WizardyWitchy - Thank you very much! Secretly hoping for a whole spin-off of the series, purely focused on Ace making fun of Whitebeard for having no beard.

WinterRose61 - Ace is very logical when it comes to his own way of thinking! XD They do in fact not know they are related... yet. Shanks and Garp coming up!

Zoysite - Marco makes everything better in this story even if it is due to his suffering. Garp shall arrive! He is very cool, coolest grampa!

More people wanted to see Garp than I thought! For sure thought Shanks would be the favourite!
Thank you for all the comments, suggestions, everything! And sorry for the wait! Here is the second to last chapter!
Also... this went so many places with Garp coming onboard... I hope it doesn't get too confusing.

"What's with mister coaster collector?"

Thatch blinked, looking briefly at the teen on his counter before focusing on the current batch of prune juice he was making, "... I am assuming you mean Marco?"

"Duh, does anyone else collects coasters here?"

"Well, we are with quiet a lot of people so there's a chance tha- don't you throw fire at me!"

"You're being stupid."

Patting out the fire on his shoulder, there goes another shirt, he simply continued, "How do you even know he collects coasters?"

"I know everything about him."

"Well..." Thatch swallowed, "not creepy at all..."

"So?"

"So?"

"What's with him?" Ace questioned, genuine concern actually shining through, "He hasn't been shooing me away from his ceiling these past few days."

Okay... now that required him to look at the teen again. "You're still in there?"

"Ofcourse, why wouldn't I be up there?"

"To give him privacy? What if he's changing?! Or- or like doing other stuff! You watch him all the time?" Maybe he did need to apologize to Marco for laughing at his predicament because he wouldn't want someone watching when he... unless it was a pretty girl... but Ace isn't a pretty girl... Handsome, yes, but no- HE'S NOT GAY! …. he just recognizes that Ace is handsome. That's all... maybe a little cute... anyway! "Someone is coming to visit."

"Someone?... Who's someone?" Ace squinted his eyes before gasping and slamming a fist into his hand, "He's nervous because his partner in crime is coming to collect his share of the inheritance, but now I am here to stop them!"

"ye- wait what? No! Where did you even get all of that from? Just someone who Marco doesn't like is visiting. He always gives Pops sake too when he isn't supposed to drink."

Ace who had jumped up from the counter in his 'eureka-moment' wasn't listening anymore and simply waved the chef off. "Yea yea yea, I got him!" he laughed brightly, "I'm so good at this detective work haha! Man, the Spades are going to be so excited for some action too!"

"Action?"

"Yea! We're going to beat them up when they try to take anything!"

Ace is going to beat up Shanks? He snorted going back to the juice, "Goodluck. I'm sure you can do it."

Not noticing that those words may have been sarcastic, the freckled teen smiled brightly "Thanks Thatch! I'm using the meeting room with the Spades! Don't listen in!"

"We won't, we won't..." He replied but the teen was already running off. A real spit-fire that one is.

"Tell me the truth," Ace squinted his eyes, standing on his tippy toes to be eye to eye with the other. "Now."

"About-yoi?"

"Your partner in crime is coming isn't he?"

"... Sadly he is."

"Don't hide it from me! I've heard all of your evil plans from Thatch al- Did you just say yes!?"

"I did, excuse me for a moment" Marco lightly nudged Ace to look passed him, inspecting some knots.

"Are they good?" Ace crouched besides the blond.

"Hmmm, could be better." he pointed out a few weak spots and waited for Ace to retie the rope that secured some crates before inspecting it again. "Better, goodjob."

With a smile Ace got up, "Thanks!".

While making some notes Marco stood up too, "no problem, you've been practicing a lot. I got time to help you with your Haki training after lunch, got about an hour, that good for you?"

"Yea! That would be gr- WAIT! That's not when your partner in crime is going to show up is it?! You know I need to be on deck when that happens!"

"Don't worry-yoi." Marco shook his head, "he'll take about another week to arrive... I hope longer... but give or take a week."

"Oh okay." The teen nodded, "then... meet up in the training room?"

"Yep, I'll see you there."

"Dodge the stick... keep your eyes closed-yoi."

