Two years go by.
Ace has long gotten used to the presence of Portgas (they decided that they really couldn't go around calling someone Fire Fist) just as Portgas is use to the modern world. Of course, there are still slip ups, and sometimes Portgas forgets that he shouldn't turn into fire, but overall it works out. Luffy's friends (though still traumatized by the events of two years ago) come over every so often and help out.
A fake ID and a haircut help a lot, too.
Sometimes Ace forgets about the terrifying whirlwind that happened two years ago, and then he walks into his living room and sees Portgas helping his little brother ("Our. He's my little brother now too.") with his homework.
Ace thinks of the promise that Straw Hat made and shakes his head. Two years is a long time, after all, and no matter how much Portgas protests, he can tell that the former pirate is losing hope.
Sometimes Ace catches Portgas staring at walls or at the stars, lost in memories. Sometimes he catches the surprised flashes when he goes to grab Luffy's cheek, only to realize it isn't rubber anymore.
Sometimes he hears the tears at night, after everyone else is asleep.
For Portgas's sake, Ace hopes Straw Hat comes back soon.
It was a regular day when it happened.
Ace is prepping dinner for the five of them (Marco and Thatch come over whenever they can), Luffy yelling happily about his favorite character on TV while Portgas echoes and encourages him. Thatch is chatting happily to Marco about work and terrible customers.
That's when Ace feels it.
At first it's only his ears popping. It makes him pause the meal and frown. Then a crushing force blasts through his house (familiar, familiar, so familiar) and an oh-so bright light appears. Ace promptly drops his spatula and rushes into the living room.
There, just like that night two years ago, was a large, white sphere.
"Portal, portal, portal—! Oh god, there's another portal in our living room," Thatch says and stares at the object with wide eyes.
"That's…" Portgas's eyes were wide and hopeful. Luffy grins and throws his hands around Portgas's neck in his excitement.
The portal is different than last time. It's still large with the milky color, but the flashes of color appeared more often and it was only three of them—yellow, red and blue.
And, Ace thinks, there's no barrier.
A red spot appears near the top and spreads downward. It snakes around the milky surface, forming something. Ace squints before his eyes widen—it's forming a silhouette.
The silhouette gets larger and larger before something steps out of the portal. The portal flares to life and hums with power. Ace is so surprised that he takes a step back.
A grin, a large scar, a red cardigan and a familiar straw hat.
Straw Hat laughs (for it's certainly Straw Hat, even if he was older than the last time Ace saw him), full of excitement and joy and straight up launches himself across the room the moment he spots Portgas with a cry of, "ACE!"
Portgas takes the blow full-force and both of them tumble to the ground, laughing and blubbering indistinguishable words. Ace laughs, happy and free, knowing that his double was finally getting the ending that he deserves.
"Oi," a voice calls and Ace turns towards it until he realizes it's coming from the portal. "You sure about this, Luffy?"
Straw Hat pauses, looking up and rubs the tears from his eyes. He rolled off of Portgas and stands up, placing his prized straw hat right back on it's head where it belongs. His smile returns full force and he shouts back, "Yeah, it works! He's here!"
Another spot appears—this time blue—and the outline of a person forms yet again. This time, Ace blinks a bit in surprise because it's Marco stepping out of the portal, a blue cardigan (seriously, what's with pirates and not wearing shirts?) and sandals on his feet carrying a large, brown sack of something.
The other-Marco drops the sack on the floor with a loud clang, eyes scan the room before landing on himself. "So this really is an alternate dimension, yoi…"
"Another Marco!" Luffy says happily.
"Marco?!" Thatch shouts in surprise. Even Ace's Marco seems shocked by the development.
Other-Marco turns his attention to Thatch and his eyes widen. He takes a step back. Everything—from his posture to his very eyes—screams hurt. Ace wonders why he is so sad and—oh, that's right. Their Thatch was murdered. It's not something that they talk about often as Portgas is reluctant to mention it, but the fact always nags at the back of his mind.
"Thatch…" Other-Marco mutters.
"Marco!" Portgas cries out happily and stumbles to his feet, Straw Hat hanging from his back. Other-Marco turns, and suddenly has an armful of two pirates with identical expressions of pure joy.
