While you were gone Law and Corazon had the reevaluate their original plan. To their surprise Viola reached out. She knew the group merger would be the perfect distraction. They hadn't expected a family member to seek them out.

In the midst of the merger Doflamingo was making a deal with a major drug distributor. Once Corazon was able to send in his report all there was left to do was wait. Agents had to stake out the compound for four days before gathering the intel they needed to strike.

You sat cross legged in the hospital bed.

"I'm so ready to just go home. It's been two days."

"And you slept through most of it so I'm not sure why you're complaining." Zoro countered stuffing what little personal items he'd brought for you into a duffle bag, "It's not like you can do much besides sit there anyway."

"I can do plenty." You argued wincing as you leaned forward.

"Such a stubborn woman." He shook his head.

You pouted puffing your cheeks.

"Don't make that face." He sighed.

"What are you gonna do about it?" You challenged.

"Feistier than I recall." A familiar deep voice rumbled from the doorway.

"It's you." You breathed staring at the handsome silver haired man.

"Just call me Smoker." He smirked stepping over the threshold.

Zoro blinked at the interaction. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't a bit jealous. Admiration poured out of you as Smoker crossed the room taking a seat bedside. He dipped passed the officers at the door allowing you a moment with your savior.

"I didn't think I'd get a chance to thank you." You murmured tucking some loose strands of hair behind your ear.

"No need. Just doing my job." He rumbled, "I just wanted to update you on the situation before they let you go home."

You shifted. The only person you were mildly concerned about was your father. He had very little to do with their dealings but allowed it all the same.

"Your mother and uncle will begin their sentencing trials in December. They'll figure out if you're needed to testify or give a deposition. Hopefully the latter. For the time being they are under heavy guard along with the members of his gang. Your father was very forthcoming with information so it's likely he'll get a more lenient sentencing at a lower level prison."

"And the Diaz family?" You asked still wary of Fernando.

"They are being investigated. I can't give more details regarding that." He gave your knee an assuring pat, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. They've put me through much worse." You rubbed your cheek, "Just a broken rib and some bruises."

"Well I'll be off then." He stood looking at his phone, "Make sure you listen to that boyfriend of yours and get plenty of rest."

"Sure." You blushed, "Thanks again."

He passed Zoro on his way out.

"Have a nice chat?" He asked taking a seat next to you on the bed.

"Yeah he was just letting me know what's going on with the family." You ran your fingers through your hair.

"I'm sure you're ready to go. They've got some discharge paperwork for you and then we can head home." He tossed you a crooked smile.

"It's such a long drive I don't want you to stress yourself out."

"Law drove me here so he's taking us back. He'll stay over and head back tomorrow." He explained.

Your smile morphed into a pout. You were hoping to have the greenette to yourself sooner than tomorrow.

"OK I guess. I'm just ready to be in our bed."

He caught your fumble before you could and quirked a brow.

" 'Our' huh?" He echoed leaning over you.

You blushed wildly, "Uhm. I mean recently ... Basically."

"You're really adorable." He husked against your cheek deepening your blush.

Law made a gagging sound from the doorway.

"You guys ready to head out?"

"Very." You chimed carefully scooting to the edge of the bed.

___________

You arrived home just after midnight.

"Finally." You groaned carefully stretching as Zoro shuffled you through the door.

Law rubbed his eyes and yawned, "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

He disappeared into Zoro's room.

You glanced around the messy apartment, "Ya couldn't clean while I was gone?"

"Shut up." He smirked gently lifting you into his chest.

"I can walk." You protested.

He ignored you crossing into your room, closing the door with his heel before placing you on the bed. You dressed down and eased back under the covers while he slipped out of his jeans and turned out the light.

"What's gotten into you?" You asked while he crawled into the bed and pulled himself into you.

He was careful not to put unnecessary weight on your torso as he nuzzled into the crook of your neck.

"Eight days." He murmured tangling his legs with yours.

Your heart sped up pumping all the blood it could into your face.

"Six." You corrected.

"The hospital doesn't count. People just walked in whenever they pleased." He frowned against your skin.

You hummed snuggling his cheek.

"I - uh- I really missed you." You frowned not being able to see his face as he admitted something so adorable.

"I missed you too Mossy... A lot." You sighed.

He planted a few soft warm kisses on your neck stealing your breath before rising to look at you. You smiled up at him and ran your fingers through his hair.

"Welcome home." He whispered finally capturing your lips.

He cradled your head, lightly rubbing your temple with his thumb and deepening the kiss. You held your breath while adrenaline pulsed from your chest through your extremities. He'd teased you for two days but didn't actually give you the kiss he knew you wanted. You pulled away to quickly catch your breath before he greedily swooped in for more. That was normally your move, he must've really been holding back. His left hand drifted up your shirt, fingers ghosting over your bruised torso before gently cupping your breast. He smirked into the kiss moving down your jaw and neck nipping here and there. You stifled a moan wrapping your arms around his head.

"Don't start something you can't finish sir." You whispered wincing a little.

He froze realizing he'd shifted most of his weight on top of you.

"Ah... Sorry." He swiftly rolled over onto the mattress.

"It's OK." You chuckled sliding over to lie on his chest, "Maybe in a few days."

You watched the flush creep up to his face in the moonlight.

______________

"I'm so glad you're OK." Nami sighed from her seat across from you in the coffee shop.

"It still hurts a little but getting better." You smiled.

"I was really worried I'd have to attend that wedding." She frowned, "I know that's not what you wanted and the date was really unfortunate."

"Yeah it would have been in a couple of days." You sipped your coffee.

"Well, not just that. That's Zoro's birthday." She added.

You gawked at her for a moment.

"Don't tell me you guys have been fooling around all this time and you don't even know his birthday?" She gapped.

"Uh... I mean I know I had to fill it in on his hospital forms back in July...but I wasn't really focused on that. And he's literally never brought it up." You stammered.

"I guess it's not that big of a deal. He gets after us when we make a fuss about it." She rolled her eyes.

"Probably because he's adopted. I don't really see Mihawk celebrating that kind of stuff." You mused.

"Then this year we'll leave it to you." She nodded thoughtfully.

Great.

___________

Me: What kind of thing would your brother like for his birthday?

Perona: It's tomorrow how do you not have it figured out yet?

Me: I didn't know! Blame him.

Perona: Honestly... nothing probably. He's always hated doing stuff on his birthday.

Me: Not helpful 😣

Perona: How are things? Are you guys official yet?

Me: Not yet?

Perona: Ugghh

Perona: Stop waiting on him. He might be strong and brave but not when it comes to you.

Perona: In fact, that night we kicked him out was only because he wouldn't shut up about you. Bonney thought if he went home he'd confess albeit drunkenly. But alas he failed. Useless man.

Me: I'm not sure what to say at this point.

Perona: Just tell him you love him already geez!

"Wow why's your face so red?" Marco laughed behind the bar.

"Shut up." You smirked.

"Texting your boyfriend?" He refilled your beer.

"He's not my boyfriend." You sighed.

"Yet." He corrected with a wink, "You guys need to get on with it already."

"You won't be surprised to find out you aren't the first person to say that." You rested your chin in your palm.

"I'm surprised you aren't the type to sleep with a guy without some sort of defined relationship." He leaned on the counter.

"We haven't." You blushed, " I mean... not sex anyway."

"Damn yoi." He breathed, "The self-control on that guy. We got down like five minutes after I asked you out."

"I hate you." You narrowed your eyes at the blond as he snickered.

A/N - Ok y'all... next chapter will probably be a lemon, if I can muster the courage to write it! Haha. 

Thanks for the love! Stay tuned!