Chapter 34
Cerulean City
It has been a few weeks since Ash's funeral service, and Misty is starting to get comfortable at her new job. She makes sure to visit Mrs. Ketchum every weekend and during breaks from work. The redhead's sisters have also given her a lot of space as she mourns, but Misty is looking strong on the outside. No one can even tell how much pain the young woman is in; although, Mrs. Ketchum seems to see it.
As Misty is packing her bag Thursday night for when she heads to Pallet Town Friday after work, she grabs the picture frame on her nightstand. Yes, she has photos of just her and Ash, but this one with all of their friends is her favorite. Plus, the messages on the back are what have been helping her get through her toughest days. Misty opens the back of the frame and sighs as she reads them again.
Thanks for all your support, Misty! You're my first ever girl friend! If you ever need help with that dumbass you're dating, just let me know! xoxo -Leaf
The message makes Misty smile tearfully; she can almost hear a young Leaf saying this. Oh, how Misty misses the days when she could talk to Leaf about anything, especially topics on Ash. Tears fill her eyes, but she holds them back as she reads the next message.
'Sup, Red! Save this for when I become famous. Anyway, don't be too hard on Ashy Boy. He's a lil' slow. Smell ya later, Gary Motherfucking Oak
Misty smiles as she knows this is totally something young Gary would write. Of course he doesn't write anything about her, but she knows they were still good friends. She really misses these carefree days where all they had to worry about were college acceptances. Taking a deep shaky breath, Misty gets ready to read the last and most painful message:
Hey, Mist! Thank you for everything. Like coming to my games and supporting me and being my friend. Oh, and girlfriend. I love you and I hope we can be together forever. -Ash
Yeah, be together forever, but he was the one who broke them up a few months after writing this. She wipes the few tears that had escaped as she was reading his message, and she closes up the back of the frame. Gosh, she misses him. She should've never let him break up with her; she should've fought harder.
Misty flips the frame over, so she can see the picture. Her thumb rubs against Ash's face, but as she feels the tears welling up, she quickly puts the frame back on the nightstand. There have been enough tears over him, and she knows he wouldn't want anymore. Sniffling the last of her tears, Misty takes a deep breath before forcing a smile.
Pallet Town
Of course, Delia is still mourning, but Misty can tell the older woman feigns that she is okay. Since Misty isn't a good cook, Delia always prepares the meals while the redhead cleans. Misty hasn't found the courage to step into Ash's room, so she is happy Mrs. Ketchum keeps the door closed. A few days after the funeral, Professor Oak and Daisy Oak had helped Mrs. Ketchum clean up her son's room. Everything is still in there, but it's just tidied up more.
All the photos of Ash around the house really pains Misty, although she's sure they hurt and heal Mrs. Ketchum just as much. The two women usually engage in small talk whenever Misty visits, and Misty helps with any tasks she can. Sometimes, Mrs. Ketchum will teach the redhead a new dish to cook.
Since Misty's parents had died in a car accident when she was younger, Misty really looks up to Mrs. Ketchum as a mother figure. The older woman also sees Misty as a daughter she never had. Yes, Leaf would visit often as a child, but Leaf is more like a friend of Ash's because she would visit Ash. Now, Misty visits Delia, which the older woman appreciates. Mrs. Ketchum really looks forward to Misty's visits, and sometimes the Sketchits will come over, so she can dote on little Jacob.
As the two women are enjoying the dinner that Delia cooked, the brunette asks, "Did I ever tell you about Ash's father?"
Misty offers a soft smile and shakes her head. Over time, Delia has talked more and more about Ash, but she's never said anything about his father. The redhead has only heard about Ash's father from Ash and Tracey, and even then, they never said much.
"He left to travel the world." Delia sadly smiles at her plate. "So I know Ash got that habit from him."
"Yeah. He would always talk about traveling." Misty reminisces on her many conversations with Ash about his exploration desires.
Delia nods as she says, "After you two started dating, he told me he wouldn't be like his father. He'd never leave you, but that he'd only travel with you."
The redhead smiles sadly as she fights back her tears. That is something Ash would say. "Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum."
Delia smiles at the young woman. "You're the only girl he's ever loved. That's why I was surprised when he told me he broke up with you. But he never dated or saw anyone after you, so I know, Misty, that my Ash still loves you."
Whatever tears she was fighting back end up escaping while Misty tries to furiously wipe them away. "I know, Mrs. Ketchum. And I love him too." she manages out while getting a tight hug from the older woman.
"Ash would have wanted you to be happy, Misty. You don't need to keep coming here anymore. We both want you to live your life." sniffles Delia, but Misty shakes her head.
"No, Mrs. Ketchum, I want to be here. I want to remember Ash, and I want to spend time with you." She takes a shaky breath to calm herself down a bit. "I find comfort here."
Delia smiles tearfully at her. "Okay, sweetie. You're always welcomed here."
"Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum."
Goldenrod City
"Got everything?" Gary asks from the doorway of the bedroom he just gave to Leaf. Ava is currently in the living room watching TV.
The woman is standing in front of her nightstand with a framed picture in her hand. She had been standing there for a while, so Gary got concerned. His voice startles her as she turns her head to give him a weak smile. "Yup. Just gotta put this somewhere."
He knows what it is since he has the exact same one. "Same." he admits knowing his is still hidden in a drawer in his room.
