Island Wolf: Exams are done babyyyy woohoo! Now it's time to kick back and relax - and by relax I mean help my dad finish his kitchen reno and bake copious amounts of cookies because that's how I do. I actually really enjoyed writing this chapter because it is devoted wholly on Maxie and May rather than the big plot (things started to get cute, I went with it - no regrets) as well as fleshing out Maxie's background a little more.

As always thanks to everyone who reviewed, faved, and followed! You guys are the best! :)

I also may have made a glaring error in that Hoenn is apparently a tropical region...so that said for the purposes of this story we're going pretend I'm not that big of a moron and say it's an oceanic temperate zone. Think eastern seaboard ladies and gents. Anyway, enjoy everybody!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or the characters, I just like to play with them for my own twisted enjoyment.

Christmas came and went rather peacefully as they continued their regular routine. Maxie was pleased to note that rather than focusing intently and exclusively on her book of choice for the day, May had begun to take more interest in her surroundings, trying out different seating arrangements and occasionally wandering the house or pausing to look out the living room window. Today she seemed quite entranced by the snow falling outside and the book of Byronic poetry lay abandoned in her lap. Without warning the cellphone in his pocket vibrated and he immediately set down his own novel to answer it.

"Hello? Mr. Asher? It's Dr. Villiard."

May's head snapped towards him at the sudden noise and he held his hand up in a calming gesture as he rose and moved into the kitchen where they could speak more privately. "Dr. Villiard, is everything alright?"

"Oh yes, yes – I just wanted to check in on Miss Maple's progress, if there's any to speak of that is."

"She's almost completely weaned off of the medication aside from the hormone regulators and her speech has improved significantly. She still has trouble from time to time, but over all she is becoming fairly proficient."

"And her emotionality?"

"Nothing groundbreaking, but she did display signs of genuine empathy last week. There hasn't been much by way of real emotion since, but she has been, well, exploring for lack of a better word. I'm still rather amazed that she managed to recall it was Christmas."

"It's not all that surprising really. Her memories and knowledge base are still intact for the most part, she just can't associate any feelings with them. To her, memories are like a series of unrelated images, like looking at photographs of someone else's life. They have no meaning to her, but we're trying to change that. Still this is excellent, she's much further along than I'd anticipated. Word to the wise, keep a close eye on her. Now that the process has started her rate of acclimation could increase at an exponential rate. But other than that, physically – how is she doing?"

"She was ill for a while, very fatigued, but she's starting to come around."

"Good, very good. This is great news in terms of her prognosis. I would like you to, if possible, check in with me every week or so. I'd like to track her progress and perhaps make some projections for full rate of recovery."

"Shouldn't be a problem. I'll call you this time next week?"

"Certainly. Thank you, Mr. Asher and keep up the good work – oh and have a Happy New Year, the both of you."

Maxie pressed 'end' and put the phone back into his pocket. When he returned to the living room May was looking at him with a questioning expression. "Who was that?"

"Dr. Villiard, he wanted to know how you were doing," Maxie replied, taking up his original seat in the overstuffed armchair by the fire. He was mildly shocked when her pale lips curved into what could almost be called a smile. He raised an eyebrow at her and she smiled fully for the first time.

"I like Dr. Villiard, he is...nice."

"Indeed he is," Maxie chuckled quietly. "So you like him, do you?"

"I – think so," she said, shifting position so that she was sitting on her knees. "When I think about him, my chest – feels warm and I want to – smile. That is liking someone – yes?"

She was struggling for her words a little bit, but the message was clear as she patted her chest for emphasis. It was a little quirk he'd noticed; whenever she had trouble with syntax she would try to compensate by using her hands – it was rather endearing to be quite honest. He smiled and nodded. "Yes, that does sound like it."

"I – feel that way with you too. But -" she said, placing both hands on her chest over her heart, "more. I don't know – how you call it."

"Oh?"

"Yes," she said, nodding firmly as she shifted her weight from one knee to the other. "You – take care of me so I guess it is – natural, but I feel – more? I like this, you being here – with me. I think it - it makes me...happy."

