Hello :P It is Wednesday so I am back with a new update. This chapter is a little bit different and it follows the AU where James and Misty are friends and then Ash meets Misty when James is tattooing him. I have become fond of Misty's parents after lots of discussions with AAML-TAML about them and who they'd be close with and how they'd act. I have especially enjoyed coming with with Jordan, Misty's father, and so ended up writing this. It is also inspired by a particular scene in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, where Arnie also doesn't want to go into the basement. I hope you enjoy :3

Ages:

Ash: 19

Misty: 19

James: 28

Disclaimer: I own the story and the character of Jordan with Shannon. I should also add a trigger warning for mentions of suicide. It's dealt with sensitivity I hope :)

Ash beamed excitedly like a puppy as he skipped around the grass outside the Cerulean Gym, a massive grin on his face.

"Okay, me and Mist will hide. James, you come find us."

The orange haired female giggled and looked lovingly, linking her hand to his as he skipped about in excited anticipation. James rolled his eyes and groaned, running a hand through his hair.

"Do I have to? You guys always make me hide." He pouted slightly, running a hand through his hair before muttering under his breath. "I'm good at hiding. I've always had to do it."

Ash furrowed his brow and pouted back at James' attitude, stopping skipping and looking at him like a sour child.

"I just told you what to do so do it."

James raised an eyebrow at this before sticking his nose in the air, his hands still running through his hair.

"Oh and do I always have to do what you say?"

Misty smirked at her two favourite guys and moved her hand away from her boyfriend's to fix her bangs as she looked amusedly at the bickering pair.

Ash folded his arms and stood on tiptoes to seem taller, giving James a nod of his head.

"Uh yes. I always do what you tell me."

When James gave a look that entirely disagreed with Ash's statement, the younger male stuck his bottom lip out and returned to his normal height.

"I do so, James. Last night I did what you told me to do to Misty in be-"

I laughed out loud when my raven haired best friend's sentence was cut short by James quickly covering his mouth with his hand. He gave him a quick shove as a shut up while Misty blushed deeply, her mouth hanging open slightly. She tried to be cross but she couldn't help but mildly smirk at the two.

"Oh my god, you guys do not talk about stuff like that do you?"

Ash beamed at her shocked reaction and threw James' hand to the side, coming to wrap his arm around his girlfriend's waist.

"Of course we do. We're guys."

While Misty shook her head fondly at her beaming boyfriend, James smiled innocently at her, flattening down the collar on his jacket.

"Actually I normally am opposed to such discussions but then I realised Ash desperately needed my help. Besides, my munchkin deserves the best."

When James winked playfully at his best friend, Misty shook her head fondly at him also. Ash begun to pout when the attention went off him but soon went back to jumping around to take control once again.

"James, go over there and get counting."

The lavender haired male sighed as loud as he could and took his hair out of its ponytail but went to face the wall so he could begin counting. As James began counting aloud to 100, Ash beamed even more and held onto his girlfriend's hand, tugging her aimlessly around the Cerulean grounds to try and find a hiding spot.

I couldn't help but beam myself at the scene. Hide and seek was typically a children's game but their antics and the fun they were having proved it was for any age. I didn't have this in mind when Ash said he wanted to wind down from his tattoo session but watching them made me glad it had come about. They had such different personalities and energies but all of them were contagious.

Misty shook her head fondly at her boyfriend as he tried to tug her behind the tiniest bush to hide. She laughed quietly and tugged him back out, quickly picking the leaves from his messy locks.

"You're small but you won't fit there." She stuck her tongue out at him and took a step back, looking him up and down to subtly make fun of his height. Ash narrowed his eyes at her but couldn't help but blush at her studying him. Once he had shaken the redness off, he gasped to himself and beamed when he had an idea, tugging at her hand.

"C'mon, Mist, I know where we should go!"

Once again Misty shook her head fondly at his excited attitude and held tightly onto his hand, squeezing it with love.

"Oh really, Ash, and where is that? But tell me quietly because you know my best friend has the hearing of a bat."

Ash stuck his tongue out excitedly and continued tugging her to where he wanted to take her.

"Let's so hide in the basement!" he whispered to her giddily but quietly so James didn't hear.

I beamed too and got ready to follow them but something peculiar happened. Misty's face fell and she dropped Ash's hand so quickly it almost dropped to the ground.

