(So, after stressing everybody out with that last chapter here's some happy pregnant Ace from the Carrier AU!)


(Carrier AU)

Marco stood behind the door to the infirmary and glared, even as all his siblings threw him hopeful looks.

"C'mon birdy! You can't keep Ace all to yourself," Haruta pouted. "Don't be greedy!"

"I don't care how many presents you idiots are armed with yoi," Marco scowled. "Ace is resting."

He was trying to keep quiet, and keep the morons before him silent too, since Ace was asleep right now. It had been three days since they rescued Ace and brought his mate home, but he was still being kept in the infirmary per his and Sam's orders.

They planned to keep Ace in for the week, with so far only Pops being allowed to visit, as he can actually keep calm and not panic at the idea of Ace being pregnant. Even Jozu and Vista, the two calmest Commanders, were still flustered.

Admittedly he was still freaking out too but he was the father, if the nurses had even dared try to keep him away from his mate and baby there would have been hell to pay.

"We would like to see him at some point," Izo admitted, he was lounging on a sun bathing chair nearby, cocktail sitting at his side. "I've been designing comfortable clothes for his pregnancy and I want to make sure he likes them."

"He's only just back and you're already trying to dress him yoi," Marco sighed.

"He was in that loose, monstrosity of a t-shirt and a pair of those nasty baggy trousers that look more suitable for a prison," Izo huffed. "He needs comfortable clothes."

His Phoenix crooned in agreement, and Marco had to admit, he agreed too. Right now Ace was borrowing a pair of pyjamas off of some of their siblings that managed to fit him, but having another scent over his lover's was making Marco irritable.

They were still getting Teach's stench off him.

"Sam, what do you think?" he glanced back, his Head Nurse approaching with a frown.

"Maybe some of the calmer Commanders can start visiting, when Ace is actually awake of course," Sam mused.

"There's not that many calm Commanders at the moment yoi," Marco chuckled.

"I can be calm," Haruta huffed.

"The baby is going to be a boy," Sam said, deadpanned.

"She's gonna be a Princess dammit-" Haruta cursed, then went pale, and whined. "You tricked me!"

Sam merely smirked. Marco chuckled, Haruta had been going on about getting a little Princess in the family, all the while everyone teased him about how Ace would have a boy. Somebody did mention twins, and that had shocked Marco into silence.

What would happen if they did have twins? Marco didn't know much about his birth family, but Ace's side of the family, as far as he was aware, didn't have twins. Rouge had said she was an only child after all.

Rouge, if she had still be here, would be laughing herself silly right now at their panic. Then she'd probably marvel over Ace, and tell him everything he had to look forward to.

Marco grimaced, rubbing his forehead. Portgas D. Rouge, she should have survived, if those Marines hadn't been chasing her and Ace, she would have. She was the strongest woman Marco had ever met.

The fierce and wild Hibiscus Rouge, the lone pirate of the seas.

Pops missed her everyday.

Marco forced himself out of those thoughts. He didn't want to think about it, seeing Pops on New Years Day, staring in horror as the paper in his hand turned to ashes. How they had found out about Baterilla, how they were still making the Marines who had been there pay.

All those children and mothers-

"Marco?" Sam's hand landed on his shoulder.

Marco took in a deep breath. "Sorry, lost in thought yoi."

"You want to go sit back down by Ace?" she asked softly.

"Yeah," Marco nodded, turning on his heel and retreating.

Ace was sleeping peacefully, curled beneath the blankets, and Marco sat down by his side and stroked his hair back, watching his lover breathe.

That wouldn't happen to Ace. Rouge had been without help, all the doctors and midwives had been torn away from Baterilla during the search for Ace. Here though Ace had all of them, an army of nurses and Marco himself.

He rested his hand on Ace's hand, stroking over the familiar scars Ace had gotten as a kid from climbing dangerous cliff sides and trees. The thought made him smile, remembering how excited Ace was describing them, despite getting hurt at times.

Marco chuckled. "I wonder if our child will be as wild as you, love."

"Hopefully not..." Ace mumbled, startling him.

"Oh, hey Ace, did I wake you yoi?" Marco asked softly, keeping his voice low.

Hopefully if Ace was still tired he'd fall right back asleep.

"...Started waking up," Ace smiled sleepily, tucking his head out the blankets. "Hey, Marco."

"Morning, love. Sleep well?" Marco smiled.

