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A baby.
Portgas D. Rouge was pregnant.
A baby was a happy occasion but also so incredibly terrifying. Especially considering the circumstances that they were in. Rouge couldn’t be happier in that moment knowing that one day soon, she would be bringing the life of their unborn child into the world.
Rouge stood there on the cliffside as she looked out at the sea. She never thought that this day would happen, but it was here. Rouge was scared. There were so many emotions going through her as she stood there. She didn’t know what the future held, but what she did know, she would do anything for her baby.
“Rouge, my love?” Rouge straightened her back as she turned her attention towards her lover. Gol D. Roger was making his way over to her with a bit of concern on his face. His lavender eyes were fixated on her as she got up to her. “Are you okay?”
Rouge felt the smile come to her face as she nodded, “Yeah, I am.” She murmured, “Everything’s fine. I’m pregnant.”
Roger’s face went from concern to absolute shock. He had stared at her for a second, looking completely dumbfounded in that moment, as he whispered, “What?”
“I’m pregnant.” Rouge repeated.
There was a nervousness that hit her. Rouge stood there, just watching and waiting for Roger’s reaction. Suddenly, Roger had moved forward and she found herself completely off of her feet and being spun around. It made all of the nerves disappear. Roger sat her back down on her feet as a bright smile came to his face. “You’re pregnant.”
Rouge nodded, “Yeah.”
Roger laughed for a second before he leaned in and pressed his lips into Rouge’s.
Rouge had no idea what was going to come from here, but she was going to cling to their final moments together. They didn’t have much time left together, and it would all go from there.
Roger knew that his time was limited. It was severely limited. He had found himself lying awake next to his pregnant lover as he looked at her flat stomach. Right now, her body was nurturing and growing the one thing that combined the both of them. A small, innocent life of their unborn child. He was never going to see this baby come into the world. He would never get to know if their baby was a boy or girl. See what they would become. Was it selfish of him? He was so beyond happy. Rouge was giving him something that no one else would ever be able to do.
Roger also knew the risk that he was putting on them. This world would stop at nothing to find them if they knew of their existence. It was not safe for him to be around them or even Rouge throughout the course of her pregnancy. Rouge would know that. It was the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning. Where their story would end, it would only continue on alongside their unborn child.
He had to do something. Anything that he could possibly do to protect them. They were his last great treasure. She was the love of his life, and their child was a product of that. He wondered what kind of person their child would become. If they would look like Rouge or like him. He hoped – actually, it would be a dream – that this baby had Rouge’s freckles. He adored the freckles that dusted his lover’s face. They were like the constellations in the sky. They were so beautiful. Just like her. Would their child have a love for the sea and a yearning to travel? Or would they be more like Rouge who liked life on land?
This baby was a creation of innocence.
Something… new.
Roger’s time might be limited, but there was still something he could do. He kept thinking about it. Despite that happiness, he knew this world. He knew the darkness that lurked at every corner and what they would do. He wished that he could stay here on Baterilla and live until the end of his life, but that is not meant to be. Roger knew that as long as he was alive, he was a danger to them, that he was a danger to his very own nakama. Even if he had disbanded his crew, they were still his nakama until the second his heart stopped. Even in the afterlife, they would always be. It wasn’t just them. It was all of them.
His legacy would carry on.
Even if that legacy could not be known.
Roger had put a lot of thought into it. There was only one thing that he could do, and he was understanding of that. There were so many people who were being threatened because of him. His nakama would have already gone into hiding by now to keep from being found by the Marines. Roger knew that it would only be a matter of time before word spread and they would find out that he had been here. He could not let his own child and lover fall victim to the World Government. They would be targeted solely for being acquainted with him. Roger knew what this world could do. They would try and kill his baby before they ever got to take a breath. It wouldn’t even matter if they were a newborn either. The World Government would do anything to make sure that Roger’s blood did not continue.
In the end, Roger had made up his mind on what he could do. It was the only thing that he could do. It would be a poetic ending. He knew what they would do. They would make a statement out of him. All focus would be on him in the meantime. The World Government would do anything to make themselves look better.
Now, it would just be telling Rouge.
He did not want to leave her like this. He didn’t know how much time that he had left. Roger knew that he might not even make it to the birth of his child. As much as he would love that. It might not be feasible to achieve. It was something that could really only take place in his dreams.
