Hi everyone, welcome back!

It's been a while, I know, but thanks for the ongoing support! I didn't get the time to write these past few weeks, so sorry for the delay!

Please enjoy!

Relevant Tarot Cards for this chapter:

Two of Swords: This Card signals to the querent that a choice will have to be made soon, because he has arrived at a crossroad in his life.

The Tower: This is a card that signals great change. Though not in the line of the Death card which stands for transformation. This card warns that everything the querent knew up until now is going to change drastically: a shocking revelation will be shared with him that will lead to the search of a deeper truth.

17. The Two of Swords - The Tower (Yet to be edited)

The sound of rolling waves crashing onto the shore in the distance coaxed him out of his sleep.

He took a breath and blinked his eyes open sleepily, turning his body to the side and recognising the large glass balcony doors his gaze fell upon.

The white, light curtains framing the sliding doors were playing in the early morning breeze, his still healing lungs taking in the salty air greedily.

"Newgate mansion..." Luffy whispered softly, smiling at the inspiring view from Ace's veranda of the glittering Sabaodian Ocean.

He wondered how long he'd been asleep, the last memory he had was of Chopper, Kaya and Law asking him to sign a document authorizing his move from Hiluluk Memorial to the Newgate Estate as per Ace request. He'd signed the document without a second thought, trusting Ace's judgement fully.

He took a breath, his lungs feeling a lot lighter than they did the last time he was awake. Bottles of different antibiotics and painkillers lay readily next to the bed on his cabinet, together with a tall glass of water, his phone and an in silver framed selfie of him and Ace.

It'd been taken that Monday night before his accident in Ace's bed, right before they fell asleep.

He loved the blissful grin he was sporting in the picture, his nose buried in Ace's mane and his eyes amorously closed while Ace's expression conveyed a mischievous sense of proud satisfaction right into the camera.

A blush appeared on Luffy's cheek because of the sensuality of the image and because of the passionate memories that came with it.

He chuckled bashfully and returned his gaze to the ocean dreamily, only then noticing the familiar silhouette playing hide-and-seek behind the moving curtains. A new smile formed on his lips as he continued to look at him secretly, admiringly, staring amatively at the tall man with the gorgeous black hair, his toned, enviable body leaning over the glass railing leisurely as he talked into a phone he was holding. He was only wearing white linen pants so his beautiful, sun-kissed torso was exposed for his greatest pleasure.

Luffy was content with just staring at him for now, selfishly cherishing him from afar, letting himself fall in love with this man again, each time finding a deeper reason why he was his heart's choice, never tiring of the butterflies that had permanently nestled themselves in his stomach.

Ace turned around then, giving his back to the inspiring scenery, stretching his body lazily with a yawn, phone still in his right hand. He placed the device on the balcony table and moved back inside the room, stopping in his tracks when he saw Luffy awake in the bed, looking at him contentedly.

"Good morning," Luffy whispered, sitting up demurely as he watched Ace leg his way to him in two big steps, finding his lips locked with his in a needy kiss not even a moment later, leaving him breathless when their eyes locked again.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself there for a moment," Ace murmured against his lips after. "You were knocked out for almost 22 hours," he then whispered, looking him over worriedly, hands cupping both sides of his face protectively. "How do you feel?"

"A lot better," Luffy replied with a blush, leaning into his right hand with a soft smile. "Hi."

"Hi," Ace greeted back, smiling handsomely. "You feel a lot better to the touch," he then remarked, caressing his face. "You haven't had a fever since we left the hospital yesterday afternoon."

"Oh, wait," Luffy voiced, frowning a little. "Am I not contagious? Is it okay for you to be this close...?"

"Even if you were, do you think I'd care?" Ace whispered back reassuringly with a smirk, leaning in. "And besides, I already kissed you..."

"I would care," Luffy replied softly, halting his approach with a hand against his chest. "You're still healing from your heart surgery, an infection could floor you right now."

Ace cocked his head to the side wonderingly. "How can you even be thinking about that now?" he asked, eyes going soft. "With all that's going on, my cancer is the least of my worries at this moment."

