Chapter 14-January 5

Ash watched her with a bored expression as she packed a basket of wine, her homemade bread, and a few other things.

"What are you doing mom?"

"Well, Professor Oak was telling me how much he missed my cooking and I decided I would send him a care package."

Ash shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever."

"Why don't you watch a movie while I go shower. You can invite Tracy over."

Ash shrugged his shoulders again and shuffled into the living room while she raced for the bathroom.

"Took you long enough." He mumbled as he headed for the phone.

!ELDERSHIPPING!

She came out a long while later, wrapped in a bathrobe, her hair up in a towel, and with some blush and mascara on. She figured she could watch the end of the movie with Ash and then get Tracy to come and stay the night. She didn't expect to see Ash and Tracy on the floor digging into a bowl of popcorn while Misty sprawled upside-down on the couch, all watching Blade. She quietly sneaked over to Tracy and Misty and whispered to them.

"Can I talk to you in the kitchen?"

They quickly followed behind her. "What did you need Mrs. Ketchum?"

"I was wondering if you would like to stay the night? I just realized I left some things over at the lab and might be there a while trying to… find them."

Tracy and Misty weren't as dense as Ash and immediately got the gist. The two nodded and started to walk off and then Misty turned around.

"Could I speak to you alone Mrs. Ketchum?"

"Of course."

Tracy rejoined Ash to watch the movie. Misty looked at Mrs. Ketchum and then suddenly put her hand to the older woman's forehead. "Hmm. It seems you have a fever Mrs. Ketchum. Your eyes are bit glazed over and heartbeat is way too fast."

Delia raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, am I sick?"

Misty nodded emphatically. "Yep. You've got all the classic signs of love sickness. It's a good thing you're going to see the Professor tonight. Maybe he can cure it for you."

Mrs. Ketchum blushed. Misty pulled her into the bathroom.

"How about I help you? It's not like I wanted to watch Blade anyway."

Delia gladly accepted her help. She hadn't dated since Will and needed to brush up on the basics. Misty eagerly fixed her hair and finished her make-up, chatting to her all the while like a best friend.

"You need to look your best if you want to catch your man."

Delia raised an eyebrow. "Then why don't you ever do this kind of stuff to try and catch Ash? Don't be embarrassed. I've known for a long time."

Misty's fierce red blush faded to a slight pink tinting her cheeks. "Not to be rude Mrs. Ketchum, but Ash is a little too dense for that to work."

"True, but he's still a guy."

Misty blushed again and put the finishing touches to her hair and then dragged Delia into her bedroom and rummaged through her closet until she found the perfect dress. She turned her back as Delia put it on.

"Well, what do you think?"

Misty turned around. "You look ten years younger."

Delia laughed. "I know it's not true, but thanks anyway, I needed it."

She swept Misty up in a hug. "You're so good to me and my Ash."

"Good luck, Mrs. Ketchum." Misty felt a tear hit her hair.

"You're like the daughter I never had."

"I might still be part of the family yet."

Delia sat down on the bed next to Misty. "I know Ash really likes you, Misty and like you said, he's pretty dense to any hints. My advice to you is, be open and a little forceful. If he runs, and he probably will, just back him into a corner and he'll cave."

"Are you sure?"

"I used to be the same way. How do you think Will got me to finally accept all his proposals?"

They both laughed until Tracy and Ash yelled from the living room for them to quiet down so they could finish watching the movie.

"Ashley William Ketchum! That's no way to talk to your mother!"

"Mom! Don't call me that."

Misty stared at Delia, a bit curious. "His real name is Ashley."

"Yes, of course. He was named after my grandfather, Ashley D. Peabody."

"What's the D stand for?"

"You don't want to know."

A smile began to creep across Misty's face.

"You won't use it against him will you?"

"Of course not." Yeah, right.

"Good. Every woman needs a little something to blackmail her man with."

Misty blushed. "Thanks Mrs. Ketchum."

Delia began to sniffle again. "You're going to make me cry again and I'll ruin my make-up."

Misty hurriedly shoved her to the front room and handed her the basket she had packed. Tracy got up and dug through his pocket and then handed a small pouch to Delia. "Brock gave this to me yesterday and had asked me to give it to you and Professor Oak."

She looked quizzically down at what he had given her. "What is it?'

Tracy shrugged his shoulders.

Ash just waved to her. "Have fun, mom."

Delia blushed. "If you need anything just have Mimie call the lab. He knows the number. Oh; and there are leftovers in the fridge if you kids get hungry…"

Misty bodily shoved her out the front door before Delia could finish as the two boys and two pokémon yelled at her.

"Go!" "Mime!" "Pika!"

!ELDERSHIPPING!

Delia quickly walked over the lab and slipped the key into the door. She toed off her shoes and crept upstairs. She was disappointed when she didn't see Samuel. A smile flickered across her face when she saw the light under the bathroom door. She set down her basket and opened the door…right into Samuel. He lay on the floor clutching his pounding head as Delia leaned over him.

"Samuel? Are you all right?"

"We really should stop meeting like this, Delia."

She chuckled and when he went to sit up she straddled his chest. The purple dress he'd admired so much on New Year's Eve rode up to mid thigh, causing his eyes to wander there and then refocus on her face a second later. "Delia!"

"Before you start running off at the mouth I have a proposition for you. Will you listen to it?"

He wheezed at her. "Yes, if you let me up to breath."

She scooted down to his lap and he slowly sat up. "Now, what's this I heard about a proposition?"

"I'm only going to offer this one time, Sam. So, are you listening?"

"Go on."

"I want you."

"Dee…"

She held up her finger for silence. "I'm offering one night, no strings attached."

"One night of what?"

She shrugged her shoulders and looked coyly up at him. "Whatever. And tomorrow, if things don't work out, I'll go back home and we can act like it never happened."

"You know that'll be next to impossible. The whole town practically knows about us being stuck together during the blizzard and they're starting some rumors. This will just be fuel for their fire."

She squared her shoulders. "I don't care."

Samuel cupped her face in his hands. "You want me so bad that you're willing to do this?"

She nodded as best she could and he smiled at her. "All right. I'll give you what you want. One night with no strings attached…"

"I hear a but."

"But on one condition. You teach me how to cook."

She laughed at him. "That might take more than one night."

"Those are my terms. What do you say?"

For her answer she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him till they were both senseless.