The Strangest Kind of Love

by Warlordess

Many years into the future, Ash and Misty are both looking to settle down. The only issue is, neither one is very good at keeping a relationship going. Then, by odd convenience, they end up moving in together... Pokeshipping fic.

4. It's Worth Every Sour Feeling

Author - Chibi / Warlordess

Disclaimer - I don't own Pokemon. At this point, that's a very good thing, seeing as I barely have enough time to spend writing up my fanciful fics, let alone if I owned the actual series. . .

Notes - I have a sickness. I obviously have a sickness. I've started a new fic when I have so many others in progress. Then again, "Illicit Saints" and "Blind" might as well be on hold. . . and I've already got the first eight chapters of this fic all planned out. Gods, this fic might actually be one of the longest (chapter-wise) yet. But please read and review and tell me if you think I should continue this immediately.

OoOoO

Pokemon - "The Strangest Kind of Love"

Chapter Four - "It's Worth Every Sour Feeling"

Fic Facts:

Summary - Many years into the future, Ash and Misty are both looking to settle down. The only issue is, neither one is very good at keeping a relationship going. Then, by odd convenience, they end up moving in together. . . Pokeshipping fic.

Rating - Teen. Or PG-13. Whichever works for you. The rating is alluded to the fact that there will be adult fluffiness, alcohol, and pregnancy, eventually. Plus it just feels right.

Characters and Ages -

Ash / 23

Misty / 24

Brock / 26

Tracey / 25

May / 19

Drew / 20

Gary / 24

Delia / 45

Professor Oak / 49

(Note that not all of these characters will be that important.)

The idea for this fic was created in August of 2005.

This fic was officially started in February of 2006.

This chapter was officially created July 16 th - September 28th of 2006.

OoOoO

Ash didn't know how he'd gotten himself into this situation. Firstly, he'd always been a relatively kindhearted person; he'd always helped those who needed it, preserved the righteousness of mankind, and if someone else asked for the final onigiri of the meal that Brock had made, Ash would try as hard as possible not to snatch it up immediately for himself. He would usually fail, of course, but he did try, and that should be all that anyone could ask of him, right?

But now, this was just ridiculous. After all, Gary had been in town only three days, the two young men had barely spoken five words to each other, and just because they happened to catch one another's eye (so very mistakenly, Ash admitted now) while they both had been wandering aimlessly through Pallet Town, the Oak grandson had found it in himself to put on a public spectacle, to nail Ash's feet to the ground long enough to have a chance to brag about whatever he could; his latest research and how well his entire profession was going because of it, the many wonderfully exotic nations he got to travel to in search of new areas of study – which always turned out to lead to adventures beyond anyone's wildest imaginings, and then there was the fact that he had an awesomely hot date for the wedding anniversary party of his grandfather and Ash's mother the next evening.

He'd only been in town for three days and he already had a date.

Go figure.

But before Ash could growl to himself about just how much of a playboy his ex-rival really was, the young man was off again, speaking of the long ebony hair, the voluptuous curves, the scarlet eyes. . . Ash thought the girl Gary would be bringing to the party sounded a bit like a mix between a demon and a goddess. . . but a statement like that made it seem like he was jealous (which he was, but he didn't want Gary to know).

"Melanie is more of a woman than you've ever had; you know, except for maybe Red--" Ash winced; that had been his nickname for Misty since he was fifteen, "--but, then again, who are you kidding? You never have had her, have you?" Mockingly, the Oak grandson placed his index finger to his chin, as though in deep thought; "You know, I thought I'd sensed some sort of sexual tension from you two when you were younger. . . I'm usually not wrong about these things - I have that type of instinct. . . but could I have been?"

Ash shuddered. And twitched. And shuddered again. And imagined the amount of pain Misty would put him through if she ever found out the types of rumors that might just be flying around that were about the two of them. . . (Low and behold, he would never believe the fact that there actually had been something there, would he?) His poor limbs. . . how they would ache; what was left of them, anyway. . .

"Yea, right, Gary; nothing was ever going on between the two of us, and you know it! Don't think you can psych me out and keep me from finding a girl who's ten times more attractive then yours just because I'm living with my best - female - friend of ten years! There's no tension; we're one-hundred percent comfortable around each other, thank you very much!" He huffed and puffed, ready to blow down any houses nearby.

"Nothing at all, huh? Tomorrow, Ash, evening time - seven o'clock. Bring her, this hot date that you'll be finding by then, because I'll be oh-so ready to meet her." Gary smirked and winked in an 'I know you've got nothing' sort of way, and Ash felt his shoulders slump. His rival turned away before he could do much else, but he managed one last outburst of manly-manliness.

"You just wait, Gary! I'll show you! My date is going to look five hundred times as good as yours, and you're gonna be so stumped and humiliated that you'll walk out of Pallet and never be able to show your face here again!" So what if that was immature. . . ? This thing that they'd had going on since they were nine years old had never completely died out, and since Ash hadn't felt so vibrantly spirited in quite awhile now, it actually felt good to take something out on someone - in a bit of a more. . . extroverted way. It was a good thing that the vehemence that had once existed between the two of them had also kicked the bucket, however; there was no telling just how nasty this situation could have gotten. . . and in public. . .

