"As she ran outside, Misty could've sworn she had seen Lizzie's eyes, although just for a moment, glowing blue." Elizabeth - 3 1/2 years old.

Aiden and Michelle - 8 1/2 years old

Ash couldn't remember how many times he had told Aiden and Michelle not to go into the woods, too many times to count. After they had went off last Tuesday night, Ash went out to find them, as it rained. He hadn't taken he jacket and now he was paying for it, the flu. Now, as he lay in his bed, he heard the doorknob turn.

Ash sighed as he sat up to see Lizzie coming in again. "Pumpkin, I thought I already told you, I can't play." Ash said as he tried to stiffle the itch in his throat, wanting to come up in another series of coughs. "Please Lizzie. When I'm all better, we can play all you want." He said, as he gently scooted her out of the room with his hand on the girl's back. As soon as she was gone, Ash shut the door, and started a hacking cough that lasted at least a minute.

Ash absolutly hated being sick, it made him feel truly horrible. His back ached, and he couldn't breathe through his nose. His stomach was in knots and his throat was dry and scratchy. All his mustles ached, and he was pretty sure he still had a fever.

As Ash went back to bed, he closed his eyes and tried to relax. Meanwhile, outside the room, Lizzie marched downstairs. In her rage, she scurried around the house until she found Misty. "Mommy, I want to play with daddy." She said in an upset, serious tone.

Misty gasped. She had told Lizzie not to go into their room while Ash was sick. Although at the same time, Misty could understand. All Lizzie wanted to do was to play with her daddy. She bent down to see her daughter eye to eye. "Sweetie, I know you just want to play with daddy, but he's still sick. Why don't we play together instead?"

Lizzie was having none of this. "NO! I WANNA PLAY WITH DADDY!" She yelled. She then ran to Misty's desk and knocked over all the papers, which had been neatly stacked and organized. As she ran outside, Misty could've sworn she had seen Lizzie's eyes, although just for a moment, glowing blue.

As Misty chased after the girl, Lizzie ran to the gym and found Psyduck waddling around, with a dumb look on it's face. "Come on Psyduck, let's hide from mommy." She said as she took the hand of the yellow pokemon and led him to the backyard of the house. Lizzie was smart. She had only went to the gym to distract her mother. Now, she went back and sat on the ground with Psyduck and started to cry.

"I just wanted to play with daddy to make him feel better." She told Psyduck between sobs. Unlike Pikachu, Psyduck didn't have much to say back. Lizzie didn't even bother translating past Psyduck first sentence. 'Running, I'm running.'

A thing unknown by her family. All her life, even since she could remember, she could understand and translate Pokemon speech. She never knew any different since her father had always been able to understand his Pokemon. Unlike Ash, who had built a relationship with his Pokemon and learned to listen from his heart, Lizzie had a natural ability to understand and translate Pokemon speech. The only one who knew was Pikachu, and Pikachu had no reason to tell Ash, he never asked.

Just then, someone came around to the backyard. Lizzie hadn't heard it, between her cries. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to find, none other, than Gary Oak and Umbreon. She was so upset, she just started to cry into Gary's shirt.

Call it parental instincts, Gary instantly picked up the small girl and held her close to his chest as she cried. He rubbed her back as he tried to comfort her. "Sh...It's all gonna be ok. Everything will be fine. Calm down now." No one ever wanted to admit it, but Gary had softened alot since he had got married and had kids. Gary's smooth and calm voice quickly calmed Lizzie. Umbreon felt very bad for the girl, but just sat by Gary obediantly. Soon after this, Misty came to the backyard.

"Oh, Lizzie. I am so happy I found you." Misty exclaimed, placing her hand across the heart. She then looked at the man holding her daughter. Needless to say, she was surprised to see Gary. "G...Gary?" She took Lizzie from Gary's arms. "What are you doing here?"

