Ok all I'm back. I'm sorry I disappeared off the face of the earth for so long. Honestly my health took a nose dive, and I also had to deal with a very sick mother. Everything is better now, no one died and I can continue. Sadly I had to rewrite this chapter from memory, cause my copy of it disappeared when my computer died. However now this chapter and the 23rd have been completed, edited, rechecked for grammar and spelling (tell me if I or my beta missed anything) and is ready for posting.

Chapter 22

Two week later found both parents recovered and used to their new addition. Having the help of the largest pirate crew on the seas and the two younger supernova's crew helped a lot, however most respected the Marco and Ace wanted to do most of the childcare and rearing of their own son.

Aiden for his parent's part was a quiet and happy baby. He rarely fussed or cried, except for when he was hungry, and he was living up the D in his name with the amount he could eat. The parents and their crew quickly learned to try and keep some formula on hand for when Ace was to tired to feed the infant. Both of the D's brothers had giggled helplessly when they had found out Ace could breastfeed, but after the doctors pointing out that any man could if given the right hormones and stimulus and Laws threats to let them experience the wonder, they had stopped.

Two weeks Prior:

After Marco had introduced his son to the pirates outside, he had brought his lovers brothers back in so they could check on Ace. However the worn look on their brother's face had obviously scared the two as they rushed over to Ace's side.

"Sabo-ya, he's fine just tired"

"You'd be too if you had to shove something the size of a large coconut out of your…"

Sabo stopped him, "Too much information Ace." He reached forward to grab his brothers' hand; even Luffy was uncharacteristaclly quiet, "How are you feeling? Really?"

"Surprisingly good. Really tired." He let out a yawn, "Yeah just tired, and a bit sore."

Both brothers grinned at each other from the side before turning their attention to Ace, Sabo continued, "He's perfect Ace. You should rest while you can, Marco and the rest of us can handle him for a bit."

"Yeah sounds like a good idea."

Ace closed his eyes and everyone watched him start to fall asleep when a small noise made them all turn to look at Marco. Jared just smiled and started a low chuckle, "Sounds like someone wants their first meal."

"I'll go get Sanji to make some meat!" Luffy shouted before starting to jump up, Sabo grabbed onto his younger brothers arm.

"Luffy he's too little for meat, he can't have that till he's older."

"NO MEAT." Luffy looked aghast at the prospect.

"No meat, Mugiwara-ya. I will go make a bottle." He turned towards the door, before Jared held out an arm.

"It's alright Law, the bottle can wait. Ace can handle this."

Everyone turned to Ace as Marco walked over and handed the slightly fussy infant to him, and then the majority turned a light pink as he drew the infant up for his meal.

"Ace is a girl!" Luffy exclaimed.

Jared coughed as Ace blushed and then sent a glare toward his giggling brothers. "I'm afraid not. His body simply made the changes it needed to support a newborn. In a few days his body will have completely recovered and shortly after that, when his flames come back, we will have to switch to a bottle, as he will be completely back to how he was before he got pregnant."

"Sabo-ya, Mugiwara-ya, all men's bodies contain Mammary glands. Under the right circumstances any male can breast feed. If you'd like to try I can always arrange some hormone injections, and you all can give it a try."

Both brothers let out a resounding "No," while Ace was grinning towards the younger doctor in admiration.

Present Time

They had simply watched as Ace had finished before handing the baby back to his other father and then passed out cold.

A week later Rayleigh had showed up to help the Strawhat crew back to Sabaody. He had sat for a few hours drinking and reminiscing with Whitebeard, before visiting with Ace for a brief time. No one knows what was said between the two other than Marco, who had stayed with the two, but Ace had invited the man back to visit, so no one was too upset. Luffy had left with his crew the next day.

Sabo and Law had stayed another few days before departing as well, the former promising to visit his nephew again numerous times before departing.

Now the Whitebeard crew had settled back down in to semi-normalcy and were back in the New World, and things were perfect.

One Week Later

Ace was running around the ship again, his body having just returned to normal a day previously. Aiden had just turned three weeks old and had taken to formula quickly; thankfully not too picky about what filled his belly. Most of the Whitebeard crew laughed upon seeing the young Second Commander running around like a wild breeze through the ship, but no one tried to stop the young man, most only too aware of how much Ace had missed being able to go and do what he wanted.

The other pirate crews who had helped through Ace's pregnancy were coming tonight to see Ace and the ships newest addition, all of them having given the crew some space after the escape to recover and to go and watch Whitebeards territories for him.

The entire ship was sharing in the excitement that their young Commander was showing as they prepared for the coming party. The entire ship except Aiden, who was napping in the bassinet Blamenco and his division had provided in the shadow of Whitebeards chair. The proud Grandfather grinning and laughing as he watched Ace goof off with his friends, periodically looking down at his new Grandson and smiling softly as he watched the infant.

A shout from the crow's nest announced the first of the arriving Pirate ship, which quickly sent many scurrying to clear the deck and finish preparation. Ace moved quickly to gather up his young son, now awake from the noise and needing comforting from the small scare the change in noise had resulted in.

A few minutes later the Red Force had pulled up next to the Moby Dick and Shanks was boarding the ship with much flourish. The other pirate crews were closely behind him, some still on the horizon, but Ace hardly paid it any mind as Marco came to stand beside him and Aiden as Shanks started towards the new parents.

"Ace you have your waist back! Oh stop growling at me Marco. Is that the baby? Let me see. What's his name? Can I hold him?"

