A/N: Thank you for all of your support! And look, here is another pretty fast chapter! I hope you enjoy it!

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

Days

The day with different kinds of friendship

May

Tuesday, January 28th

The excitable mood of the Tournament was slowly returning, now that the Stadium had been mostly repaired and all the participants were able to stay on the terrain once again. Well, except for Dawn, May thought with a slight smile, but her friend didn't seem to mind. Not at all.

The news of Shauntal's murder had been shocking, but Unova was far away and Sinnoh still seemed safe for whatever was going on, so the Tournament had continued. This Round would consist of competitive double battles, which May was at least partly confident in. She knew her Pokémon could work together well.

Still, despite the intensive training and the battles she could watch – like the one she was watching right now, on TV in one of the common rooms – May was a little bored. She had spent a lot of time with Dawn before, and while of course she did know other people here, Dawn had been the closest to her. Well, except for Drew, but that was obviously not an option.

"May I sit here?" A familiar voice spoke up and May pulled herself out of her daydream and looked up at the speaker.

"Hey, Solidad." May did her best to put on a genuine smile, but it still felt forced. She hadn't talked much to Solidad since the break-up, and she felt a bit wary now. Solidad was Drew's friend first and foremost, after all.

"Hello, May," Solidad said with a gentle smile as she sat down. Then, quieter, she added, "I still hadn't had a chance to talk to you… to congratulate you."

May's smile twisted, and she swallowed. So Drew had at least told Solidad.

"So congratulations." Solidad's smile seemed sad and understanding, and May scolded herself for feeling wary of her. She ought to know Solidad well enough that the woman wouldn't do anything with malicious intent.

"Thank you," May said, doing her best to smile even wider, but it still didn't feel natural.

Solidad continued smiling, still with that tinge of sadness. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing fine," May said. "Nothing to complain about." Of course there were more than enough things to complain about, but for some reason she didn't feel like pouring her heart out to Solidad. May felt her smile falter and looked away. She didn't want her break-up with Drew to lead to loss of friendships, but she didn't know what to do to prevent it…

Solidad's smile drooped but understanding shone in her eyes. "That's good to hear, May."

Solidad put a hand on her shoulder. "I know that things are… different now, but if you ever need someone to listen or to help, I'm here."

"Thank you, Solidad," May said, and when she smiled now, she meant it.

Solidad's smile widened. "You'll be fine," she said as she rose from her seat.

May nodded, though she was unsure if Solidad meant her specifically or her and Drew together.

"Good luck with the Tournament, May," Solidad said as she moved to leave.

"You too," May said, and watched the older woman leave.

"That was strange," May said to herself, but before she could give it more thought, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out from her pocket, and the caller ID showed Dawn. May smiled and accepted the call.

"Hey, Dawn," May greeted her.

"Hey, May! Look, I don't know if you have time now, but could you perhaps come over? To Paul's, I mean. Ash is on the phone and he's acting pretty odd, but he wants to talk to both of us." Dawn sounded in a hurry and amused and maybe even worried, but most of all confused.

"Uh… sure." She hadn't been paying much attention to the TV, anyway. "I'll be right over."

"Great, thanks! I'm curious to see what Ash is on about now..." Dawn said. "See you!"

"See you!" May ended the call and then went to her room to grab her coat and her belt with Poké Balls, and then hurried out into the drizzle.

May had been to the Breeding Center before and made her way there without getting lost or very wet from the rain. Dawn opened the door for her, looking eager.

They greeted each other and Dawn ushered her in. May left her coat in the hall and Dawn led her to the living room, passing Paul in the kitchen, who sat with a notebook at the table and only gave them a passing glance. Obviously he didn't think it strange that Dawn was inviting people in his house.

"Alright, I got Ash on the family phone, a bit easier than on the Gear," Dawn said, and indeed, the screen of the video phone showed Ash and Misty. Ash grinned widely when May came into view, and Misty gave her a wave.

"Hey, May," the redhead greeted her.

"Great to see you, May!" Ash said.

"Hey, guys," May said, sitting down on the chair that Dawn had grabbed for her, and Dawn sat down on the remaining chair next to her.

"Alright, now out with it!" Dawn said.

Misty laughed and shook her head. "Give May a chance to properly sit, Dawn." But her smile told May that she was enjoying Dawn's curiosity.

Then Misty's expression grew serious. "May, I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but… how are you doing?"

She should have expected that the topic would come up, but for some reason it still came as a surprise. She tried for a reassuring smile.

