Island Wolf: Guys, once again thank you so much for the support you all have given this story. It's really just something I do for fun, but to see people enjoying it is really a big bonus :) I know this is sometimes thought of as a savagely inappropriate pairing and I agree, to an extent it can be - I certainly would never consider implying anything romantic between them while May is her original in-game age, that's quite wrong. That said I think once she's grown up and come into herself as a full person (mature and psychologically competent) and the two ever had the opportunity to cross paths again I think there really could be a little spark there.

Now, all that jazz aside, I was a little naughty and worked on this when I was supposed to be studying for exams, damn those plot bunnies. This chapter is a little on the short side, and for that I apologize, but I felt it was a good point to cut off - one of the things I really disliked upon rereading Ashes was that May's recovery seemed far to forced and speedy. I want things to go a little slower this go around. I will also apologize if this chapter comes off as a bit on the fluffy side, but it really couldn't be helped. Some of you may find certain aspects of Maxie - interesting in this chapter to say the least, and that's because I was a little self-indulgent, but more on that later. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own neither Pokemon nor its associated characters

"Ready to go?"

Maxie turned sharply at the voice behind him, but relaxed visibly when he saw Dr. Villiard standing at the threshold of his room. He had a metal briefcase in hand as well as a small tote bag emblazoned with a red cross. "I just came by to drop off Miss Maple's medications – the nurse gave you the rundown on dosage and daily prescriptions as well as how to change her dressings, yes?"

"Yes, I have paper copies of the instructions as well," Maxie nodded, feeling his stomach churn slightly remembering the seemingly endless list of drugs and procedures he was going to have to force on the poor girl. His discomfort must have shown because Villiard handed him the case and bag with a comforting smile.

"You're going to do fine, you'll be quick to settle in a routine trust me. Now, I've also included some sedatives should there be an emergency. The chances are fairly slim, but there's still the possibility of her reacting violently in an unfamiliar situation – this will help if you need it. There's some standard over the counter medications as well since she's liable to be fairly ill for the first few weeks," he said, habitually shoving his hands into the pockets of his lab coat. "Tip, when you're changing her dressings and cleaning the incision sites, don't be hesitant. Miss Maple is not made of glass and confident contact will make her feel more at ease around you."

"Thank you," Maxie said, the term conveying gratitude that stretched far beyond the physician's medical advice. Villiard's startlingly blue eyes crinkled in another smile.

"Just take good care of her. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything," he said. The pager at his hip beeped shrilly and he silenced it with the push of a button. "Sorry, I have to fly – good luck Mr. Asher and god speed."

He left and Maxie was quick to follow, heading down to the lobby and out into the winter evening. The sun was just startling to slip behind the horizon, leaving splashes of gold and blush pink across the wispy lines of cirrus clouds in the western sky. The parking lot was mostly deserted save for a couple of vehicles in the reserved spots for the hospital staff and the scattered few that belonged to patients and their visitors. Maxie, taking great care not to jostle the briefcase of medications, made a beeline for a black Dodge Ram truck parked next to the entrance landing. Tabitha was up in the pan, tying down the last of the supplies. He gave his superior a lazy two-fingered salute before vaulting over the side. "Hey boss, that's the last of it – and here comes your charge now."

Maxie turned and saw a nurse easing a wheelchair holding May out past the sliding doors. She was bundled up in an oversized coat whose collar didn't quite hide the layers of gauze wrapped around her neck. Her eyes were wide, darting to and fro as she tried to take in her new surroundings. She was almost childlike in the way she studied the world, so curious and so small. Tabitha wisely relieved him of the briefcase and medical bag, leaving him free to take over control of May's wheelchair from the nurse who looked only too happy to return to rush back inside to escape the cold. Maxie wheeled her around to the passenger side and opened the door. Carefully, he stooped down and eased on arm beneath her knees while he used to the other to support her back as he lifted her up out of the chair. He tried not to think about how perfectly she settled into his arms as he gently slid her into the passenger seat. He took one of her hands and gave it a gentle squeeze. She observed the gesture with wide, uncomprehending eyes and blinked. "I'll be back in a moment alright? Just wait here for me."

