Ace sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry....I just thought....I'll go." Ace said turning and heading back to his party. He really had thought that Espio would be alright with it..but obviously he wasn't. Maybe it was still too soon.

He sighed...standing just outside the courtyard...between the party and Espio..at a crossroads of sorts. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out before smiling. Moving forward...live without regrets and never look back. Taking one step, then another Ace returned to his party and chose to forget for the moment. After all...one couldn't force the heart to move on. He would give Espio more time. Or maybe...maybe someone else would catch his eye.