Freddie watched his daughter from the kitchen as Niema giggled while she played outside with her new Pokémon. Just as he suspected, he would have to take on the bulk of caring for the baby Eevee but seeing his daughter's face light up every moment she spent with the mammalian creature had Freddie convinced the extra work was worth it. He had returned to work three months ago soon after Lunick was shot, and though he was saddened he couldn't visit his friend as often as he previously could, he was at least comforted that there was another pair of eyes watching Niema.

Returning to the field meant he had to rely on the care of the Otakas again, which only slightly worried Freddie more than usual. After Niema's kidnapping he had not been able to quell the anger in his heart he felt for their negligence in releasing her to Anya. Sylvia and her wife Diane he trusted - they had been helping him care for Niema ever since she was a baby. But so long as they had their niece, Cindy, working there occasionally, he'd never be able to rest easy.

He hadn't seen or heard from Anya since his encounter with Vard that night, which Freddie didn't know if it was for the better or worse. That woman was incredibly unpredictable. She could be plotting her next move or strung up on coke or some other drug. As far as Freddie was concerned, she could be dead in a ditch somewhere, he didn't care. She lost all rights to their daughter the day she chose drugs over them.

Riiing! Riiing! Rii-

"Hello?" Freddie answered his cell phone as he cleaned up the kitchen from his and Niema's breakfast.

"Hey yourself there." A feminine voice replied.

"Shauna. Good morning. How curious that you're calling me on my personal cell instead of the styler." He joked.

"Well, I didn't want to risk the censors picking up on this phone call. You know we haven't disclosed yet."

"Disclosed?" Freddie questioned as he ran the water from the faucet over the dirty plate and bowl, rinsing them off before placing them in his dishwasher. "Are we serious enough to warrant disclosure?"

"You've seen the inside of my bedroom. If that doesn't make us serious, I'd have to question your ethics as a human being, Pokémon Ranger, and gentleman." She responded.

Freddie chuckled lightly. He and Shauna had only recently started seeing each other exclusively. She had been a great comfort to him over these past few months since Niema's abduction and they only grew closer the more Shauna offered her time to him. The thing was they had casual relations every so often, or at least Freddie thought it was casual at first. But he felt himself feeling strong emotions for the cocoa-skinned beauty, emotions that he hadn't felt for many years now. Things felt like they were finally starting to look up for him and his family.

"Hey now, what can I say? I'm a healthy, red-blooded guy. I'm not gonna refuse sex when offered."

"I should hope it was much more than that."

"Of course it was. You know I don't offer up myself to just anyone."

He wiped his hands dry and glanced back outside the window. Niema was running around the backyard being chased by her Eevee.

"Glad to hear it. So can I entice you for a night out on the plaza before another rendezvous at my place?"

"Aren't you working overnight tonight? Besides I don't think the Otakas are available to babysit tonight. Their daughter is visiting with her husband and children for their golden anniversary celebration."

"That's why Chris exists."

"You're wrong for that."

"Hey, he jumps at any chance he can get to spend with Leader. You know this. Besides, he loves babysitting the squirt."

Freddie walked over to his chair and ran his arms through the sleeves of his jacket before zipping it up.

"Yeah but he upcharges. You know I'm strapped tightly right now."

"So you are a BDSM man?"

"My God, girl, calm down. Are you hungering like a dog Pokémon for me that badly?"

"Woof."

"Shauna! Aren't you at the counter?"

"You think I'd be talking like this if I was?"

"I dunno. I don't know all your kinks yet."

"I'm in my car."

"That makes a lot more sense."

"You left a few of your Magnum XLs here as well."

"Well, that was on purpose. I'm not a fool. Not anymore at least."

"Who said that? I think it's pretty foolish to turn down this offer."

"I don't have the money to pay Chris."

"You know we don't watch Niema for the money. Call it a favor. You trade one service for another."

"Is that what we've been doing?"

"You want to downgrade our relationship to services? Fine then, I've got tonight covered. The only thing you have to do is show up and let me take care of the rest."

