Work Text:
"I'll tell you a story before it tells itself." Her voice catching the attention of Marco beside her. He scoots closer to listen to her thoughts and just enjoy the peace under the light of the moon. The night is still young and there's no harm in listening to one of her night stories, he loves getting lost in them.
"Tell me about it." his hand ghosts the shell of her ear, tucking a strand of stray hair. She looks so beautiful even under the innocent light of the moon they both stopped looking at minutes ago. She smiles under his touch as she turns around to face him.
It's been a long time since they had this kind of talk and what she's about to tell him is making her heart go crazy. She thinks it's a good opportunity to tell him when its all peace and quiet, where they can fully bask in the emotions of her surprise.
Her story starts with Marco buying herbs from her store on an remote island, "Feeling nostalgic, yoi?" He says but the memory grounds him. Wanting to feel her closer, he wraps his arm around her waist, resting his head on top of hers.
"Yeah, you better listen to me!" She jokes and he lets out a soft hum, making her continue her story.
She starts to tell him about how she tried to suppress her feelings for him the first time they met when he bought herbs. He looked so enthralling that Marco was able to literally take her breath away for a few seconds until his voice brought her attention back on the herbs he was asking for.
"What was so spell bounding on me that day, hm? I was just being myself." Marco replies, head resting on her lap to rest as they sat down on the deck, leaning on Moby Dick. She runs her hand on his scalp, earning low hums of approval before continuing her story.
"Do you want the family friendly version or the rated one?" she laughs.
"There's a rated one?"
"There's always a rated one, hon. You want to hear that first?"
"Nope. That can wait, I want to hear the first one." he says, crossing his arms above his chest and folding his knees. She rests her hand on his collarbone before leaning back to recline her head to look at the stars.
"Well, I actually opened up late that day and before I went out to start my morning, my friend warned me about a walking pineapple. Can you believe it!"
"What do I even expect." Marco says, rolling his eyes playfully. Of course it has to be his hair, that's his signature look and it does a great job of setting him apart from other people.
"No, no." Her thumb drew circles on his blushing cheek. Her lovely pineapple, "What she actually meant that day was a literal pineapple. Turns out there's been a pineapple thief going around town and she thought I'd get kidnapped if I wouldn't be careful."
Who would even steal pineapples?! But he remembered that on that specific island, although remote, food is very important next to water. People valued it more than money and he understood why someone would desperately steal pineapples. But why pineapples? We never know.
Marco thought for a while and said that she did, in fact, get kidnapped. Even worse, she's totally into the thief. "You're talking about you, aren't you?" She said.
"Maybe. I'm not a kidnapper though, you just fell for the pineapple guy and you fell hard." He laughed, poking her side earning a small squeal from her, fighting for her life as he continued to tickle her sides.
"Okay, okay. You stole my heart, you pineapple thief!"
He hummed, setting his head back on her lap after their little fight, "I know, yoi."
She proceeded to tell him how Pops welcomed her in their family. At first, she declined their offer of joining them and becoming a pirate because leaving the life she has on her hometown is something she can't decide on a whim. "Besides, ever since I stepped down that day on Moby Dick, you've been looking forward to stocking up herbs." She loves it when Marco comes back to the island with that smiles of his, eager to spend whatever time they have together on their hands.
Marco looked at her wide eyed, "Hey, who said that yoi?!" and he guessed right, it was Thatch, "He'll get a good beating from me." But Thatch was right and the first time he said that to her, her stomach did backflips.
"And then..one day, you visited me back on the island. Let's say you were VERY romantic that day." She said with a teasing tone.
"Is this the rated one now?" he laughs. Marco remembers very well how he knocked on her door, flowers behind him and a bag of her favorite food. He asked Thatch to make his cooking extra special just for her. He remembers clearly how she looked at him with her pupils blown wide, the heat from her lips fanning over his, the way her hands greedily raked behind him and moaning out his name.
"That was the first time but certainly wasn't the last." She said, intertwining her hand with his, "But I think you'll have to go easy on me now."
"Hm? Was I too rough everytime, yoi?" He said with a confused look.
"No honey, it's because we're growing a little pineapple!" She said, small excited voice on the last word. It's a new chapter for the both of them and she's happy Whitebeard let her stay on board when she requested. He doesn't know yet but she thinks he might've a small idea on why.
"Wh–" She can't read his expression. Is he disappointed? Does he not want it? Maybe she chose the wrong tim–
All her worries were washed away when he stands up surprisingly, squeezing the breath out of her while peppering her cheeks and neck with kisses.
