Author: hi everyone! Hope you all enjoy the new chapter!

Ace couldn't stop himself from staring at the small blunette in-front of him. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest that he thought it was going to Burt from his chest. What was she doing to him?

" A-Ace, are you ok?" Sabo's voice broke Ace out of his trance, making him notice the fear in the her eyes. " Please don't be afraid!" However, that only made the girl even more fearful.

" Nice Sabo," Ace said in annoyance. " You aren't supposed to scare girls!" It was true, his mother and Makino had told him that he always needed to be nice to girls. He was never allowed to be mean or scare girls.

" I didn't mean to!"

" Please don't be scared!" Ace said kindly, offering his hand to the small girl who watched him nervously. Noticing the small cuts and bruises that covered her he added. " We aren't going to hurt you." Noticing, how badly she was shivering he removed his coat and offered it to her. " Here, please…"

Green eyes watched him with uncertainty. " …please…" After about a minute go uncertainty he saw her reach a shaky hand towards the coat. Ace saw small trickles of blood from several cuts along her pale and bruised arms. The sight of the blood made his mouth water. It smelled delicious and he felt his fangs lengthen. The girl caught sight of them and quickly scurried away.

" W-Wait!" Ace said hurriedly.

" Now look who scared her!" Sabo retorted. " Put your fangs away, jerk! That's what's scaring her!"

" I'm sorry!" Ace said, making his fangs retracted and once again offered her his coat. " Please!" Another long moment of hesitation passed before she finally took it.

" F-Famp y-you." The girl said in the softest baby voice he had ever heard. It sounded like music but he also heard untold amounts of fear.

" I'm sorry I scared you." Ace said gently. " I didn't mean to." Noticing how much she was shivering he found himself saying. " Do you wanna come inside where you can get warm?" Once again the girl looked at him warily. " My name's Ace, by the way…and this is my brother Sabo." He said ushering to the blonde boy. " What's your name?"

" A-Ai…" The girl said shyly.

" Do you wanna go inside…where it's warm?" Ace asked again, attempting to sound as sincere as possible. " And possibly get your cuts fixed?"

" I'm faiwb!" Ai whimpered quietly.

" Don't be!" Ace said, trying to sound as grown up as possible. He didn't understand why, but he wanted to make her feel like she could trust him. That he could protect her and make her feel safe. " No one's going to be mean to you, I promise." He smiled, offering his hand. She took her nervously before walking to him. " What happened to your shoes?" Ace asked, noticing she was barefoot.

" I wofp bem." Ai replied…that was a lie. When she had ran away from Teach and his friends she didn't think to grab them. They had also taken them from her in an attempt to ever stop her from running away.

" We can get you new ones!" Sabo said giving her a toothless grin. " Don't worry about it." The small blunette nodded sadly, careful to avoid eye contact with the boys.

" Um…" Ace said awkwardly as they began to walk towards the castle. " I don't know if you know this but…your neck is bleeding." Fear raced once again through the girl's eyes as her hands flew protectively to her neck. " I…um…I can make it stop, if you want." Ace said, a red blush flooding his face. It was true…kind of. He had seen his father do it when his mother would accidentally prick her finger while in her garden or accidentally cut her hand while cooking…his mother was a bit of a klutz.

" Mo bipimg!" Ai said fearfully, tears pricking her round green eyes.

" Biting?" Ace said in confusion. " Why would I bite you?" Taking her hand in his, he lifted it gently to his lips and kissed it lightly. " Why would I ever bite you?" Ai fidgeted shyly, a hint of pink coming across her pale cheeks. The boy in-front of her was so handsome and kind. She felt her heart flutter whenever she heard his voice…and now he kissed her hand like the gentlemen Pops and her brothers told her about. The kind they told her she would eventually marry.

" I won't bite you." The boy called Ace said gently. " I promise." His smile brought comfort to her, made her feel safer than she had felt in months. Against her better judgement, she nodded.

As cautiously as he could, Ace stepped towards her. Red faced, he gently brushed the collar of his coat back. His heart beating a million beats a second, he felt heat flood his cheeks as he leaned forward and kissed her neck, brushing his tongue lightly over the wound there.

" Eep!" Ai squeaked lightly. " Why you wip me for?"

" It'll make your neck feel better and stop bleeding." Ace said careful to avoid eye contact with her.