He let her go and carefully shut the door. Tabitha was already waiting for him when he turned around, hand extended. Maxie smiled and grasped the other man's hand, shaking it firmly. The two former soldiers clapped each other on the shoulder. "Good luck boss, keep in touch alright?"

"Will do. You sure you're alright with staying here?"

"Yeah, at least I feel like I'm useful here and it ain't all that bad working on the straight and narrow for a change," Tabitha replied with a wry grin. "Anyway, you need to get going – you've got a long drive ahead. Now I've got eyes on the area, but don't hesitate call if you need anything."

Maxie nodded his thanks one last time before rounding the front of the truck and climbing up into the driver's seat, May watching him intently all the while. "Are you comfortable?"

May blinked and tilted her head to the side. Her gaze lowered ever so slightly, darting back and forth almost like she were reading before she finally looked back up at him and nodded once. Maxie felt himself smile as he reached over to draw the seat belt across her torso and buckled it in place. He flicked on the headlights and put the truck in drive, slowly pulling out of the parking lot and onto the main road that joined up with the massive causeway that would take them back to the Mossdeep and then on to the mainland. They chased the setting sun for another hour or so until it finally slipped past the western horizon, leaving them in darkness broken only by the occasionally flurry of snow.

It was another hour before they reached the island town of Mossdeep and another three after that driving along the remote northern causeway that spanned the massive stretch of water, connecting the small islands and outcroppings of basalt to Hoenn's eastern coastline. The lights of Lilycove shone like a beacon in the night and Maxie felt a weight lift off of his shoulders. Open ocean would forever make him uneasy – if he never saw saltwater again it would be too soon. He glanced over at his travelling companion and realized that she'd fallen asleep. Flicking on his signal light he pulled over to the side of the road and eased off his coat. He folded it up and gently eased it under May's head so that she could use it as a pillow. Giving in to impulse he brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She sighed softly and nestled down further in her seat, clearly more comfortable with the sudden cushion beneath her head. "We're almost there May, just a little longer."

He pulled back onto the road and suddenly realized that he had taken to calling her by her given name.

Maxie huffed a laugh at that. There'd been a time when he could barely refer to her as 'girl' through gritted teeth – in fact it'd been a struggle at times to use her proper title when he'd been forced to face her again after ten long years of stewing in bitter defeat. Now he couldn't think of calling her anything, but that sweet and simple name. It was absurd how protective he felt over the young woman curled up in the passenger seat. A month was all it had taken...Christ, had it really been such a short time?

The lights of Lilycove faded into the dark behind them and Maxie decided that May Maple was truly an amazing person whose capacity for genuine sincerity, love and compassion seemed limitless – even towards a bitter old soldier like him. That person was still in there, he knew that and nothing would stop him from bringing her back.

Soon he turned off of the main highway to a remote road that curved northwards up into the forest-covered mountains. Just under an hour later the road narrowed to a long gravel driveway that came to an end in front of the home he'd left behind so long ago when he'd been given a uniform and rifle, and marched away to war. Richard Asher had been an industry mogul from Johto who'd monopolized the logging rights in the vast majority of the Hoenn region and relocated there. Despite his name and fortune the man had, to his credit been a simple sort, if a little reclusive, and built a modest two-storey home in Hoenn's northern wilderness. It was well-built, the interior was elegantly designed and comfortably furnished, but the outside had a rustic, almost cabin-like exterior that Richard Asher had maintained reminded him of 'humbler days and humbler roots'. Maxie smiled. He'd grown up in the shadow of these woods and felt a strange sense of calm emanating from the darkened trees.

He put the truck in park and, deciding to let May sleep a little longer, stepped out into the night. A sickle moon cast everything in a pale glow, the snow reflecting its pearly light like crushed diamond. Maxie was grateful that he'd sent Tabitha up here earlier in the week while he monitored May's surgeries and made the place habitable – it'd been well over a decade since anyone had set foot inside. He opened the door and breathed in the smell of pine, dust and home. He recalled reading somewhere that one's sense of smell was tied strongly to memory, and he was inclined to agree when he flicked on the porch light. Visions of the past came rushing back with startling clarity, memories of happier days long gone...

