So here was a one-shot that grew into a multi-chapter fic. It's a reasonably short story when you look at my other ones. Hehe. It's basically about Paul's life when he gets landed with something he didn't expect. In later chapters it does go a little darker but that's life for you.

Think of this as a birthday treat. It's my birthday and treating all of you. So now, please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

Act One, Scene One

Alone. He was alone. With nothing but that empty feeling in his stomach that told him he would be alone forever. Not a soul would dare approach him. First his brother. Then his best friend. Damn he hated their happiness so much. He couldn't really blame it on anyone else. He'd been far too wrapped up in his training to meet people, gain experience with people and the like. Yep, it was really biting him in the butt now.

The disco lights were on. The room was darkened and the music was turned up to a horrible level that made Paul cringe. He looked round the room. Nothing was out of the ordinary, unless you count the rather large amount of people dancing rather stupidly to the Chicken Dance.

Paul glanced over to see his brother dancing with his wife of two years. She looked gorgeous in her knee length dress and high heeled shoes. The way Reggie was smiling was pure gold. He was happy beyond measure but she could've looked a little more engrossed in him rather than checking out a waiter who was passing by.

Why did Reggie have to marry her? That little tramp of all people? She was only interested in Reggie because he was a successful business man now with a chain of Pokémon Daycare places across the five regions. She was pretty, there was no doubt about that, but there was something about her than Paul hated. She had pushed Reggie and Paul to the extreme more than twice, once on the verge of them never talking again. Yet, brotherly love had played its part as well as Paul's best friend sticking her nose in. There was something about Vanessa that Paul hated for sure.

Vanessa was a spoilt little girl that had Reggie wrapped around her little finger. Although Paul had to admit his brother was happy, Paul could see that Vanessa wasn't ecstatic. She was prim and proper, as cold as ice and a little hormonal the majority of the time. Paul let out a sigh.

His eyes darted towards Robyn who was dancing with her new husband. She was wearing the most elegant wedding dress Paul had ever seen and seeing as he was her best friend and, ahem, 'guy of honour', he had seen plenty over the last few months. He'd chosen that one for her. She had been ecstatic when she finally had it. Robin had curly red hair that was currently up in a fancy do. She was dancing with a tall green haired man who was having trouble with dancing. Yeah, trust Robyn to marry the other Hayden, not the one everyone else was crazy about. Yes, Adam Hayden was totally different to his brother, Drew.

Robyn had grown up with Paul. They had met at school and been the best of friends ever since despite him being a trainer and her being a co-ordinator. They shared pretty much the same view on everything, apart from training styles that was. Robyn had always understood Paul and was the only person who had never tried to change him. Rhe was a cute girl who really shouldn't have hung out with him since he was… well the jerk, but their friendship had always remained strong.

In fact, Reggie had been surprised when Robyn had announced her engagement. Paul suspected that Reggie always thought she and Paul would end up together since they were so close. Yet Paul had no other feeling for the girl apart from that of a dearly beloved sister. It was something much more than friendship and much purer than love that they shared.

But Adam was a good match for her. He was a Pokémon trainer. The two had met via Drew in Johto and despised each other until Paul hinted that they had 'issues'. Three years later Robyn had made him the equivalent to the maid of honour. He half expected her to make him wear a dress. She was that strange.

Drew was currently… busy. Paul doubted it was anything to with Best Man business, much rather Best Man perks. Obnoxious playboy. So Paul sat there on a rather uncomfortable chair, alone. No one talked to him. They had their own people to talk too. How many people were his friends here? Robyn. Reggie. That was it. There was no one he could talk to.

Someone prodded him. It was a small girl with curly green hair, wearing a bridesmaid dress. Paul's face softened as he looked down at his goddaughter. She was Drew and Adam's niece. Her name was Emily. She was around four years old and still at that cute stage where everyone wanted to pinch her cheeks. Paul resisted the urge with considerable ease. She smiled at Paul and twirled round in her pretty pink dress.

"Paulie," she said, "Do you like my dress?"

"It's very nice," Paul replied. She climbed onto the seat beside Paul and watched the people dance on the dance floor.

"Music loud," she stated.

"Yeah," Paul agreed. Paul looked at the four year old. He was even failing in talking to her. What was wrong with him? If he couldn't even talk to a little girl he had no chance of talking to anyone else. How would he handle trying to find a date in a bar if he couldn't talk to someone he knew this well? He was pathetic. He was such a scaredy cat he could hardly bear it. The little girl didn't seem to notice his internal battles. She was just bopping to the tune of the song.

"Paulie," she said.

"What Emily?" he asked.

"When I grow up I want to be just like Robyn," she said, "But I want to be like Paulie too."

"You don't want to be anything like me, Emily," Paul told her. She titled her head in confusion.

"Why?"

"You see Robyn and Reggie?" he asked, pointing at the two people dancing with their partners. Slowly Emily nodded. "They're with someone. They're happy. I'm not either."

"Paulie not happy?" she asked sounding horrified. Paul chuckled. He held out his hand for her.

"Come on, Emily," he said, "Dance?"

"Paulie is the best!" she chorused eagerly grabbing his hand and dragging him to the dance floor.

So no Dawn in this chapter I'm afraid, but she will appear in the next! The next update shall be… Er… Erm… Monday. Yeah Monday. I've got to work it round my other fics. Don't want to over load you :) Please review with your thoughts!

RSx