Hello, readers! Sally White here, bringing you a new story. I haven't written for Pokémon in almost four years, but I do believe that my writing style has improved since then. Now, a few warnings about this story for those of you who need them. I have not seen all the episodes of Pokémon for any season including the most recent ones. I did not see most the Advance episodes or Diamond and Pearl. I just adore Dawn and am just okay with May. This story will be loosely combining the anime and the manga series, but understand that I have not read all of the manga chapters either. This is a FANFICTION, therefore if characters seem OOC or if plotlines seem out of wack, you must excuse it because none of the stories on this site are true thus you must not judge. If you do not like the story, then stop reading and just find another story to read. I do support AAML, however there won't be any until later in the story. I am also a supporter of Giovanni being Ash's father and Richie being Ash's brother. You will see my take on this as you read. Well, I think that's all, so enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or the song Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. I do own Grace and the plot of this story, so please do not steal either.

Cat's in the Cradle

By: Sally White (a.k.a. RDH)

Part 1

There were three things you didn't talk about in the Ketchum residence.

One was politics. This was just one of the well-known social rules, so it wasn't hard to keep to, and if anyone started to talk about it they were promptly told (politely) by Deliah to shut up or leave the room. Simple as that.

Another one was sex. While everyone was old enough to know about it and understand it, this was Deliah's house and she did not want any of that "vulgar talk under her roof," as she had put it. Of course, the teenagers and young adults did talk about this subject but they always made sure that it was only when Deliah wouldn't hear them. Unsurprisingly, that was not often.

The third was Ash's father.

Or the Ketchum side of the family, in general.

Ash had found this out at an early age. He'd only been five when he had first asked about "when daddy was coming home". He'd been smacked across the face, his mother screaming that it wasn't important and that they didn't need his father around to be a loving, happy family. Not long after she had broken down crying out of guilt for hurting and yelling at Ash, who immediately forgave her. That had been over eleven years ago, and not once since then had he brought up his father. Occasional comments like "your father would be so proud" were thrown out there by Deliah, but they were few and far between.

Ash had always wondered about his father and his father's side of the family. Not a day went by that he didn't think about it. But he didn't dare ask his mother. He had tried asking Professor Oak about it once when he was seven, but the old man had just waved his question off and told the boy not to worry about it. Somehow, Ash could sense that the professor knew more than he let on.

As he traveled around with his companions, his curiosity about his family had grown. Misty had her sisters; Brock had his huge family; May and Max had their parents; Dawn had her mom; even Grace had her Uncle Jeb and her cousin Carson. But as to his own family, Ash was completely clueless.

He tried not to let it bother him. He instead focused on his journey to achieve his dream of becoming the Pokémon Master. But that didn't stop the thoughts from creeping up on him late at night when he had nothing left to think of. He could never shake the feeling that it was something important, something that could change his life if he was to ever find out. . .

..

"C'mon, Pikachu, let's head home," Ash called to the little yellow mouse as he shifted the paper grocery bags he held in his arms.

Pikachu trotted up to stand beside his trainer, letting out a cute "cha!" as he did so.

Ash chuckled then started down the street that signified the beginning of the short walk back to his house. It was only about fifteen minutes away and the weather was actually pretty nice for early October, which could have been any kind of weather. The sun was shining in a white-clouded sky and a nice breeze blew that made the day not too hot yet not too cold. The grass was a nice green color and the leaves on the trees had just started to change colors. All-in-all, a beautiful afternoon.

Ash had decided to take a break from his journey and spend some time in his hometown of Pallet with his mother. Brock had decided to go home as well, and Max had decided to take Dawn home with him to introduce the blue-haired girl to his parents, since the two had started dating. They had all agreed to meet up in Twinleaf Town in Sinnoh after Halloween.

Ash's mother had asked Ash earlier that day if he would mind going to the store to pick up a few items for her. Eager to get out of the house, he had agreed immediately. It had only taken him a little over an hour to go to town and go to the store to buy the items, and now he and Pikachu were ready to head back.

