Author's Note: This is it folks…My last chapter. I hope you all take it in and enjoy it. Savor it! Anyways, thanks for the support throughout my story, and thanks Alastair, Ryo, Raven and Gohan for helping me out throughout this story. You guys made some awesome suggestions and really helped me out throughout the course of this story! I also want to thank Gohan for enjoying my bath scenes so much. Bahaha! XD I'm teasing…I'm teasing…I really do have a shower fetish and love putting them in my stories. Nothing better than a naked Luffy…Oh wait, I'm sorry, what am I saying? Ahem! Also, Nami has the shower fetish…not me…Anyway, please review and enjoy this last chapter! XD

Denial

Chapter 24: No Need For Permission

Luffy was breathing heavily as he stared at his nakama lying in beds next to his. He blinked a few more times before trying to slide out of the bed. As soon as his feet touched the floor, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. He grunted as he hit the ground. He lifted himself onto his elbows and then leaned against his bed. He looked down at his legs. He then realized they were asleep. He began to rub them and eventually they began to tingle. He clenched his teeth as feeling began to come back into them.

He began to growl through clenched teeth as the painful tingling persisted. After the tingling subsided, he tried to stand on his feet. He stumbled forward towards the bed next to his. Nami was lying on her back.

"Nami." he called as he shook her shoulders. "Nami, Nami wake up!" he said as he shook her harder.

After awhile, her eyes fluttered and then she gasped loudly as she sat up and began to look around. Her eyes became wild and she began to tear up. "No…no…" she began to whisper. Then she looked into his face. "No!! Not again!!" she cried as she began to become frantic.

"Nami! Calm down! It's okay! You're awake now!" he tried to explain.

"No!! I can't take it anymore!! Please…I just want to die…" she said as she began to sob and cough.

"Nami! It wasn't real! None of it was real!" he yelled as he grabbed her hands. He remembered everything that had happened. From when he had lost his memory and was Jin, to his own hell of a nightmare. He placed her hands on his face. "Nami! I'm here! I'm real! Listen to me!" he said as she continued to sob and shake her head. "Nami please…calm down…It was all just a bad dream…" he said as he grabbed and hugged her. He wondered if she had had the same dreams as he.

"Luffy…" she said through her tears.

"That's right. Everything is okay." he said.

She pulled away from him a blinked a few times. Then she began to look around. "Where are we?" she asked.

"I don't know. We need to wake up the others." he said as he staggered around the bed to the one next to hers. She started to slide out of bed. "No don't!" he called. She stopped and looked towards him. "Your legs are probably asleep. If you try to get up, you will fall." he said as he made his way back to her. He bent over her and began to rub her legs. She blushed and her eyes widened as he rubbed her legs. Then they began to tingle and she clenched her teeth. She cried out as tears began to form again. She grabbed onto his shirt and clutched onto it tightly as she leaned forward. The pain was horrible.

After the pain subsided, she began to calm down. He stopped rubbing and then turned to Sanji, who was next to Nami. "Oi, Sanji!" he called as he began to shake him awake.

Nami finally got out of the bed and made her way to Usopp. "Usopp! Usopp, wake up!!" she said as she began to shake him.

Sanji woke up with a groan and then began to freak out. "Oi, Sanji, calm down!" exclaimed Luffy as he tried to get Sanji to calm down.

Sanji blinked a few times as he stared at Luffy. "What the hell is going on…? I remember…you dying…and Nami-san too…" he said.

"It wasn't real…We're getting out of here. Your legs won't work at first. You gotta rub them." he said as he stumbled to the next bed. "Oi, Zoro! Wake up!!" he continued.

They woke up each crew member, each one completely disoriented. Luffy looked over and noticed more people. Then his eyes widened. "Jin…Desini…" he said as he walked up to them.

"What did you say?!" said Nami as she walked up next to him. Then she gasped. "They were real?!" she yelled.

Everyone else was still in bed trying to get their legs to function. They couldn't believe it either. "O-Oi…wake up!!" said Luffy as he began to shake Jin.

Jin groaned and then began to cough as he blinked a few times. He brought up an arm and covered his eyes from the bright light. "Are you okay?" asked Nami.

He blinked a few times and tried to focus. "Nami…?" he asked.

"Y-You remember me?!" she asked.

He sat up and looked at everyone. "What happened…?" he asked confused.

"Not sure…" replied Sanji.

Luffy walked over to Desini. "Oi…wake up!" he said as he began to shake her.

Nami looked over and saw Dr. Ferris. She gasped and ran to him and began to try and wake him. "Dr. Ferris!" she said as she began to shake him.

Desini gasped and then began to blink. She squinted up at Luffy. "Luffy…is…is that you?!" she asked as she sat up.

"Aa…Are you okay?" he asked.

"Oh my god! You're alive!" she exclaimed as she hugged him.

"Aa…none of what happened was real." he said.

Dr. Ferris began to cough roughly as he sat up. "What's going on?" he asked.

"We don't know. We just woke up ourselves." said Nami.

