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Chapter 5

Walking hesitantly through the pristine white halls of Mauville City Hospital, May let out a shaky breath. She'd travelled from Littleroot to see her mother and father, and she couldn't be more anxious. Her mother had spent nearly every waking moment with Norman, something May had discovered by just how hard it was to get a hold of Caroline. She couldn't imagine how emotionally taxed her mother would be, and it terrified her. How could she be expected to comfort the woman who had always comforted her? She didn't even know where to start!

'Come on, May, get yourself together. Mum's in there and she needs your support,' the brunette whispered to herself, appearing oblivious to the concerned gazes of the light blue haired man as well as the black haired man beside her.

'We'll stay out here for the time being,' Steven's smooth voice whispered in her ear as he placed a brief, reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Feeling the area where he'd touched tingle, May nodded her head in response before walking into the room, her expression numb as Brendan murmured his best wishes to her.

'Mum?' May called, her voice sounding strained to her ears as the door shut behind her.

'I'm here, sweetie! Oh, I've missed you so much!' Caroline's distraught whisper filled the room as she appeared from behind a white curtain to pull her daughter into a tight hug.

'I've missed you too, mum. Is dad in therapy?' May responded as she returned the hug, her sapphire eyes glancing at the curtain her mother had appeared from.

'You just missed him, he's gone in for another treatment,' Caroline grimaced as May took the chance to pull back from the woman. Inspecting her physique, May frowned. Her mother appeared frailer than she had ever seen her, with taught skin and a worried set to her mouth.

Noticing her stance, May felt concerned that her mother appeared unaffected by her negligence to look after herself.

'Mum, have you even eaten anything for breakfast?' May questioned, arching a cool eyebrow at the woman.

The woman didn't respond, just smiling guiltily down at her daughter, an action May recognised from her own childhood. It suddenly became extremely obvious as to why others said she was the spitting image of her mother. She'd even picked up her nervous habits.

'Right you are coming with me. Dad wouldn't want you to be so caught up with worry for him that you neglect to look after yourself. Besides, it's not like he's here to notice that you've gone missing,' May scowled as she grabbed her mother's arm and led her out of the room, ignoring her mother's feeble protests.

Seeing Brendan and Steven sitting in the hallway outside, May grimaced at them as their gazes locked onto her and her mother's shaky physical appearance. She'd clearly been skipping meals due to her worry for her husband, and May did not approve of it. How could the older woman possibly be of any support to anyone if they were apprehensive about her health?

'Mrs C.!' Brendan gasped, his ruby eyes widening in shock as he registered the woman's anxious exterior. She'd always had an air of cheer around her, so to see her look so forlorn was an incredible shock to the man who considered himself their other son.

'Caroline, I'm so very sorry this has happened. If there is anything I, or the League, can do for you and your family, please do not hesitate to contact me,' Steven grimaced as he bowed slightly at the woman, who seemed unsurprised by the Champion's presence.

'Never mind that, she needs breakfast and fresh air. Brendan, get her what you'd get me, I'll take her to the park nearby,' May frowned as the burly physique of Wattson appeared in the hallway. Her childhood friend nodded once before rushing down the hall his expression grim as he ran past the electric type Gym Leader.

'Wattson, impeccable timing as ever. Please stay here and contact me personally if anything happens to Norman. May, I must insist that I join you,' Steven spoke, his cool gaze flickering from the Mauville City Gym Leader to the current Petalburg City Gym Leader, whose expression was evidently strained.

'Yes, Steven,' Wattson nodded as May sent the other Gym Leader a brief smile, marching her mother past them, following the path Brendan was currently running down.

'Mum, I honestly think that Mrs B. should be here with you. She'd want to support you, and her family can look after themselves,' May frowned at the woman who had started muttering about needing her father, though May had never met her maternal grandfather.

'Nonsense, she has her duties in Littleroot,' Caroline responded, offering her daughter an air of faux joy which didn't fool the younger woman one bit.

