+/- a month later

"O-oh hello!"

Marco paused as he had his hand on the doorknob of his car, what was it now? He just wanted to home to his love.

"Yes...yoi..." he already started speaking but slowed seeing who was running towards him.

"I'm so glad I found you again! It's me! Sabo! Do you remember me?"

"My love's brother."

"Yea!" Sabo smiled brightly, "I'm glad you remember me. Ehm you see..." the blond fidgeted a tiny bit. "I know you said you were going to discus calling me with Ace. But like... It's been a month now, and I've heard nothing so I was just wondering if you had brought it up or maybe you lost my number... or... if Ace doesn't want to see me..."

"We were going to call you once Ace was better."

"Huh? Better? Is he sick? Hurt? What's wrong with my brother?!"

Anxiously Sabo waited for the other as he was on his phone tapping away, why didn't he just answer- oh a picture. He looked closer at the picture and saw a bed, why did he show him a bed- "! Is that Ace?" huddled under very soft looking blankets was a body and above a tuft of raven hair stuck out.

"He has the flu-yoi. We're waiting for him to be better to call. You can understand he didn't want to arrange a meeting while he's sick."

Furious nods were there, that really sounded like Ace! "He's still as caring as ever! Not wanting anyone he loves to get sick. I see you're taking good care of him." the blond smiled seeing several bottles and things on the night stand. He couldn't make them all out and there were some weird shapes in between, but he could only picture they were a mix of drink bottles and pill bottles and maybe some containers for soup or something like a thermos.

"Ofcourse." the phone was pulled back and Marco traced a finger over the shape under the blanket on his phone, "He's my freckled love. My everything-yoi."

"Aaah! I'm so happy he found you! You're a good husband."

"Thank yo- I need to go, Ace is alone at home."

"Ofcourse! Go cuddle my brother! He always loves that when he's sick!" Sabo looked around like he's telling a secret. "He acts tough like he doesn't need cuddles and such, but he loves close contact a lot from those he loves! Especially when sick!"

"Thank you for telling me. I'll give him lot of close contact."

Sabo took a step back as the car door was pulled open, "Tell him to feel better soon! And call me!"

In the car Marco mounted his phone on the holder so he could see his love start to wiggle under the sheets on his screen. They're so in synch with each other. His love feels he's coming home, so he's waking up to greet him. "I'll be with you soon, love."

Couple of days later

Ace whimpered at the hot feeling in his stomach, the ache in his behind and the kisses pressed to his neck. That the blond hadn't pulled out yet probably meant it was or going to be a long night, or they were going to sleep connected like this. Marco somehow starting to say he learned recently that he loved being connected to those he loved and even apologizing for not doing it sooner. How he got that idea he doesn't know but well... he's long since learned Marco's a psycho anyway.

"-visiting Pops tomorrow."

"Huh? P-pops?"

"My dad, he's holding the monthly dinner with all my brothers. I've not been for a while because I have my love here at home and you're all I need."

He's leaving the house? A dinner is a couple of hours, haha he'll have some alone time! Maybe he can get out too. "H-have fun."

"You-"

The voice in his ear scared him as it took on that dangerous edge.

"Don't want to join me?"

Ah right... ofcourse he wanted that. "I d-don't want to b-be a bother. I'm not family."

"Oh my freckled baby."

The softest sweetest voice replaced the dangerous and small kisses were pressed to his neck. "You are family. My most important family. You're my lovely freckles. I would feel incomplete if you won't go. I would miss you so much my heart would shatter."

A nervous laugh left him at that and he grimaced at the tight hold around his waist.

"So, you'll join me, right?"

Swallowing he nodded and he was rewarded with more small kisses and relieve from the tight grip around him. "Let's sleep my love. We're going to have a long day tomorrow, and-"

Ace felt the nuzzling in his neck, heard the blond smell him, the usual ritual as he went to bed.

"If you behave well, I have a surprise for you-yoi."

