"Good morning Dad," Ace says almost too chipper.
"Morning Sweetie, I assume you slept well."
"I did, where's Mom?" She won't say anything about it being the best sleep she has ever had.
Harry, not used to hearing his daughter refer to Zoe as Mom, takes a second, "Black Friday shopping. She will call when it's time for us to go to our bedrooms."
"Good."
"Why?"
"When are you going to pop the question?"
"The question?"
"She means when are you asking my sister to marry you," Jamie says, coming in messing with Ace's hair. "How are you doing wee yin."
"Huh."
"Little one."
"Who are you calling little?"
"It's a term of endearment, child."
"Oh, kind of how you call Mel, Bushel?"
"A play on a song since her last name is Bush."
"And my last name won't suit a fun one like that."
"I will get to know you better," he brings her head and kisses the top of it. Ace feels her phone vibrating in her pocket.
"It's Graham, got to go." Ace walks out of the back door and meets Graham and takes his hand to a secluded area.
"I think your daughter has a boyfriend." Jamie informs Harry who has come up to Jamie as Ace ran out of the house.
"She didn't yesterday." Harry says flatly as he watches Ace trying to not run.
"I think it happened yesterday."
"What happened yesterday," Liam asks as he walks in reaching for a bowl.
"Your sister got a boyfriend."
"You mean Graham, haven't they been in love for months?" That makes Harry spit out his coffee as Jamie laughs.
"I don't know if it's that long yet," Jamie looks at Harry, "calm down, it's funny you react like that."
"Just wait until you have a daughter and she starts dating."
Mel comes down too, "morning everyone. Where's Ace, did she go with Mom?"
"No, when I came into the kitchen she got a text from Graham and went outside." Harry watches as Mel tries not to make eye contact with anyone.
"What aren't you telling us, Melanie?"
"Nothing."
"Mela."
"Dad, there is a sister code, I will not break it."
Meanwhile, "where are we going?" Graham asks Ace.
"Ever since Liam interrupted us with Mel's help I have been looking for a place where we could be alone."
"Alone for what?" Next thing he knows he is pushed up against a tree.
"This." Ace smashes her lips against Graham's in a hard kiss, tongue demanding entrance into his mouth. He runs one hand up her back playing with the end of her hair.
"Ace, Ace." He pushes her away a little bit.
"What, I was rather enjoying myself."
"I was too, but shouldn't we be careful, I don't think your dad would want to catch us like this. I'd rather live to see you at Christmas."
"I had Mel help me with this, we can't be seen from my house right here. Now kiss me." Graham drags her back to him and their lips meet in a fiery kiss. Tongues tangle as hands start to move when Ace's phone goes off. "That's my phone."
"Hmmm."
She answers it, "Hey Dad."
"Where are you?"
"With Graham."
"Can he keep you occupied for a few more minutes?"
"He can."
"Good, Mom is almost home and we need to hide until she has everything put away."
"Got it."
"Then afterwards, she wants us all together to decorate for Christmas."
"Ok Dad." She hangs up. "We have a few more minutes, so." She reclaims his lips and the two continue making out until her phone goes off again. "That's my cue. I'll talk to you later." She kisses him quick and hard. With that Ace leaves a thoroughly kissed Graham alone and heads back inside.
"So you took Graham to the spot I am guessing," Mel asks Ace right by the door.
"I did."
"Here you go, you might need this," Mel hands Ace a brush that she quickly runs through her hair. "Nice time with Graham?"
"I always have a nice time with him."
"Come on, Mom is waiting for you." They walk into the living room.
"How's Graham?"
"He's good."
"And yourself?"
"Wicked."
"Good, now let's get started, Jamie, Harry please go get the tree."
"On it."
"Can I come," asks Liam.
"Sure you can hold open the door."
"Okay." Liam follows the two older men out.
"So you and Graham are official now?"
"Yes, how can you tell?"
"You look like you had been kissed just now and last night."
"It happened during our walk."
"What happened during your walk," Harry asks as he and Jamie carry in the tree.
"Our Ace is officially with Graham now." Zoe says, wrapping one arm around Ace.
"See I told you your daughter had a boyfriend."
"It's about time," Mel says.
"Mel, you knew this was happening."
"I know."
"How did you know," Harry asks them.
"Dad, Mel is like my older sister, fix that she is my sister. We had talked about it."
"Before Pappa Bear pops up, we should decorate." Zoe knows how Harry feels about Ace dating.
"We will talk about this later," Harry tells Ace.
"I will talk to her, Harry." The three children watch as their parents have a silent conversation.
"Kids, let's start while they finish this."
"Does my dating Graham have such a big impact on this family!" Ace wants to get this out of the way.
"No Dear, your dad is just being overprotective."
"Graham would never do anything to hurt me. He is the one that suggested we wait to talk about our feelings when everything happened with the woman who gave birth to me."
"Don't forget he was making sure both you and Liam were well distracted," Mel adds.
"He also gave me all the notes I missed so I could do well in school, Dad, what is your problem with him?"
"I don't have a problem with him."
"Then why don't you want me to be in a relationship with him?"
"I just worry about you."
"I know, but I am safe around Graham."
"She is, you should see them at school. Every time someone gives Ace a weird look and she doesn't notice when he does, he gives them a death glare."
"Can we say probably the most important part, Graham makes me happy."
"Of course your happiness is important."
"I finally can be myself around someone again, and for the first time I don't," Ace looks at Liam who has wide eyes and she stops yelling. "Li, I am so sorry you had to hear any of that."
"You're not hurt are you?"
"No, Dad and this Mom, we may argue with them for time to time, but they will never punish me physically."
"Are you sure," Liam walks closer to his sister who opens her arms as she gets on her knees.
"I am, this argument is because Dad is being protective of me having a boyfriend."
"But Graham is nice."
"I know that so does Dad."
"But why did you raise your voice at him like you did to Mumma before a sound happened."
"Dad will never create that sound, neither will Mom okay. They love us and want to make sure that we are protected at all costs. Even if it means not telling us a few things here and there, like I have done with you."
"Oh."
"Yeah, so you might hear some yelling once in a while, but it won't be as often as it was before. You also shouldn't worry about whatever this relationship with Graham will turn into, you still are my favorite guy."
"Graham can be your favorite too. I can share."
"Well, right now you will be sharing with Dad."
"Though one day, I will not be with Liam."
"Dad, I am still a teenager, I still have ways until that happens. I love you."
"I love you too," he brings his daughter into a tight hug. "I am not ready for someone to steal my first Princess."
"Dad, you also have Mel."
"She's my other Princess," Harry extends his arm and brings Mel into the hug.
"Zoe," Jamie leans over to whisper to her, "I think those two need some therapy."
"We have been looking and waiting to bring it up."
"I think you and Harry need to do it soon. If Liam can't handle a typical argument between father and daughter."
"I am glad he didn't hear some of the arguments between Dad and I."
"Even though you aren't Scottish, you did at the time seem to be able to have the spirit of one."
"What do you expect? My big brother was one." They watch as the hug between father and daughters ends.