Welcome to chapter seven. As always I thank those of you who read and/or reviewed last chapter. But I have a small announcement at the end of the chapter, but otherwise enjoy.

"May!" Dawn called out as she saw her friend go down. Even Buneary looked a little worried about what just happened as she looked where May just was.

Only a second or two later the brunette came back up gasping for air, Eevee not far behind, but already starting to swim for shore.

"May what happened?" Dawn asked as she walked over. But May wasn't even paying attention to the other coordinator; she was busy searching the water for something.

"Ash," she started in a sing-song voice. "I know you're down there. And when I get my hands on you…" She just let it hang.

"All the more reason to stay away."

Turning around quickly the two girls noticed Ash standing on the far side of Dawn, a large grin on his face.

"That was payback for dragging me away from the TV, quite literally in fact."

"Come on Ash," May said in as sweet a voice as possible as she started to walk towards him. "I just want to apologize for my actions earlier."

Unfortunately Ash noticed that there was more to that tone of voice than just innocence.

"Like hell you do," he got out right as he dodged her lunge at him.

Too bad for the trainer, besides that one miss, things weren't starting out too well for him that day. As he dodged May's grab he accidentally splashed a large amount of water up onto Dawn and Buneary, completely messing up their hair and fur respectively.

"Uh-oh." Now looking at two very annoyed girls and one annoyed Pokémon Ash only continued to back away.

"What was that comment you made a couple days ago Ash? Something along the lines of 'A girl's hair is her life'?" Dawn asked him in the same ever so sweet voice that May just used.

May recognized that line instantly, and it struck her odd that he would remember something like that, but there were bigger issues at the moment she decided turning back to the poor trainer.

"Um…yeah, I think it was something like that."

"And would you happen to remember the second part of it?"

"It kinda slipped my mind at the moment," he said with a nervous laugh. Of course the truth was he remembered every word, he just didn't want to give them any ideas if he didn't have to.

"Well then let us re-enlighten you, May?"

Clearing her throat a bit May looked back at the trainer with the same smile she had on right after he dipped her underwater. "Let's see how did it go again, oh yeah. 'A girl's hair is her life, so don't even think about messing with it!'"

Quickly looking over the three there, Ash saw that each one of their hair was a complete mess. Gulping he could only continue to back away slowly.

"And if I remember correctly it was this same issue of you and Max splashing water onto me that I said it in the first place," May continued. "You thought that I was joking."

"But when there is a reason it is closer to a true threat," Dawn finished up for May.

Seeing the sickeningly sweet smiles grow onto both of their faces once again Ash decided that it was now or never. Turning around he tried to make his escape into deeper water, but was caught by four surprisingly strong arms before he could go anywhere.

Back on shore Eevee was just making her way out of the water. While she didn't mind a dip in a lake or river, the sea water had always annoyed her as the salt was a pain to get out of her fur. Of course May would always happily wash her afterwards, and Eevee was always fond of getting a bath, until that moment came it was a nightmare.

Looking up she saw Pikachu not but a few meters from where she stood, laughing his hardest after seeing what Ash did to her and her trainer. Frowning at the greeting she got, Eevee calmly walked up underneath the umbrella and then proceeded to shake off all the extra water, making sure that in the process she soaked the mouse in just as much water as she had just been.

As soon as she had started to walk up to him, Pikachu had thoughts of stopping and possibly apologizing but found that he couldn't help it, at least not until she drenched him in the same water that he was trying to avoid. Glaring at the Evolution Pokémon he saw that she had nothing but a playful smile on her face as she began to laugh as their positions were reversed in an instant.

The slight bit of animosity that he had felt for her just a moment ago lifted as he watched her laugh, and it wasn't long before he joined in as well. After a couple minutes they both finally calmed down before laying into the sand to let it dry the rest of their bodies. Yet he found that it was him that walked up closer to her before returning to his sunbathing, not yet close enough to be touching but it was close enough for both of them to feel comfortable.

