Yes, I know it's been another long wait for the update. Originally meant to post it at the end of August but I couldn't just find the time. So I feel pretty bad about it. Next chapter not sure when it's coming out. School's been keeping me busy. Senior year not as easy as I thought it would be. Oh well my fault for taking unnecessary hard courses. . . Oh well! Back to the story kept you all waiting too long.

Here Is Chapter 20! Hope you enjoy!

/-/-/-/

May returned the crystal back to the crown. The blinding white light was familiar and it wasn't the only thing that gave it away. My body felt a bit rejuvenated a surge of power flowed through my body. My body still ached and felt sore but there was power there. My powers were restored back to their full potential and that was enough for me.

I bring back my arm and send a wave toward my attacker sending him away from me. I then wrap him in the water and like a bullet send him out the room using the water to push him. I control it until I know he is out ways reach of the crown.

I submerge myself within the water and dive further down the water and spot May just floating there in the water mesmerized by the light that came off the crown. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist and bring her in into the air pocket I created around myself and expand enough so May would be able fit in with me. Now were both surrounded by the golden water waves it was almost as it was pulsing?

She looks a bit surprised and turns around to see me. "You're okay?" she asked placing a hand on the back of my head on the small lump that was still there. Even with my hat still on the lump was noticeable. It was still a soft and eve with May's gentle touch is ached.

"Shouldn't I ask you that?" I ask her as I maneuver us through the water back to the entrance of the Sea Temple. I look around and water was spilling out just like that the order within the temple was restored. "You're the one that almost drowned and you still went to put the last crystal back." I was angry at her. Didn't she know that was stupid and reckless?

"I had to. The Sea Temple would have sank to the bottom of the sea if I didn't." she replied sternly.

"You risked your life doing that May. How do you think I would have felt knowing you drowned and I wasn't able to help you?" I ask her. Even now she is still breathing hard, her neck bruised badly with hand prints of from the man who tried to choke her out. She looked pretty beat up and worn out then again I doubt I look any better.

"Now you know how I felt." she said looking me in the eye. She didn't even have to say what she was referring to. I already knew what she was talking about our last encounter with Phantom but how did she know that? I never told about near death experience. I don't respond as she stares at me intently.

She kept her eyes locked with mine. Her eyes, they were so beautiful. The way she is staring at me with her blue eyes sent shivers down my spine. I find my eyes drift down ever so slightly to her lips. I never notice how thin yet full they are. She then pokes me in the chest rather hard. "You locked me in that pod. You left me in there! While you went to go play hero again!" I could feel her shaking now. I wasn't so sure if it was from angry or fear.

"That was different."

"How was it different?"

Sure it may have been a selfish move but there was no way in hell I was going to let her come with me. I know she was hurt about me leaving her all those years ago, denying whatever help she offered but I wasn't going to risk her safety. "I wasn't going to let you get hurt. Look at you. . ." I say brushing my hand softly against her neck. "Look at what almost happened."

"It almost happened to you."

"What?" I ask playing stupid.

"You lied to me." she says looking at me again with those bright blue eyes. I swear it doesn't matter how many times I look at them they are still unbelievably blue. As of lately though she's had a different spark in them not like I remembered all those years ago or was that just me? "You almost drowned returning the last crystal all those years ago. I asked you what happened and you lied and said nothing other than you returned the crystal."

I was about to question her how she knew but I already knew the answer. Manaphy. He must have done the same thing to her that he did to me early to find her. Manaphy used his powers to allow May to see what was happening. "What would you have wanted me to say?" I ask. "That yeah I put the crystal back but I almost drowned."

"Yes!" she says pushing against my chest again, harder too. Ouch that one hurt. "That's why I had to return the crystal. You can't always sacrifice yourself Ash you have to let other people do these things sometimes."

I immediately tensed. I should have been able to put the crystal back and save the temple on my own. I'm the king . . . . Or was? May did in fact save the temple but I still had my powers so maybe I was still king. As king it is my job to protect the Sea Temple. It was my job to protect May. I frown so far I've failed as both.

