Title: Ten Years Difference 5/?

author: Stormy 1x2

Word Count (chapter): 4350

Notes: A reader pointed out that Haruta is male. I know that – but thank you anyway for bringing a detail to my attention – and I'm sorry to say I genderswapped him. Well, not sorry, but for those of you who want me to stick as close to canon as possible – sorry. There is just far too much testosterone and I need a girl commander. I don't like the idea of Whitebeard being sexist. :) As for the influx of OC's. You're right – there are a lot of them even though technically I'm using the Spades that Oda drew. Stay with me now, I promise the focus goes back on the boys starting with this chapter when the Spades return to the Moby 3.

Don't be afraid to bring these things to me. I usually do things for a reason and if I fail to clarify something in the story, I am more than happy to clarify here. *hugs reviewers*

You guys are just phenomenal. I keep saying this but really, you are truly inspirational and helpful with such interesting and insightful comments. I can't help but feel motivated when comments are coming in every twenty minutes. - No lie. And I am truly glad you are liking my portrayal of the Spades. They return to their ship today (they kinda have to, because they're not there when Ace wakes up in the anime) but they will return periodically, even if its just in the form of phone calls. :)

Also, I lied. You meet two more Spades, not three. I'll save it for next time they have a visit – maybe when I have them visit Oars Jr. Whenever that happens. I have a list of ideas...

Fic Status:

Chapter 6: ...yeah. Um... working on that. As stated above, I have... ideas... .'

Chapter 7:...*passes out*

o0o

It was dark. Dark and warm. He was drifting, hazy and blissfully numb, and if anyone woke him up before he was damn well ready to, he would barbeque their asses. The quiet was a little odd to him – for some reason, he felt he wasn't quite used to being surrounded by silence, but he couldn't remember why, nor did he care. It was soothing, just to float and relax. He sank back into a black pool of warm and let himself fall under again.

On the screen by Ace's bed, the box that monitored his brain waves gave a cheerful chirp as it recorded the changes. The sound seemed to blend in with the other 'whooshes' and 'beeps' from the other machines hooked up to the young man. The people sitting around chatting and getting to know each other didn't notice one more.

o0o

For the first time in her pirating life, Haruta could care less about the cookies Thatch had set out on the table in front of her and her charge. It was the little kid she could just eat up. He was too frigging cute for words.

Luffy-Mummy made growling sounds as he shoved cookie after cookie into his mouth. His eyes had widened at the first bite and he had dropped the monster act just long enough ask 'how' to a wildly grinning Thatch – who held up a notebook. The two Spade cooks had gone to visit their captain in medical, leaving Thatch to try out a few of the recipe's they'd given him. "Eddie and Laurel said these were your favorite. Right?"

A violently fast nod of 'yes' and then Monster Luffy returned. Sitting across from him, Vista reached to take one and Luffy-Mummy growled. Vista pretended to drop the cookie in fear and he backed away. "Don't eat me!" he cried out, clutching his chest and pretending to be horrified.

"Luffy-Mummy's cookies," Luffy growled, clawing the air in Vista's direction with both hands. Vista made an appropriately frightened face, gripping his top hat like he was going to pull it down far enough to hide in. Haruta was doing her damnedest to stifle her giggles.

Thatch leaned out of the kitchen. "Ah, but if the mummy doesn't share, the mummy won't get any of Laurel's special lamb chops," he said, waving a finger. "It's one of the recipe's she gave me for you and your brother."

Luffy blinked at that, and then snatched up the cookie plate and held it out to Vista. "Please have some," he chirped, smiling so widely it nearly took up his entire face.

Vista smiled at the abrupt turn-around in demeanour and took one. "Thank you, Luffy. That's very nice of you."

The child cocked his head at that, and then suddenly frowned and lowered the plate slowly. "No, it's not," he said, looking anxious.

Haruta leaned forward trying to see his eyes under the straw hat. "What do you mean, Luffy?"

"S'not nice of me. I only did it 'cause Thatch said I wouldn't get lamby-legs at dinner if I didn't. That's being shellfish."