" Ace?" Sabo said, his face as red as a tomato. " What are you doing? Girls have cooties!" Ai's face was as equally red now.

" We can go back now." Ace said shoving the blonde.

" O-Opay…" Ai stuttered touching her neck lightly, she found her wound was now completely healed. " Famp you…"

" Don't mention it." Ace said quietly before shoving Sabo again. " Especially you."

" I can't believe you did that!" Sabo gagged. " Girls are gross and then you kissed one!"

" I did not!" Ace snapped. " And shut up!"

" They have cooties and you kissed one!" Sabo gagged, dodging the fist that Ace swung at his head.

" What part of don't mention it did you not hear?"

" Don't care! You still kissed a girl!"

" SHUT UP!"

" NEVER!"

COUGH!

COUGH!

The boys froze as Ai began another coughing fit. " Hey, let's hurry and get y-"

" THERE YOU ARE!"

" AAAH!"

Ace jumped as a loud, angry voice yelled and a hand came out of no where and grabbed Ai by the hair. Two burly men appeared in-front of them, dressed in fine clothes and wreaking of cologne. " THOUGHT YOU COULD RUN FROM US DID YOU!"

" WEP GO!" Ai cried weakly, struggling for freedom.

" LET HER GO!" Ace yelled angrily.

" Back off, brat!" One of the men snapped. " She belongs to us!"

" NO SHE DOESN'T!" Ace yelled as both he and Sabo grabbed tree branches and aimed them at the men. " NOW LET GO OF HER!"

" FUCK OFF, BRATS!" The second man said wrenching the branch away from Sabo. " STAY OUT OF MATTERS THAT DON'T CONCERN YOU!"

" You smell delicious!" The first man said sniffing Ai's newly healed neck. " I want another taste!"

" MO!" Ai squeaked tearfully. " WEP GO!"

" STOP IT!" Ace yelled, swing the branch at the man, only to have the second man catch it.

" I TOLD YOU BRATS TO STAY OUT OF THIS!"

" FOP!" Ai cried as the first man jerked her hair back, yanking her closer.

" STOP IT!" Ace yelled, eyes wide in horror. " LET HER GO!"

" Just one more taste." The man holding Ai said as he leaned forward, his exposed fangs coming closer and closer to Ai's tiny throat.

" I SAID STOP IT!" Ace yelled, a large blast of Haki blasted out of him towards the men, knocking the second out cold. " LET HER GO, YOU BASTARD!"

" What did you do, you little shit?" The first said fearfully, cold sweat rolling down his face, his hands and knees shaking.

" I said: let her go! Now do it!" Ace snarled angrily taking a step towards them.

This kid! The man thought fearfully. Who is he? Just now, looking at him, it's like looking at the Devil himself.

" I said," Ace said taking another step forward, fire igniting the branch in his hand. " Let…her…go…"

" F-FUCK YOU, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" The man yelled, his knees shaking more.

" I'd do what he says!" An annoyed male voice said. The man looked up and paled even more. Surrounding him were several men, the most distinguishable was the one in the center. Tall and shoulder length shaggy black hair and a large black mustache.

" Your Grace…" The man said fearfully as he recognized the King of all Vampires and his entire guard, the Queen included, in-front of him. " What brings you to these parts?"

" These are my lands, Lord Reginald." The King responded blankly. " And that brat you so affectionately referred to is my son, your prince."

" A million apologies, Your Grace!" Lord Reginald responded fearfully. " I am merely here to retrieve my darling sister here. She's so absent minded and careless that she disappeared earlier and we have been searching for her ever since."

" Don't think you can lie to us, Reginald." Rouge growled.

" Your Grace?"

" We all know you are an only child." Roger said blankly. " That child you are holding not so delicately there is of no relation to you. She is the Ward of Edward D Newgate and you will release her…now!" The man instantly released the small blunette causing her to fall into the snow.

" JACKASS!" Ace snapped pulling Ai safely to him.

" Feeding from a child is a punishable offense." Silvers Rayleigh said.

" Punishable by death!" Shanks growled angrily.

" Who said I fed from her?" Lord Reginald said paling more.

" Do we look like idiots to you, Reginald?" Roger growled. " The blood on her neck and you mouth smells the same!" Turning to the Queen he continued. " Take the children inside, Love. The girl needs warm clothes and a good meal."

