A/N: I hope you like the chapter. I kind of...had gotten writer's block like right in the middle of writing the beginning scene, but I strangely found myself recovered and back with ideas after watching about five episodes of APH (Axis Powers Hetalia). I don't know...how the hell I found myself able to write again after that. But, pfft, I'm not complaining. I was so amused by the episodes though that I started listening to songs by Three Days Grace to put myself into a more serious moon. And unfortunately, I am a fan of theirs, and well, the music pumped me up instead. -_-' Ah, you just can't win sometimes!

...*Coughs* Sorry for the rambling. Oh, and this chapter's going to be written in regular print this time. Not bold. The reason why I had written it entirely in bold was to give the prologue a little bit more of an impact. You know what I'm saying? No more chapters will be written that way though, so sorry for any confusion there might have been!

Disclaimer: Given the circumstances, it's probably best if I don't own Pokemon. *Rolls eyes*

[.]

When Everything Crashes Down

Chapter Two: Stormy Nights

[.]

God, it was such a nasty storm outside. You could hear the screeching wind, the crash of lightning, and the raindrops falling roughly to the earth. And looking outside through the window of his bedroom, Ash exhaled a breath and quickly closed the curtain. He hadn't seen a rainstorm this terrible in months now.

He's always been somewhat scared by them. He could vaguely remember. . .bolting up from his bed in the middle of the night as a child and gazing out the window with wide, terrified eyes at the storm outside. And nearly jumping out his skin when another crash of lightning broke the brief silence. He knew that he could have easily ran to his mother's room and hide with her for some comfort. But he was too stubborn and didn't want to admit that he was panicked over this. He would pretty much hide and tremble underneath his covers until his mom would eventually hear his soft whimpers and come try to sooth him because she somehow could sense when he was scared.

And even to this day, Ash still was too stubborn to admit whenever he was scared. He's always been really bold and willing to take a chance no matter what the risk. Leading him into countless tight situations in his life. No matter what the predicament he would get himself trapped in, he would just not break down and admit he was scared. And has rarely ever done that. Mmm, besides, he's sixteen now. No sixteen year old boy should be afraid of some stupid storm.

Maybe so. But. . .admittedly, he kind of just wanted to curl up and be shut away from the storm in a soundless room. Which, in fact, this idea was sounding more and more appealing the longer he thought about it.

Ash ran a finger through his messy black hair and fell backward flat on his bed. He sighed aloud and put his arms behind his head. 'Geez, it's only some little storm. Don't get so panicked over this, you can't just freak out like a little three year old. . .' Still, these thoughts that he was trying to strike into his mind did not help prevent him from freezing completely in sudden fear after hearing a loud crash of lightning and seeing the lights in his room begin to flicker on and off.

". . .Ohh! That was a big crash of lightning!" Cried Ash's mother, Delia Ketchum, from downstairs of the house. Ash heard this and changed into a sitting position by the edge of the bed. "I hope the power doesn't go out before I can finish cooking dinner!"

Dinner? Ash's stomach suddenly made a low growl and he managed a groan and rolled over onto his side. That's right, it was about seven at night and they hadn't even eaten yet. Him and his mom had been out at the market getting groceries when the storm had suddenly came up and left them stranded at the store with a bunch of other scared and annoyed customers. Luckily by some miracle, they managed to make it to their vehicle and drive back home safely. And they've been back for ten minutes, but he was starving and really needed something before he died of hunger. He had this big appetite, it needed to be filled.

"What am I supposed to do while I wait?" Ash muttered under his breath while draping him arm from the bed and lowering it to the wooden flooring below. His feet kicked back and forth in a slow motion, in good pattern with the forceful raindrops outside tapping the windows. "I can't call up Brock, he's visiting his family over the weekend. I can't call Misty, she told me she's having a sleepover with Dawn at her house and doesn't want to be interrupted. I can't call Gary, I hate his guts. And everyone else I know probably are either too busy or just wouldn't care to answer back! Well...I could call Tracey, but he told me that he's been so overworked lately from school and his part-time job that he has to hit the sack early. . .darn it. . ."

Wait, there still was one person he could get in touch with; May. How could he have possibly forgotten about her? After all, they have been close friends since they were little kids. And even after him and his mom had moved away, they still kept in touch pretty much daily. He hoped that she was doing alright.

She's told him about that man that her mom's become absolutely infatuated with. What his name? Turner? That the two were just about inseparable, but he openly couldn't stand May and Max and treated them like they were useless to the world itself. Just the thought of that guy. . .it burned Ash up to think about it.