He went back to the truck and carefully cracked opened the passenger side door. The motion immediately wakened May and she sat up in her seat so sharply that Maxie feared she'd given herself whiplash. Her head snapped from left to right and he heard her inhale sharply as she tried to get her bearings in suddenly unfamiliar surroundings. He opened the door fully and grasped her hands in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. "May, it's alright I'm right here," he said and her eyes focused on him with that fierce focus. "It's me, it's Maxie. You're going to be staying with me for a while, remember?"

She seemed almost hesitant, but she nodded once and relaxed enough for him to undo her seat belt. "Can you walk?"

"I...try."

Her voice was low and rough with a strange cadence, but it was hers and that gladdened him. He helped her step down from the cab and kept an arm curled firmly around her waist as she stood slow, unsteady steps towards the house. Villiard had explained that the removal of the implants on her cerebellum would reduce her motor coordination to a more normal level and she would have to learn how to move without their aid again. Admittedly seeing her wobble and try valiantly to keep her balance was a far more welcome sight than the sharp, precise movements she'd used to cross Ardos' arena and the mechanical way she'd handed out death and pain.

He managed to lead her to the living room and helped ease her down on the sofa. Once she was settled he moved to kneel in front of the fireplace, using the kindling and book of matches Tabitha had left behind to start a small fire. Once it had sparked into a healthier blaze he added a log of spruce and birch apiece to keep it burning. He turned to look at her and saw the flames reflected in her eyes. "I need to bring in the supplies and do a quick check around the house, can you stay there for me?"

She nodded once and Maxie rose, brushing dust and old soot from his trousers. "I won't be long, I promise."

He stepped back out into the cold and started unloading the back of the truck, depositing the crates and and duffel bags into the porch – sorting it out would be a task for tomorrow. That done he snatched a lantern hanging from a peg by the door and lit it. The soft golden light lit his way as he skirted around to the left side of the house where the wood was kept stored beneath a heavy tarp. Pulling back the protective covering he was mildly perturbed at the meagre supply stacked there – almost all soft wood to boot. He covered what little wood there was again and continued on to the back of the house where a smaller outbuilding stood. He unlatched the door and stepped inside.

Immediately a wave of warmth washed over him and a soft nicker greeted his sudden presence. Maxie smiled and hung the lantern on a nearby hook. He hardly needed it as he walked up to the single occupied stall – Rapidashes always had a peculiar ambient glow about them. He walked up to her and brushed away the coarse red hair of her forelock, capable of producing extreme heat at the drop of a hat. "Hello there my beauty. I'm glad Tabitha managed to get you settled up here at least."

The beautiful Rapidash had been a gift from his cousin in Johto. He was quite a skilled breeder who'd specialized in the horse-like pokémon for both battling, riding and work purposes. This particular specimen had all the qualities of a heavy draft horse, far bigger than those found in the wild with a broad chest, upright shoulders and a tall, heavily muscled frame built for hefty pulling and hard work. Despite her size, however, the massive pokémon was extremely docile – a quality Johnathan's work horses were well known for. He would have need of her in the coming days if they wanted to remain at least semi-isolated and self-sufficient. The house had been equipped with electric lighting and a generator to provide electric heat when needed, though it had been a much later addition. The original house had been designed to be heated from the fireplaces and wood stove in the basement and he preferred to save the petrol for emergencies.

"I'll be back tomorrow, we've got a long day," he said, snatching up his lantern again. The Rapidash wickered and bobbed her head. When he finally stepped back into the house and snuffed out his lantern he realized that May had taken off her coat and had curled up on the couch, falling fast asleep by the light of the fire. He leaned against the door frame and watched her. She looked so serene he was reluctant to wake her. Still, she'd be far more comfortable upstairs in a proper bed. He picked up the duffel bag filled with her belongings and moved over to the couch. "May, I need you to wake up."

Her eyes fluttered open almost immediately and she sat up. "What...going on?"