"Whatever, Ashy-boy. I'll believe it when I see it. If I see it, which I doubt." And Gary walked away, leaving the raven-haired ex-trainer to stare at the mysterious dust that 'whooshed' into the air, adding a wondrous effect to the Oak grandson's disappearance.

Slowly but surely Ash came to, his conscious wrapping around the nickname Gary had referred to him as. . . It had been awhile since he'd heard it. . . and it had been awhile since he'd been so insulted. His fists began to twitch, clenching, his teeth began to grit, and his brow furrowed. . .

"Grr, Gary. . . ! I am man! I am not a 'boy' anymore! Call me Ashy-'man' next time, won't you?" He shouted into the crowd forming around him, and they began to wonder of his sanity. He was suddenly aware of the many women who were murmuring to one another and he gulped, having never felt so dissatisfied with his own behavior. It hit him then that these were some of the potential dates that he was supposedly going to try and secure for his mother's anniversary party the next evening. However, judging by the half-horrified and half-aggressive expressions on their faces, they obviously would want nothing to do with him.

So, saluting to them and turning away, he placed his hands into his pockets, his shoulders hunched, and shuffled back towards his house. He'd completely forgotten why he was out at the time, but it couldn't be nearly as important as his new task - to find himself a girl that was so intensely beautiful that it left Gary with such a pressure bleed it sent him unconscious. Ash couldn't help but grin at the very thought. How amusing it would be to see his rival fall at the hands of such a woman - his woman. . . Heh, heh, heh. . .

"Mommy, why is the man laughing like that. . . ?" A young girl asked of her parent, and a slightly elderly woman turned to stare at the raven-haired supposed-man, who had indeed started to chuckle insanely without his even knowing it. She backed away, taking her daughters' hand and dragging her along, too.

". . . H - honey, ignore him; c'mon now, we still have some errands to run. . ."

Ash turned and saw the two staring at him, but mostly the older woman, and before he even thought the statement through, it had flown out of his mouth and passed through the ears of them all.

"Sorry, but I think you're too old for me," and the woman's jaw dropped before she attempted to off his head, being held back by her juvenile, preteen daughter as she shouted obsceneties that she'd never heard before in her entire life, "Wow, too old and too loud. . ." Ash muttered, making his escape while he could.

But managing his way down the main street that would change into the peaceful path that lead to the outskirts of Pallet gave him a chance to wonder about his current problem. Gary had always managed to one-up him in something or another, no matter how frivolous, and, as mentioned before, though the rivalry had been stemmed, it had not been completely stoppered, leaving Ash to beat himself up time and time again when thinking of the times when he would be left to scour for his own recovery. Of course, after he'd met Misty and Brock, and started on his journey, those losses had become slightly easier to bare, thanks so much, but still. . . Now, at the age of twenty-three, to be caught up in yet another one of those impasses, he had to think of some way to push his way through. . .

But how? Everyone of his friends already knew of his, er, inability to hold on to a relationship, thus why he had no one right at the moment, and why he'd had so much extra space available at his home so as to invite Misty to move in with him temperarily. She knew of it, too, and until recently, she hadn't even had much to do with his life since the time around his twenty-first birthday, and even then, it was only through the meetings that Brock had pulled them all into. The point was, if they knew, then it was obvious, almost as if itwas written on his face, and his clothes, and so how could he expect to convince some stranger - some girl he'd never met before - to come with him to this party. And even so, how could he expect his mother to approve? (You know, not that he would care, because he was an adult, and it wasn't like he depended on his mother's opinion of him that much. . . Heh.) But he didn't know anyone else well enough, except for maybe Simone. . .

His eyes brightened; she would have been invited anyway, wouldn't she? Because his mother knew her so well through him, and the two young women got along so well. . . It would be convenient, if nothing else, and he knew her well enough. . . but he sighed two seconds later, coming to the conclusion that it might have just felt a bit strange to be seen 'dating' someone he'd always had such a perfectly in-synch friendship with. It would be like - like, well. . . dating Misty, for instance.

Ash halted in his step, blinking, and let out a near-contemptuous laugh. That would be the day. Him and Misty? Man; all of those people who'd been egging the two of them on all of those years ago, and now, recently (for whatever reason that he couldn't understand) must have been getting to him. He looked up and realized that it was a good thing that he'd stopped walking when he had, because he was now two steps from slamming his kneecaps straight into the picket-fence of his house and, while not necessarily the most painful thing in the world (c'mon, we're talking about the guy who got turned to stone thanks to the work of two psychic Pokemon blasts, and the same one who's almost drowned at least four times), it would still leave him stinging in ways and places that he didn't feel like stinging, thanks.

He opened the gate and made his way to the front door, shuffling his feet and kicking at each step of the staircase as he walked his way up it. Then he was just as easily through the unlocked front door, into the living room, where Misty was sitting, innocently watching her daily soap operas. This, unfortunately, was a ritual of hers that Ash - no matter what he tried - couldn't seem to break. He had hidden the remote, unhooked the cable wiring, requested that the channels with aforementioned 'real life drama' be switched offline, but it was all for not, because - as was made obvious through the years they spent traveling together, Misty was (at least a little) smarter than him, and she beat back every trick he tried to pull. It was just a good thing that, at this point, he'd learned to live with it.

