Aoi's POV

I ran my hand through my hair. A new year's celebration. Filled with more drinking and goofing around than Christmas. Though in about two hours, Ace would be nineteen. And I would give him the gift I meant to give him for Christmas.

Here's the problem, I couldn't find my walking heater anywhere. And not only did that mean I couldn't give him his gift, but my ass was starting to freeze. Quite litterally.

Thankfully, Marco had drapped another blanket around my shoulders to help me hide the embarrassing freeze. Also explaining to me that Ace was normally alone at this time for his own personal reasons. I frowned.

I wish I could help him. I said. Marco sighed, taking another drink.

"Trust me, Aoi. We all do. But sometimes it's better to just let him be." He said. I nodded, still wishing I could help him. I could feel Marco looking at me from the corner of his eyes.

"You're going to go track him down and try to help him, aren't you?" He asked. I thought for a moment.

Track him down, yes. Force my help on to him, no. As you said, sometimes it's better to just let things be. But that's not going to stop me from keeping him company. No one deserves to be alone at this time. I said.

"You sure are persistent, aren't you?" He asked with a sigh. I smiled at him.

That's one word for it. I said and stood up, starting my search for my friend.

I walked around for about an hour before I found him at the very back of the ship, staring up at the sky. His hat was off, though he had found it a few days back. His hair fell around his forehead, making him look even more attractive than normal. I shook myself to get me to stop stairing at him.

"A-ack?" I coughed out. Ace didn't respond, completely lost in thought. I didn't want to disturb him, but my feet were solid ice as was my right hand. I walked up behind him, paining me to do so. I gently touched his arm with my frozen hand. He looked down, staring at my ice hand for a moment before things clicked.

His eyes widened and he looked up at me. He gasped in suprise, seeming unfazed by my worry filled gaze.

"Aoi! Oh, god, I'm so sorry!" He said, pulling me against his chest. I drew a silent gasp as we were suddenly so close. I felt my cheeks heat up with blush. Ever since I admitted to Marco that I had fallen head over heels for Ace, every time Ace and I were this close I got nervous.

Ace rubbed my arms in hopes to warm me up more. I carefully wrapped my arms around his warm body. He held the blanket on my shoulders up. We pulled away and he wrapped me tightly in the blanket, then wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"Better?" He asked me. I nodded, cuddling against him.

"I'm so sorry I abandoned you. I just..." He stopped, unsure of how to continue. I looked up at him, worry in my eyes again.

Are you okay, Ace? You seem off. I said. He sighed and rested his chin on my head.

"Yeah, just... A lot on my mind." He said. I sighed.

Tell me. I said. He shook his head.

"I don't want to bother you with it." He said.

I won't be bothered. Besides, it might help you to get it off your chest. I said. I felt his grip tighten around me.

"It's stupid. Don't worry about it." He said. I frowned. I wanted to push further, but that would risk pushing him away from me.

If you say so. But promise me you'll come talk to me if you ever need to talk about it? I asked. He stared at me for a while.

Whatever you tell me stays between us. Swear on my life. I said. Ace smiled at me and nodded.

"I will, I promise." He said. I smiled. He and I silently stared up at the stars.

"Ten minutes until a new year..." He said. I nodded.

Happy Birthday ten minutes early. I said. He looked down at me.

"How did you-?" He started. A small flash of his past darted infront of my eyes.

"Ace!" Luffy called. I saw small Ace scowl at the small Luffy chasing after him.

And just like that I was back in reality. Ace has told me before that my eyes change colors when I do that. Completely black for the past and completely white for the future. He said it freaked him out the first few times.

"Right..." He said. I frowned at him, then I remembered the gift. I squirmed in his arms a bit until he loosened his grip enough for me to pull the small box from my pocket. I handed it to him.

"What's this?" He asked as he took it from me.

It's your birthday gift. I wanted to get you something special for your nineteenth. I said. He scoffed.

"There's nothing special about my birthday." He said. I gave him a pleading look and he sighed and opened the box and froze.

"Aoi..." He said, raising the small gift from the box. It was a small pin shapped like a flag that had "ASL" engraved in it. I saw tears in his eyes as he looked up at me.

"Why did you do this?" He asked shakily. I held his hands so he wouldn't drop the pin.

Because you're special to me, Ace. I know you don't like your birthday. I don't know why you don't, but I want you to know that I am very glad for your birthday. I said. I felt his hands tremble under my hand. He carefully slipped it back in the box and slipped it in to his pocket.

"I... I don't know what to say." He said, a single tear rolling down his cheek. I moved my hand from his hands up to his cheek to brush away the tear before I wrote in my notepad again.

You don't have to say anything. Just remember that you're special to me. I said. Ace wrapped his arms around me again and we stood in peaceful silence for about three minutes.

"Aoi?" Ace asked. I nodded.

"Do... Do you think I should have been born?" He asked. I looked up at him.

Yes. I said.

"Why?" He asked me. I sighed through my nose.

Everyone was born for a reason. From what I can see, you were born for your brothers and for Pops. And for me.

"What do you mean?" He asked. I sighed again.

