Witch68 - To be honest, I thought it was disgusting too hahah. But Marco is too in love to even link the word 'disgusting' to anything Ace does.
So happy to hear you are enjoying the merman Ace series! Always liked stories about MerAce myself, so I'm excited to be able to add some content to it!
A big thank you to Emmasuriname for the suggestion of the baby's name!
It was already in the afternoon when the captain and commanders had been able to usher Marco, Ace, and... their baby, into the meeting room to well, hold a meeting on the situation.
"Can... Can we start Marco-son?"
"Hmmm, of course-yoi, why wouldn't we be able to?" he quirked up an eyebrow as if he was asking a stupid question.
"... Won't your legs get ... tired?"
"Nope" he puckered his lips and moments later they were kissed by the person in his lap, "I've got someone to heal me as soon as it happens."
The person, a.k.a., their local merman that was sitting sideways on Marco's lap, giggling at the response, happy clicks resonating as he leaned more against the blond, tail happily waving up and down as it hung to the floor.
"Man, Marco, I don't know whether to be jealous of your two mermen, or take pity on your definitely squeezed legs, no matter how you try to cope with it, Ace was already heavy on his own and now there's another on merm-"
"Are you calling Ace fat-yoi?!"
"W-what?! No! I didn't!"
"You kind of did, son."
"Pops!" Thatch called out "Not helping me!" He turned back to the duo, seeing Ace prodding his, very ripped, stomach and Marco giving kisses on his cheek, hearing soft murmurs that he's not fat and looks very good. …. People in love... "I just-" he made a waving motion more downwards "His tail is heavy."
"My tail...? What's wrong with it?... I like my tail..."
Oh god and didn't he sound like a kicked puppy now, pouting as he swished his tail to look at it, poking the scales.
"No- I- Ace, it's just that compared to legs, it's a far bigger lump of flesh an-
"A big lump of flesh..."
Damnit! "D-don't cry Ace! I mea-" He gulped as he saw Marco's glare at him and thought maybe... just maybe, he should just shut up... "Y-you-" Marco damnit, don't fucking kill me with your eyes! "You're perfect Ace. It's... you look good, I was … I was just not awake yet, you know how we all can be when just woken up, right?"
He promptly ignored the other commanders facepalming at his excuse, probably since it was past noon and none of them had slept since early morning, so a long time ago and just like the others he was definitely wide awake. He should have made a better-
"Ah, yea!" the mer hummed happily and nodded as he spoke, "I get it! Ace is also a bit confused when waking up!"
The chef laughed nervously "haha, yea yea, see, I was just a bit confused too! I didn't mean anything by it, just forget it okay, I love you... as my best friend!" Geez the birdy killing me here for every word, he's sure the mer would know it's not love love like they have together... or well maybe not, he doesn't know... He's just happy that he was somehow able to escape his death and if he's lucky the blond will be too busy with his kid to throw him into the ocean later. (He was not. But he was nice enough to make sure there were no sea-kings... no big ones.)
During the meetings different questions were answered, and left unanswered as well.
It quickly became clear that Ace was, and would be, going by instinct for almost everything. And while he didn't care, and was even happy, if Marco interacted with their child, it was something totally else if it was someone else.
The mer had gotten nervous when someone asked to hold, or touch, his baby and would curl deeper into Marco, hiding the small being in between their bodies. Ace would then keep careful watch on the one that asked, even up until 15 minutes after the question was asked and the person had already said they wouldn't touch his baby.
But this was still a better reaction then they had seen with Jiru on deck. Right now, Ace was just acting like a shield, not attacking them. Or that was until Jozu made the mistake of reaching over for whoever knows what reason.
The moment his hand neared the merman duo, Ace snapped, attacking the appendage at lightning speed. The only reason Jozu still remained intact with all of his fingers connected to him, was because he was quick enough to turn them into diamond.
He hissed when others tried to get close so it came to Marco to pray Ace's teeth off the diamond clad fingers and calm him, convey that Jozu wasn't going to harm their child. But even then, Ace stayed alert, fins raised, ears perked, nails out and ready, and pupils turned to slits as he watched the diamond man's every movement. Hissing when he went to fast, even if he stayed at his side of the table.
After the meeting, when Marco had gone away with their kid for a few moments, Ace had snapped out of it and apologized profusely for biting that other. That he didn't realise he had done it. Jozu quickly forgave him and apologized too for trying to suddenly touch the kid. Like before, no one was mad at Ace, but this did confirm that they had to be careful around their mers when together.
xXxXx
They had discussed a lot of future plans, made lists of what they needed and how they would deal with things. Marco's tasks had also been divided over the other commanders. It's not like Marco would give up his division, he would still be doing most of the work, but work that could be given to someone else, was given away. This way the blond had more, well deserved, time to spend with his lover and new baby.
Going by some questions asked in the meeting though..., it had become clear that... a lot of the adults in the room had no idea how to raise a child... let alone a merman. Bay, who was at the moment a kind of stand-in for the second division, helping with paperwork and such besides working as a doctor, announced that she will be holding compulsory lessons for all commanders and captain. Proudly naming the sessions, 'How to take care of a child for idiot pirates.'
Only the parents themselves were exempted from these lessons, not only because Ace had his instincts, but because Marco was the only one who did know a thing or two simply because... he wasn't stupid like the others. Bay did of course offer private lessons if they wanted, and would offer them in a more... kinder way.
