Diamond was home within seconds, he never really thought about how close his house was to Pearl's before but now that he felt like he had to move faster than Pearl to get himself ready he noticed that he honestly could have walked home instead of sprinting and still arrived in the same amount of time. When he entered his mother was sitting comfortably on the couch with a cup of tea watching the news broadcast. Her bob framed her face well and her bangs were pinned back by a simple barrette. Unlike Pearl's mother, Johanna was all woman; nothing childish or doll-like about her in the least. She had an average standing and her curves were in all the right places. Behind her cerulean eyes she had an understated fire that burned passionately but they were soft with motherly affection whenever she smiled or saw her child.

She was still in a loose fitting nightgown when he arrived and Diamond secretly wished she was wearing a bra, the cold causing protrusions he would rather not have seen. Diamond plopped himself down next to her, taking her tea from her hands to get a few sips. She smiled warmly and wrapped an arm around him in an embrace, placing a kiss on his forehead when he turned to look at her. Her face was suddenly much more serious, she had that smug motherly "I know you did something wrong, you can't lie to your mother" look on her face. She waited patiently for Diamond to speak, the weather report in the background was almost unperceivable as they sat there in near muted silence.

"Happy New Year, mama."

The corners of her lips curled in a catty smirk "Happy New Year, sweetheart."

I guess small talk isn't in the cards today. "So… Sorry I didn't come home last night. I meant to call you but I was just sort of… distracted, if you will," he gestured with his hands as he spoke.

"You don't say? Do go on, dear."

"Y-Yeah, Pearl took me out to have some fun and then I just slept over after." He tried not to sound suspicious and he gave her his best poker face.

"Oh, so you were only with Pearl?" Her face relaxed but then she looked at him pointedly again. "No girls?"

"Mom!" He groaned. So that's what this is about… "No, no girls. Just two guys hanging out, ok?"

She watched him for a few moments before speaking. "Ok, I believe you. Just don't worry me like that again, Diamond."

"I won't but mom I'm going to be heading out to do some travelling with Pearl. We won't be back for… well a long time. We plan on revisiting all of Sinnoh."

"Ok, helping the professor again?"

"No. Not at all,"

"Contests?" She perked up, she herself a decorated coordinator. But he shook his head putting the cup on the coffee table.

"You know I'm not good with that stuff. But we're leaving today."

She sighed, and looked straight ahead at nothing in particular. Her eyes drooped like flower petals under fire of a heavy rain, each raindrop carrying the weight of every depressing word he uttered. Diamond matched her sullen stare at the wall, now he knew where he got his pathetic sad faces from.

"Sorry, I know I just got back but…"

She rubbed her face with her hands letting her fingers rest over her mouth as she redirected her attention to the ceiling trying to remain composed. "It's ok," she mumbled into her fingers. At least that's what she said but he knew she was lying, what mother would be excited to see their child leave for months on end especially after they had just gotten home? "I get it, I do. You're young and there's so much world out there to explore. Plus, it's Pearl's turn to go beat the Pokemon League now, right? At least you're staying in this region." She sighed pinching his cheek affectionately. "Well, help him train on the way and help each other. You're an unstoppable team if you work together," she said maturely.

I never thought about that… But she was right; Pearl hadn't beaten the Elite Four yet. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to make a stop there. That was certainly something to do. "I have to go get my things together. Pearl will be here any minute."

"Alright, honey."

Pearl ran up his stairs clamorously and grabbed as much as he could stuff into his bag. "Clothes… check. Pokemon… check. Battle supplies... check. Money… Check. O-Kay! Let's go!"

He ran out of his room and busted into his mother's room, waking her upon entering. His mother's room was a lonely place. Her large bed was shared by her alone and there were two dressers, closets and sides of the room; two of everything but only one person occupying the space. He frowned as he looked around, it was very well kept as though no one was ever there. In fact, his mother was only found there when she needed to sleep or dress herself. His mother sat up and stretched her arms over her head as she let out a huge yawn from her delicate lips. She smiled sleepily at Pearl and she wiped her face and eyes of the residue left from what Pearl perceived as tears.

"Hey, baby. Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, are you ok?" He frowned more and sat at the foot of the bed, letting his bag fall to the floor with a soft thud.

"I'm fine, I am I promise."

"You're lying…"

She frowned and wiped her eye again. "Maybe so… I miss having you and your father home. The house is so quiet… it's so empty when you're gone. That's all."

