Garp sometimes wishes he could override his sense of duty to the Navy. Maybe if he had, he could've saved Ace and prevented Luffy from being traumatized by his brother's death. He knew Luffy was alive. He may have gone into shock, but he was alive and Garp was grateful for that. Luffy would have a long recovery ahead of him, both physical and mental, but Monkey Ds always persevered in the end.
His musings were interrupted by a knock on his office door. "Vice Admiral, Sir! We received this transmission, Sir! It didn't say who it was from, but the note said it would be important for you to see it," the officer said, saluting and presenting said transmission. Garp took the slip of paper, looking over the message. His eyes widened when he realized what it was.
Coordinates.
And he knew just where they led to.
"Tell the men to get ready to set sail. I have a grandson to see."
'Luffy, I hope you are doing well. Hopefully, we both can overcome this loss and move toward the future.'
Heavy breathing filled the room as the two bodies lay in their bed, basking in the glow of their lovemaking. Luffy tucked his face into Ace's neck, breathing in his scent, while Ace's hands swept up and down his sweaty back.
"I guess what they say is true. Married sex is awesome!" Ace exclaimed, causing Luffy to start laughing breathlessly.
"Yeah, you got that right." Luffy leaned up and Ace met him in a soft kiss. Ace brought his hand to Luffy's cheek, his thumb stroking it causing the sun to glint off the ring on his fourth finger. Luffy reached up a matching ring on his as he traced Ace's freckles.
"How mad do you think Gramps is gonna be when he gets here?"
Ace snorted out a laugh, "Oh, he's gonna be so mad that we didn't tell him. Stupid old man," Ace grumbled at the end, causing another fit of laughter from Luffy.
"You're gonna make him madder calling him that, ya know," Luffy let Ace slide out of him, laying on his side with his head on his chest. Ace tied off the condom (we're gonna pretend condoms exist here, ok?) and threw it in the general area of the trashcan.
Ace opened his mouth to reply but was interrupted by a loud banging on their door, making them both jump. " All right, love birds! Time to get decent and come join the rest of us out here. You've had enough time to get re-acquainted with each other." Sanji's voice came from the other side. The two groaned but knew they needed to get up and eat. Their stomachs agreed with a loud grumble. They took a quick shower to wash up before getting dressed and heading to the kitchen. Luffy laughed as he jumped on Ace's back, Ace's arms easily securing him as he started running. Laughter could be heard all around as they neared the kitchen. Many of the Whitebeard Pirates smiled at the couple as they ran past, happy to see their 2nd commander so happy and free.
In the kitchen, Sanji and Thatch stood by the stove, plating up food while the Strawhats and some of the Whitebeard Pirates sat at the massive table Hancock had provided, the Empress herself seated at the head of the table. (She was trying, but her disdain at being surrounded by so many men was obvious on her face). Marco looked over at their entrance, a huge smile on his face.
"Hey, the happy couple finally emerges from their love nest. Did you guys have a good time?" Marco teased, making Luffy and Ace turn bright red and indignantly squawk. Without dropping Luffy, Ace gave chase to the phoenix, trying to hit him, Marco laughing all the while. Luffy held on tightly to Ace, egging him on until Sanji ended their foolishness by tripping them. All three went down hard, faces squished to the ground.
"IDIOTS! No running in the kitchen! You'll end up breaking something and Lady Hancock is already being gracious enough to allow us to be here! Behave in the presence of a Goddess like her!"
"Sorry, Sanji" came Ace and Luffy's muffled voice while Marco grumbled in agreement. They managed to get untangled and took their places at the table while the two cooks finished readying the massive amount of food. They sulked at the table, as their crewmates laughed at them in good fun.
"Even married, you two are always causing trouble. Why did I think it'd be any different?" A voice came from the door. The two turned and perked up when they saw Sabo standing there, tophat under his arm and his ever-present pipe strapped to his back. Luffy excitedly jumped from his seat and ran to his big brother, Ace not far behind.
"Sabo! When did you get here?! We missed you lots!" Luffy practically yelled in his ear, wrapping his limbs around the blonde.
"Haha, I just got here, Lu. I wanted to surprise you two and make sure you weren't spending all your time in bed. Save that for your actual honeymoon, huh?" Sabo teased, wiggling his eyebrows at Ace, who flushed, causing his freckles to stand out. Ace swatted his arm before wrapping his arms around the blonde as well.
