"I still feel like I should apologize," you say, as Robin did your hair in a crown braid, weaving ribbon and flowers in it. Nami was in front of you applying your make-up.

"Stop feeling guilty," Nami assures you for the dozenth or so time. "You more than made up for it by getting us those train tickets. I still can't believe I got a text from you before I even got my book."

"Haa, yeah, that was indeed a day," you admit.

Sanji had received his Matchbook while working out the details of catering the wedding for you and Zoro and had been okay with letting to two of you see who it was. Your jaw had nearly dropped and even Zoro had made an uncontrolled surprised expression. You explained to Sanji that Nami was a coworker of yours, and that Zoro knew her because he'd been volunteering at the Library.

The young cook was obviously nervous, but you assured him that everything would be okay. You told him how both he and Nami had called Zoro "Marimo", without knowing the other did it, and hey – if they were already on a similar wavelength like that, then of course things would be fine.

And fine they had been. Nami and Sanji took to each other almost faster than you and Zoro had, and they hadn't had a series of unfortunate and terrifying events to draw them closer. To repay Nami for basically stealing her date from her for a large portion of the wedding event, you had pooled money and sent them on the train trip that Mihawk had gotten for you Zoro before.

"Honestly though, (Y/N), you've gone through enough the last six months. Even if I was bothered by it, and I'm not, I wouldn't hold it against you." Nami explains, tapping your nose and causing you to open your eyes. She held up a mirror so you could review her work.

The light green and blue eyeshadow played remarkable well with your eye color, and the hints of gold went with the accents in your hair. All of it came together with the admittedly risky choice, of the wedding gown you'd gone with. But once you'd seen a gown that basically screamed "Bride of Marimo" you had to pick it. The mossy pattern was sufficiently understated, and the dress was still mostly white, so you were bending tradition, versus breaking it. The green matched Zoro's hair well, and the soft golden threads woven through some of the patterns were almost impossible to see from a distance but added a real elegance up close.

The risk was going to be in how Zoro reacted once he finally saw it. Nami, Robin, Sanji and Law had seen it. Weeks ago, you had looked at dozens of dresses with Zoro, but a couple weeks after that you had gone on a second round – this time without Zoro. You had decided after looking at dresses with him the first time that you wanted to surprise him. You hadn't intended to surprise him quite this way, but it's how things had gone.

Nami and Robin had come to help you decide, and Law and Sanji had come to act as bodyguards of sorts. You and Zoro were both still uneasy if you were in public without him, so the guys acted on his behalf. Though Law and Sanji didn't seem to get along quite as good with each other as they did with Zoro, but there wasn't any uncomfortable bickering. Law just looked like he wanted to sew the cook's mouth shut on a couple of occasions, especially after Sanji learned the doctor didn't like bread.

Your appointment with Dr. Kureha on the 6th had gone well. Nothing abnormal, and no new instructions to follow. You were fit enough, by her words, to "cartwheel down the aisle" if you felt so inclined.

A slight damper on the occasion had been news on Usopp from Sanji. The cook had been visiting when it was allowed. Well, him and Franky – who you had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. Franky had been an experience, and if anyone had fit the descriptor of "punk", it had certainly been him. Once you got past his loud demeanor and bursting-with-energy style, you came to realize he was a good guy.

He even offered to let you take him on a tour of the grounds, if you didn't want to hear anything about Usopp, though you had declined.

Usopp's trial wasn't set to start for many months yet, as there was a lot of evidence and discovery to be done. He was in a high security asylum, and according to Sanji whatever they were doing for him in terms of therapy seemed to be working.

"The first time I visited him there was this look in his eyes that was unsettling, and something in his voice that just didn't seem like Usopp." Sanji had said. "But now he's starting to seem like his old self, though, well – I'm not excusing what he did, but I just mean he looks like he's properly carrying the burden of what he had done. His empathy's coming back. It might be too late to stop him from spending the rest of his life behind bars, but..."

"Yeah, I get it." Zoro had said as Sanji trailed off.

Afterward, Franky had taken up the job of helping Zoro and Mihawk set up the dojo for the reception and open up the front rooms to make space for the ceremony itself. With a few exceptions, most of the estate was functionally one giant room, so with the adjustment and removal of a few shoji and fusuma, the living room, family room, study, and office opened into a large enough area for guests to sit. With you and Zoro able to exchange vows surrounded by books on the Office end of the line.

Back to the matters at hand.

"Nami if you fuss with things anymore than this, I'll tear it all off and walk down the aisle in jeans." You grumble, as the girl sifted your veil for the hundredth time.