"I can understand that," Luffy admitted quietly, though his eyes still conveyed his genuine care for him. "I just don't want you to catch something on top of everything else. You're constantly worried for me, at least let me return the sentiment?"

"Well, I'm fine and vaccinated against pneumonia," Ace told him, moving in to rub the tips of their noses together. "And I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything, babe. All of this, is because I love you and the thought of having something or someone threaten the happiness you procure me is unbearable."

Luffy bit his lower lip as his heart swelled with affection for Ace, nodding his understanding before letting him kiss him again. "I love you, Ace."

"I love you too, Luffy."

Luffy grinned happily and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, looking him deeply into his eyes, finding that small twinkle of mischief that mirrored his growing desire. "I need you," he whispered with a cute pout, his cheeks red again.

Ace stilled and moved in, pressing his lips against his lovingly, grinning when Luffy pulled him down on top of him. "Luffy, wait-"

"You can't place that picture next to me and not expect me to get horny," Luffy protested, pointing at the image of them together, looking at him in displeasure. "I'm fine too. Or did my doctors recommend against screwing like bunnies?"

There was a confused expression on the older male's face that was soon dismissed and replaced with an amused smirk. "As much as I love your words of persuasion, I was going to say that I wanted to at least close the door first."

Luffy blinked a few times before moving his head to look past Ace and find the door to their bedroom wide open. "Oh."

Ace chuckled and got up from the bed to shut the door so they could enter their own little secluded world. "Where were we?" he whispered a moment later lowering his lips on his again.

"I'm horny and you love my persuasive words..." Luffy whispered back, closing his eyes and letting Ace claim his lips again in an electric kiss. "Very... persuasive... words."

"Yeah..." Ace murmured back against his mouth, staring through half-lidded eyes at Luffy's wanton expression, letting his tongue dart in between his teeth, fleetingly touching his tongue. "And it works especially well when this boy is starving..." he throatily whispered, removing the covers from Luffy's pyjama clothed body with one swift arm movement, eyes glowing possessively.

Luffy moaned approvingly into the next kiss, arching his neck to let him ravish the sensitive skin there, losing himself in the torrid whirlwind of passion Ace pulled him into, barely noticing the morning change into noon as they made up for the lost week by reclaiming their sexual intimacy, renewing and solidifying their devotion to each other.

Therefore it was hours later when Ace was lying in his arms, head comfortably pillowed against his naked chest, listening to Luffy breathe as they recovered from their recent round of lovemaking, the both of them now resting at the foot-end of the bed.

"The Ace of Spades... I only now realize it was up there."

Ace looked up at him at that before turning his attention to the stylized, white relief of said card on his ceiling. "I found it fitting."

Luffy smiled briefly. "You found it fitting to put the death card above your bed?"

A surprised smile appeared on Ace's features and he leant his elbow next to Luffy, resting his head on his hand. "Not many people know that the Ace of Spades also holds that meaning."

"My grandpa is an avid card player," the younger male explained, still staring at the relief. "I can see the analogy to your name..." he began and then shook his head.

"Ever since I've had this cancer, I've been flirting with death," Ace whispered. "I had it put up there, to remind me to live my life with no regrets. Death waits for no one, a saying that's all too true for me..." He then chuckled desolately. "Come to think of it, this last week has showed me how fast it can all be over. How precious each moment you spent with your loved ones really is."

Luffy slid his arms closer around him comfortingly, closing his eyes dejectedly. "I never had the chance to ask you-"

"This is what I needed, Luffy..." Ace interrupted him, knowing what he was going to say and loving him for it. "I find peace just by holding you like this."

Pressing a kiss on the top of his head, Luffy nodded in understanding. "He'll always watch over you, Ace."

"I know," Ace replied quietly. "I only wish he was here to see us through the upcoming days..."

