Author: new chapter but now I am apartment hunting for my new home!

" Where is she!"

" Ai looked up from the book she was reading at the sound of an irate feminine voice from the lower levels.

" Uh-oh." Koala said from across the room where she and Nami were examining staff weapons. " That doesn't sound good."

" I know that voice." Nami said. " And no it doesn't sound happy."

" I know that voice too…" Ai said in disbelief. Standing quickly, Ai set her book down and hurried off down the hallway after her friends.

In-front of Luffy's bedroom was a tall slender girl with long black hair that fell past her waist. Her most prominent feature were her H-Cup breasts. She wore a purple dress with Kuja designs on it and purple high heel pumps. Beside the tall girl were two others. One, a large lady who resembles a snake, with a curvaceous figure and large breasts. Her head is disproportionately large and wide to her body and her long tongue is forked, which stuck out of her mouth slightly, and had sea green eyes. She wore a green bikini top with white irregular patterns, a white cape over it and green panties encircled by flaps at both sides of her hips.

The other girl beside them was a slender girl with elbow length wavy orange hair was arranged in a manner that resembled a cobra's hood. She had almond shaped brown eyes and pouty pink lips. She wore a pink lacy dress with kuja designs on it.

All three women seemed irate, especially the dark haired woman. And the source of their irritation, Ace, who looked completely bored from the encounter.

When Ai saw Ace standing there, just like whenever she saw him, she felt her heart begin to race. For this purpose, she purposely avoided him. She wasn't sure how she felt about him.

He could be absolutely piggish to her, with a typical male ego that she should just listen to him and undergo the Change. Those were the times he ended up of the floor, cupping himself.

But then there were times that he was kind to her. When he would be so tender and loving with her. Those times were many and they now outnumbered the times when he was stupid.

He had started calling her by her name too, instead of his Bride. Ai liked that. She loved hearing his deep voice say her name. It made her feel warm and safe. Just like when his black eyes would look at her or when his muscular arms would snake their way around her small waist. Even when they argued and his temper flared up, she knew he wouldn't hurt her.

Right now she was somewhat thankful that he hadn't noticed her. No matter how safe he made her feel she still didn't want to accept the fact that they were destined to be together.

She still had no desire to be married. Women never had a say in their marriages. The man had total say in anything else and the woman had to go along with whatever her husband wished.

Ai would have none of it. Her freedom meant more to her then anything else. She refused to be a quiet subservient wife…a second class citizen. If she were to marry, she and her husband would have to be partners, equals in every way.

" Where is she!" The dark haired woman's voice wrenched Ai from her thoughts and back to reality.

" Just who are you referring to?" Ace asked in a bored voice.

" You know exactly who I am referring to!" The woman snapped angrily. " Now where is she?"

" Nee-chan?"

The group whirled around at the sound of Ai's voice. Relief flowed through the women's faces at the sight of her.

" AI!" They yelled in unison, rushing towards her, and hugging her tightly.

" THERE YOU ARE, AI!" The green haired girl yelled.

" Hello Sandersonia." Ai said awkwardly.

" WE'VE BEEN SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" The orange haired girl said, examining Ai for any signs of harm.

" I'm sorry, Marigold…"

" We've come to free you from your confinements!" The dark haired woman cried, eagerly pulling Ai into a tight hug, Ai's face pressed suffocatingly into her large bosom.

" Don't act like she's locked up in some kind of prison in chains, Hancock." Ace snapped angrily, glaring over at the women, arms crossed.

" Being trapped anywhere against her will is a prison!" The dark haired woman, Hancock, snapped back.

" That isn't fair, Hancock!" Luffy huffed. " What would you have them do? They'd both die if they were apart from each other!"

" I say we take her home with us and lock him in a cell where he belongs!"

" SANDERSONIA!" Ai gasped at her sister in disbelief. " I can't believe you'd even suggest something so inhumane!"

