It was December as the gang headed for Max and Mays house "so we're going to drop by and we'll met you over at your house next week for the party?" asked May "that would be correct" responded Ash as they came upon Petalburg City.
People seemed to be in a good mood for the holidays as everyone was walking through the decorated area of residence, they soon arrived at their destination being ushered in for fear that they may catch a cold "come in and sit I'll have some hot chocolate ready in a few minutes" said Caroline.
"Thanks" said the group of four as they sat down around the dining room table. "so let me get this straight, we're to come to your house on the twentieth for a Christmas party with all of your friends?" said Norman who no one had noticed entered the room and sat down.
"That's the plan" said Ash, "well having that big of a party seems like it would take allot of planing" said Caroline as she handed out mugs of hot chocolate warming everyone from the cold weather outside.
"You wouldn't believe, sometimes I think that woman is a machine" said Brock "yeah my mom is pretty good at stuff like that" said Ash as they all begun talking about their adventures around the Hoenn region.
That night they stayed at their house as Brock and Ash were to depart the next day, they all rose early to see them off when May came up to Ash while he was in living room sitting on the couch by himself.
"Hey Ash, you know being trapped here with the brat might get kind of agitating so I was just wondering if I could go with you and Brock on your way back to your house, I mean we'll all end up there eventually but you don't mind do you?" she asked
"of course not, heck you'll probably be able to keep Brock off the girls better than me and my crowbar will anyways" he said jokingly both of them laughing at the thought of Ash trying to use a crowbar to split Brock from a girl.
May told her parents her Idea and they gave her the okay to go so the trio set off to Slateport in hopes of catching a ferry to Kanto as they walked May began to get cold and Ash hungry so they decided to stop in Oldale Town and go to a restaurant for lunch.
As they were sitting down Brock said he needed to go to the washroom so May and Ash sat there happily engaging in friendly conversation Ash realising how he never ran out of things to talk about when he was with May.
Not that he wasn't enjoying his conversation with May but he began to wonder where Brock had gotten to and noticed something, "hey May on your six," with that May turned around and saw Brock kneeling in front of the waitress confessing his everlasting love for her.
"oh for the love of all things holy" said May as she walked over to him and grabbed him by the ear and yanked him back over to the table, "so you really had to go to the washroom bad huh Brock?" asked Ash jokingly as Brock muttered something about troublesome girls always getting in the way.
"Now where have I heard that before" said Ash to himself as he tried to think of where he had heard someone talking like that before, he had the name on the tip of his tongue but just couldn't seem to get it.
"what's up Ash" asked May noticing him thinking hard, "Brock just said something about troublesome girls always getting in the way and I could've sworn I've heard that term used somewhere before"
"oh I know what you mean I just can't seem to think of it right now" said May, soon the waitress came over and they ordered their food.
"they ate in silence as they were all devouring the delicious food on their plates when Brock noticed someone enter the restaurant out of the corner of his eye.
"Forrest?" he asked "Brock?" Forrest responded, "what are you doing here" they said in unison
" I can see how those two are brothers other than their looks now" said May as Ash snickered, "I wonder if Brock's methods for getting girls were passed on" Ash said as they both nearly choked on their food laughing.
Then they noticed Forrest going over to the waitress and doing the exact same thing Brock did with her, by now they were both rolling on the floor with tears in their eyes as the laughed, Brock seemed confused at what was making them laugh while he gave Forrest shouts of encouragement.
The waitress was called off to another table and left him as he sulked while walking over to the table they were sitting at, "to answer your question earlier I'm here on official league business as a Gym leader."
"I see, and when will you be heading back to the Gym" asked Ash "well I should be off on my way back to Pewter in couple of days" he responded
"well since I was already planning on heading home for a week before Ash's party why don't I wait here with you and we can head back together, that is if you and May are going to be okay on your own" said Brock.
"Yeah we'll be fine, besides that means that we'll get to my place early because we won't be stopping in Pewter" Ash responded as everyone returned to their food and continued talking about various subjects.
Once they were finished Ash and May headed on their way as Brock and Forrest waved them goodbye,
"you know this kind of brings us back to old times doesn't it, back when I was just starting my journey and you only had Pikachu with you" said May
"Yeah, you know at times I missed it just being us, it felt a little bit more calm without you and Max arguing all the time and Brock freaking out whenever he saw a girl, I wonder what would've happened if it was just you and me together"
"yeah" said May "maybe we could've... wait why am I thinking like that" she blushed and shook her head.
Ash took notice and asked her "is everything all right you look kind of red"
"I'm fine Ash really" May said now blushing redder than before
"are you sure here let me see" he said as he put a hand to her forehead, "we're so close it's almost as if... wait why am I thinking this way" he thought
"I'm really fine Ash, really I am" she said as she took his had and put it down off her forehead
Ash still kept a watchful eye over her as they continued on their journey to Slateport.
After a while they decided it was getting late and checked in at a Pokemon centre, "I'm sorry we only have one room left but it does have two beds in it" said Nurse Joy as she handed Ash the key "that's okay I'm sure it'll be fine, at least it's got two beds in it" said Ash as they gave their thanks and headed for their room.
"okay I'm going to get changed but no peeking Ash" said May as she went into the bathroom Ash meanwhile slipped into his Pyjamas as she was changing.
They were feeling kind of restless so they decided to watch the free movie the Pokemon Centre offered, unfortunately for May it was scary movie night as they showed a horror film she got scared, and to make things worse (A/N: or better for those of us who are advanceshipping fans)
there was a thunderstorm outside, now Ash wasn't one to get scared but May was and as soon as there was a loud crack of thunder she jumped into Ash's arms afraid.
Ash naturally blushed at this and unknowing what to do began to hug her and stroke her hair, although this helped May was still afraid and jumped under the covers of his bed Ash now getting tired also did so.
As May fell asleep Ash couldn't help but wonder what was going on with him, why he was constantly getting nervous around her, that had never happened before and these thoughts and feelings he was having about her what did they mean.
"I couldn't be... no that isn't possible and even if I did there's no way that would work out anyhow" he thought as he fell asleep
A/N: although the Author begged to differ