"I'm doing pretty well," she said. Ash nodded and Misty continued to look questioningly, and so she elaborated, ""It's... difficult seeing Drew here, but I like the distraction of the Tournament and it's really great to participate in something again."

She could feel Dawn's gaze on her, and she gave her a glance, to which Dawn gave her an encouraging smile.

"And it's good to have Dawn here," she added, and the blunette beamed at her. It was true, without Dawn's support May doubted that she would be handling it so well.

"That's good to hear," Ash said, seeming relieved that she hadn't burst into tears.

"It's good you have Dawn with you," Misty said, nodding emphatically. Then she grinned in a rather menacing way and cracked her fist. "You guys better beat the shit out of Drew!"

May looked wide-eyed at Misty, and Misty's smile turned innocent. "In the Tournament, I mean, of course."

Ash subtly moved away from Misty, and May laughed awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

"So, anyway," Dawn said. "What's the big secret you guys wanted to see both of us about?"

It was said jokingly, but Ash and Misty's reaction were sheepish smiles and glances at each other, which definitely piqued May's curiosity.

"Yeah, what's up?" she added.

"Well, it's not really a secret," Ash said. "And it was just easier to tell you two at the same time..."

"Yes...?" Dawn edged him on.

Ash glanced at Misty and Misty smiled and nodded.

"Misty and I are expecting a baby."

May felt her jaw drop and it took a few seconds before she found the right words. "Wow! Congratulations! That's really great!"

She inwardly cringed at her high-pitched voice and the words sounded almost forced to her. But Ash grinned and Misty beamed so it probably came over well enough.

Ash and Misty... That's how she and Drew should have been.

May felt her smile droop and forced it back on. Surprisingly, she felt Dawn grab her hand, as if she had felt her shift in emotions. She looked at her and was surprised when Dawn's smile looked a bit shaky as well.

Then Dawn's smile brightened and she said, "Congratulations! That's wonderful news!" Her smile turned sly and she winked, "We should've known that it wouldn't take long."

Misty turned a bit red and Ash laughed sheepishly.

"So how far are you along? How are you feeling?" Dawn asked enthusiastically.

Misty answered and May smiled and nodded along, trying to keep track of the conversation, but her thoughts kept flying in all directions.

It was great news, of course… And she tried to think positive thoughts, like how Ash and Misty's kid would be the same age as hers…

But she wanted this, too! To sit together with Drew and tell their friends the good news- that was what she had wanted…

Dawn squeezed her hand again and gave her a sideways glance with an encouraging smile, as if sensing the direction of her thoughts.

But her dreams with Drew were just that, dreams, and she had to make do with reality. May made a split-second decision and gave Dawn's hand a squeeze in return.

At that moment, Misty finished whatever she had been saying and a lull fell into the conversation.

"I'm pregnant, too," May blurted out.

The silence that followed seemed very loud and she could feel the eyes of her friends on her.

Dawn was the first to break the spell, squeezing her hand and giving her that shaky smile again.

May turned her attention back to her friends on the screen. Misty put on a smile when May looked at her, but her surprise was still evident.

Ash was more vocal about it. "Really?! Wow! That's-" He seemed to want to say something but quickly swallowed it. "Nevermind, that's really awesome! Congratulations!"

Then he seemed to realize what it meant for May and his happy expression fell. "Uh... Are you... Drew?"

May pressed her lips together. "Drew is the father, yes." She didn't want to say that the pregnancy was the reason that they had broken up, but still... "He will only help financially." That should make it clear enough.

"That's good," Misty said slowly, and Ash nodded hesitantly.

Misty's smile was sad and emphatic. "And you know, if you need any help…" Ash nodded again, this time with more confidence.

"Thanks, guys," May said, smiling shakily and nodding. She glanced at Dawn and gave her hand a last grateful squeeze before letting go. "I know I can count on my friends."

"That's what friends are for," Ash said. Misty nodded strongly and Dawn put an arm around her.

Yes, that was what friends are for… May nodded again and her smile grew stronger. She looked at Ash, Misty and Dawn, and she knew that she had great friends.

She would be fine.

A/N: Thanks a lot for reading! I had fun writing this chapter :) I had some difficulty with finding the right place to end it, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and please leave me a review with your thoughts about it!

Thank you!

Recommendation:

The Hobbit: Oh, Son of A- by StrivingArtist. AO3. Rated M! A finished multi-chaptered story following the overused trope of a modern Earth girl being dropped into Middle-earth and wanting to save the characters. Except it's rather difficult when you don't speak their language… Honestly, even if you don't like OC's, this one is done so well and with so much humor, give it a try!

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