Well. I've gotten to where I wanted to, with the divorce papers, this is where everything starts to take a turn, from the Ketchum family all rampaging around like wild animals, to actually getting somewhere. Besides, I think you guys have had enough of that. Oh, AAML... can someone tell me what that stands for haha, all I know its for Ash and Misty. I don't know any of the shippings at all.

Chapter 10

First Time, One Try.

Ash found peaceful sleep that night. It was amazing, his chest felt lighter, he no longer felt dreadfully heavy.

By morning, Matt had gone to work, and Delia had gotten up. She sighed with relief when she found the lounge vacant, she didn't want to have to face her ex-husband-to-be today, especially not after that fight. Today was going to be a good-

"What the HELL?"

Paper laid in pieces on the table, it was shredded and compressed together, like someone had been in a frenzy to get rid of them. Delia just managed to see the word "divorce" on the top of them. Her mouth was open, it could have reached the floor if it wanted too. Who could have done this? Why?

Then she recalled the fight from last night. Matt. The nerve of that man to get rid of the one thing that would get him out of her life for good. What more could that man destroy? Had he no regard for how she felt? Oh boy, she could not wait for his arrival tonight.

"Mum?" Ash asked, yawning. He was still in his blue pyjama's and his hair was messier then usual. He eyed the papers in her hand and stopped, horror washing through him. "Where did you find those?"

"Your father left them on the table," Delia replied in a rigid voice, clenching her hands into fists.

Wh-what? "Dad? No, Dad couldn't have done that. He wouldn't..." He felt guilty for not owning up, but who could when your mother looks like she is ready for a killing spree?

"He has the motive AND he was alone down here last night." Delia was dead set on it, she couldn't believe otherwise.

Ash bit his lip. "Ma... Dad wouldn't have done it."

Delia didn't hear him and stomped out of the room, muttering a string of cuss words under her breath.

Misty and Ash sat on the end of his bed, Brock had gone to take a shower.

"Ash," Misty muttered. "Why?"

He screwed up his eyes, trying to remember the reasons from last night. "I-I don't know... just when they had that fight last night... I just wanted to.... to get rid of the problem... I didn't know it would cause this much trouble."

"Ash, they are getting divorced. The papers aren't the problem- its them. They are the problem. They won't talk to each other without sending a bunch of ugly comments to each other. The papers are just a symbol of that. You have to tell your mum, before she jumps down your dad's throat."

"I can't. I want to... Oh God, I want to. But I can't."

"Why?"

He shook his head. "I don't know... but I just can't."

Misty looked at the younger boy sitting beside her, so ripped up in his emotions, so confused. She wanted to reach out and hold him close, just to banish those emotions away. It had been so long since she heard him laugh... she wanted to hear that noise again.

"Its going to be ok," she soothed, unable to do anything more then that. "You know that right? You have Brock... and me... Everything is going to be ok."

He gulped, a pained look crossing his face. "No its not. My family is being ripped to pieces... its all going away, and I can't stop it."

"Your a kid. Your not meant to stop something like this."

That made things worse, not better. "So what if I am a kid? You've seen all the things I've done... I can stop this... I have to."

"Ash, they are seperating. There is nothing to be saved."

"I'll prove you wrong on that."

"You won't. They hate each other!" Misty pointed wildly at the door. "I understand that your hurting, but trying to fix things like this is just going to make things worse." She stopped from continuing when she noticed that tear that travelled down his face. "I'm sorry..."

He shook his head, getting off the bed. "No. Don't. Your right." His voice was so pained and so fragile, Misty's heart broke in a second. He walked across the room and out of it, shutting the door behind him.

Brock came in from his shower, a towel around his neck to catch the water dripping from his spiky hair. "Why was Ash so depressed?"

Misty explained to him all about the conversation she and Ash had.

"Taking it hard?"

"How else is he supposed to take it? His family will never be the same, and he's hurt and confused." She shook her head and pressed her fingers into her temples. "I just wish I could help him, that I could do something to help him get past all this blind hurt."

