A/N: Will I ever cross-post consistently? No.
Ace couldn't help but stare, speechless.
His mother had swapped out her simple dress for a suit of armor, a silver circlet standing out against her strawberry blonde hair. She had been frowning when Ace helped her into the outfit earlier, but she showed no signs of discomfort now as she stood proud and tall, features stoic.
"Captain, while I appreciate your sentiment in trying to strengthen our army, I have repeatedly requested that you focus our resources into training our current soldiers."
"Your Highness, I believe this is what's best. More soldiers means more potential."
"And I believe that that's a pathetic excuse." Ace shivered. He was standing by Rouge's side, but out of the corner of his eye he could see her glower. "I will not have you needlessly sacrifice the men of our country! They could have so much more potential in other jobs, and less men would die with proper training."
The captain sneered. "My knowledge is much more valuable than a woman's when it comes to military."
The background chatter of the other knights halted, and the room was absolutely silent.
Let it be known that this was not the first time that the Sovereign Queen (of seven years, mind you), Portgas D. Rouge, had been underestimated for being a woman. Let it be known that those who had hurled such insults lost all rank, sent back to their noble families with their tails between their legs.
"I miss Rayleigh," Rouge muttered. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Ace."
"It's fine." Ace continued to glare at the path the man had left on. "He shouldn't have talked to you that way."
"You always worry about me, my little fireball." She took his head in her hands and Ace bent down in compliance so she could kiss his forehead. "Anyways, you're free to train here if you wish. Though you and your brothers have a special spot elsewhere."
Ace grinned. The place wasn't as large as the training area in Moby, but it would do. "I wouldn't mind a fight." He cracked his knuckles as he glanced around at the knights. Well, someone had to whip them into shape for Ma.
Rouge looked exactly as she did in her portrait: regal and grand from her adornments, yet motherly from her soft eyes and smile.
"I would be happy to pay for reparations on the orphanage, matron," Rouge said. "In fact, I'll send one of our best architects to assess the damage. Although, he might go overboard with renovations. I have a feeling that the kids will be very happy about that though."
The children in question whispered and shuffled around excitedly as the matron bowed in thanks. "We are so grateful, Your Majesty."
"No need to bow."
Suddenly, one of the little girls broke away from the group, and Ace gasped when she suddenly hugged his leg. "Wait, Ann!"
"What?" Ace muttered.
"Welcome back, Mister Your Highness!" The girl, Ann apparently, pulled away and held up a slightly crumpled piece of paper. "Ms. Matron told us that cards make people happy!"
It was more of a drawing than a card, but the effort was there all the same. It was covered in color, even though it was previously a blank white. The words on the card were spelled incorrectly and the letters went all over the card in rainbow colors. Ann stared up with him with wide eyes and a wide smile.
Ace couldn't help it. Her smile was contagious. "Thank you, Ann. I'll make sure to hang it up somewhere."
The matron rushed and pulled Ann back to her side. "We really must be going now. Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. Say goodbye everyone!"
"Bye!" They chorused, but Ann's voice was the loudest of them all as she waved her entire arm.
"Bye-bye!"
"My, what a brave little girl," Rouge commented, waving back to her as the group exited the throne room. "Good with kids?"
Ace shrugged. "I probably get it from you."
"Of course," she said. "Do you want to go now? I still have a bit longer."
"I'll stay with you. Can't be bored all alone."
"Thank you, my little fireball."
As much as he admired Rouge as Queen and Commander, this was the side of her that he liked the best.
"See? You were just so cute as a baby!"
"Ma!" he whined in protest as he blushed.
"You are!" she insisted, running her finger across the page. "Look at your little freckles here."
"I have freckles now."
"And you're still my little freckled fireball." No amount of averted looks would stop her from noticing his fiery, red blush.
They fell into a comfortable silence as Rouge continued to flip through the pages of Ace's photo album, but eventually, Ace spoke up.
"Hey, Ma?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you call me that?" Obviously, she didn't know the irony of her nickname, but she'd used that nickname ever since he was little.
"Oh? You mean 'my little fireball?'"
"Er- yeah."
Rouge took Ace's hand and squeezed it tight. "You asked me when you were younger, but I'm happy to tell it again." She closed her eyes, smiling. "The day you were born, Ace, was one of the happiest days of my life."
His blush returned- thankfully at a lower intensity.
"You were so warm every time I held you, and you were born in winter so I wanted to keep you close to me. Even your little smile just lit a fire in our hearts."
"That's it? That's so cheesy."
Rouge poked his cheek. "I'm not done yet. I was about to say that you were a stubborn little baby too! Your father would say that you got it from me. I still remember when he tried to pick you up. You just pouted yelled 'no!' It was adorable."
"Not adorable, Ma," Ace muttered again, holding a pillow in front of his face.
"You've always been a little grumpy and even a little volatile too, but no matter what, you would always smile for me, so to me, you're my little fireball. And I-" she choked on her words, "-I missed you so much!"
When Ace pulled the pillow away, only to be greeted with the sight of Rouge covering her own face. She was shaking as she sniffled and gasped uncontrollably.
Ace sat up straight, pulling her hands away so he could hug her tight. Her tears soaked through Ace's shirt, making it stick to his skin.
Rouge always seemed so strong: Queen and Commander. Yet underneath that all, she was still a mother- a mother who had dealt with the loss of her son for seven years even with all her burdens. To Ace, his mother was warmth, but she was also one of the strongest women he had ever met.
The need to be strong… he understood that.
"I'm here, Ma. I'm here."