In My Heart

By: TheFifthCharmedOne

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon that belongs to Satoshi Tajiri, Game Freak, Nintendo, and TV Tokyo/Shogakukan Production Co. Ltd. I only own the idea and the plot. If any music shows up along the way, I don't own that either.

Charmed Says: Okay so, I hope you liked the last chapter, I don't think this one will be as long, but I'll try to make it long enough to be worth reading. So, yeah. Let me know what you think at the end of the chapter!

Chapter 4: Just Like A Tattoo, I'll Always Have You

You're still a part of everything I do
You're on my heart just like a tattoo
Just like a tattoo, I'll always have you
I'll always have you, I'll always have you

If I live every moment
Won't change any moment
Still a part of me and you
I will never regret you
Still the memory of you
Marks everything I do

Just like a tattoo
I'll always have you

-Tattoo, Jordin Sparks

"May! Hi honey, I didn't know you were coming home!" Caroline Maple gushed as soon as May came in. She hugged her tightly and then she noticed Drew and I. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "I'm Caroline Maple, and you are?"

"Mom, this my friend Misty Waterflower, and you already know Drew." May said this with a bit of distaste on her tongue, as though she wished her mother didn't know him. Which was understandable, mothers did have a tendency to embarrass you. I was only five when I lost my mother, but I remember Daisy getting into arguments with her a lot. And Ash's mother…don't even get me started.

"Nice to meet you Misty," said Caroline, shaking my hand and breaking me out of my reverie. "Are you a coordinator too?"

"No, I'm the Cerulean City Gym Leader." I replied. Confusion passed her face. "I'm originally from the Kanto region, but I came here for a vacation." I said. Then her face lit up.

"Do you have a place to stay?" she asked.

"I was planning on going to the Pokémon Center," I said honestly.

"No, you can stay here!" she declared. "I won't have any friend of May's staying at the Pokémon Center! Drew, you can stay here too, if you want." I glanced over at May, and she looked a combination of livid and mortified. Drew looked at her too, and smirked. She glared at him.

"Thanks for the offer Mrs. Maple, but I think I'll go to the Center. I'm not planning on staying long." he said politely.

"Oh, all right, if you're sure." said Caroline. Drew nodded. "What about you Misty?" I looked at May, and she nodded encouragingly. I bit my lip as I considered this. I was low on time, but I was also low on money. I couldn't stay in the Pokemon Center for long; I didn't have the appropriate funds. But Mrs. Maple was offering, and a house would be more comfortable then a hotel…so I guess I could stay here, at least until I started showing. Once I started showing, I had to move on, with or without May by my side.

"I think I will, thank you Mrs. Maple." I said. Caroline beamed.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

When Norman came in later, I introduced myself to him and he asked me about my Water Pokémon, and how the Gym in Cerulean City was doing. I told him that it was great, but I had to leave on vacation, that I needed to get away. He nodded understandingly.

"Being a Gym Leader can be stressful," he said, nodding. I agreed with him. "But the battles make it interesting."

"Yeah, Cerulean City is usually one of the first stops for newbie trainers that have just started on their journey. Though I do get trainers from other regions every once in a while." I thought back to the last battle I had fought in, with Belle from Rustboro City here in Hoenn.

"Yes, that happens here too." he said. "Are you going to be staying with us for a while?"

"Mrs. Maple offered for me to stay, and I accepted." Oddly, I suddenly felt like I needed his approval. "Is that all right?"

A broad smile came to his face.

"Of course it's all right Misty! It'll be nice to exchange notes with an experienced Gym Leader. You're also one of May's good friends, which will make her happy too."

I grinned. "Cerulean City is a Water type Gym, right?" I nodded. "What kind of Water types do you have?"

"I have a Gyrados, Goldeen, Corsola, Azurill, Politoed, Staryu and Dewgong."

"Are you fond of Water types, or do you just have them because of your Gym?"

"I love Water Pokémon, they're my favorite types out of every type of Pokémon there is!" I said passionately. Norman chuckled.

"Norman! Misty! Max is home!" Caroline called. We got up and went to greet May's little brother.

-X-X-X-

He's not so little anymore.

I have to say, he's grown up a lot since I last saw him. He was now thirteen, and had an array of powerful Pokémon on his belt.