"That does sound pretty enticing. You've still got that fuzzy little number in your closet?"

"Now who's acting like a canine?"

"Woof woof. You started it, madam."

"Mmm. My offer remains. Take it or leave it. I'll be enjoying myself either way."

Freddie once again chuckled, knowing exactly what she was referring to. He looked back out the window as he clipped his pack to his waist and noticed a strange woman with wild green hair talking to Niema outside.

He instantly frowned. "Hey, Shauna? I gotta go, but I'll see you at the base in a bit. We can talk more about tonight then."

"Sounds good to me. I gotta be heading back inside anyway. See you soon, Freddie."

"See you."

As he disconnected the call he saw the woman clasp Niema's hands in hers.

"Weavile!" He called. His Partner Pokémon instantly appeared at his side. "Let's go!"

He hurriedly ran outside to see Niema standing in the middle of the backyard with her Eevee perched on her right shoulder. The woman seemingly disappeared into thin air. She was nowhere to be seen.

"Weavile, trail!" He ordered.

"Weavile!" The dark/ice-type pokemon vanished as she quickly started her attempts at tracking her.

Freddie ran up to Niema and turned her around, looking her over thoroughly.

"Niema, did you know that woman?"

"No, Daddy."

"What did she want?"

"She asked if I'd seen Mommy and I told her 'no'. Den she asked if you were home and I told her you was inside and dat you was gettin ready fo work and dat we were bout to go so you wouldn't be vailable to talk. She left after dat."

Freddie looked his daughter in the eyes. "Niema, you know I've told you never to talk to strangers. You just disclosed where I'd be for the day. Did you tell her where you were going to be too?"

"No, Daddy."

"Please don't ever tell anyone where you or I will be, especially if we don't know who they are. You don't know their intentions. Only talk to people we know and trust."

"But, Daddy, she seem tah know Mommy. Don't dat make her a friend?"

Freddie's eyes hardened. "Niema, what have I told you about your mother? She cannot be trusted right now. She is not safe. Remember when we had that discussion?"

"Yes, but -"

"No buts, Niema. Don't ever do that again. Get your backpack. We're leaving now."

Freddie stood up and released his hold on her. At that moment, Weavile returned, shaking her head.

Freddie sighed heavily before turning his attention back to his daughter. "We need to be careful, Niema, okay? If you see that lady again, do not talk to her. Do not approach her. Run away to someone safe that we trust like we've discussed, okay?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Go get your things."

Niema ran to the side of their backyard and picked up her purple backpack. She looked back up to see her father unlock his car and Weavile continuing to survey the area.

Pouting, Niema looked down at the tiny bag of shiny crystals the woman had given her. She quickly put it in her backpack and zipped it up.

"Eevee?" Her Pokémon questioned.

"Dis will help, Daddy. She say it would. I jus gotta do it once we get to his job next time. I'll save you, Daddy. I pwomiss."

Leilani cried feverishly, her head collapsed into her arms as she sat in the Ringtown Ranger Base.

"Leilani?" A voice called, tinged with concern.

Immediately recognizing it, Leilani lifted her head to see Murph standing in the room holding a clipboard as he usually did when he went to go check inventory in the storage room. His face was a mask of worried confusion as he gazed upon Leilani's disheveled, tear-stained features.

"Leilani, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" He asked as he walked over to her.

Leilani continued to gasp for air as she shot out of her seat and enveloped Murph in her arms, burying her face in his neck as she sobbed.

"Murph!" She cried. "Oh Murphy!"

"H-Hey there," he tried his best to soothe. He rested the clipboard on the on table she had her head on and wrapped his large hands around her back and waist. He rubbed circles across her upper back, a little embarrassed at how thin the fabric was of her shirt as he could feel the heat of her bare skin through it. "It'll be all right."

"No…it won't!"

"What's got you so upset, Leilani?"

Leilani lifted her head slightly, barely enough to look into Murph's amber eyes.

"I did something really bad, Murph. I messed up. And I may have ruined my relationship with Solana and Lunick forever because of it."

