Yeah. I know I did a huge timeskip in the last two chapters, but I honestly didn't have anything I want to write for spring. Therefore, we went from winter to summer. Anyway, summer/fall will have some action! Stay tuned! Also, last chapter I have saved on my computer, so updates will be slower. I've been grinding out Things Money Can't Buy, trying to get it done. :P

Chapter 26

"Oh my Suicune!" Shane shouts in excitement once the children enter Drew's backyard. It's been a few weeks since they helped Drew with his garden. Today is an exciting day because the Oaks and Ketchums are visiting. When the Enbars heard about their arrival from Kai, all the children rushed over to Drew's house.

Chuckling at them, Drew blocks the excited trio's path. "Calm down, guys. We're all normal people."

"How do you know so many famous people?" Shay asks as Drew leads the three to the patio with the many other people.

Pointing his thumb at Ash, Drew replies, "Ash knows everyone famous."

"Do not!" insists the raven haired man.

May rolls her eyes at him. "Brock is a gym leader turned top breeder in Hoenn. Drew and I were Top Coordinators. You, Leaf, and Paul are champions. Misty is a gym leader. Dawn is the Sinnoh Top Coordinator." She then looks at the sweatdropping man. "Want me to continue?"

He defeatedly shakes his head. "It's okay."

"Speaking of Dawn and Paul…" a pregnant Leaf grins at them. Gary is sitting beside her, and their son, 3 year old Alex, is playing with 4 year old Astrid Ketchum and Pikachu.

Misty's eyes light up with excitement. "It's in two months!" She exclaims.

"What?" Shay is confused. She recognizes those names though.

"Oh. I forgot to introduce you guys." Drew says and introduces everyone to each other.

Eventually, Misty asks, "Are you all going to the Shinji wedding?"

Leaf winks at Gary. "You guys know I love teasing Paul." She only knows Paul through their professional relationship, though she's met Dawn a few times. Apparently Gary knew Dawn because he met her when in Sinnoh once. Dawn invited the Oaks to the wedding. Obviously, Ash got invited since he knows both the bride and groom.

Drew flicks his hair. "I gotta go support Dawn." Being Top Coordinators for years, he's formed a strong relationship with Dawn. He did meet her a couple of times during his travels. The times he'd meet Dawn while he was with May allowed him to get closer to the bluenette. They are friends, though not as close as he and Leaf.

The adults then turn their attention to the silent brunette who's grinning at them. "You know, I am a bridesmaid."

"What?" Drew's jaw drops. Shouldn't May be in Sinnoh practicing then? She could take Kai with her because it is summer.

"How?" Leaf asks.

"I just practice virtually." May tells them. She's close to Dawn, so Dawn had asked her to be a bridesmaid last year. After the whole scandal and Max situations, though, May has been busy. Fortunately, Dawn is flexible. May will arrive a week early to practice in person too. Zoey is the maid of honor, so May doesn't have to do anything except walk and be in a bunch of pictures.

"Then who are the groomsmen?" Drew curiously asks. He's heard how Paul Shinji is a very reserved man.

Gary smirks. "I doubt he has any."

Leaf rolls her eyes at him. "His brother, Ash, and Kenny." Ash has been practicing, but Dawn isn't mean enough to force him to miss his family vacation to practice for her wedding. Therefore, Ash will also be joining May in a couple of weeks. Maylene is Dawn's third bridesmaid.

"Let's all be grateful Ash isn't the best man." Gary snickers, which makes his first rival glare at him.

"You're not even in the wedding party." retorts the raven haired man.

The kids watch in amazement at the bickering adults. They're nothing like how the media portrays them: professional and serious. As if remembering the children, May quickly speaks up. "Why don't you guys battle it out, Ash?" She suggests to her first traveling partner.

With the Kanto men glaring at each other, they each nod. "You're going down, Gary!"

"I beat you all throughout Kanto and Johto, Ash!"

"And I beat you at the Indigo Plateau!" Ash exclaims as Pikachu hops on his shoulder and the group breaks out in the backyard.

"One win compared to my many wins means nothing." smirks Gary while grabbing a pokeball.

"When I beat you, you need to acknowledge that I'm a better trainer." Ash flips his cap backwards.

Misty looks over at Leaf. "Can you believe these children have children?"

Rolling her eyes, Leaf agrees. "Let's let them tire each other out."

The actual children are standing in anticipation of watching a live battle between the Kanto Champion and Professor Gary Oak. The only battles recorded between them are from years ago when they were 10! Their Pokemon are a lot stronger now, so this is going to be one great battle!

Hours Later

"Shay! Shane! Your mom wants you guys home now." May calls to the siblings talking furiously with the Oaks and Ketchums.

After Ash and Gary's battle, Ash had narrowly beaten the professor, so Gary has been in a bad mood since. Everyone ate lunch and dinner together while the adults shared many stories with the children. However, it is now getting late, and Pam called May to tell her children to come home.

