Hey guys and happy holidays! It didn't take me two years this time _ things are finally getting to the climax and this story will be finished soon Im so glad I've stuck with this story throughout the years knowing there are people still reading.

If you aren't following the plot line the next chapter will be an update explaining how we got to chapter 24 and tying up a few loose ends before the story ends. We'll get more into that at the end of the chapter for now I hope you enjoy!

It has come to my attention that my PM messages aren't working if you need to personally send me a message email me tanajai.mitchell at(@) yahoo. com (it won't post in default format)

If you re-read this: yes Professor I do send your request to the email above and I'll be in contact.

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN POKÉMON

The only sound in the room was Ash's ragged breathing, no one dared to move unsure of how to proceed with the new information. Everyone shook with restrained anger and disbelief.

Ash buried his head back into his knees when no one responded.

Patience was the first to break the silence, swallowing thickly before asking Ash in a shaky voice,

"W-what did you just say?"

Ash whimpered, taking in short panicked pants.

"Please,"

He managed to looked at them with big watery eyes,

"Don't make me say it again."

His face crumpled as tears cascaded down his cheeks, he scrubbed his face trying to get rid of the tears as broken sobs escaped from between his clenched lips. Everyone's heart broke as they watched months (to their knowledge) of pent up emotions pour out from the boy in front of them.

The group looked to Delia to comfort him, they were all just as distraught and lost as he was. Wanting nothing more than to surround Ash with love, they waited for Delia to make a move knowing it wasn't the best idea now understanding the reasons behind his reactions.

Delia didn't hesitate to approach her son and scoop him into her lap like she used to when he was younger. Ash let out an embarrassed squeak when he realized what she had done but he couldn't bring himself to pull away from her when she wrapped her arms around him tightly and began to weep into his hair. Her tears sent Ash back into distress as he locked his arms around his mom and put his face into her shoulder.

They sat holding on to one another for dear life. One scared of what was going to happen, the other angry for not noticing what had been happening.

The others in the room followed Chuck upstairs to give the two some privacy and to work out some of their own frustrations with the situation. The group sat in a circle all still trying to process the information. How could they have missed something so horrible going on right in front of their eyes.

The mood was somber everyone sharing looks, they needed more information before they decided to act but that would have to wait. The group decided right then and there they would be there for each other no matter how hard they were pushing away.

They wiped their eyes and waited with bated breath, linking hands they comforted one another waiting for the duo to give an okay. They had to be strong for Ash because he had been strong for them for far too long.

~Downstairs Duo~

Ten minutes had passed before either one of them had composed themselves, Delia had stopped crying and was rocking Ash back and forth carding her hands through his hair. Ash's sobs had calmed down to sniffles although he was still trembling unsure how to proceed now that the proverbial cat was out of the bag.

Delia let out a heavy sigh and gently coaxed Ash to look at her, she couldn't help the tears that gathered when their eyes met. Ash looked terrified and to young to know the hurt that overflowed from his amber gaze.

Delia cupped his cheeks delicately attempting to wipe the flowing tears from them futilely. Ash was gnawing on his lip nervously trying to slow his tears unused to the feather light touches and lack of anger.

Delia was the first to break the silence, her voice laced with sadness.

"Ash you know I would never think differently of you no matter what has happened, I want to help you baby so so much," she had to take a breath, voice crackling with emotion.

"You should never have ever hidden something like this from me, somebody hurt you in a way that nobody ever deserves to be hurt in. I know you've gone on big adventures and even faced death more than once because of your passion for Pokémon,"

Ash looked a bit bashful at her mentions of his recklessness but knew she wasn't finished,

"But ultimately you're still a child, if another person is taking advantage of you and you're getting hurt it IS NOT alright. It IS OKAY to ask for help."

She let a few tears slip quivering as she continued wiping his,

"PLEASE! Please…tell me who's hurting you!"

