There was a loud crack as the wooden door to their home slammed into the wall. The sheer force very likely might have sent the handle through the wall. Or it would have, had it not already occurred earlier that year. Now the wall had a protective plastic spot placed by Blamenco at Macro's request. The plastic wouldn't stop Garp who used entirely too much force. Ace however at least took care not to break their own home.

"Marco!" Ace screamed his head on a swivel as he hunted the other man down. "Marco!"

Ace rushed through the house throwing himself at the closet they never actually went in. Within belonged all their seasonal gear. Such as Marco's snowboard or Ace's toboggan, equipment used when they visited family that lived in snowy areas. The items rarely found use since Ace and Macro lived in a city where snow was rarer than a mythical zoan devil-fruit user. Ace knew he was dating one such user he claimed the point remained. Marco was after all incredibly special.

Their current hometown was a place where when the ground froze the whole area would shut down in a panic. A city where salt trucks were gravel trucks because they didn't have the salt. And trust him where he said, the rocks did not help even slightly if the ground decided to ice up.

So yeah it didn't snow, ever.

It was a giant buzz kill every winter. Ace claimed they never hit winter, if it wasn't snowing, and it wasn't freezing it wasn't winter! And yes he would go a bit crazy with the seasonal decorations he still found it quite offending to place them grass. Something just killed the mood to see all the beautiful lights... on dull, dying grass.

Ace had, in fact, become very obsessed with snow over the last few years. Two years ago he'd been desperate to see snow for the holidays. Ace had even suggested they visit his biological father last 'winter.' And if you knew him, you knew how desperate that was.

Of course, his father lived in an area that had snow every single year. So they went two years prior, the problem was that visit? Yeah not a single flake, not one. It was a whole winter of nothing! No snow. The suffering he'd put in, the obnoxious awkward family visit was a giant waste of time.

Marco pitied him so the previous year he'd suggested they visit Izo instead. For where Izo had been born they had snow every year as well.

So they visited.

Two weeks they spent with Izo. Two weeks. Not one flake of snow.

Then the day after they left? Yup, a snowstorm. Ace had raged to ridiculous degrees, Marco had given him a ton of food on their drive home to comfort him. Izo, however, hadn't hidden his amusement at the whole situation.

Not to say Ace regretted moving, he'd left his hometown to be with the man he loved. He loved Marco, and he loved the sun. He loved going to the beach and hiking on his weekends. Hell Ace even enjoyed the competition he had with his neighbor. So yeah, Ace loved his new home.

But, he missed snow. He couldn't help it. He, Luffy and Sabo every year had gone completely crazy over it. They'd skipped school; they'd built snowmen and igloo's, they'd created snow tunnels and snow angels. It was... it was snow! He loved it, and he was beginning to accept that he wouldn't see any. Especially since they'd agreed to remain home this year, it was Pops' turn for the seasonal visit after all.

As it turns out, mother nature was a kind woman.

"Marco!" Ace screamed once again throwing open the closet with great force. He snatched up his winter jacket, unused for three years. His scarf, gloves, and hat quickly followed as he rushed to throw them on. As he did so, he grabbed Marco's winter clothing as well. "MARCOOOOO"

"What's up?" Marco poked his head into the back room looking uncertain.

"Have you looked out the window?" Ace threw the snow gear at his boyfriend. "have you?!"

"Not recently," Marco admitted bemused "why are you grabbing all this stuff?"

"Marco." Ace's hands hit Marco's shoulders as he gazed deeply into his eyes "it's snowing."

Marco recoiled slightly, that couldn't be. It hadn't snowed in the city in two and a half decades. In fact, Ace hadn't even been born the last time it snowed here. They'd gotten mild ice once or twice, but real snow? Yeah no.

"Quickly!" Ace pushed at Marco's shoulders turning him and marching him toward the door "It's snowing!" Ace physically bounced and skipped as they made their way to the front door. He left behind open doors, lights on and random winter clothing along the ground. But Ace didn't care.

Marco chuckled as he glanced out the window. Sure enough, it was snowing, really snowing. Huge flakes of snow were falling and collecting on the ground in clumps.

Ace released a delighted squeal, a noise he'd deny making to his dying day. He reached the front door and rushed outside with a whoop and a yell of pure delight. Marco was hardly immune to Ace's joy and the snow falling. He just as quickly pulled on his winter clothing and rushed outside; he left the door wide open in his haste.

The second he was beyond the threshold he was beaned with a snowball to the face.

