Over the next few weeks Tegan, Nyssa, Yaz and Ryan continue to make plans on how to get those two admit that they love each other. When not working on that or doing the stuff she needs to do at A Charitable Earth, she is happy because she now has help on the work she's been doing in secret to get Manisha back. She looks up from her spot to see Graham walking in on the phone. "I will see you tonight Ace, have fun with Tegan." He looks at Nyssa, "how are you doing today?"
"My wife wishes that I would tell her what is going on, especially since I am using her to distract Ace, so you can help me."
"I knew right when Ace told me that you would be doing something. I did suggest that to Ace."
"That is why the next time she saw me she gave me a thankful look."
"She said the only reason she didn't ask if it was true; is because she doesn't want to get her hopes up. I hate seeing the woman I love," he realizes what he said, eyes going wide.
"Don't worry it is clear how the two of you feel to everyone."
"Everyone?"
"Have you seen the way the two of you look at each other?"
"No."
"It is refreshing to see someone look at Ace like she is the most important woman in the world." Graham blushes, "no need to blush Graham, you should see on the outside how Ace looks at you, has looked at you for many months. Now let's get to work. As they are working in a little cafe Tegan and Ace are eating some food.
"Ace please tell me."
"It isn't easy for me to talk about. I slept for hours after telling Graham a few weeks ago."
"I am your best friend."
"You are, but this is one of the hardest things I have to deal with." Tegan sits back knowing a lot about what Ace has had to deal with in her life.
"Hardest."
"Yes, how else would you say a mother losing her daughter to another dimension." Ace says as she nearly slams her fork on the table.
"Your what?" Ace looks around as if she is trying to find a way to escape. Tegan reaches across the table, "Ace you can tell me anything."
"I know, but this is something I have difficulty talking about."
"You have a lot of those."
"I am sorry," Ace looks at her plate picking up her fork again and starts pushing her food around.
"I am glad that you are opening up now though." Tegan starts eating her food. The two of them finish their food in silence.
While walking around a local mall, "what is Graham doing?"
"He is doing something with Nyssa. I think they are going to try and figure out how to get my Manisha back."
"You are not helping?"
"I don't think I could deal with heartbreak if it doesn't work out."
"Ok." They continue on their way and walk into a store when Ace sees something that would be perfect for Graham. "Ace, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing." Tegan walks over to Ace.
"You really love him, don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"That item of clothing you are looking at, Graham will love it, but not on him."
"It's a guy's shirt that will bring out his eyes."
"The red will also bring out your eyes, and this will probably hang on your curves perfectly."
"It is not that red, and if I was to get it, the shirt would be for him."
"Have you worn any of his shirts yet?"
"I may have stolen a few."
"What do you do with them?"
"When we are not sleeping in the same bed, though that has been happening less and less." Ace says with a smile.
"Whose place have you been staying at?"
"Back and forth. It's nice waking up in someone's arms. I never thought I would be one who would enjoy it, you know."
"How does it feel when you wake up alone?"
"Like something is missing. Again I never thought it would be like this?"
"Have you told him yet?"
"Have I told him what?"
"That you love him."
"No, I haven't, I have gotten close a few times, the words can't come out."
"I can say for sure that he is in love with you."
"How can you say that, I mean I have seen something in his eyes, but I don't know he is in love with me."
"With what he is currently doing with your best friend."
"I don't want to think of it. I am serious, I don't want to get my hopes up."
"Ace, they will get it done, you will have your daughter back before you know it."
"It doesn't feel like it."
"Ace, two people who have dealt with what most people realize are working on it, they will not rest until you two are reunited. You know every month I had been curious what Nyssa has been up to, but she refused to tell me. She kept your promise."
"How did you know she was keeping something from you? I told her 5 years ago, what brought it on so suddenly; after I started dating someone."
"You have been in a few relationships Ace."
"Tegan."
"Nothing.''
"Tegan Jovakna, tell me what is going on."
"We are trying to get you and Graham to say those three words."
"We don't."
"Yes you do."
"We will say it when we are ready."
"Ace, you are ready."
"I know."
"How many times have you tried?"
"I don't know? Ok, so what are you two."
"Four."
"Who else?"
"So you know about Nyssa and I, along with two people who are also close to Graham."
"Yaz and Ryan?"
"How were you planning on getting us somewhere?"
"We thought of A Charitable Earth on a Saturday with a string quartet playing. Nyssa or I would call Graham saying that you need him, and that you couldn't call him; it was that serious."
"What about me?"
"We couldn't figure it out. We askes Nyssa and she lost it, saying that she will not betray your trust."
"I will tell her thank you. Don't tell everyone, except Nyssa you have an idea to get me there. I am ready to tell Graham how I feel."
"Pray tell?"
"Just tell me when it is and I will be there."
"Ace," Tegan moans, "I mean we need to tell the other two our ideas."
"Nyssa found some paperwork that had to be sent off Saturday night, and she found it Friday. She knew I had a date with Graham Friday night, and didn't want to disturb me."
"You just want more excuses to be around Graham," Ace just shrugs.
"Nothing is wrong with that."
"I know that, and I appreciate you spending more time with me."
"I have an idea, Saturdays are for you and me, and the nights are for Graham and I."
"You want them to work on it."
"I do, though I saw some Saturdays Nyssa comes with us, and I will try to have Graham be around Ryan and his friends," Ace's eyes narrow as she sees someone running her way.
"Dorothy!"
"What are you doing?"
"I never thought I would see you again."
"You were the one that walked out." Tegan looks between the two.
"Is this your girlfriend?"
"No it isn't Rebecca, this is one of my best friends. My boyfriend is hanging out with her wife."
"Boyfriend?"
"Yes, his name is Graham and he is wonderful and understanding."
"Of all the secrets like what you did in your early adulthood."
"He knows what I did, come on Tegan." After they walk away.
"I only have seen you treat the Master like that Ace."
"She ghosted me after I said those three words; after saying how could I love her if I couldn't tell her much about my past."
"Now you have Graham."
"Now I have someone I can tell everything to and all I get in return in understanding and stories about his past, like when he played mailbox baseball which landed him in trouble as a teenager."
"Mailbox baseball?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"So you were a bit of a juvenile delinquent and so was your guy." They go on with their day.