Ages: Ash:20 Misty:21

Note: Thoughts *Pokemon translations*

Chapter 2

As Ash terrorized his closet for some good clothing to wear, he heard a doorbell downstairs

Crap, that's her.

He quickly picked out his favorite black shirt, and favorite black pants, and combed up his hair. Just to make sure it wasn't all that messy. Stood there for a minute, checked under his arms, and took out some deodorant.

I'm getting too nervous for this.

"Cha! Pikachu cha pika Pikachu." *Wow! You're actually trying to look, and smell your best.*

Pikachu looked impressed, while teasing his best friend.

"Shush Pikachu." Ash snapped back in annoyance.

Pikachu laughed.

He heard ecstatic welcoming downstairs.

"Wow, honey you look so beautiful! You're all grown up!"

"Thank you Mrs. Ketchum, and it's a pleasure to see you again. And thank you for having me over for a while."

"Oh not at all! You're always welcome here Misty!"

Ash listened carefully, still in his room. "Huh, she sounds different Pikachu."

Pikachu stopped his laughter, at least for the moment.

"Chu, Pikachu." *Hey man, don't back out now.*

Ash looked annoyed at his yellow best friend. "Pikachu, you know I don't back out."

"Cha Pikachu! Cha Pikuchapi cha!" *Then stop being a dork! Go say hi to your girlfriend!*

Ash gave Pikachu an exasperated look.

"She's not my girlfriend Pikachu."

"Cha? Pika Pikachupi cha pi?" *Really? Then you don't mind if I steal her do you?*

Pikachu jumps off Ash's bed, and runs downstairs to meet an old friend.

"Hey Pikachu! Long time!"

"Pikachupi! Pikapi!"*Misty! You have no idea!*

Ash couldn't help but shake his head in defeat.

If I didn't know better, I bet Pikachu is in Misty's arms right now.

He felt a little jealous of Pikachu for a split second.

Why the heck am I jealous of my own Pokémon? That's just ridiculous.

"You must be tired from your trip. Please make yourself at home, Misty." Delia said happily.

"Oh I am, but I have a few bags I need to bring up."

"Oh, don't bother with that. In this house all the men do the heavy lifting."

"Oh. But it's not that heavy Mrs. Ketchum, I can just..."

"Nonsense. Ash will get it for you."

Ash, still in his room, looked at his door in annoyance.

As if. I'm not doing any more chores.

"Ash! Come down and help your friend out!"

"Coming!" Ugh I so don't want to do this. He thought as he quickly checked him self out in his mirror, to see if he looked alright.

Heading downstairs, he stopped at the middle step of the staircase, and stared down at his best friend. He couldn't get over of how much she changed. She was tall and slim. Her orange hair was loose down her back, and she was definitely not scrawny anymore. But the best part of it all, were her eyes. Her blue-green eyes stared him down with just as much as intensity as he was staring her down. He could probably guess what she was thinking. He definitely had a muscled up athletic body going for him. Thanks to the daily workouts he's been doing. And he could swear that his hair had gone a few shades darker, then the last time he saw Misty. If that was even possible. But it was definitely pitch black now.

"Hey Mist. Long time."

"Hey Ash... It's been too long."

Delia smiled at them, and then turned towards her son. "Ash, would you be as kind as to get her bags inside?"

Ash looked at his mom. "Uh, sure. But, where would she go?"

Delia crossed her arms, while thinking out loud. "Well there is a guest room, right in front of yours." She turns towards Misty. "If that's okay with you Misty?"

Misty smiled. "Sure. Thank you Mrs. Ketchum."

Delia giggled. "Oh please sweetie, call me Ms. K. It's a lot better."

Misty smiled a small smile. "If you'd like. Then of course."

Well, this is getting kind of awkward.

"Right. Well, I guess I'll just get your stuff then."

Misty looked back towards him, still with that small smile. "The car is unlocked, and it's in the trunk. Thanks."

"Right." Was that a fake smile? Or was I imaging it?

As Ash went outside to get Misty's stuff, Misty and Ash's mom sat in the kitchen. Delia tried her best to keep Misty away from the living room and the backyard as much as possible. Since it was all decorated and everything.

