Under the Skin
Chapter 45
The Later Years
"No! Keegan get back here!"
It was by now a very familiar cry in the Oak household. Eve was seen running down a hall after the tiny streak of blue and white, past Gary's office. Gary emerged moments later from his office, and a hand waved in front of the screen.
"Daisy! Put the camera down and help!' Eve cried, trying to grab the toddler that was evading all of her attempts to catch him. Daisy laughed from behind the camera.
"I cant! I have to catch this!" She giggled. Gary rolled his eyes and leaned down and grabbed the giggling blue haired boy as he tried to run past his father. He swung the boy around to Keegan's delight.
"Looks like this little man is all ready to become a scientist!" he said.
"San-tist!" Keegan said, waving his arms, wearing a slightly oversized lab coat.
The camera rocked and Daisy tilted it down as Eve and Gary bickered playfully with Keegan. The new angle showed a dark haired one-year old with Daisy's eyes. "Tony! Hold up there buddy!" and Jullian came into view. He crowded the camera for a moment before the angle changed again and showed them kissing before Tony decided he wanted to play with the camera and tried to grab it out of his mother's hands.
It wasn't long before the camera shut off, but it came back on again later that night, showing Ash with a three year old Izzy on his shoulders and Misty holding another little one, a boy with frizzy red hair only a few months old, sucking on a fist until Misty replaced it with a pacifier. Jillian had Tony under an arm, who was enjoying it immensely being able to view things from his current angle.
Will and Brittany were there also, Will having gained a slight limp, their triplets taking up a lot of time. The girl wasn't so bad, seeing as how she took after her mother. Put up a baby gate and she was contained. Luke was the trouble maker, hanging off of his father whenever he got the chance, and William Jr. following Luke everywhere.
Gary about fell off the couch laughing. Samuel Oak and Delia Ketchum were sitting in their own armchairs, laughing also. They were watching the home videos made over the last ten years, and 20 children between the 7 couples that had become fast friends. Heather and Adam were the only ones without a kid at home, at the moment. Since Rachel and Corey had been the only ones Heather had had with her first husband, and Adam could have kids.
Jillian and Daisy and Gary and Eve were expecting again, and would have their kids in several months. Will and Brittany were planning on having more, but their three kept them busy. Justin and Danielle had just had their fourth, Ash and Misty had their hands full with Izzy and Bill while Brock and May had taken over the tradition of having a clan sized family with seven children total, and expecting again.
"Oh man, this family just keeps getting bigger." Adam said, leaning back in his seat.
"I doubt it'll stop." Gary grinned. Will just shook his head and ran a hand through his vibrant red hair, which both his sons had inherited.
"You ready to say good-bye to your kids?" Oak asked as Gary regained his seat beside Eve, who was shaking her head.
"It's strange, I'm surprised Izzy waited so long." She said.
"Well, She has more sense than her dad." Ash chuckled. "She'll be better prepared."
"Glad we agree on something." Misty smiled.
"So we have four kids leaving us this year." Delia said, smiling. "And the rest will follow all to quickly."
"Agreed." Heather said. Corey and Rachel were off on their own, learning the arts to their preferred trades. Gary went to say something, but there was a small bang, and not long after…
"KEEGAN! NO FAIR! NO ATTACKS!"
Izzy's voice rang out, and the sound of an army came heading right for the living room. Gary was up and on his feet with Ash, ready to dispell the storm.
"dad! It's her fault! She cheated!" Keegan said as he ran into the room, Izzy right behind him.
"Keegan, you know better than to use an attack. Only in emergencies, remember?"
"Or when I'm with you or mom, or Uncle Adam, in the designated area, I know… I'm sorry." The 11 year old muttered. Gary smiled and ruffled the blue hair. Izzy crossed her arms and huffed.
"See? I told you so." She said. Ash put a hand on her head.
"izz, you're the oldst, you need to set a -"
"Good example, I know." She said. Ash and Gary glanced at the door as the younger kids giggled.
"Alright, go on, behave. There's cookies in the kitchen still and plenty of milk." Gary said. His sons golden eyes glimmered happily as the troop ran to the kitchen and the adults turned the Television off and the lights on. They split up into groups, the women talking, and the men.
It wasn't an hour later when Heather clutched her abdomen.
"Adam!" She called. Adam was on his feet, and the group was over around her, the kids crowding the doorway. Will was out the door and starting his car, while Adam carried Heather out to it. Gary and Ash distracted the kids with preparing for Izzy and Keegan's departure the next day while Eve followed her brother out to Will's car.
/***\\\
Gary sat at his desk, slowly petting the pup of his Umbreon and Eevee. Umbreon had passed away from old age, and Eevee of pining. It was a shiny, and the rings were glowing lightly in the dark.
He jumped several feet when his Poke-gear rang. He fumbled with it and finally got the right button to press to accept the call. Eve's voice crackled over the speaker, laughing.
"Did you almost fall off your chair?" She asked.
"Yeah, so what?" he replied. "Is everything okay? Is Heather going to be fine?" He asked. Eve giggled again.
"Yeah, she's fine. Adam is still in shock though. He's a Daddy!"
There was a moment of silence.
"WHAT!"
"Ow! Gary, easy. This is a hospital I'm in!" Eve said, her voice muffled, indicating she had covered her end.
"I'm sorry, but isn't he supposed to NOT be able to have kids?" Gary asked.
"Well, supposedly. But apparently by some freak chance, he was able to have one." Eve said. "He's beside himself, doesn't know what to do."
"Wait, Heather is so tiny, how did she no know?"
