Happy holidays. There will be a few chapter much later on that take place during the holidays.

Chapter Text

"Ace, we are leaving to meet with an agent to find a house, you want to come?"

"Sure, let me go and get dressed."

"So you think she will use this one time as a cover for future ones?"

"Maybe, but she should still get some time with Graham this week. We should see a few houses after work one day and go out afterwards."

"I like that idea," Tegan wraps her arms around Nyssa and gives a kiss on the forehead.

"I'm ready you two; let's go find you a house." They exit the house, "I will take my motorcycle and you can take the car, I may leave early."

"Where's your fellow that was with you last time?"

"He was just keeping me company, because we were looking for a place for our married friends."

"Sorry, I didn't believe you."

"Be nice Ace." Nyssa whispers in her ear. After 45 minutes she receives a text.

"Want to meet up somewhere?"

"Yes." Tegan is watching her friend closely.

"Leaving us already, Ace?"

"Yes I am, see you tonight, if I am not home don't wait up." Ace says as she walks out and gets on her bike. She hooks up her headphones to her phone to call Graham, "Hello Graham."

"Hello there Ace, what is that I hear?"

"Probably the wind, I am on my motorcycle. I just left Tegan and Nyssa looking at a house with that agent that thought that we were married."

"What did they say to you leaving?"

"I really didn't give them a chance to say anything."

"You best be prepared when you get home."

"I am planning on staying out late with someone."

"It's a good thing Ryan is going to be with Yaz tonight, right."

"Right, Ryan and his surrogate sister."

"We can trust Ryan not to say anything about us."

"I know we can, he is a good person."

"Just like his Gran."

"Is it ok, if I learn about Grace?"

"Of course it is, meet at the park near where the meetings take place."

"See you soon."

"Yes, you will." Ace shows up to see Graham holding something behind his back as she approaches him he takes out a mix of roses, yellow, red and white.

"These are for you, Ace."

"They're beautiful, thank you," she gives him a small kiss on the lips. "You didn't have to do that."

"I know, I bought them before I found out that you were not in your car."

"It is still very sweet of you to think of me.''

''You have been on my mind since we met and haven't got out of it since." They sit down.

''Is it ok we talk about Grace now?''

"Yeah, we met when she was my nurse. While I was going through chemotherapy, and shortly after I was in remission we got married. After Ryan's mom died she basically raised him on her own. Before we met The Doc we watched her favorite movie 'The Wizard of Oz,' well she watched it and I watched her. She convinced me to let The Doc sleep on the couch when she was still healing from regenerating. She sacrificed herself for everyone, and stood up to Tim Shaw, an alien who was setting off a bunch of bombs.''

"She seems like a fearless and wonderful woman."

"She was one of the best." Graham's voice gets raspy, so Ace scoots closer to Graham and puts an arm around him and he leans into her. "She would've loved to meet you."

"I would've also loved to meet her." They just sit there for a few minutes watching kids play their little games. ''My foundation does a few things; one of them is to help orphans. I never had kids, due to my DNA, so I wanted to help those who needed it."

"Most people I know don't know that it helps humans as much as aliens."

"Why not?"

''Some people when I got back kept asking if I wanted kids, which I didn't." She leans her head on his shoulder. ''Should we get something to eat?''

"There is a food truck across the street, if you want to stay here I can go get us something."

''Let's go together,'' They get up, hands swinging as they get to the food truck.

"Hello, Sir, Miss, what would you like today?''

"I would like a double cheeseburger with bacon."

"To drink?"

"A Pepsi. Ace, what about you?"

"Also a bacon cheeseburger please with a Pepsi and no ice." They get their food and head back to the bench.

"How's your burger Ace," Graham asks as ketchup is dripping from his chin.

Laughing Ace leans forward with a napkin wiping it off, "Good, it looks like I don't have to ask you."

"What? It's a good burger."

"I can tell." They go back to eating in silence as the sun sets. "Beautiful isn't it?"

Graham not looking at the sunset but how golden Ace's hair looks in the new light, "It is." Ace looks back to Graham who quickly looks away. She bumps him with her shoulder before getting and taking both of their trash to the bin across from them.

"I think we should get going, before my guests get too curious." Graham gets up, knees cracking. He walks her to the motorcycle and leans in to kiss her. She smashes their lips together. "Hopefully that can hold us until Saturday."

"I'll try and keep my texts and calls to the minimum this week."

