Sweet Dreams - Ace Merrill

Don't cross that line

Ace finally managed to stumble home in the early hours of the next morning. How he made it home he wasn't sure. All he knew was he was feeling much better. Much more relaxed.

Vivian watched from her window as she saw Ace attempt to stumble up to his front door. She watched him trip as he almost dove on the door.

She waited for 10 minutes as he struggled to, but finally, unlocked the front door.

She listened from her room as she heard him crash about downstairs. Looking down at the bed where John had been safely wrapped up in one of the cardboard boxes she walked over and saw him still asleep.

Reaching down she gently stroked his cheek before turning, hearing Ace trying to come up the stairs.

She left the room, shutting the door behind her as she looked down. He was just about standing as he attempted to pull himself up the stairs.

"Need a hand?" She asked quietly as she stood at the top of the stairs.

Ace scoffed exaggeratedly as she shook his head. "I fucking got this by myself!" He snapped in response as Vivian watched, realising he really didn't.

"Ace you're not getting anywhere."

"I'm fucking fine by myself!" He snapped as he continued to try get himself up.

Vivian stepped closer as she crouched down. "Jesus Chris, how drunk are you right now?" She asked quietly as she looked him over.

"Not drunk enough." He slurred out as he gave up, leaning against the bannister, facing away from her.

"Where did you go? We were all outside waiting for you and next thing you know the house is empty." Vivian questioned, remembering how Alex and Eyeball had searched but couldn't find him.

Ace shrugged her question off, waving his hand dismissing it.

"The fuck you care?!" He snapped as he still clung to the bannister. "You ain't my fucking girl you know?!"

Vivian stared at the back of his head. "No I'm not. But I'm allowed to be a little bit worried."

Ace scoffed as he shook his head. "You just worry yourself about that thing in there and making sure you don't have no fucking more." He snapped as he once again returned to trying to get his way back up the stairs.

Vivian stood up and stepped back as she glared down at him.

"That thing in there is my fucking child." She snapped, knowing this was only the alcohol talking but she wouldn't back down from him.

"Yeah well it ain't mine." Ace snapped as he finally reached the top step.

"Thank god for that." Vivian bit back.

Ace looked up as the pair glared at each other.

"Oh but you're happy you got mr fucking sunshine to be the kids dad?!" He bit her where it hurts.

Vivian shook her head slowly, her glare burning into him.

"Don't fucking cross that line Ace." She snarled out her warning.

Ace straightened himself up as Vivian saw the true cobra. He was dark, dangerous and deadly.

"Or what?" He snapped as he moved closer to her in what Vivian could tell was his threatening manner.

"What the fuck you gonna do Vivian?!" He snapped as he glared down at her.

The pair were head to head, toe to toe.

"What the fuck you gonna do Vivvy baby?" He growled out his question again.

"You ain't gonna do nothing!" He shouted in her face. "You ain't gonna do fuck all!"

Vivian felt herself tense up as she glared harder.

"You wanna be this big tough girl but you're fucking not!" He continued to shout. "I can cross whatever fucking line I want and you can't fucking stop me!" He shouted.

Vivian couldn't help but flinch as she saw his arms wave around. Tilting her head back, she shut her eyes tight.

"You..." Ace started to slur but he couldn't finish his sentence.

Vivian opened her eyes slowly as she saw him staring down at her.

"I weren't gonna hit you.." Ace mumbled as his eyes drunkenly scanned her face, no matter how much alcohol he had in his system he could still see the fear in her eyes.

Ace stumbled back slightly as he looked down at his hands, turning them over constantly.

"I'm my fucking dad..." he mumbled as Vivian realised his story.

"Vivvy..." her name was whispered as he looked up at her, just about managing to stay on his feet.

Vivian couldn't herself but shake her head and step back as he stepped closer to her.

"You were fucking right earlier!" Ace snapped again but it seemed like his anger was directed at himself, rather than her.

"The baby needs a fucking dad!" He shouted again as Vivian mentally pleaded at him to keep quiet.

It was too late.

She heard the faint sound of John beginning to cry in her room.

Ace stumbled backwards as he ran his hands through his hair, gently tugging at it.

"Not me..." he mumbled. "Not me, not me, not me..." he continued to mumble as he pushed himself backwards.

Vivian watched as he stumbled into his room, slamming the door behind him just as she took a step closer to him.

She stopped as she turned and went back into her own room.

Scooping up the now crying John, she tried her hardest to get him to settle.

It took what felt like an eternity but she finally managed to lay him gently half on one of the pillows as she sat curled up next to him.

He had finally fallen asleep again as she softly stroked his cheeks and over his hair.

"I'm sorry about that baby." She whispered as she leant down. "We'll leave Ace tomorrow, get us that fresh start yeah?"

Planting a soft kiss on his head she sat up straight, her bedroom door was being opened.

Vivian tensed up as she moved herself so she was hovering over her infant.

Knowing how much alcohol Ace had drunk and having seen what he was capable of, her maternal instinct had kicked in.

He wasn't going to touch John.

She watched as a half naked Ace stumbled in before crashing down at the end of her bed. He was laying over the whole end like a dog as Vivian's eyes were fixed on him, like a lioness watching a hyena stalking her young.

She watched as his hand outstretched towards her and the baby, she couldn't help the small growl that came from her as she scooped John up in her arms and held him close to her chest.

Ace's hand flopped down on the bed as she soon heard him snoring. Keeping John close to her chest, she slowly stretched her own hand out.

Ace stirred as she gently touched his fingers with hers. He tried gripping them tight but Vivian pulled away.

Getting off the bed she pulled the blanket with her as she silently left the room and went downstairs.