"Everything's fine, don't worry. I just want to get you settled upstairs, you'll be far more comfortable sleeping in a bed."

"Sleep – sleep is...inconvenient," she said, struggling valiantly to construct a proper sentence. The speech was broken and a little slurred, but at least she managed to use the indicative verb this time. "I never – need it – before."

"Sleep is how humans recuperate and regain strength," he said as he helped her off of the couch, leading her towards the stairs. "How did you...how did you rest before?"

"My brain," she said, tapping the side of her head for emphasis. "Doctor would – shut down. Leave me with – basic processing."

"No wonder you've been sleeping so much. That's completely unnatural," he chided softly. Eventually they came to the top of the stairs and he led her to the first bedroom on the left. It was small, but very cozy. A double bed layered with thick quilts was in along the rear wall, the foot of it directly across from the small wood stove that was wedged in the corner. A window was just to the left of the bed and he knew that when the sun came up she would be able to see it rising over the vast expanse of snow covered trees. He led her to the edge of the bed and she immediately sat down on its edge. Maxie noted that her face was flushed and pressed his hand against her forehead.

"What – you doing?"

"Checking to see if you have a fever, which you do," he replied with a frown. He turned away for a moment to grab her bag. "Hopefully you can sleep it off. I've brought up your things so I would suggest changing into something more comfortable and then – May!"

He'd turned around and was greeted by the pale expanse of her upper torso as she started to remove her shirt – and of course she would be sans brassiere today. Immediately he grabbed her arms to stop her from moving further and then pulled her shirt back down. She looked at him with something akin to confusion.

"What I - do wrong?"

"It – it's improper for a young lady to undress in the presence of someone else," he stammered, feeling his face burn.

"But Master – he make me."

Whatever embarrassment Maxie had felt immediately twisted into a black rage that burned hotly in his chest and he felt his lips skin back over his teeth in a snarl. How dare he, how dare he – he was no saint, he would be the first to admit, but never had he stooped that low.

"I am – sorry?"

May's mumbled apology broke through the red haze clouding his mind and he abruptly felt all of the anger dissipate as he looked down at her. She was looking up at him with those azure eyes, so wide and confused. She had the power to snap a man's neck with ease resting in those thin limbs, but Christ she truly was helpless. He sighed and moved his hands to rest on her shoulders. "You have nothing to be sorry about," he said softly. "You did nothing wrong. What Ardos did to you – that was wrong. He had no right to make you do that and he will pay for what he has done."

"But he is – the Master -"

"He is not your master!" Maxie said firmly. "No one is. You belong to no one but yourself. Never forget that."

"I – I try."

"Good," he said, finally letting her go. "Try to get some sleep. The restroom is across the hall from here and my room is down at the end to the right. If I'm not there I'll likely be downstairs. Do not hesitate to come find me should you need anything."

She nodded and he bade her a quick goodnight before beating a hasty retreat. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it, letting out a long breath. He put a hand over his chest in a vain attempt to calm his racing heart. You might be getting up there, but you're certainly not dead old boy...No power on earth would be able to erase the image of May's bare breasts that was now seared firmly into his brain. Oh yes, she had certainly grown up.

He growled and mentally berated himself. How inappropriate, good lord.

Whatever awkwardness he feared would hang over their next encounter was quick to dissipate the next morning. He'd awoken first and was already down in the kitchen brewing a cup of Early Grey tea when he'd heard the stairs creak, signalling that she had risen. Maxie swallowed thickly and focused on the depths of his tea. When he finally heard her feet on the tiled floor of the kitchen he looked up and was immediately forced to smile. She stood there in an oversized T-shirt and flannel pyjama pants, hair in a dishevelled mess and one of the quilts wrapped around her shoulders like a cloak. She blinked owlishly and yawned. "Good – morning?"

"Good morning to you too," he said, hiding his smile behind his mug. Gods be damned if he had to try to handle this for months on end. She was far too endearing for her own good. "Would you like some breakfast?"

"I suppose?" she asked hesitantly. Maxie raised an eyebrow at her and she shrugged. "The Doctor said I did not need – food. He give me injections and – pills."

