Chapter Eight

Gary

It's the first Monday of the year when we have sunlight and for that, I'm feeling grateful this morning. I'm a true Pallet Town boy. I scoff internally and pour myself a cup of coffee as I settle down with the papers for the day, as Arcanine plays gleefully. I smile. Research has been coming along nicely, and if we continue at this pace, we might be looking at early qualification in the next month or two.

As I settle down, I begin to think about Leaf again.

I work with her every day, and I see her all the time. I've begun to notice things that never really caught my attention before. The way she wears a bun on her head that frames her face with a few strands of hair. Behind her tortoise shell glasses that she uses for work; her eyes are a deep beautiful green. It's been nearly two months since Ash's wedding and thinking about her is like a damned roller coaster in my head. Most of the time I'm around her, I'm terrified that I'll betray my feelings that will cause this particular volcano to erupt.

At first, I vehemently tried to deny it. Then, it started to feel wrong. Putting "Leaf" and "like" in the same sentence made me feel like some sort of criminal. Leaf is a friend. Just a friend who happens to be female. And yet, I can't get myself to unsee what I saw at Ash's wedding. Every day, I see her more as a woman, one that I desire, one that I want to be with, to share everything about my life with.

I'm about to start reading Leaf's final chapters when I hear her enter the lab. My first thought is that she's early. I quickly glance at the clock and note that it's 8 30.

I take in her pale appearance, her swollen eyes and her frazzled hair.

I swallow before finally finding the courage to ask her what's wrong.

She sighs deeply, and when she looks at me, I know something is really wrong.

"Damn, Leaf" I say, taking her in again, "Did something happen to you? Is everything okay? Are you and Henry…."

"Henry and I are fine." She says, and then pauses, "Maybe. I don't know. But that's not it."

She looks at me sadly.

"Did you know that your parents and my dad were in the same plane crash?" she says, almost in a whisper.

It hits me like a hurricane, as if a whole flood of bad memories came back to haunt. Of course, I know.

I nod slowly.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Honestly, I thought you knew," I say, and I see her rest against the table feeling dejected.

"I've never been the sort of person who doesn't talk about stuff."

"I know." I sigh deeply, as I sit down in the chair facing her.

We sit in silence for a long time.

"Do you…" she says, her voice rough, "Do you remember anything?"

I remember that day so clearly that I could narrate it as if it happened yesterday.

I could, of course, lie and tell her I don't remember anything. But a part of me, a very strong part, doesn't want to.

"Your dad and my parents were working on an important project together." I begin, and after a long pause, "on legendary Pokémon."

She looks at me in surprise, and I see her eyes slowly change from shock to understanding. When she doesn't say anything, I take it as a cue to continue.

"They were flying in a small, chartered plane, and we didn't think it would be risky." I continue, "At least Gramps didn't."

She nods.

"It was a Saturday," I say, "they figured that it would be the best time to fly, avoid the crowds and settle in so that they could start work that Monday. I remember that so clearly because I was pretty bummed out that your dad couldn't play football with me."

"My dad played football with you?" she asks,

"Well," I say, "Yeah, I'm not sure how much Hélène told you, but your dad and mine were pretty much inseparable. Grandma used to joke that they were twins."

For the first time all day, she gives me a watery smile.

"Daisy was actually babysitting you at our house, because your mum had driven them to the airport. You were bawling all morning and I was really pissed at you."

She raises an eyebrow, but then she sadly cocks her head to the side, and I'm reminded of how she looked exactly the same twenty years ago.

"I don't remember much of the rest of the day except that Daisy was trying to study and you kept asking her a lot of questions. It wasn't unusual for you to spend weekends at our house; especially when Hélène and Grandma got together and literally spent the whole day baking."

"When did you know?"

"At first when we didn't hear from them around dinner time, we weren't really worried. But we didn't hear anything a few hours later, Gramps was concerned. It wasn't like any of them not to inform us. But we didn't have Pokenav in those days, so we tried contacting the nearest lab in Sinnoh."

"Sinnoh?"

"Yes," he says, "turns out their plane had crashed as they were flying over the Mount Coronet range. Professor Rowan…" I say, and my voice breaks. I take a deep breath. "That is the only time that I have seen Professor Rowan break down and cry."

"Oh, Gary" she says, "Is that…" she gulps, "Is that why you went back?" she asks, in a whisper.

I find myself tearing up, "Yes," I say, "I wanted, needed to finish what they were working on. It helped me get closure. Sew up the loose ends."

I can't even look up to her, but I feel her hand on mine and she squeezes it. My heart goes on the overdrive, and I can feel my breathing get uneven. We lapse back into silence.

