Sweet Dreams - Ace Merrill

You're welcome

The four children soon made their way back to their home turf as Chris found himself growing slightly attached to the child. He enjoyed the feeling of someone having no clue who he was so they couldn't judge him for being the lowlife Chambers kid.

"Where we taking this thing?" Teddy mumbled as he nodded down at the baby.

"I can't be the only one that thinks my brother and the others aren't the bad ones in this scenario right?" Chris questioned as he glanced around at the others.

None spoke a word as their shared glances seemed to say enough.

"You think we should go find Eyeball?" Vern mumbled, hardly thrilled about the idea of running towards the cobras instead of away from them for once.

Chris looked down at the baby in his arms as he felt himself nod slowly. Looking up at the rest.

"Remember my brother even said that girl was Ace's new priority. Surely the kid will be too?"

Gordie looked down at the baby before back up at Chris.

"He'd hardly hurt us if we brought him her baby right?" He questioned.

Yet again, a silent conversation was spoken between the four younger boys.

Not a word or head signal was given as they began walking down the street once more. Chris hung back with the baby still in his arms, Teddy walked directly in front of him as Gordie and Vern were at Chris's side.

Though they believed Ace wouldn't hurt the baby, they wanted to be sure.

Vern gulped as they approached Ace's house.

"Teddy." Chris mumbled as Teddy nodded slowly.

Though he tried to put on the big tough guy act, as he slowly walked towards the front door, he gulped himself.

He felt his palms sweating as he reached up and knocked on the door.

Instantly taking a few steps back, he glanced over at his friends. They gave him the comfort and confidence as he turned back to the door, just as it opened.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Teddy didn't recognise this guy, yet he saw the faint marking of a recently added cobra tattoo on his arm.

"We need to see Ace." Teddy mumbled out, as though the very words terrified him.

The guy eyed him up and down as he looked behind Teddy. His mouth fell open as he saw the infant in Chris's hood.

"John!" The name flew out of his mouth as he pushed Teddy aside and raced over.

Chris eagerly handed him over as they watched the latest cobra fawn over the infant.

Eyeball appeared in the doorway, hearing the shouted name. His face matched the same as he, too, pushed Teddy aside to race out to the baby.

"Where the fuck is Vivian?!" He snapped down at his younger brother.

Chris stepped back slightly as Gordie held onto his arm.

"She was with some guy in the View." Chris mumbled.

They saw Eyeball and the new cobra exchange a glance as the younger boys saw a small flash of fear.

"Eyeball, he-" Chris started again but was stopped by his brother shaking his head.

"We know." He snapped as he rushed back into the house, shouting for Ace.

Gordie turned to the new cobra as he saw him almost checking over the baby.

"Thank you." He mumbled as he held the unharmed baby to his chest and looked down at the younger boys.

They nodded slowly as they saw Eyeball practically dragging Ace out the house by his shirt.

Ace looked like he'd just been dragged through hell backwards and survived a round with the Devil himself as he allowed Eyeball to shove him in the passenger side of his car.

Eyeball hopped in the drivers side as he shared a glance and a nod with the new cobra and drove off, speeding down the road.

Chris turned to the guy holding the baby.

"You're welcome." He mumbled.

He watched as the cobra stuck his hand out to the young boy.

"Alex. Vivian's my sister. John's my nephew." He mumbled as he nodded down at the baby.

Chris stuck his hand out and shook his as he glanced down at the baby.

"Is it Ace's baby?" Vern asked as he clicked on the fact that the baby and Ace shared a name.

Alex shook his head and laugh slightly, letting Chris's hand go.

"I hope she's okay." Gordie mumbled as Teddy joined them and the four gave Alex one final nod before leaving themselves.

Alex rushing John inside as he shut the door and began to attempt to find some food for the infant.

"I can't.." Ace mumbled as he leant his head against the window.

"You fucking can!" Eyeball snapped in retaliation as he pushed his foot down harder on the pedal. "You fucking can and you fucking have to!"

"She went back to him!" Ace snapped.

"I'm sure she had a reason!" Eyeball bit back, he wasn't about to let Ace back down. "Now you're gonna punch me for this but it's gotta be said."

Ace turned to glare at him. Eyeball shrugged slightly as he felt the intensity of his glare, yet refused to take his eyes off the road.

"Whatever happened with Vivian, you need to fix. And this is how you fix it. You save her and help her sort this shit out." Eyeball snapped again. "And deep down, however deep it may be, you know why you have to." He spoke softer than before.

"I can't..." Ace mumbled again as he looked down at his lap. "I don't even remember what I did." He grumbled as he leant forward and ran his fingers through his hair.

Eyeball shook his head. "What you did doesn't matter now. It's what you do now that does."

Ace turned to glance up at him. "Since when did you become deep?"

Eyeball shrugged as he managed a small glance down at Ace before focusing on the road.

"Since I saw the way she looks at you."

"She fucking hates me!" Ace snapped as he sat up straight.

Eyeball shook his head slowly. "She may hate you, but there's a stronger feeling there."

"What the fuck is stronger than hate?!" Ace snapped.

"The same feeling you have." Eyeball snapped as he pulled the car up, quickly switching the engine off and turning to Ace.

"Whether either of you want to admit it, it's there. Now are you gonna do something about it or not?!" Eyeball growled out at him.

"I feel like fucking shit Eyeball." Ace spat out weakly, his strength gone in a breathe.

"Imagine how she feels." Eyeball mumbled as he turned and got the car.