Luffy took a quivering breath. From the moment Ace had told him about his involvement in the accident that caused Sabo Grey's death, he'd been afraid that a part of the blame would fall upon Ace. Before his accident, they didn't know if Ace would be arrested or not for coming forth with his evidence. And now Luffy could tell that the chance of Ace going to prison was very real.

"How long can they incarcerate you?" he asked, trying to keep the worry from coming through in his voice too much.

Ace moved up to his eye level, looking at him attentively. "If the judge accepts me pleading guilty, I can face either community service or up to 3 months in prison."

"3 months...?" Luffy shakily echoed, fear taking a hold of him now. "But you've just had heart surgery, they can't put you away for that long."

"Or I could get a community sentence," Ace reiterated, giving him a knowing look.

Luffy stilled and blinked a few times. "But what if...?"

"Seen as how the facts happened over ten years ago and that Impel Down is nearly bursting with inmates, Kuzan assured me this morning he'd do everything to get me sentenced for the community sentence and not a custody sentence." Ace looked down and then closed his eyes. "Although I'm ready for either."

"Well, I'm not," Luffy whispered back, unwillingly letting Ace take him in an embrace.

"This is something that needs to be done, babe..." he murmured soothingly. "I have to do this. I owe it to Sabo."

Luffy rolled his eyes upwards before sighing and squeezing his eyes shut in obvious discontent. "Then, am I to stay here all alone while you serve your punishment? Was that your plan?" he said, wanting to keep the growing feeling of resentment towards him at bay but failing.

Ace closed his eyes at the accusatory tone of Luffy's voice, accepting the guilt that came with it. He had expected it. "Essentially, yes. But there's another reason why I've brought you here and may move you again, Luffy."

"Why would you want to move me again?" Luffy exclaimed in consternation, pushing himself out of his hold fully now. "And what am I? Cattle?"

"Your dad is back, Luffy," Ace announced, ignoring Luffy's last comment, pressing his lips together firmly when he saw his eyes grow wide with dread.

"Don't joke-"

"I'm not, babe," he replied, expression dead serious. "And unfortunately, that's not even the worse news. He told your sister and I on Saturday that he came back to Sabaody only to bring you with him to Water 7, to protect you from the mess all of this has become."

"Where does he get the idea that I would consent to him taking me back to that god-awful, half-submerged place?" Luffy said angrily, sitting up and turning away from him. "He has no right to take me anywhere! I'm of legal age!"

"Do you honestly think that that will stop him when Robin, Garp and I are too busy dealing with Kid?" Ace remarked, sitting up too. "After what Shanks told me about your dad, I'd rather not take any chances. I won't lose you to a misguided homophobe, Luffy!"

Luffy turned around to face him again, his lower lip trembling and tears welling up in his eyes as sense of déjà-vu settled in. "What are we going to do?" he murmured sullenly, visibly in shock in now, lost in experiences past. He watched the older male crawl closer to take him in a calming embrace. "What are we going to do, Ace?"

Ace coaxed him back down on the bed with him, holding him close and whispering comforting words while he cast a determined look to his ceiling, gathering his resolve once more under the watching eye of the Ace of Spades.

This is why he hated helping his wife packing for a prolonged stay away.

"Why would you need that same dress in three different colours, fee? Seriously?"

Whitey stared at the dresses displayed on their bed with an approving smile. "It's so I can choose which one to wear once we're there."

Marco threw his arms up in the air in exasperation. "Why can't you choose now so we can go...?"

She pursed her lips and shifted her weight on her feet as she continued to look at the dresses. "I want to be able to choose, pumpkin," she replied thoughtfully, a finger pressed against her chin. "Now about those shoes..."

Marco let his head hang and watched her go into their walk in closet, following her soon after. He halted by the archway and leant against it with a shoulder, crossing his arms over his chest. "This is about the hearing isn't it?"

