"Well, what do you think, Catnap?" Professor Oak asked as he got the Pokémon settled in a shady corner of the Pokémon preserve surrounding his lab.
"Catnap," it said happily as it reached up and began munching some berries from a nearby bush.
"Guess Catnap really does belong here," Delia said as she watched her Pokémon eat.
A rustling in the nearby woods made everyone turn.
"Snorlax," rumbled the huge black and white Pokémon as it stepped out of the forest. At the sight of Catnap, it sniffed it curiously then gave it a big hug.
"Looks like you don't have a thing to worry about, Delia," Professor Oak smiled as Snorlax picked some berries that were out of Catnap's reach and handed them to the smaller Pokémon. "I think Snorlax is going to take care of Catnap for you."
"It was nice having someone to look after again," Delia said wistfully as she watched Catnap eat the berries. "I've missed that ever since Ash left."
"Don't be sad, Delia," Professor Oak said as he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "There's still someone around here who needs to be taken care of."
"Oh, that's right!" Delia said as her face brightened. "You said Tracey wasn't feeling well. I'll go check on him and see if he needs anything."
"But I meant…" Professor Oak called out to her as he watched Delia scamper up the hill back to the house. "…me."
---
"Now you drink every bit of that medicine and then get some sleep," Delia ordered as she spoon-fed Tracey some stomach elixir and then put a cold cloth on his forehead.
"How are you feeling, Tracey?" Professor Oak asked as he came into the boy's bedroom. "Your stomach doesn't appear to be as distended as it was earlier."
"That's because everything that was in it is either now in the toilet or in the wastebasket," Tracey said weakly.
"Poor thing's been throwing up all day," Delia said sympathetically. "Tracey, if you feel like eating anything later, I'll make some broth for you."
"No food…no more food ever," Tracey moaned.
"Why don't we let Tracey get some rest?" Professor Oak suggested as he took Delia's arm.
"Let me know if you need anything, Tracey," Delia said as she and Professor Oak left and headed downstairs. "I hope he doesn't have anything serious like appendicitis or something. Maybe I'd better go back upstairs and sit with him for a little while."
"He'll be okay in a day or two, Delia," Professor Oak reassured her as he grabbed her arm. "He just has a bad case of overeating, that's all. Besides, I'm in more need of someone taking care of me right now."
Delia giggled as he pulled her into his arms.
Samuel then cursed under his breath as the videophone rang. "Hang on, I'll be right back."
"Hello?" he said as he picked up the receiver.
"Hi, Professor," Ash said. "Looks like Mom didn't get you any new clothes today."
"Hi, sweetie!" Delia said as she shoved Professor Oak aside. "How are you?"
"I'm okay, Mom," Ash replied. "Professor Oak, we just talked to Professor Elm and he's really interested in that baby Snorlax we sent you yesterday."
"He is?"
"Yeah. He said that after that lecture you gave at Celadon U. yesterday, he'd really like to talk to you. He wants you to give him a call."
"I'll do that, Ash. And thanks for the information."
"Oh, yeah. Did you know that Professor Elm has a shirt just like yours now? He said he found it in the trash can outside of…"
"Sorrygottago, Ash," Professor Oak said quickly as he hung up the phone and dialed Professor Elm's number.
"Why did you hang up so fast?" Delia asked, puzzled.
"Uh, because there's no time to lose in helping a colleague with his research," Professor Oak said hastily as Professor Elm appeared on the screen. "Hello, Robert, how are…" His voice trailed off at the sight of his young colleague dressed in a shirt that said "HOTT LUVR" and a pair of boxer shorts adorned with little red hearts.
"Uh, could you call back some other time, Professor?" Professor Elm said anxiously. "I'm kind of…"
"That looks just like the shirt I bought for you, Samuel," Delia said. "Where did you get that, Professor Elm?"
"Oh, I found it in the garbage can outside of the lecture hall at Celadon University. I guess Professor Oak didn't want it any more after his lecture."
Surprised, Delia turned to her companion, who was starting to sweat nervously. "I thought you said you liked the shirt I got you, Samuel."
"Okay, Rob, it's time for your physical," said a female voice off-screen.
"Are we interrupting something?" asked Professor Oak, who was trying to avoid Delia's glare.
Just then, Nurse Joy, dressed only in a lab coat, came into view behind Professor Elm.
"Hello, Nurse Joy," said a surprised Professor Oak.
Nurse Joy's face turned as red as her hair. "Uh, hi," she squeaked as she jumped behind Professor Elm.
