Silently Broken
Chapter Eleven
"Chained to this Fear"
"I packed enough food and water for you to last on the way to the next train station. The weather's supposed to be mild today, so you shouldn't feel a sun stroke coming on either. I know the long walks aren't always pleasant."
"It's all right, Nana. We don't mind."
Each day spent in Azalea Town lingered with an incurable wonder of being ambushed.
Since the day of uncovering Team Rocket's lair in the mysterious woods, Jay had been on the edge of his seat. Esther had checked the updates of the snatched Pokémon constantly in the morning newspaper, though Jay kept his thoughts and knowledge on the matter to himself. As for Ash, he still remained oblivious to the whole situation for several reasons. And as thankful as Jay was for that, the entire event was almost becoming excruciating to bottle up.
Apparently, the police had released confirmation that the stolen Pokémon had been recovered, but as to how their discovery and whereabouts came about, that remained silent to the ears of reporters and civilians. The investigation was still underway, and the authorities were in the process of returning the creatures to their correct owners. It was a real hassle matching the Pokémon up with their trainers, between the transporting and the gall of some folks lying, and trying to swindle the Pokémon for themselves as if they were the rightful owners.
It was a huge undertaking, but a gigantic relief to the distraught and doubtful trainers nonetheless.
Except for Jay.
He had haunting dreams that kept his eyes wide open through the night, and obtained a nasty habit of looking over his shoulder when out and about. The likely chance of Team Rocket running straight out of Azalea, maybe even Johto, ran through Jay's mind, but still… He was on guard more than ever before, scanning Azalea as if it was crawling with dark spirits prying for fresh meat. He felt anxious everywhere they went, hardly wanting to stay in one place for too long. The trip to the Slowpoke Well was short and sweet, and the stop at Kurt's apricorn shop wasn't much better. Jay had hurriedly purchased a few handcrafted pokeballs while Esther and Ash were in a close-by candy store, not really taking in the experience of visiting the tourist attraction. He couldn't resist the urge to swiftly journey back to Ash when they were apart, making sure the boy was indeed all right without his supervision-
Jay trusted Esther – that wasn't it. It was that his wild imagination got the best of him. It was the thought of his son being kidnapped and held for ransom and he wasn't there to intervene-
Yet nothing happened. Not a single Team Rocket grunt appeared at the cottage doorstep, or anywhere in town... well, at least not to Jay's eyes.
His worries were over.
Jay had survived a week in Azalea. They were leaving. Esther would be safe. He and Ash would hopefully be safe, and far, far away from evil's grasp...
"Daddy?" Ash's little fingers tugged on the ends of his father's shirt, earning the man's attention in the midst of their goodbyes. "I forgot my Tyranitar."
His father sighed. "Well go ahead and get it. We've got time, I'll wait for you."
His son's feet immediately flew in fast strides back to Esther's cottage. The old woman grinned at Ash as she peered over her shoulder, then back to Jay. She sure was going to miss her precious great-grandson. "He's full of such lively spirit," Esther commented with a soft chuckle. "You have raised a wonderful son, Jayce."
Jay blushed meekly. "I can't take all the credit for that, Nana."
Then his mouth closed shut, a bittersweet feeling filtering in the air as he breathed. He was beyond relieved to at last journey back home to Pallet, and yet, his original reason for coming, to see his kindhearted grandmother, left the man feeing almost saddened to leave... But he had to keep it all in perspective.
His eyes flashed towards her once more, letting the soft current blow his untamed locks. "Thank you again for letting us stay with you. I appreciate it."
"No, thank you for coming by. It was nice catching up."
He nodded in agreement. "It was."
Then, a moment of silence came. Jay continued to enjoy the slight breeze whisking by so peacefully. It was a feeling of tranquility he had lacked during his adventure-filled vacation, and the quiet sensation ended at the squeak of a voice. A voice that was slightly hesitant.
"Jayce?" The man looked over at his grandmother, finding her with lowered eyebrows, almost biting back her words. He pondered over what could have been troubling her. "Before you go, I just wanted to say that- Drake called me about a week ago- right before you arrived, actually."
Jay's smile immediately drooped.
Drake... That was someone he hadn't heard from in what felt like ages.
"He's doing very well with his training, you know?" Esther continued, not recognizing Jay's stoic expression. "He said he just got his Dragonair to evolve. The scales must be quite magnificent... And he's made a lot of progress. So much progress, he- he wanted to tell you some big news himself!"