Haruta choked back a laugh. "You mean, selfish?"

"Mm. Makino said it's not polite to be shellfish." Luffy set the plate down and slid it to one of the guys from Division Two who had joined the troop march to the kitchen earlier. "Here. We can all share. I had lots already – Laurel always said my snack couldn't be just sweet things 'cause I'll just be hungry again real soon."

"She's right," Thatch said, coming out with a giant fruit platter. "Which is why I have this as well." He set the platter down and added a large bowl filled with melted chocolate. "You can dip the apples, bananas and strawberries into this bowl of chocolate. Still sweet, but you'll be getting fruit too so it's okay. We'll just have regular fruit after dinner tonight."

Luffy beamed at Thatch and snatched up a large chunk of banana to dip into the chocolate. Curiel, sitting next to Vista, leaned forward. "How's it taste, Luffy?"

Still smacking his lips as he swallowed the treat, Luffy clapped his hands. "S'really goo'," he said, before swallowing it down and reaching for more. He selected a large, juicy-looking strawberry next, and grinned shyly at Curiel when the man followed his lead and chose the same fruit for himself.

Haruta took an apple slice for herself. Thatch sat down next to her. "This was another idea of Eddie's," he said in a low voice so Luffy didn't overhear. "Dipping stuff forces Luffy – and Ace – to slow down a bit. It gives their bodies a chance to catch up, and let them feel when they're actually full, instead of eating indiscriminately and overeating because their stomachs fill too fast for the brain to register that they're not hungry anymore."

Haruta whistled. "That's clever," she admitted.

Thatch grinned. "Good thing I love fondue's," he said, rubbing his hands together. "I hope they like cheese and hotpot."

"Though not necessarily together, I hope?" Haruta snickered at Thatch and dodged his swat at her head.

"Gur-ra-ra-ra, what a delicious looking treat," came a loud voice behind them.

Haruta turned to see her father eyeing Luffy, swathed in bandages, face, hands and bandages becoming covered in chocolate. She grinned up at him, giving him a knowing look. "You were able to smell the chocolate over the sake, Pops?"

Whitebeard slowly walked to the end of the table where one of the larger benches was. Atmos pulled it out for him and helped him settle down. The strongest man in the world lowered himself carefully onto the bench (which was more like a loveseat with a tall back – a giant loveseat) and sighed as his back leaned against the thick pillows. After a minute, he looked up and smiled at his daughter. "I can always smell chocolate," he replied to Haruta.

Luffy was watching him, cheeks stuffed as full as a chipmunk preparing for winter. He swallowed and then blinked at the very large pirate. Haruta was curious to see what would happen. She knew that Luffy had been kept somewhat isolated in the infirmary – Marco was determined that the kid not be stressed out or more scared than he currently was, at least until his brother woke up, and their ship was full of very big, very visually intimidating people. None of them would hurt a hair on the child's head, but appearances were what kids tended to go by at first, and Luffy's only protector – in his eyes, at least – wasn't awake yet to do said protecting. Even Pops had kept away, aside from the brief exchange he'd had with the child, apologizing for the hit that had finally put Ace under. He tugged at the hat on his head, pulling it down over his ears but leaving it at an angle that left his eyes free to see. "Hi," he said quietly, almost timidly.

Haruta watched her father give the child a gentle smile, leaving his hands folded on his lap. One hand was almost bigger than Luffy himself, so reaching out might be a little panic-inducing. "Hello, Luffy," he boomed in a voice a few decibels lower than what the crew was used to. "How are you doing?"

Luffy gave him a shy smile. "I'm good," he said, still quietly. Haruta blinked as she realized he was edging into her side slightly, as though seeking protection. She decided to reward his trust in her and she slowly wrapped her arm around him, both to bolster his confidence – and keep him from bolting from the room. He had to get used to the larger people on the Moby Dick sooner or later.

"And how is your brother faring?"

Luffy blinked and suddenly looked a little morose. "He's still sleeping," he finally said. "Nurse-lady said he should start waking up a little bit any time now but he hasn't done it yet."

