AN: Hi! I'm back after getting an idea on Twitter. I don't own Nancy Drew. If I did, I'd get too excited and instantly give Nace their happy ending.
Nancy's POV:
This is torture. Pure, unadulterated torture that has been going on for almost a month. Ever since I nearly died. I had taken a couple of weeks to recover before taking on more cases. During that time, I was visited by George, Nick, Bess, Carson, and Ryan. They always brought food and made sure I ate some of it in front of them. None of them would admit it, but I knew that Ace was making sure I was okay. I sigh as I look over Ace's shoulder to see him hacking away for the latest case we're working on. Earlier this week was the first time I went to see him. I had knocked on his door and instantly told him I needed help with a case once he answered. For once, we got a mundane case. A cheating wife. The husband wants our help to prove it.
He looks up at me. "You okay, Nance?" I look at our friends before answering his question. They're trying to act normal. We all are. Ace wants to be friends so that's what we're failing to do. We can't seem to be alone in the same room. It's too hard. We tried going to the library, but we even had issues there. Instead, we're at The Claw so that our friends can keep an eye on us.
I look back at Ace and meet his eyes for the first time today. "Yeah. I'm okay." It's a lie and he knows it.
He opens and closes his mouth as if he wants to argue with me. "Cool!" He swiftly turns back to his computer, but I can see his hands shaking.
I hear thunder in the distance and decide to do something other than stare at Ace. We're all technically on the clock even though the coming storm has guaranteed that there are no customers. I grab a bucket and set it under the one leaky spot in the roof. I remember our attempt to hang out in the library. We were sitting in the same spot that we did when we found out Ryan and Lucy were a couple. We were discussing the case and slowly inching closer to each other. Ace opened and closed his mouth as if he wanted to say something. I wordlessly gave him permission to say whatever he wanted to say. I missed you so much, Nancy. I know you probably know this, but I'm the reason our friends and your dads checked on you as often as they did. I asked them to make sure you were okay. I smiled at him and moved even closer. Needing his lips on mine. I know. Just when our lips were about to touch, the librarian clearing her throat broke us apart and we instantly left. Ace hadn't even logged onto the computer yet.
As the rain starts, I happen to glance over at Ace and catch him staring at me. He quickly goes back to what he was doing, but I know that he was thinking about our almost kiss at the library. What I saw on his face lets me know we've been thinking the same thing ever since our first kiss. "Okay!" Everyone stops what they're doing to look at me. I look at Ace again and see the worry and love in his eyes. I quickly look away. "You guys clearly don't need me here right now! The restaurant is more than dead! I'm going home!" With that, I rush to the locker room to grab my bag.
I'm just about to turn around to leave when I hear footsteps coming towards me. "Ace, I really can't do-" When I turn around, I see Bess standing a few feet away.
"Were you expecting someone else?" She smiles and I smile back. Her attempt to lighten the mood works. She opens and closes her mouth as if she wants to say something and then looks behind her.
I carefully assess her facial expression as she turns back around. "Bess, what is it?"
She purses her lips and shakes her head for a second before stomping her foot. "Okay. Fine. I know something about while you were unconscious in the hospital..."
She trails off and I look at her expectantly. "What do you know? Tell me." I think I'm starting to understand why she looked behind her, but I wait.
The rain is pouring down at this point. "Carson threatened Ace to make him friend-zone you. Well, he didn't threaten him. He didn't need to." That's all I need to hear. I drop my things and rush back into the main restaurant.
Ace looks over at me and his eyes widen. I nod my head and motion for him to follow me outside. I don't give him the choice as I throw the door open and make my way into the rain. I know he'll follow me out of worry.
I let the rain soak me to the bone as I wait for his voice. "NANCY, GET BACK INTO THE RESTAURANT! IT'S LIKE A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE OUT HERE!" He has to yell to be heard over the wind and rain.
I turn to face him. "NO, ACE! NOT UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHY YOU SUDDENLY CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT BREAKING THE CURSE WHEN YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT-" I stop suddenly and he steps closer to me.
He stops once we're both standing in the parking lot and don't have to yell to be heard. "That what, Nancy?" I study his facial features for a moment. I see the love and worry in his eyes. There's something else, too. The same thing I saw in his loft when he thought I didn't love him.
I let out a humorless laugh. "You don't see it, do you?" I'm angry again. Even with all the talk of love, he still doesn't understand that I love him. I want to kiss away all his doubt and lack of confidence. He's about to speak again, but I cut him off. "I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, ACE!" My voice softens as I realize the truth for myself. "I've loved you from the moment I met you outside of The Claw and told you about my life! I've never opened up to someone that fast. After my mom died, I didn't think I'd feel that close to anyone. There's something about you though." I think back to what he said in his loft and echo his words. "You're not lacking. You never were. I love you exactly the way you are." While I confessed my love for him, we unconsciously moved closer to each other. Now we're close enough to kiss again. I want that so bad.
I stare into Ace's eyes so he can see that I meant every word. "My God, Nancy!" Before I can react, Ace grabs my waist and kisses me with as much passion as he can muster. I hesitate for one moment and then respond eagerly. We're both soaked to the bone, but we don't care. This kiss is different than our first kiss. Our first kiss felt like a wordless confession of love. This kiss is equal parts passion and tenderness as I wordlessly tell him just how wrong he's been about himself. He runs his hands up my back and to my cheeks to show he understands. I feel his thumbs rub my cheeks and lean into his touch.
A scream breaks us apart. We look at the entrance to The Claw to see Nick, Bess, and George standing outside with looks of horror on their faces. Nick speaks up first. "Okay. Ummm..." He runs his hands through his hair.
He looks at George and George looks at him. Then she turns to us. She's worried and pissed. Now I know we're in for it. "What the hell, guys? The whole reason you weren't spending time together alone was to avoid this! We're supposed to help you stay platonic!" For the first time, I notice that the rain has slowed down to a trickle and the wind is more calm.
Bess sighs. "I feel like this is my fault, Ace. I told Nancy what Carson told you."
I shake my head. "Hold on! Both of us are fine. Nothing is happening. Maybe the only reason I nearly died was-"
Ace cuts me off and finishes my sentence. "-because Temperance couldn't get to me with the Nantigen. She was warning us to not mess with the curse since we got super close to breaking it." I see him look at me out of the corner of my eye and I turn to face him again. "That means that your hallucination is still going to happen."
I feel tears welling up in my eyes as I think about Temperance's words. I lean in to kiss Ace again and he tenderly cups my chin to make the kiss last longer. I slowly pull away and hold the hand that was on my chin. "We're going to fight this. You are not dying. I love you, Ace Hardy."
He smiles in the goofy way that I love and pulls me against his chest. This hug is a reassurance that everything will be okay. Even if it's not. "I'm so in love with you, Nancy Drew."
AN: I tried to make this chapter as angsty as possible. I seriously love this pairing. Read and review!