"Hey Misty!" he said to me. His voice was deeper, but he was still going through puberty so it did crack slightly.

"Hey Max, long time no see." He hugged me briefly, after hugging May, Caroline and Norman.

"Yeah. How's Ash been?" I felt a chill run down my back.

"He's been doing great," I said. "He's in Sinnoh getting ready for the Pokémon League." I said. May looked at me curiously and then she remembered what I'd told her, and why I was so careful when it came to talking about Ash. Her eyes showed me she understood.

"Cool, maybe I'll give him a call. He still owes me a battle."

I made a mental note to be far, far away when that happened.

-X-X-X-

Unfortunately, the next day brought rain and thunderstorms, which meant I couldn't go out and I'd have to face Ash, because Max had no idea about our…Mew I don't even know what to call it.

Situation? Problem? Is there even a word that can describe me being pregnant with his kid and running off to Hoenn without telling him?

They were already deep into their conversation about battling, and I could hear Ash's enthusiastic and clearly happy voice over the phone. I stayed out of view, but I knew that Max would eventually bring up the fact that I was there, and Ash, being Ash, would want to talk to me.

"Sorry Max, but I have to go train. The League starts soon, and I want to be ready."

"Pikachu." affirmed Pikachu. I swallowed hard. Here it comes…

"Ash, did you know Misty was here?"

And cue questions.

"Misty?" he sounds totally flabbergasted. Which doesn't surprise me.

"Yeah, she's right here." he motioned to me, and I hesitated before coming into view.

"Hey Ash," I said, seeing him fully. He looked the same as he had almost 2 ½ months ago. His hair was slightly longer, his mother would have a fit when she saw it, and he was taller and not so lanky and wiry. Pikachu still sat on his shoulder.

"Pikachupi!" he said happily. I smiled at the little yellow mouse, averting my eyes from Ash's confused face.

He slowly picked Pikachu off of his shoulder and set him on the ground, out of sight. "Pikapi?"

"Can you go sit with Brock and Dawn? I want to talk to Misty alone buddy."

"Pikachu….?" Pikachu sounded confused, but I couldn't see Ash's eyes, his hat was downcast too far.

"Just go Pikachu," he said. He sounded tired, as though something was really bothering him. I saw Pikachu give his master one last look before scampering away.

"H-How've you been Mist?" he looked at me, and then quickly looked away.

"Fine, I guess," I said. Max had left the room to give us privacy, and right now I really wish he hadn't. I made a promise to myself that I intend to fully keep. I'm not going to tell him. I can't.

There was a weird silence, and I could tell we were both thinking about the same thing.

"Nothing's changed, right?" he said suddenly, and I snapped back to look at him.

"R-Right," I stammered pathetically.

"Misty, is there something wrong?" he asked, his brown eyes connecting with mine.

"No, nothing." I said.

"What are you doing in Hoenn?"

"I needed a break."

"Do you really think I believe you?"

"Uh…yes?"

"Come on Mist, tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing." He raised his eyebrows and I returned his stare in what I hope was a convincingly angry look.

"Fine, don't tell me." he said after a long staring match.

"I won't." I said firmly. I couldn't. I could never tell him. No matter how much I still loved him, no matter how much I wanted him to know what had happened because of that night….I couldn't do that to him. I had made a promise, and I intended to keep it.

I just hope I can.

"I'll see you Mist." he said sadly, as though he was upset that I hadn't told him.

"See you Ash. Good luck in the Sinnoh League."

"Yeah, thanks." he sounded distracted, and his hat was covering his face.

We hung up, and I felt like crying. I felt like I was going to throw up. Maybe that was just the nausea, but I think it had to do with keeping such a huge secret from the guy I love.

"Misty?" I looked over at May and I must have had tears in my eyes because she asked what was wrong.

"I just talked to Ash." I said, swallowing thickly.

She walked in and guided me toward the sofa. My vision was becoming blurry from unshed tears.

"Did you tell him?"

"No." I felt a tear slide down my cheek, and May gave me a tissue. "I want to, but I can't. I would never forgive myself if he gave up his dreams for me. If he did that just because of what happened between us, I know he'd never truly be happy. He would feel like it was his duty to take care of me and his child, and he would never achieve his dream of being the Greatest Pokémon Master."

May pat my back consolingly, and more tears slid down my cheeks. She didn't say anything. She didn't have too.