"Well, things like that happen. She was gaining a bit of weight, so she was trying to lose it. But it wasn't working." Eve laughed. "And now we know why. The baby is tiny, and didn't move much, so I guess all that applied to her being unable to know she was pregnant. She's as baffled as we are." Gary just shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.
"Well, that's good news. But you better get home, or else your son will never forgive you for missing this day." he chuckled. "I have to start getting ready for the groups, they'll be here for their starters in a few hours." Eve laughed.
"I'll be home soon to help you out. Then its right to bed with us."
"No problem there." Gary smirked. Eve rolled her eyes on the other end.
"Work first." She said.
"I know." he grinned. "Talk to you soon. Love you." He said, and they hung up.
Four hours later, Gary was opening the doors to the lab, Eve beside him, hair tied up. She had a tray of bags for each new trainer full of snacks, first-aid kits, and potions for their first pokemon and five poke-balls each. Keegan came barreling down the stairs at eight in the morning, almost running right by the kitchen. Eve grabbed the back of his jacket and tugged him back.
"Awww! Mom! I want to be the first in line!" He whined, still trying to go down the hall.
"Keegan, you need to eat! You'll still be in there first, but that doesn't mean you'll get your pokemon first!" She said, sitting him at the table. Keegan humped but obediently started in on the pancakes she sat in front of him. Gary walked in a moment later, grabbing one and sticking it in his mouth after kissing his wife fondly, and smirking at his sons sound of disgust.
"You'll get it when your older, kiddo." He chuckled, ruffling his hair.
"Yeah whatever!" The boy said, eating again. Gary smiled gently as he watched his son. He looked so much like Keegan Evo it was scary. He acted just like Gary though. Cocky, but adventurous like his mother. Hew as just glad the boy didn't stick out like him, Eve or Adam.
In another hour, the small family was out in the lab, Tony begging to see the pokemon. He still had another year or so before he could go, but he was desperate to go out on his own. Breon was tumbling around Gary's feet, leaping onto counters and grabbing things he needed as he worked. He had named the Umbreon for the nickname he'd been given during his time hiding from Team Rocket.
When the time came to let in the group of starting trainers, Keegan joined the ranks beside Izzy, who had her hair up in a ponytail, the rest of it stubbornly sticking up, having earned her the nickname 'Frizzy Izzy.'
After talking to the fifteen some odd new trainers, Gary gave out their new pokemon alphabetically. Ironically, it happened that Izzy and Keegan were the last two there. Gary smiled at the both.
"Izz, I actually don't have a pokemon for you." He said. "But your parents do." Izzy looked over at Ash and Misty who smiled and handed her a poke ball.
"I know you wanted Pikachu, but he was getting too old anyway." Ash said. His best friend had died the previous year. It had been a huge blow. "But we got you a special pokemon."
"Thanks Mom and Dad." izzy smiled. She opened the poke ball and Squealed. It was a Pikachu, but a shiney with Jagged ear markings. One of the descendants of Zephyr. It shook its head and shivered, glaring accusingly at the poke ball and sparking at it. Izzy giggled and pocketed the ball, picking the pikachu up.
"I wouldn't like those much either, Pisces." She smiled. Gary and Eve faced Keegan and held out a poke ball to him with an design carved into it. It was the mark made for their 'legendary forms.'
"There you go Keegan. Take good care of him." Gary said, smiling. Keegan nodded and pressed the button, releasing a Houndour. He knelt and patted the pokemon who licked him in return.
"Thanks, a bunch." Keegan grinned up at his parents and hugged them.
The two kids parents watched them go from the entrance to the Lab, the same spot they had been seen off from so long ago. Gary Thought back to that day. When he had left in his car, cocky, confidant, and full of himself. He had changed so much, and so much had changed. He hoped the best for Keegan, holding the same worries a parent had for their child, and a few extra because of what they were. Ash and Misty left, but still Gary watched the road. Eve Finally touched his arm gently and smiled up at him when he turned to looked at her.
"He'll be fine." She said.
"I know." He replied. She turned to go inside, and he followed, pausing briefly to look down the road again. He wondered what adventures he would have, what hardships he would face. He turned to follow Eve inside, smiling to himself. He'd have to wait and see.
If there was one thing he had learned in all the years he had been alive, it was that the greatness of a person wasn't always apparent, but it was always hidden just Under the Skin.
SO sad that this is the end. I'll miss this story. I have to say, my faves ended up being Luke and Adam. Luke because he has to be the most original character i have ever made, and just his overall attitude is funny, even if he is insane. ll; and Adam becausehe weasled his way in at the last moment. XD
I'm sorry i killed Pikachu and Umbreon, but they would be WAAAAAY to old at this point to have them in the story. way to old. I was trying to add some realism to the story, not sure it it worked overall XD lol
Thank all of you readers who stuck with me the entire year that this story was being written. You all deserve cookies X3 You stayed with me despite months of writers block and life and a whole lot of other things. It means a lot. Knowing i still had readers helped me finish this. lol
Special thanks to Ultimateyugiohfan and Naomiofthesea. You two are awesome ^^ thanks for all teh hyperactive reviews. they made my day.
Ultimate special thanks to my editors, Lunasilvereyes and Shadowrunner240. You guys re the best, thanks so much
all of you get massive plates of cookies.
Luna, still working on the real life gift i owe you. lmao. thanks for letting me crash at ur place while trying to figure this stuff out, even if it was only for a few hours at a time :3
and thanks to all you readers who come in after this ^^ im glad you took the time to read the story and i hope you enjoyed it.
I'll be finishing my AIR fic next, if thats what intrests you.
i'll see you later!
