Ugh, I apologize how long this one took but I was busy on Deviantart. XD

Anywhoo, on with the story!

Chapter 11: Reluctant Feelings

There, in his sharp purple claws, was a green and white Pokémon egg. The colors were split horizontally. The top part was the light green and the bottom half was white.
Barely bigger than his hands, the beautiful egg shined dimly as the light from the sky faded away into darkness. Judging by the pulses and light pheromones the egg was giving off, it was going to hatch very soon.

Umbreon was in complete shock, as was Haunter until he finally spoke, "Wh-what is it? What Pokémon laid this?!"

"I have no idea." Umbreon cocked her head in fascination at the egg, "It doesn't matter. Oh man Haunter we're in trouble! We didn't just steal cargo from Humans, we stole an egg!"

Haunter carefully clutched it, "No no, come on let's not panic."
"Don't panic?!" Umbreon yelled, "How can we not panic! This is somebody else's egg and we stole it-" "We didn't steal it!" he interrupted, "We rescued it. We both know the 'R' people were Pokémon abusers. I have a hunch that THEY stole it! What would have happened if they kept it for experiments? I guess it was just luck we found it."

He looked down to the tiny egg with sadness.

Umbreon's expression softened, reality dawning, "….You might be right." Her eyes focused on the egg in his hands, "What kind of monsters would torture a baby?"

Haunter sighed as an answer and cradled the egg against his chest, "Poor thing, all lonesome without its parents." He looked at her with sympathy, "It's like us now, huh?"

Umbreon didn't answer as he started to put it back in the container, but she did object, "What do you think you're doing?!"

He stopped and looked to her, "Um, putting it back?"

"You can't just put it back!" Umbreon ran to him and stopped just a few feet, "It might die!"

"Well we can't take care of it!" he insisted, cradling the egg against his chest again, "We don't even know what kind of Pokémon this is! What if it's dangerous and likes to eat flesh and ghosts?!"

"You're being silly." Umbreon's brow furrowed, "It's not going to be that dangerous as a baby and you know it. We have to take care of it!"

"Are you nuts Eve?!" he glared at her, "We aren't parents! We aren't even a couple! How do you expect us to take care of a baby! I don't even know how to raise a youngling, remember? Ghost Pokémon abandon their babies when they're born!"

Umbreon rolled her eyes. He was being ridiculous, "Haunter listen to me! You know that there are several Pokémon in these woods that are egg eaters! If they get their hands on this baby before it hatches you know it will die! Besides, even if it survives until it hatches inside the box, what then? It will be alone and scared, and then either starve to death or get eaten by a bigger Pokémon. Do you really want the blood of an innocent Pokémon baby on your hands?"

"I…" he became stumped.

Slowly, he looked down to the egg he cradled against his chest. As he held it against him, he could feel it. The small, steady pulsing of a tiny heartbeat. It made him quiver at the delicate life he was holding. It was so vulnerable and alone, there was no way he could ever forgive himself if he turned his back on something so small.

Eve's sighing got his attention, "Look, I know you're scared. I am too. Even though we raise our young by instinct, I admit I have no idea what to do with something so different. But what are our options? We don't know who or even what the mother is, and even if we did we have no idea how to find her or even if she's still alive."
She took a step towards him and stared into his eyes with sincerity, "We have to take care of it at least until it's powerful enough. We don't even have to wait until it's evolved, just until it can get it's own food and knows how to fight. That way we can be sure it'll be safe and happy. Besides, if we're lucky it could be the type that can take care of itself after it's born, like a ghost Pokémon does."

Haunter remained stubborn but gave in. He wasn't made of stone, but he had no idea how to take care of a baby. Still, she was right. They couldn't just leave it, "Well alright." He smiled, "But I swear if it starts calling me 'mommy' I'm gonna draw the line."

She laughed and gestured with her head, "Come on, let's get it back to the tower. The last thing we need is it hatching on use in the burrow and turning into a Lugia or something."

