WARNING: Sappy Senirasu ending. Then again, Moss and Senirasu are probably the reasons why you're all reading this...

For the first time in months, it was quiet between Gardenia and Volkner, save for the occasional muttering that being deep in thought caused for them both. Gardenia had mentioned Roark five times in the past minute, though never spoke much more than his name and a few odd words.

On the sixth time she had mentioned Roark, Volkner reached a conclusion.

"You love him, don't you?"

Of course, her instinct was to deny it. She would have, if the words hadn't died on her. Instead, she turned her attention back to the floor, trying to answer his question for herself.

Did she love Roark? Hard to say. Only two weeks ago, she had been sure she was completely and irreversibly in love with Volkner. But then, why did knowing she hurt Roark hurt her the way it did? Suddenly, it was like her whole life had been separated into two worlds: the real world where she and Volkner were together, the world they were in now, and the fantasy land, where Roark was in Volkner's place, the world she would possibly never have a chance to explore. And it suddenly became obvious what world she would have chosen, though the other would be in her mind for quite some time.

"Yes," she said. It sounded strange, yet there was so much honesty in the answer that even Gardenia was surprised.

Volkner didn't reply for a while. "We should talk to Candice first," he said out loud.

"Candice?"

"You mean you don't know the whole story?"

Gardenia shook her head slowly, then allowed Volkner to fill her in on the important details.

As he explained, Gardenia was horrified. Her best friend? Damn it, she really was pathetic.

"Better as friends?" she suggested weakly.

"Better as friends," Volkner agreed.

(Snowpoint)

"It's all right, Gardenia," said Candice into a phone. "You're always my friend no matter how upset I am, don't worry about it." Gardenia said something and Candice laughed. In her pit of despair, it was nice to have her friend back to help pull her out. "All right, see ya."

Candice clicked her phone off just as the gym doors opened. She sighed, then she caught a good look at the man's face.

"Now I see why they call it Snowpoint," said Volkner. "I thought it was just because it was on a mountain."

"Why are you here?" Candice asked the blond gym leader.

He took a deep breath. "I'm sure you've heard of others getting in the way of a relationship?"

Candice nodded, not wanting to take her eyes off of him.

"Well, we hit something we…couldn't get past."

Candice blinked, understanding in an instant. "Well, tell me a little bit about you and whoever she is."

This was going to be harder than he thought. "For one, I don't think she wants to see me. She has a reason, and if she hates me, I can get over it."

"And why would any girl hate you?" Candice asked.

"Well, I was stupid enough to think that she was just a friend, when she obviously thought differently. That should be reason enough."

"It should," said Candice, "but if you apologize for being such an ass, and you mean it, she might forgive you, depending on the type of girl she is."

"That could work," said Volkner thoughtfully.

"Glad to help," said Candice shortly.

"Candice?"

She turned back to him, brown eyes watching him intently.

"I'm sorry for being such an ass," he said. "If you never want to talk to me again, I'd understand it, but just to let you know, I didn't really want to do that to you and Roark."

"Do what?" she said.

"You know…Whatever it was that Gardenia and I…"

"Heartbreak," said Candice without thinking. "Let me guess. You just thought you and Gardenia had something."

"Until you interfered, of course."

Candice thought it over. "Well, I guess I can forgive you."

Right then, Volkner was more confused than Flint had been years before when, just for fun, Volkner told him he knew all about "you-know-what" and threatened to tell "you-know-who," which he knew for a fact had kept Flint up all night wondering. Candice was actually forgiving him for this?

Volkner's mental celebration was cut short by her next statement. "But there's a catch."

He turned his full attention to her. She was still watching him, cold as one would expect an Ice-type Gym Leader to be.

"You have to kiss me."

Volkner instinctively took a step back.

"Come on, it's not like you and Gardenia are still a couple," she reasoned. "If you were, I'd be asking you to drink a cup of mouthwash or something."

Volkner considered his options. On the one hand, he could walk away now, unharmed and unforgiven. On the other hand, he could get back on Candice's good side, and start the biggest news story in Sinnoh since Team Galactic's latest crime, complete with Flint making fun of him.

What the hell, he finally decided, closing the distance between him and Candice. After all, it wasn't as though anyone would know, unless he or Candice told them. Or they were looking through the window, or something.

Though he started it, she broke it off. "Your next course of action?" said Candice quietly.

Volkner blinked, rational thought returning. "Probably thank Jasmine and my cousin for all the help they have ever given me."

Candice's eyebrows met. "Wait, I know your cousin. How much help could she be in anything?"

"Until about ten days ago, none at all."

"What happened ten days ago?"

"Long story," said Volkner.

Candice deliberately stepped closer. "We can wait."

Volkner did owe her an explanation. "All right, to put it short, Jasmine talked to you." Candice nodded, but Volkner could tell that she was wondering what all this had to do with Darcy. "Jasmine figured out you were upset because of…well, you know, and sent Darcy over to Sunyshore to explain. She wasn't simple enough at first, so I threatened her, she yelled, and I finally pieced it together. After that," something barely defined as a smile appeared on his face for a brief second. "You saw me at the conference."

"So, that's why you were so depressed at the conference?"

"You never know what you have until you've lost it," Volkner quoted, eyes on the ground.

Candice grinned, kissed him again, and kept her arms around him as though she couldn't bear to let go.

"Apology accepted," she mumbled.