Here ya go, LC. It's not quite what you wanted but I promise tomorrow.
And thanks to all the R&Rs especially those I can't write back to.

Elsie was putting on her coat when Ace arrived. She really loved seeing him. Both he and Fil had wiggled their way into her heart. She wanted to see them happy and the shelter was good for them. Fil had begun training to refinish wicker furniture. He was proud of his accomplishments and dreamed of getting a little shop to work out of. There were many avenues that he could take as a disabled vet to start his own business. Regina, the girl he was seeing, was encouraging as well. She squirreled away tips from her waitress job and hoped to help out with the things he needed. Fil was doing fine. Elsie was surprisingly not so encouraged by Ace. She thought he would be the one to pull himself up by the bootstraps. But his attitude, while gregariously happy on the outside, was still low. Elsie puzzled over the man. There was something about him. Something familiar. Something she had found out.

"Hey, My Man!" Elsie said as she hugged him, "How are you tonight? Staying warm?"

"Always, my dear," he replied as he kissed her cheek, "My glowing personality keeps me that way. And how about you? Heading home to Elliot? He's such a lucky man to have you!"

"Oh you Sweet Talkin' Man! Come on over here, I have some news for you." She grabbed his hand and found an open seat. "Now I've been looking through the jobs being offered to the vets. I have one that might just interest you." She pulled a paper out of her purse with a bit of apprehension. This step might alienate her. He may never come back. But somehow Elsie had to take the chance. He had to take the chance. Maybe this would do it.

"Ace, have you ever worked a cash register?" she smiled and continued without an answer, "Because I have a golden opportunity for you. There is a shop that is willing to take on a vet for employment. Now you don't seem like the kind of person who would have a problem with people like me, right?"

He smiled at her, "You mean sweet as Chess Pie?" he said as he kissed her hand.

She grinned, "Honey, sweet is not what I'm talking about. Some of you would be running for the hills rather than hanging out on North Avenue. Now listen, it's run by a good woman but her daughter-in-law is about to have her third baby. She is going to need some time. This is going to be a temp to permanent position. The girl herself wants to stay home with her babies and…"

His eyes opened wide as he realized the location, "Um, I'm not really sure that it's for me, Elsie. It might not be right for…"

"Now I think this would be perfect for you. It won't be hard. Not too much to do except ring up customers and socialize. Everyone there would be glad to have the help. You seem like the kind of person who can learn quickly." She saw the apprehension in his face and began to scramble for a way to convince him. "It will be fun. People there are patient and kind. They need the help and you need the work. Besides with your musical background, you would fit right in. They would love….."

"Musical background? What do you mean?" His smile disappeared.

Elsie realized her mistake. Her mouth dropped open and it took her a second to recover her thoughts.

"Listen Elsie, thanks so much for the offer, I know you're looking out for me and I really appreciate it" he smiled uncomfortably and released her hand.

She knew she had slipped. She would lose him if she didn't say something fast, "She wants you there, you know. They all do. Maybelle wants you to see her kids, her grandkids…."

His head hung as he stood to go. She stood with him

"Please," She begged as she touched his arm, "I've always been there for you. I've done everything you've asked of me. Won't you sit back down? Please, just hear what I have to say?"

He stopped for a moment. "Please…" she whispered.

"How did you know? How did you find out?" He asked without looking up.

"It was her. Amber. She came in one day as I walked out. Behind the glasses and under the hair, her eyes are the same." Elsie smiled delicately, "You always seemed so familiar to me, but then I saw her it just connected. Her eyes and your smile. I thought long and hard after seeing her. I still wasn't sure but it all seemed to come together."

"You see, my kids used to dance when that show came on. Some people I knew would only watch on Negro Day, but as soon as the theme would start, my kids would begin to jump and dance, so we watched it all the time. You were there, right in my living room. I've known you all along."

"No you haven't Elsie," he replied, "I'm not the same person I was then…"

"None of us are. Back then, I was a night nurse and the mother of three children. Now I work here and I'm the mother of two. But some things never change. What's in here." She touched her chest, "It never changes. Our ability to love and be loved. That never changes."

He looked at her with blank eyes. "All of that is gone now. What I was is all but forgotten."

"You can think that, but my people will never forget. You made us something when we were nothing. What you did for us in this city will never be lost."

He still wouldn't meet her eyes as she continued. "I have to tell you, I wasn't positive about it. My curiosity got the best of me. That shop is not too far from where I live. Well actually, it's not too far from where any of my people live." She laughed and she was relieved to see a small smile from him in return, "I stopped in there and looked at the pictures on the wall. There are photos of all the kids. A group picture and very one of the council. And you, a big professional one…."

He grinned. He thought back to the ongoing battle he had with Maybelle about that picture. He hated to see his glossy hung on the wall. She loved it. If he wasn't in the shop for a while, she would hang it up. When he came back, he would pull it down and hand it to Penny, complaining how stubborn her mother-in-law could be…

His face shot up, "Elsie, did you say the girl is having her third baby?" he interrupted. He only knew of one.

Elsie saw a glimmer of hope. "Yes! Such a nice girl too. Penny is it?"

He nodded.

"Her kids were there with her. Her baby boy is just so cute. He wanted me to hold him when I asked about the pictures. His momma pointed out every person on the wall. Her sister-in-law with her pageant crown, her husband, such a fine young man. And of course, you. You alone, you with the mixed council and you with the white kids. She told me all the names. Each and every one. Even Amber. Right next to you in that shot."

His eyes glazed over, "She was so pretty then. She was such a brat but man she could turn heads. She knew it too and…." He suddenly grabbed her arm, "You didn't tell her Elsie, did you? About Amber?"

"No, I wanted to talk to you first," She saw the relief on his face. "She certainly has changed from those pictures. Do you know what happened to her?"

"Yes, I know." He whispered, "I did it to her."

Elsie leaned back and her voice lowered, "What did you do Ace?" she asked apprehensively. Elsie had been surprised at the condition of the skinny girl compared to those photos. Something big happened to bring her this far down. What was this man capable of?

"I took her dreams. I murdered her mother and I killed her future." He replied as he put his head into his hands.

Elsie knew the story of the mother. Long before Penny told her, she knew what happened to Velma Von Tussle. Everyone did. It was the biggest story in all of Baltimore. This man had nothing to do with it.

She put her hand on his shoulder, "No you didn't. No one causes another person to do what that woman did. No one is responsible."

"You don't understand what it meant to Velma and what being on that show meant to Amber. I was terrible to her. It was good for me, and for people like you, but she'll never be the same. You can't know how sorry I am." He moaned.

"Look at me." His eyes slowly moved to meet hers. "It doesn't matter if I know or anyone knows how sorry you are. Only her. You need to talk to her. To tell her."

"I can't." and he bolted out the door. Elsie sighed. She wasn't sure she would ever see him again.