"Umbreon and I were bored. Do I need to have a reason to pop in and battle an old rival?" Gary said, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Misty frowned as she sighed and said. "Sorry Gary, I didn't mean it like that. But Ash can't battle today anyway. He's sick with the flu. He hasn't been to work since last Tuesday."

Gary looked slightly disspointed. He then looked up and smiled. "Well, tell Ashy boy to fell better. As for Lizzie, just a suggestion."

"What?" Misty huffed as she set down the now calm three year old, who started to pet and play with Umbreon.

"Well, maybe making a get well card, or some small gift might make her and Ash feel better." Gary said.

"You know Gary, that's actually a really good idea. I didn't know you had it in you." Misty told him.

"Hey! That's not funny." Gary protested.

"Are you kidding me, it was hilarious." A voice said. Both Misty and Gary looked behind them, and saw Ash coming towards them.

When Lizzie saw her father, she squealed. "Daddy!" She then ran to hug him. Ash held his hand out, telling her to stop.

"Lizzie." He said as he started to cough. He tried to turn his face away, as not to cough on her. "No, I don't want you to get sick. Stay away from me." Ash instructed her. He felt horrible, telling her to stay away from him. But he wouldn't forgive himself if she got sick because of him.

Lizzie backed up as Umbreon went over to distract the small child. "ASH!" Misty yelped. "Are you gonna get back in bed, or am I going to have to chase you with the mallet?" She asked, anger in her usually delicate eyes.

Ash swallowed in fear, backing away slowly. "No, no, I'm going. I only came down to get food anyway." Ash stammered in fear as Misty sighed. Some things about Ash never changed.

Misty felt bad for Ash, he was having such a miserable day, threatening him might be just mean. Instead, she decided to bribe him. "If you go back to bed now, I'll bring you something really tasty." Misty said as Ash smiled in delight. He went back into the house and rushed up to the bed as he waited in anticipation of his meal. He then subconciously stroaked the yellow mouse, who was sleeping on the bed beside him.

As soon as Gary and Umbreon left, Misty took Lizzie back inside. After setting up her lunch, she called Aiden and Michelle downstairs. They had been grounded, and stuck in their room ever since Tuesday night. They both came down cheerily, happy to be out of their room, which really felt more like a prison.

"Hey mom," Michelle asked in concern. "Is dad feeling any better?" Misty looked at the girl. When she saw the concern in the girl's eyes, she sighed.

"Well, he won't be back to work for a few days, but he'll be fine." Misty said as she handed each twin a plate with a sandwhich, carrot sticks with peanut butter, and chips. She also handed them each a juice box.

"Aw, mom. Do we really have to eat in our room again? We've been stuck in there all day." Aiden whined.

"What do you think Aiden? Mist asked rhetorically. "It's either that, or you can take care of dad." Misty said, handing them each a fresh baked cookie. Now, Aiden hated getting sick, even more than Ash. He dreaded and avoided it like the plague.

"Ok, ok." He said. "We'll eat upstairs. Just don't make me take care of dad, please." He then rushed upstairs, with Michelle was being drug by the arm behind him. Misty then had to think. She promised Ash an extra ordinary meal, and had almost no ingredients.

She had meant to go to the store today, but she had to take care of Lizzie. She also didn't want to leave Aiden and Michelle home alone with Ash. She knew Aiden and Michelle would try to squirm out of their punishment. Well, Aiden at least. She then had to decide what totally special meal she'd make for him, seeing she was supposed to be this with no supplies. She knew Ash might get mad about what she was about to do, but she never broke a promise.

She headed to the videophone. She was calling Delia, Ash's mother. Delia answered fairly quickly. "Oh Misty, it's such a pleasure to hear from you. How are you?"

"I'm fine. But I was wondering? Do you have the ingredients to make a deep dish chili cheese pie?" She asked, trying not to give away the despiration in her voice.

"I believe so, but why do you need it?" Delia asked.

Misty didn't want to tell her, but saw she had no choice. "Ash is sick, and I promised to make him something special." Misty said.