Chopper looked over and noticed some water nearby. He hobbled to it after his legs had feeling. He brought it over to everyone. "We need to drink some water…I'm not sure how long it's been since we have." he said. They had only been hooked up to IV's in which they were given water and any other nutrients they had needed. He passed the water around and everyone took a drink.

As soon as everyone's legs were working, they made their way to the door. However, a ton of men came rushing in. Everyone made a noise in surprise. Luffy immediately opened his arms and blocked off his crew. He was pretty sure that no one was in any condition to fight, but he sure as hell wouldn't allow them to be caught again. They all ran forward and fought as best they could against the men.

After an opening was created, Luffy turned to everyone. "Run!!" he yelled. Everyone ran passed the men. They ran down the long hall as best they could under the circumstances. Chopper stumbled and fell to the ground. Zoro reached down and grabbed him without stopping as he continued to run. He placed Chopper on his shoulder.

Chopper clung to him and then turned to look at the men running after them. "Faster!! They're gaining on us!!" he yelled.

Luffy burst through a door that led to another room. In it, they found all of their things. Zoro slammed the door shut and locked it. "Quickly, change your clothes and grab your things! We need to get out of here!" said Nami as she began to change in front of everyone. No one paid any attention as they too changed their clothes.

As soon as everyone was dressed, Zoro unlocked the door and looked out. He didn't see anyone. "Come on, it's clear." he whispered as they ran out and began the search for the way out of this hellish place.

Nami had so many thoughts running through her mind. She could remember everything that had happened in her dreams. She remembered the one where Luffy had died, and then she remembered a second where she was sure it was her who had died. She looked over at Luffy. 'Had he had the same dreams?' she wondered as she watched him. Jin and Desini had recognized them. Did that mean they had all shared the same dreams? She furrowed her brows. Before they went any further, there was something she really needed to tell him.

They rounded a corner and continued to run. Then they heard noise behind them. They turned to see that they were again being chased. They ran through door after door, before finally finding a big one.

"The exit is this way!" exclaimed Dr. Ferris as he pointed to the door.

They rammed through it and then had to close their eyes. The sunlight was far too bright.

"Ah!" they cried out, but continued to run as best they could blind.

They ran through the town, trying hard to remember where they were and where the ship was. Luffy lagged behind next to Nami. She turned to him and figured, now was the time to say something before anything else happened. They had managed to lose their pursuers. She reached out to grab him and as she did he turned to her.

"I have to tell you something." they both said at the same time. Everyone else kept going ahead of them and turned a corner. They stared into one another's eyes in slight surprise.

Nami blinked a few times. "Why do I get the feeling we are going to say the same thing…?" she said quietly.

"Then…we had the same dreams…?" he asked.

"I think…we did…" she replied with a slight blush to her cheeks. Was it possible to fall in love with someone in a dream?

"Nami…I…" he started to say.

Suddenly, Usopp peeked his head around the corner. "Oi, are we going or what?!" he yelled.

They both turned to him and nodded. He disappeared back around the corner. They turned back to one another. Then suddenly, Luffy leaned over and placed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back just as eagerly. After awhile, he pulled away and grabbed her hand as he began to run again. They turned the corner and caught up with the others. Everyone turned and continued to run as they caught up. They glanced toward them figuring they understood what had happened. Both were holding hands.

"Oi, Luffy…" said Zoro as they continued towards the harbor. Luffy turned to him. "I'm sorry we failed you." he said.

"Eh?" questioned Luffy as he looked at Zoro in surprise.

"Aa…I'm sorry too…" said Sanji quietly.

"Aa...we weren't very strong, were we…We failed you multiple times…I don't think any of us had any control in that place…" explained Zoro.

"It's okay…I'm sorry that I doubted it was you…" said Luffy.

Zoro shook his head. "No…I would have doubted us too…" he replied.

"I should have been more understanding… After all…I failed Nami numerous times too…You're right…we had no control…" said Luffy with a frown.

Zoro smiled. "Then I guess we put it behind us then…" he said.

"Aa." agreed Luffy as he grinned.

"I'm also sorry Nami-san…" said Sanji.

Nami smiled at him. "It's alright. All that matters is that we are out of that hellish place and everyone is okay." she said. Sanji smiled at her and nodded.

As they continued to run, they were suddenly blocked off by many men. They stopped running and glared at the men. "Looks like we are going to have to fight our way out of here." said Zoro as he pulled out his swords.

"I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to leave." said a voice as a figure walked out next to the men. More men surrounded their rear. Luffy looked behind them and then clenched his teeth. The person looked up at them. Everyone gasped or made a loud noise in shock.

"You!!" yelled Nami as she pointed.

"That's right…me…" she said.

"I recognize you! You're the woman who used that weird ability on me!" yelled Luffy.

Nami turned to Luffy. "She used a weird ability on you?! She used one on me too!" she said as she turned back to her. "Commodore Senni!" she said.

"Actually, it's just Senni…That commodore crap was just a ruse…" she said.

"Then…you aren't a marine…" asked Nami.

"I sure as hell don't recognize her…I may have in the dream…but I don't here…" said Jin.

Everyone turned to Jin. "Then…you really are a marine?!" asked Nami in surprise.

