A/N:: I apologize how long it took to update! I actually re-did this chapter three times before I was satisfied! I do hope you all are liking what I have! More is plotted out, I just had trouble to organize this chapter, but I think this should get me back on track! (Plus I started on a real story for like a book and such. Then there is my oneshots I try to do and rping my Marco. So I can be a bit wound tight depending on the day!)

Enjoy!

When I said I had the idea, Izou begged for details, stat. I gave, having him so excited and would make sure to help out in any way he could—including loose clothing for that time and such. It gave me time to think of where I wanted it as I couldn't do anything until healed and approved by Maybelle. I did mention it to her, following up immediately only when she gives me the okay—calming that scowl to a look of agreement. For now, I focused on work and filling in what I could about the island.

First division men started to come check on me regularly as well if I was walking around, making sure I wasn't irritating my legs. It seems that second and first were growing closer in association, confusing me a little, but not minding as they all seem happy about this—finding some type of new ground, possibly Marco and I being together?

Lips press along my cheek, having me chuckle before sputtering as fingers line along my bare hips. "What are you doing, birdie?" I ask with a smile and tilting my head back more to look to Marco, seeing his smile and gleaming eyes.

"Wanted to show you something, yoi… Put that down, you can relook it over in just a minute." The comment has me set my paperwork down, the last of it before our divisions—and other commanders—demanded we take a break for a few days.

Turning as he had pulled away, I watch as he is moving to his dresser to grab something out and I stand by his bed while waiting. After gathering whatever it is out, he has hands encased around it while approaching with a small smile. Getting up to me, a curious noise leaves me and only give an excited smile as I would love anything he would give me. Hands still enclosing the item show closer to me while he clears his throat, noticing as small pink is filling his cheeks.

"I found it in the recent catch when I threw it over the deck," he states as I knew they would put special gloves on him to grab fish with his talons as Namur attracts them to the surface. The hands begin to open and show the small trinket, with closer look is a clear blue opal, carved into the shape of something as if a part of something bigger. "It's clean, yoi." The hands shift a little as a sign for me to take it, which I do with a smile and looking it over as it is smooth on top and the bottom has dips. Flipping it over, I notice it designed as a rose, with a few small chips on petals.

"It's beautiful, Marco…" I mentioned stunned and hold it with both hands to my chest. A wide smile is on me as I look to him in joy, noticing his face shift into a joyful expression of receiving the gift. A sing-song tune leaves him while moving to pull me closer and nuzzle to the side of my face.

"I'm happy you like it." The way I could hear his happiness brings an elation in me that I could make him feel this way. As he pulls away, I am looking to the gift and running fingers along it before a strain is through my body. I tried to hold back a wince, feet shifting as my calves were throbbing and knew I had been standing and walking too much today. "Ace, sit down…" Marco says worriedly, hands shifting to help direct me.

"S-Sorry, too much walking today, heh…" I apologize while wobbling to the bed as he finally put the nest away, but I wouldn't put it past him to rebuild it again if necessary. Sitting down, I groan while situating to push boots off and Marco helps. A smile finds me as he is kneeling to get boots off and as he is about to get up, I pull him closer. He's to knees between mine as he looks up to me and I rest arms to his shoulders. "Thank you…" I whisper while pulling him close to kiss to his forehead and then pull him in to hug onto him with fingers going through his hair.

A shaky exhale leaves him before he moves to wrap arms around my waist. He leans in more, but I know he is careful of my chest. My eyes closed as I hum lightly, taking in this moment as I really couldn't imagine my life any different, even with this type of experience. There are people here for me, people to look after me, people to love me… I was okay with going something traumatizing here than my last world because people are here and have my back.

Which is why I will place the family insignia on my back.

-o-o-o-o-

"Pops, can I talk to you?" I ask, and happy he had been awake still—though sitting in his bed, reading.

A smile is on him as he sets his book to the side and pats to the bed next to him. "Of course, son. Come sit down." The invitation has me smile while moving in and working my way over as the door had been closed before my question. Getting onto the bed, I get sitting next to him and facing his way with a nervous inhale. "What would you like to talk about, my boy?"