Whitey reached upwards for a pair of designer white stiletto sandals from her impressive shoes collection at the back of their shared walk-in. Her petite body was clad in nothing but a white lace bra and matching shorts, her long blue hair falling on the small of her back as she had to lift herself on her toes to retrieve the shoes. "You're damn right it is," she said looking the pair of shoes over for a moment. She then went to sit in her plush white chair on her side of the closet, putting the heels on. She sent him a glare on her way to her tall mirror, observing herself critically and the way the shoes fit on her feet. "I didn't have any choice in your decision to plead guilty along with Ace and Traffy. The three of you just went and did it, with no regards to what it would mean to the rest of us. So you can go and bitch all you want, you will not take the choice of what I'm taking along from me."

He sighed and closed his eyes with a small smile. "Fee..."

"How could you, Marco," she whispered irritatedly, shaking her head in disappointment. "I've given you 12 years of my life," she said in frustration with a stomp of her right foot, her voice rising as she still looked at her reflection. "12!" she accused, now taking off her bra. She forcefully threw the garment to his face where one of its cups hit him square in between the eyes as he remained unmoving. She then moved to the centre of the room to the twin dressers that held his and hers underwear and smaller accessories. She took out a dark blue satin push-up bra from a drawer and a matching g-string, throwing both of them on the chair she occupied moments before.

"We decided not to have children, so it's going to be just the two of us," she continued angrily, taking off her white lace shorts, dropping them on the carpeted floor. She crossed her arms over her chest in turn and looked at him, her expression more vexed than furious. "What the fuck am I supposed to do when the judge sentences you to a stay in prison, Marco?!" She took a breath and shook her head again, fanning herself with her perfectly manicured hands to calm herself. Her hands then went to rest on hips, her eyes closed as she bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling as the pain from what she perceived as a betrayal took over. "Did you even think of me when you went and agreed to doing this idiotic display of a delayed Mea Culpa?!" she murmured through gritted teeth before averting her face to wipe away a tear that managed to escape.

He looked up at her again and took a breath, heart clenching together at the smallness of her voice and her dejected stance. "The three of us need to do right by that boy who died because of our misplaced trust. And I feel especially responsible because I was supposed to drive that night, you know that." He now walked up to her, slowly placing his hands on her naked shoulders, his eyes soft as they met her pissed off ones. "I'm sorry, Whitey. I truly am. I never meant to hurt you by doing this."

"You're still a moron," she whimpered, still not looking at him. "When we got married, you promised me. You promised to never leave me."

"And I won't, fee," he assured her, placing a hand under her chin so her watery icy blue eyes could look at him. "I'm not leaving you. But this is something that needs to be done and all I can ask for is for you to support me in this. I need you in this with me, Whitey. This is important for me."

She took a breath and closed her eyes, eyebrows knitted together in worry. "I don't like it. I have a really bad feeling about all of this, Marco."

"Things will be okay, fee," he murmured, taking her in his arms. "I won't let anything happen to you or us. Everything is going to be fine."

Whitey wrapped her arms around him and managed a small smile, looking up at him and sniffling. "Next time you make decisions like these without talking to me first, that couch you love so much in the foyer will be your bedtime partner for at least two weeks."

Marco grinned widely and nodded, knowing better than to be fooled by the sweet tone his wife was currently employing. "And I'd be completely okay with that," he whispered wholeheartedly, acknowledging her anger and worry, and secretly grateful that even after 12 years, from which 5 years of marriage, their feelings for each other were still going strong. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head and breathed in her scent that he'd always associated with coming home.

"You're so very beautiful, my wifey."

Whitey smirked knowingly. "Maybe I should get dressed now. We're going to be late."

"No," Marco said, letting go of her and taking a step back to look her over. "I wouldn't dream of putting clothes on that smoking hot body of yours. Not right now. You're so sexy in those heels."

"Your point?" she remarked amusedly, throwing her long curly hair back.

"With all of my blood currently rushing to one certain spot, it makes it hard for me to think straight. No pun intended," he said, smiling mischievously.

Whitey rose an elegant eyebrow at that and looked down in between them to let a slender hand rub against her husband's bulge in his pants. "There's no helping it then, you're no use to me when you can't think straight," she whispered throatily, beginning to lower herself in front of him, their eyes locked together. "I'll need to remedy to your predicament, Marco. Consider this an early birthday present."

