Hello lovelies! It's another update Sunday! My favorite day that comes twice a month! I'm so excited for this chapter and the upcoming ones. ;)
Enjoy!
Chapter 21
"I want to use Conquerors Haki!" Yukichi shouted enthusiastically, making Ashina giggle.
"Sorry, bud. It doesn't work that way. While everyone has Haki and the ability to use Haki, Conquerors Haki is rare, extremely rare."
"But Pops has it, and they say Yonko Shanks has it, and Commander Ace said he used it when he was a little boy! Even younger than me!"
"Oi! Tell the whole truth!" Ace shouted across the deck. "I told you I didn't know how I managed to use it!"
Ashina tittered with laughter again. She was familiar with the story Ace was talking about. His burst of Haki was used when he feared Luffy was going to die in the burning of Grey Terminal.
Yukichi's smile fell, but Ashina gave him a reassuring pat on the head. "You can't force Conquerors Haki, and very few people can actually use it, but we can train and learn to control and use the Haki you do have. We'll start with observational."
"That's boring," Tenshin muttered.
Ashina shot the older boy a harsh stare, she'd had about enough of the soon to be teenager's sour attitude. "You can start with observational or you can figure it the fuck out by yourself. You choose."
Ashina waited as Tenshin mulled over his options. Knowing he wouldn't get help from any of the Commanders, learning from Ashina was his only chance.
Tenshin heaved a sigh. "Fine." He plopped down on the deck, sitting cross legged beside Yukichi.
"Close your eyes," Ashina ordered
"Why?" Tenshin asked while Yukichi instantly shut his eyes.
"Because I said so. Close your eyes." She waited a moment, making sure he kept his eyes closed, and then said, "Tell me where Marco is."
"What? That's crazy," Tenshin snapped, opening his eyes. "There's no way I can tell you where he is with my eyes closed."
Ashina smiled. "Marco, Ace, be a dear and when I close my eyes, change location."
"Yoi."
Ashina closed her eyes and waited. Over the noise of the ship she could not hear their silent footsteps, but she felt their presence, the underlying current of Haki that hummed inside everyone.
"Tell me where Marco is," Tenshin said, repeating her words back to her.
"He's in the crow's nest. Perched on it actually, he took his phoenix form and flew up there."
Ashina opened her eyes to check, looking up and spotting Marco's flaming, blue self perched on the edge of the crow's nest. She looked at Tenshin and smiled. "Part of using Haki is also determining where your enemy is located. Everyone has Haki, it a part of who you are inside. If you can learn to be still and observe, you can learn to pick up each person's individual resonance. Observational Haki, when you've trained yourself to use it to its full potential, will allow you to detect your enemies, mask your own presence, and predict strikes and blows so that you can dodge attacks."
"Wow," Yukichi said, eyes wide with amazement. "What about armament? I want to make my skin go black and strong like you can!"
Ashina chuckled, smiling at the smaller boy. "We'll work on that another day. For now, let's play a game of hide and seek."
"That's for babies," Tenshin muttered.
"Not when you're blindfolded and can only use your Observation skills."
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A baby. Ashina was still trying to wrap her mind around the idea that she was going to have a baby. While her rational brain knew it wasn't, she wanted to fully believe this was all her father's fault. He jinxed her when they'd met, talking about how her mother and him had been young parents.
Ashina was careful. They used condoms up until it was safe, until the hormone did its job. The job it apparently failed to do… that or Ace had super sperm. Ashina snorted softly, she'd never admit those words to him, worried it would inflate his ego. Despite her caution, it happened and there was no going back.
The little voice reminded her that there was a fix, a way out, but the idea made bile rise in her throat. Ashina would never rid herself of a child she played a role in creating. She could never imagine having to face Ace after she had done something so horrid behind his back, if Marco would even agree. She doubted the man would allow her to make such a decision without telling Ace, but the idea was pointless. She was pregnant. Her and Ace were going to have a baby.
She was going to be a mother.
Mother.
She remembered her mother fondly. Dark hair and kind, green eyes. She remembered her strong body, the comforting hugs and gentle kisses. The scoldings and the lessons, the bedtime stories and the early morning hikes in the woods were all parts of her favorite memories. Breakfasts, naps, and playing games together. Ashina wanted to make those same memories with her own child.
She was going to be a mother.
