Well readers, I did it. The chapter is finally finished.

I know it took a while, but I think it will be worth it.

Consider this my belated Christmas/Hanukkah/New Years present to all of you wonderful people :)

Chapter 9: Little Bit of Rain Never Hurt Nobody

It felt wonderful to have the warm, salty air blowing against my cold skin. I was exhausted and weak. If the clay ground weren't so cold I could have easily fallen asleep on the ground to the lullaby of ocean waves dancing against the rocks. A dull throbbing headache was strengthening due to fatigue and the way to soothe it was to sleep.

However, I could not sleep.

It had been almost a day since Brendan left my home, but the scent of him was still embedded in my pillows. To be honest, I wasn't ready to wash the scent of him away, but it was keeping me up all night. I couldn't stop myself from overloading at the scent of him so close, so warm, oh so snug. Since Brendan left, a feeling of anxiety started swelling in the pit of my stomach. I knew it was getting unbearably close to him finding out my "secret." I knew he had some kind of feelings for me, but I wasn't ready to accept my feelings for him. I just didn't know what to do; Love was a completely different world of emotions for me.

So I came to Wallace; Again.

Fortunately for him, it was about 9pm so I wouldn't be disturbing any beauty sleep this time. The door cracked open slowly and a freshly showered Wallace smiled at me as I was welcomed into his home.

"I'm not interrupting anything, right?" Wallace locked the door and made his way to the living room.

"Not at all, I was just reading some mail." He settled himself on the couch and crossed his legs. "What's up honey?" I knew he would ask. I flopped down on the seat next to him and sighed. It would be nice to just ignore any thoughts of Brendan for a while, they had been interfering with my life so much.

"Can't sleep." A thin teal eyebrow arched curiously.

"Hon, I know you well enough to see that there's something deeper to it." I blushed and squirmed deep into his plush couch. My muffled groans did not satisfy his curiosity, they only reinforced his skepticism.

"I don't know… I guess there's been a lot on my mind lately." Blue eyes softened and he pulled me close. I sighed against his shoulder as his thin fingers wove themselves into my hair; I curled up on the couch and leaned into his touch.

"Baby, you look like death. Whatever it is must be really gnawing at you…are you sure you don't want to talk about anything?" I didn't want to talk about Brendan; he'd been consuming all of my thoughts recently.

The second thing that came to mind was my father; how would he take the news of my little identity discovery? How could I possibly tell him? Should I even tell him? I could feel a lump forming in my throat and I shivered at the thought. I eventually formed some words for my best friend.

"How did you come out to your parents?" It was quiet, I was scared to hear his response to how his parents handled it. His thumb rubbed my cheek and he combed my hair back with his fingers.

"I…I may not be the best person to talk to about that, dear." He was quiet as well. I felt as though I was crossing some sort of invisible, unspeakable boundary.

"I want to know." I felt Wallace sigh deeply as he shifted on the couch.

"I'll tell you…but I want you to know that my parents are an exception to most. I'm sure your father would love and support you regardless." I reached up and put my hand on his.

"Please." I could hear his heart beat pick up as he prepared himself. If I weren't so tired I'd assume mine would be rushing as well.

"I never formally 'came out' to my parents, they found out. We were still living in Kanto at the time, I was just a teenager…my parents were supposed to be gone for the weekend and I did something a little careless. To be short, my parents came home earlier than expected, found my boyfriend and I curled up in the living room and snapped. I got in a huge fight with my dad, my mom was horribly upset and they decided to kick me out. After that I moved to Hoenn and apprenticed with Juan as a Pokémon coordinator and trainer."

I could feel fear trickling through my veins as Wallace told me about his awful coming out story; it wasn't as though my parents could kick me out, but I couldn't stand to bring that kind of distraught to my family. My father may be quite a pain, but I still loved him…I couldn't bear to lose his love.

"Sweetie…don't let what happened to me keep you from telling your family. Things blew up so badly between my family and me because I didn't tell them."

