Night had fallen.

Serena stayed close to Ash, trying to comfort him as much as herself. Where were Oshawatt and Gliscor? They should have found them by now. It had been hours.

Serena was worried about Ash. He was still unconscious.

Could this be how he stayed for the rest of his life? In an unconscious state, like this? Serena couldn't think of a more horrid way to spend the rest of someone's life.

She had spent a lot of the time alternating between crying and trying to find ways to help, in some way.

During these intervals, Serena had just been talking to Ash, not expecting a response, but because it both eased her, for whatever reason, and she felt like Ash could hear her, no matter how distant he seemed to be right now.

"Do you remember when that kid- Gary, I think was his name - came and accused us of being boyfriend and girlfriend when we were at camp?" Serena asked.

Silence.

"I didn't think so..." Serena sighed. "Well, your friend saw us playing together when we were there. That was a couple of days after you helped me in the forest. We were playing tag, or hide and seek, or something like that. You know, dumb kid games." Serena said, remembering everything like it was only a few weeks ago. "He came up and said something along the lines of 'stop chasing girls, Ashy- Boy, it ain't gonna happen.' Or something. I remember you responding. You blushed, and said 'Im not chasing any girls like that, Gary'. You were adorable. And your friend teased you more, about me being your girlfriend. You kept denying it, and you both argued more, before you stormed off. " She smiled to herself, remembering the memory she had.

"There were a couple of times you DIDN'T deny it. Those made me blush, but I don't think you noticed, did you?"

Serena's smile became weaker, turning into a frown, before she looked out the cave entrance, watching as rain began to fall.

"But... That was when we were kids... Years ago... And we sure have changed, haven't we?"

"You've become the Pokemon trainer you always wanted to be, but you're still on your journey, still trying to achieve your goal. You've grown well, too... Past that "cute boy at camp" phase. You've grown strong, determined... And brave, too. I still remember that Garchomp news story in Lumious. You risked your life to save that Garchomp... When I saw it was you... I just..."

She knew what she wanted to say, but the words wouldn't come out. Ash wasn't even awake, but she just couldn't say it.

"What, are you too shy to tell me when I'm awake?"

Serena froze. No. It couldn't be...

She turned, slowly.

It was Ash. He was okay.

Well, Okay was an objective statement. He looked to be in a lot of pain, but he was already sat up, using his arm to carry the weight of his body. But on the other hand, he WAS awake. Awake and alive.

Serena just stared at him for a minute or two, before Ash broke the silence. "Are you okay?"

Serena threw herself into Ash, causing Ash to fall back on his back, causing him a deal of pain, but it didn't seem to register for Ash. He was more in shock of what Serena had done, and was currently doing. Sobbing and crying.

"Y-You've been unconscious for hours *sniff*... You nearly d-died... And your first question is if I'M okay?..." Serena said between sobs. "Worry about yourself for a change!"

At this point Serena had broken down completely and was bawling Into Ash's chest. Ash was stunned at the sheer amount She was worried about him.

"Serena..." He muttered to himself.

"I-Im sorry..." Serena said as she got up. "I was... I was just so scared..."

"It's alright..." Ash said, trying to comfort her. "Can you help me over to the wall?"

Serena helped Ash over to the wall, so he could lean against it, supporting his back. It was damaged and hurt, but it wasn't broken, or even fractured. If it had been, Ash would have been in a much more obvious amount of pain.

"Thanks." Ash said, moving his bag behind him, using it as a cushion for his back. "How long was I out for?"

Serena looked at the time in her navigator and did some visual mathematical calculations, mouthing the numbers as they cropped up. "Seven, eight... The better half of 10 hours, now."

Ash layer back into his bag. "God damn..." He chuckled "That's gotta be a new record." He smiled, remembering the last one he had helped out his Snorunt before he had actually captured it.

Serena managed to chuckle at his snide remark, before silently sitting next to him, staring at the flame the fireplace produced.

"Where're Gliscor and Oshawatt?" Ash asked, after a while of silence.

"They went out looking for help... Hours ago." Serena replied.