"If Whiskey said he'll start to wake up soon, then that is what he'll do," Whitebeard said solemnly. "Whiskey is an excellent nurse."

Luffy nodded vigorously, some of his bandages falling off his head. "She says she likes answering my questions!" he blurted out, eyes wide. "Usually only Ace an' the Spades will. No one back home would, 'cept for Makino and Sh-" the child cut himself off. "Oops. Almost forgot. Can't tell you. I don't know if it's okay yet."

Whitebeard watched Luffy with definite interest. Haruta could tell – it was the same look he'd given Ace after the fireman had sent up his flame fence. She focused back on Luffy and asked, "How will you know if it's okay?"

"Ace tells me," Luffy said promptly. She could feel the tension in his small body start to relax. "Sometimes I tell people things anyway, or on accident, and it's usually okay, but Ace is awake and able to help me if it's not. But Ace is sleeping right now, and I don't think he'd be happy with me if told you everything and he wasn't awake."

Haruta tightened her grip a little. "Why did Ace make that rule?"

Luffy shrugged, reaching out and playing with a napkin. "'Cause Ace said he nearly lost me twice and he doesn't it to be three times. Or more. He made the rule after the second time. He said until I am a little older and can depe... desen... deep ends myself-"

"Defend?" Vista suggested with a smile.

"Yeah! Defend! He said when I can defend myself I can tell people what I want." Luffy scowled. "It's taking a long time though. I do lots'a training with him and the Spades but I can't beat anyone yet."

"Gur-ra-ra-ra, of course not. You're a tiny little brat, yet," Whitebeard guffawed.

Before Luffy could reply there was a knock on the wall by the galley doors. A tall man wearing an open, black vest stood there, a tiny man wearing a turban peeking over his shoulder. A stiff white cast stuck out from under one of the taller man's arms, the reason for carrying the other most likely. "We were told a little mummy that answers to both 'Luffy' and 'Dinner' was here. Anyone seen him?"

"Spooky! Tyger!" Luffy shoved a handful of chocolate-covered apple slices into his mouth and gently pushed Haruta's arm away before leaping from his seat and bounding across the floor. He skidded to a halt, staring at the cast jutting out. "Tyger, what happened?"

"This idiot forgot that he was a human and that humans are ground-bound," said 'Spooky' – the one doing the carrying, which made Tyger the man in the turban, Haruta noted, watching avidly. "He did a flying leap off the crows nest. I think he was trying to imitate your brother."

"You were supposed to catch me, asshole!" shouted 'Tyger' – who blanched and immediately looked at Luffy. "Do as we say!" That was a genuine look of fear on that man's face, Haruta noted idly.

"Not as you do," finished Luffy. He beamed at the short man. "S'okay Tyger, I won't tell Ace you said a bad word."

"Thank the sea gods," Tyger grumbled, looking relieved. "It's like every party we have is funded entirely by me with that damn swear jar."

'Spook' cleared his throat and winked at Luffy, who slammed both hands against his face and giggled madly. "Uhhh..."

"Damn it!" The little man looked apoplectic at his continued swearing and seemed to switch to another language entirely to continue cursing under his breath without fear of reprisal.

Haruta started laughing which set off the rest of the Whitebeard pirates. She glanced at her father and saw the pure entertainment on his face, and he nodded at her. At that, she stood up and walked over. "Welcome to the Moby Dick," she said with a smile. "I'm Haruta, Commander of the Twelfth Division. I've been charged with watching Luffy here until he finishes his snack."

"Yes, s'what your Phoenix guy told us," Tyger said, giving her a small salute in acknowledgement. "But someone wasn't in the infirmary to greet us when we got there, so we had to go hunting for Luffy's."

"Luffy-mummy's," Luffy corrected him, holding out his chocolate dabbed arms with bandages wound around them. The bandages around his head were falling off, dangling loosely around his neck and tied haphazardly around his temples. His legs and torso were still pretty well wrapped however.

