Hello :P It is Wednesday and I am back with a new chapter. It's been a little while since I focused on the two of them but this one focuses on when Justin and Katie had their little romance. I definitely wrote about them a lot, but looking back, I held back a lot. It's almost ironic that thanks to writing Justin with Eli, I've got the confidence to show Justin and Katie in their bolder state. It's ironic because it's pretty lucky Justin had the capability to fall in love again after the tumultuous end with Eli! Despite being a little more "grown-up" this chapter still shows every part of their sweet and genuine relationship. I hope you enjoy :3

Ages:

Justin: 23

Katie: 17

Disclaimer: I own the story and the OCs mentioned!

There are a good few of these tales which I bestow to you that are kept a great secret from me for many years. Though I learned of this moment a little while after the actual event, it wasn't exactly a secret. It was hidden, granted. But it was the kind of hidden that didn't mind being found. Almost like a shadow. Elusive and mysterious. Yet noticeable all the same.

Yes, this story is exactly that. And this story is about two people who are exactly that. Even more, they are all of those things when they are together. So we shall begin.

The deep purple haired male couldn't help but chuckle to himself after he walked through the gates leading from the little café area and towards the arboretum. It was a closed mouthed one and his dimple hardly appeared on his cheek but it was a chuckle all the same.

Though it was hardly a noticeable one in itself, let alone to any of the other tourists who were visiting the Crimson City Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, of course, the person who was joining him on that special visit picked up on it straight away.

Almost as soon as the orange haired female heard a noise that was escaping Justin's lips other than the usual humming sounds that were typical when it came to him, her own mouth closed together and she smiled. Her dimple appeared. Her nose scrunched just a fraction.

Katie turned to Justin on the right of her and after briefly tucking a loose strand of flowing hair of hers behind her ear, she gently nudged her arm against his and she addressed him. She addressed the way that he continually chuckled to himself and glanced down at his own hold.

"All good?" she questioned him and with an easy-going smile on her face, curiosity beginning to take hold of her pupils as she could already fathom that the older, deep purple haired male was nothing below okay.

In spite of the fact that Justin was indeed continually chuckling to himself and looking down at his own hold and his dimple had appeared on his cheek, he was quick to respond to Katie's voice as soon as he had heard it. He quickly singled it out from the other people who were chattering around them as they too strolled through the botanical gardens.

The eldest Morgan's son's eyes widened in an animated fashion at first and his own pupils decorated with something. His eyes spoke of being bought back to the real world rather than being lost in thought. But no doubt, his reality had that moment in time was equal parts rather hard to grasp as well as thoroughly enjoyable.

Yet after not too much time of looking a bit animated and taken aback, the composed and laid back part of himself took over, much to Katie's ongoing fond interest.

Soon enough, he had a smile for her. That smile very quickly turned to a grin and he nodded, realising what Katie had noticed of him. He addressed that himself but only after switching what he was holding in his right hand to the opposite one and nudging his own arm against hers.

"Oh, I'm perfectly okay, lovely. Or should I say, I'm completely oak-ay?" the deep purple haired male couldn't help but grin broadly at his own joke and he waited for the orange haired female to join him. Although Katie did her best to shake her head and sigh at his dreadful pun as he held the box of porridge oats in his left hand, she then couldn't refrain from joining him in his own amusement. Even so, she did utter, and she did tell him that that was the worst joke that she'd ever heard! Justin remained grinning and nodded his head in agreement before adding, brushing his growing and bob-like locks away from his face with his spare hand. "I'm great. I guess I'm a little taken aback that you made me order porridge oats along with our cakes back at the café. What are the chances that there's even ducks here? Oh well. I can roll with it."

Katie ducked her head and blushed a little bit when it was pointed out to her the rather peculiar request that she had asked of Justin to ask the staff of the café area of the arboretum. However, when she saw Justin's grin had finally ceased and it was because a softer, gentler smile was taking over his charming features and she couldn't help but wonder (or hope) that the reason was her, she found her confidence all over again.

Pushing her long, orange locks over her opposite shoulder, she shrugged and smiled prettily. Her hands gestured delicately but expressively all the same as she spoke.

