Epilogue

"Love is like the wind, you can't see it but you can feel it," -Shane West, A Walk To Remember

--


One month later...

Tell me
Just what you want me to be
One kiss
And boom you're the only one for me
So please tell me why
 Don't you come around no more?
Cause right now I'm crying
Outside the door of your candy store


It just takes a little bit of this, a little bit of that
It started with a kiss
Now we're up to bat
A little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain
I'm telling you my babe
It's all in the game of ...


Misty stepped out of her car and walked up the driveway of her home through the pouring rain, groaning to herself in annoyance. She was cold and drenched, and as far as she knew, she was going home to an empty house. Lily was out doing God-knew-what and she no longer expected to see her fiancé waiting for her considering she did not have one anymore.

She had not seen or heard from Rudy ever since she had caught him in the act just over four weeks ago and quite frankly she was glad. She cancelled the wedding preparations and returned her dress within a couple of day's work.  Her sister had suggested that she keep the gown and just book the wedding preparations for a later date in case she were to become engaged again. But Misty had bluntly stated that if and when she prepared her next wedding it would be with a different person and therefore she did not want the left over arrangements from Rudy for when she married the right guy... and she had more than a slight an idea of who the right guy was.

Finally, she reached the relative warmth of her gym's lobby. She wished she had gone home to Ash, but as far as she knew, he was working late. She knew her boyfriend could make her feel warm even in a freezing blizzard. She looked at the mail and found only bills and junk letters, including one that proclaimed her credit card would be taken away if she did not pay the bills for the last three months.

Could this day get any better? she thought bitterly while dragging her feet up the stairway which led to her room.

A disgruntled sigh escaped Misty's lips and she ran her hands through her damp locks, only wanting to crawl into bed and sleep for the rest of the day. When she opened the door, her annoyance suddenly turned into happiness at the sight before her. A touched smile formed on her face upon seeing Ash standing there in the center of the floor. Scented candles filled the room with an enticing smell and warm glow. It was the perfect romantic setting with two champagne glasses set on her dresser and a pile of rose petals spewed out over her bed, making it plainly obvious on what he intended to indulge with her for their first time together.

"What's all of this?" she asked with a pleased smile while eyeing him quizzically. Ash returned the grin and moved over toward her while grabbing the two glasses of champagne off the dresser.

"I thought you might need a little warming up after getting stuck outside," he informed her simply. "Champagne?" He handed her a glass and they clinked them together before each taking a sip.

"You know..." Misty started after swallowing the bubbly liquid. "As sweet as you are, you are not very subtle when it comes to hinting sex," she stated bluntly and Ash bit his lip, slightly abashed as well as amused by her comment.

"Well, at least you're quick to catch on to the obvious," he replied impishly and she stared at him with a loving expression.

"I don't deserve you," she murmured tentatively. He set both of their glasses back down on the dresser before wrapping his strong arms around her waist and drawing her close to him.

"I should say the same thing to you," he remarked in the same tone, pressing his forehead against hers. Misty eyes met his once more before they were indulged into a soft kiss, a heartfelt gesture of their open declaration of love.

The two of them were slowly getting used to one another as a couple, trying their hardest to adapt to the gentle caresses and kisses that they would have never shared back when their feelings for the other one were locked in the confines of their own minds. But it wasn't hard, however. Although they had just started their relationship they already knew everything about one another and were very much in love. It wasn't how most new couples started out as, all nervous and barley knowing their partner.  But Ash and Misty both been preparing for this to happen for years and they were going to savor every minute of it.

Their kiss became more intense and the two of them fell back onto the bed, oblivious to everything but one another. Their lips continued to connect in a heated fusion while each of their tongues explored the depths of one another's mouth. The fervent kissing and hands roaming was enough to silently alert each of them of where they were leading up to.

Ash broke apart from her for a moment and stared deep into her eyes, a sense of seriousness within his own. "Are you sure about this?" he asked her, his pensive appearance and thoughtful expression showing that he truly needed her approval before taking the next step which would consummate their budding relationship.

With barley a beat of hesitation, Misty reached up and cradled his face gently in her hands, confirming her answer toward him in the process. "More sure about anything I have ever been in my life," she told him softly causing a small grin to form on his face.

She pulled him down once more, kissing him and un-tucking his shirt from his pants before drawing it over his head. Ash lay back against the pillows, tenderly running his hands up and down Misty's arms as she explored his chest. Slowly, each article of clothing was removed and discarded, spread around the room with enjoyment rather than haste.  They lay on the bed, intimately kissing and letting hands and lips discover new skin for a short period of time before their union began to complete. Their bodies moved together in perfect synchrony; molding into a display of unadulterated love. Proving together, that the most natural and instinctual act of love could be beautiful and essentially pleasing.