"You're..I..breathe..need to..breathe.." She protested but too happy to push him.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm just.." He smiled, "Can you say it again?"
She reciprocated his smile, "I said, I'm pregnant you pineapple thief." Her eyes shone like stars were in them and Marco is just so happy he can't contain his smile, he's too excited. He starts to tell her what to do and what not to do. What she should eat, how she should spend her day not lifting a finger so that she won't get tired. There it is, she thought.
"I'm so happy Pops let you stay and that you're surrounded by us. I can finally take care of you."
"Marco, I'm pregnant, not sick or anything. I can still move you know." She said but she understands how he feels about the pregnancy. He's a doctor after all, "Does that mean I get all the cuddles I want?"
"You get them and more, yoi." He said, hand behind her back to pull her close for a kiss, "The baby gets a kiss from daddy too!" he says, placing a short peck on her belly.
"I can't wait to tell Pops yoi. He's going to love it!" Marco said.
"He's going to get a grandson or maybe a granddaughter, that's a first."
"Or maybe telling Pops he's going to be a grandfather to his son's firstborn, that will definitely earn a reaction from him." They both laughed as they planned on how to tell the whole crew tomorrow morning. For now, they enjoy the company of each other, hearts filled with happiness as a new addition to the family is growing in her womb.
"It's a good day today, isn't Ace?" The first division commander smiled towards him.
"You seem like you're in a good mood. Something up?" Ace said, following Marco as he walked to where Whitebeard is resting, nurses checking on his health as usual. He tells the rest of the crew to gather around him, holding her wrist as they took their place in front of the crowd.
"What's going on?" Izo asked Vista, to which he shrugged. "Something good, I guess?" The latter said.
"Today, we'll be breaking a great news, yoi!" Marco looks at Whitebeard. He has no idea or maybe he does, eyebrows furrowed at the confusion and excitement his son managed to build up, "Today, a new member will join our family!"
The crew looked at each other with confused expressions on their faces, she laughed lightly at their reaction, "And in addition to that," she added to Marco's words, "Pops will be a grandfather to his first grandchild!"
Her words made everyone's eyes widen, jaws dropped, and Whitebeard dropped his bottle of sake. Did she just say..?
"Oi, what are you talking about Marco?" Whitebeard asked, still not able to wrap his head around the sudden news.
"She's pregnant Pops. We're going to have a baby.." He said, pulling her close and placing his hand on top of her belly. It's an understatement to say he laughed out loud, not because he found it funny but because he knew he was right the whole time. "I knew it!" Tate told him to calm down but instead, he wanted the whole ship to prepare a celebration for the crew. They're going to party the life out of today.
The two took it as a sign that he approves of her pregnancy and he openly accepts the new addition to the family, not that the baby is out yet but the whole crew loves the thought of it. Excited cheers filled the air as they hugged each other, Moby Dick has never experienced such surprising news before.
"Marco, I can't believe you! I can't– There's a baby in her belly and Marco..and her..Marco..put–"
"We get you Ace, quit it! Congratulations you two lovebirds. I can't wait to have a baby!" Thatch said.
"Who said it's your baby. It's our baby." Ace said, "You don't have a love life."
The rest of crew congratulated them for opening a new chapter in their lives. She's happy that their child gets to live a life around these people, protective and joyful. After all, they are Whitebeard's precious sons and she is his precious daughter who gifted him with a wonderful blessing. He was never able have a biological child of his own but seeing one of his sons form a family made his fatherly heart swell.
"You two, and the rest of the crew, know I don't have much time. Living and breathing proves to be harder every day." Whitebeard said, earning the attention of everyone.
"Don't say that Pops. You might be old but you're definitely strong." Thatch said.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes on him. He didn't expect him to acknowledge his age but truth be told, no one lives forever. "I'm more than delighted to see my son have a family of his own. It's like Marco fulfilled my dream for me." He said, smiling down at Marco.
"I know I'll be around long enough to see the face of my grandchild but not long enough to see him grow as old as I am." He continued. Ace told Whitebeard to stop talking like he's going to die very soon but he just smiled. They love each other as family but even Whitebeard himself is no match for death.
"Don't look at me with your tears. As if I'd die a lame death." The once cheerful crew now turned to a weeping one, he's touched but this day is not meant to be sad for a new member is about to arrive! "Pull back your tears!"
He reaches out to his daughter, urging her to step closer within his reach. Whitebeard places a hand on her shoulder and with a smile, he welcomes her again on board, ready to spend the rest of their days together with the crew.