Okay, so I kept saying there are 25 chapters in this story. Well, I was wrong. There were 23. I labeled wrong and didn't have a 17 and 19, but then I split chapter 8 into 3 chapters, so we're good now. Anyway, enjoy~
Chapter 18
"So I'm going to forgive you guys for having to find out about your relationship through the news because you're having a baby!" Brock cries over the videophone. Ash, Misty, and Clementine had been spending the past few days in Pallet Town with Delia as well as to escape the busy city life. Clementine loves Pallet Town and has been helping out Gary at the lab with the Pokemon after Ash had introduced her to his Pokemon there. The couple has finally gotten around to calling their friends, and they obviously have to call Brock first.
As expected, the older man weeps for his friends stating he has been waiting over a decade for this. Afterwards, they call Tracey and Daisy who already knew from Lily. Typical, thought Misty. Thankfully, Tracey had been keeping tight tabs on his wife to wait until Misty was ready before announcing that they knew. Ash and Misty plan to tell Gary and Leaf later when they pick up Clementine. Once they are done talking to Daisy and Tracey, the young couple call Max, May and Drew, and Dawn and Paul who all welcome the news happily.
Before picking up Clementine and Pikachu from the lab, Ash and Misty hop on Charizard. The man blindfolds his girlfriend as he sits behind her.
"What are you doing, Ash?" Misty asks and reaches for the blindfold, but Ash stops her.
"It's a surprise." He says. Charizard then takes off as Ash holds Misty protectively. Soon the orange beast lands and Ash helps her off before returning the Pokemon. "Okay. You can take your blindfold off."
She reaches up and removes the blindfold. After a few blinks, Misty sees the familiar river. She turns to look at Ash and he flashes her a grin before putting an arm around her waist. "This is where we met." she says.
He nods. "Yeah. I actually come here a lot to think whenever I'm home."
Misty gives him a surprised look. "I used to stop by here on my way to your mom's too. It's been years." she breathes out.
"We can bring Clem here on the way back to Cerulean City."
"We? Ash, you need to stay with your mom." Misty eyes him. The man removes his arm from Misty and rubs the back of his neck nervously.
"Heh heh. My mom will understand. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I abandoned my fiance and kid?" He responds.
"Fiance?" the redhead continues eying him. Ash reaches into his pocket and bends down on one knee.
"If you agree." He looks into her green eyes.
Sighing, Misty responds, "I don't want you to marry me just 'cause I'm pregnant with your kid, Ash." She looks at the simple silver ring. It has a blue sapphire in the middle with two small diamonds on either side of the sapphire.
"No, Mist!" Ash lets out a nervous breath. "I've had this ring for a while now. Long before I came to help at the gym. When I first saw the ring, it reminded me of you, so I bought it. At first, I wanted to give it to you as a gift until someone told me it's an engagement ring." Misty continues eyeing him. "But then after I left the gym, I missed you so much, Mist. I already lost you once due to my selfishness. I don't wanna do it again. So I found the ring and planned to propose to you after the League finished for the year, but then a lot of things happened and I didn't think the time was right." He lets out another breath. "But honestly, Mist. I don't think there will ever be a right time. I know my feelings and they're here to stay. I've loved you since we were kids, even though I didn't realize it, and I still love you now, if not more." He says while looking into her eyes. "I love you, Misty Kasumi Waterflower. Will you make me the happiest person in the world and marry me?"
Misty looks at the nervous man and smiles. She's played out a proposal with him many times during her teen years, and it takes a lot for her not to revert back to that hormonal mindset. "I love you too, Ash." she tears up and nods, to which the man shakily slips the ring on her finger and kisses her deepy.
"Aw yeah!" He screams into the woods loud enough for a flock of Pidgey to scatter. Misty admires the ring as Ash intertwines his fingers with hers. "Believe me, Mist! I'm going to make you the second happiest person in the world, after me of course." He beams at her.
"You better, Mr. Pokemon Master." And she pecks him on the cheek.
I originally also wanted Ash to propose to Clem since I find it cute when step dads ask their future step kids to accept them as a part of their family, but I didn't know how to satisfiably include it in. Clem would be asking questions about the river, which would take away from the surprise of everything, but I really wanted to include the place Ash and Misty met in my story. We can just assume Ash asked Clem on his own time, and of course she loves him enough to accept. See you tomorrow~