A Confession of Love

Ash had no idea what he was doing, but he followed Misty into the woods. He had a hunch she would go find the small pond he was at the previous night.

When he caught up to her she was sitting on a rock curled into herself. He couldn't see her face but knew that she was indeed crying. He carefully approached her and spoke quietly.

"Mist, was it true? I mean, what May said. Do, do you really love me?" He was sure that he would find the truth, yet he felt like something was wrong.

Ash's thoughts were cut off by Misty's sharp tongue.

"Ash. This isn't how you were supposed to find out!" Misty started to cry harder. Ash moved to comfort her. He gently hugged her and rubbed her back.

Misty sobbed into his body. Ash pulled her close and ran a hand through her hair. He had to comfort her.

Pulling the courage from deep down inside of himself, he managed speech in what he hoped to be a soothing tone. "Shh. Its okay, Mist. Please don't cry. I do love you. So much. I should have told you sooner. I'm so stupid! How could I not see that we were only fooling ourselves? "

Misty looked up from her position so close to Ash and couldn't help but smile inside. She wiped away a tear from her eye."Ash?"

"Yea, Mist?" slowly he pulled himself back so he could see her face.

"I just wanted to say, that you are not stupid. If only I hadn't have been so silly myself. I guess I just figured you didn't care for me. So I left. Then I realized just how much I missed your company. So I came back, but I decided that I would keep quiet and tell you when you told me. Guess my plan got foiled. Ey, Ash?" Misty managed to smile outwardly and let herself laugh. She felt so complete the way he was holding her right now.

"Oh, Mist. I would have told you a long time ago. I would have bought and destroyed thousands of bikes if it would have kept you with me." It was Ash's turn to let out a sob.

Misty chuckled, pulled him close and just let herself get lost in his comfort.

"I love you Mist. I love your laugh, Your hair, your smile. I love everything about you." Ash placed his head on top of Misty's and smelled her hair. He loved how it always smelled of the ocean.

"I love you too Ash. I love your determination, your will, and your dream. I will stay with you until you fulfill your dream. And I'll help you fulfill it by battling you as many times as you need me too." Misty smiled and hugged him tighter.

"I hope that you decide to stay longer, that is, if you feel like it." Ash was just trying to get her to admit to staying with him forever.

"We'll see." Misty's only response.

Ash and Misty headed back to the camp after Ash's loud stomach growled and they had a laughing fit to accompany it.

At the camp

Brock looked up to see his two traveling companions holding hands and whispering to each other as if it was a big secret.