You sat behind the wheel nervously thrumming your fingers against the upholstery that covered it. Eyes scanning the entrance of the dojo waiting for your husband to make his appearance. A group of six-year old’s scuddled out to their waiting mothers slipping light jackets over their little gi’s. In your excitement you'd arrived early but decided to wait in the parking lot to not interrupt his after-school class. 

Your heart flipped when your greenette appeared at the door to lock it but stopped catching sight of you and waved you to come inside. He still had to change and clean up and didn't want you waiting outside. You exited the truck and swiftly met your love at the door receiving a quick kiss as he rescued you from the damp evening air. 

You tugged the lapel of his gi closed covering his exposed chest, "You just walk around getting these moms all hot and bothered."
"You're early." he commented stepping back and rolling his eye at your teasing. 

You unintentionally grinned letting your excitement bubble over now that you no longer had to contain it. Zoro smirked watching you practically bounce with joy, he would never get tired of the positive energy you emitted when you were truly happy. 

"You have news?" he guessed leaning in for another kiss, to which you happily obliged. 
"We've been approved." you squealed.
He raised a brow in surprise, "Approved? But what does that mean?" 
"Shawna, she chose us." you beamed. 

Three weeks prior you had been approved by the adoption agency to accept a child from an expecting mother and began the process of meeting a slew of pregnant women. 

It had been a hard decision after many doctor appointments learning ultimately getting pregnant on your own just wasn't going to happen. You felt awful, part of your essence as a woman had been denied to you, and worse, you both were so excited to start a family of your own. Zoro proposed the idea knowing you would agree considering your background. He wanted a family with you it didn't matter how mix matched you were. Pops would be so proud. 

His smile grew as he pulled you in for a hug and buried his face in your hair. This was indeed exciting news but it was also very real and his nerves hit almost as hard as his excitement. 

"Breathe, Tiger." you whispered listening to his heart beat wildly.

He exhaled with a nervous chuckle tickling your neck.

"She's the one due in December?" he remained in your hold trying to calm himself. 
"Christmas Eve." you confirmed rubbing soothing circles over his back. 
"That's like six weeks away." he pulled back a little alarmed.
"We'll get it figured out," you lovingly caressed his left cheek, "I already bought a bunch of stuff!"
"So it's all decided." he needed a more solid confirmation.
"Well," you chewed the inside of your cheek, "she's started the paperwork, but there's a thirty day window after the baby arrives that she could change her mind."

It was his turn to comfort you pulling you back into a tight embrace. 

"We'll cross that bridge if we get to it."

After setting both of your emotions you helped your husband clean a reset for the next days self-defense courses. 

The next weekend was Zoro's birthday and the family was gathering at your childhood home to have a small celebration. As years passed the crazy Newgate parties dwindled. Your brothers preferring to spend time with the family - not to say there weren't pranks or silliness, just - half the city was no longer in attendance. You'd decided to tell everyone the adoption news then. 

Thatch dipped through the doorway leading into the living room to greet you with a sweet kiss to the forehead and drag your husband into a brotherly hug that the greenette was still getting used to. Nearly four years since your wedding and not much had changed. 

"Happy birthday, man." The brunette rumbled happily. 
"Thanks." Zoro mumbled stepping back and removing his coat. 

You moved further into the house finding Sabo sitting in the den bouncing a rather upset toddler in his lap. 

"Look Remmy, Auntie is here. She's your favorite ~" he cooed to the crying child turning his attention toward you. 
"Awe what's the matter sweet boy?" you asked scooping him up as he rubbed his eyes with his tiny fists. 
"Sleepy?" Zoro asked rubbing the boy's head the action quieting Remmy immediately. 
"You guys are like baby whisperers." 
"We're just cooler than you." Ace piped from the gliding recliner in the corner snuggling Remmy's fraternal twin Nate. 
"Finally, you got..." the words died on Al's tongue as she rounded the corner to find her other son reaching from you to Zoro, "Oh hey! No wonder he calmed down."
"Hey!” Sabo protested.
"Happy birthday!" she chimed to Zoro ignoring her husband. 
"Calm down Blondie, he was just excited to see us, right Rem?" you watched the smaller blond bashfully snuggle into his uncle's chest.

Your heart fluttered at the sight knowing soon you'd have a baby of your own to share adorable moments with.  

