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Twenty-five

"What's wrong Bianca?"

She looked up from where she sat brushing her hair she had went into the basement and sat in the dark. Her mood seemed to get worse as the seconds ticked by. She had been quiet over breakfast and even after she wasn't herself Touko asked Aurea to talk to her. She shook her head as she smiled at her as she stretched a little.

"Nothing."

"Don't lie, you going quiet is as bad as Cheren bouncing around like he's hyped on sugar...which I'd pay to see by the way."

She smiled a bit wider though it faded quickly, Aurea sighed and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Is this about Touko?"

"Maybe."

"If you're worried about her just say so."

"It's not that, she's one in our group you don't really have to usually she knows what she's doing so this guy of her must be worth something."

She smiled.

"So that's how it is, Bianca it hurts now but it'll get better."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"That's all there is to say she's one of your best friends, if you really care about her and trust her choices then you have to be supportive as you would any other time. You wouldn't want to chase her away and never be around her again would you?"

Bianca sighed.

"I just don't get it, I've tried so hard...haven't I?"

"Ever try and kiss her?"

She blushed and shook her head.

"Then how is she supposed to see any difference between the way you act with the other girls and her? It may seem harsh but you took too long this you have to take peacefully. Now come on up and spend time with Touko while you can."

She sighed but nodded, but only part of her really understood what Aurea said.

That meant she had to try even harder while he was there surely there wasn't much to their relationship.

"You really think he wouldn't care if I was around even while he's with her?"

Aurea gave her a grin and nodded, thinking she meant a much more innocent suggestion she nodded and stood up once again her bouncy self.

"Great then..."

"Aurea Bianca! The snow cleared enough for a Mamoswine!" Dawn called.

"We don't have one of those." Aurea said going to the steps.

"Touko's guy does, he just got here."

Bianca frowned as she was grabbed and pulled up the steps, Touko was in the bathroom but Cheren was with Paul and the others opening the door. He pulled his hair into a ponytail and dressed for the weather in a suit and overcoat showing already how different he was from their friend. Paul examined his face making sure he wasn't going to have to get between them in case he was in a bad mood. Though he seemed relaxed enough as he walked toward them, Aurea opened the garage area to attract his pokemon there was food and it was plenty big enough for larger pokemon it had been another big expansion. When he called and said he was on his way he was quick to tell them though it was mostly meant to be a surprise to Touko.

"Mr. Harmonia I hope your ride was alright?" Paul said as he came in.

"It was fine, I had to see where my future bride was I hope you don't mind the drop in she talks about you all, all the time. It's like I know you." he said pointing out who was who and what they helped with.

Aside from Cheren and Max with tech May and Mei brought in investors with their contests, Dawn helped Brock and Ash find their pokemon residents on one side while Touko and Touya normally traveled much further for the same tasks, aside from them all pitching in with other tasks only a few of them had specific duties they did have a few friends that didn't stay needed to keep the place running, doing side jobs that didn't take too much time but helped with spending money for other nessecities the house was theirs free of charge because of what they used it for. Though Gary helped with research and various tasks to keep up with his grandfather and Juniper.

They had other expenses of course. With the door finally locked behind him Aurea was too curious about him he was so grown up for one of her 'babies' as she called them. It wasn't like they needed an adult but when she wasn't on medicines and such for them she hadn't legal work and she'd seen most of them grow up from younger ages.

She was just protective..

He mostly knew their names from when she talked about them while they were being tested he did like the stories she had to share. If anything how well he seemed to know them made the room much lighter as they returned to the living room.

He never wanted to take her away from them for good he knew how happy she was with every one they were just as much family as her mother was.

That said plenty about her relationship with her father.

"Hey where did..." Touko came around the corner and paused she felt a shiver up her spine seeing him as Ro waved to him.

She had really...really missed seeing him well emotions hardly lie when it counts...at least it's sometimes like that.

Bianca felt an inward cringe as she ran to hug him, he relaxed as he held her against him he kissed her cheek.

"Surprised?"

"Mmhmm."

"Then you know why I didn't tell you I was coming."

She rolled her eyes as she smiled at him only jumping as her friends gave her stern, overprotective looks.

"Now wait just a minute why does he know about us but he's a surprise for us."

"Because you guys are too protective I just wanted to meet someone without you scaring him away." while it was somewhat true the obvious part of her memory loss was a silent part of it.

"When have we ever scared anyone away?" Gary asked.

"Remember Mike? Brock sent his onyx after him."

"You told him stop bothering you and he wouldn't I was just helping."

"Brock he was getting ready to walk away he had to stand up and what about Trevor?"

"He was a loser and Hugh was sure that he was stalking you." Mei offered.

"And what was he doing? Trying to give his raichu a chance to mate."

"But you didn't like those guys...Mr. Harmonia..." Dawn started.

He shook his head only somewhat jealous over these almost exes of hers.

"Ghetsis is fine that's just for work."

Touko was surprised but then with the Triad they could forget that until it mattered.

"Right...just Ghetsis...but that's exactly, we're getting married because I like him I couldn't be sure what you would do then."

"Fine fine we'll be nice but you better treat her well no one messes with the family." Ash said.

Ghetsis smirked slightly.

"At least we're on the same page I won't be staying I just have to talk to Touko."

"You're not going anywhere we haven't finished examining you, use the kitchen to talk." Aurea said.

Touko laughed as Ghetsis raised an eyebrow, though complied, there was almost something scary about her when she was worried about one of them. Mother Ursaring feelings as they called it, he would comply for now...after all wasn't like he wanted to leave he wanted to be near Touko.

Paul was amused he went with it so easily, he glanced at Touko anything for her he would guess.

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