It took quite a lot of effort on Maxie's part not to cross the room and sweep the young woman perched on the couch up into his arms and that notion worried him somewhat. It hadn't even been two months since he'd killed a man without flinching. He'd worn the uniform of the soldier, the commander, the crime lord for so long, used his acerbity like armour, and yet being thrust into the role of caregiver and companion had been surprisingly easy when it came to her. Even before, when they'd been held captive together, the night she'd come to his room...there was something about her – every time, she seemed to find a way to dredge up parts of him that he thought had died a long time ago; brutally cut down on that frozen battlefield and the bitter years that followed. He'd done terrible things in his life, but this girl – this beautiful, wonderful, caring young woman made him feel like his was worth something. When she looked at him with those azure eyes free of judgement it felt like maybe, just maybe he could be something more than the resentful old veteran or the feared syndicate leader. It suddenly became very difficult to swallow.

"Are you – okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. May, do you feel up to accompanying me on outing today?"

"That would be nice," she said, still smiling. Apparently now that she'd relearned the motion it was difficult for her to stop. "Shall I – get ready?"

"Yes, dress warmly and meet me out back."

Maxie placed the tweed cap on his head and briefly studied his reflection in the porch mirror. He'd found the long double-breasted riding coat and sturdy brown leather boots that came up to the knee carefully tucked away in the master bedroom closet; his mother's doing no doubt – no one else would have stored them with such obvious love and care. It was a little bit disturbing to him, how much he looked like his father in these clothes – Richard Asher had been a business savvy man with a simple, but caring soul. Maxie shook his head. His son had turned out so differently, despite how much he'd come to mirror the late Asher patriarch's appearance.

He looked away from the mirror and strode out the door, rounding the house where May stood waiting, bundled up in her oversized coat and scarf. She was gazing all around with wide eyes, trying to drink in so many new details. It must have been overwhelming for her, but she still seemed to be smiling. She saw him approach and raised a hand by way of greeting. "Hello. Are we going – walking?"

"Hello to you too," he said. "And not exactly. Just wait here."

He ducked inside the stable and made his way to Maria's stall. He gave her nose a rub and deftly slid on her bridle and bit before unlatching the stall door. "Now, I've got a very big favour to ask of you my dear. You see, there's a very special young woman waiting for me out there. She's going through a difficult time and I'd like to do something for her. Think you can help me out?"

The mare huffed softly and nickered as she bobbed her large head up and down. Maxie smiled and gave her muscular neck a pat. "Good girl."

He took her reins and led her outside. May turned sharply on the spot, hawk-sharp gaze focusing immediately on the Rapidash beside him. This was the first pokémon she'd encountered since she'd slain Gabriel with her own hands under Ardos' control and she seemed...wary. She tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes at the mare. "She is your – Rapidash?"

"Yes, her name is Maria," Maxie replied and led the horse-like pokémon closer. "She's very friendly. Go on, say hello."

"Hello," May said, almost shyly. Maria whickered and bobbed her head. She stepped forward a few paces and sniffed May curiously for a moment before thrusting her nose beneath the girl's palm, encouraging her to pet her. May's small smile returned and she continued to pet the mare, moving up to stroke her forelock. "You're right she is very – friendly."

"Indeed. Now you two stay here for a moment, I have to fetch her saddle."

Admittedly draft horses weren't often used for riding, but Richard Asher had been a man of tall stature and found riding the massive beasts far more comfortable than those of mustang lineage. Maxie had retained that habit when it came to favoured mounts. He slid the saddle onto Maria's broad back, cinching the belt securely and adjusted the stirrups. Rapidash riding wasn't a common activity nowadays; aside from the occasional sporting exhibition it was usually reserved for the old families of Kanto and Johto and the aristocracy who still kept such traditions. Satisfied that everything was in place he put his left boot in the stirrup and swung himself up into the saddle. He looked down at May with a smile reached his hand towards her. "Come on, we're going for a ride."

The wariness seemed to return for a moment as she studied his outstretched hand with something akin to suspicion before she finally took hold of it. She stepped on the top of his boot, pushing herself up while he pulled her the rest of the way and helped her sit astride in front of him. He slid his hands under her arms so that he could hold the reins in front of her, both holding her steady while keeping full control of his mount. He clicked his tongue and gave the reins a light flick, spurring the Rapidash into a walk and guiding her along the forest path.

It was just before noon and the sun was out in full force, slanting down through the trees in shafts of golden light. The forest rising up on either side of them was silent save for the occasional Tailow flitting between the pines hoping to forage a few cones for their seeds and bands of Zigzagoons tumbling around in the snow. May craned her neck back, trying to look at him.

