Author: here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long, it's actually been ready for like 2 weeks but I've been so busy I couldn't type it up. Hope you guys enjoy!
" How can you be sure of that?" Roger asked his Bride curiously.
" I've had a feeling they were ever since Aiko was a baby. Of how protective Ace was of Aiko when she was that small. He wouldn't leave her side no matter what. He even would cry when she went home with Elia. He was also very upset when Elia and Alduin passed and Aiko stopped coming over for visits."
" She still has a family that misses her. It wouldn't be right or us to keep her."
" But-"
" If she really is Ace's Bride then the gods will one day reunite them. Besides," The King said looking the Queen square in the eye. " If Ace was the one mssing and Newgate found him, he would return him…regardless of him being Ai's Groom."
" I know you're right, but-"
" Though, Ace is such a brat that Newgate would return him just to be ride of him."
" Roger!" Rouge laughed, slapping his shoulder lightly. " Ace is a good boy!"
" Mhm…sure."
Ace watched the small brunette sitting by herself in the playroom. Luffy asleep in his puppy form beside her feet. Once Makino had left them to play she then began to attend to her chores.
Ace was now trying his best to stay away from the girl. Whenever he was close to her his heart began to race and heat would flood his face. He felt this overwhelming desire to be near her and keep her safe.
He never really paid much attention to girls other than to determine that they were gross and annoying.
Yet, Ai was different. He didn't find her gross at all. In-fact, he thought she was pretty…and she smelled nice too. Whenever she moved her scent wafted towards him, making his mouth water and his throat run dry all at once.
COUGH!
COUGH!
Ace tensed whenever he heard Ai's coughing fit start up again. It still sounded bad and it made another wave of protectiveness surge through him. He quickly stood up and hurried over to her, rubbing her back soothingly.
" Breath. " He said awkwardly. He really didn't understand her being sick. He had never been sick a day in his life. Noticing that she was shivering, he pulled her against him as she wheezed against him.
Thankfully that Sabo had fallen asleep earlier, he felt oddly comfortable with her against him. Her soft blue curls tickled his nose, her delicious scent wafting to him making his mouth water. Heat flooded his face as she snuggled closer to him.
" Wawm…" He heard her whisper.
" Th-Thank you." He said awkwardly. Another wave o protectiveness went through him. Anger surged through him at the thought of someone hurting her. He hated seeing the fear in her eyes when he found her.
" Aaaaw!" Ace froze at the sound of Rayleigh's amused voice coming from behind him. " Look at you, Ace. This is pretty romantic of you, kid."
" Sh-Shut up, jackass!" Ace yelled angrily, his face now tomato red as he glared angrily at his father's second in command. " Stop making something out of nothing!"
Rayleigh grinned mischievously down at the children. " Such a pleasure to meet you, Small Lady." His smile softened as he looked at the small brunette. Ai peeked a shy green eye from Ace's chest. " Has the Prince been treating you respectfully?"
" Go away!" Ace snapped, his hold tightening protectively around Ai. " You're scaring her!"
" My deepest apologies then, Small Lady." Rayleigh said, raising his hands defensively. " I merely wished to see how you were doing."
" Why?" Ai's scared voice asked.
" Well dear child, it would appear that you have gone through something traumatic. When your father arrives to take you home he will want to know that we treated you respectfully."
Ace was surprised at how much Ai began to shake at the mention of her father. He didn't like how afraid she was. Was her father cruel? Did he mistreat her? Was he the reason those bastards had hurt her?
" Go away, ass!" Ace said angrily.
" A-Ass?" Rayleigh gasped in surprise. " That was rude!"
" She doesn't like you, so go away!"
" Ace-" Before the Dark King could finish, Ace ran out of the room, pulling Ai along with him. " I do believe our young prince is in-love." He said with a smirk.
" A-Afe!" Ai squeaked as the two ran down the halls so fast she started to run out of breath. He only stopped when she began coughing.
" Are you ok?" He asked worriedly.
" Y-Yef…" Ai said weakly. " Why bib we wum away?"
" Cause you were scared of Rayleigh." Ace said sternly. " Why were you so scared? Rayleigh isn't that scary." Ai looked down, trying her best to avoid eye contact. " And your dad is coming to take you home." He noticed Ai tense up, her hands began trembling. " What's wrong?"
" M-Mofimg…"
" Yes there is! You're scared again!"
" Nuh-uh!"