Ace's arm tightened around her torso, pulling her closer in his sleep. His nose buried in the hair at the nape of her neck. Ashina sighed contently and snuggled closer to his warmth. Her fingers grazed down the sinewy muscles of his forearm. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell him, but she knew she couldn't drag her feet. Eventually it would be obvious she was pregnant.
She wasn't sure how Ace was going to react. She didn't know if this was something he wanted. Honestly, she had no idea how this would affect their future. The reality was a frightening one. Ashina had a high bounty, but hers was nothing compared to Ace's, and that was under the name Portgas D Ace. If the Marines ever found out he was really Gol D Ace, they would hunt him to the end of the world. If they discovered her lineage? If they learned they had a child together?
The idea of the Marines finding out about their baby frightened her more than any reaction Ace could ever have. She also knew that the Marines would be one of Ace's many worries.
Ashina rolled over in his arms, twisting to face him, and studied his peaceful, sleeping face. He grumbled slightly in his sleep, adjusting to her change in position. His arm that was draped over her waist slid down and his hand cupped the curve of her ass. She watched as a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, pleased with himself even in sleep.
She would never get enough of his smile. Ace may believe that he was the devil's son and he may believe that he was unworthy of her love, or anyone's love, but he was wrong. He was so, so worthy. He was an amazing person. He was kind, so kind. He was gentle, yet strong. He was going to be an incredible father.
Ashina stroked a finger over his cheek, tracing the speckling of freckles. She hoped their baby had his freckles, and his eyes and hair. She wanted a little miniature Ace. Whether it was a girl or boy didn't matter.
Ace stirred under her touch, his eyes opening slowly. "What are you doing?" he slurred out, still half asleep.
"I can't sleep. I didn't mean to wake you."
Ace pulled her closer to his chest, moving his hand up her spine to the crown of her head. He slowly stroked her hair, as he placed a kiss to her forehead.
"Love you," he mumbled.
Ashina smiled and kissed the hollow of his throat. "Love you, too."
His fingers running through her hair, scratching her scalp gently with each stroke, was lulling her to sleep. Ashina snuggled closer to him, and despite his soft snores, Ace continued to move his hand in her hair.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Ace was going to be a good father.
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"So… you gonna tell him?" Pops asked at the table, eyeing Ashina.
She glanced to Marco, the only one that knew her secret, the one he'd promised to keep two weeks ago. Marco gave a minute shake of his head, and Ashina turned her gaze to Pops.
"Don't know what you're taking about." she retorted, eyeing him suspiciously.
Pops let out a guffaw and gave her a knowing look. "You'll have to tell him eventually."
"Tell who what?" Ace asked, looking between Pops' knowing grin and Ashina's narrowed, suspicious gaze.
Ashina glared harder at Pops, until Thatch gasped. She turned to see his eyes widen as he put the pieces together.
"Oh. Oh!"
Ace, who was still oblivious, raised a brow. "'Oh!' what? What are you talking about?"
"Damn it, Pops," Ashina muttered.
Pops chuckled. "He'd figure it out eventually in the next few months…maybe."
Ace noticed Pops looking at him then, and looked to Ashina. "Tell me what? What?"
Ashina sighed and stood from the table. She pulled Ace up with her and glared at Pops. "You're about as subtle as a tidal wave Pops."
"Gurararara!"
Deuce grinned and laughed. "I get it now."
"Shut up, Deuce," Ashina snapped, giving him a pointed stare before she dragged Ace out of the mess hall.
He followed her up the stairs and to the Commander's Hall.
Ace laughed as she headed for their door. "If you wanted to fuck, you could have waited for dinner to be over," he teased, scratching the back of his hair.
Ashina rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth before it disappeared. "Ace, that's not it."
He realized she was serious and reached around her to open the door to their room. He ushered her inside and closed it behind them, keeping his gaze on her. "What is it then? Everyone was joking, it's not a mission is it? Is it the Revolutionaries? Do you have to go?"
Ashina shook her head. "No, Ace…" Ashina hesitated. What would he think? This wasn't planned. She was nervous herself about it all, still trying to really wrap her head around the idea that she was carrying a life. A life they created.
"Ashina?" His hand reached out for hers, and his thumb brushed over the top of her hand.
She looked up at him, catching his gray gaze and gave him a small smile. "It's… I'm… I'm pregnant, Ace. Congratulations! You're going to be a father."
Ace stood frozen for a moment, his eyes wide and his mouth partially open. In the next second Ace had her wrapped up in a tight hug, his face buried in her hair. In an instant he stepped back, hands gripping her upper arms as he gazed at her, a look of terror in his eyes.
