The air was heavy with the smell of saltwater and the faint scent of smoke as Ace stepped off his boat, his boots meeting the soft sand. His heart hammered in his chest, his every step leading him back to them. Marco's wings were unmistakable, the sound of them cutting through the air like the whisper of a storm, while Siren's glow, even from a distance, reached him like a silent beacon. He wondered about this addition but couldn't quite explain it-she always seemed to shine in his eyes, but now it was a reminder that, no matter how far he drifted, he belonged with them.

He hadn't realized how much he'd missed them until now.

Ace's chest tightened as he walked toward the shore, his gaze locked onto Marco and Siren. They were standing together, like they always did, as if they were a force unto themselves. His steps slowed, the weight of the moment bearing down on him. His fingers twitched as he reached out to brush his hair out of his face, swallowing down the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.

"Marco, Siren," he said softly, almost hesitant, as if unsure they would still accept him after everything that had happened.

Marco's sharp eyes met his, and he gave a quiet nod, a small but knowing smile tugging at his lips. But it was Siren who caught him first, her expression a mixture of relief and something else he couldn't quite place. Her eyes, glowing like they always did, locked onto his, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.

"Ace," she breathed, her voice soft but full of the same unspoken depth that always seemed to exist between them.

"I-I thought you were going after Teach," Marco spoke up, his voice guarded but curious, as though trying to read Ace's every move. "Did you...?"

Ace looked down at his hands for a brief moment, the weight of the situation pressing against him. It was harder than he thought to admit the truth. He'd gone after Teach, yes. He'd wanted revenge, and he'd gone after it alone-because he thought that was the only way to protect them. He'd been foolish. The cost just might have been too high.

But it wasn't just about Teach. It was aboutthem.

"I did," Ace said, his voice steady, though his heart thudded loudly in his chest. "But I realised I shouldn't have. Not alone."

Siren took a step forward, her hand brushing against his arm as she met his eyes. There was a quiet understanding there, the kind only she could give him. She knew, even before he said anything, that this wasn't about the fight with Teach. This was something deeper.

"Why?" Siren asked softly, her gaze never leaving his. "Why go alone at all, Ace?"

Ace exhaled slowly, his breath shaky. "I thought... I thought it was the only way. I thought if I could just stop Teach, then I could protect you both. But I was wrong. I didn't stop to think that I needed you. That we need each other."

His words hung in the air, a confession wrapped in a vulnerability he rarely showed. His eyes flickered to Marco, who was watching him carefully. Then, to Siren, whose hand still lingered on his arm, grounding him.

"I've spent so long thinking I was alone," Ace said quietly, his voice cracking ever so slightly. "I always thought I'd be better off without anyone depending on me. I never had anyone to show me what it meant to be part of something... something real." He paused, searching for the words that didn't come easily to him. "But then I found you two. And I realized... I realized what it means to be a family. You two, you're... everything I never knew I needed."

Marco's face softened, his usual hard expression replaced by something gentler, something filled with quiet understanding. "We're not going anywhere, Ace," he said, his voice firm but comforting. "We're in this together. All three of us."

Siren's hand tightened slightly around his arm, her touch a silent promise. "I've always known we would be," she whispered, her voice tender. "But you... You have to believe that, Ace. You don't have to do this alone."

Ace nodded, his throat tight with emotion. "I just-" He stopped himself, taking a deep breath. "I don't want to fail. I don't want to be like my father. I don't want to make the same mistakes he made. I want to be... better. For you. For our family."

The weight of his admission hung in the air, and for a moment, it felt as though the world stood still. Marco and Siren said nothing, but their presence was enough. Ace didn't have to explain everything. They understood. They always had.

"I never knew what family could feel like," Ace continued, his voice softer now, "but with you two... I've finally found it. And I want to be a part of it. I want to become a father... a good father. I don't know how, not yet. But I want to try. I want to be here. With you. For you. For us."

Siren's eyes widened, her heart swelling with an emotion she couldn't quite name. The softness in Ace's eyes, the way he finally let himself be vulnerable, was enough to make her chest ache.

