It was seven weeks since Ash had met Red. Since then Ash had beaten Valerie to win his sixth badge and the group were on their way to Anistar City but were currently in Dendemille town. It was two days until Serena turned eighteen; Ash hadn't given her any clues as to what he would give her. She could tell it was something big though. He was constantly whispering with Clemont and Bonnie and had made several phone calls this friends and family which all seemed to halt whenever she walked by. She didn't want to press the issue; she wanted whatever he was planning to be a surprise. The two of them were in their room at the Pokémon Centre sitting on the bed. Serena rested her head on Ash's shoulder as he fiddled with her hair.

Although she knew she wanted his plans to be a surprise she couldn't help herself and let slip "You know it's my birthday in two days?"

"Of course, and before you ask, no. I'm not telling." He said sensing what she was about to ask.

"Oh come on don't you just want to tell me a little bit?" She couldn't control herself, this curiosity had suddenly appeared in her and she had to know.

"Yes, I would love to show you now but telling you would spoil it. I'm going to get ready for bed." As he started to walk to the bathroom she said

"But, don't you want me to check what you've got planned so if I don't like it you could still change it?"

"No. I have faith in my knowledge of you and gift buying." He said with a smirk.

"Well someone's very confident in himself." She teased

"I thought that was something you loved about me."

She started to protest before realising she couldn't argue with herself. She let out a large huff of frustration then went back to lying on the bed. When he returned she decided that she would stop this childish curiosity and let it lye. This willpower didn't last long however.

The next morning the group took a walk around Dendemille town and whilst doing so Serena spent most of the time guessing what things could possibly be happening tomorrow and gauging the reactions of the others. This didn't work; they all held firm and kept unrevealing expressions on their faces the whole time. The afternoon was spent how they usually were when they weren't travelling; Ash would train with his Pokémon, Clemont would build a solution to a problem that didn't always exist in the eyes of others and Serena and Bonnie spent most of their time talking and watching the boys. Serena saw this as the opportune moment to break Bonnie, she was always the most likely to talk.

After an hour of pushing and getting nowhere Serena had to ask "Since when were you so strong willed?"

"Since I heard what Ash plans and don't want to spoil it." Bonnie giggled.

Serena gave up; the group would never tell her, so maybe she had to find out on her own. She headed off back towards the Pokémon Centre

"You won't find anything." Ash told her

"What?" Serena said innocently

"If you plan on going to either of our rooms to look for clues. You'd be wasting your time there's nothing there."

"I wasn't going to…" She started before realising she had no explanation so she just sat back down. "Okay Ash, you win I'll stop asking."

"Thank you." He said with a smile

"But. If this surprise of yours isn't as good as I've been led to believe I will be very angry." As Ash didn't falter she spent the hours until it was time to eat thinking what it could possibly be.

After dinner Ash told them about the time he met Jirachi. He had told it before but it was Bonnie's favourite so he told it again. Afterwards they all went to bed.

When Serena woke she was alone in her room. There was no sign of Ash. When she stepped out of bed she noticed a trail of petals on the floor that led to a small envelope. Inside was a message from Ash

Happy birthday Serena

If you want to see the surprise come to Frost cavern.

Ash xx

Serena changed quickly and put on her think coat Ash had bought her in Lumiose City. It was dark grey, went down to her knees and had artificial fur inside to make it extra warm. She then ran to the north of the town where the bridge to the cavern was. When she was inside she saw it was far larger than she expected it even had a river running through it. She wandered for a bit before spotting a small dark purple box on the floor. She looked around to try and find Ash but no one was there. She opened the box to find a necklace. It was a thin platinum chain with a gold heart hanging off it, about two inches long. In the centre of the heart was a giant ruby.

"Do you like it?" Ash asked as he walked out from behind a large rock.

Serena didn't hear. She was too busy gazing into the deep red stone, unable to divert her eyes from it.

"Allow me." He said as he took the necklace out of the box placed it around her neck and fastened it. "Beautiful."

"It really is Ash. Thank you."

"I wasn't talking about the necklace." As he spoke he kissed her and she kissed back not wanting the moment to end. He eventually broke away and said. "That's not all."

"It isn't?" She asked

"No." He then whistled loudly. For a few moments Serena thought nothing had happened but then in the river that was at the other end of the cave a large Pokémon burst out of the water.

"Milotic." The giant sea serpent shouted.

Serena was confused for a moment before Ash told her "She's yours." As he said so he placed the Pokeball in her hands.

Serena couldn't believe it. She walked up to the giant Pokémon and stroked it cautiously.

The Pokémon let out a "Milo." Of gratitude.

