PYM

Pushing the boy inside, Zeff locked the door. Thoroughly surprised, Sanji whirled around. “What are you doing? I wasn’t finish-”

“This isn’t a joke, Sanji.” Zeff frowned, his voice slightly raised knowing that they couldn’t be overheard. “Are you really thinking of proposing?”

Sanji’s mind wandered into an imagination where you baked pastries with his ring on your finger and his hard expression softened. He stepped forward and pointed to the door where he knew you were busy working away.

“That out there is the most kind soul I have ever met. I would go to the ends of the Earth for them. I would give up my dreams to find the All Blue in a second if they asked.” Sanji declared. “All my life, it’s been a raging whirlpool of pain, chaos and anger. And every time that I think I’ll drown, Y/n reaches in and brings me to life.”

Zeff had seen Sanji go through the many phases of affection before you came along. And he had never seen something like this before. The devotion he had to you was fierce as it was intense.

Resting his hands on his hips, Zeff stopped scowling. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”

Sanji had also calmed his emotions. He took a seat at the empty table, leaning forward and resting his arms against the wood.

“I’ve been wanting to propose for months. I have the ring and everything.” He said sadly. “I almost dropped on one knee in the pantry but-”

Zeff’s face scrunched up. “Alright, I really don’t want to know about what happened in there.” He said effectively diverting the conversation away from that singular event.

Sanji shook his head and glanced at the door. “I almost did it last week too but that stupid pirate captain kept stealing Y/n away to compliment the dishes.”

It was clear that Sanji wanted to marry you. And Zeff, despite constantly being frustrated by the two of you, couldn’t be happier. He had hoped for Sanji to experience a love beyond cooking and you were the perfect choice.

Sanji lowered his head. “Go on. Tell me that you don’t think I should.”

Zeff moved forward and slowly took a seat opposite the young man. “I can’t, Little Eggplant. I’ve watched you persevere against impossible odds and I think that if your heart and your head are both aligned in this decision, then the only way is forward.” He supported.

Sanji looked at the man in awe. He certainly hadn’t been expecting the response. But appreciated it nonetheless.

“We should probably head back. Can’t have you going soft on me, old man.”

Zeff leaned back in the chair. “Wouldn’t be a good look.” He stood up as Sanji did the same. “But at your wedding, I’m doing the cooking because your talents, Little Eggplant, are abysmal.”

He walked by the blonde-cook. Sanji tilt his head and smirked. “Only if my other half agrees.” He quipped and paused his walk. His stomach flipped as he said those words - his other half. There was something about it that made him feel warm and safe.

Zeff looked back to give a witty reply but saw Sanji’s expression. His ‘Little Eggplant’ was no longer a bratty child (on his good days).

“Apples.” Zeff stated loudly to snap Sanji from his frozen state. “You and Y/n can take the day tomorrow to sail out and replenish the stock that you damaged.” He opened the door a smidge, letting the noisy kitchen drown his next words. “And don’t bother coming back until there’s a ring on their hand.”

~ More One Piece imagines here ~

You were already by the crib, a mug of coffee warm between your hands. You looked up as he slipped into the room, your eyes softening at the dark circles under his.

"Hey, handsome," you whispered, setting your mug down on the side table. "Survived the night?"

"Barely," Jack murmured back. He walked over, wrapping his arms around your waist and burying his face into the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent. "Missed you, beautiful."

"Missed you too, Doctor." You tilted your head, kissing his cheek. "Say hi. She’s just waking up."

Jack smiled, pulling away to step over to the crib. Inside, your daughter was starting to stir. She blinked sleepily, her eyes rubbing against her fists until they landed right on Jack. Instantly, a tiny smile broke behind her pacifier.

"Daddy!" she screamed with a sleepy voice.

She immediately poked her hands up into the air, making her uppie arms.

Jack’s heart completely melted. He leaned over the railing, scooping her warm body up against his chest.

"Hi my beautiful girl," Jack whispered as he pressed a long kiss into her hair.

She let out a giggle, her hands immediately coming up to cup his face. Her fingers patted his cheeks, testing the rough morning stubble on his jaw. "S'atchy," she mumbled, but she didn't pull away. She leaned her forehead against his nose, rubbing it side to side in a sleepy greeting.

"Yeah, Daddy needs a shave, doesn't he?" Jack cooed, rocking her gently from side to side as she buried her face into his neck.

As he hoisted her a little higher, Jack noticed something else in the crib. A familiar fluffy brown teddy bear dressed in a miniature set of blue hospital scrubs with a very cute little stethoscope.

"Since when does she sleep with plushies?" Jack asked softly, turning to you with an arched eyebrow. "She usually kicks everything out the second she lays down."

You let out a soft laugh and wrapped your arms around his waist, leaning your head against his shoulder. Hearing your voice, your daughter reached one hand to pat your face, ensuring both of her favorite people were within arm's reach.

"She only sleeps with that one," you explained. "And only on specific nights. When you're on a night shift and you can't put her to bed, she gets incredibly restless. She sits by the door waiting for you."

Jack’s chest tightened. The guilt of the long hours at the hospital was a constant weight.

