So many nice reviews. Enough to help me write this next chapter. On to the story, so enjoy reading.

Chapter 4

As Ace had suspected the next morning was hellish. He had quickly learned that they were headed towards the Sabaody Archipelago where his brother's ship had been left, as well as where he had promised to meet his Nakama. Ace had no problem with this as his own Nakama were only on the other side of the red line. Crossing it was no great feet for any pirate who had survived and spent time in the New World. However he was in no hurry to explain why he couldn't avenge Thatch, and was starting to angst about the talk he'd have to have with Marco.

Ace knew that he couldn't put off calling in though. He had to give his crewmates time to make the journey under the Redline, so that they could come get him. Or maybe he could hitchhike with another ship to Fishman Island, maybe even contact Jinbei to come get him. Either way he had to call ahead and let them know he was coming back.

Once the Den Den Mushi was in his hand there was no more putting it off and so he dialed the Moby Dick. It rang (or what ever you'd call the noise the snail phone made) about four times before it was picked up.

"Hello, state you name and purpose." Came the bored sounding greeting, and the familiar voice automatically made Ace homesick.

"Hey Rich that you? It's me Ace."

There was a second of silence before the excited reply came back over, "Ace? Seriously? Where are you? Did you get Teach yet? Are you coming home?"

Ace was smiling now, "Hold up, stop asking so many questions. Yeah I'm headed back, I need to talk to the old man and report some things. I don't want to say anything over the Den Den Mushi though."

"Gotcha. You need me to put Pop's on the line? Or maybe Marco?" The obvious smile and innuendo in his voice made Ace smile a bit wider and laugh. Marco and he had come out about their relationship only a few weeks before he had left to find Teach. They hadn't expected as warm a reply as they had received. However apparently they hadn't been as obscure as they had thought they were being. Thatch had had a betting pool going on their 'secret' relationship for months before they came out, including on when they would come out as and when they had been dating since. God he missed that bastard. Stupid Blackbeard and his evil plots. Ace was fuming thinking about poor Thatch when a voice on the other end of the call broke him from his reverie.

"Ace? Ace, are you really there, yoi?" God Marco how he had missed that stupid accented voice; he actually felt himself tear up a bit hearing it now, god when did he become such an emotional sap. Marco must have heard him though, "Don't worry yoi. I'm alone on this end."

That was it he broke down, "Damn it Marco, I miss you. So much it should be illegal."

Marco laughed a bit sadly at that, though Ace could almost imagine his face as he spoke, "Well it's a good thing then that were pirates, and we don't care about doing things that are illegal yoi." He had to laugh at his reply, god how he missed how Marco could make him smile when he was upset. Marco's voice almost sounded desperate when he spoke next, "So you're coming home, yoi?"

"Yeah, I'm coming home. I have something's to tell you and Pop's. But first, I'll, well I'll need someone to come get me from the other side of the Redline." Ace blushed a bit as he said this.

"Ah, where shall we pick you up from, yoi?" The concern in Marco's voice had risen a bit with the idea.

"I'm with my brother and some friends of his right now, and we're headed towards the Sabaody Archipelago right now. They told me we'll be there in about a week."

"What's the ship look like? We'll meet up with you right before you get there. The Moby Dick is already underwater and we're close to the Redline."

"Well, I'm kind of on the ship of the Pirate Empress." The silence on the line was palpable.

"Should I even ask?" The disbelief and humor evident in his lovers voice, made his smile wider.

"Well it's my brothers fault actually, but I'll wait to put that in my report."

He could almost hear the grin in Marco's voice when he responded, "I'll look forward to it then. That and meeting your little brother finally."

They chatted for a while longer before Marco had to leave and see to his duties as First commander. "I love you, yoi. I'm glad you're safe."

Ace was almost in tears again hearing that (later he would blame all his 'over emotional-ness' on hormones), "I love you too, and I'll see you soon, so take care of yourself and the crew." The click of them both hanging up hung in the air for a moment, but Ace had to smile. He'd see Marco soon, seven days at the most he told himself.

