DISCLAIMER: Woo-hoo, last time I'm writing this! I don't own Pokemon!

A/N: This is the last chapter of seventeen! Kinda a small drama in here, and one kinda rude reference...if it's too rude for you, tell me with a review!

The man nodded, and Ash just kept on staring. He had been missing for twelve years, gone when Ash was only four.

But the face remained the same, the voice hadn't changed, and Ash and Dehlia, who had now come to with the help of a snifter, were in total and utter shellshock.

The rest of the crowd looked on as well, some of Ash's family vaguely recognising the man, but not quite sure as to who he was.

Misty had never met Ash's father, had never heard about him or what happened to him, and she was standing there, about to burst into tears, at the man who could very easily disrupt the whole wedding from his position.

"You're married, son?" he asked. Ash could only nod a reply, and walked closer to him. Dehlia, however, wasted no time and charged on up to the husband who had left her for twelve years.

"Michael, I told you not to go out there! I knew you weren't ready, you knew too, you just expected me to carry on supporting our son by myself?"

Her nice, motherly image was instantly shattered by the two shouted sentances. Michael? Misty thought. Such a simple name. Dehlia talked as though her husband had been gone for twelve hours, not twelve years.

Michael smiled at her though, obviously still very much in love with her. "Dehlia, you obviously did a fantastic job." He grinned at his wife and son, and wasted no time embracing his now estactic wife.

"I love you, I love you..." Dehlia whispered, now sobbing openly. It had hurt her so much the day he left. He was destined to be a master, he knew it. She didn't though, and every day he was gone was like stabbing another knife into her gut.

Ash still stood there, unable to believe it. "How could you be gone for twelve years, Dad? It doesn't make any sense." Misty thought so too, and was now also curious for answers.

"I've been very far away...in a place you've never heard of. I got lost one day and had no idea where I was going. I stayed with some distant relatives and was so ashamed to come back. But I'm back now, for good, and I will never leave you again" Michael promised.

Well that's fine and dandy, but, y'know, Ash is kinda moving to Cerulean with me...

Misty thought the words, but didn't dare speak them. Ash didn't deserve to have his reunion with his estranged father ruined.

"Hey Ash, I'm just gonna take a quick breather outside, okay?" Misty told him. Ash shook himself out of his shock to hear his wife's words.

"Um, sure Misty...come back soon..." His voice went distant, and Misty choked back a sob. What if he decided to stay in Pallet with his father?

She ran outside, avoiding the prickles in the grass as best she could in the dark. Then she collapsed by a tree and looked into the night sky.

It was pricked with stars, like someone had been sewing a dark blanket over the world and had made a few mistakes.

Misty wanted her father back too. But she knew it was impossible, considering he had been dead for the last ten years. Now that Ash's dad had returned, it opened a whole new world for them. Misty had a father-in-law. Ash had a father. Dehlia had a husband.

Ash had a whole family. Misty didn't.

"Why must you throw another difference between us?" Misty asked the sky. She drew her knees up to her chest, and glanced back at the brightly lit community hall they were having the reception.

People were leaving, she realised, and considered going back and saying thankyou.

She sighed again, got up, and brushed the minimal dirt off her dress. It wouldn't ruin the dress, but it was enough to make Misty worry.

"John, Paula...thankyou for coming" Misty said as she approached an aunty and uncle from her mother's side of the family.

"Oh it was no trouble, dear! Your mother would've been so proud of you" Paula exclaimed. Misty smiled, thanked them again, and continued like this for another forty minutes as people left. She got most of the same replies.

"You looked lovely, hun!"

"Wish your parents could've been here..." (like they were on vacation or something.)

"Keep that gym going, girl!" (someone who obviously didn't know about "the incident")

The last person left and Misty walked back into the hall to find Ash staring out the window. His parents had taken a back exit to discuss their future, and Ash was obviously thinking about his.

"Hi Ash" Misty approached him and sat beside him.

Ash looked up and smiled. "You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me" he said, taking Misty aback. That was pretty random for Ash, especially at this time.

"Ash...do you, um...do you want to go back to Pallet? I can shut the gym down or sell it, I just want you to be happy" Misty explained, for once not caring what her sisters or mother thought.

He stared at her with wide eyes. "Misty..."

"I know this isn't easy for you, and I've suddenly put all this pressure on you, it isn't fair...but it's your choice. You can go back. I'll come if you want me to" Misty said, holding back sobs.

Ash grinned at her. "The only place I want you to come with me is in bed."

"ASH!" Misty yelled, and then laughed. "Trust you..."

"I'm sorry, Misty...Dad shouldn't have just burst in like that. He's angry that I married you and won't listen about your situation. He wants me to go back to Pallet so he can teach me about Pokemon" Ash explained in a much more serious voice.

Misty gasped. Micheal seemed like a good man, he wouldn't want them to divorce or anything...

"Don't worry, Mist...I'm not gonna let him take me. I'm here with you, running the gym, and that's all I want. I don't want to go back, and he can't teach me anything about Pokemon. He doesn't know I came in the top three in the Indigo League, or that I've had six years experience in training. He can't make me go back, no one can, so don't worry, okay?" Ash said.

Misty's eyes started watering. "Ash, you're too good to me."

Ash smiled. "So, Mrs. Ketchum," Misty giggled at the name. "What do you say we hit the road? The bags are in the car, which is parked outside, the tickets are ready, and the plane is leaving in an hour."

Misty drew in a breath. "You mean...a...."

"Yup, a honeymoon. In beautiful Goldenrod City. You'll love it." Ash kissed her cheek and helped her up. Then he whispered, "Dad doesn't know we're going," and grinned.

"You little rascal" Misty rolled her eyes as they walked, arm in arm, towards the car. They got to the door, and Misty stopped.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked worridly.

"Ahem" Misty said, indicating the threshold. Ash laughed, picked her up, and carried her over it, Misty squealing all the way.

"I love you, Misty. Nothing will ever change that" he said.

Misty held on to him and delicatly kissed him. "I love you too. Thankyou for everything." Then Ash put her in the car, jumped into the driver's side, and started the ignition with his arm around Misty's shoulders. They both sat quietly, savouring each others presence.

Then they drove off into the direction of the airport, cans clattering behind their car with a "Just Married" sign glowing in the dark.

A/N: That's all folks! That's the conclusion in a very long, very sweet and fun story that I REALLY enjoyed writing! Please ask me any quessies you have on this story, because I'm going to be posting a chapter about this story for questions relating to the storyline. I've already had a couple of questions, but if you are confused about anything, just put it in your reviews or email me, kasumi_satoshi@hotmail.com Thankyou for reading one of my favourite stories!