Summary: Despite his better judgment, Brock agrees to an illicit affair with the Saffron City Gym Leader. That was his first mistake. His second was falling in love with her. His third was buying her a sea breeze on her birthday. Mangashipping.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

10. The Forbidden Fruit: Citrus paradisi – Gathering of the People

"You know what I just realized?" Brock mused thoughtfully as he stepped through the gym entrance, a small bag slung over his shoulder and his other hand resting nonchalantly against her back. Sabrina hummed thoughtfully as she awaited his insight. "This is probably the first time I've been here since Ash beat you for the marsh badge."

"You jerk," she laughed, knocking him away playfully. "I thought you were going to say something sweet and meaningful."

"Then, my dear wife," he teased back, "it appears you do not know me as well as you think."

"Well in that case, husband," she responded laughingly, "I guess you'll just have to find a wife who knows you better."

Brock chuckled and swung his arm around her waist, kissing her hair lightly as she made faces at him. She pretended to struggle out of his embrace, but in truth she liked the way he held her close to him. "I was actually going to tell you how nice it is to see you on a daily basis like this," he told her sweetly, "but I thought it might be too sappy."

She pushed herself away, pausing in mock thought before replying. "It's just sappy enough," she told him and lightly pecked his lips with her own.

"Though seriously, it's been ages since I've been here," he commented as they entered the battle and training facilities, which were on the opposite side of the building to the living quarters. His tone was filled with wistful nostalgia. "That day still haunts me."

"And you'd do well to remember just what I can do if you step out of line," she threatened. "Now where on earth is Haunter?" she mused aloud to herself.

The answer was immediate as her musing was followed by a loud 'bang' and a girlish scream from her husband. The ghost Pokémon guffawed loudly at his trick before floating over to greet Sabrina who shared in his laughter.

"Haunter, I have some news," she told her ghostly companion. "Do you want to let everyone out of their Pokéballs?" Haunter nodded and did as he was told.

They had already shared the news with Brock's Pokémon when they were in Viridian, so it was now time to do the same for her own. She was glad they had already gone through the experience once, as it was a sort of practice.

It turns out that Pokémon are not entirely familiar with the concept of marriage.

"I thought you were going to trade that one," Brock questioned, gesturing towards the large rock snake that was taking up most of the room.

Sabrina shrugged. "She's handy to have around the gym," she admitted shyly as her smallish onix bent her head to greet her, feeling as though she had somehow given herself away. "It's good to see you too Onix," she chuckled as the rock Pokémon nuzzled her cheek.

As Brock took her hand in his own, she began to tell her Pokémon the events of the last four or so weeks, starting with the marriage. She drew analogies with 'life mate' that had helped when they were explaining things to Brock's Pokémon, and things seemed to go smoothly. This was probably aided by the fact that psychic Pokémon are highly intelligent and helped the other Pokémon involved understand their master's meaning. However, something interesting happened when she came to the news of the baby.

"Abra, ka kadabra," the psychic fox said aloud, although most of the message was conveyed psychically.

"What do you mean you already knew?" she asked accusingly, her eyes narrowing at her battle partner after being informed that they were all aware of the 'pup'. There was a brief silence before Sabrina spoke again, almost sneering at the Pokémon. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

In a very un-Pokémon like gesture, the psychic fox shrugged, and then resumed its 18 hour sleep cycle, leaving Sabrina to stew over the undisclosed information.

"C'mon," Brock said with an almost tease as he began to guide her out of the room, gesturing a goodnight to the Pokémon who returned to their 'balls, "I'm sure this sort of resentment is no good for the little guy." He laughed at the stern look she tried to give him, and continued to usher her to bed. "We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow, and you need rest if we're going to organize this party for next Friday."