"Yep," Ace grinned, pulling Marco's hand close, kissing it, and Marco couldn't help but coo happily, earning a laugh. "So, do I still have a hoard of siblings waiting outside for me?"

"Oh yes, ready to smother you with love and presents yoi."

"Oh no," Ace groaned.

Marco grinned. "And just wait, you're barely in the second trimester. You're going to be spoiled rotten the moment you're on the third."

If only they had been there for the moment Ace had found out he was pregnant. That was something Marco would forever regret, but would try not to linger on. After all, Ace was here now, Ace and their baby were home.

"This poor baby," Ace complained. "They're gonna be smothered."

"Oh yes, I'll be fighting off our entire crew for years to come," Marco teased, nuzzling Ace's cheek, planting a kiss on it.

"I wanna go back to sleep for like, ten years? Would that be enough time for everything to calm down?" Ace whined.

"Sorry, love, but it's too late." He carefully lay a hand on the blankets, right where Ace's stomach was, and beamed. "We've got a baby growing in there yoi."

"Just wait until my mood swings kick in," Ace smirked. "I freaked out the Blackbeard pirates and I'll freak out our guys too."

Marco snorted. "At least I have the energy to keep up with them thanks to my Phoenix then."

"Speaking of Teach... When is his trial?" Ace asked softly, sitting up properly.

Marco did help him with that, just in case his wrists got hurt. It did earn him an annoyed look but Ace did that whenever Marco started 'coddling' him.

"Pops wants to wait and see after you've done your time in the infirmary," Marco teased.

"Pops does make it seem like I'm in jail, which I have to admit, seems accurate."

Marco snorted. "Pops is the worst patient ever. Don't take after him yoi."

Ace laughed. "A bit more difficult to considering I sleep in the same bed as the First Division Commander, the leader of all Whitebeard doctors."

"And thank the Seas for that," Marco grinned.

"So, not to be a resistant patient or anything but when can I get out of this bed?" Ace asked, throwing his most hopeful look at Marco. "After all, I haven't really been out of bed much. Teach kept me chained up to one? So maybe that should count towards my bed rest?"

"You're in bed right now because of the stress you went through being Teach's prisoner yoi."

Ace nodded. "Exactly! So maybe going outside would help me de-stress?"

"While dealing with all our nosy siblings who are going to bury you in affection as soon as you step out that door?" Marco raised a brow, smirking.

Ace pouted. "True..."

Marco kissed his palm. "Give it until the end of the week, alright love? Then we'll see how you and the baby are feeling yoi."

"I'm bored though, and my back's cramping and- Oh!" Ace melted, feeling those lovely blue flames envelop his back, soothing the ache instantly.

"That better?" Marco cooed, his eyes warm with a big smile on his face.

"Yes..." Ace groaned. "By the Seas stay with me forever!"

"Oh don't worry. I plan to yoi," Marco said, grinning. "And just think, soon I'll get to bring you back to our room and put you in our nest. I'll get to hold you, worship you properly, show you how amazing you are."

Ace's cheeks were flushed, and Marco loved the fact that he could do that. That he could render Ace speechless and distracted so easily. A good thing Ace was distracted too because Marco would probably have been asked about their nest and if Marco had changed it again.

Which yes, he had. It needed to be soft and fluffy and completely comfortable, and while it had been before it needed more. More because his mate was pregnant and needed to be worshipped properly.

"I'll get to pamper you," Marco cooed. "And take care of you."

Ace whined. "Can't we go to bed now?"

"A few more days, firefly," Marco chuckled.

Ace's soft look grew suspicious. "You've done something..."

"Hm?"

"You only call me 'firefly' when you've done something you might get in trouble for," Ace said, smirking. "So what did you do?"

Marco blinked, and then realised that yes, 'firefly' was a telltale sign that he had done something, and that was unacceptable. He wasn't supposed to have any tells. That meant he needed to start using more nicknames more often.

Ace's eyes narrowed. "I haven't asked yet, have I?"

Marco sweat dropped. Ace was catching on.

"Marco, what have you done to our bedroom-"

Marco captured Ace's lips with his own, earning a soft groan in return. He kept running his blue flames over Ace's back, another over Ace's side, and his lover began to melt against him once more. He gently laid Ace back down, and kept soothing Ace's body with his healing fire, all while kissing him slowly.

Ace's hand slipped into his hair and Marco grinned into the kiss as Ace held on to him, moaning softly.

Distraction accomplished.