Chapter 8-December 25, Christmas Day

Samuel cracked his eyes open to the bright morning sun and scowled at it. Why did it have to interrupt him when he'd finally gotten comfortable? He yawned and found that his chest felt heavy. Something was wrong. He hoped he wasn't having a heart attack. It was then that he realized that he felt two heartbeats, his own and…

Samuel completely opened his eyes and looked down to see the reason for the second heartbeat. His arm was wrapped protectively around Delia, who was curled up on his chest, the top of her head just brushing his chin. Her arms were wrapped around Cyndaquil and she looked so peaceful. He nervously looked her over and then himself and was relieved to see they were both fully clothed. He lay there for a few seconds remembering the events of last night and heard Bad Company playing faintly on the radio. He had forgotten to turn it off the night before.

Feel like makin'…
Feel like makin' love,
Feel like makin' love,
Feel like makin' love,
Feel like makin' love to you.

Samuel groaned. "Oh, God. Don't play that song. Not now."

He gently settled Delia on the couch and hurried to take a very cold shower. For the next few hours he busied himself with finding a way to hook up his two Voltorbs' to get power back to the lab.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Delia opened her eyes to find herself disappointingly alone. She wrapped the quilt around her and gathered up Cyndaquil and headed down the stairs. As she neared the bottom she heard and awful commotion. Most of the tables and chairs had been shoved out of the way and two huge blue gym mats were spread across the floor. Flying and tumbling across the mats were a Machoke, a Hitmonchan, a Hitmonlee, and Samuel. She watched with amazement as he fluidly moved between wrestling with the Machoke, boxing with the Hitmonchan, and practicing judo with the Hitmonlee. It wasn't until she sniffled that Samuel and the three pokemon took notice of her.

"Good morning and Merry Christmas. Feeling any better?"

"A little. Did you say it was Christmas?"

He nodded in affirmation. "Christmas morning."

"Do you always do this."

"Pretty often, though they usually have to go easier on me. When I was afflicted I really missed my morning workouts with them."

He motioned to the three pokémon stretching in the corner and they all flashed back into their balls. With his back turned to her, Delia admired the way Samuel looked without a shirt on. No wonder he was in peak physical condition. With regular workouts like the one she just witnessed she would be too. Samuel waved a hand in front of her face as she just stared at his bare chest.

"Hello…anyone home?"

"Oh, sorry. Just staring off into space."

He slipped his shirt on and internally she pouted. He picked something up and held it for her to see. "Look what I found, mistletoe."

"I don't think you want to kiss me. I am sick."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I already slept with you last night and I doubt that a peck on the cheek will get me sick."

He watched as Delia broke down laughing. "What's so funny?"

"What…hee-hee…what you just said."

He went through what he said in his head and then turned a dark scarlet. "I can't believe I just said that."

"Don't worry, I know what you meant."

He held the mistletoe above their heads. "Shall we?"

As he leaned in to kiss her cheek he accidentally jostled the sleeping Cyndaquil, whose back immediately flared up.

"Ah! Damn it!" Delia immediately dropped the little fireball as her knees buckled in surprise. Samuel reached out and caught her just before she hit him and was propelled back along with her. She landed heavily on top of him and he grunted from the force of impact. He was nose to nose with her. Delia's arms were around his neck and his around her waist. Both looked at each other, wide-eyed for a few moments.

"Are you okay?"

"I…ah, I think I burned your robe."

He gingerly sat up. "I'm more worried about you than the robe. The robe is replaceable, you're not."

She reluctantly unwrapped her arms from around him and pulled the robe close around her. Samuel gently brushed her hair back and cupped her cheek.

"What?"

"I'm just checking to make sure you don't have any bruises." His thumb brushed against her cheekbone.

"I didn't hurt you did I?"

"Nothing serious. I think we might have bumped heads." He was surprised when she ran her hand across the side of his face and then sat forward to gently kiss his cheek.

"What was that for?"

"Don't you know, kisses make everything better."

He chuckled softly. "I doubt you could make this headache better."

She pressed her lips to the spot between his eyes.

"Well, what do you know. My headache's gone. I guess your cure-all really does cure it all."

Delia smiled slightly and leaned closer to him. She reached around and picked the mistletoe off the ground. "Look what I found."

She held it over both of their heads and Samuel kissed her on the cheek. She meant to give him a quick peck back but, unknowingly, he turned his head and their lips locked. Both sets of eyes widened for a second and then Delia closed hers and leaned into him. It was no more than a millisecond later that Samuel was kissing her back with all the passion that had built up over the past few days. His arms were already around her waist and he pulled her tighter to him. Delia's hands dropped the mistletoe and tunneled her fingers through his hair.

