Fire in our hearts | Portgas D. Ace x OC

15. Love

- Good morning, Penelope!

- Beautiful day today, isn't it?

- Have a great day, Grace!

Why is everyone so excited, smiling cheerfully, and treating me weirdly? - I thought. I had always been treated very well by all my Moby Dick crewmates, indeed. But this kind of behavior was totally out of the ordinary and in some ways even scared me a little.

As I walked across the deck towards the galley, more and more people greeted me with smiles from ear to ear and looks of anticipation. With each step I took, a question mark arose in my mind that was impossible to ignore. Were they drunk?

Well, whatever was going on, it didn't bother me. In fact, I was glad that people were in such a good mood after all that had happened to that crew. And if that meant acting strangely, well, so be it.

As I stopped in front of the kitchen door in order to go in for breakfast, I noticed another inconsistency in my routine: it was closed. That place was never, ever closed. I swallowed my saliva and opened the door, revealing something that I certainly did not expect to find.

Portgas D. Ace, standing in the kitchen, holding a bouquet filled with sunflowers (my favorite flower since childhood). Behind him, a fully set table, full of my favorite foods: pancakes, hazelnut cream, strawberries and blueberries, scrambled eggs, and various other delicious things.

I was overwhelmed. Ace held the bouquet in front of his face, so that it was possible to see only his eyes and his blushing freckles. I had never seen him this shy since the time I had kissed him years before.

My mouth was open, and my jaw dropped. I realized that it had been a few seconds (maybe minutes) since I had reacted. I never would have thought that Ace would be able to make such a romantic gesture.

- Ace? - I stammered timidly, still not really knowing what to say - is this all for me?

- It couldn't possibly be for anyone else, Grace.

I smiled subtly as I took slow steps toward the man, the flowers, and the set table.

- I thought you couldn't cook.

- Izo helped me - he gave a wide smile - I told him my plan and he didn't think twice about it. You are very dear to everyone here, you know.

- And I love everybody.

- And I love you.

I shuddered again at the feeling of hearing these words coming out of his mouth. Would I ever get used to hearing them?

I let out another shy smile before I sat down at the table, placing the bouquet of flowers delicately on it. I started to put some items on my plate while Ace looked at me with a sympathetic look.

- Thank you, Ace. I loved the surprise. I love sunflowers - I smiled as I served myself some pancakes - and I love all these foods. I think you know me well.

- I'm glad you're happy.

We ate in silence for a few minutes. This time, the silence was not as comfortable as the last few times, it was almost as if we had to reconnect.

It was noticeable that Portgas was doing everything he could to win me back and gain my trust again. And it was easy to give in, because in the end I really did love him. Little by little the pieces of the puzzle would fit together, but a long conversation would be necessary for lives to be as they were before.

- Ace. - I broke the silence - you know what you've done, don't you?

He took a deep breath before he could answer. I was afraid he might nod off in the middle of all the eating, but his posture held, and he took another bite before continuing.

- You know, all my life, I've always thought that I wasn't worthy of being loved - I could feel the pain in his words - you know, because of my biological father.

I nodded with tender eyes, waiting for him to continue.

- When you came back last year, it was as if I saw the sunlight after a long time in the dark. I was happy here, but you made everything different.

Sneaky tears started to well up in my eyes as I tried to hold them back.

- When everything happened, you know... when Thatch died. I went after it without thinking. I didn't really think about how much I would miss you, I didn't think I would miss anyone. But when I saw you in Marineford with your blue eyes full of hope, with that drive, that willpower, risking your life to save me - he continued - there I realized how selfish I had been.

The effort I was making to hold back the tears was no longer enough to stop him. I touched Ace's hand across the table and held it tightly.

- You are an idiot. I have always, always loved you. - I giggled through my tears, which made him smile too.

- I love you, Grace. Forever.