"Urgh but I need to see the stick to dodge it!" Ace threw hands in the air at the blond before rubbing his arm where he was hit seconds earlier. "And I wanne practice the other haki!

"You've already got a hold of armament haki-yoi. Observation haki is next."

"This is stupid."

"You're stupid-yoi."

"WHAT DID YOU SA-"

WHAM

"Oooh goodjob dodging that one."

"I'll fucking pluck your chicken ass- Marco?" Ace asked concerned as the stick in Marco's hand dropped with a clang to the ground. The man seeming to grow paler.

"No..."

"What's wrong?"

"He can't be here..."

"Who's here?" he dropped his fighting stance, cocking his head before a lightbulb went off in his head, "IS IT YOUR PARTNER IN CRIME!? I knew you were trying to trick me into not being on deck!" Lighting his feet on fire he was bursting out the door and running up, "WAIT FOR ME PARTNER IN CRIME! I'LL GET YOU!"

He ran and ran up every single step, dodging all the members in his way until he got to the deck, scanning around until he found someone that shouldn't be here, quickly finding them confronting the old man. "OH NO! OLD MAN, BE CAREFUL! HE'S GOING TO ROB YOU!"

The next seconds were a blur. First he was jumping for the intruder, flaming fist soaring though the air before he was knocked down, rubbing the bump on his head. "awwwwww! Why you you do that Gramps!"

Blowing the steam coming of his first, Garp turned to his grandson. "You know I greet my favourite grandson with a first of love! Now get up and hit me again! That hit was weak!"

Ace gasped jumping up, pain forgotten, "It wasn't!"

"It was!"

"I had haki in it!"

"Haki? That was haki? Even a baby has more haki than that!"

"LIES!"

"Actually." Garp reached into his pocket, pulling out a few pictures and standing next to Ace as he showed them, "Senny got a great-grand-baby a month ago. Look at that little haki coated fist."

"Awwwwww she's adorable!" Ace awed over the baby pictures, "oh she broke a table!"

"hahah she did! Even broke Senny's finger!"

"That's amazing!"

"She's going to be a great marine!... UNLIKE MY STUPID GRANDSON!"

"AAAH DON'T HIT ME!"

"THEN HIT ME HARDER!"

"I WILL!"

"AGAIN! THAT WAS EVEN WEAKER THAN BEFORE!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"What... What's going on-yoi?" Marco asked very slowly and carefully as he reached the deck. Watching Ace hit the marine hero Garp the fist himself over and over... the Marine asking for it and giving pointers after every hit...

"Do you really want to know that though?"

"... Maybe not... But I need to know..."

"Your choice." Thatch shrugged beside him, "So apparently. They're related."

"Excuse me?"

The chef nodded, "Garp has been calling Ace his grandson. Oh and Sengoku had a grandbaby. Great grandbaby actually."

"Oh, that's nice, let's send a gift basket."

"I'll prepare one."

"Thanks Thatch." Marco nodded. "If they're family." Which he didn't even really question after thinking about it. They were both batshit crazy. "Why are they hitting each other."

"Garp's been calling it training."

"I see... he dodged one." He remarked impressed, wincing as the next hit hit twice as hard. "It seems a good teaching method for Ace, dodged more than he did in all my lessons."

"I told you, Marco, you need to put more power behind your hits, or threaten with no dinner or something."

"I may try that-yoi." He awkowledged the technique, making mental notes for himself.

"You know..."

"hmm?"

"If you can convince Garp to convince Ace that Pops is really... Pops. You know, the actual Whitebeard."

"He won't help us." The blond rolled his eyes, "we're pirat-"

"You could call off Shanks."

"GARP! OI GARP!" Marco ran, actually ran to the duo, a smile threatening on his lips. He maybe doesn't need to see that stupid Red-head!

"One moment." Was uttered from the elder, giving a last tip to his grandson about his last hit before giving a fist of love back, making his grandson sinks through a flew layer into the ship. Calling for one of his own lackies to repair the holes. "What do you want Phoeni-What's wrong with you?" He changed his tone to surprise as he saw the usual stoic faced commander smiling.

