A/N: Thank you to all who've read/reviewed/favourited/followed the story so far :) I'm going to be honest with you, I only have a vague idea of where this is going, so apologies if it doesn't go quite as well as I'd hoped. I haven't done a multi-chapter story before and I'm still finding my confidence as a writer. Anyway, without further ado, here's Chapter Two! That rhymed. Awesome.


Ash groaned, trying desperately to think of a solution. He knew he needed to call Brock, but even though he knew his old friend would be as caring as ever, Ash still feared the breeder's reaction. Suddenly, he heard Misty stir beside him and for the first time that morning he was consciously aware he was not the only presence in the bed, and the reason that he was this situation in the first place. His body was engulfed with guilt as he realised he'd failed to see the happiness of the circumstances.

Misty was facing away from him, so as he wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his head beside her, he was met with the wonderful scent of her auburn hair. He tenderly kissed his bride's cheek, whilst she continued to sleep peacefully, her radiance captured by the sunlight spilling through the crack in the curtains, framing her face in a border of light. Ash looked down at her lovingly, smiling gently to himself.

"Once we're through this, I'm going to make sure we get our happily ever after," he whispered into her ear.

Seeing his new wife's beauty had caused Ash's determination to be reborn. Gently removing himself from Misty, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and made his way to the bathroom. The hotel room was pristine, with antique furnishings and a beautiful cream and red colour scheme. He grabbed his jeans from the scarlet, vintage couch that was opposite the bed Misty still resided in. As quietly as he could, Ash shut the bathroom door and pulled on his jeans, then proceeded to sit on the toilet seat and stare at his phone absently. After some hesitation, he slammed down the call button having pulled up Brock's contact details.

He could feel his heart beat heavily in rhythm with the dial tone. Silently, he prayed Brock would answer soon for the fear of a heart attack was coming on.

"Hello?"

Brock's voice turned out to not be as soothing as Ash had hoped; he only became more panicked when the breeder's words reached his ears.

"Ash? Are you there? Where are you, man?! You were meant to be at mine like an hour ago!"

Ash took a deep breath. "Brock, are you ready for a story?"


Ash was stunned at how unsurprised Brock had been. He knew that he and Misty were a couple once, and everyone did expect them to get married eventually, but another man was waiting for her at the altar! Ash had anticipated this would elicit at least a molecule of shock from his old friend, however, Brock seemed almost entirely unfazed. In fact, his prominent emotion was disappointment; he'd missed out on seeing his two best friends wed. Ash sighed, knowing all too well this wasn't the celebration any of them had hoped for. He vowed, for the sake of his wife, mother and friend, he would fix this, somehow.


As he predicted, Brock wasted little time lecturing him over the situation and instead helped him formulate a plan.

"We need to keep Ben out of the church," Ash stated. "I want this be as subtle as possible; I don't want to make a scene."

"No, I agree," Brock said. "But he's due at the church in fifteen minutes..."
Ash groaned. He had to marry Misty the night before the wedding, didn't he? Things were going to be extremely difficult.

"Can you do your best to stall him? I don't care what you do. I'll try and get there as soon as possible."

"I'll do my best, Ash. Have you considered how you're going to tell the guests?"

Ash sighed. "We'll deal with that when it comes to it. Right now, the main priority is telling Ben in the most sensitive and appropriate way possible."

"Okay. I'll get down to stalling, get here as soon as you can okay?"
"Will do, thanks so much Brock, I owe you a million for this."
"No problem. Oh, and Ash?"
"Yeah?"

"Congratulations."


Ash hung up the phone and let out a long sigh. His determination was already dwindling; strangled by anxiety and hopelessness. He knew he was going to have to destroy a man's dreams in a just a few hours, if that, and even if he wasn't fond of Ben, he never wanted be the cause of another human's heartbreak.

"Ash?"

He wasn't sure how long she'd been stood there, but he knew it wasn't long enough to have heard any of his conversation with Brock. She was leaning against the doorway, her white nightdress cascading down her like a waterfall, completed by her gorgeous long legs. Her face, although etched with drowsiness was still beautiful to him, her gorgeous cerulean eyes hypnotising him. For a second, he almost forgot the task at hand.

"Mist, we need to go."

The realisation struck her like a thunderbolt; she was awake. "Shit... Shit, shit shit!"

She was frantic now, and he could tell. He quickly stood and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly; he just wanted to shield her from the world. He gently rocked her for a few minutes, whispering soothing words into her ear, until eventually her hysterics began to recede.

"It's going to be okay, I promise. I've spoken to Brock; he's going to stall Ben getting to the church and we're going to go talk to him like mature adults, okay? You trust me, don't you?"

She nodded, her eyes locking with his. Sighing, she said desperately. "Are you sure this is what you want? Are you sure I'm what you want?"

He chuckled gently at her words, bringing her into him once more, and then whispered in her ear.

"I've never been so certain of anything in my life."


A/N: Sorry, I realise it's a bit slow to start. I promise it's going to pick up very soon :) I hope, anyway, haha.