"May?!" Norman called out from the foyer, "I'm home."

He set his suitcase down as May appeared from the top of the balcony. "Hi dad."

She slowly descended and went into his embrace. From his perspective, she seemed uneasy and he attributed it from the fight over the phone they had the other day. Part of him felt sorry that he had spoken to her so viciously.

"Hi sweetie. Glad you're home."

"Me too dad. How was your flight?"

"Long," He sighed tiredly, "Drew had to stay behind from another meeting we had so he'll be flying back tomorrow."

"Oh," She sounded disappointed.

He took it as that she missed him so he gave her some assurance, "He'll be back tomorrow night. Don't forget, we're going to have a party next week and this year it's going to be special."

Every year, the Maple family held an enormous bash during the middle of the school year, not quite close to Thanksgiving. Everyone was invited related to them, extended family, friends and associates. The party would begin in the evening and usually the last of the guests would end up spending the night in guest rooms because they would have too much alcohol to drive. Groggy the next morning, they would then depart for Sunday's mass in whatever chapel they followed.

"It's not that dad, it's just…" She trailed off.

"What is it sweetie," Norman's happy expression changed to concerned, "What is it?"

"I'm going to break it off with Drew," May sucked in her breath, waiting for the inevitable backlash.

"What?" Her father was definitely surprised by the decision. "You're going to break up with him?"

May nodded.

"Why? Drew loves you. Why would you want to hurt him like that?"

"Drew may love me, but I don't love him back," May stated, "We don't always see things eye to eye."

"I see." For a moment, May thought her father understood, but she noticed his breathing elevate and he clenched his jaw, a sign that he was angry.

"Is it because of him?" Norman pointed, keeping his tone low, but brimming with malice, "That Commando police officer? May, what are you thinking? What has he told you so far? Huh?"

"He-"

"That what? He's going to take care of you?! May, I'm sorry to tell you this, but as much as you've matured over the years, you still have limitations. Later on in life, you're going to need someone that will give you a safe and happy one. I'm getting older and soon enough I'm going to have to deal with Max, but right now, I need to have a piece of mind that you will be happy."

"What about my piece of mind?! Ash makes me happy!" May defiantly shouted, "You have no idea what his life is like and you don't even try! Why are you so nervous about just letting me do my thing?"

"I know enough about Ash to tell that he is exactly who I expected him to be."

"Ash cares about me. A lot. He even said that he won't come between us."

"And here he is, driving us apart!" Her father's voice now got even more angry, sort of a loud booming sound that could frighten just about anyone, "You choose to be with Ash, you'll be throwing away all the time and effort people who truly care about you for the petty little crush on the man! Are you really willing to make that trade?!"

"Yes," May's voice turned cold, "Because Ash has given me the type of attention that I want!"

She turned to walk away but stopped, still talking to him, "Just so you know, if Drew does show up at the party next week, he's going to be YOUR guest."

Then she disappeared, bounding up the stairs and into her room, not bothering to look back.

Norman swore under his breath. Ash had done everything to undermine everything he and Drew had worked for in May's future. It served as a double purpose; May was next in line to inherit his billion dollar company, but he didn't see her fit to run it, so therefore he had set her up with Drew, a young company management intern he had befriended during his tenure. The two of them hit it off and had been in a solid relationship. Upon their predetermined marriage and Norman would eventually pass the company's helm to Drew, the protégé would be groomed and fit. All that remained was the inheritance, which would be gained by May's marriage.

It was time to make some calls since apparently May was not backing down. Everything Norman had thrown at Ash; he had easily countered and continued to unwind their efforts.

It was time to go after the source.

Ash straightened his dress uniform, smoothing out any wrinkles he could have found. The medals lined his chest neatly along with a rainbow of ribbons. He felt a bit uncomfortable on wearing his Federation uniform in the midst of a foreign country, as the act was considered unusual, but he had no Hoenn military one and he technically did not report to any of their leaders.

Scratch that; he reported to the Premier of the country, the head of state. While concerning affairs that were domestic, that was his commander, although he ultimately had executive authority to tend to the Federation, where his ultimate loyalty lay.

Premier Steven Stone was a thin man with gray hair despite his age of twenty five. He was on record the youngest to attain the office and was immediately popular with the youth. However, his hobbies were far from their usual vibrant style, instead seeking out to collect rare stones and gems through Hoenn and the world. Despite the government seat being Mauville as the capital. Steven maintained his home in Mossdeep and only went to the city when necessary.

Steven had quite a commanding presence even before he was sworn in and Ash found that he maintained an air of being in charge. His attitude was crisp, firm and to the point, regardless of talking to an officer twice his age or an eight year old little girl.

Nevertheless, he had ventured out to Petalburg and personally met the JETS and thanking them for their newly established services.

"Lieutenant Ketchum." On the screen in the JETS' headquarter building, Steven was wearing a black suit and red tie, flanked by the awesome view of his home office. His gray hair was neatly combed.

"Premier," Ash greeted back.

"Rest of the team doing well?"

"Of course."

"Now then," He shuffled papers on the desk, "I've called in concern of the tension between you and Mister Norman Maple."

"Sir?"

"I think you know what I mean, Lieutenant." Steven was not in the mood to put up with any shit today, "Mister Maple is a good friend of mine and a large supporter of mine. He is in fact; the biggest contributor to my reelection come next year. He's contacted me twice about you and let's just say that what he had described was in no way positive. So I'll ask again," He set down the papers, "What has Norman Maple so pissed off about you?"

The air was heavy with silence and Ash felt the tension as if he was swimming, "I've been seeing his daughter sir and he does not approve."

The answer seemed to surprise the Premier as his eyes flew open and slightly recoiled, "May? I thought she was with Drew Hayden?"