Sabrina sighed and relented. There were a lot of people left to tell: friends, distant family, business associates, colleagues, league officials, and clients. Suzie had been informed just a few days ago as they packed up Brock's apartment in Viridian so they could begin the process for her buying Brock's share of their joint business, but that still left plenty to inform, and like Misty, some of their responses would be unpredictable.

Not that Sabrina really cared what they thought of her and Brock, but she didn't like the thought of having to explain herself to all those people. She longed for a simpler time when people could get married without having to seek the approval of every man and his growlithe.

'Oh well,' she thought apathetically as she curled into her husband's chest and proceeded to fall asleep. 'At least it's worth it.'

And with that singular thought, she was peacefully swept into the lands of dreams.

To Whom It May Concern:

Please join us for an

ENGAGEMENT PARTY

honouring

BROCK & SABRINA

Friday 5th of July
Saffron City Gym

RSVP

We hope to see you there!

"Oh, you two look so wonderful together," Delia Ketchum gushed, as Brock and Sabrina greeted her at the door. "And, Sabrina, you have the glow of a woman in love," she added happily.

Misty sniggered and Sabrina blushed at Delia's words, both of them knowing full well that she was sporting a different (albeit closely related) glow whose basis would be revealed later that evening when all the other guests arrived.

"Thank you, Mrs. K," Brock said warmly, looking pointedly at Misty from the corner of his eye when he was sure his friend's mother wasn't looking. The woman smiled back and handed him a cake in spite of his protests that the whole thing had been catered and there was no need.

"Is that a vanilla sponge cake?" Sabrina cut in, practically salivating at the look of the cake.

Delia nodded. "Misty said it was your favourite."

"How come you never make me cake anymore?" she asked her husband, tapping him lightly on the chest. This engendered a soft coo from Delia as she was ushered away by her future future-daughter-in-law who was introducing her to various guests.

"You know that having that much sugar isn't good for the baby," Brock whispered in her ear once they were out of earshot.

"I don't care," Sabrina pouted back. "I'm keeping the cake." And with that the cake disappeared to somewhere Brock couldn't begin to guess, but where he was sure his wife would retrieve it from sometime later that evening.

"Where'd they go?" Ash asked as he walked in, his arms loaded with piles of gifts.

"What did you guys do?" Brock gaped, eyes widening at the vast amount of items in Ash's arms. "Rip off 'Bed, Bath & Beyond'?"

Ash shook his head. "Mom did consider it, but then Misty told her you guys were 'thinking seriously' about kids and so they went a little crazy in the baby department," the boy explained.

"Well, you can dump all that in the corner," Brock offered helpfully. "I think Misty's introducing your mother to some of her and Sabrina's friends." Ash just nodded unable to do anything more for want of a fork lift, and was on his way.

Sabrina just gaped, still unable to get over the mass of gifts the Ketchums (and future Ketchum) had brought with them. "I don't think we'll need to buy him anything until his first birthday thanks to Delia and Misty," she murmured quietly, wondering to herself how Misty could have managed to convince Delia to buy for a boy. She was sure the redhead would have found a way, but she couldn't even begin to imagine how.

Sabrina was still startled when a blue-haired teenager latched onto her and hugged the life out of her. "Oh my gosh, Sabrina, you're so pretty!" Dawn gushed as she released Sabrina from her embrace. "I never would have though that Brock would get a fiancé. Especially one so pretty!"

Sabrina looked to Brock for help and he smiled tightly and thanked Dawn for her sentiment, ushering her in with the rest. Danny arrived next with Nurse Joy, sharing a conspirator's smile with the couple before going in so that Nurse Joy could introduce him to her second cousin twice removed – the Nurse Joy of Saffron City.

"Like we didn't see this coming," Erika laughed sarcastically as she arrived, giving Sabrina a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. "Anyone could see from a mile away that you two had something going on."

"Since when?" Sabrina asked in outrage, offended that Erika was denying her furtiveness.

"Misty's twentieth," the younger girl replied with a smile. "I guessed, Misty confirmed although she wouldn't say more than it was 'something'. Obviously a very large something."

