Bianca stepped into the bathroom and carefully closed the door, making sure it was closed before carrying on. She didn't want Latios flying in while she was having a shower. It wasn't so much that she didn't like him being in the same room when she was showering, it was just that wings that big, he'd end up getting water everywhere just by flying in. She'd also locked it because she didn't want the new guy getting in. It was quite odd to have him around, but then again, she'd always been an only child and it was bound to be a culture shock when another boy started living with them. Though 'boy' hardly seemed like the right word.

It was warmer in here than the rest of the house because of the pipes under the floor, but it still was cold, so Bianca decided to switch on the shower before she got undressed. That way the room would heat up and it wouldn't be that cold whilst naked.

The shower curtain was pulled accross, so all she had to do was reach inside and press the button on the wall, which she did with little thourght for the action.

From behind the shower curtain came a screeching noise, which made Bianca jump back a few paces until she identified it.

Latias had, until that moment, been happily napping in the bathtub, until she was awoken by the shower spraying cold water at her.

"WHAT THE ARCHEUS? WHAT? WHAT?"

Bianca watched as the curtain started to shake around as Latias flew into it multiple times, tangling and untangling herself. Eventually though, the dragon flew around the corner, out of the bath and - more importantly - out of the water stream, almost knocking Bianca over in the process. She steadied herself on the sink basin and looked with mock disapproval at Latias. She herself was half smiling, amused at the method by which she was woken. Bianca was the first to speak.

"Why were you sleeping in the bath tub?". She knew the answer, but she asked just to show interest.

Latias responded psychicly and outloud. So it looked like Bianca understood her language, even though it was impossible. It also meant that Bianca knew what tone of voice she'd said it in.

"It's too cold to sleep outside. Nearly snow!"

Bianca nodded. Latias didn't like snow. Neither of the pair did, though Bianca had never actually asked why. She didn't ask now either.

"Couldn't you sleep in your room with Latios?". Ever since they had become 'mates', the two were practically inseparable. More than they were before.

Latias replied with a slightly disappointed voice.

"He's gone hunting, but he said its too cold for me to go with him. He says most pray will be hiding."

"So you slept in the bath?"

"It's got Latios' scent everywhere since you gave him that wash. I still think I should have cleaned him."

Bianca didn't enjoy that part. Washing anything that was classed as a 'dragon' when it didn't want to be washed was already dangerous. When it had open wounds that caused pain whenever soap went in them was just plain suicidal. But thanks to some feminine compassion and numerous food related treats, she'd managed to bring him back to good health.

Although...

"You're taking more naps since you got back . It's like you're getting more tired than normal. Are you okay?"

Latias considered it. Now Latios was back and they'd decided to be mates, she felt better than ever, emotionally speaking. They weren't 'Actually' mates, no, Latios was still in the courting phrase where he gave her gifts every few minutes. But Latias was eagerly anticipating the time when... Well that was beside the point. All the same, she'd often find herself daydreaming about how it would be like to... And there she was, distracted again. She couldn't help it. But she tried, and answered Bianca.

"I'm happy! But tired. Lots.". She dropped her face to make her look sad.

Bianca tilted her head and started to think outloud.

"Well, you did spend ages in a different region. I wonder if... Wait a minute? Aren't you and Latios mates now?" She sounded noticeably excited at the end of that sentence, and Latias wondered why. What did their relationship matter to Bianca?

"Well.. Yes... But we've not actually mated yet. Latios is still giving me loads of presents" Bianca nodded in understanding, and stopped looking excited.

"It's not that then. Ah well... Can I just feel your stomach?".

Latias thourght it was an odd request, but Bianca was smart enough to know what she was doing, so she nodded and floated slightly more vertical than usual. Bianca walked up to her and started rubbing her underside, at the bulge below the blue triangle.

"Hmmm... What did you eat today?".

"All of the breakfast you made, that bag of treats, a zigzagoon, two magikarp, a goldeen, the left overs from lunch, another zigzagoon, lots of berries... An entire bush of berries actually... Three apples and left overs from dinner"

Bianca frowned and tapped her foot.

"Three apples? I'm suprised you can find them this close to winter. But I don't think that was everything now, was it..."

Latias knew when she was busted.

"And the rest of the fish you left on the side. Sorry". Bianca just made a dissaproving 'Hmmmm' noise.

"Well... We were going to give you that tomorrow but never mind. Are you still in season?"

"Yep". Bianca guessed as much from her behaviour.

"That's still a lot of food, Latias. And you haven't put any of it on. You know what that means?"

