Over the next few weeks Ace and Graham continue to grow closer. One night they are in their little hideaway while Harry and Zoe are planning their wedding with the news on in the background. "So both of our daughters will be in the wedding," Harry says.
"And Liam." Zoe adds with a smile.
"Of course, all of our children," he overhears the news report and his face goes white as he slowly stands up and moves to the tv turning it up.
"Harry what is going on?" Zoe walks up to him.
"Listen."
"We are here reporting on a breakout of the women's prison."
"Did I hear that right?" Zoe asks.
"I hope not, if that is where Audrey was at."
"It was Zoe," Harry falls to the couch hoping it wasn't Audrey when the phone rings. Zoe grabs it with shaking hands and picks it up.
"Hello, is Harry McShane there?"
"He is, may I ask what this is regarding."
"I should tell him."
"I'll hand you to him." Zoe shakily hands the phone to Harry, "it's for you."
"Yes," Zoe remembers the only two times she has heard his voice being this weak both were in regards to his ex wife and the harm she was causing Ace and Liam. "I got it, thank you." Harry hangs up the phone and breaks down. Zoe wraps her arms around him as Mel enters the room talking on the phone with Tegan.
"I have to go Tegan, something is going on."
"With who?"
"My Dad, he is crying."
"Woah, yeah." Mel walks up to them after hanging up from Tegan.
"What is going on?"
"Mel, do you know where Ace is?"
"I think she's out back with Graham."
"We need to get her inside and I need to talk to you and Graham."
"What why?"
"Mel, just please listen to me. Go and get Ace." Mel does as told she goes to the hideout.
"Detach yourselves, Mom and Dad want to see you both; something has happened."
"What," Ace is slightly out of breath.
"I don't know; whatever it is it made Dad cry."
"What, Dad's crying."
"Yeah."
"Graham."
"I am coming with."
"Graham, he wants to talk to you." He gulps not knowing what he will think when his daughter walks in looking like she just made out with her boyfriend.
"I'll be by your side." Ace can tell how nervous Graham is. The three come in together, Zoe smiles sadly at the unit they present.
"Ace, why don't you go upstairs for a few minutes."
"What."
"Please." She does as told after she leaves Harry looks up.
"Graham, I have to ask a favor of you."
"Sir?" Harry can feel how nervous Graham is. He trusts the young man.
"Please keep an eye out for anything suspicious."
"Why?"
"Audrey has broken out of prison."
"Mel, did you two tell them about that guy at the mall?" Graham looks over at Mel remembering what happened last month.
"What guy," Zoe asks.
"I take that as a no."
"Tell us." Harry stands up putting his hands on his hips giving Mel a look.
"When we were on our way to get lunch before this movie the man probably in his 40s came after us saying Dorothy."
"Yes."
"While Mel had taken Ace into the bathroom and Tegan and Nyssa were getting security he made what I think he seemed to be a joke about."
"What is it?"
"Sex, even though we are nowhere near that." Zoe and Harry share a look knowing more about Ace and what happened to her than anyone else.
"Mel."
"I didn't know about that last part."
"I didn't know how to tell anyone, I didn't want to freak out Ace."
"With everything please don't go into the woods anymore. If you want to makeout do it on the porch. We'll make sure Liam and Ace know they have to share it."
"Mom, Dad; we should tell Adric's parents about what is going on. Everyone needs to be vigilant."
"Ace." Graham says his girlfriend's name as she comes downstairs, smiling quickly at her boyfriend she feels she interrupted a conversation.
"No we."
"What is going on, did someone die?"
"No," Zoe gets up, "no one died."
"Then what is going on?"
"Nothing?" Ace looks to Graham who doesn't meet her eyes.
"Graham," she moves closer, grabbing his hand.
"I don't know if I can tell you."
"You can tell me anything."
"I know that, but this is for you and your sanity."
"You need to be sure about that."
"I swear on everything that I hold dear," he looks at his mother's necklace that Ace rarely takes off now.