Will never kissed me like this. Is this what I've been missing all these years? Delia, you shouldn't be doing this. Samuel's been your friend and neighbor for years and here you are practically making out with him. He probably thinks you're out of your mind. He must not think this is too bad though. He is still kissing you after all.>

Samuel thought about carrying her upstairs and then it hit him. She was sick and they had both been stuck in the same house for days and their hormones were running on high. He gently pulled back and her eyes popped open.

"Samuel?"

"I…we shouldn't be doing this."

She stared at him, utterly confused.

"Delia, you're sick and I shouldn't be taking advantage of you. We've both been stuck in the lab for days now and we aren't thinking straight. So, as I said, we shouldn't be doing this."

Delia knew she was thinking perfectly fine and found she was torn in two but nodded her head. Damn his gentlemanly behavior and logical mind!

Samuel helped her upstairs and sat her on the couch while he busied himself in the kitchenette. She felt around in between the couch cushions and pulled out the book Samuel had been reading, Pokémon Myths and Legends. She was intrigued as she flipped through the pages, reading the highlighted passages and the notes he had made in the margins. It seemed he was trying to prove the legends were true. Delia was so into the book that she didn't notice Samuel sitting across from her in an armchair.

"So, how do you feel about soup?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I thought you couldn't cook."

"Toast and soup are about the only things I can't mess up."

She reached for the soup when he stopped her hand and put two aspirin in her palm and handed over a glass of water. "First this, for your fever, and then you can eat."

She swallowed the pills, wincing at the pain in her throat. He carefully handed her the tray and sat back with mug of tea cupped in his hands. Delia swallowed a spoonful of the soup and realizing how hungry she was, practically tried to down the whole bowl in one gulp. Samuel reached over and stilled her hand.

"If you eat to fast you'll make yourself sick."

She nodded as the nausea rose in her throat and slowly nibbled at the piece of toast and sipped her tea. "What was your wife Rose like, Samuel?"

He stared down at his cup of tea for a few seconds. "Actually, she was a bit like you. Caring, receptive, a good listener…"

"Stubborn, a smart ass, and an air-head."

Samuel chuckled. "No, she was much quieter and she didn't have your sense of humor, either."

"I like to keep life interesting."

"That's true but I've never known you to be stubborn."

It was Delia's turn to laugh. "Where do you think Ash got it from?"

"Actually I assumed he got it from his father. What was William like?"

Delia sighed into her tea. "Will was…In all truthfulness, he was a jackass."

Samuel blinked at her. "That's an interesting way to talk about your husband. Especially since he's passed on."

Delia snorted. "Will isn't dead. He's living over in Johto on the edges of Mt. Moon with some old girlfriend of his."

"But I thought Ash said he was dead."

"No, Will is very much alive. He writes once in a great while and sends Ash birthday cards, if he remembers. As far as Ash is concerned, Will's been dead for years."

"He left when Ash was what, two?"

"Ash was barely a year old when I walked in and found Will in bed with an old flame of his. I found out the hard way that he didn't love me. I took Ash and went to a friend's house and when I came back I found a 'Dear Dee,' note. That's when I moved to Pallet Town."

"I'm so sorry Delia."

She looked him strait in the eye. "I'm not. I'm just glad I found out when I did. I was completely in love with the man and it's taken all these years to see that he was in the wrong and not me."

"How anyone could leave you, I can't imagine."

"Samuel, I'm stubborn, argumentative, and I can be really stupid sometimes."

"You're also a caring person. You put others before yourself, you're brave, and very beautiful, if I do say so myself."

"Thanks. I do appreciate the complement, even if it isn't true."

"You underestimate yourself, Delia. Just look at how you took care of me." She simply shrugged.

"I think you even passed on some of your better traits on to Ash."

"What, my stubbornness?"

"Did I ever tell you how Ash saved me and possibly the rest of the world?"

"What are you talking about Samuel?"

He sat back with his tea, preparing to tell her a long story.

Basically, it was Pokémon 4-Ever from his point of view.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Delia stared open mouthed at him as Samuel finished his narrative. She was speechless and a bit dumbfounded.

"Did you just make that up? You and Ash did all that!"

"May Electabuzz's lightning bolt strike me."

She waited a few seconds and when nothing happened she decided it must have been true. She felt slightly dizzy and put a hand to her head. Samuel sat forward, immediately concerned. "Are you all right, Delia?"

"Yes, I'll be fine. It's just that your story is quite a bit to take in. To think you and Ash could have been hurt or killed so many times."

