A/N:

*Disclaimer*

Pokémon does NOT belong to me. I was simply inspired by Ash and Misty's characterizations in the show. Everything belongs to Satoshi Tajiri and Nintendo, NOT ME!

Also, please note that Friends is separate from my other fics. It's a big girl now and can stand on it's own two legs!

Please Enjoy!

Friends

Chapter 2 - Getting it at Last

Ash ran his hands through his hair as he stood under the stream of hot water. He sighed comfortably as the water cascaded from his head down his back, arms, and legs, soothing his tired muscles. He hadn't had the luxury of a shower since Pewter City, nearly three weeks ago. The trainer wiped the water from his eyes and reached for the soap. While he continued to enjoy the soothing effects of the water, his mind wandered to Misty.

He still couldn't believe that she was here, in his house. When his mom had left them alone in the kitchen, he had stood there in awkward silence, unable to think of anything to say. Misty had broken the silence by teasing him about his travel-worn state and suggesting he clean up. He had flushed a deep red and practically ran upstairs to disappear into the bathroom. Why did she make him feel like this? She never had this effect on him before. Maybe it was the short skirt she wore that had caught his attention. The way it revealed her long, slender legs, forcing his eyes to roam to the hem that began just below her shapely butt. Or maybe his breath had caught when he saw how much she had grown into a young woman under her figure hugging, yellow shirt.

Ash shook his head to clear his mind, spraying the walls of the shower in shampoo foam.

That was no way to think about his best friend. Was she still his best friend? He felt horrible that he hadn't contacted her in almost eight years. He was sure that she was going to have something to say about that later.

A knock sounded on the bathroom door. "Ash?" Delia's voice carried through. "You're guests are going to be arriving soon, you better hurry up."

"Okay, Mom!" He called back. "I'll be right out."

Ash stepped out of the stall, grabbing a towel and quickly drying off. "Well," he sighed, looking in the mirror at his tanned face, giving himself a kind of pep talk. "Here we go, don't goof up."

The party was small, for which Ash was thankful. The guests included Misty, his Grandmother, Professor Oak, Tracey, and a few of his old friends from town. Delia, with the help of Mr. Mime, had prepared all of the food, which everyone consumed quickly and eagerly.

For the main part of the evening, Ash stood in the middle of the living room retelling some of his most favorite and interesting adventures, while everyone sat around, listening intently. To Ash's delight, Misty chimed in quite frequently, proving that nearly all of his stories took place while he was traveling with her and Brock.

As the evening wore on, and most of the guest began to depart, Ash couldn't help but notice that Misty's eyes always seemed to be on him. When he walked his Grandmother to the door and gave her a big hug and a kiss, the hair on the back of his neck was prickling and he could practically feel Misty's gaze boring into his back.

"Well," he said, turning to face her at last. "It looks like it's just you and me now."

Misty nodded with a slight smile. "Looks like it."

Ash walked over to where she was sitting and reached out a hand, "C'mon," he said quietly. "Why don't we go for a walk. I want to hear everything you've been up to."

The red head looked at his hand tentatively before placing her hand in his. Ash smiled as he pulled her out of the chair. Her hand felt warm and soft in his and he didn't want to let go, but Misty quickly retracted hers as she stood up.

"Well, where to?" She asked, eyeing him coyly.

Ash's smile changed to a flirtatious smirk, "Oh, I know the perfect spot."

"You know," Ash started, as he wrapped his arm around Misty's shoulder in brotherly affection, keeping his steps in time with hers. "You've gotten a lot shorter."

The Gym Leader laughed and brushed Ash's arm off. "No, you've just gotten taller."

"I suppose." he said with a smile. "Here we are!"

Misty laughed as Ash flopped lazily upon the grass, his gaze drifting over the open water.

She sat beside him and removed her shoes to dip her feet into the cool water. "Is this another way to Cinnabar island?"

"Yeah," Ash sighed as he rested on his back, his head in his hands. "I used to swim out here when I was little. I always tried to use the Pokémon here to carry me to the island, but I never could."

Misty was silent as she stared at the reflection of the stars in the black water.

"So," the black haired trainer started again. "What's been up, Misty?"

She turned to look at him, her face blank. "Why didn't you ever call me? Why did you just drop me?"

Ash sat up and put a hand lightly on Misty's back. "Misty, I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't cut it, Ash Ketchum."

"I know," he started again. "It's just that I was so busy-"

"Busy for eight years?" Misty raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't find a single moment in all of the Pokémon Centers around the world to give me a quick phone call?"

