A/N - And it's finally here, I'm sorry for making you guys wait. But Should be back on track now! It's not the best chapter :/ but hopefully you like it! (My proof reader thinks its a good chapter though...)

You watched as Luffy tore away the glittery paper and drew out a bright red scarf, "I wasn't sure what to get you guys, but I wanted to get you something," you giggle as the grinning boy wraps the scarf around his neck. You were currently stood on the boy's porch, having decided to bring around their Christmas presents before heading off the Sabaody with your Aunt and Uncle to spend the holidays with your mother.

"You're supposed to wait till Christmas idiot," Ace cuffs his brother making you chuckle,

"I don't mind, I'd prefer it if you open them now, although..." you bite your lip, "I'm not exactly creative in my gift giving since y'know..." you shrug, you had only ever exchanged gifts with Camie before now, the sound of paper tearing has all eyes turning to the eldest brothers who currently sat on the porch swing, both of them had opened their presents revealing scarfs for them too, in teal and golden yellow.

"No patience at all," comments Sabo while shaking his head,

"Don't judge, not when you're dying to open yours," Thatch grins, "thankyou (Y/N)"

"You're welcome," you smile wider then look to the last two expectantly, "I know you kind of don't need them considering..." you wait, and finally they both open their presents, also scarfs, yes, you were that creative. A brilliant orange for Ace and a deep blue for Sabo. Ace moves over to you and gives you a tight side hug,

"Thank you, it's just my colour," he winks. Before you can blush, your Uncle calls for you, thankfully, the last thing you needed was more teasing from the Newgate boys, "enjoy your Christmas with your mom,"

"Thanks, I will, and thanks for the presents guys," you hold the gift bags they had half forced on you, they were going to be added to the others from your other friends. It made you feel a little awkward but they had all insisted on giving you gifts, you worried a little that your gifts for them paled in comparison. "I better get going then, before Uncle Rayleigh starts whining," you jest and with a quick wave you hurry away. The tinkling of laughter and Ace's shouting at his brothers to shut up behind you.

The next few days blurred; you spent a lot of time catching up with Camie properly since it hadn't been possible before thanksgiving. You exchanged the usual gifts of charms for matching bracelets you had since you were little, and then came the best thing of all. Your mother got released from hospital, she was still under strict orders to take it easy, but you were so happy, being able to spend Christmas day at home with her. You both sat huddled together on the sofa late in the evening, presents all opened, you feeling spoiled. Rayleigh and Shakky had insisted on washing the dishes, well, Shakky had and pulled Rayleigh into it too. Giving you and your mother some time alone together so you could talk about things. Your mother wanted to know everything about your new friends, and even more about the Newgate boys. Teasing you about Ace and generally just wanting to know how school was going and such,

"Now that I'm out of hospital," she starts with a small smile, taking a sip of hot chocolate, "if you wanted, you could come back home," she glances at you as you freeze, "you don't need to decide right away, I'd like you to finish the school year obviously. But if you wanted to come home, the option is there."

That night you lay awake in your room, unable to sleep with the thoughts of what your mother had suggested to you. You had seen it in her eyes, the hope that you would come home. Rolling onto your side you eye you phone before sitting up and grabbing it, you hug your pillow tight to your chest and call the one person who might ease your mind,

"Everything okay?" you smile at his instant concern before hugging the pillow tighter,

"Not sure," you respond and look up at the painted ceiling, "I hope I haven't disturbed you from anything..."

"I always have time for you," Ace chuckles, you hear a door shut, "gives me a good reason to get away from the idiots,"

"Your brothers driving you mad?"

"Always," he chuckles again. You both talking about inane things for a while, over how the day has gone and the gifts you both received, you thanked him for his present to you, a red beaded bracelet. "So, what's wrong? I know you didn't just call me to listen to my wonderful manly voice," you snicker at his words then sigh,

"My mother has been released from hospital," you tell him after a pause,

"That's great," you can hear him sit up quickly, "you must be really happy about that,"

"Yeah, I am it's just..."

"Just?"

