My computer is gone, and I was on vacation, so all I have are scraps of paper. I can't update some of my other stories, but hopefully it should come back soon and all will return to normalcy.

Also, I'm moving out to college next Monday, so I hope I can find the time to work on everything I can!

Two different people suggested blind date and bashing fic, I can't remember who, so just tell me who and I'll fill it in.

"I know I've never said it before, but I've just never had the courage to." Eyes met, clashing with an age old rivalry, and despite the growing unease at the situation, the read head refused to look away from him. He leaned forward, daring her to break, and continued, "But I love you. I think I've always loved you. Would you do me the honor of being my bride?"

Blue green eyes narrowed, twinkling with mirth despite her very unamused face. "I'm pretty sure that's illegal."

Plain green eyes glinted with wicked glee, and Drew struggled to keep his lips from twitching into a smile at his older cousins displeasure. "Last time I checked, we were related by marriage, not blood, and you know second cousins don't count. Don't hide your feelings, Misty. This date has revealed your love. Marry me."

Her lips were twitching now, though her voice was deadpan as she retorted, "You know, you're not funny."

He picked up her hand and, ever so delicately, pressed his lips against her fingers, and she laughed, unable to take the joke. He sat back and smirked, because she had cracked and he had won, and waited for her giggles to stop. It took a while and he helped himself to ice water and French bread, enjoying the light, flaky flavor the fancy restaurant had offered. He had put on a suit and his cousin had a dress, and damn it all if he was going to let it go to waste.

"Our friends," she said, calming and wiping tears of mirth from her eyes, "are complete idiots."

"Your friends," he corrected.

"You don't like them?" she teased, helping herself to some light bread and fresh whipped butter, which she spread with a little silver butter knife. "Here I thought you loved them. Maybe not them, exactly but you definitely love-"

"I'd love for you to keep your mouth shut," he snapped, and frowned now that she was smirking. "But they set us up on a blind date, thinking we had never met and not even asking us if we know each other. I mean, we're cousins."

"How could they know?"

"It's a matter of public record!" he said, exasperated. "Ash Ketchum, May Maple, Max Maple, Brock Slate – all of them are idiots."

"Ah, there's your problem," misty said, putting her chin in her hand. "You assume they can access the public record, which implies they can read, and we don't know for sure that's true."

"How do they screw up this badly?" Drew asked, fingers drumming on the table. "Why would they even want to set this up?"

She shrugged. "They probably think we're similar or something. You don't need to be so-"

"Well, that's a stupid reason. My mother and I have loads in common, but I'm not planning on dating her anytime soon."

"We're nearly the same age," Misty suggested.

"First of all, that's a stupid reason. Second, you're older by two years."

"So?"

"Do I really seem like I want to date older women?" he drawled, gesturing to himself as if his appearance stated otherwise. And, with his alpha male posture, she supposed it did. He certainly wouldn't want anyone more experienced than him in anything, really.

"So, that doesn't mean-"

"They idiots," Drew finished icily.

She sighed. "Alright, they're idiots. But they're-"

"Meddling idiots," he emphasized.

She stared for a moment, lips slight parted as she struggled to think up a retort, a good quality, and suddenly found herself entirely stumped, consenting, "They're meddling, obnoxious, rude, idiotic idiots, who couldn't even both to see if the people they were setting up knew each other, let alone were related." She held up a finger. "However…"

He arched a brow. "Yes?"

"They are meddling, obnoxious, rude, idiotic idiots who couldn't even bother to see if the people they were setting up knew each other, let alone were related," she paused dramatically, "who are paying for our dinner."

"Oh, that makes everything fine," he said sarcastically.

She giggled, tapping the menu gleefully. "It does if we get the lobster."