I let May get captured. That should have never have happened to begin with. Phantom was able to capture Manaphy using May. He almost succeeded in taking the crown and sinking the Sea Temple. Again. I wasn't able to save the temple like I should have, like I've done before.

I didn't save May. May was more than capable of doing that herself. She was about to rescue herself off Phantom's submarine before I ruined her escape plan. I didn't save the Temple. I merely created a diversion for May to save it. She was even able to put the crystal back on her own. Maybe she was right; I don't always have to be the hero. That doesn't still mean she has to be one doing the sacrificing.

"I wasn't going to lose you May and I'm not going to lose you now." I say. I don't know how else to say it other than that. What doesn't she understand I do this to keep her safe?

"You're not going to lose Me." she replies. "I need you to be able to trust me, trust that I'll be able to look after myself. I need you to believe in me. I'm not the same girl you met years ago who needs saving all the time."

And there it is. I don't need to keep her safe. She can do that on her own. She's grown and can save herself. "You're right. You don't need me saving you or at all. You don't need me anymore."

It's hard for me to admit that. I felt my throat go dry a big lump forming. It was true she didn't need me anymore. She was completely capable of doing things herself now. What good was I to her? She didn't need me at all.

For some odd reason this feeling, I was feeling at this moment was familiar and instantly, I knew why. This was same feeling I got when she told me about not coming with me to Sinnoh but going solo in Johto. She's saying the same things she did on that day or pretty damn close to it. So does this mean she was saying goodbye to me again?

/-/-/-/

What? I can't believe he thinks that. Why would he ever think that? How could Ash think I don't need him anymore? Of course I need him, just not the same way I use to.

I could feel my feet touch down onto the stone floor of the temple. The golden water was still around us allowing us to breath as the temple slowly raised from the almost hitting the bottom of the sea. He lets go of my waist and I stop him before he completely lets go and guide his hands back to their original spot on my waist.

"Ash, I need you."

"What?" he asked confused looking down at me and then our hands. "You just said-"

"I said I need you to believe in me, to trust me. I never said I didn't need you." I say to him as I wrap my arms around his torso and rest my head on his chest. I could feel his heartbeat it was strong, just like him. I'm a little surprised he's still standing after the fight with Phantom any other person would be out for the count but not him.

"I do believe in you May." he says. "I believe in you completely I always have. That's why you don't need me. Look at all the things you were able to achieve without me. You're a top coordinator, a role model to tons of kids out there, and now you're a hero. You don't need me."

"Don't say that." I say now gripping him by his vest burying myself further into his chest. His grip on my waist was firm, his stance steady, and confident everything I'm not. It was as if Ash truly believed I didn't need him.

"Why it's true."

"If you say I don't need you that must mean you don't need me either." I say loosening my grip on his vest which I was wrinkling. It was already battered and torn so it wasn't like it mattered anyway. It amazes me that it was still holding together. I look up to Ash who just frowns at me. He's obviously confused by the look from his face. He always made that adorable confused face when he was lost. "And I need you, to need me." I add.

"May I-"

"You're Ash Ketchum. You're the champion of the Silver and Indigo conference. You are the best trainer I know." I say cutting him off. "You were the first person I met on my journey. You were my role model, my mentor. You are the reason I achieved my dream of being a Top Coordinator. I always thought of you when I competed. How I needed to make you proud of me. That I wasn't some bother to you, someone who you took the time to train avoiding your own training."

"May I've always been proud of you and you were never a bother to Me." he says to me almost whispering. "We may have argued but I never regretted helping you. In some way helping you, made me a better trainer."

"So you did need me?" I ask.

"Of course but that-"

"If you say that I don't need you one more time I swear I'll give you another lump to match the one you have on your head already," I say stopping him from finishing that sentence. He nods and keeps his mouth shut fighting back a grin. "I do, you know."

"You do what?"