He couldn't imagine the thought of one's own parents to get divorced over something that could have easily been mended, and then the other you're living with suddenly fall hopelessly head over heels for another person that couldn't stand you. And then no matter how hard you tried to get the parent to listen, your words fell on deaf ears because they did not believe you. It had to suck, and must be very agonizing and frustrating to live with. He was surprised that May and Max still even put up with Caroline. Ash on the other hand. . .

He never had known his father. He grow up without him around, and his mother would date from time to time but she never found anyone that she seriously loved. When he was old enough to understand the situation, she had explained to him one day that his father never really wanted any kids at all. They were engaged to be married, but she found out soon that she had been pregnant for at least a month and a half. And well, he didn't like the news. So he broke their engagement and left, kind of ironically it was during a rainstorm, and his last words to her were a muffled apology that her ears just managed to catch. But still, Delia remained strong and didn't dwell on that. She had carried Ash for the rest of the time, gave birth, and raised him by herself.

Yet, he could somehow place himself in May and Max's predicament. And feel very sympathetic just by thinking about how it must have felt.

Just as Ash placed a hand on his folded, nearby laptop to grab it, he heard another loud crash of lightning that was followed by the doorbell. Though kind of shaken by that noise first noise, he was actually shocked that someone was at the door.

Why would anybody come visit them in such a rough storm?

[.]

'Who could be at the door at a time like this? I hope they're okay!' Delia thought, slightly panicked, as she set down the spoon she was using and strolled out of the kitchen, through the living room, and to the front door.

Fearing for their visitor's being, Delia was quick to unlock and open the door. Just as it was pulled all the way open, her eyes widened in surprise.

"H-hello, Mrs. Ketchum. . .please. . ." The shaky voice managed to compose slightly, and the drenched and freezing young girl on the doorstep set down her suitcase and clasped her hands together. "Please let me inside!"

Delia clasped a hand over her mouth. "May! Why are you. . .oh, come inside quickly! You're going to get sick out here like this!"

May quickly gathered her suitcase and made no hesitation whatsoever to step into the house past Delia. She was cold. She was soaked through her clothes and to her skin. But that wasn't the only reason why she was shaking. She was feeling guilty now that she had arrived at the house to start a new life, and was experiencing the results of being harassed by a creepy stranger several minutes ago.

"It's nice of you to come visit, don't get me wrong. But," Delia closed the door firmly and locked it just as the rain outside grew thicker and much more louder as it pelted the house. "Did you come here in the middle of that storm all alone? Without even a vehicle whatsoever?"

"I had to." May breathed, slipping off her soaked jacket and hanging it on the nearby rack by the door. "Listen, I can't go back home. Not unless my mom can finally realize how wrong she's being about that weasel she's fallen for!" By this point, May looked genuinely afraid and was clasping her hands together and looking up at Delia with wide, fearful brown eyes. "I've been through too much to go back, I came here because I need comfort and support, I need a new life. Please let me stay here for a while, Mrs. Ketchum! PLEASE!"

Delia just blinked. Barely being able to comprehend all that May was telling her.

[.]

"Now, just calm down and explain what this is all about. We need to know." Deilia said softly, handing May a big white towel to dry off with. The drenched girl was quick to take it, and murmured her thanks to her as she wrapped her hair up in it and started squeezing the water out.

Ash and Delia both sat on the couch with May. They were confused and kind of shocked about all of this, not understanding what was going on or why May left home in the middle of the night and in a storm at that.

But they didn't pressure her for answers. They patiently waited for her until she could find all the words she was needing to tell them. At least thirteen seconds passed and finally, May held back a pathetic sob and then wrapped the towel around her shoulders.

"Right. Um. . .well, I had to do something quick. I couldn't take it anymore. I just couldn't," May's tone was getting lower and lower in obvious regret over her decision. But she tried to stay strong, and she avoided Ash and Delia's concerned faces. "My mom.. .I've told you about that horrible Turner guy that she's fallen for, right?"

Ash nodded in response. May could sense his extreme concern now. "Yeah. You've told us about him."

"It's obvious to everyone accept mom, that he utterly hates me and Max. There's no doubting that, especially when you take into consideration all of these nasty things he says about us! Tonight, mom and Turner were going out to some real fancy restaurant for dinner. . .and me and Max know he's going to propose to her." May's shoulders stiffened. "We both cleared that up easily because we had noticed him going into a jewelry store, picking up this diamond ring, and it's just so obvious he wants to marry her because of the way he's around her pretty much twenty four seven!"

"Would it really be that bad, May?" Delia asked with a sad frown. May had turned around and gave her a bewildered look while she blanched, but she shook her head and grabbed the towel lightly from her shoulders; leaning over to dry her face which was wet from a mixture of rain and tears.

