Author's note: Hey. Since there was no solid ending to the fic 'When It Rains' by abbylicious (though my mum would disagree - I told her the storyline, neglecting to mention that it was a Pokemon story :P) and said author was offering the chance for someone to take up where she left off, I decided to give it a shot. I don't know if I'll be able to write in her style (most likely not), but, hey, I can give it a shot anyway.

Here's the link to the story (which you really should read before reading this two-shot): http : / / www . fanfiction . net / s / 1098056 / 1 / When _ it _ Rains

(Just remove the spaces where they shouldn't be any spaces, of course.)

Finally, a note to the great authoress herself before this two-shot gets underway.

To abbylicious: I'm sorry that you might not have known about this, but I tried (and failed) to get in contact with you. Hopefully, one of your friends will spot this and notify you.

Chapter Ten: Together as One

It had been a long and agonising wait for Ash and Misty, but, finally, after everything they had gone through together, their daughter was finally released from the hospital. Little four-and-a-half-year-old Chiharu Waterflower bounded along happily, her hand clasped tightly, yet not too tightly, within her mother's, as the trio headed to the Pokemon Centre to pick up Pikachu.

All the while, Ash and Misty were silently thinking over what had happened and where to go from here; could they start a new life together? Would that be moving too fast? How would Chiharu react if they told her that Ash, the man she had become so attached to in her short time of knowing him, was her real father? Should they tell her? Would it not raise awkward questions? They both paused. Yes, they should tell her, but what then? Was there any chance of fixing their current problem? Misty felt guilty about keeping Ash's daughter a secret from him for five years... and Ash felt guilty about never contacting Misty in those five years; they were both in a mess that was difficult to get out of.

They walked through the automatic doors of the Pokemon Centre in silence before approaching the desk, Chiharu not being so silent; she was being very jolly and happily singing a nursery rhyme that Misty had taught her a couple of years ago; she had to smile at that.

"Hi," Ash said to Nurse Joy, "I'm here for my Pikachu."

Nurse Joy took one look at Misty, recognised her from the night before and nodded. "Yes, of course," she replied. "One moment, please." She disappeared into the back room and, a few moments later, re-emerged, holding Ash's best friend.

"Pika Pi!" Pikachu exclaimed upon seeing Ash. Nurse Joy placed it on the counter and it leapt onto Ash's shoulder. Chiharu giggled.

"Hey, buddy," Ash said, smiling. He looked back at the nurse. "Thanks, Nurse Joy."

The nurse smiled back. "No problem," she replied.

Turning around and walking out the automatic doors together, the quartet made their way towards Pallet Town, where Ash's mother was probably worrying herself sick over them, Chiharu especially.

"Chiharu?" Misty asked quietly. Her daughter looked up at her. "What... what exactly happened? How... how did you end up... in the woods?"

That had been a rather painful question for her to ask; the memory of the events of the previous night still haunted her... and she knew very well that they would continue to haunt her for the rest of her life. She nearly lost her baby... her world... in one stupid storm.

Chiharu lowered her gaze to the floor. "I'm sorry..." she replied, "I wanted to look at the storm... 'cause it was amazing, like nothing I'd ever seen before... so I went outside to get a better look... but the wind was so strong, it blew me off my feet and carried me away." She looked on the verge of tears as she gripped Misty's hand tighter. "I tried to fight it, but it was too strong! I got blown away!" She paused and her voice lowered to a murmur, tears now leaking from her eyes. "I don't know what happened after that..."

Misty stopped walking and knelt down, her eyes now level with Chiharu's. "Oh, sweetheart..." she said, her own eyes filling with tears. Her heart was breaking at the immense amount of emotion radiating off her daughter. She let go of her hand and held out her arms. Chiharu ran into them and hugged her. "It's alright, baby, it's alright... that's never going to happen to you again... Mommy's here..."

Ash's heart went out to his daughter as he also knelt down and gently stroked her back, attempting to comfort her. It was odd, how he had developed a fatherly instinct now, disappointed that Chiharu had disobeyed his orders for everyone to stay in the safety of his home and wandered into last night's death trap of a storm... yet the disappointment was taking a back seat to his immense relief that she had survived the ordeal and was now perfectly healthy again, not to mention fully regretting her actions.

"Oh, thank God!" Delia yelled as soon as she saw what she now knew to be her family walk in through the front door, safe and well. She ran over and hugged everyone, Ash first, then Misty, then, kneeling down, Chiharu. "I was so worried! I'm so glad to see you're all safe!" She hugged Chiharu again.

"Yeah... we're all okay now," Ash replied.

Delia stood up again. "Come inside and sit down, Chiharu... you've been through so much! You deserve to relax now. Watch some television and I'll bring you all the milk and cookies you can possibly eat."

Chiharu brightened. "Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum!" she replied before being guided into the living room.

Ash looked over at Misty, who still didn't cease to look beautiful, despite looking all the worse for wear, and debated whether or not to voice his thoughts. What would she say to this? Would she accept or reject it? Would she even want him in her life anymore? Did she even want him there to begin with? He knew these were ridiculous questions, but he couldn't help but wonder them anyway.