As he lay down that same smell that he noticed earlier once again greeted his nose past the distinct scent of the sea water, this time a little stronger than the last. And once again it was a smell that he couldn't identify but at the same time, deep down something recognized it and was enjoying it.

For Ash, the moment was a bit different from his partner's. After his failed attempt to get away from the coordinators it didn't take long for him to receive the same treatment that he just gave May. Except for him there were two girls that were trying to keep him under.

As Ash came up just after being dunked he saw both Dawn and May laughing quite hard. Buneary had apparently headed back for shore, leaving the three humans alone.

"So that's how you want to play it, huh?" Ash said as he started to chuckle a bit as well.

Noticing that the two of them were separated slightly, the trainer took the opportunity to make it a one-on-one fight again. Using his arm Ash created a small wave and aimed it at Dawn.

Still laughing even after getting splashed again, her hair already ruined anyways, Dawn cleared her eyes looking around for Ash.

"Where did he go?"

Noticing a shape moving underwater, both of them saw where he was headed. May tried to brace herself from being tripped again but it wasn't just dunking her that Ash had in mind. Instead of the sudden immersion in water that May was expecting she felt herself lifted clear out of the water.

"Hey, what the? Ash!"

With one arm under her knees and the other on her back, by the time Ash surfaced he looked as if he was carrying May bridal style. For a split second the position that she was in made May turn a light shade of pink, but it didn't last long. Exhaling sharply Ash then continued to lift her up almost past his head before tossing her several meters away into the deep water.

"Ash!" She screamed as she flew through the air hitting the water with a large splash.

Laughing at the scene, Ash watched as May surfaced while treading water. She on the other hand found herself somewhat speechless after Ash had lifted her up like that. But it ended quickly as the rest of the moment started to catch up to her. Seeing Dawn making a move behind Ash, May took a deep breath and went under to get closer to them, a big smile on her face the whole time.

"Got ya!" Dawn yelled as she jumped onto Ash's back.

"Oh do you now?"

Dropping himself back down Ash used the surprise to get Dawn off of him and around in front. It didn't take the blunette long to know what was coming next.

Surfacing again Ash once again repeated his actions sending Dawn flying even further than May.

"And there goes number two," he stated proudly.

"But you're forgetting that number one is still here."

Before he could even turn around May had jumped onto his back as Dawn had done, but she made sure to get a good grip and learn from what happened to the other coordinator.

"Oh come on May. I've done this once before and I can do it again." Dropping below he tried to maneuver May into a position where he could throw her again, but the brunette made sure to keep her spot on his back.

Surfacing after being thrown Dawn looked around for Ash and May. It didn't take long for them to surface as well, May still on Ash's back and both of them laughing. Dawn couldn't help but feel jealous of seeing the two of them like that.

"Sure I was in virtually the same position just a few seconds ago but this looks and feels so different than when I was there." Continuing to watch the two as Ash tried again and again to get her off of his back Dawn couldn't help but notice that May's mood had changed since this morning. She was so depressed after she woke up and yet now you could never tell that the girl ever had a sad moment in her life. It was at that moment that Dawn finally made up her mind. "I'm very sorry May, but even if you consider Ash as nothing more than a great friend I don't think that I can continue to think of you as no competition for his heart. Even if you aren't after it he might be after yours. I still don't want to feel ungrateful for the help that you are giving but I will no longer just brush that fact aside. I will welcome any help that you give but…"

"Hey Dawn we're heading back to shore!" May called out, currently off of Ash who had a disappointed yet still happy look on his face. "You coming or are you going to stay out for a while longer?"

"I'm coming!" She called back.

"I really am sorry May," Dawn thought as she watched her two friends walk back. "But I just can't take any more chances."


Stepping back onshore, Ash and May were just finally calming down after the fun that they had in the water. Walking over to their umbrella to grab her things May found quite the sight with the three Pokémon that were waiting for them. Buneary had apparently noticed at least part of the little interaction that Pikachu and Eevee had just prior to her joining them, because she was laying in between the two of them glaring at the Evolution Pokémon ever so often while trying to stay as close as possible to Pikachu. He on the other hand was also looking over at Eevee every once and a while but more as if she would be the one to save him from part of this problem. Sadly for both of them the Evolution Pokémon didn't notice a single one of their glances as she was fast asleep, a big smile still present on her face.