Latias thourght for a second, then realised what Bianca meant. Her face visibly frowned when she realised. Bianca confirmed her fears.

"Yep, you've got worms. I'll get some medicine from the - "

Latias squealed and turned and made for the door, also knocking a selection of shampoos from the shelf above the sink with her flippers.

"NO! NO MEDICINE!".

She tried flying out of the room, but in her rush she'd forgotten to open the door, and flew straight into it with a 'thud'.

"MY SNOUT! AHHHHHHHHH!". Bianca just chuckled at Latias' misery.

"Don't worry, you're not having it yet. I've still got to buy it. But you will have to at some point. Worms are nasty. I'd imagine you got them from some foreign meat"

As correct as Bianca was, Latias wasn't in a position to agree, and managed to grab the door handle in her mouth before turning it and fleeing out of the room and down the stairs. Bianca sighed and closed the door again. The shower had been running the entire time, so at least the room was warm enough to get undressed now.

Latios was flying above the island, disappointed. He'd set out to find some pray, but had so far been less than impressed by the lack of anything. As if to make matters worse, he could sense a cold front. It would snow in a few days, then finding pray would be completely impossible. The only thing that would be out would be ice types, which he had always hated. And at any rate, Latias deserved more than a stupid glaceon.

He spoke to himself as he did his third circle around the town, his lowest yet.

"If only I could find another scyther. That'd be good. Although they could do with a bit more meat. Yeah. Something less insecty."

Latios was hungry. He'd caught a lot during the day, but he'd given most of it to Latias, and he suspected he'd also got some kind of cold or flu. No doubts Bianca would feed him some medicine that tastes horrible as well, to fight it. Well he wasn't going to have it this time. He had a partner, and a much better body than the humans. He didn't need medicine to get better. Latias would fix whatever was wrong with him. He hunted meat, Latias found berries and looked after the two of them. That was how it worked.

Speaking of her, Latias was eating more too. She'd probably got the flu as well. And if Bianca tried to give her any stupid artifical medicine, well... She would have to go through her mate first.

Not for the first time, Latios felt proud. He'd kept the present he'd caught her for over two weeks, and never doubted her return. He'd battled to find her, and when that failed, waited every second for her return. And when she did, he'd not waited a single second to give her the present and ask to be her mate. And she'd said yes.

He was one lucky dragon.

And yet, he still couldn't find any more food. The canals were almost frozen, the water detectably thicker as it neared freezing point. There were no fish in them. Not even a magikarp. The sea was cold too. Not freezing, not by a long way - it was too big and too active to freeze. But all the small fish had migrated to warmer waters. The only ones that stayed were large ones like sharpedo and wailmer.

While Latios would have loved to catch a wailmer, it wasn't the most practical of pokemon to carry back, or eat. Wailmer and wailord were mostly all fat - he'd learnt that from experience - and they'd start oozing the gooey white blubber the moment you bit them. Flying with something that stored a seemingly infinite amount of blubber that would leak out of it, without anything on the ground noticing was impossible. Even at night, because humans would wake up the next morning and try following the fat trail. Too many times they'd gotten close to the secret garden.

That said, you didn't have that problem with sharpedo. They just were annoying to catch. You spent ages waiting for one, and then a whole pack would swim past at once. Generally, the rest would scatter when you attacked the first one, but he'd sustained more than one bite to the wing from trusting that they'd run away, only to find they wouldn't.

But Latias deserved at least something, and a sharpedo would fit the bill nicely. Even if their skin was a bit rough and difficult to chew through.

He turned around to face his favourite sea hunting ground, and set off to get the couples supper.

Lorenzo fed Cubone another poke block and watched his response.

Cubone himself was sat on the kitchen counter, bone idily resting in one hand and legs dangling over the counter edge. Lorenzo was in the process of identifying what kind of food he liked, a task that sounded simple, but wasn't.

The fact was, Cubone liked pretty much everything about as much as everything else. There was no food that he particularly loved or hated, and the guide Lorenzo had inherited from his mother was next to useless. That wasn't to say he wasn't checking it every five minutes for further inspiration.

He looked at the yellowed and worn pages again, glaring at the page with a hand-drawn picture of a Cubone through a pair of workmen's glasses.

He read an extract outloud to Cubone.

"Look here. It says" - he adjusted his glasses slightly and altered his voice to the quote - "' Cubone specifically enjoy scraps of any nature, mixed with fresh, untreated, wild berries'. That doesn't sound right, does it? Surely you've got to like something more than just scraps. This is why I didn't listen to my mother very often. Because she was as crazy. The same thing written on every page, just in different words."