"Aw! But we're having fun!" whines Shay.

"They'll still be here tomorrow." Kai knowingly tells her.

Shane is also frowning, but he sees the sun is low in the sky. Plus, he's missed his parents since he travels most of the year. "We should go. The Ketchums and Oaks need to sleep too." He tells his sister.

Sighing in defeat, Shay nods. "Okay. We'll be back tomorrow!" She tells the adults who smile at her.

"Yeah! And then we can battle!" Misty remembers battling Shay the last time she visited the island.

"I can't wait!" the girl excitedly exclaims.

Eventually, the Enbar siblings leave with Shane having to drag his sister out. Because the Ketchums know May, they're staying with her while the Oaks, who know Drew, are staying with Drew. May was surprised to hear that the Ketchums and Oaks knew each other, though she should've figured since Ash and Gary are from Pallet Town. However, May has never met the Oaks prior to their arrival today. She really likes them, especially Leaf who seems to be able to get anyone under her control.

Kai notices that May is having fun. The Ketchums had arrived last night, so everyone left for Drew's this morning to meet up with the Oaks while Kai went to play with the Enbar siblings. Nevertheless, the adults' time was cut short because the Enbar siblings wanted to intrude, thus Kai feels bad. May and the adults have been catering to him and his friends. He wants her to enjoy her time with her friends.

"Munchlax and I are gonna go home, May." the boy softly says to her.

May curiously looks down at him. "No! We're coming with you." She says referring to her and the Ketchums.

Shaking his head, Kai replies, "I'll be okay. Stay here."

"Kai…"

He grins warmly at her. "You should spend time with your friends!"

She now seems to understand what the kind boy is doing. Bending over to meet him at eye level, May smiles back. "Thanks, Kai." She then extends a hand with four Pokeballs. "Take Blaziken, Venusaur, Wartortle, and Glaceon too." With reporters still around, especially because the Ketchums and Oaks are on the island, May wants to make sure Kai is safe. Plus, May already has Misty and Ash's Pokemon.

The boy nods while grabbing the Pokeballs. "Okay."

"Call me when you get home!" she tells him. He doesn't have a pokenav yet, but he uses the videophone in the living room. It took a few years, though Kai is starting to feel like this is his home. Cianwood and May's house. They're his home. He's finally found one again.

Once Kai is gone and Astrid and Alex are sleeping inside with Pikachu and a few other Pokemon on babysitting duty, the adults are outside around a bonfire drinking alcohol. Leaf obviously cannot, so Gary takes it as his chance to outdrink Ash and Drew.

Chuckling, the tipsy auburn haired man claps an equally tipsy Drew on the back. "Dude! We all have kids now!"

Drew gives him a confused look. "What? I don't have any kids!"

"Yeah! You got Kai!" Gary laughs, which makes May and Drew blush.

"Uh. Actually, I adopted Kai. Drew's just a friend." May chimes in.

Since Leaf can't drink, Misty and May have decided not to either. Plus, if Ash gets drunk, someone has to care for Astrid. The women are just watching the men make fools of themselves, but Gary obviously has the higher tolerance while Ash has the worst. The raven haired man is already dozing in his chair.

"Yeah!" Gary hiccups. "Me and Leaf are raising Alex together. Ash and Misty got Astrid. And you and Drew got Kai."

"I'm Kai's guardian." May tries to get this through the professor's mind as her eyes plead with Leaf to help.

Sighing, Leaf places a hand on her husband's shoulder. "You've drank enough."

"No way! I need to be the last one standing!" Gary motions to an equally drunk Drew.

"Give it a rest, Gary. Fatherhood's made you weak." the green haired man smirks while drinking from his can.

"Same to you, Hayden." Gary snickers as he drinks more of his can.

With her blush even darker, May hides her face behind her hands. "He's not a father, Gary!"

Misty, although amused with the conversation, is focused on making sure Ash doesn't fall out of his chair. "Stop teasing May, guys."

"Drew hasn't even denied it!" Gary laughs. "You two are raising Kai!"

Furrowing her brows, May exasperates, "No, we're n-"

"Yeah, we are." Drew cuts her off, so now May lowers her hands to see his emerald green orbs staring at her. "I said I'd help you raise him."

"You watch him sometimes, Drew. But I'm the one who adopted him. I'm the one providing for him." When she sees Drew's face fall to a frown, May's heart aches.

"You should know that it takes more than the law and money to raise a child, May."

While May wants to escape from this uncomfortable situation, she's lost in his eyes. Those painful eyes of him that make her just want to hug him tightly and never let go. However, she won't do that with the Ketchums and Oaks here, especially with Gary here. Instead, May gives her friend a warm smile. "You're right, Drew. We are raising Kai together." Seeing the small grateful smile on his face causes May's heart to ache again, although it's a better ache than before.

