A/N: The summer heat fried my brain so this is what I came up with. I'm not sure when will the next update be, we're having our house repaired and I won't have a quiet place to write for a while. What I'm saying is, I'll finish this story even if it takes me a long time to do it! I apologize in advance for the wait guys.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.

Chapter 9: Realizations.

*Heart of Rubber*

"Hey big brothers?"

The sudden question startled the two men out of their thoughts. The siblings are on the Moby's crow's nest, they brought some pillows and blankets because they plan to stay the night there like when they were mere children and everything is much, much simpler. The stars are shining bright like glittering diamonds in the sky, the crescent moon just peaking shyly over their heads. The cool sea air caresses their skin, making it the perfect night to stay out. The three of them are enjoying a rare moment of companionable silence until Luffy broke it.

Ace and Sabo shared a look over Luffy's head. She usually doesn't use the word big brother like that. They are lying side by side while star gazing. After the excitement of Rayleigh's arrival came down, the siblings decided to hang out together and this is where they ended up.

"Hm. What is it Lu?" Sabo answered, always the first to give in.

Luffy sat up then and her brothers followed suit. "I'm worried about my crew." She said suddenly.

"We know." The blond tried to say but his sister cut him off.

"I'm going to train with old man Rayleigh but they don't know that. They're worried about me too! What will I do? They need to know what happened." Luffy said anxiously.

"Hey, hey we'll figure something out okay?" Ace calms her down.

"Actually, when I was talking to Dragon earlier, he said that Nico Robin is in one of our bases." Sabo revealed.

"Huh? Robin? Is she alright? How is she?" Luffy asked her eyes bright with worry.

"She's fine Lu. In fact she helped us." Sabo replied smiling at his sister.

"Of course she did. Shishishishi."

"But I was thinking, how about Ace and I find your crew instead? We can tell them your decision personally. Besides, I want to meet them. If that's okay with you?" Sabo finished looking at his sister.

Luffy thought for a moment, this is a serious matter after all. Her big round eyes swung to Sabo, and then Ace. She assesses them and finally, she made eye contact with Sabo and gave him a bright smile in return and said. "Okay! I trust you."

Sabo sighed in relief and Ace chuckled. "You're really grown up now huh Lu?"

"Ehh?" The girl tilted her head at this.

"Worrying and wanting to protect your crew. That's what great captains are made of." The fire user said proudly.

"Aceeeeee. I can't be the King of the Pirates if I can't at least do that." Luffy said this as though it's a fact that everyone should know.

"Yeah, yeah, we know." Ace said with fond exasperation clearly written on his face.

"It's just... We're not use to the grown up you yet Lu. I know you're reckless and I see that didn't change over the years but... The thought of my crybaby of a sister putting herself purposely in harm's way leaves a bad taste in my mouth y'know?" Sabo started.

"Welcome back to the world of Monkey D. Luffy's big brother." Ace muttered.

"I feel like I failed as your big brother. I've forgotten you after all." The blond admitted mournfully.

He knew that his siblings will never blame him for forgetting and they said us much but he still can't forgive himself. Watching Luffy's determinations to protect her nakama made his guilt resurface. The what ifs and the what could have beens came rushing to him unbidden.

"But Sabo, even if you forgot, we're still siblings! And that doesn't matter now, I got you and Ace back so everything is alright." Luffy told him simply. And just like that, Sabo felt his burdens lighten.

"Besides, you came for us as soon as you found out. It could have been worse if you didn't come the way that you did so stop thinking like that you idiot. We're finally together now and that's that." Ace added looking Sabo sternly in the eyes.

The revolutionary let-out a small laugh. "Ace being open about his emotions? I never thought I'll see the day." Sabo teased.

"Shut-up!"

"Shishishishi!"

"I had more practice in dealing with Luffy over the years so there." Ace snapped.

"Uh-huh. You sure you're not getting soft Fire boy?"

Ace's eyebrow twitched dangerously. Luffy meanwhile laughed a full belly laugh. The brothers stopped their bickering to look at her. Her face has the biggest smile they've ever seen and her brown eyes are shining with love and happiness. And then, they realized. That yes, yes Luffy is right. She got the both of them back so everything will be alright. The sorrows of their past and hardships of their present can finally be replaced with love and happiness. They are together now and they are stronger than ever. Whatever life throws at them, they'll throw it right back with interest. They have each other again and that, that thought alone, makes it all okay. Now that they have this, they won't let go and that's a promise that none of them is willing to break. They'll make it so, whatever it takes. For the precious girl that they're lucky enough to call as their baby sister.

