Pairing: EdwardxIchigo, weird right? I know all that.

Universes: One Piece x Bleach

Summary: The Whitebeard crew is one huge family, but what's a family without a mother? Plus, why do you think Whitebeard adopted so many children?

Warnings: Yaoi, CRACK PAIRING (seriously …) character death (?), implied Mpreg.

A/N: You'll really have to bare with me on this one. Yes. I have slightly lost the plot of life and gained this one in return. Please, bare in mind that Whitebeard was not always the size he was before he died, i.e. 5 times the size of an average human. When he was known as Edward Newgate and never once had an interest in gold or treasure, he was actually comparable to the rest of his crew. He also had blonde hair, as seen when he was 52. The Whitebeard Ichigo meets is known as Edward Newgate, who's only dream was to have a family of his own.

At The Heart

You could often hear the entire Whitebeard crew refer to their Captain as Dad, Pops or Old man. In return he would call them his sons and daughters. It was a very simple thing that brought the entire crew together like a family. A huge dysfunctional family that loved to fight and drink and involve themselves in general rowdy pirate behaviour.

So when a member of the family's life was in danger, they all came together to save them. No matter who they were or how new they were, the entire crew would put their all in their rescue. After all, they were a family and families protect their own. This was very true, however, the circumstances this time around were very different.

Not only was the family member in danger, Portgas D. Ace, 2nd Commander but he was about to be executed in front of the entire World at Marine Headquarters. It meant war, which meant the involvement of a lot of allies. Something Whitebeard had a large number of. The political threat designed to bring Whitebeard out to battle was acknowledged with extreme discontent amongst all those that knew Whitebeard and Ace, especially those than knew of Ace's parentage.

Such was information that Ace never wanted it to be known even amongst his own crew mates. If anyone ever asked, Whitebeard was his father. No one else. His mother was Portgas D. Rouge, a most beautiful woman whom he gave his everlasting thanks to. Not only had she held him for 20 months, but he had also taken her name to disguise his sire's identity. He had long since rejected his sire, even preferring the insinuation that his father was Monkey D. Dragon, as the name implies Monkey D. Luffy's father. However, that would also imply he was related to Monkey D. Garp, which was a scary thought indeed.

Fate had not been on his side in a while, what with the murder of a subordinate by another crew member, Marshall D. Teach now known as Blackbeard, the search and failure to capture said man; which ended in his imprisonment in Impel Down.

He knelt on the high wooden platform with his hands shackled behind his back, staring before him in horror as the violence and blood blossomed out onto the icy platform that was formally the entrance of the Marine Headquarters. Not only did he see his crew mates, brothers, nakama falling to the swords and gunfire of the Marines, he caught sight of something that made his blood turn cold.

His father, his only father, stood directly before him on the figure of the Moby Dick in a stance Ace had never seen before. Whitebeard had only ever been strong, even whilst on life support surrounded by attractive nurses, he still managed to appear incredibly intimidating. It was just the way he held himself, so tall and unbending. Like an iron wall no one could ever hope to break down.

Ace wasn't the only one looking at the scene in sheer shock. The Marine Headquarters became silent, no one daring the blink lest they miss a single nanosecond of what they were seeing before them. If they thought Whitebeard was angry at the thought of Ace being possibly killed, it did not compare to this in anyway. It was very true that Whitebeard loved his crew like sons, and sometimes nakama were closer than most blood relatives, but this was far different.

The fact itself that Whitebeard was even lying on the deck of his ship without placing himself there was unbelievable in itself. The Strongest Man in the World was sprawled on the deck of his own ship because someone forced him there. Yes, your eyes do not deceive you – FORCED.

The reason was even more incredulous. While looking like he was about to shatter the Earth's surface, Whitebeard was glaring at the sight before him that only certain people could ever understand. It was ridiculous to anyone who hadn't known the man before he became Whitebeard; and even to those who knew him before then were beyond gob-smacked.

It was physically impossible, yet their eyes showed them no lies, if the outbreaks of confusion were anything to go by. The not so quiet whispers spread through both Marines and pirates alike; the key topic – Who the hell just saved Whitebeard from being stabbed through the chest?

Very few people outside of the Whitebeard Pirates knew. And those that did had known Whitebeard as Edward Newgate, an up-starting Rookie who had been clashing with the Pirate King and Marines for decades.

As usual, one of the most horrified was Sengoku. At the fact that his plan to tear the Pirate forces apart was foiled and by whom most of all.

Another whose voice box had been muted was Squardo, the only other to have a front row seat to the action that shook the world. He stood shell-shocked with his blade aimed at the spot Whitebeard's chest had been not even a second ago, blood trickling down the blade. The blade had missed its target, it had been a long shot to begin with, but this was something not even Whitebeard was expecting. The evidence was on the faces of all surrounding.

