A/N: As always, thanks everyone for reading, following, favoriting and reviewing this story! It greatly encourages me to keep writing this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

To Guest: Yes, May has found a good friend in Iris. Thank you for reading and reviewing!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or the picture used as cover (though I edit it).

Days

The day with the Christmas decorations

Ash

Saturday, December 21st

"Jingle bells, jingle bells-" Misty's rather loud and not truly on-key voice sounded from the kitchen as he walked in from the Gym, making Ash unable to hear the actual song on the radio. He momentarily considered getting her singing lessons for Christmas, before dismissing the thought as he'd rather live to see the new year.

Ash had his arms full with garlands which were left over from decorating the Gym, which he, Noivern and Pikachu had just finished with. They were late with getting the house ready for Christmas, but better late than never.

"Oof, guys, I think we worked hard enough, don't ya think?" He carefully put the garlands on the ground of the living room, then stretched and popped his joints. Misty seemed to have finished with the living room already, the Christmas tree standing proud in one corner and many other decorations hanging from the ceiling or against the walls, glittering and gleaming.

Noivern made a sound of agreement as Pikachu dramatically let himself fall on the couch.

"You have the right idea, buddy," he said, following Pikachu's example and plopping down on the couch. Of course Noivern couldn't stay behind and Ash felt the couch move as the Pokémon fell down on the other end.

Still, they weren't being that dramatic. They had worked hard, because Misty had wanted it done today, considering they were already this late with the decorations. And between Misty working on one thing or the other for Leaf and he himself training for the upcoming Indigo League, they simply hadn't had the time before.

Despite all this stress, Misty's good mood had persisted. Maybe it were the upcoming holidays or maybe it was that Daisy was surprisingly still taking care of the Gym, but Misty and he hadn't had a proper argument since… well, at least three days.

"What are you lazing around for?" her voice demanded from above him, and Ash opened his eyes to find Misty frowning at him.

Maybe he had spoken too soon.

"We were just getting a few moments rest after finishing the Gym," he defended himself, sitting up and crossing his arms, already preparing himself for a heated discussion about his supposed laziness.

"You finished decorating the Gym?" Misty's frown disappeared and she smiled at him. "That's great! Politoed and I are almost done as well." She turned to look at Noivern and Pikachu. "Thank you two for your help."

Noivern let out a happy sound and Pikachu actually got up so Misty could give him a proper hug.

"Hey, I did most of the work," Ash said indignantly, getting up so he could put his arms around Misty from behind. "Don't I get a hug?"

"Nope, I don't think so," she said with a laugh. Demonstratively, she hugged Pikachu close, before trying to wriggle free from Ash's grip. When she failed to do so, she sighed and leaned back into him, and Ash kissed her cheek.

"Can you believe it?" she asked, staring thoughtfully out of the window.

"Hm?" It was snowing outside, as it had been doing the whole day, which resulted in a nice layer of snow on the ground. "Yeah, it looks like we're going to have a white Christmas."

"Not that," Misty said. "Next Christmas, we'll have a little one with us."

Ash straightened, feeling something strange and wriggling take root in his stomach. They were going to be parents. He was going to be a father.

He never had a father, how odd is it that he himself was now going to be one? How was he supposed to know how? What-

His thoughts were interrupted when Noivern's big wings wrapped themselves around the three of them.

"Aww, Noivern, we love you, too," Misty cooed, laughing as she patted the Pokémon's head. Noivern released them and Pikachu jumped from Misty's arms to Ash's shoulder.

"Anyway, I'm going to finish up the kitchen, could you put the remaining garlands back in the box and then put it in Daisy's old bedroom?" Misty said as she moved out of Ash's hug after squeezing his hands.

"Sure," he said. "But after that I'm not getting up from that couch until there's food."

Misty rolled her eyes. "I'll order us something."

Ash grinned. "Great."

As Misty walked off Ash turned his attention back to the garlands on the floor, which Noivern was already enthusiastically picking up and putting in a box.

"Great job, Noivern," he said as he and Pikachu joined Noivern in cleaning up. When it was done, Ash lifted up the box to take it upstairs.

