"Ace." She comes into the room putting on some earrings.
"Yes."
"I seem to be having trouble with the tie tonight." She smiles and walks up to him and ties the tie. "Thank you," she starts to walk away. He turns around and kisses her slightly, "you look absolutely breathtaking Ace."
"Thank you, you also look breathtaking in that suit."
"I was with someone with a great eye who helped me pick it." Ace laughs as she heads back to the bathroom to fix her make up a bit and put on some perfume. They head downstairs, Ace grabs her wrap and they head outside to get into the limo that already has Tegan and Nyssa.
"Wow Ace, look at you."
"What do you mean Tegan?"
"I think she means what I said to you a little bit ago honey."
"Did you say she looks hot," Nyssa says this time.
"He said I am breathtaking."
"You are."
"So do you think that there are going to be people asking about your relationship?"
"Yes, we have a plan for that?"
"Which is?"
"One simple action, kiss."
"You two do that a lot."
"We have been practicing more." Graham spits out some champagne he was sipping on. "You ok there babe?"
"Yeah," still coughing a little bit.
"Oh no need to act all innocent Graham, we know our girl well enough and remember we have caught you two making out before."
"It is going to be different that Dorothy has a date."
"I have brought dates before."
"Dates that you met at the gala, not brought with you."
"It is easier when you live with the guy."
"Wait, you two live together?"
"Yes, Tegan, we do live together, as of a few weeks ago."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"It was just a trial period."
"Is it still now?"
Ace looks at Graham and smiles, "I don't think so. I am ready for him to move in with me full time."
"Really."
"Yes," Graham leans closer to her and they share a kiss.
"You two don't need to practice right now.''
They break apart, Ace sticks her tongue at Tegan and looks again at Graham, "you have some of my lipstick on you."
"I do?"
"Yes, let me get it up," Ace licks her finger and wipes it against Graham.
"Mhmm."
"Oh sorry Nyssa, Tegan the both of you are beautiful too."
"That is not why I cleared my throat Graham, we are going to be approaching the gala soon."
"Ok."
"Thank you still. It is good to see that the one Ace is with only has eyes for her."
"What can I say, Ace is alluring."
"While we are there, I forgot to tell you, call me Dorothy."
"I will call you whatever you like."
"You know if the two of you flirt like that in there; there is no denying the two of you are together."
"You know Graham."
"I know what.''
"Should we do subtle or in your face?"
"A mix."
"Brilliant." The limo pulls up, Graham tries to be the one to open the door. As he exits he holds his hand out for everyone. Ace planning to be the last one out. Tegan and Nyssa wait for them. Ace and Graham walk arm in arm into the building. Cameras begin to flash as everyone makes their way into the room. What Ace doesn't know is that she is receiving an award tonight.
While Ace walks away, "Graham, do you want to present an award to Ace?"
"It should be presented by someone who knows what it's about."
"What is what about?"
"Nothing Ace."
"You sure Nyssa."
"Yep." Ace looks at Graham who gives her a smile.
"Graham."
"Just how much I love you."
"I love you too," with a raised eyebrow. Tegan hides a smile behind her glass as she takes a drink.
"This gala looks different than previous ones doesn't it?"
"I wouldn't know."
"I know Graham, and we know you will get to know galas soon enough." He picks up her hand and kisses it.
"Hello everyone, this gala as some of you know is different from the others, we have a special award to give to tonight. Can we ask this person's business partner to come up here?" Nyssa stands up and Ace's eyes go wide.
"Hello everyone, I am Nyssa Jovanka, business partner and best friend is Dorothy McShane. She doesn't know what is going on. In fact I just told her date a few minutes ago." Ace swings her head around to face Graham who just gives her a small smile. "I have known her for years. When she asked me to join her in her work; I was shocked. Little did I know that both Dorothy and my wife were trying to get me to London. Dorothy also knew I lost my family as a teenager, and that I would be good with some of the teens we would meet. As some of you know Dorothy didn't have a good relationship with her mum, and never knew her dad. In the past 5 years of working with Dorothy, I have seen up close the amazing person she is, and how much she truly loves helping everyone she meets. In the past few months she has been glowing with our work and dating our new friend Graham. Now let's turn our attention to the video." Nyssa turns around while the video leaves out how she burned down Gabriel Chase and her adventures with the Doctor. "Now can everyone put their hands together for this years winner of People Who Care, Dorothy McShane."
