Ace is on the couch watching 'Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' when the doorbell rings. The person at the door puts a finger over his mouth as his sister hugs him. "Where are the two new family members?"
"Liam is on the floor and Ace is on the couch."
"Cool," Jamie entered the house and plops himself next to Ace. "I hear you are a wonderful sister."
"What?"
"I am Jamie, your new uncle."
"Hello." Ace focuses back on the screen as Snoopy fights a chair.
"Have you never seen this before?"
"Not a single one of these specials."
"You are in the right house to change that."
"I know." Jamie watches the cartoon with her, Zoe moves to sit next to her brother. Ace doesn't move her eyes until after Snoopy shares the pie with Woodstock. "Sorry, I am Ace, and that little bug on the floor is Liam."
"I have heard so much about the two of you from my lovely sister."
"Mel has told me about you."
"Speaking of my niece, where is she?"
"She's somewhere around here. She was right next to me before you came in."
"Let me do something."
"Ace covers your ears, they do this all the time."
"MELANIE, where is my bushel?"
She comes out, "a bushel and a peck."
"Now give me a hug," laughing like they always do when they see each other. Ace misses her uncle that she hasn't since she was Liam's age. "Now Ace, tell me how you like it here?"
"I love it here." Ace truly means what she is loving it with her Dad.
"You do have a boyfriend," Liam says.
"Graham isn't my boyfriend," Ace to herself thinks, 'yet.'
"Graham eh?" Jamie questions.
"My best friend, we met on the day I started at school."
"You also like touching his face."
"You what," Harry looks at his daughter.
"It's nothing," her phone goes off, "I got to go, that is probably Graham asking for homework he missed because of his doctor's appointment." She gets up in a hurry as she answers her phone.
"Come on Liam, let's go upstairs."
"Why?"
"Don't you have a big party in class tomorrow?"
"I do, come on, help me figure out what may happen."
"The two of you better not be overprotective of her on Thursday."
"I just want to know if he is good."
"Yes," Harry says, "he cares deeply for her and for Liam too. I just don't like the fact that she may be dating soon."
"I have a feeling we interrupted their first date."
"Good."
"Harry, you can tell how much they like each other."
"I know, it's just that."
"That you know that even though this will be Ace's first love, it may be her last."
"I prefer only."
"I know."
"Sis, you like this Graham?"
"I do, he lives next door, and when everything happened with that woman; he helped her remain calm. According to Mel, they had a conversation about something."
"About what?"
"She doesn't know, and when I have asked none of them to tell me what it was about, Ace doesn't say and Mel says sister code."
"Sister?" Jamie asks.
"They have been acting like sisters this past month," Zoe says, her heart exploding with love for all the children living in her house.
"You are getting your big family sis."
"I am," Harry moves next to her and the two relax into each other, "thank you Harry."
"Not the way I wanted to gain custody of my two."
"Me too."
"Is there anything more going on with Audrey?"
"We just heard today about the kids not needing to testify on the case on our side at least."
"Do you think she will want them to?"
"I don't know, I hope not."
"Can we talk more about this Graham?" The three stay up until late talking about the brewing love.
The next morning Ace sneaks out spying Jamie on the couch. "What is this early morning meeting about?"
"I have a feeling the teasing will be worse later."
"What do you mean?"
"Liam blurted out that I like to touch your face."
"Well, we will face it together."
"And more."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'll see," she leans and kisses his cheek quickly before running back inside before anyone wakes up.
As she goes into the kitchen, "morning." Smelling the turkey wondering.
"Morning Jamie."
"Call me Uncle Jamie."
"Morning Uncle Jamie."
"So I am assuming that was Graham you were just talking to."
"It was."
"That's good you don't lie about talking to him."
"I would never lie about talking to him. I was just telling him about the teasing that will probably happen tonight by all the males in attendance."
"Anything else." Ace is saved from answering by Mel shouting about the parade is about to start.
"I have never seen a Thanksgiving Day Parade either, let's go watch it."
"You don't want to tell me, do you?"
"Nope, but I can assure you Mel will know."
"Does she approve?"
"She does."
"If one of us knows, and approves then it's ok with me."
"Good."
"You are a part of this family now."
"I know."
