I'll be here Waiting
Chapter 4 - Stronger Bond
… More than a few days later…
"Delia you're here!" Misty shouted, welcoming the older woman at the entrance door to the Cerulean gym. Both of them hugged.
"Well when you said, your sisters all just left this morning, leaving you without help. Because your staff is still on their days off. So I couldn't just stay in Pallet when you need me, sweetie." Said Delia as Misty lead her into the living quarters that house Misty and her sisters. "And besides Mimey can handle the house by himself."
The conversation stops here until they were sitting inside the living room. "Now tell me why your sisters just left today. I thought you and them were shouldering the responsibility of the gym now? Mostly after you spent that week in bed after exhausting yourself into the unconscious."
Although no one but her sisters and herself know Misty had been put on bed rest that time by her doctor. Was because she tried to rush through her duties at the gym to make it in time to Ash's arrival home before he went off to Unova. Oddly though, Misty doesn't have it in her heart to mention to Delia that because she missed Ash's arrival. Ash has stopped staying in touch with her, mostly since after talking to Brock a few times since he started doctor school, discover, despite trouble connecting outta Unova, has stayed in touch with their 'big brother'.
"We are. I mean we had been." Tried to explain Misty, sighing, while pushing away her thoughts on Ash. Not an easy task. "I guess them leaving today without a word to me. Might have to do with me staying out a little too long on my lunch break with Gary- "
"Gary?" spoke a shock, Delia. "You had a date with Gary? I thought Gary was running a package in Johto for Professor Oak?"
"I don't know anything about a package. But I ran into him during coming back from picking up my battle Pokémon from their usually check up at the Pokémon center. And it wasn't a date. I was already out in the city and he offered, so I said yes. But wasn't nothing like a date. I mean I had these lunch outings when Brock came to visit. Though I'll admit I won't accept another offer like that from Gary."
"How come?"
"Well even though I didn't think it was a date. He did cause, as a trainer spotted me in the café we were having our lunch at, and stated Gary was my boyfriend. He wasn't defended by the comment as I was. I mean truth be told. Gary's a great guy, but I…..."
"You're still in love with my son." Right away Misty started to deny. But Delia once leaving the armchair and crossing over to sit on the couch Misty was on. Silently took the teen's hands into hers, having the orange haired look at her. "Misty, it's just me and you. You have no reason to hide your feelings towards my son to me. I already know. But unlike what your sisters might tease you. I won't."
Absorbing her kind words, and knowing if there was anyone she could trust her deep secret feelings with, is the one person she considers as a mom, being she lost her parents before she turned 3 years old, then her grandmother afterward. Leaving her sisters to somewhat raise her; despite feeling, she raised herself most of the time. Keeping herself from tearing up, Misty finally admits out loud.
"You're right, I love your son." Then lowered her head, letting out a heavy sigh. "But there's more…"
Soon after, the two women, one younger than the other. Spent hours within the living room, with the youngest spilling not only her deep feelings for Ash, but her former secret relationship with him, during their travels, and when she saw him. She even told Ash was refusing to talk to her, because he thought she purposely didn't see him off for Unova. But also about growing up without parents, losing her grandmother and nearly forced to take care herself cause her sisters weren't capable of doing it, not to mention she shared how it was in her city growing up. Resulting Delia holding her as Misty cries her eyes out.
Clearly, it seemed she didn't hide anything from Delia. That was except revealing Ash told long ago Red is his father. Nonetheless, this lead to Delia telling her own backstory; a time before she became a mother, and how she met her first best friend, Bob… her future husband and Ash's father.
Thereafter with both closer and Misty feeling better; mostly having not only a mother figure in Delia but also a new friend. The two women went to work in handling all the gym duty. Even finally helping Misty in the success of teaching Pysduck to swim.
Eventually, her sisters came back expecting their little sister to be overload with handling the gym alone, mostly in nowadays with the gym having a good record of being hard to beat (Misty's doing of course). But that wasn't what they saw when arriving back.
Misty had a challenge when they enter the gym. So they were greeted by Delia in the lobby. Who though spoke kindly, lecture the three girls for treating their sister like they have and not only for that day but already back when they dropped the gym in her lap. And since the gym's been run by their family going all the way back to their father's great, great, great grandfather. Misty couldn't just turn her back on her family's legacy. Even though she wanted to keep traveling deep down. Secrets she revealed to Delia. Leading the older woman taking it in her hands, to make sure Misty gets some freedom from now on, before she returns back to Pallet.
