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Enjoy lovelies!
Chapter 20
Along with Tenshin and Yukichi, the crew also gained a young boy, Chisora. He was sixteen, a hair taller than Ashina, but he was broad shouldered and well-muscled for his age with sandy blond hair and chocolate eyes. Pops deemed him old enough to fight, so he joined the Fourth division along with two other men who wanted off the little island Pops took control over.
The villagers were happy to be rid of the thugs and happily agreed to Pops terms. The Whitebeard Pirates gave protection, their flag upon the gates of the village, and made the island a part of their route to check in every few months. In exchange, the village would provide them a share of the produce. The vegetables and fruits, some grain, and cheese. Whitebeard did not ask for more than they would be able to provide and it seemed like a fair trade. Ashina learned quickly that Whitebeard's name and protection kept most rookie pirates away. It gave the people freedom to live peacefully on their land, and all they had to provide was a share of their crop.
Tenshin and Yukichi were learning to gain their sea legs. The seas of the New World were more powerful than they expected and the crew teased them anytime they lost their footing. The boys were hard working, doing any chore that was asked of them without complaint. With proper meals and good sleep, they were beginning to fill out a bit more. They were eager to learn to fight and get stronger, and most often fought with each other, sometimes playfully and other times not. Thatch and Marco both had broken up a few squabbles. Between chores and meals Mihar made it a point to have learning sessions with the boys, working on math and reading skills.
The boys were happy to finally be on an island again after several weeks on the open ocean. The winds and current were strong surrounding the island, and storms popped up frequently as the Moby continued to push forward to landfall. Once they reached the shore however, the forested island was peaceful. It was warm and muggy when the sun was out, the call of seabirds rang out in the open air, but the island was otherwise calm.
They docked in a large bay that sat between the two villages on either end of the oblong island. The dark blue water caressed the pebbled shore with soft waves. In the peaceful bay, their crew could relax and explore the forest in peace. They could also venture to the towns for goods, supplies, and a bit of fun.
After a small lunch in the smaller of the two villages, Ace and Ashina went off to explore to forest, eventually coming upon Marco, Thatch, and Chisora.
"You'll climb trees, but you're afraid of heights?" Marco asked, looking up at Ashina standing on the tree limb next to Ace.
"This isn't that far off the ground," Ashina retorted. "Don't mind us. Keep training."
Ace sat down, leaning his back against the trunk of the tree and pulled Ashina down to sit between his legs. She leaned back against his chest, turning her head so she could press a kiss to his jaw. Looking back to the small clearing below them, Ashina studied Chisora as he practiced attacks with Thatch while Marco advised him.
They practiced the same attack, a direct charge, several times before adding a second step. The boy was strong, Ashina could give him that much credit. He could manage a powerful blow, except he hesitated every time just before his attack. She shook her head when Thatch blocked the next strike, delivering a restrained blow that knocked the boy off his feet.
Ashina sat up, bringing one leg up to rest on the tree branch and draping her arm over her bent knee. "Don't be afraid. You're hesitating because you're scared," she called out.
The boy glanced up at her, his eyes narrowed. "They're stronger than I am!" he shouted as he got to his feet, turning to face her.
"So? Fear makes you falter," she repeated, standing up on the branch. "Meet your opponent head on believing that you're going to win, if you don't… well, you're going to die anyway."
Ashina dropped out of the tree, somersaulting in midair, and landed gracefully on her feet with a hand on her sword. She straightened and met the teenage boy's awed stare. "This is the New World. You're going to encounter many opponents who are stronger than you, Chisora, and you may lose. You may die. Personally, I'd rather die on my feet, fighting, than on my knees. Don't hesitate. If you're going to hesitate because you're scared, then don't fight, run." Ashina turned around to walk away, tired of watching the training session and intending to find her own spot to train. She didn't give a second glance to the boy.
Chisora opened his mouth to say something several times and then snapped it closed with an audible click. His cheeks burned red and his hands balled into fist.
He lunged just as Ace shouted, "Oi, I wouldn't do that!"
Ashina turned on a dime, sensing his attack and landed a fist to the boy's nose. Blood gushed from his nostrils, as his hands flew to his nose. He stumbled a few paces back but kept his footing.
