Adventures in Hoenn

Chapter Thirty-Four: Dinner Talk

*Napoleon's p.o.v*

Anthony and I entered Alex's room. I saw a girl lying down on a bed near Alex's bed looking at a magazine until we came in. She had a cast on her right leg, red eyes, and long, flowing red hair. Next to her bed was a pair of crutches.

''Father! Is this uncle Napoleon that you mentioned before?'' the girl asked putting down the magazine.

''Yes it is, Alice,'' Anthony said smiling.

''Hello, it's nice to meet you,'' Alice said holding out her hand for it to be shaken.

''The feeling's mutual,'' I said returning the favor. ''Shoot, you and Larraine are reproducing like rabbits!'' I whispered to Anthony teasingly. ''I didn't know you were keeping one of your kids hidden from me! Way to keep me in the know, bro!''

''We adopted Alice, Napoleon,'' Anthony said seriously.

''Really? What happened to your family, Alice?'' I asked out of curiosity. Alice looked down sadly.

''Let's not talk about it now, Napoleon,'' Anthony said quickly.

''Oh, okay. Sorry,'' I said apologetically.

''It's alright, uncle Napoleon,'' Alice said forgivingly.

''C'mon, Alice. It's dinnertime,'' Anthony said pointing to the door behind him.

''Okay,'' Alice said. I handed Alice her crutches and helped her up. She followed Anthony and I out the door. We came upon the stairs leading downwards. Lucario noticed and came up the stairs. He picked up Anthony and I followed with the wheelchair. We set Anthony down in the chair gently.

''Alright, Alice. Come down slowly,'' I said standing in front of the stairs. Alice slowly came down. Suddenly, her crutch slipped and she came flying down the stairs. Anthony, Lucario and I gasped in horror. Lucario instantly jumped up, grabbed Alice, and helped her with the crutches. Anthony and I sighed in relief.

''Thanks, Luci,'' Alice said petting Lucario's head. Lucario smiled and chuckled at the compliment as he scratched the back of his head.

''Luci?'' Anthony asked.

''His nickname,'' Alice said going towards the kitchen. We followed behind and saw Larraine, Mindy and Isaac sitting at the table which was set with bowls, silverware and glasses with ice water. White roses were sitting in the middle of the table in a vase sitting proudly like a skyscraper in a city. Mindy, my wife, was tall and slender making her taller than Larraine. She wore a rose red dress and black high tops. Her hair is brown and shortly-cut hair and brown eyes. She is usually shy and quiet around others (except for her family and I), but is very patient, kind, gentle and sincere. A genuinely pure soul if I ever saw one. Isaac, my son, had black, messy hair and blue eyes. He wore khaki shorts with a brown belt, black sneakers, and a blue, collared shirt. He is a hyperactive twelve-year old who tends to be impatient and is a bit of a prankster (especially with Alex). However, he isn't a bad-natured boy at all and loves all Pokémon.

''Welcome,'' Larraine said smiling. ''You're just in time for dinner!'' Larraine quickly got up and picked up the pot and came over serving stew. I parked Anthony next to Larraine's chair and helped Alice sit down in a chair next to Anthony.

''Is this Alice?'' Mindy asked curiously.

''Uh huh, I'm her,'' Alice said smiling.

''Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Alice,'' Mindy said smiling.

''How d'you do?'' Isaac said waving. ''You're really pretty.''

''It's nice to meet you, too. And thank you!'' Alice responded cheerfully and blushing at Isaac's compliment. Larraine finished serving and sat down next to Anthony and hugged him lovingly.

''It looks great, sweetie,'' Anthony said happily.

''Thank you. I hope you all enjoy,'' Larraine replied kissing Anthony on the cheek. We then began our dinner. I noticed that Isaac was going a little too fast through his dinner.

''Slow down, buddy,'' I said sternly. ''It's not a race.''

''Yes dad,'' Isaac said pausing in the middle of his meal.

''So, where're you from, Alice?'' Isaac asked changing the subject.

''I'm from Hoenn,'' Alice answered after swallowing her first spoonful of stew. ''I'm starting to get used to calling Anthony and Larraine 'father' and 'mother,''' Alice added laughing.

''I can imagine how hard that is,'' Isaac commented. ''What happened to your family?'' Alice regained her sorrowful expression and I gave Isaac a disapproving head shake.

''I've never been there before,'' Mindy said intrigued. ''What's it like?''

''It's a very beautiful island. There are a lot of forests and beaches. I was born in Pacifidlog Town,'' Alice went on. ''It's a city built right on the sea!''

''Wow! I'd really like to see that place,'' Mindy said wide-eyed.

''Sounds lovely!'' Larraine added.

''By the way Larraine, when is the next addition to the family due?'' I asked out of curiosity.

''He should come in April,'' Larraine answered.

''Have you thought of a name?'' Mindy asked eagerly.

''No, not yet. Anthony and I figured that we'd wait awhile until we decided on a name,'' Larraine answered again.

''How's your pregnancy been going for you?'' Mindy asked again.

''Not too badly. I sometimes feel a little sick, but pregnancy has never been too difficult for me,'' Larraine answered.

''Same here. Sometimes I felt sick but it was such a pleasant experience to help give life to a living soul within your body,'' Mindy added happily. Larraine then rubbed her somewhat swollen stomach gently.

''Yes, and I can't wait to raise another child all over again,'' Larraine said cheerfully. Anthony kissed Larraine on the cheek contentedly.

''And I can't wait to be a father to another child,'' Anthony said patting Larraine on the back.

''Do you have a boyfriend, Alice?'' Isaac asked. Alice rubbed her arm nervously and biting her lip.

''Isaac, don't pester Alice with such personal questions, please,'' I said sternly.

''No no, it's fine. I can talk about it,'' Alice said reassuringly. ''Um, I USED to have a boyfriend. His name was Shawn. We met in seventh grade and we've gradually grown closer to each other as lovers.'' Alice then sighed sadly. ''However, in eleventh grade, I caught him cheating on me with another girl. They were kissing in the women's room. I was infuriated and Shawn and I have broken up ever since.''

''I'm sorry about that, Alice,'' Anthony said sympathetically. As he put his hand on Alice's shoulder.

''Thank you, father,'' Alice replied cheering up. ''I'm past him now anyways. I'll find a man who is better than him anyways.''

''Good. And I'll give you some pointers,'' Larraine said grinning.

''Me, too!'' Mindy chimed in.

''Thank you! I'm blessed to have a great family like you!'' Alice said cheerfully.

''I'm glad you feel that way, Alice,'' Anthony said happily. ''I can't wait to raise you as your new father.''

''I love you,'' Alice said squeezing Anthony tightly.

''And so do we you, Alice,'' Anthony said stroking Alice's hair soothingly. ''Say, we're going to have to get you in school soon if it isn't too difficult to walk, Alice. What grade are you in?''

''I'm a senior,'' Alice said looking up at Anthony. ''And no, it's not too hard to walk.''

''That's good,'' Anthony said. We finished dinner and helped Larraine clean up the mess. ''I'll go take the leftovers to our Pokémon, okay Larraine?''

''Okay, dear!'' Larraine called out washing dishes with Mindy and Isaac. Napoleon and I then walked over to the Gym where their Pokémon were to give them their fill.