The Redemption of Ace Merrill

It stayed shut.

"You hungry?" Ace asked quietly as he put the book down.

Stella shrugged slightly as she kept her head on his stomach.

"You want a bath or something?" He asked again.

Stella shrugged again against him.

"You wanna watch me slap Charlie?"

Stella laughed slightly. "That does sound appealing."

Ace laughed slightly as he nodded. "I'd do it."

"I'd watch." She laughed against him.

Her arm was draped over his lap as her fingers gently fiddled with his top.

"Dad will be coming to get me soon I imagine." She mumbled as she shut her eyes and listened the sound of his heart beating.

"Yeah I bet he'll be super happy to have you back." Ace tried to sound enthusiastic.

"Ace..."

"Yeah Stell?"

"Can I tell you a secret?" She whispered.

Ace nodded slightly, even though she wasn't looking at him. "What is it?"

"I still don't remember them..." She whispered again. "I don't remember my dad or my supposed fiancée."

"I thought-"

Stella shook her head. "I asked you if it would make a difference. Never actually said I remembered."

"Well I-" Ace stopped. "I'm sure it will come back when you see them again."

"You think so?"

Ace placed an arm on her back and gently squeezed her closer to him.

"Course Stell, you'll be one happy family again in no time."

"Ace..."

He smiled slightly. "Yeah Stell?"

"Can you cook dinner again?"

Ace was silent as she lifted up her head again, smiling sweetly at him.

"Don't want much do you?" He laughed sarcastically.

Stella shrugged slightly as a smirk came to her face. "Consider it an order from the daughter of-"

"Yeah yeah I get it, you're dads insanely fucking powerful." He grumbled as she laughed, still resting her chin on his chest.

"Please?" She pouted at him.

Ace sighed before nodding. "Fine."

Stella beamed at him as she sat up. Climbing over him she stood up and offered him her hand.

He reached his up and connected their hands as he heaved himself up. They began walking downstairs as they heard faint talking from the kitchen.

"The officers came back..." Eyeball mumbled as they saw Ace and Stella walk in.

Their hands had slipped apart but Stella was still clinging onto this index finger with her whole hand.

"Your dad and fiancée are coming to pick you up tomorrow. We gotta take you to the station in the morning." He said solemnly as even he hated the idea of her leaving, he'd grown accustomed to having her around.

"This fucking sucks!" Billy snapped as he kicked out the chair Charlie was sitting on, earning him a glare.

"Can't we make him change his mind?" Fuzzy asked as he looked around at them.

"You wanna go up against one of the most powerful men in the country with the entire fucking army behind him?!" Ace snapped down at him.

Stella sighed as she walked over to where Eyeball was leaning against the counter. She wrapped her arms around his waist as she buried her head into his neck.

Eyeball's arms wrapped around as he felt her softly begin to shake in his arms. She was crying. He squeezed her tight as he looked over her shoulder at the others.

They all had the same glum look on their faces as he saw Ace looked the worst. The pair shared a look as Eyeball knew exactly what Ace was thinking, he always knew.

"Come on guys." Eyeball mumbled as he gently pulled back from the hug. "Let's go get smashed, leave Artois to get an early night."

He gently brushed away the tears as he kissed her cheek. Nodding at the others, they all slowly began to leave, giving one final glance over at Stella, who refused to face them as she frantically wiped her face.

"We'll come back in the morning." Eyeball mumbled as he patted Ace's shoulder.

Ace nodded as they left. His eyes fell back on her.

"What you hungry for then aye?" He asked, trying to sound enthusiastic but feeling anything but.

Stella shrugged as she turned slightly. "You did make a good burger..."

*****

"Just the way you like it." Ace said with a small smile as he handed her the plate and sat next to her.

"What's this?" She asked as she picked up the tiny pot of sauce on her plate.

"Oh, I saw how you get funny when it's on the plate and food accidentally touches it so I put it in a pot." Ace mumbled as he shrugged the question off, digging in to his.

Stella looked down at the little pot of sauce and smiled.

"Thanks Ace."

He shrugged her comment off again as he continued eating. Stella couldn't help but smile softly at him as she began eating herself.

*****

"Come on you can't seriously want to hear it again!" He groaned out as Stella shoved him.

"Well I do!" She moaned as she grabbed the the book from the side and brought it swinging around into his chest.

"Please Ace!" She begged again.

Ace groaned out again. "Stell! We've read it fucking loads already! Pick any other fucking story!"

Stella sat back and glared at him, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Don't fucking look at me like that." He snapped as she remained glaring at him.

"No." He snapped again.

"Not fucking happening Stella."

*****

"Leander swam to the surface and was soon on shore. The candle Hero had lit in her window to guide him remained burning. A sign of her unwavering, unfaltering love for him. Letting them be forever reunited..."

Ace slowly shut the book as he looked down and saw Stella had fallen asleep, half on him.

He put the book down as he gently held her head, while he stood up.

He slowly lowered her head so it rested on the arm of the sofa as he grabbed the blanket, loosely draping it over her. His fingers brushed a hair from her face as he crouched down to her.

"Night Stell." He whispered, before slowly leaning closer and letting his lips softly kiss her forehead.

*****

Ace lay in his bed, staring up at the dark ceiling in silence. He turned his head to the side Stella had slept in but instead of seeing her asleep, he saw nothing.

Raising his hand he saw the moonlight dimly light up his fingers.

Slowly he lowered his thumb.

He lowered another finger.

And another.

And another.

Just as he lowered his last finger he turned his head to his bedroom door.

Except this time it stayed shut.