My dears, here we go! ^^

Chapter four presents itself..

Disclaimer: All Oda's

Warning: Constant confusion between Ace/ Anne are fully intendet

Enjoy!

Burying their father was the most heartbreaking experience Marco had made in his life. Sure, they had all known that Oyaji was dead. But to bury his body and cover it with cold earth let realization finally hit completely. He would never come back. Their father, the man that gave them everything they were, was dead.

Marco was the last to turn away from the cold stone. He had been the first to join Whitebeard's crew and therefore it was only fair that he would be the last to leave his father's side. Oyaji had made sure his sons would be able to go on without him.

The only comfort they had was that Whitebeard died the way he had lived. Their father had died standing, no medical devices attached to his body. He had died like the proud and strong man he had always been. Marco whipped away the tears for what felt the millionth time today. "I'll come back and tell you what happened to your family. I'll come back and tell you, every once in a while. See you, Pops…"

He turned around and found Anne standing at the foot of the hill, waiting for him. He walked down to her, grateful that she didn't leave. Taking him in a soft embrace, she let him cry on her shoulder while Marco felt her small frame tremble with her own tears.

The days passed and it was time for them to leave. They were almost ready to go when an explosion shook the Black Moby Dick. "What in Davy Jones' name was that?"

Marco was running into the direction of the raising smoke. He heard a cough and then saw Anne and Reji emerge from the lower deck. The blond raised an eyebrow at his first division commander. Anne gave him a cocky grin. "Sorry..?"

Marco looked at Reji. "My fault, captain. Forgot that she's a freaking fire woman." The blond stared at them. He would expect things like this from Ace… But Reji? "Marco… It was my fault. Apparently, Anne is a lot jumpier than Ace used to be."

The captain walked past them and headed for Anne's cabin. Looking at the completely destroyed door and the still smoking bed, Marco sighed heavily. Where the hell should Anne sleep now? Feeling the familiar presence of his first commander, he turned around.

"It wasn't really Reji's fault. I thought he was attacking me so I let loose a little ehm… tornado." Anne looked really sorry. Marco could tell that she was trying not to look like a freaking puppy. She kind of succeeded but still she was so adorable. "Oh… Stop this already!" Marco growled and looked away. Mentally he was repeating over and over again: This is Ace! Ace! A.C.E! – It didn't help.

An hour later they had set sail and were heading for the open water. Wind tugged at his hair and the ocean that he was both dreading and loving spread infinitely around him. He took a deep breath, tasting the salty smell that meant home to him.

Reji stepped beside him silently waiting. The man knew his captain well. And so he waited. "Was it her fault only?" Reji shook his head. "It was an accident. I thought she had heard me and she apparently didn't." Marco nodded. And noticed how surprisingly relieved he was. "You will take care of her, right?"

His former second in command laughed. "Anne is my commander, not otherwise. And she is Ace, you shouldn't forget this." The phoenix gritted his teeth, knowing exactly that he was forgetting about this far too often. "Another thing, captain" Switched Reji the topic: "Where will she sleep?"

Marco stared at him. He had thought about it once but afterwards he had completely forgotten about this. "I kind of thought Ace would sleep in the main quarters. But of course that will not work." Lovely! His subconscious was choosing Anne's gender randomly now.

Reji laughed. "Knew that coming. I discussed with Jozu. He seems to be the most reasonable of the commanders when it comes to Anne. Only one that doesn't want to jump her straight away… Well, we decided that you'll have to take her into you're cabin."

Marco smirked humorlessly. "I bet Vista was involved in that discussion too, yoi." Reji didn't say anything. He just silently smiled at his captain. Marco went under deck and headed for his cabin, grumbling.

Upon his arrival he found that his cabin was not empty, as he had expected. Anne sat on his bed, a towel wrapped tightly around her. Her black hair was still dripping wet. The blond took a careful step backward. Retreating from his own room, luckily unnoticed he made his way back to the main deck.