"Everything?"
"Everything. Until I need to, I hope that day never comes."
"Well," Harry interrupts, "I think it's time for everyone to go to bed or home. Ace, does Graham know what you are starting tomorrow?"
"He does, I will be in the classroom next to him."
"I see, wanted an excuse to see him more?"
"No, it was the only one that started when I needed it to and had room for one more. I am going to walk Graham home."
"No you're not."
"Dad."
"Let me make sure ok, you need to get to bed, say goodnight to him." Ace glares at her father and turns to Graham.
"I will see you tomorrow," she gives him a quick kiss before heading upstairs.
"Graham, I am going to need to talk to your aunt."
"I know. I hate not being able to tell Ace what is going on."
"I know you do, it's for her best interest."
"Wouldn't it be better for her to know. So she can also keep a lookout. This impacts her safety." Graham makes the point.
"Her mental health too." Harry knows she has struggled with everything, despite trying to be strong.
"What do you think it does to mine or Mel's, we both care deeply about Ace and don't want anything to happen to her." Zoe asks.
"I know, it's just that when she came to live with us, she was always looking outside to see if Audrey was there. In fact she didn't stop until she started school."
"Sir, Ace is strong and is the most amazing person I know. She could handle it."
"I know, she is just my little girl, I couldn't protect her before now."
"I know that."
"I just want to protect her."
"And I also want to protect her."
"That is why Zoe and I told you, we trust you. I also need to warn Sarah Jane about it." They go inside Sarah Jane is typing away on her laptop while John is watching tv.
"Harry," Sarah Jane asks as she lifts her head when they enter, not used to Graham coming back in from the front door.
"I need to talk to you two."
"I am going upstairs, I don't want to hear about it again." As Graham crawls into bed, "how can I let her know I love her." He tosses and turns all night hoping that Audrey will never show up, but knowing he's wrong. The next morning he wakes up and quickly eats breakfast before heading out to meet with Mel and Ace before heading to school. Sarah Jane watches as Graham and Ace share a quick kiss before getting into her green bug.
After school is over Mel drives them both to drivers ed. "How was your last period?"
"I am still getting used to not having you in my class and that our schedules had to change last week."
"I know, when I moved here and was told that I wouldn't keep the same schedule throughout the year, I was shocked."
"At least we can still sneak away each night."
"Yeah, about that; they know what we do when we sneak off and want us to not go into the woods for a while."
"Why?" She reads his eyes. "You guys are protecting me from something?"
"We are, and I hate not being able to tell you."
"How much?"
"More than I can put into words."
"Can you put it to my lips?"
"That I can always do," Graham leans over and so does Ace until their lips meet in the middle and Mel sighs also hating the fact she can't tell her sister what is going on.
"We're here, I will be staying out here," after Ace and Graham get safely in the building Mel uses it as a chance to set up the dashcam that John handed her last night. He went out and got one for every car out of the five cars. Sometime later Ace and Graham come out arm in arm.
"How was your first lesson Ace?"
"It was boring."
"I remember, Graham, how was yours?"
"Just a few more months and I can get my license."
"I can't wait to go out to the parking lot when I hear about, that Tegan and Nyssa have talked about."
"No, not yet."
"Mel, Graham isn't even getting his license for 2 more months, which is April."
"I know but."
"I wouldn't do anything that could put Ace in danger."
"I know. Listen you two, those that care about us want us to be around you, Ace."
"What is everyone avoiding to tell me, I need to know."
"Dad has put us, I know for a fact, me on a gag order."
"I wish with everything I could tell you, but your dad told me not to." Ace looks between her sister who is driving and her boyfriend, both look distressed.
"The two of you really hate telling me."
"Nothing else I hate worse in the world. I have been telling you everything since the night I told you about my Mum."
"You know everything about me," Ace wants to lean her head on his shoulder but doesn't. "Liam's birthday is coming up."
"Yeah, when?"
"At the end of next month."
"Got it." They spend the rest of the car ride in silence.