Ash lowered his head and his hand dropped back into his lap. "I know, I'm sorry Misty. I don't have an excuse."

Misty began giggling loudly and reached out a hand to pat Ash's knee. "Oh, it's okay you big dummy. I'm just giving you a hard time."

His looked up stunned. There was good ol' Misty, changing her emotions at the drop of a hat. "O-okay." He stammered.

She smiled and laid on her back to continue stargazing. "So, to answer your previous question, I'm still the Cerulean Gym Leader and haven't taken a break since I left you and Brock."

Ash stared at her in confusion for a moment before joining her in the cool grass. "How are the shows going?"

"What shows- Oh! My sisters are long gone. They left about six years ago, leaving me in charge of everything. I had to stop the shows because I just couldn't keep up with everything."

"Where are they now?"

"All three of them got married and have kids now." she said with a laugh. "I'm Aunt Missy now."

"Missy?"

"None of 'em can pronounce the 't.'"

Ash laughed with her. He turned his head to look at her in the starlight. He steeled himself for his next question, but wasn't sure why he felt the need. "What about you, Misty?"

"What about me?" She asked after a second of hesitation.

"Well," he started, more quietly. "You know, your sister's are married-"

"Oh, I'm not married!" Misty said quickly.

Ash released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"No," the red head continued. "I don't think my boyfriend is quite ready for marriage yet."

"B-boyfriend?" Ash stuttered, sitting up and hovering over Misty in the dark.

She shrugged. "Of course. You're not going to like who it is though." She added with a small giggle.

The trainer raised his eyebrow. "Who is it?"

"Gary Oak." Misty said, looking closely at Ash's reaction.

"Misty!" Ash blurted loudly. "Why- How- Why would you- How-"

Misty rolled her eyes. "Listen, Ash. Just because he's your rival doesn't mean he's a bad guy. He's actually quite sweet."

"I don't care if he's sweet!" Ash sputtered. "You know how I feel about the guy. He's always one-upping me!"

Misty sighed in exasperation. "What do you mean, one-upping you Ash."

"W-well," he stuttered. "He always beats me in battles and he's always been the ladies man, and now he has you."

"Ash," Misty started. "C'mon, I've heard you've become quite the ladies man in the last couple years. You're always on the cover of those magazines."

"But," Ash said quietly. "I never had anything with any of them. They weren't... right."

"So you just used them?"

"No," he said quickly. "I was just looking for the right one, I just... never-"

Misty stared up at Ash as he leaned over her. "Never what, Ash?"

"I never realized what was right."

"Ash," Misty said tiredly. "You're not making any se-"

The kiss was light. Her lips were so soft and sweet, Ash had a hard time resisting the need to touch them. He needed to experience her. He laid down closer her, deepening the kiss. Ash sighed quietly as he felt her arms wrap around his neck and his heart jumped as he felt her hand weave through his messy hair. She felt so good against him.

A sudden shock of pain went through his skull as Misty tugged his head up by the hair.

"What do you think you're doing?" She hissed.

"I thought," Ash said startled. "I thought I'd finally gotten it right."

"I just told you I have a boyfriend, Ash!" Misty squirmed out from under him and quickly grabbed her shoes before taking off toward the Ketchum house.

"Was I wrong?" Ash called after her. "I thought I got it." He said to himself, putting a hand to his chest to calm his frantic heart.

A/N:

Well, the kiss wasn't going to come until later, but I couldn't resist!

Review comments and thanks:

CaRiBbEaN QuEeN- Thank you so much for your review! You were the first :) I decided that I wanted to make Mrs. Ketchum so blind to the fact that they aren't dating but with the motherly foresight that they are perfect for each other! haha

craztente - Thank you for your review! I really appreciate your feedback! I'm happy you thought this was a strong beginning. :)

Kitsune8757 - Thank you for your review! I thank you for taking the time to write me one, it helps to keep me going!

lil-miss-pokémon - yay! I'm happy you like the idea of the "choose your ending." :) I thought it'd be a nice change of pace. haha Plus, that way I can never use the excuse "writer's block."

Thank you for your reviews!

Chapter three will be the last chapter I write freely and then I will provide options for how to continue the next chapter. So keep your eyes and minds open for new ideas!

Would you guys like longer chapters? Or is short and sweet working for you? Let me know. :)

Please Please Please REVIEW! It's keeps me going :)

So please, keep reading and REVIEW!

Thank you everyone!