Misty fidgeted in her seat a little bit. "It feels weird to be back at Pallet Town, and even weirder to see Ash again."

Delia looked a little concerned. "Was it weird to see me too?"

Misty slightly jumped in her seat in surprise. "Oh, no. I just meant of how grown up he is."

Delia smiled sadly. "Oh yes, my baby is definitely growing up into a young man."

Misty also smiled sadly. "He changed a lot, since the last time I saw him."

Delia looked at Misty in surprise. "In what way?"

Misty slightly blushed. "Well, he's definitely taller. Well taller than me."

Delia smiled at Misty, knowingly. "Yea, and me too."

Misty smiling at Delia, but tried to hide her blush a second later. "Yea. And he's... well... he's a lot muscular now."

Delia smiled proudly. "Yes, well that's because he's been working out every day."

Misty looked at Delia in surprise. "In what way?"

"Oh you know, training his Pokémon. Or more like they're training him. Isn't that right Pikachu?"

Pikachu who was still in Misty's arms, responded happily.

"Pikachu!" *Damn straight we are!*

They both laughed.

At that moment Ash came back with a medium sized, rolling suitcase, and a big handbag, into the kitchen.

"Should I bring these upstairs?"

Delia nodded towards him. "Yes, you should. And, it is getting dark now. I think it would be best just to call it a night."

Misty also nodded. "I agree. I do need some sleep."

Ash also nodded, carrying Misty's stuff. "Alright then, good night guys."

Delia stood up from her seat. "Actually, Ash would you mind to show Misty her room? Besides, I have to finish up here, so you two go on ahead."

Shoot. I honestly don't want talk to her right now.

Misty turned towards Ash. "Ash, shall we?" She said as she pointed towards the stars.

Pikachu jumped off from Misty's arms, and ran upstairs ahead of them.

Tsk. Bossy as ever. "Alright let's go."

As he led the way upstairs, caring Misty's stuff, he still couldn't get over how much she changed. The only question remains... did her mallet habit changed with her? When Ash stopped in front of Misty's room, he opened the door, and placed her stuff beside her bed. He faced her by her bed.

"Mist... it's great to see you again."

Misty turned towards Ash. "Ash... we seriously need to catch up. Like what happened lately?"

Ash looked at her a little confused. "What do you mean?"

Misty studied him. "Well with the whole training thing. You usually trained like this before a tournament or something. What's going on?"

Ash smiled slyly at her. "What? You don't like my muscles?"

Misty blushed, trying to hide it from him. "That's... not what I meant."

Ash laughed quietly. At least she's still cute. He walked closer to her, until they were face to face. "Don't worry okay? Everything is fine. Believe me if something is up, you'll know."

There was a brief silence, until Misty spoke up in a saddened tone. "Will I be the first or the last one to know?"

He smiled at her. "You'll be the first."

Misty instantly smiling at him. "Oh thank you Ash!"

She hugged him so quickly, that Ash lost his footing and accidentally causing them both to fall towards the bed. Ash on top.

Holy crap. She's even better looking up close. I wonder if I can...

They stayed there for what seemed like hours just staring into each others' eyes. Ash was leaning in, when Pikachu interrupted.

"Pika, Pika cha?" *Uh, what are you guys doing?*

Ash quickly lets go of Misty, so she could get up.

"Nothing Pikachu." Responded Ash with flaming cheeks.

"Ash... I'm actually pretty tired, do you mind?" She pointed towards the bed with a flushed face.

She's even blushing. Ash shook his head. "Oh right, yea. Sorry."

"It's okay." She said, still blushing hard.

As Misty was preparing the bed, Ash got this funny feeling in the pit of his stomach.

What the heck is going on with me?

He knew if he stayed, the feeling would get stronger.

Ash shook his head. "Good night Mist. I'll see you tomorrow."

Misty looked up at him. "Yea, see you tomorrow."

As he left her room, he called Pikachu, closed the door behind him and entered his room. As he closed his door behind him, he jumped onto his bed. He didn't even bother to change, he was just too exhausted. As he closed his eyes, he hoped that things wouldn't get more awkward then they already are.

Meanwhile, Pikachu could just look at Ash and shake his head.

He is such a chicken, why won't he admit that he likes her? Ugh, looks like Super Pikachu is called to save the day!