He laughed with her and carried the egg back to the tower. Umbreon would have carried it, but she doesn't have any hands.
When they reached the top, Haunter laid the egg onto Eve's bed and she wrapped some of the blankets around it. She tucked the sheets under the egg until it was snuggled up nicely. It was a little cold from being held by Haunter, but it wasn't that bad.
She smiled at the sight, "Aw, it's so cute all wrapped up like that." He cocked his body slightly, "Yeah, I guess it is."

The tiny egg was all wrapped and warm, nice and safe from the cold. He would hate to admit his heart was touched just by the sight.
He wasn't heartless, but it was a question of pride. Weren't girls supposed to be the ones all gooshy around babies?

Yet, while he was on the subject of babies he still was having problems coming with his own inner feelings towards his best friend.

He looked at her from his side, but she didn't notice because she was too busy admireing the egg.

Gee, it hasn't even hatched and Eve's acting all 'weird' around it.

Still, it was a little adorable to him, he admitted.

Eve suddenly looked at him and he turned away, "Haunter, can you watch it for a second? I'm going to quickly go get some food. I can tell it's going to hatch soon, so we gotta make sure we have food on the double."

He gawked, "You're leaving me alone with it?"

She dipped her head slightly, "I trust you. You'll be fine. I know plenty of good fruits it might like back at the forest. If it turns out to be a carnivore…well then we'll just go hunting."

Umbreon waved a paw in goodbye and sped down the stairs, "I'll be back as soon as I can!"

He waved back but she was already gone. Once she cleared the graveyard, he turned and looked back to the egg.

It just sat there, but it was almost like the egg was expecting something from him. Like it knew he was there and was supposed to watch it.
It was for these reasons Haunter reached out and stroked the porcelain smooth surface, "Eh, it's alright." He muttered, "Um, I'll protect you. Okay eggie?"

He could have sworn he felt a tap against the shell as a response, and it caused him to jerk his hand back.
It was evolved to hatch in about another few days, heck maybe even tonight.

He had to get his mind off of the pressure of babysitting and instead watched the graveyard for Eve. He hoped she would come back soon. If it miraculously hatched before she came back his appearance may scare the baby, and he hated it when things cried.

Oh no, now he was thinking about her again.

As much as he hated to admit it, he couldn't fight his feelings anymore.

I'm in love with Eve!

He put his claws to his face in ultimate despair. These feelings hadn't just affected him when she came back, but had even haunted him when he was a teenager. He thought he had pushed his foolish thoughts aside when she left for 11 years, but it just got rekindled with her return.

"No…no…" he rubbed his face in his hands, "I can't be in love with her! I can't! She's different! She's in a different Egg Group! She's not even a ghost! What kind of a sicko am I to have eyes for one of the living! I-I'm not really dead but still!"

It wasn't necessarily a new thing. He's known other Pokémon in the graveyard who had fallen in love with a different type before, and he remembered being disgusted by it. How he sneered and scoffed at the idea of love in the first place when he was a child, and now here it was staring him in his stupid face and he was suffering for it! It was just so embarrassing to have fallen for his best friend in the whole world.

And yet, he still couldn't resist admiring her beauty.

No, it wasn't just her beauty he admired, it was just her. She was kind, courageous, friendly, and had a great sense of humor she shared with him! She was the only friend he's ever had, and they've been through a lot in their lifetime. If he were to choose a mate, he couldn't think of a better match.

But he knew it wouldn't be fair to her. Umbreon deserved to find a mate and have a family. If she was ever with him he could never give her that.

She'd just get scared off, or she might even get disgusted. How could he do that to her? How could he hurt her so bad?

What if things became too awkward and their friendship ended? He could never cope with that.

Still, his stupid feelings were telling him to at least try.

He looked down at his hands. These scare, sharp, three fingered claws could pierce flesh so easily. His gaseous skin was so icy it actually hurt to touch him. How could she ever love something so cold?

"Haunter?" he jumped and spun around. Eve was carry a large leaf she had folded into a 'bag' of some sorts and laid it on the ground before him. The fresh fruit that spilled out consisted of several types of berries, apples, and oddly a few stones.
He looked at her oddly and she shrugged, "What? It might be one of the types that eat rocks."