"Oh Graham, you don't have to do that, I was thinking Saturday we stop trying to hide. I can't remember the last time I was this happy in a relationship. I have been happy without one for over 10 years, but now with you, I can be my total self and not get judged or pitted you know.''

"Only sort of, the part of being pitied."

"Graham did you hear what I said, I am ready to stop hiding us," Eyes bright and playing with his jacket, looking into his eyes to see them shine.

"Really?" He grabs the back of her head and lays one on her after dueling tongues they break apart.

"Wow." Ace says as they break apart. "That's ace."

Scratching his ear, "I guess I didn't realize how hard it was for me to hide dating someone, that I lo, I mean really like."

"Good night Graham."

"Good night Ace, see you soon." Ace gets on her bike, puts on her helmet, Graham touches his lip and sends another kiss to her. He turns around, and starts to head back to the car while doing a skip jump and almost falls, but catches himself before he can. Laughing Ace starts her bike and heads home.

"Where were you Ace," asks Tegan when she arrives home.

"Out with-."

"Let me guess, just out."

"Graham." Tegan and Nyssa do a double take as Ace heads up the stairs.

"Did she say what I think she just said?" Asks Tegan about to get up to head after her.

Nyssa puts a hand to stop her from following her, "Yes, and if she is ready to tell us we can stop with the teasing right?"

"I can slow down."

"Tegan."

"I will not stop, come on we are the closest things she has to older sisters, why should I stop." Ace comes back down the stairs. "So Graham eh?"

"Yes Graham, we have been spending some quality time together."

"Ohh quality time," with an eyebrow waggle.

"Not that kind, with the hologram popping up as much as it has been, I don't want him to show up, you know when that sort of quality time is happening. The Professor was the closest thing I had to a ," she shudders, "a father."

"Yeah, we would never want him showing up then."

"Wait Tegan, he keeps showing up for you Ace?"

"At least two times, I expect more."

"Have they shown up for Yaz yet?"

"I was told no, they might want her to move on first."

"When was the first time yours showed up after the thwarted plans?"

"After my first mission with Graham."

"I guess they must also show up when the adrenaline is high?"

"I don't think so, the second time was after, nevermind."

"Oh come on, Ace if it is something else about Graham just tell us. We know you are already in love with him." Ace looks at Tegan who just said that with wide eyes.

"Tegan, we are still new at this, I don't want to screw this up, and how do you know how I feel about him? I am not totally sure yet."

"Ace, I have known you for years, and have seen you in many different relationships, and every time I have seen you around him, well except when in The TARDIS you light up and sometimes have even blushed when he gets mentioned."

"How do people know before me that I am in love with Graham," she gets up and starts to pace around the room.

"T, let me talk to her, come on Ace, let's go to the other room and talk about holding in and denying feelings." They go to the kitchen and sit down, "did I tell you while I was traveling and for a number of years after I was in denial about my feelings for Tegan?"

"No, you did not."

"When I started to admit it, I found a way to earth by a River Song. That I just realized had The Doctor's TARDIS brought me to earth. Tegan at that point was married to her second husband, so I started our friendship again and wouldn't tell her that I was in love with her until they had been divorced for a while." Nyssa just waits for a reply, "with your silence I guess you didn't. The reason I haven't been teasing you bad, because I know how it feels to fall in love with someone who may not be ready. I don't know Graham as well as I know you, so I can't say for him. All I know is he lost his last wife in a similar way that Tegan and I lost Adric. I understand if you want to take it slow with him, just don't deny yourself your feelings as the more you deny, the more you end up hurting yourself."

"Graham has almost told me he loved me twice. The first time he only got to saying I, the second time he got the L part."

"How did you feel?"

"Lighthearted, and that I could conquer anything, well a lot of the time I feel like that, but that was slightly different. I don't know how to fully explain it."

"I get what you are saying, I say try saying to yourself first if you are nervous about telling him and if it makes you happy saying it, tell him before it's too late. With what the two of you do you never know when it's going to be the last time."

"I will try that, thank you Nys." Ace gets up and heads to her room to start the advice given to her.

"How much of that did you hear Tegan?"

"Enough," she comes out from behind the shadows and heads to Nyssa and lifts her head to give her a lingering kiss. "So The Doctor sent someone to help us out."

"At this next meeting we have to find out who River is."

"How about we ask around first, so Yaz doesn't get upset."

"Who should we ask?"

"Kate, she grew up hearing about The Doctor and is the head of UNIT, she should know."

..Meanwhile….

In her bathroom, "I am in love with Graham, I, Ace am in love with Graham. Dorothy McShane is in love with Graham O'Brien." Her smile grows each time.