Other-Marco catches both of them before grabbing Portgas' shoulders and pushing him to arms length. Other-Marco examines him, his eyes resting on the large burn scar on his chest. He reaches out and traces the edges, expression unreadable. Portgas smiles sadly, but pushes his hand away.
"Told you I'd come back," Straw Hat suddenly crows. "It took a while, but we did it!"
Other-Marco gathers Portgas into a tight hug, shutting his eyes shut and letting out a wet sounding laugh full of pure joy. "When Luffy said you were alive, we didn't believe it at first. He convinced us eventually and, god, Ace, it was the best news I think I've ever heard, yoi. I'm so glad you're alive."
"Marco…" Portgas whispers, tears in his eyes, before hugging the man back.
The past two years, they'd tried to give Portgas a family. They'd welcomed him to the shipyard (Ace found that pirates know a lot about ships), took him out to explore their world. They included him in everything they did or were planning on doing. They gave his friends, made him go out and to try and enjoy himself. But seeing this—the pure, unrivaled happiness of a family being reunited for the first time—Ace knows they didn't ever do enough. They never could.
It's okay, though, because Portgas has his family once again.
"How?" Portgas chokes out, releasing other-Marco from his death grip.
"Devil Fruit!" Straw Hat declares happily.
"Blackbeard was executed by the marines two years ago. All the Devil Fruits that he had were released back in the world, yoi." Other-Marco nods, "We managed to track down Oyaji's old fruit and the Yami Yami no mi so that no one can ever have that power again. The fruit that sent you here—"
"—This super cool old man had it!" Straw Hat interrupts. Other-Marco nods.
"Luffy and his crew manage miracles. Still haven't quite figured out how, but… They saved this man's village and he said he was in their debt. We found out he had the fruit that sent you two here in the first place and, well, here we are, yoi."
"You actually say yoi," Thatch mutters, amazed. Marco (Ace's Marco, the one that actually belongs here) elbows him in the ribs and tells him to shut up.
Other-Marco's gaze lingers on him before he forces himself to turn away. He walks back over to the brown sack that he had carried from the portal and hauls it over his shoulder. He walks towards Ace and drops it right in front of him.
When other-Marco opens the sack, all Ace can do is stare because shoved inside that ragged old sack is probably thousands, if not millions of dollars in gold and jewels.
"These are for you," Other-Marco says as if he's not handing over more money than Ace has ever seen in his lifetime. "For keeping those two idiots safe, yoi."
Ace thinks he might cry in happiness.
"Hey, Marco!" Straw Hat shouts. He's hanging from his brother's back again and pointing at the portal. "It's closing again. We gotta go."
"You're right," Other-Marco says and just leaves millions of dollars in Ace's living room, holy shit. Other-Marco glances back at the four of them—Ace, Luffy, Thatch, Marco—and gives them a smile. "Thank you so much for looking after Ace. He's a pain in the ass and gives us grey hairs, but he's our little brother!" Other-Marco's eyes become softer, sadder. "And Thatch…it was nice to see you again, yoi. We miss you."
"Bye!" Straw Hat shouts and waves. "Come visit our world sometime!"
"Okay!" Luffy shouts back and Ace has to physically restrain his little brother from jumping through the portal with them.
Ace catches Portgas's eye and grins. "Get going."
Portgas laughs and adjusts Straw Hat on his back. "I am. Thank you for everything. All of you."
With that, the three of them step through the portal and disappear.
And, with a happy smile, Portgas finally returns home.
There are a few places that reality seems to bend; playground at night, empty schools, the second level of double-decker buses, hospital waiting rooms, dimly-lit roads that lead to home and, apparently, quiet living rooms that hold lasting memories.
annnnnnddddd we're done! Thanks for sticking around all this time, especially if you started reading back when this story was first published (wayyyyy back in 2013). Took me almost five years to complete this, but here we are! Hopefully I can work on editing & finishing some of my other old stories.
Important note about this chapter: some ppl might be disappointed that sabo was not the one that came through and honestly? i feel like marco deserves to see ace more than sabo does.
that's a wrap! hope everyone enjoyed this story and don't forget to review!