Hello, it is the 28th and I am back with a new chapter! I feel like I'm constantly absorbing a lot of content that is not directly related to the Pokémon anime and that often inspires ideas. Even so, sometimes I am inspired by things a lot closer to what I do and that was the case for this chapter! I think if you're a fan of Pokémon and follow various topics or tags on social media, you would have seen an artist making a lot of popular content revolving Delia x Jessie having a romantic relationship :D Their art is so funny and heartwarming and it makes me chuckle because I feel like I have the opposite of that ship - I pair Misty's mother, Lynne, and James together. This chapter doesn't revolve around either of those two ships. Delia x Jessie isn't a thing in my world! But their work has made me think about Delia a lot and so I was inspired to write a letter from her to Ash when his father stops being so absent right as Ash becomes a father himself. I hope you enjoy :3

To my dear Ash,

I don't really know where to begin with this but I suppose that I had better start somewhere. I think I should just say how I feel. Right now I feel so much that I am concerned that I may not get to it all. But I need to begin, don't I? You're probably wondering what all this is about.

It's nothing to be anxious about, not really. Well, perhaps you are anxious. I can only hope that you've got things around that ease your worries. And even if you don't feel like it, you can talk to me. You can talk to me about anything.

I think perhaps you are a little hesitant to broach the subject with me about how you've met up with your father a couple of times now. Knowing your father, those couple of times feel like a longer stretch of time to him and he's probably itching for things to move even quicker. He's probably itching to take things to the next level.

Maybe you are too. But like I mentioned, you are hesitant to talk to me about these things at all.

I understand, Ash. Really, I do. You might think that I don't. you might not think about it consciously at all. But I do understand, my dear. This is a big thing for you. You have an even bigger heart. And I imagine you wonder how I feel about it.

Ash, I just want you to be happy.

It's no secret that things between your father and I used to be complicated. And oh how I loathed how much he messed you around – saying that he was going to show up and whisk you away for a day out only to leave you teary and taut chinned, waiting by the window untul long past sunset.

I've never lied to you about anything regarding your father and I. he could never stay in one place for very long at all. He could look into my eyes for even less time. But that is the past now, isn't it? He is no longer my husband. But he is still your father. And maybe I've been too hesitant to say this out loud in case you didn't wish for my opinion at all but I am glad that he reached out to you.

I am glad that he is trying again. I can only pray that he succeeds. I canot pray that you will not be hurt. But I will of course be there regardless, if you need a hug or a bit of a chat.

I hope that you've enjoyed getting to know your father piece by piece. I'm sure he has lots of stories about journeys of his own and lots to say about the life that he has lived over the years. And I hope that he has been the kind of man that you have been hoping for in your life.

You've had lots of men in your life to look up to, haven't you? Professor Oak is a dear friend to us. Spencer is but only a letter away. You look up to Gary, don't you, even if you boys are the same age. Brock. Tracey. James is there too. He could teach you a lot.

But, I digress.

My point is, you've had a lot of men in your life to teach you. I'm sure that that absent hole for a father has never closed up though. And you must be delighted for that gap to begin to shrink. Well, I hope that you are delighted. Part of me wonders if you really are worried about me and that's why you don't wish to discuss it all that much.

But I really do hope that you are delighted and nothing much else. Like I said, I just want you to be happy.

I hope that I tell you often and I show it even more but I want to remind you that you are my world, Ash. It's no secret that your father left just the two of us alone together but in some ways I wouldn't have had it any other way. It was always me and you against the world, wasn't it? And then when you stepped out on your own to tackle the world it was still the two of us in some ways.

How I shone with your delight to learn of your accomplishments. Oh how my heart expanded as your friendship circle did.

I said I would always be waiting for you when you returned and I was. Thank heavens you returned to me as well. I used to secretly fret that you would be like your father and not return to me. How foolish of me. You are nothing like him, do you know that? Well, of course there is some of the traits, why wouldn't there be? It is naïve of me to act like there couldn't be.

But I also cannot possibly boast and say you take afer me either.

Ash, you are entirely you in all of the best ways.

I know that you are worried what I'm thinking right now but I'm not thinking all that much. I'm only really feeling. And what I feel is that I want you to be happy. I want you to give second chances if you believe that it is the right thing to do. And I want you to make your own decisions.

I'm sure that you have made the right one for you. And, if not, well, not to worry, dear, eh? I'll be here to rub your shoulders and give you a kiss on the cheek and remind you that you did your very best and that is always enough. I'll be there to remind you to keep your chin pointing forward.

Your father wasn't a very good husband to me. It is up to you to decide whether he is or not. In any way, I can't help but feel like he could be in the next coming months. And the reason for that, Ash, is because how could anyone spend time with you and your inner glow not rub off on them?

You are a wonderful father, my darling. And if there's anyone who can inspire their own father to be that way then it is you. I have absolutely no doubt about that.

I love you with all of my heart. The world flipped on its head for me the day that you were born and that sensation filled my stomach with butterflies. Those butterflies taking flight has never ceased. They grow only stronger the older that you get. And the more proud I become of you.

Your life is your life, Ash. And I just feel so lucky to have been able to be part of it. And a part of your growing happiness.

With all my love on this very day and always,

Your Mom.

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :) Delia might not feature in my stories all that much usually but she in some ways one of the hearts of it all. After all, she was the one who gave the Team Rocket Trio a home when they quit the organisation and is a mother figure to nearly everyone as well as her own son. I always say it but I really must tackle her back story fully at one point! There's a lot to go on with anime novelisions and my own ideas ;) Well, thanks again for reading and I will be back on Wednesday 7th over on Pikachu Tales so perhaps see you there!

Amy signing out :3