I would truly like to thank all those who have reviewed, favorites, and followed the story so far. Because I enjoy writing back stories, I decided to delve into more of Delia's and Giovanni's backstory. I hope you all love it.
Pikachu, Persian, and their respective trainers slowly journeyed back to the small house. Pikachu bounced ahead and took his time to sniff the flowers. He would release a small cry of joy. Persian walked loyally by his master's side. Ash noticed how strong their connection was and inquired curiously, "Does Persian ever go inside its pokeball?"
Persian stuck its regal head into the air, and Giovanni replied," No, Persian throws a fit every time she looks at the damn thing."
Ash imagined his father, a big man with broad shoulders and menacing expression, cradling a baby mouth no bigger than the size of a pichu. The mental image was too comical for him to comprehend, and he shook his head. Ash stifled a chuck and asked, "Have you had Persian since it was a Meowth?"
"When I was younger, I saved Persian from some poachers. I promised I would catch it when I became a strong enough trainer. When your mother and I returned to Viridian city, I found Persian, and we have been inseparable ever since," Giovanni explained as his companion nodded in agreement. Giovanni's thick ringed fingers scratched the feline's head.
"Do you ever battle with Persian?" Ash asked.
Giovanni smirked and looked down at his prized pokemon. "Persian is very strong, but a giant cat pokemon doesn't strike fear into my opponents. Besides, Persian prefers to be pampered."
Ash asked, "What was your first pokemon?" Pikachu came to a halt in front of the group.
"Charmander."
"What?" Ash said excitedly, "Do you still have it? Is it a Charizard now? Could you help me train mine?"
"Charizard is one of my strongest pokemon. Currently, he's guarding my estate. Had I known that we would be meeting, I would have brought him along."
As they got closer to the house, Delia poked her head out the front door. She sprinted outside and threw her arms around Ash's neck. "Mom, you're smothering me," Ash choked. Giovanni placed a heavy hand on his wife's shoulder and she released her grip on the boy.
Delia took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry, Ash. I was just scared you'd be so mad that you'd never come home again."
"It's fine, mom," her son replied. He noticed that it finally looked as if he had a normal family. Giovanni's hand remained on his wife's shoulder. Even though he didn't have any hint of a grin on his chiseled features, his eyes were relaxed and full of light; however, his mother had a wide bright smile as if all her hard work paid off. The worry was continual in her gaze, but she was perpetually concerned about her son. Every so often, Ash's parents would glance at one another like adolescents that had fallen in love for the first time.
The family moment was interrupted by the sound of a squeaky against the pavement. "Oh for the love of Lugia," Giovanni grumbled. A man with grey hair and a white lab coat parked his bike near the white picket fence.
"Good morning Ash," Professor Oak greeted warmly. "I heard you were coming to visit Pallet Town from Misty. I'm surprised you haven't come to visit the lab."
"Yeah, I was planning on coming by tomorrow. It has just been crazy around here," Ash replied politely as he glanced back at his parents. Delia released a small giggle and Giovanni pulled his wife closer to his frame.
Pr. Oak leered at Giovanni and straightened his posture like a Machoke before a battle. "My, my, look whom the meowth dragged in," he sneered as he shook his head.
"First, I have a Persian and if you value your life, you won't insult it," Giovanni spat in retaliation." Persian hissed and prepared for a fight. "For a professor, you would be the type to have to ask whether someone is a boy or a girl."
"What will you do to me? Send your pathetic goons after or run away like the coward you are?" Pr. Oak demanded. Before either Delia or Ash could blink, Giovanni's fist slammed into the professor's jaw. The rings on his fingers cut into the old man's face, and Oak stumbled backwards and fell. Delia gasped in disbelief as Giovanni inched towards the man. He knelt down and smirked malevolently as Pr. Oak's eyes widened in terror.
"Or I could settle things the more primitive way. Oaky, never forget who I am. Next time you insult me, you won't leave with your life," Giovanni purred as he studied the man intently. After all the dignity left the prestigious neighbor, Giovanni and Persian sauntered into the house and slammed the door behind them.
Delia helped the professor from the ground as she apologized frantically. "I'm sorry about him, Sam. He's never like that…are you okay? Oh no, you're bleeding," she chattered as she wiped the dirt from his jacket.
Professor Oak pressed a hand to his bleeding jaw and winced in pain. "I can't believe you married that monster," he grumbled.
"I'm surprised at you," Delia responded as if she was scolding a child. "You should know not to insult my husband of all people, and you taunted him. You brought it on yourself."