"What are we going to do? I'm a pirate! We have a huge combined bounty! How are we going to raise a kid? I don't know anything about babies! Do you? Holy fuck. What are we going to do? Does Pops know? How'd you know? When? How did this happen?"
Ashina giggled and took his face between her hands, bringing his attention to her green eyes. "Ace. Ace! Breathe. It happened a few months ago. I'm about three months along, or so Marco estimates based on the blood test he ran a couple weeks ago. I have no idea how Pops knows and Marco knows because he ran the tests to see why I wasn't feeling well."
"Ashina, are you really… are we really going to have a kid?" It question came out as barely a whisper.
Ashina leaned up to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Yes. We're going to really have a baby."
Ace wrapped his arms tightly around her, pressing her as close to his chest as possible. He buried his face into her hair, pressing his lips just below her ear. "I love you. I want you to know that I'm scared shitless, but I love you."
Ashina giggled softly, wrapping her own arms around his waist. "I love you, too."
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"What about Fishman Island? Jinbei could easily keep an eye on her there?" Kingdew suggested.
"No," Ace shot down quickly, like he had every other suggested island. "I'm not leaving Ashina behind somewhere. She's staying with me."
"It's dangerous," Pops warned. "She's pregnant. The further she progresses the more dangerous it becomes for her to be on the open water."
Marco could see the tension in Ace's clenched fist and decided to play the devil's advocate. "Aw, come on, Pops. We've got state of the art medical equipment. This is the first pregnancy on the Moby Dick. Oden and Toki had little Momo aboard the Moby."
"Who's Oden?" Ace asked.
"Former second division commander, back when there were only five divisions." Jozu interjected. "He hailed from Wano. He'd have liked Ashina and her kunoichi spirit."
Pops cleared his throat. "That was years ago, before Roger went off and started the great pirate era. The seas have changed."
Marco shrugged. "The seas have changed, but so has the crew. We've got more divisions, more power. You gonna just drop her off on one of our islands without protection?"
"Watch it, boy," Pops warned, eyeing Marco. "It wouldn't be without protection."
"Where Ashina goes, I go," Ace interjected. "I'm not leaving her on some random island, on any island."
"What about the Revolution?" Vista suggested. "Surely, they could keep her safe."
Ace slammed his fist on the table. "No! She's not going anywhere!" Ace turned his attention to Pops, looking into his eyes. "Where she goes, I go. She's pregnant with my kid and I won't leave her side."
The room fell silent as Pops and Ace stared at each other. After several tense moments Pops sighed. "Ashina will stay on the Moby for now. However," he looked at all the commanders before landing his gaze back on Ace, "should the seas change or a new danger arise, she will be grounded to an island. It is my duty as Captain of this ship to protect my children, especially those unable to protect themselves."
The room was silent for a bit before Jozu chuckled. "Another baby on the ship, this ought to be fun."
Marco grinned, nudging Ace with his elbow. "Relax, Flame Boy," he teased, using Ashina's nickname for him. "Your kid ain't the first baby rodeo we've been through. Baby's make it fun."
Vista snorted. "When they aren't screaming their head off at all hours of the night."
Pops smiled then. "No louder than any of you fools when you're drunk. Keep this quiet. I do not want word that Missus Spade is expecting spreading across the seas."
Everyone nodded as Pops ended the meeting by standing and leaving first. More of the commanders trickled out of the room, conversing and laughing, some discussing tasks needing to be done. Marco noticed Ace still sitting at the table, arms folded on the wood as his head hung down.
Marco clapped him on the shoulder, startling him, and gave him a warm smile. "Don't worry, brother."
Ace nodded once and then sighed, shoving off from the table and standing. "Ashina's pregnancy really isn't the first? Pops has allowed this before?"
"Twice actually," Marco said with a fond smile. "First was Momonosuki, then came Hiyori about two years later."
"If he was a Commander, why did he leave?" Ace asked.
Thatch was the one who answered. "We encountered the Roger Pirates. Oden could read Poneglyphs, so Roger begged him to go to the end of the Grand Line with him." Thatch shrugged. "Pops agreed with Oden's wish to go."
"He returned to Wano, wanted to change his home island, bring it into the world and allow the outside world in."
"What about his children?" Ace asked, panic of what could happen to his own future child on these seas gripped his heart.
