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The key twisted and everything zoomed past him in blurs. He was being pushed from behind by something beyond him. As the pressure increased, he reached for Hannah to ensure she would not be lost to him in the shuffle. With a last look to her, he returned his stare ahead waiting for all of it to just stop.
And, it did.
It stopped suddenly as if it were mere seconds of wind and then nothing. No blurs. No push. No pressure. Just nothing. Squeezing Hannah’s hand tighter than he should, his breath hitched as he waited to see if it worked. Did Nancy notice? Did Nancy care? Or, was the window completely closed now and Agent Park took up her mind to degrees unheard of?
All his thoughts raced one after the other anticipating something worse than seeing Hannah’s worried face so much like his mother’s. She explained to him the dangers Temperance imposed in her attempt to reunite with the dead. Temperance was not to be trusted. Hannah urged him to find a solution soon. If they could not get out by the end of the Winter Solstice, her magic would be too strong for amateurs like them to do any damage, to stop her from resurrecting her daughter completely and accessing the power under Horseshoe Bay.
Her words still stung, “We need to find a way out soon. We are running out of time. If the Long Night Ball is coming, we might not be able to save Nancy.”
Save Nancy. That was the goal. It was always the goal. Save Nancy from ghosts. Save Nancy from magic. Save Nancy from the Hudsons, from the Road Back, from Temperance. Save Nancy from herself.
So, they got to work. They spent the agonizingly slow universe they found themselves in and attempted to communicate with the other side. They used the radio. They banged doors and moved objects. They kept knocking each night. He even used his method of washing the dishes as a way to show them, show Nancy, he was still here.
Nothing worked until the voice recorder on Ryan’s phone picked him up and sent a text to Nancy. Nancy, then, flew into action leaving a trail of evidence behind her. She was not quiet or nice. She was downright mean as she attempted to bring them back.
With a simple twist of a key, she pulled them out of their pocket and hopefully into their reality. Too afraid to truly see, he kept his head forward and Hannah close.
Then her voice rang out, “ACE!”
He did not have time to react as she catapulted into him with arms circling around his torso almost cutting into him. Her face tucked itself into his shoulder. Finally letting go of Hannah, he brought his own arms around her and placed his nose into her hair. Breathing her in, he allowed himself to think he was home. They stood there in an embrace longer than they should have but not a soul interrupted. In all the universes and chaos, even hauntings knew when to let the living have their moment of peace and celebration.
They held each other as the rest of everything melted with the snowy stars.
Stray red hairs on his lips, Ace said, “It’s really good to see you. I wasn’t sure if you got it. If you would even notice...”
Gripping him even tighter, Nancy snuggled herself into him as if she wanted to sneak into his skin, “Of course I would notice. Why wouldn’t I notice?”
“Because I left you waiting. I was late and I left you waiting.”
A soft laugh tickled him, “You didn’t mean to. You literally got trapped in another dimension.”
“That’s not the point, Nancy.”
Giggles caught in her throat, Nancy could not help but argue with him, “Isn’t though? You wanted to be there or you wouldn’t have texted to meet with me. I know that. And yeah, part of me doubted it just for a second, but the moment we got your message. It made so much sense. You are one of the most dependable people I know. You wouldn’t just leave. Not like that. Not without saying something.” She paused to look at him. “As long as there are dirty dishes, right? You’ll be there as long as they are dirty dishes to clean.”
Breathe hitched, Ace croaked, “Yeah, yeah that’s right.”
With a wet laugh, Nancy smiled, “And there’s always dirty dishes even at The Claw, so you’ll always be there. Always. No matter what, so that is the point. You literally got pulled away from us by a force we didn’t see coming. That’s the point, Ace. You didn’t choose to go. You didn’t mean to be late or to disappear. You were trying to help me, and I am so sorry that...”