"Good, now before my sister gets up."
"I am waiting for the right moment to call her Mom."
"Anytime would be a good one."
"I'll take that in." Zoe comes in.
"Morning Jamie, morning Ace."
"Morning Mom." Next thing Ace knows she is being crushed in a hug. Harry comes into the kitchen to see the scene.
"What happened?"
"Ace just called Zoe, Mom."
"This is going to be the best Thanksgiving." Mel and Liam stumble into the kitchen together.
"When is the parade," Liam asks.
"Soon, we just need to do the last little bit of cleaning before Sarah Jane, John and Graham arrive. Ace, the only way he's allowed in your room is if Mel is with you." Harry adds.
"Why would we go up there anyway?"
"I'm just saying."
"Harry stop, let them be. Jamie, you too, don't tease them too much."
"Even though she warned him about it this morning."
"Then let's prove her wrong."
"I am right here."
"We know Sweetie, now go up and finish cleaning, though tonight I don't want anyone disappearing into their rooms."
An hour later Mel is in Ace's room, "so how are you going to do it?"
"Do what?"
"Tell Graham you like him and want to be his girlfriend."
"A walk after dinner." Ace turns to her closet and finds an orange shirt that hangs off her shoulders. "How would this be for tonight?"
"I think Dad and Uncle Jamie will have a heart attack, and Graham won't be able to keep his eyes off of you, though that part isn't much different from any normal day."
"Well tonight is about family and I will have a boyfriend by the end of the night."
"Stop kidding yourself, you already have one."
"It will be official tonight."
"What are your plans?"
"Take a walk to the park and tell him I am ready and kiss him."
"Like you haven't kissed before."
"On the lips."
"You have told me that you have been thinking how that will go."
"I have."
"Tell me tonight after everyone is in bed how it goes."
"I will." They go downstairs as the doorbell goes off. "Got it," Ace opens the door to find Sarah Jane with a wine bottle and Graham with a soda bottle."Hello, come on in." Ace directs them to the kitchen.
"I brought some Orange Soda for us under 21 to drink."
"Sounds great." Sarah Jane watches as Ace grabs his hand and they walk out together as Zoe passes them.
"She isn't even trying to hide it anymore," Sarah Jane comments.
"I think she is trying to make two people's Thanksgiving."
"Two?"
"She called me Mom this morning."
"I bet that made your day."
"I don't think anything could top that for you, Ace calling you Mom."
"No, nothing." They walk into the living room to find Ace and Graham sitting on the floor not far from Liam relaxing into each other. "Maybe seeing any of my kids this happy." As the parade continues Ace's head falls on Graham's shoulder. Harry gets up from his spot to help Zoe.
"I think they are together."
"Harry, what should matter is her happiness. She is happy today, I think she is going to do something else to make someone's Thanksgiving."
"What do you mean?"
"The way she keeps looking at Graham."
"I."
"Will be happy for her no matter what," Zoe kisses him quickly before heading out with some pickles and more hour'd'vours. "Dinner will be in an hour, does someone want to help me with the mashed potatoes?"
"I will," Graham offers, getting up slowly to not disrupt Ace who had started to fall asleep on his shoulder.
"He makes wonderful mashed potatoes." John adds helpfully.
"I like to eat, and they are filling." Graham follows Zoe to the kitchen, the two of them wash, peel and cut the potatoes before putting them in a pot of boiling water.
"Graham, I have a question for you?"
"Is it about Ace?"
"It is."
"I like her more and more every day."
"Did you know she would call me Mom?"
"She has been referring to you as Mom since before Audrey came back."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you and Mel are much family to her and Liam and Mr. McShane are."
"What are you to her?"
"Hopefully her best friend, she is mine."
"You're not more to each other?"
"Not yet."
"You want to?"
"I do."
"Good." Graham focuses back on the pot, after they are soft, he takes it off the burner and drains them before smashing them and asking for all the ingredients he needs. As he is finishing them up Zoe pulls the rolls out of the oven. "Are you sitting next to Ace?"
"If Mr. McShane allows me to."