He grinned at Cubone, who smiled and nodded back.

"She insisted on feeding everything leftovers, which isn't a very nice thing to -"

He was interrupted by the phone ringing.

"Sorry Cubone. I'll just take this... "

The phone had a handset in the kitchen, so Lorenzo lent over and picked it up, frowning at the screen.

"I don't recognise that number. Anyway..."

The phone made a beeping as he pressed a button and raised it to his ear.

On the other end of the phone, Bianca's friend, Katie, was ecstatic. The moment he answered, she squealed down the phone.

Cubone heard it from a meter away. Lorenzo practically threw the phone accross the room. But eventually the squealing stopped and he put the phone back to his ear.

"Who is this?"

Katie realised that it wasn't Bianca who'd picked up.

"Oh hi Mr Lorenzo! It's Katie! Is Bianca there?"

"She's in the shower right now. I could take a message?"

"Oh, okay then. Yeah. Err... Yeah"

There was a silence, and Lorenzo wondered if the call had gone dead.

"Katie? What's the message?"

"Oh, yeah. Absol's just given birth to her litter! 7 pups!"

"Oh right, that's wonderful! Seven? Wow! That was quick!"

"Yeah. They put her in an special machine at the pokemon centre. They normally have the litter after about a month, but the machine sped it up. Something about Absol being in pain"

"Oh, it's good that that's over then. How is she?"

"Tired. And she's not letting to pups inside the house, but Nurse Joy says that's normal. She's huddled with them at the bottom of the garden now."

"I take it you mean Absol, not Nurse Joy?" Lorenzo replied with a cheeky grin. "Yeah, Absol. Anyway, I was just calling to say, if Bianca wanted to come round tomorrow and see them, she could."

"I'm sure she'd love that. I'll tell her when she gets out of the shower"

"Thanks Mr Lorenzo. Oh, and I'm sure Absol would like it if the twins came along too."

"I don't think she'd be able to stop them."

"Yeah. Anyway, I've got to go now, I'm gonna need to buy some more food for theise extra mouths. See you tomorrow!"

"You too!"

Lorenzo heard a click on the other end of the phone as Katie hung up. As he put the phone back, he started talking to Cubone again, considerably cheered up.

"Well isn't that nice? Absol's had pups. I should make her something useful. What do you think?"

Cubone had often found himself subject to Lorenzo's half-rhetorical questions, and thourght on how to answer this one.

Well, Absol was looking after pups. She was the female and the male was irrelevant. Cubone was pretty sure that in the wild the male Absol normally stayed with the female, so of the services of his that she'd be missing the most, providing protection and fresh meat would be the top two.

Lorenzo couldn't make a fresh meat finding thing, but he could kind-of make a shelter for them. What Absol would want, especially with all the water around Alto Mare - Cubone couldn't remeber if Absol pups could habitually swim - would be some way of taking them around, keeping them near her and therefore safe, but at the same time as minimalistic as possible. She would want it to be as close to the wild as possible.

Cubone knew from personal experience with his last owner that a lead/harness was not the way to go. You couldn't put them on yourself, you couldn't take them off, they were uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Although along the harness theme... What if Absol had a saddle? A piece of material that spanned accross her back, with pouches either side that could be buttoned over with tiny straps, big enough for the pups to stick their heads out, but small enough to stop the rest of their body getting through. He guessed the pups would be around the size of a stuffed toy. Put pouches on either side of Absol, she could herd her pups into the sides and wear it herself. Then be able to take her pups with her, show them the world without worrying that they'd run off. Which Cubone imagined would be her worst nightmare.

This was an incredibly complex thourght to explain to Lorenzo when they didn't speak the same language, but Cubone was going to try anyway.

Lorenzo lifted an eyebrow as Cubone began to explain, gesturing with his hand and the bone to emphasise details.

First, he went on all fours like, Absol walked. Next, he pointed to his midriff, before standing up on the counter top again. Finally, he imitated putting his paws in a pocket on his front, like how a gengeskarn had its young.

Lorenzo make a 'Hmmm' Noise.

"So, a jacket? I don't think she'd like that, aren't they meant to like the cold. A jacket wouldn't make much sense..."

Just as Cubone shook his head, Latias flew into the room, looking around and focusing on Cubone when she saw him. She flew upto him and gave him a brief lick on the shoulder, which made Cubone make the closest thing to a giggling noise that he could.