Recognising her own behaviour in her mother's actions, May knew her mother's anxiety would increase if she noticeably worried about her mother. Instead, she turned to call to the man who'd offered her family an indefinite amount of help, calling, 'thank you so much, Wattson! We'll be back as soon as possible!'

'Take your time, May! I'm always here for your family!' The man responded, his disposition as cheerful as ever.

Taking her mother's hand in her own, May led the woman to the small park outside, where Beautifly and Wurmple played in the trees.

Taking her to a wooden bench surrounded by flowers, May noticed that the sound of running water could faintly be heard.

'Isn't this park beautiful?' May beamed at her mother, whose countenance grew troubled as she sat on the bench.

'Yes,' the woman responded as her daughter internally cringed, noticing how her mother's eyes followed the butterfly pokémon in their movements around the garden.

'I can't believe I forgot how much Beautifly means to you. I'm sorry if it brings back memories, mum,' May whispered as Steven's eyes followed their movements, observing their interactions.

The woman sniffed as her daughter pulled her into a tight hug.

'Sometimes it's better not to dwell into the darkness of the present but to remember the pleasant experiences from the past. While it does you no good to obsess over the events in your memories, it will only worsen your plight to push them aside from fear. Your husband would not want either of you to suffer in this way, and his concern for you may hinder his wellbeing,' Steven explained, his tone solemn as his expression focused on Caroline.

'You're right, Steven. I'm sorry if I worried you, sweetie,' Caroline whispered as she clutched her daughter close.

Feeling the tears sting her eyes as she heard Brendan call out to them, May sent a brief smile to the Champion who simply nodded his head once in acknowledgement.

'Hey Mrs C., I've brought you an egg and oran berry sandwich as well as a fruit salad,' Brendan wheezed as he passed a paper bag to the woman.

'Thank you, Brendan, you really are a dear,' Caroline beamed as May chuckled.

'What's so funny, Coordinator?' Brendan scowled as May's chuckle became giggles, apparently oblivious of Caroline as she began to slowly eat the food offered to her

Ignoring the confused glances from Steven and her mother , May teased, 'that's Gym Leader to you, Trainer! Besides, if you were any less fit your Blaziken would have to carry you.'

Instantly, Brendan gasped, 'oi, I'm fitter than you. If you're a Gym Leader I'm a qualified Researcher!'

'Oh yeah, where's one of your published papers, then? Got that PhD yet?' May questioned lightly, unaware of the amusement on their other companion's expressions.

Spluttering in disbelieving anger, Brendan glowered before turning his attention to the grass, pulling out giant chunks.

'Aww, Bren-Bren don't be cranky. What did the grass ever do to you?' May giggled again as Caroline openly smiled at their banter.

'Shut it,' he retorted hotly as Steven grinned, 'they sure get along well.'

'That they do. He brings out a side of May that not even Max can bring out. It's good to finally have something normal in my life, even if it is just their bickering,' Caroline smiled as she ran a hand through her daughter's hair.

In response, the younger brunette whined, 'Mum, we're in public!'

Sending an embarrassed glance at Steven, May quickly glared at Brendan who was trying—and failing—to hold in his chuckles.

'Honey, I'm your mother and I will brush your hair and fix your clothes if I want to,' Caroline teased, much to her daughter's mortification.

'Yes, honey,' Brendan chuckled, his tone laced with sarcasm whilst Steven tried to suppress a small smile.

'Brendan Birch don't you take that tone with May or I will have words with your mother,' Caroline scolded lightly, winking slightly at Steven as the younger man's visage paled visibly.

Giggling in response, May poked her tongue out at her closest friend who scowled back irritably.

'May, remember that Steven is watching you,' Caroline chided softly, though the Champion's mind seemed to be elsewhere.

'Please, as if Steven would pay any attention to what May does!' Brendan chortled as May's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

'She could do worse than the Champion of Hoenn, Brendan,' Caroline responded as the Champion tuned back into the conversation.

'Yeah, I could have you, Brendan!' May glowered, her cheeks puffed out in anger as Brendan sneered wordlessly at her response.

'Or you could have Drew!' Brendan retorted back quickly as Caroline gasped, 'May! Would you treat Ash, Brock or Drew like that?'