"We learned from friends there was an attack before Oden returned to Wano, Toki sacrificed herself in order to save her children. Toki had the ability to time travel, and she sent Momo and some of their retainers forward in time. No one has heard from him, but he'd only be around eight years old, I'm sure the retainers have kept him safe and hidden. His sister, Hiyori is still in Wano."
"That's not going to make me worry less, you know," Ace replied.
Marco and Thatch both laughed. Thatch clapped Ace on the back. "Ain't nothing gonna happen to Red or your offspring. Like hell Pops will actually let them out of his sight. Old man worries, but he won't let her just be dropped off somewhere. Besides, he'll lose another second division commander if you leave with Ashina to the Revolution."
"I just… I couldn't leave her somewhere. She's always followed me, always trusted me. I couldn't betray her by leaving her behind, not after…"
"Knocking her up?" Thatch offered with a grin. "Good job, by the way."
Ace blushed, scratching the back of his head. "We didn't do it on purpose."
"Oh, but you do it all the time," Marco teased with a chuckle. "Trust me, we share a wall, I know."
Ace's blush deepened which made the other two men laugh loudly.
"Don't worry about that either," Marco reassured. "You're young. So is Ashina. It's normal. You ready for a baby?"
Ace chortled. "No." A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he slid his eyes over to Marco. "But I'm happy about it."
"That's all that matters," Thatch replied. "Everything else will work out the way it's meant to happen."
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Ashina was thankful Pops hadn't dropped her at the first island they reached and was instead allowing her to remain on the Moby Dick. She was, however, banned from fighting and missions. Marco, her official doctor now, had agreed to light training, enough to keep up her skill, but nothing strenuous.
The nurses and Banshee were thrilled, already talking about if it was going to be a boy or a girl. Even some of the Commanders were beginning to take up bets if the baby would be a boy or girl. The crew were beginning to coddle her though, as the small bump popped out between her hips.
She was just starting to show, but Ace was already running his hand over the small bump. Anytime they were near, he was always touching her, and her him, but now his hands ghosted over the little bump between her hips more than anywhere else. He'd give her a smile and drop a kiss to her forehead before going about his day, only to touch her again as soon as he could.
The coddling, however, was driving her crazy. She wasn't allowed to lift anything, and Tenshin and Yukichi, upon Thatch's request, took up all of her chores. Thatch, thankfully, still allowed her to complete her tasks in the kitchen each morning, just not without comment.
"You should be sleeping," Thatch said, coming into the kitchen where Ashina was already prepping the rolls for breakfast with several of the other early birds.
"I sleep too much, Thatch. I'm pregnant, not an invalid. You all are driving me insane with the coddling."
Thatch chuckled. "Ace worries about you. Boy's gonna have a panic attack before the little brat even makes an appearance."
"Marco says everything is fine. He runs tests all the time to make sure. It's just a pregnancy. Women have babies every day. It's not a big deal."
Thatch snorted and gave her a pointed stare. "It is a big deal. Pop's only real daughter is having his first grandchild by two members of his family. On top of that excitement, there is also the very real danger of you being on a Yonko's ship. Pops wanted to ground you the night he called you out and you told Ace. The next morning's meeting involved a heated discussion. Ace refused to leave you on an island, no matter what island was suggested. Pops even said he'd take you back to the Revolution if he needed, but Ace refused. Boy said he'd stay wherever you were, and we all know where he goes the old Spade crew will go."
"Really?"
"Yes. Ace doesn't want to leave you behind. Even Marco suggested it would be better to keep you here. You have a good-sized bounty on your head. If we dropped you at an island, we'd have to leave men behind to protect you, and Ace made it clear he'd be one of those men. It's easier to protect you with you here. Besides, Pops loves you, the thought of your and the baby's safety is priority, but he really doesn't want to let you out from under his protective eye. Things may change closer to the due date or if things change on the seas."
Ashina hummed, glad Pops agreed not to ground her to an island, and more than surprised with Ace's reaction.
Thatch nudged her shoulder gently, having caught onto her hesitation. "You really didn't think Ace would argue to keep you here, or to go with you?"
Ashina shrugged, suddenly aware that she'd made it seem as if she didn't have faith in Ace's love for her. "No, I… it's just that he's a pirate and we're young and he's got dreams and goals and this," she motioned to her small bump, "wasn't in the plans. We never even talked about the idea of having kids."
"He loves you," Thatch stated with a smile. "It's different. You're not just some one-night stand, Ace would die for you Ashina."
