Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
- / - / - / -
It took both Paul and Dawn a few days to adjust to their new companionship. The night after Dawn's Contest, they spoke little. Dawn didn't make a very concentrated effort to talk to him; she didn't want to push him just yet. She mentioned the League call the night of her Contest before they went to sleep, causing Paul to curse them both for leaving it so long.
"I'm calling them in the morning."
"Suit yourself. It's only been what, two days?" Dawn mumbled sleepily.
"That's a long time to not return a call to the most powerful association in the world," Paul snapped. Dawn sighed heavily and turned over in the dark.
"G'night Paul," Dawn murmured, "Try to relax and just call them in the morning. They don't want anything bad, so just go to sleep. Worry about it in the morning."
Paul said nothing in return, merely rolled onto his side and felt Dawn's back settle against his own. He wondered briefly why it didn't bother him, feeling the girl against him, before drifting off to sleep.
He awoke in the morning facing the other direction. He opened his eyes and saw the girl facing away from him, her hair all over the place. If Paul was one to smile, he might have. Instead, he pushed himself out of bed, trying not to disturb the still-sleeping girl. He took a quick, hot shower, thinking of what he'd say to the League when he called. Realizing he still hadn't even listened to the message they'd left, he had very little to go on. Paul turned the water off and hastily dried off before hurrying to the closet to get dressed.
Paul yanked a pair of black jeans on over his boxers, struggling to pull the denim over his still-damp legs. He threw on a random shirt and padded barefoot into the living room. The phone the League had supposedly called on was mounted in the kitchen; he stared at the base for several minutes before figuring out how to listen to the message.
"You have two new messages," the automated voice trilled. Paul winced. "One saved massage. To listen to your messages, press one –"
Paul jammed the button to make the voice stop.
"First message. Sent yesterday at eleven twenty-four A.M."
"Hey, Dawn... It's me, Zoey... You said you needed a ride to the Contest, but that was before... Well, look, I'm sorry for what I said, okay? I'm sure you and Paul will be very happy. I shouldn't have assumed anything, and I shouldn't have said what I said... Forgive me? Please," the voice issued from the machine. Paul frowned. She hadn't mentioned a fight to him. "Oh, and Dawn? I'm sorry about what I said about the... Sex thing. Really. It's not my place. Call me back."
Paul narrowed his eyes and stared at their bedroom door. What sex thing? He wondered.
"To erase this message, press seven. To save it, press nine. To mark this message as unread, press four."
Paul paused for a moment before pressing the number four on the keypad.
"Message marked as unread. Next message. Sent Tuesday, June twenty-second at nine thirty-seven A.M."
"Hello. My name is Aaron Hastings, and, as I'm sure you know, I am the Sinnoh Division President of the Pokémon League Association. We have begun to pay close attention to your training and your battles after your last battle with our Champion Cynthia, Paul, and we are quite impressed with the progress you've been making. It is quite evident to us that it will not be long before you have a true chance of defeating Cynthia. And as my personal vote of confidence, I would like to invite you and your lovely fianceé – I believe her name is Dawn, yes? – to a luncheon at the Sinnoh Division Pokémon League Headquarters. I would be honored if you and Dawn would join me at Lily of the Valley Island, several miles off the coast of Sunyshore City. All transportation will, of course, be arranged. Call me at this number when you've settled on a time to join me..."
The message trailed off with the man giving a number to call him at and wishing him well. Paul stared at the machine, and, at the prompting, replayed the message four times.
"Are you just gonna listen to that all day," yawned a voice from behind him, "or are you gonna call him back?"
Paul turned, Aaron Hastings' voice inviting him to lunch still playing, to face Dawn. She was sitting at the counter in her pajamas, hair disheveled, eating a bowl of cereal. He hadn't heard her make it.
"How long have you been in here?"
"I dunno. About five minutes, I'd guess. You're too busy fawning over that message to notice anything. Played it three times since I've been sitting here," Dawn shrugged, taking another spoonful of cereal into her mouth. "Are you gonna call him, or what? I mean, he's got a nice voice, but I don't fancy hearing him say the same thing over and over."
Paul rolled his eyes and pressed nine in the keypad to save the message. "You got a message from that girl, Zoey."
"Okay," Dawn yawned. Paul was irked; he'd wanted her to ask to hear it then, so he could ask what Zoey had meant by 'the sex thing.' "So, when're you gonna make the lunch?"
"For tomorrow," Paul said decisively.