"Yes it would be!" Ash suddenly interrupted, slamming his hands down onto the couch. All eyes fell on him, but he didn't care. "I know it seems like a stupid reason for leaving, but May did the right thing! She told me a few weeks ago. . .that Caroline doesn't believe her and Max about that guy. And that her warnings fall on unwilling to listen ears. It must be really hard, to be ignored like that by your own mom when you know you could save her from making a mistake!"

"Ash. . ." May leaned over and put a hand on his shoulder, brushing back his slightly-spiked black locks of hair. Her touch was cold from the rainwater still dripping off her skin, but it still warmed him. Maybe it was because it was nice to be around someone he really cared about like a sister? "Yes, that's right. I had to leave because she just wouldn't. . .she just wouldn't listen! It was hard to bring myself to do it, but I knew that I would be hurting myself even more to stay in that house with Turner running the place and mom being so submissive and accepting! Listen, the reason I ran away is because I want to be safe. I need comfort. I need a new life. And so, I knew I could get all these things here with you."

Silence fell over the room. Only thing you could hear was the loud storm outside: the raindrops pelting the roof, the gusty winds, the lightning, all that stuff. But May had ended her explanation and was waiting for their much-needed replies. She was worried, the way they haven't replied back yet, that she may not be welcome here.

That coming her was just a big mistake.

"Things are really that bad?" Ash asked hesitantly. He hated having to hear all of this, as it just made him fear for May's being more and more. But she was a really good friend, he couldn't help it.

"It really is. And, I wanted to bring Max with me too. But he couldn't bring himself to work up the nerve to do this; I understand. But I barely even got the guts to do it either, so. . ." May's light brown hair was let down from it's usual long pigtails on either side of her head. It fell down and dripped rainwater that she tried to wipe away fast with the towel.

"I'm. . .sorry." Ash murmured. He couldn't think of anything else to say.

Delia looked over at her son with a broken smile. "Ash, you don't have to apologize for anything. This is all happening because of Caroline alone. I can't say I'm against her, but she shouldn't have ever divorced. I always thought her and Norman really loved each other enough to survive any little problem that's come their way." Delia thought for a minute and then she brought a comforting arm around their guest, which was very warm for her. She already missed having a mother's embrace. But tried to push away these thoughts. "It is her choice. But. . .she should listen to you and Max about that other man."

May finally smiled for what seemed like the first time in several hours. "So you're on my side! You'll let me live here for a little while!"

Judging by the uncomfortable since that's overcome them all, it seemed like Delia's answer to that wasn't going to be the one she wanted. May could feel her smile shatter. She was inwardly praying that she would agree to let her live here, she would have to. There was nowhere else she could stay.

And she already walked here all the way from Petalburg City. In a rainstorm, without any kind of protection from the elements, without much money or luggage, and through some really shady streets were criminals, perverts, and untrustworthy men walked and stalked. She had gone through all of that just to come here to here friend and his mom. To seek shelter and comfort from them.

"I. . .I don't want you to have to suffer, May. But you mother should at least know where you are and the arrangements that will be made." May and Ash both stared in shock, unable to say anything as Delia arose from the couch and walked over to the cordless house phone on the nearby end table.

Delia knew Caroline's cell phone number. They kept in touch occasionally, so Delia did have awareness of her relationship with Turner. And she would try to provide some advice. . .which was admittedly good advice about not taking things too fast with their relationship. Caroline was too hard-headed to listen though. She brushed her long dark red hair off her shoulders and dialed the number.

"Wait! Mom!" Ash jumped up from the couch and rushed to her side, grasping one end of the phone as they heard the ringing on the other line.

"Ash!"

"You can't tell her about May's decision!" Delia frowned as she noticed the determination and plead in Ash's eyes. She knew somewhere he was right, but another side wanted to be mature and at least tell Caroline so there would be no panic or anxiety over her safety.
"Ash, I know that. But Caroline-"

"Once she finds out what's going on, she'll get angry! And when that happens. . .she'll get the wrong idea and ground her for the rest of her life! And then, she really won't believe May's warnings about her 'lover'!" May's heart was now beating normally again, not racing like earlier in fright and worry. She smiled slightly and shifted her position on the couch more comfortably. It felt good to know that Ash was on her side.

"Stop raising your voice like that! Look, it's true Caroline would get upset. But it'd be the right thing to do if we call her and try to sooth things."

"But I'm worried about May's safety! She's really important to me, she was one of the very first people I met growing up in Petalburg City before we moved! I know that she's always going to be there for me, and I want to do the same for her. . .don't you get it, mom?"

The things Ash was saying were not untrue and just being blurted out in the heat of the tense moment. He really did consider May important. She always, even at first meeting, was there for him and helped him out. They were really close, despite now living away from each other.

