The car loaded up with their belongings Amelia and Ash were being driven by Alfonzo to the coastal town where the fossil lab is located. The trip taking quite a few days cause they had to come from the other side of the region Amelia saw her chance to ask Ash about what's been on her mind. Before she could she yawned in the backseat. The work on the dress for the figure skating Performance took a little more out of her then expected. Ash chuckled over seeing her sleepy.

"Long night?"

"I finished my dress. Took longer then I thought. I was…distracted." Amelia withholding him being the reason for the slow progress he leaned back as he made himself comfortable. He couldn't wait to see the end result at what she stitched together. Ash willing to support her in what she needed for her act despite the constant requests of her parents. He was a little lost though.

"I know we're going to the fossil lab but what are we supposed to do really?" Ash's first visit he didn't know what to expect.

"Mother loves her stones and has connections there. She wants to maintain good relationship with the excavators if they find rare stones during their digs. As for us? A bit of smiling, hand shaking, watching the Pokémon, compliment the staff, things like that. And you can show off your Dracovish as it's rare." Giving a general description on what to expect Ash felt a little bit relieved. She picked up on it.

"Just follow my lead and you'll do fine."

Amelia said as Ash nodded in agreement as she found a good transition as he was so eager to help her. Playing with the edge of her dress she got a little nervous. Her stomach started to tickle and anxiety started to sprout. Even after thinking about the majority of the night how to ask him she was not as prepared as she thought she was but went ahead with it anyway.

"I want to make my schedule a little busier if you don't mind."

"Even more?"

"It's something enjoyable for me."

"What do you want?"

"Before I ask do you know monsieur Pierre is hosting dance parties on occasion?"

Remembering the presenter from his many visits with Serena and recently Amelia's Showcase he didn't knew him that well but he was an integral part of the events never being far away.

"So he does it more often?" The way he responded Amelia knew what he was implying.

"So you heard of them?"

"Yeah. I went to one a long time ago." At his admission Amelia cursed to herself. Even if she did not knew him back then there was a bothered feeling about him going with a girl that was not her. Thinking it was probably Serena that asked him as a friendly favor which was disguised with the same intent she was after. Still Ash knew what it was like so Amelia might be able to convince him for a repeat.

"How did you like it?" Looking at him his normally positive attitude dimmed down.

"Not really. I felt out of place and it took me too long to get in the groove." He then told her about that evening. Multiple girls danced with him and Pikachu as they formed a circle that moved so that partners switched. His hesitation and small complaints made it sound it wasn't that fun an event for him. Amelia hid her letdown as seemingly asking him out to that dance party will make it not a great time for him.

"Is there another one coming up?" Amelia perked up that he at least asked about the date of the party. She might have a shot after all.

"Right before the vineyard visit. Monsieur Pierre is hosting one and I would like to go there. I haven't been to one and it sounds like fun from what you told me. I won't mind if you don't want to go but I was wondering if you would be my date."

She had to swallow the thought of him dancing with other girls. But she wanted to go for the longest time and witness it in person. Aria's Pokevision's made them seem magical and it might help her as much as it does the Kalos Queen who attends them as well. Still with Ash she might be in need to find another excuse to a date of some kind.

"Of course."

His response immediate it shocked them both. Even if Ash had bad memories he didn't weigh in those experiences in his decision. Not sure if he understood the context she was happy to spend the evening with him. Ash would hold her close in his arms guarding her like a princess while they were stealing the show.

"Thank you."

Satisfied for now she yawned again as her sleep caught up to her this time. Their future 'date' gave her something nice to dream about. Stretching to make herself comfortable she slowly dozed off into dreamland with a smile on her face as the seatbelt unfortunately prevented her from laying her head on his lap like in the plane.

"Why did I say yes?"

He did wanted to ask her for further teaching of dance but not like this. He only got more confused as there was something about her that made him do things he didn't like before. He wished Amelia gave a hint on if she did the same as well. As the car drove one Ash still kept looking at the sleeping Amelia. Seeing her so peaceful it made sense. He looked out the window as the region passed him by quicker then he was used too.

"It makes her happy. One time isn't so bad then."

Arriving at the hotel they'd stay over for the night the room they were in was big enough for Ash, Amelia and Alfonzo. The aid as usual tending to their needs Ash was a little nervous as they finished dinner. Their stomachs calming down Ash gathered his nerves.

"Amelia?"

"Yes?"

"I need something from you if you have the time."

"If there is something you need Mr. Ketchum I'd be glad to go out and retrieve it." Alfonzo told him not too bother his watch with requests he can fulfill instead.

"It's not an object. It has to do with you." Intrigued by his choice of words she formed a small blush.

"Yes?" Her anticipation peaking Ash scratched his cheek.

"I know we're going to the dance party but I need more practice. Can I practice with you if you feel like it or have the time?"

"Of course." She hasn't danced today so a slow one with Ash seemed a good idea. Plus she got to touch him again. Getting up from her seat Amelia went to get her bag and retrieved her dance slippers. Removing the small heels she wore she slipped her dancing shoes on.

"Alfonzo, go and provide the music will you?"

"Of course miss."

The aid went to work to set up to rewire the speakers to play a tune in line with Amelia and her special guest activity. Ash seeing her prepare saw Amelia take a Pokeball of her own. Throwing it her Espeon popped out of it. Standing ready for orders Amelia bended down to her.

