Route 1, 6:50 PM

Ash, and May were walking back to the Ketchum home, the two hadn't said anything to each other since their encounter with the Buterfrees.

May then suddenly yawned breaking the silence, causing Ash to turn to her.

"Tired?" he asked.

May nodded "Yeah, guess that Ice cream wasn't really effective,"

Ash smiled "Well we should be their in a few minutes"

"I don't think I'm gonna last that long" May said, as she yawned again.

"geez May you're really lazy some times.."

May glared at the trainer "Hey just because I'm sleepy doesn't mean I-*yawn*"

Ash chuckled, which caused May to slightly blush.

As they walked through Route 1 they passed by a father giving his daughter a piggyback ride.

May sighed when they were out of view.

Ash looked at her "What's wrong?"

"I just…it's silly."

"What?" he said as he stopped walking.

May looked at his eyes, they were filled with concern.

"Well, I loved my dad, and I always will…..but the truth is I never really spent much time with him," she replied feeling the tears return.

"He was always busy training his pokemon, and when whenever he did have time he would spend it with Max, and seeing that girl with her dad, just reminded me of that"

Ash frowned, it seemed no matter what May couldn't stop thinking about her parents and Max, but Ash then remembered something, something the Petalburg gym leader told him years ago.

Petalburg city, 8:25 PM, 3 years ago

It was the night of Norman and Caroline's anniversary, everyone had already gotten back into the house to sleep, until…

"Ash, can I talk to you for a second?"

Ash turned around to see Norman standing behind him.

"Um sure Norman," replied the trainer as he followed Norman into the greenhouse.

"Ash, you have no idea how thankful I am of what you and Brock have been doing" Norman said with smile.

"No Problem Norman, but what did Me and Brock do?" Ash asked.

"What have you done? Ash you have done everything, May and Max haven't been happier, especially May, ever since she started traveling with you she has become a whole new person"

"What do you mean?"

Norma sighed and his face turned serious "You see May was never really fond of Pokemon, as a matter of fact she only went to Birch's lab because I told her that she had to become a trainer if she was going to inherit the gym some day"

Ash was a bit surprised at Norman's words "Umm Norman, with all due respect i don't think May wants to be a gym leader, I mean she's a coordinator,"

"I know that, she has found her own dream, and I couldn't be more proud, she was never really fond of being here in Petalburg she would always be talking about going sight seeing and meeting new people, she wanted more,"

Norman smiled again.

"And Ash you have given that to her, you and Brock have helped her become her own person, making a name out of herself other then Norman's daughter"

"Wow Norman….I-I don't know what to say" Ash replied, trying to comprehend what Norman was telling him.

"You can promise me something"

"Um ok, sure" said the trainer.

Norman put his hand on Ash's shoulders.

"Promise me that you will keep her that way, keep her strong and happy, make sure to be there for her when times are tough, protect her whenever she finds trouble, she needs it, She needs a friend her age to rely on to stay strong."

Ash was taken aback by this, he wasn't really sure what to say.

"Promise me that?"

Ash looked down at the floor.

"You promise me?" the gym leader asked again

Ash looked back up at Norman and smiled.

"Don't worry Norman, I promise"

Norman let go of Ash's shoulders and smiled.

"Thank you, no time to bed, your'e going to need it for our battle tomorrow"

Ash pumped a fist "You bet"

Route 1, 6:55 PM

Ash lifted his eyes from the ground and looked at May, she was crying now.

He walked a bit closer to her, and wiped her tears with with his thumb, causing May to look at him a slightly blush

"Ash, wha-"

"You cry a lot" Ash said with a chuckle.

May pushed Ash hand from her face and scowled at him.

"No I don't!"

Ash's face softened "Well it's only normal right?"

May wiped her face.

"I guess so" she replied. "Bon't you don't have to be a jerk about it,"

"Sorry," Ash said as he scratched the back of his head "But hey you stopped crying"

May's eye widened, she touched her cheeks to find them dry.

Ash chuckled, while May smiled.

Ash then turned around and faced his back towards May.

"Um Ash, is something wrong?"

"You're still tired right?" he asked.

"Umm yeah"

"well then let me carry you"

"W-WHAT?!" May exclaimed.

"Do you want me to carry you?"

May's cheeks were blood red, 'what's up with him today, he's been so…different'

"Well?" asked Ash, his back still facing her.

"o-okay" she said quietly .

May stood against Ash's back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist. her face still blushing madly.

"Alright let's go" Ash said with a smile as he bean to run with May on his back.

May felt her heart beat madly,as she closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of Ash's. before she could fall asleep she quietly whispered.

"Thank you Ash…."

Pallet Town, 7:04 PM

"Ash?" asked Serena

"Who do you think? can I come in, May's kinda heavy," Ash said with a smile

Serena let Ash into the house, were he was greeted by his starter.

"Why are you carrying her?" Serena asked.

"She got sleepy, anyways I'm gonna taker her upstairs, I think by back is gonna give" Ash replied as he walked up stairs to his room, followed by Pikachu.

Serena stayed in the living room, she began to feel man things, anger, sadness, and suspicion.