To my friends Nell, Adam, and sweet baby May.
-EVAN AAML
A soft breeze over the hills, rustling the tall grass and wheat. Their arms getting tickled by the plants as they bobbed and weaved, looking like waves of brown and green over the landscape. Made all the better by the faint taste of salt to their lips; a kiss from the wind that came over the ocean and met them on the hills outside Petalburg. The sound of the breeze whistling through the plants was interrupted only occasionally by the chirps and cheers of the Pokémon playing with one another in the grass.
The young woman took in a deep breath as she laid on the grass, her foot bobbing up and down as it bounced off the other leg. The taste of salt and grain filling her lungs. A smile crossed her lips; the sensations reminded her of home. It didn't matter where in the world May would be, if ever she felt homesick, all she needed to do was think of that taste, and she'd be back in Petalburg once more.
"I could see why you wanted to come here...".
The young woman turned to her right, looking over the green-haired man that laid beside her. His hands, like hers, supported the back of his head as he took in the all the different sensations of her hometown. His eyes remained closed as he felt the breeze come over him once more. "...it's really peaceful up here". The young woman looked back up to the sky above, the canvas of light blue dotted with shades of white clouds. She smiled.
"Yeah, this is one of my favorite spots in Hoenn. This time of year, on a sunny day? Hard to beat".
"No argument here"
There was a pause between the two, just enough time for another breeze to greet them.
"...I think I like the taste the best"
May looked over to her partner once more. Sensing that her eyes were on him, he smirked. "The taste of the air on my lips when the wind blows by? It tastes like you when we kiss."
The coordinator turned away, her cheeks burning a fiery red. She was thankful he didn't see.
"Aww, look at that; you're blushing"
Damn him.
She laid back down in the wheat, hoping and praying that she could somehow be completely enveloped by the tall grass and just disappear forever. No such luck, and she groaned. A faint but hearty chuckle came from Drew beside her. He wasn't one to laugh a lot, preferring a simple smile at the things he found amusing. But when he did laugh, it was genuine, fully from the belly and up through his entire chest. Like friends reminiscing after too many years apart, or a grandparent playing with their grandchild for the very first time. Hearing it made her blush more, only increasing her desire to disappear in embarrassment.
"It's too easy", he said with that laugh that made her swell with affection that she'd rather not give him at the moment.
"...Remind me what it is I see in you?"
"My charm, my good looks, my modesty, my personality; stop me when you find it"
"You got all day?"
Drew settled for just a snort this time, and stopped the conversation there. The two fell silent once more, as the wind whistled in their ears and the grass brushed against one another in a symphony. Further down the hill, May could overhear their Pokémon bouncing up and down, playing tag or hide and seek; which one she didn't know. It put a smile to her face hearing it. Their little family all getting along and playing together.
They had already known one-another well enough, through all the contests they competed in against each other. Nothing brought out a friendship like a good rivalry, as Ash would say. And there was merit to that, May thought. But since her and Drew had grown...closer, so, too, had the Pokémon. They treated each other like siblings, and knowing that made her happy.
It also made her think...
"Hey Drew...". The coordinator beside her listened in, waiting for her to continue. "...have you ever thought about-". He couldn't contain his sigh.
"If this turns into another one of those 'Would you still love me if I was a Wurmple' discussions, I'm leaving".
"-what it'd be like to have a kid"
Silence fell between them once more, and this time even the wind couldn't bare to play its melodies. May looked over to Drew, who was now fully fixated on her. He looked less uncomfortable, and more just completely confused. May recognized that this had become more and more common practice between them; her mind tended to wander, and with it, her mouth. May's habit of spacing out and coming up with random questions about life was something Drew found endearing about her, but it did lead to some awkward moments from time to time.
Drew did his best to try and play it cool, but found it difficult to gloss over this question so easily.
"It's, uh...a bit early to be thinking about that...don't you think?". May blushed a little, her cheeks beginning to slowly blend with the bandana on her head. But she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Obviously not now; we've only just started dating"
"Alright then...why ask?"
