Unconditional Love

Chapter One

She paced back and forth, back and forth. What to do, what to do. Tapping the plastic stick between her fingers, mumbling all kinds of things to herself. Sweat beginning to drip down her neck. The lump in her throat growing so big, she could barely breathe.

"I can't do it. I just can't."

Hearing footsteps walk down the hall she jumped, and stumbled over to her bag feeling another tingle in her stomach. Like an itch, crawling deeper inside her. She forced it back, and shoved the item from her hands into the front pocket of her bag and quickly kicked all the evidence under her bed. She was still in a bit of a mess when the door swung open, with Ash stumbling through. Shit.

"Man," he sighed, his voice lunging out to her ears. "I'm beat. Feels like me and Brock were-" Her eyes bulged out of her head and her hands slapped over her mouth, she charged through the doorway, forcing Ash out of the way. "Dawn!"

She didn't bother closing the door behind her, letting Ash rush in there with her as she dropped her head over the toilet and let loose.

"Dawn!" He rushed over to her, kneeling beside and gathering the loose hair that flowed over her face. "Are you okay? What happened?" She looked back over to him, bringing her hand up to her lips before once again losing the battle between her and her stomach.

When the tightness in her throat finally subsided she slumped over the toilet seat, her hands hanging limp over the sides. She coughed a little before giving a half-hearted reply, "Yeah... I'm fine." How convincing.

He placed his hands over her shoulders, circling his thumbs into the back of her neck, his worried expression lurking over her. "What happened? Are you sick? Here, let me take you to bed-"

"No." She yanked herself away from him, looking away. "I don't need your help."

"I just..."

"Please, just leave me alone for a minute." Her hair hung over her face as she lifted her head up - bits of splatter clinging to the strands - making it impossible to see her expression. Either way, Ash slowly walked out, hesitating a little with each step. Contemplating whether leaving her was really the best idea. "Please," she sighed, her voice catching in her throat.

She hadn't seemed herself lately. Her quieter, calmer, not-so-cheery self. Her Pokemon sat in their balls for almost a week, even though there was a contest in only two days. Brock shared his concern, quickly picking up on her sudden change in behaviour – not that it was hard – but she let is pass. Nothing was wrong. Nothing was ever wrong. Since yesterday she had been acting kind of suspicious, wandering off without saying anything. Even this morning, Shopping Queen of the Century couldn't have hurried out of the mall faster. But is goes without saying that was no less then a relief for her two male companions; although, looking back, it begged some questions. It was obvious now wasn't the time to start up a conversation about her attitude.

She wiped the sweat of her forehead with the back of her wrist. This was not good. Pushing the hair away from her eyes, she lifted her head up and peered out the window. From the angle she was on all she could see was a bright blanket of blue, with small smudges of cotton-white. She thought about just sitting here, forever. Savouring the moment where everything was right. Savouring the moment where this little relationship that she had going on was still innocent. Maybe 'innocent' wasn't the best word to use. Harmless, maybe. She was lucky Ash was so dense, but if this kept up it wouldn't be so easy to pass this over Brock. Nothing seems to get by him, and she doubted he would ever let this one slide.

Boy, was she in trouble.

Deep trouble.

He sat down on the bottom bed, Dawn's bed, worrying. He twiddled his thumbs and bit his lip. He was afraid that something had happened to Dawn, something he didn't know about. But whatever it was, she would tell him, right? Had something happened with her mother? Was she sick? Did he do something?

He leant forward, rubbing his hands over his eyes and slipping them through his hair. This was so frustrating. If only she'd talk to him. Maybe he could help, but for now, he felt just as useful at the block of wood at the head of her bed. He opened his eyes, peering down through this fingers. He noticed something peeking out from under the bed. A piece of cardboard – a small box? He reached out to grab it, his intention aimed to toss it in the bin located in the corner of the room.

"Don't!"

"What?" Her eyes were bloodshot, and her face was glazed in sweat. She pulled her hand back from the air, something she had done by reflex. Like some sort of way to stop him. " Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine. No need to worry. Just, please... don't look under there..."

"What? Why? And what do you mean 'no need to worry'? You just spilled your guts in there and you want me to pretend like it was nothing?" He inhaled, realising that becoming frustrated with her wasn't really going to fix anything. "Dawn... I'm worried."

"O-Okay... I get it, I just... I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" She back peddled, looking away from him; her eyes darting around in all directions.

"I-I can't tell you now. It's..."

"Dawn, just tell me."

"I can't, please Ash." She looked back at him, her eyes in a fury of anxiety. Her hands were shaking, her fingers quivering, she reflected the image of an elderly woman. So vulnerable and fragile. "Now, I... I need to get changed. So could you..."

He sighed, and looked back down. "Sure, Dawn." He leaned over again, picking up the small box. Mistaking it for rubbish. Not that is wasn't, but to Dawn that box stitched everything together. Now it was at his fingertips.

Suddenly her mind fell to pieces. "No! Stop! Don't touch that!" She lunged at him, snatching it away from his grasp. Her voice chipped like ice.

"What? Dawn, are you crazy? Tell me what's gotten into you!"

She spun around, the box crinkled against her chest. Her breathing was heavy, and her entire body shook so violently it looked as though she was having a fit.

"Dawn, what are you doing? I was just gonna throw it out. What it is?" She wanted him to understand, but there was only so far he could do in the dark. She knew that.

"No... I can't tell you... Not now..."

"Dawn, please."

"No... not now. Not now. Not now."

He grabbed her shoulder, spinning her towards him and snatching the treasure clutched between her cold, fragile grip.

"No!" She couldn't stop him now. The damage had been done.

His eyes grew wide, and he stood in a chilling silence. On the label read, "Home Pregnancy Test."

–

Okay. I'm determined. This is going to be my first completed chapter story. I say that every time, but this time I mean it!

Thanks for reading you! Yes, you. You're awesome.

`3rooke