This may have been Ace. But this was also Anne. And Anne was a woman that made him nervous. Full stop. He couldn't change it. She was beautiful. Ace's careless and almost naïve way to handle his new appearance made Anne unbelievably gorgeous. And that smile..! Within a few days the woman had completely won him over.

It had started with affection and worry for a younger sister and changed to something uncontrollable. When she had been waiting for him at the grave, it had felt like she had always been there by his side. Having her beside him felt like the most natural thing to him.

Marco sat down, leaning against the railing and closed the eyes. This woman would be his death. As a captain he shouldn't favor one commander over the others. But with her puppy dog eyes and the pouting lips, Anne could get anything from him. If she wanted.

But of course she didn't. Because she was Ace, meaning she was male and cocky and annoying and stubborn. Unconsciously he took the small paper wrapped gift he had bought for her from his pocked. What on earth had he been thinking? Well… He had probably just forgotten that Anne was Ace once again. When he had stood in front of that shop, it just felt right to buy them.

Lost in his thoughts, Marco hadn't heard Izou approaching. Only when the other commander picked the gift from his hands he looked up. For a second he considered demanding the item back but then he thought that it wasn't even worth trying. Izou was a loyal man but also extremely nosy.

A sound of appreciation came from the commander of the fifteenth division. "They're beautiful." Carefully Izou wrapped the paper back around the little gift and gave it back to his captain. Marco looked away, not knowing what to say.

Izou stood casually beside him, looking at the darkening sky. "It's not only you. All the commanders adore her. Anne's beauty combined with Ace's cockiness is a little too much for most to take." The commander looked down on Marco with a knowing grin. The captain only rolled his eyes.

"So what if. She's Ace. And I doubt that he would be too thrilled to find it out." Izou laughed. "Give her time." And with this Izou left. Marco sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands. It hadn't even been two weeks. How could this have happened?

"Oh and captain." He looked up and saw Izou standing at the door. "I'm sure she'll love them."

In the mean time, Anne began to wonder where Marco was. She hoped that he wasn't looking for another resting place. The raven-haired pirate didn't want to steal her captains bed, especially not as it was her own fault that her cabin was completely destroyed.

Though she had to admit that she was really glad that her shopping bags had still been in Marco's cabin, when she let her fire tornado loose this afternoon. The cloths had cost her a fortune! Rummaging through the smallest bag, she realized that she hadn't bought any jewelry at all. Not that she was particularly into the glittery stuff (she was a man after all, remember?). But Ace's red necklace looked just stupid on her.

Leaning back on the bed, she sighed. Nothing, of course. She had only bought clothing and shoes. "I'll buy something nice on the next island." Anne murmured and looked at the door.

That was the moment Marco stepped into the room. To his relive Anne had dressed, though the cloths she was wearing weren't really helping to calm his boiling blood down. Walking over to his desk and intensely staring at some of the paperwork there, he asked: "You forgot something?"

Anne blushed. She didn't think that he could have overheard that. And giving an answer was definitely no option. She was a man. And men didn't wear those stupid gold and glittery stuff women did. Well, maybe Vista or Izou, but they were the exception.

The phoenix turned around and looked at her. Anne knew that she would tell him sooner or later anyways. But it was just so embarrassing. Marco raised an eyebrow at her. "Well… You see, my red necklace doesn't really fit anymore. And as I'm somehow female now, I was thinking about buying some jewelry. Nothing big, of course!"

The raven-haired woman didn't look at Marco while she spoke. She just felt too embarrassed. Ace didn't give a flying fuck about how he looked like. He cared about his two tattoos and about his hat. The rest of his appearance wasn't really important to him.

Marco felt for the paper wrapped object in his pocket. Should he really..? "Will you come shopping with me again?" Anne gave him one of her cocky grins. At least she was not pouting again. The phoenix had his fingers still closed around the object in his pocked but couldn't bring himself to give it to Anne.

