Where I Belong - Ace Merrill

Chapter 22

Ace startled awake, feeling Harper still laying asleep in his arms. He looked up and saw Harper's parents, having just woke up Eyeball.

Both cobras gave each other a confused look as Eyeball sat up straight and Ace lifted his head, being careful not to wake Harper.

"We got to get you two back now.." Harper's mum whispered. "Avoid any unwanted attention."

"What about-" Eyeball asked as his eyes drifted to Harper sleeping in the arms of Ace still.

"We'll bring her along soon. We're gonna take her home and get a few of her things packed before she comes along." Her mum added.

Ace and Eyeball turned to each other confused.

"You're letting her come with us?" Ace asked curiously.

Her parents exchanged a look before nodding at the cobras.

"All your stuff is in your own time though, it's only fair we take Harper home and let her get her own stuff before bringing her back to you." Her dad quietly mumbled.

Ace and Eyeball exchanged another look as they both nodded, it seemed fair enough. That way Harper would be able to bring her own stuff to live with them.

"Help." Ace mumbled to Eyeball as he nodded down at the sleeping girl.

Eyeball gently laced his arms around her and held her up as Ace gently freed himself before Eyeball lay her back down on the sofa.

Ace and Eyeball quickly gave each other a nod as Eyeball gently leant down and kissed her forehead.

"See you soon Harps." He whispered as he gently kissed her head, standing back up.

"You're coming home Harper.." Ace whispered as he leant down and softly kissed her forehead.

He softly brushed her cheek with his fingers as he stood up and turned to her parents.

"You're sure you're gonna let her come to us once you've got her stuff?" Ace asked, wanting more reassurance.

Her dad looked down but her mum nodded.

"Course, we just want her to be comfortable." She mumbled as she reached out to both cobras, gesturing them closer.

Ace and Eyeball exchanged yet another look. Neither of them were sure about what made her parents change their minds but if it meant getting Harper back with them they didn't care.

"Give me a minute." Ace asked as he quickly disappeared into her room.

Looking around he searched for a piece of paper and pen. Eyeball quickly appeared as Ace found a sheet on the hotel desk that welcomed Harper to the hotel.

"What are you doing?!" Eyeball asked as he watched Ace scribble something out onto the back of the paper.

"Back up plan." Ace mumbled as he looked around the room.

Spotting a small suitcase he rushed over and shoved the small paper inside.

"You heard them! They're gonna get her stuff and bring her back!" Eyeball shouted in a whisper.

"Since when do we believe parents Eyeball?!" Ace snapped back at him as he stepped closer to his best friend. "It's a precaution."

Ace and Eyeball stared at each other in silence before nodding slowly. Ace took one last look at Harper's hotel room before following Eyeball out.

Both parents were waiting at the front door as the cobras got on their shoes and quietly followed them out the hotel, leaving a sleeping and unaware Harper behind.

Of course both Ace and Eyeball attracted a lot of unwanted attention, for being the exact lookalikes of who they actually were.

Yet Harper's parents quickly got them free and led them calmly towards the bar Irbys had been set in.

Luckily for them this early in the morning it was practically empty. Her parents quickly led them into the bathroom as her mum offered them a pen.

"You're not gonna be long with her are you?" Ace asked as he cautiously accepted the pen.

Her dad looked down as her mum shook her head. "Just a few days, getting there, getting her packed and bringing her back."

Ace and Eyeball nodded slowly. Eyeball slowly wandered around the room and saw all the graffiti confessing their unwavering love for the cobras.

"You sure she's gonna be okay without us till then?" Ace asked her again.

Harper's mum nodded quickly. "It's easier to hide just her rather than you two as well. She'll come soon."

Ace nodded slowly as he gave Eyeball a quick nod, who returned to his side.

"We'll see her soon then." Ace mumbled with finality as her parents gave him a simple nod and left the bathroom.

"Ready?" Eyeball asked quietly.

Ace shook his head. "Not really, you?"

Eyeball also shook his head. "Not without her no."

"Her parents said she'll be along soon. We'll just wait." Ace mumbled as he saw the Kiefer Sutherland autograph Harper had so often mentioned.

Taking the pen lid off he gently hovered it over the autograph as the light above them began to flicker.

"She'll be home with us soon." Eyeball mumbled as Ace began to go over the autograph.

Then everything went black.

Harper shot up as she frantically looked around.

"Ace!"

Nothing.

"Eyeball!"

Nothing.

"Mum! Dad!"

Nothing.

Harper's dad sighed as he heard the familiar thunder clap and turned to face the bathroom door.

"We're doing the right thing James..."

He turned and saw his wife holding a bucket and sponges she'd borrowed from the bar owner.

"I don't feel it..." he mumbled as he accepted the sponge she offered and they went back into the bathroom.

It was as empty as they expected.

Ace and Eyeball had returned to 1959.

"Let's just do this and move on..." Her mum mumbled as she placed the bucket on the floor.

Getting the sponge she was holding wet with the hot soapy water she stood up and began scrubbing at the autograph made by Kiefer Sutherland back during filming.

The same one Harper, Ace and Eyeball used to get back.

Slowly and surely, as both parents scrubbed, the autograph began to disappear. The soap burning away at the signature left behind, revealing the plain empty wall.