"I know that, but… I don't know Thatch. I just… I didn't expect him to want to be grounded on one island."
"You're carrying his kid. Any good man would want to stay with the mother of his kid, at least until he or she is born. I can't speak for how he'll feel once the brat is here, but I've got a feeling he won't be letting either of you out of his sight."
"But he's a pirate…"
"He's also a stubborn, strong-willed, son of a bitch, so there's that," Thatch teased.
Ashina giggled softly and leaned into his side as he tossed a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Thanks, Thatch."
"You're welcome, Red. For what it's worth, I'd like to see you stay on the ship, too."
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Ashina folded her arms, pushing the bowl of miso soup away from her, and laid her head on her arms.
"Ugh," she moaned.
"You alright there, Missus?" Deuce asked.
"I'm so fucking tired of being sick to my stomach. I want to eat everything and nothing at all because the moment it gets to my mouth I smell it and it's awful and why? Why does it have to be morning sickness?" she whined.
Marco chuckled. "That will get better... maybe," he hesitated when Ashina lifted her head enough to give him a deadly glare. "Should. It should pass. You should try to eat."
"Ugh. Ace can have it. I'll eat later."
"You'll eat now. Deuce go get her a bowl of fruit. Maybe she can eat that," Marco ordered.
Deuce hopped up from the table as Vista sat on the bench beside Ashina. She caught a whiff of the citrus scent and raised her head as Vista peeled his orange.
Her fingers deftly plucked a piece of peel out of the pile and brought it to her nose.
Ace chuckled beside her. "Ashina, you can't eat that part."
She hummed, "Smells good. Drowns out that awful meat smell." She made a content noise in her throat and she snatched another piece of the peel. "Makes me not feel like I'm going to hurl my guts out."
Marco and Ace exchanged glances, and Marco shrugged. Vista chuckled and slid the remaining peel to rest in front of Ashina's face.
"Thanks, Vista."
"Whatever it takes so you don't puke on the table," he teased.
Deuce returned with the bowl of fruit and set it in front of Ashina before making his way around the table and back to his seat.
Ace plucked the last orange from the bowl and quickly peeled it, before offering her a slice of the fruit.
Ashina took it between two fingers, her expression a mix of distrust and disgust. She sniffed the orange slice first before popping it in her mouth.
Ace hesitated for a second, hoping she'd keep it down. When she didn't immediately gag, and actually managed to chew and swallow the bite, he pulled off another slice and handed it to her.
"You don't have to baby me," she said softly, but didn't object further as she took the offered fruit.
Ace chuckled. "Well, I am half the reason you feel like shit, so you know," he shrugged. "it's not really babying you."
Ashina pressed a kiss to his shoulder as she sat up fully. She plucked the next piece of offered fruit from his fingers and brought it to her mouth.
"At least Thatch didn't make fish this time," Vista commented.
At that, Ashina did gag as she stood quickly, vaulting over the bench and taking off out of the mess hall as fast as she could maneuver.
Marco sighed, as Ace watched her go with a frown. "Well she was holding down her food."
"Is there something you can give her?" Ace asked, turning back around to look at Marco with a hopeful expression.
"Not really. At least not anything medicinal. I'll have Thatch make her some ginger tea. That may help settle her stomach enough so she can eat a muffin or the rest of that fruit."
Ace nodded and Marco waved down Thatch.
Thatch came over with a grin that fell when he realized Ashina was no longer at the table. "Where's Red?"
"Puking... again," Ace sighed.
Thatch frowned. "Damn. What did you need?" he asked.
"Can you make some ginger tea for Ashina?"
Thatch nodded. "Yeah, of course. Did she eat the soup?"
Ace shook his head. "No. She held down some orange slices until Vista mentioned fish, then she was gone."
"Damn. Give me five, I'll be back with some tea."
Once Thatch returned with a mug of tea, Ace took it and the bowl of fruit. He stood from the table, raising the bowl of fruit in goodbye, and headed up to the main deck.
He smiled as he made his way over to Ashina. "Well this feels vaguely familiar," he teased, folding himself to sit beside her on the deck. Her back was against the side rail, legs drawn up to her chest. "You know, only this time we haven't been brought aboard a new ship and given the chance to join a crew."
Ashina's shoulders shook with silent laughter, and Ace grinned widely at her as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"I'm sorry you feel like shit, Ashina," Ace added.
