Okay, I'm actually not happy with the fact that I get to sleep one time every night and wake up nice and early in the morning. It just doesn't seem right. Oh and have I forgotten to mention I wake up starving? I've never woken up so hungry in my entire life than I have in the last couple of days. I've actually been eating breakfast and everyone knows that normal people don't eat breakfast…well I'm not normal so I guess it's fine that I eat breakfast but weird people don't eat breakfast and – GAH! I'm confusing myself! Goodness you all must be absolutely sick of my nonsense by now. I tip my hat to the lot of you who have stuck with me through my many stages of weirdness. I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

~Rolyn~

Chapter Thirty Seven: Headway

"You know you have to choose now," Patou sighed with a sort of careless shrug of her shoulders. A lazy smile pulled at her lips as she crossed on leg over the other and placed her stacked hands on her top knee. Her turquoise eyes stared at the young woman before her as she nibbled on her bottom lip while scratching the bridge of her nose; it was a habit she had taken up since glasses were no longer a necessity; they were no longer there to be pushed up.

"I know…" Rolyn murmured before biting the inside of her cheek. Patou nodded once, looking expectant at her God-sister who avoided her eyes at all cost as she feigned being lost in thought. Patou had a pretty good idea as to why she was hesitating.

"This should have been chosen months ago, by the way," Patou pressed, shifting in her seat.

Rolyn glanced at her briefly before turning her brown eyes on the wedding magazines spread out before her. Most of the major and some of the minor details for this wedding have been thought through and planned, minus the issue Patou had brought up to the former Princess today. Patou was almost completely done with the wedding dress, but Rolyn had yet to choose a maid of honor…

"I know." Rolyn repeated in a frustrated grumble.

"Jason was able to choose his best man right off the bat," Patou pressed. Rolyn shot the blonde a narrowed eyed look. It was easy for Jason. He and Drew have been friends since the very beginning of time! Of course he wouldn't have to put any thought into who he chose for his best man. Rolyn on the other hand…if she was going by who she met first technically it would have been Patou, but she barely remembers that time of her life. If she was going by who she knew longest, it would be either Alex or Dawn because they've been close the longest. If she was going by friendship…it wasn't hard to know she would choose May. Just like Alex and Dawn were close, so was she and the brunette.

"Ugh…" Rolyn groaned, running a hand through her hair. Patou twisted her mouth to the side as she watched her God-sister struggle. She could make this easy and offer the obvious option by saying the role as maid of honor should go to May, but she actually enjoyed watching the girl squirm so she kept her mouth shut.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," The ebony haired Hayden breathed.

"And you won't," Patou reassured.

"If I could I'd pick all of you!" Rolyn whined throwing her head back. "I love all of my friends! I can't just pick one right off the bat! I'm not a boy!" She continued to argue and Patou resisted the persistent need to roll her eyes. Rolyn could be a serious drama queen.

"I need you to pick a maid of honor right now because I need to get back to Victoria about the bridal party dresses," Patou said flatly with a sarcastic look and a single nod. Rolyn groaned again, dropping her face into her. Patou abused her forehead with a resounding slap of frustration. "Rolyn! We all know you want to pick May and honestly it would be best so she and Drew can walk down the aisle together. Frankly, I think it would be awkward if any of us did rather than May. I'd rather walk with Ian, thank you very much."

Rolyn stared at her God-sister for half a second before her distraught expression was replaced with that of pure excitement. Rolyn squealed in a very Dawn-like manner as she lunged for the blonde and wrapped her arms around her and continued on with her high pitched noise making. Patou sighed in relief, relaxing in her friend's arms moments before the other girl pulled away, still beaming contentedly.

"You're right. I shouldn't have lost my head over that," Rolyn sighed as she relaxed back against the headboard of her bed. Patou simply blinked, her expression.

"Sometimes, I begin to believe you're the one that's pregnant with all the mood swings," Patou muttered more to herself than to Rolyn, since the youngest Hayden was lost in her own land of satisfaction and was perfectly fine with going back into her own world of fantasizing about the events to come. "Okay," Patou said loudly, catching Rolyn's attention.