"Aa…I am…" he replied. He was wearing civilian clothing, so they hadn't realized he was actually a real marine.

"That's right…I'm not a filthy marine…" she said.

"Why did you do this?!" asked Nami.

Senni grinned as she began to laugh. "Why? You wouldn't possibly remember me would you?" she asked.

"Eh…?" questioned Nami quietly. Everyone else looked at her in confusion.

"I may have looked a little differently back then, but of course, you never looked anyway." she said.

"What are you talking about?!" asked Luffy in irritation.

"Well you see…I was in a pirate crew not too long ago…A very special pirate crew. I was one of Don Krieg's men…or woman…As you can see…I am no man…" she said.

Then her expression turned into a scowl. "After we were defeated by you…we retreated to an island to try and recover. I had been badly injured you see…I was half conscious when I was being treated. That's when they found out that I was a woman…" she said bitterly as she scowled.

"In the state I was, I had to fight off my own men…However, Gin had stopped them and then he had asked me to leave…Women aren't allowed on pirate ships…It brought bad luck…They blamed me for all the bad that had happened to them…I never wanted to leave…I wanted to stay with him…with Don Krieg…He had looked at me as if I were some kind of insect…I tried to explain how I felt about him…However he struck me and told me to get the hell away from him…" she said quietly with her scowl.

Then her expression turned sad. "I loved him…but he turned his back on me…and it's all your fault!! I hate you…Mugiwara…I wanted you to suffer…I wanted all of you to suffer!! You allowed women into your crew…regardless of superstition. I couldn't forgive that…Why you and not him?!" she yelled as her scowl returned.

"When I found the Akuma no Mi, I didn't hesitate. It gave me the greatest power. The Yume Yume no Mi." she explained.

"Yume Yume…no Mi…?" said Nami as her eyes widened.

"That's right…I had the ability to control your dreams and memories. I could see into your mind and steal and rearrange your memories, your dreams. I also found I could connect you all into one big dream world…" she explained as she grinned menacingly.

"How did you even catch us in the first place?" asked Zoro with an angry frown.

She laughed. "Sleeping gas...I used it while you were all already asleep one night. Once I've entrapped you in a dream…There is no waking up." she explained. Then she turned to Luffy with a frown. "It's irritating. I can't believe your will power…I can't believe you were able to break out of my power!!" she yelled angrily. "I had been watching you all for some time you see…I managed to gather all the resources I needed. I found some willing to help me accomplish what I wanted." she continued as she looked at everyone.

Then she turned back to Luffy. "I noticed something about you…Mugiwara…as I watched…You and your navigator…I could see it…even though no one else in your crew could…There was something there between you…I forced you both to develop something in your dreams…It wasn't even hard…" she said with a sickly smile.

Then she scowled again. "You had destroyed the love I once had…I made a vow to do the same to you!!" she screamed. Then she turned towards her men. "Get them!!" she yelled.

Men came running at them. Suddenly, another woman stepped out next to Senni. Sanji's eyes widened. "Ms. Ness?!" he asked in disbelief.

She had a hard expression on her face as she looked towards them. The men reached them and the guys threw themselves into the fight. Luffy turned to his crew. He knew they were far too weak to fight. "You guys make a run for it! I will try and hold them off!" he yelled to them.

"Like hell we are leaving you behind!!" yelled Nami.

"You are all still weak! It's better that only one of us gets caught with such a scary ability as that!! If we all get caught, how are we going to be saved?!" he yelled.

"It doesn't matter! Nami-san is right! We stick together! No one gets left behind!!" yelled Sanji.

Luffy started at them in disbelief. Then a man came and swung at him. He fought him off and then grinned. "Yosh!! Let's get out of here together!!" he yelled.

"Aa!!" they all agreed as they grinned and began to fight with renewed strength.

Jin and Desini also fought right along beside them. Senni became worried when she realized her men were losing. "We should go." she told Ms. Ness as she began to run away, Ness right behind her.

"Oi, she's getting away!!" yelled Usopp.

"Oh no you don't!!" yelled Nami as she began to chase after her.

The men were all subdued, and then they all followed behind Nami. Nami caught up to Senni and then swung her Clima Tact. Senni cried out as she hit the ground. Ness continued to run without looking back. A hand suddenly flew passed Nami. She gasped as she turned to see Luffy's arm extended next to her. He grabbed Ness and then pulled, causing her to fall backwards onto the ground. She screamed as she hit the ground.

They loomed over both women. Each had deathly angry eyes. Both women stared up at them in slight fear. "You're going to pay for what you did to us…for all the pain you caused Nami and my nakama…" said Luffy in a deathly quiet voice as he stared down at them coldly.

"I would never hurt a woman…but that doesn't mean I have to stop my nakama from hurting you…I'm afraid I can't forgive you for what you did to Nami-san and to our crew…" said Sanji as he stared down at them just as coldly.

"You made us weak…and made our Captain doubt us…I can't forgive that…" said Zoro in a cold voice.

Both women held onto each other as they began to whimper. The crew approached both women slowly as they cracked their knuckles. They both began to scream in fear.