Haruta grinned and then waved her hand at her father. He nodded at her. "Let me introduce you to our father, Captain Whitebeard." She stifled a laugh when the two Spade pirates froze on the spot, staring up at the large man reputed to be the Strongest in the World.

"Gur-ra-ra-ra," chuckled Whitebeard. "Surely the superstar rookie pirate crew, the Spades, aren't intimidated by an old man?"

Haruta watched as Spook nodded his head. "Absolutely we are, sir."

That made all the Whitebeards pause. After a moment, Whitebeard addressed them. "You're rather quick to admit that," he observed.

Spook shrugged – and almost dislodged Tyger, who smacked him in the head and resettled himself. "Sir, you beat my captain, who can mop the floor with the two of us at the same time. I'm not about to pretend I can do anything in your presence except be polite and hope you don't crack the ocean in two to drop me in it."

Tyger nodded wryly, adjusting his turban and tucking the ends under the sides. "We can be dumb sometimes, but we aren't stupid. Or suicidal." He thought for a moment, and then added, "Much."

Whitebeard studied the two candid pirates for a moment. Haruta did a mental countdown in her head until her father burst out in approving laughter, and labelled them both 'cheeky brats' which, to the commanders watching, was as good as Whitebeard saying they were in. The tension dissipated and Spook set Tyger down on a bench – just in time to turn around and catch Luffy who had launched himself at the tall man. "Spooky!"

"Spook," the man corrected him, using a tone that reminded Haruto of Marco when telling Thatch his name was not 'pineapple', 'mango' and/or 'blue chicken'. "Good to see you, kid."

Luffy slid down and then tackled Tyger, accidentally jostling his leg as he did so. Tyger gasped in pain as the child hit his middle with a *whump* but didn't say anything except, "Yeah, I missed you too, bratling."

Haruta smiled at the little reunion. Then she shuddered. A uneasy prickle was suddenly going up and down her spine, and she blinked twice, before watching the two newcomers closely. No, they were no harm to Luffy – that level of poorly disguised affection was hard to fake. She looked at Thatch – who was frowning into space. Curiel suddenly looked at Haruta, one eyebrow raising over his sunglasses. She shrugged. Well, at least she wasn't the only one who was feeling the need to suddenly be on guard. But where was it coming from?

o0o

The darkness was receding again. People were talking – he could hear them. His name was mentioned a few times, but it didn't feel like he was being held in a prison. He was warm, and he was pain-free. Whatever he was lying on was comfortable and he wanted to go back to sleep. Something was tugging at him to remain awake though. What was it?

He was still wondering when darkness tugged him gently back down into its depths.

o0o

After dinner, the Spade pirates were escorted back to the Moby 3. Marco didn't really want to cut the visit short, but as he had told Dusty two days ago on the Den Den Mushi, the Marines really didn't like it when the fleet gathered, and already navigation and communications were picking up transmissions from a nearby island where several navy warships were gathering with the intent to come and investigate for themselves. It would take them a few hours to arrive, but by then, Moby 3 would be off patrolling the northern part of their territory, and the Moby Dick would resume it's regular patrol of the more southern waters. Moby 2 tended to stay closer to the gateway to Fishman Island and the central islands nearby as well as sweeps through the calm belt, making use of their dials and kairoseki coating.

Dusty had been the hardest to convince to leave and probably wouldn't have budged had not Luffy patted him on the shoulder and told him that Marco and Haruta and Izou were good people and he'd be okay. Ace was going to wake up soon, he added. Then had come hugs, promises to keep in close contact, and goodbyes that bordered on tearful – on the part of the grown men, not necessarily the small child. Marco had added that they were welcome to call Luffy on the Den Den Mushi every day for updates, and that he would make sure they had another get-together when Ace woke up and was ready for visitors.

Biggie had shaken Whiskey and Hannah's hands, promising to stay in touch regarding Ace's recovery as well as passing on any useful information – having his credentials cleared by Whiskey, Biggie was going to start helping out in the infirmary on Moby 3. They had a great nursing staff there, but serious cases were usually brought to the original Moby due to the lack of a qualified surgeon. Whitebeard had asked him to fill in while they were with them, and Biggie was happy to agree.