To May's dismay, Drew breaks his drunk gaze to look at Gary who has apparently fallen asleep. Smirking, the green haired man says, "I win. Now, you should all leave before I pass out." Normally, Drew is a good host and he would walk the Ketchums and May out while showing the Oaks to their room. However, he's very drunk right now.

Sighing, Leaf calls out her Granbull to carry Gary inside. She's already planning on how to annoy the two men tomorrow morning since they're gonna be hungover. "Good night, guys! See ya tomorrow!" The Oaks then disappear inside.

Misty calls out her Corsola to put the fire out before attempting to carry her husband. Fortunately, she is strong from being a swimmer, so she puts Ash's arm around her neck. He quickly pulls it away in his drunken sleep. "Stop! I'm married!" He exclaims, which makes the women sweatdrop as Drew chuckles.

"It's your wife, dumbass." Drew remarks as he sips from his can.

May reaches over to grab it from him. "You already won, so stop drinking."

"Aw. Is little June worried about me?" Drew smirks while flicking his hair.

"Not a chance." May rolls her eyes at him.

By now, Misty has managed to stand as she supports Ash who is still grumbling about how he's married to the woman he loves. "Stop struggling or I'll leave you here." Misty snaps at him.

"Good! My wife is here!"

"I am your wife!"

"I don't believe you!" Ash's eyes have been closed this whole time.

Misty groans at her annoying yet loyal husband before she looks over at May. "We're gonna head back first. Drew doesn't look too good either. Can you make sure he gets to bed okay?"

May looks over at the once conscious green haired man whose head is now bobbing as it struggles to stay upright. Sighing, she replies, "Yeah. I'll see you at home later."

Misty nods before she forces Ash to leave. Politoed carries the sleeping Astrid out to May's car where Misty drives her family back to May's house. May shakes Drew's shoulder. "Drew."

"Hm." he moans in exhaustion.

"You need to sleep inside."

"I'm fine." he mumbles.

Rolling her eyes, May contemplates having Blaziken carry Drew. No. Blaziken wouldn't like that. May never wants to make her Pokemon do something she wouldn't want to do. Blushing the brunette knows she wants to touch Drew. She wants to help him. She wants to feel his warmth as she helps him get to his bed. Groudon, she might even want to be in bed with him!

May quickly shakes her head of these thoughts while her blush deepens. Stop it, May! Eventually, May's face cools down for her to look at the dozing green haired man again. Sighing, she puts his arm around her neck. "Let's go, Drew."

Fortunately, he isn't too drunk, so he can still support some of his weight. The man reluctantly stands up with May and the two stumble inside. "Just let me sleep here!" He exclaims when he sees the living room couch.

"I would, but then you'd be upset and sore in the morning." May knowingly tells him. Besides, his bedroom is only a few more steps away.

When Drew pulls his arm away from her, though, May frowns. Now, he's going to fall and hurt himself. However, she sees the man is standing by himself pretty well. His drunk green eyes stare deeply into her annoyed blue orbs, and May notices his flushed face from the alcohol.

Drew is actually blushing due to her close contact, but he's grateful for the alcohol hiding it. "Nah. Leave me here. I can walk by myself."

May rolls her eyes at him again. Drew Hayden never likes asking for help, which is why May just helps him, like now. When she reaches for his arm again, he jolts away from her and stumbles slightly. Luckily, he catches himself against the wall. Leaning on it, Drew brings a hand up to cover his face as he hopes it'll help cool it down too. "Stop, May."

"You're drunk, Drew. I need to make sure you get in your bed okay and not passed out in the hallway."

The man refuses to look at her. The last time he got drunk and thought he was going to his bedroom with her, he woke up next to Brianna and had to date her for almost a decade. Although drunk, Drew Hayden learns from his mistakes. Shaking his head vigorously, he mutters, "I can walk by myself. I'll have Roserade and Absol help me, so just go."

"I'm here now. Absol and Roserade don't have hands to help you, Drew. Don't you want to change out of your sweaty clothes?" May now blushes as she realizes what she just offered to do for him. Groudon, she needs to think before she speaks sometimes!

"May."

Drew's stern voice makes May look at him since she had avoided his gaze in embarrassment. Seeing those conflicted emerald eyes makes her heart ache. Why is he looking at her like that?

"I can't control myself if we go to my room." his shade of red darkens, though his gaze doesn't waver. He can't risk losing their relationship over a drunken night. No. May means more to him than that, and he's not that immature kid he was when he slept with Brianna thinking she was May.

While May's blush also darkens, she looks away again to nod. Groudon, she had forgotten about Drew's confession months ago. Well, she didn't forget, but she was acting like it never happened. They're better off as friends. "Okay, Drew. Go to your room, and I'll leave."

