Me: What's this a double-update!? Yep the good ol days are back kids!

Disclaimer: You guys know, I don't own anything(but the story of course!)

Iris Pov.

"Uuggh! My back!" I say as I wake up, my muscles sore and aching from the long night before. Why on Earth did I think running around all night was a good idea?! I shake my head as I continue to stretch and yawn in an attempt to wake myself up. As I glance sleepily around my tent I notice my things are in a bigger dissray than usual. "What the heck happen-," my eyes widen as the events of last night rush back to me, immediately alleviating me from my confusion. Gary, Ash, Cilan-the plan!

I hurriedly scramble out of my tent and end up rolling into the clearing, stopping short of the fire Cilan had going.

"Woah Iris! What in the world are you trying to do this early in the morning?"

I glance up at Cilan whose expression holds a mixture of confusion and annoyance. Well that's an odd combination. Why would he be so annoyed with me-. I cut my thoughts off and mentally facepalm myself as I realize the situation at hand. There were already two things wrong with this scene. A. Cilan was up waay to early. The Sun had barely come over the horizon and B. He wasn't only up, but he was cooking too. He woke up early to make breakfast for Ash and himself...well thanks Cilan. Not only are you going to starve me but you're also going to give me a run for my money to keep you and Ash apart.

I force myself to put on a goofy smile before getting off the ground. "My bad!" I say, fake laughing at my own failure. "My tent's a bit messy you see-." Cilan cuts me off mid-sentence by raising his hand, "Don't worry it's fine, just avoid rolling into the fire next time. Okay?" I nod childishly and give him a toothy grin that he merely shakes his head to.

I knew Cilan was typically dismissive of some of the things I did, but this was on another level. He was becoming passive to me. For a moment I just watched him cook, observing his motions. He seemed more tense than usual, but I wasn't too surprised by that, considering all the shit that had went down the night before.

I eventually get bored with Cilan and decide to take a walk. As I stand up and stretch I decide to ask Cilan a quick question, "Hey Cilan, what's Ash up to at this hour?"

"Sleeping," he says a little too quickly.

I give him a strange look before walking off in a random direction from the camp. Well that was kind of weird... I think to myself. I probably should tell Gary.. but where the hell am I supposed to find him? Maybe he only pops up at the most opportune times?

Cilan Pov.

Thank goodness she's finally gone! I let out a sigh of relief as I finish up breakfast before carrying the two bowls back into me and Ash's tent. We can finally have some alone time. As I enter the tent Ash has just started to wake up.

"Morning sleepy head!" I say giving him a kiss on his forehead as he rubs his eyes. However, just as I move in to kiss him he flinches.

"Ash?"I ask quizzically, setting the bowls of food down.

He looks at his lap timidly as move closer to him, brushing the hair out of his face. "Ash-baby it's okay. It's just me. I won't hurt you." I move in to touch his face again but he turns away from me and begins rubbing the sleep out of his eyes harder.

"Ash...come on don't be so rough," I say as I pull his hands away from his face and wrap my arms around him from behind causing his body to tense.

"Please stop..." he says quietly, causing my eyes to widen suddenly. Ash was being so unreceptive towards me; was what happened last night too much on him? I shake my head and slowly relax from my hold on him. He relaxes his body and then turns to face me once again. I hand him his bowl and spoon.

"I'm sorry Cilan, I just...last night was rough."

I give him a sympathetic smile and nod, "Yea, it's okay. I know last night must have been an emotional rollercoaster for you huh?" He nods slowly and smiles,

"Yeah it most definitely was."

We sit in silence for a little longer before I speak up again, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Ash studies his bowl before answering, "I'm not sure what to say...I don't want to lie to you I just-,"

I stop him mid sentence, "If it hurts to talk about it we can wait, but...I really think it would be good for you to get it off your chest."

He continues to study his bowl without saying a word.

"Well, could you answer at least a few of my questions?" I ask, hoping to be able to finally pry some answers out of him. He glances up at me and nods, "sure."

I give him a faint smile before preceding, "Alright then... did Gary hurt you when you two were together?"

