A/N: The long-awaited chapter 2! Written by the other half of the talents of this story, Geodude! Please review and let us know how we're going!
"Suzie, is that you?" Brock shouted as he heard the front door of his home click shut.
"Yeah honey it's me" she replied with a shout back. Brock emerged from the kitchen with a grin on his face.
"It's about time, was about to send out a search party for you" he joked. Suzie walked up to him and smiled.
"Will you please stop worrying about me? I'm pregnant not an invalid" she told him. Brock took her hand in his.
"Yeah okay, I just want things to go smoothly like they did for Jess and Mist" Brock told her.
Suzie grinned. "You think the situation with Rose went smoothly huh?" she mocked.
Brock sighed. "You know damn well I was talking about Cory" he snapped in her face. Suzie just shrugged.
"Look Brock, I appreciate the concern and I want things to go smoothly too." She paused and placed a hand on his cheek. "And they will" Suzie finished, trying to reassure him. Brock just smiled and placed a soft kiss on her lips, and a few seconds later he broke it.
"Come on, dinner's ready, let's eat." At this comment Suzie smiled, and went off to enjoy a hearty meal with her loving husband.
* * * * * * *
Ash and Misty returned home with the kids around an hour later. Cory was asleep in his mother's arms and Rose was beginning to get sleepy herself. Misty took Cory into his room and placed the small boy in his bed. She looked down at the still figure of her son and smiled. She then placed a small kiss on his forehead and left the room.
Misty remerged from her son's room to find Ash with Rose sitting on his lap engrossed in the TV screen.
"Rose, it's time for bed sweetie" Misty told her as she walked over and sat beside both her and Ash. Rose looked up at her father with pleading eyes.
"Daddy, do I have to?" Ash turned to Misty and grinned.
"Sorry honey, better do as your mother says" Ash told her. Rose sighed and got off her dad's lap.
"Okay" she said as she walked up and gave her mother a kiss. She then turned to her father and did the same. She was half way to her room when suddenly she stopped and turned back.
"Mommy, you never did answer my question" Rose told her.
Misty looked over at her, confused. "What question is that, honey?" Misty asked.
"How come I don't have a grandma?" Upon hearing this Misty went pale. Ash saw this and turned to Rose.
"Come here a minute will ya?" he motioned to his daughter. Rose took a few steps towards her parents but did not go all the way. She stopped a few feet away.
"Rose" Ash started. He paused and looked at Misty who had snuggled up closer to him as if trying to shut out what her husband was about to say next.
"Your mommy's mom got very sick and went to live with the angels when your mommy was just a little girl" Ash tried to explain without going into any great detail. Rose just nodded at her father's words and he was glad she seemed satisfied with that explanation.
"What about your mommy, Daddy?" she asked from out of the blue. Ash just sat there. He was not expecting that question. The fact that his mother was not alive today was his only failure of the events that happened 5 years ago and it still broke his heart to think about it.
Misty could see the expression of remorse beginning to creep across her husband's face, so she quickly turned to her daughter.
"Rose, that's enough for one night honey, time for bed." Rose, who was too young to realise the hurt she just put her father through simply waved and retreated to her room.
Once Misty was sure she was out of sight she turned her attentions to Ash by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay? She...she doesn't know."
"Yeah, I know...and she is never going to" Ash added as he got up and began to stare out the window. Misty arose from her sitting position and walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I know something is wrong" she told him. Ash turned and looked into her eyes.
"She...she shouldn't be dead Mist, she should be with us right now, being a grandmother to those kids" he blurted out as his emotions took control and he buried his head in her shoulder. Misty just rocked him back and forth in an attempt to comfort him.
"Sssh, I know, I miss her too sweetheart" she said lovingly. She then proceeded to lead Ash to the couch were they both slept in each other's arms for the next few hours.
* * * * * * *
"And the guy said he knew me?" Brock asked as he and Suzie had just completed their tasks of clearing away the used up dishes for that night.
"Yeah" she replied.
"What was his name?"