"Ace!" he sputtered.

"Bwahaha!" Ace bolted his hands hitting the ground scooping ice and leaves as he went. They hadn't gotten around to raking the ground yet, so the snow was a mix of color. It hardly stopped either of them; leaves wouldn't harm them.

Marco rushed for the nearby mailbox and scooped the snow off the top. Packing ice together Marco spun around ready to throw just in time for another snowball to smack into his chest. Ace gleefully cackled darting away even as the ball Marco had collected hit him directly in the back of the head.

Ace skipped a step not even perturbed by the ice running down his back. He swept the ground gaining more ammo and started a full-on war. Leaves and ice went flying as the pair played. They cared not that the heating was on in their housewarming eve as the cold entered through the open door. Or the fact that thanks if the snow lasted thanks to the lack of salt trucks, no one would be going to work the day after. Especially not with the locals being completely unable to drive in the rain, let alone snow.

The snow was the perfect consistency for snowballs and snowmen. It gathered on the ground freely. Children and people were rushing outside with hastily thrown on winter apparel. Or in some cases such as Luffy, not even bothering with clothing.

Luffy who lived several houses down rushed toward them still in shorts and a t-shirt he was utterly uncaring to the cold. He hardly seemed to notice even as Sabo rushed after him an extra bright red jacket in his hands.

Luffy tackled Ace to the ground just as Marco's snowball aimed at Ace missed and struck Luffy in the head.

"Snow battle!" Luffy yelled.

"Luffy put on your jacket!" Sabo cried.

Ace looked positively mad with joy "Snowball war! Marco and I against Luffy and Sabo!" he took quick advantage of his self-proclaimed teams. He grabbed a great glob of snow and shoved it down the back of Luffy's shirt. Luffy shrieked darting away just as Sabo reached them to push his jacket at him.

Ace bolted grabbing Marco by the hand and tugging him away before Luffy could retaliate. They bolted around a nearby bush and dove to the ground both sliding in the snow. Ace made quick work of the adjacent snow creating as many snowballs as they could. Marco made his own and shot it right away at Sabo who'd had remained unscathed. The poor man was still holding onto Luffy's arms forcing an arm into the hole to get the jacket on. Luffy was challenging to work as he jumped around to get rid of the snow in his shirt and at the same time attempting to make a snowball for revenge.

Marco's shot struck Sabo right in the chest. Sabo glared as he succeeded in his task. "It's on!" Sabo gave a war cry, his mission done he could focus entirely on the 'enemy.'

From behind their bush, Ace continued to cackle. He caught Marco's eyes with a boyish grin he leaned forward. He crossed the slight distance between them and gave Marco a quick peck.

"Let's kick their ass,"

Marco smirked, "They don't stand a chance."

They played in the snow for hours. Friends, neighbors, and family came from all over. Sanji bravely chanced a careful drive in the snow - and nearly wiped out though he wouldn't admit it. Even their competitive neighbor Heracles exited his house in what appeared to be a jacket designed to look like a beetle's shell. He also wore a woolen hat that had horns upon his head. He declared he would build the most magnificent ever snow-beetle and went for it.

It was surprisingly not Ace who accepted this challenge but Usopp who'd run over to play. He and Luffy got to work to create their snow-beetle. Ace and Marco, while this was going on, slipped away to build a traditional snowman. It was a small little thing and slightly lopsided, it also had a nose made of a stick; they had no carrots in the house. Still Ace loved it.

"Come here" Marco beckoned as they finished. He knelt beside the snowman and pointed Ace to take the opposite side of him.

"What?"

"I want to remember this" Marco shrugged. He pulled out his cell and snapped a quick picture of himself, the snowman, and Ace together. The image would be framed and placed right on their shelf. It would stand beside the ones from their past two snow absent winter holidays.

Marco was inspecting the picture ensuring it was focused and Ace's bright smile was front and center. Ace always took the best pictures he thought fondly.

"Usopp we need super wings!" Luffy cried from nearby.

Ace swung to his feet "You can't make wings Luffy! They're too thin to stay up." He shot a cheeky grin at Sabo nearby sipping a cocoa on their front porch before he darted over. Marco watched him go with a fond smile.

By morning the snow would be melted leaving behind a tilted snowman and several drooping snow-beetles. One of the snow-beetles would have missing wings that vanished with the sun. While of all people, Sabo would be the one who got sick with a cold. But none of them cared. They had fun at the time and enjoyed it while it lasted.