Ace gets up kisses Graham on the cheek and gets on the stage, "I wasn't expecting this today. I would like to thank all my friends for this, and everyone who voted for this. I have never been one for big speeches like this. I would also like to dedicate this to Manisha Purkaystha and her family, who were killed on this day in 1983 because of hate. Growing up she was my best friend and her family were more like a family to me then my own. I did eventually get a family again that would love me. Everything that happened when I was a kid and a young adult is what inspired me to open up A Charitable Earth. A few things that were left out is that I burned down a house as a teenager and blew up the art classroom. I was an angry teenager. I felt like no one understood me, and knew there were others who were just like me." Ace gets her plaque and goes back to her table.
"Congratulations honey."
"Thank you Graham. How long have you two known about this?" She turns to her best friends.
"A few months."
"How long is a few months?"
"Since before you and Graham, became you and Graham.'
"That doesn't really give me much Tegan."
"Right around the time the Doctor came back the first time."
"Since October?!"
"Yep, it was hard keeping this from you. Though not as hard it was you keeping the fact that you and your boyfriend moved in together."
"It's not like anything really changed then. Graham and I were spending most nights together anyway."
"Are you going to say anything Graham?"
"Only this, Dorothy, would you like this dance?"
"I would love to." Graham takes her hand and escorts her over to the small dance area. "You could see that I was about to be grilled."
"I did. I thought we could save that until the ride home, in case a mention of our friend," he says with one eye looks like it's flying around, "comes up." Ace laughs as he brings her closer in his arms 'Amazed by Lonestar' starts playing. "You know this song is true with how much I love you Dorothy."
She looks him in the eyes, "I feel the same way," they sway to the music foreheads touching. Someone comes up behind them and pokes Graham in the shoulder. He doesn't take any notice just lost in Ace and their love that keeps growing with each passing day. Tegan and Nyssa notice and are about to walk up when she huffs and turns away.
"You think we should tell them about that."
"No, I don't. No need to worry either of them. They look so happy together."
"They do, wife, should we dance?"
"We should." Tegan and Nyssa join the few other couples on the dance floor. They dance for a few more hours then leave.
"Ok grill us," Ace says as they sit in the limo, her holding the plaque in one hand and Graham's in the other.
"Is there anything else the two of you have been keeping away from us?"
"First off this is our relationship to begin with."
"We just care, Ace."
"I know that and I appreciate it."
"Graham, do you have anything to say?"
"Look, I know that this is what families do sometimes, but you know it sometimes feels good about people not constantly trying to get into your relationship. You know I love Ace, and will continue to love her for as long as she lets me."
"You two moved in together and didn't ask for any help."
"I didn't really need much help, so I brought one chair, and my clothes. Everything else stayed with Ryan, well minus the bed. He got a new one after I transferred my lease over to him."
"Ryan knows?"
"He does, he had to know why I was removing my clothes and not just some of them."
"Question, has the subject of marriage come up yet?"
"Umm."
"It has, but I am not there yet, and the only person who needs to know when I am is Graham."
"Ok ok." The limo drops them off.
After they have changed Ace wraps Graham in her arms, "I am sorry I am not there yet. I can almost feel that I am."
"Honey, I do not want to push you, I love you and am content to be with you however you want me."
"I may not be ready to get married, but I can envision us getting married in a private ceremony."
"How private?"
"Just enough witnesses to make it legal."
"Then make a big announcement and watch everyone freak out."
"Exactly," Ace has her head close the remaining distance and their lips meet in a slow kiss. "I love you Graham."
"I love you too Ace."