Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon

Chapter 10 (Misty's POV)

"Fascinating…" Professor Oak mumbled as he and Tracey seemed consumed with the orb Ash had found.

"The orb's frequency is changing pitch as it were the longer it's in proximity to the other fragments… In fact," He turned to face Ash, Brock and me. "If I didn't find it so hard to explain I'd assume that the two were trying to communicate."

"Communicate?" Brock asked. "With who, us, or each other?"

Professor Oak shook his head before glancing back at Tracey who was absorbed in his notes. "To be honest Brock I don't know. Tracey's had some luck at deciphering the hieroglyphics he and Ash found underground near Celadon, but progress is still slow at best. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words,those words however are difficult to piece together. But he has made some progress on the written portion of though."

Tracey nodded. "Right, their language seems to be made up of a combination of pictures and letter like symbols." He flipped his pad over and showed us a sketch of something incomprehensible. "All I need is a little more time and I think I might be able to work out their grammar struction. Then it's only a matter of time before I can work out the rest."

"Well let us know if there's anything else we can do to help." Brock said with a nod as he crossed his arms.

"Right, of course." Professor Oak smiled. "Though I must say you've already done a great deal to help me out, all of you."

Ash had been pretty quiet since we'd gotten to the Professor's lab, in fact he'd barely taken his eyes off the orb the whole time. I almost wanted to ask if something was up, but I let it go, I knew we were all pretty curious about this thing and if it had anything to do with Pokemon I knew Ash would be curious than anyone. But...I kinda got the feeling it was more than that, like somehow he had an intuition he didn't know how to explain. But maybe it was nothing, or even if it was I didn't think any of us had the energy left to worry about it, or at least I knew I didn't. I was glad when Professor Oak finally suggested we should give them some time to work on it.

When we got to the bottom of the lab steps you could see the sun was already starting to set.

"Oh man am I beat!" Brock said with a stretch and yawn.

Ash finally grinned a little and seemed to come out of whatever he'd been thinking. Then when I heard his stomach growl I knew why.

"Yeah and some food would be pretty great too…" He mumbled with a laugh.

I sighed. Some things were never going to change about Ash, but honestly… That wasn't such a bad thing.

He smiled a little shyly as he scratched at the side of his face. "Uh my mom wouldn't mind if you guys wanted to stay for dinner, ya know?"

He was still so afraid, I could see that all over his face. He still seemed too awkward, like he didn't know how he expected me to respond. I guess I just wasn't expecting it to be like than if we ever managed to confess. I guess I just thought we'd suddenly fit into being together just like Tracey and Daisy did. But it wasn't turning out like that, was it? But maybe I thought I sort of knew why. We really hadn't been all that honest even though I knew we had been trying to. It just felt like there was a million things both of were still too afraid to say. And I guess it made me wonder just what we really had confessed to.

I smiled a little weakly. "Thanks, but I probably should be getting back. I mean it's getting pretty late."

"Oh, okay." Was all he said and I knew he looked disappointed. But I didn't want him to take it that way, I just needed some time to think. To sort it all out in my mind. And here I was again making him probably want to apologize, to doubt himself, to doubt us.

Us.

It seemed so hard to believe but there was an us now, wasn't there? And for all the things we'd still left unsaid I suddenly knew the importance of what we had. It was just a start, the littlest of starts maybe, but it could change everything, couldn't it?

"Hey Ash," I said mustering all the cheer I could in my voice, if just to try and reassure him we were going to be okay. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

He smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah okay, of course."

"Goodnight." I said quickly as I reached to squeeze his hand just for a second.

I was turning to walk away when I heard him calling something. Looking over my shoulder I saw him wave. "Make sure she gets home safe Brock!"

Brock grinned beside me and saluted. "Will do buddy!"

Brock didn't stop grinning all the way to his car. In fact he even went so far as opening my door for me and bowing ridiculously. "Your carriage awaits."

I sighed as I got in. "I hate to complain now that you guys are almost acting cultured, but it's kinda creeping me out."

