Chapter Two

Waking up in a new home was incredible, like realizing you owned some amazing thing you could never afford before. Lily woke up, awed, and looked around at the two Eevees still cuddled up with her. She had always been alone. Now, it seemed, if she stayed here, she wouldn't have to be alone anymore.

Evie soon stirred too. "Hi! Good morning!" she greeted.

"Good morning," Lily slowly said. "Are all days like this?"

"The good ones!" Evie said happily.

Evan nodded as he woke up as well. "So far, all days here have been good," he said. "Radley and Kalin told us things go wrong a lot, but it's been really peaceful since we came."

"We're good luck!" Evie said. "That's what Radley says."

"Good luck," Lily slowly repeated.

"It's just a coincidence," Evan said. "But it's a nice thought anyway."

Lily looked thoughtful. "It is," she mused. "I've never been good luck for someone before."

Kalin and Radley were waking up now too. Kalin looked over, blinking sleepily at the Eevees as they chatted with each other. Of course, he could only hear varying chirps and trills and "Eevee-vee!" But it was obvious they understood each other. It was a very cute sight.

Next to him, Radley also stirred. He chuckled at the sound of the Eevee conversation. "Well, they seem to be getting along just great," he said, pleased.

"That's good," Kalin said. "I wonder if Pokemon ever get jealous."

"I'm sure some do, but let's hope we won't have a problem like that," Radley said. "Evie always loves to make friends. She doesn't seem to have a jealous bone in her body. I'm not sure she could even process the concept."

"I'm not sure either," Kalin said. "It's refreshing to see, honestly."

"Eevees seem to take the best of humanity's potential and forget about the worst," Radley said. "They're completely pure and innocent."

"You're really nuts about them," Kalin said. He smirked a bit. "But I am too."

"I don't know how anyone could not love them," Radley said. "I know some don't, and I always think they must really be curmudgeons." He smirked too.

Evie leaped onto the bed and started nuzzling him. He laughed, petting her.

Evan soon followed suit to do the same with Kalin. Lily hung back, tail swishing, not sure she was ready for a cuddle session yet. The awkwardness in her stance and expression were obvious.

Radley smiled kindly at her. "It's okay," he said. "You don't need to feel obligated to do this. I know we don't know each other well yet."

Lily perked up at that. "Eevee!"

"I wonder if she will ever want to," Kalin said. Evan had started being affectionate right away, even though he had been quiet and reserved.

"We'll see," Radley said. "Maybe Lily is just not so comfortable with that in general. That's okay too."

"Eevee . . ." Lily slowly got on the bed but laid down near Radley instead of climbing on him as Evie was doing.

Radley gently reached out, petting her head and then her back. "You want to share in this, don't you?" he mused. "But at the same time it's something you're so unused to."

"Eevee," Lily agreed with a nod.

"We'll work it out," Radley promised.

Kalin had to smile. Radley was kind and patient.

"You couldn't have ended up with anyone better," he said to Lily.

Lily smiled a bit. She was definitely coming to believe that.

Radley petted her and Evie and Evan for a while, until the call of hunger became too strong to ignore. "I'm gonna make breakfast," he said. "You wanna come?"

All the Eevees chorused in the affirmative and he chuckled, getting up. "Let's see about it then."

Kalin smiled as they followed him into the kitchen. The Eevees all hopped up to sit at the table and watched as Radley made blueberry pancakes. This idea was met with great approval and many happy calls of "Eeveeee!" When the food was ready, they all ate blissfully. The humans did as well.

The Bunch came by for their morning ride after breakfast. Scotch brought Isla, and he set her down to run around with her friends. "So, how's Lily today?" he eagerly asked.

Radley smiled. "She's great," he said sincerely. "I think she's going to fit in fine."

"I knew she would!" Scotch declared. "Uncle Robert's going to be at the diner as usual, so he'll watch over the Eevees while we're on patrol."

"Cool," Radley said. "Lily hasn't met him yet."

"She'll like him too!" Scotch said.

Lily tilted her head and warbled questioningly. Scotch petted her. "Uncle Robert lives with us," he said. "He was Isla's original owner! They really love each other."

"Yes, I'm so happy to have them both! Good morning!" Isla greeted. "How is it so far?"

"It's wonderful," Lily said in some surprise at that fact. "But it feels too good to be true."

"It's true!" Evie chirped. "Radley really is this amazing!"

"You're all pretty amazing too," Lily said.

Evan smiled.

"I hope Lily will handle the morning patrol okay," Radley said.

"She loves being with the other Eevees, so I'm sure it'll be fine," Billy said.

First the group went on a short ride around town, an abbreviated version of their morning run since Lily was still getting used to the motorcycle. Evie especially called out encouragement, loving the ride as always and raising her front paws into the air. Radley laughed.

