This was going to be a chapter about pickles... Ace wanting to eat pickles. Yet not a single pickle has appeared.

"Is that... a bed? A whole ass bed?"

"How defaq is he even carrying that?! He always said one person is already heavy to carry!"

"Unless it's Ace."

"Every person is heavy If not named Ace yes. But that's not the point, is Marco for real carrying a bed? I thought he had just gone out for comfy socks."

Almost all the commanders watched from the deck over the ocean, not seeing their proud Phoenix flying towards them, but a big ass white square with the occasional blue spark appearing from behind it.

"I think," Fossa started, "that it's just a mattress."

".. So a bed."

"No no Haruta, a 'whole ass bed', like you said before, would include the frame."

"... He's still carrying half a bed across the ocean in the New World."

"Never denied that. Also, maybe someone should get Ace?"

A crewmember close by yelled a 'on it' and went inside the galley, it was early afternoon so Ace's chocolate milk time.

Now, what is the reason that Marco is flying over with a bed? That no one knows. But why he was out was for socks. Fuzzy supportive socks. That's right, the first commander had left the ship to go shopping purely for socks, why? Because his Omega mentioned it.

Ace's feet had been a bit sore lately, so Izou made him special socks to prevent them from swelling too much, but to get that effect and not squeeze his feet it had to be a specific fabric, a non fuzzy fabric. The omega had apparently been complaining... not in the negative sense, he was grateful, but just a little murmur that he was sad the socks weren't fuzzy and he would love fuzzy supportive socks.

And Marco wouldn't be called the first commander of the strongest if he couldn't use all his connections in the world to figure out where to get that specific item, fuzzy supportive socks. He had had them custom-made and had gone out to get them early in the morning and was now returning in the early afternoon.

"What's there to see?... what's that square?"

"Oh Ace, welcome... Nice slippers."

"Thanks! Izou finished them this morning!" The omega smiled brightly, wiggling his toes in said new slippers. He was very cosy right now. He had just chocolate milk, able to keep it the perfect temperature himself. He had new slippers featuring a lil pineapple puffball on it with Marco's lazy eyes sewn on, very sturdy but comfy. He had a fuzzy orange bathrobe with flame decorations all over it, and a very comfy poofy sweatpants under it.

"Nice and," Haruta pointed to the square, "That's Marco."

"That's not Marco?"

"Not the square, behind it, he's carrying it."

Ace hummed, taking a sip of his milk and squinting his eyes, seeing a wing pop up, "ooooooooooooooh! Hold my milk!" he held the drink to the side and let go, Thatch luckily able to catch it.

"Marcoooooooooooooooooooooo! AAAALLLLLLLLPPPPHHHHAAAA!" Ace started yelling and waving over the railing, rubbing over his belly in excitement that his mate was back.

Carrying everything Marco possibly couldn't yell back, but they did see the flames spark up behind the item, indicating he heard them. It wasn't too long before the first commander reached the ship and gently dropped the big ass mattress to the floor, Ace instantly flying into his chest and nuzzling him.

"Misssssseed you! You were away so long!"

"I missed you too, Omega-yoi." Smiling Marco put his arms around Ace, kissing his hairs, rubbing a thumbs over Ace's scent gland on his shoulder. He then kneeled down, kissing the belly, or well the twenty fabric over it, "And I missed my little pup too, you're growing so much every time I leave!"

….. He hadn't …. they don't grow that quickly... yet everyone had to hear this gushing whenever Marco left for over an hour.

Ace giggling at it, pulling his robe a bit aside that Marco could touch his actual belly, which the Alpha happily did instantly.

After far too many kisses Marco stood up straight, kissing Ace's lips and handing over a bag. Digging into it Ace pulled out a pair of socks, "fuzzy socks! And... aah they're for the swelling too! I looooveeeeee youuuuuuuu~"

"Anything for my mate." Marco smiled brightly seeing his mate so happy, enjoying each wave of happy pheromones that came off him as the raven pulled out the different pairs, discovering the different designs and colours.

"I wanne put a sett on." Ace suddenly called and started looking around, he had to sit down, he couldn't reach his feet anymore properly. "ah! Haha Marco!" He was suddenly picked up and sett on the railing, a kiss to his cheek as the air of fuzzy socks was taken out of his hands.

"Allow me-yoi." He smiled kneeling down, coming face to face with his own face. He awed at it, lightly patting the pineapples much to Ace's delight before taking the slippers off and gently working of Ace's socks that reached high up his calves to replace them with the fuzzy ones. Had anyone else had items with his face on it, mocking him for being a pineapple, he would beat them up. But his mate could do it all, he did it with love!

Once done he took a moment to kiss the lovely feet, just the tips of the toes, repeating when his mate's laughter came from above. After a minute he put the slippers back on securely standing up as he slid his hands over Ace's sides, resting on the fabric next to his belly and kissed his lips, "How do they feel?"

"They're soft! I love them, thank you for going to get them, Mar."

As arms wrapped around his shoulders, he put one hand under Ace's bum, lifting him and placing him back on the ground, "I'm glad-yoi. Having you comfortable is the only thing I want right now. And speaking of that, I got you something else." He gently led Ace to the big square package, growling at the other crewmembers trying to touch it. For their own health they all instantly backed off to let the couple get close.

