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It's the late AM in the Eastern side of the US and inside the Hicks house little Ariana climbs out her bed holding her stuffed bear and walked out her room, she had a nightmare but instead of going to her parents room, she made her way to Ace's room.

Ariana: Ace?

Ariana swung his door open and saw Ace asleep in his bed with Toni beside him, Ariana made her way over to the side of the bed where Ace is and tapped his shoulder.

Ariana: Ace?

Ace slowly opened his eyes and looked over to her while trying to keep Toni as covered as possible, they played a game earlier which lead to Toni taking her shirt off meaning that she could see things she's not meant to see at her young age.

Ace: What's wrong little one?

Ace asked while wiping the sleep out of his eyes and trying not to be pissed, Ace really hates being woke up, he throw a lamp at his old Uncle Aaron when he woke him up, Ace was 17 at the time and no one liked Aaron anyway.

Ariana: I had a bad dream.

She said rubbing her eye with her small fist still holding her bear clearly upset by the dream she had, if Ace wasn't worried about her then it would be an adorable sight to see.

Ace: Okay, come on...

Ace climbed out of Toni's grip and swung his legs out from under the covers, he's wearing boxers so he's covered, Ariana held her arms out to him while Ace lifted her into his left arm, she dropped her bear during this but Ace was fast to pick it back up handing back to her and taking her towards her room.

Ace: ... Tell me all about it.

Ace said laying her down in her bed and tucking her in with the light of the nearby lamp lighting up the room.

Adriana: A monster came out my closet.

She said pointing over to the wardrobe in her room, while holding the covers as close to her face as she could trying to stay as far away from the monster as she possibly could.

Ace: Do you want to know a secret...?

Ace asked standing up and walking towards her closet as Ariana nodded to him, Ace smiled and opened the cupboard doors showing her there is no monster in there.

Ace: ... You can't be scared of monsters because monsters aren't real.

Ace walked back over to her rubbing the top of her head kneeling back down beside her bed, Ariana smiled to him as she nodded losing her fear from monsters in her closet.

Ariana: Can you sing me a song now please?

Ace sighed and thought about it, the reason he didn't want to sing to her before was because he didn't want Toni to hear him, he's not sure why but he didn't.

Ace: Hold on, I'll be right back...

Ariana cheered slightly as Ace went back into his room to see Toni still asleep, Ace picked up his guitar and looked back to her with a smile, she's actually really cute asleep, Ace left her in peace then went back into Ariana's room, she was once again sat up excited, this time instead of asking her he pushed her head making her lay back down with a cute giggle.

Ace: Alright, let's go for a cheerful one this time, what'd think?

Ariana nodded while getting comfy again, Ace sat on the edge of her bed plucking at the guitar strings, Ace thought about a cheerful song he wrote and went for one that she will hopefully remember...

https://youtu.be/KpXDjIDnGgQ

... He wrote that recently mainly for Toni but he's hoping that Ariana takes it a little to heart and remembers that no matter what he'll be there for her.

Ace: Sleep tight, kid.

Ace kissed the top of her head goodnight before turning the light off again and leaving back into his room this time Toni was wide awake a smiling to him.

Toni: That was really beautiful.

Ace sighed smiling placing his guitar down, there's no point hiding it now and she clearly didn't mind that he sang, she actually seemed to enjoy it.

Ace: Just something I picked up in school.

Ace said walking over to the bed and sitting down on the edge, Toni kissed his shoulder wrapping her arms around his neck kissing his cheek.

Toni: Sing me a song...

Ace looked over to her while she still smiled down to him sitting on her knees, Toni gave him the puppy dog eyes that Ariana uses making him do what he's told.

Toni: Please?

Ace sighed and walked back over to his guitar Toni sat back down and clapped a little cheering, Ace couldn't help but chuckle to her with a smile, Toni noted that he's happier with her and that she's helping Lori with what she wanted.

Ace started to tune is guitar to fit the song and started to play...

https://youtu.be/-lEPX2fF4Ls

... Toni loved the song it was sweet, cheerful and you couldn't help but dance a little to the song, who would have thought that someone so down in the dumps could make such a happy song.

Ace put the guitar nearby and went to say something to her but before he could as soon as he faced her she kissed him pushing him back onto the bed, Ace didn't fight it and looked over to make sure his door was shut and when he saw it was he flipped them over leaving him on top of his naked girl...

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Ace woke up the next morning with a smile on his face from last night, he was glad he made Ariana feel better and that he and Toni had even more fun, Ace got up, showered and dressed, he and Toni are going to the gym today, their first time together.

Ariana: Why can't Ace take me to school...?

Ace heard her ask while he walked into the kitchen car keys in hand ready for him and Toni to hit the road and get to the gym.

Ace: Good news. I can.

Ariana smiled to him now awake while Ace looked over to Toni who's ready to go to the gym...

... Ace smiled to her as she hugged into his side, last night brought them closure then they already were giving Lori and David something to smile about happy for their son's new self.

Ace: You don't mind do you?

Ace asked Toni and she was more then okay with it, spending the day with Ariana yesterday really made her care for the girl as well, there's just something about her that can make you're day so much better.