Truth be told, I was terrified. I couldn't even fathom the idea of telling my father I was gay. The thought of it chilled me to the bone. My hands were trembling slightly and my stomach was lying somewhere on the ground, or rather that's how it felt. I could have vomited, I felt awful. If it weren't for Wallace's compassionate caresses through my hair I probably would have vomited. A soft hand grabbed one of my shaky ones and squeezed it gently.

"You haven't talked about your Pokémon much at all lately. You're not giving up on that, are you?"
Was he trying to make me feel better by changing the topic?

"No…I'm not, it's just been out of focus."

"What about your rock collection? I can't even remember the last time you came to me excited about a discovery." I just shrugged it off; it seemed like the only thing my soul had a passion for any longer was Brendan. Fingers twirling lightly in my hair, Wallace adjusted himself to look at my face. "Honey…you look ready to pass out…" I could still feel the anxiety twitching in my fingers though, I couldn't fall asleep. I closed my eyes and slid down to lay in his lap.

"Have you ever been in love, Wallace?" He brushed my cheek with the back of his hand almost like the way my mother used to when I was little.

"Once upon a time…"

"Does it get easier?" his long fingers pet my hair as he searched for an answer.

"I just can't say." I sighed deeply, feeling myself beginning to slip into sleep.

"I hope it does." His fingertips rubbed my jaw gently.

"So do I, Steven. I truly hope it does."

It's hard to describe the nostalgia I experienced when I woke up to the smell of pancakes. It brought me back to the days of whimsy and simplicity; it brought me back home with my family…when we were a family. I heard humming and the clinking of glass from the kitchen and stretched before rolling off the couch.

Wallace was setting a plate of pancakes on the table when I reached the kitchen. My lovely friend smiled up at me and pulled out a chair.

"Good morning honey, did you sleep well last night?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Absolutely, I'm glad to hear it. I decided to make pancakes for us because it was a little tough to get to the gym this morning. There's a terrible storm coming and the lake around the gym is very unsteady. I don't think I'll be getting any challengers today." I peered out the kitchen window, surprised to see a torrential downpour.

"That's odd." I sat down and took a serving of pancakes onto a plate, my stomach suddenly realizing its hunger. "It never rains around here." I happily accepted the warm pancake into my mouth as Wallace sat down next to me.

"That's exactly my concern. It never rains here. I have this strange feeling that something is wrong."

"Well, out of the two of us you are the most acquainted with water and its habits; but I doubt that it's anything. It will probably pass in a few hours." I could tell that Wallace was still concerned, but he was trying to brush it off and enjoy his breakfast. I was almost certain that it was nothing to worry about. "On another topic, there has been something that I've been wondering about…I was hoping you could answer my question." I took another bite of his pancakes, which were quite delicious. I wasn't very sure how he would react to my question, or whether it was appropriate for our setting; for I am not very familiar with this topic.

"Sure honey, what is it?" He took a sip of his breakfast tea and I rubbed my chin somewhat uncomfortably.

"How do gay lovers have sex?" Wallace choked on his tea and reached for a napkin, coughing a fit. I must have surprised him or struck a nerve. Good to know that sex is not a good breakfast conversation. "Are you alright?" Wallace fought to compose himself and slouched over the table, still coughing a little.

"Steven what in the world…Are you telling me you don't know?" I took another bite of pancake and shrugged.

"I mean, how would I know? In school all they ever taught us was how a man and a woman would do it…but two men certainly could not do it that way! I mean of course, unless they-"

"Alright, alright. Goodness, you didn't give me enough time to prepare myself for this one." Wallace chuckled a little. "Who would have ever imagined that I'd be the one giving you the talk." I suddenly was flooded by the memory of that awkward little conversation with my father as I entered teenager-hood. That was certainly not what I was asking for. There was nothing in the world that would make me want to relive that talk.

"Oh please don't give me the talk! That was horrible. All I want to know is how two men would have intercourse." I noticed a faint hue to Wallace's cheeks. I took another bite of pancake.

"I understand, hon. First of all you know that men don't possess certain parts that women have- so clearly it cannot be done that way. However…men have other parts that can be um, entered." I was slightly confused. I certainly didn't have any body parts that were meant to be"entered."