Brock laughed as he slid into the driver's seat. "Sorry Misty, but you know I have to take good care of my buddy's girlfriend."

I felt myself let go of the breath I didn't even know I was holding in. Was that what I was now…? Really?

I knew if I was smart I'd just clam up the rest of the drive back to Cerulean, I'd avoid a lot of awkward conversation that way. But maybe I didn't feel all that smart at the moment, maybe I felt like crying again instead? But I knew I wasn't about to start that up, if only for fear I'd never be able to stop.

"You okay Misty?" Brock asked still smiling, only this time differently. It wasn't that playful smirk that made me want punch him sometimes, no it was… It was that look that made me know that older brothers must have been one of the most important things in the world. And it would have made me wish I had one if...well I didn't already.

"I don't even know…" I mumbled out.

"Still feeling a little confused about everything, huh?"

I sighed as I gave into the blush I felt creeping up my face. "I guess I'm just still in a state of shock…"

He laughed a little. "Well it had to happen eventually, it was really just a matter of time for you two."

I cut him a slightly cross look. "That's easy for you to say. I was never so sure..."

His voice got a little softer. "Well, the thing about that is you're both way too stubborn for your own good. In fact, you're still being stubborn right now, right? I mean that's why you didn't go to dinner?"

I frowned feeling suddenly exposed and defensive. "N-No I just needed time to figure things out, and it is late too you know!?"

He chuckled under his breath. "Yeah I know, and I understand needing to sort things out I guess but…" He glanced over at me "When you care about someone you shouldn't really overthink it. It would be different if you two weren't sure about your feelings, but as it is you both know you're in love."

I felt my mouth go a little dry and the frown on my face clamped down a little tighter. Brock was speaking so matter of factly that I almost wanted to ask him why he thought he could read my mind. But right then...well I guess I was too busy to bother. Too busy cringing at that word. Love. It was what you were supposed to say during a proper confession, wasn't it? It was what you were supposed to say if you were sure you really felt that way. But this morning it seemed almost impossible to think about telling him that, so I didn't really say anything and neither did he.

And because of that I guess neither of us really knew what to think. Before today I guess I didn't think a half love confession was possible. But now I was thinking not only was it a thing, but we'd invented it.

"Urg what am I supposed to do Brock…?" I asked in frustration before I even realized what I was saying.

"What do you mean exactly?" Brock asked back carefully.

I felt my shoulders slump. "Oh please don't make me try to explain it…"

"Sorry," Brock said with a kind smile. "I just wanted to make sure I understood exactly where you were coming from."

I ran my fingers frustratedly through my bangs. "No one on earth could know exactly where we're coming from Brock! It's like the harder we just try to be honest the more complicated things get!"

"Whoa, take it easy Misty," He said tossing me another sideways glance. "Yeah there's more to say, but I think today was the most important step, right? I mean a relationship is only at the beginning when you first confess, but it paves the way for you both to be honest with each other from then on out."

I bit my lip a little. "That's just it Brock...I don't even feel like either of us were honest." I pushed ahead even though I felt so awkward I would have almost rather died. "He doesn't really know how I feel... That's why he's still jealous of Rudy, and worried when I turned down dinner. He doesn't have a clue…" I let my head slump as I closed my eyes.

"And I've been blaming him for that, for being so clueless...but really what if it's my fault? What if it's just because I've been so aloof and afraid to ever let him in? To...tell him how I really feel…?"

The next thing I knew Brock had slammed on the brakes and we were sitting on the side of road. He was turned in his seat and staring at me without saying anything. "W-What is it?"

He shook his head. "You both still don't get. I can hardly believe it but it's plain to see."

"W-What are you talking about Brock?" I asked still flustered.

He sighed and almost seemed like he was talking to himself. "I was hoping today straightened everything out but…" Then he looked up and gave a determined smile as he snatched the wheel and headed us back in the direction we'd came from. "But it looks like you two still need my help after all."

"Hey wait Cerulean City is the other way?" I asked as I looked behind me, almost like somehow just looking in the right direction would make Brock turn back around.