"Don't you think you should ask if that works with my schedule?" Dawn asked idly, stirring her cereal.
"Why would I do that?"
"I believe he asked 'your lovely fianceé' to join you. I can only assume he means me."
"So?"
"They want us both there," Dawn said, as though it were obvious.
"Yeah, so?"
"Arceus, Paul, do I have to spell it out for you? They want me there because of their stupid 'the Champion has to be married' policy," Dawn snorted. "So I have to go. Then it'll be smooth sailing for you."
Paul said nothing. She was clearly right. Dawn, however, seemed to misinterpret his silence.
"I'll stay quiet and out of the way, don't worry," Dawn said quietly, returning to her cereal. Paul glanced at her.
"You...," Paul began, unsure of what to say. She didn't look up. "You don't have to."
"You should call him back, Paul," Dawn murmured. "Don't want to keep him waiting. Tomorrow's fine, by the way."
Paul turned back to the phone, feeling strange. He wasn't used to this weird feeling. He didn't like it, much. Paul snatched up the hands-free phone and dialed the number Aaron Hastings had given him. It rang three times before a voice answered.
"Pokémon League Sinnoh Division, Aaron Hastings' office," a polite female voice answered. "This is Carolyn, how may I help you?"
"Hello, miss. My name is Paul. I received a call from Mr. Hastings a few days ago about a meeting –"
"Ah yes, hello, sir!" Carolyn said, her demeanor changing from polite and professional to warm and familiar at the speed of light. Paul was slightly taken aback. "Mr. Hastings has been expecting your call. I'll patch you through, one moment please."
Paul was kept waiting for less than twenty seconds before being greeted by Aaron Hastings' now familiar voice.
"Paul! I was beginning to worry you hadn't gotten my message," he said jovially.
"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Hastings. It has –" Paul began dutifully.
"Please, Paul, call me Aaron. There's too much formality here. Besides, I'm sure it won't be long before you're the Champion, son, so you should get used to calling me by my first name!"
Paul raised his eyebrows. This man was extremely confident in Paul's abilities, considering they'd never met.
"Alright, Aaron, then. I've been extremely busy – what with moving in, getting settled, and Dawn's Contest yesterday," Paul explained.
"Ah yes, your lovely fianceé!" Aaron exclaimed. Paul's eyebrows rose further, and were in danger of being swallowed by his hair.
"Yes... Well, that's why I've only just been able to return your call, sir. I'm sorry."
"No worries, Paul, no worries. Now, the pressing matter... When will you come to Headquarters to meet me? I really must insist that you and Dawn join me for lunch," Aaron said. "The sooner, the better."
"Is tomorrow too short of notice?" Paul asked, somehow guessing he could have asked for lunch today and Aaron would have complied.
"Not at all," Aaron said airily. "We shall arrange it all – a car will pick you and Dawn up at your flat at about eleven thirty tomorrow. That should get you here by about one, which will be perfect for a late lunch, no?"
"That.. Uh, that sounds great," Paul said, surprised that the man already had a schedule. "You really don't need to send a car, sir, I've got –"
"Nonsense. This is my treat. So, I will be meeting the two of you tomorrow at about one?"
"I – yes, sir, you will."
"It's Aaron, Paul. I will be waiting to meet you at the docks tomorrow."
"Alright," Paul said as Aaron hung up. He blinked several times.
"So, tomorrow?"
Dawn's voice jolted him back to the present. "You were listening?" he accused.
"You were standing right in front of me," Dawn pointed out, her tone questioning Paul's sanity. Paul narrowed his eyes.
"Yes. Tomorrow, at eleven thirty."
"Okay," Dawn sighed in resignation. Paul glanced at her, but said nothing.
"I need to go and train," Paul said unnecessarily. Dawn shrugged.
"You should let your Pokémon rest, you know."
"They can rest tomorrow."
"Fine... But don't come crying to me when you've run them into the ground and you can't battle Cynthia."
Paul snorted his laughter, and Dawn flounced into the bedroom, presumably to shower and change. He made a quick, inept sandwich and forced it down before snatching his bag with his Pokéballs and shoving his feet into a pair of shoes he'd left by the door yesterday.
He left the apartment quickly and made his way to his favorite training grove. He was fairly sure he'd be adding both Froslass and Magmortar to his team today. His team of Torterra, Electivire, Ursaring, and Drapion was strong already. When he was on form, Magmortar was very reliable and wouldn't disappoint him. And Froslass gave him the element of surprise Paul loved.