"Oi, you gonna pull this thing out or what? We're not going to save Ace when your sword is still run through my stomach." The clear speech was only proof that they were not seeing an illusion before them. "Oi, Squardo! Is this any way to treat your Mother?"

The surrounding fighters went from sock to sheer confusion. Mother? MOTHER? Whitebeard's reaction didn't help any either. He laughed.

"Oi, listen to your Mother! Lower him down now!"

MOTHER? HIM? What the hell was going on? The man – apparently – placed his hands on his slim waist and looked down the sword expectantly at Squardo. When his feet reached the deck he turned his gaze to Whitebeard.

"Don't just lie there Edward! Help get me off this thing – Holy Hell you've grown again!" Still laughing, Whitebeard finally got up on his haunches. "I am so glad you find this so amusing, Edward! Here I am, making sure that you don't get yourself killed again and then I get run through the stomach saving your ass! Why the hell they call you the Strongest Man in the World I have no idea!"

All around the Plaza, Marines and Pirates alike were looking to each other for some form of explanation. On the main platform, Garp had started to laugh as soon as the punctured newcomer had opened his mouth. Memories of long ago brought back with a force. And he was sure that Sengoku was about to start frothing at the mouth in anger at how his plan had completely been ruined by someone they had all thought had been missing or dead for a long time.

He saw clearly how anyone would be very confused by the situation, the "Mother" and "him" comment especially. Long, flowing orange hair being flicked around by the wind, a very lithe, slim form that could be mistaken for a female's at a distance. Next to Whitebeard the man was incredibly effeminate. But Garp knew different, as did Sengoku.

As soon as the man was removed from his sword Squardo dropped the weapon like it was on fire. He watched as the man, who was smaller than himself, walk towards him with purpose. His eyes were shadowed by bright orange bangs, his hair reaching his lower back. Squardo was frozen to his spot, pinned there by fear and Whitebeard's unforgiving stare. He didn't know when the smaller man had gotten so close to him, but he certainly felt pain as he collided with the stone walls of the Plaza. Everyone else caught onto it when they heard the explosion of rubble on the edge of the Plaza.

But Whitebeard wasn't concerned with that right at that moment. His attention was focused solely on the man before him. He hadn't changed one bit since the day they met, from the heavy combat boots to his tight ass to his flaming orange spikes. Whitebeard knew that each and every strand was just as soft as it looked, having spent hours running his fingers through it. And that beneath those loose fitting black trousers were long legs that felt amazing when wrapped around his waist. Under the loose shirt and long black coat was a muscled chest and back that had always remained completely scar-free no matter how many times he was cut, sliced, stabbed and shot. Whitebeard had always marvelled at how quickly the smaller man seemed to heal without a trace. Though it always made him fall for his mysterious lover all the more.

"Hey, we both know you can never say good-bye for good. Why'd you think you could last time, Ichigo?"

Ichigo looked over his shoulder and up to the man he swore he wouldn't come back to again. No matter how many times he told himself that it would be better to leave and remain away, he always found himself saving the man who was always a split second from death. He hissed slightly as the wound finally closed up and turned to fully face the man he had met so long ago.

Ichigo remembered the days when they were relatively the same height, Edward still always managed to be the taller of them. Edward had always joked that he grew so big so he could reach Ichigo when he left again. He had always called Ichigo his 'Fallen Angel', knowing just how much it pissed Ichigo off. Their first meeting had been a complete accident and twist of fate that liked to come back and bite Ichigo on the ass …

–

Edward merely laughed at his crew-mates confused expression and knocked back the rest of his pitcher. It was an oddly quiet night, by pirate standards that is. His crew had stopped to replenish supplies and loot what they could while they were still docked on the small island. Edward's lack of interest in gold and treasure had always been a confusing subject amongst his crew. He only ever said that he wanted a family and left them all to do whatever the hell they wanted with their time. As long as they came out on top and didn't get themselves killed he wasn't too bothered.

He supposed that it was his own shoddy childhood that created his great ambition and desire to have a large family of his own. He stood from his place around the large bonfire and moved over to the coast line, stretching his arms out before him.

A family of his own … and he would be there to protect them all and not let a single one slip through his –

There was a flash of orange and Edward felt a sudden weight in his out stretched arms. He sank down to one knee at the force and to balance himself, thoroughly confused by what happened.

There, lying in his arms, was the most enchanting creature that he had ever laid eyes on. For once he managed to hold in his bellowing laughter to save disturbing the fallen … well.

At first glance he was sure that the being in his arms was female, but a quick readjustment in his arms quickly eradicated that thought. Though the body in his arms was slim there was no way that that ass belonged to a woman.

He rose to his full height, turning back towards the firelight, beauty in arms. His men gaped at him with confusion and humour. All they had seen was Edward sink to his knees in the distance and rise again a few minutes later. Some of the more enthusiastic members of the crew had risen to aid their captain, but those with a keener eye had held them back. There was nothing that their Captain couldn't handle.