Ash blinked at this and was too ecstatic to see her expression that he picked up her hand again and began trying to tug her along. He furrowed his brow and pouted when she did the exact same thing again. He looked at her, trying to read what was wrong by her expression but he wasn't getting anything. Misty took a deep breath, trying to blink away the tears that were threatening to prick her pretty eyes.

"I don't want to hide in the basement."

Ash blinked his round, chocolate orbs further at this before smiling reassuringly, linking his hand to hers once again.

"Oh I know it might be dark and tight but I'll be there. You'll be okay."

I showed off a small smile at this as Ash tried to encourage his girlfriend once again. His heart was always in the right place but sometimes he just couldn't easily understand what was going on. No matter what, he always tried his best and never gave up.

Misty breathed out shakily and pushed Ash's hand away from hers, taking a step back and looking at the floor.

"I don't want to hide in the basement, Ash."

Ash's expression quickly went to light hearted to furrowed and confused and he folded his arms, getting the entirely wrong end of the stick. He thought Misty wanted to be competitive so he stuck his nose in the air, smirking at her.

"Oh so you think you can find a better hiding place than me, do you?" he stuck his tongue out before peeping and listening to what number James was at. "C'mon Mist, we only have about thirty numbers to get down there."

Misty shook her head when Ash continued being clueless and took another step back, looking up at him with tears pooling in her eyes.

"I am not going into the basement!"

Ash took a step back at her emotional yelp and blinked in shock. Upon hearing these words, James spun around and stopped covering his eyes with his hands, rushing over to them both.

He glanced between Ash and Misty before quickly but gently looking at Misty.

"You don't have to go into the basement." He mumbled softly before folding his arms and shaking his head at Ash.

Ash stuck his nose out at James, thinking he was taking Misty's side as ever and began folding his arms stubbornly.

"Yes well we can't hide in there now; James will know that's where we are."

Misty shook her head and moved her arms to hug herself, shakily looking down at the floor.

"I was never going to go down there anyway…" she muttered before taking a glance at Ash. When she saw the clueless expression on her face, she couldn't take it anymore and just broke down.

"J-Just forget it, okay…?" she gulped back a sob and dug her nails into her palms as she sprinted back inside the Cerulean Gym.

"M-Mist…?" he blinked, his expression changing from clueless and stubborn to shocked and concerned. James sighed quietly at Ash, calling out gently to Misty.

"I'll come check on you in a bit."

Once the doors of the Cerulean Gym slammed shut behind Misty, James slowly turned to look at Ash. He looked at him up and down before just sighing and shaking his head.

Ash's worried expression soon vanished upon receiving this look and he scoffed at the older male, going back to folding his arms.

"And why are you looking at me like that? Stop being so judgemental."

James just continued shaking his head and didn't bother retaliating, instead choosing to go and sit down on the porch until he thought Misty was ready for his company. He picked up a stone and rolled it between his hands.

Ash pouted at his reaction and flopped down next to him, still glancing at him with a sour and stubborn look on his face.

"Why are you being like that with me?"

When once again, James didn't reply, Ash swallowed and looked away. I knew he hated the very idea of someone being mad or upset with him. He was also a guy, however and liked to appear confident and in control in the presence of other males. He was especially proud when it came to James.

Ash shook away his inward emotions and pouted, scuffing his shoe in the mud below the porch.

"I don't get you sometimes, James." He glanced at James and when he didn't get a reaction, he pouted further and continued talking. "You have to be a bit of an idiot to be mad at me."

James finally reacted and scoffed, turning to his right to look at Ash.

"Well at least I'm not the idiot who tried to make his girlfriend go into the basement when she didn't want to."

Ash opened his mouth to speak but soon shut it when James shook his head once again and turned away from him. The raven haired male breathed out quietly before choosing his words.

"I just don't know what the big deal is."

When James let out a noise of mild exasperation, Ash pouted and moved further along the porch to the older male.

"Will you just help me out? Please? I really don't know what's going on. And I want to help."

The lavender haired male turned to look at Ash, his green orbs now filled with emotion after watching the way his best friend took off inside.

"Will you just use your brain for once?"

James' words may have appeared harsh but they were said in a gentle tone. After they were out, he looked away and tucked a loose strand behind his ear, furrowing his brow and swallowing.

Ash breathed out at his words but nodded. His heart rate began to speed up in his chest and his mind raced. He had done something to hurt his girlfriend and he hated that. But what he hated more was that James was appearing sad. Even Ash now knew that he had hit a sore spot with them both.