Ash hummed a wordless tune as the two traveled out of town and down the path that led to his house. Full of content and ease, he almost didn't hear the whisper coming from some bushes on the side of the path.

"Psst!"

Ash stopped and blinked. Pikachu noticed that his trainer had stopped walking and also stopped, looking back at the boy. The electric mouse cocked his head to the side. "Pikapi?"

"Did you hear that, Pikachu?"

"Pi?"

Ash shook his head. "Nothing. Must be my imagination."

"Psst!"

Ash looked around frantically. "There it is again!"

Pikachu also looked around. He had heard that one.

"Psst!"

Without thinking, Ash threw the bags in his arms to the ground and went into a fighting stance with his fists up. "I know you're there! Come on out and fight!"

"Pika!" Pikachu cried out, sparks coming off of his red cheeks.

A chuckle was heard, and a girl stepped out from the grove of bushes.

Ash lowered his fists and stood up straight; he did not, however, relax, still ready to defend himself if he had to. "Who are you and what do you want?"

The girl looked to be no older than himself, if not older. She wore tight black pants and black boots, and a flower-patterned top with loose elbow-length sleeves and a white undershirt.

"Ash Ketchum," she said, starting to slowly circle him. "What a sight to see."

"What do you want," he repeated, a little more firmly. She was slim and about his height, but her actions were making him nervous.

Her crimson red eyes gleamed with something that he couldn't name as she continued to slowly circle around him. Her long white hair was blown gently around her by the breeze, making her seem more mysterious than he liked to admit. "Want?" she asked innocently. "Why, I don't want anything."

"Then what are you doing?" he demanded, following her movements with his eyes.

She stopped in front of him, looking directly into his own brown orbs. "I am merely curious, that's all."

He stared back, refusing to let her see how antsy she was making him feel. "Curiosity killed the Skitty, you know."

"But satisfaction brought it back," she cheekily replied, clasping her hands behind herself in a look of innocence. She stared into his eye, urging him to ask her what was up. When he didn't say anything, she went on, "Haven't you ever wondered, Ash?"

"About what?" left his mouth before he could stop it.

"Life," she replied, lifting one hand to catch a leaf as it fell from a nearby tree. "Love." She looked at him. "Or, in your case, family."

He breathed in sharply, tensing up.

"Tell me, Ketchum," she crushed the leaf in her hand, "how much do you know about your family."

He turned his head sharply, looking away from her as his eyes narrowed.

"The Ketchum name is one that is well known." She let the now-crushed leaf fall from her hand to the ground. "But it's not just because of you." She looked at him, imploring him to grasp at what she meant even though he wasn't looking at her. "Do you know, Ash? Do you know just what the Ketchum name means to some? Do you know the pain, the joy, the hate, the love that some feel just from hearing that name?" Her eyes darkened. "Do you know the history, the stories that come from that name?"

When she received no reply, she chuckled darkly before going on, "If I were you, I would ask about it before it's too late. It is your family, after all." She took a step back. "The time for change is coming. And as soon as that old man dies, the glory of that name will die too. He and Oak are the only ones left who remember what happened. If I were you, I would learn before it's too late."

Ash looked up at her, confusion written all over his face. "Too late? For what?"

"All in due time, Ash," she told him, turning around to leave. "All in due time." With that she walked away into the forest, the shadows hiding her.

Ash was left with much confusion. The Ketchum name. . .? My family. . .? What does she mean. . .?

..

Ash burst into his house. "Mom!"

Deliah came out from the kitchen. "Oh, Ash, you're back. Here, let me help you with those." She took the grocery bags from him and made her way back into the kitchen.

Ash followed her. Pikachu headed to Ash's room, sensing that the two would need to be alone. The black-haired boy bit his lip, nervous about what he was about to ask her. He hadn't asked in so long . . . "Mom, something weird happened on my back."

"What was that, sweetie?" she asked, putting away the groceries.

"Some strange girl stopped me and asked me. . ." He swallowed. "She asked me . . . how much I knew about my family . . . the Ketchum side of the family."