"You see, it may not have started out as the function but…it certainly does the job. And it's not completely awful." I was beginning to get impatient, taking another bite of pancake.

"That's enough beating around the bush. What do they use?" Wallace cupped a hand over his mouth and huffed.

"They use ones…um…well…their bottom." I was again confused.

"The bottom of their what?" Wallace looked frazzled.

"You know…their bottom."

"What ar-" it suddenly struck me, I felt light in the head. I finally understood what bottom he was referring to, and the thought sent every ounce of blood in my body to my face. "Oh my goodness gracious." Wallace looked at me empathetically and nodded. "You're being serious? How could it possibly…so small…I can't."

"With enough preparation it works. It's uncomfortable at first, but it works nonetheless." I was befuddled. I couldn't even bring myself to eat more. Some things finally occurred to me then: That's what Brendan wanted to do with the champion. That's what Brendan wanted to do with me. I felt lightheaded, I felt dizzy, and I felt slightly tingly. I couldn't even believe what I was hearing. Once I calmed myself down I looked up at Wallace and gaped.

"Have you ever…?" Wallace blushed and took a small sip of tea, speaking into the cup.

"I have." Again baffled, I wouldn't have ever imagined that my closest friend had…

"Was it enjoyable?" Where were these words coming from? I wanted to crawl up on the floor and let the embarrassment and sudden interest subside.

"Quite." Wallace took a little bite of pancake. I settled myself and folded my hands on the table, waiting for my heart to stop trying to jump out of my chest.

"Are you done with this conversation? Would you like me to stop? It seems like you would." Wallace sighed and looked at me pleadingly.

"I would like that very much." I no longer had an appetite to eat my breakfast; my mind was too busy going over this newly learned information.

"Honestly, who would have ever thought to stick-"

"Steven, that's enough. Isn't there anything else that you would like to talk about?" I chewed on my lip and propped my chin in the palm of my hand.

"I need a moon stone, but I'm not sure where to find one. Have any ideas?" Wallace chuckled softly and sipped his tea.

"That is one topic I know next to nothing about- aside from what you tell me…and the fact that you have managed to find enough water stones to supply me with one at each and every birthday." That was true. It was a slight challenge to find so many water stones, and required some serious digging, but letting Wallace know how much I valued our friendship was well worth it. "Now that you're in a chatty mood, what about your Pokémon? You've barely spoken a peep about them for a month. Is everything alright with them?"

If I were to be completely truthful with myself, it seemed as though the passion I once had for my Pokémon and their training faded when Brendan stepped into the picture. I'd hate to say it, but the teen became more of a priority. I felt like such a disappointment to my Pokémon. Would they ever forgive me for casting them aside for a fling?

"Well…I guess I've been a little too preoccupied to keep up with their training. I brought Skarmory and Aron with me, because he's a little baby and can't be left home alone." He certainly didn't like going in his ball though. Wallace nodded sympathetically as he finished his breakfast.

"I understand, you're welcome to let him out if you would like. He's never been much trouble here." I considered getting the little devil out of my coat in the other room, deciding it would be best if I took him out. He'd be less likely to throw a fit later if I let him out now.

As I got up to enter the den, the doorbell rang. I glanced back at the kitchen.

"Were you expecting company?" Wallace shuffled out of the kitchen and gave me a pleading look. "I'll take the dishes, you go answer the door." He smiled and hurried to the door.

I pulled the Pokéball quickly from my coat pocket and released my Aron on the way to the kitchen. He was chirping up a storm and trotting beside me as I began scrubbing the dishes in the sink. He nudged his hard little head against my leg persistently and kept crying out. I paused and bent down to pet him, when the little brat took off. He ran out towards the den, then most likely out the door. Panicked, I shut off the faucet and chased after him. He had just reached the door and pounced on the guest by the time I reached him; I was floored by what I found. Wallace looked surprised at my sudden appearance, and also concerned. I just couldn't believe the figure that had been haunting my thoughts day in and day out was again before me, soaked to the bone. He looked up from the jumping Aron and stared at me with wide ruby eyes.

