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Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, nor anything you recognize.
Author's Note: Follows the 'Monday' timeline…NOT the cannon. Therefore, expect a few changes.  See 'Monday' for the new timeline.  Besides, it's a good story!
Dedicated: To Chelle-sama, my dear Tsuin. Just keep repeating the mantra...'gomennasai' and we'll get through it.

The Best Man Alone

Ash Ketchum moved peanuts around the glossy bar-top with the most intense concentration he could muster, ignoring his glass of champagne. Around and around and maybe he wouldn't have to see the happy couple he'd raised his glass in toast to a few hours earlier. Misty and Brock. Brock and Misty. Together forever and forsaking all others. Ash wondered if it would be completely out of line for the best man to get drunk. Absolutely stinking drunk; probably not, even if the best man was desperately in love with the bride. In his mind, Ash capitalized those ideas: Best Man, Bride, Groom. Best-friends. He sighed and used the biggest peanut to knock the smallest peanut off the bar.

A hand caught the nut in mid-air. Ash glanced up sharply, though when he'd laid his head on the bar he had no idea, and caught a pair of bright blue eyes with his own. The eyes twinkled merrily before being closed. The hand tossed the captured nut into the air. Ash was forced to drag his attention away from the peanut chase he was conducting in order to connect the hand and the eyes to the smiling young blonde woman at his side eating his peanuts.

"You're looking very morose, Ash Ketchum." She stole the rest of his peanuts and grinned.

Ash tossed back his drink in one gulp. "God, please." He sighed. "I do not need to be hit on right now." He glanced in the mirror behind the bar only to catch sight of Misty and Brock dancing, cheek to cheek. He wanted to scream. Even the blonde was better than this torment. He motioned for another drink.

The blonde, however, had quirked an eyebrow at his empty glass. "You probably shouldn't be drinking." She told him earnestly.

"It's my best-friends' wedding." He told her, sipping his new glass. "I was the best man. I don't know of a better occasion to drink to."

"Don't you mean," She said, "that it's your best-friend's wedding and he married the girl you're desperately in love with?" He blinked at her and the blonde smiled gently. "You probably shouldn't be drinking." She repeated.

Ash blinked again. "Look, if you're trying to pick me up, Miss…"

"Molly." She broke in.

"Good golly," Ash muttered. "Miss Molly, if you're trying to pick me up I think I have to right to decide if I want to be drunk enough to accept."

Surprisingly, she giggled. "I don't think your Mother or my Father would be very happy about that. I'm Molly, Ash. Molly Hale."

"Professor Hale's daughter? Wow, Molly, I didn't even recognize you!" Ash shook his head. "I probably should have…in your dream world…" He trailed off, uncertain of what Molly remembered.

"It's not something you'd forget." The grin was back. "I'll forgive it under the special circumstances."

"Could you see your way clear to forgiving me for being a jerk just now?" Ash asked.

She waved one hand absently. "Already done. Besides, with the situation being what it is, it's kind of understandable."

Ash found himself smiling. "Yeah, I guess." A sudden thought struck him. "Molly? Not to be rude, or anything, but why are you here? I mean, I know Misty kept in touch a little, but…"

"I buy my pokemon from Brock." Molly told him. "In fact, my Vulpix is a descendant of his. He invited me on the principle that that makes us family." She made a face. "I think they invited everybody they've ever met is a more likely story." She gestured to the packed Roseate City Gym, which doubled as the reception hall.

"Yeah, it sure seems like it." Ash agreed. "I got to mail the invitations and tally the guest list."" He bit his lip. "I got to help with a lot of the wedding plans." He shifted his eyes to the bar-top again. For the space of a few minutes, he'd forgotten, caught up in talking to Molly; forgotten about what this day was, exactly.

"Should I twist the knife a little?" She asked wryly. "Let's get out of here." She leaned across the bar. "Can I get a couple of bottles of water, please?" The bartender slid them to her with a smile and a slight nod in Ash's direction. Molly grinned. "C'mon, Ash, let's go for a walk."

He slid off the barstool, more than willing to leave. One last glance over his shoulder showed him that Misty and Brock were still dancing, slowly, to a fast song. "Christ." He muttered roughly. Molly shoved a bottle of water into his hand.

"Drink. Alcohol dehydrates and so do intense emotions." She pushed open the door to the Junior Trainer fields and set off across them, heading for the swings that had been whimsically tied into the trees at the edge of the fields.

