Luffy held onto the baby tightly, keeping the tiny form warm from the icy cold of the last winter's snow storm.
It had been a challenge in keeping the babe warm and dry during these times, so the five year old kept him to the front of himself when they was not travelling.
The only thing about having Ace upon his back and front every waking moment, was he was lively.
"Little Ace..." Luffy mumbles, white vapour escapes his lips; the younger blinks at the sound of his name, "Is Little Ace warm?"
Ace smiles and makes some 'oo', 'mm' and 'aa' noises but did not make a word.
It was hard for Luffy to teach Ace anything, he knew very little himself having only spoken to a few people during his short life. However he was sure that that Ace would speak soon, he was getting closer with forming the limited words Luffy knew.
Grinning the older stares at the little one in his arms. Then he glances over at their fire. It was dimming, he needed to put more fire wood he collected during the autumn time.
"The nights are the coldness." Luffy repeats something he once heard his grandfather say, only now he knew its meaning, "Baby." he says turning his attention back to Ace, he had learnt that word the last time his grandfather was there and this also become one of the things Luffy called the younger, "I'm going to have to move."
Ace giggles at him, causing him to smile; standing still holding onto Ace -though he was wrapped onto his body- Luffy wanders over to the far side of the hut and with one hand lifted up a large piece of wood.
He turns carefully wood in hand, then lightly throws it to the place he had been sitting. Bending down he takes another piece of wood and does the same again and again.
Luffy hurries back to his place and threw the pieces into the fire that was in the centre of the hut, once done he settled into his spot where deer and wolf hide surrounded him. He wraps Ace into some more clothes, and then pokes the fire with a metal stick he found in the junk piles.
Luffy leans back into his spot, looking up to the roof of the hut. Here was a hole for the smoke to go through, still bits of snow managed to get in.
Pass the hole in the roof's hut, Luffy could see bright clouds of the storm, the full moon which was peeking through, making everything look silvery. The clouds parted more and he stares at the blackness of the sky with thousands of white dots.
"Stars." Luffy told the baby boy, who was staring at him more than the stares through the small hole.
"sss -tar ss." Ace copied causing the older to jerk his head back down his shock.
"Little Ace?" Luffy asks staring unblinking.
"illtt ll aassss" Ace spoke again, this time making Luffy grin in delight.
It had only been autumn and winter the child was stuck on his back, but it seemed forever. Now with him talking even a little, Ace could come off.
"Should Luffy wait until Spring?" Luffy asks himself, not liking the idea of unhooking the little one off during these still cold times.