Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any of the characters, they are the property of Tajiri Satoshi and Nintendo. If I did, it'd be a certainty that Tracey and Cilan would meet.

Notes: This is an AU-fic, so there are no Pokemon. This is a Starchshipping fic, which means it's a romantic relationship between Tracey and Cilan, thus making it shounen-ai. If you don't like that, then please leave now. If you do, then I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Two: We Even Shared Sorrowful Times

Tracey was staying at Cilan's house. They had fun playing video games with Chilli and Cress. They heard the phone ring, but none of the boys paid it any mind, they knew Telisha would answer it. They could hear her talking, but still focused on the game. The next thing the children knew, Telisha ran into the room. "Turn off your game and grab your coats. We're going to the hospital."

"But, we're not sick," Chilli protested.

"No. We're going to see someone." Telisha knelt in front of Tracey. "Your parents were in an accident."

"Are they okay?" Tracey whispered.

Cilan could tell by the look on his mother's face that something was wrong. "Mum?"

Telisha started crying. "They're not. Tracey, we're going to say goodbye to your parents." She felt Cress and Chilli hug her as she broke down. She saw Cilan hug Tracey, both boys crying too. "I'm so sorry, Tracey..."

The group hurried into the hospital, the boys following Telisha to the reception desk. "Please tell me where I can find Marie and Andrew Sketchit. They were brought in this evening after a car crash."

"Are you family?"

"I'm Marie's friend. I've brought their son to see them."

"Alright. They are in that room over there. You're permitted to enter as well."

"Thank you." Telisha turned to the boys. "Come along. We're going to see them now."

The receptionist watched as the group entered the room. "Poor child," she whispered with a shake of her head.

"Mum! Dad!" Tracey hurried to the gap between the beds. They looked like they were asleep; if only they weren't covered head to toe in bandages and hooked up to numerous machines. "I'm here! Please wake up!"

Telisha and her children stood behind Tracey. Tears filled her eyes again as she heard all of the beeping slowing. "Tracey, you should say it now. They can hear you."

"Mum, Dad, I love you. I want to see you again. But, I know I can't. I'll be alright, Miss Delia will be looking after me, right? So will Aunty Telisha. And I won't be alone because I have friends like Cilan and Ash. I want you to stay here...I want to play with you some more. I want Dad to tell a joke and Mum to sing. But, I know you have to go."

Telisha tried pulling all of her boys close to her, but Cilan moved to hug Tracey again. "Goodbye, Marie. Goodbye, Andrew."

Tracey felt Cilan hug him. "Goodbye, Mum. Goodbye, Dad." As soon as he'd said those words, both heartrate monitors flatlined, as if both parents had held on long enough for Tracey to tell them what he had to. Tracey turned to Cilan, held him and cried. He felt Cilan shaking and knew he was crying too. He heard sobs coming from Telisha, Chilli and Cress. There wasn't a dry eye in that room.

Tracey bolted awake. His vision was blurred by tears. Usually, whenever that memory hit in his dreams, Cilan would hold him and they'd cry together, just as they had the night he'd lost his parents. But, this night, he felt alone. "I need you, Cilan..." he whispered before breaking down. He heard the phone ring, so he tried swallowing back his sobs so he could answer it. He reached over and picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"I knew it..."

"Cilan...thank goodness, it's you. How did you know?"

"I started weeping in my sleep. Really, the only times that happens are moments like these. Are you alright?"

"No... I wish you were here right now."

"I know... I'll keep talking with you so you won't feel so alone. Okay?"

"Okay."

"You're using the cordless phone in our room, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Good. I want you to find one of my personal belongings. Anything. You can hold that while we talk."

Tracey picked up Cilan's pillow and held it close. "I've got your pillow."

"Okay, that's good. Now, what happened in the flashback dream?"

"It replayed the whole night. I was staying at your house, playing video games with you and your brothers. The phone rang and Aunty Telisha answered it. She came in and told us that we had to go to the hospital, as my parents had been in an accident and I needed to say goodbye. The flashback ended as my parents...and we all cried..." Tears fell from his eyes, his voice breaking.

Cilan breathed deeply. "And, then you woke..." His voice was also breaking.

"Why does it still affect me so much to have these?"

"You love your parents and miss them greatly. Over time, you have healed, but it's alright to still grieve. The memory is still painful. How frequent have these been?"

"Not very frequent. I think they've been coming every three or four months."

"Yes, it's not as frequent as it used to be. You're definitely healing."

"They're still very painful...when will the pain end?"

A sob escaped him, he couldn't ever stand knowing Tracey was in pain. "One day, it will. But, the only reason it hurts is because you love them."

"Cilan? Can we cry together? I don't know how much longer I can hold them back..."

"Of course. I'm ready to burst myself."

Tracey let out a small whimper as his cries came forth. He could hear Cilan crying as well. He held Cilan's pillow close, imagining he was holding his beloved.

The sobs soon eased into hitched breaths, and soon, those too came to an end. They were silent for a few seconds.

"Do you feel alright now?"

Tracey nodded and let out a hum of affirmation. "Yeah, I do. How about you?"

"Knowing you'll be alright, I'll be okay."

"Thank you for listening."

"It's always a pleasure to help you. I wish I could've been there to hold you, lend you my strength."

"You were still with me. Thank you."

"Anytime, Trace."

"I'm starting to feel tired...and I've noticed you are too..."

Cilan chuckled softly. "Ever the observant one. Now, just close your eyes for a second."

"Okay." He did so. "They're closed."

"Normally, I give you a kiss on your temple after moments like the one we just shared. I want you to picture me doing that." He raised the index finger of his other hand up to the mouthpiece and gently kissed it, hoping Tracey could hear it.

Tracey did hear it, it helped imagining Cilan kiss him. "Thank you, Cilan." He lay down. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tracey. Good night."

"Good night."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," he whispered.

"Okay."

"May you have a restful slumber. Bye."

"You too. Bye." He heard Cilan had hung up, so he clicked the button and replaced the receiver on the stand so it could charge up. He held the pillow and buried his nose into it so he could inhale his beloved's scent, just like when they held each other. His sleep was restful, he didn't have any dreams.