AN I do not own the lyrics songs in this chapter, Shut up and Dance belongs to Walk the Moon and Everything I Do (I Do for You), belongs to Bryann Addams.

….

"ACE," Tegan yells for the fifth time that hour, "Are you trying to get us all late today?" Ace runs down and grabs the keys off the hook.

"No, I wasn't. I was just adding something to my jacket. That would be great for Graham to see at our next assignment."

"How would you feel if it's one out of town?"

"I would like that, especially if we won't have to come back right away."

"You know everyone was trying to get the two of you together, now, Tegan and Ace let's head out. I am tired of waiting in this cold weather for you two."

"You want to drive Nyssa?"

"Don't try and butter me up Ace, to me being on time is being late."

"Sorry Nys. I am ready." Tegan ends up taking the keys from Ace and Nyssa gets in the front seat.

"Are you daydreaming back there Ace?" Tegan says while checking the rearview mirror as the back into a spot for the meeting.

"You will see what I was thinking after the meeting."

"Oohhh is Ace going to kiss Graham in front of everyone?"

"No, I will not partake in that kind of PDA with him yet until I know he is comfortable kissing in front of his friends." The three walk in together Graham hands her a cup of tea. "Do we have any new members this week?"

"Not as of right now."

"Ok," They start some small talk until the gathering begins.

"So I take it we all know each other this week?" Everyone chuckles at Graham's joke. "I guess Brian isn't coming today?"

"Ace is that who you told Tegan and I about?"

"Yes, the grandfather of River Song."

"Wait, you guys know River Song?!" Yaz is surprised.

"She is the reason why I am on earth and not on Terminus or E-Space."

"What do you mean the reason you are here?"

"She came and picked me up from the planet in the TARDIS." Yaz stays quiet for the rest of the meeting.

"What are some of the better moments everyone had with The Doctor?"

"He took me to meet Shakespeare after our encounter with The Judon. That encounter is when he first met me when he came to the hospital I was interning at."

"I know this may not seem like a happy one, but as some of you know I have only been on the TARDIS once," Those who didn't know are shocked, "A number of years ago Missy tried to work with the Cyberman and use those who are dead to be converted. To say the least they failed with not being able to turn my father into one, and he saved me from plummeting to my death."

"You Lethbridge Stewarts are made from strong stuff," Tegan says, "I had some great adventures with The Doctor, but I was a bit of a grump when I wasn't being mind controlled, The Doctor not landing in Heathrow or the correct time. Only one stands out. That I had fun at, Nyssa do you remember the one with the Black Orchid."

"Is it your favorite because I had to help you get dressed in that corset?"

"No, it was just a fun one."

"It was also my favorite, because I met my look-a-like and the two of us played a trick on everyone there. No one could tell us apart, not even her fiance."

"That must've been bad," Ace says."

"Considering that everyone was hiding her former fiance that he was alive, but she thought he was dead; she wasn't that angry that he couldn't tell us apart."

"Wow," says Graham, "mine was when we went to a planet and had to fight against the Kerblam, this planet was like a super Amazon, she even wore a fez at one point. Wow The Doctor sure loves their fezes, though I didn't like the fact that I was a custodian.

"Heck yeah, fezzes are cool."

"Till this day you still have an impact on The Doc Ace."

"So we can avoid a similar situation as last week, one of the best memories I have with The Doctor is when I met my husband. We got quickly engaged after we met and are still together to this day going from place to place protesting injustices. I am surprised I have never run into you two, Tegan and Nyssa." Jo remembers fondly.

"It will be a shock for me, I lost my Nan not long after I became an adult, so when we got to the parallel universe and she was there; I just had to stay there until she passed away and the group up us needed to safe this one from Dalek control, and after it I staid."

After the meeting everyone is in separate groups when Ace walks up behind Graham and folds her hand into his. Graham looks at her with a smile and lifts her hand up to his lips while returning to his conversation with Ace adding in a few bits. From across the room they hear a "FINALLY," from Yaz who has just noticed the couple holding hands. She runs over to them, "Why did you wait so long to tell everyone?" Yaz says while interrupting Ian who was in the middle of talking about him and Barbra.