"And my brother. Though I think I know what I can do to make sure you two sit next to each other, just no funny business under the table," she says. Table is set by Liam and Mel. When everyone is sitting down Ace is in between Graham and Zoe, Mel is to Zoe's right, Liam next to her, then Harry, Jamie, John Benton and then Sarah Jane on Graham's other side. "As three in this room can attest; I don't usually host big Thanksgivings, this year I wanted to as we had a major change in our lives. Ace and Liam came to live with us. While it is not how we wanted it to happen, I am thankful I gained another daughter and a son."
"May I say something," Ace asks.
"Of course you can."
"This is the longest I have gone knowing what it feels to belong to a family that loved each other minus Liam of course. When I lost Manisha, I thought I would never get a best friend again. I have gained two, Graham and Mel. So thank you both."
"I for one," Harry starts, "am glad to say that no teenager or child will have to make any statements regarding Audrey Dundum." Everyone goes around the table saying what they are thankful for then starts to eat.
A little after everyone is done eating Ace looks around as her dad, John Benton, Graham, her new uncle are watching the 49ners and Seahawks game. "Do you care who wins," she whispers to Graham.
"No."
"Want to take a walk?"
"Sure, honestly this isn't football to me."
"Same here." They get up from their spots.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"A small walk to make room for pie?"
"Want some company," asks Jamie.
"We should be fine," Ace says, searching for Mel's eyes.
"Uncle Jamie, you still need to tell me what is going on at work."
"We have time."
"Jamie McCrimmon let them be," Zoe reprimands, those who don't know that they are half siblings are shocked at the different last names.
"Fine."
"We'll be back in a bit."
"Take a jacket."
"Yes Mom." Ace grabs her jacket and hands Graham his, after the door is shut she takes his hand.
"Are you nervous about something?"
"A little, let's go to the park."
"Ok." As they reach the middle of an empty park Ace stops and turns to face Graham.
"Remember how we agreed to wait for a while until we talked about this," she lifts up their joined hands.
"I do."
"What if I told you that I am ready."
"Ready for what?"
"To become an us."
"An us?" Ace rises on her feet until her lips meet his in a first kiss. The world seems to slow to a stop as Graham starts to respond to the kiss. They don't notice as two people walk past them. The two people smile and head back to a house across the street. The kiss breaks, "I see."
"Good, how does it make you feel?" She asks him, in answer, Graham lays his hand not still holding Ace's and brings their lips together in another kiss. This one is more explorative as Ace runs her tongue along Graham's bottom lip. As this kiss grows they stop holding hands as hands move to the back of the other person.
"Is that your answer?"
"It is," she smiles brightly at him; he wants to kiss her again but is stopped by her phone going off. "It's Mel saying it's time for pie."
"Then gets go have some pie." He reclaims her hand as they make their short walk back to Ace's. "Wait," they are two houses down now. Ace stops and Graham brings her in for another kiss, this one quick but sweet. "Before they send out a search party." They walk to the door and head in, Ace nods her head when Mel shoots her a questioning look.
That night Mel enters Ace's room and lays on the bed next to her, "tell me how it was."
"Nice, better than I could've imagined."
"So are you two?"
"Yes, we are. After three kisses I would say so."
"How many times have you kissed his cheek?"
"I don't know, but we kissed. For my first, second and third kiss, I couldn't ask for anyone better."
"You should know that Tegan and Nyssa saw you two."
"They did?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't notice, I was on cloud 9."
"It seems you still are."
"I guess I am."
"You started the day as single, and ending it with a boyfriend."
"I may have called your Mom, Mom."
"It's more than fine."
"Good, do you know when Dad is going to ask her to marry him?"
"He was planning to."
"Let me guess when everything happened and Liam and I came to live with you guys, that changed."
"For good reasons, an angry teacher who at the time didn't trust anyone but her brother and to a point her father, a little boy that was having regular nightmares."
"That only I could sooth."
"Exactly, now look at it, you have called her Mom, Liam hasn't had nightmares."
"Don't forget you are my sister now, Tegan, Nyssa and Yaz are some of my friends, and Graham," she smiles largely thinking of him.
"In the past many months you have grown."
"I have, and I don't plan to stop." Ace knows she is looking forward to the holidays and getting to know Graham on a deeper level.
"Good to know. We should get some sleep." Mel leaves as Ace gets beneath the covers and quickly falls asleep.