Namur also got roped in to become a teacher, not on how to raise a child, the shark had no idea himself, but he would give everyone general lessons over the wellbeing of fishmen. It could maybe come in handy now they would need to raise one themselves. It may even help them get to know and understand Ace better in other ways, no matter how long the mer had been here.
In the evening, Marco and Ace sat down onto their bed in the commander's quarter, sitting shoulder to shoulder with the baby in Marco's arms, already sleeping away.
"I still can't believe this."
"Me neither-yoi, I've been thinking I'll wake up from this dream at any given moment, even if I never want it to end."
"Yea. I wished I knew more of my own kind... to know how this happened."
Marco looked solemnly at his boyfriend and leaned over to give a kiss on his cheek "It's okay love, no matter how it happened, and that it took us by surprise, I'm happy, so happy and blessed to have a child with you."
The mer melted into the other and gave soft but happy clicks "Thank you, I love you, Marco."
Smiling the blond returned the words of love before both were mesmerized once again by their little miracle. After some moments of silence, Marco however talked again, stroking their baby's hair in the process, "We should name him."
"Hmm?"
"We can't keep calling him baby, right? But... well... I've never really thought of names... have you?"
"No..." the mer said slowly as he sat up straighter. He's also never really had a need to think about names, never even seen a lot of children close by, let alone see the birth of either a human or mer... Never really knew a lot of others in general before he got to this ship. This is the first place where he's really been home, loved, and surrounded by others. So of course, when he thought of names, the only ones he could think of were those from people on the ship. But...
"Maybe..." the mer spoke unsure, playing with his fingers, letting nails retract and go back in, "Maybe we can name him xxx?"
"xxx?"
"Yea... It's okay if you don't want to, but... for me it would mean a lot."
Marco smiled "It would actually mean the world to me too, Ace. Honestly, I had thought about it too for a bit, but I didn't want to push it on you."
Click Click!
The blond laughed as his boyfriend clicked happily and nuzzled into him, it really never got old to hear that special sound coming from Ace. The other had tried to teach him at some point but well, let's say it didn't work out as well.
As the other clicked, softer clicks joined in not long later, making Marco look down. The tiny being in his arms was still sleeping away, but now hands were grasping more on his arms as he seemed to click in response to his father's sound.
Smiling at this Marco turned his head to kiss Ace on the lips, the mer happily returning the affection. He thought he was living a good life, the best life, since meeting Ace. That he had everything he needed, but right now, with this child in his arms, his lovely boyfriend at his side, surrounded by brothers and a father, now his life felt more complete than ever.
The next morning, after breakfast, the duo walked... and floated, up to their old man in the chair on deck.
"Pops-yoi."
Looking down at his eldest calling him, he put down his mug that was definitely filled with water, "Yes-son? Can I help you?"
Marco looked between Ace and his son "Yes, we had a question for you."
"Oh, and what could that be?"
"Well…" the mer started "We ehm, we wanted to know if it was alright for us to use Newgate as a last name, for our baby... You know that I don't... I don't have one myself since... and Marco kind of uses yours if any, so we-"
"It would be an honour!"
"Huh?"
"Why so surprised, boy! It would be my biggest pride that my first grandson would take my last name, guraarara!" Whitebeard was smiling brightly and laughing. He couldn't begin to describe his happiness. He already had so many sons, and he loved every single one of them, no matter what name they carried. But to get a grandson on his ship, and that the father's, his own sons, wanted their kid to carry his last name just made him feel so much joy and pride.
Marco smile softly and put a hand over Ace's that was on the baby's back in his arms, "See, I told you he wouldn't mind."
The mer nodded and kissed the child's head "xxx Newgate" he whispered.
"Sound good-yoi, right?"
"hmm, it does." he smiled softly.
Click! Click! Click!
With a laugh Marco booped the tiny nose that was making the clicks, "you like it too? That's perfect then-yoi." The first mate stood up straight, releasing his presence slightly to gather the attention of those on deck.
"Everyone. Pops." He started, placing an arm around Ace's shoulder to pull him close, ruffling his son's hair with his other, "Meet Newgate. Edward Junior Newgate!"
…..
The deck grew quiet, the only sound that was heard was the drop of a tankard "E-E-Edward Junior, L-like me?" their captain didn't sound like the strongest man in the world at all right now, more like a stunned grandpa.
Marco as well as Ace nodded, both smiling brightly, albeit Ace a bit more nervous then the other.
"Y-yea" the mer started stuttering, speaking quietly, "We... We wanted to name him after you because, to me and Marco, you mean so, so much and... you gave both of us a family... without this... we wouldn't even have met and would never have had a chance for this... " When Pops didn't react, Ace clicked nervously before looking up to the old man, "Do... Do you like it?"
Before he could reply, Edward Newgate fainted once again, leaving everyone stunned on deck.
Marco, who was already on his way to fly up to peck the old man awake, stumbled in place when said man shot up himself seconds later "YES!"
Whitebeard looked around stunned for a moment before his eyes found the new little family again and he laughed brightly, scooping them up in his hands. Laughing away as he hugged them, ignoring how Ace had bit into his finger for apparently coming to close, too suddenly, to his kid, if he understood Marco's voice right that was urging Ace on to release him since 'they were actually in the safest spot of the whole ship right now'.
Nothing could stop his smiles through the whole day, singing the name of his grandson every few minutes. This may be the best day of his old life!