"Shut it, jerk. Don't make me sick Koala on you for being mean to your brothers." Ace threatened. Sabo laughed, though there was a slight hitch in it. Yeah, he was scared of Koala. "Come on, there's plenty to eat." Ace peeled a whining Luffy from their blonde brother. Ace sat back in his chair, letting Luffy sit on his lap while Sabo took Luffy's previous seat.
Everyone enthusiastically greeted Sabo, having missed the Revolutionary since he's been on back-to-back missions for the past few months.
Everyone's attention was taken when Luffy's head swiveled and seemed to be listening for something before sighing and standing from Ace's lap, kissing his cheek, "I'll be right back. I gotta go take care of that." Ace watched his husband as he left the kitchen, a soft smile on his face. Sabo perked up and followed his younger brother like a puppy.
"I wanna help!" Luffy laughed as the two left the kitchen. Marco looked at Ace's face and hummed, "Man, you are such a sap, yoi. You're gone for him, huh?"
Ace let out a small laugh, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, "Ah, is it that obvious? I can't help it. We were separated for three years before we finally reunited in Alabasta and got married as we promised we would. Then I left again to continue after Blackbeard, so we didn't get to have our wedding night like we should have. I wish I had just stayed with him instead of going after Teach. We missed so much time together and I just want to take care of him and ensure he never wants for nothing."
Marco's eyes softened, hand under his chin supporting his head.
"In this case, Ace-yoi, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Everyone can tell just how much you guys love each other just by watching you together. We all get cavities just looking at you guys." Everyone agreed, making Ace turn red and whine in embarrassment.
They were interrupted when the door burst open, Haruta running in. "Marine ship on the horizon! Get ready for a fight guys!" Everyone burst into action as they went to get ready for the potential fight coming their way. Ace ran back to the bunks to inform Luffy and Sabo about the situation. He caught them as they were coming from the Captain's cabin.
"Guys, we got trouble incoming! Get ready for a fight!" Ace said, coming to a stop in front of his brothers. They turned serious and nodded. Luffy put his hat back on his head and cracked his knuckles, while Sabo donned his tophat and released his pipe. The three ran out onto the deck to get into position front and center. Zoro took up Luffy's back, ever the steady First Mate.
But then the strangest thing happened. Luffy suddenly dropped his defensive posture and started laughing in delight once the ship was closer.
"It's ok, guys! It's just Gramps!" Ace and Sabo seemed to lose all of their color, staring at the younger pirate captain. Everyone else squawked in outrage.
"What do you mean, idiot captain?!" Zoro barked out, veins popping out from his forehead. Nika, his captain is such a handful.
"I mean, it's been a year since Marineford. Enough time has passed and though he doesn't show it, Gramps loves Ace. He deserves to know he and Sabo are both alive. I contacted Koby and had him anonymously send the coordinates to Gramps."
Ace and Sabo slowly regained their color as Luffy explained and saw he had a point. Garp was a lot of things, but he did love them. It hurt when they realized he would still choose the Marines over them, but they had the year to come to terms with it. Garp did what he could to make sure they were ready for the real world outside of Goa.
Slowly, everyone relaxed and most went back to what they were doing, while the boys stayed at the helm, waiting for Garp to get close.
Suddenly, Luffy pushed them down where they couldn't be seen, "Stay here. I'm gonna slowly introduce the fact that you guys are alive so he doesn't have a heart attack from the surprise," he said to their indignant shouting. Both quieted at that. Garp was pretty up there in age.
Garp was smiling widely once his ship stopped by Sunny. It looked like the last year had been kind to his grandson. Because of his metabolism, he always ate enough food for an army and never gained any weight. But, it seems like he's actually filled out better and didn't look like a damn twig.
"There's my troublesome grandson! You're looking good for someone supposedly dead for the last year, Luffy!" Garp laughed
Luffy let out a shishishi, "Yeah, this past year has been a good one. I'm all healed up from Marineford thanks to Traffy."
Garp tilted his head in confusion, "Traffy? Do you mean Trafalgar Law? He's the one who healed you up after the war?" After Ace died, Garp thought.
