Back to the pessimism again now guys, I'm sad to say.

Thanks to lightwolfheart, splitheart1120, Lynx of the Sand, Sapphiet, GlitchGirl123, xxGlacesolxx, Morapores and AnimexLuver4Ever for reviewing! Really, you guys are great!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon :(

Act Two, Scene Four

There were a few knocks on the door. Paul, who was in the kitchen with his hands covered in flour, glanced up.

"Emily!" he called, "Can you answer the door for me!"

"OK!" she sang in reply. She was watching TV in the living room. She skipped over to the door and opened it slowly.

"Hey kiddo," it was Reggie. He was holding a rucksack over his shoulder. "Is Paul in?"

"Paulie!" Emily yelled, "It's Uncle Reggie!"

Emily stepped out of the way so that Reggie could come into the apartment. He brushed past Emily, offering her a smile. Paul walked out of the kitchen, wiping his hands with a tea towel.

"Reggie? What's wrong?" Paul asked.

"Well, it's a funny story actually," Reggie replied rubbing his head. Paul looked his older brother up and down.

"Vanessa kicked you out?" Paul guessed. Reggie froze on the spot. Paul let out a sigh before he walked back into the kitchen. "Drop off your bags."

"Thanks," Reggie said. Emily ran back to the sofa and resumed watching her TV show. Reggie slipped his bag off his shoulders and put it on the floor next to the kitchen door. He walked into the kitchen to find Paul was making some sort of pastry.

"So, is there any reason why Vanessa kicked you out?" Paul asked.

"It's pretty stupid actually," Reggie laughed.

"You married her," Paul said, "You couldn't have been more stupid than that."

"Not that again," Reggie barked, "She's a nice woman."

"And that's why she's kicked you out," Paul stated. He looked at his older brother for a few minutes until Reggie hung his head.

"She wants a divorce," Reggie mumbled.

"On what grounds?" Paul asked.

"Because I'm making her miserable," Reggie explained, "She says I'm sucking the life out of her."

"The same way she's sucking the money out of you?" Paul asked.

"Paul," Reggie growled. Paul rolled his eyes and continued baking. "She's my wife."

"Was your wife," Paul corrected, "In a few months."

Reggie kicked at the kitchen cabinet, making Paul glance towards him. Paul didn't seem too impressed at his brother trying to destroy his furniture. Reggie seemed angry. Paul doubted it wasn't just because of him.

"You just don't understand do you!" Reggie yelled, "I love her and you've never been able to accept that!"

"Reggie," Paul said, "I'm just trying to look out for you. I know how you feel about her but that's not what matters here, is it?"

"Screw you!" Reggie snarled. He stormed out of the kitchen. Emily peered over the back of the sofa as she watched Reggie pick up his bag and stomped towards the door. Paul rushed after him.

"Reggie," Paul called. Reggie stopped at the door and turned towards Paul.

"I'll never talk to you again," Reggie snapped. He opened the door and left, slamming the door behind him. Paul flinched at the sound of the door slamming.

"Uncle Reggie was mad," Emily commented. Paul glanced round at her. He nodded slowly.

"It's OK, Emily," Paul told her, "Don't worry about him."

"OK, Paulie," Emily said before she turned and went back to watching her TV show. Paul went back into the kitchen. His eyes washed over his cooking before he kicked the cabinet too.

Stupid Reggie, stupid Vanessa, Paul thought as he returned back to his cooking.

When Dawn entered the apartment a little while later she was greeted by a loud shriek from the kitchen.

"I don't care what you think, Paul!" a woman screamed, "I want to know where he is!"

"I don't know," was Paul's calm answer.

"Tell me!"

Dawn walked into the kitchen, frowning at whoever was the one who was screaming. It turned out to be Vanessa. She looked more than angry. Dawn stood with her hands on her hips in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Excuse me," Dawn snapped coolly, "Please stop screaming. We do have a child living here you know."

Dawn left the kitchen to go and find Emily. The young girl was playing in her room, trying to ignore the loud yells coming from the kitchen. Dawn could see that the girl was upset even though she was trying to conceal it. Dawn walked over to Emily and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Shall we go for a walk, honey?" Dawn asked. Emily nodded far too quickly. Dawn bit her lip slightly. Emily quickly put on her shoes and coat. Dawn walked through to the kitchen.