Professor Oak's eyebrow's shot up. "Uh…since it looks like you two are in the middle of something, I'll make this quick. Ash called a few minutes ago to say that you were interested in getting some more information about Catnap."
"Uh, yes, after your lecture yesterday I wanted to talk to you, but Professor Hawthorn said you weren't feeling well and had already left. Anyway, I'd be interested in collaborating with you on your research about Catnap since the Pokémon was found in Johto."
"Certainly. Hang on just a second. I'll go fax over some of my notes and analytical data from yesterday," said Professor Oak as he went into the other room.
"I'm heading over to the fax machine now," Professor Elm said as he disappeared off-screen, leaving the two women alone to have a conversation.
"Are you and Professor Oak dating?" Nurse Joy asked Delia curiously.
"We have been seeing each other for a while," Delia replied.
"Could you answer me something?" Nurse Joy said in a low voice.
"If I can."
"When the two of you are…together, does he say things like how you make him hot like a Magmar or that you have legs like a Rapidash?"
"Oh, does Professor Elm say things like that, too?"
"Well, yes. I thought it was a little strange."
"Oh, don't worry about that. Samuel once told me that I had a nice pair of Jigglypuffs."
Nurse Joy giggled. "Oh no! Robert told me that I had a great pair of Milktanks!"
Delia started laughing. "I think all scientists must use the same pick-up lines. My favorite one was when Samuel told me that looking at me made him tingle all over like a Raichu's Thundershock."
"Rob told me that I made him harden like a Metapod," Nurse Joy whispered conspiratorially.
"That's nothing," Delia whispered back. "Once Samuel told me that I made him feel like he had an Onix in his…"
"Okay, I got it!" Professor Elm said triumphantly as he appeared on-screen again with the fax. At the same time, Professor Oak returned.
"Did you ladies have a nice conversation while we were busy?" Professor Oak asked.
"It was very…enlightening," Nurse Joy replied with a smile in Delia's direction.
"Anyway, I'll review the data you sent and get back with you later," Professor Elm said as he watched Nurse Joy head back to his bedroom. "Oh, and thanks for the shirt, by the way. It definitely gave Nurse Joy some ideas."
As the screen went black, Samuel, who was frantically trying to think of an excuse for ditching his new shirt, turned to face Delia.
"If you didn't like the shirt, why didn't you just say so, Samuel?" Delia asked.
"Well, it's just that you were so happy about the great bargain you got and I didn't want to disappoint you," he explained with a sheepish look in her direction.
"Then should I not buy you clothes anymore?" Delia said with a disappointed expression.
"Oh no, Delia," he reassured her as he took her in his arms. "I love having you take care of me. It's just that I'm not really the baggy shirt type. I did keep the pants, though."
"You did?"
"I figure that all they need is a belt and they'll be perfect…just like you," he smiled as he kissed her. "You know something," he said as he pressed her closer. "You make me feel as young as a Ponyta."
"Do I make you as hot as a Magmar?" Delia teased.
"Oh yes," he said with a naughty grin.
"And do you think I have a nice pair of Milktanks?"
"Milktan…where did you hear that one?"
A loud whoosh outside interrupted their snuggling. Racing outside, Samuel and Delia found Snorlax desperately trying to hang onto Catnap, who was in the middle of being sucked into a vacuum that was being operated by a blue-haired teenage boy and a red-haired teenage girl.
"We've got you now!" James said eagerly as he cranked up the vacuum's suction another notch.
"The Boss is gonna pay us big bucks for a rare Pokémon like dis one," said Meowth as he clung to the vacuum hose.
"Let Catnap go this instant!" Delia demanded angrily as she started running towards the Meowth-shaped balloon hovering overhead.
"Sorry Twerp's Mom, but we're in the middle of taking a Catnap," Jessie said as she helped Meowth hang onto the vacuum's wildly swinging hose.
"And we don't want to be disturbed," James added.
"So why don't the two of you blow on outta here?" Meowth said as he went over to the controls, flipped the reverse switch, and sent Catnap flying.
"Catnap!"
Snorlax ran underneath the falling Pokémon, and Catnap bounced off of its friend's enormous belly and landed safely on the ground. Meowth then aimed the hose in Delia's direction. As the blast of air knocked her off her feet, she tumbled backwards into Professor Oak, and the impact of her head colliding with his knocked both of them out.
As Team Rocket started laughing, Catnap went over to Delia and shook her shoulder. "Catnap?"
"Oh, don't worry about her," Jessie sneered. "She'll be all right. Meanwhile, you're coming with us."
