My dear readers, you have reached the end!

Herewith I proudly present the 24th and last chapter of 'Two and a Half Years Later'

Adult starting right at the beginning. The end will be after the x-x-x-x-x

Not a lot there, though.

Disclaimer: Still all Oda's

Enjoy!

Marco lay down beside Ace, waiting for the other man to catch his breath. "I like the extra." The fire fist murmured after a while. Marco's soft laughter sounded as he turned to the side and looked at the other pirate.

Ace turned his head and met the phoenix's gaze. The other man still wore his pants and Ace briefly wondered where they stood now. Marco lifted a hand and brushed a black strand behind Ace's ear. "What about you..?" The blond smiled softly. "You decide."

The blush on Ace's cheek was cute; even more so as the cocky pirate was hardly ever shy. Carefully he moved a little closer tracing Marco's muscles with his fingers. Then a broad grin emerged on his face and the next moment he was over Marco, sitting on the older man's hips. The phoenix raised an eyebrow at him, smiling. This was more like the Ace he knew.

Ace bent down and kissed Marco. Carefully first, he deepened the kiss, even risked a little battle that he promptly lost. The fire fist broke away and smiled down on the blond. He grinded down along the body below him, a motion that elicited low hisses from the phoenix.

Marco's eyes fluttered shut and he took a stuttering breath. He didn't give a flying fuck about where Ace had learnt all those things he knew. Momentarily he was just glad that the boy knew them. Ace's tongue felt like pure fire on his skin. The other pirate had partially lost control over his devil fruit, his fingers leaking flames. Hadn't it been for his own devil fruit ability, this might have been rather unpleasant. But like this, the fire on his skin was an exciting and arousing new experience. When Ace suddenly hesitated, Marco woke from his emotional high.

The fire fist had arrived at the rim of Marco's trousers, not sure whether he should continue or not. The phoenix decided that it was about time to take the lead back. He switched their positions again, kneeling over Ace once more. He kicked his trousers off together with his boxers.

He traced his fingers along Ace's jaw line and over to his lips. Gently he pressed two digits against the soft lips. The younger pirate gave him a wary look. Marco smiled, kissing his temple. "Don't worry. We'll do nothing you don't want..." A mere whisper, giving Ace the needed reassurance and he opened his lips.

The blond had to close his eyes to avoid losing control over his body then and there. It was useless though; the picture had already imprinted itself in his mind. Ace lips were warm, his tongue licking Marco's fingers, sucking gently. This was a little too much for his hungry mind. Withdrawing the fingers from Ace's hot mouth he gave the other pirate one last look.

Ace nodded and Marco pressed a first finger at his entrance. The feelings Marco evoke in him when adding the second finger and carefully beginning to move were almost good enough to cover the pain that came next. The phoenix was gentle and really careful. But there were some things that couldn't be avoided, no matter how careful someone was.

The phoenix spread butterfly kisses over Ace's body, his hands trailing along the other's sides. Ace relaxed and soon the pain was replaced by a feeling that let him see stars and set his body on fire in a whole new way.

"Marco..!"

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

When they woke up the next morning, they were far from their original course. Marco was playfully lecturing his nakama while Ace tried to find his second boot. The phoenix had easily found all his clothing. Though the shirt had been a little tricky, 'cause Ace had almost thrown it over board.

"Marco..?" The phoenix murmured a 'hm' in reply. He lay on deck and enjoyed the sun. "What are we now?" Marco laughed. "What would you like us to be?"

Ace adjusted the sail and looked down on Marco. "What we were tonight… What we are now." The phoenix stood up and stepped over to the main mast. He cupped the younger's face in his hands. A gentle smile tugged at his lips, when he placed a soft kiss on Ace's forehead. "Then this is what we are. And now let's go home."

The fire fist flung his arms around Marco, laughing happily and almost crushing the other man in his embrace. The whispered words were lost in a sudden gust of wind, but it didn't matter. They didn't need words to know, to feel what was there.

And this is it. Nothing more to come...

I wanted to thank you all for reviewing, reading and following. Reading your comments (first thing in the morning) made my last few weeks. It means everything!

This story was originally planned to be rather short and uncomplicated. With the motivation your reviews gave me, 'Two and a Half Years Later' became something much bigger. Thank you.

Because of your reviews I found the courage to publish my first adult content, something I postponed many many times.

For those who would like to read more Ace/ Marco or OP in general, here my futur plans:

- fem!Ace/ Marco. First draft is done, upload will start Sunday in a week. (No title yet... damn! _)

- Ace/Marco one shot. Thatch's playing a rather important role here. Half finished. Might come befor fem!Ace/Marco (Working title is rubbish..)

- Law/Kidd, longer story. Fist chapter started, will be published after or parallel with fem!Ace/Marco. (Changing Me)

Another idea ghosting through my mind is a Highschool AU... I kind of got an obsession for those, even though I never liked them before. But seeing Law, Ace and Marco in a school is just too funny.

Thank you once again! Your reviews and favourites mean the world to me!