May sat up, revealing the indent her body left on the grass beneath her. She overlooked the sprawling hills as the wind blew on by. The tall grass looked like an ocean of green and light brown, the waves flowing in the direction the wind took them. She could make out her Beautifly, along with Drew's Masquerain and Butterfree fluttering about, hovering over patches of grass that moved irregularly with the wind. Surely most of their smaller Pokémon were running around, being chased by the flying Pokémon above. Drew's Flygon was away from this group, flying this way and that, hovering just above the grass line; brushing the wheat as it flew by. The massive flower of her Venusaur stuck out against the other plant life around it; the Pokémon likely resting while taking in the sun's rays. She smiled at the sight of all their Pokémon getting along.
"...We have a nice little family together; you and me, all of our Pokémon". Drew sat up himself, looking down the hill with her.
"...Yeah, we really do. Guess we don't need to really think about what it'd be like to have a kid; we have plenty together as it is", Drew replied with a little chuckle. May pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, holding them in place.
"Yeah..."
Drew looked over to May. She looked down, her eyes fixated on her knees. He had seen this look plenty of times before. Her mind would race over hypotheticals, and he would need to either pull her back to reality, or simply reassure her that things would be alright. It was no different than when he was brooding, and May needed to pull him into the light, treat him to a good bowl of ramen, and remind him of the good things around him. They helped each other out when they needed it, and it worked well for them.
Discussions of a kid, however, was something that he couldn't have prepared for.
"So...you're thinking about having a kid..."
"I'm thinking about the future"
May sighed and turned her body around to face Drew, going back to her original position once she was situated.
"Drew, you know I like you". The man nodded, going along with whatever it was she was about to say. "I mean, I really, really like you. I love you, is what I'm getting at". Drew couldn't help but blush at the words coming out of her mouth. They had shared that sentiment to each other plenty of times already in their relationship, but the sensation that went over him over those three little words never lost their potency. "And the last thing I want to do is jinx anything, but, you know, I can see us being together for a really long time".
"...Yeah...yeah, I can, too", Drew admitted. His words came out softer than intended, which was not lost on either of them. May brushed what little strands of hair escaped her bandana behind her ear in an attempt to pass off the blush that crept to her face.
"Well...I-I just think...if that does happen, it's important to know what to do about some...possibilities", May stated. Drew sighed. He sat himself up, turning to face May and crossing his legs. He looked her in the eyes, showing that he was taking what she was saying seriously, but smiled to reassure her that it was alright. She didn't need his approval to speak her mind, which by now in their relationship he understood and approved of, but it still felt good that he was listening.
"Ok, so: You're thinking about the future. And with the future comes the idea of a family, which you're leaning towards, right?". May nodded, Drew nodded back in understanding. "And that's good! You know what you want in life, you know what you want in a relationship, and you're at the age where you don't want to feel like you're wasting your time with someone who doesn't share those desires".
"It's...not that simple".
Drew raised an eyebrow at the response.
"In all the years we've known each other; the contests, the rivalry, the training and traveling together, and especially...now". Drew noticed her thumbs rubbing against one another as she kept her legs in place. "In all that time, not once did I think my time with you was wasted. I cherished each and every moment I've had with you. Even when I was angry at you, or felt like I hated your guts; I would go through it all again if it meant that you were in my life, and I in yours".
It was at times like this, Drew wished he was as good at keeping his cool as he liked to pretend to be.
"I just...want to know what you think now. I know it's early yet, and of course the future isn't known, but, I don't know, I just...". May looked away, unable to really think of the words she wanted to say.
"...It's not like you to plan about something like this so far ahead", Drew replied. May immediately turned to Drew, her cheeks expanding as she glared at the man before her.
"And what's that supposed to mean!?". Drew held his hands up in front of him.
"I didn't mean anything bad! I just mean...you usually kinda just go where the wind takes you". May loosened up and listened to what Drew had to say. "You're an adventurer at heart. You don't necessarily know where you're going or what you're going to find, but you just pick a direction and that's where it all starts. I mean, yeah, you have plans; you strategize for the contest circuit like no one's business, but you usually play everything else by ear...you thinking about the future, a baby; that much forethought doesn't seem like you, you know?".
"...Yeah, I guess...being in a relationship puts a lot into perspective for me".