"Hang on, your arm's a bit dirty... Wait... There... Hi Cubone!"

Lorenzo was temporary forgotten as the pokemon got absorbed in their own conversation.

"Hi Latias!"

"Who was on the phone?"

"Oh, Katie. Absol had her pups. 7 of them."

"Oh cool! I want pups!"

"Well you know who to ask for that. Not my job"

Latias gave him a look that said 'you're too young to think like that', even though there was no such thing in the wild. But she spoke with the same voice as before.

"Hmmm.. 7 pups. That's a bit awkward."

"Why?"

Latias showcased her ability to always think of the bizzare but relevant point.

"Well, she's only got 6 nipples. How's she going to give milk to 7 pups?"

Cubone had honestly not considered that, and had to pause for a moment.

"Good point. But it's not like you can help her on that"

"No... We could help her get food though, since she won't have a mate?"

"Maybe... Why aren't you with your mate anyway?"

"Latios has gone hunting, and he says it's too cold for me to go. It IS too cold. I don't know how he does it. He must be so strong and fluffy and..."

"Latias. Still here. Quit daydreaming"

"Sorry. What were you doing just now then?"

"Oh, Lorenzo wants to make a gift for Absol. I've got an idea, but I can't speak english. Could you translate?"

"Okay then, sure! What's the idea?"

Cubone looked at Lorenzo before explaining again, with the same motions as last time.

"It's a saddle that she can wear, with pouches either end for the pups to go in. It's got tiny straps over the pouches that are just are apart enough that they can stick their heads out of, but that they can't actually escape from. Then she can take the pups with her and show them how to do things, and keep them safe. It's a good idea right?"

Latias thourght it over again and nodded.

"Oh yeah. And make it with big toggle things that she can move with her own teeth. That way she can get the pups in and out without Katie's help. It'll be like a natural mothers pouch."

"Exactly!"

Latias turned to Lorenzo and started to explain the idea to him, both outloud and psychicly.

"That actually sounds like a good idea... Very good..."

Latias and Cubone both smiled.

"I'd need to know her measurements, but I can get working on the main bit now I guess, and get the measurements tomorrow. I'm glad we had an early dinner now."

Latias moved out of the way to let Lorenzo get to the back door. He pulled on a hat and set of fingerless gloves, before opening the door and looking back into the room. Latias immidiatly moved away from the cold.

"Chilly night tonight... You coming Cubone? I'm going to the workshop to make the main bit. It was your idea after all, you could help with the materials?"

Latias liked the sound of feeling all the materials, but it was cold outside and there wasn't much else she could do after she'd chosen the materials other than lie on the floor of the workshop - or in a boat if Lorenzo had just finished a build - and freeze. Cubone, on the other hand, didn't care about the temperature. Latias secretly envied his fur, it must keep him very warm.

"Sure. I'll help!". Cubone hopped down from the counter, waddled underneath Latias and out of the door. Lorenzo followed him and shut the door behind, leaving Latias alone in the kitchen.

Latias was still hungry, and although Latios was coming back from hunting soon - and it was very rare he came back empty handed - she was hungry now.

Lorenzo had left out the various things he'd been feeding Cubone, including a tub half-full with various poke blocks. The lid was off and it was on the side, so Lorenzo clearly expected her to eat it, otherwise he would have put it away and out of her reach. So there was nothing wrong with eating them.

With a smile, she flew over to the open box and started munching on the blocks. Instead of the normal dragon mix she was fed, this one was a collection of every single block type. Some didn't taste particularly nice - like the green grass type blocks, which were too sour in her opinion. Others tasked okay - like the purple psychic ones. None were as good as real meat or berries.

While she was eating, the tub was moving accross the counter, pushed by her snout. To combat this, she tried moving it in a circle. This plan failed dramatically as the tub tipped itself off the side and fell onto the floor with a clattering noise.

"Ahhhh!"

Latias dove behind the table before any humans could walk in. Yeah, the tub was out so she should have been allowed to eat it, but it hadn't stopped her from getting a slap accross the snout before.

But Bianca was in the shower, and the new guy was two floors up. Probably didn't hear anything.

Latias popped her head above the table, but no one was coming. So she could continue to eat the rest of the pokeblock off the floor.

She flew back around the table and went straight for the upturned tub, pushing it accross the floor with her snout. The tub remained the wrong way up, with the majority of the pokeblocks still inside.

