Chapter 16

Thanksgiving had arrived, and it was a very cold day, even a light dust of snow had fallen over the city. As usual, Thanksgiving was held at Brock's house. Delia, Ash and Samual Oak traveled up from Pallet Town to have dinner. And Misty's sisters, and their families also came. By six o'clock the entire house was filled with people, and everyone was there, except for Flint Harrison.

Football was on the television screen, and Brock plopped down next to Todd Snap, who was enthralled in the game, while his wife, Lily, had went upstairs to change their babies diapers. Violet's husband, Lance, came in and sat down in one of the chairs by the fireplace.

"Whose winning?" He asked.

"Pewter Golems are down by two against the Cinnabar Magmars," Brock said, shaking his head. "Our city has had the shittiest team this year."

Todd smiled. "My hometown has done pretty well. They might be on their way to the superbowl. The Cerulean Seals have been doing pretty well, too, this year. They might be a contender."

Lance smiled over at Brock. "I hear you and Misty are going to have another little bundle."

"We are," Brock said, happily. "She's due in May."

"Violet and I want to have another," Lance said, eyeing his six year old daughter,Taylor, who was playing with Fiona's barbie dolls in the middle of the floor. "I can't quite convince her that now is the right time though. She's so afraid of being overshadowed by Misty's pregnancy and Lily and Daisy's new baby. Everyone's having a new baby, and she just doesn't want us all to be popping out kids at the same time."

Brock laughed. "We're busy dudes."

"I think it has something to do with the women in that family," Todd said, grinning. "They have really high sex drives.

Brock nudged him. "Consider yourself lucky. I've had Rose living here since August, and I'm lucky if I get laid at least once a week since she's been here. She caught us the first day she was here, and ever since then, Misty's been a little reluctant."

He left out the part about Tracey Sketchit stalking them. This was supposed to be a fun time, and he'd prefer not to think about it.

"Women are funny like that," Lance said, then he looked up and saw Daisy's husband, Gary Oak, come around the corner. Daisy and Gary had gotten together shortly after Brock, Misty and Ash had left for Pallet Town, and what started off as a casual fling turned into a repeated travels for Gary back to Cerulean City to see Daisy.

She turned up pregnant just 10 months ago, and so they had gotten married, and no one was really sure they really loved eachother or not, but their baby was adorable.

"Sorry guys, I got caught up in baby talk with the women," he laughed and sat down next to Brock. "Everyone is trying to rub your wife's belly like a crystal ball."

Brock chuckled and sipped his drink. "I haven't even felt the baby move yet. We're supposed to find out the sex of the baby after the new year."

"I hope it's a boy," Gary said. "That way, little Darren can have a friend who has something in common with him. I like that Fiona and Taylor are close in age and can play together."

"Yea," Brock agreed. "Fiona lost a little friend at school this past fall and it's been hard on her trying to make new friends."

Misty walked into the room and placed her hands on Brock's shoulders. "Hey Honey, dinner is almost ready."

"You need any help?" Brock asked.

"No, Delia's helping set the table," Misty said, kissing her cheek. "I just wanted to let you know."

"Todd!" Lily's voice called from the kitchen and Todd stood up.

Lance laughed at him. "The wife is calling!"

Brock made whip sounds as Todd got up and left the room. Misty rolled her eyes.

"Do you guys make sounds like that at Brock when I call for him?"

"No!" Brock said, before anyone could answer. "I still have my balls. I'm not pussywhipped."

"Yes you are," Gary said, nodding his head. "If Misty asked you to do something right now you'd do it."

"I'm watching football," Brock said, grinning, and looking up at Misty, who was sitting on the back of the couch. She smiled and brushed her lips across his ear.

"Brock," she said, softly.

"Yea?" He asked, feeling his skin tighten with goosebumps.

"Can you get Fiona washed up for dinner, please?" She asked, in her most sweet-sounding voice. He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes and he heard Lance and Gary making whipping sounds at him.

"Alright, alright. Fine. Here, Misty, you can have my balls back," he stood up and kissed her. "I'll have Fiona down in a few minutes."

Gary laughed and both him and Lance followed Misty back into the kitchen. Everything smelled so good, and looked even better. Gary noticed his grandfather's phone ring, and he politely took himself outside to answer it.

Brock had come back down with Fiona, and entered the kitchen after checking the score of the game on the television. A few minutes later, Samual Oak returned inside and Delia kissed him on his cheek, but noticed he seemed distracted.

"Are you alright, Sam?" She asked, as they all started to sit down at the table for dinner.

"I'm fine, it's just..." he plopped down in a chair, almost as if his legs were too weak to stand. Everyone was silent, except for the children, who were still giggling at something or another. All eyes were on Sam, and he looked up at all of them. "Professor Ivy called me..."

Misty's face went grim, and Brock immediately put his arm around her, as if telling her not to worry or get upset.

"What did she want?" Brock asked.

"She wanted to wish me a happy Thanksgiving...and..." he paused for a moment, as if trying to process something. "And I heard Tracey Sketchit in the background."

Rose quietly excused herself from the room and rushed upstairs, grabbing her cell phone from the dresser. She dialed Felina Ivy's number, she had it since she was a gym leader all those years ago, and she hoped the number was still the same. After three rings, someone picked up, and it was one of her assistants.

"Hello?" It was Hope, the youngest one, and the one who had a huge crush on Brock.

"Hope," Rose spoke into the phone quietly. "It's Rose Vaughn. I can't be on the phone too long, I just need to ask you something..."

"Yes, Ma'am?" Hope asked.

"Is Tracey Sketchit there?" She asked, hopeful and she heard the girl hesitate for a moment.

"He just arrived this morning, but he's not telling anyone he's here. Do you know why that is?"

Rose smiled and nodded her head. "I'm flying out there tomorrow. I'll explain everything."

...

The next morning, Brock awoke later than usual, and Misty was still asleep beside him though. It was just past 10 A.M. and a thick blanket of snow had now covered the city. He got out of bed and found that his daughter was downstairs in the living room, playing the Wii U, still dressed in her fleece pajamas.

"Hi Daddy," she said, cheerfully. "Want to play Super Smash brothers with me?" She asked, hopeful.

"I will later, Sweetheart. Let me get a cup of coffee in me first," he said, tiredly. The sun glared through the window at him as it spread across the wooden floor in front of the back porch door. "Have you seen your grandma?"

"She left," Fiona said, casually.

"She left?" Brock asked, coming back into the room and sitting next to his daughter. "What do you mean she left? Like to go to the store?"

Fiona shook her head. "She said she was going to the beach."

"The beach?" Brock asked, grinning. "You mean back home to Cerulean City?"

Fiona thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No, she was on the phone. She said Val-in-see-ya." She sounded out the name, and Brock's face paled.

She went to Valencia island. She knew. She knew about Tracey and she was traveling out there to see him. To protect him. She hadn't let anyone know she was leaving because she was going out there to protect the son of a bitch!

Brock felt fury rage inside him, and he was determined never to let either of those monsters back around his family.

-End