Damn, guys, I'm sorry for the late updates! But on a happier note, here's Chapter 8!

Bonus Chapter- Realization and Action

Rahl awoke, blinking his eyes open, and he yawned and stretched a little. His muscles popped, and he sighed in obvious content.

"Ahhh..." he breathed. "Good stretch, that one."

He took note of his surroundings, and smiled. Korrina and Clemont were still sleeping, with arms curled around one another, and Serena's nose was in Ash's chest, the boy's arm under her head.

'God...' Rahl thought, shaking his head. 'If they don't get a move on and confess their feelings, I'll do a Cupid and force them to.'

He went over to the desk containing a small notepad and pencil that one often sees in hotels and the like, and wrote a note stating where he was going and where he would wait for them. He strode to the bathroom and freshened up, brushing his teeth and showering. He put on his shoes, collected his Pokeballs, and went out of the ward, to the Pokemon Center.

'I think I'll switch Scizor with Venusaur, the poor fellow hasn't battled for a long time,' thought Rahl as he reached the PC where he could deposit and withdraw Pokemon to and from his storage. 'I'll keep Carracosta, but I think I should take out Weavile and put in Espeon.'

He booted up the PC and made his transactions while Nurse Joy watched. "Would you like some breakfast?" she asked kindly.

"Yes, thanks," he replied. Nurse Joy led him to a table where he sat down, and picked up a menu.

"I'll have a cheese sandwich," Rahl told the pink haired lady, after some consideration, "and a cup of coffee, no sugar."

"No sugar?" asked Nurse Joy in surprise. "Well, if you say so, dear."

Rahl exhaled and took out a book from the bag on his back, titled Harry Potter and the Order of the Moltres, and began to read.

A steaming cup of coffee appeared, as did a mouthwatering grilled cheese sandwich, served up by Nurse Joy's Audino. Rahl took the food from it and petted it on the head. "Thanks, Audino."

"Audi audi," it said happily, and went away. Rahl put away his book and, pulling the tray over to him, began to eat.

Ash started awake, looking around blearily. His arm felt weird, very weird. When he looked down at it, he gave a small gasp, and his face turned crimson.

Serena, the woman of his dreams, was dozing on his left arm. Her mouth was slightly open, and her honey blonde hair was sprawled everywhere, crowning his biceps. Also, her nose was very close to his chest.

'How the heck did we get like this?' thought the flustered trainer. He attempted to pull his arm out from under Serena's head, and after a few halfhearted attempts he managed to do so. His arm was throbbing painfully, and he tried to ease it up by massaging it. However, his efforts yielded no fruit.

Just then, Serena yawned widely, and Ash's heart nearly stopped, he was so nervous and scared. However, he couldn't help but notice that Serena looked absolutely adorable when she yawned. Thinking about it made him blush even more.

'Get it together, Ketchum,' Ash chided himself momentarily. He slowly eased himself out of the bed...and came face to face with a deviously grinning Bonnie.

"What the-!"

"Shhh, you'll wake your girlfriend," she teased.

Ash, if possible, colored even more. "She's not my-"

"Then why were you sleeping with her?" countered Bonnie triumphantly. When Ash did not answer, Bonnie crowed triumphantly, "I knew it!"

At Bonnie's shouting, Serena abruptly awoke as well, rubbing her eyes in exhaustion. "Bonnie...don't shout so early in the morning..." she mumbled.

Ash gave a small shriek and promptly fell off the bed. (He was still sitting on it when Bonnie confronted him.)

"Ash!" exclaimed Serena, instantly worried and back to full wakefulness. "Are you all right?"

"Fine, fine," groaned the other drearily getting up slowly.

"Why is your face so red?" questioned Serena further. "Do you have a fever? Are you sick?"

"He's lovesick, that's what!" giggled Bonnie.

Serena turned her head towards the lemon blonde. "Did you say something, Bonnie?"

"No no, she said nothing!" said Ash quickly, giving Bonnie a glare worthy of an Arbok's, which shut her up.

Serena looked at Ash suspiciously. "If you say so, then."

"Where's-where's Clemont?" asked Ash, obviously wanting to change the subject.

