Ash headed downstairs to the kitchen and found his apron-clad mother busy fixing blueberry pancakes.

"Oh honey," Delia said, her eyes moist with tears. "My little boy is all grown up now. I can't believe that you're getting married today."

"Don't worry, Mom," Ash said, giving his mother a comforting hug. Even though Delia was tall, her son now hovered a good four inches over her. "You've still got Sami to fuss over. It's Misty's turn to fuss over me now."

"Well, at least let me fix you breakfast one more time," Delia said, putting a huge stack of pancakes on her son's plate. "Would you like juice or milk with those?"

"Actually Mom, I think I'm gonna just have some tea today. My stomach's kind of upset." Ash settled himself at the table.

"Oh honey, I know you're nervous about today, but you need to…what on earth?" Delia's mouth dropped open at the sight of her daughter, who was covered from head-to-toe with black goo.

"Sorry, Mom," Sami apologized. "AJ and I were playing tag with Muk."

"Sorry, Delia," Professor Oak apologized as he appeared behind his daughter, holding an equally filthy Pikachu. "You know how carried away Muk gets sometimes. I was busy feeding Heracross and didn't see Muk slime Sami and AJ until it was too late."

"Samantha Oak, you get upstairs right this instant and get out of those filthy clothes!" Delia pointed in the direction of the stairs. "I'll be up to give you a bath in a minute."

Electra, who had been sitting at the table with Pikachu, hopped down, grabbed AJ by the ear, and dragged him in the direction of the stairs behind Sami.

"I swear, I think Sami gets filthier than you ever did, Ash," Delia said, untying her apron. "I just hope I can get the smell off of her before the wedding."

Both Ash and Professor Oak grinned with amusement as Delia disappeared upstairs.

"So how are you feeling, Ash?" Professor Oak asked as he washed the slime off of his hands and then proceeded to pour himself a cup of hot tea. "It's a big day for you today."

"My stomach's a little queasy, but not too bad," Ash replied, taking another sip of his Indigo Spice tea.

"Got the jitters, huh?" Professor Oak said with amusement. "I felt the same way on the morning your mother and I got married. I was so nervous that I was afraid I was going either throw up, pass out, or have a heart attack in the middle of the ceremony. And don't tell your mother this, but I had to have Tracey run back up here to the lab and sneak out one of the small oxygen bottles for me, I was so lightheaded."

Ash grinned. "Well, I'm not quite that nervous. At least not yet, anyway."

"You'll do fine, son. Misty is a wonderful girl. Just remember to say 'I do' when the minister tells you to and you'll be all right."

"Thanks, Dad," Ash smiled gratefully at his stepfather. "I'd better get going. They're going to start putting the roof on the gym today, and I wanted to make sure the construction crew does it right."

"You really should eat something, Ash," Professor Oak urged, pointing at the untouched stack of pancakes. "I'd hate for you to pass out in the middle of the ceremony. And I don't think you want Brock giving you mouth-to-mouth, do you?"

"Yeah, that would be pretty bad if Brock got to kiss the groom before the bride did." Ash grabbed the top pancake from the stack and stuffed it in his mouth. "Come on, Pikachu. Let's get going."

To be continued…