"Aw, isn't that cute," May said as she walked over and picked up Eevee. "Alright Eevee time to get up, you probably want me to rinse you off anyways before we head out shopping."

Giving off a big yawn the little Pokémon snuggled into her trainer's arms just as Dawn came in to pick up Buneary and Pikachu. Seeing the blue-haired devil do that barely bothered Eevee, with the exception of a few tinges of jealously. She just gave another big smile before relaxing again into May's arms. In those few minutes when Buneary wasn't with them she had gained more for herself than Buneary had these last few days. Eevee now knew that her choice of plans was the correct one and with that knowledge she felt as though she had little to worry about beyond making sure that Pikachu's actions didn't really change while she was next to her rival.

It was Buneary that was really getting confused at this point. Has that Eevee got absolutely nuts? Just a couple of days ago she was growling and ready to bite her throat out when she even got close to Pikachu, but now even after seeing herself and the Electric-type pulled together like this she just smiles and falls asleep. Buneary couldn't bring herself to believe May's statement about Eevee only liking Pikachu as a brother so why was she acting like that? Last time Buneary had just brushed it aside as a bluff but twice in a row? Snuggling up in her own trainer's arms along with Pikachu she knew now that there was more to Eevee than she had originally expected, but exactly what else was there?

For the third one involved, Pikachu at that moment couldn't care less about Eevee's smile or her falling asleep as if nothing was happening. Like his trainer at times, Pikachu didn't like other people this close to him without his permission. Knowing that she would be no help he looked expectantly back at his trainer, silently pleading to be taken back.

"Sorry Pikachu, but there really isn't anything I can do for you," Ash told his Pokémon after catching his eyes. "It's only til' the end of the day."

Knowing that this was the truth the poor Pokémon could once again only endure the uneasiness he felt being this close to another Pokémon. Or at least one that insisted on rubbing his electric sacks for some reason…

"Well you seem to be in a happy mood," May said as she rinsed down her partner.

After they had gotten back into their room Dawn and May had both retired to their bedrooms to take care of a few things before they went shopping for the afternoon. May was currently sitting in the whirlpool tub with her bathing suit still on and the extendable showerhead in one of her hands, making sure to get all the salt out of Eevee's fur.

"Vee!" The little Pokémon replied while enjoying the feel of the warm water running through her coat. It may not have been a full bath but it was close enough for now.

"Glad to hear it. I've been a little worried with Dawn playing that trick on Ash and keeping Buneary and Pikachu together, but you don't seem to be all that worried."

"Eevee…"

Laughing at her response May figured that she had washed her enough, and after a quick rinse-off for herself grabbed a towel to dry them both off.

"I'm just worried that Dawn might have figured out that I'm not helping Buneary as well. I never did tell her, but then again some things are just best left unsaid right?"

"Even if that isn't the only thing under that category," she added thinking back to the fun that they just had. "Too bad that I won't be able to do too many things like that after they get together. It would look bad for somebody else's boyfriend doing that to a girl."

Shaking those thoughts from her head May grabbed a light set of clothes, just enough to modestly cover up her bikini, and her pack before heading out into the living room with Eevee on her shoulder again.

Noticing that Pikachu was back on Ash's lap, May could only assume that Dawn had decided to keep him out of the room while she and Buneary were taking care of their own business. What kind of surprised her was that Ash was just sitting on the couch relaxing while stroking Pikachu, no TV at all.

"What no Pokémon League?" She teased him as she sat down on one of the chairs.

Opening his eyes slightly to look at her he closed them again before giving his response. "If I turned it back on I would just be dragged away from them in a few minutes anyways. Besides, they are almost over by this time."

"Oh don't be so bitter about it, you enjoyed being out there right?"

"Don't worry it has nothing to do with me being bitter or anything. I had my revenge for that, remember?"