" Yeah-huh!" Ace snapped. " What's the big deal? Your dad is gonna come to take you home." That seemed to make things worse as he saw tears begin to form around her eyes. " Hey, please stop crying!" And then she kept crying, causing several servants to stop and stare, making Ace's face redden. " P-Please stop crying!"
That really didn't help either and Ace saw Ai try to run away. Quickly he reached over and grabbed her wrist, preventing her from escaping. " Please don't leave, whatever I said, I'm sorry!"
" Ipf mop bap!" Ai whimpered.
" Are you worried about your dad coming to get you?" His suspicion was confirmed when he saw her head. " Is he mean to you?" She shook her head. " Does he ignore you?" She shook her head again. " Then I don't get it…"
" My bwobew faib Papa happen me. Bap he wampeb me beab!" Ai cried weakly, hiding her face so he couldn't see her tears. To her surprise she felt herself being pressed against something warm, a pair of arms wrapping around her.
" Don't cry, Ai…" Ace said sternly, inhaling her warm scent. " I won't let anyone hurt you, I promise."
" W-Weawwy?"
" I promise." Ace said reassuringly. " So please don't cry!" He noticed her trying really hard to stop, saw the fear still evident in her eyes. " Come on," he said, taking her hand and pulling her along lightly.
" Were aw we goimg?"
" You'll see." Ace said, his face cherry red. After a few moments of quiet Ace stopped in-front of a large mahogany door. A soft flowery scent wafted towards them from the other side. " W-Wait here." He said shyly before darting behind the door.
While he was gone Ai tried her best to stop crying. She wiped the tears hurriedly from her cheeks before the Prince returned, hiding something awkwardly behind his back.
" Here!" Ace said, face becoming even more red, as he pulled out a blue rose and offered it to her. " For you!"
" P-pwebby." Ai sniffled, her eyes wide in surprise.
" F-For you…" Ace said shyly. " It looks like your hair."
" F-Famp you." Ai said taking the rose.
" I won't let him be mean to you, Ai." Ace said stiffly to Ai's surprise. " I swear to you, I won't let anyone be me to you."
" Pwomife?" Ai asked worriedly.
" Of course! I will never break a promise to you!" Ace said, attempting to sound as grown up as he could.
" You awe fo bwabe!" Ai said shyly before quickly giving his cheek a kiss.
" Ah geez! You had to go all girly on me!" Ace said wiping his cheek shyly. " You got your cooties all over me!"
" Bomb be meam, fimpy heab!"
" STINKY HEAD!"
" Your Grace, have you seen the Prince and the Young Miss?" Makino asked giddily a few days later.
" Not today, not together, why?"
" You have to come see!" Makino said eagerly linking her arm with the Queen's, pulling her down the hall.
" What is it, Makino?" Rouge asked. " You seem very excited about something!"
" Just wait until you see it!" Making said stopping in-front of the room that Ai had been staying in. " It is just the sweetest thing I have ever seen!"
" Just open the door already!" Rouge giggled as the younger woman tried to shush her. When the women were both silent they opened the door and entered the room as quietly as possible. " What did you want to sh-" The Queen book off when she saw the two children snuggled against each other, sleeping peacefully.
" Oh that is just precious!" Rouge said lovingly. The sight before just reaffirmed her assumption that the two were a Couple. That Ai was destined to be Ace's Bride and Ace her Groom. It also hurt to know that they would be separated.
Whitebeard would be arriving any day now to bring his daughter home. Ace would be so sad when Ai leaves but if they were soulmates then they would surely find each other again.
" Your Grace," Rouge turned to see a slim and tall woman with short black hair, with two tufts pointing upwards. She wore a white blouse with a tan leather corset. Around her waist was a black circular belt encrusted with blue gems. She had long brown leather pants that laced up along the legs. A thin delicately made sword hung against her left hip.
" Yes Shakky?"
" Shanks has sent word that Whitebeard will be arriving this evening."
" Tonight?" Rouge said sadly, feeling her heart drop into her stomach. She was enjoying having Ai here. She had always wanted a little girl of her own but never dared think of chancing it. She didn't want to see a child of her die at such a young age.
When she heard her best friend had bore a female child she was terrified for her. She never wanted her friend to experience the loss of a her own blood again. Her friend, as well as she, had already lost her family. She never wanted to experience that kind of pain again. Especially when it was caused from losing her own child. It would be as though her heart was ripped from her.
She had definitely become attached to the small blunette. Not because she was her Godmother but because the child acted so much like her mother, Elia. It was like a miniature version of her best friend was running around the castle, ensnaring the hearts of every single person there.