"We have everything done, yes?" Rolyn interjected before Patou could say anything. Little did she know, the golden haired girl was going to ask the very same thing. Shaking her head, Patou glanced down at her "Notepad of Dreams" as she liked to call it. Every detail pertaining to this upcoming wedding were scribbled inside.

"Tomorrow, we'll take a train ride over to Upper Diamond City and meet with Victoria to get us fitted for the bridal gowns which," she emphasized as she watch Rolyn open her mouth. The girl wasn't so much a bridezilla as she was an over-anxious bride. "Are all peacock green just like you requested." Patou couldn't help but smile in amusement when Rolyn sighed in relief. "Everything will be fine okay?"

"Okay…" Rolyn sighed with a nod

"Hey,"

Drew perked a brow as he sat up straight at his desk. Jason took a hesitant step into the other boy's room knowing very well that if you weren't verbally invited in, you weren't exactly welcome, but why should that stop him? Drew glanced over him over his shoulder, giving his childhood friend a bored look before turning back to his school work. If he didn't get this essay done, he wouldn't be able to compete in the winter coordinating tournament at school.

"What can I do for you?" Drew sighed, deciding to multitask. There wasn't much he could do when it came to Jason and when he wanted something.

"I need your help with something…" Jason sighed as he sauntered over to Drew's king sized bed. He always wondered why the green haired boy had such a large bed when the rest of them were stuck with full beds. He knew he should blame Jennifer, but since it was easier, he blamed Drew.

"And that something is?" Drew asked. Before Jason could respond and explain himself, Drew was speaking again. "And if it involves anything illegal, sex related, or self-dismemberment, you can go ask Ian." Jason furrowed his brow, looking hurt at his friend's speculation.

"You know there is more to me than that," The dark haired boy murmured.

"Prove it," Drew snorted. Jason stared at the back of his head, wondering just why they were best friends again. Sighing, the youngest Alvarez ran a hand through his hair, slumping his shoulders.

"I need your help doing something special for Rolyn," Jason said quietly. Drew cocked his head slightly to the side. "For the wedding…I started this song…"

"Of course you did," Drew murmured. Jason furrowed his brow. "Because you know how much my sister loves music because you just know my sister like that, so it's a given if you want to make her happy that I am going to help you," Jason laughed once behind closed lips.

"Of course you will."

Drew shot him a warning look over his shoulder.

"I promise that when you propose to May, I will be at your beck and call," Jason offered with a small nod and a lopsided smile. Drew tensed up at his words. He honestly didn't know why it bothered him so much when 'May' and 'propose' were in the same sentence. He didn't fear commitment; he knew that. He loved May, that would never change, but…

"You're making a face," Jason pointed out. Drew didn't even hear him get up from the bed and approach him. Jason poked the green haired boy on the cheek and Drew sucked his teeth and swatted the other boy's hand away. "You are gonna propose to May at some point, right? I mean, you've given her every sign of spending the rest of your life with her other than the actual engagement ring," Jason laughed with a shake of his head.

"I don't even know how I would do it," Drew admitted lowly.

"Well, in comparison to everything you've done for Little Red, I'll admit you have a lot to live up to," Jason sighed, pretending to be thoughtful on the matter. "Although the best thing about my favorite brunette is that she doesn't need the world. She doesn't need some grand proposal with everything but the kitchen sink… Honestly, all the girls are like that."

"Is Dawn really included in that?" Drew scoffed.

"Yea, even I question my own conclusions, but…the same way we are content with spending time with them, they are content as well," Jason said carefully, trying to word everything correctly. "I mean, I didn't even have a ring when I proposed to Rolyn and she was perfectly happy just by the fact that I asked."

"But…"

"It's okay if you want to offer May anything and everything she could ever want, but when it comes down to it, the only thing she'll ever really want is, obviously, you," Jason poked Drew in the cheek again and Drew swat his hand away again, this time with a light smile on his face.

"Since when did you get this profound?" He chuckled as he turned chartreuse eyes on his childhood friend. Jason smirked at him before shrugging carelessly.

"Under this completely sensual and fun-loving dog is the heart of a pure genius, my friend." Jason said raising his eyebrows briefly. Drew chuckled and shook his head. "Hey, if I have to run a school in the future, I obviously need to keep myself educated."

