Ash frowned as May told him everything. How her father threatened to destroy his job, Dawn's life. While she tried her best to protect both, she wasn't sure if her own demand had much credibility to it.

"Listen, I still have class tomorrow, but I can come back home after it's over."

"You've only been gone for five hours and you already miss my place?" He smiled, knowing she knew he was doing so, "You're so sweet."

"I love your place so much more than mine. The feeling of family just oozes out the walls."

"Then I better clean the kitchen so it radiates it instead."

They both chuckled at that.

"Ash, please." May pleaded with him, "You don't have to do this."

"No," He said, "I wish I didn't. I feel like I'm going to make one last attempt to convince him otherwise."

"Just let me be with you."

"That will aggravate him further. I have to do this alone." At first he didn't want to come between May and her father, but his feelings towards her were growing with every second that passed. Now it seemed that Norman was the only obstacle in the way of that. "I'm going to give it my best shot." Because even If it turned sour, he wouldn't look regrettably on it.

"Okay."

"I'll be there when you're in class. Have a good day." He said, "I love you."

May choked a sob on the other end, "I love you too Ash."

Ash hit his entry code into the gate and pulled into the house. He opened the door after threatening Norman that he might have a severed tie with May if he wasn't allowed to speak with him personally.

"What?" Norman's first question was crisp, blatant and already full of mistrust. Ash had waited in the living room for ten minutes since and knew that he had taken that time to put on a rather expensive business suit. Just another way for him to throw his superiority over. He felt like it was the first time waiting for a girl to get ready for the prom.

"I'm here to talk to you about May."

"May's in class right now," Norman said, "She's unavailable at this time."

"I'm aware of that," Ash knew that he was trying to play a game and his mental moves were very good.

But the Commando had some cards of his own. "I deliberately came because I think we can work something out."

"Well then you are sorely mistaken," An arm was waved in dismissal, "Now leave my house."

"May is going to move in with me." He declared.

That provoked a response and as he was turning away, Norman paused before glaring at Ash. He walked over to his desk drawer and pulled out an all too familiar shape.

The silver gleamed in the sunlight as he leveled the snub nosed revolver straight at Ash. Uneasiness crept up his spine and he had no idea if Norman was capable of murder, but seeing his attitude and from May's recalling of it, the feat seemed more plausible.

"You see this? I purchased it in defense of my family from intruders. Now May might consider you family, but I don't and now it's for you. Don't think I will shoot you if you try to take May from me."

Ash immediately pointed out several flaws in his latest intimidation tactic. First of all, he was aiming with an unloaded gun and second, his elbow was locked in place. Sure, he could be struck by a bullet but it was aimed in an amateurish way that the recoil would toss it straight out of his hands, even if it was a smaller caliber.

"Now tell me," Norman slipped his gun back inside his drawer, "What is it you really want? Tell me so I can save myself all this grief."

"I want to know," Ash was still having his head spin over the fact that Norman had a firearm and wasn't hesitating to "shoot" a Commando. "What has you so afraid of me with May?"

"You are a danger to her,"

"There is no reason for me to hurt her intentionally."

Norman rolled his eyes, "Intentionally. What about accidentally? Have you really thought about what will happen in the future? I raised May to be carefree and innocent, so she did not have the hardships of fending for herself. I have money, connections and assets to help me through it. What about you? What can you offer her? You certainly don't have the money I have. She is taking classes to earn a degree and become a model. What kind of charade is that? What will you think if you have a wife or daughter that becomes a fashion icon with men leering at her like you do with May? I guess you will never know since you don't have any kids." His face brightened as he readied another verbal attack, "Yes, kids too. May is not ready to be a mother yet. Are you ready to be a father if you two decide to have children?"

Ash made to reply, but her father just went on, "And your job. It's one of the most dangerous in the world. What will happen if May isn't physically injured but emotionally? What if you get killed in combat? You'll be leaving her a widow, heartbroken and if you have kids, they'll be fatherless. How are you going to plan for that?"

With it all laid out for him made it all too real how difficult it really was going to be. As much as he didn't want to admit; Norman was partially right. He was not prepared for a relationship like this. He loved her with all his heart, but he now wasn't sure if that was going to be enough anymore. Could he be putting her into a problematic scenario that was unwarranted? Did she really deserve all of this?

The hate and tension was so thick in the air, one could slice it with a knife. Ash had to try his best, reminding himself that he was able to win no matter the odds. He had to prove he was worthy, for May's sake.

"No." He finally said after a period of silence, "Perhaps I can't give her those things, but if she married Drew, you could have given her all of that." Pointing to himself, he was getting fired up, fighting for something…someone he was truly passionate about, "What about me? Why can't we have those same things? What in the world did I do that has you so pissed off with me? All I did was just fall in love over May. Neither of us planned it out and I didn't come here to Hoenn intending to steal her away from you. It just happened."

"All I can say to that," Norman spat, "Is that you two better undo it before the separation becomes unbearable."