"Ahem nothing, it's just good to see you Garp-yoi."

A raised eyebrow was already plenty of a reply, but the very long "reeeaaallyyy?" made it obvious the Marine didn't believe him.

"Yea, you know... It's been a while since... since... since you threw some cannonballs at us. The newbies are starting to get a bit soft. You visiting is always a good training for them."

"You..." the elder squinted his eyes, "Want me to throw cannonballs?"

Marco swallowed, he didn't. He really didn't. The amount of damage every single time was... "Yes. Will show them the strength of a real marine."

A bellowing laughter came and made Marco sigh in relieve at being believed. "Alright! Gather those landlubbers, I'll show them who they're up against haha!"

Ah shit- ofcourse he will really do that now...

"e-ehm commander..." One of said 'landlubbers' whispered for him, voice quivering. "w-we don't- he's not... n-not throwing r-real canonballs- r-right?"

"... I'm sorry." He whispered back before calling for Jozu, "Gather the latest recruits and prepare the upper deck."

"Marco, you can't be serious."

"Do I look to be joking-yoi?"

"... Everyone who's been here under a year, follow me!"

With another mental apology he focused on Garp, "As we ready an area for you, I would very much appreciate it if..."

"If what? Speak up Phoenix."

"... IfYouCanConvinceYourGrandsonWhitebeardIsRealBecauseHesAnIdiotAndDoesn'tBelieveUs"

"Did you just insult my grandson? Only I can insult my grandson."

"Forgive me, it was a slip of the tongue-yoi."

"Hmphs, now say that all slowly, without insult."

He took a moment to gather himself, taking a breath before speaking clearly like always. "I would like it if you could tell your Grandson, Ace, that my Pops," he pointed to his very amused captain on his throne, "is the real Whitebeard."

"What do you mean tell Ace he's real? Does he think he's a ghost or something? I know he's old but-"

"Oi."

"You're practically ancient compared to the young folks, Newgate." Garp didn't even spare the captain a look as he said that. "But he's not a ghost yet."

"He knows he's alive, don't' worry."

"I'm not worrying about that."

"... But he thinks that-"

"GRAMPS! You send me down like 10 floors! I was lost!" Ace's whining came from behind them, the teen soon standing next to them and... eating a chicken leg.

"Got an extra one of those brat?"

"hmm? Sure." the teen gave an smaller leg to the elder.

"This one is smaller. Give me yours."

"This one has my spit over it."

"It doesn't-…..." Garp stopped and wiped away a small tear of proudness at Ace shoving the whole leg down his throat and out, proving his previous point to be true. "Goodjob brat."

"Learned from the best" And flashed a smile at his grandpa before cocking his head, "What are you doing here anyway? Did you already capture the inheritance thief?"

"Thief?" he wracked his mind on everyone he captured the last weeks, was there a thief in there... oh.. He did catch a thief! A smile came to his face and he hugged his grandson close, squishing his face into his chest. "I didn't know you followed your grandpas adventures! Yes! I did catch the thief! It took a long time but we got him!"

He had been fighting against his shitty gramp's hold, but hearing that the thief, Marco's partner in crime, was caught made him stop, pulling away and awing, "You got him! That's amazing! So now It's only Marco left!"

"Huh?"

Ace gasped, "you didn't know? Shh shh" He pulled Garp down, hand over his neck and whispering while glancing at the blond, "they're in on it together."

"Are they? Everyone believed this one to be solo-worker."

"I know I know, but they've been teaming up for a while. Waiting for the time to strike. Just look at him gramps. That sinister look in his eyes. Those muscles flexing and ready to steal the old man's inheritance."

Garp looked over to the blond, the blond who was looking very unimpressed, "I don't know of the muscles... but I can see the eyes... I see I see, so they've been working together." knuckles were already cracking together, "I guess my work isn't done yet the-"

"No no no no, I got him!" Ace was quickly there to defend his prey. "I've been following him, studying. I've been hiding in his ceiling for months! I'll take him down soon and reveal the whole scheme!"