"Don't hold your injury! Do not lose sight of your opponent! Defend yourself!" Ashina shouted just before landing a hard kick to sweep his legs out from under him. As he fell, she withdrew her sword. It drove into the ground just beside the boy's head as her booted foot pressed down on his chest, pinning him to the ground. He stared up at her with wide eyes, breathing hard as blood dripped down his chin.
"If I wanted to kill you you'd be dead. Gruesome way to die, a sword through your throat. You'll drown in a pool of your own blood." Ashina withdrew her sword and stepped away, swiping the dirt from the blade before sheathing it at her waist. "Don't do that again. When you get injured, don't go to cradle your wound, you're not a baby. Defend yourself. Your opponent isn't going to stop because you got a boo-boo."
"Fuck you." The boy spat as he sat up.
"Yoi, don't be a sore loser. Ashina is a strong fighter and she's right. You could learn from her style – she uses martial arts with sword fighting."
Chisora twisted around to glare at Marco and Thatch. "She couldn't defeat you or Thatch, or Ace!"
Thatch laughed. "No, but I barely managed to defeat her the first time we fought. You didn't go easy on him there, Ashina, the boy should have a little pride left after being pinned down by a woman of your size."
"You haven't been easy on him either. However, I did not intend to embarrass you, Chisora. You attacked me, learn from your actions."
Ace landed beside her, before the boy could reply, and scooped her over her shoulder. "Later," he said and turned, walking away.
Ashina giggled as she playfully swatted his backside. "Ace!"
"Yoi, Ace, where're you going?"
Ace turned his head, waving at Marco. "It's hot when she fights."
Marco just sighed as his fellow Commander continued to stroll away into the trees, his woman laughing. Thatch chuckled, and Marco turned his head to stare at his friend.
"What?" Thatch asked with a shrug. "It is a rather enjoyable sight to see her in action. Ace is a lucky bastard," Thatch added, clearly picturing Ashina's deadly moves. He snapped out of his thoughts with a shake of his head and looked at Chisora. "You ready to really train now?"
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Ace copped a feel of Ashina's round ass before he dropped his shoulder, letting her slide to her feet. They were deep in the forest, and Ace pressed her against one of the trees. He caged her in with his arms, dipping his head down to capture her lips in a heated kiss.
Her hands slid to his hips and she pulled him closer, fingernails scratching against bare skin. Ace hummed, pressing her flush against the tree with his chest. One of his hands slid to her neck, cupping the back of her head and tilting her head more, giving him better access to her delicious mouth. Their tongues slid together in a sensual tango as his free hand roamed her curves.
He teased her breast over the cloth of her bra and shirt, squeezing and kneading the soft globe, before he slid lower, grazing the curves of her waist and hips. He squeezed her ass again and she giggled against his lips. He gripped her thigh, pulling her leg up roughly to wrap around his hips. Ashina shifted, her core brushing against Ace, and she could feel his hard length straining against the confines of his shorts.
They both moaned and Ace rocked his hips. Ashina's hand slid up his abs, dancing over the muscles before gliding over his shoulders. She moaned and giggled softly when he rocked against her again. Her lips grazed his ear and he shivered as she whispered, "Stop teasing, I want your cock."
Ace moaned low in his throat. He pulled back, leaning back slightly so he could follow the path his hands made down her torso. She stood on her feet as his hands worked the button and zipper of her shorts. In a swift tug, Ace pulled both her shorts and her lacy panties down to her ankles. Her sword clattered to the ground as well. She steadied herself with a hand to his shoulder as she toed out of her boots so she could step out of the puddle of clothes. She undid his shorts, pushing them down just enough so that his cock sprang free. He was quick to pick her up, lifting her and wrapping her legs around his hips.
Shifting forward slightly, his cock bounced and brushed against her center. Ace held her up, his hands gripping her backside, so he maneuvered her and him, rocking so that his cock slid between her folds, brushing over her clit with each thrust.
Ashina let out a soft whimper and let her head fall back. "Oh, Ace… please," she gasped when the tip of his cock pressed against her entrance. He pushed forward, barely entering her, and Ashina moaned. She tried to move, to push down farther onto his cock, wanting to feel him completely, but Ace held her at his mercy.
"You're so beautiful, Ashina. I love the little noises you make."
"Please Ace," she whimpered as he pulled out, hovering just at her entrance. She could feel him against her, the head of his cock resting just there, ready to slide back into her core.
