Soon the house was filled with guests. This party was different from your "welcome home" bash. It was formal and catered with a complete wait staff. Attending guests weren't just close friends of the family but also business associates and even a few potential clients Marco and Thatch were trying to seal the deal with.

You had done your share of mingling and schmoozing, finally taking a break at the bar that had been set up on the back patio warming yourself under the gas heaters that framed it.

"Two Shiners." Zoro called stepping up next to you.

You turned to greet him having missed his arrival. His normally haphazardly styled hair was combed back. He wore a charcoal gray suit with a cobalt button down and a black tie cinched loosely under the unbuttoned collar.

"Well, you clean up nicely." you complimented.
"I could say the same for you." he returned the comment while handing you one of the beers he ordered.
"Thanks, I'd rather not be wearing these shoes though." you pointed at your black pumps.
"You two have reconnected." a familiar voice invaded your conversation.

You turned to see Mihawk raising his empty wine glass to the bartender.

"Hey Hawkeyes, it's been a long time." you greeted.
"Sensei." Zoro nodded.
"Wait... you two know each other?" you motioned between the two males, " and what do you mean 'reconnected'?"
"He works for me." Mihawk calmly replied, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised if you don't remember, F/N."
"Remember?" you glanced back at Zoro who was blushing faintly.
"Yes, he works for me now but back in college when I was a tutor he was my student as well as you." Mihawk sipped from his newly filled glass.
"And we met?!" you gaped.
"Well, he was just a rebellious seven-year-old but I was forced to bring him with me to a couple of your study sessions." the raven recalled, "After you gave him that toy at the arcade he talked about you for weeks. I don't think I could ever forget how the two of you met."

Toy from the arcade?

The tiger.

You suddenly remembered passing it to the boy telling him, it matched his hair while he blushed and muttered a curt thank you. Back then he had no scar and hardly spoke a word.

You turned back to Zoro trying to contain your blush, "Just somebody?"
"What was I supposed to say? I'd look like a pervert." he defended.
"That's my cue," Mihawk muttered walking away.
"I mean, it's weird but also sort of cute." you both ignored the older male's departure, "Why didn't you tell me we'd met before?"
"I didn't think you'd remember, I was just a kid." he defended, "And you didn't... And that's fine."

You frowned. It felt kind of bad that you'd met someone so important to you now and forgotten them, but at the same time he was a kid and you were studying for college entrance exams you didn't even remember to eat most days. Zoro watched your frown grow into a mischievous smirk.

"Why did you keep it after all this time?"
"It - I just -" the greenette stammered and sighed, "There was no reason to throw it away?"
"Not buying it." you poked his chest and walked passed forcing him to follow you into the house.

Christmas music filtered down the hall into the den from the living room. You took a seat and kicked off your heels. This was the only common room off limits from the party. You rubbed your stocking feet as you pulled them up onto the sofa.

"What do you mean by, 'not buying it'?" Zoro asked closing the door.
"I'm just not. Why would you keep something some random chick gave you when you were a kid?" you hummed still squeezing the soreness from your aching feet, "Unless you're some kind of hoarder. Mmm... but your place was too clean for that."

He sighed and plopped down next to you. Curiously you watched him rub his face and try to keep his composure as he chose his words.

"Look, there was a reason I followed Mihawk around; not just because he was my sensei at the dojo. I didn't have the best childhood, but he kept me around making me do odd jobs to stay in kendo and he tutored me as well."

You let your right leg drop over the edge of the sofa as you turned to face him keeping your left leg folded flush against his thigh.

"I just didn't receive gifts like that is all." he glanced down at your amused expression, "What?"
"Awe... You had a crush on me ~" you sing-songed, "you wanted to marry me ~"
"Please stop." he chuckled.
"You wanted to hug me ~" you leaned forward poking his side, "you wanted to kiss me~"
"Seriously, F/N." he leaned toward you and brushed your fingers away.
"Awe, whatcha gonna do lil tiger?" you continued to prod playfully at his ribs.

He swiftly but gently took your hand leaning further into your personal space. Your eyes trailed from his grip to his soft but smug smile. You couldn't hear the Christmas music anymore and the fluttering of heart made it suddenly difficult to take a full breath.

He glanced from your eyes to your lips and back again. It was now or never. He continued his advance at a painfully slow pace, you deserved it after all of your teasing. Your eyelids dropped as his nose brushed against yours, his body heat radiating over you. Finally, your lips met firmly, the tense anxiety of an unsure moment melting away as you relaxed in his arms. The teasing fingers he had stifled clutched his dress shirt and eventually made their way into that soft green hair.

You had experienced some amazing kisses in your life, but this was different. It was somehow calming and exciting at the same time and had your body tingling pleasantly from head to toe. Instead of pulling away for air you received soft short smooches between breaths and new long deep kisses. It turned into quite the passionate make-out session. Zoro shifted pushing you back into the arm of the couch.

The door swung open forcing you to part. Panting heavily, you brushed your wrist across your lips, eyes swaying to meet your younger brother's emerald gaze. Al let out a soft 'uf' stumbling into his back as he stopped abruptly at the sight before him. Sabo's eyes immediately shifted to the ceiling, unintelligible mutters ripping passed his lips at an impossible speed as he backed up pushing a very confused Al out of the room.

Zoro slumped forward resting against your chest as you laid back, melodic giggles pushing passed your lips.

"This house will never change." you chortled brushing his hair back into place with your fingers before he sat up, "prepare to be stared at the rest of the evening."
"Nothing I can't handle."

A/N - shout out to Lady_Cora for the kid Zoro portion of the story!