Sighing, Leaf opens the drawer and places the photo in facedown before closing it. Gary doesn't say anything as he walks away to check on their daughter. Like Leaf, he's not ready to see that picture, much less Ash's face, every time he's in his room. He hasn't even fully read the letter he got from Ash.
As Gary sits down on the sofa, Ava moves next to him while looking into his eyes. "Are you okay, daddy?"
Sighing, Gary gives her a weak smile. "I will be."
"Uncle Silver says it's because you and mommy's friend went away." she sadly says.
Gary grabs her onto his lap while wrapping his arms around her and burying his nose in her hair. "Yeah."
She wraps her little arms around him tightly. "Mommy says it's okay to cry." Gary chuckles because he is getting advice from a 7 year old. "I hear mommy cry a lot, so you should cry too, daddy."
"I already cried enough, Ava."
He feels her squeeze him tightly, which makes him smile at his caring daughter. "I love you, daddy."
Gary kisses her head as he tells her, "I love you too, princess."
The two are startled when Leaf plops down on the couch next to them. "Bonding without me?" She teases her daughter who quickly leaves Gary's arms to hug her and kiss her cheek.
"I love you too, mommy! I love you the most!" She grins, which makes Leaf give the man a knowing look.
Gary just rolls his eyes while ruffling Ava's hair. "You'll become a daddy's girl." He winks.
Ava pouts at him as she pushes his hand away from her hair. "Leave my hair alone!"
The man grins at her cute reaction, and Leaf just shakes her head. "Okay, well, you need to go take a bath before bed." She tells her daughter who sighs.
"Okay, mommy." Ava then slips off the couch and leaves.
Leaf snickers once she hears the bathroom door shut. "I'm her favorite."
"Just give me a few more weeks, Greeny. I'll be her favorite."
"She's totally a mommy's girl."
"For now, but she won't stay one."
"Wanna bet?"
Gary raises an eyebrow at her while a smirk tugs on his lips. "Fine. We can check again on her birthday. Whoever isn't the favorite does all the cleaning from the party."
"Deal." Leaf smiles while shaking his hand.
Gary then turns the channel to the news, but it's about the war, so he quickly turns off the TV. He's not ready to think about this damn war. Leaf seems to be feeling the same way as they awkwardly sit next to each other. Eventually, Gary says, "Why'd you name her Ava Janet?"
Leaf smiles up at the ceiling as she thinks about the day Ava was born. "My grandmother always supported me and my dreams. Her name was Ava." Gary nods as he remembers the few times Leaf would talk about her grandmother who passed away when she was 8. "And I had to give Ava my last name, but I wanted her to have a little piece of her father, even if she didn't know it...so I gave her your mom's name."
"I didn't even know my mom though." He shrugs.
"Yeah, but I wasn't gonna give her your last name."
"What if I want her to have my last name?"
She looks at him now and their eyes lock. "Um. You'll need to earn it and then she can decide when she's older."
He nods with a faint smile. "Okay, Leaf. Thanks for thinking about me when you named her." The woman shrugs as she turns her attention to her lap.
Gary wouldn't let her pay any rent since he says he doesn't need the money. They have been living together for about 2 weeks now, which allowed Whitney to move in with Silver. Ava loves being under one roof with both of her parents, but she does miss Ethan a lot. Fortunately, the adults visit Silver's and the Kenta's apartment building on the weekends so that the two kids can play. As for Gary and Leaf, they're still pretty awkward around each other. They engage in small talk here and there, but it's usually about Ava. Other than that, they avoid each other.
"What happens when one of us starts dating?" Leaf asks him. She had agreed to move in with him in a spur of the moment vulnerable decision. Since Ava loved the idea, it was too late for Leaf to back out. Although, Leaf has been curious how dating would seem like for them.
Gary shrugs. "You know I don't date." Well, he is right about that. And she hasn't seen Gary hooking up with anyone while she's been staying with him. He goes to work and then comes straight home to Ava.
"I'm not looking to date either. I"m an uneducated single mother." She chuckles, but Gary gives her a frown.
"You're not uneducated, Leaf."
She gazes at him in confusion. "I only have a high school degree."
"Your education level doesn't mean you're uneducated."
"Tell that to employers." she groans while sinking into the couch cushions. "I always wanted to go to college."
"Then go."
"It's not that easy, Gary."
His intense gaze remains focused on her. "Why not? You have me to look after Ava, and if the whole college thing bothers you this much, you should go. There's online classes too, Leaf. You're smart. I know you can do it."
Hearing the honest compliment makes her face him again as her green eyes meet his determined dark viridian orbs. Soon, she finds herself inching towards him while he does the same. There's something about his eyes that make her just want a closer look. And those lips that middle school Leaf always wanted to touch.
"I'm done!" yells Ava as she runs into the living room in her pajamas. The two blushing adults backup to opposite sides of the couch while the little girl sits between them. "Hey! Who turned off my show?" She whines and grabs the remote.
Standing up quickly, Leaf excuses herself to her room where she needs to "finish setting things up" and Gary silently watches the cartoons on the TV.
His hand is on his face as he covers the deep blush he's trying to cool down. "What was that?" He thinks to himself. Leaf and him had made it clear that there's nothing between them as they're just co-parenting, but what was that? Does he still have a crush on her? No. It can't be. That crush ended when he felt like shit after sleeping with her. How can he crush on someone he hated sleeping with? Eventually, his face returns to its normal color as Ava snuggles next to him on the couch.