I spend a couple hours at the lab attending to the Pokémon, then get dressed for the memorial service. On my way back to Delia's, I stop at the floral shop. And it's there that I find a Poké ball-shaped flower arrangement made of red and white roses – the perfect memorial for a Pokémon-obsessed boy. And on impulse I buy a single yellow rose and place it in the middle of the arrangement. Pikachu should have a memorial too.

Delia answers her door dressed in a plain black skirt with a matching sweater set. Black really isn't her best color – she looks so pale and tired. And despite the makeup, she still has huge dark circles under her eyes.

She gasps at the sight of the flower arrangement. "Oh, Samuel, it's beautiful. Ash would…" Her voice begins to quaver at the mention of her son's name. "He…would've loved it. That's so thoughtful of you – a Poké ball. And the yellow rose…that's for Pikachu, isn't it?"

I nod.

She sniffs the yellow rose in the center of the arrangement and smiles sadly. "I'm glad you're coming with me, Samuel. I…this…it's so hard…" She buries her face among the flowers so I can't see the tears rolling down her face. "No mother should ever have to bury their own son or daughter," she weeps. "No parent should outlive their own child."

I take her into my arms. "I know, Delia. I know," I whisper into her hair as a tear starts down my face.

Yes, Delia. I know.

---

Aboard the ship are several people. I offer my condolences to the Waterflower sisters and the Slate family – I've known them for quite some time. All of the Kanto Gym Leaders occasionally call me for advice on dealing with their Pokémon. All except for…

"Giovanni," Delia whispers as she moves closer to me, her face pale.

I didn't think she'd be this frightened of her ex-lover. Anger begins to rise in me – what did Giovanni do to her that would make her so scared of him? As he approaches us, I'm overcome by a strong protective instinct and draw Delia closer to me.

"Hello, Delia," he smiles at her. "It's been a while."

"Giovanni," she replies, trying to avoid eye contact.

"Why are you here?" Giovanni inquires.

"My son. He was one of the passengers," Delia replies, her voice shaky.

"My condolences," Giovanni replies with feigned interest. He glances at his watch. "I hope this doesn't take too long."

Both Giovanni and I are shocked by the outburst that follows.

"You don't care, do you, Giovanni?" screams Delia, her eyes blazing with anger. "Damn it, Giovanni, at least have the decency to mourn for your son!"

Giovanni stares at his ex-lover in horror. "What…what did you just say?"

"Ash was your son, Giovanni! Yours and mine! I was pregnant with him when I left you and Team Rocket!"

Giovanni looks as if he's ready to faint. "You…you were…?"

Delia looks ready to faint too. I place my arm around her waist and answer the question for her. "Yes, Giovanni, it's true."

I almost feel sorry for the man when I see the bewildered look in his eyes. "Why? Why didn't you tell me, Delia?"

My presence has rallied her strength. "Because I wanted to leave everything that had to do with Team Rocket behind when I left you," Delia replies in a firm voice. "I never told Ash that you were his father. And I was afraid that if you found out the truth, you would come after me and take Ash away."

"And now he's been taken away from both of us for good, hasn't he?" Giovanni replies angrily. He looks as if he wants to strike her, but I'll kill him if he even makes a move in Delia's direction. But he motions to his Persian and the two retreat to the far side of the deck.

Delia begins to shake, and I help her to a nearby deck chair. "Are you all right, Delia?"

"I'll be all right, Samuel," she smiles slightly.

"That was a pretty brave thing you did, confronting Giovanni like that." I give her hand a squeeze.

"He deserved it," she replies with an edge of bitterness in her voice. "But now…now he can't take Ash away from me ever again." She smiles with relief and her eyes close.

I stay by her side, holding her hand, while she rests. The confrontation with Giovanni has sapped what little strength she had. These last couple of days have been so hard on her, physically and mentally.

But don't worry, Delia, I promise as I lift her hand to my lips. You can lean on me.

The ship soon stops over the site where Ash and his friends now lie. The Waterflower sisters throw pink roses into the ocean, then the Slate family tosses in a variety of items, including a book, rocks, and a couple of stuffed animals. Delia stiffens next to me as Giovanni approaches the ship's railing. He tosses overboard an arrangement of flowers in the shape of the Team Rocket insignia, then mutters something in Italian as he drops an additional rose after it. And I wonder if that single rose was for Ash – that Giovanni was mourning the son he never knew.

But now, it's Delia's turn. I start to approach the railing with her, but she indicates that she wants to be alone. I watch as she carefully lets go of the Poké ball wreath. "'Bye baby. Sleep well, sweetie. I'll see you again someday soon." And as she sings one last lullaby to her child, she chokes up and can't continue. Tears flooding her eyes, she stumbles back to me. I take her into my arms and hold her tightly while her sobs and mine mingle with those of the others on board.

"Oh Ash…oh Ash, my baby…"

To be continued…