"That's not standard procedure for humans," he said, parroting last night's conversation about sleep. "Here, we'll start off light. Tea and toast."

She slid herself up onto one of the stools next to the counter, eyeing the food suspiciously for a few moments before picking up a piece of toast and started nibbling at it. "I have to go out for a while, but I'll be back by noon. I've got the fire well stoked and there's books in the lounge for your perusal should you wish. Do you think you'll be alright here on your own?

"Yes."

"Alright, just leave the washing up for me."

With that he went upstairs to change, swapping out his usual button down shirt and slacks for dungaree trousers and a heavy cable-knit turtleneck. He pulled on his boots and tweed flat cap before stepping outside. The morning sun was weak, but was surprisingly warm for the first week of December – not enough to cause any real snow melt, but it was enough to allow him to leave his coat undone and forgo a scarf. He headed towards the stable where the Rapidash whinnied a greeting. "Morning Maria," he said and unlatched her stall door, leading her outside. She waited patiently as he started putting on her harness and collar, huffing in discomfort only once when he slid on her bridle and blinders, and put the bit in her mouth. He stood back when he finished, moderately impressed with the time he made – he hadn't put the pulling tack on a horse since he was a boy. He hooked up her traces to the whippletree that attached her to the front of a large, flat sledge. That done he took her by the reins and guided her into a slow walk along a path that wound up through the trees.

Eventually they came to a small clearing and Maxie pulled Maria to a halt on the far side. He shrugged off his coat and unclipped a pokéball from his belt, casually lobbing it skywards. The red and white capsule opened with a flash of light the solidified into the burly shape of a Linoone. It was an old specimen, its muzzle heavily sprinkled with grey fur and stripes pale with age, but it greeted its trainer will a low crooning growl. "Hello old friend. Time to get to work."

The Linoone bobbed his head once and slowly shuffled across the clearing to the line of trees. He sniffed around the base of a tall poplar for a moment before his claws started to glow with building energy. The old badger-like creature reared up onto his hind legs and bellowed, slashing at the thick trunk before him. There was a loud crack and the tree swayed for a moment before falling into the clearing with a crash. Maria whinnied at the sound, pawing at the snow with a heavy iron shod hoof, but Maxie's firm hand on her harness kept her in place. "Good job Winston, I need birch now."

Winston grunted and waddled over to the next stand of trees. He felled two tall Birches as well as a Larch and a Black Spruce before he started cutting up the fallen trees into smaller logs that Maxie loaded onto the back of the sledge, lashing them down tightly. That done he sat down on the back edge of the sledge, lighting a cigarette as he did so. Winston settled down next to him and was quick to fall asleep now that his work was done for the day. Maxie smiled around his cigarette and scratched the coarse fur behind the badger's ears.

He leaned his head back and looked up at the sky, watching the clouds scudding along the wind. It was so quiet out here aside from the occasional breath of wind rattling the bones of the trees and the quiet huff of his pokémon. Maria shifted in place and the metal of her bridle and harness rang like a bell. He could remember clearing out this small field with his father so many years ago. They'd had a team of Rapidash back then, hauling lumber to the work site. His uncles had often come up with them, felling trees by hand and loading them up onto the sleds with him. He'd been too small to do much aside from tend the horses, but he remembered sitting with the men around a campfire and brewing spruce tea to ward off the biting cold in the winter months. This was what he'd fought so hard to protect, this is what he'd laid down his life for in the war and this is why he'd wanted to expand the land so badly. No more foolish conflicts, no more pointless skirmishes for land, squabbling like infants over resources. Somewhere along the way, however, he'd lost sight of that...the power struggle between him and Archie had become more important than preserving this simple freedom. That was until a 12-year old girl had shown both men how idiotic they'd been and had faced the wrath of titans without fear. Earth, Sea and Sky had bowed before her, this iron-willed slip of a girl whose unselfish heart wanted nothing more than peace. That girl had grown into a fine young woman with a temper like a Taurus and a rapier wit to match. He smiled, something he seemed to be doing a lot lately despite his situation. That temper had irked him to no end just a month ago, but now he would give quite a lot to have her toss a barbed comment his way.

