You sat in front of his grave, tears running down your face as you clutched your guitar tightly. Choking, you tried to smile, hoping that, if Ace could see you, he would be happy. You placed flowers by his grave and backed away before sitting back down, setting your guitar against your chest as you strummed out chords and notes.

"Memories are the only things I have left"

"Wish I could have told you everything before you left"

"I haven't eaten, I haven't slept"

"I haven't smiled, I've only wept"

"I'm replaying every single word you said"

The song sounded cheerful, which was the goal. You knew that Ace wouldn't have wanted a sad song. Every time you sang a song like that, his face contorted in disgust. "Songs that you play at a funeral should be cheerful. Wouldn't that make the person happy? And besides, how's it gonna help you if you just sing a sad song?" So the word you clung on to was 'saudade.' A word that described the feeling of happiness in the midst of sadness.

"Am I really dreaming?"

"Are you really gone?"

"Are you really gone?"

"Am I done believing"

"Or is hope forever gone?"

Tears were falling again and you almost choked on your words. You covered your mouth, trying to stop yourself from crying and continued to play.

"My mind is moving on"

"Saudade"

"Fantasies are the only thing I can't shake"

"Think about all the memories we could have made"

"Fast is gone and I'm still here"

"Wondering if you'll reappear"

"I'm replaying every song we've ever sung"

You felt something blow past you, and a faint whispering. Your eyes widened, you recognized the voice. Ace. "Well Y/n? Continue singing. I like it." No, it was a memory, when you first sang for him. But it came again, chanting your name, as if cheering you on. "Y/n, Y/n, Y/n.."

"Am I really dreaming?"

"Are you really gone?"

"Am I done believing"

"Or is hope forever gone?"

"My mind is moving on"

A small breeze blew by, blowing your h/c hair past you, and towards Ace's grave. Your fingers continued plucking the guitar strings and your voice didn't waver, no matter how much you wanted to cry. 'Be strong, for Ace,' you thought.

"You always smiled and kept me safe"

"You held my hand and led the way"

"You found the beauty in the pain"

"Now you're gone, now you're gone"

"Cannot hide the joy in life"

"You left behind for me to find"

"So I will sing this song aloud"

"I'll make you proud, I'll make you proud"

You had been either staring at Ace's grave or your guitar throughout the entire song. And, in the daylight with the sun beating down on your skin. Ace's grave looked beautiful beside his captain's. His hat and necklace swaying in the wind in sync to Whitebeard's coat. Flowers had bloomed around his grave, swords stabbed into the ground in the background, representing the many that had died during the war.

"Am I really dreaming?"

"I know you're really gone"

"It's time to move on"

"I'll never stop believing"

"That I'll see you again"

"I'll miss you until then"

"Saudade, Saudade"

"Saudade."

By the end of the song, your voice had become almost a whisper, your mind tracing the words. Tears began to fall again, and you quickly wiped them off, stretching your lips to a forced smile. "Thank you, Y/n. I loved it," Ace's voice rang through your ears and you felt lips press against your cheek. It lingered there for a moment before disappearing, as if it were a memory. That was it, you couldn't stop yourself and you burst into tears. Sobbing as you hugged your chest. "Why'd you have to leave me Ace?" You choked on your voice, "I miss you."

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SORRY NOT SORRY