"... I'm proud of you Ace. So proud." Garp stood tall, patting Ace's shoulder, smile on his face. "I was worried for you after Greg told me you were here on board. Thought that crazy old man kidnapped you."

"Greg?"

"Marine captain of G-6."

"Marine captain of G-6... Ah! Yea! He was here a while ago, nice guy. Nice guy." Ace nodded to it, "But don't worry! I'm helping the old man fulfil his lifelong dream!"

"Fulfil his dream?"

"hmm hmm!" Ace nodded with a smile, "We're going to have an adventure sailing around the seas! I got all these people with me because they say they are his kids but..." he once more pulled Garp down, "see the size differences yea? I don't think they're all his real kids."

Marco, who was very much still standing right next to the pair, saw Garp's confusion and with one solid kick send Ace flying, once more through the floor like before. He spoke quickly, knowing Ace would be up quicker this time. "See! This is what I mean-yoi! He doesn't believe that Whitebeard is the real Whitebeard! He thinks he's just an innocent old man that wants to sail around the seas! All because he doesn't have a beard!"

Garp blinked, and blinked again, looking back at Whitebeard to see him shrug. Turning back he saw absolute desperation in the Phoenix's eyes and he couldn't help laughing.

"Don't laugh-yoi! This is serious! You need to convince him or we'll have to rely on Red-hair!"

The marine was however lost in his laughing, this was amazing! This was great! Oh god. He looked to the captain, trying to control his laughter to speak, "I- I told you y-years ago to not name yourself after a non-existent beard Newgate! Bahaahhahaha! But noooooooooo the youth wanted to have a name like the other pirate in children stories hahahahahhahahahah"

"... You know I was working on growing a beard, Garp."

"You were over 30 without having a single hair on your chin!"

"..."

Whitebeard crossed his arms, huffing, "Stop laughing Garp. It's not that funny."

"Please tell me how this is not funny!" He pulled a random member near, "look at your captain! Would you have called him whitebeard if you didn't know he went by that title?"

"I- ehm..."

"Don't be shy! c'mon!"

"... No."

"SEE! Hahahhahahaha!" Laughing he threw the recruit overboard. Needing to wipe his eyes as tears from laughing appeared.

"Garp-yoi. Please... Fine! It's a little funny. But just tell your grandson he's the real deal! Please!"

Wiping the last tears Garp stood straight, "no".

"What-yoi."

"No." He gave a sly smile, "this is your problem. I'm not helping pirates. Senny is going to love this though!"

"Garp! Please! For the love of-"

"STUPID BLUE PIGEON WHY DID YOU KICK ME!"

"For fucks sake, Ace-yoi! Stay away!" Marco threw hands in the air, he was so done!

"Brat!" Garp yelled all smiled, closing the distance between himself and his grandson. Giving a sturdy pat to his shoulder, "You show that old man the adventure he deserves alright!"

"Yes!" Ace cheered, his anger forgotten, "I will!"

"Good! And make sure to protect him from that Phoenix too. Ehm protect his inheritance or what was it." Because now Garp was sure the thief he caught and this were totally unrelated, "He kicked you down because he tried to get me on his side."

"I DID NOT-YOI!"

"He did!? He's even worse than I thought! But I will protect him Gramps! You can count on me! You'll see me in the newspapers soon when I out his whole plan and stop it!"

With a wide smile Garp ruffled Ace's raven locks, "I'm looking forward to it, brat!" And was away, jumping back to his own ship and yelling at his own men to get them back to headquarters... having important info to share.

After waving his gramps off, Ace went to confront the first commander, asking every question he could think of and accusing him of trying to get his grandpa on his side.

Marco wasn't reacting, it was useless anyway, he was only cradling his head. Briefly looking up and gratefully accepting an aspirin from the blue haired doctor... scratch that, accepted a whole strip of aspirin as the teen was yelling besides him. Joining Red-hair started to sound not so bad...

A week later

After watching their first commander for a bit, one brave member dared to walk up to him and ask what he was doing.

"Commander Marco? … Commander?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why do you have about... 10 pineapples tied to each of your legs?"

"I couldn't find rocks-yoi."

"Well… we are on a ship… on the sea."

"Which is why I took pineapples instead."