Then she noticed Jay's stance. Her exuberant tone faded, letting the muscles in her face relax. Esther adored both her grandsons a great deal, and found it troubling their relationship had been strained due to distance and life choices. And how Jay became so disconnected in the process...
"Jayce..." Esther studied his face carefully, the coo almost carrying a soft order to listen. Slowly, Jay lifted his gaze like a resistant child. "You- you should go visit him sometime. Before the summer's up. I'm sure he'd love to see you again. After all, you're the reason for his persistent training."
The reason.
Jay and Drake's relationship was the typical scenario of the youngest child looking up to his big brother for guidance and admiration. Richard wasn't much of a father to either one, and in a way, Jay somehow filled in that role for the boy.
He always pushed Drake to be the best trainer he could be, lending him every book he had on Pokémon known to mankind. Once Drake moved in with them after his mother's passing, it wasn't long before Jay accepted his little half-brother as family. Begrudgingly he had originally, but after a month went by, Jay saw how incredibly unique and gifted the boy who had been a secret to him for years truly was. A real blessing in disguise.
It was clear Drake took a fondness to Jay once seeing all his Pokémon and sheer skills. A role model to the boy looking for counsel- and approval. Before they knew it, they spent hours upon hours talking. Getting to know one another, and realizing how they both shared a strong passion in the field of training. This excited Jay to be able to pass on battle strategies he himself thought up, as well as tricks and trades from watching matches on T.V., relaying all the useful information to his aspiring little brother.
It was obvious to the family that both boys obtained a natural gift in of Pokémon raising and battling, however, Drake was the only one who advanced in his dreams and aspirations. Jay stayed stagnant in his training, and watched his brother grow and mature in the field, witnessing some of his Pokémon evolve, and hearing tales of his wild adventures in the Orange Islands, and all the compliments he was receiving from high-ranked trainers.
Then came a feeling Jay had never experienced before so strongly. A feeling he never would have thought would become between he and his brother. A feeling that was so foreign... Jay tried to suppress a feeling of jealousy, a bitter envy that Drake got to live the dream he always wished to possess. The dream he chose to neglect. And Jay recognized that and accepted it, and would have never traded his family for the glory and yet- the child, the dreamer in him, longed for a feel of freedom. A feeling to be who he always wanted to be without judgments, no restrictions... Demonstrate what he was made of...
What he could be made of.
Jay tried to speak, but nothing came out. He was torn. Drake having big news wasn't the part that stumped Jay. It was the claim that he wanted to see him again, wanted to tell him some grandiose news face to face. Or more like rub it in without intentionally being arrogant. Jay could only imagine what award or title his brother received this time... And only imagined how important it was for Drake to wish he'd make such a voyage to the flourishing Pummelo Island... Jay's throat turned dry. He couldn't stay mad at Drake, he could never have the desire to shatter his goals... Goals Jay would rather see live through him than not at all.
And the remembrance... the good times they shared was enough to overpower whatever childish envy he had for his brother... and that the friendship they formed was much more important than those lost dreams. And Jay could never forget that. No matter how many miscommunications or lack of communicating they shared on both parts. Drake was his brother, and he refused to treat him like any less. Even if Drake hadn't always been the best at conveying his emotions and interpreting his actions.
And having the time to returns phone calls and letters.
Jay eventually brightened his eyes enough to assure his grandmother of his happiness for Drake, more so for her than himself. Then again, if this sudden announcement was as serious as Esther made it out to be, then the trip was possibly worthwhile….
"I'll give him a call," he replied, plainly nodding.
"I think he'd appreciate that."
It wasn't long before Jay saw Ash emerge from the front door and down the wooden front steps, speedily reminding himself of doing one last thing before they took off.
"Oh, and Nana?"
Jay started to fumble with his pokebelt, earning Esther's attention with sheer curiosity. "Hmm?"
He then held his hand out, silently asking for hers. Esther looked confused as she reached forward, opening her palm to have a minimized pokeball placed in her grasp. She stared up at her grandson blinking, feeling his fingers fold hers over the shrunken ball. What was this about?
"I think it's best if I leave this with you," Jay explained light heartedly. He had wondered endlessly what he was supposed to do with the furry rascal, and during his last night at the cottage, an answer finally penetrated his mind. "Just get some apples and you'll keep him happy," he added with a playful wink.
Esther's surprised expression lessened, and the mere mention of apples helped her catch on. Now she knew what he was getting at. "I will," she nodded.
That jokester of an Aipom was staying right in Azalea Town. And if trouble came knocking on Esther's door, well, she not only had Jubilee's thundering bolts, but she now also had Aipom and his load full of apples to scare off any unwanted company.