Eddie and Laurel had been given similar approval by Thatch, and were going to work in Moby 3's kitchens. The remainder of the Spades would be divided among the divisions on Moby 3 that still had positions available (Moby 3 was their least manned ship at present) and trained in the Whitebeard style of fighting (which incorporated a lot of teamwork - which was right up their alley, Marco thought). There really wasn't room for them on the Moby Dick, and Pop was adamant that Ace would need to be separated from them if they were to help him heal. As a captain, Ace wouldn't allow himself to show any weakness, and would put up a front for the benefit of his men. There was still the concern he would do that with Luffy, but there was never any mention of seperating the two, naturally.

Marco and Whitebeard had explained what they wanted to do. Dusty hadn't liked it, but he had agreed when the larger man had laid out his points and even admitted that his Ace-Senchou had a darkness in him that somehow they weren't helping to heal completely. The only one who really made a dent in it was Luffy. If they could help Ace, then Dusty was all for it.

Marco was surprised to feel relief when the man had agreed. He'd thought there would be one hell of a fight again, but everything went smoothly. Well. Until it was time for them to actually leave.

That had been when Dusty latched onto Luffy and refused to release him.

It had taken the combined efforts of Ethan and Spook to get Dusty to let the kid go, and then Biggie solved the remainder of the issue by simply picking up the First Mate of the Spades, prying his fingers off Luffy and tossing him over his shoulder. He then waved goodbye and strode across the platform leading to the Moby 3 with an enraged Dusty kicking the air and pounding his fists against Biggie's well-padded back. Ethan and Spook – carrying Tyger – followed them over, and then the platform was raised and lowered back into its holding place along the outer rails.

The Moby 3 began to move away and Luffy frantically waved goodbye, the Spades doing the same for as long as they could. When they were too far away and too small to make out individual wavers anymore, Marco sidestepped a crying fit by transforming into his Phoenix form and flying a thrilled Luffy into the air for a second round of aerial goodbyes. Then they did a few laps around the Moby, Luffy screaming 'Faster! Faster!' until they finally had to land before Marco passed out from exhaustion.

...he was beginning to slowly understand what Dusty had hinted at when he'd mentioned Luffy being somewhat subdued. This was the most active the Whitebeard pirates had ever seen him and he had already worn Marco out.

This did not bode well.

o0o

"Well, that went better than expected," Thatch said, coming into the infirmary after the Moby 3 had vanished over the horizon. Marco was sprawled out on a bed near Ace, keeping an eye on Luffy who was telling his sleeping big brother all about his day with the Spades, while trying to recover some of his lost energy from the thirty or so high-speed laps around the Moby. "I like them."

"So do I," Marco admitted. "Pops wasn't worried – he always knows, somehow – but there's always a chance, you know?"

"Yep."

"You thought you weren't gonna like the Spades?" Luffy asked curiously. He was sitting on folded legs by Ace's head, still patting the dark hair as though trying to soothe the teen while sleeping and the resulting picture was wretchedly adorable. "Why not?"

"Not all pirates like the Whitebeards, Luffy," Thatch tried to explain. "And they were really worried about Ace. When people are worried, sometimes they can get angry."

"I know," Luffy said, nodding his head. "Ace does that all the time. He gets angry a lot, but it's because he's worried about me."

"Does he yell at you a lot?" Marco wondered.

"Sometimes. But I yell right back. Sometimes it's fun!" Luffy beamed at him. "Ace only gets really mad at me if I do something dangerous and I scare him. I can tell when that happens 'cause that's the only time Ace cries."

Thatch and Marco exchanged a look. "What do you mean, Luffy?" Marco asked, coaxingly.

Luffy shrugged, still stroking Ace's hair. "Like one time this bad man had me and was hitting me a lot. He used sharp things and he was cutting me. He caught me because I ran away from Ace when he wouldn't let me go to Grey Terminal with him." The little boy had a guilty look on his face. "Ace finally found me and beat the snot out of the bad man. Then he hugged me and took me home and fixed all the cuts. When I was better, he yelled at me for leaving." Luffy cringed. "He was so angry, it was scary."