He chuckled softly and brushed his lips against her jaw. His teeth nipped her skin softly before his mouth, warm and wet, covered the bite mark and sucked, leaving a mark on her tan skin. His lips skimmed her neck before sliding to her ear.
"I love watching you fight. I like to see the way your body moves, how you bend and flex, those toned muscles kicking someone's ass. I like the concentration on your face and the deadly gleam in your eye. Those beautiful, green eyes. Look at me, Ashina," he ordered.
Her eyes opened and caught his stormy gaze. He held her captive, an emotion stronger than words could express passing between them. Ace shifted slightly, pressing just the head of his cock inside her, making her whimper softly in pleasure.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I – ah!" Ashina cried out as he buried himself deep inside her. "Ace."
Ace set a hard, fast past. Ashina's nails bit into his shoulders as she clung to him. His hands on her hips, controlling her movements, holding her still for a few seconds as he pounded into her, before guiding her to meet his thrusts.
Ashina pulled his face towards hers, crashing her mouth to his. She swiped his bottom lip with her tongue, begging for entrance. Instead, Ace invaded her mouth, his tongue sliding against hers in time with his thrusts as he slowed his pace. She moaned and tried to rock her hips against him. Ace squeezed her hips before releasing his firm grip on her. He rubbed the red, skin before sliding further to cup her ass. He eased out of her slowly.
Ashina broke away from the kiss to look down, watching as his cock disappeared inside her. His pelvic bone brushed against her clit as he touched a spot deep inside her, making her elicit a loud moan. He moved achingly slow back out, watching her with a heated gaze as he pushed back in, tapping her clit with a jerk of his hips.
When she whimpered, he moaned. "Come, Ashina. Come on my cock, I want to watch you."
"Fuck, Ace," she cried as he pressed against her sensitive skin again, keeping up his slow pace.
He felt her thighs quiver against his and her legs tightened around him. Ace slid his left arm around her back, holding her to him, while the other braced against the trunk of the tree behind her. Ace pushed into her again, rolling his hips against her. Her hands went to his hips, nails biting into his skin as she forced him to stay buried inside her.
Ashina ground against him, circling her hips quickly, she circled again and then froze, her back arching as she fell apart. Ace could feel her squeeze him, each wave of her orgasm bringing him to the brink of his own pleasure. Ace snapped his hips against hers, overpowering her hold, and she cried out again.
"Yes, Ace! Oh, ah!" She muffled her cries in his shoulder as she moved with him.
Ace groaned, dropping his head to her shoulder and moaning her name, as he came deep inside her. He continued to move as she rode out her orgasm until the last waves of his had passed. Ashina sighed and then giggled. Ace chuckled softly in response to her bright laughter and press a kiss to the curve of her shoulder.
"What's so funny?"
"My legs are numb."
Ace carefully set her on her feet, keeping hold of her arms to ensure she didn't fall. He wavered on his own feet, legs suddenly weak, and Ashina giggled again.
"Let's get dressed, Ace. I'd rather not be caught without my shorts on."
Ace circled an arm around her waist and dropped a kiss to the tip of her nose. "I love you."
Ashina smiled and pulled him back for a deeper kiss on the lips. "I love you," she replied when they broke apart.
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After a week of storms and rain, Ashina was enjoying the bright midday sun. She was lying on the deck, stretched out on a blanket beside Kotatsu. The large lynx was enjoying the sun as well. She had her eyes closed, but she listened to the crew as they moved about, some working, others enjoying their day.
Thatch and Marco were going over inventory and dividing tasks to be done with Jozu, Izo, and Namur. Ace, Vista, and Curiel were discussing the best ways to dispose of a rookie pirate crew that was boasting about their plans to take down Whitebeard.
Everyone who was able to was enjoying the sun on the deck of the Moby Dick. Loud sets of footsteps came barreling from the stairs and out onto the deck.
"Commander Thatch! Commander Thatch!" Yukichi shouted, running out onto the deck.
Ashina listened to him pause, before he took off again in the direction Thatch was sitting. A second set of footsteps followed him, Tenshin. The boys were finally gaining their sea legs, which caused them to not get teased so much as well as to have a boost in confidence.
