=========================

Ace was helped backstage as he wasn't able to stand up after the match, which was part true because as soon as they got back and they let him go, Ace stumbled into the wall trying to keep himself up.

Sammy: Why would you take the hit like that?

Sammy asked as he and Dani Garcia put his arms over their shoulders keeping him up right as he honestly look like he's about to pass out from the hit.

Ace: At the time it seemed like a good idea.

He said taking his arm off Sammy and holding his head while blood still ran out, Duncan, Christian, Jake Hager, Jake Perry, Austin Matelson, Tay, Anna and Chris looked to him as Dani kept him on his feet.

Chris: Go get him to the medic, get that hit taken care of.

Dani agreed and took Ace away while they watched and were impressed with Ace's dedication to the job, if he didn't sleep around and act like a jackass then he might actually be a good guy.

Duncan: So what's happening next week?

Duncan asked trying to understand what's going on with the story because Ace's little solo run was only made last week after the show.

Chris: Ace will challenge me for the chance to face Mox, for the AEW Championship...

They talked about it for the next few moments walking passed the women's locker room leaving Anna and Tay behind to get ready to leave the arena, Toni was already ready as was Brittany, Paige and Melissa.

Melissa: ... Screw that Puta, you don't need him anyway...

Brittany and Paige just told Melissa about why Toni slapped Ace just now and Melissa wants Ace's balls on her wall, she really didn't like Ace's kind.

Melissa: ... You'll find someone better.

Tay and Anna knew what they were talking about and sat down joining in on the conversation sticking up for Ace's side, kinda.

Anna: Might want to go a little easy on Ace...

They all looked to them confused as Ace is the enemy to them all, so they were wondering why they were sticking up for Ace when he hurt Toni.

Brittany: What are you talking about?

Brittany asked the questioned they all wanted to know, Toni looked between hoping that her friends would be on her side but they seemed to be siding with Ace.

Tay: He said he never saw the note.

Tay said sitting down on the bench beside Brittany as most of them are already ready to leave, that was the co main event and it couldn't have gone better.

Toni: What do you mean?

Toni asked wondering if that slap was necessary or over the top, if he didn't know she wanted a little more from that night then maybe the slap was a little to much.

Anna: The guys are certain he never saw the note, it could have fallen off and slide under the bed...

Anna said with a small shrug while she and Tay got their things together in their bags, Toni thought about it and it was possible that could have happened.

Anna: ... I mean, when was the last time you looked under you're hotel bed?

Anna asked as no one could argue with that, you don't really check, you also don't know what the person did in the room before you got there did.

Toni: So what should I do, I can't stop thinking about that night...

Toni asked her friends honestly not knowing what to do, she wants to apologise for the slap but also feels like he deserved it, if he didn't see the note letting him know she stepped out for an hour or so with Paige, then he wouldn't have known and maybe he wouldn't have screwed two diner waitresses, or maybe he would have.

Melissa: I can't believe I'm saying this but talk to him. You might not get what you want outta him but surely the atmosphere around here could change.

Melissa pointed out as Toni thought about it and the others agreed, Ace has only been here a week and has already caused a rift between the men's and women's locker rooms, it's something fixable but how it's going to be fixed no one can really figure out.

Doctor: Try not to take shot's like this in the future.

Ace is sat on the bed in the medic room getting his head patched up, Ace wanted to listen to the doctor but there's one small problem with this.

Ace: You're gonna hate me next week...

Ace chuckled and the doctor finished giving him a few stiches, Ace will be fine by the time next week rolls around and he's excited for it, Ace watched Chris in the WWE when he was younger but his true love for wrestling came when he was 18, Ace has a dream match in mind with AJ Styles and wishes it to come true one day.

Doctor: Alright, you're good to go.

Ace thanked him and hopped off the bed leaving the room, all he has is a splitting head ache and a few stitches just behind his hair covering up the scar, Ace was glad it covered up keeping his pretty face in tact.

Ariana: Ace!

Ace spun on his heels but was tackled by Ariana hugging his wait, it actually hurt a little, kids got strength behind her.

Ace: Hey kid, listen...

Ace lifted her into his arms while grunting off the impact of her head butting his stomach after a 30 minute match.

Ace: ... You can't run into me like that after a match, those hit's hurt.

Ariana agreed after apologising about 8 times, while David, Lori and Carol made it backstage, Ace hugged his family still holding his new sister in his arms, Duncan, Austin, Brittany, Toni and Dori, who came here to meet Duncan, saw him and he was a completely different person, smiles and jokes.

Austin: How hard did Chris hit his head?

Austin asked Duncan as he just shrugged a little and they looked back over to the hicks family, Ace's entire attention was on the young girl running around like she swallowed a bag of sugar while he chased her smiling.

David, Lori and Carol watching nearby smiling that their son has become more of a people person since meeting her and that song he wrote was amazing.

Brittany: You think that's his kid?

She asked while they watched as the girl laughed as Ace caught her and lifted her into the air sitting her on his shoulders, they didn't know the answer to that question either way, she seems to get the best out of Ace and he seems a lot happier when she's with him.

Toni: I'm gonna talk to him.

Toni took a deep breath and walked over to him as they watched her, Ace nor the others saw her till she got to them.

Dori: You think she'll slap him again?

