Sweet Dreams - Ace Merrill

Home sweet home

"Home sweet, motherfucking home!" Ace almost shouted as they reached his.

Vivian laughed as he let her in first before following her inside and shut the door.

"Come on." He mumbled as he led the way upstairs.

Vivian followed him up and into the room that was, as he described, directly opposite hers.

It was similar to his, in that it had a double bed, a wardrobe, chest of drawers and a bunch of cardboard boxes strewn aside.

"Can move all this crap out later but it will do right?" He mumbled as he glanced around at all.

Vivian smiled as she nodded, taking a few steps around.

"I'll just jump in the shower then it's all yours." He mumbled as she nodded, slowly sitting down on the bed.

She watched as he left, her eyes glancing all around the room. This was the first time she'd had a whole room all to herself. Before, at her parents she had to share with Alex and since the incident, she'd always sofa surfed and spent most of it on the sofa of her brother's girlfriend.

Eventually Ace reappeared, with a towel around his waist.

"You're all good." He mumbled as he nodded out the door.

Vivian slowly nodded as she used every bit of strength to not let her eyes look down, focusing as hard as possible to stay looking at his face.

He left her to it as she finally got up and went into the bathroom. She saw he had already started running her a bath and there was a new top placed on the edge.

Picking it up slowly, her unasked question was answered as she heard a shout from his room.

"I left you another shirt, figured you'd need one."

A small smile crept onto her face as she felt her hands grip it ever so slightly tighter.

Shutting the bathroom door she had the quickest bath possible, attempting to wash her scabs and bruises without causing herself more pain.

She changed into his shirt, noticing it was a button up she buttoned them all before stepping out the bathroom.

Ace was stood in the hall, now dressed again, leaning against his doorframe as he held two beer bottles in his hand.

Giving him a small smile she accepted the one he offered as they slowly walked downstairs.

Ace couldn't help but notice the extra bruises that littered her legs, purples, blues and black all mixed into one.

He gripped his bottle tighter as they went into the kitchen and she walked over to the back door, staring out the window.

"You've seen outside before you know?" He asked with a laugh.

Vivian turned and glared at him before looking back out.

"I know that arsehole." She paused. "I just like looking at the stars." She mumbled as she took a drink.

Ace walked up behind her slowly as he reached around in front of her to unlock and open the door. Vivian stepped aside as he opened it and she took a few steps outside.

Her gaze turned up to the night sky as Ace leant against the doorframe, his gaze completely focused on her.

"Enjoying the view there?" She asked as she finally looked back at him.

He shrugged as he took a drink. Vivian twirled again as she held his shirt out.

"Suits me, don't you think?" She asked with a small laugh.

Ace nodded slowly. "See, now not only do you talk and act like a cobra, you look like one."

Vivian scoffed. "Now why would you ruin such a nice evening with a comment like that?"

Ace shrugged as he kept the grin on his face. "Felt like being the bitch for once."

Vivian slowly moved backwards but kept her gaze on him. "Now that's my fucking job, don't be stealing it off me Mr Merrill."

Ace took a few steps out, following her as she ended up by the pick up truck.

Vivian held her beer out for Ace, he stepped closer and took it as she hoisted herself up.

"Haven't you just had a bath?" He asked as he watched her walk barefoot over it, before she sat down, leaning her back against the glass that was behind the front seats.

She shrugged as Ace simply climbed up with her. He took a seat next to her as she took her drink off him and took a swig, leaning her head back against the car.

"Happy with yourself?" He asked with a laugh.

Vivian nodded as she gave him a small smile, tilting her head back up so she could look at the stars.

"Over the fucking moon." She mumbled as she looked down at her bottle, her thumb gently beginning to scratch off the label.

"Your son..." Ace mumbled cautiously.

Vivian clenched slightly but forced herself to relax.

"What about him?" She mentally braced herself for Ace's question.

"What's his name?" Ace asked as he quickly took a swig from his drink.

"John."

Ace instantly began coughing and choking on his drink as Vivian laughed, gently smacking his back.

"The fucking hell got into you?" She asked laughing.

Ace just shook his head as he attempted to catch his breath.

"Your kids called John?" He managed to cough out as he had to take another drink.

Vivian nodded as she watched him carefully. "John Richard Smith, why?"

Ace's second mouthful of his drink, once again, came spluttering over them. Vivian moaned out as she moved her legs away from him, continuing to smack his back as he so desperately choked for air.

"Why's it matter?" She asked as he finally got his breath back.

Ace shook his head slowly as he managed to take another drink.

"You fucking spit this over me and I will hit you." Vivian said as she watched him steadily drink.

"Whys my kid's name matter?" She asked again as he finally relaxed again, leaning back against the car.

Ace shook his head once more, "It don't." He mumbled as it flashed through his head.

John Richard Smith.

Or as he saw it, Ace Eyeball Smith.