Riley arrived first. I'd planned it that way, so they wouldn't end up on the same train from Canalave. I met him at the station myself, worried he might feel too embarrassed if he knew that two other people were aware of his problem.

He descended from the train gracefully, wearing his usual long blue suit and hat, and his necklace... neck ornament... neck thing, looked freshly polished.

"Roark... how lovely to see you," he said, smiling a little and holding his hands out to me. I took his hands in mine, but I was not smiling.

"Riley - cut the formalities - did you tell Dad anything about-"

"No!!" Riley looked shocked and offended. "Do you really think I'd ever - will ever - be able to even face him again? I can't even think about him or it hurts. Do you know how painful that is - you and him... you're my only family..." He sighed, looking thoroughly downcast. "Thank god at least you understand..."

"Not really," I replied honestly. "Dad called me, and he was worried about you. Really worried, and upset you'd gone to Iron Island."

Riley looked up, his face shining with happiness for a moment. "Byron missed me?"

"He reckoned a week ago you started PMSing and acting very strange, then suddenly left the house. Riley, I need you to tell me what happened a week ago, to make you act this way."

Riley's face was unusually blank. "Nothing happened."

I frowned. "Riley - please. Cut it out. I'm not dumb, you've always been a little weirdly obsessed with my Dad - fine, I get it. You think he's rugged and handsome or... shit, I don't know."

"That's not it," Riley said, his face turning red. I continued on.

"Even if you want to claim you've liked him all this time, why would you suddenly change into a teenager with a broken heart? It doesn't make any sense."

"Because I was denying it to myself?! I don't know, Roark!" He slumped down into a bench. The train station was deserted now, everyone had gone. He buried his face into his hands shaking his head back and forth. I put a gentle hand on his shoulder. Then his voice came in a whisper from behind his hands. "Byron kissed me, Roark."

My fingers clenched in his jacket, my free hand balling into a fist as my body froze from shock. No - that couldn't be it.

"Riley... you must have been-"

"He was really drunk, Roark, that's the problem." He shook his head again, moaning pitifully into his hands. "You know how he sometimes talks about your mother when he gets really drunk, and he gets depressed... he started to go on and on about how his son was in a relationship, and he hadn't been on a date since before you were born. He said he was old, and nobody would even look at him anymore. He was sad..."

"He said the same thing to me on the phone," I mumbled. "About nobody wanting him."

"Well, I told him that wasn't true. That plenty of people probably desired him - because he's very strong, and handsome, and gentle to his Pokemon. He said I was just saying that, and to name one person." Riley paused. "I knew he was drunk enough that he wouldn't remember anything I said - so I told him, that I was one person who desired him."

I bit my lip. "Riley..."

He continued on without stopping. "My heart was pounding. I've had a crush on your Dad since I was a teenager, I think. He's seventeen years older than me, Roark, I don't get it, but that's just how it was. And I told him. He just sat there and laughed a little. I felt a little crazy, so I said it again - that I desired him."

My heart was pounding in my chest. How could I have never seen this coming? Was it possible Riley had liked my Dad for that long and I never noticed?

"He said... he said I'd always taken such good care of you," Riley whispered. "Better than your own mother. He said he would have done better to have picked someone like me... then he, he kissed me. On the lips."

My pounding heart skipped a few beats. I looked around for Volkner to come kick me in the balls, but he was back in his Gym. I pinched myself instead. "He really kissed you?" I said in a very shocked voice. "But... HOW? Just a little?"

Riley shook his head and I almost choked. "It was very romantic... a deep kiss... he even put one arm around me. My hat fell off... but then he passed out."

I knew he wasn't lying, and I stood there, stunned into silence for a moment.

"But, Riley... my Dad, when he's drunk, I mean, he can say and do weird stuff, but he's never just made up random lies-"

"I know, I know, trust me!!" Riley sighed heavily, leaning back. "Well, he started snoring then. He'd passed out into my lap, so I... I just sat there, with his head in my lap, for... well, hours and hours."

I got a vision of my Dad lying asleep in Riley's lap, and Riley's fingers dancing across his neck, petting his hair, touching his beard. I twitched.

"When he finally woke up, he just sat right up, didn't even realized he'd been in my lap. He had a bad headache, and went to get medicine for it, but then didn't come back. He'd gone to sleep in his own bed." Riley shrugged. "So I went to try to get some sleep as well. In the morning... he was completely normal. He didn't remember anything, didn't treat me any differently. He started to go on and on about the training we'd do, and about our Pokemon, and... well, that's probably when I got upset."

I twitched again. "Upset he didn't remember anything...?"

"Yes." Riley stood up, tilting his hat so I wouldn't be able to see his face. "Anyway, I suppose we are keeping Volkner waiting... shall we?"

"Riley, wait." I bit my lip, and my hand shot out, grabbing his again. "I'm gonna be honest with you..." I glanced at the clock. "After talking to my Dad myself, I thought I might try to set you up with him somehow."

