Hi guys! Here is the next chapter!

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Whitebeard sat out on deck, enjoying a good day. They were just sailing now and enjoying the good weather. Everyone was in good moods as the sun was shining, but it wasn't too warm either. Everyone was just relaxing around. Ace would also visit today or tomorrow, to check on Sabo and Luffy, who were just enjoying the good weather as well. And as noon came, there was a cloud of black smoke by Ace's mark.

But as the cloud disappeared, Trevor stood there with Dust on his shoulder. Sabo frowned a bit. "Why are you and not Ace here?" Trevor hummed. "He is currently sick." Sabo blinked. "As in actually sick? He's basically never sick." Trevor nodded. "Yeah, but he took a sudden swim on an ice island, so he became sick. He'll be fine in a day or three. And he is in such a mood when sick, so I am here to check on you." Sabo nodded. "Cool." Trevor nodded. "Yeah. So, how are you?" Sabo hummed. "We're fine. As you may see." Trevor hummed. "So, nothing has happened?" Sabo moved his head a bit. "We did get into a fight with marines and an enemy crew, but we didn't get hurt." Trevor nodded. "Good." Luffy then piped in. "I got a splinter!" Trevor blinked. "From this boat or enemy boat?" Luffy gave a small sound. "From the marine one." Trevor chuckled. "I will not tell Ace that. He would go on a rampage, all for a splinter." Sabo chuckled as well. "Yeah, sounds like him."

Thatch blinked. "How did he go for a swim? Doesn't he have a devil fruit?" Trevor hummed. "Well yeah. But he is fine, but that would make anyone sick. His shirt was legit frozen to his body." That wasn't good. Sabo chucked. "And he hates the cold. That wouldn't help his mood at all." Trevor nodded. "Yup. So, I am here for a few hours to make sure you are fine." Sabo nodded. "I don't mind. You're cool." That made Trevor smile. Trevor then stayed a bit, before Dust came and got him, and before he left, he did say Ace would come in a week, when he was better to make sure himself they were fine, which had Sabo nod and say it was fine. Then Trevor left.

The next week was calm as well. They met a small storm, which passed fast thankfully. But it was their first real storm while Luffy and Sabo were with them, so they did their best to teach them how to handle a storm as they were on a boat, which could be dangerous. Sabo seemed more interested than Luffy, who seemed bored, but did listen to what he said. He wanted to teach them all he could so they could set out more safely.

As the week had passed and dinner was over, Ace came, and Luffy instantly hugged him as he was glad to see his brother. Luffy then started to tell of everything that had happened, which Ace smiled at as they were fine. Sabo did frown a bit at Ace, but quickly smiled again and he wondered what it was about. It probably wasn't anything important. But they did have their usual meeting in half an hour. It wasn't anything really important, and they were supposed to have it this morning, but things came in the way, so they would have it now.

And as they were in the meeting room and it was closing in on ending, there was a knock and he gave a come in and Sabo walked in and gave a small hum. "I don't mean to disturb, but I just want to drop a small warning." Whitebeard blinked. "Warning about what?" Sabo hummed and looked at Thatch. "Could you just not do the prank you want to play on Marco while Ace is here?" Marco gave a small glare at Thatch, while the chef blinked. "Why did you say that! It was a perfect prank! Why would Ace care!" Sabo hummed. "Normally, he wouldn't. But he's not in the best mood." That made Thatch blink and look a bit worried. "Why isn't he in the best mood? He seems okay." Sabo thought for a second, before he spoke. "You know what, this is Ace's fault, he didn't need to show up like this. Ace is drunk. Or maybe not drunk drunk, but past tipsy. And he can have a bit of a short fuse at times when he's drunk."

They all blinked, Izou speaking. "He doesn't seem drunk?" Sabo shrugged. "Not all drunks slur and trips around. Ace doesn't, he holds his liquor very well, but I know him and I can see he is drunk. And he can have 3 moods when drunk. Annoyed, happy, or sad. They do come in different levels, so it isn't really bad right now, but he is on the annoyed side." They all nodded and everyone looked a bit wary, some more than others. Sabo sighed. "He will not hurt anyone, at most, he will yell. But then again, that can be scary most think. I'm used to him and not scared of him." Everyone nodded again, and Thatch promised to not do the prank while Ace was here.