"What do you mean? You and Solana are tight, there's no way in the world you two would never be friends. And Lunick's nearly the same."

Leilani shook her head. "I messed up, Murphy…I betrayed them both, especially Solana. She's never gonna forgive me."

"Leilani, whatever it is, I'm sure you both can work it out. It can't be all that bad -"

"I kissed Lunick." She blurted.

Murph furrowed his brow, blinked, then raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You what?"

"I kissed him. I kissed my best friend's boyfriend. Still think I'm all that forgivable?"

"Oh shit," Murph uttered before he could think. He saw Leilani's expression get even more horrified, before scrunching up again to sob. Murph seldom ever cursed so if she elicited that kind of response because of her actions…Murph quickly shook his head. He grasped Leilani by her shoulder with one hand and picked up his clipboard with the other. "Let's go somewhere more private to talk."

Murph led Leilani into the base's storage room and locked the door behind him. He sat her down on one of the overnight beds before going to the bathroom and wetting a washcloth with cool water, bringing it to her moments later to wash her face and then finally sitting in a chair by the beside table.

"Tell me what happened, Leilani."

After she was done wiping her face, Leilani sighed shakily.

"I don't entirely know myself. I went to visit Lunick. He noticed I was moving carefully because of my injuries. I told him how depressed I really was and…He just affirmed how he wasn't going to let me drown in my own darkness. He kept saying he was going to protect me and be there for me and how he had this perfect love for me as a friend that empowered him and I just…I got really maudlin and was foolishly sentimental. I didn't even see Lunick anymore, just this white knight who was willing to sacrifice himself to keep me safe from an abuser…And I leaned over and kissed him. But then…I realized what I was doing and pulled back and the look on his face…The confusion and awkwardness of it all…God, I'm so pathetic! I'm so stupid!"

Her head fell into her hands once more as she fought the urge to break down in tears again.

"Don't say that about yourself, Leilani. You're going through a lot right now. I can see how this ended up happening."

She reopened her eyes and looked tearfully at Murph. "You do?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Lunick's a beast with words. He can move anyone to do anything, his convictions are that strong. Of course you're gonna be moved by what he says. He's putting himself in a very difficult position for you. Not only that, you yourself are in a very vulnerable state with everything you have been going through. As bad as you feel, you probably want to be rescued out of this Poochyena shit. You probably crave a savior of some kind. Because everyday you don't know if it's going to be the end of your life. So, it's not particularly surprising that a good speech from Lunick would get you all fuzzy inside and move you to kissing him. You probably also have some hidden feelings there as well that's confusing you too."

Leilani's shoulders slumped. "I don't know. I don't know how I feel about Lunick."

"The best thing you can do for Solana and Lunick in this instance is just come out and say what you're feeling and explain what you were feeling at the time. That the kiss didn't mean anything and you just got caught up in your emotions. I'm sure they'll both understand."

"Solana is still very much pissed off at me."

"You should still let her know. And I'm sure, with Lunick now out of the danger zone, she'll come around again. She just needs time."

Leilani slowly nodded.

Murph smiled weakly. "You're a very strong woman, Leilani. A lot stronger than you think."

She looked back up at him. His amber eyes seemed to shimmer in the dimness of the storage room.

"Murphy, can I tell you something?"

"Go for it."

"I may not know how I feel about Lunick, but I've always known how I felt about you."

Murph's eyes fell to the floor.

"I never stopped having feelings for you." She confessed. "I know you are in a relationship with Aria and I'm not trying to intrude or take that away from you, but Murph…I've never stopped loving you."

"Leilani -"

"Please, Murph. Let me do this." She asked.

Murph fell silent.

Leilani sighed once more. "I've always had feelings for you, ever since we were young. You've always been such a cheerful, carefree, vibrant spirit."

"I could say the same thing about you."

"Yeah, but your energy is different. You thrive off of making people happy. I'm just an extrovert."

"You are so much more than that, Leilani."