"Well that's the last time I'm sharing secrets with that loose-lipped redhead," Sabrina pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. Erika just laughed brightly and moved inside.

When Professor Oak arrived he informed them sheepishly that Delia had chosen his gift and he really had no idea what it was. The two shared a look, knowing exactly what that meant: more baby things!

Soon almost all of the guests had arrived including Brock's family, several of Sabrina's gym colleagues, the Kanto gym leaders and Elite's, various people that Brock had met on his journey with Ash and their interchanging female companions, and Brock's business associates. With everyone finally gathered, the pair made their way onto a makeshift stage to make their announcement.

"We'd like to thank all of you for coming here today," Brock told them loudly as the room settled into silence. Sabrina stood beside him, clasping his hand in her own as she glanced over the room, noting the broad smiles of those that already knew the truth. "However, we have to admit that we lied to get you all here. Sabrina and I are not getting engaged."

"Told yah!" Gary Oak exclaimed, holding his hand out to Drew and Ritchie who each handed over a $50 note.

"The truth is," Brock continued, ignoring Gary and the hushed whispers for the most part, "that the two of us are already married," he said silencing the room – he noted Drew smiling widely and holding his hand out to Gary who handed off the $100 and added a note of his own. "And we've gathered you here today in order to join us in celebrating our one month anniversary."

"And also," he added, his smile broadening as he pulled his wife closer to him, "that we're having a baby." In his immense happiness, Brock failed to notice Gary and Ritchie begrudgingly handing an additional $50 note over to a very pleased looking Drew. Easiest $200 he ever made.

"So enjoy yourselves," Sabrina finished, talking over a murmuring crowd. "And thanks again for coming to share this with us."

Delia was the first to embrace them in a hug once they had stepped down from the stage. "This is wonderful!" she gushed, kissing each of their cheeks in a motherly gesture. "How far along are you?" she asked and then answered her own question. "Must be four or five months – Misty had me buy winter things. Boy or girl?" Again she answered her own question before Sabrina could open her mouth. "A boy, of course! I had to wonder why Misty kept finding the cutest blue items. I thought it was just because of the water."

Brock smiled at her enthusiasm. He was glad that at least one person was happy for him, although Delia's had practically been a given.

Sabrina shared his smile. She knew that Brock was close to Ash's mother – Delia had always treated Brock and Misty as though they were her own, ushering the same love and motherly affection on them as she did Ash, and Brock had always looked to her as a sort of second mother. "You know, Delia," she said warmly, smiling shyly in Delia's direction, "a child can never have too many grandmothers."

Delia almost gasped at the sentiment, raising her hand to her cheek as she blinked back tears of joy. "Oh, Sabrina, I would be honoured," she answered, wrapping the psychic in another hug.

Many others came to congratulate them, and Sabrina resisted the urge to read their thoughts. She was happy enough with their words of encouragement, even if they did turn out to be false.

She was the happiest she had ever been in her life. Her life was full. She had all that she could ever desire.

'It must be love,' she wondered thoughtfully to herself as she glanced warmly at her husband. 'But how can it be this easy?'

Nothing this good ever came this easy. Nothing this wonderful ever came without a catch. With power, came responsibility. Intelligence came the burden of knowledge. With love . . .

Love had its own burdens, and yet she felt none of them. All she felt was . . . whole.

Was that love? Was that enough?

The concept, the feeling . . . it was all alien to her. She loved her family, she loved her Pokémon, she even loved the baby growing inside of her, but it wasn't the same. It was so much simpler, unburdened by romantic attachment, and yet . . .

This was the man she would spend the rest of her life with, and every day that concept became that much more appealing.

If this was love, then maybe it wasn't as bad as she thought.

~ to be continued ~

Sorry for taking so long to update this week. I will try to put the next chapter up this weekend (which is like 99% pokeshipping).