AN: I do not own PPG or any of the characters. Yeah. Um this is my very first fanfic… ever so R&R if you want. Cool

Also all information used to describe the way they were in the original series, like ages and specific crimes and stuff, is obtained from the PPG wiki which I also do not own.

Also my chapter numbering has been super screwy. The number down there is correct.

End AN

Chapter 10: No Turning Back

Ace had gone through two beers by the time Snake knocked on his door and was finishing his third.

"Acccceeee, Buttercup wantssssss to ssssspeak with you."

Ace laughed, nervously. "Yeah, speak." He couldn't stop himself from walking out though, just to see what she wanted. She was staring at Snake nervously, who got the hint, went inside, and left the two of them alone. This made Ace even more nervous.

"I wanted to apologize for today. It put you in a weird position. I just, with the steel flying towards your head and all, I thought you were going to die ya know. When you didn't, I was just sort of… overwhelmed with emotions. I wanted to say and do things that I would have regretted not doing if you had died. So I rushed into it. I'm sorry." She stammered.

Ace raised up his sunglasses to stare at her. "Wasn't expecting that. Then again I've been hit with a lot of things I wasn't expecting today." He joked, nudging her. Her blush grew into a deep, deep red. Ace sighed and grew serious.

"Look, today, you and Butch should have finished all the rough carpentry. Why don't you take a week off. The plumber and electrician have to come in and put in all the wiring and plumbing. It'll be good for you to get out and do normal stuff, like go on a real date with that fake boyfriend of yours."

"I don't want to date him. I don't like him." Buttercup stated vehemently.

"I know, I know, but I need to think about what happened okay? Give me some time to think." Ace responded, defeated.

"So, it's not a no?" Buttercup chirped.

Ace rolled his eyes. "Goodnight, cupca-ki-Buttercup."

Ace walked inside and shut the door. Snake stood inside, holding up the two beer bottles.

"How many of thesssssee have you had?" Snake hissed.

"About a third as much as I need." Ace retorted going back to his third beer which was still sitting where he left it.

"Acceeee, why are you drinking?" Snake asked.

"To keep from thinking." Ace responded honestly.

"That'sssss the worssssst reasssson." Snake chided, sibilantly.

"Then I'm doing product testing, to see which beer is the best at making our customers stop thinking." Ace bit back, sharply.

"I'm not dealing with thisssssss tonight. Goodnight, Accccceeee." Snake sighed, turning to his room. Ace leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling. He was 30 and she was 18. There was a twelve year difference. It was dirty. Just thinking of it as a possibility made him feel dirty. It could never happen between them, but it wasn't like he didn't like her. She was a cool kid, sharp and witty yet still able to be manipulated, innocent and naïve. No, that was a bad way to think about it. It had been such a long time since a girl had paid attention to him. He'd been so busy recently with the grand opening of his bar and all. He hadn't had sex since he quit using. But that was a bad way to think about it too. She was eighteen, eighteen for Christ's sake. A year younger and he would be arrested for several years just for insinuating he would like to touch her like that. He sighed.

"I'm going to need something stronger." He muttered to himself.

After Buttercup finished talking to Ace, she met Butch and flew home. She was quiet most of the way. She had messed it up with Ace. She had wanted to go slow, not jump into something. She knew it would probably be weird for him for a while. She had screwed up a really good relationship. She was happy just being friends with him for now, but now he knew. She couldn't think about anything but how awful the situation was. At least until she felt arms grabbing hers, throwing her into the ground.

"What the hell is your problem?" Buttercup yelled. Butch rocketed toward the ground and stood in front of her, angry.

"Fight me." Butch commanded.

"I'm not in the mood, Butch." Buttercup complained. Butch raced forward and socked Buttercup's jaw, sending her flying back through the dirt. She rose up on her arms, leaning back in her newly made ditch. Her eyes angry, but still not punching back.

"I'm not in the mood, Butch." She growled.

"Fight me!" Butch yelled. He ran forward again. Buttercup rolled out of the way, let him pass her, and punched him in the back. He was knocked onto all fours, smirking to himself.

"Still not in the mood, princess?" He asked.

"Guess I am." Buttercup said from behind him. She picked up her foot and dug it into his back. Butch smirked again and jumped into the air, getting high up and then plummeting back, hoping to hit Buttercup with an earth shattering kick. Buttercup jumped out of the way, causing Butch to hit the ground. The ground rippled outwards and Buttercup shot into the air, where Butch was waiting. He grabbed her from behind and flipped over backwards, he spiraled down sending Buttercup head first towards the ground. Buttercup smashed her elbow back into his chest causing him to loosen his grip. She zoomed out right as he hit the ground and flew back down to meet him, cracking his ribs with a flurry of punches. She pulled back for the final punch to the nasal cavity but Butch grabbed her fist and met her stomach with his own punch. She doubled over and he kicked her over his head. They both laid there, heads lightly touching, breathing heavily.

"Do you," Butch panted, "feel better now?"

Buttercup got up to rest on her elbows, turning to look at Butch.

"Yeah." She realized.

"Good," Butch smiled to himself. "Your smile is much prettier than your frown."

Buttercup laughed and got to her feet, walking over to help Butch get up.

"Now let's get you home, before your sisters think I've done something ungentlemanly with you."

Buttercup laughed again and they flew off towards her home.