It takes me a moment, but I look to the bed more with some deep breaths. "I… I want to talk about… what happened…" I start, feeling ready to talk with someone and I wanted it to be with Pops. Saying anything to Marco wouldn't help him right now, I feel as if it would make it worse. "In the room with the vines," I clarify as I knew Pops knew what Maybelle knows. A hand moves to go to the other side of me and cups me to keep me close.

"Take your time, Ace…" He reassures, and I try to take in steady breaths to stay calm.

"It… In the room, I was strapped with vines… Held into my spot, being forced to face the scientist, knowing the vines were a part of him." I start out a bit more simpler and swallow thickly, eyes closing. "He… he had said it would be painful, a clear understatement… heh…" A chocked chuckle leaves me while leaning into Pops leg. "Whatever they attached to the back of my calves and to my back… It hurt connecting, but I was able to ignore it…" I mention, legs starting to curl as arms go around my thighs. "It… H-he started the in-injections…" My voice starts to turn shaky, mind flaring in remembrance and I have to take a minute to breathe.

Pops lets a thumb rub to my neck and back of my head in comfort while I try to gather myself, wanting to continue. I needed to get it off my chest to someone, and I wanted to tell Pops the dread and trauma of what had happened. I wanted him to understand why some of the men heard me scream and Marco having to comfort me on constricting moments. No one knew the full extent except me, Marco having a taste and luckily only having to deal for a short period.

"It… I-I… I wanted it t-to stop…" It was no use, any calming I tried crashed away as I began shaking, eyes opening. Eyes water and sting as I try to talk through a strained throat. "It hurt… s-so much… My fire… My fire c-couldn't help… I wanted… I wanted it to stop…" Broken sobs left me as I tried to stop them still and he rubbed to my back carefully, my chest hurting even as I have healed so much. "I-I was going to d-die, Pops… I had… h-had a low percen-tage of l-living!" My voice is hoarse as I can't stop my sobs wrecking my body and I grip to the blanket while shoving closer to him. "It h-hurt, hurt, hurt…" I whimpered as the memories flare, and he shifts to make sure to rub along me to help soothe, though I was far from calming. "Marco was going to see me die…" The statement is one of the things that hurt the most, never wanting to put him through something like that—wondering if I was going to die as I screeched in so much pain.

Reliving the start of the experiment, my fire had been stolen from me in some way I am unaware of as the scientist was silent so far. There was a request he wanted, only the commanders knowing, and I wasn't part of to hear. It was probably for good reason as it made Marco on edge and grip me so tight that had me flinching because of my wounds. Of course, he felt so terrible and cuddled me into the bed and I let him have the reassurance.

Pops moves his hand and I notice movement behind me before hands and a body curling behind me. It startles me, not aware of Marco here and by the hurried gripping and a talon gripping to my leg, it was starting to be clearer. The feel of wetness to my neck brings shaking as Marco had heard me, though I am unaware of where he was in the room. Choked noises were leaving him with bird chatters and I shift to be pressed back against him as much as I can for him.

"Ace, Ace… my fire…" The strain in his voice brings a shaky sob from me, not wanting him to be so shaken up over what happened. More movements had me suddenly to be more curled with my side to his chest as he held me with rocking. Talons were heard scrapping the sheets, but Pops only brings his hand back to casing over the side of us in a protective place of comfort. Blue flames linger as my own fire was flaring at the notice of my breakdown and trying to soothe me within with a filling of warmth of reassurance and to help with the throbbing.

-o-o-o-o-

Getting everything out did help me mostly, though I know I won't fully be over it. Marco hardly let me leave him the next day, chatters when I had to leave, and I would smile while pressing into him in our privacy. It took a few days for Marco back to more of a state of keeping me out of sight longer than an hour. Pops seemed to have made in known in a meeting that all commanders would be aware of a flare up of the trauma we experienced and to make sure anyone who asked understands it was from that.

Our divisions were always in support of everything, it was such a relief to experience to have them right behind us. Even a few from first division would be there to check on me when mentioned of the flare up, and it made me glad that they like me. Also, Marco had been happy his men were very interactive with me and second division. Gill would even report to me about some things to do with commander knowledge and surprised me a bit.