He nodded with a grin, letting her tug his belt from his waist and unbutton, unzip and lower his pants far enough.

No matter what was coming, he'd come back to his lovely wife. He couldn't live without her as much as she couldn't do without him.

He would always find his way back home.

Back to her.

There was so much that still need to be done before she could allow herself to call it a day and join her brother and their friends at the Newgate Mansion for the rest of the week.

She was about to close a large order for the upcoming Mugiwara PR-event when she heard a knock coming from her open office door.

Lifting her eyes from the many documents littering her desk, she found a blonde, in a business suit clad, lanky man that she did not recognise standing by the entrance, wearing dark sunglasses. She still had the phone receiver wedged in between her left shoulder and her cheek, so she silently offered for the man to enter with a quick movement of her right hand towards her visitor chairs.

She finished her transaction and put the receiver down, now looking at her unexpected visitor. "Can I help you?"

A grin appeared on the tall man's face and he sat up in the chair he was now occupying, eyes still hidden behind the designer sunglasses. "I'm actually hoping to help you, miss Di Monkey," he said, intertwining his fingers while his elbows rested on the chair's arms.

Robin sat back in her chair and gave him a friendly smile. "I'm sorry, but I believe we did not have an appointment."

The blonde man smirked amusedly. "Apologies. The name is Don. Don Quixote Doflamingo."

"That is certainly a mouthful," Robin said in conversationally, clasping her hands together on her desk.

"It's Dresrossian," he informed her amusedly.

"I imagined," she replied, still smiling. "How do you think you can help me, Mr Doflamingo?"

"I'm here to keep you and your little brother from making an unfortunate mistake, miss Di Monkey," he answered, shifting in his seat to drape his left leg over his right.

"You will need to be more specific," Robin remarked calmly.

The smirk on Don Quixote's features diminished. "It's about Ace Portgas."

"What about him?" she questioned, holding his unwavering gaze with hers.

He observed her for a moment, a new grin growing on his face. "Besides the fact that the boy is in way over his head? He'll dag your little brother down along with him. I would suggest you recommend Luffy to leave that man alone, miss Di Monkey."

Robin looked at him suspiciously now. "Who are you?"

"Someone who is concerned about the collateral damage these upcoming joint trials are bound to create," he answered. "You have to admit that all of this is a badly handled mess that is now splattered all over the media. And your family still has no idea what it's getting into."

"Who are you working for?" Robin insisted, beginning to reach for her desk phone again.

Don Quixote lifted a hand and shook his head. "Don't bother with that," he told her, grin ever present. "Here."

He handed her two visit cards that she took wordlessly and stood, buttoning up his vest.

"Oh, I almost forgot."

Robin looked up from the cards he'd given her and scowled.

"See you in court, miss Di Monkey," he greeted her. "It was truly a pleasure to make your beautiful acquaintance, even though you stand no chance in court tomorrow."

She glared at him. "You won't win. Eustass will go to jail for what he did."

Don Quixote chuckled mockingly and turned to leave. "We'll see about that. I for one don't plan on losing. Neither do my clients. Ace Portgas will be going to prison, there is no doubt about that."

Robin watched him leave her office, trying really hard to keep her hands from trembling. She looked down at the cards she was holding again. The first was a professionally looking white one - Don Quixote Doflamingo - Attorney at Law - and the second one was a black one with red lettering reading -Cerberus Corporation- with on its back a three-headed jolly roger like logo.

"Cerberus... Cerberus..." she murmured to herself sitting down in her chair.

Why did that name sounds so familiar? And why did it make her stomach twist upon itself?

What was this sudden uneasy feeling?

The last two champagne glasses Law needed stood at the back of the cupboard.

"You and Bonney? But I thought she..."

Luffy and Usopp watched from their perched position on the kitchen island how Law's tall body easily reached for the needed items, placing them on the plate where the rest of the dozen glasses rested on the counter, ready to be taken to the ocean side terrace.

