"Embers of Fate"

Chapter 21: Misunderstanding and Revelation
The ship was quieter than usual, the hum of the sea now drowned by a sense of anxiety that seemed to cling to the very air. The crew had noticed Rosé's increasingly distant behavior over the past few days, but it wasn't until today that it had become impossible to ignore. She had been pale, her energy drained, and the nausea that had been plaguing her for days had only worsened. She couldn't hide it any longer.

Ace noticed it first. His sharp, ever-watchful eyes picked up on the way she seemed to withdraw from everyone, how she avoided the normal chatter around the dinner table, and how she had barely touched her food. He hadn't said anything at first, assuming it was just a passing illness, but his concern grew as he saw her grow weaker.

"Rosé," Ace asked softly, his voice filled with worry as he approached her on the deck. "Are you feeling okay?"

She turned to him with a weak smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just tired, Ace. It's nothing."

He didn't buy it. Ace was no stranger to exhaustion, but there was something different in her eyes—something that tugged at his gut and made him uneasy. He had seen the signs of sickness before, but this felt... off.

"Let me help," he insisted, kneeling beside her. "We've been through a lot lately, and you're pushing yourself too hard."

Rosé hesitated, but before she could respond, her knees buckled slightly, and she stumbled into his arms. Ace caught her without thinking, his eyes wide with panic. "Rosé?" He held her tightly, his heart pounding. "What's going on?"

"I—I think I need to rest," she whispered, her voice shaky.

"That's it. This isn't just tiredness," Ace said, panic creeping into his voice. "You're really sick, aren't you?"

Rosé's eyes met his, and for a moment, there was a flicker of the truth in them—the truth she hadn't yet told him. But before she could explain, a wave of dizziness overcame her, and she slumped against him once again.

"Rosé!" Ace exclaimed, his voice louder now. "Hold on. You're not okay. We need to get you to the doctor!"

"Please, Ace..." she whispered, struggling to stay conscious. "I'll be fine, really..."

But Ace wasn't listening. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her down below deck to where Chopper, the ship's doctor, was tending to some minor injuries from the previous day's battle. "Chopper!" Ace yelled, his voice urgent. "Something's wrong with Rosé! She's not feeling well!"

Chopper immediately looked up, his eyes wide with concern. "Ace! What happened? Is she alright?"

"She's been sick for days, but it's getting worse!" Ace's voice trembled as he carefully laid Rosé down on the examination table. His heart was racing in his chest as he knelt beside her, staring at her face, hoping she would wake up and tell him it was nothing serious.

Chopper quickly began to examine Rosé, checking her pulse, listening to her breathing, and examining her pupils. He looked up at Ace, a grave expression on his face. "Ace... I think Rosé might be seriously ill. I need to run some tests, but if I had to guess... she's severely dehydrated, and her symptoms are consistent with... well, with something more serious. I need to know everything you can tell me about her condition."

Ace's world seemed to tilt. The words "seriously ill" echoed in his mind like a death knell. His heart felt like it was about to burst as he tried to recall every conversation, every moment he had shared with Rosé.

"She's been a little... distant, lately. But I thought it was just stress or something," Ace said, panic in his voice. "Please, Chopper. You have to help her."

Chopper's brow furrowed as he continued his examination. "I need to check one more thing," he muttered, pulling out a small vial from his bag and adding a few drops to Rosé's skin.

A few moments passed in tense silence before Chopper finally spoke up. "I... I think I know what's going on."

Ace's heart skipped a beat. "What is it? What's happening to her?"

Chopper hesitated, then turned to face Ace, his face filled with uncertainty. "It's... not what you think. She's not dying, Ace. She's pregnant."

Ace's blood ran cold. "Pregnant?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. He couldn't comprehend what Chopper was saying. "But... she's been sick. She's been so pale, and—"

"It's the early signs of pregnancy," Chopper explained, his voice steady but soft. "Morning sickness, fatigue, nausea... they all match. She's carrying a child, Ace. And that's why she's been feeling so unwell."

Ace stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the words sinking in slowly. He felt like the world had shifted beneath his feet. He was going to be a father.

A part of him wanted to scream, to laugh, to cry all at once. Another part of him wanted to run and hide from the overwhelming responsibility that was now thrust upon him. Could he really be a father? Would he be good enough for this child?

The Truth Comes Out
Rosé slowly stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as she felt the cool touch of Chopper's hand on her forehead. Ace was still kneeling beside her, his face a mix of confusion, awe, and something else—something Rosé couldn't quite place.

"Ace?" she whispered, her voice weak.

He leaned in closer, his breath shaky. "Rosé... Chopper says you're—"

"I'm pregnant," she finished softly, her eyes meeting his.

Ace blinked rapidly, his mind racing. The words seemed so surreal, and for a moment, he wondered if he had heard Chopper wrong. "You're... really pregnant?"

Rosé nodded, her eyes downcast as if the weight of her confession was too much to bear. She had kept the truth from him for so long, unsure of how he would react. She had never expected to find herself in this position, but now that the truth was out, she could barely bring herself to face him.

"Ace, I... I didn't know how to tell you," Rosé admitted quietly. "I didn't know if you'd be ready for this, or if you even wanted it. I—"

Before she could finish, Ace cupped her face in his hands, his fiery gaze softening with a look of determination and tenderness. "I don't care how this happened, or how we got here. I care about you. About the baby. And I'll be there. I'll be the father you need me to be. We'll do this together, okay?"

Rosé blinked, surprised by the certainty in his voice. She had feared that he might reject the idea of becoming a father, but instead, he was standing beside her, ready to take on whatever came next.

"But..." Ace continued, his voice cracking with vulnerability, "I'm scared, Rosé. I'm not sure if I can be a good father. I don't know how to do this..."

Rosé reached up, taking his hands in hers and squeezing them tightly. "You're already a good man, Ace. I believe in you. You don't have to have all the answers right now. We'll figure it out together. Just... trust yourself. Trust us."

Ace's eyes searched hers, his heart heavy with the uncertainty that had plagued him. But as he stared into her eyes, he saw the unwavering support, the faith she had in him. It gave him the strength to believe in himself, too.

"Together," he whispered, his voice full of quiet conviction. "We'll do this together."