Ace, I hear what you call yourself, but I want you to think for a moment. Would a monster pull a girl he doesn't know from the ocean just because he didn't want her to drown? Would a monster spend months training that girl to fight and defend herself? Would a monster worry over that girl when she got sick? Would a monster stay by that girl's side for a week straight, hardly eatting or sleeping? Would a monster become brothers with two other little boys on that island? Would a monster love like you do? I asked. Ace didn't respond.

No. A monster wouldn't. You are NOT a monster, Ace. You do not have to pay for Roger's mistakes. You aren't him. You are you. I said. Ace looked down at our feet.

"But who am I exactly?" He asked.

That's something you have to discover for yourself. But would you like to know how I see you? I asked. Slowly, he nodded.

Every time I see you, I don't see a demon, I see an angel. A man with a heart so kind it's almost hard to believe he's a pirate. I see a man that is so kind and gentle and loving. I see an older brother, a little brother and a best friend. I see an angel that goes by the name of Portgas D. Ace. And I know that if they were sober, everyone would agree with me. Everyone here loves you, Ace. Pops, Marco, Thatch, Izo, me. Hell, I bet if Luffy was here, he'd agree with me.I said. He sighed, his breath dancing across my neck.

"You're too sweet, you know that, Aoi?" He asked. I gave him a confused look.

All I did was tell you the truth. We all love you, Ace. Ace suddenly put his hand over my note pad. I turned around and looked up at him. He stared down at me and I felt my cheeks heat up again.

Ace? Are you feeling okay? I asked. Ace didn't even look at my notepad.

Ace? What are you~ My writting was stopped when Ace's hand slipped under my chin and he gently tipped my head up so I was looking at him. His other hand rested on my hip. I swollowed hard. Ace leaned in closer and my heart went wild.

3rd person POV

Ace leaned in close, eyes slowly sliding shut. His lips brushed against Aoi's. Her eyes fluttered shut and she held still, waiting for him to close the gap.

Ace peaked at her through half closed eyes. She was waiting for him, hoping he was fully awake and completely sober, but he didn't know that.

Ace slipped his hand from her chin to cup her cheek. She looked so beautiful with her eyes closed and pink dusting her cheeks.

"Don't keep her waiting." He thought. They both took a deep breath and Ace closed the remaining gap between their lips. She melted in to the kiss almost immediately. The pad and pencil slipped from her hands and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They faintly heard the crew cheer as they entered the new year.

But the new year was the last thing on their minds. All they could think about was each other.

"Her lips are so soft and sweet. Like, chocolate." Ace thought as his tongue traced her lower lip, asking for permission. Aoi's lips parted in a small gasp and Ace took his chance to slip his tongue in to her mouth, wrestling hers for dominance, which she surrendered very quickly.

"He tastes like meat. Go figure. But his lips are so soft, and so gentle. I don't want this to end." Aoi thought.

Air soon became a must and the two parted, pantining lightly.

"I..." He breathed, trying to catch his breath to apologize for his suprise attack.

"Please don't blame yourself for things that aren't in your control. I love you."

Ace's eyes widened and he stared at her.

"You..." He started. Aoi's eyes were just as wide as his.

"My... My voice is back!" She said. A grin spread across her face and tears of joy rolled down her cheeks.

"My voice is back! Ha... My voice is back!" She laughed. Ace wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You're voice is back! Talk more! Say something else!" He said.

"Ace, I love you!" Aoi blurted out. Ace was suprised, but was even more suprise when she kissed him again.

"I love you." She said again after she pulled away.

"Do... Do you really?" He asked. Aoi nodded, serious.

"I've loved you since I woke up from my coma. Maybe longer." She said.

Ace's eyes closed. He smiled and gave her a peck on the lips.

"I love you, too, Aoi." He said. He picked her up and spun around with her in his arms, causing her to squeal with delight.

"I could never get tired of hearing that." He said. Aoi giggled, a sound that was music to his ears. He could listen to Aoi giggle all day.

Aoi kissed him then jumped from his arms, gathering the things she dropped, then grabbing Ace's hand.

"Come on! Let's go tell everyone I can talk again!" She said. Ace frowned at her.

"What is it?" She asked. Ace brushed some of her hair from her face and re-wrapped the blanket around her shoulders.

"I want to keep you to myself. Just a little bit longer." He said. Aoi felt her heart dance at his words and she smiled at him.

"In a sense, you do keep me to yourself. Every night we've been here." She said. He frowned.

"But that's mainly because you'll turn in to an ice sculpture Aoi if I don't." He said. Aoi giggled, making Ace smile.

"I always wondered what your giggle sounded like." He said. She smiled at him.

"And do you like what you hear?" She asked. Ace grinned at her, making her heart soar.

"Yes. I could listen to you giggle and talk all day." He murmured. Blush slowly darkened from pink to red and then red to a dark crimson.

"I... I, uh... I-I don't... I..." She spluttered. Ace chuckled and kissed her gently on the lips.

"Ace. Come on. We need to tell everyone before their too drunk to remember." She said. He frowned.

"Then can I keep you all to myself for the rest of the night?" He asked. She nodded.

"For the rest of your birthday, I'm all yours." She promised. Ace thought about it, then smiled and nodded in agreement. She held his hand and they went to tell everyone the good news.