Little Ace and Whitebeard, sharing a moment together.
.
.
5. A Jump
.
The party was on a full swing, even though it was barely evening. His children were surely lively today, Whitebeard mused with a grin. He would've liked to stay on the deck a little longer, but Doctor Clody was firm on her order for him to rest regularly throughout the evening. She knew that there was no way she could completely prevent him from drinking and joining the merrymaking of the crew. But she gave an ultimatum that he had to retire to his room for a while at least every two hours, so that she could check up on him and give him medication in a timely manner.
Whitebeard sighed. His health wasn't that bad, although he did agree that he probably needed to start taking better care of it, especially if he were to stay strong for his family. He had complete faith in Marco and knew that he was ready to take on the mantle if needed (Marco begged to differ), but he knew it would be better for him to be in charge for just a little longer.
Yes, at least until the baby of the family grew old enough to look out for himself.
Whitebeard's thoughts lingered on his youngest. When his old friend and rival Roger asked him to look after his wife and soon to be born child, he was both touched and distressed. It did not seem right for his friend, who was much younger than him that he could practically be his son himself, to give away his life to pave the way for the new generation.
.
.
"If I can, I'd trade places with you. It is not right for a father to die without even seeing his child's face. I've lived a good, long life. But you, my friend, are too young to leave this world like this."
Roger gave a hearty laugh.
"Whitebeard, I may be younger than you old geezer, but I too have lived a good life. I've got no regrets. No, I take that back. I'd be lying if I say that I don't regret not seeing my child's face or being there for Rogue. But I know you'll take good care of them. My child will have the greatest dad in all seas. Right?"
.
.
The greatest dad in all seas. Was he? Whitebeard chuckled to himself. Well, he could only hope.
"O-ya-ji!"
Whitebeard was startled from his musing by an impatient voice coming from somewhere below.
"Ace?"
"Hmmph. I called you like, like ten times!" Ace grumbled, stretching out his tiny hands to show ten tiny fingers, the largest number he could count.
"Did you? Sorry, I was thinking, little one." Whitebeard apologized and swooped down to pick up Ace. Ace giggled as he rode on the huge palm.
"Higher! Higher!"
Whitebeard obliged by bringing his hand high up above his head, before gently lowering it to his eye level.
"What are you doing here, Ace? Did you get tired of the party already?"
"No! Never! Party's fun! But I didn't want you to be alone. Alone is boring." Ace smiled as he played with Whitebeard's fingers. "So I came to keep you com… com…."
"Company?"
"Yeah!"
Whitebeard felt something warm spread through inside of him as he returned the bright smile from his youngest. His youngest. His son. The joy of him and their family. Whitebeard wondered how their lives would have been different if Roger did not change his mind at the last moment and went to Garp instead of him. Garp. That bull of a man was a decent person (after you got past all the crap about justice and marine and whatnot), but he was not someone that should be on the top of your list when you were looking for a babysitter, let alone a guardian. What would he have done with the little one? Throw him to the lions under the name of training, no doubt.
"Why, that's awfully kind of you, Ace. Since you came all the way here to keep me company, let's play a game together, shall we?"
"Okay!" Ace clapped his hands in anticipation. "What're we playin'?"
"Do you still remember how to play jump? We did it the other night."
"Uh-huh! You do like this and then like this."
Ace demonstrated a jumping and rolling motion. Whitebeard nodded his head and shifted his hand so that his right hand—where Ace currently was on—was slightly higher than his left hand.
"Okay, let's try level 1 first."
"That's easy!"
Ace grinned as he jumped and landed in a slightly awkward roll.
"Gurarara, good job, son! Just remember to tuck in your chin and roll slightly sideway."
"Next, next!"
Ace got up and jumped up and down until Whitebeard raised his left hand higher up. This game of jump was one of the many Whitebeard and others have created to help Ace get in the basic training. Although they would be doing their best to protect him, the life on sea was unpredictable at best. Training was a must, even for a young one like him. But at the very least, they could make it fun and safe.
Ace was a quick study. He had natural agility and strength that went beyond any of their expectations. Whitebeard could not wait till he was old enough to join their ranks properly and fight by their sides in battles. Although, Whitebeard mused, Ace joining any real action was likely to cause heart attack among the more protective—such as Marco or Thatch.
His musing was abruptly ended when Ace, who was good several feet up by this point, jumped in a wrong angle and started to plummet towards the floor.
.
'Thud'
.
Whitebeard caught the wayward son and brought the dazed-looking child to his eye level.
"You okay, child?"
"That… that was… fun!" Ace exclaimed and shook his head to shake off the dizziness, causing Whitebeard to chuckle.
"Well, be careful though. You could've gotten seriously hurt if I didn't catch you in time."
"But you'll always catch me." Ace said as he blinked up at his father. Unfiltered trust shone from his eyes. "I'm not afraid!"
"That is true, son. I'll always catch you." Whitebeard promised in a quiet voice. Ace just grinned wider and got up to ready for another jump.
.
He may not be the greatest father in all seas, but Whitebeard swore to himself that he would never let this child fall.
.
.
.
A/N: Hi all :) I'm so sorry for the late update. I hope you enjoyed this little story - I enjoyed writing it. I pictured the scenes in my head as I was writing and I just love seeing Ace and Whitebeard together :)