"Well, when she cheated on me with Nami's sister, she was more confused about her sexuality than I was. Apparently."

Luffy glanced at Usopp with wince, that he returned. There was definitely still a note of resentment present in Law's voice. If Luffy remembered correctly, it'd been at least 3 years since Bonney and Nojiko started their relationship. "I'm sure that event didn't help things between you and Whitey either..." he asked, looking back at the older male uneasily.

Law glanced back at him with a small smile. "In regards to my personal relationship with her it didn't really change much. Whitey and I have always sort of not liked each other. Conflicting personalities, I guess."

Luffy knew that he was being nice about what he really thought about Marco's wife. Ace had told him once that Whitey had developped abandonment issues because of a difficult childhood and that even though she was now married to Marco, she still harboured a fear of him leaving her someday. The conflict that had caused her mistrust of Law stemmed from the fact that before her and Marco even started dating, Law had known about her psychological issues because of his father being Whitey's psychologist at the time and had told Marco about them in an effort to dissuade him to date her. Even though he'd apologized to her many times after, the harm was done and Whitey never fully trusted him again. And Law in turn grew exasperated by her incessant, passive-agressive behavior towards him and just ignored her or mockingly bantered with her whenever he had to.

"In a group of friends this big there's bound to be a few who don't get along with each other," Luffy reasoned with an understanding smile.

"Yeah, look at Zoro and Sanji," Usopp chimed in, shrugging.

"What's the deal with those two anyway?" Law asked, turning to look at the both of them now, folding his arms over his chest.

Luffy chuckled and looked at Usopp amusedly, shrugging. "They were born on the same planet?"

"Trying to figure out why they don't get along is like trying to figure out why the Maubeugemeur Sea is so fucked up," Usopp commented, to Luffy's glee.

"Just don't ask, there is no answer," Luffy laughed.

Law grinned and nodded, moving to the cutlery drawer now. "How are you feeling by the way, Luffy?"

Luffy smiled and cocked his head to the side, swinging his legs playfully as they dangled from his seat on the kitchen island counter. "I've been taking my meds, taking in plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest."

"And Ace hasn't been slouching in the affection department either," Usopp added before grabbing his bottle of beer from the counter with a jesting grin as Luffy bumped their shoulders together in embarrassment.

Law gave them a friendly smile. "Just let me know if there is any change in your health. Or don't hesitate to consult with your other doctors."

"Will do," Luffy assured him. "So, what was Vivi's reaction to you and the others pleading guilty on Wednesday?" he then asked, leaning back.

Law scoffed and looked away. "She was understandably angry and worried," he replied, smiling lopsidedly. "How was your reaction when you finally found out?"

"Pretty much the same," Luffy said tensely. "I understand why you guys need to do it, but I can't agree with all of you making these kinds of decision without consulting with those of us who will be left behind because of it."

"Then you, Whitey and Vivi all reacted the same way," Law informed him, now pulling the tray to him and getting ready to leave the kitchen. "We don't dismiss your feelings in this, I'm sure Ace told you this as well. But this is something that needs to be done. A mistake that needs to be rectified."

"You sound just like him," Luffy murmured, facing the floor dejectedly. "Rob Lucci's team is handling our PR and Crisis management, right?"

Usopp nodded, "All of us got briefed after last week's press conference, just in case we get surprised by the press. They represent all of us who are connected to Ace and you."

Luffy took a breath and nodded. "I thought so. They handle Mugiwara's PR as well. I've dealt with them before."

"They're effective," Law commented. "By managing our appearances in the media, Ace even gathered the support of Sabo's parents, which helped soften his image."

"Yeah, the first reaction to the Sabo case from the public were scathing, Luffy," Usopp told him. "You don't know this because you were hospitalized, but for a short time Ace was portrayed as a rich, opportunistic bastard, who believed to stand above the law because of his status. Thanks to Lucci, Ace bounced back from those accusations with almost no harm to his reputation."

Luffy pressed his lips together at that in sympathy before being momentarily distracted by an incoming phone message.