Pleased that he could almost begin his Champion training, Paul released his Pokémon, prepared to finish the screening process.
- / - / - / -
Dawn took an uncharacteristically short shower and threw on a pair of jeans and a high-necked white short-sleeved shirt. She wanted to be comfortable today – she was planning a particularly odious task.
She slouched over to the videophone feeling hard-done-by and called May's house. May's little brother Max answered the phone.
"Oh, hi, Dawn," Max said unenthusiastically.
"Hey, Maxie. Didn't think you'd be home."
"Don't call me that," Max whined. Dawn laughed. She could always put the kid at ease.
"Well, why're you at home? I'd've thought a hotshot new trainer like you would be out scoring big."
"Who talks like that?"
"You're avoiding the question."
"I'm not," Max protested. "I'm home for a few days, training. I'm challenging the Petalburg Gym Leader next week."
"Also known as your dad?" Dawn said, raising her eyebrows in confusion.
"Sounds less official."
"Okay. Whatever. Go wake up your sister for me, will ya?"
"Sure thing, Dawn."
"Thanks."
Dawn waited, picking her nails. She was waiting for the telltale shriek of fury that would signify that Max had successfully (and, most likely, rather rudely) woken up his sister. She wasn't kept waiting long.
"WHAT THE HELL, MAX?" May screamed. Dawn heard Max cackle and then something heavy hit the wall.
"Phone for you, May!" Max yelled as he sprinted past the videophone. Dawn was laughing when May stomped to the screen, soaking wet and looking ready to kill.
"Morning sunshine," Dawn choked out. Max had evidently dumped a large bucket of water on May's head to wake her up. May glared.
"This is your fault."
"I didn't tell him to do that," Dawn protested feebly.
"What do you want?"
"Help," Dawn said sincerely. "I need to start planning this... thing."
"What thing? Don't be sneaky now, I just woke up and I'm angry and not in the mood for your games," May grumbled.
"The wedding," Dawn grimaced. May rolled her eyes.
"You're such a drama queen. You don't have to marry him."
"Do too," Dawn mumbled. May didn't question her.
"Well, what do you want me to do about it?"
"Be my maid of honor?"
May stared at her.
"Yes! Yay! Dawn, I never thought you'd ask!" May squealed in delight, wet clothes forgotten. Dawn raised her eyebrows, annoyed. "Oh, shut up, Dawn, I'm excited! I'm the maid of honor at my best friend's wedding!"
"Fake wedding."
"Don't be a spoilsport, Dawn."
"I can do what I want, it's my wedding."
"Your fake wedding."
"Whatever."
"Double standards much?"
"Whatever!" Dawn snapped. "But yes, May, please be my maid of honor."
"Done," May said quickly. "We need to start planning!"
"Duh. Why do you think I called?" Dawn groaned.
"Shut up," May said again. "Okay, so when're you getting married?"
"I dunno," Dawn said listlessly. "When should it be?"
"God, Dawn, you're hopeless. I know you'd be obsessing if it was a real wedding."
Dawn folded her arms and made a face at her friend, thinking.
"You know, what, May? It is a real wedding," Dawn said, realization hitting her. She sat for a moment. "I think... You know, May, this is the only wedding I'm ever going to have. It's going to be amazing. This wedding is going to be the talk of the century. I've been looking at this in completely the wrong way."
May said nothing, but smiled at her.
"Okay. I need at least a year and a half to plan a good wedding. And I need a while to find the perfect dress, obviously. There's nowhere here that'll have a big enough selection of dresses –"
"There's a place in Saffron City called Kleinfeld's," May interrupted. "They have a selection of over one hundred and thirty-seven thousand dresses."
"Oh, wow... We need to go there...," Dawn said dreamily. He mind was now hundreds of miles away, at the dress shop in Saffron City.
"Snap out of it. We can't go there yet."
"Oh, I know. So... Let's make the date next January. January... Thirteenth, shall we say?" Dawn proposed.
"Shouldn't you ask the groom?" May asked, laughing.
"Yeah, like he's got plans."
"You should ask, anyways."
"Fine," Dawn said, sticking her tongue out at May. She snatched up her Pokégear and dialed Paul's number. He answered on the third ring.
"Hi," Paul said. "What is it?"
Dawn smiled. He sounded so... nice. He'd never answered the phone like that before.
"Hey! I'm busy, what is it?" Paul snapped. Dawn frowned. That was more like it.
"Hi. I'm getting started on plans for our wedding."
"Oh."
"I have a possible date. January thirteenth?" Dawn proposed. "Does that work?"
