Final chapter Everybody, sorry took so long, but sometimes real life gets in the way. As always I do not own any rights to Pokemon. I do not make any money off of this.

Chapter 7/Epilogue

Life began to move forward after the incident with Drake. Ash healed quickly and was back to battling challengers at his gym after a few weeks. Misty moved to Pallet Town to live with Ash and help him run his gym. They had agreed that after Misty had given birth they would be married and she would not only help him run his gym but partner with him to run it as a double team gym accepting challengers with double battles if they were brave enough to take the challenge, though this was not required.

Mist returned to her journey and challenged the gyms as well as compete in contest. Though she had an astounding talent for contests, she didn't have the passion her mother had for them. It seemed that was another thing she took from her father. During her travels she had a mishap with a flock of Spearow that ended up chasing her and had to jump into a river to get away. It was crazy enough that she had such a similar experience as her father had had on his first day, that when she told Ash and Misty what happened next, it caused Ash to pale and Misty to burst into laughter, as when she was fighting the current she, like her father was fished out of the river by another young trainer. Though unlike her father, she didn't "borrow" the boys bike. His name was Adrian and was more of a wanderer then anything. He helped her out of the forest and to the nearest town and simply for the hell of it followed Mist along on her journey to keep her company.

Misty loved the story and found it hilarious that her adoptive daughter had met her fist companion the same way she and Ash had. Ash, like any father became very nervous about the idea of his daughter traveling alone with a boy, but Misty reassured him everything would be fine, and it was confirmed when they met the boy for the first time. It was like looking in a mirror of themselves when they were young. Mist and Adrian constantly argued but were quick to make up. Misty also noticed the looks they gave each other when they thought the other wouldn't notice. She smirked as she remembered doing similar things when she was younger and traveling with Ash. At that point she was still in denial about her feelings for Ash so chances were that Mist and Adrian were at the same stage and didn't understand their feelings. Misty hoped that they wouldn't make a mistake like Ash and Misty had and take years to confess. Though Ash wasn't as dense as he used to be he was still pretty oblivious and didn't notice. Though he did take a liking to Adrian after an extended talk about pokemon and traveling.

Ash the months passed, the day came when Misty would go into labour. After hours of screaming and threatening the castrate Ash, Misty gave birth to boy. As Misty held the newborn in her arms she looked down at the sleeping infant with love she never new she could hold. She laughed a little as her eyes welled with tears. As thoughts of this being how May must have felt.

When the time came to pick out a name they had a little trouble. Ash found himself leaning towards naming him Tanner, he didn't know why he just liked the name. Misty was trying to think of a way to name him after May, but found no way to turn a girls name into a boys name. When she looked at her son she saw how he resembled his father and simply smiled as she put out A.J. Ash laugh at the idea of an Ash Jr, but shook his head and simply said that he didn't need to have his son named after him. So they decided on naming him Tanner Andrew Ketchum.

Nine Years Later

A young woman stood among the headstones standing before the marker of the woman who had given birth to her. Mist had grown and was nearly identical to her mother at the age of twenty, save for her tanned skin and black hair. She dressed much the same she had when she first started her journey, even still wore her fathers old hat. She smiled and knelt down at her mothers grave.

"Hello Mother... I know it's been a while since I came by... but I'm sure you know how busy Dad and Misty are keeping Adrian and I... you know wanting us to take over the gym and all..." She'd say with a sigh. "Don't get me wrong, we are both ecstatic about being the new gym leaders. It's just they could lay off a little, I mean I've been watching how they run things for a while, and Adrian has always been a quick learner..." She'd let out another sigh as a few shadows came from behind her. She stood and smiled at her family and fiance.

She stepped closer and gave Adrian a quick kiss on the cheek as he smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist nodded to the head stone and to his in laws, finding it best to remain silent as he had never had the chance to meet the woman they came to visit. Mist smiled at her family as she stood next to her fiance and all smiled at each other, and looked to her nine year old brother with a smirk. As he looked to his big sister with those eyes of determination that all Ketchum seemed to be born with.

Tanner was a carbon copy of his father the only difference was that he inherited his mothers eyes and skin colour. HE was curious as to why they were here, he had only recently learned that Mist and him were only half siblings with different mothers. When he looked at the head stone she was kneeling at a look of understanding showed on his face. Like his sister he was lucky enough to gain the intelligence of his mother. He looked to his sister with a small smile as he nodded. His eyes eventually moved around though oddly enough landing on the old hat she wore that was given to her by her father. He knew about it's meaning and he always thought it looked cool but she had always refused to let him wair it.

She smiled at him, he would be starting his journey in a couple weeks. Their birthdays were pretty close and she figured might as well give him his gift early.

"Hey Mom...Dad, little brother. Didn't expect you all so soon." She'd say with a little smile.

"Yeah well we never really do much on this day right... Though Amy was so insistent that we have another match." Ash said with a smile and a bit of a groan.

"Oh? How'd she do?" Mist asked curiously seeing the smirk Misty gave. Making her smirk. The sheepish look on her fathers face confirmed it. "So she finally beat you huh Dad?"

He'd let out a sigh and nodded. "Yeah it only took nine years and about twelve tries but she finally beat me. Even at that her last pokemon dropped as he walked back to her." He'd say with his usual smile.

Mist just smiled and looked to her little brother and smiled to him. "And how are you doing Tanner? Excited for when you get to start your journey?"