As Jessie aimed the hose in the Pokémon's direction and hit the switch labeled "suction", Catnap stood up and faced down Team Rocket with an angry glare. "Catnaaaaaap!!!" Suddenly, the Pokémon's body was enveloped in a burst of white light.
"What th'?" James exclaimed as Catnap disappeared and a moment later a Snorlax appeared in its place.
"Uh-oh," said Meowth. "I don't think the vacuum can handle a Snorlax."
"Snorlax!" snarled the Pokémon formerly known as Catnap as it grabbed the vaccum's hose. With one hard tug, it pulled Team Rocket and their balloon crashing down to the ground.
"Yahhh!" screamed the trio in unison as the pair of Snorlaxes picked up the balloon and together sent it hurtling into space. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"
"Snorlax?" Delia mumbled as she opened her eyes and saw two huge black and white catlike Pokémon hovering over her.
"Oh, my aching head," muttered Professor Oak as he regained consciousness. Seeing two Snorlaxes standing over to him, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief. When he heard Delia moan next to him, he rolled over to check on her. "Delia? Are you all right?"
"Samuel, I think I must have a concussion or something. I'm seeing two Snorlaxes instead of one," Delia said as she sat up and rubbed the back of her head.
"Then I must have a concussion too, because I also see two Snorlaxes," Professor Oak said as he slowly sat up. He winced as he felt the bump on his forehead from where the back of Delia's head had collided with it.
"Snorlax!" said the paler of the two Pokémon happily as it picked up Delia and gave her a big hug.
"Snorlax, I love you too, but I'm getting squished," Delia said as she tried to wiggle out of its crushing embrace. "And I've got to find Catnap."
"You just did, Delia. Catnap evolved into a Snorlax while we were unconscious," Samuel told her as he slowly got to his feet. "When he saw Team Rocket threaten you, he evolved in order to protect you."
"Oh Catnap," Delia said as her eyes started to swim with tears of joy. "Thank you, sweetie! Thank you so much for saving me."
"Snorlax," the Pokémon sighed contentedly as its mommy hugged him back.
---
"Now you just lie there on the couch, and I'll bring you an ice pack for that nasty bump of yours," Delia said as she fluffed a pillow and placed it under Samuel's head.
"Delia, you got bumped on the head too," he protested as he got up and made her lie down on the couch instead. "I think you need to lie down and I'll get you some ice."
"Snorlax," said the huge Pokémon as its came into the living room carrying two ice packs. It handed one to Delia, then handed one to Professor Oak.
"Oh thanks, honey," Delia said as she put the ice pack on the back of her head. "Thanks for helping take care of Mommy and Professor Oak. Now why don't you go upstairs and see if Tracey's feeling any better?"
"Snorlax," the Pokémon nodded as it headed up the stairs.
"I think Tracey's going to be in for a surprise when he sees what Catnap looks like now," Samuel said as he sat down on the couch next to Delia.
"Even though he may be a big Snorlax now, he's always going to be my little baby Catnap," Delia sniffed. "It was nice having another baby to take care of again."
"Well, there may be a way for you to have someone to take care of again," Samuel said as he put the ice pack on his forehead.
Delia's eyes lit up. "Are…are you serious, Samuel?"
"Of course I am. I see how much you enjoy taking care of others."
"Oh thank you, sweetheart!" Delia cried happily as she flung her arms around him. "I'd love to have another baby! Although we should probably get married first."
Samuel's eyebrows shot up as he dropped the ice pack on his foot. "A baby? Married? Delia, wait a min…" He had been referring to himself.
But Delia was too caught up in her daydream to listen to him. "Oh, I can see it now…the two of us having a little baby of our own! It will be so cute, especially if he or she has your eyes."
"Delia, uh, I don't know about having another child at my age. I mean, I'm already a grandfather…"
"Oh, that won't be a problem. After all, I'm still young enough to have another child. Or two. Or three."
"Two? Three? Delia, I don't know if I'm going to be able to…"
"Although we probably should get started right away since my biological clock is ticking."
"Right away?"
"Yes. It may take a little bit longer for us to conceive since I'm older now than I was when I got pregnant with Ash, but I don't think you'll mind trying, will you?" She winked and nudged her still-shocked companion in the ribs.
"No, of course not, but that's not the…"
"Oh, I'm going to hurry home right now and get the rest of Ash's baby clothes out of the attic!" Delia said excitedly as she jumped up from the couch and headed out the door.
Samuel groaned and put the ice pack back on his head.
THE END