A/N: There's an NSFW part of this chapter.

The morning the bulldozer arrived was unseasonably cool. You and your siblings had gathered in the cemetery to watch. Thatch rested his right arm around your shoulder while you stood there fuming to yourself.

Grass had just started to sprout over his grave and here you were watching it get destroyed. Thatch pulled you closer as the soil covered casket was hoisted from your father's grave. He didn't want you to see it, to relive that trauma with the rest of them. But you saw it, the lipstick stain you left the day of the funeral still present.

Pulling away from the eldest a bit you reached for Ace’s clenched fist. He relaxed enough to take your hand before giving it a squeeze. After his surgery you'd managed to get him into going to therapy. You worried this would set him back. He'd made a lot of progress learning to process his emotions in a healthy way.

“What do we do now?” Luffy asked as the truck carrying your father's casket drove away.
“We wait-yoi.” Marco turned to herd you all back to your cars.

It was a weird day.

Having to relive your father's death after getting so far past it didn't settle well. You didn't want to go home to an empty apartment so you went back to your childhood home with your brothers.
You stood in the kitchen quietly working with Thatch. He had his own way of coping which was making everyone their favorite comfort food. He didn't care that it was a lot of work, he just wanted his siblings to feel better.
There were noodle and soup dishes, plenty of meat, rice, cheese and crackers to snack on. The plan was to put on movies and set your feast up on the coffee table in the den. And that's exactly what you did. Some movies were Pops’ favorites mixed in with things you all watched together growing up.

Midway through your marathon your phone pinged.

Tiger: Omw home. Still w/ your bros?

You: yeah. Watching movies

Tiger: Do you need to stay the night?
Tiger: Want me to bring you anything?

You:  you can bring me you

Tiger: I'll shower and see you in an hour.

You: 💚💚💚

Tiger: 🤍

Later in the evening your younger brothers decided to go out with their friends while the rest of you split up in the house to do your own things.

You and Zoro remained in the den on the sofa where you shared your first kiss. Lying across his lap, your head resting on his thighs, you watched him watch television.

“How do you feel?” He asked, looking down at you.
“Better, I guess.” You frowned a little, “It was a long day.”
“Would you like to do anything?”
“Rotting on the couch with you is pretty nice.” You chuckled, “A girl could get used to this.”
He gently tapped his index finger to the tip of your nose, “I like rotting with you too.”
“We could do it forever y'know.” You ran your fingers along his jaw sending a shiver through him.
“Yeah? I don't think your brothers would appreciate us taking over their den.”
“Not here.” You chuckled poking his ribs, “We've got our own couch we can live on forever.”
“That sounds like a proposal.” He smiled down at you.
“What if it is?” You sat up slowly.
Zoro blinked before grinning smugly, “No ring?”
“You know what they say about assumptions.” Shifting slightly you fished a simple braided gold band from your pocket.
“It belonged to Pops, so it took some time to get it sized.”

Zoro stared at you in shock.

This couldn't be real.

He'd spent so much time teasing you every time you'd made a comment about anything remotely linked to long term commitment lately. You'd gone from playful to dead serious so quickly his head was spinning. His stomach dropped somewhere never to be found again, like going down the steepest decline on a rollercoaster.

“I know it hasn't even been a year, but we've been through so much.”

Poor you.
Prattling on to fill the space while Zoro struggled with reality.

Not really knowing what to do he slowly held his hand out palm up.

“I also know you're not really a ring guy so it's ok if you don't want to wear it. I just…” your eyes began to water as emotions took over, “I just love you so much Tiger.”

He watched you place the ring in his hand. Time slowed down, his mouth had gone dry and his heart pounded in his ears.

“I'm gonna need you to say something.” You chuckled nervously.
His surprise ebbed into another smug simper, “I didn't hear a question.”
“You little -” You barked out a laugh relieving the building tension, “Marry me, brat.”

He quickly slipped the band over his left ring finger and tackled you back into the cushions.

“Such a demanding bunny.” He rumbled before kissing you softly.
“I'm holding you to this.” You cupped his cheeks as he looked down at you adoringly.
“Yes.” He murmured.

Excited playful smooches quickly turned into deep meaningful kisses. He didn't know he wanted this so bad until you presented it to him on a silver platter.

Had he been shopping for rings in his spare time?
Yes.
Nothing he found seemed to fit you, so he was trying to save for something better.

To be clear this was not exactly how you planned to pop the question.

He had been warned that you'd get him eventually, and since he was enjoying teasing you so much, you just kept the ring on you.

A new tension began to build as you slid your hands under his shirt.

“Not in the common areas-yoi!” Your brother called passing by the open door.

Before you knew it you were upstairs in your old bedroom breathlessly whispering Zoro's praises as he pushed himself into you relieving the aching burn between your thighs. He kissed down your jaw while you dragged your nails down his back.

Zoro moved slowly, holding your hip with his right hand and supporting himself with his left. Every thrust was deep and firm, keeping you from catching your breath. Hiding his face in the crook of your neck, he licked and nipped his way to your shoulder sending bolts of electricity down your spine. Your sweet gasps spurred him on. Pulling away he sat back, briefly enjoying how you arched and moved with him. He gripped your hips with both hands and began thrusting harder. The new speed and pressure had you clutching his wrists and quietly calling to him.

As if he were some deity.
All yours to worship.

Licking his lips, he watched you enjoy every inch of him. Beads of sweat dropped from his chin and slid down your chest. Every movement punctuated with a tap of the headboard. In one last airy gasp you managed half of his name before shuddering into your orgasm and pulling him into his own.

“Thank you.” You murmured, running your fingers through his hair as he'd settled against you in bed.
“I've never been thanked for sex before.” He chuckled.
You nudged him playfully, “Shut up. I meant thank you for having me. For staying with me. For making this day something I can celebrate instead.”
“I can say the same for you.” His face heated up, embarrassed that he couldn't find the words he needed to express his feelings.

You didn't need words though. Zoro always showed you. How his features softened when he looked at you. How gentle he was. The sides of him that were only for you - that gave you everything you needed.

“I'm glad we found each other.” He kissed your chest.
“Me too, Tiger.”