Pulling back, Ace cradled Nancy’s face before looking straight into her eyes, “Don’t. It wasn’t your fault. So, don’t apologize for it. You somehow still figured it all out and got both Hannah and me back, so you don’t get to carry this like it was your fault.” Nancy nodded freeing Ace to say, “And, you’re right. I didn’t mean to be late and I know it may not matter anymore with Park and whatever, but damn it, Nancy, I meant to tell you something important and I am tired of the supernatural getting in the way of it all.”
A phone buzzed just at that moment interrupting them one more time.
Looking down, Nancy read and replied, “It’s Bess. She wants to know if it worked. It seems like they are having some trouble on their end.”
Hannah stepped forward and said, “We don’t have much time. Nancy, where’s Ryan? Temperance needs one or both of you for a ritual and if the Women in White were right, it will not be a good thing.”
Face falling, Nancy glanced at Hannah, “Temperance isn’t hurting anyone for a while. Bess kind of kicked her ass by stealing some important artifacts and George called her mom for some help on how we can get spirit guides to move things along for us. It was a small magic ritual thing that just barely went right but we managed.”
Hannah scurried her way to her desk, “I know you think you’ve managed it, and the fact that you brought Ace and I back is impressive but Nancy, it is complicated magic here that doesn’t even take into account the years of experience and planning Temperance has on all of you, all of us. She means to use you to bring back Charity completely and finish what they started a century ago.”
Framing Nancy’s body with his, Ace injected, “Nothing is going to happen to Nancy because she won’t get close. I’ll get Nick to make our own cage for her if I have to. Plus nothing is scarier than George with her crowbar.”
Hannah grabbed some books and items off her shelves and hurried past them, “As much as I admire your determination Ace, I would feel so much better with Nancy and Ryan under one roof where I can keep an eye on them. Maybe use some protection incantation around the Drew residency to keep Temperance away.”
Pointing her finger, Nancy added, “Like what the Women in White did around Horseshoe Bay?”
Pulling the door open, Hannah smiled, “Yes but on a much smaller scale. Bess and I can handle it I suppose. It would be better if we had one more person to help but the two of us will do.”
Pulling away, Nancy said, “Well then, let’s go.”
Seeing Hannah walk right out, Nancy began to move her way toward the door, but before she got more than a foot or two closer, Ace grabbed her hand. She stilled as everything in her tingled at the contact. As she twisted herself to face him, Nancy reminded herself to breathe. Mere inches away from each other, every exhale from his lips caressed her cheeks. Neither one of them knew how intimate sharing oxygen could be. The familiar feeling of the world freezing around them as all of his insides boiled to the surface because his heartbeat so fast welcomed him home in this very instance.
Seconds passed of them just memorizing every dazzling detail of the other until Ace mustered enough courage to open his mouth and say, “Nancy, please tell me I am not too late for this. That your stupid witch of an ancestor didn’t make me too late for this. Bess said our window was closing and I know I’ve been so...look, I’ve never met anyone like you before. Someone who makes me feel like I am everything and nothing all at the same time. Someone who sees the very best of me when I think there couldn’t possibly be anything worth looking at. You make me better and you make me want to be better. And I know you deserve someone that is already better and not some messed-up guy still trying to figure it all out. But...but I am here, Nancy. I will always be here no matter what.”
Barely a whisper, Nancy breathed, “Ace...”
Hands in the air itching to touch every inch of her, to have his fingers learn all the bits and pieces that make her skin, Ace licked her lips and a desperate little laugh escaped, “As long as there are dirty dishes, I promise I’ll be there. So, please, please, tell me I’m not too late. Tell me I didn’t accidentally slam the window closed because I turned a damn key.”
With unsure and delicate fingers, Nancy brushed his chest before firmly gripping a handful of his soft sweater with a smile dancing on her face, “No, Ace. I think you’re just on time.” And, with a heave, they collided.
The gentle kiss they both envisioned in moments of fantasy fell away to make room for the rough declaration of passion, a wonderful promise of a future they both feared would never come to be. It eclipsed anything of their imagination.
It was everything.