Law picked up the full tray of champagne glasses and dessert utensils. "I'm taking these up to the terrace. I'll ask someone to come help you guys bring up the champagne bottles and the bowl of Ice, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks," Luffy replied with his phone in his hands, glancing at the kitchen table by the sliding door and the huge aluminium bowl containing cubes of ice that stood readily on top of it.

"So," Usopp began when Law had gone and the both of them were left alone. He jumped off the counter and leant with his back against it, folding his arms against his chest. "When are you going to tell Ace?"

"If I get a chance, I will do it tonight after I've talked to Hancock," Luffy replied looking at his friend determinately. "She'll be here in a few," he added, showing him the text message he got from her. He then turned to look at the steps leading up to the seaside hill and its terrace through the glass walls of the kitchen and they both watched Ace's sister descending them in a long, red and gold, sleeveless and backless halter-top dress.

"Hey cuties," she greeted them, closing the glass sliding doors behind her as she stepped in. "The cook is almost done with dinner in the other kitchen, so we'll have to make this quick."

"If the offer that you made me this afternoon still stands, I'd like to go in on it, Hancock," Luffy told her with a serious look on his face. "I'm telling Ace that I'm going back with you to Amazon Lily until this entire mess with the trials and my father blows over. I will have to testify on Wednesday, but as soon as the verdict is out, if not sooner, I'd like to leave as not to give my father a chance to find me."

She walked up to him to take him in an embrace, smiling gently when he hugged her back. "You'll be safe in Amazon, Luffy. Dracule and I will be happy to have you there. You will be able to work on your personal projects in peace."

"How are you going to break it to him?" Usopp wondered, taking a swig from the bottle he was still nursing.

Luffy took a deep breath and took a step away from Hancock, leaning next to Usopp against the counter, eyes downcast. "He's shaking heaven and earth to keep me protected from the press, from Eustass and my dad. He's doing all that, while he should be focusing on his own trial and his health that I know he's been neglecting because of me." He paused and bit his lower lip. "He's one of the best men I've ever met. The most generous and I love him. So. Much. I don't want to lose him."

Hancock gave him an endeared look at those honest words.

"But he thinks that by doing all of this he's keeping me from harm, while in fact all I want is to have a chance to protect him too," Luffy whispered, closing his eyes. "From my dad."

"Little brother seems to have inherited that trait from our late father," Hancock murmured with a shake of her head. "Always willing to sacrifice himself to protect the ones he loves."

"Yeah, well it's a selfish trait," Luffy commented disapprovingly.

"Because in the end, we're the ones who end up burying them," she added sadly.

Usopp watched the both of them, now understanding their underlying bond a bit better.

"So, until all of this mess blows over I'm going to take myself out of the equation. At least to the public."

Hancock now looked at Usopp. "Luffy will come and stay with me, but Ace will have full disclosure of his whereabouts. Since he's not the one doing the efforts of moving Luffy, there won't be a trace, be it financial or otherwise, that he can leave that will lead to Luffy. Everything will be taken care of by my husband's production company as not to raise any suspicions from Luffy's father. Luffy will come work as my personal professional assistant until he can give his own ambitions a more concise form."

Luffy took Hancock's hands in his and looked at her thankfully, smiling wordlessly. He then turned to his friend. "I think that by now, you've realized why I've given you full disclosure about my plans as well. I need for you to work you contacts for me, Usopp."

Usopp had already been grinning approvingly while Luffy was talking and gave his consent without a second thought. "What do you need for me to do, bro?"

"Keep tabs on my dad's movements. I'll probably be leaving before the start of this upcoming weekend. I know that the festivities for Marco and Law's birthdays will start on Friday and that everyone who couldn't make it here today will come then and I truly hope that I can still be here, but I honestly don't want to take that chance. So, just in case I won't have the time to talk to you privately like this again; I need you to do my PR and help Ace with the re-negotiation of my contract with Mugiwara. I have drafted a signed letter for them earlier today that I already sent to your e-mail."

Usopp nodded. "You don't trust Kuma?"

