The following month, most of Pallet Town, along with many others from the surrounding area, gathered on the grounds of the Oak estate for a special event. Delia had wanted a garden ceremony, but the weather was just too cold; even now, the sky was overcast and tiny snowflakes were starting to fall. They had compromised by erecting a giant heated tent on the back lawn and filling it with all sorts of flowers from the greenhouse. The guests "oohed" and "ahhed" at the flowers as they took their seats inside the tent, where Samuel and Delia stood before the minister who would perform the ceremony. Both were visibly nervous. Delia gave the man who would soon be her husband a quick, shaky smile. He reached over and took her hand. It was just as cold and clammy as his own.

The minister opened his book and adjusted his glasses.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Delia and Samuel in holy matrimony. But before we begin the ceremony, this young man," he gestured in Ash's direction, "has asked if he could address the congregation."

Delia and Samuel exchanged confused glances.

"Ash, what are you doing?" Misty whispered.

"You'll see, Misty." Ash turned to face the audience.

"Um, first I want to thank everyone for coming out, especially with the weather being so cold and all. Uh…guess what I really want to say is that…." He took a deep breath. "That Professor Oak is my father. My real father."

There was a collective gasp from the congregation.

"It's true. Even though he and my mom couldn't be together until now, he tried really hard to be there for both of us. And I just wanted to say that I'm proud to be his son."

Delia looked like she was ready to cry. So did Professor Oak.

Ash went over to his parents and stood in front of them.

"Oh, Ash," Delia said as she hugged him, tears starting in her eyes. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, Ash," said Professor Oak in a voice choked with emotion as he held his hand out to his son. "That took a lot of courage."

Ash took his father's hand and grinned. "No problem….Dad."

As the three of them embraced, Misty, who was also crying, stood up and started clapping. Brock and Tracey immediately followed suit, then Gary, then the rest of the congregation gave them a standing ovation.

---

The wedding reception was in full swing. The bride and groom were in the middle of their fifth dance together when Samuel felt a tap on his shoulder.

"May I cut in?"

Delia smiled as her new partner took her hand. "Hello, Spencer."

"I've been trying to get a dance with you all night, but that husband of yours wouldn't let me get near you. You look absolutely beautiful, Delia," Spencer smiled as his eyes met hers.

"Thank you, Spencer," Delia blushed. "Where's your family?"

"Let's see." Spencer twirled Delia around the dance floor. "It looks like my wife is dancing with your husband, my daughter is dancing with your son, and my son is busy helping himself to his third slice of wedding cake."

"How is everyone doing?" Delia asked as she watched Ash dance with Molly.

"Just fine. Matter of fact, Elizabeth and I are going to have another baby."

"Oh, Spencer, that's wonderful!"

"Yep," Spencer said proudly. "In another five months there's going to be some more Hale to raise."

Delia laughed. "Spencer, that's the worst pun I've ever heard. And I thought Samuel's were bad."

"Yeah, that was pretty bad, wasn't it?" Spencer admitted. "Guess it goes along with growing old."

"Nonsense, Spencer. You look as handsome as ever."

"And you look as beautiful as ever, Delia. I'm glad to see you so happy."

As the music faded away, Delia looked into her partner's eyes and saw a mixture of both love and a hint of regret for what might have been. Taking her chin in his hand, Spencer leaned over and gently kissed Delia's cheek.

"Samuel is a very lucky man," he whispered enviously.

---

Later that evening, Delia and Samuel lay in bed together, the same bed where they had first made love many years ago. They were spending their wedding night at his place, then were leaving for a week-long honeymoon in the Orange Islands in the morning. Ash had initially been thrilled at the prospect of having the house to himself for a week, but was disappointed when his mother informed him that the house was now up for sale and that he'd be spending the time moving their things into Professor Oak's. Ash had at first been reluctant to move from the house he had spent his entire life in, and Delia had wanted to wait until Ash had left for college next fall before selling the house. However, when Professor Oak told Ash that he could have the apartment over the lab, Ash jumped at the idea of having a bachelor pad like Brock's. And the idea of being around lots of Pokémon wasn't so bad, either.

Delia was admiring the diamond-studded wedding band her husband had presented her with earlier that day.

"Like it?" he asked her.

"I love it. But I like this ring even better," she said, fingering her husband's plain gold wedding band.

She snuggled up against him and laid her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and slowly started stroking her hair. The effect was almost immediate. The warmth of the familiar embrace and the soothing motion of his hand against her hair made her yawn. She closed her eyes and started dozing off, lulled to sleep by the slow, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Delia, are you falling asleep?"

"Sorry, Samuel," she murmured. "It's been a long day."

"Now that's a switch," he said in an amused tone. "The young wife falling asleep on her wedding night while the old husband wants to make love."

He slowly moved his hands down her body. After eighteen years together, he knew exactly where and how she liked to be touched.

"Mmmm, Samuel," she purred. "Maybe I'm not as tired as I thought."

"Well then, let's get started on our honeymoon, Mrs. Oak."

After waiting for eighteen years for them to finally be together, he wasn't going to wait another minute more.

THE END