And if Delia didn't understand this, then she was just completely lost. As dramatic as this was for Ash to think. He knew that his mom was much more smarter and bolder than what she led on to others.

"Please listen to him!" May suddenly chimed in as she arose and discarded the towel from her hair. She was a little more dried off now, but her clothes were still soaked through to her skin. And she was shivering down to the bone from it. Luckily her clothes were already dark-colored. "I just want to live her temporarily until things get settled at my house, if that ever does happen! I need a new life, because everything's just crashed down for me hard! And-and," Ash walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder for some comfort. May glanced at him through misty eyes and her tension was released.

Delia looked back and forth between the two teenagers, she could see their pleading eyes, the sadness, and a little bit of fear somewhere. She knew they were really affected greatly by all of this. It wasn't a good situation to be in at all, especially when you're just a teenager and you already have the weight of a whole bunch of other problems falling onto your shoulders.

She wanted to help May. She really did. But she did have a mature side, and that side was telling her to call up Caroline and try to sort everything out. She knew that she would be quite shocked and angry, also panicked if Max was the only one home. God knows that Max isn't the best person for maturely and professionally explaining very stunning predicaments such as this one.

It would be possible for May to stay with them. The house itself was big and had two floors. There were three bedrooms: one was Ash's, the other Delia's, and the third was a guestroom. It contained a kitchen, living room, two bathrooms, and this small little study. So there was enough room for one more. And it would brighten up the household a little bit, because things were so dull nowdays. And May was very spirited and sweet; she possessed this odd ability to make anyone feel comfortable. Which was strange. . .

Now the final decision rested on her. After a long silence, Delia managed a small smile that seemed to light up the mood even though the storm outside was making previously making everything depressing.

[.]

Caroline shifted her position in the window-side booth somewhat anxiously. She and Turner had arrived at the restaurant around twelve minutes ago. And have been eating for about five minutes. Mostly talking though. She loved being around him, more so than usual it seemed. She would giggle inwardly as she thought that maybe it was because she was really falling for him.

She hasn't felt like this in a long time. Well, since the last time her and Norman had been out on a nice, long romantic night on the town. Which has been at least a full year now. And it was strange, whenever she thought about that man now...she felt a little bit empty and sad. Though she refused to accept that she could be missing him after he could have been having an affair for all she knew! Besides, that's then, while this is now!

"I wonder..." Caroline raised her arm and took a glance at her watch. "I wonder when he will be back from the bathroom. It's been at least a minute now..."

Unaware to Caroline, her date was peeking around from around the wall corner that was beside the restrooms. He gazed at her with a smirk creeping it's way onto his face. He reached into the pocket of his dark brown, nice vest, and pulled out a small black box. It was time to seal the deal, so to speak.

And he was just as anxious as she was. But for an entirely different reason.

[.]

A crash of lightning echoed throughout the house. It was so forceful that it caused every light that was turned on in the house to flicker uncontrollably for a few moments. And Max looked up from his laptop at the flickering light on the ceiling. He was in the middle of writing an E-mail to a friend of his, but paused immediately and put the lid down. Just as the lights stopped the annoying action.

He sighed and then steadily slipped off his bed and walked across his room to the window. He pulled back the light green curtains and stared out at the storm. Something didn't feel quite right. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could just sense that fate was out for him and his sister.

"I hope May's alright..." Max murmured to himself as he rested his elbows on the windowsill and stared at the rain splashing onto the window. A grim expression flashed over his face, and he pushed up his glasses almost unconsciously. "And...mom too. There's going to be some interesting things going down pretty soon."

Shaking his head to try and clear these negative thoughts; Max grabbed the curtains and slowly pulled them closed before walking back over to his bed. He didn't want to even think about what might be happening to his mom, or May. Not unless he wanted to get into an angsty mood. Or become paranoid...

To Be Continued.

[.]

Sorry for the delay. I still have a bunch of other chapters I need to type up. And things in my life are really stressing me out at the moment, so I had to rest a little before I MELTED. ...I'm sorry that this chapter was so rushed. I wanted to keep it short, but I wanted to include details.

The stuff that happened with May while she was traveling to Pallet Town isn't important, nothing really relevant to the plot. So that's why it was left out. It would have been only useless filler anyways. -_- And Delia's answer to May's pleas for living there will be revealed in the next chapter. And, shit, it looks like Turner's going to pop the question! *Insert overly-dramatic music here*

I hope you liked the chapter. And stay tuned for the next, if you want. Because I INTEND to update soon. How "soon" that will be is unknown at the moment though. I can't promise it'll be overnight or anything. Sorry.

Read and review, you know you want to~! :]