"I could've told you that, in fact I think I did earlier this week."

"Shut up Professor."

"There's my Ace," he says in his Scottish brough.

"If you know so much, when did I fall in love with him?"

"While in the TARDIS when you , Graham, Tegan and Yaz were piloting it while my future self was fighting off The Master."

"I wasn't in love with him then, I barely had a crush on him then."

"What is the conversation you just had with Nyssa?"

"To let my feelings flow, which is what I was doing before you showed up again."

"Exactly, now go back to what you were doing."

"I will tell Graham when the moment is right."

"Good."

"Professor, can you disappear right now?"

"Already gone Ace." Ace heads back down to tell Tegan and Nyssa.

They are on the couch, "it felt good to say it, now I have to plan on when to tell Graham."

"Ok, Ace I am going to tease you a bit, Ace and Graham sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes kiss, then."

"Oh shove it Tegan, you know it's too late for the next part and I never wanted any of my own."

"Oh I know that Ace, it's just knowing you have someone now."

"Whatever, I just thought the two of you should know that you were right and it feels good to say that I am in love with Graham," Ace says as her face lights up.

"That's great Ace," Nyssa gets up screaming and hugs her friend. "I am so happy for you."

"Thank you Nys, and Teagan I know you mean well."

"Of course I do," Tegan gets up from her spot and walks up to Ace, "I love you like a sister. I have a question, Nyssa told you who brought her here, right?"

"Right, she did, River Song."

"Do you know who River is?"

"The Doctor's Wife who is a part Time Lady."

"He got married?"

"Yes, he did, and I also learned that she is the daughter of two of his former companions that are from this century, but she is from the 52nd."

"So much time travel."

"Which as we know is what happens with him."

"I still can't believe he got married."

"Imagine how the reaction was from when we found out through Brian, the dad of one of the companions."

"How did Yaz take it?"

"Ok, both her and Martha were the most shocked about him being married."

"I bet," Tegan now ready to get to the more important subject at hand, "now we have to think of a way to tell Graham about your feelings for him."

"Just realize that he likes me for me, the blowing up stuff, running a charity, beating up Dalek's fierce woman that I am."

"We like to hear that." Teagn and Nyssa are standing with their arms linked thinking what they should do.

"I can't understand how many times he has called me beautiful, just tonight while I was looking at the sunset and commenting on how it looked, I caught him looking at me when he agreed how beautiful it was. He did look away when I saw him."

"You are beautiful Ace, you always have been."

"I know that when I could seduce someone away from an area that The Doctor wanted to look in with no problem, granted he didn't like it when I did that."

"Of course he didn't like it, Ace. As you said this evening he was like a father to you." Tegan says while shaking her head.

"Well, now his surrogate daughter is dating someone that has a higher chance of lasting." Ace yawns, "I better get to bed, hopefully I can sleep."

"Night Ace," Ace heads upstairs, "you think this is going to last?"

"Tegan, it is, I know it is," Nyssa says while wrapping her arms around her wife as she leans their heads together. "I love you Tegan."

"I love you too Nyssa." Tegan takes her hand and walks up the stairs. "Let's go to bed."

By the time Tegan and Nysssa start to fall asleep Ace in deep slumber, "Hello Graham, how are you today?"

"I am doing great, how about you?"

"About as good as someone in love could be."

"Wait, are you in love with me?"

"Yes, I, Dorothy Gale (Ace) McShane is in love with you, Graham O'Brien."

He smiles, "That's perfect, because I Graham O'Brien is also in love with you, Dorothy Gale (Ace) McShane." As flowers flow around them they kiss as cheers are heard. She turns around in her sleep with a smile on her face.

Mwah, "Graham can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything love."

"Funny you say that. I love you."

"Nothing is funny about being in love, it's even more special when it's reciprocated. I love you too Ace." They lean in to share a kiss as the sun is setting.

In her sleep she grabs the pillow, "You know what they say about love Graham?"

"There is a lot on love , dear."

"How about I love you more than I thought possible."

Graham smiles, "I love you more than Shakespeare could ever write about love."

Her eyes start to move a little more, as some Daleks go up in flames, "I love working with you Ace" he says while grabbing her hand running away.

"And I love you Graham," says Ace with a laugh in her voice.

He stops abruptly, did you just say what I think you just said?"

"Did I tell you that I love you?"

"You did."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, because I love you too." As the fire grows behind them they lean in and share a long kiss."