A/N: Such an overused plot. But this plot has a special place within my heart. This fic is inspired by TechnoRanma's Impossible. I haven't read it in years, but I've kinda memorized every sentence, poetic turn etc. so it's not strange if they're somewhat similar. This is an unbeta'd first chapter. I have very few ideas about where I'm going with this. I dunno when I'll update next. Exams are coming up.

It had been years and years since he last saw Ash. So that a drastic change in Ash's life were about to happen shouldn't have surprised him that much. But it did.

Gary stared down at the white, fancy card in his hands. He'd been staring at it for a few minutes.

Dear Gary,

You are invited to the wedding between Ash and Misty

Between Ash and Misty?

Gary couldn't comprehend the thought. In his first few minutes of shock his first thoughts had been why Misty?

Why Misty?

My first feelings when I first saw the letter was happiness. People hardly send letters anymore, and why anyone would bother to send a letter to me I didn't know. The handwriting on the envelope was elegant and swift. I guessed it was a woman's. The envelope contained a letter and a formal card. I chose to read the card first.

Why Misty?

Why her?

I know I have to bite the bullet. I know the question I really should be asking is: Why didn't he marry her sooner?

She is his oldest and best friend after all.

If you don't count me.

After all this years, I'm sure I'm not considered the best friend anymore. Maybe not even the oldest friend. I knew him first, that's true. But I'm not sure if he considers me his friend at all.

Gary swallowed and noticed his throat was completely dry. He drew a shaky breath. For a full five minutes he hadn't moved. He looked at the card again.

The wedding is a month from now.

He squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds. And opened them again.

The card is signed with both Misty's and Ash's name. But the signature is printed. They didn't bother to sign each card individually. Even his name is printed.

But then there's the letter.

The paper is thin, and Gary notices that his hands are shaking. Just a little. But, they are shaking.

The letter is handwritten and Gary recognizes the handwriting right away. It's come to the point where he has memorized Ash's handwriting, anything he'd ever written in fact, that be both mail or letter.

Ash asked him to come home to Pallet Town now. A month before the wedding.

In clear words it said:

I miss you

Gary knows he has no choice.

Even if he hadn't made the stupid promise to him years ago, he still would have come.

One last chance to see Ash.

One last chance to tell him everything before it's too late.

I don't know when I fell in love with Ash. It's so many years ago. I was always eager to meet him when I was traveling to become a pokémon master. When we decided to put aside our rivalry and become friends again, I was so happy. I guess I was in love with him already then.
I know when I realized it. It was one of the nights when I was traveling. I remember that I was sleeping under the open sky. Umbreon was with me. And I was dreaming. It was a simple dream. Ash was there. And he looked at me. He kept looking. And then he smiled. I don't know why or I don't know how, but when I woke up I knew that Ash was what I wanted.
That was ten years ago. Ten years is a long time to love somebody. One sided love. It's killing me. I haven't seen Ash in five years. He knows where I live and I know where he lives. And yet, I have been avoiding him. Whenever he wanted to visit I told him that I was too busy with my research. I avoided Pallet Town during holidays. After a few years he gave up trying.
I told myself that it's best this way. I know it's not the best for him. He must be so mad at me for breaking all contact. I was selfish. I thought that I would give up on loving him if we were apart for long enough. I never asked to be gay. Even till this day I wish it could just go away. I can't justify what I'm about to do now either. Is it because he says he misses me that I'm going back? Clinging to a false hope? On the inside I know it's no use. He's getting married after all.

I have to see him one last time.

One last time, before he's lost from me forever.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Gary," professor Oak said, smiling.

"Same to you, granddad," Gary said and reached for his cup of tea.

"It's been way too long since your last visit," the professor said looking at Gary. "It must be two years at least."

Gary agreed. "It is two years this autumn," he said while sipping his tea. "I'm sorry that I postponed the visit for so long. I've just been extremely busy with my research."

"Ah, yes," Oak laughed. "I'm glad Tracy is still working with me. I don't know how I could have survived without anyone to help me take care of all this pokémon."

Gary felt a pang of guilt running through him. "I'm really sorry. You could have asked me to stay and help you." It was a scenario Gary was sure would never happen, so he felt comfortable offering it. With Gary's career at top, Samuel would never ask such a favor of his grandson.

"Don't worry about it, Gary," Oak said, laughing. "I'm doing just fine."

Gary sipped his tea and looked around the room. It was the same as always.

"So, you came back for Ash's wedding?"

Gary flinched at those words. "Uh, yeah. I received a letter from him, asking me to come." Gary scratched the back of his head, trying not to look embarrassed. "He is… Well, used to at least, to be my best friend."