Once again know one knew the answer to the question as Toni got his attention and he looked to her.

Duncan: Let's watch and find out.

They agreed and waited while Ace took the girl off his shoulders and excused himself from his small family and walked away from prying ears so they could talk privately.

Ace: What uh, What's up?

Ace asked as they stooped and he looked to her...

... She was one of the most beautiful girls he's slept with that was for sure but he's not a boyfriend type hasn't been since he left Middle School.

Toni: I want to apologise for the slap earlier...

Toni said nervously twisting her ring finger in her right hand with nerves, Ace has seen that kind of thing before and there's no way he'll get out of this without hurting her.

Ace: ... Trust me I deserved it...

He said cutting her off with a chuckle as he did deserve the slap and honestly it might have knocked a little sense into him.

Ace: ... Look, I'm not boyfriend material. I lead you on that night and it wasn't fair. You deserve better...

Toni was more then taken back by this, maybe the combination of Ace having a sister that looks up to him, the slap and a hard hit on the head with a steel chair actually knocked some sense into him.

Ace: ... Hell, most of the girls I slept with deserved better.

Ace wasn't to sure why he acted the way he has over the passed few years and has no excuses for it but he needs to be a better person for Ariana, what kind of big brother would he be if he's sleeping around getting into more trouble then necessary.

Ace: I uh, I think I need to stay away from dating for a little while. Plus I got a kind big scare in the locker room earlier, it kinda freaked me out.

Ace chuckled rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly while his family watched them nearby, they've seen Ace talking to women and he's normally smooth and confident, now he's awkward and rubbing the back of his neck.

Toni: Don't I get to choose if I want you or not?

She asked more about the none dating thing, she was kinda hoping they could make something of this, that night was the best sex she's ever had, her ex husband could never make her feel or do what he made her feel and do.

Ace: You can do better then me Toni, trust me. You don't want me.

Duncan, Dori, Brittany and Austin watched and waited to see if he'll get another slap or not, it didn't look like it but the thing is he looked like he was actually talking to her and not trying to hit on her.

Ace: I'll see you around.

Ace smiled to her and kissed her cheek, Toni gave him a tight lipped smile as he walked back to his family with his sister running to him, she watched as he picked her up again and walked off to get ready to head home.

Toni: Bye...

She waved a little to him while he got out of hearing range, Dori, Duncan, Austin and Brittany watched as Toni looked a little disappointed about how the conversation went.

Brittany: You okay?

Brittany asked as Toni made it back over to them, Toni wasn't sure, she wanted Ace and wanted to see it it lead the to more then just friends, that's the fun of relationships, you don't know if you're going to get a hole in one or take a chunk out the ground.

Toni: Yeah. I'll be fine.

Toni said looking back to where he left but her curiosity got the best of her thoughts while she wondered what he was talking about when he said about the men's locker room.

Toni: What happened in the men's locker room?

Duncan and Austin then filled them all in on what happened and the girls were shocked he acted like that about it while Toni was now thinking about what he told her.

Duncan: Look I'ma be honest, I like the guy but he's a pathological liar, I never believe a word he's saying...

They all got their bags and walked to the car park getting into the shared SUV they got putting their bags in the boot, Duncan and Dori up front while Toni sat in the back with Austin and Brittany and they went towards the hotel.

Duncan: ... He's a great wrestler, maybe THE best but he's clearly screwing away his pain of something...

That was the last thing Toni heard as she thought about what he could possibly be hiding that would make him feel like he has to sleep around with women he has absolutely no intensions of being there for her...

=========================

Ace is carrying his sleeping sister out of the car and up to her room, Ariana fell asleep on the way back leaning her head on Ace's shoulder as David drove, Lori sat up front, Coral sat in the back with them Ariana in the middle, Ace sitting on her left and behind Lori.

Ariana: Can you sing me a song?

Ace knelt down by her bed after tucking her in thinking she was already asleep but she must have woke up just now as he put her to bed.

Ace: Gimme a second...

Ace smiled to her as she was happy to finally have a big brother to look up to, she will never understand how she's helping Ace with his own troubles and honestly, Ace doesn't know either, Ace went into his room and grabbed his acoustic guitar and took it into Ariana's room to see her sat up waiting for him to return.

Ace: ... If I do this you need to lie down...

Ariana smiled excited as she laid her head down on the pillow snuggling into the warm sheets and held her bear, binkie, close to her.

Ace: ... Alright, this is another Ace's own songs. You ready?

Ariana nodded while Ace made sure the guitar was in tune, Ace hasn't played his instruments in a while but he can't seem to say no to his little sister.

Ace tried to remember how the song started and started the song for her...

https://youtu.be/rNhToEXdDCQ

... Ace finished the song about the fact he was adopted, it was a song close to his heart and nearly all his music he wrote was about that, Ariana fell asleep making him smile, he kissed her head and left the room and saw his father, David standing in the hall with tears in his eyes, David heard the song.

David: Come here...

David pulled Ace into a hug...

... Ace was caught off a little as he stood their holding his guitar in his right hand till David said to him.

David: ... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

That was all Ace needed to hear and for seemingly the first time in a long time he felt tears coming from his eyes and hugged his father back both sharing this moment and keeping it with them forever...

=========================

(To Be Continued)