"Ace."

You gently shook the sleeping pirate, unaware of the stares the two of you were getting aboard the Moby Dick.  However you could care less, you didn't need the flame head to accidentally fall into the ocean.....like last time. So you continued to shake him, hopeful of him waking up, the ship was about to set sail again.

"Ace, I don't have the time or the patience to deal with your shenanigans today."

still, his eye stayed glued shut, a soft snore escaping his lips. You couldn't deny that he was most adorable when he wasn't bouncing around an island, unhesitant to throw a fireball or two at anyone he deemed to be getting a little 'feelsy' around you.

You sighed, remembering the last time you docked. He nearly charred someone right off the bat, held back by only Marco and Thatch.

You shook him gently only once more.

"I have no problem in getting Thatch to stop feeding you, and you know what he's making for dinner tonight?-"

Suddenly, the freckled man shot up and looked at you with pleading eyes.

"Now, now, my lovely Y/n, no reason to become rash O' darling of mine."

You rolled your eyes, shaking you head slightly as you looked down on him, filled with a sense of guilt.

oh well he deserved it.

he began kissing your fingertips, eagerly making his way up your arm and to your neck before finally reaching your lips, giving them a soft peck.

"Why would you threaten me like that? You know I cant help but fall asleep when I'm tired.."

That was the problem, you had always told him that if he got tired, he could always go crash on the bed.

But no.

Always somewhere where he could get hurt. Hell, one time he nearly passed out on the side of the ship as they were setting off and nearly fell into the water. Oh wasn't that just a fun thing to accomplish that day. Pulling a half asleep flame boy up from the watery depths of death.

Great.

"Ace honey I know you cant help it, but you need to stop falling asleep like, everywhere! Do you know how terrified id be if you fell asleep somewhere in town and got lost? Or if you'd hang off the side of the ship and fall in without anyone knowing? I'm not trying to fuss at you babe, I just want you to be safe..."

You felt tears sting in your eyes as you thought about losing him.

he was all you had left to live for, all that was left of you, for you. You didn't want to let him go because of a dumb thing like this. Yet you felt bad for getting on him for something so....stupid..

"y/n I promise I'm alright...just help me to the galley real quick, I can smell the food that Thatch I making...and you know how I like to taste test."

An idiotic grin sets on his face as you wrap an arm around his waist and let him lean into you, even though he was twice as heavy as you were, you kept walking. Him and being lazy. You could let him drop on the ground though..

"Yyyy/nnnnnn."

Ace whined from beside you, nudging his face into the side of your head, making you turn in his direction.

"Yes. Ace?"

"Can I have a quick kiss? Just to say that I'm sorry for worrying you, but you're so short that I don't want to lean all theee waayyyyy dowwwwnnnn therrreeee...."

you huffed. You weren't that small....at least you didn't think you were...were you? Nevermind it! That's not important!....But you're still not....whatever...

"Fine. Bring your cute freckled self down here..."

he gave a hearty chuckle before leaning down slightly to your eye level and gave you a soft peck on the cheek before you calmly swept your lips over his, melding into the lovely little kiss and giving a content sigh of relief.

"Ah, thank you my sweet little helper."

you giggles softly, walking through the next hallway and following the doors to the cabins to the kitchen where Thatch was busy at work;

cooking, cleaning, and setting up the table for the whole little family.

well I wouldn't consider it to be...'small'

four hundred? Five hundred? You had tried to count everyone at one point...but that didn't go as according to plan and you soon gave up and gave into the warm welcome they had given you as soon as you walked aboard.

"Hey Thatch!"

he turned around and gave a small smile as you sat Ace down at the table.

"Hey Y/n, what brings you and the little firebreather to the kitchen?'

you heard a small grunt escape from Ace and you shook your head and gave a soft laugh.

"Well, he's here for...'taste testing'..?"

Thatch shook his head and sighed. He cocked an eyebrow and motioned over to the ice box next to the pantry.

"There should be some stuff in there to satisfy his hunger needs, he just get up from another one of his 'naps'?" He asks, with a small smirk.

You gave a slight nod as you headed to the ice box , lifting the door swiftly and picking up a few containers of food and sat in down in front of your hungry hungry pirate.

"Mm...i wouldn't say woke up....more like forced awake. "

Thatch gave a reassuring nod, chuckling a bit.

"Ah I see, he fall asleep somewhere near the edge of the ship, didn't he? That's the only time you'll really force him awake...i remember the last time that happened...you yelled at him for five straight minutes and gave in, finally smacking him awake. "

He began to laugh, stirring something in a pot. Ace rubbed both of his cheeks, pouting, his cheeks full of food.

"I can still feel the stinging.."

You shook your head and gave him a light pat on the head, sliding his hat off of his head and settling it on the counter in front of him.

"It's impolite to wear hats at the table Ace, you know that."

you took a strong whiff of the air.

"And by the way that meat smells, Thatch is about done with dinner."

Thatch gave a confirmed nod, taking off five big pots of stir fry and setting them down in the middle of the table. He continued placing different plates of food and such on the table, right in from of Ace. Ace gave you a begging look and you shot it down with a soft glare.

"No. Wait till everyone else gets here, then you can eat. "

he pouted and stood up quickly grabbing you, and his hat, running off from the kitchen, the ringing laughs of Thatch echoing through the hall.

"Ace! What are you doing!?"

"I can't wait anymore! I'm starving."

"Ace you've been eating for the past fifteen minutes! How are you still not full!?"

he paused slightly before setting you down in front of him. He scanned you up and down.

"You never let me tell you what I was really hungry for. Therefore, since I have already eaten my dinner, I am expecting my dessert."

Just then realization hit you. And it hit you hard. Your face turned as red as blood as he picked you up again and rushed down the hall to his room.

he threw open the door and gently laid you down, raising up once more, he locked the door with a confident click and unwrapped his sweet.