Man what a week. I meant to upload this the 20th, but life sadly happened To try and kill me with lack of sleep and lots of work. But I finished it so her it is. Enjoy all.

CHAPTER 7

It was a few days later early in the morning when Luffy left for Sabaody smiling. He told Ace he had a plan to let his crew know that they'd be on 'vacation' for a few years to get stronger, he wouldn't say more than that. He did promise however to try and come back to visit his impending nephew or niece. Ace hugged him goodbye and thanked him for what he had done. Then he was gone. Ace was a little sad to see Luffy leave, but his brother and he each had their own adventures to experience and lives to live.

The doctors had removed his bandages the day before, but reminded him to rest so his wounds could finish healing. Opting to not push his luck by hanging out on the deck too long, Ace headed towards the cabins and into his office. There were definite perks to being a commander. The single bedrooms and the offices were just at the top of the list. Entering his office he was pleased to note the lack of paperwork, or at least the lack of stacks of paperwork. Marco had obviously been taking care of his division while he was gone, the long years of handling both the first and second probably made it easier than having someone else do it. Sitting down at the desk Ace quickly set to work sorting papers, signing documents, and reading the reports his subordinates had turned in. Within a few hours Ace had read the last report and sat back with a sigh.

"I don't remember this being so hard to do."

A quiet chuckle from the door earned his attention and he sat up. Standing in the door holding trays of food were Marco and Thatch. "Well you've never been knocked up before, so it's got to be a little harder"

"That and you never had to just sit there before and work yoi."

The three laughed together as all could admit that the paperwork was one of the only terrible things about being a commander under Whitebeard. Marco placed the trays he was carrying on the desk, and moved to grab some extra chairs. After rearranging paperwork and their trays so that they could eat without ruining all of Ace's hard work, the three started their meal. Most meals between the three of them were normally done so in silence. This was mostly done not because the three had some manners, but because they could focus on their food better without talking. Years at sea had taught them to eat quickly and efficiently, as you never knew on the Grand Line when you'd get called away for something. Also Ace couldn't steal any off the others two's plates if they were focused on their food.

Thatch was the first to finish and begin talking, "So Ace, how far along are you? Did you have the doc check on you and the baby birdy yet?"

The last question had Marco choking on his food slightly. Grabbing his mug and downing the contents he then turned to glare at Thatch, "I've had it about up to here with the bird jokes yoi," Marco made a point of lifting his hand to about eyes level. "And I won't have you torturing my kid with them before he or she's even here."

Thatch made a show of putting up his hands to signal defeat, "Alright, alright. No baby birdy." He looked at Ace motioning with a thumb toward Marco, "Wouldn't want Mother Hen here to peck my eyes out."

Marco looked ready to transform and follow through on Thatch's idea. Ace laughed, the arguments between Thatch and Marco always made him laugh. After a few minutes he placed a hand on Marco's shoulder to calm him down and turned to Thatch to answer his question, "The doctor on the Kuja's ship checked me out after they picked me up. I'm about four months along, and according to what I've been told I'm doing fine."

"So how much longer do you have to go? I've heard stories of this kind of thing and I always heard that they're shorter than women's pregnancies." Marco's interest also seemed a little peeked at this question. The two of them hadn't had long to talk about the details yet.

"Ah the doctors I've talked to said it could be less cause of the strain. I've heard it's hell, cause men's bodies aren't really meant to do this after all, but I've also been told that because I'm a logia type, and logia's are notorious for having the ability to constantly evolve, I might carry to a full nine or ten months. Also it's only the last half that the changes occur as that's normally when one's powers give out and concentrate on the growing baby, and that's also why I'm not already huge." He stopped to let the information sink in before beginning again, "But these kinds of pregnancies are supposed to vary a bit with each kind of fruit, and I'm supposed to talk to the doctors on board and let them keep track of how big I get and what not, so they can figure how fast the little guy is growing." He smiled at them patting his stomach. Then smiling slyly he added, "And that way I won't just drop to the floor in labor in a few months and scare everyone to death."

Thatch and Marco laughed a bit nervous at the image that brought to mind. No one on the crew, except maybe Whitebeard, would keep their head in that situation.

"So none of the doctors you've talked to have been worried?"

Ace scratched the back of his head and looked a little upset, "The first doctor to tell me what was happening was my brothers doctor Chopper, whom I don't think knew a whole lot about Devil's Fruits powers, despite being a Devil Fruit user. However he did warn me of the tax it could put on my body and how I would probably become weakened if I kept it. I didn't see another doctor till the Kuja saved me, and their doctor gave me the same warning and told me that I should consider getting rid of it, cause of the risk" Ace frowned remembering this, but continued, "But I figured that being back with you all, on the strongest ship in the sea, that I would be safe. Plus Pop's has some of the best doctors in the world on this ship. And…" He trailed of and blushed a little. The two motioned him to continue, "And?"

"And I didn't think once Marco found out that he would let anything happen to us. So I was…I am sure that I'll be fine."

Marco was happy and a little taken aback by that; did Ace trust him that much?

