A/N: Thank you for support! Here's the next one!

To Duvarishka: Thank you! I'm happy to see your enthusiasm and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Days

The day Dawn reflects

Dawn

Tuesday, February 11th

Dawn looked at the full-length mirror that hung against the closed door of her private Pokémon Center room. It reflected the small room behind her, with a small cabinet, the standard single bed on which Piplup was currently sitting, and the window above the bed.

Outside, it was snowing, and Veilstone City was slowly being covered in a blanket of snow. Dawn felt a vague smile pulling at her lips. The weather was perfect for her planned Appeal round today. She turned back to the mirror, looking at her own reflection critically.

Her dark blue hair hung loose, with several shining silver stars attached to it. Her dress was made of a similar silver colored material, the top tight with a high waist and flowing out from there to her knees. The wide sleeves hung to her elbows and her legs were covered with high, black boots with a small heel.

All in all, she was content. She had wanted to go for a mysterious appearance and she thought she succeeded.

"Lup lup!" her Pokémon called from behind her.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Dawn said. With practiced ease she put on her show smile and turned to Piplup. "Better, right?"

"Pip!" he said. "Pip, pip, pipluup."

Dawn dropped the smile. Of course, she couldn't fool her own Pokémon. She might look pretty, until someone looked at her face. She was pale, her eyes missed the usual shine and there were dark bags under them that even make-up couldn't completely cover.

She sighed, and sat down on the bed next to Piplup. He patted her hand with his fin.

"I should have told him," she said, more to herself than to her Pokémon. "I was so close to telling him, but…" He had been so happy. And his words… She felt like she could glow, just thinking back on them.

"Lup," Piplup said, nodding. He had heard this story before, because Dawn had been thinking and talking about these things a lot the past few days.

"I don't know what to do," Dawn said quietly, and Piplup patted her hand again.

She knew she should tell Paul. She should tell anyone, really. Only her Pokémon knew so far.

Dawn looked down at her stomach, nicely hidden beneath the silvery fabric. When she was seated the bump was a bit more visible, but no one would dare make a comment about her gaining weight - well, Barry maybe, but still.

These past few days, a decision was forming in her mind, but she was torn. She should tell him. She should. But…

"Oh, Piplup," Dawn said, throwing her hands in the air in frustration. She got up from the bed and started pacing.

"Pip! Pip-lup!" Her Pokémon spoke to her sternly and Dawn froze in place.

He was right, she had to make a decision.

"If I tell him…" she spoke slowly. "I don't know how he's going to react. I don't want to distract him, not now, not when he's going to challenge the Elite Four soon…"

Piplup sighed. "Pip…?"

"And I don't want to lose his friendship." The words came out in a whisper. Behind her, Piplup got off the bed and walked over to her, to comfortingly pat her knee.

That was it, at the core, Dawn knew. Of course they both had to focus on their careers, but she just wanted to be able to spend time with him, to get to know him better, to grow closer to him without a baby complicating things…

"I think I'm falling in love with him," Dawn only mouthed the words, no sound coming out. Piplup seemed to understand, though, petting her knee.

A smile formed on her lips, while at the same time tears pricked in her eyes. Dawn wiped them away, laughing a bit.

"I had just to pick the most complicated situation to fall in love, didn't I?" she muttered.

"Piplup," Piplup said, nodding sagely. Dawn smiled and reached down to pick him up, giving him a hug. Then she placed him back down on the bed and she walked over to the mirror.

"I will tell Paul," Dawn said, decisively. In the reflection, she could see Piplup nodding in satisfaction.

Dawn looked at her mirror image, turning en profile. Her stomach was well hidden behind the skirt.

It could stay hidden for a while longer.

"But not now," she decided.

"Lup!" Piplup jumped off the bed, angrily walking over to her. "Lup, pip, pip, lup!"

"I know!" Dawn said. "I know, and you're absolutely right! Paul has the right to know and I will tell him. But right now… Right now, I just want to enjoy his presence without any complications, okay? Please?"

The last word was almost a whisper and Piplup deflated. He sighed and shook his head.

"Lupp…"

"I know it's selfish," Dawn said quietly. "But it'll only be for just a little while longer, really."

Piplup sighed again and Dawn bent over to pick him up. She hugged him tightly and she felt his fins in her neck as he hugged her back.

"Thank you, Piplup," Dawn said gently, placing him back on the floor.

"Piplup," the Pokémon said softly, nodding.

Dawn smiled at him, then turned back to the mirror. She grinned, and she could see her mirror image grin brightly back at her.

"Alright, Piplup, are you ready for our Appeal?" Dawn said, pumping a fist in the air and then doing a twirl.

Piplup jumped in the air. "Lup lup!"

"Then let's do this!"

A/N: Thank you for reading! So, this chapter turned out differently than expected. In the first draft, Dawn was only thinking and not talking with Piplup, but upon rereading it, I found that too boring. And as I was rewriting, the conclusion that she had fallen in love came naturally. That actually wasn't in here before, but I think it fits rather well. I'm very curious to hear what you thought about this chapter, so please leave me a review!

Thank you!