He laid her back against the couch and took away the now empty tray. He pulled a quilt over her and comforted her as best he could.

"There's nothing to worry about, Delia. Nothing happened and we're perfectly safe. Maybe you should get some rest."

Delia pillowed her head with a hand. "Sleep, that sounds good right now."

Samuel sat by her side until she fell into a dreamless sleep.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Delia had been asleep for a half-hour and Samuel was beginning to feel restless. He wandered the upstairs and then the lab. Passing by the bookshelves he absently picked one out and stared down at it. It was his old sketchbook. He grabbed a few more and headed upstairs to keep an eye on Delia in case she needed anything.

I can't believe I drew these.>

Samuel flipped through the worn and yellowed pages at the still precise and sharp drawings. He found it hard to imagine that he'd drawn them. He flipped a few pages and found one of a Ponyta in mid-gallop and thought back to that day.

!Flashback!

Sammy had, once again, gotten himself lost. He felt his throat close up and his eyes start to itch. No! I'm not going to break down and cry. Ash never did, he was brave. So, I won't either, I'm brave too.>

The young boy straitened his shoulders and walked through the trees, determined to find the path. Why did I have to leave the path? It was just a stupid Oddish. There must be a thousand others out there.>

A sound off to his right startled him. He tentatively ventured into the dense brush and found a Ponyta caught in a pokémon trap. More than likely the owner of the trap wouldn't be by till tomorrow morning. Sammy looked around nervously as he chewed his bottom lip. Seeing no one about he crept up to the frightened animal, trying not to scare it. The wild Ponyta caught sight of him and began to buck and rear wildly. Sammy reached out a hand and talked quietly.

"It's okay, buddy. I know, I know. You're scared, like me. Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I just want to get you free of those stupid ropes."

He took out his Swiss Army knife and cleanly slit the ropes the bound its back legs. The Ponyta took off towards the edge of the clearing. It stopped as soon as it reached the trees and sensing no hostility coming from the boy, looked back. Sammy smiled with victory, waved the Ponyta off, and headed back to his prior search for the path. The pokémon followed him quietly until Sammy gave up hope and plunked down on a fallen tree. Realizing the young boy was in tears it boldly came up to Sammy and nuzzled his head.

"What the…oh, it's you. Are you lost too?"

The Ponyta shook its head and motioned to the boy. Sammy didn't understand.

"What? Is something hanging from my nose?"

The Ponyta took the back of Sammy's shirt in its teeth and deposited the boy on his back. Sammy was scared for a second, expecting to get burned. When he didn't, Sammy immediately relaxed.

"So, do you know the way out?"

The Ponyta bobbed its head and took off at a brisk trot. Sammy took in the breathless sights of the forest and was saddened when they reached the edge of the woods and the path he had strayed from. Sammy hopped off and stroked the Ponyta's neck.

"Thank you my friend. I will always be in your debt."

The Ponyta shook its fiery mane and nuzzled his head.

"Could I ask one favor though?"

The pokémon cocked its head.

"Can draw you before you run off?"

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Samuel smiled at the fond memory and stroked the picture. He set that notebook down and picked up another. This one had his sketches of Ash, Pikachu, and Celebi. Flipping through it he found he had only filled half the book. At first he couldn't figure out why. Then he remembered. This sketchbook had only his best memories drawn into it and he decided, picking up a pencil, to see if he still had the skill.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Delia slowly came awake. The clock read six and she wandered over to the window. The sun was just starting to dip below the horizon and the sky was clear. Maybe the storm was finally over. Delia felt remarkably well. She heard Samuel snoring from the armchair and smiled as she checked on him. She pulled the pencil from behind his ear and carefully pried the sketchbook from his grasp. After covering him with her quilt, she settled back on the couch and opened his sketchbook. In it she found drawings of Ash and Pikachu. There were also a few of a pokémon she didn't recognize. She ran her fingers over the sketch that had been done over forty years ago. It was small and fairy-like with large luminescent eyes and a cheerful grin.

So this is Celebi. Samuel really is quite the artist.>

She flipped the page and was startled at what she saw. It was her, asleep on the couch. It looked so realistic that she was certain that if she wasn't careful, it would wakeup and walk right off the page. She quietly closed the book and stood up. She checked on Samuel and finding him still asleep, she kissed his lips and whispered to him.

"Merry Christmas, Sam."

Feeling a bit better than she had earlier that day, Delia decided she was long overdue for a shower. She wrinkled her nose as she looked herself over in the mirror.

"Oh, yes. I'm in definite need of a shower."