"Hey. . ." He sighed despondently as he collapsed beside her onto the couch, shoving his former thoughts of the two of them, together (dating), to the back of his mind so that she wouldn't be able to tell that he'd ever had them; that way he couldn't be accused of some senseless thing such as being a pervert. "Uhm, how was today?"

Truthfully, Misty had been frustrated over the forced amount of bed rest she was having to go through the past week-and-a-half, and he knew it, so he didn't know why he was bothering to ask when he was just going to get yet another earful. But, contrary to popular belief, the redhead shrugged as though careless on the matter and seemed to reach a zenith of peace.

"Well, I'm still stuck here with nothing better to do, but at least I can watch my soaps, and I can always go up to the Professors, if need be, to see the Pokemon. . . so I guess it's not that bad. How are you doing? Why do you look like someone just shoved a lemon in your mouth?" She picked up the remote and turned the television off then turned to face Ash and give him her undivided attention, and he rolled his eyes, grunting in an immature way.

"I do not look like I've had a lemon shoved in my mouth, of all ridiculous things. . ." But Misty glared, and to avoid any confrontation that he knew she would not be afraid to be involved in, he continued speaking, ". . . but if it looks like I have, then blame Gary. Stupid ass; I met up with him when I was just walking around town and he decided that it would be oh-so fun to stop me and go on and on - bragging - about whatever date he's going to be bringing tomorrow night," noticing the ex-Gym Leader of Cerulean, Ash quirked an eyebrow, "Don't tell me you forgot? The anniversary party? My moms and the Professors?" Her eyes widened even more and she looked slightly mortified, but for whatever reason he couldn't care less, because for the time being, it seemed he had worse problems; problems to do with him. "Anyway, he kept egging me on, and so, like an idiot, I took the bait and ended up telling him that I'd be bringing a girl who'd look who-knows-how-much-more fabulous than his. . ."

"Ever heard of putting a foot in your mouth and thinking things through before you actually do them. . . ?" The two took a moment to stare at each other before - again - both snorted and turned in opposite directions for just a moment to let the laughter subside. "Ugh, and now I've got the same problem, because I completely forgot all about it. . ."

"So, why is that a problem? At least you're not expected to bring some especially wonderful-looking date tomorrow evening. . ."

"Yea, but I still don't have anyone to go with me. . ." They both leant back into the seat cushions, collapsing with a unanimous sigh.

"You know, it's times like these when I really wish I knew a girl; I mean, that way I wouldn't have any problems in going to the party, because I'd always have a back-up plan." Ash shrugged, before feeling the boring of two blue-green eyes burning through his profile. "Er, lemme guess; you disagree on something I said?"

Misty didn't answer immediately. She was working her way down from a shrieking match at the inconsiderate way Ash had been talking about the female half of the human species in general, but when it really boiled down to it, there was something in the back of her mind - a small voice - that was urging her along, egging her along to ask the question, 'Since when am I not a girl to you?' She simply ignored it, something that she had grown very good at over the years when she'd had that crush on Ash that was so infuriating and terribly difficult to get over. . . and ground out her overall point of a statement.

"Ash, what makes you think that any girl would be interested in going anywhere with you, the way you're acting right now? You talk like that's all we're good for. It's disgusting. Forget about the fact that we may have professions, minds, abilities of our own that occupy our lives. You're worse than Brock with that attitude." For something so tainted, she sure stated it in a calm enough tone.

He quirked an eyebrow at her but didn't ignore what she had to say, perhaps understanding what her point was for once.

"Alright. I get it. I'm sorry. I guess I'm just. . . not happy with the way things are going to obviously turn out tomorrow night when I get to the lab and Gary's there with whatever 'beautiful girl' he managed to hook under his arm, and I've got no one. And don't tell me again just how much my fault it was that this happened. . . I get it, okay?" He finished bitterly, turning away from her like a disappointed child.

"I wasn't going to go there again, Ash; don't worry about it. Hey, how about this? A proposal that if neither of us finds a date before tomorrow evening, we promise to spend the evening together, huh? I mean, I'm sure everyone at the actual party will already have someone - or more than one person - to occupy their time with, and we don't want to look like idiots anyway; at least, I don't."

Knowing already that the likelihood of him finding a girl who was willing to go to some more-than-likely strangers' anniversary party by the next day was very low, Ash gave his thoughts a slight moment to collect themselves as he 'hummed' in satisfaction of this plan.

"Yea, okay; I'm good with that."

OoOoO

To avoid any utter confusion about their relationship ship, Ash and Misty would later reach an understanding that they would leave their house and arrive at the Oak's at separate (but mildly similar) times. It wasn't like it was a secret that they were sharing living exprenses (however one-sided that might have seemed), but as everyone seemed to have been making passes at them about their secret love affair with one another recently. . . well. . . they felt it would be only fair to the other to give themselves a break. Misty would arrive first, looking simple in a dark evening gown that accented her pale complexion to its fullest ability, and then Ash would arrive, looking oh-so-very casual, as was his nature, because he couldn't stand dinner jackets, or bow-ties, or buckles and belts, or any other fancy garment of the type. He was all sweater-vests and slacks. . . er. . . minus the sweater-vests because they were, like, the worst thing ever created on the face of the planet.