Whitebeard would be here soon to take Ai home tonight and Rouge didn't know when she would next see her. She knew Roger had a point though. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if Ace had been taken from her, found and then not returned just because he was Ai's Groom.
Walking over to the bed she traced a loving finger across both children's brows. A smile spread across her ace when she saw them snuggle closer together. As gently as she could she placed a blanket over them. " Sleep tight, dear ones."
" He will be here soon." Roger said calmly as he stood beside his Bride on the balcony watching the snow falling lightly in the winter's night's sky.
" Don't remind me." Rouge said sadly, leaning against him. " I wonder how Ace will react when Aiko leaves."
" Sulk probably." Roger chuckled stroking her cheek softly. " He seems to have become very attached to her. I must admit, though, they are rather cute together."
" They will make such adorable babies!" Rouge said.
" Let them have their time together without the pressure of having an heir. They are just children after all."
" Roger! I know that! I'm just picturing how cute our future grandsons will be!"
" Mhm, of course you were!" Roger said before his ace turned serious, his body tensing dangerously.
" Roger?" Rouge asked curiously.
" He's here."
" This had better not be a trap." Marco said angrily, his defenses were on high alert as they entered the Vampire King's throne room.
" Rouge would never lie to us about finding Ai." Thatch said.
" It wasn't Rouge that sent the messengers." Marco retorted arms crossed, eyes scanning the room for potential assailants.
" Roger wouldn't lie about something as serious as this." Whitebeard said seriously, his tone seemed calm but inside he was extremely terrified. Not for himself, he had gotten over fearing for his own safety long ago.
No, he was worried about Ai. About all the horrible things that he had heard had happened to her. He will kill Teach if he ever found him for causing his family so much pain.
" Edward." A soft female voice said, grabbing the attention of the men. They turned to see the Queen walking towards them, carrying a sleeping blue haired child in her arms.
" Ai!" Thatch exclaimed, eyes wide. " Rouge, you found her!"
" Hush Thatch!" Rouge said sternly. " She's sleeping!"
Marco had to stop his brother from rushing to the Queen's side. " What are you doing, Marco?"
" Remember where we are, Brother!" Marco hissed eyeing their surrounding suspiciously.
" Shut up, Marco!" Rouge snapped. " You all are safe here. You are guests here! Nothing bad will happen to you. Especially not with this precious little one here. She's been through to much already, I'll not put her through anymore.."
" You're awfully considerate, Rouge." Marco snapped.
" That is your Queen, Sir!" Shanks growled protectively. " Show her some respect!"
" Mind your own business, boy!" Marco growled dangerously.
" How about you both drop t." The calm voice of Silvers Rayleigh echoed through the halls. The Second in Command followed the King towards the group.
" Newgate," Roger said respectfully. " Safe travels I presume?"
" Of course," Whitebeard said, his eyes never leaving the sleeping child. " What was she like when you found her, Rouge?"
" She was cold and very dirty." Rouge said snuggling Ai protectively. " She had bruises all over her and she was very thin…she had a horrible cough and a small fever as well." She kissed the top of Ai's head. " She was scared, Edward. She was so scared."
" How has she been since you found her?" Whitebeard asked, his tone never wavering, the grip on his massive bisento tightening.
" She's better," Rouge said gently as Ai curled against her. " No fever and her cough is almost gone. She's been eating more and I have been giving her my blood to drink…and…"
" And?"
" She's been having nightmares, Edward." Rouge said sadly. " She went through something extremely traumatic…and…"
" What?" Thatch asked cautiously.
" She…"
" She what?"
" she seemed to think that you all want to kill her and hate her."
" WHAT?" Thatch yelled angrily, his voice echoing throughout the hall.
" THATCH!" Rouge hissed angrily as Ai jerked awake in her arms. She began to tremble uncontrollably, a small whimper escaping from her. " Shhh, sweet girl! You are safe here. I promised, remember?"
" Ai…" Thatch said softly. When the girl caught sight of them, giant tears filled her eyes.
" Me fowwy!"
" What?" Thatch said suddenly taken aback. " Why are you sorry, baby sister?
" Me fowl! Me fo fowwy!" Ai cried.
" Oh sweetie, please don't cry! You've done nothing wrong!" Rouge said as she attempted to soothe Ai.
" Baby sister, please don't cry!" Thatch said hurriedly. " You have nothing to be sorry about!"