"Uh... Misty?" he asked tentatively.

She looked back at him. "Yeah?" she replied.

"Well..." He looked away and scratched the back of his head, almost causing Pikachu to fall off his other shoulder. "Don't you think we should maybe... tell... Chiharu that... I'm her..."

Misty looked down at the floor. "I was wondering the same thing..." She paused and glanced in the opposite direction to where Ash was standing. "I don't know how she'll take it, but... I guess... since you're here and all... and willing to let her know what you are to her..."

Ash lowered his hand. "It's not just that... I... wanna be there for her... for both of you... I wanna... try and make up for my absence... catch up on lost years..."

Misty looked up at him, hope daring to emerge from deep within her. "You really mean that? You want to... be part of our family?" Ash nodded. "But... what about your dream? I mean... I know you've already become a Pokemon Master, but... even I know that it doesn't stop there. Pokemon Masters still have a lot left to do... a lot more left to learn."

Ash lowered his head. "I know... but... families always come before dreams." He raised his head and gave a small smile. "Especially families that you love more than anything and will do anything for."

In spite of herself, Misty blushed; he really felt that way about her and Chiharu? As a family he loved more than anything and would do anything for? Despite all of her past emotional problems, attempting to throw up barriers around herself to block out anything to do with the boy in question, she couldn't help but glow inside at that comment. She really loved him, that was almost impossible to ignore now, and hearing that he loved her back felt amazing to her.

"Wow... thank you..."

Ash beamed and took her hand, causing a larger blush to appear on Misty's face as well as one to appear on his own... then a thought suddenly struck him. "Say... why did you call our daughter 'Chiharu', anyway? It doesn't sound English."

Misty gave a light chuckle. "That's 'cause it's not... it's Japanese." Ash gave her a questioning look, so she decided to tell him the story. "Okay, well... it all started when you were off on Pokemon Master training and I was about five months pregnant."

"Uh huh..."

"I was being teased and bullied a heck of a lot, because I was an eighteen-year-old already expecting a child. Believe me, I was called all sorts of names." Ash's eyebrows creased into a frown and Misty smiled at how much that fact bothered him. "Anyway, I eventually met this Japanese guy my age called Kentaro. He was really sweet... and he didn't tease or bully me, like the rest did."

"Mmm hmm..."

"It didn't take us long to end up together... and I even think that, after a couple of months, he even fell in love with me." Ash's face tightened and, again, Misty smiled, this time at his obvious jealousy. "Anyway, the relationship was going really well... and he even offered to father my baby once it was born, since he 'never wanted to be apart from me', as he put it."

"Right..."

"So we decided on baby names together. I said that, if it were a boy, we'd call it Lawrence, after my grandfather, who'd passed away a few years previously... and he said that, if it were a girl, we'd call it Chiharu, after his grandmother, who'd recently passed away. Well, with the baby being a girl, we called her Chiharu."

"Oh, I see..."

Misty sighed. "Then the problems started to occur. Every day, Kentaro would come over to my house to help me raise Chiharu... even sleep over, quite often... but, as it turned out, he just couldn't handle the stress of being a father... which would lead to him remembering that she wasn't even his own baby, which would lead to him asking questions about the real father..."

"Uh huh..."

"But, back then, I wasn't able to talk about you. All these years, I've been throwing up barriers to protect myself from the intense emotions the thought of you brought me... so, whenever he asked about you, I'd lose my temper and tell him to shut up." She paused and looked back down at the floor. "After a month, he eventually got so fed up that he left and didn't come back..."

Ash gaped at her, unable to believe his ears. "What? Seriously? He just walked out on you? After he'd promised to help you look after Chiharu? After you'd named Chiharu after his grandmother?" Misty nodded and he was suddenly overcome with rage. "That complete and utter-! Why, I oughta-!" How dare anyone do that to his precious Misty! There she'd been, struggling to forget her past - and the thought sent a jolt of mingled guilt and sadness down his spine – and he'd just abandoned her when Chiharu had been just one month old!

Misty looked into Ash's eyes. "It's not like it matters now, anyway... I've way over Kentaro."

Ash shook his head. "That's not the point... he still shouldn't have done that to you."

Misty rolled her eyes and gave his arm a light punch. "Oh, get over it... I have." Ash smiled. She suddenly got a boost of confidence seemingly from nowhere and placed her free hand on her hip. "So... are we gonna go tell Chiharu the truth or what?" Ash widened his eyes at her. "What? She deserves to know the truth, doesn't she?"

Ash laughed. "Yeah... she does."

"Pikachu!" Pikachu chirped, making Ash and Misty jump; they'd almost forgotten it was there. They both laughed at their stupidity.

"Chiharu?" Misty asked, edging towards her daughter, who had been watching a cartoon with Delia until the commercials had come on. "Sweetie?"

Chiharu turned around in her seat on the couch to look at her mother. "Yes, Mommy?" she asked. Delia was also looking at Ash and Misty with interest.