"Sorry Ian, someone didn't realize we were in a conversation."

"That's ok, you both got a good one."

Simultaneously they say, "I know."

Graham turns towards Yaz, "We have only been together for a few months."

"A few months of not telling anyone."

"I asked him, because my past relationships never really worked out. No one could understand certain aspects of my personality and why I had this big blue building on the side of my cottage." She looks to Graham, "Graham is the first one to know it wasn't for storage but for making Nitro-999."

"You still could have told people."

"Sometimes when entering a new relationship that everyone you know also knows the person that you are dating it is best to try and start to get to know each other in private away from prying eyes."

"Graham, we are a family."

"I know that Yaz, it was just so Ace and I could have some privacy. Look at how you were when it was found out I fell asleep at Ace's." Nyssa jumps in knowing it was time to diffuse a situation.

"Can we all agree that we are happy for Ace and Graham."

"Yes, we can." Tegan jumps in too. She pointly looks at Yaz who nods.

"Of course I am happy for you too, it would've been good to know when it happened you know."

"You are," Ace stops Graham from finishing his sentence.

"Thank you, Yaz," she shoots a grateful look to two of her oldest friends.

"Sorry Yaz, you know how protective I can get, towards the people I care about." Tegan and Nyssa look at Ace knowing he probably wanted to say something else.

"Yaz, Graham was the one who wanted people to know. I was the one who wanted it to be secret. If you want someone to be angry at, be angry at me."

"I am not angry at anyone ok." Yaz walks off thinking about how she wasn't able to be in a relationship with who she wanted.

Ace lets go of Graham's hand "I am going to talk to her." She heads over to Yaz,"I'm sorry, I know you want everyone to be happy."

"I just want everyone to have what I couldn't."

"You will find your one, look at Martha she fell in love after The Doctor. It may have taken me awhile, but I found someone. You will get yours and you have a lot less problems you will have to talk about then I did. The Doctor would want you to be happy."

"I know that."

"You have lots of people here who care about you. Many of us didn't find each other for a few decades or more."

"So it's good that Graham came up with this idea."

"I think he not only did it so we all could talk about our adventures with The Doctor, so you could also move on when you are ready. Remember your first meeting?"

"Yes, I do."

"Tegan and I wanted to sit next to you, because we knew how it would be after leaving The Doctor after some trying times. She regretted it immediately and when I left The Doctor, I got into a big fight and I also regretted it."

"When she left me it was so I wouldn't see her regenerate."

"I know, she would also want you to be happy, that is all The Doctor has ever wanted for any of their companions no matter how we left."

"How long have you been happy?"

"Decades, remember though I was with The Doctor over 30 years ago and a lot has changed. It did take me a bit though. I think when I became truly happy is when I started A Charitable Earth, and made up with my mum."

"You two didn't have a good relationship?"

"Far from it, it took my traveling with The Doctor to be able to understand why she was always so angry."

"Is she still around?"

"No, she died a few years ago."

"Do you think everyone would be mad at me if I went home and didn't help clean up? This day has been emotionally draining and I am ready to sleep."

"Of course not, do you want any of us to take you home?"

"No, thank you, I think I need to be alone for a bit."

"Ok, just text one of us when you get home." Ace looks back at Graham who comes over.

"How are you doing Yaz?"

"Best as I can be, I am going to go home now."

"Ok, Yaz, text me when you get there."

"Ace said the same thing." Yaz walks off thinking about everything from the day.

"You were great with her Ace."

"I just hope we didn't scare her away from us." Graham wraps her in a hug.

"I don't think so. She is still a little raw from her adventures and Dan told me that Doc refused some of her advances, so there's that too."

"We should invite her over for a game night."

"Right now I think it's best we don't force many couples around her right now."