"This is a very – strange way to travel," she remarked over the rhythmic clopping of Maria's massive iron shod hooves and the ringing of the bridle as she walked.

"I used to do this all the time when I was a lad," Maxie replied and urged her to look ahead again. "So did my father."

"It is – nice."

"Agreed. Here, let's pick up the pace a bit."

He gave the reins another flick and lightly pressed the heels of his boots into the mare's flanks. She whinnied, speeding up to a trot and then on to a canter. The forest started to blur into shades of green and white until they broke free of the treeline and came to a wide open field that sprawled over several acres and was bisected by the rickety remains of a hand built fence. He spurred Maria into a light gallop parallel to the fence, letting the mare choose her pace and adjusting himself accordingly. For someone who'd never ridden before May was reacting surprisingly well, shifting her weight as needed – then again she'd been flying on the backs of her pokémon for years and without fear or any other emotion to cloud her senses he supposed it was only too easy to figure out how to compensate.

Snow flew up beneath Maria's hooves and the mare's breath fogged on the cold winter air as she put her full head into the run. She was a draft horse yes, but she was still a Rapidash and there was nothing Rapidashes loved more than to run free under the sky. He felt his own heart soar as the landscape sped by. It was a deeply powerful feeling, earthy and strong as the mare's hooves struck a fierce cadence against the snow covered ground and propelled them forward across the land. Eventually they came to the opposite end of the field and Maxie turned them around, heading back into the trees and onto the forest trail as he slowed them back to a loping walk. A brook ran alongside the path, gurgling brightly over the rocks and splashing against the ice forming along the shallow banks.

Now that they'd slowed he could feel May breathing hard and found that he was also slightly out of breath from the wild run. He pulled Maria to a halt next to the brook and carefully dismounted, helping her down after him. The smile was firmly on her face now, wider than it had ever been, dimpling her reddened cheeks. He chuckled and removed his cap so he could rake back the stray hair that had fallen into his face. "Did you enjoy that?"

"It was very – stimulating."

He grinned and place the cap back on his head before passing her the leading reins. "Take her down to the stream for a drink – I want to check something. I think one of the old storage sheds is around here somewhere."

May did as she was bid, leading the mare down to the brook's edge so she could take a drink. Content that the pair were fine Maxie headed up the bank and onto the other side of the trail. He climbed the low hill and when he came to its top he could just make out the shape of a small, square structure composed of felled logs and a rusted piece of ribbed sheet metal that had served as a simple roof. The fact that is was built on the lee side of the hill had stopped it from being completely buried, but the deep drifts had blocked off the door. Maxie made his way down the hill, cringing slightly as he sunk up to his knees and the snow spilled over the tops of his boots – still it was worth taking a look.

His father had built several of the small shacks on various corners of the property, mainly for the purpose of storage, but they doubled as an emergency shelters for any travelling trainers who happened by the property during a storm. He stooped next to one of the windows and tried to peer inside. He could make out the shapes of a few barrels and long-rusted logging equipment, but other than that it was fairly empty inside. Without warning he felt a chill creep up his spine and the hair on the nape of his neck stood on end. He drew up to full height and took a few paces back from the window, scanning the surrounding trees through narrowed eyes. When he looked back at the storage shed he gasped.

An Absol stood statue still on the roof of the shack, thick mane of fur moving ever so gently in the breeze as it stared at him with crimson eyes that seemed to burn with a light of their own. The felid tilted its head slightly and the scythe-like horn gleamed menacingly in the winter sun. Maxie hardly dared to breathe as the disaster pokémon continued to stare him down with those unblinking eyes. An icy blast of wind swept over the clearing and its mouth suddenly parted, exposing a gaping maw lined with razor sharp fangs in a silent roar as it crouched and then launched itself at him. Maxie reflexively brought an arm up to protect his throat from that terrible bite and tried to step backwards, but the deep snow caused him to overbalance and he fell onto his back. He shut his eyes, bracing himself for the teeth that were sure to tear into him...

But it never came.

He lowered his arm and propped himself up on his elbows. The Absol was nowhere to be seen – in fact, when he managed to get back to his feet he could not see any tracks in the snow to indicate which direction the creature had gone in. He looked onto the roof and was startled to find the snow there unblemished, free of any tracks or depressions.

"Are you okay?"