"Place them in the trunk gently, don't shove them in! I have glass items back there, you know! Thank God we're finally going to be leaving this place! I don't know what Victoria was thinking when she recommended this ghastly hotel!"
Neither did any of the girls when Emily insisted on buying so much, and how she expected all of her purchases to fit magically in the trunk of her car.
The spontaneous vacation in Cerulean City was drawing to a close that early morning. Emily was the first to be up and about, waking Zelda up with a phone call, commanding her to meet her and the others at the Seadra Hotel to bid farewell, and ordering room service to deliver arranged breakfast platters to her other daughter and daughter-in-law. Though to have such a rude awakening by the ringing of the bell, the girls were thankful to have something suffice their appetite before taking a mentally long ride to Pallet with dear old Emily.
Annie and Delia only wished they swigged a shot of whiskey before heading out to the car to load. And to endure Emily's shortage of patience as usual.
"Well, she really must not like you," Annie snubbed jokingly, hanging onto her bright red purse.
Emily twirled away from the staff member of the hotel, and glared at her daughter. Arranging luggage was no laughing matter to Emily Ketchum. She did shockingly, however, ignore her blonde daughter's rebuttal and batted her hand near the shaken employee, barking at him to take his leave and that his assistance was an absolute waste of time. And he left without any arguing.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, shutting the lid of the trunk. Somehow, Emily worked her magic and cradled all her luxury items into that tight space. The girls were always amazed at Emily's rearranging of things. That much they awed of her.
"Zelda dear, it was wonderful to see you again," she said, a cordial tone now residing in her vocal cords. "Thank you for showing us around Cerulean; we all had a wonderful time. Didn't we, girls?" They nodded on command, though in this case Annie and Delia truly adored their time in the city. Even with Emily's fits and constant judgments. "This city is beautiful and your campus is too."
"It was nice seeing you too, Mom. You guys can visit any time you'd like."
It seemed that comment was inclined to be for Delia and Annie, though as to whether Emily caught on to her daughter's quick eye swivel was beside the point.
"I look forward to hearing your updates with school," Emily went on, appearing to dismiss the invite.
It was more of a question, or more of an implied order that Zelda would take on the unnecessary responsibility to fill her mother in on her grades and such. Either way, she agreed to, seeing she had no intentions on letting her grades slip, or dropping out.
There was nothing to hide.
"Of course," she nodded.
"And remember dear, if you're low on funds with repairs at the apartment you'll let your father and me know-"
"Yes, I will."
"All right, then." There was hint of awkwardness in the air when that pause floated in. Times where it was appropriate to receive a goodbye hug and wish of luck was not a common act in the senior Ketchums' household, and the children had grown accustomed to their parent's lack of physical love. But the feeling it left them was another story altogether.
"Goodbye Zelda," the woman finally sputtered. Zelda almost had thought her mother was tempted at times to brisk a kiss on their foreheads, or even give a very quick embrace. Yet, there was nothing. And after being so knowledgeable and educated, Zelda never quite understood the mind of her parents. And their overall decisions.
Still, she assumed her mom presented her instinctual motherly love in other ways. Subtle, and obnoxious nonetheless.
"Remember to put a lock on your door so that strange man doesn't come around again."
Zelda figured as much. She laughed quietly to herself and shook her head, watching her mother climb into the driver's seat of the car. What would she do without Emily? "Goodbye, Mom."
The slamming of the vehicle's door followed through as Zelda gave a glance to her sister and Delia. They supposed it was time for them to say their farewells as well.
"Sooo," Annie started after a short pause, giving a small shrug, "I'm guessing we'll be seeing you at graduation?"
"That's the plan," Zelda replied. There was a mix of emotions stirring up inside her. As thrilled as she was to be graduating in the fall, seeing her lively sister and close friend again left her with the realization of how much she had truly missed their company. And how she hoped from their rekindling of friendship that they could keep in contact till the big day.
Zelda's mouth closed tight for a moment, thinking. "But- you both can call as often as you want-"
"We will, Zelda," Delia reassured. "Thank you again for everything."
"Yeah sis, it was a lot of fun," Annie piped up, equally as truthful. "Maybe after you graduate you, me, and Del can just have a night on the town. And without, Mom," she added, using her hand to block her mouth away from Emily's view in the car.
Zelda got a chuckle out of that one. "Count me in."
The girls permitted another moment of goodbye smiles to be exchanged without words, till Emily's loud honk of her car horn alerted them that their time was up.