Maxie finished his cigarette before returning Winston to his pokéball and heading up front to take up Maria's reins. He clicked his tongue softly and the draft horse nickered, immediately throwing her weight against the straps of the harness. The sledge lurched into motion under the application of the Rapidash's monumental strength and she started forward in a slow, but powerful walk.

The house drew back into sight just after high noon. Maxie unhooked Maria from her burden and removed her tack, leading her into the stable where he could brush her down and give her food and water. He rubbed her nose fondly before leaving her to rest and unloaded the wood from the sled, piling it beneath the tarp along the side of the house. That done he stepped inside of the house, beating the snow off of his boots and removing his cap. His face stung at the sudden warmth, but he felt better than he had in days.

He hung up his coat and peered into the living room. May was curled up against the arm of the sofa, book in hand. At some point she'd changed out of her sleepwear and into leggings and large pullover sweater though the quilt was still draped across her lap. "Hello, how are you feeling?"

"My temperature – it keeps..." she paused and he could see her visibly struggle for the word, "shifting."

"Hmm, we'll have to keep an eye on that. Come on, it's time to change your dressings and take your medication."

She set down the book and removed the quilt from her lap, waiting for him patiently as he retrieved the metal case and bag Dr. Villiard had given him. A handful of pills, including an Advil for the fever, and one injection later he was carefully unwinding the gauze around her neck. The ports where her body suit had connected to her nervous system had been removed and carefully stitched shut thanks to the tremendous skill of Villiard and his team, but it still looked painful. He cleaned and disinfected the stitched skin as gently as he could before applying a new layer of gauze and then moved to clean the incision sites on her scalp and wrist. May sat through the entire thing without whimper or complaint. She hardly even flinched and that bothered him a great deal. "There we are."

"Thank you."

"There's no need to thank me," he muttered, more to himself than anything else. She looked at him quizzically and he smiled tightly. "Ah, just ignore me. Are you hungry?"

"I am – satiated." she said, shaking her head. "May I – read now?"

"Yes, though for your next selection I would suggest something a little lighter than Macbeth."

The rest of the day passed without incident. Indeed they started to settle into a comfortable routine. He would always wake up first in the morning, though she would follow not long after and he'd have a cup of Earl Grey tea and a slice of toast waiting for her. The rest of the day was usually spent in the living room where both of them would read, he in the armchair by the hearth and she in her usual spot on the couch. They would sit in companionable silence, though every once and a while he would try to coax her into talking. Her speech was progressing nicely, though she remained reserved and aside from the occasional flash of quizzical curiosity, she was emotionally detached. He occasionally broke routine by taking a stroll in the woods that behind the house – he hoped to bring May with him at some point, but her health remained precariously frail and she always seemed to be suffering from a cold or running a mild fever. On the bright side she was well on her way to being weaned off the support drugs and the surgery sites were nearly healed.

The second week he received a phone call from Tabitha who let them know that David and Eldes had finally arrived and were working hard to heal what few pokémon they'd managed to retrieve from both his and May's teams. He decided to keep the latter piece information to himself for the time being, though he did tell her that her cousin had arrived and was doing his best to help in the fight against Cipher. Her eyes had flickered at the mention of David's name, but as quickly as it had come, whatever spark of emotion had been there was gone.

Nearly a month went by and Maxie was came to the sudden and painful realization that it was Christmas Eve.

He'd awoken earlier than usual that morning and checked his cellphone, startled when he noticed the tiny little 24 in the corner of the screen. He hadn't celebrated Christmas in years...not since the end of the war. Still, May seemed to be the type that would and perhaps it would help. He pulled on his boots and cap, and stepped out into the gloom of the early winter morning. He didn't have anything by way of decorations for the house – but he could always improvise. He cut down several Fir boughs and spent the morning out back fashioning a wreath from the branches, deftly weaving in sprigs of Holly, Cheri and Leppa berries. The work was oddly soothing and he now had a much better understanding of why his father had kept his family out here and worked the land with his own hands despite being one of the biggest business tycoons in the region. Maybe it was a running trait in the Asher males, but it was surprisingly easy to be contented with such a simple life – it beat late nights hunched over a desk doing paper work in a caffeine induced haze anyway.

