This will be a shorter chapter fic, but still has two years in it. I just wanted to get to the next one on this series. I am sorry for not posting much, there has been many changes at work that have exhausted me.

….

Shutting off her alarm Ace rolls out of bed not looking forward to the rest of the day. "Ace," she hears her father's voice from the other side of the door. "You need to get up. Zoe wants to get first day pictures of you, Mel and maybe Graham."

"Dad, I am getting up." She opens the door to find her Dad happy, "you two have planned some of the wedding haven't you?"

"We got the colors set, now come on and get."

"Fine Dad." She opens her bedroom door and the two make their way downstairs.

"Ace," Zoe says her name, "it's the first day of school, who are you excited to see?"

"Graham."

"You just saw him yesterday." Zoe, while she's happy that Ace is happy, she's hoping they aren't moving too fast and can spend some time away from each other.

"I know that, but he said he had a surprise for me." She sits down after getting a bowl of cereal.

"Minus Graham and you picking many of the same classes, what are you looking forward to?"

"Mom, it's school, what is there to be excited about," asks Ace, knowing she will not call someone else mum as suggested by her therapist.

"What you are going to learn, the clubs you are going to get involved in," Zoe replies as Ace rolls her eyes.

"Mom, I am only going to school so I can eventually open up a charity for disadvantaged children who don't have someone to fight for them." Harry stops pouring his second cup of coffee and turns to face his daughter.

"You know what you want to do when you're finished with school?"

"I do, what is the matter with that?" Harry walks over to his daughter and picks her up out of her chair.

"Nothing Fire Princess, I am just happy that you decided to do when you grow up." He puts her down.

"I want to be a computer engineer." Mel says.

"We know, you said it when you were 13," Harry gives Mel a hug, "I am proud of the both of you for knowing what you want to do. It took me moving to the states to figure out I wanted to open a real estate business. Then while taking a class I happen to meet a mom with a teenage daughter," Harry moves towards Zoe and brings her into his arms. "That day would change my life forever. Come next spring she will become my wife."

"Is there any way Zoe can adopt me?" Ace doesn't make eye contact with anyone as she asks this.

"Oh Sweetie, I wish I could. Yes, your birth mom has proven she isn't a fit one, it's complicated as you are not a citizen."

"But what about after you marry Dad?"

"I can look into it," that makes Ace smile, "now why don't you two finish eating then get ready for school. Ace don't make any plans this weekend. You are going dress shopping with me, Mel and Sarah Jane."

"I'll make sure Graham knows," she finishes her breakfast then heads upstairs. "Why do I have to look nice?" Ace finds the shirt she bought when at the mall a few weeks ago.

About an hour later she is at school, Mel walks away from Ace and Graham; meeting up with Tegan and Nyssa.

"How did you sleep," Graham asks her, reaching into the trunk .

"Someone kept me up late."

"I love hearing your voice."

"And I love yours, what are you doing?" He turns around with a bag behind his back. "What do you got there?" She tries to look around him and giggles as he doesn't let her grab the bag. With the bag still in his hand he wraps that arm around her waist and kisses her.

"It's a gift, a school spirit gift."

"Graham, I don't need school spirit."

"I know, but in case we go on a date to a game, you have something." He hands her the bag and she opens it, it's a shirt, I like it."

"I wouldn't get you a sweatshirt or jacket, this jacket," he tugs her closer, "is you, nothing else can replace that. I would never want to, you are very hot in that jacket."

"I am," she moves to where not even wind can move between them.

"Very much so, but we are not in your backyard. Anyone can drive on by, but I will do this," he leans down to give her a small kiss. "Come on, we have class soon." He takes her hand and they move on to class.

They arrive in Mrs. Chesrteon's AP History class. "Okay class, as some of you know I have a tradition on the first day of class." Most of the students moan, "shush, everyone, what I want you all to tell us about yourself." She looks around, "Ace, why don't you go first, I have a feeling only Graham here knows about you."

"Moving here was the best thing for me, I got to know my Dad, and didn't have to protect my brother anymore." She can't believe she told the whole class the last part, as whispers start.

"Class, stop it, this is a safe place and if I hear anything about going on in the hallways," she stares down the whole class as Graham reaches to grab her hand.

"After my Mum died, my Dad was abusive. My Aunt Sarah Jane got custody of me that way. When an assignment came; she jumped at the opportunity; we moved here with her good friend." Graham says trying to get attention away from Ace. While this is being said Barbra Chesteron hopes these two are getting therapy. As the rest of the class shares Ace dissociates, the only thing holding her steady is the feeling of Graham's hand in hers. As the bell rings Graham picks up their bags.

"Come on Ace, we need to get to the next class." He tries to get her attention. "Ace," he says again.

"Huh, what?"

"We need to move on to the next class."

"Ok," she gets up and the two move on to their next class.

"This one won't do anything like the last one," he kisses her cheek.

