"(Name)...(Name)..."

A voice called your name in the dark, a single orb of orange light glowed in the nothingness. You touched it and it bounced in the air, floating away like a tadpole in a pond. Your body was weightless and you couldn't feel the floor beneath your feet as you try to follow it. "Wait..." You whisper and chase after it.

"(Name)...please...I'm sorry..."

Strangely this voice reminded you of someone but as you are unable to point out who, you trudged forward. A blinding white light shone from the darkness and you stretched out your arm to feel the warmth radiating from it.

"(Name)...come on...wake up, please just wake up..."

Flinching at the sound of the pleading voice, a hand reached out from the other side of light and grabbed your own, pulling you away from the world you woke up to and bringing you into a new one. All at once your senses came back, taking in the surroundings around you.

Everything was bleach white and you could smell the faint scent of alcohol and medicine. The stench of them made you cringe but a soft pair of eyes relaxed you almost immediately, onyx orbs stared into yours like a lost soul was behind those windows.

"(Name)...thank god..." Ace breathed and buried his face into your neck, sighing with relief. His coolness made your skin shiver slightly but you didn't seem to mind so much. "I thought I lost you..."

He looked scared, lonely, and worst of all sad, it made your heart ache a bit. Something must have happened but you couldn't remember anything as you racked your brain for answers. "What happened?" You whisper, voice hoarse and your throat was a bit dry.

"You suddenly passed out in one of the rides." He murmurs, arms embracing your smaller form and bringing you closer to his chest as if he was scared you would disappear from his side. "I swear I didn't mean to scare you, (Name), I'm so sorry."

Feeling the arms around your body tightening at his last three words, you smiled a bit and looked down at his face. "It's alright. I'm okay now." You reassure him.

Ace looks up at you with a serious gaze, "I'm really sorry about yesterday, princess. Please don't be upset with me."

"Yesterday?" You echo. Had you been asleep that long? "Ace, where's everyone else?"

"The adults went out to talk to the doctor and Law brought Chopper to get some food." He replies, pushing himself up to rest his chin on your head. "The poor little guy wouldn't eat after seeing you suddenly collapse in your seat."

That wasn't good. Although you tried to stay out of trouble, it always seem to be the one to find you.

The door opened and Robin came inside followed by Franky and Corazon. Upon seeing you awake she smiles instantly and rushed to your side. "Are you feeling alright now?" She inquires worriedly. "Maybe you should rest a bit more."

"I'm fine." You gave your new mom a smile to assure her that it was alright.

She and Franky left to go find Luffy, Shanks, and Makino while Corazon stayed behind with you. Although the man was nice, he was rather too quiet and being alone with him made you feel uncomfortable. He was wearing his sunglasses so you couldn't tell what he was thinking, you smiled a bit and waved.

Ace seemed to stiffen a bit and his arms around you tightened like he was afraid of something. You looked from him to Cora and noticed that the blonde was staring at the apparition intently. Could Corazon see him?

"Mr. Corazon, do you see something?" You ask curiously.

Corazon just grinned at you, like he was amused by what he was seeing, and laid down on the couch beside you. Leaving your question unanswered, you turn to Ace and see him frowning slightly.

"You okay?" You ask the raven haired man.

He lets out a breath and loosens his hold on you, kissing you on the forehead, "I should be asking you that."

You flinch from the kiss and remembered what he had done to you yesterday, the forgotten emotions building up again and you turn your back on him. "Princess? Something wrong?" Ace inquires, a hint of worry in his voice.

"Don't you princess me. I remember what you did." You hissed, hiding your red face under the blankets.

Although it wasn't what he did to you that angered you anymore, it was more of because you liked it. There was nothing scarier than being in love with a dead man, and you couldn't have that in your life right now. Not what after you've been through.

Ace sighs, holding back the urge to embrace you, to have you in his arms again. He missed you...but you don't even know who he is.

"Look...I'm sorry, okay?" He whispers, cold breath blowing on the back of your neck.

It didn't help the fact that you couldn't touch him as much as he could touch you. If only he was alive then maybe something could be done.

Were you infatuated with a ghost?

Possibly.

But you weren't going to tell him that.

The pain of knowing that you both are from completely different worlds, the heartbreaking fact that you couldn't be together with him like a normal couple, that would be intolerable.

You've only known him for, like what, five days? 'Why does he seem so familiar?' You ask yourself. Hearing him call you princess bothered you so much not because you hated it but because it felt so familiar to you.

"I'm sorry," Ace whispers again, louder this time. The desperation in his voice showed in his eyes but you couldn't see it.

Nevertheless, it would be bothersome if you didn't sort this out, he follows you everywhere anyway. Ignoring him forever would be inevitable so you rolled over and stared straight into his eyes.

From the way he looked at you right now, he really did seem truly sorry. Wanting to know more about him, you sighed and said in a voice that only he could hear, "Don't leave me, okay?"

Ace smiled, a genuine heartwarming smile, sending a fluttering feeling in your stomach. "Okay..."