They met up at a small dinner table in the middle of the backyard (where the reception was being held) and grinned lightly to one another, and though things hadn't turned out as they'd expected - possibly even hoped - that they would, though Ash and Misty hadn't been able to snag a date for themselves, it was just as fine to be in one another's company.

"Glad to see you found your way here without my help, Ashy-boy."

Ash scowled. And here he thought that the mood would be light and airy. Who was he kidding?

"Glad to see the guys in Pallet still have as much sense as I remember them having, seeing as none of them have asked you to dance, or even looked at you yet. Shows you they know what they'd be getting into." She growled in response, but he stuck his tongue out immaturely to show a sign that he was simply making conversation in the way that they were used to and that he didn't mean anything by it, no matter how cruel it may have seemed, and she let it go.

"Well, you weren't here earlier. . . when Gary came around."

"Gary?" And suddenly Ash was quite glad that the two of them had chosen to come at two different times, seeing as he wouldn't have wanted to be around when the run-in with his kind-of, sort-of ex-rival had taken place. "Er, what did he have to say?"

"Oh, nothing much. He was waiting for his date to get here still; it seems she's from out of town, someone he met while researching in Saffron or something. But he just happened to be making last-minute rounds to help Professor Oak out and make sure everything was set up the right way, and he saw me and decided to show some actual backbone, as you might say." Ash was suddenly irritated and he didn't know why. He knew what Misty meant by that. Gary had attempted to flirt with her, or complimented her at the very least. And he was aggravated; so as all aggravated people would most likely resort to to release tension, he began to tap his fingers one by one against the table-top.

". . . What's up with you?" Misty asked, raising one of her delicate eyebrows, but she was interrupted. It was at this point that most of the guests had started to arrive in groups, large groups at that, and Sam and Delia stepped up onto the podium erected in front of the tables, intending to pick up the microphone there and make a small speech before allow the music to start and the festivities to really begin.

"Welcome, you all, to this little get-together in celebration of the anniversary of mine and Delia's marriage of three years now. . . !" And Professor Oak looked as though the time had flown so fast with his youth. "I've spent some of the best years of my life as her neighbor, as her son's mentor, and now, the greatest of all, as her husband." He glanced endearingly at her and she returned it, ". . . and I feel greatful to you all for wanting to grant us these few hours in appreciation of our relationship, which I hope lasts as long as the definition of forever dictates."

"Oh, thanks, Sammy. . ." Overly-emotional Delia wiped a single tear from her eye before leaning in and pecking him on the cheek, then whispering lightly, ". . . If you don't mind, I'd like to say a little something. . ." And he nodded before handing her the microphone so that, two seconds later, her slightly wavering tone echoed over it to the ever-still crowd.

"Well, as Sammy said, this is in celebration of us, but we have to thank all of you for more than just being here for today. A lot of you have been a part of our lives in this quaint little town for much longer than just the past couple of years, and so it means more to us than just these few hours will ever be able to show you, just how much we appreciate it. Gary, your grandfather knows how you didn't exactly. . . approve of our relationship at first," and she turned her gaze on him to see him turn his head away for a second, his cheeks glowing red, before he shook it off and gazed at her again in an attentive sort of way, "but that you would be here now, helping us over the past however long, and showing how you've grown proves to us that you're more than willing to overcome that, and so we thank you. May, Brock, Drew, Simone. . . you all are important to my son, his friends, and though he's known some of you longer and better than others, he regards you all dearly, and so I do as well, as does my husband. You've been there for us as well, no matter how subtlely, and we want you to know that you will always be family. My sons and daughters. . ." She closed her eyes and smiled softly, a hand over her heart. Even Ash had to admit, that line had touched him.

". . . Mom. . ."

But Misty did not allow herself to feel as everyone else did. She had listened, and she had been thrilled when the thoughts had turned to Ash's "friends". . . but she had not neglected to notice that her name was not mentioned. Perhaps the way Ash glanced at her two seconds later, and the way May and Brock did so as well from across the room, meant that they recognized that as well.

". . . And finally, my son." Delia's eyes were open again as she stared in his direction, "You know how much you mean to me, and all that you've done for me makes me wonder sometimes what I've done to deserve you. . ." She took a moment to dry another tear, ". . . but then again, I also wonder for a moment after that if you're helping me so much straight forward is your way of shirking off your chores in the background. . ." She smiled as an afterthought at him and he grinned at her.

". . . Mom!" He said, slightly embarrassed, knowing where she was going with this.

"I do hope you're continuing to change your underwear everyday! Just because you do so much for me in other categories doesn't mean you can avoid such an important part of your daily curriculum! Remember! You get up by eight o'clock at the latest, shower, eat a healthy breakfast, brush your teeth and your hair. . ."

"Mom!" He said, turning his gaze around the grounds and noticing everyone else's attention was starting to wander just slightly so that they could settle their own laughter.