"I told you, I saw on my phone there's a duck pond here. Quit questioning. Or I'll feed these ducks the remainder of your cake." The eldest Ketchum female insisted before her own jolt of mischief came back and her slightly crinkled nose threatened to point in the air as she patted the pocket of her nautical navy jacket, where the two of their leftover cakes did indeed lie.

And even though Justin listened to every word attentively and reacted in the right places – his eyes playfully widened and he gasped at her joking threat – after not much time at all, he didn't bother to address any of her words with his own words.

Instead, he went back to the prior conversation and her asking him if everything was good.

Taking a little bit of a pause to think to himself, his forehead started to crease a little bit with a frown but it wasn't a concerned or a condescending one. It just seemed to naturally decorate his face with what he happened to say next.

As well as this, he forwent just merely touching his arm against hers and after switching the porridge oats in the box back to his right hand, he used his left arm to wrap around hers. Justin asked Katie lightly:

"Everything all good with you, though? You'll let me know if you feel differently, won't you?" the deep purple haired male inquired with natural and careful ease and he didn't move his eyes away from the face of Katie to scan the dozens of people who were also around them at the tourist attraction, but they were all probably in the forefront of his mind.

The orange haired female understood at once what the eldest Morgan son was talking about, and how he was making sure she felt at ease. The truth was, she strangely felt exactly that most of the time when he was around. And even when she was feeling anxious and a little out of depths, she entirely trusted him to be a person to lean on while she worked through it.

So because of this, she didn't feel the need to address his inquiry with her own words. Perhaps she felt that his care was so sincere that there were no words that she could muster without stammering that could match.

She didn't mind either way, I believed. She just nodded her head and smiled at Justin and she reached her hand up to loosely but intentionally clasp his hand while it lolled around her shoulder. The deep purple haired male received this wordless message in response. He nodded his own head and smiled too.

Then, the only thing that transpired between the two of them was Katie speaking. But it was Katie speaking of another thing entirely. They had walked a good through metres into the arboretum and reached something rather exciting.

It was described to me as a beautiful hedgerow of incredibly beautiful flowers. In spite the fact that autumn was in the air in Kanto, for it was October, there were still a lot of flowers out to bloom and they looked lovely. So colourful and eye-catching yet delicate and soft all the same.

The orange haired female let go of Justin's hand as it lounged about her shoulder and it was to point with everything in front of them. I can't help but imagine that her cheeks blushed a similar rosy pink to the flowers that she was pointing at with shy excitement.

The deep purple haired male was not the most likely person at all to interrupt Katie when she was about to speak but because he gathered that it was okay and out of wonder of looking at the pink and purple and blue flowers she probably wasn't going to say a word anyway, Justin decided to pipe up.

His teeth appeared as he grinned all over again and his grip tightened on her shoulder. He pulled her slightly closer to him with his own bubbling excitement and wonder. He peered at the same flowers as the younger, orange haired female. His eyeballs danced in their sockets.

"Rhododendron. How exciting. And kind of mad for them to be still blooming now! That's a rarity. Our favourite." Justin rambled slightly and in between moving out of the deep purple haired male's hold and from being so close to his side to look at the flowers all the more and smell them too, Katie gave him a fond look. It was telling how quickly he was beginning to enjoy himself from the way that he spoke so much.

The orange haired female often spoke so little. Yet like was often the case when it came to her, she had something to say so of course, she said it!

Pulling back away from the blue and purple and pink flowers after giving them a very awe-filled study as well as a lingering, appreciative inhale, Katie joined Justin's side all over again and she responded to him.

Nodding her head and smiling and tucking her hair behind her ear all over again, she squinted her eyes in the mid afternoon sun of Kanto.

"Our favourite, indeed." She uttered just this at first and she watched the deep purple haired male copy her prior actions by moving closer to the flowers to enjoy them with the sense of sight as well as smile. In fact, the eldest Morgan son went one step further and stroked their petals lightly before taking that step back once more and joining Katie all over again. The orange haired female gave him yet another bit of a knowing look once his head turned to the side to look faultlessly at her. "Along with sunflowers, of course, we can't forget those ones."