"Alright, alright. You look perfect, (Y/N). Robin already went to make sure the guests were seated, and that Zoro was standing at the alter waiting. Are you still sure about walking down the aisle alone?"

"Yes. I appreciate Mihawk and everything he's done in the few months, but I stood on my own two feet at sixteen, and I want to pay a final homage to that. I guess, I just want to say goodbye to being that alone properly and formally." You explain.

Nami gives you a warm smile. "Well, when you say it that way." She grins. "Oh, your family is going to double in a few months, I'm so excited for you!" She grabs your hands, careful not to ruin all her work by hugging you.

"Almost double," You corrected. "Mihawk would be sad if I didn't include him in the family count."

Nami tilted her head a bit and shrugged.

"Everything is set, (Y/N), are you ready?" Robin questions from the other side of the door.

"Yes, I am."

You stood outside the dinning room, waiting as Robin, arm-in-arm with Law, and Nami, arm-in-arm with Sanji, made their way down the aisle ahead of you. The two ladies would stand on your side, and Law and Sanji would stand with Zoro. It was a lot of juggling on Sanji's part, considering all he was doing, but he had insisted on making it work. In his own words there was no way he was going to miss the front-row opportunity to see Zoro's face as you walked down the aisle.

After a few minutes, the song you had been waiting for began to play, and you stepped into view, walking proudly down the rows of guests. You smiled at the younger dojo students who waved at you excitedly and kept your focus on your steps. Your veil wasn't thick, so you could see easily, and the calm stony expression of your love was nowhere to be seen.

Zoro's face was flushed red, his jaw slack. You almost didn't register the expression of sheer delight on Sanji's face beside him. The infamous scowl was gone, not even a trace of it remained. It almost looked exaggerated, subtle as it truly was, on the face of a man who barely showed anything in the first place. Not the barest hint of indignation or irritation at your choice of dress, and that was relief enough.

You stopped for just a second, at the end of aisle, and said your farewells to the days of your solitude, and the finished the last few steps to stand beside Zoro.

His hand reached out for yours, and you took it, the two of you turning toward the priest residing over the ceremony. He was a real bear of a man, and an old friend of Mihawk's. Bartholomew Kuma was a devout man, with an expectedly soft voice for someone so broad shouldered. His eyes and temperance were kind and gentle, and as soft as his voice was, it carried easily over those gathered.

Though, admittedly, you barely heard a word. The warmth of Zoro's hand, the expression on his face, the steady cadence of the practiced words of an adept officiator, all seemed to mix within you. You were happy and content, no longer afraid or on edge, and there were no shadows at the corners of your world.

Near the end, you exchanged vows.

You spoke words you had written, re-written, and practiced until you didn't need to think about them. You wanted to convey your heart in the truest manner possible. You spoke of your initial apprehension, of your fears and of feeling cursed. You spoke of how Zoro was like a sun, burning away all that darkness and bringing light into your world. Finding you, over and over, no matter the distance, and no matter the risk.

"No matter what the future brings us, I know it will be okay." You reach out, fingers causing the three golden earrings to clink together. "Because you will always find me."

Zoro smiles peacefully at your words, and the tinge of red in his ears spoke volumes. He held your hand, fingers running over yours and swallowed hard before he spoke.

"For a long time, I thought I knew the path my life would take. A straight and steady road that was so easy to follow that I think I really stopped paying attention to the direction of anything, or anyone else." He looks up from your hands, and some part of you falls in love all over again. The soft, warm expression that only you get to see. "But these wandering feet of mine, led me to you. Again, and again. Whether I willed it or not." His finger slides over the ring on your finger, tracing idly over the star pattern.

"You've brought some direction to my life, that I didn't even know I was missing, and I will follow your lead, wherever you go."

Kuma gave you both a moment, and then continued. "By the power vested in me, and with the authority of the World Government, I do hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride, young man."

You could feel your cheeks going red as Zoro lifted the veil, his hand resting under your chin, tilting your face up toward him.

"Any requests?" He asks quietly.

You shake your head just a little and smile. "Love me," you say softly as warm lips brush against your own in a proper and almost chaste kiss.

"Kiss her like you mean it, Marimo!" Sanji and Nami said in unison.

Laughter rippled through the guests as Zoro's arms wrapped around you, dipping you with a little flair and deepening the kiss. You were safe and steady in his arms, so your squeak of surprise was, at least, not so loud as to be heard over the roar of cheers that followed.

