…..

Nineteen

It was strange...well all of it was strange considering every piece of the puzzle but Touko chose to focus on what was off about her sense of peace. Ghetsis, she could tell he was tired but he still lightened up a bit for dinner Ro was fascinated by hair and when he was so willing to share his sweet potatoes he crawled up on his shoulder to play with his...the family had a lot of that and it was almost as soft as he was. It seemed so out of place, after the time she spent here it all did. How does a happy father with a soft spot for baby pokemon, and love for his children handle the switch to cold boss. She wasn't sure it was a question he could even answer for her. Still she talked and joked with them she really wasn't decided on how things were going to be but she was just about ready to cut her losses it was starting to feel more like home than home did.

She missed her friends and wondered if he'd let her go see them, though she remembered his rule and wondered if he'd even allow it. She settled on eating so it wouldn't seem like she went silent out of no where.

As they finished he got a Grunt to handle the dishes, a female that glared at Touko as she passed not that she cared. N and Concordia excused themselves for the evening first Anthea took Ro to her room to play Ghetsis stood up more than ready to go to bed he looked over he sensed something was off.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing...I was just thinking."

He eyed her.

"About your friends?"

"Yeah...but I won't ask to see them I remember the rules."

He sighed.

"Well...the misleading situation I was hinting toward was being too friendly with men, sitting on laps."

She shook her head quickly.

"I have hugged my friends I don't take any further than that..but after.."

He stopped her with a raised hand.

"I was actually out of the line it wasn't on purpose and you didn't try to run off while I was gone...so if you want to go see them tomorrow you can I have something set up for that."

She stared at him.

"Really? You'll let me go..I have to meet them in secret don't I?"

"No one is welcome here I can't be responsible for those I don't know...but I have a place that you can go to if they want to meet you but I still want you to come back here. It's safer...people knowyour face in the group. Little getaways is fine."

She jumped up.

"Thank you thank you!"

He rubbed the back of his head seeing her face light up she stood on the bed and could easily reach to rest her hands on his shoulder to kiss his cheek. He sighed as she settled back on the bed.

"No need to thank me, that was the deal so I'm keeping my end as you did..mind if I stay?"

She blushed and nodded.

"You don't need to be pressured you'll get to leave whether I stay or not."

She shook her head.

"No I'm not...I did miss you, you can stay."

He smiled slightly.

"If you're sure, I'll be right back."

She watched him go to get his things and stared down at her hands it was very different from when he just wanted a safe spot to recover. She thought of her last dream, just little visions she thought it meant that something happened to him. She couldn't help but ask about him, she felt a lot better than she thought she would be. No that's not entirely true there was more to Ghetsis than what she saw she knew that and she wanted to see that side. Biting her lip she wondered if they knew their father wanted to join her and they planned to take Ro.

She was glad though, she saw how much the happy pokemon liked to be around them he was safe with them. Though he did like to cuddle while he slept she wondered how he would do if he was in here with them and shook her head she wasn't so sure she wanted to risk putting them against one another. One she was trying to figure out...again vs a sweet little innocent berry gobbler.

Touko smiled at the thought.

She did have her own television though she wasn't much for watching it too often she just didn't want to go to sleep and get startled..even if she knew he was coming back. It wasn't long before he returned after changing he had been exhausted but settled for a short shower before he sat at his computer he always spared time for a shower after he returned home.

What was as good as home anyways.

He slid a light muscle shirt on with his sweatpants as he pulled his hair in a ponytail he seemed so different. She almost wanted to ask about the eye piece but wasn't sure how sensitive he was about it. With the door locked he cocked his head.

"...The eyepiece?" he asked simply.

"How do you just know what's on my mind?"

He shook his head.

"I just figured you were thinking of it, I could remove it but it's a part of me, the Triad fixed it in."

"That's why you didn't have it before..." she stopped and he eyed her.

"Before?" he asked shifting to sit next to her.

"I had a dream...you didn't have an eyepiece."

He looked down.

"I'm surprised you remember that."

"Do you?"

"Of course I've always been kept here no reason for things to be cut from my memory...though there are things here and there that I draw a blank on I know the risks of discussing too much. Though if you ask me about things I can answer more."

"Maybe later then? After you sleep?"

She watched him lay back against the pillows wondering about her memories and if he should finally decorate his room properly. Only because if she was really comfortable around him, then there was no real reason for them to sleep apart he'd want her be happy in his room.

"Alright then after you see your friends..."

"Don't you have to see what happened? With the money?"

"Colress and Ivy are looking into that we don't want to raise suspicion, scare the bastard into hiding, for now it's under control. Besides I want to talk to you." he yawned then though.

She slid under the blanket next to him flipping off the light he sighed.

"Don't remember why I would have needed this do you? The eyepiece."

"No..."

"You should have said you were getting your memories back, would have lifted my spirits."

She smiled in the dark.

"I felt bad...I thought you'd be angry."

"Hardly, it's not minor things I can't remember sometimes my thoughts just cut off, unable to finish it wont stay that way. I won't take the recovery time personal when I have to do it myself."

She smiled a bit wider, though they settled in silence, this was comfortable, normal he should be next to her. She knew it wasn't just gratitude for gaining her freedom, it felt kind of nice.

...