----

Jin stared down at the many people who were tied up and then he turned to Luffy. "Sorry about all of this…I had actually come to investigate about this woman and ended up getting caught in her web…It's a little embarrassing to say the least…" he said.

"Shishihi…don't worry about it. We all got caught by her!" said Luffy.

"Aa…I guess that's true…I've seen your strength…You are all very impressive people…I still remember everything that Nami told me…I also remember everything you all did…I won't mention any of you in my report…" he said and then he turned to Desini. "I'm sorry I got you caught up in this." he said.

She smiled and shook her head. "It's alright…I got to meet some incredible people…Besides, you helped me so long ago…There was no way I could turn you down when you asked me for help." she said. Then Desini turned toward the crew. "It was a real honor to have met all of you…even if it had all been in a dream." she said as she bowed.

"Shishishi, aa! It was really great meeting you too. Nothing has changed though…You are still one of my nakama!" he said as he smiled at her.

She made a throaty noise as a blush crept up her cheeks. "R-Really?" she asked.

"Aa! Of course you are!" replied Luffy.

"Thank you…that means a lot to me…Maybe we will meet again some day." she said as she smiled warmly at him.

"Aa…I know we will!" he exclaimed cheerfully. Then he turned to Jin. "You are a friend to us as well." he said.

Jin smiled at him. "Thanks." he replied.

"Thanks for not saying anything about us Jin." said Nami as she smiled. "Also…thanks for helping me…even if it was a dream…" she said.

"Of course…I always did enjoy a great story every now and then…I want to hear all about the rest of your adventures when we meet again." he said as he grinned.

Nami laughed as well as the rest of the crew. "Of course!!" replied Luffy with a grin.

"Good bye…" said Desini as she smiled at them.

Luffy and Nami each hugged her. Nami hugged Jin and then he and Desini began to lead Senni and her men away. The crew waved until they couldn't see them anymore.

Then Nami turned to Dr. Ferris and smiled. He smiled nervously at them. "This has been a very interesting two months…" he said.

"Un…I can't believe that's how long she had us for…It seemed like such a long time in the dreams…" said Nami.

"Aa…her ability was a scary thing…She could make it appear as if it had been longer…When in reality, it really hadn't." explained Ferris.

"I still can't believe she had us captive for two months…" said Chopper.

"Aa…that is pretty wild…" said Usopp.

"Sanji….I'm starving!!" yelled Luffy who wilted.

Sanji began to chuckle. "You should be…None of us has eaten in two months…" he said. "Let's get back to the ship, and I will cook us a feast." he said.

"You're welcome to come Dr. Ferris." said Nami.

"Ah…thank you…I would be most appreciative." he said with a smile.

They made their way to the ship. Sanji stopped at a shop to purchase some food. Surprisingly, Nami's money had been left with her things. She guessed Senni wasn't interested in money…They made it to the ship, and Sanji immediately began to cook. Everyone sat in the dining room and talked about the events in the dream.

"That was the most horrible dream I have ever had…" said Usopp who had his head on the table and began to waterfall tears.

"Aa…I definitely won't ever forget it…" said Zoro quietly.

"That is a truly frightening ability…if I have ever seen one…" said Robin as sweat beaded down her face.

"So, why were you there Dr. Ferris?" asked Chopper.

Dr. Ferris frowned. "I remember Senni coming to me two and a half months ago...She kidnapped me from my home and forced me to tell her everything I knew about psychology…Everything I had told her, I'm afraid…she used against you…After she no longer needed me…I'm guessing she placed me in the dream to further her goals…" he explained.

"That makes sense…She would need to learn about the human psyche in order to achieve all that she did…She would need to know what could cause the human mind to break down as ours did…" said Robin.

"I'm not even human and it worked on me too!" exclaimed Chopper as he teared up.

"Maybe not…but you do think like us…" said Zoro.

"Aa…that's true…" replied Chopper.

"You also proved useful to her in the dream, seeing as you helped Nami-san in the dream…" said Sanji.

"Aa…I guess so." replied Ferris.

"So Luffy…how did you manage to wake up? You were the first one to wake up, right?" asked Zoro.

"Aa…I was…" replied Luffy quietly.

"I remember you screaming some things before we were woken up…You kept saying… 'This isn't real.' and 'Wake up.'. Were you…talking to Nami-san?" asked Sanji.

"No…I was trying to force myself to wake up…" explained Luffy.

"E-h?!" they all exclaimed. Nami looked at him in surprise.

"Y-Yourself? What do you mean?" asked Sanji.

"I knew it couldn't possibly be real…When we were falling…I remembered everything. When I woke up in pain and Chopper had told me she didn't make it…I had known that none of it had been real. I had known she was going to die. So when I woke up in the other reality where she was already dead…I knew I had to force myself to wake up…" he explained.

"And then…you just woke up…?" asked Chopper.

"Aa." replied Luffy.

"It was horrible what she did to the both of you…It was very cruel…I really wish we had beaten the hell out of her…" said Usopp with a frown.

"Aa…" replied Zoro. Chopper nodded vehemently with an angry frown.