" Of course!" Rouge said quickly, urshering to the three children. Sabo hurried swiftly to the Queen. Ace however, remained where he stood, arms wrapped protectively around the blunette. " Ace…baby?" Rouge said hurriedly. " Please come over here. We need to get you three inside where it's warm." Ace's arms tightened protectively around Ai even more.

" Ace," Roger said sternly. " If you really want to protect the girl than take her inside…now!" For once, the boy seemed to listen to his father. As gently as he could, Ace pulled Ai along to his mother.

" Hello little one," Rouge said kneeling in-front of Ai, smiling in a motherly way. Ai bit her lip nervously as she tried to avoid eye contact with everyone. " My name is Rouge and I am Ace's mama. It is wonderful to meet you." A small whimper escaped from the blunette. " Oh baby girl, please do not be afraid of me. I would never hurt you."

" You can trust her, Ai." Ace said gently. " My mother is very nice, she would never hurt you."

" H-Hewwo…" Ai whispered shyly. " My name if Ai."

" That is such a pretty name." Rouge said smile remaining as kind as ever. " How about we get you little ones inside where you can get something warm to eat."

" O-Opay…" Ai whispered quietly shivering slightly as they walked hurriedly towards the castle.

" Now," Roger said in a thinking tone. " What to do with you?"

" Your Grace-"

" Shanks," Roger interrupted, turning to the red haired man. " Take Buggy and go to Whitebeard's territory. Do not enter without invitation. Pay him the respect he deserves."

" Yes Sire," Shanks said, bowing respectfully.

" Inform him that we have located his daughter, that she is safe and he may come retrieve her as soon as possible. He will receive no hostilities from me."

" Your Majesty-"

" You will speak when addressed, Lord Reginald." The King snapped angrily. " Rayleigh, take Lord Reginald and his companion into custody. I will decide what to do with his useless hyde at a later time."

" Of course, Sire."

" It is alright, little one." Rouge said kindly as she gave Ai a warm bath, noticing how much the girl was trembling. She also noticed how the clear water had turned almost completely black from the dirt and grime that had covered the child. " We'll get you all nice and clean, then get you something to eat."

COUGH!

COUGH!

" Just breath, sweetie!" Rouge said rubbing the girl's back motheringly. " We'll get something for that cough as well."

" Your Grace," Making said, a large friendly smile on her face, her arms ladened with clean clothes, large fuzzy towels, a small black fuzzy puppy. " Here are the items you requested."

" Thank you, Making." Rouge said rinsing Ai's hair lightly. " There we go, little one. All nice and clean." Lifting her gently out of the tub Rouge then sat her down and wrapped a warm towel around her.

" Fofp…" Ai said looking down at the towel.

" Why yes it is!" Rouge laughed. " Do you like it?" When she nodded the Queen continued. " Well then we have lots of soft towels that you can use!"

Squeak!

" Hello Luffy," Rouge said lovingly. " This is Ai. She's your new friend!" The puppy sniffed the blunette curiously before he squeaked happily and licked her ankles.

" Fiwwy puppy!"

" This is Luffy, Ai!" Rouge said gently. " And he is a very silly puppy! He is Ace and Sabo's little brother and he is very sweet too."

" Your Grace, the Prince is sitting outside the door for some odd reason."

" Oh?"

" I asked him what he was doing there and his face became all red and he started to stutter. It was absolutely the most cutest thing I have ever seen him do!"

" Is that so?"

" Aye, Your Grace." Makino said laying out a warm winter nightgown for Ai. Smiling down at the blunette she continued. " I think the Prince is worried about you, Little Miss."

" Me?" Ai asked curiously.

" Aye, I believe he is very worried." Makino said. " Shall we get you dressed and then you can show him that are doing well."

" Opay…" Ai said shyly. Makino and Rouge helped to dress the little girl dress and brush her hair out.

" There you go, sweet girl. You look just beautiful." Rouge said lovingly, amazed at how much the girl before her resembled her late friend. It was as if a mini Elia was standing in-front of her.

COUGH!

COUGH!

