Chapter 12-December 31, New Year's Eve

Samuel wasn't surprised at how quickly news of his youthening had spread to the town. He was surprised, however, at how they all just seemed to take it in stride. No one looked at him differently; except for Delia, who primarily tried to avoid him and not for the reasons he thought.

She was afraid those few days that if she saw him she would do one or both of two things: strangle him and/or jump him, and not necessarily in that order.

He'd worked on plans for the New Year's Party for the past three days and it was now time to put his little scheme to work on one Mrs. Delia Ketchum.

He answered the door to find Ash, Misty, Brock, and of course Delia.

"Happy New Year! You all look wonderful." He welcomed.

Ash had actually forgone his hat at his mother's behest and had actually brushed his usually messy hair. He tugged at the blue bow tie that threatened to strangle him.

"See Mom, Professor Oak and Tracy aren't wearing ties. Can I please take mine off now?"

Before Delia could reprimand him, Samuel interjected. "Why not? It doesn't look very comfortable."

He whipped off the offending tie and stuck around Pikachu's neck. "Yeah, it's about three sizes too small for me."

Pikachu checked his reflection in Samuel's spit-shined shoes.

"Pika-pi! (Look out ladies!)"

Since he liked what he saw, he tugged a happily 'prii-ing' Togepi off to find food. Mimie squeezed between Ash and Delia and up the stairs with a pack of cards clutched in his gloved hands. Everyone chuckled at the sight.

Misty looked fetching in her aquamarine twin-set, but like Ash, fidgeted a bit through the formalities. "You look pretty cool dressed up Professor. Why do you wear that unflattering lab coat all the time?"

Samuel blushed slightly and crossed his arms over his maroon dress shirt. "I'm a pokémon researcher, Misty. I work in a lab most of the day. What else would I wear?"

Ash crossed his eyes at Misty just out of her line of vision, but not out of his mother's. She reached over and gently tweaked his ear to let him know to behave. The two teens quickly bowed respectfully in front of the Professor and thanked him before rushing off to find Tracy. Brock, feeling very much the adult in his slate gray polo and black slacks, shook Samuel's hand. Before Brock could follow Ash and Misty he was over-powered by a gang of dark-haired children.

"Ah, yes, I forgot to mention Brock, but I invited your family. I hope it wasn't too forward of me. I've been wanting to meet them considering how much I've heard."

A single tear squeezed out between the young man's squinting eyes. Before Brock could say anything his father, Flint, rushed over and herded the mass back towards the food. The two adults stood there for a few seconds not sure what to do now that all the kids had gone their separate directions.

"Ah, can I take your coat?" The Professor asked tentatively.

"Oh! Um, yes, yes, of course." She started to take off her jacket when both were startled by a loud scream. Daisy, Lily, and Violet had found Misty and all three had wrapped their little sister in a huge hug and were bouncing up and down.

"You invited Celadon's Sensational Sisters, too."

"I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment."

"I'll say."

Before Delia could think, Samuel had slipped behind her and gently extricated her from her fleece jacket. She could practically feel his eyes on her.

"You look particularly lovely tonight. Is that a new dress?"

She ran her hands nervously over her stomach. "No, it's just something I forgot I had in my closet."

It needs to come out of the closet more often. Samuel couldn't help but run his eyes up and down her. The dress wasn't really that revealing but didn't leave much to the imagination either. It was a purple sheath that went down just past her knees with a scoop neck and long sleeves that clung to every curve. Samuel straitened, draped the jacket over his arm, and smiled genuinely at her.

"Enjoy your evening, Mrs. Ketchum."

He returned to the foyer to answer the door leaving Delia little confused. She didn't have chance to wonder about it since she had to rush over to stop Ash and Brock from instigating a belching contest between them, Tracy, and the younger Slate children.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Samuel scanned the room; glad everything was going so well. He was lucky that his granddaughter, May was out of college for a few weeks and was able to coerce her into playing deejay. If she hadn't agreed his only other option would have been Gary. He grimaced at the thought.

At the moment his delinquent of a grandson was in the corner scowling at everyone. One of the Slate boys came over to Samuel and tugged on his pant leg.

"Mista Oak?"

He bent down so he was eye level with him. "What can I do for you, my boy?"

"I gotta go to da potty. I don't know where it is. Will you take me?"

"I would but I'm busy greeting guests. Now, if you go ask Gary," he pointed to his grandson in the corner, "He knows where the bathroom is."

The little boy peered over there for a second. "Are you sure? He looks mean."

"Nah, he's a big softie."

"Okey-dokey. Tanks, Mista Oak!"

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Gary watched as one of Brock's younger brothers headed from his grandfather over to stand fidgeting in front of him.

"What?"

"I gotta go potty. Mista Oak said you know where the baf-room is."

"So?" Gary caught his grandfather glaring at him out of the corner of his eye from across the room and stuck his hand out to the boy.

"Uh…err, sure, come on shorty."

Samuel smiled as he watched Gary swing the young boy onto his back and cart him up to the bathroom. Now, at least, he'll forget about losing at the Indigo League for a while. That boy'll keep him busy for sure.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Samuel leaned against the wall, watching people on the dance floor. Brock was swinging one of Misty's sisters around, he thought her name was Daisy, but Samuel wasn't sure. Delia was dancing with Flint, Brock's dad, and he watched as she laughed at something the other man said and felt a slight pang of jealousy, but quickly squashed it. His eyes wandered over the other dancers and finally landed on Tracy, whose gaze was fixed on the deejay. Samuel strolled over and stood silently next to the mesmerized boy waiting for him to take notice. When that failed to work Samuel leaned over and whispered in Tracy's ear.

"Dirty thoughts can be a very bad idea, especially ones about my granddaughter."

Tracy turned a violent shade of red. "I, um…I wasn't thinking anything."

"Right…Listen, my boy, I can get you a dance with her…"

"Really?"

"Yes, but you need to do something for me first. I need you to cut in on Mr. Slate and dance over here with Mrs. Ketchum."

The young boy eagerly agreed and rushed off. Within minutes Flint was dancing with his youngest daughter while Tracy steered Delia over to where Samuel stood with May. As they neared May stepped forward and tapped Delia on the shoulder. "Excuse me Mrs. Ketchum. I'm about to steal your dance partner."

"By all means."

After the two teens waltzed away Delia rocked back and forth on her heels for a few seconds and stole a glance at Samuel. "Looks like I'm short a dance partner."

Samuel held his hand out to her. "Would you like to dance?"

She smiled shyly and took his hand. Samuel caught the eye of the new deejay, he was pretty sure it was Lily, and winked at her. She smiled back at him and waved a CD at him. As Samuel swung Delia around the floor Rod Stewart began to sing.

You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should I grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend.
You're in my soul.

Samuel pulled Delia close. "I'm sorry Dee."

"Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry for being such an ass. I was wondering if we could start over."

"I don't know. I don't take kindly to men who break my heart."

"I didn't know I even had your heart."

"Sam you've had my heart since Christmas. Hell, before Christmas."

"I wish there was something I could do to mend it."

"I just want it back. Broken or not."

He spun her out and back as the song ended and pressed up against her for what he thought was the last time. "Just think about what I said."

Only four more chappies and an epilogue to go. This story's turning into a novel.