As they pulled away, they shared a deep stare pinning a conversation they would have by the beginning of tomorrow. Dawn never seemed so marvelous.
Quiet and rather out of air, Ace murmured, “I think...um...I think we need to go.”
Smiling, Nancy nodded in agreement, “Yeah, everyone’s waiting and Temperance won’t just stop because Bess was a step ahead this time. We need to, uh, we need to go.”
Happiness graced Nancy’s face almost as beautifully as awe painted Ace’s expression while they walked out of The Historical Society hand in hand.
Hannah, hanging up the phone, said, “We will meet everyone at the Drew House. Ryan and Carson are there with George and Bess. Apparently, Nick went to find Addy. Who’s Addy?”
Squeezing into Florence, Nancy filled them both in, “Addy works at the youth center. She’s been really helpful with the ritual to bring you back. Her tribe has a history with magic and some folklore surrounding the dimension you were both in. Bess thinks she might be the key to bringing down Temperance since the Women in White didn’t really practice Indigenous magic.” Peeking at Ace with a bright smile, she carried on, “I think you’ll like her, Hannah.”
They drove in relative silence as Hannah simply scanned her books while Nancy and Ace glanced at one another. Once they arrived, Hannah wasted no time and hurried her way into the house leaving Nancy to amble her way to the door. She turned to look at Ace.
She asked, “Did you come to knock?”
Ace stepped up to her and nodded, “Yeah, it was the first thing I did when I saw you come into The Historical Society looking for me. I came straight here to explain and found Hannah instead. You opened the door and couldn’t see us.”
Grabbing a hold of his hand, she tugged him down to graze her lips against his own, barely kissing him but it was enough to tell him everything he needed to know. She stepped back just enough for her to mutter, “I am sorry, Ace. For doubting even for a second, that you would...I got distracted and I won’t get distracted anymore.”
A goofy grin lurked on his face and he said, “Except for right now because we still have a 200-year-old witch, her daughter, and that daughter’s killer of a husband running wild so...”
Bursting with a laugh, she pulled him into her home, hand still in his, “Yes, except for now.”
They entered the kitchen, hands intertwined, and greeted everyone.
Bess jerked and yelped, “FINALLY!” She pumped her hands and searched for George, “Did I not tell you this would be it! Pay up, everyone!”
Taking his wallet out, Carson mumbled, “They couldn’t wait like a week.”
Eyes popping out, Ace exclaimed, “Mr. D!” just as Nancy fumed, “DAD!” Neither of them let go of the other despite the humiliation burning on their necks and a blush dusting their cheeks.
Everyone but Hannah gathered around Bess giving her $5 bills each with a look of exasperation except Ryan whose smirk appeared to be one of victory. He snuck glances at Bess and before they knew it she handed him half of the earnings with a high five.
Ryan shrugged his shoulders as he met Nancy’s unimpressed face, “What? Look, both of you might be smarter than me, but I’m not an idiot. You both were the last to know. The rest of us were just waiting for you to catch up.”
Finally releasing Ace’s hand, Nancy huffed, “Okay, we have urgent business that in no way, shape, or form has anything to do with my, our love life,” pointing to Ace. “Can we get back to the possible terrible thing Temperance could be working on?”
So, they did. They brainstormed and assigned tasks. With Hannah and her extensive knowledge back combined with Addy’s newfound supernatural understanding, they created a solid plan of attack against Temperance and Charity.
Ace and Carson were tasked to stay behind to keep an eye on Nancy and Ryan as they helped Hannah research her scrolls and books. Bess, Addy, and George were to search for items and totems to help with the ritual while Nick was to fill in Agent Park and help him with police resources.
As everyone headed out to complete everything, Nancy found herself in her room. Overwhelmed with everything that could possibly go wrong, she needed a place she could clear her mind. Remembering what Agent Park said, she attempted to relax.
Not too long after, Ace popped his head in, “Hey, you okay?”
Walking toward the other side of the room, she wanted to reassure him, “Yeah, it’s just...so much could go wrong if I don’t get this right.”