"You know, I never asked" she told him. Brock raised a questioning eyebrow at her and was about to say something when the phone ringing interrupted him. Brock walked up to it, picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey squinty, long time no hear" a voice mocked. Brock instantly grinned upon hearing the voice as he instantly recognised who it was.
"Jimmy boy, how's the bossy wife and that hellraiser of a kid doing?" Brock asked with a laugh.
"Not too bad thanks." James then stopped in his words as he remembered his true reason for calling. "Listen Brock, I don't wanna worry you here, but me and Jess are on our way to yours. With Jack. Should be there in around a few hours...is it okay if we arrange to crash at yours tonight?"
"Yeah sure, but why?" Brock asked.
"We got a problem" James announced.
"Like?" Brock inquired.
"Not much, just the fact that Gary Oak is still alive" James told him with as much seriousness in his tone as he could muster. Brocks eyes shot wide open with disbelief.
"You're kidding."
"Nope. Ash is scared out of his wits" James informed his friend.
"Well that's understandable, with the kids and all" Brock replied.
"As much as he loves those kids, I don't think it is them he is worried about" James replied. At this comment Brock grinned.
"How can a guy be so captivated with a girl like that?" he asked his friend of 5 years.
"Who knows man. Anyways, this battery is going dead, I'll talk to ya when we get there, see ya soon."
"Yeah okay, drive safely" Brock replied and with that put down the phone. Just then he remembered about the conversation he had been having with Suzie and began to get worried.
"Honey, about that guy you met" he shouted as he walked back to join her.
* * * * * * *
Misty awoke from her slumber still in Ash's arms a few hours later. She sighed as she caught sight of the time on the clock on top of the TV set.
"Ash honey, it's almost 11, let's go to bed" Misty suggested. Ash slowly opened his eyes and took in his surroundings.
"Oh, okay Mist." He sleepily got up, took Misty by the hand and made their way to their bedroom. A few minutes later we find them in each other's arms upon the soft mattress of their bed. For the next few minutes the room was engulfed by a long silence until it was broken by Ash.
"Mist?"
"Hmmm."
"Do you ever...do you ever regret meeting me?" he asked. Misty was unsure if she heard right and shot her head up in shock.
"No!! What made you ask a question like that?"
"I was just thinking, if you never met me the only thing you would have had to deal with was the death of your mother."
"Ash!!! Don't say things like that!" Misty snapped in his face.
"Why? It's true. If you hadn't of met me you would still have your bike, there would have been no reason for the gym to be passed on to another family member, no episode with Giovanni, no heart break every time I almost got killed, and now no sense of fear as we lie here wondering if it's going to happen to us again" he explained. Misty took his face in her hands and looked him straight in the eyes.
"And if I hadn't met you, I would have never found my best friend, my lover, or my soulmate. And I would not have two wonderful children either. So I don't want to hear you talk like that again Ash Ketchum, do you hear me?" She paused as she began to wipe away tears that had fallen from her eyes as she spoke and then continued as she moved her face closer to his.
"Till death to us part, I do, I did, and I will always" she said as she pressed her lips to his. Once she broke the kiss she sat in silence for another few minutes and then turned back to her husband only to see that he was asleep on her shoulder. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek and whispered into his ear.
"I love you baby." She did not get a reply but instead got a slight nod. Satisfied with that she laid her head to rest on his chest as sleep overcame her for what should have been the last time that night. But as we later discover this was not to be the case.
* * * * * * *
"I told you Brock, all I remember is that he had brown hair!" Suzie shouted in his face. Brock sighed.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I'm just on edge ever since Jimmy told me about Gary" Brock told her.
"That's okay" she replied in a kind and caring tone. Just then their moment of apology was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"That will be Jess and Jimmy, go let them in Brock will you?"
"Okay" Brock replied. He walked up to the door and opened it only to be met with a sickening thud to the head, which resulted in him going into a state of unconsciousness. But before it over took him completely one thing stuck out in his mind. The sound of Suzie screaming.
A/N: Wowee, what a chapter! Yeah we're bringing in the cliffhangers early, hehehe! My immense thanks to Graham for an awesome chapter, it's my turn now so look out for chapter 3, posted here ASAP!