"So you're really gonna take over Arceus?"

Jason sighed. "I guess…I mean, I have to get the credentials first and whatnot. There is also the board members who have to find me suitable for the job once I graduate…" Jason trailed off.

"What about the journey?" Drew inquired. Jason perked a brow at him. "You know; the journey we've been planning since the moment we got our first pokemon?"

"Oh, it is still gonna happen!" Jason said quickly. "No doubt about that. Jocelyn spoke to my Dad about it; he agreed that some experience in the actual pokemon trainer field would do me some good. Only two other Alvarez men went on journeys and they were admittedly some of the best school presidents Arceus has ever seen…but Arceus hasn't seen me in charge yet." Jason smirked cockily and Drew rolled his eyes.

"What about the girls?" Drew inquired.

"Hell, we'll bring them with us! Obviously May is going to be some stiff competition for you in those contests, and maybe Rolyn and I will get pinned up against each other in a league tournament," Jason laughed with a shrug of broad shoulders. Drew laughed once behind closed lips. It had been a while since any of them have battled their significant others…

Drew gave his classic smirk as an idea came to mind.

"Jason, I have an idea for that wedding of yours…" He trailed off.

"Lay it on me." Jason cocked his head to the side, curious.

"Hello, hello, hello!"

"Jocelyn!" Dawn gasped, running down the winding staircase of the Dragonite house. The twenty three year old beamed as the excitable navy haired girl charged towards her with a wide smile pulling at pink lips. Jocelyn had not seen the house in full yet so that had prompted a visit…that and the plans she had in store for upcoming events.

"Jocelyn, long time, no see…" Marina said with a tired smile as she sauntered out of the kitchen to greet their guest. Jocelyn nodded towards the aqua haired beauty, unable to go for a hug with Dawn still latched to her like her like depended on it.

"Marina, you are looking absolutely gorgeous!" Jocelyn complimented as her eyes trailed down to the rounded tummy Marina now sported. "Won't be long now, will it?"

"Yup, May."

"What does this have to do with May?" Dawn inquired.

"Dawn, that's when the baby is due," Patou deadpanned as she came down the stairs, having heard the girls talking. "Which is why Rolyn had to move the wedding to April, remember?" Dawn blinked once, then twice before her mouth made an 'O' shape and she gasped dramatically. Jocelyn took that as the opportunity to pry the girl off of her.

"It is also the reason I am here!" Jocelyn said excitedly as she clasped her hands together. "I am planning all the parties: the engagement party, the bachelorette party, and of course, Marina's baby shower! By the way, we need to know the gender of that baby ASAP so people know what to buy." Jocelyn gave Marina a pointed look.

Marina pursed her lips and looked away.

"Did you even get told the gender yet?" Patou questioned, shifting her weight to one foot and perking a brow. "I think the baby is grown enough for the doctor to be able to tell."

"And she could tell…" Marina began quietly. Patou's eyes widened and Dawn cocked her head so far to the side that it looked unnatural. "She told Jimmy and me a while ago." The former model admitted with a sheepish smile. Dawn gasped dramatically.

"And you didn't tell us?" Jocelyn gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth. Marina's sheepish smile as she absentmindedly began to stroke her tummy.

"Who didn't tell who something?" Alex questioned as she bounded into the front hall of the house.

"Marina," Dawn began to an accusatory point and glare, "Didn't tell us the gender of her baby and she's known for heaven knows how long!" Dawn clenched her eyes shut and hid her face in Jocelyn's shoulder, pretending to cry.

"What?" Alex hissed, pink eyes going wide as she approached the aqua haired beauty. Marina bit into her bottom lip as she took a step back. She knew Alex wouldn't actually physically harm her, especially in the condition she was currently in, but she had to keep in mind that Alex was also very unpredictable. "How dare you!?"

Marina scoffed, suddenly frustrated. "How dare you!?" She mimicked placing her hands on her hips. Alex perked a brow. "Last time I checked, this baby was mine and Jimmy's, not any of yours so whatever final decisions we make does not concern any of you." Pointed looks were given to all. "Besides, how did you know I wasn't gonna tell you!? Maybe it slipped my mind with everything else going on!"