"You were scared of your brother?" Thatch asked carefully. Marco watched Luffy's face closely.

Luffy's head snapped up. "What? No!" He shook his head emphatically. "I'm never scared of Ace. Ace would never hurt me. I was scared of what I did to him."

"What did you do?"

There was a pause. "Ace was so scared for me," the little boy eventually whispered, looking down at his brother's pale face with sorrow. "The whole time he was yelling at me, he was crying, with big tears even, and I could see how scared his eyes were. Ace was really, really scared that he wouldn't find me in time, even though he always does, and that made him angry because Ace has a hard time with feelings and stuff."

Marco processed this carefully. "But he never gets mad enough to hit you?"

Now that earned him an odd look. "Ace hits me all the time."

Before Marco could say anything else, Thatch quickly jumped in and clarified, "Luffy, you mean in training, right?"

...Luffy...

"Well, yeah." Luffy was blinking at them like they were a pair of idiots. "How'm I supposed to get stronger if we don't spar a lot?" He glared at the two of them. "I'm not a baby, you know."

Marco finally let out a laugh. "No, you're not. You're a strong little kid, yoi."

That earned him a glare. "I'm not that little," he pouted. "You're just all too old."

Thatch glared right back at him. "That's just mean. I am not old." He pointed at Marco, indignantly. "He is old. Pops is old. Izou is-" he paused and looked around him to make sure said commander wasn't going to jump out and kill him. "-older. I am not old!"

"I'd like to hear you say that with Izou here, yoi."

"He'd kill me. Then you'd have to avenge me by killing him. And then someone would have to avenge you. It would be a horrible cycle of never-ending murder and death and I'd like to avoid it if at all possible."

Marco grinned. "Who says I'd avenge you? I'm the First Mate, I can't play favorites." He winked at Luffy. "And if I did play favorites, I'd be on Izou's side helping him hide your body."

"Luffy!" Thatch wailed, appealing on his knees before the child, arms outstretched imploringly. "See how they treat me? There's no love here, no love for Thatch." He sniffled loudly and then flopped his head down on the bed.

Luffy...

The little boy stifled his giggles and reached out, patting Thatch on his voluminous pompadour. "Poor Thatchy," he said. "Izou won't kill you." He smiled. "He'll just beatcha'up!"

...Kill?...what the...

"That's not any better," Thatch pouted.

Marco decided to end it there. "Okay, okay. Thatch, you are not old, and Izou won't kill you, and if he does, someone is bound to avenge you when the food runs out. Okay?"

Thatch turned up his nose at Marco. "Not okay, thank you. Come, Lord Luffy-kins of Moby Manor. I shall take you down to the kitchen and get your last snack squared away and then for a bedtime story tonight, we shall discuss ways we can prank Marco tomorrow." The little boy smiled and slipped his tiny hand into Thatch's as he jumped down from the bed.

"Take Luffy for his snack but you might as well skip the planning session," Marco said wryly as he got up. "It kinda loses its impact when you tell me in advance you're going to be planning something.

...take...Luffy...

"Shows what you know," sniffed Thatch. "Let's go, kid."

The infirmary went dark and quiet as they left.

Someone's... taking Luffy?

Luffy? Taking Luffy? Taking his Luffy?

In the darkness of the infirmary, Ace's eyes snapped open and fire blazed.

o0o

to be continued...

o0o

Well, technically he did wake up, right? :) Also, this is officially the longest chapter for this story.

The Spades will return one day but I think we all know what the focus of next chapter is going to be. I mean, most of you have been calling for it since three chapters ago. :) Welcome back to the land of the living, our favorite little fire hazard!

Feedback is love, caffiene, and pain meds all wrapped in a ball of joy that helps inspire me to write me – and the gods know I NEED HELP OR THE FIC WILL DIE ONOEZ.

...seriously. I have, like...ideas.

[edit Oct 20, 9:16pm] Thank you xXxAnimexLoverxXx for pointing out a few errors I needed to clean up. :)