Despite his internal pep talk to himself, the next few days were worse than his first day on the Kuja Pirate Ship. The morning sickness had finally kicked in, and the old lady, whom was introduced to him as Elder Nyon, told him why it had come so much later than any women's might. Apparently as his powers faded in order to support his ability to carry the child, the true pregnancy would begin. However it would happen quickly and he'd more than likely be stuck on bed rest for the next few months. The reason being that the male body wasn't meant to carry life, and so the true growth of the pregnancy would last at most four to five more months in order to spare his body the longer suffering. This frightened and excited Ace at the same time, it also made him slightly grateful. It wouldn't even be half year before he'd see his and Marco's progeny, but it was less time for him to come to terms with the fact that he would soon be a father (He had refused to be called mother).

It was on the fifth morning though as he sat with his head hanging into the toilet that he heard the first calls of panic. At first he wondered what he was hearing, panicking a bit himself thinking the marines or god forbid Blackbeard had caught up with him, until he heard his name being called from above deck. Standing up and flushing the toilet, he quickly rinsed out his mouth then wandered to the top deck. What greeted him was the front of the Moby Dick and a very panicked female crew. It was at this he realized that he had forgotten to make sure they knew which crew he belonged to, he had long since gotten used to people knowing whom he associated himself with. However all thoughts of the frantic women passed from his mind as a familiar figure rose from the ship and flew his way. Within seconds he was enveloped in familiar arms, and he could care less about anything else.

"Yo, got here as fast as I could, yoi." He could feel Marco smiling into his hair.

Ace just smiled back and hugged him back, "Not fast enough bastard."

The two laughed and as Ace looked around he realized that the female crew he was with had finally stopped panicking, and had seemed to realize that the Moby Dick was here for him. Taking a closer look he realized that they were watching them to see what they would do, and then it hit him. They didn't know almost anything about men up close. They had spent most of the voyage poking and prodding Luffy, Lucci, and him. Blushing he turned to Marco, "My brother will still be sleeping, why don't we go and I can give Pop's my report, and then when he's awake I can introduce him to you all."

"Sounds like a plan, yoi."

Being back on the Moby Dick was comforting and almost automatically he felt safe. He and Marco moved towards the captain's quarters where the man they considered father would be getting ready for the day ahead. Reaching the door, Marco knocked and within seconds they were allowed inside. Upon seeing Ace for the first time in months Whitebeard motioned him over and soon had him in a nearly bone crushing hug. Then he moved him back to take a better look at him and smiled seeing one of his favorite sons alive, albeit covered in bandages. "Gurararararara, well it's good to have you home Ace and to see you're in one piece as well, even if barely by the looks of things. Did you catch up to Teach?"

Ace's smile fell upon the mention of his rouge subordinate, "I did find him." He finally relented, but continued, "But I lost and he actually handed me over to the marine's. I would be in Impel Down right now if not for Luffy coming to save me." At the admittance of defeat and sad rescue, Ace looked down in shame. He was a failure as a commander and as a brother. However Whitebeards laughter made him lift his head, "Well then it seems we owe quiet a debt to your little brother and his friends for bringing you home to us safely."

Ace was flabbergasted and voiced it loudly, "But Pop's shouldn't you be mad, I lost to Teach. I shamed you as a commander, a son, and as a brother to Thatch. I couldn't kill the bastard that took his life." Ace was nearly in tears as he finished screaming.

"Well it is hardly a shame to lose to one who is stronger, and Teach has been a pirate much longer than you and has much more experience. He is the one who gave Red-hair those scars on his face." Ace looked stunned at this piece of information and then Whitebeard continued, "Also I have a feeling there is more to this story than you are letting on, there is a reason you lost isn't there. I had a bad feeling about this quest of yours since the beginning"

God why did Pop's have to be so insightful, he had been hoping to talk to Marco about that alone, but he supposed now was as good a time as any. "Ah, I was weakened. It's the reason I needed you to pick me up as well. Marco you might want to sit down for this." He finished looking at his lover, who nodded and did as asked. "I actually was following a lead when I ran into my brother in Alabasta. I traveled with them long enough to quash the lead that Teach was in Alabasta. However while I was with them I asked his doctor, Chopper, to take a look at me, cause I'd had some problem with my powers as well as some other symptoms that I couldn't pass off as a cold." The two listening nodded and Ace continued, "So after he did some tests he informed me what was wrong." A few minutes of silence passed before Whitebeard interjected, "And?" Ace smiled and continued looking to Marco, "And I suppose there's no beating around the bush on this, the truth is I'm Pregnant."

So what do you all think? Man, I think that was the longest chapter yet. Anyway voting is still open for baby gender, I'll close it in the next few chapters though and start on baby names. Please review and tell me your thoughts. Thanks guys.