"Scaring her was enough…" said Sanji.

"Nami didn't hesitate though…" said Chopper.

"Of course I didn't! That woman deserved more than what I gave her!!" seethed Nami.

Sanji finally finished cooking a great deal of food. Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, and Chopper immediately dug in and stuffed their faces with food. Chopper had also insisted they drink a lot of water. It had been two months since anything had gone into their mouths.

After they had eaten, they saw Dr. Ferris off. The clinic they had woken up in had actually been his. Senni had set up her base there. "I have a great deal to clean up when I get back. Thanks so much for setting me free. I also want to thank you for all that you told me while in the dream. I'm also sorry that I helped that mad woman to harm you. Oh and of course, thank you for the meal again. It was far more delicious in real life." he said as he bowed.

"It's okay! Don't worry about it." said Luffy as he grinned.

"It was my pleasure to cook for you Ferris-san." said Sanji as he bowed.

"It was no problem at all to help you Dr. Ferris. I want to thank you again for helping me." said Nami.

"Of course, any time." said Dr. Ferris as he waved. "Good bye, it was very nice meeting you." he said as he turned to leave. The crew waved good bye and watched him walk back into town.

Suddenly, everyone wilted. "I'm so tired…" said Luffy as he rubbed his eye.

"Aa…we will be tired for awhile…especially after eating…our bodies are working hard to digest it. It's no longer used to having to work…We should probably get some sleep…" said Chopper as everyone climbed back up to the ship. They all sluggishly made their ways to their beds. Everyone laid down and instantly fell asleep.

----

Luffy clenched his eyes shut tighter, and then opened them slightly. He felt horrible. He blinked a few times and then sat up in his bunk. His hand immediately went to his head. He felt slightly dizzy. He swung his legs off the bed. He looked behind him. Sanji was already gone. He got up and made his way out. He noticed everyone else was already awake as well.

He opened the door and stepped outside. Everyone was sitting or standing on deck. "Afternoon." said Usopp to Luffy as he smiled.

Luffy rubbed his eye and looked around. It was still day time. He yawned as he approached everyone. "When did you guys wake up?" he asked.

"Not too long ago actually…" replied Usopp.

"We've already set sail for the next island." said Chopper.

Luffy walked up to Nami, who was sitting in her deck chair, and then plopped down next to her while yawning again. Nami smiled warmly down at him. Everyone seemed confused at first, but then realized he was probably used to it. They also figured, even though it had been a dream, they were probably together. Luffy slumped to the side and placed his head gently on her lap. He still looked incredibly tired. Nami reached over and began to stroke his hair gently.

"So what are you guys talking about?" he asked sleepily as his eyes began to hood and he began to slowly blink. Her stroking his head was making him more relaxed.

"Just about everything that had happened…We are all aware that we all shared the same dream. It really was all of us together." said Usopp.

"Oh…but I thought we already figured that out…" said Luffy.

"Aa…we did…We were just talking about it and everything that happened." said Franky.

"Oh I see…" replied Luffy.

Chopper blinked at Luffy a few times. "Luffy…if you are still tired, why don't you go back to sleep?" asked Chopper.

Luffy pursed his lips. "I don't want to…I slept for two months…I don't need to sleep anymore…" he said. Then he frowned. "How come all of you look just fine…Why am I the only one who is still sleepy?" he asked.

"You went through a lot Luffy…I'm not surprised you are still tired." said Chopper.

"I'm still really tired too…but I feel as you do…I really don't want to go to sleep…To be honest…I'm a little afraid too…I still keep thinking I will wake up into another reality…" said Nami quietly as she frowned.

Luffy leaned his head back to look up at her. "I'm pretty sure this is real Nami." he said as he slowly blinked tiredly at her.

She smiled down at him. "I'm pretty sure it is…but I still can't help but to feel a little uneasy…" she said.

"I think we all feel that way, Nami-san…" said Sanji.

"Aa…" agreed the guys.

"No…I know this is real. It feels different. I feel different. My body feels heavier, and I feel more acute." said Robin.

"Aa…I agree with Robin." said Zoro. Then he made a face. "Not to mention…I've got the worst headache…" he said as he grabbed his head.

"Aa…" everyone agreed tiredly.

"Oh…I did too…but I took something for it…" said Chopper. Then he laughed. "I'll go get you guys something." he said as he hobbled off to his infirmary.

"Oi, Sanji, I'm hungry again." complained Luffy with a pout.

"Hai, hai." said Sanji as he made his way to the kitchen.

After dinner, Luffy stagger back to his bunk. Even though he really didn't want to go back to sleep, he was just way too tired. He fell into his bunk and was instantly asleep. Nami was also extremely tired. She and Luffy had suffered the most mental strain over the past two months. She went to her bed and laid down and instantly fell asleep.

Luffy's eyes shot opened and he immediately sat up at hearing the screams. He jumped out of bed and ran out the door. He and the rest of the crew made their way to Nami's room. He didn't waste time climbing the stairs. He stretched his arms and pulled himself up. He threw open the door and ran inside to her.

"Oi, Nami! It's okay!" he said as he made it to her.