Drew gives her a grateful drunk nod before stumbling against the wall down the hallway. When May hears a door open and the stumbling eventually stop, she waits in his living room for a few more minutes. Once it's been quiet for some time, May decides to lock up and go home. However, she then remembers that Misty had driven off in her car earlier.

Closing her eyes in frustration, May knows her only way home is to take Drew's car or borrow Flygon. Both options involve speaking to the drunk man in his room who just confessed that he didn't want her in his room. Maybe she can walk? No. It's late, and she's exhausted. Dang it, May Maple! She mentally curses herself before standing up and accepting her fate. Well, it's not like May hasn't thought about being in Drew's arms.

She furiously shakes her head while making the walk down the hallway. No. The Oaks are here, so nothing will happen. Maybe she should release Blaziken to make sure she leaves Drew's room okay. But what if something happens? She doesn't want to traumatize Blaziken. It's too late because May is now at Drew's open door where she sees the man laying on top of his covers in only his boxers.

He must have been too exhausted to put on pajamas, but May finds his butt cute. She only sees his backside since he's laying down. Poor drunk Drew even left the lights on. May can't help but giggle at him. Maybe she should take a picture to embarrass him tomorrow? This is so unlike the perfect Drew Hayden.

Before she can take a picture with her pokenav, she hears a "I told you not to come in here."

Putting the nav down, May spots one of Drew's emerald orbs gazing at her while the other eye is closed. His face is still slightly flushed yet serious. It makes her freeze in place as she isn't sure what to do next.

When Drew lets out a loud breath, he pulls his arms beside him to lift himself off the bed. Sitting on the edge, he scratches his head before standing and approaching the still frozen woman. Once he's directly in front of her, Drew meets her dazed sapphire eyes again. "May." he breathes out.

She scrunches up her nose at his breath, which fortunately breaks her from her trance. With a deep blush on her face, she looks away from him. "I need to borrow Flygon!"

Feeling a weight on her makes her blush intensify as she staggers to not fall over. Drew's arms are wrapped over her shoulders while he's leaning a lot of dead weight on her. "Just stay." He mutters.

"No. I think I'll just catch a ride home on Flygon." she weakly replies with her blush darkening.

After a few moments of awkward silence, she hears him sigh as he lets go of her. Groaning, Drew stumbles over to his pants on the ground where he clumsily fumbles around until he finds what he needs. Tossing the pokeball to May, Drew falls back down on his bed where he shields his eyes with one of his arms. Seeing May is making drunk Drew lose his cool. Fortunately, he had managed to realize what he was doing to let her go, but he isn't so sure he can last much longer.

"Bye."

May gratefully nods. 'Thanks, Drew." She turns off the light so that he can get some sleep, but before she can close the bedroom door, he speaks.

"I like you too much to fuck up again." he quietly says, though she hears it. "Don't let me mess up, May. Please."

She glances back inside the dimly lit room where the only light is coming from the hallway. Despite the lack of light, she can still see those worried emerald eyes of his. Those emerald orbs she always finds comfort in. Those orbs she always finds herself getting lost in. Those orbs that only he has. "I trust you, Drew." May smiles warmly at her friend. "Good night."

To prevent him from drunkenly saying or doing anything else, May quickly closes the door. Her face hasn't cooled down at all, but at least she can go home now. While she doesn't mind spending time with Drew, it's too dangerous right now with everything going on. Groudon, May's heart is pounding so loud she hopes she doesn't wake up the Oaks. Drew always has this effect on her, but she doesn't hate it. It's just annoying.

After locking up, May releases Flygon outside. The dragon type curiously looks at her because he doesn't see his trainer. "Can you take me home, Flygon? Drew's drunk."

Luckily, Flygon knows May from their years of traveling together as well as Drew's feelings for May. The dragon type nods, so May hops on him to head home. The night breeze helps to cool her face down, which May appreciates.

Patting Flygon's back, May confides in him. "I don't know what to do, Flygon." She sighs. "I'm scared."

Flygon isn't sure what she's talking about, but he's always a good listening ear. "Gon!"

She smiles at his support. "Thank you. You, Drew, and everyone else have been very helpful. I feel so happy." May gazes at the stars above. She hasn't flown on a flying type since traveling with Drew years ago on Flygon. "I missed you guys, Flygon." Can she be hopeful of a happier future?

Ever since Drew came into her life, May has been feeling less empty. Yes, Kai helped with that too, but May always felt like something huge was still missing. Now, though, she's very content, and she's excited for what the future holds in store for her. She's not alone anymore. She, Kai, Drew, and the Enbars are an unstoppable team who care about each other. They may even be considered a family, which May has missed since she and Max left home.

Thinking about her family back in Hoenn makes May's heart ache. Soon, Flygon lands in front of her house, and the two go to sleep.