Lies

It had been a week. A week of lying, fake smiles and pretend goodbyes. A whole week and if Ash was honest with himself he couldn't keep this facade up much longer. He was certain that his beloved wife was becoming suspicious, after all she knew him inside and out and the lies he was feeding her were no doubt filled with endless flaws. He couldn't help it, he hated lying to his family- to his mother and his children and his wife. They all meant so much to him. But he couldn't tell them. He just couldn't. He could already imagine the disappointment on their faces. Nope. He couldn't do it.

Misty glared at her husband, he sat at the far end of the table, newspaper hiding his face. But she knew him. His fingers were constantly flicking the edges of the paper and his feet were tapping the floor- both nervous tendencies of his. Both little things that helped her realise something was wrong. There was also the fact he'd been forgetting his case when going to do 'extra' hours at work and he had been much more distant than usually, not to mentioned he'd read the newspaper everyday for a week now. Ash reading, something other than children's Pokemon magazines?And that was how she knew something was wrong, though what was a matter that seemed to continually evade her. What could be wrong? Baby Jack had recently learned to say 'Dada' and hadn't said shit in at least a month, Charlie had taken an interest in battling, Scarlett had drawn a beautiful picture of the family and Kate and David hadn't argued half as much as usual. What could possibly be wrong? Tapping her fingers on the wooden table as she stared at the newspaper shielding her husbands face she began to roam her mind for endless possibilities of what could be bothering Ash. Stress? Finances? Workload?An affair? Misty stopped, her body trembling in unknowing anger as she finally reached her boiling point. She must find out what it was!

"Mum, are you okay?" It was only then that Misty realised she had dug her nails into the surface of the table, ruining the glossy sheen of the wood.

"I'm fine honey." David nodded slowly, at fourteen he knew that she was not okay but had learned that sometimes it better left to his dad to find out, after all it was usually his fault.

Misty looked up to the newspaper again to see Ash, peering over the corner questionably staring at her. The worried eyes seemed caged, like he was holding something back and it was then and there she decided she would confront him.

"You all finished kids?" Kate was about to protest- no doubt asking for her seconds but Misty interrupted her. "Good, why don't you all go upstairs to play, David take jack with you?" David sensed the eagerness in his mothers voice, ushering his siblings out and ensuring that Kate didn't put up too much of a fight.

As soon as the young Ketchum's had left, Misty closed the door before spinning around to her husband and tearing the newspaper from his grip.

"What is going on?" She whispered harshly. Ash stood up and put his hands in the air feigning a look of innocence.

"What are you talking about Mist?" The woman felt as though someone had just stabbed her. He was lying. He knew it. She knew it. And he knew that she knew it.

The silence, for Ash, was worse than any form of shouting and screaming, at least he knew how to deal with that. He stood awkwardly, avoiding her gaze and though he knew it apparent that he was lying, but that didn't mean he was ready to disappoint his wife with his incompetence. So, again, he denied it.

"Nothing is going on." He still couldn't look at her in the eyes.

"Look at me Ash." He did, regretting it instantly. He mustered up every particle of strength he had left to keep up his facade. But the look he received was not pleasant, the woman stood- hands on hips- pointedly staring into his eyes. He could feel the very foundation of his lies begin to break but refused to let her know how bad of a husband he'd been.

"What. Is going on." It was no longer a question but a demand, one that would not be followed by her equally stubborn male counterpart. Through gritted teeth he replied.

"Nothing. Nothing, is going on." It pained him to lie but he felt it to be in everyone's best interest. However he began to doubt this as a display of hurt in his wife's eyes displayed itself through brewing tears. This hurt much more than a blow to his pride ever could... Unsure of what to say to redeem himself he moved forward with arms opened for an embrace but he was shoved back.

"How can you do it Ash?" This time the raven haired man was genuinely confused. He was scared to ask and his voice portrayed every inch of that fear.

"Do what?" She couldn't quite answer him at first, leaving him with wordless explanations. She eventually prevailed and carried on, arms folded as she attempted to keep herself together.

"Lie to me like that." His resolve flattened. It was over, he'd have to tell her. But before he could speak he was tortured by a few more words from his wife. "Please, just tell me. Is it me? Did I do something? Is it the kids? Did we- are-" she couldn't finish her sentence and Ash didn't want her too, ever.