" We can't just leave you here!" Hancock said. " No telling what he might do to you!"

" Ace isn't some kind of animal!" Ai said determinedly. " He wouldn't do something like that!" And that was something she believed. Ever since her first night here he had only suggested that he Change her and they Couple. He never actually tried to force her into it. He occasionally would strongly suggest it and her fist would strongly suggest he change his mind. " He's a good person!"

Ace felt his demeanor change at her words. They warmed him down in his very core completely. He wanted to pull her to him and wrap his arms securely around her at that moment.

" So no locking people up, ok…" Ace smiled at the awkward shyness that appeared in her voice.

" Fine!" Hancock said haughtily. " But say the word, little sister, and-" She formed a heart with her hands and gave Ace a murderous glare.

Before Ai could respond Luffy went rigid, his ears and tail out, sniffing the air eagerly. " Guys! Do you smell that?" His mouth was all but watering.

" Well it is that time of the day." Nami said calmly. She linked arms with Koala eagerly and grinned. " Shall we go see what sort of treats Sanji made for us today?"

" MEEEEEEEEAT!" Luffy yelled eagerly, rushing down the corridor towards the parlor room. " COME ON, HANCOCK! THERE'S FOOD!"

" COMING, LUFFY DARLING!" Hancock said, hearts appearing in her eyes, as she rushed after him, the others following quickly behind them. Ai trailed shortly behind them when she heard ace's deep voice call out to her.

" Ai." Turning she jumped when she found him standing directly behind her.

" Y-Yeah?" She asked warily.

" I have something for you." Ace said, offering his arm in a gentlemen like nature. Ever since Koala had laid into him that first day he was more considerate of how to treat and act around her.

" What is it?" Ai asked becoming even more wary.

" It's a surprise." He replied and when she responded with a raised eyebrow he smiled. " Nothing like that, I promise." After a few moments of quiet contemplation she gave in and took his arm.

Ace smiled as he realized how much trust she had placed in him when she took his arm. As they walked to his room he glanced down and took in every single detail of her. The slight wave in her long blue hair, the cat like shape of her sea foam green eyes, the small width of her shoulders and the small bones structure of the hand that rested on his arm.

She looked so delicate and fragile next to him. All he wanted to do was scoop her up and keep her safe. But he knew he couldn't do that. He knew she was starting to trust him but she still didn't trust him that much and he didn't want to break what they had built.

When they approached his bedroom he saw her tense up suddenly. " Don't worry." Ace whispered softly in her ear. " It's not that kind of surprise, I promise."

" You better not be lying."

" Don't worry, my blue haired fireball." He said smiling eagerly down at her. " I've felt your wrath enough times to know better."

" My wrath?"

" Well, your knee at the very least." He said cooly as he opened the door and entering before her. As he closed the door, he noticed her giving him a peeved look. " What?" He asked in confusion.

" Haven't you ever heard of: Ladies First?"

Ace gave her a confused look. " Why would I ever let you go into a room first?"

" It's polite!"

" Is that a human thing?" Ace asked, his confusion growing even more.

" No! It's-"

" Why would I let you go into a room that I didn't know is safe?" Ai paused at the apparent concern in his voice.

" What?"

" You are my Bride." Ace said gently, cupping her face with a calloused hand. " I will always put your safety above my own."

" Even your own home?"

" My old man has many enemies as do I…and they wouldn't hesitate to attack you if they had the chance."

" Again, even in your own home?"

" I was taught to always expect the unexpected. To never let my guard down." Ace said cooly. " Not that it would be easy to get into this castle, but I can never be to careful."

" That's horrible that you cannot even relax in your own home."

" I've been finding myself relaxing more and more often lately."

" Really? Why is that?" Ace paused before he cupped her cheek gently.

" Because of you." He whispered. " Ever since you have been here, I-"

" MEEW!"

" OH MY GOODNESS! WHAT AN ADORABLE LITTLE KITTEN!" Ai squealed as she reached down and scooped up a small all black kitten.

