Chapter 2- News Exchange

Misty looked down at Ash as he knelt before her on one knee, offering her the most stunning engagement ring she had ever seen in her entire life. She took a couple of very deep breaths before blinking rapidly, tears beginning to sting her eyes.

"Ash…I…" she began, but was defeated by her tears to speak, but she was not sure if it was the raging hormones controlling her.

Ash got to his feet, unsure of what to do as he watched Misty just about break down in front of his eyes.

"Misty…" he said in a hesitant voice. "What is wrong? Was it me proposing?"

She shook her head passionately, and managed to gasp out the words, "No, not at all, I promise."

Ash continued looking at her with great concern, the people at the neighboring tables also stopping mid-conversation to watch the scene unfold. Ash put enough money down on the table to cover the bill, and stepped over to Misty.

"Do you want to leave, even though our server will find that we abandoned him? After all, I did tell him to return in five minutes!" he asked her.

She nodded, clearly trying to calm herself down. Ash put his arms around her shoulders, and guided her to the outside of the restaurant. He continued walking until he spotted a bench, and he walked her over to it. She sat down on the bench, wiping the tears from her eyes with the end of her scarf. Ash sat down besides her, placing a hand on her knee.

"Misty, I'm sorry for upsetting you like this. I guess it was too soon for me to propose. This is my fault isn't it?"

"N-no…my answer…it isn't no…it's just…I h-h-h-have to tell you something as important first…"

"Oh…" Ash replied, wondering what in the world it could be.

Misty took at least ten more deep breaths, her bawling coming to a slow end.

"Phew…" she said wiping the last remaining tears from her eyes with her wrist. "I should be apologizing, Ash. You must've had that beautiful proposal all planned out, and I went and messed it all up by having an emotional breakdown."

At this, she laughed slightly. Ash smiled at her, drawing her into his arms for a hug.

"It's okay," he said to her in a consoling voice. "Besides, it's not like I've never seen you a little crazy before, anyway, like the various slaps you've given me!"

She chuckled at this, playfully smacking his arm. They sat chuckling for a few minutes before Ash said,

"Like that! Although, you have to admit, you have done worse things to Brock! Anyway, are you ready to tell me whatever it is you wanted to tell me?"

Misty pulled out of his cuddle, taking a deep breath as she did, and turned sideways on the bench, so that she was facing him.

"Well, first of all, the reason that I feel as though I need to tell you before you proposed or anything is because what I have to say is very big news…you could consider it life-changing, and it is more unexpected than your proposal. And so, that's why I thought it was only fair that you know before you decided to ask me to marry you."

"Oh-okay then, so what is it?" Ash replied, sounding concerned.

"Okay, well today at work, just as I was about to go on my lunch break, I got a call at my desk…and it happened to be Dr. Hittenrunn."

"Are you alright?" Ash asked immediately, obvious worry in his voice.

"I am, really, except for, you could say, when I wake up each morning," she answered, placing one hand on top of Ash's hand, one on top of her waist area, grinning at him before continuing. "They called me to tell me that I should come in to the office, which I did, during my lunch break, and, well…it seems that…that I'm a little over a month pregnant."

"You're pregnant? We're going to be parents?" Ash repeated, shocked by the news.

"Yes and yes, and don't worry, you are the baby's father." she answered, speaking far more quickly than before. "And I've been freaking out about it ever since the doctors told me. That's really why I got so upset after dinner, and I felt like I had to tell you before you made a decision like wanting to marry me, because as I said, it's a life-changing event, and I wasn't entirely sure how you'd react, and-"

Misty was interrupted when Ash suddenly pulled her in closer to him and kissed her tenderly, moving his arms to tighten them around her as he did. When the kiss finally broke, he pulled back and cupped the sides of her face with his hands.

"I love you, Misty, and if anything, knowing this only makes me want to marry you more than ever."

She smiled at him for a moment before a thought occurred to her.

"You aren't only going to marry me now just because I'm pregnant, right?"

"Of course not, Misty." he replied truthfully. "Remember, I already had intended to propose to you anyway. Here, I also have a Pokénav for you, to call me when you need me, just in case the baby's development causes any trouble. All of the numbers on your Pokégear transferred to the Pokénav."

"You're right, Ash, and thanks." Misty said, smiling again. "I guess I'm overreacting. Wait, YOU TOOK MY POKÉGEAR?"

"Definitely, and you can't spell overreacting without saying ovary, which apparently helped me knock you up! Nevertheless, I upgraded your Pokégear to a better system. You should be thanking me! I can also tell that you're letting our baby take control of you, and that's a big no-no!"

"Ha ha, just get on with it already, but you're right, thank you, for the PokéNav anyway, but I'm not yet sure about the timing of the pregnancy!"

Ash smiled back at her, before rising from the bench and again, kneeling down on one knee. He again took the little heart-shaped box from his pocket, opening it up to expose the ring.

"Misty, you heard all the things I told you before, and I meant every single one, and I always will…So I now ask you once more, Misty, will you marry me and become the Viridian City Gym's co- Leader?"

"Yes, I will. I love you Ash Ketchum." she replied, smiling brightly.

Ash took the engagement ring from the box and slipped onto his new fiancé's finger. She lifted her hand up, admiring the ring.

"It's so beautiful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're more beautiful." Ash replied, rising up to kiss her lips softly. "Speaking of beautiful, would you like to have Caserin become the gym's new mascot, as well as it becoming a mascot of our love?"

"Oh Ash, you do care! Yes! I'd really like that," said Misty, accepting his various proposals.

"And Misty."

"Yeah Ash?"

"Can I feel your, I can't believe I'm saying this so soon, pregnant belly?"

"Ash, you're the father, it's perfectly fine, it's not like you're a stranger, plus it's only been like a month and a half, it's not that sensitive yet! Anyway, I think it's pretty sexy when a father-to-be wants to say hello to or kiss his unborn children."

"That's not the only thing that's sexy that is visible in a one-tenth of a mile radius. Misty, even when you're nine months pregnant and gain all of the weight, you will still be as beautiful that day to me as you are today," Ash says as the newly engaged couple lean towards each other for their third kiss since Misty put the ring on her finger.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I...mmm" Ash says, interrupted by the locking of their lips, then placing his hand on his fiancée's slightly pregnant stomach.