She leaned, propping against him, so that she could rest her head on his shoulder. He offered her the cup of tea and she took it, wrapping her fingers around the mug. She brought it close to her nose, inhaling the steam.
"It's not so much that I feel like shit, it's just… I'm nauseous all the time. Calling it morning sickness is bullshit."
"Marco said it would pass though," he reassured around his snicker, turning his head to press a kiss to her head.
"I know," she sighed. She caught sight of the fruit bowl and sat up. "Ooo, a strawberry!"
Ace chuckled as she perked up, happy to see her eating as she plucked the berry from the bowl and popped it into her mouth. She took a hesitant sip of the tea and then inspected the fruit bowl selection.
Ace leaned over to peck her cheek. "Fresh air seems to help."
"The seawater smell is much more appetizing than the mess hall."
Ace grinned and leaned back against the side of the ship, content to sit with her as she sipped the tea and nibbled at the fruit.
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"What do you mean I can't have it?" Ashina screeched at Marco.
The Commander visibly flinched under her anger, but he held his ground.
"Sea King is a large fish, the levels of mercury found in the fish are harmful to the fetus."
"It's not a fetus! It's a baby and you suck! No sushi, no sea king, limited fish, eggs have to be fully cooked, no alcohol."
Ashina wheeled around, hands on her hips to glare at Pops. "It's not fair, Pops! Tell him I can have whatever the hell I want."
Pops just laughed and shook his head. "Doctor's orders. Listen to Marco."
"Well hello pot, I'm kettle. Nice to meet you. Doctor's orders were for you to stop drinking sake, but look what's in your hand!" Ashina smarted back.
Pops just laughed harder. "I'm an old man and Captain of this ship. I don't have to follow his orders." Pops took a drink of sake and Ashina rolled her eyes.
Ashina's nose scrunched up and she made a grimace. "Well you're no help, Pops."
She turned to Ace, who quickly held his hands up. "Oh no," he said. "Don't you turn to me. I think you should listen to Marco. Besides Thatch made a fish you can eat," he ventured.
Ashina practically growled at him as she flopped down beside him on the deck and crossed her arms. "Fine. But I want you to know I hate all of you right now."
Marco chuckled. "That's just the hormones, give it ten minutes and you'll love us again."
"Shut up. I will not."
Ace laughed, tossing an arm over her shoulder to pull her closer. He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Yeah you will."
"You just eat your stupid sea king and shut up, too," she muttered, but Ace didn't miss the smile on her face or the look in her eye.
She was unhappy that she couldn't have one of her favorite meals, but she wasn't really hateful or angry at them. She knew they were only looking out for her and the baby she carried.
His baby. Ace still found it hard to believe he was going to be a father, even with the evidence - the small, hard, roundness that sat barely visible between her hips - staring him in the face. A thousand anxieties ran through his body, hundreds of uncertainties, possibilities, and scenarios plagued his thoughts. Most of his thoughts were pleasant, others were dreadful.
He found comfort in his crew. Seeing them interact with Ashina, the care and love they were already showing their unborn child. The protection they offered her and his unborn child. It wasn't just him that had joined the crew, that had found a family, Ashina had as well. She loved them, and they loved her. It was clear in the way they kept a careful eye on her now. Deuce was the worst, but Ace was thankful. His former first mate had taken to the role of protector without being asked. Wherever Ashina was, Deuce was close by. If it wasn't Deuce, Kotatsu was near her, usually curled up in a ball, half asleep beside her while she napped on the deck in the sun.
Ace was surprised when she managed to eat her entire meal. He hoped it meant the morning sickness and aversion to food was finally passing because they still had several more months to go before the baby would arrive.
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His fingers ran up her leg as he climbed into bed. One moved to catch his weight as the other ghosted over the small bump. He flopped down beside her, keeping his hand splayed across her silk covered stomach.
Ashina smiled, shifting to be closer to his warm chest. "Finally decided to join me?" she teased.
Ace pecked her shoulder with a kiss and then propped his head up in his hand, gray eyes bright as he looked at her. "Jozu was telling the story of how he met Pops and Marco."
"Hmm, sorry I missed that one. Jozu tells a good story."
"You needed the rest."
"Marco says the exhaustion probably won't go away. It's tiring making a little person."
Ace chuckled and leaned in to press a kiss to her temple. "Our little person. Ashina... I, were both pirates and this life is dangerous, much more so on the seas than on land, but... as much as I worry about the marines and all the bad shit that could happen, I don't want to leave you and our child on some island. I don't want you raising our child alone, waiting and wondering when or if I'm going to make it back."