Deliah froze, then slowly turned to look at her son. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," he answered. "Because I really don't know anything."

She just looked at him.

Ash swallowed again then went on, "Mom, I'm almost seventeen. I think I'm ready to know about my dad and his side of the family. I know you don't like to talk about it," he added quickly, "but I can't shake the feeling that this is important."

Deliah looked off to the side and sighed. "I knew that this day would come." She motioned to a chair. "You're going to want to sit down for this, Ash."

He sat and waited for her to speak.

"You're father and I met when I was about twenty years old," she began. "He was very mysterious and charming, and all the girls in Pallet wanted to be with him. I was very meek and shy in those days, and I didn't get a lot of gentlemen callers, so I didn't even think that he would notice me. Then one day he showed up at the flower shop I worked at. He ordered a dozen of roses, saying that they were for the girl he fancied. Imagine my surprise when he handed the roses right back to me." She chuckled softly. "He asked me to go to dinner with him, and there was no way I was going to tell him no. We began seeing each other after that. I was young and naïve, all full of dreams of marriage and family and a home with a picket fence. I never suspected . . ." She shook her head. "He proposed to me after four months. The wedding was planned in three months, and then we were married."

"That's really fast," Ash commented.

Deliah nodded. "Yes, it was. I should've suspected something then, but I didn't want to believe that something was wrong."

Ash blinked. "Wrong?"

She nodded again. "Yes. But a few months after the wedding I found out . . . that I had married Giovanni Ketchum, leader of Team Rocket."

Ash stared, the shock taking his breath away. "What?" he gasped.

"Giovanni is your father, Ash," Deliah said softly, looking away. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before," she looked at him, her eyes desperate, "but can you really blame me?"

Ash coughed, finally getting air back into his lungs. "I guess not," he wheezed, not entirely sure of what else he could say.

"He bought me this house," she went on. "I guess he was trying to make it up to me for not telling the truth. He said that he would send me money so that I wouldn't be in want. He still does," she added, "and that's why I don't work. It's usually more than enough to pay the bills and buy groceries. He also gave me Mimey."

Ash nodded, indicating to her that he was still listening.

"Not too long after I found out the truth about him I discovered that I was pregnant," she continued. "He was pleased, I guess because he thought that he would have an heir. Time passed and before I knew it my baby was being born." She looked away and said quietly, "Only it wasn't just one . . ."

Ash gasped. "What . . .?"

"I had two babies," Deliah said, still not looking at him. "Twins, actually. Two perfect little boys. Ashton Satoshi . . . and Richard Hiroshi."

"Richie," Ash gasped.

Deliah nodded, looking at Ash with tears in her eyes. "But I knew that I couldn't have two wonderful babies constantly under a criminal's watch. So . . . I sent one of my babies away to my cousin who lives in Johto. I made her promise to take good care of him." Tears fell from her eyes as she watched her son stare at the floor in shock. "It was for the best. Giovanni doesn't know that he's the father of two, he only knows about you. I had to keep one of you safe from his grasp." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, but could I have said? I didn't want you to hate me . . ."

Ash looked up sharply at this. "Mom, I could never hate you. I love you."

She breathed in deeply to calm herself, nodding. "Thank you. I needed to hear that."

Ash brought a hand to his forehead. "So . . . Giovanni is my father and Richie is my twin brother." He shook his head, lowering his hand, chuckling humorlessly. "Small world." He looked back up at his mother. "But what about dad's side of the family? What do I need to know about them."

Deliah seemed to think for a moment, then sighed. She stood up straight and looked her son in the eye. "Ash, how would you like to meet your grandfather?"

He smiled grimly. "Something tells me that I need to."

"And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then"

To Be Continued . . .

So, that's the start of the story. I should give you all a fair warning that I am a college student with a busy schedule, so if I take a while to update, I apologize. I may or may not wait to upload the rest of the story until I have all the other chapters completed, I do not know. What do you all think? Let me know by dropping a review or PMing me. Thank you for your time. Laters! Peace – Sally White