"Yes, yes; fine. . . but I'm only saying these things because I love you, you know." Then, so suddenly that Misty almost felt like she was going to be thrown backwards in retaliation, Delia turned her eyes on the redhead; "Misty; don't think that I forgot about you. You haven't been as great a part of our lives as I'd have wanted over the past few years, and it's hurt me, and my Ash."

It hurt me, too. . . Misty realized quite suddenly, even though it wasn't so sudden. She'd known forever that she wanted to stay involved with her friends' lives, but her position at the gym simply hadn't. . . allowed. . . for that, had it? There was nothing she could have done, and - oh - how she had tried. And now that she was being lectured by Mrs. Ketchum, of all people - excuse me, Mrs. Oak - she felt the after-effects of losing the strength of those friendships ever the more.

"But I understand what happened; don't think that I don't. Life is a crazy, uncontrollable thing. And the things that happen in it are sometimes addictive. A moral like that is nothing but accepted by a single mother in this day and age, however unregrettable such an experience may have been for me. And you're here now, so it should be all that matters. . . however, I cannot call you my daughter." And Misty couldn't help feeling her heart break, even if only just a little.

She had always thought that, even if something fell through with Ash, with any of her friends, or with her sisters, she could've counted on Mrs. former-Ketchum, now-Oak, as a surrogate mother, but. . .

". . . and that is simply because a daughter is required to have strictly platonic feelings for her brother, isn't she?" The world silenced, and Misty wanted to bang her head against something very big, heavy, and hard. A giant boulder would've cut it for her, ". . . And vice-versa, am I right, Ashy?" And Delia's gaze turned to her son as though he'd been having naughty-naughty thoughts about his best friend for the past six years or something completely ridiculous like that. "But you two have always had something special going for you; something unreasonably crackling, electric, a flame that won't go out, even if it's not burning it's brightest right now."

"Mom!" Ash was so very red right now that he looked faint. Many people had inferred that he and Misty had a thing for each other, especially when they were younger, and recently, but it was subtle for the most part, and even when it was obvious, it could have been blown off. . . but now, in front of all these people. . . Ugh. . . !

"Well, Ashy, you can't let these feelings go on forever without acting on them! I mean, it's ridiculous! Just let it go already and tell her; she would be such a better daughter-in-law to me than a daughter, and you two are always so cute together, and so nice around one another. . ." This didn't just earn a snort from the two of them, but also from May and Brock. Apparently Delia had forgotten all about the violence, the insulting, the spats (no matter how 'lover-'involved they might have been, the breeder and coordinator had to admit). . . "Well, fine, then if you want to keep things the way they are, I'll finish now and let you all get to the party. But I guarantee it won't be nearly as interesting as the relationship my Ash has with his best friend, even though he won't admit it!" She went on ravingly until Sam managed to coax the microphone from her hands. She huffed indignantly - no matter how unlike her that was - and sniffed; until they both heard the music start up anyway, and he succeeded in asking her politely to dance, to which she accepted quite eagerly, no matter how upset she was.

After seeing that his mother wouldn't embarrass him any further, Ash turned back to Misty again, slightly scarlet, intent on carrying on his former conversation with her; after all, they had been interrupted by such speeches as the one that, not for the first time, insinuated the two of them were going to be getting together sometime very soon. Ash felt himself scoff somewhere in the back of his mind. As if.

"You asked what's up with me?" He questioned her, as though disbelieving, although whether it was to her abilities of perception or her meddlesome ways, she would have no idea at that point.

"Yea, I said Gary came onto me, and you suddenly looked all haughty and stuff. . ." It dawned on Misty for a moment the possibilities of such a reaction. Ash could be jealous; it was very possible, especially when it came down to the old rivalry that seemed to still subtlely blow between the two boys like a never ending flame.

"Not on your life; I'm just annoyed at the fact that Gary thinks it's okay to even pay so much. . . inappropriate attention to another girl when he's got a date that should be arriving sometime soon. Unless. . . you're the date. You said she was someone from out of town, and. . . Oh, ew, bad thought - you're not suddenly gonna come out with some huge announcement about how the two of you are engaged and how you're pregnant with his child, are you?" He pointed at her as though semi-disgusted, his nose crinkled in distaste at the topic at hand, even though he'd been the one to bring it up.

"Ash; you ass!" She removed one of her many seven-foot-tall mallets from its invisible sheath (that space-time pocket that she always whips her weapons out from) and ripped him a new one, and was just about to continue the assault when May, Drew, and Brock managed their way over, seemingly in much of a hurry; the redhead couldn't help but wonder if it was because they wanted to prevent her from killing her best friend, not that it'd necessarily be an accident.

". . . So, guys, how has it been going for you two these past couple of days?" May managed to ask as Brock coaxed the mallet-wielding girl to throw her weapon away for now.

"Just fine until Mr. Jealous, here, had to bring up the fact that I might be secretly in love with his rival and preparing to bare his child!" Misty shrieked, and Ash flinched from his place on the ground, although, since he'd been trying to pick himself up off of it at the time, perhaps that was simply out of pain from moving the wrong way.