"We'll see soon enough, I guess." And with this, Anne yawned and lay down, immediately calming the whole blanket for herself. Marco raised an eyebrow. She didn't even need the blanket, being the fire woman she was! With a snarl he kicked off his shoes and slipped out of his shirt. Anne opened one eye when he lay down beside her.

"Mind sharing, commander?" A grin and Anne drew the blanket a little closer to her body. "I guess that is a yes then." Marco turned around, sighed and tried to fall asleep. A deafening silence hung in the air. And after a few minutes, a tiny little shiver ran through Marco's body. Being half-naked in the middle of the night without blanked was not particularly warm after all.

Though asking again was no option. The phoenix heard Anne move. Then the blanket was spread over him. Next thing he felt was Anne's warm body pressed against his back, one arm lazily put around his waist. "What..?"

"I changed my mind, captain." Marco took a deep breath, trying to slow his hammering heart. This is Ace, this is Ace, this is… With Anne's body pressed against him like that, he could have been thinking about Teach or Akainu and it wouldn't have distracted him at all.

He closed his eyes and concentrated to keep his breath even. Besides the fact that Anne was smoking hot, he just didn't get laid in a long time. Damn fucking pirate life... Marco felt her warm breath graze his neck. He sat up.

Anne immediately let go and looked up at him with a sleepy look. The phoenix knew that it had been a bad move. But it had also been the only one he could think off. Otherwise he might have turned around and did something very, very stupid.

"Marco..?" The blonde looked at her. What should he say? I need to get out of here because otherwise I'm gonna rape you? So not going to happen. Marco lay back down and turned his back to the woman. He tucked his legs up, clenched his fists and concentrated on the feeling of having a little wrapped gift in his pocket.

Anne didn't lie back down. She got up and left the cabin, slamming the door shut behind her. Marco's hands flew to his crotch before he could do anything against it. Taking a shuddering breath he rolled on his backs and forced his hand to lie beside him. "Shit…"

Anne stood on the main deck, feeling the night air wash over her body. She knew what had happened. Hell, she knew how men reacted to women. And she knew how a pirate's life was. If they didn't swing the other way, life on a ship was pretty lonely.

How was she able to forget this? Ace was young, he had less control over himself and a bigger need – She knew the feeling. Though Marco never showed any signs of interest in women (or men, by the way) he was only human after all. Without being narcissistic Ace knew that Anne was hot.

Ace leaned against the main mast, banning his head against it. How. Fucking. Stupid. Could. He. Be? With every word he hit his head against the wood until a voice from above stopped him.

"Anne. If you need a headache, I can help you. But stop hitting a hole in my mast." Thank goodness, it was Jozu. Without second thoughts the raven-haired woman climbed up to the crow's nest. The second division commander was the only man on the ship that didn't go crazy over Anne. Though he wasn't really one to talk to. Oh and Izou of course. But that guy had some hidden agenda when it came to her new appearance. Anne just wasn't sure what it was exactly.

The man stepped aside to give Anne better access to the crow's nest. She slid down along the mast and curled up against the wood. Jozu just stood there and waited for whatever was going to happen. His eyes were flying around, making sure no one could approach the Black Moby Dick unnoticed.

"Jozu…" Anne started, unsure how to continue. "How difficult is it for the other commanders that I'm female now?" Jozu didn't look at her. "You're asking because of the commanders or because of our captain?" Damn Jozu and his brilliant perception skills. "Marco…"

The second division commander smirked. That had been so obvious. "It depends on how you act." Damn Jozu and his cryptic advice (that fitted so fucking perfect)! "I'm going back to bed." She spit and with this, Anne started climbing down and headed for the captain's cabin once again today. Growling she stomped over the deck to the door that lead to the lower decks. He was acting like a stupid woman with PMS. A shiver ran down his spine at the mere thought of something like this. Shaking her head, Anne decided that this wasn't her most urgent problem at the moment.