"Paul," she stated, "I'm taking Emily out for a walk."

"Thank you," Paul said with a nod. Dawn felt like Paul had something to say to Vanessa that Emily should never hear. Dawn gave him a comforting smile before she left.

Emily was waiting by the door, looking slightly anxious to leave the building. Dawn quickly took the girl out of the apartment. They were half way to the lifts when a head popped out of the other apartment.

Mr Reynolds was a kind business man who lived alone. He'd been divorced quite a few times and now lived with his loyal Arcanine. He rarely bothered Paul and Dawn. Sometimes he babysat Emily for them if they had to go out in a hurry.

"Is everything alright, Dawn?" he asked. Dawn stopped and looked at the older man.

"Paul's just having some family problems," Dawn replied, "I'm sorry for the noise."

"No need to apologise," Mr Reynolds said happily, "Any excuse to turn up Beethoven!"

"Good night, Mr Reynolds," Dawn said.

"Bye bye Mr Reynolds!" Emily cheered. The two of them walked into the elevator and waited for it to take them to the ground floor.

Once outside the apartment block, Emily gave a huge sigh. Dawn smiled down at the little girl.

"Now to the ice cream parlour?" Dawn asked. Emily nodded quickly and enthusiastically. The two of them walked down the road, hand in hand to their favourite of all places.

When Dawn dragged Emily back to the apartment an hour later, they found things were slightly odd. It was too quiet. Dawn slid into the apartment with Emily behind her. There was a weird, haunting silence in the apartment. Upon fearing that Paul had done the worst and had killed Vanessa, she had to assume this because it was Paul she was dealing with, Dawn left Emily by the front door and went to investigate.

Oddly enough she found Paul in his room, laid on his bed reading a book. He glanced up at Dawn as she stood in the doorway. He looked confused.

"I didn't hear you come back," he stated.

"Where's the body?" Dawn asked.

"Body?" Paul asked before he understood what she was getting at, "Please Dawn, if I was going to kill Vanessa I wouldn't do it in my own home. Too much mess to clean up."

Dawn frowned at him as he returned to his book. She turned out of the room and smiled over to Emily to show everything was alright but the girl had already disappeared into her room. Dawn walked over to Paul and sat down beside him.

"What's happened?" she asked. Paul looked at her over his book.

"Reggie and Vanessa are getting a divorce," he stated bluntly.

"What?" Dawn gasped.

"Apparently Vanessa doesn't love Reggie anymore," Paul explained, "And says that it's hurting her deep down."

"And Reggie?" Dawn asked.

"I don't know where he is," Paul replied, "He came here earlier. We argued. He left."

"Poor Reggie," Dawn muttered.

"Poor me," Paul said as he closed his book, "I'm caught up in the middle when I'm no where close to it. Vanessa thinks I know where Reggie is. Reggie thinks I'm against Vanessa and won't help him win her back."

"Why won't you?" Dawn asked.

"There's no point to," Paul replied.

"So you'd give up on me like that?" Dawn asked, eyes narrowing, "Without even trying?"

Paul looked at Dawn like she was an alien for a few seconds: "Of course not, but you're different."

"Am I?" Dawn asked, folding her arms.

"You're worth fighting for," Paul told her, "Vanessa isn't. She's playing Reggie like a fool and we all know it."

Dawn's eyes softened slightly. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly for a second.

"I hate marriage," Paul stated. Dawn looked down sadly. "For me it seems to ruin things."

"So you'll never get married?" Dawn asked.

"I wouldn't say never," Paul replied. He leant over and kissed Dawn on the forehead before swinging his legs over the bed. "But I may need a lot of convincing."

Dawn smiled at him for a few seconds before she nodded.

"You should go and spend time with Emily," Dawn told him. Paul nodded and left the room. Dawn paused for a second, letting out a breath then she followed him out.

Like I said, back to pessimism. Sorry :( Anyway I should be updating on Thursday so in the mean time don't forget to review!

RSx