Satisfied with his work he stepped back inside and was immediately greeted by a pair of keen azure eyes that, for a moment, seemed almost accusatory. "You weren't – here."

"I know, I'm sorry," he said as he removed his coat and hat, "I lost track of time."

He abruptly froze in place when he felt her take his hand in both of hers. "I...worried."

She looked up at him and for the first time in a month he saw a flicker of real emotion in the depths of those beautiful azure wells. He smiled and curled his free arm around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, that was unkind of me. But, ah – let's try to get back on track."

He moved into the living room, May following close behind, and carefully hung up the makeshift wreath above the mantle. She moved to stand next to him, eyes fixated on the decoration. He saw her nose twitch and assumed she was picking up on the sweet, piney scent of the Fir resin and berries. She brushed her fingers against the soft needles and Maxie was shocked when her lips twitched upwards into the ghost of a smile. "I – remember these. It's Christmas...yes?"

"Yes," he said, and was hard pressed not to chuckle at her fascination. "I'm sorry I couldn't make this place a little more festive. I'm not much one for celebrating."

"Did something happen...to you?"

"You might say that."

"Did it have anything to do – with them?"

Maxie was truly shocked at May's astuteness when he realized that she was pointing to an old photograph. It had originally been black and white, but the years had tinged it yellow. A group of young men in khaki uniforms, the style of which hadn't been seen in years, were gathered in front of the camera. The oldest was no more the eighteen and their youth showed in their bright smiles and laughing eyes. The back row was standing with their rifles at slack salute, those in the middle sat at ease on rickety looking chairs and those in front sat on the ground, some sprawled out in the middle of raucous laughter with several pokémon with them. Maxie felt his throat grow tight as he picked up the photograph. "Well I'll be damned...I didn't think this would have survived."

"That's you there – right? In the front with the Vulpix."

"Yes. This was just before our second tour of duty," Right before we all got blown to hell and the rest of the regiment with us... "Not very many of us made it home."

He remembered all of the personnel he'd lost to Ardos and had to close his eyes. Another pointless war and another mountain of corpses. A gentle hand touched his arm.

"You are...sad?"

"Hm? I – no, no it's fine," he said, clearing his throat and quickly placing the photograph back on the mantle. "I've just – had to see a lot of people go before their time."

For a moment it looked like she wanted to say something, but she either couldn't form the words or thought better of it. Either way she settled for awkwardly slipping her arms around his waist. Maxie inhaled sharply and was honestly at a loss as to what to do. Eventually he settled for returning the clumsy, though well-meant attempt at a hug. "Now what brought this on?"

"I read and – I remember, people like to be held when they are – sad?"

"Yes, that is correct."

She looked up at him with questioning eyes. "Do you feel – better?"

He nearly laughed. It was so ironic it was painful. Here they were again, just as they had been when they were imprisoned; she was the one who had been so brutally hurt and victimized and yet she wanted to know if he was alright. Maxie felt a small surge of hope. If ever there was a sign she was still in there, that she was coming back – this was it. "Yes, thank you. Come on, I owe you breakfast I do believe."

"Earl Grey?"

"Of course."

Island Wolf: Tadaaa. Now, I just want to say sorry for one for thing, the scene where May removes her shirt, I know this story is rated M, but it was so difficult to write without sounding crass - I want this to be a classy M (we will get there...eventually), not tawdry :P I know Maxie might come across as a bit of a temporal throwback, but it's only because I myself grew up quite rural as did my father and his father before him. Mind you we didn't descend from loggers, we're seafarers as far back as you can go. Still, hand-knit clothes, days spent in the backwoods and spruce tea boil ups are a very fond memory for me. Seriously run some Irish music in the background there while reading that scene, totally holds up *happy sigh* and y'know turtlenecks are hella sexy