Ash simply sighed. "Well, knowing Oshawatt, he's probably leading Gliscor halfway over the mountains in the wrong direction. They'll find a dead end, Oshawatts pride will receive a blow, and Gliscor will have them back on track shortly after. They'll be fine."

"You seem so certain..." Serena said, quietly.

"Heh... Oshawatt reminds me of a Piplup an old friend of mine had." Ash said, looking into the ceiling.

Serena sunk her hand into her arms, but looked at Ash anyway. She knew which friend he was referring to.

"Her name was Dawn. That Piplup of hers had enough pride to shame an entire country. Always trying to lead the way, be number one in battle, always confident, not too humble... Quite the funny Pokemon. And when that Piplup met Oshawatt... Haha, there wasn't a moments peace." Ash said, remembering the times they had had.

"Oh..." Serena managed to say. Honestly, she was surprised she managed THAT.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked, with concern.

"Ash... You... You're so..." Dense, was what she wanted to say. Oblivious, blind, anything, really. But she did have to remind herself he had just woken up from what could be called a mini coma.

Even if that wasn't the case, something stopped Serena from saying what she wanted to say. She just couldn't.

"...Nice." She said, staring at the fire.

"Huh?" Ash managed to sputter.

"It's okay... I know." Serena said, forcing on a smile. " I saw... In your book."

"What do you mean?" Ash questioned. "The photo album, you mean?"

Serena nodded. "The girls in your book."

Ash reached into his bag and pulled out the book, flipping through the pages. "You mean these?" He asked, pointing out the pictures of the girls Serena had seen the previous night.

"Yeah..." Serena said, forcing herself to look at Ash. "At first, I wasn't sure... I denied it. I thought to myself, 'if Ash loved these girls, surely he would still be with them' and tried to push it out of my head... But after what you just said, I know it was only wishful thinking."

"What are you talking about?" Ash asked.

"Oh Ash... Those girls in those photos are head over heels in love with you. " Serena told him, holding back her tears.

Ash tried to process this information. Misty, May, Dawn and Iris, in love with him?

"Take it from a girl who..." She stopped herself. "...just trust me, it's obvious. You'd have to be blind to not see it."

"Serena..."

"Ash, you are so kind. You're selfless, you put others before yourself... Heck, you prioritised me over yourself barely 20 minutes ago, after waking up from what could be called a coma... You're brave, you help people... That's why people like you... Why people Love you..."

Tears began flowing from her eyes again. The sight made Ash's heart break.

"Ash... When you saved me... Back at oaks camp...I felt... Something... Something I never felt before... I felt my heart do swan dives, I felt my stomach tie itself in knots... When we were together, I felt so happy, and safe... Like nothing would ever hurt me again, like we could live forever, and always be happy... But when we were apart... All I could think about was seeing you, and felt... So alone... So vulnerable... And sad... I would have jumped out of my bedroom window and into the garden, and run 10 miles to see you if you had asked me to...

When I left, Ash... When I came back to Kalos... I didn't want anything... I didn't even want to really live...because... Because... Because without you there, without the promise of seeing you the following morning... I couldn't see why I should bother waking up. Why shouldn't I just stay in my room forever... Every time I closed my eyes, there you were though... Always there... Always smiling... Always telling me to never give up no matter what... It was like you knew what I was going through, and was determined to see me through it... "

Ash's mouth dropped. He couldn't even speak. All he could manage was "Serena..."

Serena, still allowing her tears to flow freely, continued. " just... There you were, every night, telling me not to give in... That we would see each other again someday, when we became Pokemon trainers... That you would... Protect me... And make me feel safe... " Serena turned to Ash, showing her sad smile, and tears running down her face. "And you kept our word... Here we are, now... Pokemon trainers both, and you... You always kept me safe... And made me feel happy... You've been there for me... And I can't ever show you how much I owe to you because of it... I can't even tell you my appreciation for it...

But... Those aren't my true , deepest feelings... My true feeling came back from when we met... I kept the feelings hidden away Inside me for years... Since we first met... " Serena looked at Ash straight in the eye. "Ash... I... I love you... I am truly, madly, deeply in love with you, I can't stand it. I love you so much it drives me crazy."