She was sitting up in her bed with wild, tear filled eyes. "Luffy!!" she cried as she reached out for him. He immediately went to her pulling her to him.

"Nami-san! It's okay!" said Sanji as he ran in with the rest of the crew.

She wept loudly as she clung to Luffy. "It's alright now…It was just a dream…" he whispered next to her ear.

Chopper frowned. "It's going to take some time to heal…" he said.

Everyone but Luffy turned to him. "You mean…she will still have nightmares?" asked Usopp.

"Aa…I was expecting this to happen…Their minds suffered a lot…Far worse then what happened to us…It was bound to happen…" explained Chopper.

"So…it looks like we haven't really escaped that woman's trap…" said Zoro with clenched teeth.

"No…I guess not…" said Chopper quietly.

"I think Luffy can handle it from here…We should probably go…" said Zoro quietly to the others. Everyone nodded and walked out the door. Sanji took one last look before closing the door behind him.

"It's alright, Nami. Don't cry…I'm here…" whispered Luffy.

She finally began to calm down, but never released her tight hold on him. "I hate this…" she whispered. Luffy didn't say anything, but he gave her a gentle squeeze. "Am I going to have nightmares from now on of you dying?" she asked.

"I don't know, Nami…Just remember, when you wake up…I will always be here." he said.

"Will you…Will you stay with me?" she whispered.

Luffy pulled away and looked into her face. "Stay with you?" he asked.

"Un…I don't want to sleep alone…" she said.

"Nami…I don't think that is such a good idea…" said Luffy.

Looking completely confused, Nami frowned at him. "What, why?! You never had a problem with it before!" she said.

"Aa…but then…I had said you belonged to me…It was all in the dream…" he said.

She started to get upset. "Oh so since it was in the dream it was okay?! Now that we are out of it you realize you've got a new lease on life and don't have to commit to anything?!" she yelled feeling hurt.

Luffy blinked a few times at her outburst with wide eyes, and then pulled her to him in a tight embrace. She made a loud noise in surprise as he did. "Nami…that's not what I meant…" he said quietly.

She felt herself relaxing, but still pursed her lips. "Then what did you mean?" she asked.

"I meant that it had all been said in a dream…It didn't count." he said.

"Huh?" she questioned as her expression turned confused.

"I mean…you belonged to me at the times I slept with you…It's not the same anymore now that we are out of the dream…None of it had been real…" he explained.

Then she pursed her lips. "Wait a minute…not all the times had you said that…" she said.

He made a nervous noise. "I'm not sure what happened those other times…It was more instincts than anything…" he explained.

She narrowed her eyes as he held her. "I see…" she said in slight sarcasm.

He pulled away to look into her face. "Nami…before we had gotten trapped in that dream, about…what she had said…She said she had been watching us for awhile. That she had…seen…things that the crew didn't…" he said.

Nami furrowed her brows at him. 'What is he trying to say…?' she thought to herself. "Luffy…?" she questioned when he didn't immediately finish what he was saying.

"It was because…I didn't let them see…" he said quietly.

Nami inhaled loudly as her eyes widened. "What?" she whispered.

"When no one was looking…I used to watch you…I couldn't help it…You are so beautiful…She must have…seen me…" he said as he looked down.

"Luffy…" she whispered. She couldn't believe what he was telling her. 'So then…he had…been in love with me since before?' she thought to herself in disbelief.

"I thought before that…you would never…" he stopped what he was saying and sighed. "In the dream…when you had been hurt so badly…I knew that I wanted you to live…I made a promise to protect you and to always be there for you…but I wanted to make sure you lived…I didn't care if I died…I would know what I felt…but I just wasn't sure if you…" he stopped again and seemed to be trying to gather his thoughts. She furrowed her brows a bit and waited patiently for him to continue.

"When I told Zoro to take you some where safe and to take the others, all I could think about was your safety…I knew those marines were strong. I didn't want anything else to happen to you…I was scared when I saw you…I thought…you might die…When I turned and saw you screaming for me…I felt happy…I thought…maybe she does care…" he said.

She bonked him on the head. "Of course I care, you idiot!!" she exclaimed a little offended by what he said.

"Ow!" exclaimed Luffy as he lower his head while holding onto it.

"I nearly went crazy because I thought we had lost you!" she exclaimed as tears came to her eyes. Then she felt herself relax. "I guess…that was when I realized…just how much I..." she paused and looked down. "Losing you made me realize…just how much I…just how much I loved you…" she said softly.

He looked up at her quickly. "Really?" he asked. She nodded. He frowned. "I guess that's also why…when I saw you again…I thought…it was so good to see you again…I wondered how it was I had gotten there…but didn't care too much…I had honestly thought…I would never see you again…That's when I…" he started to say.

Nami looked up at him. Then she nodded and then blushed. "When we found you again…I…I was so glad…I was so relieved…When you remembered who I was…I felt so overwhelmed and…I felt…I don't know…I had to leave…I went to the ship to clear my mind…I hadn't expected you to come…I might have been really emotional…and…that's why I…" she started to say as her blush deepened.

"Aa…I know…I felt the same…" he said. She looked up at him.

