Sorry this is a little later than I wanted to publish it. I always try to be a few chapters ahead, but I decided to change a lot of what I had written so that's why this is late. Please enjoy.

Chapter 9

Ace could feel the world start spinning hearing his captain mention one of his worst nightmares becoming reality. He started swaying where he was standing, until Marco moved over putting a hand on his shoulder to steady him, then helping him to sit next to their father. Smiling at his lover, before he looked back at Whitebeard with a frown.

"How?"

Whitebeard shook his head, "I do not know at this point, but I believe that they are starting to plan an attack and I don't intend to sit by and let anything they plan happen. I'm going to begin planning countermeasures, and I will be asking for the help of our allies and Red Hair in my planning. Part of that may include releasing the identity of your father though."

Ace slowly nodded, head still reeling from the information.

"And depending on how things fall, it may involve you having to leave the Moby Dick for a safer place." Ace's head shot up at this.

"No. I won't leave. Pop's, everything I do can't be based on something the Marines want to do to me. They wouldn't dare attack you; you're the strongest on the seas. I couldn't be in a safer place than here on the Moby Dick" Ace was angry and a bit desperate, fighting back against his captain, but he felt safest on the Moby Dick and the thought of his child being born somewhere other than on the ship he and Marco called home, surrounded by their brothers and sisters and with the man they called father by their side sounded insane to him.

Whitebeard frowned. "Ace I would protect you and your child at the drop of a hat, as I would for any of my sons or daughters, but as a captain I cannot put your comfort and safety above that of every other crew member on board this ship. Especially since this may not remain the safest place for you and the baby if the marines send their forces after us."

Ace nodded, unhappy but understanding what his captain was telling him, his anger at being moved from his home slowly abating. "Ok, but where would Marco and I go? I honestly can't think of a safer place than the Moby Dick."

At the mention of his name Marco flinched a bit, and Whitebeards countenance darkened a bit. It was then that Ace understood why Marco had looked so upset when he had walked in.

He wasn't coming with him.

The anger was gone, and now absolute panic was taking its place. Not only was he being forced to leave his home, and the place he felt the most safe and secure, but he also had to leave his lover. Shaking his head as the tears began to form, Marco placed an arm around him to try and calm his distressed lover. Then Ace began to babble. "No. No I can't. Not without Marco, he has to come with me Pop's. I can't go though this anymore, not without him."

Frowning at how distraught his young Second Commander was quickly becoming, he lent down taking the boy into what he tried to make a comforting hug. "Ace I it is not decided that you will leave yet, but if you do then it will be all the more obvious if Marco disappears as well. We will decide on what do after I have talked to Red Hair and our Allies, and we will decide for the safety and heath of you and the child you carry. For now though you shouldn't concern yourself with this, think of your child and staying healthy for it's sake."

Ace nodded, but continued to cry and silently curse his father once again for being who he was.

Marco's POV

I had finally gotten Ace back to their room after he had calmed down some. Ace was still crying, but it was not as loud or terrible as it had been. Sitting him down on the bed, I simply pulled the boy into my arms and held him as the crying worsened again. I knew better than to say anything when Ace was this upset, it was more likely to just make him fly into a rage, as he hated appearing weak by crying or showing any emotion other than rage. I also didn't know how bad the hormones would affect my normally passionate young lover. And so I sat quietly and held him. I was a little temped to give in and join him, the thought of being away from Ace for any part of his pregnancy, particularly the most important and weakening part, made it hard not to. However I had already decided to be strong and support my captain. I knew if it was possible Pop's would think of some way to keep us together, and in the mean time if it meant that I might only get another month before we'd have to part, then I'd make the best of that time.

Normal POV

Ace's tears had finally started to abate. The comfort of being back in him room as well as being close to his lover was soothing, and he soon found the tears simply wouldn't fall anymore. He was still upset, but the sadness was starting to morph back into anger. Anger at his father for cursing him with his blood, a little anger at Pop's for thinking of sending him away, as silly as he knew that was. Then there was the anger at the Marine's for hunting him down, for blaming him for simply being born, and for threatening the new life he had made for himself as a Whitebeard pirate as well as the life of the little flame he and Marco had created.

"Marco what are we going to do? The Navy won't simply give up because I gave birth and the baby's here. If anything it will make them that much worse in their hunt to destroy my fathers bloodline."

Marco sighed and pulled Ace a little closer before responding, "I'm not sure at this point yoi. But if there is a way for you and the baby to stay safe at least for the next few months Pop's will think of it. I'll also start thinking. If I can, I'll come up with a way for us to stay together even if we have to leave the Moby Dick in the mean time." Then he added, "I can even make Thatch decorate the nursery."

Ace smiled at the prospect, Thatch was terrible at assembling anything. He'd probably destroy any nursery he tried to build.

Marco smiled seeing he had successfully lifted Ace's mood, if even just a small bit. "There, that's a lot better. Don't worry anymore about it; stress isn't good for you or the baby. The Marine's won't get you, and in four months we'll be parents. So let Pop's and I worry about everything else, and you concentrate on following the doctors orders and helping the baby grow."

Ace just nodded. Then both turned their heads when there came a knock on their door. Calling for who ever it was to come in, they were a little surprised to see Thatch and the other commanders.

Entering with a slight grin, it was Thatch who broke the silence, "Hey just thought I'd check on you two. You seemed pretty upset when you left Pop's earlier."

Looking at each other Ace nodded his head, and then Marco motioned for the others to enter and close the door, before he began to explain the problems they faced. He didn't exclude anything, including Ace's parentage, though he did offer Ace's hand a small squeeze of support when he announced it. The others simply sat in silence, and a little awe at the news. Ace wouldn't know this though, because as soon as Marco began his story he laid down on the bed and turned over to just listen. He had no intention of watching the faces of the people he had come to consider family become disgusted when they learned of who he really was.

When Marco finished the occupants of the room sat in complete silence, Ace and Marco letting the information slowly sink in. Surprisingly it was Jozu who broke the silence first, "So our next order of business will be figuring out a way to keep Ace and the baby safe. An how to make sure he can stay with us, right?"

Marco nodded. Ace was not as quiet in his response. At hearing Jozu's only concern he quickly flipped over to look at his family. To his amazement, they all only offered him smiles. Marco turned to give him his own smile, which seemed to say 'I told you they wouldn't care.'

"You all really don't care that Roger's is my father?"

Haruta shrugged before speaking, "Why should we, it's not like you're him or anything."

Vista was next, "And truthfully while we fought with Roger's crew there was never any true animosity between our crews. Honestly Pop's and Roger's fight always turned into drinking contest's and parties more than anything. Used to drive Marco and Rayleigh nuts trying to stop them."

This was news to Ace. Then Thatch spoke up, "Ace you're you, and nothing your father, mother or other relatives do is going to make us blame you for their faults. Yeah there are people who hate your old man, but they can't blame anything he did on you. So you just sit back and relax, while we start coming up with a plan to keep you here where you belong. And you can eat, sleep, and do what ever else it is that will keep the little one and you healthy."

Tears started to run down Ace's face as he realized that one of his biggest fears while on the Moby Dick was unfounded, and as they smiled the bit of him that had spent his entire life trying to outshine his father died. It wasn't needed anymore.

"Told you they wouldn't care yoi." And Ace just smiled back at his family.

So, bit corny I know, couldn't find a less corny way for them to tell him they were ok with his parentage, plus I think of Thatch as a very jovial, non-serious type. So when he is serious it's probably always going to sound corny (at least to me). Anyway I hope you enjoyed the update, please enjoy.