"It's only in six months... Sure. Don't see why not."
Dawn laughed. "Paul – next January the thirteenth. As in, in eighteen months."
"That's crazy!"
"Weddings take a long time to plan."
"No, that's ridiculous. You don't need a year and a half to plan our wedding." Dawn didn't need to see his face to know he meant because their wedding was a farce.
"Yes, I do," Dawn insisted. "It's going to be beautiful."
"Oh, for Arceus' sake."
"Fine. I need a year, at least, then."
"February," Paul shot back.
"Not a chance. Not before next July," Dawn said, shaking her head.
"No way. March, then."
"Hell no!" Dawn exclaimed. "June, best I'll give you."
"Come on, nine months is plenty of time!"
"Fine, then. May."
"What?" May said, assuming Dawn was talking to her. Dawn shook her head and mouthed 'the month' at her friend.
"No way. Eleven months?"
"It's practically July already. That's only ten months."
"I guess that's the best we'll get."
"Yes!"
"What day?"
"Oh, I dunno. How about... the thirtieth?"
"No dice, kid. That's pushing it almost into June."
"Fine, then, how about the twenty-first?"
Paul was quiet for a long moment.
"Fine," Paul huffed. "May twenty-first."
"Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Paul."
"It had better be a damn nice wedding," Paul warned her. Dawn laughed and promised him it would be a fantastic wedding. She could hear him rolling his eyes as he told her he'd be home by seven and hung up.
"Well that went nicely," May smiled. "May twenty-first. Lovely month."
"Narcissist."
"Yep," May grinned. "So, I'm your maid of honor. Bridesmaids?"
"Umm," Dawn tapped her chin, thinking. "Zoey, of course. And Leona. Shit, I still have to tell her about me and Paul. She just got back from that stupid exploration thing she was doing. She'll be so mad that I didn't tell her sooner."
"Well, everyone was."
Dawn pulled a pad of paper from beside her videophone, making a mental note to call Leona. She flipped through to an empty page and snatched a black pen off the desk. She began to take notes on her and May's conversation.
"I'm not really that close to Misty," Dawn mused. "But I know she'd be insulted if I didn't ask her."
"She wouldn't be that much. But Ash and Brock would be."
"Arceus forbid," Dawn giggled. It had always been a soft spot for the boys that May and Dawn were really good friends and that Misty was somewhat left out of their friendship. It wasn't that they didn't like her – but she had just never fit in with them. They didn't have much in common.
"Well, we should really get closer to Misty," May said. "She's a really nice girl. Really."
"Oh, I know that."
"So, Misty too?"
"Well, I'll ask," Dawn said doubtfully. "Four is more than enough. Besides, I have to pick a color that will work with all of you..."
"Not pink," May said absently. "It clashes with Zoey and Misty's hair."
"I know... I'm thinking dark blue? Like, royal blue?"
"That sounds pretty."
The girls continued the planning for several hours. At the end of their conversation, May was dialing the number at Kleinfeld's to make Dawn an appointment for as soon as possible, and Dawn was planning to call Zoey, Misty and Leona.
- / - / - / -
Dawn's call to Zoey was very short. She forgave Zoey's harsh words and asked her to be one of her bridesmaids.
"Oh, Dawn! I would love to!"
"Good. The wedding is going to be May twenty-first."
"That's in a long time," Zoey stated.
"No it isn't! It's barely any time at all, Zo," Dawn corrected. Zoey laughed.
"Right, I forgot that you're planning the wedding. We're just lucky it's not in three years, aren't we?"
"No. I was trying to make it in eighteen months, but Paul wanted it sooner," Dawn grumbled.
"Well, that's sweet, Dawn," Zoey said soothingly. "He wants the two of you to be married sooner."
"Yeah," Dawn said absently. "Well, I'll text you when I talk to May again – she's getting me a reservation at a dress shop in Kanto. Gotta get that wedding dress pronto – it is the most important part of the wedding, after all. I'll let you know when it is, I want you to come."
"I doubt anyone else thinks the dress is most important. But I digress. Thanks, Dawn. I can't wait."
Dawn hung up and crossed 'Call Zoey' off of her Wedding List, as she and May had come to call it. She'd call Leona later that night. The call to Misty would be more awkward, so she wanted to get that out of the way as soon as possible. Dawn began scrolling through her contact list, trying to find the number for the Cerulean City Gym. She'd just found it when her videophone began to ring again.
"Oh, hey, May."
