Ace cursed as he scanned for his annoying little brother. They'd been playing hide and seek for a couple hours now and the brat had disappeared. Despite the fact that he was better at observational haki in a fighting sense, Luffy had the irritating ability to pick up on people's emotions and hide his own. Ace had already located Zoro and Perona, and they had retreated back to the castle but Luffy was proving impossible to pin down. He could tell he was in the right area but damn it! He was the one who taught the little punk how to hunt in the first place!

He had been about to head off in another direction when he heard the sound of someone approaching. He grinned assuming Luffy had finally gotten bored but froze when an unknown male stepped into view. It was too late to hide so he braced himself in a fighting pose. "Who the hell are you?" He snarled.

The man stopped and hesitantly looked up, pushing up the brim of his top hat. Ace froze staring at ice blue eyes that he knew. Eyes that haunted him for the last decade of his life.

"S-S-Sabo?" He breathed.

"Hi Ace… I can explain?" Sabo said awkwardly.

"You-you're-" Ace blinked, expecting the ghost to disappear, instead his vision continued to darken.

Sabo flinched as Ace moved in his direction. He braced himself for the punch that he knew was coming. Instead he watched in confusion as Ace collapsed to the ground. "Ace?" He stepped forward concerned when he heard a loud shriek from above. He looked up to see a blur rocketing toward him. "Oh fu-"

Sabo didn't even have time to brace before his younger brother torpedoed into his stomach sending them both flying away from Ace. He landed hard, gasping desperately for oxygen that his lungs forgot how to inhale. He finally sucked in a mouthful of air and pushed himself upright, only to come face to face with a furious Luffy.

Luffy glared at the intruder, carefully placing himself between him and his fallen brother. He had been hiding in a tree when he had seen the man approach and though he hadn't made out what the man had done, Ace's crumpled form sent a wave of fury through him. No one was going to hurt his brother, not while he was around. He studied the blonde in front of him, noting the severe burns around his left eye and way he kept his right side towards him. He bared his teeth and launched a gum gum pistol, forcing the man to dodge and weave around but unable to land a blow. He longed to fling his body after him but he couldn't leave Ace unprotected so fought the urge down. Instead he distracted the man with a flurry of punches and kicks, and shot his left arm up, latching onto a think branch and yanking hard, breaking if off the trunk and sending it plummeting at the man's head. He watched the guy dive out of the way but the limb caught his lower body, and pinned his left leg.

Luffy decided to end this quick so he could check on his fallen brother. He flung himself in the air, blowing up his arm to giant size as he shot back down, aiming at the trapped intruder. "Wha-Luffy no!" Came the panicked yell from Ace behind him. Luffy faltered and his arm wobbled, smashing the ground beside the man and rebounding off to knock over a tree which started to fall in their direction. There was a rush of movement and the tree stopped, hovering above them, trapped in a web of hands. Luffy beamed at the sight, spinning his head around 180 degrees to catch sight of Robin casually leaning against a nearby tree.

"Robin! You're here!" Luffy cheered, before whipping his head back around to look at the intruder. "Ace! Are you ok? Was I not supposed to beat him up? He hurt you."

"Luffy-" Ace paused, struggling for words as his focus stayed glued on the sprawled -breathing- form of his dead brother. "What the hell Bo?"

"Ace… Luffy. I can't believe you're both here. I'm sorry. Oh seas, I'm so sorry." Sabo pushed himself into a sitting position, still unable to look at his brothers. "I didn't want to leave you, I didn't mean to leave you… I lost my memories. But that doesn't excuse the fact that I was running off- and seas Ace you almost died! And Luffy." There was a choked sob. "Damn it you idiots. Haven't you learned any self preservation skills? I could have lost you both before I even remembered. Before I had a chance to beg for your forgiveness." Sabo looked up at Ace, watery eyes desperately seeking to read his face.

"Huh, Ace who is this?" Luffy said confused, looking back and forth at the two men who hadn't blinked.

"What? You can't even recognize your big brother Lu? I guess that's to be expected. Look how much you've grow- OH SEAS!" Sabo squealed, finally looking at his little brother. "You're TINY! What just- How are- adjkfaaskdljdj I just wanna squish you! Ace! Look!"

Luffy looked up at the two males, eyes flickering back and forth in confusion. "Big brother? Ace I don't get it… what's he mean? Uh Ace? Ace!" Luffy froze looking at Ace whose eyes were impossibly wide and focused entirely on him. Luffy gulped and took a hesitant step back as they pushed themselves to their feet.

"Mine!" Shouted both older boys, lunging forward and shoving at each other. Luffy turned and bolted to Robin.