Alex took a step back, pursing her lips and avoiding the older girl's narrowed gaze.

"You're right…" Patou sighed with a pout. "We're sorry 'Rina…" There were nods of agreement.

"You better be," Marina grumbled. "Now if May and Rolyn show up, I'll tell you the gender of my baby."

"Someone say my name?" Rolyn sang as she came strutting down the stairs, a lopsided smile on her face. May wasn't too far behind, with her eyes casted downward as she typed away on her dex.

"We didn't say it three times, so I'm not sure why you showed up," Alex murmured. Rolyn whipped her head in the purple haired girl's direction and her eyes slowly narrowed into the infamous Hayden glare. Alex smiled sheepishly as she took two large steps that put her behind Patou.

"I'm glad you guys are here," Marina said with a smile. "Let's take this to the living room."

"Ugh, please," Jocelyn groaned with a slight smile. "I have been on my feet all day and I just need to sit down." She ranted as she scurried off in the direction of the living room. The rest of the girls were quick on her heels to claim their own seats on the couches available.

"Okay…" Marina sighed as she carefully sat herself down and eased herself into a comfortable position. "I have a bit of news for you guys." A sudden smile came to her face.

"The gender! Tell us the gender!" Dawn squealed. May was suddenly attentive, putting her dex away for later. It had almost slipped her mind that Marina was far enough along for the gender of her baby to be known. No one really questioned it. Honestly, no one kept up much with this change in Marina's life besides being aware of the baby's due date and how many months have passed by. The only ones really in on everything was Jimmy and Samia and that was because they were with Marina every step of the way, accompanying on the doctor visits and such.

"Oh my gosh! You never told us the gender!" Rolyn gasped, slapping her hands to her cheeks.

"Well I'm gonna tell you now," Marina said with a smile. Rolyn squealed much like Dawn.

"Jimmy and I are having…"

"A unicorn!" Alex inserted.

Patou slapped her upside the head.

"Continue," She said with a smile directed towards Marina. The aqua haired beauty gave a grateful smile in return.

"We're having a boy," Marina finally said with a nod.

There were simultaneous screams. Jocelyn had even gone so far as to jump up to stand on the couch and start bouncing like a child on Christmas morning. Alex was now on the floor writhing and groaning as though someone had just hit her in the stomach with a shadow ball.

"A boy…" May breathed with a bright smile.

"A boy!" Patou squealed.

"Why!?" Alex cried, throwing her head back. "Why did it have to be a boy!?"

"I'll have to put on the baby shower invitations that this is a shower for a bouncing baby boy, so you get the correctly oriented gifts," Jocelyn said excitedly as she clapped her hands together. "And you know what? I'll just get the cutest baby boy clothes in the Jigglypuff baby outlet."

Alex continued to roll around on the floor while groaning.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?"

All heads whipped around to see a primly dressed Officer Jenny standing in the threshold that went into the front hall of the house. Everyone went silent as the blue haired officer perked a brow in question.

"The door was open, so I hope you don't mind that I let myself in," Officer Jenny said as she crossed her arms under her chest.

"Alex did it!" Dawn exclaimed suddenly while pointing towards the shortest of the Dragonite girls. Alex's bubblegum pink eyes widened as she climbed back onto the couch.

"I swear it wasn't me! I was holding it for a friend! My Sableye made me do it!" Alex babbled while frantically shaking her head. She received strange looks from those gathered around her and an amused look from Officer Jenny.

"Calm down, I'm not here for any of you," The young looking sister of many said with a shake of her head. "However, I am here on all of your account. We've reached a breakthrough in the case regarding the destruction of your home."

"What?" May gasped suddenly perking up.

Office Jenny approached the group of girls and took a seat in an armchair without it being offered. Crossing one leg over the other, she got herself comfortable and reclined in the chair. "We have found our first Favon that had been checked into a pokemon center."

"Really?" Rolyn breathed.