" Mo hape me!"
" We don't, Ai!" Marco said, his normal calm demeanor completely vanished. Before he could say anything else, Whitebeard handed his bisento to him before kneeling infront of the Queen.
" Pops, what are you doing?" Marco asked as the elderly man extended his arms welcomingly to Ai.
" Ai," Whitebeard said softly as to not frighten the girl. " Child of mine, I have missed you so very much." As she eyed him fearfully, tears swelling in her eyes. " I was worried about you, child."
" Me fowl! Pweafe mo hape me!"
" I could never hate you, little one." Whitebeard said with every ounce of honesty he had. " You are my one and only daughter, I will always love you."
" Weawwy?" Ai asked, trying not to get her hopes up. She had stopped hoping that her family would ever want her back. That they had ever loved her. " Mawfaww faib-"
" Marshall lief to you, little one. He knew how special you are and stole you away from us because of his own greed. He took you away from those who loved you and he let bad people hurt you."
A very long and silent pause passed throughout the Great Hall as Ai watched her family with uncertainty.
Whitebeard sighed sadly before standing, heaving a large sigh. " I love you, are my precious daughter. More precious to me than any other treasure. All I want to know is that you are safe and know that you are loved." Offering her a warm and reassuring smile before he continued. " If you don't want to come back, th-"
" P-Papa!"
Whitebeard's dark eyes were wide at the sound of his daughter's voice. " A-Ai?"
" P-Papa…me wamma go howme!" Ai cried fearfully, tears streaming down her small face. She struggled to catch her breath. Her normally cream colored face now red. " Me mamma go howme, Papa!" Rouge quickly handed Ai to him.
" Oh baby girl!" Whitebeard said hugging her protectively to his chest.
" Me mamma go home! Pweafe Papa!"
" Of course you can come home, my daughter!" Whitebeard said in reassurance. " You will always be loved and wanted in my home."
Rouge watched the scene before her heart growing I've times in size. She knew it was selfish of her to want to keep Ai here because of how much she missed her dear friend. That feeling made her feel a million times worse. Ai needed to be with her family. She needed to know that they loved her, that they wanted her in their lives.
" Mother?"
Rouge jumped at the sleepy voice of her son. Turning, she saw her tired son Ace walking towards them. " Mother? What's going on? Why is Ai crying?"
" Oh sweetie!" Rouge said lifting her son up and hugging him tightly to her. " Ai-chan was just worried that her Papa didn't want her but they do want her home. They missed her very much and were very worried about her."
" Is this your son, Rouge?" Thatch asked making the boy glare at him. " He's-uh-cute."
" ASS!"
" ACE!"
" Why you little-"
" Ace was the one who saved your daughter, Newgate." Roger stated coolly. " When I came across the children, Ace was fighting two of the men who had hurt her."
" He's been very protective of her ever since we found her." Rouge said. " He's very fond of her."
" Is he." Whitebeard said eyeing the boy in-front o him. " Well you have my thanks, my boy. Thank you for protecting my daughter." Ace glared angrily at the elderly man before squirming for his mother to set him down.
" Afe if mife, Papa." Ai said shyly. " He gibe me a fwowwew."
" Did he?" Whitebeard said. " That was very nice of him."
" YOU!" Ace growled angrily. " You better be nice to her! Don't you dare be mean to her or ever make her cry!"
" What do you plan on doing to me if I ever do?"
" I'll make you regret it." Ace said in determination, his eyes never wavering. A smirk came across his face as he set Ai down gently.
" I'll hold you to that promise, boy."
(End flashback)
" I will kill that bastard if I ever see him." Ace snarled holding Ai tightly against his chest.
" Ace, to tight!" Ai gasped. She could barely breath as Ace held her. She didn't think his hold around her could get any tighter. As she revealed her story to him he had pulled her against him. She felt ashamed of it she was afraid to look at him. She didn't want to see the look of disgust in his eyes. She felt tears begin to prick her eyes at the thought of him hating her.
Ace relaxed his hold around her enough to feel how much she was trembling, to feel the tears she had shed against his chest. " Stop it." He said angrily, not directed to her. His anger was towards the man called Teach and how he hurt her.
His anger intensified when he heard a small whimper come from her. " Stop crying, Ai…look at me." She shook her head fearfully. " Ai…" He reached down and cupped her tear stained cheek and lifted it so she had no choice but to look at him. " Stop crying." He said gently before leaning down and kissing her forehead.