Riley's eyes grew into dinner plates. "S-set... up...?"

"Look, he really is a lonely man, and ... he honestly hasn't shown interest in women all this time! I mean, he never showed interest in men either, but ... damn it, Riley, I don't know!"

Riley was still staring at me with huge, wide eyes. "You invited him... didn't you? To the hot springs."

I winced. "His train arrives in another few minutes."

Shaking his head, my friend backed up, then slumped down onto the bench again. "Roark - I can't do it! I can't face him... you don't understand, it's not that simple!"

"I know, I just wanted to help, but I-"

"NO!!" Riley cut me off, panicking now. "Not that - I mean, Roark, I'm going to be honest, ever since he kissed me, I - I've felt..." He paused, mustering up his courage. "I've felt really... sexually frustrated!"

Ahhhhhhh, damn it, there it was. I knew he was gonna say it, but I still felt like clapping my hands over my ears and skipping around going la-la-la I can't hear you talking about my Dad in a sexual way!!

"In a hot springs hotel, you're either naked, or wearing a very thin cloth kimono... Roark, when I see him, everyone will know, everyone will know about my problem!"

I saw no reason to lie. I sighed. "Riley - everyone already does know. Well, except for my Dad." Riley opened his mouth in shock, probably to start yelling at me, but I cut him off. "Don't be angry!! Volkner was actually with me when you told me on the phone! It's not my fault!! Anyway, he wants to help you, too. We want to help you out. And try to figure this thing out without ruining your and Dad's friendship."

Riley snorted, turning to look and see if a train was in sight yet. "Roark, if your Dad finds out I've been resisting the urge to pounce on him and that's why I had to leave Canalave, we will NEVER be able to be friends again - ever. I don't care if he doesn't make up lies when he's drunk, he never meant to kiss me, and he was only confusing himself over you not having a mom, and how I'd helped him take care of you."

When he worded it like that, it really did sound hopeless. My shoulders slumped in defeat, and I had nothing more to say - but then Riley squeaked and ran to hide behind me.

"The train is coming! Roark, please, help me!"

"What am I supposed to do, eh?!" I yelped. "Just... be normal!"

"What's normal?!"

"Just - the way you always are!" I stepped back as the train pulled in and stopped. My Dad descended the stairs, and I was shocked - but not displeased - to see he'd not only combed his hair, but he was wearing pants and a shirt that weren't ripped OR dirty. He still had on his cloak, though. I rushed up to greet him. "Dad! Haven't see you in a while..."

"Roark, m'boy! 'S been too long." He growled, sweeping me into a bear hug. I squeezed him back, then patted him on the shoulder.

"And look, Dad, someone else came to see you too." I paused, turning to look at Riley's hat peeking out from behind a billboard. "And apologize for being silly."

My Dad looked up, confused, until Riley stepped out from where he was hiding, looking as dapper and handsome as ever. All the worried whineyness of a few minutes ago was gone, and his face was transformed into that of a suave gentleman. I had to wonder if this was him turning on the charm for my Dad - and I held back a gag. He swept into a low bow.

"Byron, I'm sorry about how I acted this past week. Please forgive me."

My Dad just stood there, looking dumbfounded. "Riley..." He mumbled. "Y'know, it's been real lonely, since you suddenly left."

I stood there with no visible reaction, but inside I was screaming and flailing all around like an insane person. My Dad never, NEVER used the word "lonely". He was a man who spent hours on end alone deep in a mine - something I also loved to do - but he was not a LONELY man.

"I'm sorry, Byron, I was just being silly." Riley bowed again, his charm factor turning up another notch. "I missed you too, we are simply not as strong a team when seperated. After training in double battles with you, it was very awkward when I began to battle on my own, on the Island."

Hitting on my Dad through Pokemon battles? I nodded to myself, surprised by Riley's wit. It could work, maybe. I turned to see my Dad holding out his hand to Riley.

"Well, will you come back to the Gym, stay on as my training partner?" He asked gruffly. Riley nodded, taking my Dad's hand and shaking it. Then both of us yelped a little in surprise as my Dad yanked Riley's arm, pulling him into a crushing bear hug similar to the one I'd received, only my body was tough enough to handle it, and Riley's joints popped in a few different places and his legs twitched.

"Well - let's get goin'! It's going to be a good night!" My Dad roared happily, letting Riley go and slapping us both hard on the back. Then he marched out ahead, apparently knowing the way to the Gym already. I glanced at Riley, who didn't move at first, but stood in spot, his limbs still twitching. I gently took his arm.

"Are you okay, man? Did he hurt you?"

Riley simply swooned, his matchstick legs buckling. I caught him in my arms last second. His face looked as happy a dream.

"...Wow," he mumbled, and I could see stars in his eyes.

Oh, gimme a friggin' break.