Here's chapter 5, the last one. I know this fic wasn't a really good one, I'm sorry but it was my first pokeshippy and I didn't have any idea about it. Inspiration left me and I really wanted to finish this…sorry for my lack of ideas and my jumpiness, hope you can enjoy it a bit

Chapter 5

Knock, Knock, Knock

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Ash"

"Leave me alone, I told you that I didn't want to talk to you"

"I don't understand, what did I do wrong?" Ash desperately asked her

"Why did you come back?"

"Hum, because I wanted to know why…"

"I knew it, just leave me alone would you?"

"But…"

"No buts, just leave" she cut him off again

Ash left and went to the living room, totally clueless and desperate.

"Maybe I should ask help to Gary, he claims to know what's going. I'm totally lost… No way am I going this down! … I'm so stupid, just do it for Misty"

"What are you doing down here? She didn't want to see you right?" a voice interrupted his thoughts

"Oh hi Brock"

Brock sat down next to his friend on the sofa and waited for Ash to talk.

"I don't understand!" Ash finally cried out of frustration after a moment of silence

"Misty and Gary right?"

"Yeah! What does she find in this jerk anyway!"

"Gary has a good side like everyone else and lately you've been the jerk here"

"You're taking your side?" Ash spit back

"I'm taking Misty's"

"What do you mean?"

"You know Gary knows what's up with her but you're not even willing to give up your ego and ask him for help"

"He keeps insulting me"

"He was trying to open your eyes, Ash! I'd insult you too if only I wasn't your friend! What you did was really stupid!"

"What did I do?"

"Swallow your ego and go ask Gary, that's the advice I'm giving you"

"Fine" Ash said getting up and left looking for Gary

"I hope this will bring those two hot head closer, they keep on saying they're not rivals anymore but it doesn't look like it to anyone, better go cure my pokemon at the pokecenter; Nurse Joy must miss me!" he thought drooling at the last thought

Ash had looked everywhere in the gym but couldn't find Gary. He was exhausted from the search and went walk outside to clear his mind. On his way he ran up on no one else than Gary.

"I was looking for you" he told him

"What do you want?" Gary asked him, not making an effort to ease the tension

"I came here for explanations…and your help" it had been hard just pronouncing the last words so it was a miracle that Ash had succeeded in saying the whole sentence. "What did I do wrong?"

Gary sighed heavily

"Oh boy, this is not going to be easy" he thought to himself

"Look Ash, what would you do if…Pikachu went away to realize his wildest dream hum…to find the biggest apple in the world, leaving you all alone?"

"I don't see why you're talking about Pikachu when Misty is my problem, Gary"

"It's just an example! Just answer the question"

"I'd be very upset; he couldn't leave me like this, he's my pokemon and friend! Especially for an apple…"

"Yeah, but it's his biggest dream…"

"I guess I'd let him go but I'd be sad…"

"Okay and if one day you catch another pikachu and become pokemon master with it"

"I'd never replace pikachu!"

"It's just a stupid example, Ash!" exclaimed Gary exasperate, he couldn't understand why girls like this clueless and innocent attitude so much and sighed again before continuing "And that pikachu, after months of absence, came back jealous that you have another Pikachu"

"It'd be his fault! He didn't have to leave me alone, he chose his dream over me and…" Ash suddenly stopped, realizing what he was saying "has no right on my own life..." he finished

"Finally got it? You came back to Misty not to give her a long overdue visit but to tell her what to do, after months of absence and like in my example you 'replace' her."

"But I didn't want to lose her! I didn't replace her!"

"Actually, she thinks that you didn't want ME to win her, is that so?" he ignored Ash last part of his sentence knowing that what he had just said was already too much information

"May be part of it…I guess… but I did want to see her"

"You shouldn't tell this to me but to her"

"Thanks Gary, you helped me a lot" said Ash, content to finally understand his mistake. You can't fix them if you don't know them after all.

"Should I go tell her now?"

"Wait until she calmed down, I'll go talk to her"

"Okay…thanks again"

Gary just smiled to him, sheepishly and almost regretting his act but we're talking about Misty's sake now, right?

Knock Knock Knock

"Ash, I told you: I don't want to speak to you!"

"I believe there's an error on the person… again"

Gary heard the door lock unlock and saw the door open

"Sorry, want to enter?"

"Sure"

Gary entered the room and saw all the mess there was in it; Misty must have been in a very bad mood…better not get on her nerve now.

"You're here for…?"

"Ash"

"I thought you two hated each other"

"But I do like you, a lot"

"Aw thanks" She smiled to him and hugged him tightly. Gary slightly blushed at this but he also sadly smiled when he realized that it was just a friendly hug, nothing more, nothing less. "You're really a great friend, Gary, but you shouldn't annoy yourself in our stupid arguments" she added, proving the exact point of his thought

"Misty, you've been sad since the first day I came here"

"No"

"Yes"

"I tell you, no!"

"Yes, you were"

"Was not"

"Was so"

"Was…" She burst out crying, at the painful memories of similar arguments. She buried her face in Gary's strong chest while he gently patted her back

"Misty, Ash do like you"

"He does?"

Gary answered positively

"No, I don't think so…With everything he's done or rather everything he never did, I think it's just unrequited love"

"You don't know what unrequited love is, Misty, but I do and can assure you this isn't. Ash do care for you, he's just, you know, Ash…" he tried to explain "Just give him more time, and all those ugly tears will brighten of joy" he smiled to her

"Why are you doing all this for me, Gary?"