"Ash, she's beautiful. Where did you get her?" She asked

"Well after I completed the battle frontier Scott, the guy who runs it found a Pokémon egg and gave it to me. When I returned to Pallet town Professor Oak asked if he could look after it. He wanted to study a Pokémon from its egg until it was fully evolved. I said yes and while on the phone to him last week he told me she had evolved fully and did I want her back. I was going to ask him to keep her than I thought that she would be much better off in the care of a trainer as gorgeous as she is."

Serena stared at Milotic. She could see why it was called the world's most beautiful Pokémon. Milotic brought her head near Serena and rubbed it against her to show her affection for her new trainer. Serena stroked her glossy beige fur. She looked along the Pokémon and looked at the intricate black, red and blue design and the small fan the tail ended with. Serena put her new Pokémon back in her Pokeball. She then ran over to Ash and leapt into his arms and kissed him.

"I take it you like you presents." He said.

"Yes. Yes of course I do, but…"

"But what? Is something wrong?"

"No everything's perfect. It's just that you're spending all this money on me. You've spent eight years winning that money."

Ash stopped her before she protested more. "Serena, what good is money if you don't spend it? And what good is spending it unless it's on something you want. However I already have all I want." He said as he kissed her passionately. "So I choose to spend it on making the most important person in my life happy."

"Ash, I'll always be happy as long as I have you."

"Okay so you wouldn't mind if I took the necklace back then." He said jokingly

"No! Well, if that's how you want to spend your money I won't object. Now, can we go back to the Pokémon centre, I'm getting cold."

"Good idea." The couple walked back to the Pokémon centre hand in hand. When they got there they found Clemont and Bonnie sitting at a table with someone.

"Happy birthday Serena." Clemont said.

"Yeah, happy birthday." Bonnie added. She handed Serena an envelope.

Serena opened it. "Three day all inclusive visit to Lumiose Spa for two. Thanks guys."

"You're welcome. The place just opened and a friend of mine in the city said it was really good." Clemont told her.

The woman who was sitting with them stood up and turned around. She was average height, had shoulder length brown hair and a Fletchling on her shoulder.

"Mom." Serena said unable to believe she was here.

"Happy birthday sweetie." Grace said as she kissed her daughter on the forehead. Afterwards she saw the necklace Ash had given her. "Wow. That's beautiful."

"I know, Ash gave it to me this morning."

"Really. You're a lucky girl."

Serena nodded before asking "Mom how did you get here?" Serena asked

"Ash arranged for me to come."

"He did?"

"Well, it wasn't really me. I called Red and he made some calls to a few people he knew and then it was done."

"You spoke to Red?" Serena was glad to see that he was talking to his father.

"Yes. But today is about you, not me and my dad."

After that Serena spent an hour catching up with her mother who wanted to know everything about her adventure and Ash. Whilst they were talking Clemont spoke to Ash. "I take it you haven't done it yet."

"No."

"Then when are you?"

"At dinner probably."

"Wow, so original." Bonnie said sarcastically.

Before Ash could argue he heard Serena call. "Ash."

"What is it?" He asked

"My mom just wants to get to know you that's all." So they three of them spent the morning chatting as Ash got to know Grace and vice versa. Ash told her about his adventure and Grace told him what it was like to be a professional Rhyhorn racer. Soon it was time for lunch. Clemont made a stew with Grace's help. After they had eaten Serena and her mother went for a walk while Ash spoke to the siblings.

"Is everything set up?" Ash asked them

"We think so but you may want to check." Clemont told him.

"All her stuff is in your room and yours is in ours." Bonnie added

"Thanks guys." Ash ran upstairs. He checked Bonnie and Clemont's room first where he found what he wanted. His suit was all laid out nicely. It was a deep navy with gold appendages. He had chosen a simple white shirt to wear as well. He then checked next door. There he found everything, he had picked out a black dress for Serena, and it had royal blue lacing up the sides. He had also chosen dark red open toed heels for her to match the ruby on her necklace. He pulled a small box out of his pocket; he flicked open and placed it by the dress. Inside there was a set of diamond earrings. He would have had no clue as to any of this but he asked some of his friends for advice. May was the most helpful as she, like Serena had a flair for shopping. However he had also asked Dawn, Misty and Iris. He then went back downstairs and then thanked his friends for their excellent help.

Serena and her mother returned half an hour later. Serena was going in the direction of her room before Ash stopped her.

"Ash what are you doing?" She asked

"There's one more surprise in our room, but you can't see it before it's time for dinner."

"Why what's happening at dinner?"

"We're all going to the restaurant by the river at half seven."

"That sounds great." She said giving him a quick kiss. She then turned around and went to talk to Clemont and Bonnie. Grace came over to talk to Ash.