"We'll be here," Siren whispered, her voice filled with conviction. "We'll build this together, Ace. You don't have to fear it. You've already taken the first step."

Marco nodded, his eyes soft but unwavering. "We're a family, Ace. You don't have to carry the weight alone anymore."

Ace finally let himself breathe, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever. He reached out, pulling them both into a hug, the three of them standing close together, united in the quiet strength of their bond.

"I'm not going anywhere either," Ace murmured against Siren's hair, his voice steady now. "We're in this together, no matter what comes next."

As the sun began to set on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Ace, Marco, and Siren stood together, bound by a love and trust that could withstand anything.

And in that moment, Ace knew one thing for sure. He wasn't alone anymore.

...

The evening settled in like a quiet sigh, the last remnants of the sun dipping below the horizon, leaving the sky painted in deep hues of violet and orange. The night was warm, with the stars scattered across the heavens like diamonds, their light casting a soft glow over the small camp they had made on a quiet stretch of sand.

Ace, Marco, and Siren sat together, the crackling fire between them casting flickering shadows on their faces. Siren leaned back against Marco, the soft rise and fall of her chest a comforting rhythm against his side. Her glowing presence seemed to make the night a little brighter, but there was something different tonight-a subtle warmth radiating from her, a little more than usual. She'd eaten as much as Ace, which meant she was, of course, teasingly full-her stomach slightly rounder than it usually was.

Marco noticed it first, his sharp eyes catching the small shift in her silhouette. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned toward her, glancing at the swell of her belly, which now seemed a little more pronounced under her loose shirt.

"Look at that," Marco teased gently, his voice warm with amusement. "You've been eating as much as Ace, huh? I didn't think it was possible for anyone to keep up with him."

Siren gave him a playful glare, her lips curling into a half-smile. "I eat what I want. Don't judge me, Marco," she said, though the hint of laughter in her voice was unmistakable.

Ace, never one to let a teasing moment slip by, leaned in with a grin. "I've seen you eat as much as me, but I didn't think you'd get this puffy. Trying to keep up with my appetite, huh?" His tone was light, the usual playful spark in his eyes. He was enjoying this-probably more than he should, but it felt good to have the tension of the past days wash away with laughter.

Siren rolled her eyes, leaning back a little further into Marco. "I'm not puffed up, I'm just... enjoying myself. Can't a girl eat without being interrogated?"

"Well, now you've got me curious," Marco said, his voice low, teasing. "Maybe there's somethingelsegoing on. Youareglowing more than usual tonight."

Siren's breath caught slightly at that-her hand instinctively reaching up to her face as she lightly touched her skin. She had always noticed the subtle glow that lingered around her when things were going well, but tonight... it felt stronger. A little more noticeable.

Ace raised an eyebrow, catching Marco's words, his gaze turning to Siren with that same playful expression. "Oh? Glowing more than usual, huh? Maybe it's from all the food you've been eating," he teased, a sly smile curling his lips.

Siren couldn't help but laugh, the sound like music to their ears. She merely shrugged, playing it off as nothing more than hunger. "I'm just happy. That's all. Good food, good company... What more could I ask for?"

Marco leaned in closer, his arm wrapping around Siren's shoulders as he spoke quietly, his tone serious but affectionate. "You have no idea how much you mean to us, Siren. There's no one else I'd rather be here with than both of you."

Ace nodded in agreement, his eyes softening, looking at them with a depth of emotion that he didn't often show. "You're everything, Siren. We both would do anything for you. We'll take care of each other. Always."

Siren's heart swelled at their words, and she leaned into Marco's embrace, her eyes looking up at the stars above. For a moment, everything felt perfect. She had everything she could ever need-two people who truly understood her, who accepted her in ways no one else ever had.

"You both... make me feel like I belong," Siren murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "For so long, I thought I was just a burden, a blight. But now... I've found my place."