Eve walked to the egg and laid down with her flank against it, then she wrapped her bushy tail around it protectively. Like her mother had when she was a baby, she began to nuzzle it affectionately. However, even though she was preoccupied she could feel Haunter's slit eyes on her and began to get nervous. Was he admiring her again? What, did he really think she didn't notice how much he kept staring at her? She knew when she was being checked out, but oddly why didn't she feel uncomfortable enough to tell him to back off?

I can't seriously be yearning for his affection, could I?

Haunter looked down at her, and felt his romantic feelings lash at him again.

He tried to hold it back, but he knew they were never going to stop.

I have to at least try; else I'll regret it forever.

He told himself. He never thought he'd be the kind to seek a mate…but if he ever had a chance with her…just a chance to see if she would ever accept him…

He would do everything in his power to make her happy.

Timidly, he said, "Eve?"

She stopped nuzzling the egg and looked at him, "Yes?"

He sucked in his breath, "Uh, I just wanted to let you know…erm." He hesitated. This wouldn't be too far, would it? He had to at least test her, "I, em, wanted you to know that no matter what, I'll always be there to protect you…"

Umbreon's eyes held a deep look of trust within them, "I…thank you. You really are my best friend."

His ears drooped slightly at her just calling him a friend, "Yes, friend. We are. The best of friends…" he loved being her friend. He really did, but honestly all the constant pondering about if Umbreon felt the same way was killing him.

It hit him then.

Oh great, I'm friendzoned.

Even Pokémon knew what that slang was. No no, he wasn't looking at her in a perverted way. He was creepy, but he wasn't a creep. That wasn't even possible for them anyway…
However, he has liked her for a very long time, but she seems clueless about his feelings. Even if she might, MIGHT, feel the same way he sure can't tell, and she can't tell with him.

Maybe he should just forget it.

What are you doing?! You're giving up way too easily! What are you?! A Haunter or a Vanillish?

He knew his subconscious was right. Simply talking wasn't going to get her attention. If he was really serious about this, there was something he had to start doing before anyone else claimed her. If he really was destined to have a mate, she would be the only one.

Umbreon hugged the egg closer in an uncomfortable gesture. She had come to her own internal conclusion earlier when she was on her way to find food for the baby.

She can't go seeking another mate when there was only one male she was interested in, and it shamed her to think it was her best friend. Still, she couldn't move on without at least seeing if he was interested, and there was only one official way to bring his attention to her affections.

Morning had finally arrived. Haunter had stayed up all night, as usual, and made sure Umbreon and the egg would be safe. She stayed up for as long as she could to be there when it hatched, but long after midnight she was still feeling weary from the night before. So, against her will, she fell asleep early again.
He made sure they were safe, but the egg hadn't hatched yet.

Haunter leaned up in his makeshift bed and stretched, or at least imitated a stretch since he had no arms.

He looked from his position from the rafters down to Eve, but she was still sleeping and curled around the egg.

He leaned backwards into his bed and began to ponder on how he should approach the first step without scaring her.
After a little while, he got an idea. Carefully and quietly, he fazed through the ceiling of the tower and left into the forest. He cursed the early morning rays, but knew the thick trees of the forest would protect him for now.

It wouldn't take him long. He knew exactly where he was going…

The morning came slow for Umbreon. She woke up lazily and moved a bit to make sure the egg was stil in place, and it was. This was the second night she had spent there, and she knew that the longer it took for this baby to hatch the longer she'd stay there. Sooner or later she'd have to take the baby back with her to the burrow. No offense to Haunter, but the Cemetery wasn't exactly the safest place to raise a baby.

She didn't mind staying though, as long as she was with him-

Her fur stood up as nerves hit her. The decision she made last night about Haunter…should she really go through with it? Was his love really worth risking their friendship? How should she start?

At a loss of what to do, she instead looked back to the egg and began nuzzling it again in a comforting way. She knew it was slightly aware of her presence. Perhaps it was a Psychic type?

A familiar chill interrupted her and she looked back to the center of the room. To her surprise, she saw a small pile of 4 Pecha berries displayed in front of her. She blinked a few times and moved her gaze up to Haunter, who was floating there with something in his hands, "Oh! Hey! You're awake!"

