"This is my girlfriend, F/N." Zoro shifted from the younger woman peeling her grip away, "Now, apologize."
She offered you a curt smile and extended a delicate hand, "Excuse me, a simple mistake."
You reluctantly shook her hand as Zoro moved closer to you, "Sure."

You weren't sure how to react. There were very few people your boyfriend was associated with that you hadn't already met through your brother. Even fewer of those people were women.

"You're so cold, you could at least introduce me." she whined brushing a teal lock behind her ear.
"That's Hiyori." Zoro muttered.
"We dated in high school." she chimed happily.
"Hardly," he grumbled, "she followed me around and everyone made a big deal out of it."
"Well, we did sleep together." she shrugged with a smug smile.

It was clear she was trying to rile you up.

Zoro's hand came down on the countertop startling both of you. Of all the times your little brother pestered the shit out of him you'd never seen him this frustrated.

"Hey," he growled.

You calmly placed your hand over his drawing it back to rest in your lap sandwiched between yours.

"It's fine, Tiger." you tilted your head toward the teal haired woman, "There's something that comes with age, and that is understanding that the past is just that. You had a life before me, that's alright."

You'd decided your best course of action was to not let her get what she wanted even though your insides burned with jealously. Rationally speaking it was ridiculous to be jealous about something that happened before you really existed in his life, after all you had eleven years on the guy. But having this woman sitting here so smugly rubbing your face in it was infuriating. You couldn't give her the satisfaction.

Zoro sat quietly next to you, brow twitching in annoyance that this conversation was even taking place. She was bringing up events out of context just to see how you’d respond. He wasn’t surprised with your diplomatic approach, in public you represented the family; had it been a more private setting he was sure you’d have shown your true colors.

“Well,” Hiyori stepped down from the barstool glancing around the old diner, “I’ll leave you to your geriatric date.”
“Finally.” Zoro muttered lurching forward as she ran her finger over his back.
She stopped at your side placing that same hand on your shoulder with a small fake smile, “Pleasure meeting the competition.”
“Oh, honey,” you scoffed turning slightly, “there is no competition and the pleasure is definitely all yours.”

Her smile widened as she chuckled and finally made her exit.

Zoro huffed and ran his left hand over his face, “I’m sorry about that.”
“Nothing I can’t handle, Tiger.” you smirked, “She’s a real piece of work.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” he sighed, “luckily she isn’t in town long. Hopefully we won’t run into her again.”
“Or if we do it isn’t in public so I can slap that smug look off her face.” you grumbled.
“I was worried there at the end.” the greenette chuckled.
“It was a very thin thread I was I holding onto.” you smiled before leaning into him.

________________________

"They did not sleep together." Nami laughed leaning against Luffy as they sat on the living room floor.
"They did though." Luffy commented nonchalantly.
"Not like that." she pushed him gently.
"Huh? There's other ways to sleep." the youngest asked confused.

Nami deadpanned and leaned to his ear to whisper something making his face heat up a bit.

"You're too pure." Ace laughed.
"Am not," Luffy argued, "we've slept like that!"
"Luffy!" Nami yelped swatting him upside the head.
"Ah-ah-ah." the youngest cowered away from his girlfriend.

Ace and Sabo sat back cackling at your baby brother's expense.

"Ahem," you cleared your throat, "you were saying Nami?"
She glared at your brothers for a moment before turning back to you,"She got really drunk at one of Kid's house parties and fell asleep next to him on the couch. Rumors made it around school and she just ate it up. Of course Zoro hated it."

You sighed, feeling a bit better about the news. Zoro had tried to explain after your awkward encounter the day before but you'd insisted on changing the subject to enjoy your date.

"Were you jealous?" Sabo asked having calmed down from his laughing fit.
"I can't change the past and I can't be upset that he's loved other people, because I have too." you answered.
"So, yes." Ace chuckled.
"I can say I'm glad it wasn't with her." you settled back into the sofa next to them.
"She's annoying, but harmless. I don't think you really have to worry about her." Nami added.

Truthfully you weren't worried about her. Your bond with Zoro was strong. If all of the family drama that surrounded the first few months of your relationship didn't break him down neither would this cocky woman.

______________________

A chilly breeze stirred your hair up pulling it out of your face as a mixture of pink and white dogwood blossoms swirled around your boots. Spring was settling in but it was still cool out. Pulling your sweater tighter you stepped forward taking your boyfriend's hand as he offered it.

"I haven't been here in years." you commented looking around the groups of people stopping to take pictures of all of the trees in bloom.

You and Zoro had just had lunch near by and he wanted to show you the dogwood and cherry blossoms before they all fell from the trees.

"You came here a lot?" he asked.
"Yeah, when the babies were babies we lived down that road," you pointed ahead a few blocks at a suburban street that veered off the main road, "I used to bring them here all the time. It's where they got into their first fight, I might've slapped a kid. Good times."
"You slapped a kid?" he chuckled raising a brow.
"He called Ace retarded. I wasn't about to let the little shit get away with it."
"Then he had it coming." he agreed with a smirk.
"The trees were just little saplings back then though. I don't even think they bloomed." you added stopping to sit on a bench.

Zoro's phone buzzed.

He glanced at you apologetically, "It's work, do you mind if I grab it?"
"Go for it." you smiled taking out your own phone.

He remained close while you entertained yourself occasionally catching bits of other conversations until one in particular caught your attention.

"That one there," a young blond woman pointed at Zoro from the bench next to you.
Her white haired friend sat next to her picking petals from her scalp, "Oo the one with the scar? I've seen him somewhere."
"He works at that bar near the mall." the blond information her, "I should ask for his number."

You chuckled to yourself and went back to scrolling on your phone.

"I think he's with that lady," the other said, "I thought I saw them holding hands."
"The old one?"

Your chest got tight and your face began to heat up. There it was again, that word, and with it the implication that you couldn't be with someone young and attractive.

"C'mon, I don't think she's that old."

At least you were being defended.

"But look at all that gray."

Zoro hung up and slid his hand over yours as it rested on the bench between you. Before you could lift your head to look at him someone stepped in front of you. Your eyes trailed up to meet the gaze of the girl who'd been sitting near you, her blue eyes fixed on Zoro.

"Excuse me, we've met at the Redline before. I was wondering if I could give you my number?" she blinked bashfully at him.

It was as if you didn't even exist.

Zoro's hand came up still holding yours, "Not interested."

Your attention snapped to his uncaring expression. It was no surprise that he was blunt, but still, he could have spared her feelings a bit.

She scoffed and trudged away as her friend chuckled out an amused, "I told ya so."

"You ok?" your greenette asked making you realize you were pouting.
"Ah, yeah. I'm fine." you smiled softly, "Does that happen a lot?"
He shrugged, "Sometimes. That was just disrespectful though. She saw us together."
"Yeah, well, I look like your aunty." you scoffed.
"You do not." he bent down to kiss your nose, "Don't let that idiot get to you. That was her whole plan."
"You're right, Tiger, I shouldn't worry about it. What you think is much more important anyway."
His forehead gently pressed against yours drawing all of your attention to him, "And I think we should head back to my place."