Then Sabo left and they ended the meeting, before they headed out, and most stayed a bit away from Ace. But Ace seemed like himself. But if Whitebeard really concentrated on Ace, something did seem off, but he couldn't place his finger on it. But he didn't know if it was since something was off or if he just overthinked it as Sabo had said he was drunk. But he seemed fine and normal, and while most kept a bit of dstrance, a few didn't, like Marco, who interacted with Ace and spoke with him a bit.

But after an hour, Sabo moved over to Ace and showed the gun he had. Which had him blink. That was a gun Izou had had, but thrown away as it was broken and not fixable. "I think this jammed a bit? Could you try and fix it?" That was odd. But Ace nodded and took the gun and started to check it out and it seemed like Ace knew what he was doing as he tried different things, but he knew it might not work as it wasn't just jammed, it was broken according to Izou. After a bit, Ace seemed to get a bit frustrated at the gun, and he saw Sabo on his way to speak when Ace gave a small growl as he turned and threw the gun into the ocean before he turned to Sabo. "I will buy you a new one." Sabo blinked. "But why throw it away? We could have reused some parts." Ace gave a small glare. "No. The gun wouldn't listen to me, I will get you a new one." Sabo shook his head a bit. "Fine. Be like that." Ace rolled his eyes a bit as he leaned against the railing and seemed to relax.

Well, Sabo was right. Ace had a bit of a short fuse now, that was clear. But it wasn't really bad and he got why Sabo did this. It was to show that yes, Ace had a bit of a short fuse, but he wouldn't hurt them. And it did seem to help everyone as they also realized this. Then the evening went on, and when Luffy got tired, actually falling asleep on Ace's lap as he was sitting down and reading a book as Luffy relaxed in his lap, he carried Luffy to bed and said he could stay a bit through the night with them to not just leave. He did say he would come back in about 3 weeks time, which was good. Sabo also followed after Ace to their room.

And when the next day came, Luffy and Sabo came out alone and Sabo said that Ace had just left. He didn't want to leave a sleeping Luffy, which was understandable. But the next week, as they were docked at a somewhat medium sized island, which was a neutral one, he blinked as he saw a familiar face come onto his boat. It was Miss Jackson, and she came onto the boat and Luffy ran over and hugged her, before she hugged back and said hi, before she said hi to Sabo. Sabo then asked why she was here, and Miss Jackson hummed. "Was close by and had the time. Are you okay?" Luffy answered that by saying they were, before he started to tell how they had been and what they had done.

But as he was done telling what had happened, Miss Jackson hummed. "Is Marco here?" Marco wasn't out right now, but working on some paperwork in his room. Sabo hummed. "Yeah. Why?" Miss Jackson gave a small shrug. "Wanted to try and head to dinner with him on the island." Sabo smiled. "Sounds romantic. I can get him." Miss Jackson gave a nod and Sabo looked to be on his way to move when Thatch spoke as he looked at the woman. "No. I don't want you to take Marco away from us!" The woman lifted an eyebrow. "I am not taking him away forever, just for dinner." Thatch crossed his arms. "No. I know of you and your reputation." Miss Jackson looked mildly amused. "Why not let Marco choose?" Thatch shook his head. "No. Because you have enchanted him!" The woman hummed. "How exactly have I enchanted him? Have I made him lose all his senses?" Thatch shrugged. "I don't know how exactly! But you're a siren! You lure people to their deaths!" Sabo hummed. "I think that if she wanted the first commander dead, he would have been dead by now." The woman nodded. "That is right." Thatch blinked. "You won't kill him before you get all his information!"

Miss Jackson sighed. "I am not going to kill him. If I wanted him dead, he would be dead. I don't play with my victims. …much at least." Thatch moved his hands together. "You're not taking Marco!" Miss Jackson looked to be on her way to speak when another voice spoke. "Who's not taking me, yoi?" Said Marco as he came from a corner and Miss Jackson gave him a smile. "Apparently, we're not allowed to go on a romantic dinner. I have the free time right now and was close by, but he said no." Marco blinked, before he looked at Thatch. "Why are you so against that I found someone, yoi?" Thatch blinked. "It's not that! But why her?! She is dangerous!" After the last time they had seen this woman, Whitebeard had done some research and she did seem dangerous, but also didn't seem like one to lead on like this.

