I'm so sorry I had to re-write this. I hope this turns out to be better than the one before

Chapter 2-2

Back in the Hoenn, Ash and his friends have just arrived at The Petalburg gym. Max sprinted inside to greet his parents while Ash and Brock made their way towards the front door.

'Ash! Brock! Thank you for bringing Max back home.' Caroline embraced the two boys, 'Has he been misbehaving?'

'Oh no…Max has been a good boy.' Said Brock,

Ash looked at a tree by the gate, it was where he sat with May before his battle with Norman, May's dad and the Gym leader. She was leaning on his shoulder and encouraging him. She even told Ash that she would be rooting for him instead of her father. Memories sure are painful…Ash felt tears gathering in the back of his eyes.

'Ash? Are you ok?' Caroline asked, she understood that Ash and May were very close friends. Ash remembered what happened three days before his gym battle against Norman.

Flashback-

Ash and May sat next to each other watching TV, May had rested her head on Ash's shoulder. The brunette had been very close to Ash recently and Ash was overjoyed.

'May and Ash, sittng in a tree..' Max began, 'K-I-S-S-I-N AHHHHHHHHHHHH MAY STOP THAT HURTS'

'Well then stop teasing us Max, Ash and I are just good friends' May shouted while hitting her brother with a cushion. She had settled back into the couch next to Ash leaving her brother muttering to himself.

'I'm sorry Ash, Max is young' May explained, her face was bright red and she leaned on Ash's shoulder again.

Just then Caroline entered the room, May shot up from the couch. Unfortunately she slipped on one of the cushion that was left on the floor. She had landed on top of Ash, her legs locked his waist preventing him from moving, and her lips fell on top of Ash's lips. Ash was too shocked to even feel anything, just as he began to feel May's soft lips, she pulled away. With streams of tears rolling down her cheek, she ran upstairs into her bedroom.

'Er…Ash, sweetie, can I talk to you?' asked a shocked Caroline,

Oh crap…thought Ash 'I think I know what you wanna ask Mrs. Maple…before you say anything, I want to apologise, what just happened there was a complete accident and…'

'No no Ash it's ok' said Caroline, quickly cutting Ash, 'I just want to know how you feel about my daughter.'

WHAT Ash was stunned, 'Erm, M…May …is…er…a….r..really…good…tr..train …ner.'

'No, Ash, let me rephrase my question. What do you feel when you see my daughter?' asked Caroline

'Happy?' said Ash stupidly,

Caroline smiled, 'I think you should go talk to May now'

'You want me to go?' asked Ash, 'Are you sure?'

'I know the two of you are extremely close friends and I think my daughter loves you too' whispered Caroline to Ash, 'her room is the first one on the right.'

Ash was too stunned to move or to say anything, May's mum thinks May loves me? Mothers are never wrong right? Shut up Ash, you don't have a chance with May

'First one the right…okay' Ash slowly walked up the stairs.

End flashback

'Yea, I'm fine,' said Ash, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand,

'Why don't you boys come on in and stay here for the night?' Caroline offered kindly,

'Yes, it is getting dark, I think we should stay Ash' said Brock,

'Yea, of course' replied the sobbing trainer.

Caroline lead them to the dining room where Ash quickly grabbed a chair and buried his face in his arms. I really really miss you May he thought to himself. Caroline watched Ash with a worried expression. After a few minutes of intense crying and sobbing, Ash looked up from his arms. Caroline sat opposite him; she wore a calm and loving expression.

'I'm sorry Mrs. Maple' Ash apologized

'You don't look fine to me Ash…' said Caroline in a caring voise,

'No, no, I…er….erm..I just…' Ash couldn't think of anything to say so he changed the subject, 'So how's the Gym?'

'It's alright to cry Ash, we won't judge you, I know how you and May feel towards each other.'

'I just really miss May that's all' said Ash wiping his eyes. Pikachu leapt onto the table and stared at its crying trainer.

'It's alright honey' said Caroline in a calm tone, 'You stay here for a while, I'll make sure no one comes into the room.'

'ok…' said Ash, not knowing why

Suddenly the phone rang. It rang 3 times before someone answered it. Having nothing to do, Ash tried to eavesdrop.

'May? HI!'

It's May! She's on the phone!

'Are you alright honey? Aww don't cry…'

Cry?

'It's ok honey, I know how you feel, yes I know how lonely you are,'

May sobbed quietly on the other side of the phone.

'Settle down, I've got a surprise for you, wait right there.' Caroline said to her daughter, 'ASH GET IN HERE'

'Ash is here? Oh gosh MUM! Wait no! You can't…I'm not,' exclaimed May

'Oh settle down, you look fine' said Caroline, trying to calm her daughter down.

Ash walked into the living room 'Yes?'