"Thanks for the help, Noivern, I'll take it from here. Why don't you go back to the Pokémon area, then I'll come bring you guys your food soon."

Noivern roared in appreciation and then hurried off to the Pokémon room, which connected the Gym and the living quarters of the house.

"Pikachu, you can go, too, it's just one box, I can handle that," Ash said. Pikachu looked torn for a moment, before dashing after Noivern. Ash watched him go with a smile, before walking to the stairs.

He put the box in what used to be Daisy's bedroom, which was now filled with boxes and some old furniture.

Maybe they'd have to clean it out someday, Ash realized. This could be the nursery.

He really wondered how they were going to do this. What did he know about children? He had been one, and Iris still called him a little kid, and he got on well enough with Misty's nieces and nephew, but…

Well, they'd manage. Misty certainly didn't seem worried, and it wasn't as if she had that much parenting experience, and her own parents had never been around much either.

He shook his head to clear the thoughts and then made his way back downstairs. It was odd that he was worrying about this, usually it was Misty who was the more pessimistic one. With that last observation Ash determinedly shoved the thoughts away, walking towards the kitchen.

Just like the living room the kitchen was decorated with lights, garlands and little trinkets. Misty sat at the kitchen table, humming a song and looking through-

Oh, no.

"Oh, hey, Ash." Misty looked up with a bright smile.

"Why are you looking through a cookbook?" Ash asked fearfully.

"Don't look at me like that," Misty said. "I ordered dinner, don't worry."

At that, Ash did indeed relax which made Misty frown. "My food is not that bad."

"Uh…" What was a diplomatic response to this? Vaguely remembering some advice from Brock about compliments, he said, "You have many talents, Misty, but cooking is not one of them."

Misty kept frowning but sighed. "And here I was thinking of inviting everyone over and making a Christmas dinner."

Ash managed to bite back his panicked denial and instead hummed, trying to think of something less likely to make Misty explode.

"It's a lot of work," he said. "And you know how much Mom loves preparing everything, she hardly gets the chance to cook for so many people."

The 'so many people' being Misty, himself, Professor Oak, Gary and Leaf, Tracey and Daisy and their kids, and perhaps the other Waterflower sisters would join them too.

Misty's frown had turned thoughtful, before she sighed again. "I don't like saying it, but you're probably right."

Ash felt like cheering but managed to tone it down to just a satisfied grin, which he quickly tried to hide.

"You just need more practice," he said, a part of him hoping that she wouldn't take the words to heart because that would mean he would be submitted to her cooking.

"Yeah... maybe," Misty said. Absentmindedly she turned the leaves of the book, the corners of her mouth turned down.

That made him feel bad, and inwardly resigning himself to his fate of dying of food poisoning, he offered, "Maybe you can make the dessert? If it doesn't work out, we can always get an ice-cream somewhere."

Misty looked up, hope dawning in her eyes, and Ash added, "We still have a few days, you could practice whatever you want to make and I'm sure you could get it right."

Misty smiled and nodded slowly, seeming to come to appreciate the idea. "You're right. I can do that. Making a cake can't be that difficult, after all." Then she frowned again. "How come you're right twice in a row?"

Ash pouted. "I do have good ideas sometimes."

"Sometimes, yeah," she said, laughing and getting up. She gave him a quick kiss. "I'll go feed the Pokémon, if you'll get the table ready? The food should be here soon."

"Alright," he said, though Misty had already gone. He stared after her for a moment, wondering if he had really just gotten away with calling her a bad cook.

Well, if that was the case, he could get used to this new, happier Misty.

A/N: Thank you for reading! This chapter was a bit more difficult, I've tried different things with it, but I hope you like it like this. I really appreciate hearing what you thought about this, so please let me know!

Thank you!

Recommendation:

Hobbit: Reckless by ChasingPerfectionTomorrow. FFN. A short Tauriel and Kíli romance which takes place in an AU where Smaug never happened. KÍli falls in love with an elf, much to everyone's distress. Funny and sweet.

If you have any stories you want me to recommend, let me know!