigi, I've found her." The man rumbled turning toward you, "We'll exit the second-floor window on the West lawn. Keep them back. I'm sure they'll be up here soon."

He moved the bench and held his hand out for you, "I'm here to take you home."

You crawled out slowly taking his hand.

"Are you hurt?" He asked watching your face screw up into a grimace while you got to your feet.

"Yes." You breathed raising your shirt.

His serious expression didn't falter, "Get some shoes on."

You did as he asked as he smashed the window with his boot and crossed back scooping you up into his chest. A huff escaped you as your body folded in his arms. He stepped through the window with you out onto the flat roof.

"You're going to have to climb down." He pointed to a ladder setting you on your feet.

A bullet shot through your exit passing between you. He whipped out two hand guns and began firing back.

"Go!" He shouted.

Without any more thought you shambled to the ladder and made your way down. The man followed still firing his weapon in his free hand. Officers grabbed you once your feet reached the lawn and swiftly ushered you to a black unmarked vehicle. You looked around in all directions no longer worried about your injuries.

"She's injured." The officer said to the driver helping you lie across the back seat, "Stay still we'll get you to the hospital."

You wondered if you'd get a chance to thank the silver haired man. The setting sun flitted through the windows of the SUV as it swiftly departed the Donquixote house.

______________

You'd arrived at the hospital in the early evening but weren't allowed any visitors until law enforcement had made sure no one had followed you. None of your injuries were that major except a few broken ribs. You were mostly being held for your own safety.

Familiar snores lulled you back to consciousness. His arm was wrapped around yours lacing your fingers together while he snuggled up to you in the small hospital bed. He'd come in while you were asleep and curled up at your side.

"Hey Mossy." You nudged him.

He grumbled and nuzzled into your shoulder.

"Zoro." You shook his arm, "Wake up already."

He rubbed his eye trying to remember where he was in his sleepy state before meeting your gaze. A small smile tugged at his lips before they fell back into a frown.

"Well hello to you too." You chuckled.

"I'm so sorry." He pressed his forehead to your shoulder.

"None of this was your fault." You breathed.

"Still." He muttered.

"Can I please just get my welcome home kiss already?" You pouted slipping down to his level in the bed.

"We aren't home yet." He smiled rubbing your nose with his.

"You are a mean mean boy."