'Captain, who's the -'

'An Angel.'

For once, even the oldest members of the crew were taken aback by the statement. Edward Newgate had always been a strong, but weird Captain. This just took cake.

'An Angel, Captain?'

'Ai ...'

It was so cheesy it made him physically sick, just like when Edward talked to him affectionately. The man could have anyone in the world if he wanted, yet he still pined for him like a child did their mother. It was sickening.

Yet, he came back to him every time. He watched the bastard every day to make sure that he wasn't getting himself killed again. Ichigo often speculated that the bastard got into these situations just because he knew that his lover would reappear just like he promised he never would. If Ichigo was anything, it was stubborn. After all this time and the history between them he still didn't want to admit that Edward had a large hold over his very being.

They stood apart, Ichigo knowing that if they got closer he would fall into the same routine. The same pattern that swept him off his feet and straight into the delirious state of mind that Edward managed to send him into with a simple touch. Even now at 72 years old, Edward was still magnificent. The long blond hair was gone, and the white moustache still a prominent feature. His immense body built of solid muscles still filled Ichigo with awe and want.

Edward looked down to the fuming strawberry and watched the familiar expression flash across Ichigo's beautiful brown eyes. It always amazed him how Ichigo never seemed to age. No matter how long they spent apart, Ichigo remained almost exactly the same as when they first met. Long orange hair, constant scowl and brutally honest. Edward made a point of mentioning how cute he was, just to rile him up and make him blush. He knew just as well as Ichigo did that they would always return to each other, no matter how much Ichigo denied it.

Edward didn't want this situation to just be about them though. He was there to rescue his son Ace. The fact that Ichigo had fallen to him once again was an incredible bonus, one that was about to drive Sengoku insane. It the background he could even hear Garp's booming laughter at the comical event. There was only one person in the world that Edward welcomed a hit from and he stood before him, scowling at the possibility of falling for him all over again. He knew Ichigo better than he knew himself, knew exactly what was running through his head. So well that words were not needed any more. He simply held his hand out towards his lover and waited.

Ichigo's scowl wavered upon seeing the outstretched hand that was now bigger than his head, he mused. He thought back to when things like this weren't so awkward due to their vast difference in size. Ichigo knew, as he took the giant hand, that he was giving in to temptation once again. And he was going to love every second of it.

The slight annoyance that Edward could easily sweep him up and close to his enormous chest was overpowered by the want to be close to him again. The need and want to be held against his beating heart was overwhelming. As soon as had his hands on the sides of Edwards face he was safe again, all the worry and regret was simply washed away.

The crowds around them had long since faded away, so much so that they weren't even background noise any more. Another cheesy aspect to their relationship – it was like that first awkward love exchange all over again. Ichigo, scowling and unexpectedly coy, Edward forward and cocky. Oh, how extremely cocky he was.

For someone who had just realised that he didn't have an feelings for the slender gender – he argued that Ichigo was close enough to a woman any way: Ichigo had beaten him half to death while Edward had just laughed – he seemed very at ease coming on to Ichigo, With his aggressive kisses and lust-driven touches, in front of his entire crew and anyone else who just so happened to be around at the time.

Although he would instantly deny it, Ichigo loved every bit of the attention that he got. It was always moments like this where old sepia memories flooded to the front of his mind. Simpler times where they would run around being pirates for fun. This wasn't fun. Seeing all of Edward's crew falling around them. They were Edward's children; their children …

"Edward. As much as I would love this moment to last, we have to save Ace."

Edward frowned a bit. "Since when did you get so serious?"

"50 years of dealing with your stubborn ass will do that to a person."

Ichigo had always been the more mature one in their relationship, but he had always been just as rowdy and fun-loving. But then again, the situations they managed to get into were never as large scale as this one. Sure, they had opposed the Government plenty of times before but never an all-out war that had been brewing below the surface. Erupting with the single catalyst of Ace's capture. Ichigo's heart went out to his foster-son, having been there when he was born and when Edward had offered to be his father.

He had even given Ace his insight into life as a Whitebeard pirate, not long after Marco had. And that was another thing; Marco. The First Commander of the Whitebeard pirate fleet. In essence, he was the First Mate of the enormous family. His talent and strength gave him great respect among the others. The very talented older brother figure, who was so much like his parents it was unreal.

Edward reluctantly placed his little lover back down onto the ship, not without an affectionate tap to the behind that had Ichigo half-heartedly glaring up at him.

"So what's the plan, Captain? The usual gun-ho, let's fuck shit up approach?"

Edward merely laughed in his deep rumble, confirming Ichigo's thoughts exactly. He, along with the screw, would have to wait at the ready for the command to carry on trying to get to the platform.

Edited a bit so the story will run smoother.

FlamingOrangeRose -x