Roger didn’t say anything at first. He had spent his time doting on his lover. He made sure that she had everything that she would need. Rouge had a strong head on her shoulders and a fire that burned inside of her. She would be okay. Roger was certain of that. For the first time in a long time, Roger didn’t have the right words to say.
He knew he had to tell her. Now more than ever, he had to do everything in his power to protect the ones he loved.
Ever since she had told Roger she was pregnant, she had noticed the change. Roger was becoming overly protective of her and doting on her. Through it all, she was starting to notice the look in his eyes. How lost in thought he would become after a while. While their time together was going to be limited, Rouge knew how to read him like an open book.
Late one night, the two of them were having dinner together. She once again found herself watching her lover. Roger kept watching her with a longing in his eyes, but there was another emotion blazing in his eyes. It was something that she could quite place. He clearly had something on his mind. That was one thing that she was certain about.
“Roger, my darling,” Rouge murmured as she reached out and grabbed ahold of his hand. That had prompted the newly crowned Pirate King to lift his gaze to look at her. “What’s on your mind?”
Roger always tended to go through life with a smile on his face. One thing that was not common with him was to see him frowning. He viewed every single day as a new adventure. Even if that might be cut short in the end.
Roger turned his hand and large fingers curled around her own. She was going to miss his warmth, his smile, everything about him. Nothing lasted forever, and that meant this too. This was meant to be a joyous time. She could see how happy that he was, but she could also tell if something was bothering him.
Roger looked down at their conjoined hands in the meantime. He remained quiet. His thumb caressed the back of her hand as Rouge dropped her gaze down to look at the action. “Rouge, my love,” Roger finally spoke up and looked back at her with a smile, “You have given me everything. Maybe it’s selfish of me to be this happy.”
Rouge shook her head, murmuring, “What are you talking about? It’s not selfish at all to be happy.”
“When you’re a criminal like me,” Roger drawled, “Sometimes… The world has different thoughts.” He smiled at her again as he let go of her hand and instead reached up and moved some of her hair out of her face. He tucked it behind her ear and Rouge felt that familiar warmth starting to blossom to life in her chest. His hand remained there and she turned her head to place a chaste kiss against the inner part of his wrist. “I’ve given it a lot of thought.” Rouge could feel a tightness coming to her chest, but a smile started to pull to her lips. She held onto Roger’s hand a bit harder as Roger’s gaze moved over her face, “Rouge… I’m going to be turning myself in.”
Rouge stilled as those words hit her. The complete understanding came next. This is what Roger felt like he needed to do. Rouge knew that this was never going to be forever. She wished it could be, but they had to hold onto the small moments that they could.
“I know.” Rouge murmured.
Roger smiled at her as he brought her hand up to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss into the back of her knuckles, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Even as it felt as if her heart was breaking, she knew this is what needed to be done.
The two of them stood at the cliffside. It was so quiet and tranquil out. Rouge continued to reassure herself that everything was going to be okay. Their final moments together were coming quickly. Roger told her of his entire plan. He would turn himself in and get in contact with Monkey D. Garp. Then, she would just have to see from there.
She wished that he could stay with her. Spend the rest of his days with her in this small little home and act as if they were any other couple. That would never be something that she could have. She could be content with this. It was what Roger wanted to do. It was his way of ensuring the future for their child. That was something she could agree with. She knew it was a dangerous game that they were playing, but their child meant everything. Rouge would do everything that she could for their baby. Even if that meant Roger couldn’t be here for it. It would be her turn to play her part in protecting the life of their unborn baby.
This world would do anything to make sure that Roger’s blood did not carry on. They would view their innocent baby as a monster. This little life was something so… innocent.
That is why she understood exactly why Roger needed to do this.