"Jealous! Jealous? What are you talking about! I'm just assuring you that we're on the same page about what you were discussing with me yesterday, Myst! That stuff about girls and how they want to be treated with respect and all that; do you really think Gary's date, no matter who she is, would like to know that he was over at this table, flirting with you, while she was trying oh-so-hard simply to make it here?" Misty had to stop for a moment and think about that, considering that Ash rarely ever spoke with such. . . well. . . maturity. About anything. Ever. In nearly his entire life. And he was right; all except for one thing. . .

". . . Ash, all Gary really did was say that he respected me, including my skills as a trainer, Gym Leader, and woman, but that he respected my decision to break away from my position at the Gym the most because it showed that I knew what was best for me when the going gets tough, and that's what counts when things are going crazy." So she had led him on, just a little, and maybe it had been just a teensy-bit fun for her to watch him grow so agitated. . . but she'd never respected he'd blaze into such a speech as he had about womens' rights. . . She had to admit, she respected him just a bit more for that.

"B - but. . . you said. . . what about the coming onto you? And the flirting? And the bakbone-showing! Agh! Misty. . . !" He finished in an abrupt whine. May, Drew, and Brock thought it best to let the two of them work this out on their own, especially now that Misty had admitted to a fault of some sort and wouldn't dare mess up an apology of any sort by bashing Ash's head in; in other words, it was safe enough to make an escape and knew that they could come back and find the two friends alive still later on. Hopefully. If something didn't completely, horribly, and utterly wrong (which it probably would, but since they didn't want to think about the details, they chose to leave the situation at that).

"Well, you were the one that started the whole misinterpretation, and I just thought it was. . . kind of. . . funny, so I couldn't help it." Misty didn't look him in the eyes as she shrugged. She wouldn't apologize. It wasn't necessarily her fault, and it wasn't necessarily his either, so she didn't expect him to apologize to her. "Just don't blame Gary; that's all I'm asking of you. He's not as bad as you want to think, simply because he can get a girl to date him on a whim and you can't."

"Hey, I'll have you know that--" The words drowned in Ash's throat as arms wrapped around his neck from behind and he felt soft, plump breasts sitting smoothly there against the curve of his back, "--that I. . . that I have no idea who's got hold of me but if she doesn't let go right now, I might be forced to take drastic action. . ." He was grinning, though. It was a joke. He'd recognize the ring on that finger anywhere; he allowed the simplest nod and grin as Simone pulled away from him and he turned his attention suddenly to her, ignoring Misty's affronted stare, then glare, then 'hmph!' as she faced another direction so as to avoid their little flirtations.

For whatever reason, she knew that it would infuriate her.

"Hey, Ashy, how's it goin'?" The lovely girl winked intentionally at him, drawing a strand of ebony hair behind her ear because it had fallen into her facial area and begun to annoy her when she'd leant in on him a moment ago. "I haven't seen you in awhile, you know. Just because I don't have things for you to do around the house at the moment, it doesn't mean that you can't stop by every. . . once - in - a - while!" With every final syllable, she flicked higher up his chest. "If you don't, I might tend to miss your carresses. . ." And, with that, she began to lean in, the hand formerly sweeping up his chest resting on his cheek as she seemingly prepared to envelope him in a romantic embrace. . .

. . . That was, until Misty firstly slammed a fist onto the table, interrupting the both of them and causing them to jump about half a foot into the air. When they'd both turned to glance at her with semi-wide eyes, she managed a tight-lipped smile, hoping that it didn't look too disturbing, and extended a hand, which seemed to be shaking. . . But, Ash noticed, since it was the hand she'd just slammed so hard against the wooden tabletop, perhaps it was just pained.

"Hello, I'm Misty; I don't think we've met. . ." The redhead forced through gritted teeth.

"I'm Simone, one of Ash's best friends. . . Oh, that's right; Misty!" The speech that Mrs. Ketchum-Oak had given seemed to redawn on her, "What is she to you again, Ashy?" Simone asked after quickly taking hold of Misty's hand and shaking it lightly, then turning her attention to him again, "Your. . . er. . . girlfriend; lover; fiancee; wife. . . ?" Looking more uncomfortable with each suggestion, Ash attempted to shake the conversation off.

"What are you, kidding? Have you seen how violent she is?" He gave a quick laugh and then took a fierce hold of Simone's hand, staring so deeply into her eyes it was like some sappy romance movie, "No, no; Simone, it's you I've always wanted. . . You know that, right? So much sweeter, so much more fulfilling, so much more feminine, so much sexier!"

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" And just as Misty made a move to reach across the table and strangle him, Ash let go of Simone's hand and they both turned away, collapsing into a fit of laughter. ". . . Wait; huh. . . ?"

"Sorry about that, Misty. . . It's just something we do, something we've done for awhile." And Simone cracked up into giggles again before clearing her throat.

"Yea, I didn't mean to insult you or anything Myst, really, but I can't very well let Simone beat me, can I? I mean, I'm Ash Ketchum. . . !" He stated in indignant pride, prodding his thumb at his own chest.

"I suppose you've had to deal with this, too, at some point or another. . ." Simone sighed with exasperation, waving a hand in Misty's direction.