Professor Oak couldn't help the sad words that rolled up in the back of his mind. You don't have many friends, do you, Gary?

"I'll have to visit him, sooner or later," Gary sighed.

"Sooner or later? Wasn't this the reason for your return?" Samuel asked surprised.

"Yes, but let's just say that I'm not especially thrilled to be back for his wedding."

Professor Oak clearly heard the emphasis on the last word. He laughed. "Don't worry, Gary. You know Misty. She's a wonderful girl. And a wonderful pokémon trainer too."

Gary squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want to hear anything about Misty. He knew what Professor Oak said was true. But he didn't want to hear it.

"You OK, Gary?" Samuel asked concerned.

"Yes, sorry," Gary said. "I'm just a bit tired. And worried."

"I can see why," Oak smiled. "Ash's settling down. And when he's only twenty-five. It's a huge step."

Gary nodded softly. Samuel looked at his grandson. He looked exhausted. "You can go to bed if you like," he said. "I know it's the middle of the day, but it looks like you need a few hours sleep."

Sleeping didn't come easy to Gary. Sleeping in the middle of the day was even worse.
Not bothering to undress he fell on the bed and put his arm in front of his eyes. Thoughts of Ash filled his mind. He was less than five minutes away, if he could just work up the courage to go there. Gary groaned and white spots filled his eyes as his eyelids became exposed to the sunlight when he moved his arm.

I did not come here to be a coward.

Still, he couldn't deny the fact that he was tired. Maybe if he slept for two hours or so. The noise from the pokémon outside annoyed him so he put on his mp3 player and let the music wash over him. Desperately, trying to sleep, Gary put his arm in front his eyes again. His insides wouldn't stop twisting. He felt sick.

Gary didn't remember anything else before he suddenly sat right up in bed, realizing that he was sick. He rushed to the bathroom.

I haven't eaten in a while. Am I really that nervous?

Walking downstairs, he glanced at the clock. He'd slept for an hour.
Gary walked over to the lab and found his granddad in the middle of feeding some of the pokémon with help from Tracy. Gary nodded to him and Tracy greeted him back.

"I think I'll head over to Ash now," Gary said. Stop feeling like you want to throw up.

"Say hello to him and his mother for me, will you?" Professor Oak asked. "And Misty too, if she's there."

Gary froze with an undefined grimace on his face.

"You all right?" Tracy asked.

Gary forced a smile. "Uh, yeah. Thanks for asking Tracy. I just bit my tongue."

Tracy raised his eyebrows, but let it go.

Gary breathed in heavily,"See you later."

Why? Why do I feel so nervous? I should be happy. I'm going to see Ash again. I know the scenario isn't ideal. Dear god, I hope he doesn't hate me. I can't blame him for being mad. I'm mad at myself constantly. I never should have broken contact. I should have told him how I felt. Maybe everything would have been different. Because he misses me. Ash would never lie.
Then, why do I feel so sick? Is all the self loathing finally catching up with me? I need to concentrate. I am looking forward to see him again. If he's mad at me, I guess I'll figure that out soon.
Don't turn back. He said he did miss me. Just keep walking.

You need to see him. You need to know if it's true.

Don't give in.

You can do this. You love him after all…

Gary stood in front of Ash's house.

Just knock the door.

Just knock.

He invited you.

It's not like you're a young girl.

You shouldn't be afraid.

Just knock, Gary.

He knocked. After a few seconds he heard someone move behind the door. Gary swallowed. Too late to turn back now. The door swung open. And all of Gary's thoughts seemed to crash and break. There he was. Ash. All the self loathing, the fear suddenly didn't matter, for there he stood. Ash was still the same. He looked a bit older than he'd looked at twenty, but apart from that, he was the same. His black hair was still messy and he was still as tall as he'd always been.

They stared at each other for a few seconds. Gary felt himself getting dizzy. How long hadn't he dreamt about seeing Ash again? How deep hadn't he longed for this moment? And now that it was here, he was afraid to do as much as blink, afraid that everything would turn out to be a dream.

How I love you…

Ash was the one to break the silence. Softly, he said "Gary?"

Gary felt his throat growing tight and managed to whisper out "Yes. Yes, it's me."

As Ash threw himself at him, Gary's entire world seemed to crumble. It didn't matter that they hadn't talked in years. It didn't matter that he'd caused both Ash and himself pain. It didn't matter that Ash was getting married in less than a month.

For he was here with Ash. And Ash was hugging him like his life depended on it.

Everything was going to be all right.