"Oi, you two," Tegan yells at them, "are you going to help clean, or just stand there talking!" Ace and Graham start to help clean up. Tegan walks up to Graham, "She's good with Ace yeah."

"Of course she is, she's Ace."

"You have been waiting to say that, haven't you?" Graham just looks at Tegan with one eyebrow raised and goes back to cleaning up.

25 minutes later, "So what did Tegan say to you that made your eyebrow shoot up?"

"That I have been waiting to say that your Ace."

"She didn't know that you said something along those lines when we first met?"

"You heard that? With all that was going around us?"

"Yes, I did."

"Ok."

"Are you coming Ace?" Nyssa asks her as she and Tegan head for the car.

"What Tegan asked before that is that you were good with Yaz which is true, but I expect nothing else from you."

"Thank you, see you later."

"Count on it," They share a smile and a hug.

"How about you come over tomorrow night and the four of us can have a double date."

"Does Tegan and Nyssa know you are offering a double date with us?"

"They won't mind."

"Ok, call me when you have set up a time," Graham looks around to see if anybody is around and when he sees that only other people that are still here are Tegan and Nyssa waiting for Ace, he kisses her. "See you soon Ace."

"See you soon Graham, plan for tomorrow night unless I tell you otherwise."

"Will do." Ace turns and walks to her car while Graham just watches her with a smile growing, imagining the hijinks that the couple will pull on him and Ace.

Ace gets to the car, "Both of your eyes closed when you kissed."

"Ok Tegan, and…"

"It's cute and so you know he still likes to watch you."

"I have to keep up the mystery somehow, and extra swish of the hips here and there. How does a double date tomorrow night sound?"

"You sure you want us ribbing you two all night."

"Te, I am sure that it will be you while Nys is hatching ways for me to tell Graham that I am in love with him."

"When are you going to tell him?"

"When the time is right, I want to tell him soon though." Ace gets into the driver seat.

Tegan looks directly into the mirror while Ace is driving, "He will say it back. I was watching him today and how he was looking at you, is the same way I look at Nyssa." Ace smiles at that knowing that this double date will be fun.

..Sunday night…

Ace is finishing up putting on her stud earrings when Tegan yells for her, "I see his car coming up the dive, get your arse down here."

"Coming Mum."

"Watch your sass girl, '' Tegan says while laughing. Nyssa is just shaking her head at the two as Ace walks down. Tegan whistles at Ace, "Man, Ace where did you find that?" Ace is wearing a slim fitting shiny black skirt that shows off all her curves with a tight fitting light blue shirt.

"I have had the skirt for ages, just haven't had much of a chance to wear it."

"That poor sod will not know what hit him." Knock knock, "I guess it's time to see what he thinks of his girlfriend or whatever you two are calling each other." Ace sticks her tongue out at Tegan as she opens up the door.

"Hello Graham," she ushers him in before he can get a look at her outfit.

He turns to her, "wow, I -uh- love your outfit."

"I think somebody is speechless from your outfit Ace." Nyssa elbows Tegan slightly. "Aren't you going to give her a little kiss?" She dodges her wife this time and gives a cheeky smile.

"Don't listen to her, you are welcome to do anything here."

Graham starts to give a broad smile and grabs Ace dips and kisses her hard tips her back up, "That ok?" Ace, a little speechless that he did that, just nods her head with both Tegan and Nyssa staring gaped at what he did.

After a few minutes Tegan gets out of the stupor first, "You are going to fit in just fine with us."

"Good, I want to get along with those closest to Ace." He rubs her back.

"Ok, umm," Ace mumbles, "dinner is almost ready." Nyssa gets up.

"Want some help Ace?

"Please Nyssa, Graham you stay here, talk to Tegan."

"Got it."

While in the kitchen, "I guess by your reactions you were not expecting that?"

"No, all of the kisses he has initiated have been nice and sweet and not demanding."

"Does that make you feel any different about him?"

"No, I still love him, if not even more."

"Ok, so did you want me to come with you for a different reason?"