Ash's world stopped. He processed what he had just been told. Serena... Loves him?...

"Wh... Serena... What?..."

Serena ended with. "You like one of those girls... Don't you?... It's okay... You shouldn't feel guilty about anything to so with me... Be happy..."

Serena saw Ash stand up. He walked calmly towards her, and knelt down in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders, and, his face covered up by his cap bridge, he quietly asked, "How long... How long have you been keeping that inside you?..."

Serena tried to enjoy the warmth of his hands, knowing this would be the last time she felt it, but her sadness overcame her. "For years... Ever since I met you..."

"I see..." Ash said. He looked up, revealing his face. "I'm sorry..."

Ash had been crying too. His eyes were red. Serena just stared at him.

"I'm sorry... I never noticed... I'm sorry I never knew... I'm sorry...I'm... I... I'm sorry I never asked...

I never knew... Serena... My heart broke when I saw you cry... I don't want to see that again..."

Serena dried her eyes, wiped away the tears, while Ash did the same. They stared at one another, waiting for the other to break the silence.

"... Why is that, Ash?" Serena asked, quietly, almost unheard, and she would have been if it weren't for the fact there was complete and utter silence in the cave.

Ash sat there for a while. "... Because I... I... I don't know... When I close my eyes, there you are... When I sleep... I dream of you... And I always do one thing... Then I tell you something..."

"What is it?" Serena asked.

Ash took a deep breath, and moved towards Serena, leaning in.

Serena stayed still. Her mind was in a haze. There was no way...

Ash and Serena's noses brushed off one another, at which point Ash and Serena became fully aware of how close their lips were. Up until that point, it had felt like a dream for both of them.

'Oh god...' Ash thought. For one of the first times in his life, he was nervous about something other then Pokemon battling. He briefly considered backing away from the kiss, but he opened his eyes briefly, and saw Serena in an almost tranced state of mind. He looked into her half open eyes, and saw an equal amount of anxiety, but at the same time, he saw her longing for the kiss.

Ash just closed his eyes at that point, and threw caution to the wind. What happened now, happened, and he'd just have to deal with it.

Bridging the gap, both Ash and Serena edged forward until, in what felt like a shock of electricity, their lips met.

Serena was both in ecstasy and disbelief. The second their lips met, her eyes shot open, but quickly fell closed again. This was something Serena had imagined for years, but the actual event was so much better, times infinity.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds before Ash broke it, backing slightly away from Serena's face. Both their faces were bright red. What had just happened had been a first for the both of them. They had just shared their first kisses.

"I... I like you, Serena." Ash said, finishing what he had been saying earlier.

Serena's face was red. Bright red. If she was stood right next to a Darmanitan, you would have trouble telling the difference in colour between them.

Once again, she hugged Ash tightly, and both of them fell to the ground, near the fire.

"I've been waiting... For years to hear that, Ash..." Serena said.

"Well... I guess we... Like each other." Ash said, smiling, returning the hug this time.

Serena buried her head into Ash's warm neck, finding a warm, soft spot, like a pillow, rested her head there.

"So... What do we do now?" Serena asked.

"I suppose the only thing we can do is wait for Oshawatt and Gliscor." Ash replied, holding Serena closer and tighter.

"I thought you said it might take Oshawatt a long time to swallow its pride and hand over the task to Gliscor?" Serena asked.

"I know... But right now, I'm okay with that. "Ash smiled.

Serena blushed.

"I suppose we should try and rest." Ash said. Though he had only woken up a while ago, he was tired now, probably due to Serena's warmth covering him right now.

Serena blushed. "Can I... Stay... Like this?"

"Please do..." Ash said, putting on hand on her head, running his fingers through her hair.

It would take a while for them to be found, but they were both content, wrapped in each others warmth.

Sorry if this one seems shorter than the previous two, but the story is reaching its ending. I'm going for quality over quantity for the final chapter , and I think it's a good finale. Stay tuned to find out how it all ends!