Remember When - Ace Merrill (BOOK 3)

The same story

Connie and Billy left to go see her parents and his.

The cobras all left for their own homes. Even Eyeball wanted to go find Chris.

The other agents were all dismissed to go check into the B&B and get some well deserved rest.

Ace and Oceane finally flopped on the sofa as the kids surrounded them.

"Daddy what's this?" Hero asked as she held up an old looking book.

"Holy shit that's still here?!" Ace exclaimed as he scooped her up and sat her down on his lap.

Oceane reached out and smacked him as AJ and Salvatore giggled, hearing their dad swear and then seeing him get a smack always made them laugh.

"Wait, is that-?" Oceane asked in disbelief as she saw what Hero was holding.

Ace nodded as Hero offered it to her. Oceane reached out and took it. The familiar old words on the book cover stared up at her.

Greek mythology and tales

A smile came to Oceane's face. She slowly opened the book up at the bookmarked page and looked up at Ace. He was smiling back at her.

"Can you read it?" AJ asked as he reached out and moved her arm so he could climb up in between his parents.

"Please?" Salvatore quickly added as he, too, copied his brother and climbed up onto his mum's lap.

"You're learning to read, you read it." Oceane said as she handed the book to AJ.

"This books hard." He groaned out as he looked down at all the words.

Ace shook his head. "No this books perfect for learning to read."

Him and Oceane both smiled at each other as AJ attempted to start trying to read.

The memory of when Ace had been trying to reteach Oceane how to read flashed through their minds.

The same sofa.

The same book.

The same story.

Now here they were, sat on the same sofa, with the same book, reading the same story.

Only this time, they were teaching their son to read.

Hero snuggled into Ace's chest as she gripped his shirt tight. Salvatore wrapped an arm over Oceane's stomach as he pressed his head into her neck.

AJ sat happily in the middle, his legs draped over both of them as he attempted to read the story that had unknowingly brought his parents together.

The story of Hero and Leander.

*****

"So that's why she's called Hero?" Salvatore asked as he pointed to his sister, who had fallen asleep curled up on Ace's lap.

Ace nodded down at him.

"So how come we're not Leander?" AJ asked as he looked up at his dad.

Ace shrugged slightly. "You got the name Austin because your uncle Austin risked his life to protect your mum." He nodded at the asleep Oceane, that story always worked on her.

"Then I'm John because of you?" AJ asked you at him.

Ace nodded slowly.

"And I'm after Uncle Happy and Uncle Dick?" Salvatore asked.

Ace quickly clamped a hand over his mouth as he tried not to laugh and remain serious.

"Salvatore, where the hell did you hear that?" He coughed out, trying his best not to laugh.

"Uncle Billy and Uncle Charlie."

Ace nodded slowly. "Course you did." He mumbled. "Maybe just stick to Uncle Eyeball?"

Salvatore nodded slowly as he yawned, leaning back down on his mum.

"Come on you two. Bedtime." Ace mumbled as he carefully clung Hero to his chest and managed to push himself off the sofa.

AJ and Salvatore both groaned as they heaved themselves up.

"Do we have to?" AJ yawned out.

Ace nodded slowly as he walked the boys upstairs to his old room.

As per their request to the company, who looked after the house. A cot had been placed in their room.

Ace gently placed Hero inside as he tucked her in. Turning he saw AJ and Salvatore already smacking each other with the pillows from his bed.

"Oh I give up." Ace mumbled as he walked to the door. "You wake your sister up, you're dead meat." He snapped at both boys.

They nodded slowly as they stared at him before Salvatore quickly brought his pillow up to AJ's face again.

Ace sighed as he ran a hand down his face, walking out the room.

He sighed again as he walked back into the living room. Grabbing the blanket from the back of the sofa he gently placed it over Oceane as he walked into the kitchen to grab a drink.

Yawning himself he chugged the glass of water before walking back into the living room.

He tried not to crash down on the sofa but ended up waking up Oceane as she split her legs for him.

He got comfortable half laying on her as his head rested on her chest. Her leg draped over him as her arms wrapped over his chest.

Her fingers gently slipped into his hair as he grumbled against her.

"Never did I imagine I'd be too tired for sex." He mumbled.

Oceane laughed under him. "Shame I'm not."

Ace's head instantly lifted up as she smacked his face gently.

"I'm kidding, now go to sleep." She laughed as his head flopped back down on her again, ignoring his grumbles.

*****

"It is clear to see the rehab you have undertaken has worked Mr Taylor."

Robin nodded slowly as he looked across the board of judges.

"I just want to right my wrongs." He pleaded.

The main judge scribbled something down. "Then due to good behaviour and outstanding response to the rehabilitation course, early payroll is granted."

The gavel was banged and Robin Taylor was finally free.

*****

He walked along the busy street as he stopped at a newsstand.

Picking up a newspaper he flicked through a few pages as the small article on page 5 caught his interest.

The engagement of nanny Connie Palomino and security detail Billy Tessio comes two years after the wedding of John and Oceane Merrill, daughter of the Sergeant Major of the US Army.

The pair met after Oceane was in a car accident and John came to her aid. Now married, they share Austin John Merrill, 7 years, Salvatore Richard Merrill, 6 years, and Hero Talia Merrill, 3 years.

Robin grumbled as he scrunched the paper up in his hands.

"Hey! You gotta pay for that you know?!" The man running the newsstand snapped at him.

Robin nodded and turned to him. "Oh they'll pay alright." He snapped as he chucked the paper down and stormed off down the street.