Sorry that it took so long for this chapter.
"I'm really sorry, Dad"
It had taken two days of non-stop pleading, begging, incessant apologising and a final narcoleptic fit to get Ace back on proper speaking terms with Thatch.
"Yeah, yeah, kiddo, I know, but you need to think more before you act."
Dipping his head in a semi-state of shame, Ace just nodded along, not wanting to have Thatch angry at him again.
He couldn't remember a time that Thatch had been so angry or really disappointed with him.
Sure he got angry sometimes when the three of them had messed up, or caused trouble in town, but it had never been a problem.
More often than not, Thatch's anger was sparked by fear.
Fear of the possible 'what if' situations in which one or more of them could have been hurt by their stunts backfiring.
A sudden realisation dawned on Ace as he looked over to his father that now had a gentle smile resting on his face...He had probably found the humour in the situation of Ace trying to take Pops' head.
He wouldn't be laughing after The News though.
Ace knew he had to tell him.
But to tell him meant admitting to something that he and Luffy had chosen to leave in the past- to minimise the pain.
It was an unavoidable topic, but was sooner really better then later?
Maybe he could get away with waiting for a bit. Not too long that it looked like he was hiding the subject, but just long enough that the happy segment of their reunion, which had yet to come, wasn't over shadowed.
I'm being selfish.
Swiping his hat off his head, Ace spun it gently in his hands.
A small smile graced his own face as he remembered Luffy's words.
"Did you ever actually thank Dad for it?"
Well, now was as good as ever.
"Ahh... Dad?"
"Mmmm"
"You know... I never really thanked you for my hat. I wear it all the time."
Thatch chuckled briefly. "Well I couldn't have you being the odd one out without a hat, now could I?"
"No, I wouldn't want to be the oddball."
The two met each other's gaze before chuckling to themselves. They were all strange in their own way; it was their individual quirks that made them a perfect family.
At least for the time which they had been able to spend together.
"Speaking of oddballs how is my little girl? I'll presume you haven't seen her since you left."
Ace nodded his head in agreement.
Trust Thatch to ask about Luffy first. Had Sabo been standing in his place, he had no doubt that the question order would have been the same.
It's not that he minded. In fact, he was currently thankful that Luffy was the first topic of discussion.
He'd just come to learn that Luffy had this magic that always allowed her to worm her way into the centre of people hearts'.
His own was no exception.
"She was good, a little sad that she had to wait before she could head out as well, but still as energetic as always."
"Hahaha, no kidding. If there was one thing I don't think she ever grow out of it's her endless energy supply."
"Yeah."
Both men paused, as they thought back to the young girl that probably wielded the most power over them than any other individual in the Grand Line or beyond.
"Daaadddyyy!"
...
...
...
"Daaadddyyy!"
"Yes, precious?"
Ace and Sabo sniggered lightly at the term of endearment Thatch had so bequeathed to Luffy.
Whilst Luffy was important, between the two of them they had decided that 'precious' had connotations of being breakable. Something that Luffy was definitely not.
Ace was most thankful that he hadn't been given a pet-name. He was Ace. Just Ace, none of this nickname nonsense like 'sport', 'champ', 'fire-cracker'... really, who calls anyone fire-cracker?
"Hungry."
The simple six-letter word was one that Thatch was becoming thoroughly acquainted with.
"You just had breakfast Lu, can't you wait another hour or two then we can having morning tea if your still hungry."
There he goes again, Ace thought. Another variation; at least 'Lu', was only a shortening: it was another thing that he'd managed to avoid.
Sabo, on the other hand, had not.
Whilst only one letter longer, Sabo had managed to be cut down to Sab. A reduction which could solely be blamed on Luffy.
"No."
Sabo and Ace knew only too well how this was going to end.
They had been subjected to what they called the Luffy Digestive Disease, or LDD when Luffy was present, long enough to know that Thatch would never win.
"Baby-girl, you can't eat all the time otherwise you'll get sick and not be able to come practise with me and the boys later."
"Don't care. Hungry. Food. Now."
Thatch and Luffy became engaged in a searing staring contest neither willing to give up, Luffy because she wanted food, and Thatch because he knew he shouldn't bend to Luffy's every demand... at least that's what his parenting book had told him.
Twenty minutes later Luffy and Thatch still continued to stare at each other whilst Ace and Sabo were plotting out a new scheme to use against potential enemies or just as a general prank on unsuspecting towns folk.
"If you don't gimme food I won't talk to you ever again."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"You just talked to me"
"I hadn't started you meanie! Give me food!"
Teasing her like that had been childish, but Thatch was really at a stretch for what to do. He felt like he was feeding the child 24 hours a day.
Exasperated he broke their 'game' searching for help from Sabo.
Looking up from their scheming, Sabo's response had not been the one Thatch was hoping for.
"Just give her food."
Totally defeated, Thatch caved, deciding that the mental strain of fighting with Luffy was too great to warrant the effort required.
"She would have been set lose on the ocean by now."
Thatch mused as he scanned the oceans horizon, as if by some miracle she'd pop out of nowhere.
"Where did Sabo end up? I didn't think you two would travel together but you never know, did he set sail by himself."
This was what Ace hadn't wanted to hear.
"Ahh...Well Sabo-"
"Yoi! Thatch! Brat! Come on, dinner's ready!"
Marco's disruption caused a toothy smile on Thatch's face.
"Come on, they're like Lu, if you take too long it's all gone."
Ace's lips twitched in response still anxious about what he'd eventually have to tell Thatch.
Walking with Thatch to the mess hall Ace sighed as he took in the frenzy of men eating like it was their last meal.
What was one more day to ten years?