Ash returned inside and found his father on the couch. His head was buried in his hands, and he looked as if he had killed someone. His son sat on the floor in front of him and suggested that the neighbors apologize to one another. Giovanni sniffed and growled like a Snorlax that had just awakened, "I would, but he damn well deserves it."
His son inquired, "Don't you want to be the better man?"
"Ironically, I have been and for too long."
Delia stepped into the living room and fell into the seat beside her husband. She sighed as she grabbed his hand and kissed it gingerly. She mused dejectedly, "One of these days, one of you will be civil to the other."
"We wouldn't have this problem if he could let go of his stupid fantasies," Giovanni replied in a gruff voice that reminded Ash of an irate Gyrados,
"He's been like another father to Ash," Delia said as she looked down at her son.
"And you don't see why that would bother me?" Giovanni yelled as he leapt from his chair. He abandoned his seat and stormed away from the room.
Ash looked up at the ceiling after his father had bounded upstairs. "Is dad going to be okay?" he asked.
Delia ran her hands through her auburn hair and murmured," Let's hope so. I am really sorry you had to see that. Your father and Professor Oak have never ever gotten along."
Her son leaned forward and inquired, "Is it because of Team Rocket?"
"No, it's actually all my fault" Delia admitted as her eyes darted from wall to wall. She met her son's stern gaze and sighed. "When I was sixteen, I was one of Professor Oak's research assistants, I was very young and very dumb. Ash, I really shouldn't tell you this story."
"Go on, Mom," Ash instructed with a wave of his wrist,
"Well, I was very intimate with the professor in a….physical way," Delia said slowly as her son's face contorted with disgust. "Although he was married, we were extremely attracted to one another. I hadn't heard from Giovanni after he left for Johto then became the Viridian City Gym Leader. Then one day, he came to visit me at the laboratory. He was so much taller than I recalled. He looked so handsome with his long dark hair, his long and lean figure, and his loyal Persian by his side,
"When your father walked into the room, everyone's gaze was on him. He wasn't phased at all. He walked over to my desk and sat on the edge of it. He said in a voice deep like the ocean, 'Delia, it has truly been too long. You've aged nicely, I almost forgot what you looked like,'
"Oak was less than pleased to have Giovanni intrude and he quickly asked for an introduction. I swear to Mew, your father had the smuggest smirk and looked him square in the eyes, He introduced himself as the Gym Leader of Viridian City and said, 'And the man who is taking your lovely assistant on a date tonight.'
"That night, Giovanni took me out for a nice dinner. I told him everything about me and Oak and how his behavior was uncalled for. He looked at me as if I was surrounded by bedrill. He only laughed and responded, 'Clearly, you haven't gotten much smarter since I left you. Delia, there are ancient runes younger than he is.'
"As you know, Ash, I ended up married to Giovanni, and he bought us a house here in Pallet Town. After Giovanni became the boss of Team Rocket, Professor Oak was there to help out. He understood the difficulty of raising children. When your dad wasn't around, you had a father figure in your life. Besides, you and Gary used to be best friends. Of course, your dad didn't approve of any of this, but I didn't listen.
" When your father returned after you left for your journey, Professor Oak came by later that evening. As you could imagine, your dad was already in a terrible mood and has an awful moment Oak knocked on the door and said, 'Hey Delia, how are you holding up?', you would have thought a bunch of houndoom set Pallet Town on fire. Your father, fuming, walked over to the door and coughed.
"Oak, never quite tactful around Giovanni, made the mistake of asking Giovanni, 'Did you enjoy avoiding the responsibilities of a father?'
"Your dad replied with an evil snarl, 'I know this is a difficult concept to understand, but some people have to make SACRIFICES for their families. How many little assistants did you sleep with while married to your wife?'
"Oak snapped in retaliation, 'You don't deserve to be here. You weren't there for your kid for most of his childhood.' The professor shoved your father. It was like watching a Jigglypuff trying to fight a Nidoking. Your father placed a hand firmly on Oak's throat as Persian dug his teeth into Oak's leg.
"Your father replied mavolently and bared his teeth like an angry Usaring, 'I suppose I should be grateful that my wife wasn't alone to raise my son, Ash is a very lucky kid to have so many people that care about him. You can circle my family like the vulture you are, but they are still my family and you will not steal them from me.'
"Afterwords, your father had heard about Oak's and my occasional trips to visit you and watch your league tournaments. He'd comment on the old man never learning his lesson, but that's about it. I'm so sorry Ash. This is all my fault."
Ash's jaw shut and he smiled. He took his mom's hand and replied jokingly, "Oh mom, why do you have to have such a weird backstory?" Delia giggled and hugged her son. All would be well as soon as Giovanni returned downstairs.