"No, no, no, no" he adamantly denied as he forcefully wrapped his arms around her shaking figure to show the truth behind his words. "It would never be you guys." He whispered into her ear. But it would seem as though it wasn't over yet as she trailed on, asking bluntly,

"Are you cheating on me?" Again, Ash was blown away by the question. He couldn't. He wouldn't.

"What?" He pushed her away far enough to see his face and the look of astonishment but still held onto her nonetheless. "I would never Misty I love you. I'd never do anything like that to you. Never. Okay? Tell me you trust me on that at least?" She smiled, nodded and was soon being held strongly against her husband, trusting that he hasn't had an affair.

He lowered his lips to kiss her head and left his cheek snuggled on top.

"You know, I feel like we've had this argument before." The two chuckled, remembering good memories and jealous moments, mostly from their younger days when they first became a couple. But the moment was soon over when Misty remembered exactly how they had gotten into this situation.

"What's going on?" Even to herself she sounded exasperated and worn out but she needed to know. She wouldn't give up. "Please tell me?"

He pulled away and she missed the warm embrace almost instantaneously but stayed where she was, whilst he paced in front of her clearly debating how to word his confession.

"I lost my job." After the minutes of deliberation he'd decided to blurt out the words, not able to hold it in any longer and the minute he did so he felt a whole load of relief but couldn't shake the fear of looking into the eyes of his disappointed wife. He was supposed to be their main provider, especially since Misty had laid off hours at the gym after having the Twins and then more so after Jack. How would they get by now that they didn't have a regular income? All week Ash had been trying to find a new job, one that could at least equivalent to the amount he was making before, something that wouldn't leave them too worse for wear. And now that they had five children- not that he didn't love every single hair on each of his five babies heads, but what it did mean that there were more mouths to feed, more bodies to cloth, therefore a hell of a lot money. He couldn't afford to lose this job and his income and-

Ash was broken from his frantic panic by the redhead, hugging his arm and looking up at him.

"Are you okay?" He couldn't answer. He wasn't alright, they weren't alright. It wasn't going to alright until he could get another job and without having gotten any Poke-degrees or proper education, or any other work experience, it was hard to find any type of work. So instead he evaded the question and with eyes downcast he replied:

"I'm sorry..."

Silence. Ash had no idea what to make of it. A good silence, a bad? He had no clue.

Suddenly he felt a firm grip on his chin as his face was directed at his gorgeous wife.

"That guy was a jerk anyway, maybe now you can find a job you'll actually enjoy?" Ash could deny that his old boss had been a bit of a 'jerk' (though Ash had a few other choice words for him) but he had given him a chance and with that, a job. And Ash had blown it, after fourteen years, all because he had been impulsive and reckless and hadn't thought of the consequences.

He sighed, something Misty didn't fail to notice.

"Ash. Listen to me. We'll get through this. We've been through worse." He looked doubtful so she carried on; "like running in a between a battle of two legendaries (A/N) or jumping off a cliff, or facing the leader of an evil incorporation, or-"

"Okay, okay, I get it. I guess those things are worse…"

"You guess?!" The two laughed at the fond memories, though they realised how reckless they (Ash) had been they were still memories neither would ever want to forget. "You know we'll get through this, right? Together."

"Yeah..." The two shared a kiss but pushed away from one another when a loud bang sounded next the couple. Looking to their right were Charlie, Scarlett and Kate all lied on the floor meanwhile David stood holding Jack, while staring at the now open door.

Ash looked to his family. The cheeky faces of his children currently being helped up by Misty. David traipsed over, handing him little bubbly Jack.

"Mum's right. We'll manage." Ash took hold of Jack and proudly smiled at his eldest and then his youngest. The smile half genuine, he couldn't help but worry. This was his family. The most important people in his life.

"Shit." Ash looked to the baby and silently added 'shits right, buddy'. He sighed quietly and looked over at his loved ones again. They had to be alright...

[Written because life is full of disappointment and obstacles as I'm soon learning- but we've got to pick ourselves up and stick it out and sometimes, the outcome of doing so turns out to be so much better than what we were previously settling for. Stay tuned for part 2!

I know I mentioned the first film and I know they had their memory restored but I was thinking of making a chapter of another adventure where they are given their memories back.

Also I'm planning of rewriting past chapters, just making them flow better, I'll let you guys know when I get around to it.]