"Espeon. I'm going to teach Ash how to dance better. Can you show Pikachu the steps for me?"

Agreeing to it Espeon walked to Pikachu. Apart from eating and some playtime with the other Pokémon they did not interact as much as their trainers did. This would also be their first close contact together and it told Pikachu that Espeon is going to be the Pokémon Amelia chose to be at the party with her.

The scenario set they all stood across the other. Nerves began to plague the humans but while Amelia had a focus on dancing well, Ash did not have that luxury and his mouth started to dry out. Shaking a little nervously Amelia spoke to him gently.

"Now. Just do what you did on the SS Shimmer. You remember the hold you performed?"

Amelia giving permission he wrapped his arms around her waist. The hold akin to a hug she moved her left hand so it touched his right taking it off her. Telling him to hold it up at a certain height she used her right hand to move Ash's left to another spot on her hip.

"What we did then was a slow shuffle. We'll work slowly to more traditional moves."

Amelia gave a signal to Alfonzo to play the music. A slow classical tune akin to Kalos tradition began to play. Amelia slowly paced back and forth with him repeating the motion in reflection. Feeling the twitch in his arm vanish Amelia knew he is comfortable with this motion now and proceeded.

"Now unhook your left from my hip and hold it sideways while raising your right hand holding onto my hand."

He did as she said and held his right hand above him. Amelia's hand still touching his she loosened her grip a little bit and using his raised hand as base she twirled in place before bowing as the introduction to their dance.

"Try and do a bow as well when I finish my twirl. Ready?"

After it Amelia went through the rest of the dance making him repeat the same things over and over again. Ash began at one point began to do them automatically like a robot. Not stiff but a natural repeat of the fluid motions she taught him. They returned to the slow shuffle of before. Hand on hips and raised high Amelia purposefully did return to it just to be as close as she can be to him.

"She really is amazing."

Twirling again using his high hand Ash on occasion her long hair flowing in the spin it brushed against him. Not touching his skin he felt how soft it was. He never did ask her what shampoo she's using. He never got some of his old companions that fussed about their hair but hanging out with Amelia he began to think they had a point. The care she showed in her long locks matched the details in her outfits and routines.

If she had an objective it had to be done and done well. As in the determination she displayed in teaching him now. He found her a great teacher and for some reason he picked it up quicker than with Serena, Miette and Aria. From the way she looked to the staff's appearance if Louise put her in charge to the tiniest errors in her Showcases she set high standards. It somehow made him want to have a good standard as well during the dance party they were attending together soon.

"Ow!"

He got pulled out of his head by Amelia yelling. Breaking off the position they were in she rubbed the tip of her feet. Ash realized that in his fantasy he did the dreaded thing you never do in a dance.

He stepped on her toes.

"I'm so sorry!" He franticly apologized letting go distancing himself. What he was afraid of happened.

"I wasn't looking where I was going. What a bad excuse!" Scolding himself over his lack of awareness she chuckled over his distress. To her he seemed to want to do well and not let her down. Her smile calmed him down and that she accepted his error.

"That's good." Amelia told him which confused Ash. How can hurting her be a good thing?

"When you're paying less attention to where your feet are it means you're more confident of your moves. You're getting better." She smiled encouraging him. Ash kept staring her pretty smile thinking once more she should smile more often.

The topic of progress they peeked to Pikachu and Espeon. The mouse was sprawled out over the floor while Espeon was disappointed. So much into their own world they forgot all about their Pokémon.

"Are you alright?" Ash's partner released a soft squeak tired. Amelia told him what probably happened.

"Espeon can be a little demanding about performances. In that regard she's a perfectionist like I am. Sorry Pikachu." Admitting she can be a little demanding to others Ash moved to his buddy. Scooping him up Pikachu slept cradled in his arms.

"I'm taking Pikachu to bed." The wellbeing of his Pokémon taking center stage they still had a ways to go in the car. Amelia let down but his reasoning made enough sense to squash it down not wanting to come over as insensitive.

"Understandable. If you want we'll continue this another time. Just come when you're ready." Offering her services for dancing lessons whenever he liked Amelia looked at the time. It turned late and with the car ride ahead of them she expected this will be the last of what she sees of him today.

"Goodnight Ash."

"Goodnight Amelia. Goodnight Alfonzo."

Wishing each other goodnight Alfonzo took down the speaker system. Amelia went to her room thinking about what she did. The door locked she opened her bag and took out her figure skating dress. Neatly folded in her hands she looked at it seeing Ash's face. How much she couldn't wait to see his response to her finest tailoring yet.

"He gave me what I needed to make this. I need to get him a gift as well."

Ash earned himself a gift for how he has been to her. The Power Bands she has immediate access to were not an option as he already owned a new set of them. Maybe some Pokémon growth vitamins like Protein and Carbos but they were expensive even for her family.

"I don't want to seem shallow. Something that helps him in his battles but not too expensive since it's the thought that counts. Argh…so frustrating!"

It was a good frustration which she linked to coming up with a new act. The irony was palpable. The one boy she liked can't be impressed with money or fancy trinkets. He was above them according to her. As Amelia pondered over the question for a while she eventually looked at the clock. Sighing at the time she knew another long nap in the car was due on the way to Ambrette Town.

So a dance party date gets added to the list. And more setup. Wonder when the boiling point is going to come for these two.

Thing I just noticed while writing. I tend to use night a lot more than evening even when there's a time in the story that isn't nowhere near night.

Later.