"Well thank you for that infomercial, Doctor Hale." Ash snorted, settling into a swing next to Molly and pushing off.

"It's 'Professor Hale' actually." She said, tipping back in the swing and gazing at the stars through the leaves.

Ash snorted into his bottle as he took a drink. "That's a crock. I'm only eighteen. That makes you all of what? Fifteen? You're not a professor." He pumped his legs, swinging higher.

"Well, I will be, one day. I'm already studying with my father." Ash glanced at her curiously and was met with another engaging grin. "The Unown."

Ash choked. "You nearly destroyed your whole town the last time." Molly giggled. "You're crazy!" Ash shook his head in awe.

"Maybe." Molly admitted, sitting up. "But I have a connection to them. And I was just a child last time; if I can contact them again I should be able to control things better." She tilted her head to the side. "And I'm sixteen as of yesterday."

"Oh, well, happy belated birthday to you, Soon-to-be Professor Hale." Ash raised his bottle in mock salute.

"Thank you." She deadpanned. Then she grinned again. "Seriously, we're taking a lot of precautions this time." She ticked points off on her fingers. "We're keeping the Ruins secured to authorized personnel only, we've tapped Sabrina's psychics to monitor the site, we're booking you to come and save us…"

Ash laughed. "I'll have to see if I'm available."

"Are you?" Molly asked. Ash started.

"Is this a come-on?" He asked blankly. It was weird was what it was, he decided.

"No." Molly shook her head. "Just a wondering what Ash Ketchum is going to do now that his work on the Roseate City Gym is finished."

"Oh." He settled back into his seat with a curious sense of disappointment in his stomach. "I'm not sure, actually. The League Games are coming up at the Indigo Plateau, but Gary Oak dropped out this year. His lead team has got some major injuries."

"Not the same without your 'unbeatable' foe, huh?" Molly sympathized. "Think you'll take Danny up on the offer to join the Orange Crew?"

"Nah." Ash sighed, swinging idly. "Danny and the rest of the Orange Crew are great and all, but I don't think I'm cut out for the Orange Islands." Ash did a double take. "How did you know about that offer?"

Molly shrugged lightly, matching the pace of her swing to his. "My Dad still talks to your Mom. And I'm interested in you, so I listen."

Ash nodded. "Yeah, Mom sure likes to brag about…" He stopped his swing suddenly as a light dawned. "…me." He snapped around to look at Molly.

She turned sideways on the swing to face him, drawing up one leg and folding her arms over her knee. "That was the come-on." She told him, seriously, resting her chin on her arms and gazing at him.

"I'm not even drunk." Ash said inanely, goggling at her.

"Should I go get you a beer?" Molly laughed softly.

"No. This part definitely requires sobriety." Ash passed one hand over his eyes. "Do you mind me asking why you…" he gestured expansively when he couldn't find words to frame her statement.

"Admitted that I have some feelings for you? Or why I chose one of the more painful days of your life to do it?" Molly studied him intently. "I suppose I could be philosophical and say that there are many rooms in the house of the heart and I'm hoping you'll open a door for me." Ash made a face and she smiled. "I could be condescending and say that what you feel for Misty is just a yearning for the unattainable girl." Molly's hand, warm though Ash's tuxedo jacket, stopped him from leaving. Her smile was gentle. "But honestly?"

"I'd prefer honesty after that blunt, forward attack." Ash told her.

"I believe in forward. Forward works for me." Molly's eyes twinkled. "And honestly, I'm not in love with you. But I like you, Ash Ketchum. I liked you before I came here today and I like you even more now."

"So," Ash stated, leaning back in the swing as Molly had done. "You're not ready to go roust the preacher from his bed to perform another ceremony?" He could see her grin, even behind closed eyes.

"That's right, though…once I think about it; it'd save us a ton of time and effort." She kick-started her swing again. "I mean, everything's already set up…"

Ash laughed. "Well, I'll go get the priest." He had the pleasure of listening to Molly chuckle beside him, a warm, soft sound in the night.

"I don't know if I like you enough to marry you. But I like you enough to want to try to have a relationship with you. When you're ready."

"So this is just a 'foot-in-the-door' thing, hmm?" Ash cocked his head. "That's a smart plan. Friends first and maybe we can test out the relationship waters."

"That's what I was hoping for." Molly confessed with a nod.

Ash stopped his swing, then reached out to stop hers. Leaning across the distance, he smiled directly into her eyes. "I'd like that." He said. He stood and offered Molly his hand. "C'mon, let's go back in. We can try dancing."