And as Misty caught on to the way things were between them, she became aware of the bittersweetness pounding away at her chest. Simone had said she was one of her Ash's best friends; she, Misty, had been like that with him, too, at one point. . . and Simone went on about his tendencies, and their actions together, as though it was such common knowledge for her, and it saddened Misty to think about how she couldn't recognize what was going on when she saw it playing out straight in front of her face. She missed being that close with them, and finally being so close for such an extended period of time (at least, extended compared to what she was used to at this point) left her feeling somewhat empty and unaware of something in comparison to what she'd hoped to feel upon being with them during these times as adults; for she'd often wondered as a teenager if they would remain such good friends throughout their young adulthood, and then she'd shake off that wonder and fixate herself on the absolution. . . Of course they would. . . ! There was no reason to doubt it. . . but then all that had happened, and she was left with this now. . .

Ash's voice suddenly brought her back to reality.

"Myst, er, look, I know we made that promise, and - if you want - I can intend to keep it, but Simone's invited me to meet some of her college friends, and to dance with her." Misty was suddenly that much more aware of their surroundings. Something tugged at her somewhere she hadn't felt in a very long time, but she chose to ignore it for the moment, "So I was just wondering if maybe I could accept the invitation, considering all we'll probably do is make threats to kill each other the rest of the night." That hadn't been anything near what Misty had been planning on, although, as the thought ran through her mind, the next one began to plague her; then just what had she hoped for. . . ?

"Uh, sure, go on. You're right; we weren't doing anything worthwhile, were we. . . ?" She closed her eyes so he couldn't read her like he might have known to do by now, and grinned as widely as possible without allowing it to look fake, then waved them off and told them to have a good time. She watched her best friend from the table they'd been sharing since they're arrival, as he allowed himself to be cornered by a bunch of foreigners (most of which were girls, and most of which were fascinated with the fact that he was Ash Ketchum, famous Pokemon Trainer, which suited him just fine). She also watched as he joined Simone on a wide platform where many other couples, including May and Drew, and the Prof and his wife, were traipsing carefully around each other, making sure to gracefully watch for their partners feet. She viewed all of this from her little corner, including the scene that was Ash allowing Simone to envelope him, him placing a hand on her quaint waist, and her on his shoulder, and then they both locked fingers with their other hands and began to do something similar to a waltz, although it wasn't as neat, considering Ash was acting it out.

But it was nice to watch somehow, and sad. . . and Misty allowed the smile to return for the second when Ash glanced in her direction, and then let it drop immediately after. She knew this was too easy for her, considering it wasn't the first time she'd had to go through with it. . . but why was she feeling this now. . . ?

". . . I need a drink."

Ash and Simone, meanwhile, continued to dance for the next twenty or so minutes, and by the time Ash was starting to feel thirsty, he was also starting to notice that maybe he was spending a little too much time straying away from his pact with Misty.

"Hey, Simone, I think I'll go get something to drink and then head back to my table; you see, Myst and I. . . we sorta had this thing planned, or not planned, for tonight, and I don't wanna make her angry by fudging it up, you know? But thanks for the dance. . . !" He finished with a grin.

"Oh, no problem; and please don't get Misty mad. She looks like she could breathe fire under too much duress. . . so you just go do what you have to do. It was fun, Ash, I had a nice time. Thanks. . . !" The girl shouted as he walked swiftly away, but as he began to march back to the table where he and his best friend had been all night to invite her along with him while he went to quench his thirst, he realized that there was no one there.

Sh - she didn't leave, did she. . . ? He wondered, worried that he'd already gone too far and upset her and their relationship in the currency beyond repair. But as he decidedly began to head towards the backdoor leading into the laboratory, and was thinking of heading home to try and find her there, he came across the makeshift bar, and recognized a head of vibrant red hair, as if he could ever forget it.

". . . Lookey, Ash!" She gasped in a fake drunk voice, pulling him uncomfortably close and forcing him to stare at who was serving the alcohol. "T'is Jamesie and Jess!" She pointed unnecessarily as though trying to puncture a hole in the air, and then began to giggle before letting him go.

Ash sighed. He remembered when she had first twenty-one, and he had offered to take her out for her first-ever drink. She had been a bit off upon acceptence, but he'd won her over in the end and taken her to a place Brock had mentioned to him, and after awhile, she'd lightened up. . . and soon after that, she'd offered him a challenge; that she could convince any not-exactly sober customer in the bar that she was drunk as a martini on Ladies Night in less than thirty seconds per round. All she needed was a half-full glass of alcohol (she didn't care what it was, considering she was so new she barely knew what was what anyway), a stopwatch, and two minutes in the bathroom. He agreed, bet her twenty dollars per customer, and she left him standing outside the womans' room. . .

. . . And when she emerged again exactly one minute and fifty-seven seconds later, he had to admit, he might have fallen for the stunt purely on appearance. Her hair had been ruffled, her clothes wrinkled, and she'd placed heavy eyeliner under her eyes. But while appearance was one thing, the act in itself was another. Unfortunately for Ash, he himself hadn't been thinking that evening, and had forgotten just how much experience in the drama career she had had before then. . .

He lost almost three hundred dollars that night, not including the money it took to buy Misty her 'first-ever drink.' And Ash had never learned such a valuable lesson, considering how foully he'd been played; and by his best friend, of all people!

