Hey Everybody! Here's the next installment of my summer alphabet challenge! As you can probably tell, these aren't meant to be long chapters, and in fact I can guarantee that - thanks to work for my new job, and writing for my long-running main fic, "A New Journey" - not one will be over one thousand words.

However, neither length nor depth are the point of this fic, anyway. Instead, my goal is simply to provide snapshots of happiness in a summertime setting (my personal favorite season), and hopefully make your day at least slightly brighter; whether you're reading it before you go to work, or as you drift off to sleep. I hope I've done so for everyone thus far, and this story continues to flash a little sunshine into your day. If it has, REVIEW PLEASE and let me know! Nothing makes me happier than making others happy (which is really making me happy...so, kinda selfish, but whatever). Anyway, enjoy!

It was hot today, but the Cerulean Gym's outdoor pool felt like Heaven.

Brock looked up and smiled. "Hey, you two! These burgers are gonna be cold if you don't come out and get 'em now!"

Ash and Pikachu quickly dropped the beach ball they had been bouncing and splashed through the pool to the grill. Misty helped Brock slide the patties onto a plate as he balanced each on the spatula.

"These look great," she admired, mouth watering already. "Why don't you stay with us more often?"

"I would, but seeing you two make googly eyes at each other makes me nauseous."

She gave him a small jab in the rib as Ash grabbed a bun from the patio table and let Misty drop the patty on.

"Do we have mustard?"

"Right here."

"Thanks Brock-o!" He smothered his treat, then stuffed his mouth.

"Ash! Wait on Brock and me to get ours!"

"Oh…sowwy."

Brock and Misty shared a glance before each prepared their own.

"Let's dip our feet in to stay cool while we eat," the redhead suggested as she moved to the pool.

The two boys agreed while Pikachu ran next to her with the ketchup bottle.

For a few precious moments, all was silent save for the quiet sounds of muffled chewing. The sun reflected off the small ripples from the subtle movements of their legs, and birds and Pidgey chirped in the trees above their heads.

Misty closed her eyes and smiled as she felt the sun's gaze penetrate her skin and warm her from the inside, out.

"Don't you wish everyday was like this?"

Ash nodded. "I could get used to living this way."

"Maybe." Brock suddenly laughed. "But then again, maybe it's a good thing it's not always like this."

The couple gave him a curious look.

"Whaddya mean?"

He shrugged and took the last bite of his burger. He laid back and watched as a stray cumulus raced overhead.

"If everyday were like this, we'd never appreciate how special our friendship and time together is. I hate not getting to see you guys more often, but maybe absence really does make the heart grow fonder…"

Misty and Ash smiled and laid back too, as Pikachu jumped on Brock's chest and licked his cheek. They took a moment to digest the pleasant thought.

"Good point," Ash conceded. "…but that doesn't mean I want this to end anytime soon! We have a whole day of fun ahead of us, and if what you say is true, then we can't let a minute go to waste…so who's up for a race?"

In two heartbeats, the friends were rushing down the swimming lanes, laughing and unknowingly making memories that would remain in their hearts far beyond the sun's setting.