By the time they arrived back at the diner, all four Eevees were eager to get down and play. When they were set on the floor, they started scampering around in delight, filled with energy from the ride. The breakfast customers oohed and ahhed over them and the arrival of another ball of fluff. Robert greeted them all and held Isla as she leaped on him in joy.

"Okay, we have to go on morning patrol now," Radley told the Eevees. "We'll be back soon." He petted both Evie and Lily as they came over to him.

"Why do you have to go?" Lily asked with a frown. She was still getting used to having a person. Having him leave already was not pleasing to her.

Radley stroked her soft ruff. "It's just routine, making sure everything is running right in town and that no unsavory characters are trying to get in," he said in response to her questioning warble. "We protect the town, so it's something we need to do. It usually doesn't take long."

Evie rubbed him. Lily still wasn't sure she was ready for that, but she did nuzzle his hand.

He and the others soon headed out, confident that their beloved animals would be safe. Robert was there, and the town loved them too and enjoyed helping to look after them during patrols.

"He really seems like he understands me," Lily said in amazement. She sat in the front window, watching them ride out.

"He's like that with all of us!" Evie said happily as she hopped up to observe too.

"They're all good at it by now," Evan added.

"It's delightful being with all of them," Isla said. "Patrol doesn't take long. Let's play while we wait!"

Lily wasn't opposed to that, and soon they were romping and rolling across the floor. Upstairs, downstairs, they engaged in Chase and Tag and Hide-and-Seek, while Robert and the customers watched in amusement. It was as good or better than planned entertainment, and they soaked it all up. The Eevees, who loved positive attention, were happy to provide more of it.

"Why do all these people love me?" Lily sincerely wondered when they paused to rest. "They don't know me."

"They think we're cute and adorable and funny," Isla said. "They can't get enough!"

Lily stared off at the opposite wall. "I wish I'd found this place before," she said softly.

"Where were you before?" Evan wondered. "Were you around here?"

"I've been all over," Lily said.

"Have you ever been to Galar? That's my original home," Isla offered.

"I haven't been there. I've been to Kanto," Lily said. "Hoenn too."

"Are they nice?" Evie asked.

"They're really beautiful," Lily said. "But . . . I love it here best." She looked around at the diner and the cooing patrons. "It feels like home."

"That's because it is!" Evie chirped. "It will always be your home now!"

Lily smiled. She hoped so.

It wasn't long and Radley and the others came back in. "Hi there!" he greeted all the Eevees. "Have you been having fun?"

Evie warbled happily and rubbed him. Lily chirped. Evan and Isla said Hello as well and snuggled their respective owners.

"They've been adorable as always," Robert said. "Lily fits in like she's been here a long time."

"Good," Radley smiled. "I hoped it would be like that for her."

"Eevee!" she said.

The rest of the day was nice as well. Radley and the Bunch stayed close and she began to learn all about video games and joysticks and karaoke parties and other fun and wonderful things. The others were all too happy to teach her.

Dinnertime was fun. The diner picked up in activity and Radley and the Bunch served many of the townspeople. By the time they settled in for their own food, they had worked up appetites and were surrounded by friends in the town. The Eevees ate at the tables with them, on special plates sized for them.

"This is really nice, isn't it?!" Evie exclaimed as she ate.

"It's so different to be so wanted," Lily said softly. "This is really every day?"

"Yeah!" Evie beamed.

Evan nodded. "I could hardly believe it either, when I first came. My first night, I sat up to the table at home with Evie and Kalin and Radley. And they've always let me since."

Lily stared at them. "They're amazing."

"They are!" Evie gushed. "So loving and kind!"

The Bunch wanted an impromptu mini concert after dinner, to which Radley happily complied. But when they got deeper into it, he looked appalled when Scotch called out a request.

"Radley, sing Mack the Knife!"

"Are you kidding? That's a horrible song," Radley scoffed.

"Well . . . the lyrics, yeah," Scotch said. "But you like how catchy it is!"

Some of the Bunch chorused agreement.

"And you like Smooth Criminal," Scotch added.

"Yeah, but Smooth Criminal is serious instead of cheeky," Radley pointed out. "Plus it leaves things up in the air as to whether the girl really got killed or not."

"It's still about a crook!" Scotch said.

Radley sighed and shook his head, but took the microphone on its stand. "Okay, one time," he said. "But you'd better record this. It's the only time you'll ever hear me do it."

Scotch grinned and held up his phone.

Radley was nothing if not professional. He sang out, dancing with the microphone and swinging the stand from side to side. He put his heart and soul into the song, which told a gruesome story of a serial killer at large. The Bunch clearly focused more on Radley's voice and mannerisms and the tune than they did the lyrics, and when Radley brought it to a rousing close, they whooped and hollered.