While Ash continued thinking what could be the matter, James continued breathing out sadly. My raven haired best friend glanced between the older male and the direction of the basement. I could tell when he was hit with realisation because he shut his eyes with guilt and swallowed before breathing out shakily.

"Oh… O-Oh…" he groaned at himself and glanced at James, running a hand through his messy locks.

James just sighed again and nodded, going back to rolling the rock between his two hands.

Ash bit his lip and pushed past all the emotions he had been feeling before. Now he was just feeling foolish. He was feeling foolish and guilty and full of regret. He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at the older male.

"James, I'm so sorry."

The emotion filled green orbed male just nodded, running a hand through his hair as he spoke quietly.

"Tell her that."

Ash nodded his head in a way that showed he had every intention of doing that and that he also deserved James' small reply.

The two remained quiet for a few moments and I jumped on Ash's lap and nuzzled my head comfortingly in his stomach. He pulled me close and patted my head before looking at James. He sighed out at himself before talking.

"I forgot that was where her dad…" he trailed off, biting his lip when his voice changed tone in emotion.

James just sighed once again, nodding his head.

"Yep…"

Ash groaned out quietly at this response, rubbing his forehead and looking down at me. I smiled back up at him. You can make things right.

Ash smiled at me with his eyes before shuffling closer to James.

"I'm sorry. I really am. I was really dumb."

When James just nodded again, Ash hesitantly placed his hand on James' shoulder.

"Did you know him?"

James blinked slightly at Ash's question, expecting more regretful words. He turned back to Ash before quickly wiping his eyes.

"Yeah. Yeah, I knew him."

Ash breathed out and his eyes filled with tiny tears seeing the older male's and shuffled nearer to him, waiting for more details.

James couldn't help but smile slightly at Ash's sudden innocence, playing with his strand.

"He was a great guy. Really kind and funny and witty. I liked him a lot. He loved everyone so much. Maybe too much. Maybe that's what killed him."

Ash looked down at me upon hearing this and stroked my head but stayed listening deeply.

"He was a great dad and he loved his girls but he just couldn't live without his wife. I guess he had always had problems but they really came to light after she died. I think Misty has a really hard time dealing with it especially because she thinks she wasn't enough for him to stay alive."

Ash's face was filled with shock. Shock that James was opening up and talking to him seriously in such depth and shock that Misty half -believed she was to blame. My raven haired best friend swallowed before breathing out shakily, looking right at James.

"O-Of course she was enough. She's the greatest person and daughter her dad could ask for and it's not her fault. Her dad's decision was harsh and horrible for himself and those left behind but it was up to him at the end of the day. She is never to blame. She is so amazing and kind and funny and smart and passionate and loyal. And I love her. I love her so damn much."

James smiled as in return, Ash opened up deeply to him. He nodded his head and reached out to pat Ash's back.

"Make sure you tell her that. All of that."

Ash smiled when he got a sense of approval from James and nodded his head back at him, his eyes full of sincerity.

"I will, James. I am here for her. Always."

James looked away when his eyes grew filled with emotion and I didn't know if it was at the memory of Jordan and the loss or the gladness that his best friend had found a soul mate in Ash. Though James was looking away, he squeezed Ash's shoulder.

"I know you are, Ash…" he mumbled, turning to look at him with a small smile. "Thank you for helping make her happy."

Ash breathed out and blushed slightly at the shock of these kind words but nodded his head, patting James' back. They didn't say anything for a while but the look on their faces and the respect in the air was enough.

It was a tragedy what happened to Misty's family and as heart-breaking as these things are, sometimes they just have to happen. These experiences will send you devastation, loss and the feeling of being lost but time will heal and everything will find its place once again. Tragedy can be beauty. When you're lost, you begin to find yourself. When you're broken, you will realise it's the little things that keep you going. When you lose your family, you find it in other people. It won't be the same and they will never be replaced. But if you give them a chance, they may end up being the family you never had.

The End.

There you go! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 So yeah, this was an AU but in my usual stories I do also write it so Misty's mother died when she was around four and Jordan sadly ended his life a year or so later. The reason it's an AU was to make James be able to inform Ash and you, the people reading, what Jordan was like and hints of how he may have died. Me and AAML-TAML like the idea that because it's the Pokemon world and wonderful things can happen, sometimes her parents can come back to visit but they do have to go back up "there" again. We think Jordan and James form a close bond because of their similarities. Maybe I'll write about it here someday :3 Thanks again and I'll be back next Wednesday so see you then!

AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3