"So Lu, tell us about your crew." Sabo asks curiously. If they followed Luffy, they have to be interesting people. Sabo had enough of the surprises and he would feel better if he's prepared for this.

"Yeah, did you recruit other members?" Ace questioned. It felt like it's a lifetime ago when they saw each other in Alabasta.

Luffy's face lit up like it always does when talking about her nakama. "Yup." She replied. "Zoro is gonna be the world's greatest swordsman but he always gets lost, shishishishi. Nami is my navigator. She loves tangerines and money. Usopp is my sniper. Oh, he's also a lyre, shishishishi. Sanji is the best cook ever! And he loves girls. Chopper is my doctor and he's a reindeer. But you can't eat him because he's my friend. Robin loves ruins and books. She's an archeologist? Franky is my shipwright and he's a robot! So cool right? He's a pervert too. Sometimes Nami will call Sanji that too and Brook. Ooh, ooh, he's my musician! And guess what? He's a talking skeleton! Oh, and he poops. I asked."

Sabo turned his disbelieving stare on Ace. Said brother just shrugged. "I met them once and yes, the reindeer is really a doctor. He's kinda cute too."

'But I didn't gave much thought to the cook. Damn it!' Ace thought angrily.

"Shishishishi!"

"But a robot and a skeleton?" Sabo is shaking his head. "Only you Luffy, only you."

Then, Luffy's words fully registered. Ace and Sabo shared a glance. Looks like they really need to see Luffy's crew. They'll give them her message, and a warning. Everyone knows her secret now and they just want their cute, precious baby sister to be safe.

'Pervert.' The brothers thought and sinister smiles grace their faces. Franky, Sanji and Brook better prepare themselves.

*Heart of Rubber*

Whitebeard can't stop grinning. He tried, oh he really did but the smug smirk just creeps up to his face regardless.

"Not get off yoi." Marco snapped at his captain without effect, the man was still grinning. The first division commander shift uncomfortably in his place on Whitebeard's huge bed.

"Could you repeat what you said? My old age must be getting to me." The older man said with that annoying smirk still firmly in place.

Marco blushed a crimson red and looked away. He thought this was a good idea earlier but now, not so much.

"C'mon, I think I misheard it." Whitebeard coax.

The blond decided to swallow his exasperation and finally replied. "I need your help to be with Luffy yoi."

Marco looked up and the man's shit eating grin is answer enough. "Of course my son, I will help you to my utmost abilities."

The younger man shook his head in exasperation at this but he shared his plan anyway. "First, I need to talk to her. I need to get close. Can you do that yoi?"

"Yeah, no problem. You have to establish something with her before she leaves, I got it. You need to be close to her so she won't forget and when she enters the New World, your rivals will know that she's with you and most will stay away. Next?"

The zoan user blinked but continued nonetheless. "Uhh... I actually didn't think that far ahead but great idea yoi. So, I was thinking I should be a friend for a while before you know... She's too young and I don't want it to be too fast for her..."

Whitebeard raise a hand to silence him. "Sometimes you need to run first before you can walk my son."

"No, not this one. I think I need to walk very, very slow. Or crawl, maybe yoi?" Marco said, suddenly sweating bullets.

"No. You'll never get anywhere with that thinking! They'll stomp you first. You need to sprint your way there! Remember, Ace and that Sabo will watch your every move. Dragon will find out eventually, the brothers might tell Red-Hair and I plan to tell Garp myself. So you really, really need to run. It's the only way you'll survive." Whitebeard said grimly.

"Wait, why would you tell Garp yoi?" This is it, isn't it? I'm truly gonna die. I thought you're trying to help me be with Luffy! You're just helping me to die an extremely horrific and agonizing painful death yoi! How could you! I thought you're my father! I trusted you yoi."

"Stop your dramatics! This is one side of falling in love that I'll never get used to. Anyway, I'm telling you to run aren't I? And how could I not tell Garp! Just imagine the old bastard's face when he finds out, burararara!"

"Oh, I can imagine his murderous face hounding me alright yoi." Marco said drily. "I understand Dragon. But will they really involve Red-Hair? That's just annoying yoi."

"You know he adores the girl. He stopped a war to save her after all." Whitebeard told him.

"Yeah, I was there remember? And that's what I'm saying. You don't think he'll start another one if he finds out about this? There are so many threats on my life right now and I don't want to deal with another if I can help it yoi."

