"Crocodile.."

"Yes, Y/n?"

"Am I the prettiest woman you've ever married..? Or at least had a relationship with?"

You weren't trying to sound conceited, you were just trying to poke a little to get a nice little compliment from your husband of two years.

"Ah well, I've only ever been married once; and that was to you."

You smile, feeling a warmth enveloping your chest as you leaned against his side.

"But no, you're not the prettiest lady I've had the pleasure of knowing, in fact most of the women I've dated have had lots over you."

You frowned, glancing up at him as he let the words flow freely from his lips as if he'd said nothing.

"They had  a nice complexion, were curvy and had shape, beautiful ladies. There are many women prettier and more desirable than you."

You felt tears prick the corners of your eyes, glancing down at the floor as he continued back to the paper he was currently reading.

"Oh?"

You felt your voice crack, the facade slowly cracking just like your heart was.

"Well tell me, what do you find attractive about women?"

"Nice eyes, nice full lips...nice skin I can feel and grab when necessary.. Someone with a nice asset..nice assets I should say, curvy as I've said before.."

You felt a lone tear drag down your left cheek, pushing away from his side as you stood rubbing your arm.

"Oh, well I'm sorry.."

Your eyes flickered down, sniffling silently as you made your way out of the living room.

°

That had been three days ago, now you sat at the large vanity in the room looking at yourself and assessing what was staring right back at you.

Your eyes slowly crept up every inch of your face, more tears pricking at your eyes as you replayed the words he'd said a few nights prior.

'There are many women prettier and more desirable than you.'

"Than you..than me.."

For the umpteenth time, tears flowed freely down your cheeks as you tried your hardest to fight them off, hands trying desperately to silence the solemn cries that broke from your lips.

"You're not pretty enough for him..he said himself that you weren't anywhere near what he was used to being around..probably women who were curvaceous and had gorgeous, perfect faces..women who he was attracted to..."

Your eyes downcast to the top of the vanity, looking through the little diary you had opened to the month of June; a month before the Wedding date.

'Tuesday, June 3rd

  There's barely any time left for planning! We've just gotten back from shopping and I've never seen him grin wider than today when he saw me in those dresses.
   I've finally found someone who completes me and makes me feel beautiful all the same'

"All the same...that's the real question though..if there were so many other better looking women why did he ask me to marry him instead of going out and getting the nearest dime piece? Its not like it would've been hard for him to do.."

"Maybe its because he didn't want to."

You looked up in the mirror to look at him leaning against the doorframe; arms crossed as his lips stayed still in a frown.

"What do you want.."

You wiped the remaining tears away, grabbing up a tissue to dab at the corners of your eyes before wiping your nose.

"Well I'm sorry I didn't know i was condemned from my own bedroom."

You threw the wadded up tissue in the wastebasket and turned on the stool, looking up at him as the diary was locked and stashed back in the drawer.

"You should be. I don't know what makes you think I want to be around you, or to talk to you for that manner after what you've said to me..like you think you deserve my time. You've said your peace why don't you leave me be.."

"Because you're my wife."

"Tch, wife...do you even consider me your wife? You can tell me I am, but can you make me feel it hm? Make me feel as 'beautiful' as I was at the wedding?"

He sighed pushing off from the wall to walk forward in big steps as he did; leaning down to come face to face with you.

"Are you still on about that? You asked a question I was just answering honestly."

"Well I would've rather had you lie to me than let me sit here wondering the real reason behind you wanting to marry such an uninteresting and plain lady.."

"Mm."

He walked his way to the middle of the room, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"You know I used to think I wasn't good enough for you Crocodile, I'd always tell myself that you could find better and it wouldn't daze you a bit to forget me; then you'd tell me how beautiful I'd look in an outfit you'd gotten for me, or in lingerie for our anniversaries..and then I'd feel better again. I'd feel better knowing I was pleasing you. Now I wonder how many times you've lied to me.."

"I have lied to you none, you women blow things out of proportion. A few nights ago I told you honestly that I'd seen prettier women; but have I ever sought them out? Cheating isn't my cup of tea Y/n..."

"Then why make me feel that way...? Like i.."

"Because they have no personality. You have plenty of personality, a pretty face may get you looks; but a personality can draw a crowd."

You looked up at him, turning in the seat fully to lean back against the edge of the vanity table.

"But..is that all..? Do you find me unattractive but fun to be around?'

"I never said you were unattractive, any fool knows better than to call his lady love unattractive... Darling I have seen you at your worst do you not remember? The way you look away absentmindedly, blank expressions, a worried look crossing your face when you have a little breakout around that time...I've seen the way your body looks in different fabrics and styles, your hair styled and cut multiple times..have I not been there to love you with every change you've made? Every scar on your body I've kissed, your stretch marks I've caressed with my fingers..."

His eyes traveled to yours now, holding a soft warmth to them as he spoke.

"Your lips that have been both plump and chapped, had I not kissed them then? Out in the cold? You may not be the most gorgeous woman on earth, Missus Crocodile, but tell me, do you want to be? Is that what you want?"

You frowned in thought as your eyes closed.

No you didn't. You didn't want to be the most gorgeous woman in the world.

You just wanted to be the most gorgeous woman for him.

But that seemed impossible now.

"No. I dont want to be the most gorgeous woman in the world..I want to be the most gorgeous woman in your world."

"You already are.."

"But-"

"Around me, there are beautiful women, but here in your eyes; your presence, you are the most breathtaking beauty I have laid these aging eyes on..the figure of my wife, the features of my wife, the sound of my wife's voice in the morning, my wife's hands massaging the days work from my skin, you are what I need; not a sudden desire."

You slowly stood, making your way to the bed as he laid back propped against his palm.

"Croc.."

"Y/n.."

Your head hung, an arm coming to wrap around your waist to pull you to him and rest you there against his broad chest as he laid back on the bed.

"Good..good..relax now.."

Your eyes closed, listening to the soft beat of his heart as it drummed against his chest rhythmically.

"Ah. I can already see us older, griping to one another and getting into petty arguments.."

You lifted your head, eyes opened as you looked at him speak, your hand coming to caress along his cheek.

"Oh? And don't we always find a way to solve such petty things Crocodile..?"

A chuckle rumbled from his chest as an eye opened, a small grin twitching the corner of his mouth up.

"Yes we do, love, yes we do..."