At this the raven had to blink. A surprise? That is... what? Sure Marco has 'gifted' him plenty of things... But they were always things Marco actually liked, it was just that those things were put on him... or in him... But this sounded different. He never promised anything like this... At one side this scared him. What if this was worse than the surprise gifts. Should he act bad to not get it? But the punishments were brutal, and he didn't want those either... Why couldn't this all just stop.

At Pop's house

Ding Dong

"That must be Marco!" Pops smiled as he stood and went to the door, he had missed his eldest son a lot. Visits to the psychiatric institution had been very limited and then when he was released he took sometimes for himself.

He was so proud of him. He knew Marco had done lots of things that were not okay, the only 'blessing' was that everything he did had been to other bad people. Like thieves or people that had attacked others on the streets. Those were the ones his son had gotten a hold of. It was still not okay but... It didn't matter anymore! His son was better now! He may not have seen him yet after he got released, but they did keep in contact. He had gotten pictures of the new house he had build and not long ago he had gotten pictures of two hands together, both with a wedding band on and one hand he recognised as his son. He had found a partner and he couldn't be more over the moon for him. If he was lucky he would meet this partner today too.

Opening the door he was indeed greeted by not only his son smiling to him, but him and another person. His son had his arms gently around the waist of a smaller raven, hand resting on the other's hip.

His eyes sparkled taking in the sight. "My son! I'm so happy you could come, and you brought your partner!" with a laugh he hugged them both before stepping inside, "Come in, come in!"

Ace didn't speak a lot, but the party still went well and Pops was so happy to see his eldest smile so much. The couple staying close together and always cuddling and sharing small kisses was so cute! They were sitting on the couch, talking with each other when the duo separated for the first time as a phone rang.

It was Marco that took his phone and sighed. "I need to take this. You'll be okay love-yoi?"

At the nods, Ace's cheek was kissed before Marco left the room while picking up the phone.

Pops already smiled as this was his chance to talk to the boy, until now his son had talked for both of them most of the time.

"So, Ace right?"

Ace, who had been looking towards the door where Marco left turned to face the speaker and fidgeted a bit before nodding.

"No need to be nervous, Ace!" Pops smiled at him, "We're all family here!"

There was the tiniest quirk of the lips but no real reply. He must be nervous. He understands because who would expect to meet over a dozen of siblings in one go!

"You seem very familiar, Ace. But I'm sure I've not seen you before. Hmmm." the elder hummed, "What's your last name again?"

At the question the boy looked nervous again, looking to the door and to the floor, fingers fidgeting. Maybe his family wasn't something he liked to talk about?

"It's okay, Ace. You don't need to tell me." he spoke gently aand saw the relieve in the boy's body. Must not be good memories. Still, the boy reminded him of his late friend, he even thinks they were debating to name their son Ace. Anyway, "You're living with my son, right?"

Another small nod was there, but Pops frowned, Ace seemed scared? And he was a little pale too now he really looked. "Are you okay, Ace? Are you not feeling well? Do I need to call-"

"Sorry for the wait-yoi." The door had opened again and Marco returned, sitting down next to Ace and taking his chin, pulling his face towards him. Whispering some things that Pops couldn't hear.

'You didn't talk to anyone , did you?'

Ace shook his head and Marco smiled at it, pecking his lips.

'Good boy. Want to sit on my lap?'

Pops watched as the raven suddenly crawled onto his son, straddling his lap, hugging him and burying his face into his chest. Marco held the raven and pressed a soft kiss to the dark hairs before looking at the elder.

"What did you want to know, Pops? I heard you talking to Ace-yoi."

"Oh I was just asking how the house was for him, if the works have finished and such."

"Everything is practically finished, just personalizing the last spaces. Ace even has his own room now, don't you my love?"

"I-it's nice." Ace spoke softly and nodded.

"It is indeed, isn't it. We have a lot of fun toys in there, and we'll add many more, won't we?"

At the humm and nods, Marco squeezed his love, peppering kisses over him.

"I see you love the wedded life, my son." the elders smiled at the display of love.

"Ofcourse-yoi." The words were spoken as if a matter of fact while the blond stroked over Ace's hair and back, "Everything is perfect as long as I have my freckled love."

Can anyone guess what the surprise is?