"Commander Thatch, will you teach us how to use haki?" Tenshin asked.
"Ask Missus Spade," Thatch answered.
Ashina propped herself up on her elbows, shooting Thatch a look across the deck before smiling at the young boys.
Tenshin whined, glancing disdainfully at her before turning back to Thatch, "But tons of you guys know how to use it! Why can't one of the Commanders teach us?"
"Because they have more responsibility on this crew than teaching cabin boys how to use haki," Thatch replied with a touch more authority.
Tenshin snapped his mouth closed and frowned. Yukichi still looked hopeful, if not a bit shy. "Ashina is a really good fighter, Tenshin. We've seen her train with Commander Ace. He doesn't hold back."
Tenshin sneered, but his shoulders dropped in defeat.
"Yoi," Marco said, catching the boys' attention. "If you want to learn, it will be from her. If she accepts when you ask her nicely."
Tenshin sighed after a long moment and looked across the deck at Ashina. "Fine."
He marched over to her, Yukichi close on his heels, and stopped in front of her. His hands were balled into loose fists at his sides. He barely managed to look at her face as he asked quickly, "Will you teach me how to use haki?"
Marco cleared his throat behind them and Tenshin shuffled his feet before adding, "Please?"
Ashina stayed silent, letting the boy sweat it out for a long minute before she answered with a big grin, "Sure!"
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Ashina's booted feet hit the deck, echoing in the open air as she stormed up to where Whitebeard sat in the middle of the massive ship. Her arm was black from her elbow down to her fingers, which were wrapped around the man's throat. His feet were dragging across the planks behind her as he continued to fight her grip.
She noticed Ace was on fire, but Marco held him back with a quiet, "Let's see what she does."
Ashina threw the man, one of the new recruits from the liberated island, down at Whitebeard's feet and slammed a booted foot into his sternum to keep him on the ground. "Do you condone rape on your ship?"
Pops narrowed his eyes. "No."
"Maybe all new crew members need to be informed to keep their hands to themselves then. And that no means no."
"I didn't –" the man's shouts were cut off when she moved her foot to his throat.
Ashina glared down at him. "You did. Because you thought I was a weak woman who couldn't defend myself and when I said stop and you didn't you found out you were wrong. I'm going to kick your ass all over this ship, and then I'm going to cut your dick off. Oh, and you better hope Fire Fist doesn't catch you before I kill you."
The man's eyes went wide.
"Let him up." Whitebeard commanded. He was pleasantly surprised when Ashina instantly complied.
He waited for the man to scramble to his feet before he spoke. "What do you have to say?"
"I didn't know she was with Commander Ace," he stammered.
Ashina scoffed. "That's your defense? Because I'm with another man that's more claim to stop you? You've been a part of this crew for weeks now, everyone knows I belong to Ace. Fuck that." Ashina kicked him square in the chest, sending him flying across the deck. She stomped after him and the man scurried away. Thatch's foot stopped his retreat, landing between his shoulder blades.
"Not so fast. I want to see her beat your ass. You're under my command, and in the fourth division, when the pretty lady says no, you back off. If I didn't want so badly to see Ashina's armament haki in all its glory I'd let Commander Ace burn you to a crisp."
The man looked over Ashina's shoulder and she knew Ace was behind her, as much from the fear in his eyes as the blazing heat now at her back. His large hand slid over her hip, fingers curling around the hard bone. She leaned back into his chest, enjoying the warmth of his presence and the raging fire inside him. Ace was furious.
"You okay?" His voice was thick, making the words come out as a growl in her ear.
Ashina nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. He put hands where hands don't go unless you have permission."
The heat at her back burned at a new intensity and the man visibly shook. No doubt Ace was giving him a cold, deadly stare.
"Pops?" Ace called.
Ashina looked over her shoulder, curious to hear Whitebeard's answer.
"Rape is not acceptable on my ship or in my crew. We are family. You," he leveled his gaze at the still shaking man. "Attempted to violate my daughter, one of my only daughters on a crew full of sons. Commander Thatch and Commander Ace will deal out your punishment as they see fit, up to and including banishment or death."
"But she's just a bitch!" he shouted suddenly.
Ace didn't have a chance to react in defense of Ashina because she'd already jumped on the man. Her left arm was solid black as her fist collided with the man's jaw. The echoing crack made many of the crew wince.