Delia looked immediately worried. "It's not Bairn's or anything else serious, is it?" Misty could hear the obvious worry in Delia's voice.

"No, no it's nothing like that. He's just got the flu, that's all. Aiden and Michelle went off to the back woods on Tuesday. And Ash, went to find them, without a jacket on."

"You can't be serious. It's was raining Meowths and Persians that night. I know Ash can be a little dense sometimes, but..." Delia's voice trailed off. "Anyway, I can have one ready by tonight. Say about fiveish."

"Ok, that'll be great." Misty said as she finished the call. After hanging up, she could hear Ash calling to her.

"Misty..." Ash groaned from the upstairs bedroom. Misty quick rustled up a sandwhich plopped on carrots,chips and poured a mug of OJ. As she came up to the room, Ash looked in anticipation. When she handed him the plate, he looked unimpressed.

"I'm making your food, but you'll have to wait until supper. It takes a long time to make." "Before I forget, here." She handed him a small pack of electric pokemon food. He looked to Pikachu, who was starting to wake up from the smell of Ash's grilled ham and cheese sandwhich.

When Misty left, both Ash and Pikachu ate their lunches. As they were eating, Pikachu turned to Ash. "Pikapi, pikachu Kachu Pi? Pi pikachu pika cha?" Pikachu asked. Ash took a sip of OJ before answering.

"Yeah, Lizzie came in this morning. She wanted to play again. I wish she understood, because it kills me to keep sending her away. But I can't let her in." Ash explained to the electric mouse.

"Pikapi, Pikachu Pi Pi Chu Pika?" Pikachu asked.

"No, you heard right. Gary did come, he wanted to battle. He found poor Lizzie in the backyard crying. Misty said she found him holding her, my poor baby girl. I can't believe how gentle he can be.. But I guess he is a dad now." Ash finished hoarsley as his throat continued to ache.

As Ash gulped down the last sip of OJ, his head was clear enough, he felt he could finally try to sleep. He laid down and closed his eyes as he felt his itching throat again. He tried to resist, but couldn't. He soon started coughing, more like barking. Ok, so he wasn't going to get any deep sleep without medicine.

He reached over to the bedside table and started taking another dose off all the cold and flu relief medicine Misty had set out. He hated taking medicine, mostly because of the taste. It did work, however, and he really needed sleep. So he took what he needed, and soon fell asleep. Unbeknowist to Ash, Misty had popped a sleeping pill in with the other medicine.

After a while, Misty popped in the room. Seeing the small blue sleeping pill gone, she sighed in relief and walked in. She took the thermomedor out of her pocket and placed in Ash's ear. It soon beeped, reading 102.3. He definently was still sick. She went and found a washcloth and wet it; she placed it on his head. He briefly shivered at the cold feeling. He then smiled, clearly enjoying the cool, wet feeling.

She was kinda surprised how hungry he had been, but she figured Ash had been forcing himself to eat. Ever since he got Bairn's again at thirteen years old, and wasn't allowed to eat because he kept throwing up blood, Ash now was very grateful for food. That sickness had taken about fifteen pounds of Ash. Not to mention, he wanted to keep his strengh up.

Misty sat by Ash, holding his cold, clammy hand. "Come on Ash!" She said. "Fight this, you have too." She said, deeply worried about him. Pikachu's ears flicked as Misty suddenly felt her cell phone vibrate. She groaned as she pulled it out of her pocket. She found it was from the gym, she had a challenger. "Great!" She thought. "Now I have to leave ." She sighed as she got up. She really wasn't in the mood to battle, but she knew she had a job to do.

Misty quickly stopped in the twins room and told them not to go anywhere while she was gone. They nodded, and she quickly left for the gym. As soon as he heard the back door close, Aiden got up and went out of the room. Michelle ran over to him.

"Aiden, we just told mom we wouldn't leave our room." Michelle said. Aiden looked at her with an 'are you serious' look.