He gripped whatever was in his hands tighter but she still couldn't see it, "Erm, Haunter? Where did these Pecha Berries come from?"
"Oh, I uh…" he opened his palms and held out another Pecha Berry to her, which was notably riper and pinker that the others, "I brought them…for you." He floated down towards her and held the 5th Pecha Berry out close enough for her to pick up with her mouth.

However, she only backed her head away from the closeness.

He gazed at her with an odd expression, like he was expecting her to react a certain way. It only made her nervous and caused her to stutter, "Wh-why? We al-already have enough f-fruit."

He sensed how nervous he was making her and tried to keep his voice steady, "You don't know?" he seemed to hint, "You, ah, really don't know?"

Umbreon sadly shook her head and let her nerves slide away, "Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about. Why did you pick all of them? Don't you know a Pecha Berry tree only grows five at a time? We're going to have to wait for more to grow back now."

His smile seemed to fade slightly, "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't know…"

"It's okay." She casually responded and pushed the four other berries into the fruit pile she had collected the night before, "At least we'll have plenty of Pecha Berries in case the baby gets poisoned for whatever reason."
She looked out to the one still in his hands and politely declined, "I really appreciate the effort you put into bringing these to me, but no thanks. My stomach's feeling a little queasy right now. You can put it with the others though."

All traces of a smile left his lips and became a subtle frown, "O-Okay. Right." He put the fruit down with the others and sighed.

She frowned.

What's his problem?

He's never actually tried to get a meal for her before, so it was odd. What was even stranger was it was DAWN he did this at. He knew she was perfectly capable of geting her own food, so why did he suddenly care?
Still, she ignored his bizarre behavior and decided it was a good time to get his attention.

She looked at his back and tried to find a compliment to give him, "Hey, uh Haunter?" "Yeah?" he said in a slightly grumpy tone.
She didn't understand his gruffness and instead continued, "Um, you know you look…ah.." she felt butterflies smash into her stomach.
How could something as simple as flirting be so horrifying when she just faced a killer doll!

Swallowing, she said quietly, "You look, uh, good. Like…real good this morning." He turned around all he way to face her now, "What?"

"Um…" she felt her face getting hot, "You look good?"

He smiled a bit and giggled, "Really? You mean for a ghost, right? Hee-hee-hee." Her fur stood a bit in slight anger. What, he wasn't going to even try to be serious?

"Haunter, I mean you just look better than usual." She tried in vain to compliment, but he only frowned and scratched his head, "Huh? Are you complimenting me?"

"Uh, yeah?" she brightened up a bit, believing he might be catching on.
Instead, Haunter only became more confused, "How do I look good? I just look like I always do. Besides, I thought I was supposed to be scary. I'm not un-scary, am I?"

Umbreon wanted to do a facepalm but instead grinded her teeth in frustration, "I-I mean…you're a nice shade of purple? The l-lighting in the tower right now…makes you…look…n-nice."

Haunter had no idea what she was getting at and shrugged at her, "I…guess?"

Umbreon looked away to hide her blushing. This was embarrassing! Did he not know that she was courting him?!

Queasy stomach or not, Umbreon had to cover herself else die of embarrassment. Without thinking, she pulled over one of the Oran berries and dug her face into it, half eating half hiding her blush. When she looked back up to him, he at first seemed confused, but then a high amount of offense overtook his expression and he crossed his hands over his chest as if he was crossing his arms.

She gulped.

Did I do something wrong?

Umbreon was about to ask him when he pointed to the egg, "Just let me watch it for a bit, okay? You deserve a break." His tone came out harsher than he wanted, but right now he was a little peeved.

Umbreon lifted her face from the half eaten blue berry and nodded quickly, "Well, alright. I wanna take a walk anyway, but don't worry I won't be far." She just had to get away right now before the embarrassment killed her. Besides, something told her Haunter wanted to be alone.

She got up and walked past him to the stairs, "Call if you need anything, okay?" Haunter gave her a dismissal wave and floated over to the egg.

Umbreon frowned and went down the stairs, shuffling out of that tower as fast as she could.