"You can start by stop lecturing him. He needs a friend not an instructor."

Inside her heart, Misty knew he was right.

The day had passed quickly. The sun was setting over the trees of Pallet town, Ash stood out there, looking at the orange sky, but not exactly seeing it. He'd spent the whole day hiding from everyone, just wanting to be alone. He stood at the back gate, his arms resting on the wood. There were splatters of blood that Paul had made when he bashed the life out of him. Oh the distand memories-

"Ash."

The one soft word made his head turn.

Misty stood behind him, her skin aglow with the sunlight. There was a faint smile pressing on her lips and her arms were softly wound down around her stomach. She didn't say another word, she just stared into his crystal brown eyes. When his head turned back to the sunset, he lifted his hand and motioned for her to come beside him.

She did so obediantly.

The pair stared out into the horizon, their minds blissfully blank.

"You were hiding," Misty whispered after several moments.

"I like to call it some alone time," he replied, his voice as soft as the wind. He turned his head to look at her, she did the same thing at the same time. "You know... trying to get my head around things." He turned around and rested his back against the fence.

"Listen I know I have been lectur-"

"I appreciate you helping me, you know?" He said, acting like she didn't speak. "So you don't need to apologise."

Misty shook her head. "Yes I do, you were coming to me because you needed me, not my stupid-" She paused as he placed a hand on her cheek. Her stomach did nervous front flips.

"No," he simply said.

She licked her dry mouth, making little clicking sounds as her tongue momentarily got stuck. "Are you alright now?" she barely managed to say.

"Almost," he replied, staring into her oceanic eyes.

Her heart twinged. "What can I do to make you better?"

His face got closer. "This."

He brushed his lips across hers. It was a sweet soft kiss, their hands intertwined, hanging loosely by their sides. But ever so slowly, Ash drew his hands away to place them on her waist, Misty ran her fingers up his arms to wrap around his neck.

When they broke apart, he said. "I'm perfect now."

"You always have been." Her eyes were closed, her mind trying to get around the fact that she just had her first kiss. It was more beautiful then she could have ever imagined. Hungry, she pressed her lips against his, relishing in the fact that he responded.

The sound of a car pulling up, made Ash pull away. "Oh no, my dad." Imagining his mother like she was that morning, made his stomach jolt unpleasantly. "Come on." He took her hand and together they jogged inside the house.

Delia was on her feet, a mad and angry look on her face.

"Hey guys," Matt greeted Ash and Misty, who politely waved back.

"What is your problem?" Delia shouted at Matt, who reeled back, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"What are you talking about?" Matt questioned.

Delia walked around the lounge and plucked the ruined papers from the table. "I know you did this! You ripped up the divorce papers."

Matt shook his head, trying to figure out why she was blaming him for it. "No, I didn't. I haven't touched those paper's since I signed them last night. I don't know who could have done that."

"You pathetic little liar, I know it was you!"

Matt growled. "I swear I didn't do it."

"Who else would have done it?"

"I don't know. What about you, huh? Looking for another fight like you always are?"

Delia's hand swung up, connecting with his cheek. Her eyes were watery. "The only reason I am getting this divorce, is because I can't live with you, knowing all about what you did on that night."

"I said I was sorry, I never meant for it to happen-"

"It still did regardless."

"Why can't you just accept the fact that I'm not perfect, that I make mistakes. I hear you do that all the time."

Delia whacked him again.

"Mum! Dad! Stop! I ripped up those papers!" Ash suddenly shouted, he couldn't take it any longer."

"You ripped those papers up?" Delia asked, dumfound. It took her a couple of seconds, but her anger finally came. With a growl, she grabbed Ash's arm and pulled him upstairs. "God help your soul, you'll need it when I'm done with you."

Ash gulped.

To Be Continued...

Sorry if this is short, I didn't mean for it to be. Well AAML, a fight, the truth and a threat all in one. Yay aren't you lucky. Oh, could you read my new story Blood Heart? I'm sorry if your getting sick of me posting up so many stories, but this one and every other one is going to get done, I promise.

Keep Reading.