"And once you did, you didn't want to go back." She says, breaking my reverie.

I take a deep breath, "and the fact that Kenzo stole their research and published it."

"What?" she gasps, "How did..."

"He doesn't know that I know." I say, toying with my hands, anger building up inside, "I told Professor Rowan, who is already quite disgusted with Kenzo, and I told him I don't want to have anything to do with him anymore."

"Wow."

"I know." I say, "What a first-class git. How takes advantage of someone's death to pass off research as their own!"

"I'm sorry, Gary."

I look at her shocked, "Why are you sorry? I mean, this is as painful for you as it is for me."

"I…" she looks at her feet and shakes her head, "I don't really remember much of my dad, and while I would've loved to, it is what it is. But you were close to all of them, even my dad, and. the whole thing with Kenzo and working for him…and finding out what you did. Imagine how I'd feel if I found out you stole my dead father's research and acted like an asshole to me?"

I nod slowly.

She lets out a deep breath and stands up. "Thanks for telling me, Gary" she paces around before coming back and pulling me into a hug. For a moment, I can't tell if we're hugging, or if I'm holding on to her.

I pick a table by the apple tree for lunch. I usually eat with Leaf, but I figured she just needs some space to process what I've told her this morning. I take small bites of my sandwich, not really wanting to eat but willing myself to.

"Hey, Gary!" I hear a voice call and I look up in surprise.

"Dr. Willow?"

"Hey, come on," he says in his loud booming voice, "It's Steve to you! You're practically one of us now! Mind if I join you for lunch?"

"Of course not." I say, gesturing to seat opposite me, and Willow settles down with a lot of luggage.

"Moving?" I venture tentatively, as I absent-mindedly take a small bite of my sandwich.

"Funny you should ask." He says, and for a moment I'm afraid that I'll hear he and Prof. Juniper have broken up or something, but when I look at him, he's grinning.

"I've been given the go-ahead by the League to start a new unit."

"I'm listening."

"The new unit, we're calling it the Research Intelligence Unit, will look at how we use research to combat anti-Pokémon or anti-terrorist activities."

"Like Team Rocket?"

"Them, and a few others. We're not a substitute for the law enforcement, but more of working in tandem with labs and research and the police."

"That's damn amazing," I say, feeling excited for the first time.

"We're actually looking for people with training and research expertise." He says, Wait is he actually asking me….

"Oh," I say. "Wow. I mean…"

"Hey, why don't you come out tonight." He says, "I'm meeting with a few others who are in Unova."

"That sounds great." I say, feeling excitement and happiness rise inside me.

It's a typical pub; there are pool tables and a 90s jukebox. I order a beer and make my way towards Willow.

"Hey, Gary!" he says, "You made it." I nod and we click our bottles together.

Willow and a couple of his friends are playing pool, and they all regard me with a hint of amusement when introductions are made. We spend an hour playing, and I take a break by getting myself another beer.

When I return, a few others have joined in, and this time I notice two familiar faces.

"Hey, Oak" Trip says, smiling at me, "Age has been good to ya."

I roll my eyes. "I could say the same to you. What brings you to Unova?"

"Oh, you know," he says, wiggling his eyebrows, "stuff."

Trip's conversational skills remain unparalleled. Beside him, I regard the dark brown-haired man.

"Hey, Max" I say, "How's it going? It's been a while."

"I'd say," he laughs, and despite the fact that I know he was Leaf's boyfriend, I can't help warming up to him. Well, compared to Trip.

"So, what do ya think about this new thing that Willow's got going?" Trip asks, literally gulping his beer. And he calls me plebian.

"No clue," Max says, "Gary?"

"Don't know much," I reply, and they nod, "I guess that's what this is about? All I know is that it's some bridge between law enforcement and research."

"Huh," Trip says, "our very own secret services. Sounds exciting. I'm sure chicks will dig us then."

How did Leaf even think of fornicating with this man?

As soon as the thought hits me, I feel a huge sense of awkwardness. I mean Leaf has slept with both these guys. They know how she feels, how she is….

"Max, Trip!" Willow calls, gesturing us over, and I snap up. That is one distraction I needed.

We round up the group of men that Willow has teamed up for this pilot project. I'm not even sure if I'm going to do this, and I don't know why I'm here.

Excitement? Change in something I want to do?

Escape from Leaf?

Willow talks about the Unit, what he's been authorized to do by the League and while it does sound intriguing, I keep thinking of Leaf every time. What this unit will seem to do is hard work, a lot of complex work. It seems perfect for someone who's been a trainer and a researcher.

