Soooo this story gets about a chapter added to it a day… if you get really impatient, it's also over at TextNovel (), search "Fate Has Its Own Path" and my pen name is the same (Brianna Summers). I can update Textnovel from my phone, and not , so it gets updated daily. But I only put the author's notes up here, so if you like them, they're not on TextNovel.

ANYWAY. Now we finally get to see Ash's reaction! I didn't realize I'd left off there, I feel so bad now X3 But anyway ENJOY!

Ash just stood there, dumbly, eyes wide. Time seemed to stop for a moment. He couldn't think, couldn't react, he could barely breathe as he tried to let the news soak in.

I'm gonna be a father.

He was shocked back to time when he realized that the woman in his arms was crying. He brought her even closer, drawing her in, caressing her fiery hair but still staring blankly ahead. It took him a few minutes to recover as Misty wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face deep into his chest, sobbing, soaking his shirt. It startled Ash. She had never done this before. She always hid her feelings... But she was always more open around him anymore... He just held her tight and repeated the phrase in his head over and over.

I'm gonna be a father.

Slowly Misty stopped crying, and pulled back to look at him. Her deep emerald eyes were full of fear and anxiety. It touched his heart like she never had before, and it was a raw, painful feeling. He hadn't seen her so scared before, and he didn't like it at all.

Gently he kissed her forehead.

"Why are you so upset, sweetie?" She looked surprised at his soft tone.

"You...aren't mad at me?" A flash of hurt crossed Ash's eyes.

"Why would I be mad at you?" She turned slightly so she didn't quite face him, and leaned against his strong figure. She didn't answer. "Baby, answer me, please. Why would I ever be mad at you for being p...pregnant?"

"Because," she replied, her voice small and scratchy, "I broke our promise."

"Misty," he whispered, stroking her hair again, "It wasn't your fault. It's not like you did it on purpose. Besides, it took two of us...Baby, you didn't break our promise. I'm not mad at you. I love you, Mist." Misty started to cry again, and he rocked her in his arms. They stayed like that for a while, as the tears continued to flow.

~*~*~*~

May stirred her tea absentmindedly. She could hear crying from the other room, and hushed voices. The crying was obviously Misty, but Misty never acted that way. Ash couldn't be taking this well.

"I hope she's okay," she surprised herself by saying. She and the younger trainer had sat silently in the kitchen in front of cups of tea since Ash had walked in the door.

"Hmm?" Amilla questioned. She hadn't been listening.

"All I can hear is Misty crying. I hope Ash at least has the sense to act happy for her. She needs it!"

"They were planning on having kids at some point," Amilla whispered. "I heard them talking the day before the wedding. But, I think they were going to wait."

"Poor Misty." May sipped delicately out of the warm mug.

~*~*~*~

Ash pulled back from Misty a little, so that he could see her face. "How... how far along are you?"

"The doctor said about six weeks." she looked up, emerald eyes relieved that she hadn't let her husband down. "She said... In another three weeks, we can go in for an ultrasound... And see the baby."

That was when it set in. See the baby. A chill ran down Ash's spine. And yet he was suddenly filled with joy, smashing Misty in a sudden hug that made her yelp.

"I almost can't believe it, Misty. A baby..." He whispered into her ear, "Our baby."

;) Ash is so sweet to Misty. I love writing those scenes…

Anyway on to the next!