[Marco just grins softly and hugs Thatch that much more, finally switching back to human for a bit longer now.]

You wouldn't be my first mate if you hadn't grown up a little, eh? And I wouldn't be captain.

Ace isn't the same either. He's been through a lot. Places I can't reach him. Maybe only you can, and maybe vice versa, eh? He doesn't love the Thatch from the past, he loves you as you, past present, future, and all alterations thereof. Just as I still loved Ace from the universe he was a marine.

Don't run away before he even has a chance to see who this newer Thatch is, eh?