"Graham," Ace's question is stopped by the bell. After the roll call the teacher with spiky hair starts to talk about how this semester is going to go by reading the syllabus. The next few classes are like that, Ace slowly focusing better on everything, around 11:30 it is time for lunch.

"Are you buying lunch today, or did you bring it?"

"Both Mel and I are buying lunch, what about you?"

"Brought lunch from home. You go get your lunch, I'll grab us a table." As Graham sits down he overhears what kids are whispering.

"Did you hear that she came here because of things with her mom, and he probably pitties her."

"I heard he lives with his aunt."

"Still, come on, not even her mom wanted her."

"Rochelle, shut up, she has a wonderful heart full of love and wants to build a business to help kids when she grows up. Maybe get to know a person before judging them."

"Whatever, she probably trapped you."

"She had me before I knew her name," Ace walks up.

"Who trapped who," she sits down next to Graham with her burger and fries, he snatches one she gives him a look.

"You trapped him?"

"How, he won me over by his smile and how friendly he was when I first started here."

"Probably sex," Rochelle says.

"No, we are still virgins." Ace replies back, "in fact Graham was my first kiss. Though someone like you, how many couples have you broken up, Graham, didn't Mel tell us she broke up like six last year."

"She did."

"Mel?"

"Mel Bush, my sister."

"She's not your sister, she's an only child."

"We will officially be sisters this spring, but what matters to us and Liam, is she is."

"Liam?"

"My little brother." Ace turns around as Graham steals another fry. Smiling, "what do you think you are doing?"

"Eating."

"Yeah, my fries," she spies some cookies and takes them.

"Hey."

"All is fair in love and food. You took two of my fries, I take some of your cookies," she licks one, "you still want it?"

"We have exchanged spit before," he takes the cookie and breaks it in half, "you can have the soggy half."

"And later you and I can," she wiggles her eyebrows.

"The tree?" He asks knowing what happens every time they go to said tree. He's glad that they are both ok going there after what happened last spring.

"Yes, have I told you that mad and dad picked a date."

"No, when is it?"

"Don't know yet, Mom might tell me when we go dress shopping. I hope it's around the anniversary of you know what, so I can be distracted."

"I do too, I only ever want to see you happy."

"I know that, I also only want you to be happy." The bell rings and they head off to their 4th class. Those last classes fly by, on the way home Graham reaches across the gear shift to hold Ace's hand.

"Minus the first class, how did you like today?"

"It was fine, what was up with those two at lunch?"

"I got after them for making fun of you."

"Why?"

"Graham, I don't need protection. I love you, but you don't need to do that. I can handle my battles. Why do you think I asked her about how many couples she tried to break up last year?"

"I know, she might aim for us, she doesn't like when someone challenges her about something."

"As long as we remain honest with each other, she can't break us up. Do you have that faith in us?"

"I do; nothing in this world that I have more faith in than us."

"Graham, are we moving fast?"

"I'm going the speed limit."

"Graham, us as a couple."

"I like the speed we are moving, please tell me I am not making you feel pressured?"

"No; nothing like that. You make me feel safe."

"Good, I will never want you to feel pressured with anything when it comes to me." Graham parks the car in his driveway, "are you going to tell your parents about today?"

"Why would I, it was school."

"You made an enemy today, they should know about it in case she does something."

"Like what."

"Find a way to contact your birthgiver."

"Minus you and Mel, no one in that school knows her name."

"She knows people high up in the police force."

"She does?"

"Yeah, and her friend has family in England, so she can call there without any eyebrows being raised."

"What?"

"Yeah, before they became friends Mary was close with Yaz."

"How close?"

"What do you mean?"

"Yaz is lesbian, anyone can see that; she had that crush on her tutor last year."

"She isn't out yet."

"Don't worry I didn't tell anyone. I will talk to Yaz and ask her about if she is; and will make sure she knows I am bi."

"She will make you promise to not tell anyone."

"I will keep that secret. I should get going, I love you."

"Wait a second," he gets out of the car and walks her to her door. "I hope you know I love you more and more with each passing day. I want nothing to ever come between us." He leans down to kiss her. Before the kiss can deepen the door opens.

"Nice to see you Graham, Ace," Harry says after he opens up the door.

"Dad."

"Mr. McShane, I was just walking Ace to the door."

"And kissing her."

"Dad, Graham and I have been together for 9 months. He wanted to make sure I was happy."

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"Nothing," Ace looks at her father then back at Graham. "I am going to wait to see Liam, I'd like to see how his first day was. A fourth grader now." She smiles before kissing Graham on the cheek and heading in.

"She isn't going to tell me is she?"

"I don't think so, until more things happen, sir, just so you know I will make sure I am there for her no matter what."

"I know, I see how you love and care about her. I have since she was kidnapped. You should head home before your aunt comes looking for you."

"I will; see you guys later." Graham heads over next door to his house.