"Yeah I know," he said with a grin. "But Pallet Town is this way."

"But Brock w-what are you expecting me to do!?" I asked in a panic.

"Be honest, once and for all. That's why you're so upset, right? It's because you regret not saying exactly how you feel this morning. And if you open up then it should be a lot easy for Ash to do the same."

"But Brock I can't just-"

He cut me off. "Sorry but you're in my car, and it's going back to Pallet Town." Then he smirked a little. "Unless you'd just like to jump out before we get there?"

I glanced out my window at the passing scenery and thought for a few seconds. I bet he didn't guess just how tempting an offer that was…

I was never one to admit just how scared I was about anything, but right then… Right then I really started to question if I was a coward after all. Because in no way should the sight of a cozy little house on a sleepy street in a one ponyta town, have filled me with such dread. And I couldn't even be mad at Brock, I was just too busy panicking to worry about it. But really he said we were stubborn, but right about now he seemed the same way. Maybe that's another reason I didn't even try to talk him out of what he was doing. Pulling up to the curb outside of Mrs. Ketchum's house he turned to me with a firm look on his face.

"Okay we're here, do you want me to go in with you, or would you rather me not?"

I frowned with a mumble. "I'd rather we just get out of here…"

I guess me saying that made Brock lose any confidence he had in me not trying to escape as soon as I stepped out of the car, because before I knew what was happening he'd opened my door and "escorted" me to the front door himself.

I was going to croak any second I just knew it, or maybe I was at least hoping so. But no merciful death came when the door swung open and I came face to face with Ash. He was staring out at us looking...well as confused as was typical for him I guess.

"Guys? Uh did you change your mind about dinner?"

I saw that as the perfect opportunity to jump at. I could just say yes and then it wouldn't seem quite as strange. We could just have an enjoyable evening without the soul searching Brock had planned. But he must have guessed what I was thinking because he jumped on my tongue before I could even start.

"Not exactly Ash, Misty has something important she needs to talk to you about."

"You do?" Ash asked looking at me.

I shot Brock a glare. "Yes, apparently…"

"Oh hi Brock, Misty, what a nice surprise!" We heard Mrs. Ketchum say as she appeared behind Ash in the doorway. "Dinner's almost ready, you're welcome to stay if you're like."

"Thank you ma'am, we'd love to!" Brock chimed cheerfully as he tossed me a wink and ushered me in the door ahead of him.

Brock didn't waste anytime disappearing into the kitchen with Mrs. Ketchum and leaving Ash and me standing alone in the living room. I was making a mental note to kill Brock later, but right now I had bigger issues…

"What did you need to talk about Misty?" He asked suddenly snapping me back to attention.

"Uh...yeah about that…" I mumbled awkwardly as I rubbed at the back of my head. "Well um I…"

He just kept staring at me waiting for me to finally say whatever I was trying to but… But this just didn't feel right, not just blurting it out like this… What had Brock been thinking? Then I saw it, that flinch in Ash's face, the way his brown eyes looked a little dimer suddenly. It was so subtle that maybe anyone else would have missed it completely, but I wasn't just anybody...I was his best friend…

He was worried wasn't he? Because he didn't know, because he just didn't have a clue… And maybe...maybe neither did I.

Ringing my hands together I huffed out a sigh. "Look Ash I um...didn't want you to get the wrong idea about what happened this morning." I thought that sounded okay until I watched his face drop even more. And suddenly it seemed like he was getting the wrong idea about everything.

"What...do you mean exactly?" He asked as he tugged absentmindedly on a spring of his hair.

I had to fix this, he probably thought I was about to take back what little I had managed to say thing morning. But I hesitated, why was I hesitating? What was holding me back? I knew he cared about me at least as something more than a friend so then why…? Why did I feel like all the blood was draining out of my head and taking my honestly with it? Wasn't this what I'd been waiting for all this time? Wasn't this what I'd hoped for for so long? Here I thought it had always been Ash holding our relationship back, but now if felt like I was just as much a part of the problem.