"It was checked in by a young man who goes by the name of Austin Turner," Officer Jenny began as she stacked her hands on her knees. "While we weren't going to jump to conclusions and believe that the first person we connected a Favon to would be the culprit, we continued looking for others who may have checked a Favon in while doing a background check on Austin. Apparently he's a coordinator who has been traveling since his graduation from the local High School here in a nearby town called Peridot City one year prior."

"But…we don't know an Austin…" Rolyn said with a shake of her head. "And neither does Jason as far as I know."

"I didn't think you did. Besides, he hasn't been anywhere near Jewel for the last six months. He has been participating in contests all the way in Kanto which is thousands of miles from here," Officer Jenny said.

"Then why bring him up?" May questioned. "He obviously didn't do it."

"Obviously he didn't…" Officer Jenny agreed. "But there was one thing that stood out about this boy that caught my attention…"

"And that was…" Alex trailed off.

"He is the first cousin of Jasmine Cochrane," Officer Jenny finally sighed. May felt her blood run cold at the mention of the other girl. She had to admit; this was the last thing she had been expecting to hear. She had put Jasmine far from her mind for a while now…or at least she put Jasmine and her possible connection to this act of arson far from her mind. She didn't like pointing fingers and wholeheartedly believed in the thought innocent until proven guilty. Even now this still proved nothing.

"Everything comes back to that little witch," Patou grumbled crossing her arms over her chest. "Might as well just arrest her now."

"We still have no hard evidence that it was her that committed the crime. As far as we know, Austin has had his Favon with him from the moment he left Jewel," Officer Jenny said quickly in hopes of defusing the explosion of accusation and angry words that were sure to erupt.

"Well, couldn't he have sent the pokemon to her? Pokemon transfers are very much possible," Marina said smartly with a nod of her head.

"Yes, they are. However, there is no way of keeping track of them. Pokemon transfers aren't recorded. They just happen. If we really wanted to check, we'd have to take apart every pokeball teleporter from every center of arena Austin has stopped at and we don't even have a narrowed time frame. He could have sent the pokemon at any time, if he even did."

"Then we're still at a dead end," May murmured.

Officer Jenny shook her head.

"Not necessarily," She said quickly. "With this information, we'll look more into Austin and we have been given a warrant to sweep Jasmine's house along with questioning her so if there is anything to be found, we will find it."

May nodded. "Thank you…"

Officer Jenny smiled in a bittersweet way. "No problem girls. I'll update you when I receive any more news." The blue haired officer added as she stood from her seat and made a beeline towards the way that she had come.

"I'll see you out," Jocelyn offered with a sweet smile.

Once the two older woman were out of sight, looks were exchanged.

"What are you guys thinking?" May asked quietly.

"What can we think?" Marina said just as quietly.

"At least there is progression in the case?" Dawn offered with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Why can't we just convict Jasmine now and be done with it?" Alex growled with narrowed eyes.

"Because she isn't guilty…yet," Patou murmured.

"Guys," May sighed. "Let's not get all upset over this. We're fine, we have a new house, almost everything has been replaced…"

"Yea, but…" Alex began only to be cut off by May clapping at her with a stern look.

"No buts. We have to focus on the important stuff now." May looked towards Marina who smiled softly before turning to look at Rolyn.

"May is right!" Jocelyn said, suddenly reappearing in the living room. "We have so much to do! The engagement party is gonna be held on Valentine's Day next weekend, then at the end of February, we'll have the baby shower, then all during March, we are on wedding duty because April is coming up fast."

"Um, you are forgetting the bachelorette party!" Patou inserted with a smirk.

"And of course there's that! Ugh, we have a tight schedule with all this happening and school." Jocelyn groaned with a shake of her head.

"I think we can handle it," May said with a laugh.

Finally all done. Well since I haven't focused on the whole fire incident when I had all these plans for it, I brought it back up. I hope none of you forgot about it. Like I've said probably a trillion times before, things should get moving from here. This is probably going to be the last chapter posted in 2012... or maybe last chapter was, I dunno. Can't predict the future as I type this. Anyhoo I hope you all had an excellent Christmas and that your New Years is just as amazing since…yea only amazing people would be reading this story. Anyways I will get right on the next chapter…after I finish the next chapter of Quintessence.