"You'll never be a burden," Marco said, his hand gently resting on the back of her neck, massaging it softly. "You're our heart, Siren. The one we protect, the one we cherish."

Ace nodded, his eyes alight with a rare softness that he only showed when he was with them. "We protect you, and you protect us. That's how this works. It's all about us, together. Always."

Siren smiled, her heart full, and for a moment, there was nothing else in the world. No dangers, no past mistakes, just the here and now. Under the stars, the three of them sat close, wrapped in each other's presence.

Ace reached over to grab her hand, giving it a squeeze. "You know," he began, his voice slightly teasing but sincere, "there's no need to worry about being puffy. You look perfect. In fact..." He paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "I think that glow means you've got the kind of energy I can't even keep up with."

Siren shot him a playful glare, but there was no malice in it. "You're impossible," she said, though her tone was affectionate.

Marco chuckled, his fingers threading through Siren's hair, his touch gentle. "It's not about what's on the outside, though. It's who you are. And to us, you're perfect, just as you are."

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence, the night wrapping around them like a protective blanket. The sound of the fire crackling, the soft waves breaking against the shore, and the distant calls of night birds were the only things filling the air.

And for that moment, they were content. No fear, no pain. Just the promise of tomorrow, and the quiet, unwavering bond they had with each other.

...

The night was quiet, save for the soft rustle of the ocean breeze and the gentle crackle of the dying fire. The stars overhead twinkled brightly, the night sky stretched endlessly above them. The trio lay close together, their bodies wrapped in the warmth of each other's presence, a tangled heap of limbs under the vast, endless sky.

Marco's large frame curled around Siren, the soft beat of his heart steady and grounding as he held her close, his arms wrapped protectively around her. His warm breath brushed against the back of her neck as she rested against him, the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat a steady lullaby.

Ace, on the other side, lay with his arm draped around her stomach, his fingers lightly splayed across the soft skin of her belly. His head rested just below her heart, listening to the steady pulse, the sound of it calming him in ways he never expected. He was always restless, always moving, but with Siren so close, his body seemed to find peace in a way it hadn't in a long time.

Siren had long since closed her eyes, feeling their warmth seep into her bones. She could feel their presence as they wrapped around her, giving her a sense of safety she hadn't known she craved. The soft pressure of Marco's arm around her waist and the way Ace held her so gently made her feel whole, in a way that was almost impossible to describe.

But in the stillness of the night, her eyes fluttered open.

The world was silent around them, the gentle lap of the waves on the shore a distant lullaby. She shifted slightly, careful not to disturb either of them, her gaze lifting to the stars above. The darkness of the sky stretched endlessly, the constellations sparkling like diamonds scattered across a velvet cloth.

And then, just as her heart ached with the beauty of the moment, it happened. A streak of light shot across the sky, a shooting star breaking the stillness of the night.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for the briefest of moments, everything seemed to freeze. The weight of the night, the warmth of her companions, the sound of their breathing, it all seemed to fall away as she made her wish.

If only this moment could last forever.

She closed her eyes, a soft sigh escaping her lips as she let the warmth of the wish fill her chest. She didn't know what the future held, didn't know what would come for them, but right now, here in this moment, she had everything she ever needed.

Ace's grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, as if sensing her shift in attention. His breathing was steady, almost like he was still half-dreaming, but it comforted her. Marco's arms stayed firmly around her, solid and unyielding, like an anchor in the night.

The quiet sounds of the world drifted back, the peaceful whispers of the night soothing her as she nestled further into Marco's embrace, her head resting against his chest. Ace shifted slightly, his breath warm against her skin.

She felt so at peace, so completely at home, that the thought of anything disrupting this moment made her chest tighten with anxiety. She didn't know if it could last forever-if anything could-but for tonight, for this instant, she had everything she could possibly want.

As the stars above continued to glitter, she let herself drift back to sleep, her heart full, her wish a quiet secret carried off on the wind. In that moment, the world felt right.

...