Gary's thought were all disturbed, he had to do a choice "I can take a chance and tell her… but it'd mess everything up. She's way too nice to go out with Ash after I declare my love to her…and she'd miss her chance of happiness and I'll regret it all my life. And If I lie, she'll hook up with Ash, for good, and I'll be stuck watching them by the sideway always wondering what it would have been like to hold her and what would have happened… But she'll be happy and anyway I'd be with her nonetheless"

"Because, you're the best friend I've ever had"

"I could say the same, even though we don't know each other for that long" she giggled "Hey, you know what?" she asked, looking up at him and still in his chest "You're like the big brother I never had"

Gary didn't answer and just stood her, admiring the girl of his dream in his arms

"So close yet so far"

It has been 3 days now and things between Ash and Misty were still tensed up but a lot less. Misty would often weakly smile to Ash and vice versa. But tonight everything was going to change. Gary had promised that to Ash and for once he did trust him.

"If you follow my plan, before the end of the night she'll forgive you and who knows maybe even kiss you" Gary fake smiled to Ash

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, here's the plan. Girls love romances so what about a romantic dinner under the moon? I'll tell you exactly what to do…"

For all the morning and evening, Gary had made sure that his plan would work and tried to hide his help to Ash to Misty, otherwise she wouldn't forgive Ash.

"Last advice Ash, for the talking part I can't help you…just try not to mess things up and be honest…"

It was about 9 PM and Misty was in her bed, strangely everyone had gone to bed really early so there was nothing else to do. She was reading a book written by Jade, one of her favorite author when she heard a noise from outside. She went to the balcony to see what it was. It was Ash on his Swellow.

"Hi Misty"

"Ash? What are you doing here?"

"Thought you'd like a ride…"

"Well, it's a bit late"

"C'mon on, there's something I want to show you"

"Fine" Misty sighed, giving in, and she hopped on Ash's pokemon

"You won't regret it!"

Swellow flew higher, over the clouds, showing a magnificent view to his riders. He went down and did 360's and barrels, to Misty's amazement. They flew over the lake and the forest near Cerulean. The soft and pleasant breeze made her hair fly as well. She was in heaven, the emotion she was having with all these acrobatics was better than the ones on a roller coaster. Swellow picked up speed and went down really fast only to stop at the last second and take high again, however this little trick got Ash and Misty wet and laughing. Finally the trip ended, near the forest, at his entrance. Ash got down and in a gentleman way helped Misty get down as well. He lead her at a tree where a picnic basket was lying on a blanket with lighten chandlers.

"Ash, it's beautiful…how did you…?"

"You deserve the best and I did act like an idiot"

They ate silently but truly enjoyed it. Misty was really surprised but having a great time.

"Thank you so much, Ash" she said when she finished eating

"No problem, let's walk back home"

Misty smiled as an answer and they went on their way.

"You're cold…" Ash realized with Misty was slightly shaking and offered her his jacket.

"Thanks…How come you matured this much?"

"Traveling" Ash answered "and I guess time too"

"I see"

"Look Misty, I'm really sorry about the way I acted. I was just jealous, I guess. I couldn't picture you being with someone else, I thought that even through time and space we would be together" he said sheepishly

"I…It's okay, maybe I overreacted too; we weren't boyfriends and girlfriends anyway…"

"And I don't understand why…" Ash added, blushing "It could be a lot easier if we were, I think…"

"I…I-I" Misty muttered in shock

"…Unless you don't want to but I do care for you a lot"

Misty smiled, leaned and gave a light peck on Ash's lips.

"Of course I'd love to, idiot" she said giving Ash the hugest smile ever

Not too far, Gary was watching them accompanied by Brock, with a smile mixed with sadness and the good feeling of accomplishment.

"Always thought they'd make a great couple, what about you?" Brock asked Gary "You succeed in what a lot before you failed, you finally brought them together, congratulations" Gary was still not answering and after awhile he went back inside

"What are you doing?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow, I have late researches to do and I'd like to give them privacy" he smiled pointing to the now kissing couple.

"Okay…when are you leaving?"

"First thing in the morning tomorrow, don't tell Misty"

"Fine, well see you later, Gary" Brock and he shook hands

1 week later

"Gary" started Tracey "You got a call from Misty"

"Thanks, I'll call her back in a minute" Gary didn't withdraw his attention from whatever he was doing

"You guys got pretty close" Tracey smiled and went sit down on a seat in front of Gary. He took a magazine from the pile of paper in the middle of the table "Cool! The last number!" he exclaimed

"Cool" he said mindlessly not really caring

"Hey Gary look" Tracey told him, handing him an opened magazine

"What's up?"

Gary read the page Tracey was showing him:

"It seems like Pr. Gary Oak's and Gym leader Misty Waterflower's love story couldn't last long. As this photography show it, she has found a new love in young promising trainer Ash Ketchum. Maybe they share more interests…other than their tongue"

"You helped them hook up, Brock told me"

"Yeah…"

"For a moment I thought you did it, like the other magazine issue…"

"Ash thought so too, that's what even brought him back"

"I tried to prevent you that Misty…"

"Is the most awesome person I've ever met"

"Yes…and that she is in love with…"

"The most stupid person I've ever met"

Tracey chuckled at Gary's remark

"Finally, he's taking it better that I thought" he thought and continued to laugh heartedly

Gary smiled and relaxed at seeing his pal relieved of his sake

"And the luckiest" he mutter, under his breath to himself.

THE END!

YESS! I can't believe it! I've finished this story! YOUPPPPI! Loll, I know that it got a lot of jumpiness and that I lost interest a bit in this story so the storyline was faltering but I did finish it and I'm glad and a bit proud of myself yet disappointed 'cause it's not as good as it could have been if I had put more effort into it….anyways thanks SO much for your support! I really appreciate it!

C ya!

michelicious