Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Once again, thank you to Scarred Dragonia and Rachel. You guys are great! I'm sorry this chapter has taken so long, but the truth is, I've been terribly depressed lately and just couldn't bring myself to type anything. Well, I'm still depressed but I'll do it anyway for you two, because you're just so sweet to me! Your reviews have helped me during this time, they really have! So this chapter is dedicated to you both. I hope it doesn't disappoint you.
Chapter 4: Concerns
"Hey, Ash, the goal is to hit the pins!" Brock teased. They were having their bowling party, and everyone was in a pretty good mood.
"Shut up, Brock! I'd like to see you do any better!" Ash retorted.
"Okay, then. I will," Brock said. He proceeded to get a strike.
"Show-off," Ash muttered under his breath. Everyone was doing better than he was. Gary was even on his way to bowling a perfect game!
But Ash was having fun anyway. He was a little nervous, though, when he let his mind wander back to the wedding and the baby and everything.
"Hey, let's play another game!" Gary cried when they were done.
"That's easy for you to say. You got a perfect score," Brock said, laughing.
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm good at everything! Come on, Brock; let's go pay for another game."
"Count me out for this one," Ash spoke up. He felt too nervous now to play more. He'd end up with all gutter balls.
"Why, Ash?" Brock asked. "It's not because of what I said, is it?"
"No, I just feel like sitting and thinking for a while."
Professor Oak looked concerned. "I think I'll sit this one out too, boys. You go ahead."
Gary shrugged. "Your loss. C'mon, Brock. I bet I can beat you easily!"
"You're on!"
Brock and Gary ran off noisily to pay for their game. Professor Oak walked over to Ash and sat next to him.
"Something bothering you, Ash?" he asked.
"Ash shrugged. "I dunno."
"Is it the wedding?"
"Kinda. I guess mostly it's the marriage, though," Ash said quietly.
"What worries you about it? Maybe if you tell me, I can help ease your mind."
"Well, it's just…um, I was wondering if…when you marry Mom, you won't, you know…uh, I'm not sure how to say this," Ash said, embarrassed.
"What, Ash? You can tell me anything. After all, I will be your stepfather after tomorrow," Professor Oak said.
"But that's just it!" Ash blurted out. "I mean, I don't have a problem with—oh, I don't know what I'm trying to say!"
Professor Oak hid a smile. "I think you're probably worried I'm going to be nicer to Gary, Daisy and the baby than to you, because you and I are not related by blood. Am I right?"
"No! Well, maybe a little bit. But, it's just…I'm not used to having a dad around. If you become my dad, I'll have to do whatever you say."
"Ash, it seems to me that you already do what I tell you, and you have since you started your Pokemon journey."
"Oh, yeah," Ash said. "I guess I do."
"I don't know if you know this, Ash, but for years I've thought of you as a son. It would mean a lot to me if you would let me be your father."
"Thanks, but I already have a father," Ash said.
Professor Oak looked confused. "But…your mother told me your father died years ago."
"He's still my father, though."
Professor Oak nodded. "How well do you remember him?"
"Well…actually, I don't remember him at all," Ash admitted.
"Not at all?" Professor Oak asked, surprised. "That's a little strange."
Ash shrugged. "I never really thought about him, I guess."
Professor Oak nodded again, seeming to understand. "So, Ash, what do you say? Will you give me a chance?"
"Okay, Professor. It's a deal."
"Hey, Ash, Grandpa, did you see that?" Gary cried, running over to them. "Brock got a seven-ten split, and then he actually managed to hit both pins to get a spare!"
"Wow, I wish I'd been watching," Ash said, disappointed.
"Well, come watch the rest of our game. We've got some turns left. I'm ahead. I've got all strikes so far."
"Just don't jinx yourself, Gary," Ash said, laughing. The two boys walked back over to where Brock was waiting, Gary explaining to Ash how to improve his game.
"I feel like such a loser! I got the lowest score of anyone!" Ash said. "I'll never improve!"
"Don't worry about it, Ash. You'll get the hang of it," Gary said. He was being unusually nice to Ash since his little outburst at the mall. Ash wasn't used to that. He thanked Gary anyway, though.
After everyone was finished bowling, Professor Oak gave them each a gift. Ash ripped open his present. "Whoa, it's some kind of pokeball! What kind is it?"
Gary looked over at the ball. "Oh, that's a—a master ball?! Those are really rare! Anyway, it captures whatever Pokemon you use it on, guaranteed!"
"Wow!" Ash cried.
"Use it wisely, Ash," said Professor Oak.
"I will! Thanks, Professor," said Ash.
Gary got a gold watch that had belonged to Professor Oak's father and grandfather.
"Wow," Ash said. "I've never seen that kind of watch before."
"It's called a pocket watch, Ash," said Brock. He had gotten a certificate for classes at the PokemonBreedingAcademy. "This is great! I've heard that the best Pokemon breeders went there!" he exclaimed.
The boys were going to give Professor Oak and Ash's mom their gifts tomorrow at the wedding. But Ash hadn't been expecting that he would get anything.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Professor Oak said. "I have something for you too, Pikachu." He held out a package. Pikachu took it and tore it open. Inside was a cap just like the one Ash wore. Pikachu was overjoyed. Ash put the hat on Pikachu, who then jumped up and down happily.
"But how?" Ash asked. "How were you able to get an official Pokemon League hat, Professor?"
"Oh, I have my ways," Professor Oak said mysteriously. Ash looked at Pikachu, whose hat had slipped down, covering the mouse's eyes. Ash laughed and fixed the cap.
"Well, we'd better be heading home," Professor Oak said. "It's getting late, and we have a big day ahead of us."
Well, that's it for now. Sorry if it sucks. Anyway, next time…the wedding! (Not a big deal to me, but then, I know what else is coming, and so I'm in a hurry to get to the later stuff! But the wedding is what you all coughbothcough want, right? So the wedding you shall have!)