Serena tossed and turned for the umpteen time under the cover of her sheets, she can't remember the last time she felt so uneasy. There was that one time when she had mild food poisoning… - Serena threw the covers away from her face, and she found herself staring aimlessly at the ceiling.

Shimmering moonlight crept into the room, even at midnight, the silvery light enabled the objects in the room to be visible to its' occupants. Four beds but three was occupied, one bed closest to the window was untouched. Serena flipped to her side and glanced at the bed; she could still imagine him there.

She had watched him fall asleep several times during their journey, and she makes unconcious notes about how he tend to put his arm over his eyes at times, or making a victory pose or even hugging pikachu tightly; causing the electric mouse pokemon to shock him awake. It was these little movements, that entertained Serena when she couldn't fall asleep herself.

Tonight however, the bed was left empty. Serena pulled her eyes away and found the clock sitting on the drawer next to her – she touched the face of the clock, both hands were on twelve.

"Ash…" she whispered.

All of a sudden, she heard the door click shut. Serena bolted upright with shock and a glimmer of hope. She glanced towards the door, half expecting to see Ash walking through them but it wasn't. In fact, there wasn't anyone there.

Serena felt puzzled. She was sure that the door did open and shut, not wanting to give up. She moved to the edge of the bed, and touched the ground with the tip of her toes. Serena remembered how the beds creaked – she was the one who noticed that earlier that morning. She lifted herself slightly, putting most of her weight on the knees; one eye on the siblings asleep across the room.

"1..2..3" Serena counted the numbers in her head, and up she was.

"Hhmm"

Serena noticed Bonnie stir, mummering something inaudible from within her Snugglet. She froze, but relaxed almost immediately when Bonnie turned to face the other direction.

She crept towards the door, and shut it behind her as quickly as she could.

Her eyes were blinded temporaily from the lights in the hallway, instinctively, her hands were raised to shelter them.

They were staying at the pokemon centre for the night, and it was lucky that Nurse Joy had a spare room for them. They paid the usual rent for the room and found themselves to be well taken care of. There was even a small hotspring bath behind the pokemon centre where they had talked about jumping into that evening…

Serena made her way to the stairs and peered over the railings, she had grown accustomed to the lights – She walked down the stairs and entered the lobby. It was empty, except for nurse Joy who was behind the counter.

"Oh, you're up late." Nurse Joy said, she smiled at Serena who returned it.

Serena glanced at the door then back at Nurse Joy, the latter stepped away from the counter and approached Serena.

"I thought I heard the door open…has Ash…?" Serena paused when Nurse Joy's expression fell.

"I haven't seen him…" Nurse Joy replied, shaking her head gently.

Serena felt her hope fade, but she was sure she hadn't imagined the door click shut on its own.

"Serena-san… I know how you are feeling; but you might want to give him sometime alone." Nurse Joy said in a comforting and understanding voice.

Serena felt an arm around her back and a hand on her head – she was pulled into a hug by Nurse Joy.

The hug sent a thousand emotions rushing through her mind and her heart.

Flashes of memories came to mind, memories that she had been trying to put at bay so as to be strong in front of her compaions and pokemon.

She watched horrified at the stands, when Greninja and Ash lost the battle against the Wuffric the gym leader.

She approached and saw Ash's crestfallen devasted expression.

She waited nervously while Greninja was being healed by Nurse Joy in the operating room.

He refused to talk to them.

And when he did, it was to only tell them that he wants to be left alone. He walked away from the group, from her into the snowy night.

"I…I wanted to tell him…" Serena struggled to finish her words, it was all stuck in her throat.

How much that I worry when he becomes depressed.

How much it hurts when he refuse to open up to us…to me…

He doesn't have to face his problems alone…

I…I'm always there for him….

It was as though Nurse Joy had a telepathic mind, she patted her head gently and even though Serena could not see it, she smiled kindly.

"Ash is really lucky to have a friend like you, even more so if he knew how much you…"

Nurse Joy did not continue her words, but merely comforted the girl in her arms quietly. She had seen many trainers in her line of work and she was always impressed at how much the people show this beautiful quality towards their pokemon and to each other. It was amazing to know that love at its purest form was most joyful to watch.