Ace is looking through her closet for the carnival her school is doing to raise money for a dance. "Dotty," she turns around to find her brother.
"Yes Liam." She tries to keep annoyance out of her voice.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"Dad, Momma, Mel and I are also going to the Carnival."
"Great," she hopes he doesn't pick up on the sarcasm.
He runs out, "she is ok with it," he shouts as he runs out of the room.
'I guess I shouldn't tell Graham tonight.' Mel walks by her door as she says this.
"You were going to do what?"
"Nothing."
"Ace."
"Mel, it hasn't even been a long enough time since everything happened with the woman who gave birth to me."
Mel sits on Ace's bed, "do you want to tell him?"
"I do, but when the time is right. We both agreed it would be better after I am back to how I was before a few weeks ago."
"How much do you like him?"
"A lot. I want Graham to be my first relationship."
"You haven't dated before?"
"No, have you?"
"I have been on a few dates."
"How was it?"
"I didn't like them. I didn't have a friendship with them first. Though you and Graham were already flirting the first day."
"We were?"
"Yes, it was cute, puppy love."
"What?!"
"I just see the two of you like I saw Tegan and Nyssa before they got together."
"What is there to say Graham and I will be like them?"
"It may take time, but you two are going to be great. I will try to keep Mom, Harry and Liam away from you two tonight."
"Thank you." She turns to leave the room, "Mel, before you leave my room, I want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"If you want to call my Dad, Dad; I would be ok with it."
"Why?"
"He loves you like a daughter and you are the second person to know this, but you are like a sister to me."
"Second?"
"When everything happened with you know who, I was talking to Graham and let it slip that you and your Mom are my family."
"If I am honest the moment you and Liam moved in with us, I thought the same thing."
"You did?"
"Of course," Mel gets off the bed and crushes Ace in a hug. "You are my sister."
"And you are mine."
"You know what this means?"
"What."
"If Graham ever hurts you, there will be hell to pay."
"Just don't hurt him."
"I won't. I can't wait until Thanksgiving."
"Why?"
"You get to meet my Uncle Jamie."
"Is he cool?"
"Pretty cool, he lives in Scotland."
"Why?"
"He works there."
"My Mum went no contact with my uncle when he went to the cops."
"Ace, can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Do not think of her tonight, treat tonight as a date."
"I won't."
"Good, and if anything happens, shoot me a text so I can cover."
"Melanie, we are way too young for that, and we haven't fully admitted that we liked each other."
"I know." Mel says as she leaves, Ace turns back to her closet and finds a striped shirt. After she changes she heads downstairs and opens the door as Graham is about to knock on the door.
"Ace."
"Hi Graham."
"I see you're ready."
"I am ready; had a small talk with Mel."
"How was it?"
"It was good, I told her I thought of her as a sister."
"Yeah."
"It was." Graham grabs her hand and the two of them make their way.
"I am only in Driver's Ed."
"That's ok. I don't mind your Aunt taking us."
"And help setting up."
"More time with you."
"Ace?"
"Yeah."
"I have been looking forward to tonight."
"Me too, but I have to tell you; my family is going to show up."
"That's fine, your family is cool."
"Mel said she will try and keep them away from us."
"Why?"
"She wants this to be a date."
"Could it?"
"It can," she smiles as they make their way to his house.
"Are you ready to help us set it up," John says.
"I am."
"Just don't go off into a far off corner and make out."
"John!" Sarah Jane snaps at him.
"Just teasing them."
"Don't mind him, if the two of you want to spend time alone go ahead."
"Aunt Sarah, we are just friends."
"For now, I got to say you two are cute, and it does please me that you are going slow."
After the fundraiser is in full swing Ace and Graham are having a fun time when she feels someone hugging her from behind. "Ace."
"Hi Liam." She looks at Graham apologizing with her eyes.
"We're here."
"I see that."
"Can I hang out with you and Graham?"
"I."
"It's ok, little man."
"Yeaaa." Liam goes to stand next to Graham.
