Season: Try not to shed tears near the end. I bawled. Apparently my brain went hurt/comfort mode near the end... We all need to protect Dawn. Seven years later and she's still not over having to give up contests. This WILL be explained in later chapters but for now I just wanted to "gloss" over it, just like I did when I mentioned it prior.

Remember, a couple chapters back, Ash asked her if she missed contests. It's different than Brianna asking her WHY she doesn't do them anymore.

The next chapter WILL really be their date, and a wayyyyyy longer chapter I promise. *looks over her shoulder* Don't kill me.

Narrator: They wouldn't have to if you just kept your promises.

[-]

"I want to take you out on a date." Ash had said and it took all of Dawn's control not to squeal very loudly.

She did manage to chirp a "Yes." in reply which is why now, after Ash had left, she was in her office having a silent squeal and flail party all by herself.

"I can't believe it." She muttered to herself. She had not felt like this in years. Worrying about providing for Brianna and making her the top priority had not left Dawn with any time to go on dates. Not that she wanted to regardless.

But now with Ash, every emotion she felt was giddy and happy. Being around him made her happy, and Brianna adored him. This she could not deny any longer so there wsasn't any reason why they couldn't go on a date and see where it lead.

{-}

When she heard the news, Brianna had gone ballistic. Her squeals and screams of utter happiness could make any of the neighbors go knock at their house.

"Okay Bri," Dawn had tried to calm her daughter down. "You can stop."

"Mom I can't." The seven year old stated.

"And why not?" Dawn asked.

"You are going on a date!" Brianna replied.

"It's not that big of a deal."

"It so is a big deal!" Brianna chirped. "And I have to make sure you look absolutely amazing for it."

Dawn smiled at Brianna. She was glad that her daughter was taking it so well. But she couldn't help but wonder...

"Bri," Dawn carefully glanced over to her daughter. "What if me and Ash, and it's just a if..."

"Hmm?" Brianna glanced to her mother from the staircase.

"Let's say Ash asked me, or I asked him out for other dates..."

"That would be good!" Brianna said quickly. "May could babysit me more."

"You two are attached to the hip as it is already." Dawn said laughing.

"I hang out with May and you hang out with Ash." Brianna shrugged. "As long as I still get to beat him at Monopoly everything is fine."

"So you wouldn't mind if he, let's say-"

"Yeah?" Brianna interrupted.

"...Became my boyfriend?" Dawn finished.

"Mom, he already is." Brianna stated.

"That is a friend who is a boy. A boyfriend is different." Dawn said.

"I'm only seven what do I know about this?" Brianna shrugged and tugged Dawn up the stairs.

"A boyfriend is someone who I would kiss." Dawn said. "A lot."

"Yeah, I'm fine with that." Brianna said again. "Just let us play Monopoly okay?"

Dawn laughed. It seemed that if she and Ash did pursue whatever this was, Brianna wouldn't change her feelings for him. She sighed in relief and went with Brianna to pick out the clothes she was going to wear for the date.

{-}

"I don't know," May said staring at Dawn. "This dress seems a bit too flashy."

When Brianna had called her to rush over, saying it was a fashion emergency, she had been there in twenty minutes.

They had now been going over Dawn's wardrobe for half an hour.

"She can't wear jeans." Brianna stated. "Ash will more than likely be wearing dress pants." She added.

"Oh, I like that." May nodded. "Do you have any new dress pants?"

"I only have the ones I use for work." Dawn said.

"We need to go shopping!"

"It's ten at night and Bri should be sleeping."

"But mom!"

"No buts missy." Dawn said. "You have school tomorrow. My date is on Saturday."

"We can go during your lunch break." May offered.

"I'm still in school at that time." Brianna whined.

"Okay, how about we all go after work ends? We can go pick you up at five." May compromised.

"Yeah that's good." Dawn said, realizing she would not see the end of the discussion. "Now to bed with you."

"Can May stay over?" Brianna asked.

"I don't know Bri, can she?" Dawn replied.

"May! Can you?" Brianna asked. "Please."

"If the monster asks with those pleading eyes how can I say no?" May relented.

"Yay! I'll go get ready and you can tell me a bedtime story." Brianna rushed out her mother's room.

"Is it really okay that I stay?" May asked.

"We should have done a sleepover ages ago." Dawn replied. "I will lend you a pair of pajamas and give you a new toothbrush."

"Thanks."

{-}

"And then Glaceon and Piplup both got hit by the attack, but Dawn ended up defeating me at the end!"

Brianna had been attentively listening to the story until the very last sentence. "Mom is the best." She exclaimed.

"Of course she is. That's why she managed to beat me."

"Aren't you Hoenn's Princess?" Brianna questioned.

"That was a long time ago kiddo." May said.

"May you're supposed to tell her a story that will make her want to fall asleep." Dawn said as she entered Brianna's room.

"I just couldn't resist telling her how you managed to beat me at the Wallace Cup."

"That was all Piplup, he trained very hard." Dawn stated.

"Mom why don't you and May do contests anymore?" Brianna casually asked. She was always hearing about her mom's debut and other details about her life as a coordinator, and knew about May from the television re-runs but that was about it.

Dawn grabbed one of Brianna's favorite plush and sat down on the bed. "I told you it's because I gave it up and I would explain in detail when you're older."

"Seeing you grow is way more important to me nowadays than some silly competition Bri." May said.

Brianna wasn't satisfied with the answers but she let it go for the moment. She was getting tired.

"Now sleep." Dawn said, pressing a kiss to Brianna's forehead as she tucked her in with the plush. She stood up from the bed and went over to the door with May.

"Good night mommy, May, I love you."

"We love you too." Dawn said and turned off the light, leaving the door slightly opened she walked away with May. When they were far enough, tears began to fall down Dawn's eyes.

May quickly hugged her friend. "Come on, I'll make us a cup of tea."

Dawn quickly wiped her eyes and then hugged the brunette back. "I'm fine May." She said. "But I can use the tea."