A/N: Hey! It's been a while. I have no excuse for not continuing unless laziness counts. It probably doesn't sooooo... Anyway, enjoy. Sorry for any mistakes and for shortness. Follow. Favorite. Review. Peace.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, Nami, Franky, Brook, and Robin all stared at the picture of their reckless captain on the front of the newspaper. He stood at Marineford – in the midst of the disaster. His eyes closed, head bowed, and hat pressed against his chest. The Straw-hats gave a collective nod with understanding - accepting Luffy's plan to meet at the Thousand Sunny in two years.
Ace stared at the same picture with a look of annoyance mixed with sadness. Luffy could never stay away from trouble, but he was in the middle of the Navy HQ in order to pay his respects to their dead sister and the other pirates who gave their lives for his family.
Lena's death had been as significant as any other pirate's to the people who weren't pirates. To most of them she was just another nuisance. It was the pirates all around the world who wept. It was them who told her story the right way. When Lena died all the concealed jolly rogers that were burned onto her skin appeared. They covered her arms, legs, stomach, back, and neck.
When they'd left Marineford, the Whitebeard Pirates had taken Lena's body with them. Now they were on their way to the pirate graveyard, where they would've been burring Ace and Whitebeard. For Ace, it was the longest journey of his life. Time had never gone as slowly for his as it was.
The crew had tried cheering him up, but after the third day of his constant mopping the only one who still went here him was Marco. It was Marco who'd forced Ace to eat. If he didn't Ace wouldn't.
When they reached the island Ace and Marco dug the grave. It was a long and quiet job and once they were done Ace returned to the ship and carried Lena in his arms. The entire Whitebeard crew – all the divisions and allies – followed behind him.
"Goodbye Lena." Ace whispered as he lowered her into the grave. Whitebeard bowed his head in silent thanks and the others did the same. Soon, the Whitebeard Pirates allied crew left. After that one by one each division left until it was only Marco, Ace, and Whitebeard. Ace and Marco picked up their discarded shovels and started refilling the grave. This too was done in silence and once they were done, Whitebeard placed a gently hand on Ace's shoulder and then retreated to the ship.
Ace sat on the ground beside the grave and Marco sat beside him. After twenty minutes of staring at the ground Marco shook Ace's shoulder. "Let's head back." He said and stood up. Ace nodded and stood too. He turned to the direction of the ship but a white light drew his attention back to the grave.
It rose from the grave in a tiny ball. Ace stared at it wide eyed and cupped his hands underneath it. It immediately changed into the shaped of a baby and the light began to dim. As so as the light vanished the baby dropped into Ace's hands and he pulled her to his chest. A huge smile spread across his face and he pressed a kiss to her little tuff of raven black hair. She stared up at him with matching raven eyes. A cut smile graced her lips. "Glad to have you back, Lena." Ace whispered to her.