Annie released her usual scoff, rolled her eyes and gave her sister a fast pat on the back. "Take care, Zel."
"You too."
Then as she left to climb aboard, Zelda and Delia could hear Annie snap at Emily, and the typical bickering began for the day. Boy, was Delia in for a real eventful drive back home.
She gazed at her friend again and threw one last hug on her, waving as she pulled away. "Bye, Zelda."
"Bye... Delia?"
Delia's feet stopped. Her hand retracted itself from the back door handle, studying Zelda with wonder.
Zelda's long black locks flowed gracefully in the wind with one final wave. "Good luck."
She returned her friend's words with a smile and jumped in the car. Good luck? The vehicle began to swivel out of the parking space, leaving Delia pondering quietly. What did Zelda mean by good luck? Had she caught on to something? Oh who was Delia kidding, it was Zelda for goodness sake! Since the day she met her, Delia swore she was mind reader…. That or Annie spilled the beans to her on everything that had been going on as of late…
Good luck. To Ash and Gary's ongoing drama, and the possibility of a baby. That's what Zelda met.
And that's what Delia thought.
Swollen green eyes stared at him with immense red veins growing profusely out of them. Somewhere mixed in that expression of confusion and hate, there was a look of sorrowfulness. An overall disturbing look.
Jay cringed and drew back at the figure before him, the horrific dark events flashing with a never-ending vengeance. Then as he stumbled backwards, a pool of blood splashed onto his tennis-shoes. The unexpected collision with his feet and the puddle slipped a raspy gasp from his throat, and his eyes fell hard on the rich red liquid. Jay saw his reflection. His red-tainted reflection. He was a teenager again.
He was there again.
Instantly, a powerful, agonizing rush jolted Jay wide awake, finding his blurry vision focusing on the occupied seat ahead of him. He had fallen asleep on the train.
The last few nights at Esther's cottage were not restful ones, and the need for sleep was finally catching up with the unsettled trainer. He had spent most of his nights keeping watch, and when he felt confident enough to shut his eyes for a few minutes, falling asleep almost became strenuous. Impossible. Tossing and turning, opening and shutting his eyes over and over again... Jay couldn't sleep. The nightmares of the past, the worries, the anticipation of what could happen, were far too powerful for slumber to kick in. At that point, Jay was tempted to take his sleeping pills, but if something did happen it'd be far too late by the time he'd woken up.
Getting restful sleep wasn't worth possibly being attacked in the middle of night. Jay wouldn't allow himself to touch the cap of the bottle, wouldn't allow his needs to come before Esther's safety- or Ash's. So he suffered through a few sleepless nights, and in moments when he was relaxed on the train, he allowed his snores to slip. However, they never lasted that long.
And right when he was starting to feel comfortable enough to let his chin dip down to his neck, a face from the past, a face who he once called friend, lit the fear that was in the midst of dimming.
Ash flew his gaze over to his father, climbing up on his knees and giving a quick tug on his shirt. "You okay, Daddy?"
Rubbing an eye, Jay flashed his gaze down at his son. "Yeah... Yeah, I'm all right, Ash."
But the bags under his father's eyes were too obvious for Ash to overlook. He nodded in return and looked back down at his plush Pikachu, twisting his mouth. As of late, Ash was beginning to see his dad shift in habits and such while they were with Esther. He was talking less than he had at the start of their mini vacation, smiling less than normal... And though Jay wasn't a chatterbox, or a person who typically had a grin stretching from cheek to cheek constantly, he was mildly acting out of character.
Not only that, but Ash was well aware how tired his dad was after waking up at night to use the bathroom or to get a glass of water, and always discovered him in a half-awake state or gazing up at the ceiling. Of course Jay reassured him that he was all right, and for him to simply snuggle back in his blankets and drift off into slumber land.
Fortunately Ash had been absentminded enough to dismiss the strange behavior and not analyze it deeply. However with it continuing on during their train ride, he couldn't help but see it was still lingering. And Ash wondered if he could make a small difference.
After a short pause passed, Ash threw his eyes up at the filled rack above him and his dad, seeing his trusty head cushion sticking out on top. A smile burst from his lips. He got an idea. Turning to Jay, Ash's little index finger pointed up, and called for the man's attention in a warm voice. "Do you wanna use my Ledyba pillow?"
Jay blinked and followed Ash's finger. "Nah, you keep it for yourself, buddy. But thanks for offering. I'm okay, really."