He turned around so sharply that he nearly fell again, but relaxed upon seeing May standing with Maria. The Rapidash seemed completely calm which made him all the more concerned – if the mare had scented the Absol like she should have, she would have been extremely agitated. Maxie cleared his throat and brushed the snow from his overcoat with a tight smile. "Yes, yes – took a tumble is all. Come on, we should be getting back to the house. It'll be dark in a couple of hours."

They made in home in the nick of time.

It seemed that wherever the ghostly Absol had gone, it had decided to take the sun with it. Almost as soon as they'd started to head back dark grey clouds had rolled in, roiling and angry as they blotted out the light and cast everything into shadow. The wind moaned, changing from a light southern breeze to a howling gale blowing in from the north-east and snow was falling thick and fast by the time they made it back to the stable.

"Get inside, I'll look after Maria!" he ordered over the howling wind. May nodded once and made a beeline for the house, leaving Maxie to remove Maria's tack and make sure she was warm and safe in her stall. The Rapidash could produce a significant amount of heat on her own, but he draped the rug over her broad back all the same. It would have been a simple thing to confine the mare to a pokéball, but the large draft horse had been born and raised in the outside, only every being confined to one during her transport from Johto to Hoenn. It would be less stressful for her to weather the storm out in the safety of the stable. He rubbed her neck and she lipped at the lapel of his coat affectionately. "I'll come check on you if the weather gets worse."

She nickered and butted her head against his chest as if to urge him to go and he laughed. "Fine, fine, I'm going."

When he entered the house he found that May had already stoked the fire and was sitting on the couch with a quilt draped over he shoulders, book already in hand. He smiled at her and removed his outer clothing before taking up his usual spot by the fire crackling merrily in the hearth and for a while all was forgotten.

He could feel the winter wind biting through the wool of his uniform, gnawing mercilessly at the flesh beneath. He shivered and pulled the scarf higher to cover his nose before checking the trigger on his rifle for the dozenth time in the space of two minutes – at this rate he was sure the damn mechanism was going to freeze. Three hundred and fifty men in white winter camouflage grouped together at the base of the bluff that ran along the shore of the frozen bay, trying to shelter themselves from the icy gale. The thunder of heavy artillery roared over the wind to the south, the explosive shells sending pulses of power through the rock and ice beneath their feet.

Thirty minutes had never felt so long.

There, barely audible above the shell-fire and the howling wind came the long wail of the siren and three hundred and fifty men stood en masse, shouldering their guns. The wind slammed into their side as they stepped away from the shelter of the bluff and onto the sea ice that had formed a thick layer over the bay. Heads bowed against the gale and the blinding snow they marched at a brisk pace. This would do it, a surprise manoeuvre on the enemy's unprotected right flank – it had to work.

Without warning the wind suddenly died and the snow, that had lashed at them like stinging needles, started drifting down in such a peaceful manner it seemed somehow obscene. Icy fingers trailed up his spine and he turned to look back at the shore. Perched at the crest of the bluff they'd run out from was a small shape, indistinct and hazy through the snow – but what he could see was a pair of crimson eyes and a black horn that gleamed like the reaper's scythe. He blinked and as quick as it had come, the figure was gone.

The first shell came down shortly after.

They heard the all too familiar shriek long before it struck, but with no point of reference there was little they could do but raise their guns and charge forward. The sea ice exploded behind them in a spray of frigid seawater and smoke, showering them in ice and shrapnel. The air was suddenly alive with the scream of incoming artillery and the fierce tattoo of automatic machine gun fire. The sea ice behind them was destroyed in a firestorm of exploding metal while the bay in front of them was chewed up by a relentless hail of bullets. Men fell to his left and his right, screaming as the ice gave way beneath them or falling forward to create bloody halos in the snow. The sea ice to his right exploded and he was thrown violently to the side. His mouth and nose burned with the smell of gunpowder and his ears rung painfully from the blast. He rolled onto his knees, vaguely aware that he left arm would not move and he realized that it had been brutally dislocated. His rifle was no where to be seen, just blood and shrapnel strewn over the ice. The artillery was no longer falling behind them, but was now blowing up the ice in front of them – yawning chasms of dark, black water stretched before and after them, encircling them on all sides. He felt a shudder in the ice beneath him and heard a massive, thundering boom echo across the bay and realized that the ice was breaking up beneath them as bullets rained down like a deadly hail. He plunged into the sea and his scream was strangled by the ocean water rushing into his nose and mouth, burning the lining of his lungs. He clawed his way to the surface and felt his skin burn when he finally managed to reach open air. He clutched at a chunk of ice as hellfire rained down around him and he realized...