"Think about it when it happens. Or wait, don't think at all. Just do what you want to do my son. We're pirates and we're free."

Marco visibly brightens after hearing this. "Thanks Oyaji. I needed to hear that yoi."

"Burarara! No problem. Anyway, the girl will train with Rayleigh so you won't have much time. You need to make an impression before she leaves. That way, she'll still think of you even you're apart."

"I don't even know if Luffy already knows about this stuff yoi! She may be a pirate captain but you know how oblivious and innocent she is. What if Ace or Garp didn't tell her about relationships? I wouldn't put it pass Ace to do that yoi." The blond said morosely.

"Hey now, I know that someone named Makino took care of the brat so she taught her, I'm sure of it." Whitebeard consoled his son.

"Really?" Marco asks his father hopefully.

"Yes."

"How do you even know these things yoi?" The commander's suspicious gaiz found his captain.

"I asked the girl of course." He scoffed. "I need this ship to sail Marco! And I'll do everything, every. Damn. Thing. To make it happen." Whitebeard let-out a sliver of his haki to drive the point.

Poor Marco just blinks at his captain's odd behavior. "Err… Ship?"

"Will you do something or not?" Whitebeard snapped impatiently.

Marco sighed. "Yeah, yeah I get it. I'll do something big to catch her attention then yoi."

"Good, I can arrange that. I've been talking to Luffy and I know that there's a perfect island near us that she would love. You should take her there for your first date."

The word date caused Marco's heart to skip a beat. "Great, thanks oyaji. There go's one of my concerns yoi." He said to cover up his unusual reaction.

Whitebeard suddenly became serious. He focused all of his attention on his first mate and said. "If your age is your problem, we can fix that easily. The real question here is, are you willing?"

Marco's eyes widen at this. His age? It is one of his more worrying reservations about courting Luffy. She's too young for him and that fact makes him uncomfortable to say the least. But if his father says they can do something about it, he'll trust him.

The two men stared at each other's eyes intently. Whitebeard's intense gold orbs are curious but patiently waiting. Marco's stormy blue meanwhile are first hesitant, then it blanked for half a second but a determined spark replaced his previous emotions and that's what had stayed.

He thought all of the problems in doing this seemingly crazy stunt. All of the pros and cons and the very, very real threats on his life. That's why he was hesitant at first.

Then, he thought of Luffy. The girl that broken the ice around his old cold heart without even trying. Marco thought of the moment he met her, of her pure, loving heart. Her tenacity, courage and her ability to love and be love by all. He even thought of her crazy stunts, her irritating ability to not listen to anyone and that selective hearing of hers. He might have found it annoying before and it still is sometimes but he'll miss it and he'll not have her any other way.

Determination filled him because even all of that, craziness, threats and even idiocy couldn't deter him. He is still in love with her. Luffy lives her life to the fullest, she eats, fights and loves without reservation so why can't he? He is a whitebeard pirate and he is a child of the sea. Marco has his freedom and now is as good as time as any to use it to the extreme. Pirates never cared what the world said and he told as much to his father.

"To take a chance with her? Yes, I think I am yoi." The blond replied with a quiet but strong resolve in his voice.

Marco felt good to say it, it's like his feelings are taking over him. It's rushing through his body and pouring out around him. Never in his life did he felt this way before. And he has to admit, this is a good feeling.

Like he can do anything, make his way through everything. If he's not certain of it before, Luffy's conversation with the Dark King nailed it. Her determination, fierce loyalty and love for the people she cares about hit him all at once.

Marco realized then and there that he want that in his life. He wants to be one of the people that she loves like that. He wants to be at her side, not as a pirate but a man. She is a great captain no doubt about it and an amazing pirate too. A loving sister and a true friend. But Marco would be honored to see a different side of her. He wants to discover everything about her, to know all of her quirks and to see her achieve her dreams. To love her and to be loved by her in that special way.

Whitebeard snapped his large fingers a few times in front of his first mate's face but nothing happened. Marco is staring off somewhere with a love-struck smile on his lips and a pink tint on his cheeks. And, he's gone. The veteran pirate thought to himself. "You really have it bad for her don't you? Don't worry son, you'll never regret this. Or, you won't live long enough to..."

*end of chapter*

A/N: I'm getting sick of these cliffhangers too but my brained just won't work anymore! I'm sorry guys! I promise to do better on the next chapter. So please leave a review.