"Why do they like a song like that?" Lily wondered.

"Because Radley is singing so good!" Evie squealed. That was the most important criteria to her.

"It's awful anyway," Lily said. "Radley is so nice. I don't want to hear him sing something bad."

Radley definitely wanted to get the taste of it out of his mouth, so he immediately launched into Smooth Criminal and then The Man in the Mirror. The Bunch was delighted.

Evie led the Eevees in dancing to the catchy tunes. Several people in the audience cheered and began to take pictures and videos of the adorable sight.

Scotch grinned and got up to dance too. "This is totally going to go viral!" he exclaimed.

He was right. Someone posted the video to YouTube and within a couple of hours, the views had skyrocketed.

Radley stared at the page when Scotch showed it to him as they were cleaning up the diner before going home. "If anyone didn't know about our Eevees before, they sure do now," he said. "I hope the wrong people won't hear about them. There's probably other shady characters who could cause trouble, not just Team Rocket."

"What kind of people?" Kalin frowned.

"Pokemon hunters, people who want the Pokemon no matter what they have to do and don't care if the Pokemon doesn't want to come with them," Radley said. "Overzealous Trainers who might try to catch any Pokemon not attached to a Pokeball, even if they've clearly chosen a person. . . ."

"You could use one of mine for Lily!" Scotch said. "Professor Hawkins brought Isla's old Pokeball. She still won't go in it, but it's still registered to her and my uncle!"

Radley nodded thoughtfully. "It's good Isla is still registered." He looked to Lily, who was sitting at a table and listening intently to the conversation. "Are you ready to take that step, Lily? Will you be registered to a Pokeball of mine?"

Lily swished her tail. "Eevee . . ."

"I know it's a big decision," Radley said. "You don't have to answer right now. But maybe you wanna be thinking about it?"

"Vee!" Lily nodded.

"Why wouldn't you want to just go ahead?!" Evie exclaimed. "You know you want to be here with us!"

"I know, but . . . I've always been alone," Lily said softly. "It's still hard to really wrap my mind around being wanted forever. I keep expecting the other shoe to drop."

"It's okay to go slowly," Evan said. "Radley understands. He probably wouldn't have even asked already if it wasn't that he wondered if you'll be in any danger of being taken away."

Lily swished her tail more vigorously. "I don't want to be taken away. . . ."

"There's probably really no danger of that," Evan said. "It's just a precaution in case."

"Just let me know any time you change your mind," Radley said to Lily.

Scotch nodded. "You can take a Pokeball just in case! I'll bring it tonight."

Radley had to smile. "Okay. Thanks a lot, Scotch."

"You'll never find anyone better!" Evie said.

Lily tilted her head. "I don't want anyone else," she said. "But . . . I just want to be sure . . . he'll really keep wanting me. . . ."

"I first met him when he was a kid!" Evie reminded, trying to be helpful. "He loved me all through the years, even after Team Rocket took me away and he didn't know if he'd ever see me again!"

"That's amazing," Lily said softly.

"You should let him make you his!" Evie said. "You'll be safe if any mean people try to take you . . . well, people who aren't TeamRocket, and you'll be with the best owner ever!" She wagged her tail with wild enthusiasm.

Lily looked to Evan. "You settled in right away too, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Evan said. "But you're not me. You should do what's right for you."

Lily looked back to Radley. Everything her new friends said seemed to be true. She had seen how different Radley was when he had first defended her against his mean cook, and he had continued to show that kindness in every way since. She didn't want anyone else; she wanted Radley. She would take that leap of faith that this happiness would continue.

"Eevee!" she exclaimed, leaping at his arms. "I want to be yours. Please make me yours. Don't ever let me go."

Radley exclaimed in surprise and caught her, holding her close as she nestled against him. "You want this, pretty girl?" He smiled. "I promise I'll be good to you, just like I am to the others."

"Vee!" Lily nodded.

"Yay!" Evie exclaimed, and danced and twirled in bliss.

Evan and Isla smiled, also happy with this development.

"Then it looks like I'll need that Pokeball right away, Scotch," Radley smiled.

"I'll get it as soon as we get home!" Scotch promised.

"We'll also need to get you a collar and nametag," Radley said. "You'll look very fashionable."

"Eevee," Lily said, snuggling against him in bliss. This was all she had ever wanted. Maybe it was a dream or maybe it was real. Maybe she would regret taking the chance. But she was going to trust that she would not. Radley was her Prince Charming and this was her fairy tale happily ever after. This, however, was a beginning, not an ending. She would face the new future with hope.