"What is it? It looks soft too." Ace wanted to touch it so bad, but it was to low to the ground, so with a hand a little extended he pouted.

Of course Marco instantly noticed and bend down to rip open a part of the plastic protection and pulled up the package on its side, close enough so Ace could touch it.

"It's a mattrass-yoi."

"But, we have a mattress? I have my whole nest made on it..." He didn't want to destroy his nest.. He liked his nest...

Quickly Marco spoke smelling the little sadness, "We're not replacing the old one! I would never. I know you made our nest on it, Omega! It's the best nest!"

Nodding Ace clutched to Marco's side, looking at the mattress. That's good at least but... "There's a hole in it... You got scammed... my al-alpha got scammed?"

Dropping the mattress he hugged Ace, rubbing his back as his omega started to cry. "I didn't! I didn't get scammed, I promise! I wanted it like this! I had it personally made like this-yoi!"

"Y-you wanted it like this?"

"I promise. I didn't get scammed, darling... Pops! Can you hold out your hand please-yoi? Hover it here."

"Sure, son. But why?"

"Because..." Marco kissed Ace briefly and then turned to throw the mattress on top of Pop's hand, tearing of the plastic at the top and patting over the fabric, "Now Ace can try it." he smiled turning to the raven, an arm around his waist to pull him forward. "Try it darling."

A little confused he got on with Marco's help, laying on his back at the side next to the whole. With still moist eyes he looked to his alpha, he still didn't get it. Half the bed was useless with the hole. It would have been a good mattress even, it was soft, but now...

"Turn onto your belly."

"I can't, Mar. You know that." a hand was there, rubbing over his big bump, he always loved sleeping on his belly, but for the past weeks that had become utterly impossible.

"Trust me-yoi." Marco smiled and with a bit of encouragement helped Ace turn around.

The Omega blinking, blinking again as he was laying on his tummy. But... nothing was pressing onto his bump. He was laying flat and nothing was hurting or uncomfortable, pressing on him. How was this possible! "o-oh, the hole... my bump went in the hole!"

"Yeap" Marco popped the p as he inspected the whole contraption. Feeling a hand around the hole to see if it was squishing the bump or not, but everything seemed in order. "I got this made because I know you like sleeping on you belly, but haven't been able to. This way you can do that again. I thought we could put it in your room and you can take your naps on here while we sleep in our nest at night."

"Y-you notice ev-everything!" tears were to Ace's eyes again, arms reaching out for the blond.

With a smile Marco crawled onto the bed too, getting under the arms that was reached out as he stroked over Ace's back, "I told you-yoi. I want my Omega comfy. Do you like it?"

"I-I love it! C-come closer."

And Marco did, being thanked by plenty of kisses and being nuzzled and scented as far as Ace could reach him. Both him and his Alpha were proud, proud and happy their Omega was comfy and liked the gift. It was expensive, had been a whole mission in it's own to get it back to the ship, his shoulder blades ached from the intense weight he had to carry for hours, but it was all worth it. Everything was worth it if it was for his mate. And... these gestures of affection he got back for it every time he did something, no matter big or small, already made him think of the next thing he could do to please his Omega.

"Is no one going to question how Marco got that thing over here?"

"... apparently not... and... I think they're falling asleep..."

"Ehm... should we get them off of Pop's ha-"

"NO!" a cough was there and they turned to their captain who looked... Afraid? "just... leave them there."

"But pops... if Ace is going to take his afternoon nap now, he'll be there for like 3 hours."

"I know, son."

"... Using your hand as a bed for those three hours."

"Yes."

"... you won't be able to use your hand for three hours, Pops. If we move them now, they can sleep in their own bed and... …. okay... no... ehm... goodluck then..."

The vigorous shaking of Pop's head turned into nods at the goodluck. He knew his hand would be useless for a couple of hours now. But he was not risking moving the duo and waking up Ace... in Marco's presence. His first commander would hurt him.

… okay... not really hurt him ... his son would just start to nag him. Find tasks he had forgotten to do and make him finish his chores. Take away his secret stash of alcohol. Just... just doing his first division commander tasks in making him do his captain tasks instead letting others handle that for now. Last time he had woken up Ace, Marco had made him get his check-up in the infirmary... a more thorough one then normal! He only needed the big check-up once a month and he made him get it twice! And he knows it's because it was because he woke up Ace!

Nope, he was not up for that today. No check-ups. And he liked keeping his alcohol. He'll just sit here with his first and second commander sleeping on his hand on this weird matrass. Besides the fear, he was the tiniest bit also happy to see both relaxed. The pregnancy, while a happy occurrence, takes a toll on the Alpha as well as Omega. So getting rest was important. As the proud father he was, he loved seeing them together and relax.

The smallest smile gracing his lips, he rested his hand on his armrest for the coming hours, using a small part of his cape as a blanket for the duo and very gently pat over both the bodies as they slept. Everything would be just fine.

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH I need to write a story for merman Ace, because I got art made for it. and I wanne show everyone. But i first need a chapter to go with it. BUT INSPIRATION ISN'T COMMING!

ALSOOOOOOOOOOO! I am very sorry to those I've promised an update in the dark flames series too. I haven't forgotten! I have no excuses, i just haven't been up to it. But, i have vacation at the end of the month. My very first vacation since i started working last year, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey! So I'll be able to work on more stories then, dark flames on the list!