This fic is set after the whole ordeal in the Wholecake Island Arc.

It was a day after the Strawhats have escaped from the Big Mom pirates to take back their cook. The Thousand Sunny was uncharacteristically peaceful as the pirates and minks aboard the ship were greatly exhausted from the great chase by Big Mom that occurred after the supposed wedding between Vinsmoke and Charlotte families was unceremoniously crashed and turned to a disaster. It was a good thing Franky built a sturdy ship. The Thousand Sunny sustained quite a number of damages yet the ship was able to live up to its promise and survived even the toughest of the Big Mom's forces and Big Mom herself. Sanji made a mental note to express his gratitude to Franky once they met up in Wano, along with a good serving of the cyborg's favorite burger.

While the rest of the occupants of the ship were asleep in their quarters and some on the deck, Sanji stayed awake. He was restless and unable to sleep. A lot of things happened in a span of two weeks but more importantly he was back. Back to his nakama and back to this ship, his home.

He stayed in the kitchen because for Sanji the place is his refugee and a place where he can find comfort and be calm. He sat by the counter, cigarette on his mouth, a soft expression on his face, and a warm feeling inside him.

Suddenly, his mind wandered to Nami and Robin, his beautiful ladies, and he thought about those times when Luffy saved them, took them back from the clutches of their oppressors. Was their feeling like this one Sanji has? It was a wonderful, overwhelming, yet scary feeling. Scary because everything happened so fast he's still not sure if the nightmare has already ended, and he is scared to learn it hasn't. But above all, he is anxious.

He betrayed Luffy. It's a no-brainer for anyone to tell that. He attacked his captain, quit the crew, and endangered them all. He does not know how to face Luffy, doesn't quite know how to thank him for what he did for him.

The door to the galley opened, and a grinning Luffy entered the kitchen.

Great, Sanji thought. I have no escape now, do I?

The blonde chef looked up from his position and it was at that time that his eyes and Luffy's locked. The rubber captain has a blank look at first, but his face split into a full smile immediately after.

"Sanji, I'm hungry! Shishishi." Luffy said cheerfully as he approached Sanji. Sanji shifted his gaze to Luffy's bandages.

"You got up for food?" Sanji asked skeptically.

"I got hungry!" Luffy whined.

Sanji sighed, he quite expected the captain to come barreling into the kitchen, but he thought Luffy would still be fast asleep until tomorrow. He was so beat up after all.

The blonde chef stood up and went to prepare food for Luffy, the rubber captain meanwhile settled on the seat by the counter.

"Hey, Luffy. I-" Sanji paused to stare at his captain in the eye. "I want to thank you."

Luffy looked confused, "What for?"

Sanji exhaled smoke from his cigarette. "Everything, just… everything."

Luffy flashed him his bright and cheerful smile – the kind that puts people at ease.

"T'was nothing. I was just taking back my nakama anyway."

Sanji turned to his preparations. "I gave you trouble. And worst, you have to save my bastard of a family despite them being such horrible beings."

"Well, we couldn't just leave them alone, right? Shishishi."

"I was selfish, Luffy. I endangered all of you."

"Sanji,"

Luffy saw Sanji's shoulder started to shake gently, and one hand covering his face. "Luffy, I-"

Luffy cut him off.

"Hey Sanji, did I ever tell you how Sabo met Ace?"

The chef shifted his head to turn to Luffy, confusion and surprise written on his tear-streaked face.

"About… Ace? Who is Sabo, Luffy?"

Luffy grinned, "He is my other brother besides Ace."

Sanji turned back for a moment to continue his cooking, then he looked at Luffy again.

"Where is he?"

"He's alive." Sanji raised an inquisitive brow.

"I thought he was dead. He met an accident when we were kids. But I saw him at Dressrosa and he is alive and well!"

Sanji gave a small smile at that, seeing how overjoyed Luffy looks. He can imagine though. He thought he lost both his brothers, and Ace just died two years ago. Yet, the knowledge that his other brother is alive must have made Luffy overjoyed.

Sanji dragged on his cigarette. "And? What happened between them and Ace?"

Luffy eyed him cheerfully before saying, "He's just like you, you know." At Sanji's confused stare, Luffy continued. "At first it was the hair. He's blond too. But there was more!"

Sanji stared at Luffy, "His dream was to set sail and become a pirate."

"How the hell is that similar to me?"

"Shishishi. You and him talked about your dreams determinedly and it reminded me of Sabo."

The meal Sanji was cooking was ready, the chef paused his conversation with Luffy to set the meal on a plate. He laid it in front of Luffy.

The rubber captain squealed in glee at the sight of food and was momentarily distracted from his narration. Sanji allowed Luffy to swallow and finish his meal before talking again.

"And? What more, captain?" Sanji finally spoke when Luffy finished his last helping of meat, knowing there was more to this story.

Luffy burped and Sanji has to restrain himself from kicking him in the face.

"Ah that's right!" Luffy said when he was ready to talk again. "He was a son of a noble in the Goa Kingdom. And just like you, he escaped from his home to fulfill his dream." Luffy said simply.

Sanji's cigarette dropped. "A noble, you say?" So he is not Luffy's biological brother as well as I expected.

"Yes! He can't stand his family, so he left. He went to the Gray Terminal and that's where he met Ace, and then me."

Sanji's mouth dropped a little at that. That was just like him, unable to stand his family's cruelty and abuses, Sanji escaped when he was a child and he went to achieve his dream of becoming a chef.

The cook lowered his head a little so Luffy can't see his expression. "Why are you telling me all this, Luffy?"

Luffy dropped his head to the side and put on a clueless face. "Hmmm, I'm not quite sure, really. But I was hoping to cheer you up. You look troubled, Sanji. Are you not feeling well?"

Sanji slowly lifted his head up to stare at his captain. Here, in front of him, is a guy who gave him the courage to pursue his dream of finding All Blue. The captain who gave a new purpose to Sanji's life, who gave him a home on the seas, who gave him a family to protect and care for. The man who saved Sanji, and the man who the blonde chef will devote his talents and life for. A smile made its way to Sanji's face.

"Did this Sabo tell you something when you met in Dressrosa?"

Luffy grinned, "He told me thanks for being alive."

Ah that's right.

Sanji's eyes brightened and he grinned as well. "Then, me too. Thanks for being alive Luffy. Thank you for coming to my life."

Luffy touched the strawhat on his head.

"Shishishi. No problem, Sanji."