"Suzie, is that you?" Brock shouted as he heard the front door of his home click shut.
"Yeah honey it's me" she replied with a shout back. Brock emerged from the kitchen with a grin on his face.
"It's about time, was about to send out a search party for you" he joked. Suzie walked up to him and smiled.
"Will you please stop worrying about me? I'm pregnant not an invalid" she told him. Brock took her hand in his.
"Yeah okay, I just want things to go smoothly like they did for Jess and Mist" Brock told her.
Suzie grinned. "You think the situation with Rose went smoothly huh?" she mocked.
Brock sighed. "You know damn well I was talking about Cory" he snapped in her face. Suzie just shrugged.
"Look Brock, I appreciate the concern and I want things to go smoothly too." She paused and placed a hand on his cheek. "And they will" Suzie finished, trying to reassure him. Brock just smiled and placed a soft kiss on her lips, and a few seconds later he broke it.
"Come on, dinner's ready, let's eat." At this comment Suzie smiled, and went off to enjoy a hearty meal with her loving husband.
* * * * * * *
Ash and Misty returned home with the kids around an hour later. Cory was asleep in his mother's arms and Rose was beginning to get sleepy herself. Misty took Cory into his room and placed the small boy in his bed. She looked down at the still figure of her son and smiled. She then placed a small kiss on his forehead and left the room.
Misty remerged from her son's room to find Ash with Rose sitting on his lap engrossed in the TV screen.
"Rose, it's time for bed sweetie" Misty told her as she walked over and sat beside both her and Ash. Rose looked up at her father with pleading eyes.
"Daddy, do I have to?" Ash turned to Misty and grinned.
"Sorry honey, better do as your mother says" Ash told her. Rose sighed and got off her dad's lap.
"Okay" she said as she walked up and gave her mother a kiss. She then turned to her father and did the same. She was half way to her room when suddenly she stopped and turned back.
"Mommy, you never did answer my question" Rose told her.
Misty looked over at her, confused. "What question is that, honey?" Misty asked.
"How come I don't have a grandma?" Upon hearing this Misty went pale. Ash saw this and turned to Rose.
"Come here a minute will ya?" he motioned to his daughter. Rose took a few steps towards her parents but did not go all the way. She stopped a few feet away.
"Rose" Ash started. He paused and looked at Misty who had snuggled up closer to him as if trying to shut out what her husband was about to say next.
"Your mommy's mom got very sick and went to live with the angels when your mommy was just a little girl" Ash tried to explain without going into any great detail. Rose just nodded at her father's words and he was glad she seemed satisfied with that explanation.
"What about your mommy, Daddy?" she asked from out of the blue. Ash just sat there. He was not expecting that question. The fact that his mother was not alive today was his only failure of the events that happened 5 years ago and it still broke his heart to think about it.
Misty could see the expression of remorse beginning to creep across her husband's face, so she quickly turned to her daughter.
"Rose, that's enough for one night honey, time for bed." Rose, who was too young to realise the hurt she just put her father through simply waved and retreated to her room.
Once Misty was sure she was out of sight she turned her attentions to Ash by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay? She...she doesn't know."
"Yeah, I know...and she is never going to" Ash added as he got up and began to stare out the window. Misty arose from her sitting position and walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I know something is wrong" she told him. Ash turned and looked into her eyes.
"She...she shouldn't be dead Mist, she should be with us right now, being a grandmother to those kids" he blurted out as his emotions took control and he buried his head in her shoulder. Misty just rocked him back and forth in an attempt to comfort him.
"Sssh, I know, I miss her too sweetheart" she said lovingly. She then proceeded to lead Ash to the couch were they both slept in each other's arms for the next few hours.
* * * * * * *
"And the guy said he knew me?" Brock asked as he and Suzie had just completed their tasks of clearing away the used up dishes for that night.
"Yeah" she replied.
"What was his name?"