The man may not have accepted the gracious offer, but Ash did manage to snag a look of reassurance from his dad. Still, it wasn't enough to give the boy full security that Jay was indeed all right.
"Oh- okay."
Ash slowly slammed his cheek into his palm, an elbow propped on the arm of the cushy chair as he gazed out the window. What was going on with dear ol' Dad?
Jay immediately took notice of his son's sour expression, becoming panicked he was giving too much away. That there was a problem.
He supposed his silence was vividly showing a change. However, it did not show how he was truly a nervous wreck the entire way back to Kanto. Jay's eyes were constantly on the lookout, giving a double glance over his shoulder every time he felt suspicions arise on the locomotive. He was becoming overly paranoid. He didn't leave Ash alone for one second either, and on the times where they were waiting for the next train to arrive, Jay was equipped with at least one Pokémon out of his arsenal, standing guard in case his hyper sensitivity was indeed correct.
Jay believed he was doing a fairly decent job masking his discontent in front of Ash. He was doing everything in his power to make the ride back home as normal as possible for the boy, but the worry that was building up in him was starting to take over.
Ash was beginning to see the madness unfold. And Jay had to slab on a quick layer of deceit to hide it all. To protect his boy.
With an adjustment of his throat, Jay looked over at his son and nudged him a little with his elbow. "You know what, kiddo?" Ash perked up from the soft touch of his arm, and his eyes brightened. Finally, his dad was smiling. "I think I'll take you up on your offer."
By the grace of God or simply Team Rocket's inadequate eyes for stalking, there were no complications on the way to the Viridian train station, and the pickup the pair had been waiting for went smoothly.
For the most part.
Prof. Oak had volunteered to come get Jay and Ash after receiving a phone call from Richard, explaining how he was swamped at work with no way of escaping. Delia had actually arrived back home a day before her boys returned, but after being so tuckered out with taking turns driving back to Pallet, the professor insisted he'd fetch Jay and Ash so she could recuperate.
It wasn't completely unexpected to see the professor waving his arm high in the air, and calling pleasantly for the pair to come over. After all, Richard did mention to Jay that if he couldn't pick them up, Sam or Chad would in his place.
But Jay was certain Sam Oak willingly drove up for more than just to lend a hand to Richard.
The start of the hour and a half car drive consisted of Ash happily carrying on about all the various Pokémon he and Jay encountered on the way to Azalea Town and in the quaint little community. Jay remained quiet, only letting a few interjections leap from his mouth, though Prof. Oak wasn't shy about talking. While he drove, he filled Ash's little head with random knowledge on the Pokémon they saw and even some they hadn't, and was very much intrigued by their run in with the mischievous Aipom. And Ash was more than willing to share all the details with Sam. But even Pokémon and all their wondrous mysteries and findings couldn't keep Ash's short attention intact. After all the high consumption of facts that practically went right over the boy's head, Sam succeeded in tuckering Ash out, which left the main gabber of the car ride silent.
An opportunity arose for Prof. Oak to let out all he had been pondering over the past few days, questions he had been itching to ask on the day his former student had discovered Team Rocket's hideout, and he snatched it up in one fell swoop.
But Jay wouldn't have it.
"You know we'll have to talk about this eventually," Sam suddenly said in a serious whisper.
A sting ran up Jay's spine. He didn't have to ask what his former professor was speaking about. He did however hear faint snores growing from the back of the car. Ash was still in a deep slumber, too knocked out to even hear a single word of the men's conversation. Yet, Jay was reluctant to answer.
The man shot an unreadable gaze out the side window. "Maybe we won't have to."
The professor's eyebrows rose, puzzled with wonder whether his former student was confident that the criminals would not pursue it or if it was just Jay, trying to avoid the topic at all costs. Or at least make light of it and drop it.
Either way, avoiding the problem wasn't going to do any good. As much as Sam understood Jay wanted to keep the run-in with Team Rocket under wraps from his family, the professor couldn't suppress the dread and desire to know more. Was it possible Team Rocket wouldn't come looking for Jay? Yes. And were they making it a bigger deal than it needed to be? That one was a tossup. Sam acknowledged all of that, but with what he knew about Giovanni, and what schemes the organization tended to brew...
If anyone could help the unfortunate soul out it was Sam. He had done it once before, and he was willing to do it again. But he needed Jay's full cooperation in order for it to happen. No matter how painful or dangerous it may be.
The older man's eyes continued to fixate on the clear road ahead, darting over at Jay occasionally. "You really believe they won't press forward in their search for you?"