Haunter watched her leave and growled to himself.

He knew by instinct how most Ghost Pokémon would display their power by bringing their desired mate a soul. If she accepted it, she would devour it. Haunter knew this by instinct; problem was he knew Umbreon didn't like that part of his diet. So, instead he brought her their special Pecha Berries and they still didn't get the message across.
Did she not know he was courting her? How could she not know that the food he offered her was supposed to be a special show of their bond? The fact she rejected his gift was bad, but for her to suddenly eat another Berry was insulting!

"What did I do wrong?" he complained, "All Ghost Pokémon know that bringing their mate food is affectionate!"

He shook himself and sighed.

Hmmn, maybe I'm being too harsh. She could have simply interpreted it wrong. Perhaps an Eeveelution's courting behaviors are more different than I thought…

He gently picked the egg up from the floor and wrapped it in one of the blankets so it wouldn't be cold while he held it. Relaxing, he decided to calmly wait for Umbreon to return. In the meantime, he would watch the egg like he promised and try to come up with another one of his methods to win Eve's affection.

So he laid back into the wall on the other blankets and held the egg to his chest. He didn't exactly know how to comfort a baby, or why he should be pondering how to do that when it's still just an egg. So instead he decided to just stroke the shell up and down with his hand, as if he was rubbing it's back. It was surprisingly soothing to him, but then he felt movement within the egg.
He froze in his stroking and waited for a second. He had just felt it, a tiny wiggle and a small surge of psychic energy. Whatever Pokémon this was it was defiantly psychic and it was somewhat aware of him.

That…was just creepy.

Still, he went back to petting the egg and thinking about what he was going to do next.

Umbreon came back after about 15 minutes walking in the Graveyard. During her walk, she had been thinking about what had happened.

How did she screw it up? She told him, heck, he KNEW she was complimenting him, but it didn't have any effect on him. In fact, if anything her compliment made him seem uncomfortable. She was trying to win his affection! Not make him uncomfortable!

Well, she'll just have to try something else…

Once she reached the bell room of the tower, she found Haunter lying there with the egg resting against his chest, looking quite content and even affectionate towards it. It was so cute.

She couldn't stop a smile from tracing over her face, "Ahem?"

He jerked and quickly put the egg down into the bed again, "Uh, I…I was just-" "I saw you." Umbreon sat near him, "Already getting attached, are we?"
"Hmph." He crossed his 'arms' stubbornly, "I ain't no girl."
She giggled at him, but then slowly her smiled faded, "Hey, Haunter? Ah, sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

He uncrossed his arms and smiled, "Bah, you know me Eve. I've already let that go." She smiled back but he interrupted her with a yawn, "Ugh, sorry I'm tired. I sleep during the day, you know, but I'll stay up with you to watch the egg."

She shook her head at him, "No, my friend. You've been awake long enough and I've already had my rest. I can handle things until sunset. After all it's still just a little egg."

He gave a resistant nod, but she could tell in his eyes that he was relieved. Perhaps Ghosts need rest more urgently than non-Ghost types do?

She looked him up and down and pondered her next move. Should she show another sign of affection?

Umbreon took another step towards him but decided against it. She just apologized for making him uncomfortable. If she did something else that possibly made him uncomfortable that wouldn't help things.

"Alright, see you later Umbreon, but if anything, ANYTHING happens, let me know and I'll get up as fast as I can." He waved and floated up to his spot in the rafters.

She sighed and curled around the egg again. She felt it move within and noticed how warm it had gotten. It was defiantly going to hatch in just a few days or sooner.

Umbreon then looked up to the rafters, but saw no trace of him up there. She sighed to herself.

Well, I can tell this is going to be a fun couple of days…

So FINALLY I've decided to start moving them in the 'romantic' direction. So, how am I handling it so far? I have no idea about these particular Pokemon courtships, so I'm basically just going off theory here.

If anyone has anymore advice for what they could do for each other's attention that'd be great. Please comment and tell me if you have an idea. I could always use the help!

Hmmn, so what kind of egg can it be? I really hope it's not too cliche for them to find one.