The Redemption of Ace Merrill

Hero

Stella happily ate the rest of her brunch as she had to physically force herself not to look over at Ace.

"Well, now we know aye?" Her dad said, forcing a smile but the tension was still clear.

Stella nodded slowly.

"So what else did you get up to with those guys?" Her dad asked, truly trying to take an interest.

"They taught me how to play pool, there's a bar just down the road."

Her dad smiled calmly. "Maybe we'll have to have a game or two when we get home."

She smiled warmly at him as she nodded. "Definitely."

"Didn't think pool was your thing." Jordan grumbled, not exactly keen on hearing about his fiancée had spent so long with a bunch of guys.

She shrugged slightly. "I didn't either but Eyeball taught me pretty well and I kinda liked it."

"Anything else then?" He pushed.

Stella shrugged slightly. "Ace used to read to me a lot..." She mumbled as she slowly looked over at him.

But he was too involved in a conversation with Eyeball, Billy and Charlie.

"Read what?"

She shrugged slightly. "Just a story." She mumbled as she put her cutlery down and pushed her plate away. "I'm done. Can I go now?" She asked her dad as she quickly stood up.

He seemed slightly shaken as he looked around. "Yes well of course. Don't you want to come to the station?"

Stella shook her head.

"I'll walk you back to the B&B then." Jordan said as he also stood.

Stella shook her head again. "No no it's okay, Hugo can walk me back, right buddy old pal?" She asked one of the bodyguards near her dad.

He kept a straight face as he just stared straight ahead.

"Such a lil chatterbox this guy." She mumbled sarcastically as she looked down at her dad.

"Well if you're sure Oceane." He said, though he wanted her with him, he didn't want to swamp and suffocate her.

She nodded quickly as she walked up to Hugo. "You so missed me." She said with a small smirk.

Hugo looked down at her as he kept his straight face. "I'm glad you're back ma'am."

"Knew it." She gave him a bigger smile as she began to walk out the diner.

Yet her eyes stayed glued to Ace as she slowly passed him. It took everything and extra to not reach out for him.

*****

Stella wandered around her B&B room. Knowing Hugo was just outside if she needed anything.

Walking around she looked at the various items that had been used for decoration. Yet it was a large candle that caught her attention.

Picking it up she walked over to the windowsill, ready for later.

*****

The evening soon came quicker than she expected. She chose not to leave her room and just spent the time laying on the bed, her mind clouded with thoughts of Ace.

She'd sorted out her bags and found some extra items from the guys. Eyeball had shoved in one of Ace's shirts with a little note attached that said 'you're welcome'. Billy had given her his lucky zippo lighter.

Her dad had came and said goodnight to her, explaining they were planning to leave the day after tomorrow as he had work to attend to back home.

She slowly walked over to the window and placed the candle right in the middle of the sill.

She used Billy's lighter to light it as she gently pulled Ace's shirt tighter around her. Slowly she brought one of the room chairs over and sat down. Resting her chin on her arms, laid on the window sill she let her eyes focus on the small flame.

Her mind still full of nothing but Ace as a weak smile came to her face.

"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..." She whispered as her eyes focused on the flame as it danced about.

Shutting her eyes tightly she prayed to see him once more, just once before she went.

*****

"Ace..." Eyeball mumbled, reaching out and tugging on Ace's shirt. as the pair walked along the street.

Ace grumbled in a response as he shook Eyeball off. He had barely spoken since his outburst at the diner.

"Ace..." Eyeball said a little more urgently, reaching out to tug at Ace's shirt again.

"What?!" Ace snapped as he spun around to face him.

But Eyeball didn't answer. He just stared up. Ace looked at him blankly before spinning and looking up.

A single candle was burning in the window as he saw a sleeping Stella by it's side.

"Hero..." Ace whispered out.

He couldn't fight it anymore. Just as he took a couple of steps closer Eyeball quickly grabbed his shirt and yanked him back.

Ace snarled at him, struggling before looking back up at the window. Jordan bent down and blew the candle out as he gently scooped Stella up in his arms and moved out of view.

Ace stopped struggling.

"Hero..." He whispered again, only this time, instead of it sounding hopeful. It was a broken one.