"Okay… why do you have them tied to you."

"Obviously so I don't resurface." Marco stated as a matter of fact, checking to make sure every single one was secured properly, "They'll help with sinking."

The group currently watching was silent at that. Marco taking the chance to jump on top of the railing before doing some stretches.

"Commander... Why did you jump on there?"

"You have a lot of questions today-yoi. Hmm, you may be a good fit for the next intel gathering mission." The blond nodded to himself for a moment before actually answering the question, "It's so I can jump off."

"… Jump off back onto the ship?"

Okay… The member swallowed, he deserved that raised eyebrow deeming him an idiot. "Why do you want to jump into the ocean, commander? You can't swim."

Marco stayed silent, but in his stead the echoing voice of the person on watch rang out; -THE RED FORCE IS ON THE HORIZON!-

Haruta who had come closer having heard he may have a new recruit to gather intel knew why this all was going on and rolled his eyes, "C'mon Marco! It ain't that bad. He's here to help us."

"Yea, right-yoi. After laughing at us for at least a week or so. Plus, he'll probably use this chance to try and bribe me to join his crew even if only for a little while… he may try to get some phoenix rides in as well and in return he'll convince Ace that he's a fucking dipshit."

"I can feel your love for him."

"Yea... no. I'm not dealing with that."

"Mar-"

"If you'll excuse me. I've got plans to drown-yoi. Don't save me."

"You can't be seri- MARCO! OH MY FUCKING GOD YOU FUCKING TURKEY!" Haruta screeched running up to the railing, watching the disturbed sea underneath quickly even out again as if no first commander jumped down with 10 pineapples strapped to him, "NAMUUUUUUUUUUUURRRR NAMUUUUUURRRRRR!" He started yelling at the top of his lungs, running over the deck whilst pointing where the blond commander disappeared, "MARCO JUST YEETED HIMSELF OFF THE TOP DECK WITH PINEAPPLE ANKERS ON HIS LEGS!"

"AGAIN!?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN AGAIN?!"

He watched Namur run past, throwing hands in the air as a reply before he disappeared as he jumped over the railing.

After what felt like forever their local shark appeared back on deck, an actively fighting and struggling Marco in his arms. The blond yelling profanities that no one ever heard from the blond before. Everyone around was sure he would have jumped again was it not for their fishman's strong hold.

"Marco, be reasonable! It's just Shan- DID I JUST HEAR SOMEONE ELSE JUMP OVERBOARD?! I'VE STILL GOT MY HANDS FULL OVER HERE!"

A loud laugh echoed, "Hahahhaha! You guys are so funny!"

"Ace! Not the time!"

The raven just laughed again, "That's already the 5th one that jumped! Hahhaha"

"oh for fucks sake!" Namur let out a breath, putting Marco down on the floor, hands however still pushing down hard on the blond's shoulders to keep him in place. "Now stay here. I have others to save... Marco. Promise me you'll stay right here."

"..."

"Now."

"... I promise-yoi."

"Good." Letting go he took a step back, nodding at the blond as he actually stayed put. "Alright, where did the next one jump?" Namur turned away, walking towards a nearby crewmember but was already turning when he heard fucking sandals slapping on the deck, seeing Marco running for his life to the railing once more, pineapples bouncing behind him. "YOU FUCKI- YOU PROMISED!"

"CROSSED MY FINGERS-YOI! DOESN'T COUNT!" And he was gone again, disappearing behind those sweet sweet waves that protected him from that stupid red hair.

Groaning Namur was about to go after him when one of his division stopped him. "... Shanks is going for him."

Looking in the distance he did indeed see a speck of red swimming for the area where Marco dropped. "Good. He can have him." And turned away, he would save the others and then he was going to take a well deserved break.

I don't know when the next chapter will be out... not that I had an updating schedule up until now... Disappearing for weeks...
Anyway! I'm on a waitlist for a piece of art for it. But depending on, I may just post without the Art piece and make another update with it later on.
Thank you to WinterRose61 for specifically saying Deuce would have started carrying Aspirins around for Marco. Offering them when he obviously needs them and Ace is the cause.