I'm so sorry guys for the late update, but I feel I should explain. I have not only been busy, I also had no internet for over a month and no way to update it (except over my iPhone, but that would never happen). School has also restarted, Christmas was hellish as always, work was busy, and I have been sick twice. In addition to all that my mother the wonderful dumb ass she is (and I say that with love), got so drunk she fell, cracked her skull and ended up in the hospital for five days, and guess who had to take her to the doctor, then the er, check her wounds, and dispense her med all while picking up her slack. Yeah you get the point. Anyway with my mother off to rehab (guess who gets to take her) and me in charge of taking care of the house. So I have no idea when I will post next. However it will drive me nuts until I manage to finish this and my other story, so it will happen.

Please enjoy.

Chapter 20

A week later found the fleet of pirates anchored at a large uninhabited island deep in Paradise. The ensuing escape from the Marine force at Impel Down had been more difficult than the pirates had expected, nor wanted, but none regretted the break-in.

Thatch had come out with his leg broken in three different places and a cracked kneecap. He was not dealing with the resulting bed rest well, however he had struck up an odd friendship with Luffy's cook Sanji, and the two had quickly started planning the menu for the break in/out of Impel Down Party.

Ace on the other hand was plain miserable.

"Ace calm down yoi."

"I can't."

"Come on lets get you a bit more comfy, and I'll run and get you some food."

"Not hungry. And I can't get comfortable….I've tried."

"Ace.."

"No Marco, just stop. I just…" He let out a sigh, "I just need to have this damn kid."

Marco moved over to where his lover lay, "Ace the doctors say you can have the baby any day now. All you have to say is when."

"I know, but something's telling me to wait and I can't figure out what."

Marco sighed again, "Ace.."

"I'm waiting Marco."

"Ok yoi."

Ace looked at his older lover and smiled. The poor Phoenix had been driving himself into the ground to make him comfortable, and was obviously still beating himself up over the fact that he'd ended up in Impel Down. He could also assume that Thatch and Jinbe had told the poor man how uncomfortable it had been for him and their unborn child.

"Marco it's not your fault what happened. No one could have known that Teach was partnered with the Marine's."

"I should have been there though. I should have protected you. Thatch might as well be the babies father, he's been there for more of your pregnancy than I have and he protected you when I couldn't."

"Marco he protected me because he is our best friend. And any of the crew would have done the same, and it just so happens that he promised a certain worrywart that he would keep me safe. And could you imagine Thatch as a father, he'd probably just take the baby into town to pick up women."

Marco knew that Ace was telling the truth, and he did have to laugh over the image Ace's last sentence left him with. But it didn't make him feel better.

Especially as he watched his pregnant lover turn just slightly, readjusting himself once again.

Sensing that Marco wasn't going to stop moping anytime soon, Ace decided to send him off so the older man could think. Maybe help the Phoenix feel better too.

"Hey Marco can you see if you can find me some more pillows. I need something to support my back better."

Nodding, Marco was just closing the door to their room when he heard Ace make one last comment, "God what I wouldn't give for my boat bed back."

Intent on finding answers to what a boat bed was he headed towards the infirmary.

The infirmary was packed when he finally stepped through the doors. Sanji was talking to Thatch again, but it seemed the entire Strawhat crew, plus Sabo and Law had decided to join the cook in talking to the Moby Dick's head cook. And reason why was sitting up on the next bed over.

"Luffy good to see you up yoi."

"Marco, Thatch says he's going to throw a party. That means meat. You have to tell Ace, he loves meat."

"I'll definitely let him know yoi, but he just told me that he's not very hungry."

The look of horror and worry that flashed across his lovers two brother's faces made him almost laugh. Yeah Ace not being hungry was pretty hard to believe. However both brothers going to have to learn that a pregnant Ace was an unpredictable and very different Ace.

A Week Ago while escaping Impel Down

Zoro was not as calm as he appeared on the outside as he faced the strongest man in the world. The last few days had been hectic and stressful and this was not something that helped calm his nerves at all.

After reuniting with the rest of the crew on the Sunny, they had taken a few days to quietly and quickly restock the ship. Then they had headed straight for Impel Down, knowing that their captain was probably headed there if not already inside the prison.

It had been different being under Zoro's command, and while no one said it out loud they all wished for their real captain back. Even Zoro knew he could never fill Luffy's shoes completely.

However now standing so close to the prison he knew Luffy had been going to and blocked by his Captains brothers captain, man that was a mouthful, he couldn't think of anything better to say.

It didn't help that he could feel eyes of both Whitebeard and his first mate boring into him, and could hear his Nakama practically shaking in fear behind him.

However what he had not been expecting was for Whitebeard to burst out laughing and to see Marco the Phoenix grinning down at them like he had been expecting them to show up.

"So your that brat Strawhat Luffy's Nakama. Bout time you brats showed up. Your captain is on this ship, however I think getting as far from this place as possible would be a better idea at the moment. You can follow us, then once we're in a safer location you can come see you captain."

Zoro simply nodded, silently wondering why Luffy couldn't come joining them now, but decided arguing with a man who could probably end them now wasn't a good idea.

Marco could only smile as he heard his Captain start laughing, startling the green haired man below. He knew who the kids in the ship were without them saying. Ace had been very descriptive when he was telling their crew about his brothers rag-tag little group. And Luffy had dazzled many of their crew with the amazing stories about his ship and friends, actually Marco was pretty sure most thought he was making the stuff up.