"Ash how are you doing all this?" She asked.

"Doing what?"

"The clothes, the necklace, getting me out here. It must all be very expensive."

"Grace don't worry. I've spent over eight years travelling and have won all sorts of contests in a lot of places, so money is no worry. As to getting you here, like I said earlier it was my dad not me."

"Why was Serena surprised you talked to him?"

"Um, well. I only just found out he is my dad. He left before I was born and my mom never told be about him. I only found out because we ran into him by coincidence." Ash said slightly uncomfortable

"I understand. Thank you for being honest with me. I'm happy for you and Serena. She's never seemed happier than now, with you."

"Thank you Grace, it's means a lot to hear you say that."

At five Serena went to start getting ready, Ash tried to ask why so early but when she started to list what she had to do he soon retracted his objections. When she walked into the room and saw the dress and the earrings she knew that Ash was probably the best boyfriend ever. However she would wait until she'd needed to get dressed to try it on. After Serena had had a bath she painted her nails, did her make-up, the majority of which was subtle except for the bright scarlet lipstick she put on. She then asked her mom to help braid her hair, she was going to have it loose but she wanted to show of the earrings. Once that was done she decided it was time to try on the dress in the bathroom. It fitted perfectly; she looked at herself in the mirror. She saw the way the dress hugged her body, she felt as beautiful as Ash always told her she was. She placed the necklace around her neck and the earrings in her ears. She had to hand it to Ash; he knew how to pick an outfit. Her mom knocked on the door. Grace was already ready, she was wearing a light purple dress and black shoes.

"Serena, you okay in there?" She asked.

Serena opened the door. Grace was speechless, she started crying.

"Is something wrong mom?"

"No, I just can't believe how beautiful you are." She said as she hugged her daughter.

"Thank you." Serena went to put on her shoes, when there was a knock at the door. Grace opened it to find Clemont there wearing a blue shirt and tan chinos.

"Ash sent me to see if you were ready."

"Why didn't he come check himself?" Grace asked

"He said that he wanted make sure you were ready before he saw you."

"That's sweet. I just need to put my shoes on Clemont then we can go." Serena said then quickly slipped into the red heels which were surprisingly comfortable, and then they went downstairs. Serena saw Ash waiting by the door of the Pokemon Centre talking to Bonnie, who was wearing a white dress with small pink flowers on it. She saw he was wearing a suit and shirt, he looked very attractive. It looked strange to see him in a suit but she liked it. He turned and saw her. She looked even more beautiful than he had imagined her wearing that outfit. She was so elegant yet sexy was just the way he wanted her to look. He walked over to her slowly, never taking his eyes off the woman he loved.

"So do you like it?" He asked

"Ash everything is beautiful. You didn't have to do all this." Serena told him

"I thought we'd had this discussion. And besides, a beautiful woman deserves clothes to match her beauty."

They then walked to the restaurant. Ash and Serena walked together with their hand round each other's waist. At the restaurant they all had a delicious meal. Ash was about to pay before Grace stopped him saying that. "You've bought my daughter all she could want the least I can do is pay for the meal." Ash had no objections.

Afterwards Ash and Serena went for a walk, whilst the others went to bed. They went into the woods just as it was getting could see she was starting to get cold.

"Here take my jacket." He took off the jacket and wrapped in around her.

"Thank you." She said, smiling at him. They reached a small clearing and under the light of a near full moon Ash turned to Serena.

"Serena, I love you. You make the happiest man in the world. My morning is brighter by just seeing you, my nights are better when you are in my arms. I can't bare thinking of what my life would be like without you. You are the greatest woman in the world and I lied to you. Earlier when I said the only thing I wanted was to make you happy that wasn't true. What I want more than anything is for you to say yes to my next question." Ash pulled a small box out of his pocket, got down on one knee and opened it. Inside was a ring, in the moonlight Serena could see that I was silver with a sapphire surrounded by small diamonds. "Serena Yvone will you marry me?"

Serena was crying but she managed to say "Yes. Yes, Ash Ketchum I will marry you." Ash got up and hugged her. She could feel a tear run down her back which told her Ash was crying to.

She was shaking when Ash attempted to put the ring on her. He had to hold her hand still but he did slide it on eventually. The two then went back to the Pokemon Centre and in the light Serena got a better look at her engagement ring. The sapphire was bigger than she thought, she stared at it for a few moments, she looked into the deep blue stone on her finger and smiled. She led Ash upstairs into their room and they undressed each other slowly, passionately kissing whilst doing so, then the newly engaged couple made love to each other. Serena had no second thoughts, today Ash had shown her just how much he loved her and she loved him just as much.