Author's note: Dedicated to Maia. I know you've been having some trouble with your health, but I didn't catch that until after I reviewed your last chapter of WYB. Please be well, We'll be hoping for the best result possible!

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Chapter 3: "The jazz"

The fact that he was driving the slowest he could was so he wouldn't draw attention, in part. Also, Conversation with Misty appeared to be so fulfilling he was trying to make the drive as long as it was possible. The Pewter Gym was about half an hour away, at that rate, and he tried not to smirk whenever he got to a red light.

She was looking out the window. The silence was always short and it was filled with some other topic that came up. Misty smiled, as she saw the stores slide by her view. "And when she woke up, I was the first thing she saw, so she thinks I'm her mother. Ash had to give Togepi to me"

"And you've never trained it?"

"No! It's just a baby!" She replied.

Gary eyed the egg pokemon sleeping in her arms and raised an eyebrow. "You say you've had her for almost three years?"

Misty nodded and he smirked. "Yeah, It's not a baby anymore, it's just spoiled". Mentally trying to bite back a comment about spoiled eggs, he tilted his head. "And if you are going to train it, better start now, It's probably the best time for learning."

She eyed her pokemon lovingly. She decided to try to train her in self defence, but no more. After all, she never meant to battle with Togepi, it would break her heart to see her get hurt in any way, even if a pokemon center can make it all go away in instants. A thought lit up her mind and she raised her eyes from the sleeping pokemon. "Hey, you are a good researcher".

Gary seemed taken aback, his eyes wavered and he chuckled. "Whatever you say, princess" Misty tried to appear offended. "What, are you telling me you're not?"

"Oh no, I am" He said smugly.

Misty laughed and tapped him lightly in the arm "That's modesty, ladies and gentleman". Gary rolled his eyes. "Nothing ever pleases you, your majesty" he chuckled, huskily. They fell into silence once again. Misty frowned, reminiscing. There was something still bothering her. She tilted her head. "…why were you there?"

The enphasis on the word 'there' and the silence that followed made him know right away what she meant. But it didn't mean he wouldn't try to dodge it. Gary looked warily. "Told you, My grandp—"

"No" She interrupted. "I mean at the bar, you said you didn't drink".

Busted. He seemed to steal a glance at her, before returning his eyes to the road. It was only a glance, but it was like his eyes had glazed over, freezing. She froze in her seat with them, perplexed. He could have the most expressive eyes… when he had his guard down, that is. He seemed to be calculating, weighting outcomes. She took him by surprise, she knew it, more than that; she liked it. She remained on looking at him, because she knew he felt her eyes piercing him, waiting for a reply.

"Well…" he cleared his throat. "These errands gramps sends me on? Hate 'em" He replied sharply. A wary silence followed, he knew she wasn't satisfied with the answer. "Most researchers just see me as the grandson of Samuel Oak. Never gonna climb up like that".

And suddenly she got it, she looked ahead. As a pokemon trainer, Gary Oak had all the reputation he could ever wish for. But as a researcher? He was Professor's Oak sheltered grandson and probably most of the rest saw him as someone who only got that far because of his grandfather, because of his last name, or money. As a researcher, Gary had to build up his reputation from scratch, something that was a given back in his trainer days. It must have been rough, especially at the beginning, and Professor Oak sending him on his behalf must've made it all just a little worse.

She nodded after a while. "You have some tough times ahead"

He smirked. He was thankful she didn't say anything cheesy like many others would, nothing among the lines of 'you can do it!', 'I believe in you', or 'hugging feels nice' or some other useless things people tended to say when they had nothing better to offer. She was trying her best to understand and was dangerously close to doing so and he admired that. "Yeah…" He replied, absently

"If you want me to kick some researcher ass, I will" She said smugly.

He laughed. "Now you're just looking some reasons to kick someone's ass"

Her eyes twinkled. "Shut up or I'll kick yours" She grinned.

He raised an eyebrow. "You can try". She laughed underneath her breath and he chuckled. Another moment of silence went by, but this time, it was longer. They were getting closer to the gym, and he couldn't drive any slower, or he would draw attention to himself just as well. He slumped his shoulders looking at her from the corner of his eyes. She was yawning and he couldn't blame her. It wasn't even that late, the night was still very young, but she was emotionally worn out, and he was starting to be, too.

At the distance, The pewter gym couldn't yet be seen, but the lights coming off of it like it was the red carpet at the Oscars shone up and stole the stars from the sky. The activity was picking up again, hoards of tourists were coming out of their hotels for the Pewter night life. Flashy cars, sparkly tops, the fluorescent signs that lips up everywhere rolling over the car's window almost made it seem like they were in some sort of movie, but there was a certain bitter feeling in both of them. Even if they had wanted to analyze it, no good conclusion would have come out of there. It was still far too early, and they were both too tired.

The Pewter gym emerged from the horizon. It was bathing in all the glory of being the only construction in that vast and empty block. All the lights were on, and even though that's no sign of mass alarm, it still showed something was keeping them up. "Looks like they're waiting for you".

Misty inwardly winced almost anticipating Brock's scolding. Even more now, that he was closer to his brothers, his parental instincts had kicked in even stronger than before. Ash must be worried as well, after all, he expected her to go back to the gym immediately.

"Seems like it" She said trying to disguise her worry. Gary half smirked seeing right through it.