"So, you're not going to drop me off on some island in a few months?"
"No. You said you'd follow me anywhere, and I promise you Ashina, there isn't a place in the world that I go where I won't take you, and our kid, with me."
"Good," she said with a smile. "Now to convince Pops. I'm still afraid he's going to ground me."
"Pops just worries about your safety. It's a very real possibility that the marines, the World Government, would lose their minds if they found out you and I made a baby. They'd hunt all three of us, more than they already want us captured or dead."
Ashina hummed. "Carrying on the Portgas and Red-Haired bloodline in one child, the Government would shit themselves."
"More like the Gol D line," Ace said with a frown.
"They don't know that. Besides, that's not who you are," Ashina said, lifting her hand to brush back his hair.
"They might know. Gramps knows, and no matter how much he loves Luffy and I, his loyalty is still to our enemy. I won't take any chances that they discover that. Whitebeard is my father."
Ashina nodded. "They'll still blow a gasket when they discover my connection to Papa."
Ace chuckled. "Yeah." He paused for a moment before running his hand over the small bump. "Think the kid will have your red hair?"
"I hope not!" she replied on a laugh. "I'd much prefer a mini you, dark hair, gray eyes, those cute freckles."
"I'm not cute."
"No, you're adorable." Ashina chuckled at Ace's glower. "In a very manly way."
"Nice try on saving yourself there, Missus."
Ashina rolled to her side and let her hand drift over his chest, fingers connecting the freckles as she went. "I love your freckles. Paired with that grin. I'd love a little Ace."
"So my freckles and grin and your hair and eyes."
Ashina smiled and reached up to kiss him. He slid his hand over her waist and pulled her closer. When they broke apart, Ace pressed a brief kiss to her forehead. Ashina snuggled closer, closing her eyes and enjoying the quiet of the night and the warmth of Ace's body.
"Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?" Ace asked softly.
Ashina hummed, shrugging her shoulders.
"What if it's a boy?" he whispered.
Ashina tilted her head back slightly to look at him. "What if it's a girl?"
She giggled as his eyes widened. "A girl? I'd have no idea what to do with a baby girl. I don't even know what to do with a boy."
Ashina tittered, pressing a kiss to his nose. "Don't worry, Ace. We'll figure it out together, boy or girl."
"A girl." It was spoken so softly that Ashina almost didn't hear him.
She snuggled as close to his chest as possible, intertwining their legs. His arm tightened around her, hand drifting to the middle of her back to hold her close. Pressing a kiss to his chest, Ashina closed her eyes.
"Can you imagine a baby girl on the Moby Dick? She'd be the most protected baby in the world."
Ace buried his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent before letting out a soft chuckle. "Can you picture Pops with a baby girl?"
"Can you picture Pops holding a baby?" she whispered back. "He'll look like a giant compared to a tiny baby."
Ace snorted. "Hold her with one hand."
"Or him."
"A boy? Is that what you want?"
Ashina opened her eyes and looked up at Ace. "I never thought about it much. The idea of children was a distance thought, not a something that was a current reality. I did daydream about it that one time on Wano, you and Tama were playing on the beach, but it was just a random thought. I'm sure most girls daydream about a future family one day."
"Really?"
She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I remember thinking in the fading light you two looked like siblings, or father and daughter." She paused for a moment before continuing, "I didn't plan for this, but I don't have any regrets. I can't wait to see you as a father."
"I don't know how good of a role model I'll be as a wanted pirate and the son of the devil."
"I know you'll be an excellent father. Don't think differently." She pressed her lips to his chest. "I love you."
Ace smiled, his self-doubt would likely always be there in the back of his mind, but Ashina's whispered words full of honesty and trust eased his troubles. He was going to be a father. Ashina was going to have their son or daughter in the upcoming spring. The idea that they could have a daughter was both thrilling and terrifying. He wondered what his child would look like. Would he or she have Ashina's features or his? Would they be a blend of the two?
What would he do with a little girl? The mere idea of a boy around his future little girl made his blood boil. He understood the murderous look of warning in Shanks' eyes now at the thought of a boy touching his little girl. He pictured all the dirty things he and Ashina did together and fumed. He shook those thoughts from his head and thought maybe a son would be a better option.
Ace thought, though, when it came time he would be happy with either.