Ash knew this argument was going nowhere and whatever he would say wasn't going to change his mind.

"I tried that. We tried that, but it's only doing the opposite. I need May in my life and she told me she feels the same way." He looked down at his arms, with the black bolt tattoos just visible at the bottom of the sleeves, "What is it about me that I need to change in getting you to approve? The tattoos? I'll get them removed! The job? I'll find work somewhere else! My house? Clothes? I just wish I knew and that you would trust your own daughter to make her own decisions."

Norman walked on over so that the two men were now just inches apart. For a second, Ash actually thought he would change his mind and maybe at least give the two of them a fighting chance.

Then the gaze turned poisonous. He was known to intimidate others in business conduct and when angered, he proved to be someone not to trifle with.

"Don't you ever tell me what I should and shouldn't do concerning my children," He growled through clenched teeth, "There is no way in hell I will ever approve of the relationship between you two. As far as I'm concerned, May is going to choose you and your dangerous lifestyle as one." The dismissive wave came again, "I have nothing else to say to you. Get the hell off my property and never come back!"

Ash felt as if this was all he could have done. Whatever he tried to sway the old man's mind, it came back to the stubbornness he was known for. Gazing right into his eyes, Norman suddenly began to feel uneasy himself. He thought Ash was a fairly easygoing person based on his previous interactions and used his softer attitude to his advantage, but now he realized that Ash could get just as intimidating as him and someone that one should definitely not piss off.

He was not used to having someone else stand up to him and he hated the feeling already.

"I'm going to tell you something," Ash's voice came out like a snarling furious Aggron. The hate from the voice was enough to send uncontrollable chills down his back, "I came here, even when May protested and begged me not to, because for a time, I believed that we could get together and settle this matter like men. Now it seems that whatever I say or do, you're still going to look at me worthlessly and not good enough to whatever."

Norman backed away, almost afraid and he looked pleading for Ash to stop, but he wasn't done. Not by a long shot.

"It still puzzles me on your view of my military service. I have no idea what my time in the Navy reflects on your opinion of me, but I have faithfully served my own country for five years!" His voice was slowly rising to a yell and his hands were balling into fists, "I even left it, with my mother, who was my last family member and dying from a fatal disease to come and help rid your own country of assholes! This country you say; has been receiving hefty amounts of your endorsements to its head of state! And still! Still, you think that you and that pretty boy Drew are still ten times more superior than I will ever be?!"

He laughed, almost evilly but it was more realizing how twisted Norman's mind really was. When it stopped, he was on the receiving end of a furious glare. At this point, he didn't give a shit anymore.

"Go fuck yourself." Ash put as much contempt and venom as possible into that statement. Had his last tone been literal, it was enough to kill a Drapion.

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left the house.

The rest of the day was uneventful. The JETS worked with the Navy to catch a group of criminals trying to breach security for the highest bidder. It was a confrontation by the docks, but after a tense standoff, Ash and his team managed to kill or capture all eight perpetrators. He wished they could all have had Norman's face through his HUD.

With the last of the tedious paperwork being complete, everyone bade one another goodnight and went on their separate ways.

Ash grabbed a quick bite at a food truck and headed home, strangely in a very good mood to see May.

He arrived home to see her watching the sunset on the beach. She sat on her side, almost in a model pose just beyond the reach of the cold water.

"Hey," He took off his shoes and socks before sitting down next to her. "How was class today?"

"Good," She absentmindedly said, "Hopefully we can begin to study for the final exams tomorrow."

"Good," Ash said, "May Maple I want to ask you something. It's been in my thoughts for the longest time but, would you marry me?"

The question just came all of a sudden and May felt a ring being pressed into her hand.

Without another word, she grabbed his face and kissed him as hard as she possibly could. His tongue came across into her mouth he felt desperate to explore even more. The ecstasy feeling almost caused her to drop the priceless ring on the beach.

Effortlessly lifting her from the sand, he carried her inside and up to his bedroom.

May was determined to heed Dawn's advice for the first time in an intimate manner.

"Ask me that again when we are done."

Ash laid her onto the bed and slipped his fingers into her undergarments. He frowned when she gasped.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," She breathed, "Just not quite used to the fact that you asked me the million dollar question or the fact that we're going to do it right here and now."

"You wanted this right?"

"Dawn and I are at odds about it, but you know what? To hell with it!"

"Well we can pretend like it until you find the answer?"

"Okay. Starting tonight?"

As May was done shedding her clothes underneath him, the Commando found himself looking at probably the most gorgeous sculpted body that was perfectly curved before his eyes. He found his own lust and desires beginning to control him.

"Starting tonight." He huskily said.

I'm gonna pass a bag around so everyone can donate their unused Burn Heals to Norman. Your contributions are appreciated after what Ash did to him and it's for a good cause :D Things are starting to heat up and this chapter had a lot of editing and adjustments to it. Hope it came out alright.

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