"Do I hit like a bitch?" she shouted at him, but her voice didn't reach the man who laid on the deck, unconscious from her brutal, well-placed blow.
"Calm down, Red," Thatch said with a chuckle. "Ace and I will take care of him when he wakes back up. He'll probably wish your blow killed him once he lays eyes on Ace."
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Ashina rolled over with a groan. It was if she could feel each sway of the ship with every wave that beat against them. What was normally a relaxing rocking, was currently nauseating. It wasn't the first morning that she felt like this. She stretched, pointing her toes and reaching her hands up in the air before she relaxed into the soft bed, trying to fight back the urge to vomit.
Ace was still on his mission. He was due to return in a few days, rounding out the estimated two-week adventure, and she missed his warmth and heavy bulk of his body in the bed. As another wave of nausea rolled over her, she was silently thankful for the current lack of extra heat he gave off.
Ashina slid out of bed and made her way carefully into the bathroom to splash some water on her face. It was still dark outside, the cabin barely lit with strands of moonlight coming through the window. Ashina turned on the sink faucet and splashed cold water on her face. She cut the water off and leaned against the sink, holding onto the edge for support.
When she felt like she had her balance once more, Ashina returned to the bed. She had a fitful hour or two of sleep before she gave up and dressed for the day. She made her way to the kitchens, joining the few crew that were already milling about, beginning the tasks to start the day of cooking and feeding the crew.
The smell of the baking bread smacked her in the face and Ashina turned to the nearest trash can to empty the contents of her stomach.
"Woah!" Thatch exclaimed coming over to give her a cautious glance. "What's wrong with you?"
"I don't know. The smell hit me all of a sudden. I didn't feel great last night either. It comes and goes."
"No, you go. Out of the kitchen. You get the day off from this job. Take care of the Commander's hallway and whatever else you do during the day, but stay out of the kitchen."
"Thatch I don't think I'm sick. I don't have a fever, no aches or pains, I just got… seasick."
"Seasick?" He scoffed. "You've been sailing for over a year now. No way. Go, it's fine Ashina. I'll handle the kitchen."
Ashina sighed and gave up the fight, leaving the kitchen. The fresh air felt good on her face as she stepped out onto the deck. Deuce was at the rail on the starboard side, so she crossed the ship to stand with him.
"Morning. You look pale."
"Good morning to you too, and thanks? I don't feel so great."
"I can see that." Deuce pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. "You're not warm."
A wave of nausea washed over her again and she dropped her head to rest on the smooth wood of the railing. She groaned softly. "This sucks."
"Yoi, what's wrong with you?" Marco asked, coming up behind Deuce and Ashina.
"The Missus doesn't feel good. I think she's getting sick."
"M'not." The words were muffled by her folded arms.
Marco raised a brow, studying Ashina, who eventually looked up and over her shoulder at him.
"What?"
"Come on. I want to run some tests, make sure you aren't catching a virus."
Ashina groaned, but followed Marco to his office that was connected to the medical room. Ashina plopped down in one of the chairs and leaned back, crossing her arms over her stomach and closing her eyes. She was tired. She was sick to her stomach. She missed Ace.
"How long have you been feeling nauseous?" Marco asked, leaning against his desk and crossing his arms over his chest, studying her.
"Every now and then for about a week now."
"Sleeping well?"
"I've been having weird dreams. Thought it was just because Ace is gone, but I'm tired all the time too, even when I do manage to sleep well."
Marco hummed. "When was your last menstrual cycle?"
Ashina's eyes snapped open and she raised her head to stare at Marco. "No. What?"
"When was your last menstrual cycle?"
"I… um, two, no three… not last month…" Ashina sucked in a sharp breath, wide eyes looking up at him. "Marco, no. No, no, no, no, no. I take that little pill every single night, right after dinner. I never miss a night. We can't. I can't. Fuck, Marco."
"Let me take a blood sample and we'll find out for sure," he said calmly, shoving off the desk and moving to collect the needed supplies.
Ashina frowned and whined, "I don't like needles."
"You have a tattoo, yoi."
"That's different. Ugh, fine. Just do it quickly." Ashina turned her arm palm side up and rested it on the arm of the chair. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes again.
"Marco," she whispered, as he drew the blood. "What am I going to do if it's positive?"