"And if I find out you told Misty what I said. Then a certain League Grandmaster will learn about three former gym leaders, leaving their gym, without permission to do so. And trust me, the Grandmaster and I go way back."
For a second it seemed to Delia as if her warning went on deaf ears, when Lily said, "Yeah like I'm gonna listen to you- "
"Lily, like shut up." However, by Daisy shout to Lily as Violet slapped her hand over the dark pink haired's mouth. She knew the two older sisters know she meant business. "You ditzy? This woman like, used to be known as the Yellow Flower…" And I don't want her to find out I'm the reason Ash, like, ended his relationship with, like, baby sister. Thought Daisy; while at the same time trying to keep herself thinking what she convince Delia's son in doing was the best for Misty and her future.
Unaware of the oldest sister's deep thoughts. But the mention of her old title name back when she been a model before marrying her husband and having Ash. Delia paid no mind to the three sisters, with Daisy back in laying in on Lily for her manners toward hers and Violet's childhood model idol. No Delia was making sure Misty was still busy. Though she told Misty about her own backstory and past model career, but not the identity of her husband, after the sweet teen spill hers. Delia still didn't want Misty to walk in hearing their conversation.
Fortunately, with both Daisy and Violet remembering who she was, she was able to get them to agree in giving Misty a little more freedom. Leading up to Delia, after the 4 sisters shut down the gym for the night, converting Misty in cooking an apologize dinner for her sisters. That ended on a good note.
…
Which ended up with, as Delia was in the middle of leaving to return home, the next day, Violet revealing a surprise to Misty.
"Is this for real?" Misty said, shockingly.
"If you don't believe it, read for yourself." Violet stat, handing over a small poster. Standing in the lobby of the gym, Delia watched as Misty read out loud context on the paper.
"All trainers, and water Pokémon lovers. Today and tomorrow at 3:00 at the Lapras Hotel. Ice Master, Lorelei Prima is having a lecture. Tickets selling out!" Clearly Misty was trying to keep her excitement in. But was doing a bad job at it. That's when an idea hit the orange haired teen.
"But wait? You got this yesterday. That means today is her last lecture!" Quickly, Misty glance at the clock over the entrance door leading into the battle room. Only to gasp. "It's already past 2:30! How can I get a ticket and make it in time to hear her!"
"Are you kidding," stepped in Lily. "Just this morning they sold out." The way Lily was smiling at Misty's sad look at the news. Delia almost thought her kind acting the other night was just for show.
"Okay, Lily that's like enough," Violet said, before looking to Daisy who stepped up to Misty.
"Relax little sis. You're going to see your idol. Cause," Here Daisy removed her hand from behind her, revealing two tickets to Misty's eyesight. "I bought the last two."
As Misty took the tickets in bliss, Daisy continued. "And don't worry about the gym. Like I said last night. I have gym duty. And you have the day off."
"Is that why Tracey arrived here at breakfast?"
Misty couldn't help pointing out. Followed by Daisy blushing, states, "Well as an actress, I can't get muck in my hair or break a nail. So having a wonderful boyfriend like I do. I won't need too, right honey." Saying the last part to Tracey, who was standing against the desk counter within the lobby.
"Right my Golden sun." Trace reply, moving over, kissing Daisy on the cheek.
As Daisy giggled after Tracey's affection to her. Violet spoke while overlooking the couple leaving the lobby.
"And though, like I am a judge and in charge of the Pokémon contests hosted in the park. I rather not, you know, sit through a lecture." With that Violet left, but not the way Daisy and Tracey had gone.
"And don't even ask me, Misty. Cause you like won't catch me there. Anyway, I have a manicure to get to. Excuse me." Lily exclaimed, before, passing Delia, exited the gym completely.
"I wasn't even going to ask her." Despite her words, Delia could read in her tone. Misty was hurt none of her sisters wanted to go. Saying no word, Delia put her overnight bag on the couch in the lobby, then turns to Misty.
"Well, we better hurry before we miss Lorelei's class." Hearing this, Misty looked in the direction of Delia to see she had left her bag on one of the waiting couches, standing facing her.
"But Delia, don't you need to get home?"
"Oh, I can go back with Tracey. Right now you and I have an evening with listening to an ice master."
With that Delia, leaving no room for argument, hooked her arm with Misty's and lead the teen out of the gym, towards the Lapras hotel. Though Misty had to lead the rest of the way when the older of them, almost got lost.
To Be Continued