"She asked me if I wanted to come move back home," you say quietly, part of you doesn't think he has heard until he asks unsteadily,

"Do you want to move back home?" that was the question though wasn't it, did you want to? Of course, you wanted to live with your mother again, and you could clearly see that's what she wanted to, and you would die to be able to see Camie each day once more. But what about everyone else, your new friends. You didn't know how to answer, part of you did but part of you didn't and you felt terrible because of it. The sounds of crashing can be heard from Ace's end and he mutters out a curse, "sorry (Y/N) I have to go, we'll talk when you get back okay?"

"Okay," you respond then the phone line goes dead before you can say goodbye. Placing the phone down you try not to worry, you would speak to him about it all when you got back, everything would be fine.

But everything wasn't. Once Christmas and new years came and went, you were back in school and life seemed to take a downwards spike. Ace stopped getting a ride with you in the mornings, according to Sabo he was running to school earlier as a way to train up for the next match. But you started to wonder if it was something else, especially when he started to avoid you. You didn't understand why, it was like he suddenly couldn't stand to be in the same space as you. He avoided conversation, eye contact and sometimes you caught him quickly walking the other way when you saw him in the corridors at school. You wondered what you had done, and your anxiety was starting to rise rapidly forcing you to start avoiding your other friends. Especially when they questioned what was wrong.

You couldn't avoid everyone forever though. Vivi finally cornered you one day and dragged you off to the yard where you both could sit and talk, it wasn't too busy as it was the beginning of lunch and everyone was fighting for food in the cafeteria. "Talk to me (Y/N) I know somethings wrong?" she pushes while glancing around, you fiddle with a loose thread on your jumper, her hands take yours and you glance up into her concerned eyes, "is this something to do with Ace and how he's been acting?" and with that, it's like the walls you had been building tumble down and you quickly find yourself blinking back tears,

"I don't know what I did... I think he hates me,"

"Ace is an idiot, but I don't think he hates you (Y/N), I don't think it's possible for him to hate you," she gives you a soft smile and hands you a tissue, "there is most likely a reason, whatever it's a good reason though," she shrugs, "have you tried to speak to him?"

"He runs away or avoids me," you quickly wipe your eyes especially as Bonney walks by with her friends snickering,

"Problem?" Vivi snaps,

"Oooh, that's not an appropriate tone for a princess," Bonney sneers out and her friends giggle,

"Go away Bonney, no one wants to deal with you today," you half groan,

"Aww, is someone upset that a certain freckled hottie has gotten bored of them?" she teases, "I'm surprised it took this long, you're not very interesting,"

"Leave us alone," Vivi stands up, "go bother someone else with your inane crap!"

"Is that an order your highness?" Bonney steps closer to Vivi,

"Just go away," Vivi huffs, and Bonney sneers at her,

"You're not in your fancy private school now, you're down on our level, no one to come running to your rescue like the pampered princess you are, or should I say was," her tone is threatening, and you do not like it, standing up you pull Vivi away. A dark glare aimed at Bonney, "Oh, maybe you do have some help, a runt of a guard dog,"

"Say what you want about me, but back the fuck off my friend," you half growl out,

"Or what? Whatcha gonna do about it poodle? You gonna cry and run to the big boys? You're both as bad as each other, you won't do a damn thi... mother fucker!" you had punched her square in the face, you wanted her to just shut up. You could handle being picked on, hell you had most of your high school life, but something you always stood by were your friends, and if Bonney kept going, you know she would have said something more to upset Vivi. Sadly, hitting her in the face probably wasn't the best idea, especially when the pinkette came at you with her own flying fists.

It's safe to say, it wasn't pretty. You sat down outside the principal's office opening and clenching your fist, knuckles bruised and slightly bloodied. The fight hadn't lasted very long but it was nasty, you could feel a bruise forming on your cheekbone, but your hand hurt the worst,

"Sit there and don't cause any more trouble," a teacher pushes a student into the seat beside you, their body heat hits you and you glance to the side to find Ace's coal dark gaze on you as the teacher moves into the principal's office, neither of you speak for the moment, you take in the black eye and the busted lip, seems he's also been in a fight. His eyes drop down to your hand and he frowns in concern, picking it up in a gentle grip,

"What happened?" he asks softly. You blink, and then you feel something snap inside you, roaring through you with thick and hot pain, you snatch your hand away,

"Don't you dare..." you let out unsteadily, trying to reign in the rushing emotions, but seriously? He completely blanks me for weeks and now he's just going to act normal and show concern!