Bonnie said teasingly, "He was sleeping with Korri-"

The bathroom door banged open, and the blond inventor came out, red in the face. His spectacles were askew and his hair was mussed, as if he had just rolled out of bed.

"Hi!" said Serena cheerfully. "Where's Korrina? And where's Rahl?" she added. The trainer was missing as well.

Clemont blushed even more, making his face the color of the setting sun. "I-I don't know...hey, what's that?" He pointed to a small piece of paper neatly folded on the desk. Serena went over, unfolded the paper and read, "Guys, I've gone to the Pokemon Center's food-court to get breakfast. Freshen up and join me later. Rahl."

"Is that it?" asked Ash.

"Hang on, there's a P.S..." said Serena slowly. "P.S- Did you enjoy your sleep?"

Ash and Clemont both turned red at that.

"Come to think of it...that was actually one of the best sleeps I'd had for a while," stated the Performer thoughtfully. "But how could Rahl have known that?"

"Never m-mind that," said Ash quickly. "Let's get going, now."

Korrina stormed over to the food-court, boiling with rage borne from embarrassment. When she had woken up in Clemont's arms, she had felt strangely comfortable, but she was also very red-faced. Then Clemont had woken up and...it had been embarrassment served up on a silver plate. First-class.

Not that she hated him or whatever, but it was still humiliating. A blushing Clemont had promptly gotten out of the bed and hurried over to the bathroom while gabbling nonsensical apologies, while she herself had remained there for a while, stunned.

Ever since her parents' deaths, she hadn't slept that well...

'No. Don't think about that.'

But she couldn't help it.

Nightmares, rotten sleep, bad dreams had all plagued her nights after her parents had died. And yet, in Clemont's arms, she had dreamed of happiness, of passion, of finally being able to lo-

She entered the food-court, and instantly spotted a head of white hair at a table. Rahl Feranos was enjoying a cup of hot coffee along with a grilled cheese sandwich. Seeing him, her anger ignited once more, and she swept towards him with a face akin to that of a Gengar's when it used Scary Face.

"YOU LITTLE IDIOT-" she began to scream.

"-Good morning to you too, Korrina," Rahl smoothly interrupted her. "Have a seat," he invited.

Glaring at him all the while, Korrina took the proffered chair, and picked up the menu, ordering a salad bowl from the concerned Nurse Joy. Ignoring all the stares boring into her, the Gym Leader hissed, "What are you playing at, Rahl? You put me in a bed along with-"

"-the boy you happen to feel affection for," Rahl cut her off once more.

Korrina flushed. "I-I don't like him in that sense-"

"Liar."

"W-What's your p-proof I like h-him then?" Korrina was seriously stuttering now.

"For a start," said Rahl, amusement flashing in his eyes, "you wouldn't be stuttering if you didn't like him. Also, if you really don't, then why were you so embarrassed when Bonnie called you a keeper for Clemont?"

"I just wasn't expecting it, that's all!" shouted Korrina.

"Okay," said Rahl calmly. "Then why did you join the group, Miss Shalour City Gym Leader?"

Korrina was lost for words. She simply did not know how to react. Rahl had cleverly observed every single movement that Korrina had made, even the subtle ones. Why did she join the team? Why did she blush whenever she looked at the Lumiose Gym Leader? Why did she feel so safe in his arms, non-muscular as they were?

Because she loved him.

"True, Clemont isn't exactly what you'd call, say, a ladies' man," conceded Rahl. Korrina snorted.

"However, he has a brain. He's intelligent and hard-working. Those inventions of his never work, but he strives to make them do so. He's got heart and cares for you with all of it. He will sacrifice himself for his friends any day. He's a great guy for you, Korrina," continued Rahl, watching her carefully.

"...I know," mumbled Korrina after some silence.

"Then act, damn it," sighed the trainer. "Keeping it a secret will do nothing but whittle you away. So confess to him. Live a happy life."

"...All right, I'll do it...in my own time," muttered Korrina, going pink.

"Good," grunted Rahl.

"Thanks," said Korrina abruptly. When Rahl looked up in surprise, she winked, smiling, and took a fork to the salad laid in front of her.

Simply love this chapter. Going deeper and deeper into a ship is very satisfying.

Thanks so much for reviewing, favoriting and following guys! Please continue to do so!

-Nirgends101