"Yeah! I'm gonna be the very best! I promise you! I'll catch and train a lot of pokemon and raise them to be the strongest ever!" He said with that famous Ketchum grin. Earning looks from everyone, surprise by Mist and Adrian, they still didn't know that was Ashes catch phrase in his younger days. Amusement from Misty, and Ash, much like the day his daughter started her journey, felt pride that those words did seem to be genetic for a Ketchum.

"That's my boy! I'm sure you will accomplish your goal. I used to say that all the time when I was on my journey and your sister took a liking to that phase as well. You'll do me proud son... Just like your sister does." Ash said with pride.

"Well Tanner... I know it's a little early but I think it's ok to give you your gift now." Said mist with a smile as she took off the hat her father once gave her and handed it out to her little brother." Take care of this hat Little Brother, Dad gave it me when I started and I made sure to take good care of it... but remember to take care of all you pokemon too." She'd say warningly with a ghost of a smile as his eyes lit up and he slowly took the hat and put it on top of his head looking far to much like his father for his own good.

"Thanks...Mist... I promise I'll take good care of it." He'd say to her then turned too look to his father. With determination burning bright in his eyes. "You can count on it."

"Glad to her it son." Said Ash with a smile as he looked to his daughter and son to be son in a laugh with a smile. "You two go on home and bring Tanner with you. You Mom and I need to stay a little longer." He'd say with a soft smile earning a nod from the young adults.

"Sure thing Daddy... take all the time you need." She'd say reverting to her childish name for him briefly. "Come on Little Brother, lets go home and I'll make Adrian here cook us all dinner..." She'd say with a little embarrassment.

"Honestly... how can you be so terrible at cooking Mist? When we were still traveling I swear, if it wasn't for the fact that it's impossible, you'd have probably burnt cereal." Laughed Adrian. Earning a smack in the back of the head from his blushing bride to be.

Ash just laughed nervously as it seemed his daughter also inherited his inability to cook when he was younger, luckily he did learn. As the three left, Ash looked to his Misty and smiled and saw her smiling back sweetly as she took his hand and they stood before Mays grave.

"Hey May... umm I know Mist said it's been a while, but well... it's been a lot longer for you and I... Not since that day you wanted to talk to me... I just wanted you to know that I've done what you said I've taken care of our little girl and she's grown into such a strong and beautiful woman... and the man she's fallen for... You'd like him... he's a good man, you don't have to worry about Mist anymore... I've also taken care of Misty like you said... I'd like to think she's happy." He'd say with a smile as he looked to his wife and received a nod and smile from her. May... this is also the last time I'll be coming here to talk... I'll come here only when Mist or Misty wants to... I hope you'll understand May..." He'd say reaching out to touch the head stone smiling. "Sweet dreams May." He'd back away ready to leave but felt Misty staying still and looked back curiously to see her smiling at him.

"You're not the only one who has some things to say dear... But I'd like to have my time with her alone so you go on and wait at the gate for me." She'd say with a smile as she let go of his hand.

He smiled back and nodded at her as he made to wait for her at the gate to the cemetery. "Alright Misty, take your time."

Misty smiled as he walked off and looked back to the grave of the woman she spent so much time hating now felt nothing a feeling of gratefulness as she knelt down to the grave. "Hi May, we never really talked except for when we met all those years ago in Hoenn... To be honest when I met you I was scared... I saw how you looked at Ash... I had figured out my feelings when we got back from Johto... But then you backed off... I don't know if you saw the love I have for him or something... but it made me feel a little more secure." She grew quiet for a moment as she thought back on that time. "Then I didn't see him for years except for when he was on t.v. He finally come back and you were with him... I was so harsh on you and you were just trying to keep the situation calm...but I lashed out at you... I just wanted to say I'm sorry for how I acted and thank you for taking care of him for as long as you did, thank you for giving him his daughter. I hope that you approve of the kind of Mom I was for her. Anyway... that's all I wanted to say... Good bye May...I'm sure we'll meet again in some way." She'd say with a smile as she stood and walked off to meet her husband at the gate.

He waited patiently for her and smiled when she stood next to him, and took her hand as they walked to the large home they all lived in for the time being. "Good talk Misty?" He'd ask with a smile.

"You could say that... I just had some things I needed to get off my chest." She'd say as a devious little smirk formed on her lips as she leaned up to whisper in his ear. "But I have something you can take off my tonight hon." She say with a hint of lust in her voice. Ash just grinned at her having gotten used to her when she wanted to tease him years.

"With pleasure, my sexy little red head." He'd say as he stopped pulled her in front of him and captured her lips in a deep and passionate kiss that oddly enough caught Misty off guard, thought she quickly melted into it and kissed him back with full passion. Braking the kiss after a moment both of them panting.

Misty giggled as they started walking again and held onto his arms as she seemed to absolutely glow from the simplicity of his kiss. "Almost ten years and you still take my breath away..." She'd say dreamily.

"What can I say, you've given me plenty of practice." He'd say earning a little blush from Misty.

"Well you'll get plenty more dear..." She'd say with a smile as she looked up at the man who she loved most in the world. "I love you Ash...So...so much..."

Ash smiled to her lovingly and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Love you to Misty, more then you'll ever know.

The End

I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it. I know some of you must have lost faith in me at some points but I hope that the rest you all still enjoyed it any way. thank you all for supporting me thought this story and simply so you know, I already have a sequal for this in mind, based off of Mists life during her journey. Can't say when that will happen but know that it will. Until then I'd like to know what you all think I should work on next from my list. please leav in reviews and when I've got enough I'll make one last update on this story so you all know.

This story was inspired by MasteringAMuggleLife, and their Story, "The Hat".