"I guess after that…even though she had forced us to forget…I guess…we never did…" she said.

"Nami…I want to ask you…even though it had all been a dream…I know that we…when we were running…" he started to say.

Nami interrupted him by placing a finger over his lips. Then she smiled at him. "Of course I do…Luffy it may have all been a dream…but it doesn't change the fact that I fell in love with you…I still feel the same about you. It was real to me. Everything that happened between us." she said softly as she gently caressed his face.

He slowly closed his eyes and then reached up and placed his hand over hers. It felt so good to hear her say that. Then he opened them and looked at her. "Nami…everything I said in that dream…I meant it. I will always protect you and be there for you. No matter what happens…I am always going to love you…" he said softly. He lowered their hands, but kept a hold of hers.

She felt tears sting her eyes again. "I will always love you too, Luffy…" she whispered and then she frowned. "Luffy…when I took your seed…I meant that too…I want to always be with you…until the day I die, but…we are wanted…I don't think…marriage is possible for us…" she whispered.

He furrowed his brows. "Marriage…?" he asked looking confused.

She frowned at him. "Un…marriage." she said. He blinked at her a few times. "You know…saying we will be together forever!" she said getting annoyed again. He tilted his head at her as his frown turned lop-sided. "It's where a man and a woman become husband and wife! It means they are together until the day they die! I thought that had been clear that second time we made love!" she continued.

He blinked a few times. "Aa…I remember. I was happy when I knew you wanted to be with me for the rest of your life." he said.

"Then why are you giving me those looks?!" she asked.

"Because…what does it matter whether we are wanted or not for us to be together?" he asked.

She looked at him in confusion. "You mean…you don't know what it means to be married?" she asked. He blinked a few times and then shook his head. "It means becoming joined legally…Kind of like getting permission from the world government…We sign some papers and they approve it…but we can't do that since we are wanted." she said as she frowned sadly.

Luffy raised a brow as he kept his lop-sided frown. "I don't need anyone's permission to take you as mine…" he said.

Nami looked up at him in surprise. "What?" she whispered.

"Nami…just saying that you belong to me is all we need. When I say you belong to me…I mean forever, no one else can have you. Nami, you belong to me and only me…I love you and want to always be with you. If I say you are my wife…then you are…If I take you as mine…then you are." he explained.

Nami's face relaxed as she looked at him. "Luffy…" she whispered.

"You're my wife Nami…from today on…You belong to me…" he said softly as his face relaxed and he squeezed her hand tightly.

Tears began to stream down her face. "Luffy…do you…really mean that?" she whispered. He nodded. "Luffy…I…" she started to say, but her throat closed from her tears. She took a deep breath. "Alright…if you think that this is good enough…then so do I. Then…you are my husband Luffy…from today on…This promise can't be broken or taken lightly…We are joined together…and no one can break us apart…" she said quietly.

"Aa…It's a promise." he said softly in return. Then he leaned forward and kissed her passionately. She wrapped her arms around him and then pulled him down with her.

Luffy leaned up on his elbows and then stared down into her face. He began to look over all of her features. He raised his hand and gently and feather light began to trace all of her features with his finger. Nami looked up into his face, watching him as he did this. It seemed as if he was etching her image into his mind. She still couldn't believe it. She was looking up into the face of her husband. They had just married each other. He was hers.

She slowly smiled up at him as he traced her lips. He smiled in return, leaned down and then took her lips again. She could feel the difference. It felt far better in person than in some dream. She moaned as he took her tongue into his mouth. She ran her hands through his hair. He began to trail kisses down her neck. She inhaled sharply as she turned to the side to give him better access.

----

Lying entangled in each other's arms, trying to catch their breath, they stared up at the ceiling together silently. What they had done in the dreams had been nothing compared to what they just did. Nami found herself smiling. Now she had lost her virginity to the captain of their ship, to her husband. She turned into the crook of his neck and cuddled closer to him, his hold on her tightened. She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent.

"You know…I never knew people had to do paperwork if they wanted to be together." said Luffy quietly.

Nami slowly opened her eyes. "No one ever told you about how couples end up together?" she asked.

"Nope…" he replied. There was silence for awhile. "I always figured when a man took a mate that meant she was his forever." he said.

"You mean like what we just did?" she asked with a smile.

"Aa…" he replied. "I mean…that's how animals do it…They don't have to ask permission…Why do we?" he asked.

"I don't know…" replied Nami as she giggled at his cute naivety. "You know, it works both ways. When a woman takes a man for her mate, he belongs to her too…and no one else." she said.

"Shishi, of course." he replied as he laughed.

She leaned up on her elbows and looked down at him. Then she leaned against him. She felt his sharp intake of breath as her breasts pressed against his bare chest. She giggled and then leaned down and kissed him. Then she leaned up and looked down at him.

"I thought you would be used to it by now." she said.

"I don't think I will ever get used to how good that feels…" he said honestly.

She laughed. "I guess not…It does feel good." she said as she rubbed them against him further.

He chuckled. "Well, I don't care about asking for permission. I've decided you are mine. I don't care if they don't think it's done right. To me, it is." he said with a slight pout.