Togepi, who was momentarily seated in the middle of them, chirped, and Misty raised him from the long car seat that went from her side to his and cradled him. She bit her lip in distress. She reeked of cigarette smoke and probably of booze, and everyone would just flip out and blurt out an entire interrogation for her. She sighed.

The car seemed t slow down even more as it reached the Gym. Gary pulled over and looked straight forward for a silent moment. "I owe you an apology" he stated.

Misty raised her eyebrow and shifted in her seat to see him better. Gary seemed sheepish. "You just caught me in a bad place. Won't happen again". He blurted out. "Sorry I got you into trouble"

Misty laughed. "Hey, it's not like you actually forced me into the men's room"

His eyes shifted, but he didn't reply. They remained like that for a minute waiting for someone to break the silence. But no one did. Misty snapped out of her trance. "I should go"

He nodded bitterly. "They must be worried sick".

Misty smiled sadly and shifted to the door, reached for the lever and pulled it. She frowned, she pulled it again. She checked to see if the door was unlocked, and it was, but the door wasn't budging.

Gary looked at her distress. "Sorry, that door's kinda stuck, you need to twist and—"

Misty kept on pulling the lever.

He rolled his eyes. "Here, let me do it" He slid over to Misty's side and reached for the door. However casual this must have been for him, she froze in her place, her whole body going rigid. It was probably the closest she had been to him, and she could feel his respiration tickle in her skin. Before even realising, she brushed her lips against his. It was merely that, gracing them over his, a kiss so soft it was barely even there, but it made Gary desist in his attempt to get the door to budge.

None of them said anything, but none of them needed too. Neither was overly surprised, but merely trying to take in what she had just done. He let go of the knob and backed away from her personal space, silently. He was still staring out the window, but she wasn't looking at him either, he could feel it.

Their eyes met and locked, but not for too long. Gary swayed forward and captured her lips. She kissed him back, positioning her hand in the back of his head. Passionate, fiery, hungry. They wrestled like that. He could taste the scotch in her mouth. He liked the taste, and she must have thought the same for him, because she was smiling into the kiss. They pulled away, gasping for air; their eyes were still locked, but showed more surprise than before.

'Whoa…'

Misty was about to say something, but the moment she opened her mouth to speak, the car door fell open, as if it were the over protective parent turning the porch light on and off at the daughter's date. They stared at the door fall open like some kind of omen and he grinned bitterly turning away.

After some cemetery silence, Misty looked back at him with regret. "Bye Gary"

He looked at her again. "Bye Misty" He said so under his breath she almost didn't pick it up. She nodded, once and got out of the car but didn't close the door. She turned back and leaned in. "I'll be seeing you" She said casually.

He winked at her. "You can bet on it, princess" She smiled and closed the door, turned around and walked away closing in on her doom. The Pewter gym. Gary watched her leave, and smirked, his eyes blistering. As she disappeared beyond the gym's door, he got the engine started again and took off.

After going through explanations, both Brock and Ash would probably hate him for getting her into dangerous situations. Ash and him weren't rivals anymore but that didn't mean they didn't still hate each other. And Misty… Misty would always be Misty. She was a girl he was starting to like having around, and he wasn't the kind of guy that gave up when things got tough.

Were things unresolved? Perhaps… maybe more than just perhaps.

But they were far from over.

The end.

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Maia's Pen: Waah, I read your review so many times my eyes actually hurt! It's so flattering when you like something I write. This IS a very quick fic. It's only natural with the very tight schedule I'm constantly working on. One shots and short fics are my way to go. I really look up to your WYB work. Because it's so long, and must be so hard to write! Kudos! And I hope you like this ending!

DarkAngelTorchic: gasp! You're going to write some egoshippy fluffness? PLEASE DO! We need more, seriously, I'd add it right away to the Egoshippy C2! It would be so cool! Thanks for the review, here's the last chappie, what do you think

Catstar91: Ah yes, awkward moments, aren't they a blast… when you're not an actual part of them. XD. This was it! I hope the ending works out fine for ya!

Rose Kitsune.EXE: hey there, welcome to my fic! XD Too bad it already ended. But thank you for the review, It's much appreciated!.

megs626: As quick as I can! Hehe, once a week is still pretty good, right? It's as fast as I can, since school really. Kills.

MagCat: Planned what on purpose XD? Oh well, I write it, I plan everything on purpose. Some things come out in the spur of the moment though, I won't lie. XD But mostly everything gets some thought before actually typing it.

ohhhJinxie: Teehee, love the penname. Wow! I'm flattered! But well, if anything, this is the reaaaal ending. I'm so happy you think my characters are just right! Even though I change my view or take on the characters with every story I write, I try to stay loyal to the basic concepts. Thanks!

Ori: Ah yes. Egoshippness was always in me, but I was never a real fan of pokemon the series. So I only kept reading some occasional fics. Maia's fic was among them, but when she stopped updating, made my fanfiction fix almost null. I did a good deed? Yay! Me happy! I hope you read this chapter!

To everyone: THIS is the last chapter! There will be no epilogue. Since I don't think it needs one like Pumpkin Fights kinda did, and the open ending gives it a special something. Am I not making sense? Oh well, I must be too tired to make sense now. XD

Thanks to everyone who have read this far, I really hope you liked it, any sort of review is welcome!

Signing out,

Midnight Mist