None of them were ever going to see home again.

Maxie came awake struggling for air, drenched in a cold sweat and desperately searching for his rifle. It took a few moments of blind panic and phantom pain radiating from his chest and shoulder before he realized that he was in the safety of his bed and the darkness around him was not the crushing abyss of the ocean, but the blackness of a winter's night. He clutched at the edge of the night stand as he dry heaved and it was a good fifteen minutes before he could stop shaking enough to sit upright.

"Fuck," he rasped hoarsely and pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead. It had been so long since that dream had plagued him. Medication and extensive sessions with a clinical psychiatrist had helped upon his initial discharge from the service, but the traumatic memories of that day still reared its ugly head once in a blue moon. He leaned back against the headboard and suddenly realized that outside, a full on storm was raging.

The windows rattled in their frames as the wind slammed against the side of the house, moaning and howling with a vengeance. Maxie rose, shivering as the cold air nipped at the sweat-soaked flesh of his bare torso. He slid on a housecoat, cinching the belt loosely around his waist and smoothing out the uncomfortable creases that had formed in his pyjama pants as he walked over to the window. Snow was falling thick and fast, whipped into a white maelstrom by the raging winds. For one brief moment he thought he saw red eyes gazing at him in the gloom and he abruptly turned away. Absol...

The pokémon had a notorious reputation for appearing before people to warn of coming natural disasters. Earthquakes, typhoons, forest fires – they followed the grim pokémon like toxic shadows that cast fear and despair onto the hearts of any who saw it. That was the usual legend. Some of the older families, however, carried a different myth. He remembered his father mentioning it once, years ago by the fireside, that the Absol didn't only foretell the coming of natural disasters to the general populace. According to older traditions the Absol sometimes attached itself to specific families and acted as a harbinger of doom – a messenger that tragedy was going to befall someone in the family. Maxie had thought it was rubbish, foolish folk stories and wives tales...but Richard Asher had encountered an Absol three days before he'd died of a sudden heart attack and he himself had seen one on the cliffs overlooking the bay just before hell had rained down on them from the sky.

He shook his head and made his way downstairs. Sleep would not find him again tonight.

When he came down he was startled to see the kitchen light on and a small figure perched on the counter, ensconced in a heavy quilt as she stared out the window and the kettle boiling on the stove to her right.

"May?"

She turned to face him and managed to wriggle one hand free of her blanket to wave a greeting. "Hello."

"What are you doing down here?"

"I could not sleep. The sound of the storm -," she paused and tapped a finger against her ear. "Too loud. I decided to make tea – would you like some?"

"Tea would be lovely," he sighed and couldn't help but smile slightly as she slid off of the counter and went to fetch another mug and tea infuser.

"Why are you awake?" she asked, carefully loading the infuser with tea leaves and setting it next to her already prepared one.

"I – had a bad dream...a nightmare," he said quietly, leaning back against the counter. She looked at him quizzically. "Do you dream, May?"

"Dream...visual and auditory sensations that occur during REM sleep," she said, rattling out the definition without missing a beat. It was something he'd noticed over the month they'd spent together. Whenever she described something factual or scientific her speech was much more fluid than it was when she tried to describe her emotional state...or herself in general. "I think so. Nightmares, they are dreams of a – negative nature, yes?"

"Yes."

"Then yes, I think I have had - nightmares," she said quietly, looking down at her lap for a moment before raising her gaze back to him. "What did you – dream about?"

"Memories," Maxie sighed, dragging a hand through his tousled hair, "something bad that happened to me a long time ago."

The kettle began to whistle shrilly and she turned around to remove it from the heat, carefully pouring out the steaming water into both mugs. She set the kettle back down leaned back against the counter next to him as their tea stepped behind them. "Would you – like to talk about it?"

"As I recall, I am the one supposed to be helping you achieve a healthy emotional state, not the other way around," he chuckled. The ironic humour, of course, went completely above her head and she gave him a confused look to which he responded by adjusting the quilt around her shoulders more securely. "I dreamt about my days in the military...about the last battle I saw action in during the North Wars."

"It did not – end well."

"No. There were three hundred and fifty men in my regiment...by the time it was all said and done, nine of us answered roll call the next morning."

"What happened?"

