I'm back with a new chapter. If you don't read my other story, then you have probably wondered where I was. Well sadly while I was away moving my sister, I fell and hurt my shoulder. I had three doctors tell me different things, and finally just found out that I pulled the tendon in my arm, and maybe even have torn cartilage. So what this means, it that for the time being I am in a sling, and typing takes a lot longer than normal. So don't expect these to come out too fast. Sorry, but enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 10

In the weeks that followed Ace's departure Marco was a sullen, almost ghostly figure around the ship. He rarely left his room and children to do anything, and the other commanders had taken to bringing him his food and work so that he could be with them.

Thatch woke up nearly two weeks after Ace's flight after Teach, and had automatically tried to spring into action of fetching his friend. Whitebeard had to order him to stay in bed before he would settle down as the doctors had insisted.

Thatch awake and with nothing else to do, had retaken up his babysitting duty and Marco was back at his desk doing his, Thatch, and Ace's paperwork. He also could be seen running for the News coo every day and then spending an hour or two searching it for any news of his lover. Tales of strangely warm days on Winter Islands, freak fires that seemed to start from nothing, and tales of men coming back to life after dropping dead always brought a smile to his face and reassured him that his lover was doing fine.

Red Hair had come and gone, yelling at Whitebeard for 'letting' Ace go after Teach. And nearly three months passed before Ace was mentioned by name in the papers. And when it was it was, it was on the front page in big bold letters that made Marco's heart nearly stop.

FIRE FIST ACE CAPTURED!

Jozu didn't know why, but when he saw the streak of blue rush past him the urge to grab the body moving by him hit and he listened. Soon he realized that he had grabbed Marco, and was about to let his brother go when Whitebeard's voice rang out.

"Hold him tight Jozu, we can't let him run off." So Jozu tightened his hold.

Marco was having none of that and struggled with his entire strength against the arms holding him. "Let me go Jozu. Pop's Ace needs me yoi."

"Marco we can't have you running off and getting caught too. We will save him. Don't worry."

"But Pop's, I have to go. You don't understand." Marco stated looking straight into his Captains eyes. Whitebeard looked back, and what he saw scared him a bit. The desperation in his first mates eyes was moving. He sighed, "Let him go Jozu, but you must promise me to be careful Marco."

Marco stopped and nodded and then took off again, this time slower and he went to quickly assemble what he would need and to talk with Thatch.

To say Thatch wasn't impressed would be an understatement.

"So you are leaving, and you expect me to sit with them till you get back? You do remember that these are your kids right?"

"Of course I do yoi. But I have to do this Thatch, I need to go get him. I have a bad feeling about this entire thing, and I have from the beginning. I should have gone after him from the beginning or at least gone with him, and now he's been captured by the Marine's and they're planning his execution."

"And what will you leaving do. You do know they won't just let you waltz into Impel Down. Even if you get in, how do you plan on getting out?"

"I don't know yet. But Pop's will be behind me. And I just can't sit still while this is happening yoi."

Thatch sighed. He could see arguing with his best friend was getting nowhere. Marco was already convinced he had to leave, and if Thatch thought about it, it probably had something to do with his Phoenix side. If Marco had thought that Thatch wouldn't know about animal habits and their reflection on their Zoan counterparts, then he was sadly mistaken. It had taken him very little time after Ace had changed to figure out the two were more than likely a mated pair. He had meant to bring it up and tease the two mercilessly, but he had ended up on the wrong side of a traitorous knife. Then Ace had run off, and Marco was inconsolable.

"I'm not going to be happy if these guys hatch when you all are gone."

Marco looked up, "So you'll take care of them?"

Thatch sighed again, "Yeah. Just know that if these guys come out and I have two kids following me around calling me 'mama' cause I've spent so much time with them, we are going to have a problem."

Marco smiled, laughing lightly at the idea. "I don't think Ace would let you keep them either. I'm sure he misses them, I'm surprised he ever left them."

Smiling knowing that at least part of his family was safe, Marco made to get up. A hand on his sleeve stopped him briefly. "Just be careful Marco. I'm serious, I wouldn't mind being a godparent, but that doesn't mean I want to raise your kids."

Marco smiled, nodding. Then he was gone.

Under the sea in the prison known as Impel Down, Ace sat shackled to a wall behind bars. The prison was taking no chances with their current number one prisoner. His reputation as Whitebeards Second Commander had them fearful, and most of the guards were on alert in the event that Whitebeard should show up. Most of them had barely slept they were so high strung, and most were taking their frustrations out on the prisoners. Ace would know, he had been on the receiving end on more than one occasion.

The sound of feet coming his way had him anticipating another beating. The opening of his cage, only served to increase that belief. However when he looked up they were bringing in another prisoner, a very familiar prisoner. Both waited till the guards were gone to talk.

"What are you doing here Jinbe?"

Jinbe scoffed, "Tried to talk some sense into the Marine's. The Old Man is not going to take you being imprisoned lightly, and they know it. They are ready for war, and they are hoping to come out on top."

Ace laughed lightly, "I wouldn't look down on Pop's so much if I were them."

Jinbe laughed as well, "Ah, Old Man Garp and Sengoku seem to understand that, but the Gorosei want to prove a point. The Marines are going to regret this decision."

"They will. So how have they been since I left?"

Jinbe tilted his head back thoughtfully, "The same. Thatch recovered nicely, though he was still on bed rest last I saw him. Red Hair met with the Old Man, and was very at him for sending you after Teach."

Now Ace scoffed, but only regretted the motion as it made his broken ribs ache and caused him to cough. Catching his breath he replied, "Pop's didn't send me after Teach. I ran after him."

Jinbe looked at Ace to continue. He didn't have to wait long. "I'm an idiot. I should have known better, but I let my emotions rule my actions and I went at him headfirst. I should have made a plan, but I just wanted to get it over with. Bastard ate the fruit he stole. It made all my Mera Mera no Mi attacks useless. I should have made a plan." Ace stopped. He had to or he was going to lose his composure. And he didn't want to do that, not when the guards could show up at any moment.

Jinbe sighed. He knew Ace was a hothead. It had gotten him into and out of trouble more times than anyone could count. He decided to change the subject. "Ace…"

"It's ok Jinbe. Tell me how the rest of the crew was. What about Marco?"

Jinbe should have known the brat would bring up his lover. He smiled as he started recounting his last visit with the Whitebeard crew, "Marco was doing fine last I saw him. He obviously missed you, but seemed content to wait."

"Yeah right. Meaning he was worried out of his mind, and Pop's probably had to tie him to the mast."

"Ah. But they will come. Don't doubt for a second that they won't."

"I know."

Footsteps coming towards their cage made them stop talking. Both prepared themselves for the beating that was likely going to come.

You all like? Hopefully the answer is yes. Please Review. And I'll post again as fast as I can.