I guess I just wanted him to say something didn't I? Like even though he'd already taken the initiative to show me he cared I was still worried, still afraid. But of what? Of him laughing at me, or of him disappearing again? Was he really going to want to be with me forever? Because he wanted to be...not just out of duty. Could we work, could we last?

I felt like every part of me was trying to explode from the inside out. Everything I was feeling was twisting like a whirlpool I could have just as easily drowned in as anything. All the doubts, all the questions, all the pain I'd bottled up for years now, it was like a maze I couldn't navigate through. Why couldn't it just be simple for us, like it seemed to be for everybody else?

All I wanted, all I'd ever wanted...was for someone to love me...

Only now it wasn't just somebody, it was one person. All or nothing, everything on this moment. I only had one shot, but somehow I actually thought it might be enough...

"I…" I stopped and rearranged the words, then tested out another phrase, a different way of putting it. But all I was doing was putting it off. I was just risking another misunderstanding. Giving him a chance to doubt just how much he meant to me. So closing my eyes for a second I gathered up everything I had left. Then opening them I tried again. And this time it worked…

"I wanted you to know that I love you, Ash."

I didn't stumble, or stammer even, I just said it. And now my own voice was all I could hear replaying inside my mind. But mostly all I felt was relief, like every part of me was emptied of something I never should have carried so long. I was open…and vulnerable because of it. But if anyone had to be the one to hold my heart in their hands then well...I was glad he was the one doing it. So I just waited, because now it was his turn. And the choice was up to him...but I...I was willing to accept whatever decision he made.

For the longest few moments he just stared at me with his mouth hanging open a little and his forehead bunched in shock. I knew he hadn't been expecting to hear that. In fact he was probably waiting for me to disappoint him once and for all. But instead...I'd told him the truth.

And the look on his face when it started to sink in I guess I'll never forget.

"M-Me?" He choked out.

I just nodded without taking the certain look off my face.

"But I…" he stammered. "I thought maybe you just kinda liked me…" He frowned and I saw tears filling his eyes. He was as innocent and sincere as a little boy crying. "I mean just maybe…"

"Well you were wrong." I said firmly even though the look on his face was breaking my heart. "You mean a lot more to me than that…"

But then he smiled as the two streams of liquid came tumbling down his cheeks. It was that toothy smile that crinkled his nose and made his brown eyes glint in that special way…

"A guy like me?" He asked as if he needed one more confirmation before he allowed his happiness to run wild.

"The only guy…" I mumbled with a smile.

"That's great Misty!" He shouted with all the excitement he shared over that first Caterpie he caught. Then his face went a little bashful as he reached to cradle my hands in his own.

"I um love you too… And I…" He looked back up into my eyes. "I want to do my best to take care of you, okay?" He smiled softly and in his eyes I could see he was hoping I'd understand what he was trying to convey. "So you can feel safe, okay?"

Safe… That is really what I wanted wasn't it? Our relationship to be secure...to know that nothing, distance or otherwise was going to get in the way. To know he viewed it as a top priority. Those were all the things I wanted, that I needed. But maybe I was just surprised he'd realized it all on his own. Maybe I was the one who'd been dense all along…?

But either way it didn't really matter now… Not anymore.

Leaning forward to hug his neck I let the tears I'd been holding back stream down my face. At this point I didn't really mind them. No because when I felt him hug me back I figured we really would be okay... We'd made it, we'd been honest… And now we had all the time in the world to go from here.

Finally pulling away I took a step back to look at him. His hair was still springing out in all directions, and he was standing there in sock feet with his jeans still a little too long and cuffed at the bottom. And before I could stop myself I was throwing back my head and laughing. At first he didn't seem to understand why, but after a minute he just joined in.

Why?

Because it seemed so ridiculous to only be seeing something now that had really been there all along. We were best friends…

And being in love wasn't at all different from that...

Well, hope everyone had a very happy Pokeshipping week! Stay tuned for our next chapter coming...when it's done. lol ;)