"So! Hope you're free this weekend, chick-a-dee, I got you a dress appointment for Friday!" May squealed.
"No way! May, that's fantastic! I thought it wouldn't be for a few months!" Dawn grinned at her friend.
"I know. But I said who the wedding was for and they somehow found an opening at one thirty P.M. on Friday," May said slyly. Dawn shook her head. "What, Dawn? If you're famous, you've got strings you can pull! Use it when you can."
"This is great. D'you think you can get us there?"
"Already ahead of you," May grinned. "I looked up cruises to Kanto. There are three rooms left. One for you and your mom, one for me, one for Zoey and Leona!"
"Well, I'll have to talk to my mom and Lee still. I think Zoey'll have no problem," Dawn mused. "How much?"
"Not bad. We can all handle it. There're no last-minute fees for this cruise. It leaves Canalave City Wednesday night, gets us to Kanto – Vermillion City, that is – Friday morning."
"Excellent. Well, book the rooms. Arceus, I can't believe we're doing this!"
"I know. Okay – the cruise is booked!"
"Awesome. I'll call my mom, Misty, and Leona."
"Later. Let me know."
"Always."
Dawn hung up and quickly texted Zoey, as she'd promised.
Hey ZoZo. Pack your bags, girl, we're going on a cruise to Kanto!
She waited for Zoey's reply, knowing it would be quick.
Wow, that's fast. When?
Dawn smiled and typed a quick response.
We leave Wednesday, get there Friday. We'll get a flight back on Sunday, probably. Cruise is already booked so don't you worry your pretty little head about anything.
She returned to her search of the Cerulean City Gym. Dawn decided a videophone call would be more apropos for this kind of request.
You're lucky I'm free. Can't wait, Dawn.
Dawn dialed the Gym's number into the videophone console and waited for someone to answer. She waited for about a minute before someone picked up. A pretty girl with short pink hair answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi – you're Lily, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm Dawn, a friend of Misty's –"
Lily turned and walked away from the screen and called "Miiiiiiiisty! Phone for you."
Dawn raised her eyebrows.
"Lily, you can't just walk away from the videophone like that!" Misty snarled at her sister before she appeared on the screen. She looked surprised. "Oh. Hey, Dawn, what's up?"
"Hi... I have a – I suppose you'd call it a request – for you," Dawn began. Misty laughed once.
"Okay."
"Well, I'm sure Ash told you I'm getting married –"
"Yeah, to his rival."
Misty's tone left no doubt in Dawn's mind whose side she was on. Dawn exhaled and carried on.
"Okay. Yeah, to his rival. But I was wondering... Misty, would you be one of my bridesmaids?"
Misty blinked at her. "But, we're not friends," she said baldly. Dawn shrugged.
"We could be."
"Well... I guess, if you want," Misty said uncertainly. Dawn beamed at her.
"Great! So, what're you doing this weekend?"
"Working at the Gym. Like always."
"Well, can you take a break? May, Leona, Zoey and I are coming to Saffron City to look at wedding gowns. D'you think you could join us?"
"Sure," Misty agreed. "Just tell me the time and place."
Dawn explained their travel plans, the name of the dress store and the time of their appointment.
"Well, I'll pick you up in Vermillion – we can go together, okay?"
"That sounds great, thanks, Misty."
Dawn hung up, breathing a sigh of relief. It could have gone much worse. She immediately dialed another number, one that she knew by heart.
"Hello?"
"Hi, mom!" Dawn grinned at her mom.
"Hi, sweetheart! How are you?" Johanna asked.
"Oh, I'm alright," Dawn mumbled, slumping her shoulders and looking dejected.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"I just... What're you doing next weekend?" Dawn asked sadly, keeping up the act.
"Nothing, dear. Why? Do you need to come over? Are you and Paul fighting?"
"Oh, no... Nothing like that...," Dawn said, trying not to laugh. "But... I was wondering, d'you think you can come to Kanto with me and a few friends?"
"Why?"
"Oh... Well, just because I don't want to try on wedding dresses without my mom there!" Dawn squealed.
"Oh, Dawn! Paul proposed!" Johanna gushed.
"Yeah! And May, Zoey, Misty, hopefully Leona, and I are going to Saffron City to try on dresses next weekend!" Dawn said, grinning. "I really want you to come, mom. I can't get a dress without you."
"Oh, Dawn, honey, I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Dawn beamed and explained the travel plans to her mother, who shook her head at the ostentatiousness of the plan. She agreed to go, and she and Dawn hung up soon after.