"We can't forget those ones at all, Katie." The deep purple haired male surprised the younger female by speaking rather promptly and directly to match the eye contact that he was offering her. This precision caused Katie to blush just like the pink of the rhododendron. But naturally, it was the way that her name rolled off his eloquent tongue as well. Justin added, smiling after biting his own lower lip. "It would be a huge treat to see this time of the year."

The orange haired female let out a sigh of fondness and it caused her shoulders to drop downwards in her navy blue sailor's coat. She looked at the deep purple haired male in return and after pushing past her blushing cheeks and ever-growing fluttering sensations in her stomach, she couldn't help but speak back to him promptly in return.

Despite the fact that she did enjoy the wonder and the sparkle in his eyes, she couldn't stop herself from breaking it to him, beginning to chuckle to herself as she spoke her own words.

"It would be a huge rarity to see them this time of year. I don't think we're going to get that lucky, Justin." The eldest Morgan female told the eldest Morgan son and regardless of the fact that she was possibly going to burst his bubble, with the extra step back that she took, she showed her innermost and true feelings of fondness towards him by reaching her hand out wordlessly for him to hold.

It took him a little minute comply! I'm not actually that sure why. It wasn't because he didn't notice it. It wasn't because he didn't want to. He just simply took a second or two to reach his hand back out to her and allow his fingers to entwine with hers.

However, as soon as he returned the action then it was done compliantly and eagerly. Justin held onto Katie's hand and stood with her, admiring some of the other flowers that were surrounding their favourite ones. Then he showed her innermost true feelings of fondness – and the blossoming of a new-found love – by the words that escaped his lips next.

With a smile that had an essence of complete contentment and unfeigned delight, he squeezed Katie's hand and told her.

"I'm feeling very lucky." He stated simply with a continuous hand squeeze yet his smile didn't last nearly as long. Even so, the twinkle didn't disappear from his eyes and this same look was of course shared with Katie after she heard what he had offered to her.

Once more, she didn't feel the need to say anything next and so she didn't. She merely just ducked her head sheepishly but then made herself continue looking at the deep purple haired male, squeezing his hand in return and entwining her fingers with his all the more.

And then the two of them went on their way, wanting to soak up all of the sights around them as well as the touch between them both and the flowers also. They must have looked a very eye-catching and graceful sight.

It is true that a lot of people have a lot of different opinions about the two of those people together and especially when their dynamic became romantic and their hearts felt romantic, earnest love for one and other.

Nevertheless, I can only speak for myself. And I know they must have looked truly statuesque as well as endearing as they walked together.

Their love for one and other was so new that they didn't dare utter that word. I wasn't even sure if that word even popped into their minds when they looked at one and other. Though they had been friends for a very long time and a support system for each other and the calm to each other's chaos for a great many years, the way their dynamic had turned in recent days was very, very new.

It was shown with a blush as soon as the other reached out to them. It was spoken with words of fondness and questions of curiosity. It was gesticulated with a delicate brushing of each other's hair behind the ear. Sometimes it was put forth by a kiss upon someone's cheek or even their lips. And then all of those things started all over again.

Rosy cheeks. Fond words and curious questions. Tucking and untucking silky hair from behind ears. Everything was new. Everything was exciting. Everything was real. The elevation in heart rate and the butterflies in stomach were so very real.

And I am certain that that sensation was present in the both of them after they made their way wandering through the pathway surrounded by flowers and ended up in another area of the botanical garden.

While Justin still had his right hand clutching the box of porridge oats that were for the ducks that Katie insisted would show up sooner or later, his other arm had draped over her shoulders all over again. Unlike the last time, it was much tighter and affectionate and Katie was being pulled close to the side of Justin.

And in return, the orange haired female was quite happily being pulled close to him! Not only did she gave her own arm wrapped around him and it was lulling past his lower back and resting on his hip, she had her cheek resting on his shoulder as they walked.

Perhaps it was rather rare for the two of them but they were hardly noticing anybody else around them up until that point. One of the things that were different about the two of them was their reactions to gatherings of people.