As the pair went downstairs, Aiden said. "I don't know about you sis, but I've been stuck in that room for the past four days and I'm sick of it." As he grabbed a Moca cola from the fridge and offered it to Michelle, she nodded no and grabbed a root beer out of the fridge instead. Aiden shrugged and popped open the Moca Cola and started to slosh it down.

As Michelle took a sip, the bubbles tickling the back of her throat, she nudged Aiden and he saw what Michelle was looking at. Lizzie, sitting in the living room, was coloring a picture of a magical Ponyta.

Aiden furrowed his brow as he saw the colors his baby sister was using. Instead of using red and orange for Ponyta's mane, she was using pink and purple. She looked up, cheerily. "Hi Denny, Shelly. Aren't you two supposed to be in twouble?" Lizzie said, refering to the two being grounded. Michelle and Aiden stared at each other. Michelle quickly held up the root beer can.

"We just came to get drinks, Liz. Relax." Michelle said, laughing nervously as she showed the young girl he can of soda. Lizzie liked to get Aiden and Michelle in trouble, although she loved the twins to pieces. She figured it was her job to keep her older sibblings in check.

Just then, the three kids heard footsteps coming downstairs. Although to light to be Ash's footsteps, they all knew whose it was. Pikachu. Lizzie quick took the hands of both her sibblings and dragged them to the closet under the stairs, opened the door, shoved them in, and ran back to her coloring. Just in time, luckily, for Pikachu to come down and find Lizzie coloring her picture.

Inside the cramped small closet, Aiden shoved Michelle to try and gain some more space. "Ow! Aiden." Michelle hissed quietly as she fell on her butt. She quickly found the lightswitch and switched it on. Michelle and Aiden quickly got situated as they silently waited for their sister to reopen the closet door.

Pikachu came up to Lizzie, who turned her attention from her drawling and welcomed Pikachu onto her lap. "Pikachu Pikachupi?" Pikachu asked as Lizzie scratched his ear.

"Mommy's at the gym." Lizzie said as the yellow mouse twitched it's ears in graditude. "Since daddy isn't feeling well, I'm coloring him a picture, and giving him some of mommy's chocolate chip cookies."

Pikachu looked at her with a pleading face. "Yes, you can have some too. But after you take this up to daddy." She said as she gave the finished picture and a bag of three cookies to Pikachu, who skipped up the stairs and put the picture and cookies by him on the bed.

Pikachu then came running back down and munched happily on the cookie. Misty always made her Chocolate Chip cookies with Carob. She did this so she could double the cookies as Pokemon treats too.

A soon as Pikachu ate the cookie, he went back upstairs to lie with Ash. Lizzie quickly ran back to the closet and opened the door. Both the twins gasped for fresh air. Michelle coughed. "Bleck, I'm glad to be out of there. It smells like Aiden's feet." She said as Aiden smelled his foot and also coughed at the smelly, pungent odor.

"You're right." Aiden said, chuckling nervously. The two then headed back upstairs, stepping so lightly, so Pikachu wouldn't hear. The next second, unfortunantly Pikachu came out and saw the two going back to their rooms. As he proceeded to go into their room, he found Delia coming up the back stairs.

"Pikachu pika pikapi?" Pikachu said as he looked at Ash's mother. Delia looked at the small mouse and smiled.

"Have you been keeping Ash company, Pikachu?" She asked in her sweet, gentle voice. Pikachu responded cheerfully.

"Pi Pi, Pika!" Pikachu said, in a cheery disposition.

"Good." Delia replied. "Misty told me to come at five, but I just had to check on Ash. Where is Misty, anyway?" Delia asked.

"She's at the gym." Lizzie said, coming up the steps. "She got a last minute challenger." Lizzie informed her grandmother. Approaching Lizzie, Delia gave the girl a hug and kissed her head.