Luffy nodded his head, "Yep, I owe him a lot. He and his crew are gone they left once I was stable."
Garp could agree with that. If not for Trafalgar's surprise appearance at Marineford, he would have had to bury the last of his grandsons instead.
"So, brat, what was so important you had to send those coordinates through Koby anonymously?"
Luffy leaned against the railing, Ace and Sabo leaning against his legs while they waited for their cue. "Well, I figured it's been long enough that it was time to come clean about some secrets we had. Guys, stand up." Ace and Sabo slowly rose while the smile dropped from Garp's face in shock. Ace stood on Luffy's left while Sabo was on his right, a burn across his left eye. There was no mark or burn on Ace's chest from where he knew Akainu's fist had gone through his chest.
"Ace? Sabo? H-how are yo-"
Luffy cut his grandfather off excitement in his voice, "Sabo was taken in by the Revolutionary Army after his ship was shot down. He lost his memories, so that's why we never knew he was alive. Dad trained him and everything. He's their chief of staff too! As for Ace, we found a person with a devil fruit that can make a clone of anything or anyone for a while. Right down to the personality. So while everyone got distracted by the chaos, Marco came and scooped him up while I stayed by the clone to make sure it was convincing. I was still pretty injured but not as bad as it could have been. Then Shanks arrived and we got out of dodge. Old man Whitebeard is still recovering from the battle, even a year later."
"How you doing, shitty gramps?" Ace said, making Luffy and Sabo facepalm. Sabo reached over and slapped his head, "Idiot! You know better!"
Garp let out an annoyed growl, his haki forming over his fist.
"Even now you still say that. Don't make me give you my Fist of Love, you impudent brat!" Garp shouted. Ace started laughing, causing Luffy and Sabo to follow suit. After a moment, Garp's eyes softened, letting the haki recede.
"I am glad you're both alive, Ace, and Sabo. It may not seem it, but I do love you boys, in my own way. Even if you are all a bunch of criminals." Ace and Sabo smiled at that, while Garp jumped over to the Sunny, landing in front of the trio. "You don't have more surprises for me, do you?"
Luffy and Ace looked at each other, communicating in their special way before smiling and looking back to Garp.
"Actually, Gramps, I've been meaning to tell you that you're gonna have to change my name for my wanted poster." Garp lifted his eyebrow in intrigue.
"Oh? And why's that, brat?" Luffy grinned widely as Ace wrapped his arms around his waist.
"I'm Portgas D. Luffy now! Ace and I are married!" Garp's jaw dropped at this, shock permeating on his face.
"Wh-what do you mean, married?! When? How?" Garp stuttered, trying to get his brain to come back online again. Sabo had to laugh; his facial expression was hilarious. Ace snickered into Luffy's hair his head was resting on top of.
"We got married when we met up in Alabasta. We've been together since before I set sail and we made a promise that once Lu set sail and we met up again, we'd get married. His friend, Princess Vivi, did the ceremony while his crew watched. We even got rings and everything. We didn't have long, so that's why this little break is our honeymoon too."
Garp sighed, running a hand through his short hair. "Married for almost two years and is only now telling me, geez" he muttered, "Well, as long as that's everything that you've been hiding?" Garp asked.
Ace went to say something but was interrupted by a shrill cry. Garp stilled. He knew that cry. He heard it twice from when Ace and Luffy were infants.
"Boys, why is there a baby on this ship?" Garp asked, his voice cracking. Please don't tell me what I think it is. Luffy shrugged sheepishly before dashing to the Captain's room where the cry had come from. Ace let out a resigned laugh before motioning for Garp to follow him and Sabo.
"It's best you see for yourself, gramps."
Garp followed sedately, all kinds of thoughts running through his head.
By the time they arrived at the Captain's room, Garp had himself convinced that the boys had kidnapped a child and was thinking of thousands of ways to beat some sense into them when Ace opened the door and there stood Luffy, holding a small bundle in his arms, a bottle in his hand feeding them. At the sound of the door opening, Luffy turned and Garp got his first look at his great-grandchild.
Because that was a baby with both the features of Luffy and Ace combined, the eyes were Luffy's and the nose as well, but what really sold it was the scattering of freckles on the child's face. Set in the same way Ace and Rouge's were, spread across their cheeks.