She knocked before she entered. Marco called her in immediately. The blond was sitting on his bed, playing with a little object in his hands. He didn't look at her and she didn't dare to move away from the door.

"I'm sorry, Ace." She smiled and shook her head. "It's ok. I should know better, right?" Marco turned his head and met her soft eyes. "Guess we're both underestimating the situation, yoi." Her smile changed to the cocky grin the phoenix knew so well, though with an unfamiliar unsure edge to it.

"Can I… Can I still sleep here? I could also find another place if you…" While Anne had been babbling, Marco had risen from his sitting position, put the object he had held between his fingers back into his pocket, and walked over to her. Holding a finger to her lips, he said. "Always."

The phoenix tilted his head and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. The careful touch knocked the breath out of Ace and left him completely and utterly shocked. What the…? Marco gave him a gentle smile and walked back to the bed.

It took Anne a few seconds to react. Then she followed and laid down beside her captain, this time with her back showing into his direction. Marco drew the blanket over them and wished her a good night.

The phoenix fell asleep quickly. Anne lay awake for a few more minutes, fingers touching the spot where his lips had been. It had only been seconds but… She drifted to sleep with a small smile on her lips.

When Marco woke up the next morning, Anne had already left. Though judge by the amount of cloths lying loosely around in the room he thought she might only be in the shower. Recalling the events of last night, the phoenix blushed. Now what in Davy Jones' name had he been thinking this time..?

Letting his gaze wander over the room he noticed a pile of cloths that had been draped over one of the chairs carefully. The phoenix frowned. "I thought she didn't like the dress…" Anne chose the very moment to step back into the cabin. Her hair was messy and only half dried. A dark towel was wrapped around her body and judged by the white straps over her shoulders, she was at least not naked. Thank god!

"I came to like it. But I would love to have some nice bracelet or something to wear with it." She turned to one of the bags and picked a shirt and short trousers to put on for now. Marco quickly turned his head away and closed his eyes. That was something he didn't want to see. Not like that.

"You can open your eyes again." Marco looked at her. She smiled her most adorable smile and held a hand out to him. He took it and was lifted to his feet. "You're surprisingly strong, for a woman." She snarled. "I. Am. Ace!"

He grabbed fresh cloths from a pile and walked to the door. "I know." He said, a desperate tone in his voice. The phoenix didn't look back. Anne followed him with her dark brown eyes. When he had shut the door behind him, she sighed heavily. "Then why are you doing all those things..?"

She let herself fall on the bed and watched the ceiling. The raven haired pirate wasn't sure whether she wanted him to treat her like Ace or like Anne. A sad smile tugged at her lips. Both, she realized. She wanted him to see the best friend Ace had always been. And she wanted him to see the beautiful woman she was now. "But that will never work… I'll have to choose between the vulnerable woman and the tough guy." A single tear ran down her cheek. How could she choose when she wanted both..?

Marco leaned at the door to his cabin, listening to her words. He needed all his self control to not go back in and just kiss her. With a desperate sigh he made his way to the bathroom.

I had an awful hard time writing the first scene in this one. I hope it can show a little of the emotion I tried to bring across...

Well well... Things start to get tense now.

Poor Marco. And poor Anne. Must be hard to be thrown into a female body and suddenly have to deal with all the hormonal shit..

I know she's pretty moody in this one. But seriously.. She had to loose it at some point. Until now she was extremely strong and stable. In this chapter I wanted to show a bit of the crazyness of Ace's/ Anne's situation. But I won't let it go too deep. That would make the story a little too complicated. And I never planned 'Always' to go that deep.

Marco is slowly loosing it. Poor guy. And all his noble self control is wasted by Ace's way of carrying his new appearance. And then there are Izou and Vista of course. XDD

Thanks once more to all the amazing people out there reading and reviewing this. It's amazing to see how many thoughts some of you put into this story. More than I would ever have come up with... Thank you so much!

Read & Review please - Thanks!