"Get your girlfriend out of here, Twerp!" Jessie stated irritably in her red and white striped uniform with the black slacks and bowtie, "She keeps forcing us to recite the motto. . ." And as Misty giggled fake-drunkenly again, Jessie shouted seethingly, "Get it through your thick, wasted head; we are not a part of Team Rocket anymore. . . !"

"It's nice to see you guys, too; but, you know, you could just tell her 'no' when she tells you to say it. . ." Ash shrugged as if it was no big deal, but James gave a quick shudder.

"Twerp, your girl is violent enough when she's sober; do you even want to actually think of her under the influence?"

As he considered the statement, Ash knew the reply to it, but considering he knew Misty was actually quite sober at that point in time, he didn't want to risk himself right then and there, so he chose not to reply. Instead he turned to Misty and grabbed her around the shoulder, causing her to swing around and face him with clear eyes.

"'Kay, Myst, cut it out now. . ."

"Phht, why should I. . . ?" She shook him off of her and Jessie and James looked highly affronted at her suddenly clear speech, knowing that it meant she'd been fooling them before; not that it'd been that hard.

"Awe, c'mon. . . I was going to invite you to drink with me, anyway. Don't you wanna really get wasted?" He asked her.

She had to admit, that was a very tempting offer, considering, ". . . Maybe."

"Okay, then; you guys carry shot glasses, don't you?" He asked Jessie and James, then to his best friend, "First one down pays the catering fees for mom and the Prof.?"

"Not that I've ever been drunk a day in my life, but sure; I'll see you tomorrow, when you wake up with that killer hangover of yours. Oh, and just so you can determine who I am, I'll be the one with the wide grin and the clear head." She raised the glass that James had just poured her, waving it high as though toasting to the situation.

"Talk is cheap."

"But the way you're going on, you're cheaper."

And Ash noticed that she'd already finished her first glass and was moving onto her second.

OoOoO

((Anonymous things that probably should have been tagged with a number, but weren't because I'm too lazy to bother anymore--))

Misty, The Feminist, and Ash, The Feminists' Slave - Well, only because he's scared she's going to kill him and what with her and her loud personality. . . I just keep being reminded of Hermione from Harry Potter, and we all know how she is with Ron when it comes down to him dissing girls about their less-than-centered noses and stuff. . .

Eldershipping - WooT! The Eldershipping shot has been initially finished! I've gotten a few. . . less than positive. . . comments about the fact that this ship plays a role in this fic, but I've already explained why I placed Ash's mom with the Prof. (that being that I didn't think I should have to kill her off in every one of my fics just to get her out of the house and set up the situation for Misty to move in in her place), but even so, I just thought I'd let you all know that you won't have to see much more of it now that this chapter is over. The Eldershipping, even here, was just the filler ship to help along the Pokeshipping coming along later, and even if I might mention "Delia and Sam did this," or "the Prof. and Mrs. Ketchum-Oak went here," it's going to be a filler statement for a scene that will either be Pokeshippy or humorous, or both. You'll see more of what I mean when those types of things actually come along, though.

Simone Hawkins (2.0) - I think you all misunderstood in the last chapter, when I explained the possibilities of her and Ash's relationship. When I mentioned how 'Now I leave it up to you to decide whether or not you think she'll stand in the way of them or help them along,' I meant exactly that; that I was leaving it up to you and your opinions of how you wanted to think she was going to be. Just because you say she is going to be in the way of them doesn't mean she will be, unfortunately, and just because you say she won't doesn't mean she won't. That's not to say that you're right or wrong, obviously, but at least one of you commented on her in particular in a way that stated you wanted her to be a certain way and you were sure your comment would affect her role in the fic. Sorry, but it won't.

Notes - Oh, my God; an update. Do you think you're going to cry? Because I just might. . . Lol. . . No, really. I'm so sorry this took as long as forever and a day to get out, but I'm afraid that's how it's going to be for now at least, and I'll explain why. It's not even to do with lack of inspiration anymore, but simply because I don't have much time to sit down for extended periods of it and simply write like I used to. I'm a full-time student in college now, I have a part-time job, I have at least two and a half hours of appointments per week, then there's the travel-time to school and work (I work outside of the county I live in, and I take the bus to school, which is forty minutes there and forty back). . . Then there's my duties at home. Count in the times when I might need to stay after school to study, when I have to go to places like the library, the bank, etc., and you're lucky to even see anything at all from me, aren't you. . . ? But no, really, I'd probably hang myself if I couldn't update at least one thing somehow, even if it'll be another who-knows-how-long until I can do it again. . . I'm sorry; I'll try harder. . . But you know. . .

. . . Reviews make an author's day brighter!

Spoiler - The next morning, Ash finds out that Misty was right about one thing especially, that being that he has a killer hangover. . . but before he can deal with that, he must deal with something else; he must find out first of all how the hell he and Misty ended up in bed together after finding their way home from the anniversary party. And then he has to scrape his memory to attempt to find bits and pieces of possibly naughty things that may have occurred. . . Could he and Misty have done something regrettable the evening before? If so, and if he remembers it, how will he break it to her, since she doesn't seem to remember, and wakes up far later than him. . . ? Will their friendship ever be the same again? Or will it ever even be a friendship at all?