Aoi's POV

I was worried about Ace. It seemed as if he had been pushing me further and further away since that nightmare. And to make it worse is that he had it constantly for the past three weeks and he still wouldn't talk to me about it.

I sat in the crow's nest as I watched Ace try to fight back a narcoleptic trigger.

"Just what was it in his nightmares that makes him not want to sleep?" I asked as I watched.

"Probably something to do with you." Marco said.

"Me?" I asked. The pineapple nodded. I stared at him.

"What would I have done?" I asked. Marco sighed.

"Maybe the nightmare was about you." Marco said. I looked back at Ace as he shook his head, trying to fight back the narcolepsy.

"Maybe..." I said. I formed in to water and sunk in to the deck and reformed by Ace as he fell asleep. I caught my boyfriend and laied him in my lap before he could hit the deck.

"It always scares the crap out of me when you do that instantaneous water travel, Aoi-chan." Teach said.

"Good. Fear me, bitch. Once I master these powers, Sea Stone won't effect me." I thought, though externally, I ignored him and continued to tend to the sleeping Fire Fist. I stroked his hair and calmed him. For the first time in a long time, Ace seemed to sleep peacefully. I felt relieved. He hadn't been getting much sleep, and that worried me. I smiled softly as he slept.

Ace's POV

I have no idea how long I slept. It was longer than normal for one of my narcoleptic triggers, but not long enough for a full night. Maybe a power nap?

When I woke, I realized I was on someone's lap. I slowly opened my eyes as I felt a hand stroking my hair. I turned my eyes to the person stroking my hair. I saw Aoi, staring up at the sky, a strange look on her face and an unexplainable glimmer in her eyes. I wanted to jump away in fear of possibly hurting her, but I was captivated by her.

The serious look on her face... The look of... Determination in her eyes... She looked so beautiful. I couldn't leave her. Ever. No matter what my damn nightmares said. I love Aoi, and nothing will ever take her from me.

"Oh, you're awake." Her voice pulled me from my thoughts. I sat up.

"Sorry." I said. She grabbed my hand and smiled at me.

"Don't apologize for who you are." She said. I gave her a suprised look.

"Why?" I asked her. She gave me a soft smile and cupped my cheeks with her hands.

"Because you should never apologize for perfection." She says and kissed me softly. I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her back. She was so warm and soft. And her lips tasted sweet, like brownies.

She sighed sadly as she parted from me for air. She frowned.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Stupid need for air. I wish I could kiss you longer." She said. I chuckled and kissed her again. She smiled in to the kiss as she deepened it.

"I can't be as bad as I thought. I can't be as bad as I am in that nightmare. Not if this woman has put her golden heart in my hands." I thought. I pulled away for air, resting my forehead on hers.

"I love you, Aoi." I whispered to her.

"I love you, too, Ace." She whispered back. I held her closer to me, wanting to keep her there and protect her.

"Aoi, you know there are many people that want me to die and will do anything to get that." I said. I felt her nuzzle in to my neck.

"Ace, I knew exactly what I was signing up for when I told you I loved you the first time. Just like you knew exactly what you were signing up for when you told me you wanted to be with me." She said. She pulled away and looked me in the eyes.

"I love you, Portgas D. Ace. Nothing is ever going to change that." She said. I looked deep in to her jade eyes. I only saw two things. Love and worry. She loved me. She truely loved me. And she worried about me because she loved me so much.

I kissed her forehead.

"I know that, Aoi. I love you just as much, if not more. And I want to protect you. I know that Marco already knows we're together and Pops knows, of course. But I don't want anyone else knowing. It's not that I don't trust the guys, it's just... If they went around an island talking about us and Marines over heard. I'm afraid that you'd get an even bigger target painted on your back. I want to keep you out of as much danger as I possibly can." I said. I felt her lips on my jaw.

"I know, Ace. I understand that. I'll make sure to keep it on a need to know basis." She said. I held her tight against my chest.

Aoi was called off to take care of things for Marco when we docked at an island, so she gave me one last kiss and was off to do some work.

I wandered the island town and looked in the windows of various shops. I wanted to get something nice for Aoi, to show her that I loved her and understood that keeping our relationship secret would be difficult and that I listened to her.

But what to get her?

There were flowers every where, I could buy her a little bouquet or flower crown, but I didn't know what her favorite flower was.

I could get her chocolate, but that would be a little obvious.