Was that a rhetorical question? Jay's eyes gravitated to the hanging mirror, staring directly at his son's peaceful expression. "No-" Then his eyes hardened. "But there's always a chance."
Silence fell upon them again, and soon, the trio passed Pallet's welcome sign in early evening.
Finally, to be back home in one piece! Jay let a faint breath of relief fly out of his mouth after they made that great stride. As hard as he tried to forget (or more like overlook) his run-in with Team Rocket, it was nearly impossible. The man was thankful to be away- and yet a troubling feeling resided in his gut, and bubbled in a low simmer. He could thank Samuel for that one, and though Jay knew the professor was only looking out for the man's best interest, he simply wished to act as if it never happened. And to be hit with a strong sense of security that would never break.
Jay wanted to let his guard down, he did more than anything. He wanted to regain the feeling of confidence and brightness he had when he first boarded the train with Ash. He wanted to be jumping for joy, knowing that at last he could embrace Delia in a tight hug, see her beautiful beaming face, and hear her pleasant soothing voice.
That's all Jay wanted. Not this God forsaken turmoil he coincidentally got roped into. The turmoil he could never escape from.
The dirt road became more rugged as they drew closer to the Ketchum home, and each tire suffered a dusty blow.
It had appeared the moment they entered into Pallet Town that Sam had raised a white flag in the air, and surrendered to the conversation. For the time being that is. It was pointless poking and prodding Jay for answers and explanations when he was submersed in such a strong silent state. Still, the professor wasn't ready to give up all together, act as if everything was going to be hunky-dory as usual. Not till he and Jay were positive that Team Rocket wouldn't bring harm.
The reality Prof. Oak was trying so determinedly to address to him, drill into that thick skull of Jay's, only caused him to pull back all the more. So Sam backed off, but still- a plan, a solution was needed direly. Just not that instant. Jay's mind was in a haze, one of the heaviest and thickest he had ever encountered, and being bombarded with question after question, only brought upon more stress.
Jay just simply couldn't handle it.
So whether he liked it or not, Sam decided to be patient about it. Patient yet persistent, for he knew Jay would come around eventually, even if his meaningful heckles would come across as annoying.
The awkward ride home soon came to a stop, and the car ended its journey right in front of the flourishing Ketchum home. Jay allowed himself to collect his wits for a moment, a blast of unmistakable relief soaring through his tense body. Seeing his house, the lovely garden Delia just started to tend, and who was waiting for him inside brought a warm welcoming feeling to Jay's shaken heart.
He couldn't wait to see Delia. And he couldn't wait to finally have a distraction from the chaos.
Reaching over his seat to gently shake Ash awake, Jay's hand was stopped at an abrupt call of his name. "Jayce-" He flew his gaze up and met Sam's firm eyes. An uncomfortable heighten of anticipation grew rapidly in him again, for the older man's eyes wouldn't lift. But they did soften. "Just promise me... if something comes up or you feel threatened at all you'll- you'll tell Delia or me. She out of everyone should know."
He paused, and the iciness in Jay's pupils deepened. Then, his voice turned stern. "I'll do what's right."
Casting his gaze away, Jay nudged Ash on the knee, stirring his son out of his slumber. "Hey- hey kiddo, we're home."
The rubbing of his bare knee sparked enough notice for Ash's eyelids to open, and the drool starting to seep from his mouth ended its journey. "Mmm? Home?" His comprehension was slow as he raised his head up from his pillow…that is, till he saw an angelic figure standing on the doorstep, waiting for him with a sweet grin. In a flash, Ash unclipped his seatbelt and swung the car door open, jumping excitedly with arms wide open. "MOMMY!"
Ash's loud cry for his mamma could be compared to the cheers he let out on Christmas; just seeing her smile again after a week of separation, even rivaled the gift filled holiday. And maybe won over it, too.
"Baby!" Immediately, Delia fled from the front step and bundled Ash midway through the front yard. Her arms collected her son in one tight grasp as she felt him cling to her neck, and soon Ash's feet were being lifted off the ground. From there, Delia kissed him repeatedly on the head, snuggling him closer and closer to her chest. The woman couldn't describe how much she missed her little angel's company, and how anxious she was to see him again. It was truly a feeling only a dedicated mother could fully understand.
"Oh, I've missed you so much! Did you have a good time?" she asked, settling her son back on the ground and crouching. Then, she pulled away from him at arm's length. "Please tell me you have all your fingers still intact-"
"Mom, I'm okay!" Ash giggled, tearing his fingers out of his mom's hands. Delia released a silly smile of relief as Ash continued with giddiness. "Me and Dad had a BLAST in Johto! Didn't we, Daddy?"