"I call DIBS!" Sabo swore as Ace elbowed him hard.

"You gave up your right to dibs when you died!"

"You had 10 years with him it's my turn!"

"No way! Not when he's this adorable!"

Luffy hid behind a laughing Robin and gulped. "Oh man. Time to go Robin." He grabbed her hand and dragged her behind as he bolted through the trees. "Slow them down for me Robin!"

"Sure thing captain." Robin said as she summoned extra arms to grab at their pursuers.

"Shishishi, we have to hide til I grow again. Quick in here." He shouted bolting into the castle and slamming on his brakes. "Oh shit." He said as he slid across the floor and crashed into Perona.

Luffy fought to free his arms and plug his ears as the girl let out a high pitched scream and squished him in her grip. Down the hall a door flew across the hall and Zoro burst into the hall with his two swords out. He worriedly scanned the room, stopping when he picked out a struggling Luffy, getting spun around by a cooing Perona. He grunted and lowered his weapons before nodding at Robin and turning back to look at the destroyed doorway. "Ah shit. Mihawk's gonna be pissed. What'd you have to scream for, stupid ghost witch."

Just then the front door flew open again and a bedraggled and singed Sabo raced through with a bleeding Ace right behind him. They locked eyes with the squealing girl who was still clutching a now, bug eyed Luffy.

"Oy give me back my brother!" Ace demanded.

"OUR brother." Sabo snapped, stepping forward.

Perona stared at the two boys defiantly, before sticking out her tongue and bolting for the stairs. She used her powers, summoning ghosts to fill the stairwell behind her.. "Finders keepers. He's too CUTE!"

The boys howled in rage, glancing at each other and nodding, having a reached an instant agreement to team up against this new threat to Luffy cuddles. Both boys ran at the nearest wall, with Ace sliding into a crouch while Sabo leapt up, rebounding off and springing into Ace's ready clasped hands. Ace gave a strong toss and Sabo flew through the air, grasping the railing of the overlooking walkway. He then hung there while Ace turned and leapt up, grabbing his dangling legs and hauling himself up and over. "Go!" Sabo yelled as he began to hoist himself up and Ace disappeared down the hall.

Zoro stared after them for a moment as they heard crashing and curses echoing. "Do you think we should help Luffy?"

Robin laughed. "I fear this battle is out of our league. Besides I've got an eye and ear on him. Our good captain will be himself again any moment."

Zoro shrugged, following Robin back into the library he had charged out of. He had missed her wry humour and was curious to hear about her journey. Luffy could handle himself.

Sabo meanwhile shouted in triumph as he got a hold of one of Luffy's legs. Ace quickly grabbing on and helping him pull while Perona kicked at them. Luffy squirmed trying to break away, thankful that he was made of rubber as his legs stretched out. Then finally he felt his body pop back to normal size.

"Ah." The trio groaned in disappointment as Luffy cheered.

"Go small again!" Perona demanded, shaking his shoulders.

"Nuh-uh. You guys are crazy." Luffy said, stretching his body and sprawling on the floor. "Wait brother?" He said looking back at the two guys. Ace smirked at him and Sabo wiped his cheeks. "Sabo?" Luffy said in awe and Sabo nodded softly. Next thing he knew, Luffy had flown at him and wrapped himself around his head, sobbing loudly. "Saboooo. You're alive!"

Ace snorted wetly. "Took you long enough Lu."

"Aw Luffy. Still a big crybaby aren't you?" Sabo choked out, tangling his fingers in Luffy's vest and clinging desperately. He sunk down to the floor, as Luffy whimpered. "I'm so sorry Luffy. I should've been there, I should've watched you grow."

There was a loud wail and then sudden silence. "Sabo?" Luffy whimpered. Sabo hmmed at him and Luffy sniffed. "I finally beat you."

"Hey you brat! Just wait til next time. But seas Lu, you've gotten so strong." Luffy broke back into even louder sobs and clenched tighter.

Ace watched his brothers fondly. He had never dreamed that he would get to see Sabo again and now here he was, comforting their cry baby little brother the way he always should have - since he was obviously the nice, soft brother. Suddenly one of Luffy's arms untangled and dragged him into their hug and Ace grunted as he got Sabo's elbow in his gut. Still he let Luffy envelop him in his limbs and buried his face in Sabo's shoulder.

Ace didn't know what had happened to Sabo, what he had been doing the last 10 years or why he had never returned but that didn't matter right now. Right now he had the two most important people in his life, safely ensconced in his arms. Questions and the ass kicking Sabo deserved would come later.