He seemed to tense up at my question as if he wasn't quite sure how to answer. He began to motion as if he were going to say 'no' and then he briefly motioned as if he were going to say 'yes'. It was as if he didn't know the answer himself. Well I guess most victims of abuse don't really admit it do they? I sigh before setting down my bowl and kissing Ash on his forehead. It didn't really matter what he told me. I knew, what I knew. That Oak kid had done the unspeakable and I sure as hell wasn't going to let him anywhere near Ash again.

~Some Time Later~

Ash Pov.

I was glad when we were finally back out and walking again; being cooped up with Cilan was not where I wanted to be, especially when he was asking a million and one questions. I mentally sigh thinking about all the chaos at hand. What on earth have I gotten myself into?

I need to make a decision between Cilan and Gar-Oh who am I kidding! I'd pick Gary a million times over! There really was no decision that needed to be made. I knew in my heart I wanted Gary, but my mind kept reminding me of all the things he had done. Why did I have to wake up late on that morning?!

I knew that was what broke Gary's heart more than anything. The fact that I technically never showed. Ever since that day our relationship was never the same. I tried to catch up with him, but by that time he had moved on. Hell anytime I wanted to talk to him he'd blow me off with some sly remark...but now things are different, I guess I could say he's forgiven me now. He did say that he spent a lot of time beating himself up over what had happened.

I smile to myself as I think about it. Maybe there was a legitimate chance that things could work out again, that we could be together. The only thing that brought doubt to my mind was the very thing that was reaching for my hand now. I braced myself for the ever growing feeling of uncomfortableness I was starting to feel every time Cilan touched me when Iris ran through our hands like a 5 year-old with both Pikachu and Axew poking out of her hair.

"Bwahaha!" she laughs triumphantly, climbing to the top of a tree and sprinting ahead of us. I turn away from Cilan to try and hide my smile as I silently thank Iris for her cockblock. I nonchalantly rests my hands behind my head before Cilan gets anymore ideas. Nonetheless despite my efforts, Cilan manages to spin me around from behind in his arms before holding a flower in front of my face.

"For you," he says, with the most sincere smile. I couldn't resist the urge to blush as he put the flower behind my ear before kissing me gently. I felt old sparks fly as I remembered why I had first agreed to get together with him. I was lonely, heartbroken, and sad. He was lonely, caring, and willing to stand by me no matter what. He filled the void Gary had left and I had unintentionally attached myself to him.

With all those thoughts and feelings running through my head my need for his affection grew. Before I realized what was happening, Cilan pushed my back against a tree and began to rub his hands up and down my sides. I felt myself involuntarily moan slightly into the kiss as I felt myself slipping away. Shit! What am I doing? At first I was detaching myself from him and now I'm back to being vulnerable? Get it together Ash!

Just as I was about to make a move to push Cilan back all sorts of seeds, flowers, and leaves began falling from the tree we were under, forcing us apart. "A-choo!" I sneeze, the pollen from the tree making my allergies act up, "a-choo!"

From the corner of my eye I can faintly see Iris's hair above me and I silently thank her again. She's truly been a saint today hasn't she? I move forward on the path trying to avoid the pollen and run smack dab into Iris who pulls me over into the brush.

I almost scream but she quickly covers my mouth. "Ssh Ash, I need you to be quiet okay?" I nod slowly as we both crouch in the brush. "Gary wanted me to tell you he'll be close by. He also wanted me to keep you and Cilan apart-but that's another story altogether."

I look at her mildly confused for a moment before I usher her to continue.

"Regardless, what I really wanted to tell you is that Cilan's got some kind of dirt on Gary. I don't know what it is but, it seems pretty serious. Just be careful okay? With both of them." I nod and stand up just as Cilan catches up on the path.

"Oh there you are Ash!"he says forcing a smile. I return the gesture and walk over towards him just as Iris returns to her tree hopping. He grabs my hand leading us back to the path. Noticing his grip is a little rougher than usual, I gently try to pull my hand away only to be met by Cilan's gripping my hand a little harder.

"Is everything okay?" he asks strengthening his grip. I look at him with a worried smile, before looking down at our hands and trying to lightly tug mine away only to be met by his death grip once again. Everything is definitely not okay.

Me: Woah! Intensity! Hope you guys liked it~

Ash: What have you done!?

Me: Ooo you'll see!