"I've missed you Lizzie." Delia said as Misty came up the steps. Delia turned to Misty. "Honey, I thought you had a gym battle." She said, as Misty smiled.

"No, it was just a delivery man." Misty said, showing Delia the small box. "So anyway, what are you doing here? Didn't we say five?" Misty asked, although not the least bit surprised that her mother-in-law was there an hour and a half early.

"I know dear. But I couldn't help myself. I was so worried. I do miss taking care of him." Delia said, obviously dissapointed in herself.

"Hey. It's ok. It's just a mother instinct. Anyway, I could use use a bit of a break; he's all yours." Misty said camly as she picked Elizabeth up. "Oh, and he's zonked out of sleeping pills." She said, turning back for a moment.

Delia went into the room, walking carefully not to trip over Ash's dirty clothes. She found the thermomedor off the table by his bed and put it in his ear. It soon beeped, this time reading about 100.2. Delia saw all the cold/flu pills and figured the medicine had brought his fever down. She stroked his uneven, cropped bangs out of his face as she took the washcloth on his head and in a few seconds brought it back, the cloth wet again. He didn't shiver as much this time as the cool cloth hit his face. Delia smiled at the boy, as she massaged his head. Her fingers, running softly through his scruffy, ebony hair.

A long while later, opening his eyes slowly, he saw his mom sitting on the chair in the corner of the room. He quickly covered up with his blanket, embarrased at his mom's ability to see all of him. She looked confused, and then sighed. "Ash relax. I'm your mother, I've seen it all before." She said, as he chuckled nervously and sat up.

"Mom, not that I'm not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?" Ash asked. Delia looked at his son and could see how embarrased he really was.

She sighed and going to his closet, threw a clean outfit onto the bed. As she went out the door, she smiled. "When you're decent, meet me in the kitchen." Delia said, closing the door behind her.

He soon came downstairs, in an old Beatles t-shirt and gray sweatpants, and sat on a chair, by the table. Misty came in and looked at him. "You look a lot better. How do you feel?" Misty asked as she sat across from Ash, who was sitting beside Delia.

"Ok." Ash replied, earning a sypathetic look from Misty. "I feel like I'm strung up on cold medicine, and a sleeping pill." He said, returning Misty's look, with much emphesis on 'sleeping pill'.

Misty shrugged and smiled. "Hey, you're not coughing anymore. Your fever probably went down too." She said as she poured them all a cup of coffee. As Misty sat down by Ash, Michelle came in. Misty turned and looked at Michelle with the death gaze. She quickly went to her dad, who smiled.

"Daddy, I'm so sorry." Michelle apologized as Misty's look of anger faded into a look of pride, concerning her daughter. "It was my idea to go into the forest, I just dragged Aiden along. I was looking for the bracelet I lost last week. You know, when we came home from Hoenn." She looked apologeticly at her father as he smiled again, this time more brilightly.

Suddenly, Pikachu came into the kitchen. Seeing his trainor awake, he hopped onto his shoulder cheerfully. Ash chuckled at his partner's excitment. "I forgive you Shelly. You know, I think I've gotten more sleep in the last four days, than I ever will again." Now, Ash had been told how worried Michelle had been over him. "I'm feeling a lot better too." Ash mentioned on a sidenote. Michelle then walked back upstairs to rejoin her brother.

"Man, what smells so good Misty." Ash said as he licked his lips. "I'm actually really hungry now." Ash said as Delia poured another cup of coffee.

Just then, a buzzer went off. Misty got up from the table and pulled out the rewarmed deep dish chili cheese pie. "Surprise Ash!" Delia said as she sliced the pie into eight pieces. Of course, she gave Ash the biggest piece. Misty called the kids down and they all got to enjoy the special treat.

Aiden and Michelle look at it wearily. But when Aiden saw his father digging into it, he joined right in as he took a big bite. Before Ash could tell him to blow the piece on the fork to let it cool, Aiden yelped. "OW!" He took the half bitten piece back and blew it before enjoying the bite again. He awed at it's amazing flavor. Michelle looked at her brother and dug in too. She, learning from her brother's mistake blew on the small bit before eating. Pretty soon, the whole family had finished the entire pie.