"Liam, wait up, you are fast." Mel runs up. "I thought we were going to play some of the games."
"I want to play with Ace and Graham." Mel looks at Ace with a questioning look.
"It's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"I am." Mel doesn't think Ace is actually fine with it.
Harry and Zoe come up, "hey kids."
"Dad."
"Liam, Sweetie," Zoe leans down, "don't you want to hang out with us?"
"Nope." He adds with a smile.
"Graham is cool."
"I agree," says Ace.
"Yeah, for the past couple of weeks when I have been waiting for Adric he has tossed the ball back and forth."
"Why didn't you tell me," Ace asks Graham.
"He's a cool little dude and cares a lot about you."
"You also care a lot about my sister." Liam says.
"I do."
"Thank you for caring about my daughter."
"It's easy to do. Come on you two, let's get the fun started." Graham takes the hands of both young McShane's.
"Zoe, is this a normal feeling I am getting?"
"What feeling is that?"
"That I am losing my little girl?"
"Dad." He looks to Mel shocked about hearing that word. "Ace and I had a conversation today, believe me you are not losing her. She may like Graham, but she will always need you."
"Dad?"
"Ace said it was ok, is it?" She looks at him.
"Of course it is," he hugs her.
Hours later "all right we are going home Liam."
"But I wanna stay."
"My Aunt and John are already taking Ace and I home, if it's ok with them and you Liam can stay with us."
"Pleaseee."
"Ok, you can as long as Sarah Jane and Mr. Benton say it's ok." Liam goes running off to the booth they are at. "Graham, can I please have a talk with you out there?"
"Yes, Sir." He follows Harry out into the hall.
"Zoe, what do you think he is doing?"
"Probably making sure he takes care the both of you."
"He wouldn't hurt a fly."
"I know and you know, but he is your dad."
"So Graham," Harry starts. "You will be making sure that my daughter and son are taken care of."
"Of course, I care about both of them."
"And when the time comes you and my daughter start to date, you better treat her well."
"I promise."
"Is there a reason why you two haven't gone on a date yet?"
"Tonight was going to be."
"Really."
"Yeah."
"Yes Sir."
"Have you two talked about anything else?"
"Not really Sir, we agreed to put any talk on hold until everything has calmed down a little."
"Why?"
"I just want her to be happy and sure about everything."
"You care about my little girl."
"More and more everyday."
"My son?"
"I do really care about him."
"Good, now let's go back in." Harry and Graham walk back in together.
"Graham," Harry watches as his daughter's eyes light up.
"Hey Ace." Liam comes running up to them.
"I can stay."
"Good little man," Graham bends down.
"Remember to take care of two of the most important people to me, Graham."
"Dad, Liam and I will be fine."
"I know that. It's my fatherly prerogative to make sure that you two will be more than ok," he kisses her forehead.
"By Dad."
"Bye Sweetie."
"Bye Zoe."
"Bye Sweetie," she bends down, "Liam, you be good for them ok?"
"I will."
"Good," she bends down and Liam gives her a big hug.
They leave Liam turns to face them, "let's go play more games." They run off after him.
An hour later Liam is asleep on Graham's shoulder. "So you three had fun."
"We did Aunt Sarah. When we park, is it ok if I walk them home?"
"Of course it is."
When the car parks, Liam wakes up. "I am home?"
"Almost, I am going walk you two home."
"Ok," the three get out of the car.
"Liam why don't you go inside, I want to say goodbye to Graham."
"Didn't you just do that."
"No."
"Okay, good night Graham, goodnight Ace." Liam goes inside.
"Graham?"
"Yes Ace," she leans up and kisses his cheek.
"Thank you, I had a wonderful night. Thank you for sneaking off and winning me this stuffed animal."
"I thought since you won something for Liam, I wanted to win something for you."
"It was nice," she leans up and kisses his cheek again, "I want a repeat minus my little brother."
"I would like to have a repeat too."
"Goodnight Graham."
"Goodnight Ace."