A.N. Decided to do something different this time, after all the AU I wrote/read I seem to forget I can make it in OP universe too… :D

Warnings: yaoi – man x man, more or less canon or more likely stuff that happens in One Piece universe, basically fluff, everything is happening during the two year time skip.

Word count: 1 170

Summary: Ace's birthday fic. In a world where Ace survived by a chance and a miracle he has to hideaway even from his brother so he can continue living on. Too weak to ever become pirate again he is left with not enough choices.

Snowy Mountains

It was snowing outside, quite a storm actually, small white pieces of snow were furiously blown around by wind making the snowy mountains in the distance seem like a giant shadows. The already cold weather becoming even colder. The street lights right outside the window flickered, but continued to spread their orange light into the dark hotel room. Two men laid in bed, both clad in a winter wear – warm jumpers and warm pants.

The outfit looked ridiculous on both men as one of them was the description of bulky with his big muscled arms and his ash grey hair. The other was quite lithe in comparison, freckled cheeks and brunet two inch length hair. The two were snuggled up, or as much snuggled up as two very manly men could be – laying one next to other bodies touching like two puzzle pieces which just fell perfectly next to each other.

"Why did you insist on coming to a winter island for this?"

Ace sighed. "It always snowed on Dawn Island in winter, I wanted to remember old times when my brothers and I would sit at the outskirts of the Gray Terminal, listen to the racket coming from the Goa city and once the midnight came we would enjoy the fireworks."

Smoker said nothing for a while before speaking. "Feeling nostalgic?"

"I know that I will have to hide from the world for the rest of my shortened life, I will be lucky if I will manage to accidentally meet Luffy to tell him I'm alive… And if you take in consideration how weak I am, the wound will be healing for at least one more year, my devil fruit powers are lost for good with me being dead for that half a minute…" Silence stretched between the two as they watched the raging snow outside, Ace had his back to Smoker's chest so he didn't see the pained expression on the marine's face as the next words followed. "You will have to go soon too, you got a promotion, didn't you?" A pained smile stretched on his cheeks. "I won't have anyone to warm my bed anymore, I would considered that death would be a better decision if not for Luffy and his ridiculous way of making me want to live and see parts of the world I haven't been able as a pirate…"

Smoker's body tensed at the mention of death, but he relaxed relieved at the following words. "I could take you as a marine rookie on my ship, with your short hair it's almost impossible to recognize you."

Ace turned over, small smile on his lips. "That's very nice of you, but I'm too weak to survive in New World even as a marine. I would always be in danger of being recognized and would have to live with paranoia and constant looking over my shoulder… Being with you would be a big advantage, but would you have time? What about what your crew would think? Tashigi would definitely recognize me… You know it's impossible."

The bigger man buried his nose in the mop of black hair inhaling the scent of his lover and tightening his hold over the smaller male. "Do you want to go outside and greet the New Year?"

"In this weather? Of course."

Smoker smiled. "Then get your skinny ass up and get dressed."

The brunet rolled his eyes and sat up carefully, so not to tear his sill open wound in the middle of the chest. "You love this skinny ass, so don't complain."

Ace's recovery was a miracle to say at least. Few minutes after his chest was pierced he died for half a minute, none of his vitals were working and his brain had been dead. Then he was hit with Ivankov's magic fingers which started his heart and brain up again and literally brought him back to life. With some quick working from his gramps and Ivankov they used the mess Blackbeard bought and brought him to safety where some trusted people stitched him up. And here he was now, alive, by some unknown miracle, weak as a mouse, pale as he had never been, with the shortest hair he had ever had…

And with Smoker at his side… He met the man once before Garp had thrust his beloved grandson to the grey haired marine who he knew he could trust not to kill Ace or betray a man who only wanted to live. From the very begging Smoker didn't know how to act around the ex-pirate, Ace had been hollow then, only constant pain and sadness about what he had lost. The brunet will never be able to fight again, his body will always ache if he will have too much physical work and he lost his fire.

Added with the loss of his fire, disappearance of his baby brother and the crimes Blackbeard kept committing with Whitebeard's devil fruit had squeezed out his happiness. Smoker, with abrupt wave of kindness helped Ace to get over it, even with his grunting personality, never waving beliefs in justice and cold attitude managed to make Ace laugh. It shouldn't have been a surprise that the freckled youth fell for his savior, the person who nursed him back to walking, talking, laughing, feeling positive emotions and loving. And if it happened that the grey haired marine managed to get a soft spot after everything they did together and that Ace used that soft spot to his fullest advantage making affection into love… well, there was no one to blame.

Although now, with Smoker's departure drawing closer the freckled youth found himself clinging more and more to his savior, not ready to be separated, not strong enough to left alone. Trying to forget these sad thoughts Ace busied himself with putting on his coat, scarf and long boots to protect him from harsh winter air – he no longer could walk around half naked both because of the bandages, the deformed tattoo and his loss of ability to be warm anywhere he went.

The two went out of the hotel room they had been staying in the couple of days they came to welcome New Year. The natives of the island looked at them with weird eyes both because they had a one double bed room and that they came to such harsh island for New Year celebration.

"How much is it before midnight?" Ace asked as they walked outside into the blizzard.

"Three minutes."

Feeling much more affectionate than usual Ace hugged the big form of his lover, burying his face in the broad chest. "Good, we won't have to wait for long."

Not too long after the first set of fireworks started going out, decorating the snowflake filled sky with colors. While the pair enjoyed the small show midnight passed without a notice. Only when Smoker pulled him in a short kiss and muttered: "Happy Birthday." did Ace understood it was already the first of January – his birthday.

A.N. Just for the record – if anyone would like to continue this in any kind of way I wouldn't mind at all and would even appreciate it ^-^.