Welcome to my first story. Basically it will be a few one shots on Leaf's life, based on the song 'Never Grow Up' by Taylor Swift. I am planning on writing a longer story but that won't be coming along for a while, and I want to improve my writing before I post it as well.

So please read this and tell me how I can improve :) I don't really mind what you say just don't full on hate me and I will be happy.

So I know reading through this again, I think it is a bit rushed, but I couldn't really figure out how to stop that, because I have a habit of making things really long winded. So if you have any tips that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the song 'Never Grow Up' or Pokémon.

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger
And it's so quiet in the world tonight
Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light
To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret
I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

"Leaf! It's so nice to see you. Gary's up in his room if you would like to go there."

"Hi Professor Oak. Thank you Professor Oak."

Leaf bounded up the stairs of the house, leaving her mother and the Professor alone in the hallway.

"Thank you so much for taking her Professor."

"It's no trouble at all Melanie. Gary loves having Leaf over."

"I know, it's just this is such short notice and she's only seven. I mean, what else-"

"It's fine. You have to do what you can for family."

Melanie Green nodded, "Thank you Professor."

With that she hurried out of the house, getting in the taxi that had been waiting outside.

Professor Oak stood by the window and watched her go.

Pokémon

Leaf bounded up the stairs. She knew exactly where to go to get to Gary's room. Her mother worked

with his grandfather, the Professor, and she had known Gary for all seven years of her life, and been over to his house on many occasions.

This time though, was different. This time, Leaf was going to stay over the night. A whole night! But the best part was yet to come. Gary didn't know yet, and she loved surprising people.

Leaf threw open the door to his room, "Gary!"

The boy was lying on his bed, auburn hair messy as always. He sat up quickly, yelping when his head hit the frame of the bed above.

"Leaf, Gramps didn't tell me you were coming."

"I know. Mummy only arranged it with him this morning."

"That's great." Gary's face lit up, a grin slowly making its way across it.

But Leaf wasn't finished, "There's more. I get to stay over tonight."

Gary leapt off his bed, "Really? You've never stayed over before. This'll be the best! Come on, we need to celebrate. There's some lemonade in the fridge, and Daisy made a cake yesterday. We'll have a feast!"

Pokémon

It was past nine when Professor Oak finally got the mischievous duo to go to bed.

"Come on you two, if you go to sleep late you won't be able to do so much tomorrow."

Leaf and Gary finally conceded, but not before having one last game of Hide and Seek with the Professor. Soon they were in bed, Leaf on the top bunk, Gary on the bottom.

"Professor Oak, when's Mummy coming tomorrow?"

The old man hesitated before he answered, "I'm not sure Leaf. We didn't arrange that. How forgetful of us." He laughed, a nervous kind, but luckily the small girl bought it, laughing with him.

"So then maybe I'll have to stay here forever." She smiled up at him, an innocent girl, and inwardly, Professor Oak sighed.

"Lord help us."

Pokémon

"Professor Oak, why hasn't Mummy come yet?"

The two seven year olds and Professor Oak were sitting around the dinner table. Professor Oak looked out the window, "I don't know Leaf. I'm sure she'll be here soon. You don't mind staying here a bit longer, do you?"

The doorbell rang.

"I think that's your mother now, Leaf. Why don't you and Gary go up and get your things?"

"Okay, Professor. Come on, Gary."

"I'll race you Leaf. Ready, go!" The pair ran out of the room, leaving Professor Oak alone. He went to the door and opened it, and saw the tear stained face of Melanie Green.

"I've got cancer, Professor Oak. It's bad. The doctors think I have a seven percent chance of making it. And if I do, then it's almost certain it will come back soon."

"Melanie…" He moved close to her, and hugged her, as she sobbed into his shoulder.

Pokémon

Leaf walked into the hallway with Gary beside her. She stopped when she saw her mother crying.

"What's wrong, Mummy?"

Melanie looked up, her eyes meeting Leaf's briefly before she looked away.

"Mummy?"

"Why don't we go have some hot chocolate?" Professor Oak suggested. He guided Melanie into the kitchen, leaving Leaf with Gary.

Leaf felt tears building up in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Her shoulders were shaking, and she felt Gary wrap his arms around her.

"What are you doing?"

He looked at her, like it was a stupid question, "Hugging you, what else?"

"Why?"

"That's what Gramps was doing when your mum was crying. Do you want me not to?"

"No, it's okay. It's nice."

They stood there for a few moments, before Leaf controlled her tears, and pushed Gary off her. Then they followed the adults into the kitchen.

Pokémon

Melanie looked up as her daughter and her friend came into the kitchen, and silently sat across from her. She looked at Professor Oak before she started speaking.

"I went to the hospital a few days ago Leaf. It was nothing serious, just a routine check-up," she added when she saw Leaf's scared face.

"Then what's wrong? Did something happen to Dad?"

"No, nothing like that. It's just that the doctors saw something unusual, so they thought they would look into it a bit more."

"Are you sick?"

Melanie paused, then started, "Just a little bit. What I have, it doesn't happen to everyone, and the doctors don't have a cure for it yet."

Leaf froze, her body tensed, and she felt Gary shift beside her.

"Are you going to be alright?"

"I will be, for now. I have to go back in next week and get a few procedures done, then I'll be out, and all better."

"What do you have?"

Melanie breathed in deeply. She wished her daughter wasn't so curious, or so smart. She would know what cancer was.

"I have cancer, honey."

There was silence in the room; a pin dropping could have been heard.

"No!" Leaf cried, the tears were coming back and she couldn't stop them. "People die from cancer Mummy! You're going to die! You can't die!" She leapt up and ran around and hugged her mum, harder than she ever had before. "You can't die, Mummy, I love you, you can't leave me!"

"I know, sweetie. I promise I won't go anywhere."

But as Melanie looked up, and her eyes met Professor Oak's, she knew that the inevitable would come.

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little
Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple
I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, never grow up