Marco sighed. "She's not going to hurt me, yoi." Thatch nodded "I know she won't hurt you. She will kill you!" Marco shook his head a bit, before he looked at him. "Pops, may I please go on a date with Ann, yoi?" Whitebeard thought for a second. Marco had seemed more happy lately and he believed this might be because of Miss Jackson, and he had a feeling she wouldn't do all this just to kill him. Whitebeard nodded. "You may." Marco gave a nod and then headed off with Miss Jackson while Thatch stared dumbfounded.

When they were off, Thatch looked at him. "Do you want him to die!" Sabo sighed. "He's not going to die. Can you please listen to us? This is fine." Thatch gave a small huff. "Don't come crying to me when this turns into a 'I told you so'." Sabo nodded. "I will not." Thatch didn't look happy, but let it go for now. Then the day went on. but as a few hours had passed, Thatch started to look worried, and when 4 had passed, evening was coming fast, Thatch looked at him. "Why isn't Marco back yet? Weren't they just going for dinner?" That was true, it had been a small while.

Whitebeard gave a breath as Thatch looked really worried. "Will it help if I send out someone to make sure he is okay?" Thatch nodded. "Yes!" Whitebeard nodded and sent out a small group. The island wasn't that large either, there was a limited amount of places they could be. So, he sent two small groups. But after one more hour, they came back and said that no, they had found no Marco or Miss Jackson at all. They had checked all restaurants and bars, and didn't find them at all. No one had even seen them.

Whitebeard was starting to feel worried too now. Where was Marco? Sabo did say it was fine and Marco was fine, but how did he know? Did Miss Jackson really kill him or take him capture? Had Thatch been right? Did Whitebeard really just send his son to certain death by allowing them to go on this date? He hoped not. Thatch had grown pale now as he spoke. "Please don't tell me I get to say 'I told you so'. I don't want him dead. Please tell me Marco is okay!" Whitebeard didn't have an answer, but Sabo did as he hummed. "Okay. One hour. If he is not back in one hour, I will call Ace and he will find them. Is that okay?" Thatch blinked. "Call now!" Sabo shook his head. "Nope. One hour from now." Thatch didn't look happy, and Whitebeard hoped Marco was fine as well.

The next half hour was spent with Thatch, and others actually, to try and convince Sabo to call Ace now so he could find them before Marco was killed. But Sabo was very calm. And as he was about to also agree, they should call Ace as he was getting really worried as well, there was a sudden black smoke by Ace's mark, which was good as they could use Ace's help to find Marco. And Sabo hadn't called him yet. But when the black cloud faded, the person he was met with was Marco, which had them all blink. Dust was on his shoulder, and gave a shrug, before he cawed and was gone in black smoke again, making Sabo hum. "Said he was fine." And Marco looked fine.

Thatch moved over and hugged Marco. "I thought you were dead! Don't scare me like that!" Marco sighed. "I said I would be fine, yoi." Thatch let go and gave him a look. "Then why did Ace teleport you here? Why did he get you here?" Marco looked to try and think of what to say when Sabo spoke. "Probably since Ann was needed and Ace helps her travel and Ace sent Marco back here so he didn't need to walk back." That made Marco nod. "Yes, yoi." Thatch blinked. "But we searched the island! Where were you!" Marco hummed. "Ann knew of a secluded hidden place and we went there, yoi." Thatch blinked, before he crossed his arms. "No. Don't believe it. Take me there." Marco shook his head. "No, they want to keep it a secret to most, yoi. And you can't keep a secret."

Thatch blinked. "I don't believe that!" Marco shrugged. "And that's not my issue, yoi. Next time, don't worry so much." Thatch gave a look at Marco. "Can you find someone else?! I don't care who! But not her!" Marco hummed. "I like her, yoi. You have been pestering me to find someone." Thatch blinked. "But not her! Not someone who lures people to their deaths on a regular basis!" Marco hummed. "She isn't dangerous to us, yoi." Thatch gave a breath, but let it go, at least for now. Whitebeard was also glad Marco was fine, he had been worried himself. But Marco was fine.

And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed

This wasn't that long, but I hope it was good

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