"Steven? Why are you here?" I all but devoured his expression with my eyes. He looked frightened and shocked. I watched in longing as water dripped from his lovely hair.

"I could ask the same of you." Wallace put a hand on my shoulder.

"Brendan told me some things concerning the rain. We might have a big problem, Steven." Suddenly I was skeptical. It was just rain, what could be so problematic about it other than flooding.

"What's wrong? Do we need to fix something?" Brendan reached in his bag and dug around for something.

"Well you see, there's this orb I have and it's been glowing and fussing like crazy. Nobody will open their doors, even the Pokémon Center is locked up." Brendan pulled out a rather large dark blue sphere that was indeed glowing. Wallace's jaw dropped and I felt Goosebumps raise on my arms. I couldn't believe that Brendan, my Brendan, was in possession of the blue orb. Not only that, but the thing was reacting. Wallace pushed the orb back into Brendan's bag and took him by the wrist, rushing out the door.

"Oh honey, you need to come with me. This is worse than I feared." Brendan looked stunned, but followed Wallace obediently. I crammed my feet into my shoes and rushed after them, shutting Aron in the house.
Was Wallace really going to send Brendan where I thought they were going? Oh goodness I really hope this isn't what's happening. We wove through the small city in the pouring rain, led by my eccentric friend. I was fighting a never ending battle against myself to not touch Brendan.

"Wait, what's happening? Where are we going?" Wallace kept on at a steady pace, thin clothes already fixed to his body with water.

"I'm taking you to the Cave of Origin." I grabbed Wallace by the shoulder.

"Wait a minute Wallace, don't you think this is a little rash? I mean he's just a child! Are you really going to send him in there?" He kept rushing to the cave.

"Steven, you know as well as I do that only the orb holder is permitted in the cave during a crisis such as this! Neither you nor I possess the orb, so we cannot go in. I'm the guardian of the cave; I know what needs to be done. Don't be foolish." I felt a tremor of fear hit me.

"But Wallace-" Brendan looked up at me indignantly.

"Stop it, I'm not a kid! I think I can handle this! Would you just leave me alone?" The words were like a slap in the face. I was just scared for his safety. If anything happened to him I wouldn't be able to handle it. Wallace took him down a flight of stairs and approached the entrance to the Cave of Origin. The usual guard blocking the entrance had disappeared, and all that remained between us and the entrance was the pathway of stone. Wallace took Brendan from behind by the shoulders and pushed him towards the entrance.

"We don't have much time. We need you to be brave and go deep into the cave and face what lies in the depths. You're our only hope." Wallace's hands were shaking. I could tell he was terrified. Brendan looked back at me with a peculiar look in his eyes. My breath hitched as we made eye contact. Before I knew it he was breaking free of Wallace's hands and running at me. Afraid of being hit, I flinched but was stunned when I felt his warm arms flung around my ribcage. He quickly stood on his toes and whispered in my ear.

"Don't worry. I'll be safe." then took off into the cave. I hadn't realized how badly I had been trembling until he left. My entire body was quaking as if someone used magnitude 8 on me. Wallace walked over and wrapped me in a tight hug. My legs gave out and I collapsed against him.

"I didn't want to do that Steven…there was nothing else I could…I just…" His hands were still shivering as they ran through my soaked hair. My fingers clutched themselves into the back of his shirt so hard that my knuckles turned white.

"I'm scared Wallace…I'm so scared." Images of the worst possible scenario bombarded me and I slid to the wet ground. He sat beside me and grabbed my hand, squeezing tightly. I couldn't bear with the thought that Brendan might not come back out of that cave. There was nothing I could do.

"Honey, everything will turn out. He seems strong, he'll pull through." I was still trembling and the cold, pouring rain didn't do much to stop it. Wallace rested his head against my shoulder. "He was very lovely, wasn't he?" I continued shaking, but nodded. Brendan was indeed the loveliest person I've ever known.

The only thing we could do at this point was to sit in the hammering rain and wait for his return.

Hope you all enjoyed it,

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Thank you all so much for taking the time to read and review, I'm in it for you guys.

Happy 2012 everyone!