Taking his cue, Ace made his way to her, “Hey, nothing is going to happen to you. I’ll make sure of that. We will all make sure it goes right. Hannah and your dad are looking over stuff right now and Ryan is almost as good as you at finding patterns. Trust me, I know. And, the rest of it, we got it.”
She nodded as she placed her hands on his chest, a tiny giggle coming out.
Ace smiled, “What?”
Swallowing her heartbeats, she looked up at him, “You remember when I told you about my dream with the Sandman and I told you it was about not following my instincts.”
“Yeah...”
“I lied. Well, sort of. It was about that but it was also about you. It was a lot like this moment actually but there was kissing involved and touching.”
Ace placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her, quick and light. Before he could pull back, Nancy reached for his neck and kept him there just for a moment longer. Both were breathless and smiling when they pulled apart.
Ace whispered, “Did it go like that in your dream, or do I have to step up my game?”
Taking in his swollen lips before daring to look him in the eyes, Nancy beamed, “Ace, this is so much better because it’s real. It’s without a doubt, absolutely real. What could possibly be better than that?”
“You’re right. Absolutely nothing is better than that.”
They intertwined their fingers and headed for the stairs. Voices of worry and even some excitement met them as they huddled around the kitchen table. Papers were scattered everywhere and human beings scrambled around looking for answers.
Ace squeezed Nancy’s hands and she glanced down. Ace grounded her, eased her in a way no amount of meditation or quiet would. The sense of being in the unknown felt natural with him around, nothing daunting about it because she knew wholeheartedly the mysteries before them would be solved if Ace was on her team.
Kissing his cheek, Nancy said, “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“You don’t know what you do for me. I’m better because of you. You help me think and work things out and thanks.”
Another smile passed between them before they joined the rest of them in their search for more information, Ace on his computer and Nancy with her notebook. All five of them shared theories and possibilities. They challenged each other and solved puzzles and riddles.
In all the conversation and the back and forth, Nancy not once feared they would not win in the end. She caught Ace’s eyes and saw his small grin before they lowered their heads back to work. There was more to lose now. There was more to fight for.
Temperance could have all of Horseshoe Bay if she wanted but as much as Nancy loathed it, she was as much a Hudson as her ancestor was. Hudsons fought tooth and nail for what they wanted. She wanted her future with Ace more than anything.
She wanted to have a real, concrete chance at the happiness she thought she would never have. She wanted the fights and the glares as much as she wanted the touches and the smiles. She wanted every single piece Ace was willing to give her. She wanted it all.
And she wanted to share that with her dads and her friends.
If Temperance started a war with her, there was no guarantee what kind of havoc would ensue. Nancy was never much of a soldier, but she knew how to fight and fight the dirtiest way possible.
A phone call later, they all found themselves in the woods near Icarus Hall. Ace, never far behind her, stood as tall as she had ever seen him. Protective of her, now more than ever, he was sturdy and strong. Solid in a way he had never been before.
Bess and Addy readied the ground as Hannah and George herded everyone in a circle around Nancy and Ryan.
Checking in with her one last time, Ace touched Nancy’s upper arm, “You sure about this?”
Nodding, she reassured him, “Yes, I trust all of you with my life.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t. The last time we did something like this, Temperance came back.”
Cradling his face, she retorted, “True but you also saved my life and that has to count for something. Doesn’t it? Besides, there’s no way in hell I’m letting her anywhere near you ever again and if I have to do this ritual and another 100, I will.”
A smirk appeared on his face, “Near me again, huh?”
Blushing, she rose to meet his challenge, “Well all of you, but...yeah, you. Is that okay?”
Ignoring all the stares as everyone waited for them, Ace chuckled, “Nancy, I think I may be halfway in love with you already. Of course, it’s okay.”
She replied, “Good,” before she rolled onto her tiptoes to give him a peck on the lips. “Let’s get started then.”
And, they did. It was the start of a much-needed ending and a much-wanted beginning.