"So, I started giving her the bear on those nights," you continued, reaching out to smooth a stray curl away from your daughter's forehead. "I told her that whenever Daddy is at the hospital helping people, this guy is on duty to keep her safe until you get home. Now, she won't go to sleep without him when you're gone. I think it's her way of keeping you close until you come back."

Jack looked down at the scrubwearing bear on the mattress. He reached down with his free hand and picked up the plushie, holding it up so his daughter could see it.

"Who's this, sweet girl?" Jack asked her gently, shaking the bear's little paw. "Is this your helper?"

The toddler blinked sleepily at the bear, then looked right at Jack, her little thumb poking the bear as she nodded. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and pointed a tiny finger at the plushie.

"He's night dada," she mumbled softly, her voice muffled around her paci.

Jack froze. New emotions emerged at the realization that she considered the little bear her version of him when the sun went down.

"Night Dada, huh?" Jack pressed the plush bear gently into her arms, and she instantly hugged it tight against her chest, right alongside his own neck. "He takes good care of you when Daddy's at work?"

The toddler nodded and whispered. "Dad doctor."

He wrapped his free arm securely around you, needing the comfort of his family.

"Thank you," he whispered to you, leaning down to kiss your lips. "For being here for her when I can't."

⋆｡˚☤🩺✧˖°.｡⋆💉

his hand.

bare.

you blink, like maybe you imagined it. but when he reaches for a pen, it’s still there—no ring, no familiar black metal you’ve gotten so used to seeing. it was never an issue jack wearing it, you understood why he still did. but still your chest tightens, not entirely sure why.

“jack,” you say quietly.

he hums, distracted. “yeah sweetie?”

“your ring…”

that gets his attention.

he pauses, just slightly, before looking at you. really looking this time, like he knows exactly what you’re asking without you having to finish the sentence.

“oh,” he says softly.

there’s something in his expression—steady, but careful.

you don’t push right away. “did you… forget it?” you ask, even though that doesn’t sound right. he’s not the type to forget something like that.

“no,” he answers.

just that. no.

you nod slowly, but your thoughts are already running ahead of you. “okay.”

it’s quiet for a second too long.

“you’re wondering why,” he adds.

you let out a small breath, offering a half-shrug. “i mean… yeah. a little.”

he studies you for a moment, like he’s deciding how to say it. then, without a word, he gently takes your hand.“come on,” he murmurs.

he leads you down the hallway, away from the noise and movement, into an empty consult room. the door clicks shut behind you, and suddenly everything feels a little more still. more private.

more real.

you turn to face him. “you didn’t have to—”

“i wanted to,” he says, cutting you off gently.

you search his face. “jack…”

he exhales, running a hand through his hair before letting it fall again—bare, unguarded. “i’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he admits. “long before you asked anything.”

“i didn’t ask,” you say quietly.

“i know.” his gaze softens. “that’s kind of the point.”

there’s no pressure in your expression, no expectation—just concern. and somehow, that made it harder to ignore.

“i kept it on because… it felt like the right thing to do,” he continues. “respect. habit. maybe a little bit of not knowing how to let go.”

your chest aches a little at that.

“but that’s not where i am anymore,” he says, voice steady now. “not really.”

you swallow. “and taking it off… that means you are?”

“it means i’m ready to be honest about where i am,” he says. “with myself. with you.”

your eyes flick back to his hand again, then up to his face. “because of me?”

“not just because of you,” he corrects gently. “but you’re a big part of it.”

something warm and fragile settles in your chest.

“i didn’t want you to feel like you were… second to something i’m still holding onto,” he adds. “because you’re not.”

your breath catches slightly.

“you deserve more than that,” he says, quieter now.

for a moment, you don’t know what to say. so you step closer instead.

“you didn’t have to prove anything to me,” you tell him softly. “i never thought i was—”

“i know,” he says again. “but i needed to prove it to myself.”

that lands differently.

more certain. more grounded. your fingers brush against his, lingering where the ring used to sit. it feels strange, but not wrong.

just… new.

“are you sure?” you ask, voice barely above a whisper. “about this? about… us?”

his answer isn’t immediate—but it’s not hesitant either.

it’s deliberate.

“yes.”

the way he says it makes your chest tighten in the best way. “i wouldn’t be doing this if i wasn’t,” he adds, lifting his hand slightly, like it speaks for itself.

you smile a little, something soft and almost shy. “okay.”

“okay?” he echoes, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“yeah,” you murmur. “okay.”

there’s a pause—one of those quiet, heavy moments where everything feels like it’s shifting into place.

and then his hand comes up to your face, fingers gentle against your cheek.

“come here,” he murmurs.

you don’t hesitate.

the kiss is soft at first—careful, like he’s still giving you time to pull away if you want to.

you don’t.

instead, you lean into it, your hand sliding up to rest against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm beneath your palm. he deepens the kiss just slightly, still slow, still warm—like he’s memorizing it.

like he’s choosing this.

choosing you.

when you finally pull back, your forehead rests against his, both of you a little breathless.

“that was…” you start.

“yeah,” he says softly.

you smile, eyes still closed for a second. “you’re really doing this.”

“i am.”

your fingers lace with his again, more certain this time.

“no going back?” you tease lightly.

he huffs a quiet laugh, brushing his thumb over your hand. “no going back.”

and the way he looks at you—steady, open, completely there—makes you believe him.

for the first time, it doesn’t feel complicated.