"Hello Ace," Graham says as he slides next to her on a booth. He gives her a small kiss on the cheek.
"Hello Graham, you know you don't have to kiss me on the cheek anymore. There are other parts you can kiss."
"We don't know if anyone from the meeting is going to show up here." Ace starts to rethink the hiding thing. "I am going to get a sandwich, how about you?"
"A broccoli soup." They settle in and order their food, while waiting Graham grabs her hand. "You have a feeling Yaz was about to say that she didn't want to be a third wheel to our assignments"
"Yes, it's not like we will have a snog while on the job."
"We will wait for that until we get off work and we're alone."
"When one of us drops the other off at their place." The food arrives, they eat in silence and head to the movies.
"What can I get you sir?"
"Two tickets to the 8 o'clock show."
"I am guessing the only one that isn't family friendly."
"That one," Ace pops out, already coming up with ideas to do in the movie theater that she hasn't done since she was a teenager.
"Ok, your seats are Q1 and Q2."
"Would you like anything to drink, M'lady?"
"I'll have a soda." They grabbed their drinks and headed to their seats in the theater.
"Do you want Q1?"
"Q2," About 20 minutes in, Ace turns to Graham and grabs his face. After 5 minutes they break apart before going into snogging each other again, this keeps going on until Graham feels a different hand on his shoulder.
"Sir, your movie ended 10 minutes ago. You need to leave now." Graham grabs Ace's hand and with the other picks up his nearly full drink cup. With swollen lips both of them walk out into the night. Before they reach their prospective cars Graham's phone goes off.
"Answer it."
"It's Ryan," with a bright face he picks it up.
"What do I hear about you dating someone?"
"Did Yaz call you?"
"Yes, and she told me about you trying to hide your relationship with someone you met last month while trying to take down The Master's plans." Graham looks to Ace who is leaning against a tree not too far away.
"You can't say anything to anyone."
"I won't."
"We have been on a few dates that have ended well. I wanted to wait to tell until you got home."
"I knew this day would eventually come when you moved on from my Gran, but Yaz tells me that Ace is it?"
"Yes, it is Ace , she is a wonderful woman, and she used to travel with the Doctor."
"She used to travel with the Doctor?"
"She did, back in the late 80s."
"I am happy for you. I will be home next week to see you and meet her. I will not tell Yaz about anything. I will be prepared to face her wrath when you two are ready for everyone to know."
"Thank you Ryan."
"I gotta go, bye."
"Bye Ryan.." Graham walks over to Ace, "how would you feel about meeting Ryan?" One eyebrow goes up from Ace. "He will be home in a week and already knew about us from Yaz."
"There is too much gossip with that group," with the shake of her head they resume the walk to the cars.
"I had a wonderful night again with you, Ace."
"Especially the make-out session." Graham leans in to kiss her, this one is slow and sweet as both of their eyes close and rain starts to fall. Neither of them notice the fact they are both getting wet as their tongues tangle. When the need for air becomes apparent they break apart.
"Good night Ace."
"You're wet."
"So it seems you are. You should get into your car before you catch ill."
"You too, Graham. Just so you know, this week I will be working with my foundation."
"Can I pop by with lunch one day?"
"I'd love that."
….
"Hello, there sir, how can I help you today?" Ace's secretary stops him.
"I have plans with Ms. McShane for lunch."
"Let me check quickly, what's your name?"
"Graham O'Brien."
"Ms. McShane there is a Mr. O'Brien here for you, are you expecting him?"
"Send him in."
"You can go in."
When he enters the large office, "Nice office."
"Thank you, Graham. What did you bring for lunch?"
"Pizza, hope you are ok with that."
"Who isn't ok with pizza.?"
"I honestly don't know." Graham opens up the box, and they eat right out of it. "How are Tegan and Nyssa doing with the move?"
"They are almost packed up as they have basically lived as nomads for 20 years, and already have a job lined up with UNIT."
"Do most people who worked with the Doctor end up working there?"
"Until recently Tegan and I were just freelancers, though I did tell Kate to just count me as a volunteer as I don't really need the money. Though I think those two will stay at the cottage until they find a place. They really didn't like the houses we showed them."
"That means we will have to be careful when they get here to London."
"We will, that means I will have to kiss you less at my cottage." Graham takes the hint and leans in to give her a small kiss.
"We will still go on dates of course."
"Definitely, I still have to meet Ryan as it is."
