Ace groaned softly in his sleep. His recently twenty year old body ached slightly. He could proudly fight in two wars, but spending a week in bed with his lover managed to torture his muscles. It was nice to have Leo back though. He'd just returned a week ago from fighting Gaea, and Ace was more than happy to fulfill his promise from two years ago. At least a week just the two of them in bed. He cuddled closer to his lover's naked warmth.

Leo rolled over and pulled Ace into him, "You're awake already?"

The blonde was awake, but he didn't open his eyes as he muttered lazily, "Trying not to be...I know what you'll want to do if I am."

Leo laughed, "You know me so well..." Suddenly he heard a noise, "Do you hear that?" He could have sworn it sounded like a child crying.

"You're just trying to distract me." Ace answered before he heard it as well. He opened his eyes, "What is that?"

Leo kicked off the covers and pulled on his superhero boxers, "Let's find out."

Ace followed him, pulling on camo sleeping pants, before heading out to the living room of the house he'd inherited from his parents in New Rome. A large blue and green crib sat there. The crying just got louder as the couple approached. Within it lay a baby with a blue blanket. As if the blue wasn't a clear enough sign, the baby's diaper had slipped making it no question that the thing was, in fact, male. Next to it lay a bright pink envelope Ace had seen a few times during the past two years, always from Lady Venus.

Leo fixed the diaper on the crying baby then picked him up and rocked him back to sleep, "What's in the envelope?"

The blonde picked it up hesitantly, and opened it. He scanned the letter within it, before telling Leo, "His name is Duke Kindle-Valdez, a welcome home gift from Lady Venus."

Leo looked at Ace, completely shocked, "Not the kind of gift I was expecting, but still a good one." Then he thought as he put the baby down, "Ace." He got on one knee, "Will you marry me?"

Ace stared at him, shaking his head, and glanced at the baby. This was all too much. He just wanted his boyfriend back, he didn't need a wedding or kid right away. Leo's only asking because of the boy, "This...It's not how it should be done..."

"What are you talking about? This isn't about having the kid. This is about me being madly in love with you from the moment I saw you, Ace. I was planning on asking you soon, anyways but couldn't find the right time. Every time I was about to ask we just ended up having sex instead. This seems like as good a time as any to ask you. Ace, I love you, and I'm ready to start a life with you and settle down." He looked at him hopefully.

"It's...not how it should be done." Ace answered, still stunned, "It...there should be flowers and dinner. We should be dressed up, not standing here just woken up with a baby that needs changed...Its not how its suppose to happen."

Leo stood, "I have a ring...Well...rings. I got a ring for you from every place we stopped at on our trip."

"You...What?" Ace shook his head. Every nerve in his brain was in panic mode as too many things were happening back to back.

"I got you a ring from every place we stopped." He looked down dejected, "But maybe it was a mistake."

"I'll just...give me a minute." The blonde walked outside, and sat down on their front step. His heart was pounding, hands trembling, and as much as he hated them the tears started coming.

Ebony saw Ace and sat next to him, "What's wrong?"

"Leo proposed." Ace muttered, "Leo proposed because there's a baby..."

Ebony squealed, "There's a baby?!"

"Yep, he's in there, and seriously needs changed, and I don't know if Leo knows how. Hades, I don't know how! And...I finally understand why there aren't any baby pictures of me! Because red eyes are terrifying on a baby. Little devil's child, and despite that all I want to do is go buy him cute little onesies, but I can't because I'm out here having a panic attack!"

"Ace, you don't have to panic. I'm here for you. And so is Gael. And Leo." She put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's too fast...It's too fast..."

Ebony smiled, "Ace, since when is something 'too fast' for you? You live in the fast lane."

He laughed weakly, "But having a baby and getting married back to back? It's too much."

"You can do it though. Just go for it. Leo loves you and the baby needs you both."

Ace stood slowly, and walked back inside. He went straight over to Leo, kissing him heatedly. His tears were drying as he put everything he could into that kiss. Leo kissed back, pulling Ace close to him. After a minute, Ace pulled back panting, "Lets do it."

"Really?" Leo couldn't hide his happiness.

The blonde nodded, "I was overwhelmed before, but...I want to. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Leo kissed him happily, "I love you!"

"I love you too." Ace looked down at Duke, "We should figure out how to change him, and go shopping."

Ebony was standing in the doorway, then walked in. "I can teach you." She picked up Duke, grabbed a diaper and put the baby on the couch. She changed the diaper and explained how to do it as she went. The legacy watched her, apparently fascinated by what she was doing. Ebony handed the baby back to Ace, "Think you got it?"

Ace cradled the baby close, and nodded without looking at her. His gaze was focused on the child he held. He seemed deep in thought, but his arms tightened around Duke as if he was afraid that if he let go of him the boy would disappear. Ebony smiled at Ace and the baby.

Leo looked at Eb, "Thanks for the help."

"No problem. Um, if you need any more help I'm here."

Ace stayed focused on Duke, forgetting the other two were there he whispered to the boy, "They aren't getting their hands on you."

Ebony just shook her head and laughed, "I have to go. I'll see you guys later." She kissed the back of Duke's head and left. Ace looked up then at Leo, holding Duke tightly to him.

Leo smiled at his fiance, "This is great."

"He's beautiful." Ace muttered, looking back down at the boy in his hands. He was blonde with Ace's red eyes, but his father could see Leo in boy's jaw, his slightly pointed ears, the hispanic tint to his skin. He knew what the boy would go through with the legion, but Ace couldn't get rid of the joy hiding in his chest about holding in his arms the perfect meld of himself and his lover.