"I need you Ash." I say a bit shaky. I pause before I continue to compose myself.

I didn't really want to confess to him like this. I always picture it more romantic on beach somewhere. I guess this is as close as it gets. We're in the sea in the middle of nowhere at least there's water. I just don't know want else I could say to him that will make him realize I need him.

"Ash, I need you more than anyone else. More than I could possibly need anyone else. Do you know why?" I say looking up at him. He shakes his head no.

I figured as much. I supposed I have no other option other than saying it out loud.

"It's because I love you Ash." I say looking slightly away. I could feel my cheeks flush and body shake with nervousness. I look at him and he just looks a bit more confused like if he didn't hear right. "I love you," I repeat again I think more for myself if anything just to make sure I did say it. "And it's because of that I need you, and why I need you to need me. I love you."

I stop from saying anything else to see what Ash's reaction is. He's blank. Like some Stantler caught in the head lights of a car. A few more seconds go by and nothing. He doesn't even have that confused look anymore he's just frozen. If it wasn't for my hands on his chest feeling his chest rising I would think he stop breathing all together.

Great, I broke him.

I bit my lip waiting; it's been what, a minute since I said I told him I love him. Since I confessed the secret I've been holding in since I was like twelve. Well I didn't actually know it was love until later on but I was crushing on my best friend pretty hard at twelve same thing right?

I can't help but freak out a bit. Why isn't he saying anything? The quietness is a little unsettling. I'm not sure but I'm positive he can hear my heart almost beating out of my chest. I drop my hands from his chest and take a step back only to have Ash pull me back even closer than we were before.

"Ash what-"

His mouth is on mine before I even finish the sentence. He firmly presses his lips against mine rather roughly. I find it hard to think about anything but that and just like that it, it was over before I could comprehend what was actually happening. Ash kissed me. He kissed me. Me. It was a short and rough for a first kiss but it still it was exhilarating.

"I umm . . . W-was that okay?" he asked looking anxious.

I took a moment to think about the kiss, ourfirst kiss. It wasn't what I expected to be our first kiss. I always pictured our first kiss to be long, passionate, and, gentle. Being honest about I imagined our kiss quite regularly. I should be disappointed of how it turned out but I wasn't. I was okay with it, actually better than okay more like thrilled. The spontaneous and roughness of it all made it more real, more idealistic.

Life wasn't like some fairy tale and my love life definitely wasn't one either. Yet, I wouldn't trade what I just happen with Ash with the most fairy tale romantic love confession in world.

Thinking truthfully the only thing I was disappointed in was he didn't even give me enough time to actually do something about the kiss. Then again I wasn't even disappointed about that I just wish I reacted quicker.

"Was it bad?" I snap out of my thoughts and look at Ash who now looked a bit nervous and ashamed? He removed his hands from my waist and was rubbing his neck sheepishly. Great I took so much time thinking about the kiss I made him think I didn't enjoy it. "I know it was quick and . . . and you probably have had better-."

It was my time to cut off Ash and what better way than the same manner he did to me. I reach up and place my hands on his neck lacing my fingers together behind his neck pulling him down so I can make my lips meet his.

/-/-/-/

I thought I did something wrong. She was taking way too long to answer me. That's why people take a while to answer they either try to figure out a way to say in a nice way it was no good or don't know the answer.

I just didn't expect this.

She grabbed me pretty hard. Yanked me down and kissed me back. I didn't mind though because this was a way better way to answer me. She was way better at this than me.

Her mouth moved against mine rather smoothly almost rhythmic. Her hands hot on my neck as she pulled me down closer to her. She pressed herself against me pulling me closer to her. By now my kiss would have been over. Yup she is definitely better than meat this.

Instantly I felt the need to touch her, hold her. I cautiously place my hands back at their previous spot on May's waist. She didn't oppose so I pulled her closer to me separating what little space there was between us.

I don't think I've enjoyed something as much as I am enjoying kissing May right now. I feel so much lighter now. My worries vanished within seconds all because of her.