"I know she has thought about breaking it off with him."

"You don't have any influence in her decision?"

"From her friend's point of view, it seems that the thought has originated before we met." That was partially true, but in the presence of the head of state discussing about one of his supporters didn't work very well in Ash's favor.

"So let me start from the beginning," Steven put a hand on his chin in an inquisitive gesture, "You two first met when you rescued her from the Syndicate on the Sea Mauville wreck?"

"Yes sir."

"Therefore you two became close friends and ended up seeing one another?"

"That is correct."

To Ash's surprise, Steven nodded in understanding, "I see. She's an attractive woman."

"Very," He agreed, "She's been isolate for part of her life."

"That is not a surprise, Norman keeps his women close and controlling over their decisions."

"Haven't seen him around his son Max, but he certainly is with May. Can I ask what complaints he had filed against me?"

Steven pulled out another paper inside his desk and scanned it, "His complaint explicitly says that Lieutenant Ketchum has been unable to properly perform his duties as the head of the Joint Enforcement Tactical Specialist Urban Warfare Team due to personal issues and should be relieved of his command and replaced." He looked up again, "I told him that replacing you was not an option and he therefore countered saying that his business had been struggling and his contributions might be less than what it had been."

Ash sighed and rubbed his temple, "What in the world does this guy have against me?"

"It's more of your Commando rank than your police one Lieutenant."

"I don't get it? The Commandos?"

"I know it's hard not to take it personally, but you are not at fault and neither are the rest of your teams."

"I don't take too kindly to anyone disrespecting my country or unit, regardless of whom." He caught himself and how blunt his statement was, "No disrespect. Sir."

Steven waved it off, "Norman Maple has always been a good friend of mine, but I will come to his defense if necessary. If he so much as suggests that he was threatened in any way by you, we will be talking again and I won't be as open minded as I was today. Am I clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good." The Premier leaned back in his seat, "I told him that I could get more votes from the work you and your team does than from him and that was enough for his silence. Just between you and me, I never really thought Drew Hayden would make an ideal boyfriend for May. She's too good for him and my impression of him was arrogant and kind of a snob. Thanks for helping me sort this issue out Lieutenant; although I'm sure we made more questions than answers."

"Of course Premier, you have a good rest of your day."

Steven winked off and Ash breathed a sigh of relief. From all the information he had just been given, May was being pushed in a direction that impacted him more than it did to her. Norman was probably very infuriated with the Premier and had to change things up. May would be the easier one to mold, somebody in their relationship the two that manipulating was effortless.

"He's been manipulating her through her entire life." Ash whispered to nobody in particular.

Checking his phone for things to do tomorrow, he couldn't find any spare time to keep her away from Drew. He was set to go on the clock in the morning, but also Max's first football game was set at the night and he had personally extended Ash an invitation to watch, hoping the young man's quarterbacking skills would pay off.

Perhaps he could see her there.

May was just in the middle of reviewing her grade from the addition of her interviewing project. Ash was the perfect candidate and she had gotten a ninety five score on it. It was worth a good portion of her grade and was enough to bump it to an A. International Relations wasn't her strong suit and she admitted that there were difficult segments of the course, but she still loved the class and having such a high grade made her optimism soar. One class closer to her degree.

Her phone started ringing; it was Drew.

"Hi Drew."

"May!" He sounded tired, but also relieved. "Finally. I've been trying to reach you for hours. Your father told me everything that's going on. Why do you have to needlessly put your safety at risk?"

"Because it's fun! Drew, can't we just go surfing or even just go spelunking in Granite Cave? Stop being so dramatic!"

"You're saying my concern for you is over dramatic?"

"No! Stop just worrying about me. I can take care of myself! I'm just having so much fun!"

"May," Drew stopped himself. Maybe Norman was right. This Ketchum Commando was more of a threat than either of them had originally anticipated. May had not been her normal self and he attributed it to the abduction, but now he saw that Ash's lifestyle was beginning to rub off on her and it was far more appealing than him.

"I'm sorry May." He feigned tiredness and defeat, "I'm on your side here and I just don't want anything to happen to you. I love you too much."

"Nothing's going to happen to me Drew," May annoyingly said. She desperately wanted to just call it off directly with him, but she knew that he would tip her father as soon as it happened. Plus it would sound rude to dump a boyfriend and then wish them to have a good upcoming meeting.

"You could have said that the night you told your father you were going to that concert. Anything could happen at anytime."

"Drew, you know I want to do more than just be someone in your corner to love right? I want to experience things; touch, explore and be thrilled by all that life has to offer! I want to live my life because for ten years, I haven't been able to."

"I know." He assured her, "I understand."

Drew sure did. He was now one hundred percent sure that Norman was right. Ash and Dawn were both threats to him. He should have seen from the beginning that they were interfering with his plans for May to be his and filling her head with puerile bullshit. When he would return, this asshole was going to learn that she belonged with him. He had everything; money, his dream girl and her father's approval/blessing. The only thing that was not his was the inheritance of the company, but that would come soon…very soon.

"I have to go now. The meeting's starting," Drew said, "I'll be back tomorrow evening and I understand you want to be part of something bigger. Why don't we take a hike in the Petalburg Woods or even better, take an art class together? When I do get back, I'll have something both of us will love. Sound good? Alright, I'm late. See you tomorrow." He hung up.

May gave an annoyed huff, "An art class? Really Drew? You don't understand at all."

Wow, all the drama is making me write more excitedly! Everyone is in a heated argument against one another and neither side is willing to give in. Stay tuned cause next chapter is going to have a big bombshell dropped on Ash!

Thanks for reading and reviewing, you give my writing purpose.