- / - / - / -
Paul dropped his Pokémon off at the Pokémon Center, sure that he had his Champion's team completely squared away.
He walked back to the apartment earlier than he planned. It was quarter of seven – about when he said he'd be back. Odd. He was usually really late.
Paul trudged up the stairs and pushed the door to the apartment open to see Dawn sashaying around the kitchen, talking loudly on her Pokégear to someone.
"I know, Lee, I know. Leona! Grow up, I couldn't have told you, you've been out in Arceus-knows-where for a year now, I couldn't have told you squat. So let it go and be one of my bridesmaids, okay?"
Paul rolled his eyes and went to change. He pulled on a pair or holey sweatpants and an old T-shirt. When he emerged, Dawn was off the phone. She was poking at something in a frying pan on the stove. Paul went to the kitchen and looked over her shoulder. A greenish-brown clump was sitting in the frying pan.
"What is that supposed to be?" Paul asked, wrinkling his nose.
He'd forgotten how close he was to her. She jumped slightly at hearing his voice right in her ear. Paul noticed this, but didn't move away.
"It's a frittata," Dawn said with finality. She dug her elbow into his ribs, and he hissed and stepped back.
"It was a frittata," Paul muttered.
"I heard that. You can set the table," Dawn called to him. Paul coughed out a laugh and obliged.
"So," Dawn began. "I won't be here next weekend."
"Okay."
"Don't you care where I'll be?"
"Sure. Where will you be?"
"In Kanto," Dawn said promptly. "With my friends and my mom. Trying on wedding dresses."
"Oh. Okay."
"That's it?"
"I guess."
"Do you want to come?" Dawn asked challengingly, expecting him to say no, he'd rather spend the weekend alone.
"Thought it was bad luck to see the bride in the dress before the wedding."
Dawn blinked in surprise. "It is."
"So, I can't go."
"Not to the store, no," Dawn conceded. "But we'll be in Saffron the whole weekend. Just hanging out. You're – uh – welcome to join us, if you want."
"There are lots of talented trainers in the Saffron area," Paul said musingly. "I'll think about it."
"Okay. Let me know soon, though."
Only a few minutes later, the two were seated opposite one another, with a bit of Dawn's frittata on each of their plates. Paul poked at it dubiously.
"You'd better eat that," Dawn said, brandishing her fork at him. He scoffed, but consented to try a bite. "Yeah, and if it doesn't kill you, you'll finish it."
- / - / - / -
Dawn set the alarm for the first time in months. She and Paul were shocked awake by a loud blaring at seven fifteen. Paul groaned and rolled over.
"Why did you set it for so early?" he groaned, covering his head with the sheets. "We aren't leaving until eleven."
"I need to get ready," Dawn grumbled, just as irritated as Paul at the unwelcome awakening.
"You don't need four hours."
"I do too," Dawn moaned as she got up. "Shut up and go back to sleep."
"I plan to."
Dawn stumbled to the bathroom and turned water on to take a hot bath. She dumped copious amounts of bubbles in the water and waited for it to fill up. While she waited, she splashed cold water from the sink on her face in a vain effort to wake herself up. After five or so minutes, she turned the tap off and sunk into the hot bathtub. For several minutes, she simply lay there, reveling in the feeling of the bubble bath.
After a time, she remembered that she has wanted to take a bath so that she could leisurely shave her legs. She spent thirty minutes on each leg, making sure she didn't miss a single hair.
She'd taken a shower the night before, just after dinner. She wouldn't have to worry about washing her hair just now. She intended to straighten it to make herself look slightly more intimidating. Her hair curled was cute, but she wanted to look powerful. Not to threaten the League or anything like that – she knew she had no power with them. But she'd feel more confident when they spoke to her if she felt she looked more intimidating.
Paul knocked on the bathroom door two hours later, informing her that he thought she'd drowned, and wouldn't she please mind making a sound if she was alive so he could enter the bathroom without walking in on a dead girl? Dawn laughed and told him to get away, and that she'd be out in just a minute. True to her word, she emerged in barely a minute, wrapped in a towel that barely covered everything. She sauntered past him into the closet to pick out her outfit.
"Don't be long. I still need to do my hair."
- / - / - / -
An hour and forty-five minutes later, Dawn and Paul were ready to go. Paul was wearing black pants and a black button-down shirt. He had a bright green tie hanging loosely around his neck.
