"You're leaving again, yoi." Marco said softly as he sat at the bedside of Whitebeard. Even on his deathbed, the strongest man in the world lived up to his reputation, and didn't look the slightest bit near death. If he didn't know better, Marco would've thought he was just going to bed, and would wake up again the next morning.

"I am not immortal, son." Whitebeard murmured.

"I know." Marco said softly, lowering his head. He heard Whitebeard sigh, but still didn't raise his head.

"Marco, son." Whitebeard reached out a hand, placing it on Marco's hands, clasped together on his lap. "You'll never be alone. We'll be back again. We'll keep coming back, just like we've been doing all this time."

No. Please don't go, yoi. Please stay longer, Oyaji. Stay with me, yoi. Please don't leave me, yoi. Please don't ever leave me again, yoi. But despite all the thoughts rushing to his mind, Marco remained silent, even when Whitebeard finally breathed his last and left.

"You're leaving too, aren't you, yoi?" Ace, the youngest of them and the last of his family left, looked at him with a content smile on his face.

"Don't look so down, Marco." He teased, his voice shaky and raspy. His eyes, kept barely open by eyelids tiring as his age grew, still remained as bright and lively as they were when he was a teen. "We'll be back again. We won't leave you behind."

But you are leaving me behind, yoi. Marco bit back the words that threatened to leave his mouth.

"Marco, you know, I've had a fulfilling life." Ace spoke suddenly. "Every time I'm reborn, I promise myself to live without regrets, so that I won't remain attached to my Life when Death comes for me." He turned to Marco. "You shouldn't regret anything either." He grinned, not even giving Marco a chance to reply. "See you again, Marco." He closed his eyes, allowed his body to go limp as he released one last contented sigh.

No matter how many times Marco had lived through his family's deaths and subsequent rebirths, their memories always remaining intact, he never grew used to it. He couldn't understand how his family could readily welcome Death. Despite that, every time they were reborn, they always fought to live, not wanting to die. But each time Death came for them, they always looked so content, and Marco just could never understand why. Why does his family not fear Death? They are mortal, living things. No matter what, they would always die without fail.

…Perhaps, is that why they do not fear Death? To them, Death is natural, just a part of the cycle of Life and Death. Does that mean he fears Death then? Because to him, who is immortal, death is unnatural. To him, who cannot die, there is no cycle of Life and Death. There is just Life for eternity, and Death is something his very existence rejects. Life is all he had ever known, while Death is unfamiliar to him, and so, he avoids it.

"Marco, my son, why do you fear Death so much? In the end, all living things will die. I am no different."

"That doesn't mean you can't stay longer, yoi."

"No."

"We'll be back again. We'll keep coming back, just like we've been doing all this time."

"We'll be back again. We won't leave you behind."

"No." Marco repeated, standing up. "This time, I'll be the one who comes to you, yoi."

He fears Death.

Marco buried every single one of his family with his own hands each time they left the earth. The land surrounding the hilltop where the graves of two legendary pirates from centuries ago lay was filled with the graves of his family from over the years.

He fears leaving everything he's ever known behind, and stepping into a whole new unknown world alone.

Marco completed his finishing touches on the gravestone and stepped back to admire his handiwork. He had gotten good at carving over the years, and crafted each of his family's gravestones by hand. This would be his final work.

But maybe with his family by his side, he can overcome that fear.

Marco smiled in content as his arms morphed into wings. With one strong flap, he soared up high into the sky, taking in the salty scent of the sea and the exhilarating sensation of freedom. He opened his beak and trilled piercingly into the sky, and then he dived straight down towards the sea.

When Marco opened his eyes, the first sight he's greeted with is the large crowd consisting of his family. His many brothers were all there, patiently awaiting their Rebirth to go back to him.

"Hey, it's Marco!" Someone was quick to notice him and instantly, all eyes turned to him and excited chatter sounded out. A large grin split his face as he ran through the crowd towards the large figure leading them.

"Oyaji!" He cried out happily as he leapt into Whitebeard's arms. "Sorry for making you guys wait so long, yoi!"

"Took you long enough, birdbrain!" Ace grinned.

"We're finally together again!" Thatch cheered.

"Gurarara! Let's go together this time, sons." Whitebeard laughed, all of his sons voicing their ready agreements with loud cheers, as they moved on as one big complete family.

Somewhere on an island near the island of Sphinx, among many, many graves, was a grave with a mythical phoenix carved into it, and the large bold lettering on it read:

MARCO THE PHOENIX

I'm back in a One Piece mood, which means I have gained many more ideas for Fix-It fics, while also trying to finish up my previous WIPs. I was thinking that it's about time this story comes to an end, so I wanted to finish it for real before starting on my other ideas.

So here's pretty much the last chapter for this story, before I post one final epilogue (Coming Soon!) and finally complete this story! Enjoy!