The two stared at each other in silence for a while before they were ultimately interrupted by the ringing of Murph's styler. He took it off its holder on its hip and answered.

"Hello?"

"Murph, where are those reports? You were supposed to send them over an hour ago!"

"Professor, I know, just…give me a minute -"

"It's okay," Leilani quickly said, forcing a weak smile.

"Leilani…" Murph uttered sadly.

"I have to be getting back to Summerland anyway. I'm sorry to have kept you." She got up from the bed and placed the washcloth on the bedside table. "I'll see you later, Murph. Thanks for talking with me."

"Leilani?" He called as she hastily unlocked the storage room door and walked out.

Murph stared at it for a long while until Professor Hastings' shouting snapped him back to reality.

"Murph! Murph!"

"You'll have the documents within the next hour."

"Good. Now, I need you at the monitor to address Erma about the latest corrupted Pokémon that have been found and captured in Fiore."

"I'll be right there, Professor."

"Lind?" Lunick said as he entered his hospital room. Lind was sitting in one of the visitor's chairs holding a bouquet of irises, lupines and alliums. He quickly got up when he saw Lunick stiffly and slowly walking in the room with his walker.

"Goodness, do you need any help Lunick?"

"Yes, but I shouldn't. I need the strengthen my legs on my own. Thank you though."

He laboriously walked over to his bed, scooting the walker over to the side as he painfully sat down on the rigid hospital bed.

Lind winced as he placed the bouquet of flowers in the vase he brought and set it down on the table in the room. "You look like you're in a lot of pain."

"Do I? Really? I hadn't noticed." Lunick replied sarcastically as he strained to sit back on the bed.

"I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I wish there was something I could do for you to help."

"Don't even worry about it, Lind. It's fine. That's what the narcos are for," he grunted as he shifted his weight around, trying to find a comfortable position to lay down.

"How was physical therapy?"

"Hell."

"Acupuncture?"

"Torture."

"Yoga?"

"Pure shit."

Lind crossed his arms. "Dang, Lunick. You must be in a lot of pain if a God-fearing man like you is cursing this much."

"Oh gosh. You're starting to sound like my mother."

"Well, one of us should."

"No, one of us shouldn't." Lunick reopened his eyes to look at his friend. "That woman needs to keep her nose out of my love life."

"That woman? Lunick!"

"We're just not on the very best of terms right now."

"Lunick, Elvera is a prude and maybe even a tad bit overbearing-"

"A tad?"

"But she is still your mother. Don't shut her out like that. Believe me, you never want bad blood between you."

"You and Keith still not speaking?"

Lind sighed. "I haven't seen or heard from him in months. He's avoiding me. He's acting like being gay is contagious or something."

"He just needs time, Lind. You know Keith can be a jerk but he's not completely shallow."

Lind gripped his arms tighter. "He was right…About our parents…I told them…I came out to them a month ago…They've completely disowned me."

"Oh, Lind. I'm so sorry, man."

Lind closed his eyes as he started to tear up. "I was scared. But I didn't think they'd actually do it. My mother…The way she looked at me…It mirrored the way Keith looked at me…Like I was somehow not even human anymore…Something so far removed, something so much less than. And my Dad. He told me I was such a failure both as a man and a son. They hate me. Their own child…Keith was right."

Lunick stared worriedly at his friend and colleague.

"Lind -"

"No! No. Don't try to clean this up, Lunick. I don't want one of your speeches. Flowery words won't do it this time. This is my family that's disowned me…Nothing is gonna make this any better."

Lunick fell silent. What could say? Was there anything to say to encourage his friend in this moment? Let him know this wasn't the end?

"Knock, knock," a voice announced as they entered Lunick's hospital room. Lunick and Lind turned to see that it was Keith carrying a black plastic bag.

Lind was stunned.

"Keith?" Asked Lunick.

"How're you doing, Lunick?" Asked Keith as he approached them.

Lind quickly wiped away his tears.

"I've been better but I'll live," Lunick replied, equally surprised.

"Good. We all need to live," he said before turning his attention to his brother. "Lind."

