I GOT A SNOW DAY! I'm very happy about this. At my school, we have to make them up (sads) but I'd rather go to school in the warm spring than in snowy winter. It's a lot less dreary and depressing.
BUT, to celebrate the fact that I'm at home and NOT in class right now (although, I do still have homework, grumble) here's the latest chapter to entertain all of you! This is a sweet one ^^
For the Love of Brock
Chapter Nine
As it would turn out, Bella calling Brock "daddy" hadn't been a fluke, nor something said out of sheer exhaustion. She had really meant it. From that night on, she had begun alternating between "Brock" and "daddy," until Brock assured the little girl that it was alright to call him daddy.
Suzy had adjusted to life in a permanent home, instead of moving around. She was still booking showcases and slots in breeding competitions, but it was a thrill for her to know that she'd always have a place to return to. Besides, she was still on break for the summer, and enjoying every moment with both Brock and Bella.
She and Misty had become very good friends. It was easy, seeing how much time Brock spent with Ash. Bella, of course, was happy with it. She loved playing with Elizabeth. She had even been invited to the girl's seventh birthday party that August. Of course, so had Suzy and Brock.
While Misty and Suzy had busied themselves with keeping the children occupied, Brock had pulled Ash aside for some very important guidance.
"What are we doing in here, Brock?" Ash groaned, having been dragged into the living room by his best human friend. "They're about to have the cake!"
"No they're not," Brock chuckled. "Come on. I made sure Misty wasn't going to do anything involving the cake until we got back outside."
Ash narrowed his eyes at this. "You promise?"
"Yes! Sheesh, you'd think this is your birthday party with how much you care about the cake."
"Hey, Elizabeth and I happen to have the same preference for cake flavors, and I know for a fact that it's an ice cream cake with those little chocolate crunchies. I'm not missing out on that!"
"I'm not one for ice cream cake, but I won't punish you for your tastes," Brock chuckled.
Ash rolled his eyes at this and folded his arms across his chest. "Are you ever going to tell me what was so important? I want to know!" Just as Brock opened his mouth to respond, Ash cut him off. "And not just for the cake."
Smirking nervously, Brock reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box, causing Ash's eyebrows to shoot up his forehead. As soon as Brock opened the box, he revealed exactly what Ash had been expecting: a gorgeous diamond ring.
"Whoa," Ash breathed, his eyes fixated on the piece.
"It's nice, right?" Brock asked. "You think Suzy will like it?"
"Well…yeah," Ash replied with a laugh. "Of course! In fact, I bet she'll love it!"
Brock's confident smile faltered a bit, and he moved the box closer to his chest. "You think…you think I'm doing the right thing?"
Ash blinked at this. "What do you mean, Brock?"
"I know Suzy and I have only been dating for about three months," Brock explained, watching Ash's face for any signs of doubt. He couldn't see anything; Ash's face was perfectly still and unchanging. "But…I love her so much, Ash. And I love Bella, too. I can't wait anymore. I waited once, and I lost her. I can't do it again. Does that make me crazy?"
Ash snickered at this. "Brock, you are crazy, but not because you want to propose to Suzy."
"Thanks, I think?" Brock chuckled.
"I think you're doing the right thing," Ash continued. "Then again, maybe you're taking to the wrong guy. I married Misty when I was 20, and I got her pregnant the next month. So maybe I'm the crazy one."
"Ash, you are crazy, but not because you got married young and immediately knocked her up," Brock chuckled, repeating Ash's sentiments from before.
"Fair enough," Ash laughed. "So, when are you going to do it? Today?"
"No," Brock quickly refuted. "I was thinking about doing it at the end of the month, before she goes off to her first showcase after her summer break. She gets anxious when she's separated from Bella, so maybe a little bit of good news and something to look forward to will boost her spirits a little bit."
"I think that's a great plan, Brock-o!" Ash complimented, patting his friend on the back.
"Thanks," Brock sighed. He felt as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and he hadn't even proposed to Suzy yet! "So, if she says yes-"
"When she says yes," Ash interrupted Brock, throwing his old fiend a confident smile.
"Alright," Brock chuckled. "When she says yes…will you be my best man at the wedding?"
Ash beamed at this. "It would be my honor, Brock! And I promise I'll throw you the best bachelor party ever."
Brock smirked at this. "You're not going to do anything with running it past Misty first, are you?"
Ash wilted at this. "No. Course not."
"That's what I thought," Brock laughed, playfully punching Ash's upper arm. "Come on, let's go get you some cake!"
XXX
Several weeks later, back in Pewter City, it was the night before Suzy was to head out for Vermillion City for her first breeding showcase of the season. She would be bringing Bella with her, since Zane would be there as well. He was only staying for the first day, however, and would then be taking the little girl for a short vacation to his parents' house in Johto.
Just as he always did the night before Bella would leave for a visit with Zane, Brock was cooking up a fantastic dinner. This time, however, it would be even more special. He knew, as soon as dinner was served, he was going to make his move. Fear was coursing through his veins, but along with it, excitement. He could only help that Suzy was going to say yes to him, and not laugh in his face. After all, it had only been three months…
Three months. Am I crazy? I'm really doing this. I'm insane. But…what do I have to lose? I know Suzy is the love of my life. It's now or never…
"Daddy, is dinner ready?"