Maxie closed his eyes and took a deep steadying breath. "We'd been at a standstill for weeks, neither side was gaining any ground so we decided to make a push. The plan was simple; the gunners would keep the front lines occupied with an artillery barrage while my regiment would cross the bay over the sea ice and take them by the flank in a surprise attack. The artillery fire started and we started across the ice as planned, but then...I don't know how, but somehow they'd gotten wind of our plan and they were waiting for us. Once we'd gotten to the middle of the bay the fired an artillery barrage of their own and took out the ice behind and in front of us. We were sitting ducks for the gunners after that."

"How did you – survive?"

"I went into the water. I don't really know how, but I managed to get to the shore. I was retrieved by a scouting party along with the other survivors some time later," he said quietly. He felt slender arms wrap around him and he opened his eyes, looking down into deep azure wells. "May?"

"It is – good that you survived," she said and slow smile spread across her face. She curled a hand over her heart again, tapping it rhythmically while she searched for the words. "I would be – sad not knowing you."

Maxie wordlessly wrapped his arms around her, bringing one hand to rest on the nape of her neck as she rested her head against his chest. He ran his fingers through her soft brown locks, blinking fiercely against the sudden burning in his eyes.

You're getting in too deep old man. She's only saying that because she doesn't know any better. Once she's back to normal this won't be able to happen. She doesn't actually feel this way.

He tried very hard not to believe that.

When he awoke he was immediately aware of three things. One, that he was not in his bed, but on the living room couch, two, the blizzard was still raging outside, and three – May was stretched out on top of him, still sleeping and her quilt was draped over them both.

There was one heart-stopping moment of panic, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he found them still both fully clothed, though his house coat had worked its way open at some point. The relief was quick to turn back into panic when he realized that he could feel every curve of her body pressed against him – Christ why was she always without her bra at the worst possible moment – and he was having a very male reaction to having a pretty woman laid out on top of him.

He swallowed sharply when he felt her start to stir and deftly curled an arm around her waist to slide her further up his body to prevent her from noticing his predicament. The draw back was, of course, that she was now face to face with him, blinking owlishly as she came to. She yawned softly and looked from left to right, appearing not to notice how intimately they were pressed together or how their noses were practically touching. "This is not my bed," she stated so matter-of-factly that Maxie nearly smiled.

"No, no it's not," he agreed. He waited for a moment and upon realizing that she had no intention on moving he sat up and moved her so that she was sitting next to him on the couch. He cleared his throat and quickly closed his housecoat. "I apologize May."

"For what?"

"For allowing us to fall asleep in such positions. That was inappropriate on my part."

"Why?" she enquired, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and trying to process the information he was giving her.

"I am supposed to be looking after you. My conduct last night could be seen as taking advantage of you."

"Taking – advantage of me?" she repeated, her brow furrowing. "I do not – understand? You did not try to do me harm."

"No I -" He cut himself off and realized that he was digging himself a very deep hole. How could he explain this to her without telling her that he was – no, no he couldn't even admit it to himself. That would make it real and that would be too much to handle. This conversation was long over due - it would be far kinder to both of them in the long run. "Sleeping together, holding each other in such a manner is something that is generally reserved for people who have a deep emotional attachment to one another."

"Oh."

Was it just a trick of the light or did she genuinely look saddened by the remark?

After a pregnant silence he gave her a tight smile. "I have to get a shower, but after that I'll make us some breakfast."

"I would – like that."

The next few days were fairly uneventful, but Maxie had noticed a change in May's demeanour. She'd slowly become more sullen and, dare he say it, sulky. He felt guilt gnawing at him and couldn't help but think that it was related to the conversation he'd had with her that morning they'd woken up together on the couch.

Today she was curled up in her usual corner against the arm of the couch, but she was bereft her usual book for favour of wrapping her arms around her abdomen and hunching over her lap. Maxie frowned – if he didn't know any better he would've sworn she was in pain. "May, are you feeling alright?"

"I – do not know," she murmured, still curled up over herself. "I feel - discontented and imbalanced, and I am having discomfort in my lower abdomen."