"Yeah, I know…" He frowned looking at nothing in particular. This is just great. Now I feel like a complete asshole. Why can't that jackass come home and visit her ever? Arceus… He huffed, bracing himself for waterworks. "Mom?"

"Yes, Pearl?"

"I'm going on another adventure… I don't know when I'll be able to come back."

Her face went blank, like Diamond's but different. It was eerily emotionless, she didn't even blink. Tears flowed freely from her eyes and trailed down her face, falling onto her exposed chest from her chin. In the dim lighting her hazel eyes looked like deep watery sea green pools of misery, the auburn highlights seemingly vanished as they hugged her pupils for dear life. She buried her face in her hands pulling her knees to her chest, shoulders convulsing in her misery. She took in a deep stifled breath after several minutes of silent sobbing, hiccupping and shaking her head. After several minutes of helplessly rubbing her shoulder and apologizing she calmed down some.

"You're leaving me… again," she whispered, her feeble voice could barely project the words as a question.

"I promise I'll be back," he sniffled trying not to cry himself. "I'll be back before you know it."

She cradled his face in her hands and looked into his eyes, searching the flames for a glimmer of hope in the glistening embers. Her baby, her sweet pearl leaving again but she nodded. "Yes, you'll be back. You always remember to come back," she assured herself with a weak smile.

"Uh, yeah I'll be back as soon as possible. I'm just going to go travelling with Dia around Sinnoh."

"Diamond's a sweet boy, you two will have a lot of fun," she thought aloud with a smile. "Well be safe, wear your scarf, change your clothes and bathe as often as you can, don't beat up on the youngsters and school kids because you know you're going to win so why bother and if you have sex use a condom."Pearl blushed at the last note and his mother wiped his face with her silky soft hands.

"Ok, I promise," he held up his right hand as though taking an oath. "I'll be safe, keep myself as clean as possible, not crush the dreams of aspiring trainers and have safe sex if I have sex."

"Very good, now that goes for both of you boys. You remind Diamond, too, ok?"

"I will, I will. Love you, mom," he hugged her tightly before he slipped out of the room.

It was early afternoon and it was a comfortable day for walking. The sun over head was warm and casted Pearl's shadow over the graveyard of dead grass that crunched beneath his feet. Pearl let himself into Diamond's toasty house. How is Dia's room so chilly when the rest of the house is like a sauna? Johanna was in the kitchen working at a record pace and there were several boxes tightly packed with food.

The television was going over the latest news and showing coverage from the party in Jubilife the night before. People hungover in the streets, garbage and confetti with discarded novelty glasses and hats scattered everywhere were the remains of the crazed party that had passed through. Pearl smiled to himself, Last night… there wasn't much more he could say not that words were necessary. He popped into the kitchen and peeked over Johanna's shoulder. Johanna was much taller than Pearl's mother, she was only slightly shorter than Pearl. Pearl's mother could barely reach just below his shoulders without shoes. Johanna hummed as she stirred the hot chocolate on the stove, it was a pleasant tune although Pearl wasn't particularly fond of humming and he recognized the song from Dia who would occasionally whistle the tune in his idleness. Pearl tried to whistle along with her but it wasn't any different from last night and he still couldn't figure out how to do it.

He wandered around the kitchen, it was a full sized kitchen unlike the one at his house but their living room was smaller in recompense. The table still had the holiday centerpiece atop it and a few Christmas decorations were still up in the house. He restlessly began fidgeting with his poketch, various apps displaying as it beeped in response to the buttons' commands. Dia hurry up… this is taking forever. He frowned looking around the room when Diamond at last descended the stairs. Pearl greeted him with great enthusiasm nearly toppling him over as he rushed over to embrace him.

"Oh hey, Pearl. It's so nice to see you after being apart for… 20 minutes?"

"It felt like forever," he squeezed him tighter. Diamond smiled to himself and hugged the boy all around the waist twisting him back and forth. They entered the kitchen and Johanna handed them each a bag and a warm thermos.

"Ok, boys, be safe and-"

"My mom already gave me the whole spiel, spare me," he begged.

"Were you listening?" She folded her arms.

"She said like 'this goes for both of you boys' and… oh, 'be safe, wear a scarf, bathe as often as possible, don't fight with the younger trainers and have safe sex'," he counted on his fingers as he went.

"…Well, your mother certainly covered all the bases. Have fun and be safe," she hugged Diamond, adjusting his scarf before hugging Pearl and roughing up his hair affectionately to which he pouted slightly, finger combing it back in place.

"Ok, we will. Love you, mom"

"Bye!"

And the boys were out on their way at last.