Brock smirked and looked over his shoulder. Bella was standing in the doorway with a big smile on her face. She really was growing up…even in only the few months that Brock had known her. She had lost her childish lisp, for the most part, and had even gotten a little taller. He felt every much the proud father, despite Bella not being biologically his.
"Almost, doll," he promised. "Why don't you get Mommy to sit down at the table?"
Bella beamed and nodded her head, running back into the dining room with a giggle. Brock just smiled and took the pot off the stove, looking over all of his hard work. There definitely seemed to be enough food for way more than three people. But…Brock couldn't help it. Cooking really helped calm his nerves when he was anxious. So, he had just kept going and going. Before he knew it, he had cooked around six different dishes.
He carried all of the food out and placed it on the table, watching with an amused smile as Suzy and Bella's eyes lit up.
"Brock, you've really outdone yourself," Suzy laughed, sounding a little shocked.
"I know, I know, I went I went a little overboard," Brock sighed before chuckling. "Just wanted to make sure everyone was satisfied."
"We'd be satisfied no matter what, honey," Suzy breathed. "You didn't have to work yourself to the bone!"
"I didn't," Brock assured his girlfriend, leaning over and kissing the top of her head. "I enjoyed every minute of it."
"Daddy, I don't gots a fork!"
Brock smirked and looked over at Bella, who was frowning.
"Ah, how silly of me!" Brock playfully crowed. "Let me go get the utensils."
Scurrying back into the kitchen, Brock gathered the thee special settings he had created just for this meal. He had bundled each trio of a spoon, fork, and knife (save for Bella's setting; he didn't want the little girl using a knife) in a silk burgundy napkin with a pewter ribbon tied around each one to keep it all in place. On one setting, he had tied Suzy's engagement ring onto the ribbon. With a smile on his face, Brock nervously carried the settings out into the dining room, his hands shaking.
He first gave Bella the knifeless setting, which she immediately unraveled. Smirking, he placed the second setting at his seat, before walking towards Suzy. With his heart racing, and his mind telling him he was at the point of no return, Brock placed the final setting down next to Suzy's plate. She smiled up at him and looked down at the setting, ready to untie the bow with her delicate fingers. As soon as she touched the silky ribbon, however, her heart stopped. Brock knew, at that moment, that her dark brown eyes had caught sight of the ring in the middle. With his girlfriend frozen in place, Brock dropped down to one knee, Bella watching on with curious brown eyes.
"Suzy," Brock began, finally catching the breeder's attention. "I know we haven't been dating for long, but we've been friends for longer than I can even remember. And I know, with all of my heart, that I love you more than anything in the world. Well…you and Bella."
From across the table, the little girl giggled, looking positively delighted.
"So…with that in mind, I've decided to ask…will you marry me?"
Suzy's jaw, which had dropped upon finding the ring, was still hanging. Bella, on the other hand, was squealing and jumping up and down in her seat, crying, "say yes, Mommy! Say yes!"
Suzy laughed and hung her head for a moment before picking it back up, revealing to Brock that her dark brown eyes were filled with tears. "Well, you know that I always listen to my little girl."
Now it was Brock's turn for his jaw to drop. "Does that mean…?"
"Yes, Brock," Suzy murmured, the tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "I'll marry you."
Jumping up, and letting out an enamored breath, Brock reached for the setting and pulled the ring off of the pewter ribbon. Once he had it freed, Brock grabbed Suzy's hand and slipped the band onto her left ring finger. Once it was secure, Suzy raised her hand to her face in order to examine the ring. It was so beautiful…a white gold band adorned by a cluster of princess cut diamonds and followed up by a border of round diamonds.
"Do you like it?" Brock asked nervously.
"It's gorgeous," Suzy breathed, shaking her head. "Oh, Brock…"
He knelt down once again, this time to give Suzy a passionate kiss. They usually didn't do such things in front of Bella, but they would make an exception this one time. Bella, for what it was worth, didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she was delighted! She giggled as they kissed, and as soon as the two parted, Bella jumped out of her chair and ran over to Suzy with glittering eyes.
"Do you want to see Mommy's ring, beauty?" Suzy asked, knowing exactly what Bella wanted.
"Yeah!" Bella cheered.
Suzy lowered her hand so Bella could see the ring. Once the little girl was done examining it, she looked up at Suzy and beamed.
"It's so pretty, Mommy!" Bella cried.
"Isn't it?" Suzy giggled. "I love it!"
"Me too," Bella agreed. Right after she spoke, however, the grumbling of a stomach pierced the air. Suzy and Brock exchanged glances, but quickly figured out it wasn't either of them. "Mommy, Daddy…I'm hungwy."
Brock and Suzy chuckled at that. "Hungry" was still one of the words that Bella said with a lisp, and they both found it to be completely adorable.
"Sorry, doll, I forgot about dinner!" Brock replied. "Come on, let's eat!"
As Bella excitedly ran back to her seat, Brock sat down beside Suzy, throwing her a grin as she placed a hand on his thigh and gave him a cheeky smirk.
Hooray, they're engaged! AND we got to see Ash this chapter, too! He's been conspicuously absent, so he had to make an appearance ;)
Anyway, this was the penultimate chapter (not including the epilogue, which I'm currently in the process of writing.) Next chapter will be the final "actual" chapter, and then the epilogue, and then...who knows? Maybe I'll write a sequel ;) Stay tuned!