"I know he is a bit more afraid of Tegan."

"Ahh, just a part of the old Ace wanting to put some fear in the man."

"Not really."

….

"So what's your intentions with Ace?"

"I love her and hopefully we can go the long hall with her."

"Glad to hear that, now you know if you ever hurt her-"

"There will be no corner of the world or universe that I can hide."

"Good to hear that we have an understanding. Are you going to tell her that you love her?"

"I don't want to scare her off, she is special to me, I have almost said it a handful of times, but I don't want it to be too quick for her."

"Everything is ready," Ace says as she comes into the living room. They move to the dining room to see lights down low and candles lit. "This is a double date after all, Nyssa suggested, making it romantic." They all sit down to eat their meal.

"Graham, what drew you to our Ace?" asks Nyssa.

"Everything about our first interaction from when she read the psychic paper to when she said I'm Ace."

"I heard you say, yes you are."

"Instantly smitten you were then," asks Tegan.

"What can I say? I am drawn to strong women."

''In that quick introduction you could tell Ace was strong?"

"She did greet me with a bat, then we proceeded to blow up Daleks."

"That was a helluva first date." Ace says as she hides behind her wine glass.

"You two finally admit that was your first date," teases Tegan.

"It sure was." They go back to eating, sharing small chat here and there. Tegan and Nyssa notice that Graham's hand drops below the table and a few seconds later so does Ace. Tegan pretends to drop her fork to see them holding hands underneath the table. After they clean up Graham offers to clean up and Ace follows him.

After a few minutes Tegan notices that Ace and Graham are still not showing up. "What is taking them so long?" Tegan goes to the kitchen to see that Ace has Graham pushed up against the counter kissing him. "Oi, you two get a room."

"I believe this is a room Tegan," Ace shoots back.

"When you two are ready to join us we will be listening to music in the living room." She walks out and goes back to Nyssa, "What is taking them so long is that they are in the kitchen necking."

"Leave them alone Tegan, they are still in their honeymoon phase, we were just as bad when we were in ours. Now turn on some music." After a while Ace and Graham join them with clothes that are rumpled and swollen lips. "Hello you two, need to sit?" Graham sits as Ace joins Nyssa and Tegan dancing crazily.

"Come on Graham dance," Ace goes to the couch and pulls him up as 'Shut Up and Dance' comes on

'Oh don't you dare look back

Just keep your eyes on me'

Ace runs her hand on Graham's cheek while looking deep into his eyes.

'I said your holding back

She said shut up and dance with me

This woman is my destiny

She said oh oh oh

Shut up and dance with me."

Tegan and Nyssa start watching them and decide when the song is over they will change it to s slow song for them.

'She took my arm

I don't know how it happened

We took the floor and she said,'

Laughing Ace and Graham dance horribly to the beat. Tegan and Nyssa sneakily change it. With the sudden tempo change Graham and Ace fold the other in their arms to Brian Addams' '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You'

'Look into my eyes

You will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart

Search your soul

And you will find me there

You'll search no more'

Tegan and Nyssa quietly leave the room to give them privacy as Ace and Graham move closer resting their foreheads against each other. "Hopefully we created the perfect moment for them to admit what they want to."

"I know Nyssa, when I was talking to Graham while you two were finishing the touches on dinner he did tell me that he is in love with her."

"I could've told you that."

Meanwhile..

'Look into your heart

You will find

There's nothin' there to hide

Take me as I am

Take my life

I would give it all

I would sacrifice.'

Ace and Graham are barely moving to the music.

'Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for

I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more

You know it's true

Everything I do

I do it for you

There's no love

Like your love'

"Ace," she looks to Graham, "I love you."

"I love you too Graham." Their heads move in close again as their lips touch for a slow kiss that lasts the rest of the song. Tegan comes down to see the kiss and slight sway of their bodies as they continue to dance albeit slowly.

She turns around and heads to the bedroom, "I think it happened, it was a great idea to change the music there."