"All too well," May responded with a small smile. "So then why sit out here in complete silence?"

"Well that's because…" He paused while opening his eyes to look at her; giving off a small chuckle he laid his head back before continuing. "Let's just say that I have a lot on my mind and needed some time to think. But otherwise you seem to be doing better."

"What do you mean?"

"From this morning, you seemed so gloomy then but now you are back to your normal self. You know you look far better when you're smiling."

May's eyes went wide at his comment but before she could even respond the door to Dawn's room opened up and revealed the coordinator and her Pokémon in similar attire to May's.

"So who's ready to go shopping?" She asked, completely oblivious as to what had just transpired.

"Sure!" May quickly said getting up and heading for the door, still not completely sure how to take Ash's words, or even if she heard them correctly or not.

"She seems rather eager," Dawn stated, watching the brunette exit through the sliding glass door. "But then again who can resist shopping?"

"I can."

Looking down that the apathetic trainer who still had barely opened his eyes Dawn's face instantly fell into a frown, of course it turned around rather quickly when she remembered a little fact that had conspired that day.

"Too bad for you but this is another trip where you won't be able to get away from."

"And why is that? I went swimming with you guys and I'm currently just willing to sit here, without the TV mind you, and relax for a little while longer. This is more of what I consider a vacation compared to going shopping for many new sets of useless clothes."

"Ironic that you mentioned that Ash cause you are forgetting a key piece of information."

"And that would be?"

"You promised me a brand new wardrobe."

Ash cringed at the thought as soon as he remembered. "Oh my poor wallet and back."

"What do you mean 'your poor back'?"

"Cause I'm going to be the one carrying everything," he stated with a sigh. "Come on Dawn please just let me pay for only 50% of everything. I wasn't even completely aware of what you were saying."

Dawn tried to keep herself from laughing but in the end couldn't completely hold it in and quickly burst into an all out spree.

"What's to laugh about? I don't have enough money to completely fund part of one of your shopping sprees, let alone an entire one, and really only have enough for myself. There are things that I want to get as well you know."

"Oh that's not what I'm laughing at Ash," Dawn got out before finally calming down. "It's you I'm laughing at. Did you really think that I would make you pay for an entire new wardrobe for me?"

His face fell as soon as he heard those words. "You mean…"

"I was just pulling your leg," she finally said. "Although you did willingly say that you would pay for half of everything that I bought."

"Dawn, please…" The trainer begged as the fear came back into his eyes.

"I know I know, I'm just joking. But I'm still holding you to the dinner."

"Compared to the thousands that I would be spending on your sprees I'll deal with that just fine."

"I don't spend thousands while out shopping for clothes, thank you very much. Well except for that one time, but that's beside the point." Waving off the topic Dawn brought back something that she noticed him spill just a moment ago. "So you said that you were planning on buying something as well huh? So is this for someone besides yourself?"

"Well…"

"So it is," she said with a sly smile. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Um, I think we can head out now," Ash replied nervously. "May is probably waiting for us."

"I guess you're right."

Heading out to find May the two of them closed the door behind them and stepped out onto the boardwalk.

"So he's buying something for someone. I can only hope it would be for me but then again that could also just be wishful thinking. I guess we'll just have to find out."

It didn't take the two of them long to find May who was almost wandering aimlessly down the boardwalk, watching the various beachgoers and tourists.

"Hey May we're heading into town!" Dawn called out as they got close enough.

Waving to signal that she heard them May ran up to her friends as they headed away from the beach and towards the shopping district.

Well here's that announcement that I promised. I am very sorry to say this but I will not be able to update as per my usual schedule for a little while due to the upcoming Fourth of July/Independence Day weekend. While holidays haven't stopped me before, the lack of internet up at our cabin kinda does. I'll be sure to update as soon as I get back, which by the looks of it would be Sunday afternoon or evening for those living in North America. Again I apologize for the delay.

Otherwise I hope that you liked the chapter. I'll be sure to have the next chapter up as soon as I can. Until then, please review and for those in the U.S. have a great Fourth of July.