When the party breaks up, I find myself sitting with Willow as the few who are left continue a game of pool. Trip and Max have left, but mostly because I think they weren't interested to begin with anyway.

"So..." Willow asks, taking a sip of his whiskey, "What do you think?"

"I don't know what to think." I say honestly.

"I think you'd be perfect for it." He says

"Why?" I ask, although I knew why, I needed to hear it from him.

"Because, Gary," he says, "it's like this role was modelled after you. Not just with the research and training experience, but just how well you respond to crisis."

Wow. Thanks man.

"Remember the time you and Rowan protected Pokémon from Team Galactic? The research community talked about that for ages!"

"Yeah, well," I say, colour rising to my cheeks, "Anyone would've done that."

To my surprise, Willow laughs. "You've really changed into something else, Gary Oak."

Oh, well. I cringe.

Willow continues to smile brightly at me. "Well, this Unit will be working closely with the ARC at Unova. The chapter here is only just a pilot. If it goes well, they'll open centres in other regions."

I nod, not really knowing what to say.

"Anyway," he says, "how's the supervisor gig going?"

"Honestly?" I ask, "Leaf is great, but I'm…"

"Bored?" he grins.

"I am." I say with a sigh, "Look, it's not like Leaf's work is boring or not good enough, it's just that..."

"She doesn't really need supervising?" he asks

"Yeah, well..." I give him a tense smile and nod.

He chuckles, "I would know. The only exciting thing about it was falling in love with her of course."

He says it so casually, it punches my gut. It's literally what's happening to me.

Well, except that Leaf has a boyfriend. A pretty serious one at that.

"How did you do it?" I ask, in spite of myself.

"Why, got a thing for your researcher?" he jokes Well, what do you know…

I scoff instead. "I'm just curious, that's all."

"Of course," he says, "I'm just joking."

"Something about her, I guess." He says softly, and his voice is no longer light. He sounds serious. "We don't really choose who we fall in love with, Gary."

"I'll say." I laugh, taking in what this sentence means to me.

"It's all down to her pushing me to do better, her optimism, and how she cared so much when no one else seemed to." He puts his glass down, "As corny as this sounds, she challenges me, she makes me feel safe, and I can talk to her about anything, without thinking. Most importantly, she doesn't take any of my crap. She gives back as good as she got, that one." He pauses, "She's my best friend, Gary."

Who knew Willow could be such a sap?

"And, well," he says giving me his trademark grin, "the sex is really really great."

I cringe, but then laugh out loud. We sit in silence for a few more minutes before I realise that I need to head back.

"This was great, Steve." I say, "But I've got to head back."

He nods, "do think about this, Gary."

"I will."

I make my way back to the Lab, hoping to work for a few hours and distract myself from everything that's been happening around me.

But my plans are laid to waste when I discover Leaf sitting in the Lab, working. She looks up at me.

"Gary!" she exclaims, and looks happy(?) to see me, "Where've you been?" she asks

"Willow had a thing." I say, shrugging off my coat and picking up the print of the chapters I had to mark up.

"What thing?"

"This new proposal by the League called the Research Intelligence Unit." I say, "I think he's looking for people with training and research experience."

"You're so perfect for the job!" she says, and when I turn to look at her, she smiles widely at me.

I nod in silence and regard her. She looks better from the morning, but I notice faint bags under her eyes, despite her attempts to hide it behind her glasses. Leaf usually wears contact lenses, but I guess she switched to glasses because of the crying.

"Why are you here Leaf?" I say, "You should be resting. You don't have anything to do."

"I…" she begins, and then stands up and looks at me. "I just wanted to apologise."

"For what?"

"For surprising you about this. I mean, I hope I didn't bring back any painful memories for you Gary, that wasn't my…"

"Leaf," I say, "This will always be a painful thing."

She slumps her shoulders, dejected. "I know,"

"But that doesn't mean I'm not okay talking about it." I say, moving closer to her, but checking myself right in time. "I'm here to talk about it when you want."

"Thanks, Gary." She murmurs softly.

"A wise person once told me that it's the wonders of therapy." I smirk.

She laughs.

"Is Willow's new offer bothering you?"

Leaf still remains undefeated in her perspective on other things, it seems.

"I don't know." I say, "A hybrid between training and research? I'm still processing it."

She nods. "Well, I should head back. Get some sleep." She shrugs on her coat. "Oh, but Gary?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't be afraid."

"Of what?"

"To try it out."

With that, she waves and leaves the room.

Is that what the pit in my stomach is for?