Maxie narrowed his eyes and removed his glasses, polishing them thoughtfully while he pondered the symptoms she'd described. He came to a sudden realization and hastily excused himself, moving to the upstairs bathroom where he'd taken to storing May's medications and other supplies. She'd been weaned off of almost all of them save for one glaring exception – the oral contraceptives that Dr. Villiard had prescribed for her in order to rebalance and regulate her sex hormones. Now he hadn't kept the company of a woman in quite some time, current situation aside, but he was well aware of the...biological rhythms they went through. He checked the current package she was on and was mildly alarmed that there was only one pill left before the week of placebos. He immediately pulled out his cellphone and dialled Villiard's number.

"Dr. Villiard speaking."

"It's Maxie."

"Mr. Asher? I wasn't expecting a call until later this week, I do hope everything is alright?"

"Yes – no, I don't know," he stammered, dragging a hand over his face. "May has reported feeling unwell. She told me this morning that she felt 'imbalanced' and she had pain in her lower abdomen. I've also took the liberty of checking her hormone regulators and – well – "

He was cut off by the doctor's low laughter on the other end of the line and scowled. "What's so funny?"

"Well it sounds to me like there's nothing wrong at all. She's just ovulating as a young woman her age should. It's really a good thing, it means she's stabilizing, physically at least. Really Mr. Asher, a woman's menstrual cycle isn't that scary. She just likely hasn't connected the symptoms to the fact that she's going to menstruate soon, all you have to do is inform her and she can take care of herself – I made sure she had the necessary supplies, don't worry."

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation Doctor."

"Oh, how so?"

"The young woman sitting on my living room couch has the physical strength of three men combined, no set moral boundaries, is fully capable of snapping necks at the drop of a hat and you're telling me that she's PMSing!?"

"...Do you still have those sedatives I gave you?"

"Yes, why?"

"You might want to keep them on hand for the next seven to ten days."

"I'm going to die, aren't I."

"Oh don't be so melodramatic...though the possibility isn't beyond reason. Anyway I've got a lot of work to do, good luck Mr. Asher. I will speak to you later this week...hopefully."

Maxie scowled again and ended the call. The doctor had been fighting back laughter on the other end, he could tell.

He rolled his shoulders, trying in vain to relieve the tension building there as he descended the steps back to the living room. May was still on the couch where he had left her, staring glumly into the fire. He picked up the quilt hang over the back of the couch and draped it around her. She gave him a look that was almost a glare, but snuggled beneath the blanket nonetheless. Maxie sighed and rubbed her shoulder lightly. "I'm sorry you're in discomfort, your body is returning to its normal biological rhythms as a female."

"I am - entering my menstrual cycle then."

"Yes."

"I see," she murmured as she proceeded to pull away from him and lay down on the couch, tucking a throw pillow beneath her head. "I think I would like to - nap."

"Alright," he acquiesced and drew back from her. "I'm going to take Maria out for a ride - I'll be back before evening. Is that acceptable?"

She refrained from answering verbally, settling for a small nod as she closed her eyes. Frowning, Maxie walked away, retrieving his coat and boots before heading out to the stable. The Rapidash greeted him with a whinny and when she realized she was being saddled for a ride she pranced eagerly in place. He took her out to the yard and she pulled to a stop, looking around with a huff. Maxie sighed and rubbed her neck. "May's not coming out today, it's just you and me old girl."

The mare seemed slightly put out by the absence of her master's companion, but settled down regardless, allowing him to swing himself up into the saddle. He flicked the reins, urging her into a fast trot right away and then onto a full gallop. He wanted the world to melt away with the trees as they turned into a molted blur of white and evergreen, he wanted to forget how she'd stopped smiling at him - he wanted to forget just how much he felt for May Maple. He gritted his teeth and urged Maria on ever faster once they came to the open field. Eventually they ran out of room to run when they came to the very edge of the property and the rickety remains of the fence that marked it. From here the foothills rolled openly beneath a powder blue sky, fringed by the forests that dotted the landscape. Mount Chimney rose up, grey in indistinct in the distance, fringed by the lower ridges that surrounded it. He dismounted and leaned against one of the fence posts, gazing at the volcano's silhouette and let his mind drift back over a decade when he'd stood above the lava chamber - where he'd challenged her for the first time. He remembered her walking through air that shimmered with intense heat, undaunted by the embers and ash had swirled on the thermals like scalding snow - absolutely fearless and determined to bring him down.

He felt Maria lip at the sleeve of his coat and he turned to look at her. If a Rapidash could look accusatory, Maria certainly did. Maxie smiled ruefully and rubbed at her nose - Pokémon were deucedly in tune to their trainer's moods sometimes. "Don't look at me like that, I'm trying to be kind to her - she's vulnerable right now and it'd be taking advantage of her."