As they were standing there, Roger kneeled down right in front of her and placed his forehead against her stomach. Rouge placed her hands down onto the top of his head and smiled gently. Roger’s face was graced with a bright smile as he nuzzled against her still flat stomach and murmured, “You are going to be a strong one.” Rouge stood there quietly and listened to everything single word as she caressed Roger's head. “You will live in this world… Free. One day, you will find amazing friends. You will get to see the beauty that this world has to offer. There is so much darkness in this world…” Rouge could feel tears in her eyes from hearing Roger’s words. His goodbye to their baby. She tightened her fingers as he let out a soft laugh. She could hear the emotion in his voice. “I feel like you are going to be a shining light. Burning so brightly that no one can stop you.” Roger laughed again as he settled his forehead down and curled his arms around her. “You have an amazing mother. She’s quite the fighter. The blood that runs through your veins is not a curse, but you will hear many things that might hurt. You will see that it will never matter. You will find someone, and they will prove that to you.” Roger pulled back, and Rouge could see a bit of tears glistening in his eyes. Roger smiled again, nuzzling his nose against her stomach. “I will be watching you. You will go on to do great things. You are not bound by your blood. Live your life… Wild and free. I wish I could be there to see it, but my journey is coming to an end… And yours is just beginning.”
Rouge could feel tears in her own eyes that she attempted to blink away as Roger pressed a kiss into her stomach. He remained there for a few quiet moments as he settled his head against her stomach.
“Roger,” Rouge whispered and it brought Roger’s attention up to her. “I want… I want you to pick our baby’s name.”
Roger’s face quickly morphed into surprise as he muttered, “Rouge, you should be the–”
Rouge shook her head, “No one can know that our baby is your child.” Rouge cut him off, “Please, Roger… It will make me happy. I want the baby to have something from you.”
Roger let out a sharp breath, smiling as he looked between her and then down to her stomach, “If you’re a girl… Ann… For a boy… Ace.”
“Those are beautiful names.” Rouge murmured as she carded her fingers through Roger’s hair. Roger stood up, looking her in the eyes as he smiled. “I love them.”
His hands settled onto her stomach as she kept her arms curled around his shoulders. “I love you, Rouge.”
“I love you, Roger.” Rouge murmured.
Roger leaned in, sealing their lips together as Rouge felt that familiar warmth spreading through her body. This was going to be the end. Roger would soon depart from them. She knew it was what he had to do, but if there was one thing that she could have in that final moment, it would be this. She would give the baby his name, but it would not be the name that their baby would be able to use in this world. It would be her secret. At least, this way, the baby could use a name from him.
Roger pulled away from the kiss and settled his forehead against hers. Rouge continued to smile. This was just the beginning even if it was ending. Their story was not over just yet. The journey might be over, but a new one was on the horizon.
Their baby’s name would be carrying a legacy.
And this baby was their legacy.
Rouge would do everything in her power to make sure that their baby would be able to go on in this world.
Gol D. Ann for a girl.
Gol D. Ace for a boy.
Those names were absolutely… perfect.
Even if one day, their baby could not use that name. It would always be their name, and Rouge would watch as their baby created their own legacy with that name.
Seventeen Years Later
The young, fresh faced Captain stood on the deck of his new ship and looked out at the vast ocean. The boy smiled as he looked up to the sky and laughed. The clouds were obscuring the sun enough that it left shadows over the deck. It was a beautiful day out. The warm air, the smell of the sea, and the light breeze that brushed over his dark as night hair and freckled face. His wine-colored eyes lingered on the sky as a smile graced his face.
For so long, this was all that he had wanted. To live life on the sea. To become a Pirate Captain and travel the world. Now, he was doing just that. He would go where the waves took him. He would see what this world had to offer. There were so many sacrifices to get him to this moment, and now he was standing proud on the deck of his very own ship.
“Are you watching me?” He murmured as he looked over the sunny sky. “I’ll do it. I’ll make my name known to this world. I will be the strongest out there. Just you wait…” He stopped speaking for a second as the clouds in the sky began to move and he could see the sun peeking out and it lit up more of the deck and shined on him, “I’m going to live in this world… Free. Free of everything. Just like you wanted. I’m going to make my dreams come true.”
The sea was his home and his name was his legacy.
The name in honor of his mother, and the name he had been given at birth. He was going to make his mark on the world and prove that he could do it all. He would make his name known. This was the one thing that he could do.
The world would know his name.
“So, his name is Gol D. Ace… Our son, our little boy.”
He couldn’t use the name that was given to him at birth. He didn’t want to. He wanted to prove to this world that he was more than the blood in his veins. Now, it was time to find it all out.
But he was going to do it on his terms.
He grinned as he held his arms out and soaked in the sun as his smile grew brighter, “My name is… Portgas D. Ace.”