Marco looked up when he felt a pat on his shoulder to see Sabo.

"I'm going to go introduce myself to Luffy's crew. I also have to go apologize to my ride, he's not too impressed with me right now and I think he may be a little frightened of your ship."

Marco nodded, most people were frightened of the Moby Dick. "All right yoi. I'll let your brothers know."

"Thanks. And tell Ace no having that baby till I'm back."

Marco smiled, he definitely liked Ace's brothers, "I'll tell him, but I won't promise that he'll listen." Both laughed. Then Sabo waved and was jumping down to the smaller ship below.

Zoro was a little surprised to see one of the men from the Moby Dick jump onto their ship. He was even more surprised when the new man seemed to know his name.

"Roronoa Zoro I presume."

"Yeah that's me."

"Nice to meet you." The man bowed with a small flourish. "My name is Sabo. I came to introduce myself to my baby brothers crew."

"Brother?" Nami voiced.

"Yes Cat Burgler-san I am the middle child or younger of Luffy's two older brothers."

"Great another crazy D running around." Sanji said accompanied by an cloud of smoke.

Sabo could only laugh at that, "No I'm afraid I'm not a D. Though Dragon has claimed I must be an honorary D, because of my ability to cause trouble. Though I feel I should remind him that he is also a D some days."

"Dragon?" Robin questioned.

"Ah yes, unlike my dear brothers I'm not a pirate. I am a revolutionary. An honor to meet you Nico-san."

Now all the Strawhats minus Robin were gaping at him like fish.

Sabo could only grin. At least until he felt a familiar and very angry person behind him, and just in time as an item came hurtling towards the side of his head.

"Lawsy good to see you here, I was starting to worry about you."

"Worried about me?" Law screeched. "Worried about me? You bastard this is for changing the carefully laid plans that we made." One hit to the head, Sabo started counting. "This is for not letting Whitebeard know I was here to help." A hit to the gut. "And this is for making me come to this god awful prison in the first place." There went his chances at ever having kids.

Done Law nodded to the Strawhats, then stormed away.

"I think he's mad." Sanji commented. Chopper was busy freaking out over the man curled up in pain on their deck. "We need a doctor!"

Nami smacked him in the head, "That's what we have you for."

Marco watched all of this from the safety of the Moby Dick with a smile. Then called out, "Hey brats we're moving out. Try and keep up will you."

Done angering the younger pirates, Marco turned to go back under deck. The doctors should be done by now.

In the infirmary, Ace was still out cold, but now the doctors had hooked him up to an IV and added half a dozen pillows to the bed under Ace's hips and back. Lucci was between the bed that Luffy was resting on, and where Ace was. Thatch was sitting on the chair next to the bed, his leg in plaster up to his thigh and resting on another chair with a pillow on it.

His best friend looked up as he came in.

"How are you all doing yoi?"

Thatch grinned, "Well I have a broken Femur, two breaks in my Tibia and my kneecap is cracked." Marco grimaced. "Luffy is fine, other than being completely exhausted and recovering from an apparent poisoning and being helped by Ivankov." Marco grimaced again. He'd seen Ivankov's work before. Thatch watched his friend mull over the information before he continued, "And then we have Ace. Despite Jinbe's and my best intentions, he's dehydrated and a bit more thin than the doctors would like," Marco moved over to the side of Ace's bed opposite Thatch sitting on the bed, nodding as he listened. Thatch continued, "but the doctors say otherwise he and the little one are in great shape. A few days on a comfy bed, with plenty of food and good rest and he should be fine. They've also prescribed some IV vitamins to counterbalance some of the things he didn't get enough on in the prison. Otherwise they were surprised by how well he and the baby are doing."

Marco nodded, stroking a finger over his lovers face. "I should have been there."

"Marco."

"No Thatch you protected my family, but I should have been there." Marco looked down, he wasn't used to being this upset over anything. However Jinbe had told Pop's and him about what the Marine's had tried to do to his lover and their child. Ace would have never forgiven himself if they had succeeded.

"Marco, listen to Thatch for once and stop being such a worrywart." Marco looked up and meet Ace's eyes.

"You're up yoi."

"Yeah. Bit sore, but good. Now stop worrying. I'm too tired to listen to you worry anymore."

Thinking back to that day he decided to repeat Ace's answer.

"Don't worry to much yoi. He's just tired and a little uncomfortable. Which is what I actually came to talk to a certain someone about. Thatch."

The red head turned to look at him. "What's up?"

"Can you tell me what the hell a boat bed is?"

Thatch looked mildly confused for all of three seconds before something seemed to click. "Oh Ace wants the bed I put together for him back on the island we were staying on. I used one of the dinghy's from the ship and a bunch of pillows and blankets to make him something comfortable to lie on. Much better than lying on the ground on a sleeping bag."

Marco looked at Thatch. In fact the entire room of people was looking at Thatch. Frank was crying and sobbing something about the beauty of friendship.

"Thatch I'll probably never repeat this, but you're a genius yoi."

"Hey what's that supposed to mean?"

Marco turned, he knew what he needed to do now, "Thanks yoi. I gotta go."

"Wait up bird-bro, I'll help you."

Choosing to ignore Luffy's new nickname for him, he responded. "No thanks Franky. I have to do this one on my own." And with that he left to find what he needed.

How was is. Good? If so good, please review. I'm trying to work on rewriting the next chapter to my liking. Only a couple more by my reckoning.