Another wave of coughing came over Ai. This time so bad she almost fainted. " Oh sweet girl, come here." Rouge lifted the poor child and sat her lightly onto her lap. Ai instantly tensed at this action, fearing the worst. Rouge lifted her own wrist to her mouth, sinking her fangs into her pale flesh. " Here, sweet girl." She said, offering her wrist to Ai. " Drink."

Ai watched the Queen with uncertainty, biting her lip as she fought the urge to drink. " Please, sweet girl. You need to drink, this will make you feel better." Rouge said gently. " No one's going to hurt you."

" P-Pwomife?" Ai whimpered nervously.

" I promise, little one." Rouge said kissing Ai's forehead. " I am the Queen and when I make a promise I keep it. Now drink." Finally Ai took the Queen's wrist and drank the blood that trickled downward.

" There we go, little one. Drink as much as you need." Rouge said, stroking Ai's hair motheringly. " Ace-chan…" The Queen called, waiting several moments before a hesitant voice called back.

" Yes Mother?"

" Why don't you come in here and spend some time with our guest?" Moments passed once again before she saw her son step into the room.

" Makino said she feels better?" Ace said, his eyes not meeting his mother's, a pink tint to his cheeks.

" Yes she is, it was very thoughtful of you to ask about her." Rouge said her smile growing wider as the pink tint in her son's cheeks darkened. " Have you eaten yet, Ace-chan?"

" Yes Mother…" Ace replied awkwardly.

" Is there something else, love?"

" Um…" Ace paused when he saw Ai look up from the Queen's wrist.

" All done, sweet one?" Rouge asked lightly, brushing the girl's hair. When she nodded the Queen sat her on her feet. " Would you like to go play with Ace?"

" I-"

" I'm not gonna play with a girl!" Ace yelled, his face now strawberry red.

" Ace!"

" Girls are gross!" Ace yelled before running out of the room.

" I can't believe he just did that!" Rouge gaped, mouth wide open. Ai looked down at herself and sniffed.

" Me gwoff?"

" No sweetie, you're not gross. Ace is just being a boy." When Ai continued to look unconvinced the Queen continued. " Boys are silly. They don't stop being silly for a long time."

" How womg?"

" I'll let you know when the King stops acting like he's four."

" I heard that!" The King walked in with a giant grin on his face, Ace tucked under one arm.

" All words were said with love, darling."

" Uh-huh!" Roger said, kissing his Bride's cheek lightly before setting Ace down. Placing one hand on the Prince's head, locking him in place, keeping him from running away. " Now what did I hear about my son calling our lovely guest gross?"

" Ace-chan called Ai-chan gross!" Rouge said grumpily.

" Ace, that was rude!" Roger said in annoyance.

" But girls are gross!"

" Trust me son, one day you won't think girls are gross!"

" Girl's are always gross."

" You need to be nice to girls, Ace." Roger said. " Especially when you were so protective of this one." The pink returned to the Prince's cheeks. " Especially one that is so cute!"

" Shut up, dirty old man!"

" Dirty old man?" Roger gaped. " How could you ever say something like that to me?"

" CREEPY! DIRTY! OLD! MAN!" Ace snapped. " Don't touch her!"

" W-What? Why would I touch her?"

" Cause you're a creepy, dirty old man!"

" Why would you-" Roger broke off when Ai rushed over to Ace and gave him a big kiss on his cheek. The Prince's face went blood red.

" W-W-Why did you d-do that?"

" Famp poo for faping me!" Ai said cutely, causing the Prince to stutter. " You were bawy bwabe!" Ace stuttered even more at her face.

" He was very brave." Rouge said happily. " I'm so proud of him."

" Girls still have cooties!" Ace yelled, his face red.

" Ace!" Rouge scolded. " Your father is right, you need to be nice to girls! Especially little Aiko!"

" Who?" Ace asked, he and Ai looking curiously at her.

" Ace, why don't you take our guest and go play." Roger said.

" But-"

" Come my Prince and Little Miss," Makino said gently taking Ace's hand leading both children to the nursery.

" Rouge, love…I know you are relieved that the child is safe, but-"

" Her name is Aiko, Roger! Not the child or our guest!"

" But we can't keep her, love. Once Newgate is notified of her safety he will be taking her home, where she belongs."

" But she's Elia's daughter!"

" And you're her godmother. You are keeping her safe until her father takes her home safely."

" Roger…I think Aiko is Ace's Bride."