After their heartfelt night under the stars, Marco, Siren, and Ace awoke with renewed determination to track down Teach. Over breakfast, they discussed their next steps, piecing together information from various sources.

"I've heard rumors that Teach and his crew were seen causing havoc on Drum Island," Marco began, his brow furrowed in thought. "Their attack was so devastating that the king, Wapol, fled without even attempting to fight back."

Siren nodded, recalling the stories she'd heard from travelers. "Yes, and after Drum Island, there were whispers of Teach heading to Jaya. It's said he was in Mock Town, playing 'games' with his crew to test their fate."

Ace clenched his fists, the memory of his encounter with Teach in Alabasta still fresh. "We need to move quickly. If Teach is gathering strength and causing chaos wherever he goes, we can't afford to let him slip away again."

Marco placed a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder. "We'll find him, Ace. Together."

Siren smiled softly, her hand resting on her abdomen, feeling a strange warmth. "Yes, together. Let's set sail for Jaya and see if we can pick up his trail there."

With a shared sense of purpose, the trio prepared their ship, setting their course for Jaya, determined to confront Teach and put an end to his treachery.

...

The sea was calm, the gentle rhythm of the waves providing a soothing backdrop to their journey. Ace's boat cut through the water effortlessly, propelled by the flame from his hand that glowed softly against the dark water. Siren leaned against the edge, her green eyes tracing the horizon. Marco sat nearby, arms crossed, his gaze drifting between the sky and the boat.

Ace, sitting cross-legged in the back with a small bundle in his lap, cleared his throat. "I've been meaning to give you guys something," he said, his tone uncharacteristically soft.

Siren turned to him, curious, while Marco raised a brow.

From the bundle, Ace pulled out two small, torn pieces of paper. "These," he began, holding them out, "are Vivre Cards. I made one for each of you."

Siren's eyes widened as she stepped closer. Marco unfolded his arms, his interest piqued.

"I already gave one to Luffy," Ace continued, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "I thought... you know, in case we ever get separated, this would help us find each other. I couldn't stop myself from making more-for the two people I trust most in the world."

Siren's breath caught, and she reached out to take one of the cards, her fingers brushing against Ace's. She stared at the tiny piece of paper, as though it held the universe. Marco took the other card, his blue eyes softened by emotion as he inspected it.

"Ace," Siren whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "This means so much."

Marco gave a small, approving nod. "Thoughtful of you, firefly. Though, now I'm thinkin' we should return the favor."

"Absolutely," Siren agreed, clutching the card to her chest. "We'll make ones for you too, Ace. That way, no matter where we are, we'll always find our way back."

Ace's grin widened, but there was a flicker of vulnerability in his expression. "You're stuck with me, then," he said, a teasing lilt to his voice.

"Forever," Marco replied, his tone light but carrying an undeniable sincerity.

"Forever," Siren echoed, her green eyes locking with Ace's before darting to Marco.

The moment hung in the air, the bond between the three solidified once again.

...

As the day stretched on, the sea remained eerily calm until something strange broke the monotony.

"Did you see that?" Marco asked, narrowing his eyes as he pointed to the sky.

Ace and Siren followed his gaze. High above, something glittered, reflecting the sunlight as it tumbled downward.

"What is that?" Siren murmured.

Moments later, a heavy thud resounded as a metallic object splashed into the water nearby. Siren leaned over the edge of the boat, squinting. "It's... a chest?"

Before they could investigate further, more objects began to fall from the sky-random debris, tools, and even what looked like parts of a ship.

"This is gettin' weird," Marco muttered, his wings flaring slightly in readiness.

Ace laughed, but it was tinged with curiosity. "Looks like the sky's got a lot to say today."

Siren tilted her head upward, shielding her eyes from the sun. In the distance, silhouettes moved against the clouds-massive shapes that seemed almost otherworldly.

"Is that... a ship?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's real," Marco confirmed, his tone grave as he followed her line of sight.

Ace's flames crackled as he leaned against the railing. "Now that's something you don't see every day," he said, his grin widening with excitement. "Let's check it out."

...