It was a normal day for the Whitebeard Pirates. Marco was during rounds around the three Moby Dick ships, scouting for any signs of threats, ships or islands. He hovered just above the Crow's Nest, his blue-flamed wings spread.

"FOOD!"

Someone barrelled into Marco, the impact surprisingly more painful than what it should've been. Marco and the other person were thrown into the water. The Phoenix turned back into his human form as his lungs burned for air. His body tensed itself, making him unable to move due to his devil fruit.

Whitebeard was watching peacefully with a gentle smile. He enjoyed a relaxing day like this. Nothing but calm and peace. He noticed Marco doing his usual rounds, which Whitebeard tried to stop on many occasions for Marco to just relax, and then the sudden blur that threw Marco and another object into the water. Another yellow blur shot after the first blur, shooting straight into the water.

Marco caught sight of someone shooting into the water, heading for him. Was he dreaming? Because the person was like a mermaid. She swam closer to him, extending her hand and wrapping it around his waist. Her other hand grabbed another person and she heaved them up, her legs kicking at the water.

She shoved them up into the surface, allowing them to breathe. Marco gulped for the air, catching his breath. He heard another person cough out the water.

"Sorry about that," a harmonic voice told him.

Marco turned to see an orange-haired beauty smiling at him with pursed lips. "Marco! Are you alright?!" Haruta called out, looking down at them from the ship. Everyone had crowded around the railings to check on their first division commander.

Marco nodded.

"Luffy?! Nami?!" Ace yelled out, shocked at the appearance of the two pirates.

Luffy and Nami looked up. They both smiled at the raven haired man. "Hi, Ace," Nami greeted with a smile.

Marco was surprised that this woman could easily hold his and the other man's weight while in water.

"Yo, Ace!" Luffy grinned, helpless in the water.

"Hold on," he called out, moving away to grab something.

A rope was thrown over, Ace and Vista holding it for the trio in the water. Nami swam closer to it, her arms secured around the two men in her arms. She pushed Marco upwards, allowing him to use his hands to grab onto the rope ladder. He climbed it and once he arrived halfway, she pushed Luffy up. When her captain was halfway, Nami climbed.

When she reached the top, Ace extended reached down to grab her waist. He hauled her up. Her feet landed on the wooden deck and a warm fluffy towel was placed on her shoulders. "Thanks," she smiled warmly.

"Why did you two throw Marco in the water?" Ace asked, wrapping his arms around Nami. He heated his body up, stopping the girl from getting a cold.

She smiled gratefully up at the fire fist as she relaxed into his hold. During Alabasta, he did the same thing during those cruel, cold nights.

The Whitebeard Pirates and Whitebeard himself stared at the two with an amused look fixed with confusion. What they did was natural to them, the pirates could see that.

"I saw this blue chicken -" Luffy was unaware of the chuckles of the Whitebeard pirates " - and I wanted to catch it for Sanji to cook it," he answered, rubbing the back of his neck, sheepishly.

"I followed after him because I figured he'd end up in the water," Nami added, a relaxed sigh falling from her mouth as Ace began to massage her shoulders, unintentionally.

"That chicken was Marco," Ace said, his hands moving from her shoulders to her waist, flushing her body against him.

The Whitebeard Pirates noticed the glare the Strawhat kid gave his brother.

(Don't forget that the war had happened. Luffy does know that Ace is alive, btw. He also knows Nami brought him back. But he's not allowed to tell.)

"You're Ace's brother, am I right?" Thatch asked, walking up to them with a tray of drinks. He headed for Nami. "A drink?" he asked, flirtingly.

Nami smiled at him as she took the drink, Ace still holding her. "Thank you."

"Yep!" Luffy grinned, forgetting all about Nami and Ace.

"And I'm going to assume that you're Ace's girlfriend, right?"

Nami laughed, fortunately, she hadn't drunk the drink yet. "No, we're just friends," Nami shrugged it off. "Ace just likes cuddles."

"Because you give the best ones," Ace said.

"Yeah, and I want one," Luffy pouted, tugging at Nami's arm.

"Have my drink instead." That shut him up as he took her drink and gulped it down.

"I'm hungry," Luffy said, looking around.

Ace let go of Nami just before Luffy rocketed over to the kitchen. A small frown appeared on Nami's face as the warmth was taken away from her but replaced it with a smile when she heard him chuckle. Nami knew full well what he was going to say. "Pops, we're going to have to stock up on the next island," Ace stated as his lips curved into a smile, watching his younger brother slam into the kitchen.

"Why?"

"Luffy eats a lot," Ace answered. He chuckled as he walked off to the kitchen. Thatch and a couple of others followed after them, wanting to see how much this kid could really eat.

Everyone dispersed into their own conversations, moving away to resume their work. Only Izo and Marco were left behind as Whitebeard moved to sit back down in his chair. "I'm Izo," Izo said, extending a hand for Nami.

"Nami." She shook his hand gracefully like she had done many times.

"How'd you meet Ace?"

"We saw him in Alabasta. We were heading the same way Ace was so he tagged along. Nothing too complex."

"Thanks for getting me out of the water," Marco interrupted their conversation. "I'm Marco." He wore his usual bored look but a small smile curved at his lips. "Where's your crew?"

Nami turned around and looked to the sea. "Hmm..." (She tapped her chin as she wondered) "I don't know."

"Would you like to call them? You can use our Den Den Mushi," Whitebeard stated from his seat. He felt very relaxed around this girl for some reason. Was it because she looked harmless? He didn't know but he followed his instinct. It was like he was indebted to her for some reason.

"Thank you," Nami bowed politely.

"I'll show you where it is." Nami rose and followed Marco to a room with Den Den Mushis in it. Marco handed her one and she called her crew, telling them her coordinates and a hidden message that Marco couldn't decipher: 'Follow your instincts and you'll find us.' Marco brushed it off. She didn't have a Devil Fruit so it didn't really matter.

"Since they'll take a while, would you like a tour of the ship?" Marco suggested as Nami shut off the Den Den Mushi.

"Why not?" Nami shrugged, deciding it would be best to waste time.