I could get her a necklace, but again, obvious.

I could get her a ring, but one, obvious, two, I didn't know her ring size, three, could be mistaken as a proposal.

I was running out of ideas and options when the perfect thing caught my eye. It was sitting in the window of a store and I knew I had to give it to her. I turned in to the store.

Aoi's POV

I sighed and stretched as I finished the work Marco had given me.

"Finally! Ugh... My brain hurts..." I groaned and stood up from the chair. He had me sorting through various books do find certain information for him. I gathered the papers from the table and went to find Marco.

And naturally, I found him talking to Ace.

"Good evening, boys. Here are those papers you asked me for, Marco." I said, handing the blond the papers.

"Thank you, Aoi." Marco said and walked off. I stood next to Ace and smiled at him.

"Hey." He said.

"Hi." I said. I held his hand and he smiled at me.

"Marco tells me you are getting stronger every time you guys spar." Ace said.

"Good. Then that means I'm just a little bit closer to where I want to be." I said. Ace nodded.

"I know you won't tell me where that is exactly, but I will stay by your side the whole way." He said. I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Good. Because I want you by my side when it ends." I said. I felt him rest his head on mine.

"I'll always be here." He whispered to me. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. I had another vision. Only instead of being pinned to the ground by Teach, I was the one getting Akainu's fist through my torso. Even just thinking about it, I could feel the burning in my chest. I opened my eyes and looked over at Ace's chest, where the hole would be if he died. I sighed, closing my eyes again.

"Ace." I said softly.

"Hm?" He hummed softly, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb, making my heart jump and beat faster in my chest. Just like it was trying to leave me and go to him.

"I love you. And I'm willing to take everything that comes with it." I said. He squeezed my hand and stroked my hair with his free one.

"I love you, too, Aoi. And I am willing to take everything that comes with it, but I am not willing to lose you." He said. I nodded.

"I'm not willing to lose you, either." I whispered. I felt his hand on my cheek and I opened my eyes slightly and was met by his beautiful face. My heart threw itself against my rib cage, trying to escape me and go to it's rightful place with Ace. I leaned in closer and pressed my lips against his.

He chuckled at me and pulled away, earning a frown from me. He turned, releasing my hand and putting his hands on my hips. He rested his forehead on mine.

"You're getting a little greedy there, love." He said. I smirked.

"Can't help it. You're lips taste amazing." I said. He chuckled and pressed his lips to mine and pulling away before I could lean in. I huffed in frustration. Ace chuckled at me again.

"Something wrong?" He asked in a teasing matter. I scowled at him.

"Don't tease me, Ace. I already want you bad enough as it is. Just let me kiss you!" I grumbled. Ace smiled and kissed me until I was breathless. He broke away from me and let me breathe.

"Before you lose control of yourself, I have something to give you." He said. I stepped back and gave him a confused look.

"What?" I asked in suprise. Ace smiled at me shyly.

"My god, he so cute when he's shy." I thought.

"C-close your eyes." He said. I giggled and closed my eyes like he told me.

"Now hold out your hands." He said. I laughed.

"Ace." I laughed.

"Just do it!" He said. I sighed and put my hands in front of me. I felt something soft be put in to my hands.

"Open your eyes." He said. I opened my eyes and looked at the soft gift in my hands and was suprised.

In my hands was a tanish, kinda honey colored teddy bear with swirling fur (pictured above) and it was adorable.

"I remember you told me you never had a teddy bear growing up. I saw it in town and thought about you. I mean, it's a pretty silly gift to get at our age but-" Ace ranted nervously.

"I love it." I cut him off.

"What?" Ace asked.

"I love it, Ace. Thank you." I said, hugging the little bear to my chest. It was so soft and it felt like I was holding something that had been missing my whole life.

I felt arms wrap around me. I opened my eyes as Ace held me to his chest. I felt him start to stroke my hair.

"You don't have to cry, you know. A simple "thank you" is good enough for me." Ace said, his natural sarcasm coming back.

I hadn't even realized I was crying. I chuckled and burried my face in his chest.

"S-sorry. I d-didn't even realize I was." I laughed and cried at the same time. Ace held me tight and continued to stroke my hair and back. I finally calmed down and took a step back, wiping my eyes. I gave Ace a bright smile.

"Thank you, Ace." I said. He gave me a soft peck on the lips.

"I love you, Aoi." He said.