A/N: Look, I'm extremely sorry for the wait, I have no excuses, flame all you want, I deserve it. I'm currently on a plane bound for Alaska where I'll be doing some fishing.

Disclaimer: I don't own pokemon, but do you think they would mind if I, you know, borrowed sceptile?

Sickness of the Heart:

Chapter 4: Rejoice

"Misty?" "Ash, it's me, stop crying, it's dangerous out here at this time of night," Misty said.

"M…Misty? B…But you're…" "Dead?" he was cut off, "Do you honestly believe that I would leave you for some stupid vi…" but she was cut off when Ash srung up from his former curled up ball position and flung his arms around her and squeezed like she was his only lifeline, which she was.

"Misty, promise that you'll never leave me again," Ash bestowed through what were now tears of joy.

"I… ugh… promise," she managed through Ash's smoldering hug. "But, they were sure you'd be dead, what happened?" asked Ash. "Well, the doctors weren't quite sure, but they thought that the sudden change of my lungs having to breath on their own jump started my whole body."

"Oh my God, the breathing… Misty, it's all my fault, I was the one who said to take you off…" he said with tears now running down his cheeks, "I'm so sorry, I was just too scared to think, I couldn't stand thinking of you staying in that state forever, I…" "Ash, it's all right," "But Misty, I don't deserve to be your friend, I can't believe I would just let you…" He started. "Ash! I said it's all right," but then out of nowhere she slammed Ash in the head with her mallet, leaving him twitching on the ground. "Yet if you ever even think about doing that again, a smack in the head would just be a taste of what I would do to you." She smirked. "Ugh, yes ma'am," he said in a drunk like state. "But wait, wouldn't you already be…" He started, "Finish that sentence, I dare you," She replied with closed eyes and a grin, the mallet already up over her head. "Umm, what do you say we head back to the hospital and check on Brock and Pikachu?" he said getting up nervously. "That's a good boy," Misty Smiled back.

As they headed back, Misty intertwined her fingers in Ash's and rested her head on his shoulder. Suddenly, Ash felt light as a feather. "You don't think she could.. Nah, she's just tired," he thought.

Right before they reached the hospital, Misty stopped Ash when she noticed a look of deep concern and worry in his eyes.

"Ash, what's wrong?" she asked with questioning eyes. "Well, it's just that… How do I know that you'll never leave me again?" He asked softly. She sighed and looked up at him with relief. "Because," she replied. "Because wh…" but he was cut off when Misty leaned in for a passionate kiss. Ash, what at first startled but soon found himself returning the kiss just as deeply, brushing the stray hairs from her deep ocean blue eyes. "Because I love you," she whispered in his ear. "Yes! She really does love me! I was right!" Ash thought. He felt like jumping for joy, but instead just replied, "I love you too." They were just about to kiss again when they heard muffled giggling coming from the direction of one of the hospital's corners.

"Ok, joke's over, come out now," Ash said. With that, Pikachu and Brock rolled around laughing hysterically. "Hah ha, ah ah ah hah, AAHHHHH!" Brock screamed as Misty smacked him in the head with her mallet. This ended his and Pikachu's laughter extremely quickly. "You mind telling me what's so funny?" Misty asked, holding her mallet up yet again. "S…sure, just put that thing away!" "Pika!" Misty did so and waited for them to continue. "Ok, well it's just that… It took you guys so long to finally get together," for a second, Ash and Misty paused at the thought of being together, but then looked at each other and smiled. "But I'm happy for you both," Brock finished.

It was later that night and Ash Misty and Brock had checked into the pokemon center. They were sitting on the sofas in the main lobby discussing what they would do next.

"Well, now that Misty and I are together, I can't just go off to Sinnoh and leave her," Ash said.

"Why don't you take her with you?" asked Brock. "I think she has to take care of the gym, right Mist?" asked Ash. Misty blushed at being called her nickname. "Actually, my sister will be back soon, so I could leave anytime," Misty responded. "Well then it's settled, we can go explore Sinnoh together, right Misty. She nodded. "Aren't you forgetting something?" asked Brock. "I don't think so," Misty said. "Well, you guys need someone to keep you out of trouble," Brock said with again. Ash pretended to be sad. "Fine, will you come, Brock?" Brock also pretended to be sad, and sighed, "I suppose so," he finished. The group then burst out in laughter.

Things were going to be different from now on, but not too different.

THE END

A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I'm thinking about writing a sequel, but I need ideas in reviews. A special thanks to XtremeGamer, he helped me a lot. Give him a holler!