Originally this one-shot collection was suppose to be about Alain and Mairin's married life and family, but I have decided that it's going to be about their entire adult life as well, so that way I'll have a place to upload fics about them dating, etc. :)

Also I have another one-shot collection called Amber and Blue about Alain and Mairin's teen/childhood years, taking place in the same universe as these fics.

Ferris Wheel

"Wow! Look how high up we are!"

Mairin was happily peering over the side of the rising Ferris wheel, eyes lit with wonder as they traveled higher above the amusement park below. They had spent an exciting day in Nimbasa City, and after watching a musical and battling against the gym leader, Mairin had happily dragged him off to the park. She had never been to one before, and the first thing that had caught her eye was the towering couples-only Ferris wheel.

"Yep. I am sure we are up high," Alain said slowly, in a voice that wasn't quite his own, but Mairin was too absorbed in the view to notice.

She had flown in an aircraft many times before, and she had ridden on the back of her Flygon, but this was so much different. She could feel the wind and hear the sounds of the city below, but yet at the same time it was so calm and serene as they slowly rose higher into the air.

"You can basically see the whole city!" Mairin said, pointing out in the distance. "There's the musical theater, and there's the Gear Station, and..." Her eyes flickered towards Alain, and a frown crossed her face. "Um... you're missing the view, Alain."

Alain was leaning back against the seat of the Ferris wheel, hands tightly gripping the railing– eyes pressed shut.

"Yep. I am missing the view," Alain said, not shifting positions. "And you know what would help? You not describing it. How about enjoying the moment in silence?"

She stared at him, his face very pale. She reached out, touching his hand– causing him to flinch. His knuckles were turning white by how tightly he was gripping the railing, his hand clammy against hers.

"...Are you okay?" She asked. "You look... terrified."

Terrified was a word she never thought she'd use for Alain, but she wasn't sure how else to describe the look on his face. He was practically trembling as he sat there, clinging to the railing as if the compartment holding them was about to drop from the Ferris wheel.

"Well let's just say I'm not enjoying this one bit," He said in a tight voice.

"Are you scared?" Mairin asked, a small smile on her face, because she honestly did not believe this to be the case. She had known Alain for over eight years, and she did not see any reason for him to be frightened right now.

One of his eyes cracked open, giving her a few seconds glimpse of his icy gaze before he pressed it back shut. "Oh Yveltal– when did we get this high! Oh Arceus! Oh sweet child of Mew this is too high! Too high!"

A part of her thought he was teasing her, but she knew him too well– this reaction was genuine. She stared at him for a moment, her hand still resting on his. "...Are you scared of heights?"

"Like this?" He replied, voice higher than usual. "Very."

"...How?" She asked, staring at him incredulously. "How?! I've– I've seen you ride on Charizard a million times!"

"That's different," He muttered, and the Ferris wheel came to a stop. His eyes snapped open. "Why are we stopping?! Arceus please don't tell me it's broken down! We can't be stuck, we can't–!"

"Other people have to get on and off, we're fine," Mairin said, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "...Are you really afraid of heights? Are you serious about that?"

"Under certain circumstances, yes," He said.

"We've been on airplanes a million times together."

"That is an enclosed and secure structure, and outside of the horrible turbulence it's not too hard to pretend you're on solid ground," Alain replied.

"Flying on Charizard."

"A Pokemon with an instinct to fly, who is biologically built for flight, and is a living creature who is making conscious decisions and knows what she's doing," He said, flinching as the ride began moving again. "I trust her."

"Hmm... how about when we went up the giant magical staircase to find the Megalith?"

"...Just like now, that was absolutely terrifying," He replied. "But I wasn't about to say anything in front of the champion and... and everyone else there," He shifted at the memory, eyes still closed. "Besides, it wasn't that bad once we got to the top."

"We're almost to the top of the Ferris wheel."

"Don't say that!" Alain yelped. "I don't want to know how high we are! I am fine without knowing!"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything," Mairin said, patting his hand. "But a few more questions– how about the time you were battling Kyogre and Groudon? You know– standing at the open door of a flying plane? And then you know– jumping out of said plane?"

"Charizard was in trouble, and I had to help her," He replied.

"So, then... if there is all these exceptions, what's so bad about a Ferris wheel?"

"It's not heights that gets to me, it is the unsecured heights that do... Like these stupid rickety rides like the Ferris wheels," He muttered. "I feel like I'm about to fall off, there's no way this thing is stable... This... th-this whole place is a walking nightmare..."

"The park?"

"Yes!" Alain cried. "Rickety creaking machines thrown together to make a cheap buck! This whole compartment rocks in the slightest breeze– it feels like it's about to fall apart! And it seems like they break down every couple of hours, they're unnecessarily high or the roller coasters are unnecessarily fast and–"

He yelped as a strong wind rushed past, the compartment swinging slightly.

"Get me off, get me off of this thing, oh Arceus get me off–" He muttered, his eyes snapping open as the Ferris wheel came to a stop once more. They were nearly at the top now, the entire city spread out below them. Alain looked like he just wanted to melt away in his seat, skin blanched.

"Alain– look at me," Mairin said, and his blue gaze snapped straight over to her. For a few moments he seemed to calm down as he stared into her amber eyes, but she could still see the panic in his gaze.

"I hate this so much," He whispered. "I can handle airplanes. I'm fine on Charizard. I can look out a window of a building! I can cross bridges! B-but when it's on something unsecure like this, when we're just swinging up in the air I just– I just–!"

His eyes snapped shut once more.

"Alain, if you don't like this then why didn't you say something when we got on?" Mairin asked.

"Y-you sounded so excited about it and the rules are you have to ride in pairs and we don't know anyone else here and–" He spoke quickly, a slight tremble in his voice, and Mairin could see his arms were now shaking.

Her heart twisted guiltily. "Alain... you didn't have to do this just because I wanted to go on some ride," She grabbed his shoulder, letting him know she was right there even with his eyes snapped shut. "If you're this afraid you don't have to force yourself to–"

"I'm fine," He muttered. "Just as long as it doesn't rock I'm fine... I want you to enjoy it, don't let me ruin it for you."

The Ferris wheel began moving once more, and with a yelp Alain latched onto Mairin's arm. His grip didn't loosen as the compartment swung about some more, and she honestly didn't know what to do. He had gotten onto this ride for her, but if she would have known she wouldn't have even taken him into the park.

"I don't care about some Ferris wheel, I just want to spend some time with you," She said, leaning up against him. "We're heading down now, and I'll make sure the worker lets us off, okay?"

"Sounds wonderful," He said, still holding tightly onto her arm. She knew that even with his eyes closed though he'd only be focused on the fact that they were on this ride.

"...Ferris wheels are about enjoying the view, but you know what we can enjoy right now without opening our eyes?"

"What?" He asked, voice stiff.

"This," Mairin said, leaning up and pressing her lips against Alain's.

He stiffened up slightly in surprise, but instantly began to relax as his girlfriend kissed him. He pressed into the kiss, though he didn't dare to shift his grip on Mairin to pull her closer as he usually did, just holding onto her arm with a desperation.

He didn't open his eyes once they pulled away, and a smile spread over Mairin's lips as she noticed that Alain was no longer shaking.

"Better?" She asked softly.

"...Definitely worth a ride on a Ferris wheel," He replied, leaning his head against hers.

Mairin let out a content sigh, pressing up against Alain as she looked out at Nimbasa City once more, waiting for the Ferris wheel to reach the ground.