The mare huffed and stamped a hoof, nipping at his sleeve more forcefully. "What, you think I'm wrong?"

Maria bobbed her head.

"You know who and what I am you silly beast. I'm trying to heal her, but after she's back to normal - I won't be any good for her, I'm not the kind of company a girl like her keeps."

The Rapidash whinnied loudly and reared up, slamming her two front hooves down. She seized his cap in her teeth and backed away from his reach. He scowled and stepped forward to make a grab for it, but she pranced further away, tossing her head with a displeased snort. Maxie placed his hands on his hips and glared at the mare, who merely stood her ground and stamped her hoof again. Losing his patience Maxie turned away, leaning on the fence post again muttering savage curses under his breath.

'Make her feel safe, make her feel loved and I think we can bring Miss Maple back'

Villiard's words echoed in his mind and he sighed, slumping his shoulders in defeat. Make her feel loved...he'd done a poor job of that the past few days, but Christ the emotions she brought up in him - they'd been dormant for so long and to feel them so strongly now...frankly it was terrifying. He felt Maria walk up beside him and she nudged his arm. He smiled and retrieved his cap, placing it back onto his head. "Okay, perhaps I've been a bit of a selfish bastard -"

She butted her head against him so hard he nearly toppled over the fence.

"Alright! I've been a very selfish bastard. Come on then, take me home so I can make things right."

Dusk wasn't far off by the time he'd reached home. He'd tended to Maria and entered the house to find the fire burning low and May fast asleep on the couch, wrapped up in her quilt. He felt himself smile and knelt in front of the hearth to stoke the fire. Soon a merry blaze was crackling away and he rose to sit in his usual chair. A soft groan stopped him and he turned to see May's face contort in pain. He moved to kneel down in front of her, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear before starting to rub her shoulder. She whimpered at first, but soon relaxed under his touch and her azure eyes fluttered open. "You are back."

"Yes," he said softly, moving to sit on the couch beside her. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before she slowly sat up, but made sure to keep a few inches of space between them. Maxie sighed and curled an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and erasing the gap. She stiffened and looked at him.

"But you -"

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "What I said before - I didn't mean that I don't have an emotional attachment to you - I - quite the opposite in fact."

"You are - attached to me?"

"Yes, more than I should be," he admitted honestly. "You are not in your right frame of mind. I was - I still am, worried that you would think ill of me for my conduct while you're so vulnerable and impressionable."

May pulled away from him, if only to turn so she was facing him fully. She gazed at his face carefully, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as if scrutinizing him. Slowly she reached up and held his face in her hands. He hardly dared to breathe as her gaze flitted left and right and she drew him closer until their foreheads were touching - just as they had before Ardos had taken her away.

"I know," she said, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards in a small smile. She drew back and tapped a finger against her temple. "I know I am - not how I am supposed to be. I know that - I need to learn a lot still."

May's smile widened and she placed a hand on his chest. "I know that you care, and there is nothing wrong with that. I know that you - are a good man and I will - never think ill of you. Not even when I -" She tapped her temple again, "am back."

For the second time that week Maxie found himself dangerously close to tears for the first time in almost two decades. He placed his hand over the one she had still over his heart. "May, I have done awful things -"

She placed her other hand over his and looked him dead in the eye. "So - have I. Just because you have done - bad things, does not make you a bad person. If you are bad then - so am I."

Maxie barely choked back that anguished cry he wanted to let out so badly and pulled her forward into a tight embrace. When she wrapped her arms around him he realized that he was completely and hopelessly lost to her.

And he had no intentions of being found.

Island Wolf: And there you have it. I know the insertion of the Absol lore seems a bit odd, but I got the idea when I was skimming through an old mythology text book of mine and I came across the Banshee. One of the old myths about the Banshee is that she tended to attach herself to certain families and I thought, hey this could be a bit of fun and I can finally put in a flash back. Two birds and all that. I also decided to include a little humour regarding certain aspects of female biology courtesy of Isis the Sphinx who brought up the idea of May having to rediscover the joy of periods (lads if you're reading - they suck, they really, really suck). Once I started thinking about it I had to put in a little something about it haha ;) It got a bit gooier than I'd originally planned right at the end, but I'm actually quite pleased with it, I hope you all were too :3