"Captain, please stop," Benn said as he walked up behind the red haired man.

Ace just laughed at Shanks' enthusiasm, before adjusting Aiden so that the two pirates could get a better look.

Marco and Ace just grinned as they watched the two other pirates practically melt upon seeing the baby.

"Can I hold him?" Shanks asked again, and practically started glowing as Ace started to hand the baby to him, adjusting his remaining arm and showing the older pirate how to support his head. "Hey there little one, I'm your Uncle Shanks. Marco, Ace he's perfect, you must be so proud."

Marco who had been eyeing the other pirate holding his son with suspicion, smiled warmly on the complement. "We are yoi. He is perfect."

"Who knew, Marco the Phoenix, the proud father." Shanks grinned, while Marco just smiled back shrugging off the teasing tone. He was proud, why deny it.

They were interrupted as more pirates started to board the ship, Jinbe walking up, closely followed by Brocca, Squardo, and Whitey Bay. The other captains still getting there and anchoring next to the Moby Dick.

Shanks was quickly overcome as the other pirates boarded and joined in cooing over the newborn. Aiden amazingly took in all the new faces with quiet inspection as he was passed around from new person to new person. However by the time some of the pirates were requesting a second turn, the patient infant had obviously had enough. Ace was quick to recover his son, and Marco quickly stepped away to get a bottle for the baby.

By the time Marco had returned, Ace had calmed the baby down and was quick to accept the bottle, the other pirates had moved away to give the family some space and were chatting, drinking, and making merry as they celebrated the newest member of their small community.

Nearly two hours had passed, and Aiden had finished his bottle, been cleaned, placed in his bassinet, and fallen back to sleep, now used to the noise of all the drunken pirates around him, when the call went up that a Navy Ship had been spotted. The pirates were quick to assemble around Ace and his son, however the call from Whitebeard to hold off attacking surprised most until they got a look at who was approaching.

Garp for his part looked every bit the smug Vice Admiral he always did, however the addition of only two very scared looking young men behind him and no other navy men behind him confused most of those gathered.

"Garp, to what do we owe this unexpected visit." Whitebeard said smiling as he downed his mug.

Garp just smiled at Whitebeard, "What a man can't come and visit his own grandson and great-grandchild?"

This admission had most of the pirates gathered tensing a little. Most had heard from their captains by that point that Ace was related to the Vice Admiral, but none were sure of how they should feel about the man's presence after what the Navy had put Ace through.

Whitebeard laugh had most of those gathered jumping some, "I see well then I suppose it's up to Ace whether he wants to see you then"

All eyes turned to Ace who had by this point moved to pick up his son from his bassinet. Sighing Ace nodded to Whitebeard who motioned for the marine to board the ship.

Garp didn't hesitate before he was on the ship and walking through the sea of pirates towards Ace. Very few of those he walked through calmed, and many kept their weapons drawn and their eyes either trained on Garp or the two young marines cowering on the bow of the ship.

The tension only grew as the two D's stood in front of one another,

"Ace."

"Jiji"

"Is that my great-grandchild?"

Ace smirked, moving to let the older man take a look at the baby, "This is Portgas D. Aiden."

Most held their breath and tensed further as the old marine took the child into his arms. Aiden chose that moment to wake and take a look at the stranger holding him, and as infant and marine eyed each other most jumped as the older marine started to laugh, then cry holding the child closer, then laugh more.

It was a few more minutes before Garp was passing Aiden back to Ace, "He looks just like Ace, when he was this little."

Marco smiled coming to stand behind his lover and son, happy that Garp obviously just wanted to see his newest family member. However he wasn't prepared to suddenly be knocked into the nearest edge of the ship by a fist, "You're the one who did this to by grandson right?"

"Marco!" Ace screamed running to his lovers side, carefully cradling Aiden while offering a hand to the older man, "Jiji, leave him alone damn it."

"Not until I've had a few choice words with him." Garp stated taking a few steps toward Marco who was just managing to pull himself off the floor.

"I'm fine Ace. I knew he wouldn't be happy yoi. Bring it on old man," Was all he said before he was flying at the marine.

"Marco! Jiji! Stop!"

The two didn't stop and the next few minutes were interesting as the two traded insults and blows, Ace standing to the side, trying to get them to stop. Whitebeard for his part, figured he better let them get it out of their systems before he intervened.

"STOP!" Was the command he let out, the two finally stopping. Both breathing hard, bruised. Marco was bleeding from a split lip and had a very impressive black eye. Garp for his part was not in much better shape, bleeding from multiple cuts from Marco's Phoenix talons and his uniform in tatters.

"Now Garp, I believe you interrupted our party. Aiden is here, and Marco and Ace are the parents, beating Marco will not change that and is doing nothing except upsetting Ace. I will not allow this to continue."

Garp seemed to consider this, straightening himself he then smiled, laughing he turned, heading back to his own ship. Within minutes he was back on board still laughing and throwing commands for them to return to base. However as they were leaving he did have one more thing to say, "Phoenix, you better take care of them. If I find out you hurt either of them I'll pluck you and roast you on a spit."

Marco simply smiled, his injuries already disappearing under blue flames, unable to be angry at the older Marines' obvious show of affection, and watched with the rest of the pirates as the Navy ship disappeared as quickly as it had shown up.

After they were gone Ace let out a sigh. "Well that was fun. Lets not do that again."

Then everyone was laughing as they went back to the festivities.

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