As Ash swiveled his head behind him, so did Delia. She looked over his son's shoulder to find her husband unloading the car with Sam, and in an instant, a dreamy grin burst from her lips. There he was. Still tall, dark haired, and handsome as ever. Delia's facial expression melted into a hazy soft stare once Jay looked over at them, and her eyelids fluttered blissfully at the sound of his voice.
"Uh- yeah," he answered, throwing his duffle bag over his shoulder. "Yeah, the trip was great, Del."
Her smile only broadened back at him, and her voice grew louder for Jay to hear. "Well, I am very happy to hear so, and I'm extremely happy to have you both back home safe and sound."
Jay slammed the trunk and snorted to himself at his wife's response. Safe and sound... yeah right.
With an arm full of luggage, Jay and Sam eventually strutted over to Delia and Ash, crashing the heavy bags at their feet. Delia gave the professor an appreciative nod once she rose to her feet. Her fingers then ran through Ash's hair, feeling his arms cling to her leg. "Thank you so much for going to all this trouble, Professor."
"It was my pleasure. After you were on the road for so long, I thought it'd be courteous to let you take a break from driving."
Jay wanted to roll his eyes so badly at that. That was only partially the reason why Samuel volunteered so willingly, and the reminder of it brought more aggravating nerves to the man.
"Well I greatly appreciate it," Delia replied warmly. Then, a spectacular form of a thank you popped into the woman's head. "Say, if you don't have plans with Annie and Chad, why don't you join us at my parents' for dinner? I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind setting an extra plate at the table."
The Professor raised his hands. "Oh well, I wouldn't want to impose-"
"No, it's fine really. It'll be one more thank you for picking up my boys."
"Please come, Prof. Oak!" Ash chimed in sweetly.
The professor was still hesitant. His voice cracked as he froze and contemplated, then turned to Jay for approval. How could Jay deny the old guy a meal after he picked them up from that God awful train station? He'd look like the bad guy for disapproving Sam's company, and on any other given day, Jay would be more than willing to let his former professor snag a bite with them. But the chance of him bringing up Team Rocket again? The man's association, the sight of Sam reminded Jay of the occurring problem, and if he dared try it at the dinner table-
Jay didn't think he would. He knew Sam wouldn't pull a brainless stunt like that. Sighing and about ready to cave in, Jay shoved his hands in his pant pockets, shrugging. "You might as well join us, Sam." He almost said it begrudgingly, but covered up his agitation with a playful remark. "Leah's cooking is better than anything Annie makes."
The professor shifted back to Delia, then came the thought of his daughter-in-law's cooking. Whether Jay was comfortable with him there or not, he couldn't pass up a chance to dine at the Parkers'. And he would most certainly show his graciousness by dropping the Team Rocket discussion.
"Well, if you insist," Sam finally answered. "And I certainly can't refuse a good meal! I just need to take care of a few things back at the lab," he added jingling his car keys in his hand, "but I'll be over at your folks."
Delia nodded. "Sure, take your time. Dinner won't be for another hour."
"Thank you, Delia." He flashed his dull eyes back at Jay again, lowering his voice in a grumbling whisper, and strutted past him. "We'll talk later, Jayce."
The words left Jay unnerved as he stood stiff, gleaming down at the dirt beneath his feet. Jay knew he was being stubborn, a tad difficult on the professor's behalf. But who could honestly blame the guy? Escaping reality was something Jay always fought with during his childhood, and just when he thought he wouldn't have to do that anymore-
The engine of Prof. Oak's car sputtered and soon clouds of dust floated in the air. Jay shot a glance over his shoulder as he watched the vehicle swerve away, then his eyes fell to his family again.
Delia appeared anxious, like she wanted to speak with her husband, and Jay caught on quickly as he saw her take action. Like they were having their own silent conversation.
"Uh- Ash?" she started, bending down once more. "Why don't you go take your stuff inside, and wash up before we head to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner? Your father and I will be in shortly."
The boy gleamed over at his dad, then to his mom. Ash was slightly puzzled, but agreed to Delia's request anyway. "Um, okay. Can I tell ya about all the things me and Dad did later? And the flowers I picked you?"
Delia's lips sprouted into another motherly grin as her heart melted. Flowers? She couldn't express how giddy that made her. "Of course, sweetie! I'm eager to hear every bit of it, and see the wonderful flowers."