'Come talk to May, you can make yourself feel better' said Caroline, 'You did say you missed her…so c'mon what are you waiting for?'

Ash missed me? May blushed, He cares about me!

'H..Hi May, how u doing in Johto' asked Ash, who was looking down at his feet,

Unable to control herself, she blurted 'I've missed you so much Ash, I never should've left the group'

'You missed us?' Ash felt his face slowing warming up, maybe she does love me,

Of course I did! I miss Brock's cooking so much, you're really lucky to have him you know…' replied May and I was really lucky to have you Ash, May thought to herself,

So it isn't me that she misses, it's the food, Ash sighed, he knew a beautiful girl like May was too much for him to ask for. 'Yea' was all Ash could say to the brunette co-ordinator'. A tear trickled down from the trainer's auburn eye, his faithful companion Pikachu swept it away with its tail.

'Pikachu,' said the cute yellow rodent, it turned to the screen with an expression that seems to say: How could you do this to Ash?

'Thanks buddy,' Ash patted Pikachu on its head,

May looked at her friend, if he knew that I love him, he would give up his dreams and come to Johto. I'm doing this for the best Ash…

'So Ash, are you excited?' asked May, 'There are gonna be tonnes of new pokemons in Sinnoh!' I'm sorry Ash, I really do love you…

'I guess…Well I'm going to bed now. Bye May, I'm sure you wanna talk to your parents more than me.' Ash stood up and walked towards the stairs,

'Ash…' whispered May, she could feel tears gathering at the back of her eyes, I mustn't cry; this is the best for Ash. I'll tell him how I feel about him when the time is right. Max, Caroline and Norman soon appeared on the screen.

'Hey mum! Hey Dad! I saw a Chikorita today! It was a baby one and it was so cute' exclaimed May with a fake grin. I wonder if Ash hates me now…

'That's great May! I wish I could travel around the world' said Max.

-- -- -- -- -

Ash was sitting with his head in his hands, Pikachu stood in front of its trainer with a concerned look. 'Pika pi?'

'I'm fine Pikachu, why don't you run along to play?' mumbled Ash,

'Pikachu? Pikachu pika pi. PI! Pikachu! Chu!'

'I can be as upset as I want! Leave me alone Pikachu!' Ash shouted, 'I'm sorry buddy, I've just got a lot on my mind right now…'

'Pi…'

-- -- -- -- --

'So my first contest is gonna be in Violet City!' said May, 'It doesn't feel right without Ash and Brock though.' Said May, 'This is gonna be my first contest alone…'

'Well good luck May' said Brock, 'me and Ash will be rooting for you from Sinnoh!'

'Thanks Brock, please look after Ash for me, you know how I feel about him. Oh, don't tell my parents' warned May, 'if you leak, I will burn you alive'

The two friends laughed, 'Don't worry about Ash, he'll get over it. When are you planning on telling him anyway?'

'Well, I was thinking after you two come back from Sinnoh. I'm going to surprise him when he returns to Pallet.' Said May, 'My contests are 3 weeks before his leagur battle anyway so I'll definitely be in Pallet before you guys get there.'

'I see…I can't wait' said Brock grinning at the brunette co-ordinator, 'Just make sure you don't fall in love with Drew'

'I WOULD NEVER PICK DREW OVER ASH!' shouted May, 'why don't you make yourself useful and prevent Ash from falling in-love with some other girl?'

'Like I'm not useful enough already…' replied Brock, 'if I remember correctly, I fed you with delicious food'

'And I thank you for it Brock.' Said May, 'well it's getting late now, good night Brock.'

'Good night May, Ash will be back to his old self the next time you talk to him' said Brock.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

'Good night Pikachu, I'm sorry about shouting at you earlier,' said Ash, the trainer scooped up his faithful companion, it cooed in the comfort of its trainers arms,

'Chaa…' and drifted off to sleep.

Ash looked at his sleeping friend and gently stroked its head. Memories of May randomly presented themselves to him. Memories of them fighting, memories of them battling, memories of her sleeping, memories of her blushing…Ash slowly fell asleep.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

'Thanks for letting us stay for the night Mr and Mrs Maple' said Ash, 'bye bye Max, I hope to see you again soon buddy'

Ash offered his hand to the boy, the boy took it and shook it gently, 'I'm really gonna miss travelling with you guys.'

'We'll miss you too' replied Brock

'We really have to get going now, the ferry's leaving soon' said Ash,

'Bye Ash, bye Brock! Keep in touch with us!' said the Maples as they waved Ash and Brock good bye.

'So Ash…you excited?' asked Brock, 'It's gonna be just you and me!'

'All the more food for me!' said Ash in an attempt to hide his sadness.

Brock laughed, 'Yea…'

'Sinnoh here we come!' exclaimed Ash,

'PIKA!' shouted Pikachu along with its master.