"...Ok, so let's help ease your concerns then", Drew inched just slightly closer to May, keeping his posture in tact. "You're happy right now, with me...correct?". May smiled and nodded. Drew smiled back. "And let me just say, I am...Arceus, I am, just, so happy with you. I am a better me when I'm with you". May immediately opened her mouth in a smile, "Aww"-ing at his words, which prompted a quick blush and eye roll from Drew at his expense. "Anyway...so, if you're thinking that far ahead...I never put much thought into it, myself. But, if you really wanted a baby, when the time was right for us...then yeah, I wouldn't object".
May smiled, reaching out to Drew with one hand and putting it into his. She mouthed "thank you" to him. He smiled, brought her hand up to his lips, and kissed the back of her hand gently. The two then scooted closer to each other, and laid back down in the grass, their hands still entwined.
They listened as the wind picked up once more, and the symphony of grass played again for them. May and Drew took in a deep breath, the taste of salt and wheat touching their lips once more. They just laid there motionless for a little while, taking it all in again. It wasn't long, however, before the natural noise was interrupted once again.
"...Do you think I'd be a good mom?..."
"...I think that's an even sillier question than the last one".
"I mean it!"
"So do I"
"But what if I screw up? What if I can't make her smile? What if-"
*Bop*
May was silenced by a bit of wheat grass, which Drew had plucked and put against her lips. She looked at him, and he pulled the wheat grass back.
"...I won't sit here and pretend I know the future. But one thing I definitely know, is that if you had a baby, you'd be a great mother".
"...What makes you so certain?", May asked.
"Look at how you treat your Pokémon"
"Caring for my Pokémon and caring for a baby aren't the same thing"
"But the love you give them is, and that's what's important". Drew turned his body to face May. "No one's going to be the perfect parent at first. Are you going to have moments where you're struggling? Absolutely. Are you going to have sleepless nights, wondering if you're doing the right things? Most likely. Are you going to break down once in awhile, when the stress just builds up? You're damn right you will...but none of that means you're a bad mom. You would love any child you'd have unconditionally, and you will give them the world and then some. You would be...just a fantastic mom".
May smiled at his words, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. She pulled back when it was done and looked him in the eyes.
"Thank you...deep down...I know I would be...it's just reassuring to hear it from someone else once in awhile"
"Nothing wrong with that", Drew replied.
May sat herself up once more, and took off her bandana. As soon as she did, her brown hair began to flow in the breeze, free from the confines of the red fabric. May ran her hand through her hair for a moment, letting the strands separate and flow freely in the wind. Drew looked at her, and found himself at a loss for words. The sunlight made her hair glow as it swayed in the wind with the wheat grass around them. He felt his heart rate increase, and he shifted his body weight around to try and settle the feeling. May looked out, over the hills of swaying grass, beyond the city where she grew up, and out to the ocean. Her mind still wandering, still thinking about this and that.
Drew couldn't help but admire that trait.
Calling May a free-spirit was a bit on the nose, but no other words could better describe her. She was always ready for the next adventure, ready to explore the vast ocean or deepest cave. No mountain seemed insurmountable to her. Her mind was never in one place for too long, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"...God you're so beautiful", Drew found himself uttering. May looked to him, and he couldn't help but give a goofy smile in response. He felt so embarrassed. May giggled, leaning over and laying over Drew. He laid down on the grass, and May held herself up over him with her hands. Her hair dangled over Drew's face. He smiled at her, seeing her blue eyes matching the skies above her. She leaned down and planted her lips against his. The taste of salt and wheat overcoming him.
Drew wrapped his arms around her, and the two giggled as they kissed, their hearts lifted as the breeze blew over them. They didn't know exactly what the future would hold. But right now, they were holding each other, and that was good enough for them. The breeze picked up ever so slightly, and it was enough to cause May and Drew to snap out of their moment and stop to breath. They took in some deep breaths, the entire time looking into each others eyes; never once looking away.
He smiled.
She smiled.
And they laid back down together, holding one another and looking up to the blue sky above. The symphony of grass playing around them once more, they sighed, took in a deep breath of salt and wheat, and enjoyed this moment they had together.
...
...
...
"Drew...would you still love me if I was a Wurmple?"
Drew's wheat grass this time bopped her on the forehead.