"Um..." Misty knelt down beside the couch arm to look her daughter in the eyes at eye level. "Mommy has something she wants to tell you." Chiharu looked at her expectantly, her expression displaying one of wonder, as though her mother would be telling her the world's greatest secret. Misty glanced up at Ash, who nodded to her, silently urging her to continue. She took a deep breath and looked back at Chiharu. "You know how you wanted to know who your daddy is?"

Chiharu's eyes widened. "Yes."

"Well..." She indicated the man behind her with her hand. "Ash is your daddy." Chiharu's mouth dropped open as she looked up at Ash, who smiled and wiggled his fingers in greeting. Silence fell among the group.

"Daddy?"

Ash knelt down beside Misty. "Yep..." he replied, "I'm your daddy."

There were a few moments of deathly silence. Even Delia looked shocked.

"Daddy!" Chiharu leapt down from her seat, ran around the couch and threw herself into Ash's arms, where they hugged one another lovingly. "Daddy..."

Delia and Misty positively beamed, both extremely proud of Misty's bravery.

"And you know Mrs. Ketchum, sweetie?" Misty asked.

Chiharu broke off her hug with Ash to look at Delia. "Yes."

"Well... she's your grandma."

Chiharu's eyes widened again as she looked up at Delia. "Grandma?"

Delia nodded. "That's right... I'm your grandma."

Again, Chiharu was silent for a few moments before squealing in delight. "Grandma!" She ran back around the couch, leapt up onto said couch and jumped into Delia's arms, receiving another hug.

"Wait..." Ash said, confused by his mother's calm attitude, "my mom knew about this?" He looked at Misty. "She knew that I was Chiharu's dad? She knew that she was her grandma?"

Misty suddenly felt ashamed; she'd told Ash's mother about Chiharu being blood related to the both of them before telling Ash. She was certain that he wouldn't like that. "Well... I... didn't have the courage to tell you, originally... so I told Delia first, hoping that I'd gain enough confidence to tell you..."

Ash stared at her; she'd told the grandmother before the father? How could she? Did she not understand at the time how much he would have wanted to know that he had a daughter? He looked at the floor, hurt that she had confided in his mother before confiding in him.

"Misty was afraid of your reaction," Delia said. Ash looked up at her. "She was terribly afraid of how you'd take having a daughter all the time you were training to be a Pokemon Master. She was having a mental breakdown when she was telling me." Her expression softened. "Please understand how she was feeling; she hadn't even told her sisters who Chiharu's father was, so imagine how hard it would be to go directly to the father. That's why she consulted me first... because it was easier for her. Don't get me wrong here... she knew it was wrong of her to consult me before you, but think of it this way, Ash: if she hadn't consulted me first, she might never have consulted you."

Ash stared at his mother, awe-struck by the depth of her words. Breaking his gaze, he looked over at Misty, who was staring embarrassedly at the carpet. He finally understood. Granted, he was still hurt that he had been consulted second about his own daughter, but he now understood her reasons for doing that. His heart went out to her and his respect and love for her grew.

"I'm sorry, Ash..." Misty mumbled.

Ash smiled warmly at her. "It's okay, Mist..." he replied, "don't worry about it."

Misty looked up at him, emotions mingling inside of her; she was surprised at his calm reaction to what she had done to him, elated because he appeared so forgiving of her unforgivable actions and flattered because of the use of that old-school nickname that he hadn't given to her for years.

A little while later, after everyone had washed and changed, Ash, Misty, Chiharu and Pikachu were all gathered together in one corner of the living room, the former three playing a board game and having one heck of a fun time. Now that each and every one of them knew that they were actually a family, for the first time ever, they felt like a family; this was helped along by the fact that Chiharu was now calling Ash 'Daddy' while calling Misty 'Mommy'.

"Misty?" Delia asked after walking over.

Misty looked up at her. "Yeah?"

"Can I speak to you for a minute in private?"

"Oh, sure." She turned to her family. "Mommy'll be back in a minute, okay?"

"Okay!" Chiharu replied.

"Be back soon or we'll take your turn for you!" Ash called jokingly. Misty stuck her tongue out at him as she stood up.

After crossing the room and walking into the kitchen, Delia turned to Misty.

"So..." she said, "I'm curious... what did Ash say when you told him that he's Chiharu's father?"

Misty was rather taken aback by this question. Slightly embarrassed, she averted her eyes. "Aheh... well... it was an awkward moment when I told him... and I didn't tell him in the most graceful of ways... but... at first, he was shocked... then he was angry... but, now, he seems calm... and happy."

Delia smiled and nodded. "Well, it's what can be expected when it concerns something this big." She glanced out the room at Ash, who was hugging a giggling Chiharu from behind and nuzzling his chin into the crown of her head lovingly, Pikachu watching amusedly. She beamed, a tiny lump forming in her throat. "Wow... I've never seen him this happy..." She looked back at Misty, attempting to swallow the lump.

"Yeah, he really seems to love her."

"Which is why I've been thinking..." Delia took a deep breath to steady herself and not lose control of her emotions. "Misty... would you like to move in with us?"