-X-X-X-

Later that night, Mrs. Maple showed me to the guest room and asked me if there was anything she could do.

I wish she could snap her fingers and make it so this had never happened. But I know she couldn't. That's what made tears cloud in my eyes. Or maybe that was the hormones. Whatever it was, I told Mrs. Maple there was nothing, and she left the room, closing the door behind her.

I threw myself onto my bed and stubbornly wiped the tears away. I put a hand over my stomach, and even though it was small, I know there's a baby in there. I'm going to be a teenage mother. I am a teenage mother.

Well, I thought with a sarcastic tone, at least I'll always have a piece of Ash with me.

Whether the baby turns out to be a boy or a girl, it'll have Ash's genes, which I hope will be enough to make this bearable.

"Just like a tattoo, I'll always have you." I whispered to myself and I hugged the pillow closer to my face, as though it would stop the pain.

May came in a few minutes later and asked me what was wrong.

"Everything." I said morosely. She smiled sympathetically.

"Come on, I think I know what you need."

She beckoned me to follow her, and I did. We went to the other side of the third floor and she pulled on a rope hanging from the ceiling. The door to a crawlspace opened up and a ladder fell down in front of us. She climbed up and I followed.

When I got up there I saw it was an attic, a rather spacious one. There was a large window on the wall, and May opened it. With a slight grunt she climbed out and onto the roof. I followed her, and then I realized what she was trying to show me.

There was a flat part of the roof which you could easily sit on. She did just that, with her legs dangling over the side.

"I always come out here when I need to relax." she told me. I walked over and joined her. "I know you think that not telling Ash is the best thing for him, and I agree with you, but just remember this: you share the same sky, the same moon. No matter where you are, no matter how far apart you may be, you both see the same stars."

I looked at her for a long minute, considering her words. My mother had once told me the same thing, when I had asked her about where our father was. When I think back on it, she was right, and so is May.

"Misty?" I looked at her. "Can I tell you something?"

"Sure May, what is it?" I felt completely at peace, as though nothing could disturb me.

"I think….I might like Drew. As more then a friend, or a rival."

I smiled at her and rolled my eyes.

"I've only been telling you for years."

She pushed me lightly and laughed.

"Can you promise me you won't tell anyone? Especially not him?"

"I promise May. It's the least I can do, considering you're keeping a much bigger secret for me."

We shared a solemn silence, and I put my hand over my stomach. I could feel it had extended, but only slightly. It was barely enough to be noticeable to the naked eye, but anyone that knew, mainly May, would be able to tell if they looked closely enough.

"How far along are you?" she asked me suddenly.

"Two and a half months." I replied, not looking at her. I heard her take a deep breath.

"Do you think you should go see a doctor?" she asked me. I sighed.

"I'm not sure. Is there a gynecologist in Petalburg?"

"I'd imagine so. My mother was born and has lived here her whole life, and she had both me and Max here, so there has to be one close by. And if not here then there's got to be one in the next few cities and towns." She stood up and went toward the window. "And I'm going to go with you. To every appointment. You'll practically be sick of me by the time the baby's born." she said with a pure, sweet smile. I stood up and looked at her.

"May, you know you don't have to do this for me."

"I know. I want to." she smiled. "Now come on. We should get inside."

Before she could turn to open the window, I ran over and hugged her. This wasn't the hormones. This was the pure, honest feelings that were coming from my heart. She hugged me back.

"Thank you." I said.

"And don't worry about having a place to stay. If you want to move on from here, I'll go with you."

"May,"

"I told you. I want to."

I pulled back and she smiled at me. I came to a realization at that moment. May was a forever friend, one who would stay with me, and be there for me, and even though Ash would be if I told him the truth, I won't be hurting May by doing this. Even if I was, she wouldn't tell me. But I would know, because she is a true friend.

"I may not always have Ash, but I'll always have you." I told her. "Through it all."

"Thick and thin, we're best friends."

"Thank you so much May."

I hugged her again and a happy tear slid down my cheek.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

A/N: So, Misty has one true friend, and May has finally owned up to her feelings about Drew. Now, that may have seemed a little random, but if you go back and read between the lines, I'm sure you'll see where I foreshadowed. I also said that this is Contest and Poké ships.

Please review!

~Charmed