"You know, I never asked" she told him. Brock raised a questioning eyebrow at her and was about to say something when the phone ringing interrupted him. Brock walked up to it, picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey squinty, long time no hear" a voice mocked. Brock instantly grinned upon hearing the voice as he instantly recognised who it was.
"Jimmy boy, how's the bossy wife and that hellraiser of a kid doing?" Brock asked with a laugh.
"Not too bad thanks." James then stopped in his words as he remembered his true reason for calling. "Listen Brock, I don't wanna worry you here, but me and Jess are on our way to yours. With Jack. Should be there in around a few hours...is it okay if we arrange to crash at yours tonight?"
"Yeah sure, but why?" Brock asked.
"We got a problem" James announced.
"Like?" Brock inquired.
"Not much, just the fact that Gary Oak is still alive" James told him with as much seriousness in his tone as he could muster. Brocks eyes shot wide open with disbelief.
"You're kidding."
"Nope. Ash is scared out of his wits" James informed his friend.
"Well that's understandable, with the kids and all" Brock replied.
"As much as he loves those kids, I don't think it is them he is worried about" James replied. At this comment Brock grinned.
"How can a guy be so captivated with a girl like that?" he asked his friend of 5 years.
"Who knows man. Anyways, this battery is going dead, I'll talk to ya when we get there, see ya soon."
"Yeah okay, drive safely" Brock replied and with that put down the phone. Just then he remembered about the conversation he had been having with Suzie and began to get worried.
"Honey, about that guy you met" he shouted as he walked back to join her.
* * * * * * *
Misty awoke from her slumber still in Ash's arms a few hours later. She sighed as she caught sight of the time on the clock on top of the TV set.
"Ash honey, it's almost 11, let's go to bed" Misty suggested. Ash slowly opened his eyes and took in his surroundings.
"Oh, okay Mist." He sleepily got up, took Misty by the hand and made their way to their bedroom. A few minutes later we find them in each other's arms upon the soft mattress of their bed. For the next few minutes the room was engulfed by a long silence until it was broken by Ash.
"Mist?"
"Hmmm."
"Do you ever...do you ever regret meeting me?" he asked. Misty was unsure if she heard right and shot her head up in shock.
"No!! What made you ask a question like that?"
"I was just thinking, if you never met me the only thing you would have had to deal with was the death of your mother."
"Ash!!! Don't say things like that!" Misty snapped in his face.
"Why? It's true. If you hadn't of met me you would still have your bike, there would have been no reason for the gym to be passed on to another family member, no episode with Giovanni, no heart break every time I almost got killed, and now no sense of fear as we lie here wondering if it's going to happen to us again" he explained. Misty took his face in her hands and looked him straight in the eyes.
"And if I hadn't met you, I would have never found my best friend, my lover, or my soulmate. And I would not have two wonderful children either. So I don't want to hear you talk like that again Ash Ketchum, do you hear me?" She paused as she began to wipe away tears that had fallen from her eyes as she spoke and then continued as she moved her face closer to his.
"Till death to us part, I do, I did, and I will always" she said as she pressed her lips to his. Once she broke the kiss she sat in silence for another few minutes and then turned back to her husband only to see that he was asleep on her shoulder. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek and whispered into his ear.
"I love you baby." She did not get a reply but instead got a slight nod. Satisfied with that she laid her head to rest on his chest as sleep overcame her for what should have been the last time that night. But as we later discover this was not to be the case.
* * * * * * *
"I told you Brock, all I remember is that he had brown hair!" Suzie shouted in his face. Brock sighed.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I'm just on edge ever since Jimmy told me about Gary" Brock told her.
"That's okay" she replied in a kind and caring tone. Just then their moment of apology was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"That will be Jess and Jimmy, go let them in Brock will you?"
"Okay" Brock replied. He walked up to the door and opened it only to be met with a sickening thud to the head, which resulted in him going into a state of unconsciousness. But before it over took him completely one thing stuck out in his mind. The sound of Suzie screaming.
A/N: Wowee, what a chapter! Yeah we're bringing in the cliffhangers early, hehehe! My immense thanks to Graham for an awesome chapter, it's my turn now so look out for chapter 3, posted here ASAP!