"Stupid... Box... Go up! Turn! Grrrrr"

Eventually, she managed to manuver the box in such a way that it was against a slight dent in the floor. One final push and the box righted itself, spilling its contents on the floor, which Latias happily lapped up.

"Latias! Latias! Look at this!"

From outside, Latias heard her mate shouting. Which meant that he'd caught something to bring to her. It certainly sounded like it, his speach was all muffled, the kill blocking his mouth.

Latias flew up and span around on the spot three times, unsure what to do. She certainly smelled nice enough, on account of her still being in season. And thanks to the suprise soaking from the shower her coat was shiny enough. But... But.. She wanted something to give Latios. Like berries. Or some other kind of nice vegetation. Something shiny?

She spied the answer in a vase above the sink. In it were a collection of roses. And according to so many 'classic films' - that Lorenzo liked watching with them - males totally loved females with roses. Pretty sure.

Latias flew over and took the rose in her mouth. It wasn't de-thorned, but Latias' thick skin and tounge protected her from any spines.

Taking care to make sure the rose was clear of the vase before flying away, she headed to the door, Latios still yowling.

"Latias! I've got supper! Look at this!"

She tried opening the door by putting her head between the door and the frame, but Lorenzo had shut it tight and that wasn't going to work this time. With a miniature sigh, she flew up, depressed the handle with the tip of her snout, and carefully tugged the door open.

There was a blast of cold air when the door opened, but Latias delt with it on account of the fact that Latios had brought one of the biggest fishes she'd ever seen. Not 'the' biggest, but one of them. Top twenty.

"It's a sharpedo! Look! The skin's rough, but the insides smell good!"

Latias hovered in the doorway, unsure what to do. Go outside and eat, but be cold, or ask Latios to bring it inside?

Latias flew outside. If Latios took the kill inside, they'd both get punished.

"Wow, it's big!"

"Uhhu! It tried putting up a fight, but I got it!"

Latias looked admirably at Latios. In turn, he did the dragon equivalent of awkwardly shuffling his feet on the ground, ruffling the feathers on his rear fins. This was the fifth or sixth thing he'd caught as her mate, and the procedure for giving it Latias always seemed awkward. She'd always give him that kind of look, and he'd never know what to do next.

Latios decided the best thing to do would be to just drop the catch and let Latias dig in.

With a mixture of a 'thunk' and a 'spalt', Latios released his grip on the shark and it hit the patio a foot below.

Latias noted the injuries the creature had inflicted. Besides the four symmetrical punctures where he'd carried it, there was also a large chunk missing near the back fin, and a fairly long cut along the opposite side.

Latias imagined what her mate must have done to get the kill. He must have spied a pack of sharpedo, an entire shoal, and dived right into them, just to get this treat for her. Perhaps it tried swimming around and tried to bite him, but he got the lethal bite first. Except it'd still be moving, so a swipe accross the side to shock it. Fight off a few more of its friends. Then grab the injured one, fly it out of the water, then shake it around until it stopped struggling.

Latias realised just how lucky she was to have such a powerful mate, who could get her nice treats like this with little effort. He must be great to mate with...

"Is it okay? I mean, I had to take a bite out of its side because it just wouldn't give up, but I mean - "

"It's great! Really. Thanks!" Latias interrupted, humoured by Latios' stuttering. How could it be anything less then great? Food was food, and she was starving.

"Hmmm.. Next time I really think I sho-"

Latias silenced him by flying so her head was right next to his, and rubbing her snout against his, cooing softly as she did.

"Oh, right. Okay then... Err... Err.. Latias..? You've got a flower in your mouth? You know that right? Or... Or don't listen... That's cool too... I guess."

Latios stuttered, which made Latias giggle. She moved the flower from her mouth and nestled it behind Latios' left ear, flower facing forwards, then let go of it. After a few more seconds of rubbing his snout, she flew away, giving him a parting lick on the side of his snout where she spotted a bit of mud or blood or something.

"You look cute with that flower! Thanks Latios! Let's eat!"

Well, what do you think? Did I nail it or fail it? Let me know in your review! Which you're going to write now. Yep, even if you don't have a FanFiction account. No really, you don't need one. No more excuses, write that review! WORK THOSE FINGERS, KEYBOARD WARRIER!

Also, did I mention that this is a teaser? Yep, I had to take a bit of an ACTION break, and by that I mean a break to write ACTION (ACTION in capital letters because it's BIG ACTION) , which you can read in my story 'home', out on my profile now! If you'd rather stick with this, click the follow button and you'll get a notification when I start uploading it in about a month's time!