I balance a fruit cake that I buy from the Ceylon Café on my right as I clutch the dozen bags Leaf gives me as presents for my pregnant sister. Something about fashionable maternity wear from Hélène's designer friend. What do I know; I'm both annoyed and happy to be carrying gifts for my sister. I manage to lift my hand to press the doorbell.

As I wait, I think of who I am still in awe at Daisy being pregnant; although I knew it was inevitable. Daisy has been family-oriented for as long as I can remember- right from babysitting as a teenager. What I feel nervous about is being an uncle. After Gramps, Daisy has been the closest family that I have. While we definitely are closer in these months than we were before, I've always had problems opening up.

I want to change that.

Daisy opens the door, and she looks radiant. She laughs loudly when she sees my situation and sways to let me inside.

"That's a lot of stuff."

"I just got you cake; the rest is from Leaf and Hélène."

"oooh!" she clasps her hands excitedly, "Are these Madeleine Vincent's new maternity collection?"

"I dunno- I guess?"

"You guess!" she shrieks, "These will look amazing! But let's have dinner first yeah? I'm starving." She looks pointedly at the cake. I roll my eyes.

"I'm pregnant!" she exclaims, "I'm eating for two! Maybe three."

"Three?"

"You never know." She smirks

"Really, Daisy?" I ask

She takes the cake from me and sets it down on the table. Daisy's really done it up this time. When I said I'd like to come over for dinner, it didn't expect a feast enough for 10 people.

"We're going to eat all of this?" I ask, but my stomach chooses that very moment to grumble and Daisy snorts.

"I think your stomach thinks otherwise." She laughs

"Where's Hans?"

"Working." She says, as she settles down at the table and gesturing me to do the same, "wanted us to have some quality sibling time. I've made Greek today."

"Yum." I say as I settle down and pour myself a glass of wine and some soda for Daisy. Greek food is my favourite. Daisy must have remembered that. A feeling of warmth spreads through me as I see all the dishes, she's made for me. Spanakopita, Moussaka, Hummus and a fresh salad with lots of feta. Feeling overwhelmed with gratitude, I say "I'm glad we do this." suddenly.

Daisy first looks up at me, surprised, but then smiles. "I'm glad too. It reminds that I don't feel too lonely, and I have a loony brother around."

"You feel lonely?" I ask, surprised. Daisy and Hans are the most social people I know.

"I mean, sure, we have loads of friends here in Unova and I have company." She says, filling up her plate. "But I do feel lonely because they're not...family."

I nod.

"Anyway," she says, popping a piece of zucchini in her mouth, "What's been up with you?"

"Same old. Supervise Leaf. Work on my papers." I say, as I stuff my face with a huge bite of the spanakopita.

"Gary- how boring!" she exclaims, "You need to date."

I ignore her comment and continue, "Plus Willow's offered me a position in this new-"

"Oh my god!" she exclaims, even louder this time, "You're on the Research Intelligence Unit?"

"Well," I say, a little confused as to how she knows, "I'm still processing it, and wait- how do you know?"

"Gramps and Hans." She replies promptly, "But, that's beside the point- are you taking it?"

"I dunno."

"It's a big deal, you know" she says, serving herself a helping of the moussaka. "Could you pass me some salad?"

As I pass the bowl over to her, I look at her, register the knowing look she has on her face and shrug.

"What's holding you back?" she asks, breaking a few moments' of tense silence.

"I'm…I'm trying to figure that out." I say, as I reach out to serve myself some moussaka.

"Well," she says, grinning, "for what my opinion's worth, it's a really great opportunity, Gary."

"Why do you think so?"

She looks up in surprise and gives me the biggest smirk that it reminds me of my own. Well, now I can actually believe that we are, in fact, siblings.

"Because you'll be perfect for it. Just think about it," she says, swaying her fork in a dangerous fashion, but then putting it down and taking a huge piece of baklava, "you're the best concoction of trainer and researcher anyone's going to get."

I eye her piece of baklava and she glares it me. "Don't jubge," she says, between bites.

I snort. "The idea does kind of excite me."

"See!" she says, throwing her hands up, crumbling baklava pieces be damned, "and you're so good in crisis situations."

"Funny," I reply, "That's what Willow said as well."

"Brilliant people think alike."

I snort again.

"What's really holding you back?"

"I just feel…I dunno."

"Well," she says, taking another piece of baklava, I choose to hide my smile looking away. "Think about it. A lot. Because it's definitely something you should be exploring."

I reach out for a piece of baklava myself. As I take a bite and relish the combination of pistachios, honey and butter, I see why Daisy loves these. Why we love these.