The next day Ash felt good enough to start training a bit. At first, Pikachu had looked unsure of this, wanting to be sure his trainer was recovered. But after a while, getting into it, Pikachu totally forgot his worry. Ash, on the otherhand, was starting to get tired around the second hour of training. As he approached hour three, he decided he'd have enough. Going inside, he crashed on his recliner and turned on the tv.

Now, Ash hadn't felt as bad today, but knew he was still sick. His cough hung on, even though he didn't ache as much. Lizzie, looking around the corner from the doorway to the kitchen, saw her oppertunity to be with her dad.

She snuck in and sat on the far end of the couch. Ash glanced at the girl and turned back to the tv program. Little by little, during the program, Lizzie inched closer and closer to Ash. Eventually Misty came into the room and looked in astonishment. "Ash!" Misty barked as Ash looked at Misty, frightened at her tone.

Misty pointed at the small girl about one foot away from her father. Ash looked back at Misty. "I didn't know Mist. She came in and sat down on the other end of the couch. She must have moved." Ash said as Lizzie was becoming more and more upset. Misty went and proceeded to pick up the small girl.

"Daddy! This isnt fair! " Lizzie squealed in tears as Misty picked up the girl, as she kicked. Ash looked at her, his heart breaking. "Pikachu gets to be with you, why not me!? Don't you love me?" Lizzie's eyes were starting to glow as she tried desperately to reach for her father. She of course, being so upset, didn't notice it, but Ash and Misty did. Being so young, she couldn't control her aura. Doing the only thing she could, Misty handed Lizzie to Ash. Lizzie immediately calmed in her father's arms, as her aura's glow started to fade.

As the small girl opened her eyes, she found herself on her bed wrapped up in her mother's Staru blanket. She had fallen asleep in Ash's arms. Usually she would have complained to take her nap, but with all the upset today, she was just glad she got to be held by her father.

Meanwhile, Ash was in his bedroom, trying to get the scene out of his mind. It was no use though, he just couldn't get it out. "You should have heard her Cass, she thinks I don't love her. She was so upset, her aura was triggered" Ash said as he sat on the bed talking to Cassidy on the videophone.

"Don't be silly Ash! Of course she knows you love her, she's just feeling left out." Cassidy said, trying to console her childhood friend. Although she knew, this whole thing would blow over when Ash recovered, it seemed to really upset him. "As for her aura, just try to keep her unaware."

After the phone call, Ash laid on his bed, his back aching. He was starting to regret training today, maybe it had been to soon. Misty came in and started to massage his back. Ash moaned in satisfaction as Misty rubbed out the man's knots. "Aw... Mist, that feels so good." Misty continued to pull knots out of Ash's back

Just then, Misty heard a knock at the door. "Come in." Misty said as Aiden came in with a round cassarole dish in his hands. He handed it to Misty. Misty looked at him strangely until she saw a small envelope attatched to the aluminum foil. She opened it as she read aloud.

Dear Ketchums,

Please enjoy this lasanga

to your heart's content. Feel

Better soon Ash!

Signed,

*Brock*

"That Brock, always looking out for us." Ash said as his light chuckle became a coughing fit. Aiden ran out of the room as fast as a Rapidash, as Misty got up and examined Ash. She looking at him, investigating every part of his body that was inducing some sort of symptom.

She nodded. "Two days." Misty said as Ash gave her a confused look.

"Two days until what?" Ash asked, trying to figure her out.

"Two days until you're back up on your feet. I'm not gonna let you lay here forever." Misty said, in a persnickety voice.

Two days later, Ash was back on his feet, going to work, and being as active as he was before. As he came home from work that day, he looked at Misty. "How did you do that?"

Misty looked at him and smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"