Ash shattered at the raw desperation in her voice coming to an abrupt decision he pulled away from her and walked a few paces away, Delia sprung up ready to chase him but stopped as he began to speak in a gravely whisper.

"I'll tell you…but I can't look at you,"

Ash wrapped his arms around himself back still to his mother trembling as he continued,

"I want to tell you so much that it hurts but I'm so s-sc-ared," Delia's heart ached wanting to reach out to him but she waited in gut wrenching anticipation for him to continue, "I-i told you that this person has been hu-hurting me but I never said for how long…" Delia froze at the implication he made a ball of dread building in her stomach, "I'm scared to tell you who it is because it could destroy you or make you hate me like HE does."

A lump formed in her throat uneasy with the building tension in the room, she noticed Ash had begun to speak clearer and his shaking had almost completely stopped. She went to interrupt him but he cut her off turning towards her slowly. Delia stiffened, all the light was drained from his eyes. She couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle her anguished sobs as tears bursted from her sockets uncontrollably with his next words,

"If you hate me I guess I'll just finish the job for the both of you, I can't live like this anymore. I just want to die knowing I may never escape HIS grasp, knowing I cause you so much suffering and forced you to live a lie."

Delia couldn't keep herself in the chair anymore and violently latched herself onto her sons broken form, begging for him to tell her who. She spouted broken reassurances that she would never hate or abandon him no matter who it was.

Ash's lifeless gaze latched onto her hysterical one and he uttered a single sentence that shrouded the entire room in pin-drop silence. "D-dad has been r-r-raping me since I was S-six…"

Delia's gaze went blank as her grip tightened around Ash, she stared at him with glazed over eyes mouth gaping trying to process the information given to her. Ash tilted his head to the side, doll like eyes firmly attached to her own dead gaze.

"I-I can show you," he whispered brokenly,

He brought his hands to the side of his mothers face and pressed their foreheads together never breaking eye contact.

Delia made a strangled gasping sound horrified at witnessing the atrocities committed against her son, but braced herself for the inevitable confrontation of sugar coated lies she told herself over the years.

A bright light blinded her and she instinctively closed her eyes until it died down, when she opened them she found herself surrounded by black, there was no light and no one was around.

She called out hoping to elicit a response to no avail. Delia took a few tentative steps forward before running into a solid mass, she looked down seeing nothing in front of her but felt the outline of a love seat. She groped her way to the front of the couch and unsteadily took a seat on one side unsure of what would happen.

A loud click startled her out of her musings as a floating bright screen lit up the area in front of her, she took the chance to observe her surroundings and let out a tiny scream when she noticed her son sitting next to her emotionlessly staring at the blank white screen.

Delia took a calming breath and turned back to the screen, she grabbed Ash's hand and intertwined their fingers together. With fire in her gaze she murmured fiercely,

"Show me HIS lies…"

~ANNND SCENE~

Im trying to save our boy I swear, it's getting better but I feel like I owe an explanation before we continue on about exactly what has been going on from the first chapter to tie it into this point.

I have not forgotten about team rocket that card is still on the table and it's a lot more going on that I feel like I alluded to but didn't expand on.

If there are any question feel free to ask before I post the next chapter And I'll address them all accordingly.

On to reviews!

Mimi- OMGEEGLES HIIIII! I've missed you too I'm sorry I've been so distant everything's been so hectic and would love to catch up with you we've been at this for about 7 years now, jeezus I feel old lol. I'm pretty sure you can get your fics back up just gotta go back and reread it I swear the first version of this story is cringe it just takes a little bit of time to refocus on what you want to write. I'm glad my writing seems more articulate you guys give me so much motivation to keep writing and come up with new content. I'm doing my best mental health wise I'm touched you care I feel the love 333, I'll be in contact soon.

Twice4Life- if you made it this far, I understand that Pikachu is male in the cannon version of Pokémon but the gender change was necessary for the plot of this story.

Stay tuned in for the next chapter I hope you guys have a fantastical Morning/Day/Night or whenever you're reading this.

ChibiT 3