Please read and review, Happy Easter.
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One month later at the meeting Graham sneaks some Landjaeger into Ace's bag while she is talking to Tegan. He then walks over to the two. "How's Nyssa doing," Graham is standing barely a breath apart from Ace, which Tegan smirks at.
"She's fine; at home with Neeka. They like to have days just the two of them." She informs the man who is trying to keep his hands still and not reach for her friend's hand.
"I can understand that. When Ryan is home he and I do like to do things together."
"I love how close you two are," Ace takes the weight off one foot so she could be even closer to Graham.
"It took us time to get like this."
"It's still wonderful that you are like this."
"I agree." Tegan can tell the two of them were about to go into their own world again.
"When is he coming home?"
"Three months."
"How much of that time are you going to be spending with our Ace?"
"I am right here you know, and he could spend as much time as he wants. I can be a distraction."
"A wonderful distraction." He doesn't realize he said that loud enough for everyone to hear.
"What do you mean by that Graham," the one standing furthest from him asks.
"I um, she's my best mate."
"Mate huh, friendly or very friendly," Tegan adds the last part with a wink.
"I uh," he looks between the two, "got to go. I should be getting a call from Ryan." He rushes away from them.
"Tegan, why did you have to say that," she turns as Graham runs a little to get out of the building.
"To see his and your reaction."
"To prove he doesn't."
"Dorothy McShane, stop it. He likes you."
"You never call me Dorothy."
"Everyone but yourself can tell that he is falling for you."
"He was married to a nurse before, and I like to blow things up."
"You also have one of the biggest hearts that I know."
"Still."
Yaz comes up behind them, "when Graham, Ryan and I traveled with the Doctor the two of them were always in charge of blowing things up. Graham always seems the most happy when he did that."
"I did not know that. Though I should've guessed he seemed a little too happy to help me make some Nitro one night."
"Ace, I have known Graham since he was still married to Grace. I saw him look at her like he looks at you."
"He must not be ready. What I have for him; I can be patient."
"You shouldn't have to be."
"Tegan, he lost the love of his life. I have lost many people that I cared for and it took a while to get over them. The worst was probably Manisha, and she was my childhood best friend." Ace walks away from them hoping to catch up with Graham. She catches him looking at his phone standing next to his car. "Has Ryan called yet?"
"No, he sometimes is late in calling me."
She leans against his car, "the phone works two ways you know." She adds with a small laugh.
"I do, you and I play phone tag enough. Sometimes I think Ryan is pulling away." Ace holds out her hand and he takes it. She drags him in for a hug.
"I don't think he will ever pull away from you. That boy loves you."
"Our talks have been getting shorter each time."
"Find ways to drag it out."
"I don't know how anymore. He can't tell me much about what he is doing for Kate."
"What about his YouTube channel?"
"No updates since before he left."
"Well, I know I am not the same as your grandson, but you can call me anytime you want to talk to someone." She rubs his back.
"Thank you, I don't know why I am like this. I only met him a few years before the Doc, ya know."
"You love him."
"I do," Graham's mind moves away from his grandson and to the woman in his arms, "thank you Ace. What I said earlier about you being a best mate was true. Since October you have become my best mate."
"You have become one of mine too." They both are enjoying the feel of the hug as Ace hugs him tighter. Everyone who was left at the meeting came out to see the hug.
"Tegan, does that hug look emotional," Yaz asks as they watch on as the two with closed eyes continue to hug.
"It does, I don't want to ruin it, but she needs her bag. I am going to go get it." Tegan goes back into the room to grab her friend's bag. As she swings the bag over her shoulder something falls out. "What is this?" She bends down to pick up the Landjaeger. She walks back out with a smile on her face fully encasing the meat stick in her hands as she approaches the two that belong together. Ace and Graham had stopped hugging as Tegan met up with them. "Here's your bag Ace, and this," she hands her the bag and the Landjaeger. "Is also yours and we will talk about it later." Ace opens her hand to find her favorite Landjaeger.
"I thought I forgot one." She looks at Graham, she can see what everyone is saying with how he is looking at her. She is taken aback by it. "Tegan will never let me live it down."
"Live what down?"
"Nothing?"
"Ace, you're worried about something. It's not nothing."
"Thank you Graham," she smiles at him, "I am going to go now."
"Ace."
"I'll call you later, don't worry. Our nightly chats are a favorite thing of mine."
"They are mine too."
"Tell me about your talk with Ryan; when it happens."
"I will." As Ace gets out of earshot, "I love you." He then gets in his car and drives home.