"Keith." He replied. He turned to face Lunick. "I'll see you later, Lunick."

Lind turned to leave when he was ultimately called by his twin brother. "I'm not here to see, Lunick. I came to speak with you, Lind."

Lind stopped walking. He turned around to face him for the first time in months. "Why?"

"I need to talk with you."

"How did you know I was here?"

"I asked around."

Again Lind crossed his arms. "What do you want?"

"I brought a peace offering."

Keith opened the black plastic bag he was carrying and pulled out a clear container which contained various multicolored chopped fruits inside and held it out to his brother enthusiastically.

Lind furrowed his brow as he stared at the container.

"It's a fruit salad."

"I know what it is, Keith…Do you not understand the implications here?"

"What do you mean?"

"You brought a fruit salad for your gay brother?…You might as well have called me a fruity faggot. I can't tell if you're being facetious or genuine."

Keith sighed. He rested the fruit salad container down on the tray that was supposed to hold Lunick's food. "Look, Lind. I'm not gonna pretend to understand everything about you and your…preferences…But I'm trying…You're my baby brother, Lind."

"We're twins." He corrected.

"I don't want us to…I don't wanna lose you, man…I admit, I don't understand your attraction to men. I don't get it in the slightest bit what can be so appealing about it, and in fact, I find it completely disgusting and appalling…But, that's your thing apparently. I may not approve, in fact, I don't know if I ever will fully accept it. But I love you, Lind. I heard the things Mom and Dad said about you. And it hurt me. Hurt me to my core. And then I realized how what I said must've made you feel before then. You must feel so alone. I don't want that for you. For us. For our family. I'll talk to Mom and Dad. They'll come around eventually. I did. And I'm sorry for shutting you out before. So, if you'd rather diddle a dick than a pu…Heh…If you would rather be with a guy than a girl, then he'd better be one hell of a man or else he'll have to answer to me if he so much as even thinks about breaking your heart."

"Keith…" Lind whispered.

"So…Are we good now? Bros for life?"

Lind stared at his twin brother for a little while longer before taking up the container of fruit salad, popping it open, and popping a cantaloupe melon ball into his mouth.

"Bros for life. Forever, man."

They gave each other a mid high-five handshake before embracing one another. Lunick smiled.

"All right!" Exclaimed Keith.

"You're not off the hook." Said Lind.

"What?"

"You realize this is extremely offensive?" He pointed down to fruit salad in his left hand as he popped a honeydew melon ball in his mouth.

Keith shrugged. "It was either that or rainbow cupcakes and I can't bake for shit."

Lind nearly choked on melon in his mouth. "Are you kidding me?"

"What? Is that not your symbol or something? Rainbows?"

"Oh my God. You are so braindead. You are so ignorant. Do you hear this, Lunick?"

"What?"

"Why's it gotta be rainbow? Why can't you just say you accept me for who I am?"

"I'm trying to be gestural."

"You're being a dickhead, that's what you're being."

"Well you would know all about that, wouldn't you?"

"Oh! Oh!" Lind clutched his chest jokingly. "Oh! You douche! You motherF!"

"Naw, naw, go back to douche. You were closer with that."

The two brothers finally laughed together in what had seemed like ages, finally breaking the gigantic iceberg that had separated them for months.

A/N: Okay, admittedly the wrap-up with Keith and Lind is rushed but I could not for the life of me figure out a way to reintroduce Keith into the storyline the way the narrative was currently going. I waited too long to touch upon it again. So I apologize for this rushed scene. But I hope it's still satisfying for Lind's arc. Everybody else's will be better managed, I promise!

Also, I've posted a new Rangershipping story, Vaca for Two, chronicling Solana and Lunick's honeymoon. So far, I'm three chapters in. I'll be completing it alongside and probably before this story as I will be updating and working on both simultaneously, but that one will be much shorter and more condensed. It is a much lighter, fluffier story, so if you're in the mood for that, by all means, please read and enjoy!

Please don't forget to review!

Always Do Everything With Love.

XyKPfan