"You look dashing," Dawn had proclaimed when he exited the closet. He'd given her a funny look and his lips had twitched. She had varied her outfit choice based on his tie. She had been planning to wear a very short ice-blue dress; but she opted instead for a poisonous green dress that fell a few inches above her knees. It was low-cut with twisted straps. Dawn added a glittering black brooch to the center, under her bust. She paired it with a small black shoulder bag and four-inch black stilettos.
Paul had cleared his throat when she walked out to meet him, but said nothing. She knew better now that to be offended. His speechlessness was enough.
"Shall we go down?" Dawn suggested. Paul nodded tightly. "You know, you don't need to be this nervous."
"Yeah I do," Paul said tersely. Dawn shook her head, but said nothing.
The hour-long ride to Sunyshore port was a quiet one. Dawn was whispering words of encouragement at the beginning, but those just seemed to annoy Paul, so she'd desisted. The ferry from Sunyshore to Lily of the Valley Island took about forty-five minutes. Before they disembarked, Dawn squeezed Paul's hand. He looked at her, and she smiled slightly.
"It'll be fine," she murmured. Paul said nothing, but he appreciated the gesture. He didn't let go of her hand as they walked down the gangplank to meet the small group of people assembled on the docks to greet them.
"Paul!"
A young man with dark brown hair hair approached him first. He was wearing a black suit with a bright pink tie. Paul placed the man's age at most five years older than himself. They shook hands.
"Aaron, Aaron Hastings," Aaron said, his hand clutching Paul's in a death grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Paul."
"Yes, sir, it's a pleasure to meet you, too. This is –"
"Ahh, of course," Aaron said, releasing Paul's hand. He bent to brush Dawn's fingertips with his lips. Paul narrowed his eyes is dislike. "Your beautiful fianceé, Dawn! Enchantée, Dawn."
Dawn smiled at him. Paul watched her face closely; he fancied to think that her smile was forced, and that she disliked him as much as Paul was beginning to.
"It was ever so kind of you to have me join your meeting with Paul," Dawn said sleekly. Paul smirked. She didn't like him, either.
"Not at all, dear, I'm honored to have you here on my island. I never pass up a chance to invite a pretty girl here."
"Aren't you sweet," Dawn cooed. Paul's hands were balled into fists. He was vaguely aware of Aaron introducing them to the rest of his entourage, but didn't take any of it in.
"Now, shall we go for a tour?"
Paul stood rooted to the spot, and Aaron probably would have noticed had Dawn not pulled him along. He obeyed the pressure of her hand unthinkingly. After several moments, they left the dock and Paul came to. Aaron was gesturing at the carefully manicured lawns and flower beds, and Dawn was making sounds of appreciation.
"But, Paul, I'm sure you're not interested in flowers," Aaron laughed. "You're pretty single-minded about battling, aren't you?"
"Yes," Paul answered shortly. Dawn pinched him. He glanced at her, and was surprised to see her trying to conceal laughter.
"So, I guess you'd like to see the battle pitches available to the Champion and the Elite Four?"
"Of course," Paul replied, mystified by Dawn's antics. "It would be an honor."
"After lunch then?" Aaron suggested. "And I'm sure we can find someone to entertain the lovely Dawn while I show you the arenas."
"I'm sure Dawn would be delighted to see the battlefields," Paul said flatly. "She's a trainer as well."
Dawn's eyes widened.
"Ahem, yes," Aaron said uncomfortably. "I'm sure she is an excellent trainer, but that was more a clever ruse. I wanted to speak to you alone, Paul."
Dawn rolled her eyes. Like hell you do. You need one of your minions to corner me.
Paul said nothing. He spoke very little throughout the luncheon, with Dawn and Aaron carrying most of the conversation. As the afternoon progressed, he became quieter and more sullen. After lunch, Aaron looked quite displeased at the necessity to leave Dawn's company in exchange for that of Paul.
"We'll be back to you before you know it, Dawn," Aaron said warmly. Paul's face was stormy, but unreadable, as he left with the League President.
"Miss Dawn," a young lady with heavy dark blonde hair approached her the moment Paul and Aaron had left. "May I show you around the Champion's quarters?"
"Isn't that a bit presumptuous?" Dawn asked. She stood anyway, resigning herself to the conversation.
"Oh, no. Aaron – excuse me, Mr. Hastings – has a great deal of faith in Paul," the woman laughed. Dawn wrinkled her nose and followed the girl out of the dining hall.
"What's your name?"
"Oh," the woman trilled her little laugh again and Dawn grimaced. "My name is Carolyn. I'm so sorry, I should have said."