Ace: Alright. You ready sport?

He asked Ariana as she grabbed her bag and pretty much ran outside with Toni following her, Toni hasn't seen Ace's car, they took David Lincoln yesterday but today David needs it for work so they can't use it.

Lori: Thanks baby.

Lori thanked him while kissing his cheek, for taking Ariana to school, this meant that David can head straight to work and Lori can do whatever she wants to do till they got back later, Ace didn't mind helping out, more so lately then before but now is different and it's all thanks to Chris smacking his head with a steal chair.

Ace walked outside to see Ariana climbing into the back of his car while Toni watched holding her bag, Ace walked over with a smile putting his arm over Toni's shoulder.

Ace: What do you think?

He asked about the car, Toni wasn't a massive car lover but she could see that Ace loves this car and she loves him.

Toni: I like it...

Toni handed Ariana her bag while looking the car up and down wondering one thing.

Toni: ... Where do they put the engine's in these things?

Ace saw and opportunity to tease her a little and stood behind her pressing his lips to her neck while holding her hips.

Ace: They put it in the rear where it belongs.

Toni looked to him a little surprised by this forwardness but she wasn't complaining, the moment was ruined by Ariana telling them she's gonna be late snapping them both out of whatever they were going to do.

Toni walked around to the passenger side while Ace slipped into the drivers seat starting the car, he revved a little showing off making Toni smile to him from the passenger seat.

Toni and Ariana played eye spy all the way to the school, Ace was happy they got a long so well because he now sees it clearly that he loves Toni, every time he thinks about not being with her, he gets a horrible sickening feeling that he doesn't much enjoy.

Ace: Come on you...

Ace got out the car after parking in the school parking lot, he moved his seat forward letting Ariana climb out.

Ace: ... See you later champ.

Ace said hugging her and kissing the top of her head, Ariana heard him and looked up with a smile.

Ariana: Are you gonna pick me up?

Ace shrugged with a smile then nodded thinking "why not", Ariana started jumping for joy while Toni watched from the passenger seat with a smile on her face, both of them haven't seemed to stop smiling since they got here.

Ariana: Bye Toni...

Toni was caught or guard a little when she opened the door and hugged her, Ace chuckled to her confusion but she hugged the little Hicks back with a chuckle of her own.

Toni: Bye, bye, Ari.

Both Ace and Toni watched as Ariana ran to her little group of friends, Ace then saw the small group of mothers again staring at him, this time it just made him feel uneasy so he got back into the car and got out of there as fast as he can...

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Ace and Toni had fun at the gym, yes in that way, they can't seem to keep their hands off each other, neither of them are complaining though but now Ace is waiting for Toni as he's taking her out on a date sort of thing.

Lori: You mind her, Ace.

Ace nodded he knew she was special and he isn't going to lose her no matter what happens, tonight he's going to tell her how he feels and he's going to ask her to be his girlfriend.

Toni: Ready...

Ace and Lori looked to the kitchen entrance and saw Toni walk in...

... She has an unusual dress sense but that's one of the things Ace loves about her, she's different from all the others, she's not just 1 in a million but she's 1 in 7 billion, there really isn't anyone quite like her.

Ace: For you? Always.

Ace and Toni linked hands and left the house after saying goodbyes to Lori and David both frilled with the man Ace is turning into, he's going from the careless whoremonger to a reliable man that they can have faith in to do the right thing and keeping Toni happy is the right thing to do.

So when they got to the local movie theater Ace stopped Toni before they walked in.

Ace: Before we go in, I want to ask you something?

Toni was a little confused by him but let him ask away wrapping her arms around him snaking her hands together interlocking her fingers behind his back under his jacket.

Ace: Will you be my girlfriend?

Toni was a little taken back by that because she already assumed they were but at least now it's official and she could only give the one answer.

Toni: Of course you big dope...

Ace smiled kissing her while she grinned kissing him back, they broke the kiss then went to enjoy the movie together, it's still early so it was pretty empty giving them a little peace and quiet, it seemed over before it even started though as most the time they just made out, Toni's ex was never as sexual active as Ace and touching her in all the right places in the middle of a movie theater is something she didn't know she liked but she does now.

Ace: Let's go get Ari.

Ace and Toni got into his car and went towards the school, Ace pulled up at the front so they can make a quick pick up and then get home, their kinda tired from the gym and their fun in the movie.

Toni got out the car and moved the seat forward so Ariana could get in the back, Ariana buckled up as Toni put the seat back and climbed in after her, Ace left the school ground while Ariana told them all about her day, they both miss being 7, life was so much easier back then.

The conversations stopped though when Ace turned down their street and saw a few people standing on their front lawn, Ace got closure and saw why.

Ace: Stay in the car.

Ace told Ariana as he got out the car before it even fully stopped and ran to the house currently in flames, Ace didn't need to think though as he kicked the door down ducking under the fire spitting out the new oxygen supply.

Toni: Ace!

Toni ran out the car to stop him but it was too late, Ace was already in the house causing everyone to just stop and stare, Toni didn't know what to do except to watch and wait...

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(To Be Continued)