Shortly after Luffy and Nami arrived. Once Marco finished a business call, he joined you all for dinner in the large dining room. A few different conversations flared and died down as they moved around the room. Nate now sat in your lap as you shared your plate with him. This was rather normal for you as you spent a lot of time with your nephews. 

"You'd be such a good mom." Al commented watching you lovingly care for her son. 

Your brothers nodded in agreement dragging a warm flush to your cheeks. 

"Actually," you muttered nervously, "we had something to tell you guys about that." 
"You're pregnant?!" Thatch gasped in an almost motherly tone.
"No." You laughed, "We're adopting."
"When?" Marco questioned casually.
"We've been approved for a while and took the necessary courses already." you explained, "One of the expecting mothers we met with chose us."
"She's due in a few weeks." Zoro added. 
"Don't you think that's a bit soon, yoi?"
“We don’t really get to choose unfortunately.” you answered wiping Nate’s mouth.
“Applying means we’re ready.” Zoro added.
“Well, I’m happy for you. You guys are so great with our kids.” Sabo smiled.
“Do you know if it’s a boy or girl?” Luffy’s interest in the conversation caught everyone off guard.
“A girl.” Zoro shifted to rest his arm on the back of your chair.
“Finally, we need another lady around here.” Nami chuckled.
“I couldn’t agree more.” you nodded earning glares from your brothers.
“Do you get to name her?” Ace questioned.
“We should have just written out the possible answers.” you cradled Nate as he turned in your lap and yawned.
“We do, but we haven’t decided just yet.”Zoro answered.
 
 
 
The next few weeks passed quickly, you’d gathered most of what you would need once the baby arrived. Depending on the mother you would get to take her home from the hospital.
 
It was five days before the Christmas Eve. Knowing you were nervous as the due date approached Al had you come over to go Christmas shopping for the boys and wrap some gifts. Remmy was being particularly clingy so you unfortunately weren’t much help with gift wrapping but you didn’t mind getting to love on your nephew. A harsh wrap on the front door startled everyone. Al rose and cautiously opened it revealing your furious husband.

He took a deep breath to gather himself and refrain from cursing in front of the boys, “Why is your phone off?”
“Ah- it died,” you frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you for an hour.” he nearly growled, “Shawna went into labor six hours ago. They’ve called us to come to the hospital.”
“Shit!” you squeaked realizing your blunder and quickly apologized to Al handing Remmy back to her.
“It’s fine,” she chuckled, “go get your baby.”

With that you made your way to the hospital meeting your appointed social worker near the nurses station in the maternity ward. She informed you that the baby had yet to arrive but you needed to finish some last minute paperwork that would be filed with her birth records.

For three more hours you sat slouched into your husband's side waiting for any sort of news. Finally, a nurse came to guide you to the nursery. Nerves began to bubble through your stomach as you entered a small room attached to the ward. Zoro's hand searched for yours offering an unsure squeeze when the small bed was wheeled in.

"Here she is." the nurse chimed reaching down to scoop up the newborn.

Because it was so close to Christmas she was swaddled a red and white stocking with "Penelope" scrolled across in puff paint.

"Sorry we took so long, we wanted to get her stats and get her cleaned up." the woman stepped toward you giving you a better view of your daughter.

Freckles dotted her perfect tanned heart shaped face, you chuckled inwardly knowing Ace would bond with her immediately. A few soft black curls poked out from under the blue and white striped beanie pulled over her tiny head. The nurse placed her in your arms.

This tiny person was yours. As terrifying as that thought was it had taken zero time for you to completely fall in love with her.

"Hey there little lady." you murmured as she squirmed and grunted in her festive confines.

Zoro watched quietly as you held and nuzzled Nelly. He'd seen you hold your nephews when they were small, and of course it stirred something deep down, it was nothing like this. He loved all aspects of your personality and watching you interact with kids was always adorable, but this was beautiful and incredibly touching. He could hardly pull his gaze away from your now tear stained face. That was until you shifted offering the infant in your arms to him.

"It's time to meet your dad." you sniffled.

He gently cradled her against his chest somehow making her look even smaller than she already was. Her eyes slid open briefly revealing emerald irises that were in perfect contrast to her skin tone. She was absolutely beautiful. He unknowningly held his breath as warmth spread though his chest.

"Breathe Tiger." you chuckled regaining his attention, "Merry Christmas."

The End

Zoro & Nelly