Dawn followed her in silence, answering Carolyn's mindless questions with equally mindless answers.
"So, the Champion's quarters are through here," Carolyn said, pointing at a pair of oak double doors. "Unfortunately, I cannot show you inside. It would be an invasion of Lady Cynthia's privacy."
"So you walked me all this way to say that?" Dawn snorted. Carolyn shook her head, looking uncomfortable.
"I don't know how to say this delicately... Well, we know about you."
"You know about me? I believe the proper phrasing would be that I know about you," Dawn laughed loudly. "Yes, I know about the twisted corruption of the League," Dawn said, as though the words 'the League' left a bad taste on her tongue. "Don't worry, Carolyn. I won't tell Paul. I care enough about his career. I care that he has the chance to become Champion. He will get that chance, Carolyn. We understand each other, don't we?"
Dawn smiled angelically at the girl. And to think, I promised myself I wouldn't threaten the League, she thought. Though this girl hardly counts.
"I, uh – yes – um," Carolyn mumbled incoherently. "We – uh – we thought that the way he – Paul – was acting today..."
"That he knew something?" Dawn let out a tinkling laugh that could match Carolyn's in level of annoyance. "Clearly, you haven't done your research. That's how Paul is. He isn't hiding anything from you."
"Well... Um... We can't have you telling him," Carolyn said. She sounded as though she was trying to sound firm.
"I don't plan to, as I've said," Dawn said icily. "I also don't plan to stand here with you, Carolyn, and discuss this any longer. I've told you I'll keep my silence. I'm sure you're recording this, so I'll extend this directly to you, Aaron – I don't plan to tell Paul anything. You have spent time with me today, and I do hope I made an impression on you. I will keep my word. And Paul will become Champion. I won't jeopardize that with something as trivial as this."
"Now, Carolyn. I believe my fianceé will be waiting for me back in the lunch hall. I wouldn't like to keep him waiting and need to tell him where I was, would I?"
- / - / - / -
Dawn and Paul left Lily of the Valley Island not much later. After a few hasty excuses, Aaron walked the couple back to the dock. He shook hands with a stony-faced Paul and embraced Dawn. He didn't notice how Paul's eyes tightened at this.
"Well, I'll be in contact with you both," Aaron said, beaming. "It was good to meet you, Paul – and you, lovely Dawn."
Dawn smiled and pulled Paul's arm towards the gangplank on the ferry.
"It was lovely to meet you, Aaron," Dawn called as they left. "I do hope to see you again soon – when Paul is crowned Champion!"
No one but Aaron understood the dual meaning to her words. He smiled coyly at her.
"That is the hope, isn't it?"
- / - / - / -
"Paul, what is the matter with you?" Dawn sighed. She'd endured Paul's tetchy mood for the entire ferry ride and half the car ride home. "You've been like this since we got to Lily of the Valley Island. What happened?"
"I don't like him," Paul answered moodily.
"Well, neither do I, but you didn't see me showing it to the whole world, did you?"
"You didn't like him?" Paul asked flatly.
"Of course not, Paul. He's a smarmy asshole – he's completely transparent," Dawn said patiently. "But I thought your plan today was impressing them?"
"Well, I'm sure you made enough of an impression on Mister Hastings today," Paul snarled. Dawn frowned.
"That's not funny, Paul."
"Isn't it? Won't this be jolly – the Champion's wife having an affair with the President of the Pokémon League," Paul spat.
Dawn punched him in the arm as hard as she could.
"What the hell?"
"Don't screw with me, Paul. I didn't like him at all, and if you didn't spend the whole day with your head up your ass, you would have seen that," Dawn snapped. "If you haven't noticed yet, I rather like you. So stop being such a whiny little girl and grow up."
- / - / - / - / - / -
A/N: I can't even tell you how many times in the chapter I wrote 'Ministry' instead of 'League.' Too much Harry Potter in my life (no such thing). Not enough Pokémon. Or homework. Whoops. Oh, and I don't own Kleinfeld's. (thanks PorcelainDollxx for catching the mistake!) GOD I wish I did. Other dominating factor in my life, the TV show Say Yes to the Dress.
Thanks again to all of my lovely reviewers – you're fantabulistical and I love you all!
Up next... Wedding dress shopping and a night of dancing...
WARNING: this story is NOT going to stay as PG as it is now. It will get rather un-PG, if you get my drift. Rather a lot more not PG. As in much more explicit. I probably should have mentioned earlier, but better late than never.