Chapter 10: Help In Healing

As Tracey slipped into a deeper sleep, he began dreaming. In his dreams he returned to a place that was very familiar to him. He was on the beach on Pinkin Island. This was one of his mother's favorite places when he was growing up and in a far off point of his mind he thought it strange that he was dreaming of this place. Until.

"Tracey."

He was sure he had heard someone calling to him but he was shocked when he turned and faced the source of the voice.

"Mom? What's going on here?"

"I just wanted to come to you so I could make sure that you're okay and the only way for me to do that is to come to you in your dreams. There's no need for you to be afraid."

"I guess I'm okay. I get a little better every day. It's been very hard on me to lose you when I hadn't spent as much time with you as I should have. I mean, I ran out on you and spent years without anyone knowing where I was. I guess there's just a lot of guilt there." Tracey admitted.

"Sweetheart, you don't need to feel guilty. You left because you were forced into that decision. I'm very proud of you for following your own dreams and I'm proud of the successful young man you've become. I'm just glad that I got to see you one last time before I let go of life. It meant a lot that the last thing I saw was the face of my first child."

"I miss you so much, Mom. I don't know what I'll do without you. It's like I always took for granted that you would always be there if I ever needed you." Tracey said with tears in his eyes.

"What you need to do is take advantage of the people around you who care about you. I've seen how much your friends have done for you since you got back. You have a very large support beam, honey, and you should use it to help you to heal. I know it won't be easy but eventually the scars will go away." Aurora said quietly.

"I will do that. I hope that this pain goes away soon. I'm not sure how much more of this I can take. This is the first time since you died that I haven't had a nightmare about it."

"I'll always miss all of you very much. Keep in touch with your father and your brother and sister. You'll all need each other if you're ever going to get through this. By the way, I like the Pokemon you found here. I think he's just adorable." Aurora noted, causing Tracey to smile.

"Thanks. I promise that I'll keep in touch with the family. I want to try and be a part of their lives again. I need them as much as they need me right now." Tracey promised.

"I know you will. I have to go now, darling. It's getting late and I need to be getting back. Remember that you can talk to me anytime you like and I can always hear you. So don't worry about me. I'm fine. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Mom." Tracey whispered sadly as Aurora disappeared into the distance.

* * * * *

When the first round matches were over, Carla decided that she needed to wake Tracey so that they could go upstairs and go to bed. She hated disturbing him but she knew it wasn't good for him to sleep on the couch all night so she reached down and gently shook Tracey's shoulder. Slowly, Tracey opened his eyes and blinked up at her.

"Who's winning the match?" Tracey asked sleepily.

"Hon, the matches are over. It's after midnight."

"Oh. I guess I must have dozed off."

"Yeah. You fell asleep about halfway through. I didn't want to wake you because you seemed very peaceful." Carla informed him.

"Thanks for letting me sleep. I really needed a nap. Right now though, I think we should go to bed."

"I know. Let's head up." Carla smiled as she held out her hand to help Tracey up off of the couch.

Once they were in their bedroom, Tracey helped Carla unmake the bed and then they both lay down and they spent a few minutes talking before bed like they usually did.

"If you don't mind my asking, what were you dreaming about earlier?" Carla asked.

"Well, I know this is going to sound strange for you to hear but I dreamed that I was talking to my mother. We were on the beach back home which was always her favorite place when I was growing up. She told me that I didn't need to feel guilty for leaving home all those years ago. She also told me that I should use the support beam that I have here to get through this time. Then." Tracey laughed a little as he remembered. "She told me that she thought Buddy was cute." At the sound of his name, the little Growlithe jumped up on the bed along with Marill and Venonat and curled up at Tracey's feet while Scyther flew over to his place at the end of the bed.

"I'll say that sounds like a pretty interesting dream. Did it help you find any closure on your mother's death?" Carla asked.

"Yeah, actually I think it did. At first it seemed a little strange but then it was sort of comforting to see Mom again and see that she seems to be at peace. She told me to talk to her anytime and she can hear me."

"Well I'm glad that you finally have some closure on your mother's death. Maybe now your nightmares will end too so you can get a good night's sleep. You've got a lot to catch up on."

"Yeah, I know. I just got through napping and I'm still sleepy. This is very comfortable right here lying beside you with all four of my Pokemon around me. It feels good to finally have some peace of mind and know that I won't be hounded by nightmares as soon as I close my eyes." Tracey said drowsily, his eyes drooping.

"Well, I'm tired too. Let's get some sleep. Goodnight." Carla whispered.

"Goodnight, sweetheart. I'll see you in the morning." Then Tracey closed his eyes and drifted back into a peaceful sleep.

Carla smiled when she noticed that Tracey dozed off again because she knew that for the first time in days he was going to be able to get a decent rest. Then she settled down next to him and fell asleep herself with her arm around the man she loved.

* * * * *

The next morning, Tracey awoke early and felt extremely rested. He had gotten the best night's sleep that he had in days. For a long moment, he sat there thinking with Carla sleeping next to him and all of his Pokemon around him. Then he remembered something that he had been meaning to do for days. He had purchased an engagement ring for Carla a couple of weeks ago and was going to give it to her the day that his father had called to tell him about his mother's illness. He was trying to decide when to give it to her. He decided that the perfect time would be when they finished breakfast.

"What are you thinking about? You seemed a world away just now." Carla's voice startled Tracey out of his thoughts as she woke.

"Oh, it's nothing really. My mind was just wandering a little bit. Did you sleep well last night?" Tracey asked, clearly changing the subject.

"Yeah. I take it you did too. You didn't move once all night."

"I'll put it to you this way. This morning I feel more rested than I've felt in days."

"Are you hungry? I smell something good coming from the kitchen." Carla asked.

"I'm starving. Why don't we go and see what Delia's whipping up for breakfast." Tracey suggested.

"That's a great idea."

Then Tracey and Carla walked hand in hand down into the dining room to see Professor Oak sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee and Delia was bringing a plate of sausage rolls in from the kitchen.

"So this is what smelled so good. This looks great." Tracey said.

"Yeah. We could smell it all the way upstairs." Carla agreed.

"Well thank you. I hope you enjoy it." Delia smiled as she poured them both some orange juice.

"So how were the Pokemon League matches last night?" Professor Oak asked as they were eating.

"Well, you'll have to ask Carla. I couldn't tell you."

"Why not."

"Because he fell asleep halfway through. The matches were really good. I think they have some really good competitors for the competitions tomorrow afternoon." Carla answered.

"Well, I don't know about the rest of you but I'm stuffed." Professor Oak said and got unanimous agreement.

"Okay, I'll help you clean up the dishes, Delia." Carla offered.

"No you won't."

"What?"

"I want you to both to stay here because I need to talk to you about something very important." Tracey said.

"Okay, what did you want to talk about?"

"Carla, over the past few days you have done nothing but care for me, worry about me and be there for me when I needed you. I don't think I could have made it through this if it hadn't been for you. Not only did it make me realize just how much I love you, but it also confirmed something that I decided I was going to do a couple of weeks ago." Tracey stopped for a moment and slid out of his chair and dropped to one knee before Carla who gasped and looked at Tracey in total shock. "Carla, will you be my wife? Will you marry me?"

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe this is happening. Of course I'll marry you!" Carla said as she threw herself into Tracey's arms and sent both of them tumbling backwards. Tracey sat up and placed the engagement ring on Carla's finger as Delia and Professor Oak looked on smiling, remembering this type of scene all too well.