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Chapter 24
Ash stares at the little bundle in Misty's tired arms while a nurse is bandaging his hand. After hours of labor and crushing his hand, he is amazed at how his fiance can have the energy to be awake. She is absolutely beautiful, he thinks as he admires her. Once the nurse finishes wrapping up Ash's hand, he finally makes his way over to his little family. He plants a kiss on Misty's forehead, which seems to startle her out of her trance.
"He's perfect." Ash mumbles while falling into the same trance Misty was just in. He stares at the little sleeping bundle who shares his black hair and darker skin tone; however, the baby's skin is not as dark as Ash's. The man reaches out his good hand and rubs the baby's cheek with a finger.
Misty smiles up at her fiance. "He needs a name."
"We haven't had time to think of names." Ash notes while he racks his brain for one.
Misty nods in agreement. She hands the baby to Ash, who is now in awe at holding the little being. "I'm too tired to think." the redhead confesses while laying back and closing her eyes.
"Clem has good ideas." Ash mentions while still entranced by his son.
Misty's eyes shoot open. "Clem!" She exclaims quietly. Ash gives her a questioning look. "Get Clem! She should be in here too." Ash agrees and asks a nearby nurse to get the girl.
Hallway
A nurse walks out to the hallway where Lily, Delia, and Clem are seated. Clem is currently sleeping with her head rested on Delia's lap. Delia and Lily look up at the nurse worriedly and are grateful when the nurse smiles. "It's a boy! Both mom and baby are healthy!" The nurse informs them. The two adults let out a nervous breath they had been holding.
"I have a grandson!" Delia cries.
"We, like, finally have a Waterflower male!" Lily says with the same excitement.
"Can we see them?" Delia asks the nurse.
He gives them a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, but the family is tired right now. Maybe later, but they requested to see Clementine." Delia returns his smile since she understands Misty needs rest as well as bonding time with the baby. The older woman nudges Clementine awake.
"I'm tired, Grandma." she mumbles.
"Aunt Misty and Uncle Ash want to see you." Clem's eyes shoot open and she quickly sits up.
"Where's Auntie Misty and Uncle Ashy?!" she cries. The little girl's eyes are glossed as she hold back her fearful tears.
The nurse smiles at her and extends a hand. "They want to see you. I'll take you to them."
Clem looks at Lily and Delia who give her reassuring nods before grabbing the nurse's hand. He leads them through the double doors and she doesn't see any of her family anymore. She is a little scared until the nurse opens a room door.
In the room
Once Clementine walks into the room with the nurse, she runs straight into Ash's arms. Fortunately, Ash had given the baby back to Misty. The man welcomes the big hug as Clementine cries into his shoulder. "I was scared!"
Ash smiles and clutches her tighter. "I know, Clem. But you are very strong. Thank you for your help." He soothes her and walks over to Misty. Clem still has her face buried in Ash's shoulder. "But we still need more help, Clem."
Sniffling, the girl is silent for a while before looking up at Ash with her determined green eyes. She had wiped her tears on his shirt and stopped crying. "How can I help?"
Ash chuckles and kisses her cheek before directing her attention to Misty and the baby. "We need help with thinking of a name." He smiles. "And we know you're good at thinking of names." Clem's eyes sparkle at the bundle in Misty's arms.
Misty smiles at her niece and moves over so Ash can lay her on the bed. Clem hugs her aunt's arm. "Are you feeling better now, Auntie Misty?"
"Yes, I am, thanks to you, Clementine." the girl smiles at her aunt. "Do you want to hold him?" The bluenette nods and Misty helps her hold the baby. He just happens to wake up during the shift and opens his eyes, which finally gives everyone a chance to take in his eye color. Clementine's deep green eyes meet the baby's cerulean green ones.
After a few minutes of silence, the girl says, "Cam." The adults give her a questioning look, but she is still focused on the boy's green eyes. "It's short for Cameron." She smiles. "C for Clem. A for Ashy. And M for Misty." Clementine now looks up at her aunt and uncle. "Cam!"
Misty and Ash look at each other before smiling and nodding. "See! I knew you'd be the best person for the job!" Ash exclaims and kisses the little girl's forehead.
"Cameron Satoshi Ketchum." Misty thinks. "Hm. I like the sound of that." She grins.
"You're giving him my middle name?" Ash asks, surprised.
"Duh. When we have a girl, she gets mine."
The man blushes. "When?" he exclaims in fear and looks at his bandaged hand. "Can we wait until my hand heals before that happens?" The redhead rolls her eyes and turns her attention back to the bluenette and baby.
By the end of the day, Delia and Lily get to meet little Cam. Lily gushes over how adorable and small he is. Delia cries at becoming a grandmother, which makes Ash worried he'd have to pry his son from his mother. Ash and Misty videocall Daisy and Tracey who are very excited to meet him tomorrow when they arrive in Kanto. Delia, Lily, and Clementine have left for the gym and will be returning tomorrow as well as Gary, Leaf, and Professor Oak. Ash and Misty plan to call the rest of their friends tomorrow too.
"Why do you look more exhausted than me?" Misty teases her fiance. He is laying on the small couch in the room with his arm over his face.
"You got to nap most of the day." he tiredly says. Misty laughs as his feet are dangling over the armrest.
"I'm cold, Ash."
"You want another blanket?" He asks sitting up.
The redhead smiles at her sweet man. Despite being so exhausted, he still caters to her. "No. Just you." Ash gives her a confused look before seeing her scoot over on the bed. He then grins and walks over to lay down next to her.
"I love you, Mist."
Misty snuggles into his chest. "I love you too, Ash." He kisses her gently before they both drift to sleep.
Tune in for the last chapter and epilogue tomorrow!