This seemed to spark assurance in Ash, confident that his mother was indeed excited to hear all about his little adventures with dear daddy. And mishaps, more or less. Letting his befuddled expression cease, Ash looked down at his suitcase. He reminded himself where he and Jay had safely tucked them in without spilling the water out, and that those flowers were probably in dire need of a refill.
"I'm gonna go put them in some more water," he exclaimed, racing towards the house.
Delia watched him as he ripped open the front door, hoping he'd slow down a bit before earning a concussion in the midst of his excitement. "Okay, just be careful, Ash!"
But she couldn't remain too serious. She almost let a soft giggle escape from her mouth as she heard her rambunctious son climb the stairs so loudly, and shook her head at all his playful innocence.
Then, they stared at each other. In silence.
Delia took a few steps towards Jay, and as she stood with a small smile and her arms crossed, she permitted a gentle breeze of wind to glide her bangs in the current along with it. "Hi," she said with a sigh, still smiling kindly.
Her peaceful gaze and eyes full of brilliant light caused a faint grin to be produced from Jay's lips. Delia really knew how to brighten his mood without even trying.
"Hey."
The moment they had both been waiting for, craving for, came.
In mere seconds, Jay's arms opened and Delia collided into his toned chest, letting her fingers hook around his strong neck. Jay's arms then fell to his wife's waist, bringing her close to his body, and breathing in the natural pleasant scent she bared. Feeling her against him, back in his hold brought upon a feeling he always found difficult to describe. And one he was addicted to at first touch.
Then, he made his usual comical comment. "You know those flowers Ash picked for you are half-dead, right?"
His wife just laughed, and squeezed him even tighter. Half-dead or not, Delia didn't care. She was lucky to have a son who thought about her, and a husband who could make her smile continuously. "Oh Jay," she breathed softly, snuggling in the crook of his neck and shoulder, "you have no idea how much I missed you."
The gentle rub Jay received from his wife's hand was calming, and evoked what security he still had left. He too had missed Delia terribly, and to be far away from Azalea, and back in the comfortable corridors of Pallet did relieve an ounce of high stress from the man. Though, he wondered if the feeling of Delia's arms wrapped tightly around his neck, the feel of her breath against his skin, and the warmth of her body pressed to him had something to do with his release of anxiety.
In the midst of their sweet embrace, Delia allowed a faint chuckle to slip from her throat and continued to rub her husband's back. "It sounds silly," she started with another nuzzle in his shirt collar. God, he always smelled so heavenly to her. "But after that week of separation, it felt like I'd never see you again!"
Oh, the irony of it all.
Delia's words were justifiable though. Since their marriage, the two had hardly spent any time apart besides work, and the custom of being glued to the hip became natural. It was almost a foreign feeling to be separated for that long, considering their last days of time alone were back in high school.
As she spent her time in Cerulean, the feeling of loneliness on some days almost became overwhelming and the daily reminders of her missed loved ones didn't help.
Seeing a child out on the streets of Cerulean, doing something that reminded her of Ash, made the woman want to turn and find him next to her. But he wasn't there. Then there were moments where Annie told a joke, or when Zelda went into detail about something philosophical, or when Emily had the usual dramatic meltdown, Delia was used to turning to Jay and getting a reaction out of him.
But neither one of them were there. And as much enjoyment she earned from her overall fabulous vacation in the lively city, it could never beat the company of her stubborn, lively, witty, and heartwarming boys.
Not to mention, spending an entire day at the house without either one of them there left a haunting, quiet feeling to the home. Yet she soon knew they'd be back.
Jay smirked at that as his eyes remained relaxed, returning her loving embrace with a kiss against her rich auburn hair. He never wanted to let her go. "Me too, Delia."
Author's Note:
I've been meaning to do this (and I apologize for letting it slip my mind), but I would like to give a special thanks to Spruceton Spook, KaliAnn, jg13145, Draco55, and Fallingarcher22 for sending me reviews and thoughtful PMs. Your guy's consistent reviews on every chapter have been more than motivating, and I thank each and every one of you for taking an interest in my work. It means more than I can say. :) Also, if anyone would like to take a stab and guess what Evanescence song contains the lyrics from the title, be my guest! ;) Their lyrics have been very inspirational in creating titles as of late, so I'll be using more lyrics from this awesome band in future chapter titles.
Now, onto chapter 12! Hopefully, that one will be up sometime in April too. I also hope you're all enjoying the progression of the story so far, and the new twist with Drake. He will definitely be playing an important role towards the end of the story, so be on the look out for that. ;)