" I'm glad you like her." Ace said calmly. " Because she's yours."

" What?

" She's yours."

" Why?"

" I thought you might like her." Ace said, a light blush appearing on his face. " Last week when I first found her, she was stumbling around the court yard. She was barely skin and bones."

" The poor little thing!" Ai said hurriedly. " What happened to her mother?"

" I'm not sure?" Ace said sadly. " She was the only one I could find. We normally don't have cats in this castle. No mice for them to change so there was no reason for them to stay."

Ai rocked the kitten gently in her arms. " She seems perfectly well fed now!"

" She's a little hunker." Ace stated calmly.

" Well that's cause someone took good care of you." Ai said nuzzling the kitten, who began to purr loudly as it snuggled in her arms contently.

" What are you going to name her?" Ace asked as he stroked the kitten's ear gently.

" Selene is a pretty name for such a pretty girl." Ai said, kissing the kitten's nose.

" After a moon goddess, huh?" Ace said. " That's a strong name for such a small kitten to live up to."

" I'm sure she'll live up to it." Ai said snuggling the kitten gently. Selene mewed softly as she snuggled close contently.

" Thank you!" Ai said happily, her eyes beaming with joy.

" You're welcome." Ace said turning to leave. before Ai could stop herself she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

Ace froze when he felt her warm soft lips against his rough cheek. His heart began to race as he caught a whiff of her scent. His mouth began to water as he felt his pupils constrict.

Before he could stop himself he leaned down, cupped her face in his rough hands and captured her lips. He heard her gasp in surprise as he pressed his lips against her's. He took that opportunity to insert his tongue insider her mouth.

Ai felt herself gasp again when Ace's tongue began to fight her's for dominance. Ai felt her knees give out at his kiss. Feeling his strong arm wrap securely around her waist, locking her to him.

Ai felt her head begin to spin with pleasure as she felt her heart rate quicken and breathing become irregular.

Ace's head was foggy as he tasted peaches. He felt his control start to wain and his Companion start to awaken, demanding him to claim her. He wanted to scoop her up and carry her to his bed so badly. With each new gasp of pleasure from the blunette his resolve weakened.

" MEEW!"

Ace jerked backwards at the sound of Selene's innocent yet disgruntled call brought him crashing back to reality. Holding Ai at arms length, eyes wide, he panted to catch his breath. As he saw her face flushed, eyes wide, and lips swollen he almost succumbed to his Companion's demands to claim and Change her.

" I'm sorry." Ace said quickly. " That wasn't why I asked you here."

" I-" Ai froze as she saw the hungry look in Ace's eyes. Being raised with her father and brothers she often forgot how dangerous vampires could be. But as she looked at Ace now, she could clearly see the predator that he was. From the hungry look in his eyes, Ai wasn't sure how he was still in control. " It's alright."

" I didn't mean to be disrespectful."

" Ai felt her heart swell at his words. His demeanor was so different then a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago he would do anything to make her his, but now…but now he wanted her to want him like he wanted her.

" Thank you." Ai said smiling up at him.

" You should go." Ace said quietly.

" No…" Ai said calmly.

" If you don't, I may not be able to stop myself from hurting you."

" You aren't going to hurt me, Ace." Ai saw hesitation in his eyes. " If you could have, you would have done it when we first met." Ai took his hand in hers, before kissing his knuckles.

" Why do you trust me?"

" I don't' know really…but since I'm here for Two more Moons I thought we could start trying to get to know each other…"

" Why do you want to?" Ace asked. " You should hate me."

" Instinct took over, Ace." Ai said calmly. " It's not something you chose."

" I might hurt you."

" I already told you, if you were able to hurt me you would have done it by now."

" Must you be so aggravating?"

" Been so my entire life."

" How did Whitebeard not strangle you, while you were growing up?"

" My father's patience is greater then his reputation." Ai said smiling cheekily

" Apparently."