You hide behind your bouquet as you are set back upright, Zoro's fingers twined in your own as you headed back down to aisle together to a chorus of cheers, clapping, wolf-whistles and well-wishes.

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The reception went well. Sanji's food was a hit with everyone, and the music provided by DJ "Captain" Kid was just as good as one of the dojo students had promised you it would be. While the fiery red-head was certainly good at what he did, you got the distinct impression that wedding receptions were what he did to fund the events he preferred. Probably something with a mosh pit and a questionable liquor license.

You ate, you danced, you blushed terribly as Zoro took his sweet time removing the wedding garter from your leg before tossing it into a crowd. A tradition that struck you as a little odd, but despite the prolonged time he took, Zoro was a gentleman about it. It wasn't like he ducked under your skirts and took it off with his mouth or anything. Afterward you tossed your bouquet into a crowd of people who hadn't received their Matchbooks yet, and there were a few people who stood and gave speeches.

It was, in its own way, very typical and ordinary. Even so, because it was your day, and you were with him, it was also very extraordinary. Beautiful in its tradition, peaceful in its normalcy. No surprises, no drama, no drunken brawls, or unexpected events. For everything you'd gone through in the last few months it was relaxing and reassuring.

Everything could go on being predictable and normal for the rest of your life as far as you were concerned. No more curses, no more scars, no more stalkers or worrying about surveillance in your home. As the guests left and the night died down, you thought you could probably even bring yourself to forgive Usopp.

You yawned and leaned against Zoro's shoulder as the last few people said their congratulations and farewells.

"You two can turn in for the night." Mihawk says, smiling softly. "While it has been a joyous day, it has been a long one, and you have to leave early tomorrow."

"Mm, right. We have to catch the flight to Jaya." You stretch, letting your back pop. "Thanks again for that, dad."

"I have but one opportunity to fulfill this role, so it has been my pleasure." He assures you, giving you both a rare hug. "Now, go rest. Young Mr. Sanji and Mr. Franky have offered to assist with cleaning up, along with some of the students, so you needn't worry."

Zoro bows toward his father and then lifts you up, appropriately, bridal carry style. You laugh as you held onto him and let yourself be carried out of the dojo. The cold air outside wasn't too frigid, and it was refreshing. The dojo had become very warm with nearly a hundred people in it, dancing and eating for the last few hours.

"I'm glad you didn't dislike the dress." You say as he carried you to the other side of the compound.

"... Should I have?"

"No, but it looks a bit like it's covered in marimos..."

There was a twitch in the fingers holding you. "Is that the only reason you picked it?"

You do your best to suppress a smile. "I mean, it fit really well without any tailoring, and it was lighter than most of the other ones."

"But?"

"... But I couldn't resist that it was covered in marimos. Though, I mean, technically, it's probably more of a nature/moss vibe and not-."

"Marimo are moss."

You can't help but laugh. "Do you dislike the dress?"

He kisses your forehead. "No. It seems I look good on you."

It takes a moment for you to process what he says, and your face flushes so fast your cheeks ache. You put your hands over your face as Zoro stops in the hall for a moment, grinning at his victory.

"Does my moss-loving-wife want a shower before bed?" He questions, the teasing tone of his voice making your ears turn red.

You nod. "Yes. Yes, she does."

Zoro carried you into the bathroom, and after he set you down, he put his hands on your shoulders, and leaned down to kiss you. The soft clink of his earrings made your whole body relax. He started to carefully pull all the bobby pins out of your hair, undoing the crown braid and removing the few flowers that had survived the last couple hours of dancing.

He stepped around behind you as he worked, and as your hair fell down around your shoulders, he would brush it aside. The warm soft motion sent small shivers down your spine, and once all the pins were removed, he kissed the back of your neck and shoulders softly, fingers beginning to undo the buttons that ran down the back of the dress. The gossamer-like fabric is slipped down your shoulders, kisses following along as it drops to the floor.

"I can't let you undress me entirely," you say, turning toward him as you step away from the dress.

"Oh?"

"We have to be up entirely too early, and," you put a hand up, creating space between the two of you as he had started to close the gap, "and I really am tired."

He takes your hands in his, kissing the tips of your fingers with a smile. "I will... restrain myself." He says. The word carries a lot of weight, as he moves into your space again. "I only mean to pamper you tonight; I promise you'll get to bed soon enough." He leans down and whispers in your ear before undoing your bra. "Once we get to Jaya, I won't hold back."

You let him pamper you and wondered absently how soundproof your room at Jaya would be.

And how little you may have the capacity to care when it came down to it.