Disclaimer: Second verse, same as the first. I own nothing! Well, maybe a couple of characters, but they won't show up for a little while.
Thanks to the people who reviewed! There's no better incentive to write than a nice review, and the more the better! I can't describe how good it feels to know someone likes the things I write! I'm pretty unsure of myself, and I usually think my stories are bad, so it really helps to get reviews, and good ones at that! So thanks again to Scarred Dragonia and to Rachel! This chapter's for you!
Chapter 3: Party Time!
After the barbecue, Ash and his friends went back to his house with his mom.
"So, Mom, what do you want us to do in your wedding?" Ash asked.
"Well, you, Gary and Brock will be groomsmen. They're the male version of bridesmaids," she added, seeing the confused look on his face. "Gary will also be the best man."
"What? Gary? What about me?"
"I was just getting to that. Ash, I'd be honored if you would walk me down the aisle."
Ash didn't know what to say at first. "I'd love to, Mom!" he said finally. He hugged her.
"What about me, Mrs. Ketchum?" Misty asked.
"Well, as I said earlier, you will be a bridesmaid, along with Gary's cousin May, and Daisy will be the maid of honor. Little Molly Hale is going to be the flower girl, and Mr. Mime will be the ring bearer."
"Wow, this sounds pretty exciting after all," Ash said. "It should be fun!"
They planned for weeks, and Ash and his friends were sent on errands constantly. One day Misty told Ash and Brock to go to the store. She gave them a huge list.
"But this will take us hours!" Ash complained. "Can't you do it?"
"No!" Misty pulled him close and whispered to him. "We girls are having a bridal and baby shower for your mom, Ash. No boys allowed!"
"Fine, we're going!" Ash said. Girls had all the fun!
Misty watched Ash and Brock trudge off, then she went back into the house. "Okay, they're gone! Where's Mrs. Ketchum?"
May looked up from tying a ribbon on a gift. "She went over to Grandpa's for a little while, but she could be back any time, so we have to hurry!"
"Refreshments are done!" chimed Daisy as she walked out of the kitchen with a tray of cookies shaped like wedding cakes and baby bottles.
"Oh, how cute!" Misty and May said together.
"I swear, Daisy, you can do anything with an oven," May said. "I wish I could bake and cook half as well as you."
"Grandma taught me," Daisy said. Her face got sad. "She taught me so much! I really miss her!" She started to cry. May hugged her.
"It's all right, Daisy. I miss her too! But don't worry. Mrs. Ketchum is not going to replace our grandmother, and she doesn't want to. It's all right to be friends with Delia."
Daisy wiped her face. "You're right, as always, May. I do like Delia, and I want to be friends with her."
"Here she comes!" Misty called from the window. "Ready?"
"Surprise!" they yelled when Ash's mother came in the door.
"Oh, my!" Delia said. "You planned this all by yourselves?"
"Of course," said May. "We're very organized when we want to be. Now sit down and open your presents."
Daisy and May had gotten Delia some baby clothes, ones that were good for a boy or a girl, since nobody knew the baby's gender yet. Misty handed Mrs. Ketchum her gift next. It was a lacy cream-colored veil she'd made herself. It had nearly killed Misty being patient enough to finish it. She had asked Daisy to teach her to sew, and Daisy had helped her at some hard parts, but Misty had done most of it all on her own. She looked at Delia expectantly.
"Why, Misty, it's gorgeous! Did you make it?" Ash's mother asked. Misty nodded, blushing.
"It will go perfectly with my wedding dress. Thank you, Misty!" Delia said. "Thank you too, Daisy and May. You girls are wonderful!" She stood up. "We got gifts for all of you, too." She left the room for a minute, and then came back with three packages in her arms. She handed Misty hers first. Misty tore it open. She gasped.
"A set of Pokemon bride dolls! Where did you find them? Oh, thank you, Mrs. Ketchum!" Misty jumped up and hugged her.
Delia smiled. "Actually, it was Professor Oak who knew where to find some, but I was the one who had the idea in the first place. You like them?"