Caroline sent the younger man a warning glance as May sulked at her mother's response.

'I agree with your mum. I'm sure Drew would be surprised, though I'm certain Ash and Brock would be a bit more clued on than he is!' Brendan chuckled, his irritation dissipating at May's embarrassed reaction.

'I'll surprise you in a minute,' May muttered as Steven's Xtransceiver rang.

'Steven speaking,' Steven's smooth voice broke the silence which filled the two women as Brendan tried, and failed, to smother his amusement.

'Brendan, shut up. Mum, please don't mention Drew,' May's angry glower turned morose, surprising her mother.

'What's happened between you two?' The woman frowned as Brendan sent the woman futile signs to drop the topic.

'He hasn't contacted me, not once. He's disappeared from Contests and hasn't even tried to contact me,' May glared at the grass as she, too, began pulling it out of the ground.

'Gee May, what's the grass ever done to you?' Brendan mocked moodily, though the younger woman paid him no mind.

'Has something happened between you two? Did you have another fight?' Caroline frowned, her voice sharper than necessary as Steven stepped slightly away from the group, apparently unaware of their discussion.

'No, he's dropped off the face of the planet! I know I haven't made any effort to contact him, but I've been busy! Not once has he even bothered to send me a message either!' May glared at thin air as she continued to shred each blade of grass.

'Have you actually tried to contact him yourself?' Caroline sighed, her expression one of exasperation.

'No,' May responded sheepishly as Steven returned to their conversation.

'That was Wattson, Norman is out of chemotherapy,' Steven interrupted their conversation, making May sigh with relief.

'Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!' Brendan responded optimistically as Caroline used a napkin to delicately wipe her lips.

The group rushed back to Norman's hotel room, with May anxiously following her mother. She hadn't seen her father in a while, mostly due to responsibilities at the Gym, and was a little apprehensive towards this meeting. After all, their relationship had never been all that steady.

Everyone entered the room before her, leaving her to enter the pristine quarters to see Norman lying on the bed. Seeing her father drink from a plastic cup of water, May couldn't help but stare at the man in disbelief. He seemed so frail and pale, nothing at all like the man she remembered from her childhood.

'May, you came to visit,' the man smiled, his voice rasping in his throat.

'Yes,' May responded shyly, not too certain of what she could say to her father.

'How're things at home? Is Kenny helping you with the Gym?' Norman questioned as May felt herself become filled with anxiety.

'I'm ok, just taking on as many challengers as I can. Kenny's well too, and he's been a big help,' May responded as optimistically as possible. She noticed her father's face relax slightly as he leaned back on the white bed, her mother fretting about the pillows.

'That's good. You'd be a good Gym Leader, May,' Norman murmured as he closed his eyes slightly.

'Thanks, dad,' May grimaced as she considered her many battles as a Gym Leader. While her father had tolerated her stint as a Coordinator, she couldn't help but feel that it was not as important to him as what she was achieving as a Gym Leader.

'I must admit that May's battling style shows a lot of promise,' Steven assured Norman as Caroline took a seat on a basic wooden chair, her blue eyes focused on May's expressive face.

'Does it, now?' Norman frowned as May felt her cheeks flush.

'Yeah, with a bit of practice she might just catch up to me,' Brendan teased the youngest member in the room, relishing in her angered pout.

'Brendan, you are so lucky we're in public!' May hissed as Steven chuckled.

'What? What did I do?' Brendan grinned at the woman innocently as Caroline rolled her blue eyes.

'Brendan, at least I know you'll make sure May looks after herself,' Norman sighed as Caroline sent the man a warning glance.

'Dad!' May whined as her father's black eyes flickered around the room.

'Max is still in Almia. He's a Ranger now, dad,' May spoke, nudging her childhood friend subtly.

'Yeah, he's really good at it too,' Brendan hurried to agree, apparently having understood May's hint.

'Really?' Norman frowned, appearing somewhat appeased.

May nodded slightly as her father sent her an eager smile of gratitude. She alone knew just how much he worried about everyone in her family, including her mum.