Nami giggled again. "Un…it is to me too…" she said softly as she smiled lovingly down at him.

He smiled lovingly up at her in return. "You're my wife now…Nami…" he said softly.

"That's right…I am…and you, my husband…" she said as she kissed him. "And this wife is tired…I'm going to sleep." she said with a smile. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. She felt him sigh. She smiled. It really was possible to fall in love with someone in a dream. Granted that person shared the same dream with you. It also helped that he had already been in love with her. She still couldn't believe that little bit of information. She never would have guessed it. She cuddled into him further and fell asleep.

The next morning, Nami woke up fine. She didn't have another nightmare since he was with her. "You chased my nightmares away…" she whispered as she smiled sleepily while cuddling into him further.

"Good." he said as he chuckled.

Nami decided it was time to get up. She crawled over him to get out of bed. However, he growled and grabbed a hold of her hips, pulling her back down. She laughed. "Luffy!" she called as she laughed. He began to kiss her neck loudly. She continued laughing. "You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking!" she said as she pulled away from him.

He raised his eyebrows innocently at her. "Hmm?" he hummed.

She snorted inelegantly. "I've learned my lesson from the last time. I now know most of your innocence is a ruse, and I will be damned if I let you laugh at me again for walking funny." she said as she pulled away from him. He started laughing in memory. She reached over and threw a pillow at him. "It wasn't funny!!" she yelled. He cried out as the pillow slammed into his face. She snorted in laughter again as she walked towards her closet.

He leaned up on his elbows and watched her. A hobby he would always appreciate. She turned to him and playfully frowned. "You should get dressed too, instead of lazing about and watching me, you pervert." she said.

"Oi, oi…let a man enjoy the beauty of his wife…" he said in a low voice with a pout and narrowed eyes.

She giggled again and then turned to finish changing. After she was fully clothed she could hear him get out of bed to get dressed. She smiled, turned and then watched him. He glanced over at her and chuckled. After they were dressed, they both made their way to the dining room. They knew they had woken late and everyone else was probably already eating.

As soon as they walked in, they were greeted with smiles and good mornings. "Good morning." replied Nami as she smiled at everyone.

Luffy sat down and then looked at everyone. "I just wanted to say that I made Nami my wife last night, and if anyone has a problem with it…well too freakin' bad, cuz it's already done..." he said with narrowed eyes as he began to pick his nose with his pinky finger. Nami giggled quietly.

"Is that even alright…? I mean, don't you have to…" started Sanji.

"I don't need anyone's permission." said Luffy, interrupting Sanji and looking over at him. "All we needed to know was that we belong to one another, and that was good enough for us." he continued.

Sanji smiled and then nodded. "Good enough for me too…" he said.

"Aa…good enough for me as well!" said Zoro as he grinned and lifted his drink.

"Aa!!" cried the rest of the guys with grins.

"We should celebrate!!" exclaimed Franky loudly.

"Aa!!" everyone agreed. Robin began to laugh softly and happily for them.

More food was made, and more barrels of wine were opened as they celebrated their joining.

----

A few days later, an island came into view. "O-i, land ho!!" called Zoro from the crow's nest intercom.

Everyone ran to the front of the ship to get a look at it. Then Nami frowned. "Is that a marine base?" she asked a little worried.

Usopp began to shiver. "Looks like it…" he said nervously.

"Well…that doesn't bring back pleasant memories…" said Sanji with a frown.

"I'm so excited!! I can't wait to see the new island!!" exclaimed Luffy.

"Oi, oi…Did you not learn your lesson from the dream?!" yelled Usopp.

"But it was just a dream…Doesn't mean it's going to happen. We are strong, not weak like we were in the dream! We can take a bunch of marines, Shishishi!! Let's go to the new island!" exclaimed Luffy as he pumped his fist in the air. He turned back around at the complete silence. "Ehmm?" he questioned as he stared at them with a blank expression.

They were all staring at him in disbelief. Then their faces turned to anger. "Eh?" he questioned as his eyes widened.

All that could be heard across the ocean were his screams of pain. "I'm sorr-y!!"

The End

Author's Note: That's it! It's over! Move on with your lives! I hope you all enjoyed my story and this chapter. I want to thank you all for your support and reviews throughout my story! So, what did you think of Senni? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…I know there wasn't much of a fight scene at the end, but that was because she was weak and so were her men. She had a very powerful and scary ability, but that was it…She didn't even have much of a brain…Anyways, thanks again for your support and I'm outta here! XD Ja ne!

P.S. I just wanted to make sure you all understood. When they were talking to each other after her night mare, the things they were saying were recaps on all the impulsive things they had done and why. They are just giving each other their reasons for what they had done. Like, why 'Kind' Luffy had kissed her, why she had slept with him that first time and so on. XP I also made up about the whole marriage thing and needing permission. Ryo once explained to me that back in the day, a man used to just announce in public that a woman was his wife and it was made so. That is basically the basis I went by with Luffy and Nami. He said she was his and it was so. They truly see themselves as married, so therefore, they are. So there! Bleh! XP