"I love them!" Misty looked at the dolls. There were five: a Clefairy, a Jigglypuff, a Chansey, a Jynx, and a Blissey, all in bridal gowns. Misty hugged them as she watched Delia hand a package to Daisy.
Daisy started ripping her present open. She gasped. "You didn't!" she cried, and then, "You did! Oh, I can't believe it!"
"What? What is it?" Misty asked, trying to see.
"What I've been wanting! The complete 'Emeril' set! [A.N. Once again, I don't own, so don't sue.] Look, it has a book of all his best recipes, and videos of the best shows! This is so cool!"
"Bam!" Daisy and May cried together, laughing. Misty didn't know what they were talking about. She thought they must be crazy.
May was given a necklace and earring set that was made of silver and turquoise. She immediately put the jewelry on, exclaiming over it. The girls thanked Delia, and then they had cookies and played games until the boys came back.
For Misty, it had been a great day.
The next day, Gary came over to see Ash. "Now, Ash, I didn't want to have anything to do with this wedding. I don't think my grandfather needs to get remarried. But I want him to be happy, so I'll do my part. I read that the guys usually have a bachelor party, and since the girls had their little party, we should have ours. But the problem is—"
"What's a bachelor party?" Ash interrupted.
"That's where the problem comes in. What guys usually do at bachelor parties, we're a little young for. Strip clubs don't let kids in."
"Strip clubs?!!"
Gary laughed. "Don't look so worried! Besides, my grandpa wouldn't go for that anyway. He doesn't approve of people going to strip clubs, which is why that's exactly where I'm going the minute I'm old enough. Some places let you in at eighteen, but you just can't drink. I'll take you with me, Ash. Oh, wait; you'd still be only seventeen for a couple of months. Oh, well. That's too bad. But anyway back to the original subject. What do you suggest we do for a party?"
"I don't know," Ash said, trying to think. "I suppose we could go bowling or something."
"Hmm, that sounds all right, I guess." Gary checked his wallet. "It's not too pricey, either. I don't think it'll break me."
Ash was surprised. "You're paying?"
"The best man is supposed to. I read it in a book."
"Well, I'll help," said Ash. "After all, I'll be there too."
"Great. How about we plan for Thursday?"
"Fine with me," Ash said, but he noticed Gary looked a little sad. "What's wrong?"
"I really wanted to go to a strip club! Hey, maybe we could hire one of those women to come to us."
"Let's not and say we did."
"Oh well. There's always 2008."
Ash laughed. "Gary, I still need to buy a present for my mom and your grandpa. I just remembered."
"I do, too. Wanna go to the mall with me?"
"Sure. Just let me go get Brock and my money."
The three boys walked through the mall, window-shopping.
"Oh, man, I can't think of anything to get," Ash groaned. "What do you think, Pikachu?"
"Pikachu pika pi!" Pikachu had spotted something. Ash followed Pikachu's pointing finger and saw a beautiful china tea set engraved and painted with roses and ivy. It was perfect! His mom and Professor Oak both liked tea, and he knew his mom loved roses.
"Oh, but Pikachu, look, it costs more than I have. We'll have to find something else," Ash said sadly. Then Gary came over and put some money into Ash's hand.
"Call it a loan if you want. I don't care. I've got more, plus a lot in the bank."
Ash stared at Gary. "How'd you suddenly get so much money?"
"It's from my folks. They go on vacation all the time, and they always send Daisy and me money. Like that's supposed to make up for never being there." He laughed bitterly. "I'm not sure I'd even recognize them if I saw them today."
"Wow," said Ash. "I didn't realize you had problems like that."
"Well, now you know. My own parents don't want me. I know it's wrong, Ash, but sometimes I hate them so much! They are so unbelievably selfish, sometimes…sometimes I wish they would just…die."
Ash couldn't believe his ears. How could anyone say that? On the other hand, he wouldn't be too happy if his mom did something like Gary's parents did. In the end he decided to say nothing.
"Come on, let's go pay for this," Gary said, changing the subject.