A profound sigh escaped Misty's lips once it was all over. She felt Ash roll off from on top and plop down beside her, his body glistening in sweat and breathing rampantly just like she was. They simply lay there for a minute, recovering, before turning towards one another and sharing an identical smile of contentment. She rested her head on his bare chest, feeling his heart beating erratically under her ear before they both drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
--


Love is
Whatever you make it to be
Sunshine
Instead of this cold lonely sea
So please baby try
And use me for what I'm good for
It ain't saying goodbye
It's knocking down the door of your candy store

It just takes a little bit of this, a little bit of that
It started with a kiss
Now we're up to bat
A little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain
I'm telling you my babe
It's all in the game of love
It's all in this game of love


You roll me
Control me
Console me
Please hold me
You guide me
Divide me
Into one

So please tell me why
Don't you come around no more?
Cause right now I'm dying
Outside the door of your loving store


One and a half years later...

The spring day was beautiful with its mild temperature, the sun shining brightly overhead with rays of hope and love beating down onto the land. Flowers were in every direction, white and pink roses mingled the soft green grass where the rows of chairs were set up on. Smiles were plastered on the guest's faces, tears streaming down some of the more emotional people who knew the bride and groom better and were aware of all they had been through.

Lily, Daisy, and Violet stood to the side all dressed in identical bridesmaid gowns. Brock, Tracey, and former rival, Gary, remained standing on the other side clad in the typical black tuxedos they were required to wear as groomsmen. Delia was seated in the front row, crying her eyes out next to Professor Oak. Daisy's five year old daughter, Chelsea held her empty basket in her hands, having all ready fulfilled her duty of flower girl, standing several feet away from her mother. Violet's four year old son, Jake, held out a pillow with two rings on it while the guests silently prayed that he did not drop either one of them.

Various friends and acquaintances from the past sat amongst the rows of chairs set up on the outside area of the church. Each and every one of them eager and delighted to watch the joining of Ash and Misty in holy matrimony.

Ash smiled down at Misty as she read her vows softly.  He had never seen her look more beautiful.  Her wedding dress was simple but elegant; it was a satin strapless gown that came down to the floor with flowers embodied on the trim.  Her hair was worn down and softly waved and her veil was pushed back so it no longer obscured her perfect face.   A single tear made its way down her porcelain cheek, and Ash reached over, wiping it away gingerly.  He couldn't believe he was marrying Misty. He never thought that she would allow him back into her life again, after the way they had fought that night. But from the instant he saw her return to him at the train station all of his prayers had been answered and he knew they were meant to be together, forever. He looked down at the rings, and thought about all of the times he'd dreamed of this moment. It was amazing how things had changed so much, and yet the love that he and Misty shared seemed to be untouched by time and distance.

But then again that was all a part of it, Ash thought after the final words of the ceremony had been spoken and their first kiss as a married couple had been shared. He smiled wistfully as he gazed down at his new wife's beaming face, taking her hand in his as they walked back down the aisle, ready to start the new journey they were about to embark upon as one.  His previous conclusion drifted back into his mind and he grinned again adding another part to his inward statement that summed up all him and Misty had been through.  All a part of that confusing game called love.

It just takes a little bit of this, a little bit of that
It started with a kiss
Now we're up to bat
A little bit of laughs, a little bit of pain
I'm telling you my babe
It's all in the game of love
It's all in this game of love
It's all in the game of love
Let's play the game of love

Roll me
Control me
Please hold me
I'm out here on my own

Fin.

--

A/N: Well, that's it.  Twelve whole chapters plus an epilogue and this is over. This last part did not take me as much work as this A/N did, wanted to have the perfect little closing for all of you people who have stuck around this whole time.  But I still hope this short little conclusion was up to everyone's expectations, I didn't want to make things too long and drawn out, just a short sweet ending to wrap everything up ;)   For all of you who've been wondering why exactly I chose this particular title, the song above should give you an answer.  The Game of Love by Santana feat. Michelle Branch.

And now for the inevitable  thank yous… Thanks to; cultnirvana, Charizard, Maia's Pen, sleepingsnorlax, Ze Cookie, AmberMyst, Grocko, Anysia, Aoi Senshi, Etherelemental, Spiraea Kozak, Alimoe =OD, rainastar, thundermousepikachu, Kit Kat, Uranasu, KawaiiCherryBlossom-aka-BWF, and everyone else who took the time to review, I couldn't have done it without all of your support, thank you so much everyone ;)

*sighs* In a way I'm happy and sad to see this story go. I've had so much fun writing it that I'm disappointed I'll no longer be able to work on it.  On the other hand, however, I'm glad that it's finally over with and that I'll now have the time to pursue new ideas.  It may be a little while before I start posting again, basically I'll probably have some one shots up eventually while I work on a new multi-chapter.  All in all, I'm satisfied with the way this story came out and overwhelmed with the amount of feedback I have received.

Again thank you to everybody.  Please keep a lookout to anything knew of mine and also feel free to e-mail or IM me any time you want if you have any fic questions or just simply want to chat.

Bye-bye for now! =)

-Rae