Celestia was stunned by his words. Waiting for the male to make the slightest movement before letting out a small shaky breath. "Zoro is.. I don't want to do this.. grieve and carry his death around too. I can't.. I just can't handle it. So..." She spoke.
Her hand gripped his gently a bit as she made it seem like she was debating who to pick. "I will." She whispered. Waiting as she got no reply from him. Letting go of his hand as she glanced at the ring before reaching to remove it. "I will choose Ve-."
A hand grabbed hers lightly before she could fully remove the ring. "Don't.. even think about it.."
Celestia listened as she glanced at him immediately. "Zoro!"
"I'm gonna kill that damn punk." Zoro mumbled as he slid her ring back up properly. Glancing up at her.
"Zoro!" Celestia immediately held his cheeks softly. Letting out a small laugh of relief.
Zoro let her as he reached up and wiped her cheeks. Frowning slightly as he had never intended on making her cry. "Cece.." He spoke softly.
Celestia listened to him. Holding his hand close to her at the moment. "You had me worried sick, you bastard!" She raised her voice as she used her free hand and flicked him on the forehead.
Zoro hissed a bit at the flick. "Is that how you treat your injured husband? By injuring me more?"
"No. That's how I treat an idiot who didn't listen to me. I thought you were dead!"
Zoro listened as he held her hand. "I am not leaving you anytime soon." He spoke.
Celestia sighed as she placed a small kiss on his forehead. "Just rest." She spoke lightly.
"I'm not tired." Zoro spoke.
"It's not about being tired." She huffed as she glanced at him. "Your wound needs to heal."
"I'm sorry." Zoro spoke as he glanced at her. "I heard everything.. I didn't mean to make you worry."
"All I care about is you being alive and well."
"It's not okay. I know I put you in a situation you never wanted to be in but-."
"But I know you made it out alive and we get to have you around again." Celestia spoke.
"I heard your voice calling out to me. I felt your tears. Making you cry was the last thing that I wanted to happen. I swear." Zoro confessed. "And my promise to you will stand firm. No pirate will lay a hand on you for as long as I breathe. You heard that Vex?"
"Loud and clear." Vex replied. "If it even stops me."
Celestia listened as she held his hand a bit. Glancing at him as she glanced at his chest.
"I still have to marry you." Zoro added to take the attention she had on his wound away.
Celestia glanced back up at him as she scanned his features. "That's not important right now."
"I'm alive. I'm fine." Zoro spoke.
"You're just saying that to try and make what happened seem like it was nothing." Celestia fumed at him. "If you had listened to me none of this would have happened."
"Well, I want to take your worries away." Zoro gave a small slight shrug. "What happened after I went unconscious?" He asked.
Celestia listened to him speak before rubbing his hand a bit. "I discovered something new about myself."
"Really?"
"Mhm." Celestia nodded. "Turns out I didn't just inherit my father's strength but I have my mothers abilities as well and according to the others it's because my power is sealed. I don't know how to break that seal."
Zoro listened to her speak as it made his pain lessen. Having her by his side made him relax. Lightly placing his hand on her cheek.
Celestia felt his hand as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch softly. Taking in the warmth his hand gave off as it confirmed it wasn't a dream.
"You weren't really going to take the ring off, were you?" Zoro asked.
"I was." Celestia spoke as she opened her eyes. "You weren't waking up and I was trying to figure out what to do. Sanji, Luffy, Vex, and Nami helped in my plan."
"And your plan was to get with that lousy ship cleaner?"
"Well, he is cute."
"Don't call him that. He's a damn crewmate. Not yours. I'll send him back to Syrup Village if I have to." Zoro spoke jealous.
"Seems like you're still the same old Jealous Zoro." She huffed as she crossed her arms.
"Only when it comes to my girl."
Celestia lightly placed her hand on his cheek. Giving him a small peck before pulling away. "My darling." She teased.
Zoro's cheeks turned a slight pink color as his eyes scanned her features. Looking calm on the outside as he was flustered on the inside. "Is that my nickname from you?"
"Aside from my grumpy swordsman, it depends. Do you want it to be?" She asked.
"If it means only you call me yours then yes."
Celestia smiled a bit as she lower her head closer to his. Placing her forehead on his. "You're my darling. There is no one who can replace what you have made me feel all these years but next time you pull a stunt like this I will make sure to hurt you after."
Zoro gave a small smile as he listened to her speak. "I like the sound of that but not of you hurting me. You can be quite scary you know." He replied. Keeping his forehead on hers. "Just don't let that cook near you either."
"He's a nice guy and a new friend. Be nice." Celestia spoke.
Zoro listened as he gazed into her eyes. "Fine.. but only because you told me to. I still don't tolerate him."
"Him and Zeff help save you. He's not as bad as you think."
Zoro thought about it. "Fine.. only because you told me to and because they helped me." He spoke. "Happy?"
"Very." Celestia spoke as she smiled before hearing the door open abruptly.
"Zoro!" Luffy spoke up. "I heard you talking on my way down the hall!" Walking over immediately.
Celestia moved away as she let their captain have a look at his first mate. Watching Luffy hug the male tightly out of excitement. A small laugh leaving her.
"You're not dead!" Luffy beamed.
Zoro groaned from the hug he was given by him. "Really wishing I was right now."
"How did you wake him up?" Luffy asked.
"Well.. I was going to take my ring off and he woke up."
"Ring?" Luffy asked confused.
"Oh right. Me and Zoro are engaged." Celestia remember they hadn't told him the news as she smiled.
"Congrats Zoro! I had no idea." Luffy spoke. "When did all of this happen!?"
"Yesterday while you were busy with working in the kitchen for Zeff." She replied as she smiled.
"Woah.. I did not expect this." Luffy spoke.
"I've known she was the one for years." Zoro mumbled.
Celestia placed her hand on his head lightly. "I think we both had been a bit quiet with how we felt in the past. This is something to strengthen our promises to one another, give our relationship a bit of a nudge in a good way, being able to spend our time with the crew." She spoke softly.
Her hand running through his hair made her smile. She felt like the air could reach her lungs again and her tired red eyes could take a break. He was back into her life and she couldn't ask for anything else.
It was better than anything. Her hand moved to him as she let him speak with the others at the moment. His presence was enough to lift the mood.