Thatch on the other hand was having a ball at the others confession. He was touched that obviously their little brother was more than smitten with the older First Division Commander; he'd go so far as to even say he loved him. Also how much the boy trusted the older man was proof of how comfortable he had become with their family. Everyone on the crew liked Ace, his presence and smile were overwhelming to most, and not many could claim to dislike or hate him once they got to know the infamous Firefist. He knew that Marco cared for the boy, he'd never in all the time he had known Marco, known him to be so obviously taken with a lover. Let alone that before Ace, Marco had never taken one of their shipmate as a lover in all his years as a pirate. He'd have to later make sure that his idiot brother would follow through with all of this. Maybe he could even get Pop's in on his scheme.

The three talked some more, Thatch and eventually Marco asking some more questions, which Ace answered or promised to get answered by the ships physician as soon as he could. However work was calling and the three decided to finish their baby talk over dinner. Ace who was finished, at least until more paperwork appeared, decided to nap until dinner.

In his cabin Ace had not laid down more than a few minutes when he heard the door open and someone enter. Turning to greet whomever it was, he was surprised to see it was Marco carrying with him what looked to be a weeks worth of files.

"Thought I'd keep you company and finish my work in here yoi."

Ace smiled at his lover and then teasingly, "You just can't leave me alone, can you?"

Marco smiled back from the desk in there room where he was placing the files; "You've figured me out yoi."

Marco sat at the desk facing his lover and Ace settled back down to take his nap. However after a few minutes and not finding sleep coming to him, he turned on his side to look at Marco. He watched him work for a few minutes before letting his mind wander. He was woken from his thoughts by Marco speaking to him, "I'm sorry what was that?"

"I said, 'Can't sleep yoi?'"

"Hmmm, just thinking."

"Thinking?"

"Yeah about stuff and the baby, though mostly the baby really."

"Oh yeah, like what yoi?"

"Mostly if you're really happy about this? I know it was unexpected. Also are we ready?" Then he paused to think for a second before adding, "And do you think it will be a boy or a girl? Would you prefer one or the other?"

"Of course I'm happy about it. I love you and we might have tried for one in the future anyway, though I hardly expected to knock you up one of the first times we had sex." He paused a bit then, "Are we ready?" He put his chin in his hand and looked a bit thoughtful, then, "I don't know. I'm not sure anyone is ever ready to become a parent, but I'm sure we'll be fine. And gender-wise I don't think I care as long as it's healthy. Though I think I might enjoy seeing Pop's spoiling a little girl." The image brought a smile to both their faces. Marco continued, "But a boy would be nice too, especially if he would be as rowdy as you told me you were. Picking fights with everyone, playing pranks, listening to Pop's tell stories." Marco closed his eyes and leant back in his chair, he smiled. "Yeah I think either would be fine, but I can tell you that no matter what it is…"He paused and looked at Ace, "it will be loved by everyone on board this ship yoi."

Ace nodded. Then Marco's face split in a teasing grin.

"Plus we can always try for the other later, to have a matching pair."

Ace grimaced at the thought and glared at his lover, "Or you could carry one." Then he smiled too, "Or lay an egg or two."

Marco winced a bit at the thought, but laughed when he realized if that could happen, how freaked out everyone would be if it did. The ensuing chaos might destroy the ship. Moving around the desk he crossed the room and sat on the bed next to Ace.

"That I would have to pass on yoi. Though I suppose it might be too soon to be talking about a second one when the first isn't even here yet." He placed a hand on Ace's exposed abdomen, and then a confused look lit his features. "Not trying to make you upset or anything, but are you a little bigger than you were a few days ago."

Ace looked a little confused, and then touched his abdomen as well. "Hmm, maybe a little, but I think the muscle there is just quickly becoming less defined. Which is no surprise with how much sleeping, eating and lazing about I've been doing."

Marco lifted an eyebrow and gave Ace what the crew had dubbed 'the look,' "Oh yeah you've been so lazy, getting up early to say goodbye to your brother and then doing paperwork all morning yoi."

"You know what I'm talking about."

"No I don't yoi. I think that you need to see the doctor and get an idea of what is actually happening to your body. I'd feel better about all this if you and the little one got a clean bill of health from our doctor."

"Alright, alright. Tomorrow I'll have nothing else to do, so I'll go see the doctor. Ok?"

"Good, now about that nap. I think I'll join you yoi."

Ace only smiled, "Oh, will you? What happened to all that work you brought in here to finish."

"I can do it tomorrow yoi." He said as he bent down to kiss Ace.

Kissing Marco back, then raising an eyebrow, he said, "Hmm, then you don't want to go to the doctor with me?"

Pulling back quickly Marco let out a creative string of curses at the realization that Ace was right. Then getting up still muttering curses he went back to the desk to finish his work. Ace laughed till he slipped of into sleep.

So how was it? Poor Marco the bird jokes will keep coming, and sadly I did consider writing a story where they have an egg, but that was after seeing a fan drawing of Ace clutching a big 'purple' egg to his chest. It was so cute. I may still write it. Anyway please review, and I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can.