Her eyes opened to meet his blue ones when he remained silent. He finished his task and then crossed the room, going through the swinging door and into the lab.
He came back a few minutes later and sat beside her. Turning his head to look at her, he answered her question that had been left hanging, "We'll think of what to do after we know for sure."
"How long will that take?"
"About five more minutes." Marco was silent for a moment before he reached over to clamp a hand gently on her shoulder. "No matter what, it's going to be okay."
Marco didn't know. He didn't know how much Ace still hated his father, hated his lineage. How would he feel to pass it on? The Gol D bloodline. He proclaimed himself Portgas, but his father's legacy would haunt him until he could one day overcome it, if that day ever came. He loved her though, and she loved him. Ace was not his father. She remembered how he was with Tama, how fondly he talked of Luffy and Sabo, his brothers. He teased and played with Tenshin and Yukichi, but also scolded them and reminded them to use their manners. Ace would be a good father. Ace was everything she never knew she dreamed of in a man, until she stumbled upon him on an island in Paradise. After that fateful day, she never wanted to leave his side.
She was young, too young to start a family, but she couldn't control fate. Her father and mother were young when she was born. Ace's parents had been older, or at least Roger had, she was unsure of Rouge's age. Ashina felt the wave of nausea roll over her again at the thought of her father. How the hell would she tell him about a baby?
How was she going to tell Ace? Marco's question sparked a thousand others to race through her brain. Would Pops ground her? Would she be confined to an island? Would Ace stay with her? She would not want him to. She did not want to be separated, but if it came down to it, she would send him off to the sea with the crew. He had a dream, he still had a goal to be a great pirate, and this would not hold him back. She would not let a family do that to him. She wanted a family with him, imagined children of their own, but she dreamed of having them in the future. A baby now… Ashina wasn't sure what she was going to do.
Marco stood and Ashina sat up, watching as he retreated into the lab. She was anxious, and her leg bounced nervously in anticipation. Marco returned and gave her a smile. "Congratulations, Ashina. You're roughly two months pregnant."
"How?" she breathed out. "Marco! You told me the pill would be ninety-nine percent effective!"
"Yoi, don't shout. You may be the one percent. Nothing is a guarantee, but it works for most people, most women."
"But it didn't work," she snapped.
"Sometimes it's from getting sick, changes in other medication, if you forget to take the pi-"
"I didn't forget," she hissed. "You know I haven't been sick, nor have there been any medical changes. Marco wh–"
Marco yanked her out of the chair and pulled her into his chest, his arms going around her in a tight embrace. He'd never hugged her like this before and she was frozen in his hold. "It's okay, Ashina," he said reassuringly. "It will be okay."
She relaxed in his arms and her own arms wrapped around his torso, accepting his calming comfort. If she had a big brother, she thought this is what that kind of hug would feel like. Marco was a strong, reassuring presence, but it didn't change the hard facts they had to face.
"Marco, we're pirates," she whispered. "What are we going to do?"
"Well, you are going to stop taking the hormone pills, I'm going to run some more tests and start you on a vitamin boost. Oh, and you'll think of how to tell Ace, and Pops."
"Fuck," she breathed, stepping back and running her hands through her hair. "Marco you can't say anything. Please, promise me?"
He caught her eyes and nodded. "You have to tell Ace, and eventually Pops. As the Captain, he needs to know. After a certain point, I will have to tell him if you haven't. I'll warn you beforehand, but it will have to come out in the air eventually."
Ashina nodded. He was right, she couldn't keep this to herself, but there was so much Marco didn't know about Ace. "I know. I want to tell Ace first. I just… I'm not sure how."
"You'll think of something. Better do it before you start to show. I'll have a set of vitamins for you by tonight."
"Thank you, Marco."
He winked then, giving her a grin. "No problem, Missus. Pops will be thrilled to have a grandson."
"What if it's a girl?" she retorted, cracking a smile at the thought of a baby girl aboard the Moby Dick.
Marco shrugged. "He'll still be happy. Don't stress, that's bad for the baby. Everything will be fine, yoi."
Ashina closed the distance, taking one step forward, and wrapped her arms around his torso, hugging him tightly. "Thanks, Marco."
Marco grinned, looking down at her, as he returned the hug. "You're welcome, Ashina."