"He will be here Thursday, he doesn't know how long he'll stay this time."
"With Yaz and company it may be better for him not to come to the meeting next week anyway as they will grill him."
"I know. Once we decide to tell everyone, Yaz won't be happy with him"
"They won't have to know that he already knew about us."
"He will probably try and convince us to tell everyone." There is a knock on the door.
"Ms. McShane, remember your meeting at 2." Ace looks at the clock.
"I guess an hour long lunch is long enough."
"No amount of time with you is enough for me."
"Graham you already have me, you don't have to keep trying to win me over."
"You can't blame a guy for trying." Graham gets up to throw away the trash, Ace comes up behind him.
In his ear, "I appreciate you for trying Graham," she kisses his cheek, "you already have more than anyone has ever had of me." He turns around with her arms around his waist and kisses her.
"I guess I better go, see you later Ace, I.. goodbye."
In shock of the almost bomb that Graham dropped, "Bye Graham I will call you when I am done for the day, so we can decide on when to dinner with Ryan." After he leaves she almost cancels her meeting, but thinks against it. She heads to her ensuite bathroom to freshen up. "You got this, Graham is a great guy, and you like him, but you don't have to be distracted by what he almost said."
"That's because you are falling in love with him too." Ace looks up to see her Doctor again.
"You weren't kidding Professor when you said you would appear when emotions are heightened."
"I know you are glad I hadn't shown up in the past right now."
"There may be some times in the future when I don't want you coming in, you know."
"I am aware of that, I only come to you when you are alone, or the both of you are in danger."
"Even though we both do work with UNIT?"
"My dear Ace, there are different forms of danger. You should know that Kate will be pairing the two of you up for the future."
"How do you know that?"
"I may haven't spoken to Yaz, but I have been there for her transition."
"You two were basically girlfriends and you are telling me."
"You have been a daughter in my eyes since you were still a teeanger. I have to go now." Says the man dressed in many question marks. "So you know I left something for you at your house before I left."
"Ok, bye Professor."
"Bye Ace." Ace looks. At herself in the mirror.
"I have to ask Tegan if she has been visited, but how will I explain that mine shows up after something happens with Graham. I am surprised he didn't show after I kissed Graham." Ace heads out and prepares for her meeting.
"Your 2 o'clock is here Ms. McShane."
"Send them in."
"Hello, I am Anthony Williams and I recently came into some money, and would like to donate it to a worthy cause."
"I always ask this, are you sure about Mr. Williams?"
"I am sure, I read about how this organization helps out all kinds of life, and I know my parents would want me to do this. I have a check for 1.2 million."
"That is a sizable donation Mr. Williams, you understand that we will have to make sure the money is good."
"It is from the 52nd century, I know you are one of few who would know anything about that."
"How did you travel in time?"
"My sister dropped by and she told me she was in year 23 of her years with the Doctor and knew she was reaching the end of her time."
"I understand, you must be Amy and Rory's son."
"I am, I never got to meet him though."
"You can meet those of us who have traveled if you wish?"
"No thank you."
"Ok, thank you for the donation." He leaves after shaking her hand. Ace starts to get to work on paperwork. She doesn't notice the time when her phone rings, not looking at it she answers thinking it's Graham, "Hello," she says in a flirty voice.
"Were you expecting someone else there Ace?"
"Oh, hi Teagn."
"Aren't you happy to hear from me, since I have news on the date that Nyssa and I are moving to England."
"When is it?"
"This weekend, how do you feel about having a few house guests?"
"You know the two of you are always welcome to stay."
"I wasn't sure with you and Graham."
"What's with me and Graham?"
"How the two of you were almost holding hands the whole meeting and according to Yaz, he glared at Martha when she made a about basically being the Doctor's daughter."
"What?!"
"Yep, and how after the meeting was over not only were the two of you flirting; he left nearly right after you with a little skip in his step. You might be able to hide, but he isn't."
"Well, nevermind."
"Did Ace McShane almost have a slip up?"
"No, I better get ready to leave work."
"Do you have a date with Graham?"
"I can honestly say, I don't have a date with him, Tegan. Do you want to go finish packing, I can clear some room for a few boxes in my bomb shelter."
"Is it going to be safe with all the Nitro-999 around there?"
"Yes, Tegan and Nyssa," Who must have just joined in listening, "it will be. I have some lead boxes that I can put the unmade ones in, and the others will join my backpack for my next UNIT assignment. Love you both." She hangs up and drives home.