"Gramps, this is Portgas D. Jack. Me and Luffy's biological son." Ace introduced, coming over to Luffy, and wrapping his arm around him. Garp moved closer, wanting a closer look at the baby.
"How is this possible?" Garp asked mystified.
"We're still not sure how Luffy was able to get pregnant in the first place, considering his gender. We didn't even know he was until Law scanned him with his devil fruit when he was healing him and found Jack hiding in there. We suspect he came in contact with something that changed his internal reproductive system before we met up in Alabasta. That's when Jack was likely conceived when thinking back."
Garp looked at them in alarm, "But marineford…" All those horrible things Luffy had gone through to free Ace from Inpel Down and then the war itself.
"Traffy said it was lucky I was rubber. It's essentially what protected Jack while inside me. And once we found out I had Jack inside me, we knew we had to go into hiding for a while. Plus, I had to send out a message to my crew so they knew to meet up later and train to get stronger. They'll be returning to where they were training after this. We just wanted to celebrate being together and being a family again. And for you to finally meet Jack."
"We couldn't let anyone outside of Law, Hancock, Rayleigh, and our crews know about Luffy's pregnancy. If the wrong people found out me and Luffy had a kid together, there's no telling the lengths the Marines would go, to or the World Government for that matter. Just look at what they did to kill me before I was even born. It'd probably be Baterilla all over again, just worse." Ace looked Garp straight in the eyes, "I'll do whatever I have to to protect my family. My husband and child will always be my top priority. I'll take out anyone who threatens to take them from me."
Garp knew it was a dig at him for choosing the Navy over his family every time there was a conflict. He also knew it was probably a battle to get Ace to agree to invite Garp to their hiding place. Hell, he even agreed. Too many times he's let his duty take priority over his family.
"I swear, no one will ever know of this. This time, I will protect my family. No one should ever be killed because of their blood, especially one who has done nothing to deserve it."
The trio smiled, relieved that Jack would be safe from the world for the moment. At that moment, little Jack finished his meal, so Luffy placed him over his shoulder while Ace placed a spit rag to catch whatever he spat up. Sabo left after getting a call from his den-den mushi, closing the door to give them some privacy.
"Do you wanna hold him, Grandpa?" Luffy asked, patting Jack on his back to get whatever bubbles may have formed while he ate. He felt it when Jack finally burped and Ace quickly cleaned up the spit-up. Garp nodded, tears in his eyes. Man, he was getting soft in his old age.
Garp sat at the small table in the room and carefully took the precious bundle from Luffy. Jack, though only 4 months old, was lively after eating, much like his father. Seeing a big guy like Garp holding something so small was a sight. It made Jack look tinier in comparison. Jack's eyes landed on Garp, taking in the big man holding him. Luffy and Ace watched as their son and grandfather took the other in, Ace coming up to wrap his arms around Luffy's waist.
Jack stared up at Garp, his round grey eyes taking in the old man all the while chewing on his hand. Garp let out a shuddering breath and kissed his little forehead.
"Don't worry, Jack. No harm will come to you or your parents, not while I'm still breathing." Garp's eyes turned to his boys, so grown up from the feral jungle children they were, and gave a watery smile.
"Thank you for letting me meet Jack. Thank you for still letting me be a part of your lives. I swear, I won't let you boys down. Never again."
The boys tried to keep it together, but Luffy's hormones got the better of him and he threw himself, albeit, gently at his grandfather, Ace not too far behind. The sudden jostling seemed to disturb Jack only a bit before he settled again.
Their family was complete.
…..
For so long, Ace always questioned whether or not he should've been born. Growing up in the environment he did hadn't helped, but he survived though there were some days he wished he didn't.
But now, he knew he was meant to live this life. He was a commander on the strongest man alive ship, had many brothers and sisters who would have his back no matter what, and a father who loved him despite his parentage.
But most of all he had Luffy. His light. His Sun. His everything. His husband. No. His soul mate. His soul mate, who had given him a son and a promise of more in the future after he was crowned King of the Pirates.
His new life was just starting, and he couldn't wait to see what happens next. He was complete.
All thanks to Luffy.
(Man Sabo is right I am a freaking sap. Get it together Ace)
(Shishishi. Silly Ace. I love you)
(Haha. I love you too lu).