It didn't help that some days after the talk that marines decide to take us on. Marco was still in his overprotective mode, but I handled my enemies with no issue. Fire would flare so beautifully from me as we worked in sync and it felt like my power was made for me. How much I have gone through, not only has my family been there, but also my fire that keeps me warm to the core. I had no problem fighting the marines with them assigning me as 'temporary commander' once more. If anything it brought a joy through the family on when I excitedly talked to my division brothers on the battle.

"Ace," I hum while looking up to notice Jozu standing there with a tilt of his head.

"What's up, Jozu?" I question as I had the stock board that my division is reviewing before the next docking and from after the battle yesterday.

"There is a meeting," he mentions. I slowly nod with a slight frown as I look to my paper.

"I'm not done to give to you yet, sorry…" I say with a smile, and he gives a chortle before waving a hand.

"Not of that, this is of different matters. Come," he begins walking to the galley instead of the meeting room. I am confused, noticing as brothers are still walking around and I had gone to Marco's room to peacefully do some numbers before going back—which I was on my way to.

I quickly move behind him while having the board to my side. As he goes in and steps to the side, I follow. Jozu closes the door behind me, having me look in and see second division along with the commanders. Pops is there too, sitting in the middle. I can only move behind Jozu as he waves me on and I am clearly confused on what is going on right now. Going down a small walkway area, I can hear shifting as second division fill in the gap and I look to notice them only grinning. It's not anything bad, no one looks like it, and I am more confused on what is happening.

Jozu takes my clipboard while having me stand before Pops. I only agree with brows furrowed and he goes to stand in the line of commanders on each side of our captain. A small rumble lingers as Pops shifts in his chair and leans forward with elbows to his knees.

"Ace, my boy… You have been doing exceptional on filling in for the second commander position." The commenting has me thinking that they finally picked someone. I nod with a smile, having him reach to have his hand to the side of me like it was to rest on my shoulder. "We had decided that we would like if you fully take the position." The mentioning has me staring in surprise before looking to the other commanders with a glance. Nothing but encouraging smiles are on their faces, proud even, and it brings a nervousness in me.

"As… As commander?" I ask, though it's a stupid question, having my cheeks burn hotly. When a small chuckle leaves Pops, I can only try to breathe while looking to our captain. "But I haven't… I've only been here a short while!"

"Bah, time lingering in the crew is but a number! Guararara!" Pops laughs while pulling away and I shift nervously, not knowing what to really think. "It's hard not to see everything you have done, Ace. From taking the commander spot and following out with orders, its no wonder your brothers were adamant on you being there." The glance to behind me has me turning to show second division nodding with big grins.

"All in favor of Ace being commander say 'I'!" Thatch suddenly hollers. All the men roar in agreement, having me sigh with a grateful smile to have them there for me.

A shaky breath in, I turn back to Pops with a slow nod and smile. "If… If you really think it's a good decision, then I don't mind."

"It's a great decision that we all agree on, son." A small chuckle leaves him while leaning to ruffle my hair and I hear clapping start.

"We will be here for you!" Jiru states as I look to the other commanders and though it is overwhelming, I can't help but be happy.

"Then it is decided, Ace is our new second division commander!" Pops booms while everyone cheers. I feel hands to me as second division pulls me in. A laugh leaves me while they gather me up before I am raised up onto a shoulder. Seeing all of my brothers, my division brothers brings a flourishing of joy that they look to him in full support of the position—even Teach is giving large hollers of joy as I knew he wasn't keen on the spot but always helped me out.

Being carried out on Kratos shoulder, we left the galley as second division is cheering happily. Other brothers look on in curiosity, pausing as they start hearing that second is cheering for their new commander. I laugh while hitting to Kratos upper back and they can't help with totting. Others cheer, congratulating the division on finally getting a commander and giving waves as I am carried along the whole deck. The nurses had come out to give their cheers, yelling with 'Commander Ace' and it feels foreign to hear, but I grin as they easily seem to take it in.

A party had been scheduled for that night to celebrate my new position.