Author's note: Um, there's a few references to Ash and Misty spending some passionate time alone together in this. In case any of you were wondering, it does not involve anything to do with sex. If it sounds like it, I apologise. But I really don't mean it to.

Thank you for reviews. Much appreciated!

Four large, powerful and sinister looking Pokémon loomed over Pikachu. Arbok, Weezing, Lickitung and Victreebell stared at the electric mouse and inched closer.

And leapt forward and crowded around him and Togepi, chattering enthusiastically. Pikachu smiled and hugged each of them briefly. They had not all been together for quite some time.

Jessie, James and Meowth looked at them and smiled. There was a time when they would have leapt at this opportunity and seized Pikachu and Togepi, then attempted to escape with them and bring them back to their boss. But of course, things were very different now.

They were in the luxurious hotel they had booked into, a different one from Ash and Misty's. Jessie, being something of a romantic at times, had offered to look after Pikachu and Togepi for a while so Ash and Misty could spend some time alone together after their little relationship crisis. Pikachu, who was also aware of the situation, had agreed. Also, he was enthusiastic to spend time with his old friends again.

Arbok was busy weaving funny patterns in the air with his body to amuse Togepi. Victreebell was trying to stop viewing everyone else as potential food, with a little coaching and advise from Pikachu, Weezing and Lickitung.

Jessie sat on a deckchair and leaned back with a satisfied sigh, "Ah, it's nice to be able to relax".

James handed her a drink and sat down himself, "It sure is. Let's face it; we were never cut out to be criminals. This is much easier".

"I'll drink to dat!" Meowth grinned, and the three of them clinked glasses merrily.

OoOoOoOoOo

Ash and Misty entered their hotel room, laughing. Ash's arm was around Misty's waist, and she was leaning on his shoulder. However, as he was still shorter than she was, it was a clumsy manoeuvre and they practically staggered into the room, giggling.

It was late evening, and they had spent hours in town now, watching a movie, sitting down to see the sun set at the pier, eating at a restaurant and generally enjoying each other's company.

Misty kicked off her shoes, and with a satisfied sigh, lay down on the sofa to rest after their hectic evening. Ash smiled at her and began counting what money he had left after their night out.

"Ash, put that down and come over here", Misty said.

"Huh? Oh okay", he placed his notes and coins aside and walked over to the sofa.

"Lay down, get comfortable", his adoring girlfriend suggested.

"Oh, okay. Um…"

There was a long pause during which Ash stared at Misty, who was spread across most of the couch. She looked stunning. Before they had headed out, she had put on a small amount of lipstick, and her dress was, in Ash's opinion, 'cute'.

"On top of me, you moron", Misty rolled her eyes affectionately.

"Oh, right. Okay…"

Ash blushed furiously as he eased himself on top of her as lightly as possible, placing his cap aside. He felt embarrassed, and to begin with couldn't look Misty in the face for fear of showing it.

He felt her gentle fingers stroke his face tenderly, and he turned to look at her. She smiled at his shyness, then kissed him.

Any doubt that may have lingered in the back of Ash's mind was erased and her kissed her back, wanting nothing more than the girl who wanted nothing more than to be his. They kissed passionately, and wrapped their arms around each other tightly. Everything was perfect.

"Ring-ring-ring, phone call, phone call, ring-ring-ring, phone call, phone call…" an electronic voice wheedled.

Ash and Misty simultaneously groaned in frustration.

"Ignore it…" Misty suggested.

"I wish I could. It might be important", Ash carefully climbed off Misty, although he still he managed to get his elbow into her stomach. He apologized quickly and marched off to the phone and lifted the receiver.

Misty hastily sat upright so as not to give away what their activities moments before had been. The screen cleared and revealed an image of Ash's mother.

"Oh, hi Mom!" Ash grinned.

"Hi, Ash. How are you and Misty?"

"We're having a great time, thanks. Like I said last night".

"Oh yes. I remember that".

There was something with her voice that sounded odd. It seemed to lack any enthusiasm.

"Mom, what happened to your hand?" he gasped, looking at her bandaged wrist.

"It is fine. I hurt it in the garden. But I need you to come home as soon as you can".

"Huh? What for? Our holiday ends in a few days, can't it wait until then?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I've got something important to show you. I need to do it here. Can you be here as soon as possible?

"Um…I guess. Let me talk it over with Misty".

He looked at her. She looked crestfallen, but she shrugged and nodded at him.

"Okay, we'll catch a plane home first thing in the morning".

"Thank you, honey. I'll see you soon".

She hung up and her image disappeared.

OoOoOoOoOo

Delia was suddenly released from the spell, and she dropped to the floor, gasping in shock. Gengar loomed over her, grinning manically.

"How can you do that?" she wailed, "How can you be so cruel?"

Sitting on a chair and helping himself to a glass of brandy, Giovanni shrugged, "It's remarkably easy. You get used to it quickly".

"My son…" she moaned, "My poor son…you used me to lure my own son…"

"That's right".

"You won't get away with it! Ash defeated you before, and he'll do it again".

"You're very tedious, Mrs Ketchum. I hope you're not going to keep this up for as long as I have to remain here. That will be until Ash arrives, of course. Then the party will begin".

She glared at him intensely, "You won't win".

He laughed, "I already have".

OoOoOoOoOo

"Well, what do you think of that?" Ash asked.

Misty looked up, "What do you mean?"

"She seemed a little…weird".

"Ash, that's not the way to talk about your mother!"

"Well, I don't mean that. She seemed a little…distracted or something. She didn't talk with any emotion. And why would she call us back? What's so important that it can't wait a few days, or she can't just tell me over the phone?"

"I guess there's only one way to find out. It's a shame to end our holiday early, but I guess we got to do it. We'll go and get Pikachu and Togepi later so we can leave first thing in the morning".

Ash nodded, "Yeah. Guess so. That still leaves us with a few hours", he grinned and walked back over to the couch, "Now, where were we?"

Misty smiled and they embraced and kissed.

OoOoOoOoOo

Some time later, there was a knock on the door of the former Team Rocket member's hotel room. James got up and answered the door to find Misty and Ash there. Pikachu and Togepi jumped up happily.

"Why, you two are here early", James said, with a slightly gormless expression on his face.

"Yeah, we got to go home early tomorrow morning. My mom called us", Ash explained.

"Oh, that's a shame", Jessie remarked, "And you two were having such a great time on holiday".

"Looks to me like they'se already had a good time", Meowth sniggered.

Misty looked at him, "What do you mean?"

James saw what Meowth was driving at, and he leaned close to Ash and whispered in his ear hurriedly. Ash blushed furiously and wiped the lipstick off his cheek.

Pikachu and Meowth burst out laughing, and the cat sniggered, "Good going, Romeo".