She quickly stripped and turned the heat up in the shower as she stepped in.

"Ah…I'm going to stay in here till I look like a wrinkled up red Krabby."

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Samuel groaned as he levered himself up from the armchair. It was nice that Delia had let him sleep but nodding off in an armchair was quite uncomfortable, even in his newly regenerated body. He scrubbed his hands over his face and realized he needed to shave.

"Well, no time like the present." He then noticed Delia was gone.

"Uh, Mimie, where's Delia?" Mimie didn't even look up from the poker game as he hooked a bulbous thumb over his shoulder at the bathroom.

"Thanks."

"Mime."

Samuel shuffled over and knocked.

"Who is it?"

He cracked the door open. "Just me. You mind if I come in."

Delia stuck her dripping head around the shower curtain. "No problem. Just don't peak."

Samuel chuckled as he wiped the steam from the mirror.

"Would you mind turning down the heat. You're steaming the mirror up."

He heard the handles squeak and soon the steam diminished to about half. He quickly lathered up and was about to proceed when he realized the water had stopped. In his peripheral vision he saw a hand snake out from behind the curtain and reach out for a towel. He grabbed one from the shelf and stuck it in Delia's outstretched hand.

"Thanks."

"Mm-hm." Samuel stroked the razor down his cheek, revealing a patch of smooth skin. He went to do it again when the shower curtain shot aside, startling him.

"Ow!"

Delia made sure the towel was tucked firmly around her as she stepped out of the shower. "Now what did you do?"

"I just nicked myself." He dabbed a spot of blood. Delia retrieved the dropped razor and sat on the counter.

"What are you doing?"

"Will was prone to cutting himself with a razor, too."

"I can't imagine why." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"So, I ended up shaving him. Don't worry; I'm actually quite good at this."

Before he could protest she firmly gripped his lathered chin and firmly but gently stroked the razor down his cheek. Within a few seconds one smooth cheek appeared and then the other. She stopped for a second and looked critically at him.

"What? Is something hanging from my nose?"

"I was just wondering how you'd look with a mustache and goatee."

Samuel pulled a face. "I already tried that. I ended up looking scruffy and wild."

Delia chuckled and quickly shaved his upper lip. She was almost done with his chin when she accidentally nicked him.

"Ow!"

"Oh, oh! Sorry. I'm so sorry." The razor dropped from her hands and without thinking she placed her lips to the small cut. When she withdrew he looked at her for a few seconds. She smiled weakly and mumbled an apology. He smiled back and she summed up all her courage and kissed Samuel. His eyes widened at first, he couldn't help himself after that. A menagerie of colors exploded behind closed eyelids as she ran her tongue across the seam of his lips. Samuel gave in slightly and dragged her close to him. A small sigh escaped her and she ran her lather-covered fingers through his hair, making it stand up at even weirder angles. She began nibbling his neck and his eyes popped open.

"Dee, we shouldn't…"

She gently bit the sensitive spot just above his shoulder and he groaned.

"Hmm?"

"Delia, we shouldn't be doing this."

"Why?"

"Because."

She laid her forehead on his shoulder and breathed a sigh of frustration. "Sam. What's wrong? Is it me? I know I don't look like a model and…"

He gently sat her up and more importantly, away from him.

"Delia, there's nothing wrong with you. You're a beautiful and vivacious woman. Long legs, slinky and slender and you have all the right curves in all the right places. Whoever it was that said that those stick-thin models were sexy must have been out of their heads. I would be sorely surprised if any man turned you down."

"You just did." Tears began to swim through her vision.

Samuel did the one thing that he knew was wrong; he wrapped her in his arms. "Yes, but I have good reason to."

"What's that?"

"I…" Samuel held his breath and tried to calm the fierce beating of his heart.

"I've cared for you for a long time, Delia. But more as a friend than anything else and I just don't know how I feel about you now that we've been stuck in the same house…I just don't know."

She sniffled and wiped her eyes on his shirt. She pulled her towel close around her. "If you don't want me, you just have to say so."

"Believe me Dee, wanting you isn't the problem."

She sniffled again. "Well, whatever your reason, the storm's over and I think I should probably leave tomorrow morning."

Delia quickly scooted off the counter and past Samuel to hide in her room. She pulled on her pajamas and flopped down on the bed. A single tear trickled down her cheek. She had no luck with men. Will had left her and Samuel had turned down her advances. Maybe she'd been too strong or maybe she just wasn't as desirable as she had hoped she was. She closed her eyes as another tear rolled down her face and a fitful dream overtook her in sleep.