"It was perfect." she says as we parted. It takes me a moment to comprehend she was talking about my kiss. It makes me stupidly happy just to hear her say that. I guess I'm not as bad as a kisser as I thought I was.

I lazily pressed my forehead against hers smiling down at her. My hat is in the way so it pushes up a bit on my head so it's lying loosely on the top of my head. May looks a bit red and out of breath. I'm pretty sure mine is no better and is red as hers. That kiss was . . . wow.

"Ash. . ." I love it when she says my name. Heck, I love just hearing her talk. Hearing her just reminds me of how much I missed her over the years, how long I've been without her.

"Hmm?"

"What now?"

What now? I look a bit confused at her. I don't get the question yet she looks at me seriously waiting for my response.

"What do you mean?" I ask her pulling back a bit so I can get a better look at her. She seems to frown a bit at my question. She pulls away a bit further from me but I keep my hands on her waist not willing to let go.

"I mean what are we now, now that we kissed." she says as her hands slide from down my neck to my chest again removing the heat that was there from her warm hands. She then pauses before turning another bright shade of red. "I just told you, I love you, so where does that leave us?"

Where does that leaves us? Wasn't it obvious? It leaves us together. This time without being nervous or unsure of my actions I lean down and kiss May with more confidence I didn't even know I had. When I pull away I expect her to smile but yet she looks to have some mix emotions on her face.

"What is it?"

"Not that I don't enjoy kissing, I do." she says. "But I need to hear you say something Ash. You don't have to say I love you back. I'm not trying to force you into something but I need to hear you tell me what we are because I'm not sure."

What? She doesn't think I love her back?

May couldn't be more wrong. I do, I do love her back. I just can't really find myself to say it, I don't know why. Brock made it seem so easy. He confessed his love on a regular basis to either Officer Jenny or Nurse Joy, or any girl really.

I think about hard. How do I tell May how I feel? I wasn't even fully sure about how I felt about May before all this. I still wouldn't if it wasn't for the conversation I had with Misty just the other day which now feels like years ago. Yet I'm sure what I'm feeling about May is the same way she feels about me. There is no doubt in my mind. Now all I have to do is say it.

"I'm not good with words." I say finally. "I not entirely sure what it is what you want me to say May. I can't read your mind. Heck I'm sure no one can, it's like a circus in there." I say earning a small smile from her.

"You aren't forcing me into anything May. I love you too. I'm just sorry I didn't figure it out sooner or was even brave enough to say anything to you when I did. I guess Gary was right when he said I wouldn't know what love was until it hit me."

I pause taking another breath before continuing.

"I would do anything for you, anything to make you happy. I can't describe how much I missed you when you were gone. We didn't speak or visit each other. I realize I don't want to be away from you like that ever again. So you asked where does this leave us well. . . I hope it leaves us together. Because that's what I want May for us to be together. I'll follow you anywhere."

I kiss her lightly on the lips and wait for her to say something back to me. "Okay we're together." She wraps her arms around me holding me tightly. I place my head on top of hers and just hug her back. Closing my eyes nothing could ruin this.

Then there is clapping. I snap my head up right and turn to see Gary smiling broadly at us from on top of Misty's submarine clapping his hands. "Way to go Ashy-Boy! You finally got a girl!" I can instantly feel my face turn red.

Expect Gary. He could ruin it. My face turn bright red as Gary looks at us grinning. "Gary! You idiot! They were having a moment!" shouts Misty who was half out the submarine but still having her legs still in the hatch. Misty then climbs out fully and whacks Gary on the ribs causing him groan and hold his sore spot.

I can hear May giggle and look down her. She's smiling at the two of them arguing. It takes a minute for them to stop. "So do I tell them or do you?" asks Gary.

"Maybe I should." says Misty.

"Tell us what?" asked May pulling away from approaching the mini sub. Gary looks a bit discouraged and looks to Misty to answer May.

"Phantom is heading this way."