It was our mother's favourite.

Daisy made these specifically for me.

I look at her as I pop another in my mouth.

"I will."

"Now," she says, holding her hands as if in restraint from picking up another. "Have you put those new pair of loafers I got you to any use?"

I groan as I remember the pair, she had gotten me when I told her I was moving to Unova, and she tried to encourage me to go out more and meet women.

"Oh, come on, Gary." She says, "You've really got to move past the whole Misty thing—"

"How do you know?" I interrupt

"I'm your sister, of course I know."

"The truth, Daisy."

"Okay, fine. Gramps told me."

"How does he know?"

"It involves Ash somehow- maybe that's how he knows."

"Ugh."

"Anyway," she continues, "It's really high time you did. I mean, even Leaf's gotten a boyfriend –"

"Yeah, that's the problem." I say, so automatically, that I don't even think.

The atmosphere in the room changes so drastically, that Daisy literally drops her fork on to her plate and gasps at me.

"What?" she whispers.

"I…umm" I take a deep breath and lean back on the chair, looking at the ceiling. I want to hit myself on the head.

But then there's no denying how I feel. After battling it for these past two months, I'm left with just one answer.

I like Leaf. Like that. Like how a man likes a woman.

I think I might be falling in love with her.

"Wow." She says, leaning back in her chair. "Wow."

"I know."

"Since when?"

"I'm still figuring my feelings-"

"Not what I asked," she glowers at me, "Spill."

"Ash's wedding."

"Oh, wow." She says, louder this time as she realises the significance.

"I know."

"The dress did it eh," she chuckles, "I often wondered how the whole of the Unova male population would stare at her at her while my own brother seemed the most oblivious. Seems like you're no longer the exception."

We sit in silence for a while as I process what's just happened. I've realised that I'm falling in love with Leaf. She's probably falling in love with Henry. Daisy knows everything about it.

"You know," she smiles, and I find her face has softened and her eyes are a bit teary-eyed. "Mum always thought you two would end up together. Sew up the Oaks and the Greens after all those generations of friendships."

"Daisy," I say before she continues on her emotional monologue, "what part of she has a boyfriend do you not remember?"

She nods. "I just thought you never would see her that way. I mean, after all these years, where you guys practically talk all the time. I gave up on you."

"You gave up?" I say, slightly amused, "on me and Leaf? Didn't know you shipped us, Daisy." I give her a weak smile.

But all she gives me a tight smile. She studies my face for a few minutes before speaking, "You're in love with her, aren't you?" she says softly.

Way to go, Daisy. Thanks.

"I…" I begin, and stare at my hands.

"That's why you don't want Willow's offer."

"How is that related?"

"Oh, Gary!" she shouts, "I'm a doctor and your sister. You're in love with her, but she's dating someone else, you want to move on, but you don't want to let her go because you've just realised what you feel."

"What?"

"You're holding on to her!" she says, "Gosh, Gary, you're so thick. Have you ever seen the way you guys talk?"

"Well, no- "I shout back, "and technically I can't because I'm in the conversation."

She ignores me. "It's like there's no filter between the two of you. I have never seen two people so open with each other. It's…it's quite endearing. Is there anything you haven't shared with her?"

After this week, literally nothing. Well, except the fact that I might be in love with her.

"Not really." I say, "Daisy, I just don't know, okay? I'm still sorting out my feelings, and I know I've got to move on."

"Oh, Gary"

"Seriously," I say, "It looks like I have a penchant for women who are already in love with other people. I can't make the same mistake."

"Gary, please- "

"Seriously, Daisy" I say, "Look at Henry. He's a doctor. He's perfect. He's intelligent. He's everything that Leaf wants."

"You don't know what she wants."

"Well, if she doesn't want him then why is she dating him?" I shout, and it works. It snaps Daisy out of her shouting match, and it hits me hard.

We sit in silence for a long time, only shaken of our reverie when Hans walks into the room.

"Hey, sweetheart, Gar—" he greets, "I thought I heard raised voices. Whoa, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Daisy says, in a tired voice, "We were just remembering something sad."

I see Hans move to comfortingly rub Daisy's shoulder. I feel a pang of loneliness.

"Oh," he says, understandingly. "Well, why don't I get out some of the ice cream?"

"I'd like that." I say and give Daisy a forced smile. She returns it with a sad one of her own.

While Hans is busy digging the fridge, she gets up slowly, and looks at me sadly. "I'm sorry, Gary."

I've got to call Willow and tell him that I'm interested in working for the Research Intelligence Unit.