"There's no one I can trust with my legal and public affairs more than you, Usopp," Luffy stated with a resolute shake of his head. "Kuma is great, but he also reports to my father. I need complete control over my public and legal life and I can only do so with you," he admitted, smirking as his friend did. "Will you be my lawyer?"

"You bet your ass, I will, Luffy," Usopp answered, hitting the palms of their right hands together before bumping fists amicably. "So, just to give me an estimate, how long do you think you'll be away?"

"3 months. Minimum," Luffy answered, rolling his eyes away at the look of badly disguised disappointment on his friend's face. "Just long enough for the public to forget about me and Ace and that my name is tied to Mugiwara. If all goes well, I'll be back way before Robin's wedding in February."

"Does she know about any of this?" Usopp wondered.

"No, but I know she'll understand," Luffy said, his lower lip trembling as he thought of his sister. "I'm not running away. I'm doing this so I can protect them, too. And this time I won't be gone for four years. I have a wedding to plan and a man to return to," he whispered, the tears already falling down his cheeks. "Sabaody just isn't safe for me, right now."

Usopp moved his head agreeingly before moving in to hug his friend. "You better say goodbye to the gang this time, or I can't guarantee that they'll forgive you again!"

Luffy sniffled and nodded with a teary chuckle, opening his eyes over Usopp's shoulder to see Ace come down the steps with Zoro, having come to help with the rest of the stuff that needed to be taken to the dinner party. "He's coming," he whispered, letting go of Usopp to wipe away his tears. "I want to tell him now."

"I think it's best," Hancock agreed, pressing a last kiss to Luffy's forehead. "I'll tell everyone that we can start eating without you two."

Usopp made an agreeing sound and then walked over to the sliding door as Ace grabbed the handle to open it.

"What are the three of you still doing here? The party is up there!"

"Waiting for your slow asses to come help us carry all this stuff," Usopp replied to Ace with a grin, bumping shoulders jokingly as they passed each other. "Yo, Zorro help me put some of these bottles into the bowl so we can carry them up."

"Give me a few bottles to carry, so the bowl doesn't get to heavy," Hancock offered, pressing a kiss against Ace's left cheek as she too passed him.

While the three of them set to work, Ace continued to advance towards Luffy, his smiling expression now slowly turning concerned as he noted his reddened eyes. "Something wrong?"

Luffy took a hesitant breath and a step backward when Ace moved in to kiss him. "We need to talk," he told him softly.

After Zoro, Usopp and Hancock had left, they spent another hour talking in the kitchen. At times they'd argue. Sometimes they'd stubbornly stop talking to each other. Some moments were spent in contemplative silence, while others in heartbreaking tears.

They both knew that when they'd step out of that kitchen with the outcome of their heated discussion, that it would reverberate for many months to come.

And that nothing would ever be the same.

4 months later

The doorchime sounded above his head as he entered the small eatery on 10th and Central but he barely heard it as he was on the phone, currently in an empassionated argument.

He sat down with an annoyed grunt in one of the booths lining the large windows, right across from a handsome black haired man with cute freckles on his nose, who was grinning at him amusedly.

"Sweetie, I know that the wedding is in four days. I know that making adjustments to the dress now is crazy, but either you do it, or I take my business elsewhere. Yes, you heard me. I don't have the time to be arguing with you over the phone right now because you have gotten it into your head that I have the luxury to do so. I'm asking you to do this because you've always been a great partner, but honey, you're one swipe away from being replaced. Just say the word. Great, I'll have it delivered to you in 30 minutes. By Friday morning. Thanks."

The moment he finally hung up he felt like a huge load had been lifted off his shoulders and he leant back in his seat, moaning tiredly. "I'm going to be so glad when this wedding is over."

"And I'm going to be so glad when I finally get a kiss from my husband whom I haven't seen in three weeks..."

Luffy looked at his husband with a grin, lifting his left index finger to make beckoning movements with, the white golden ring on his ring finger glittering as he did.

To be continued...

In: 18. The Eight of Cups - The Empress

-BDP-