The eldest Ketchum daughter found herself uneasy by too many people all at once, meanwhile the eldest Morgan son found himself interested, wondering all sorts of things about them.

However, on that day and up until they reached the second part of the arboretum gardens, from their points of view there appeared to be nobody else around but them.

But then when they stepped into the new area that was filled with more plants rather than flowers, and had water features and rocks and their own kind of statues, one of them finally tuned into the fact that they and the person weren't actually alone.

That person was Katie and despite what you may or may not be thinking, it wasn't because she was growing unsettled by it. Her blinking and her head lifting up from upon Justin's shoulder and fixating all her attention on the one thing wasn't because she was uneasy.

While the deep purple haired male smiled nonchalantly and his chin jutted upwards towards the sky as he spotted and rare and fleeting pair of butterflies dancing a good many metres above their heads, Katie looked upon something else entirely.

She had spotted another two people that was not the two of them. But indeed like the two of them, it seemed likely that the other people she was watching had arrived at the tourist attraction and were enjoying everything it had to offer as a pair.

The orange haired female stopped staring so intently after a couple of seconds and while she continued watching curiously and amusedly, her nose started to scrunch all over again and she smirked. Katie smirked enjoyably to herself as she watched the couple who were also a guy and a girl give each other piggy back rides.

Yet regardless of height difference and perhaps gender roles as well, it was the tall male who was beginning to climb on his lady love interests back and with his own smirk on his face!

The eldest Ketchum daughter barely had a chance to see if their version was going to be successful or not because she nudged Justin lightly in the ribs to get his attention all over again. Surprisingly based on the fact he had been so distracted staring up at the purple and blue butterfly Pokémon dancing and flying up ahead, the deep purple haired male acknowledged her quickly.

Justin showed that he was all hers by leaning down and resting his head on her shoulder, just like she had been doing to him. Except he used his chin to rest on her while he smiled nonchalantly.

The orange haired female took that as the opportunity to share with him what exactly she was thinking and she even lightly took hold of his face, directing his head where she was looking to him. Katie whispered to him, though it wasn't out of trying to hide the fact that she had started some people watching of her own.

"Me and you could do something like that, what do you reckon?" Katie whispered in a playful tone like the two of them were much younger and although she didn't need to direct Justin's head anymore for his own eyes had fixed in the direction of the couple and he was frowning interestedly, she kept her hand hanging around his face and lightly touched his dimple thoughtfully.

Whether it was the ever increasing touch between the two of them or these words were going to slip out of him anyway, while Justin continued watching the couple but somehow giving Katie his full attention also, he whispered back in the same mischievous, light-hearted manner.

"Me and you can do anything when we're together." He replied levelly, and while it's true that the two of them were very interchangeable and could often have the same traits that swapped about, it was still funny that Justin remained being the easy-going lounging while Katie scrambled into action. The deep purple haired male was forced to stop lolling on the younger female and he was left blinking after the orange haired female gestured for him to momentarily put the porridge oats back down. And even though he questioned the electric excitement in her eye with one typical sentence, almost as soon as he uttered it aloud, he put everything together. "What? Oh, you didn't mean that, did you? You weren't being serious? Katie, there's no way you're giving me a piggy back! That is not happening."

The deep purple haired male was rambling all over again and it didn't exactly dull the spark in the eldest Ketchum female's eye but it caused a different quality to be added to it instead. It was true that she really wanted to give it a go after she saw the other couple attempting and enjoying every minute of it, laughing and roaring even if they weren't successful.

But she heard the deep purple haired male's reservations even if they were easy-going. She could tell that she could keep playfully probing by the oncoming smirk on his face and glint in his own eyes so she did exactly that.

At first, she insisted.

"I definitely could." Katie began and it's hard to know whether it was her level-headed confidence or the idea of her taking control that caused the deep purple haired male's cheeks to blush the same shade as the previous flowers! Despite her indeed assertiveness, she did still pause for a minute to play with the buttons on Justin's blue plaid comfortable shirt. Her eyebrows rose as she smiled. "It could happen."

Though they went about it in different ways, the orange haired female always felt appreciative that Justin made sure she was okay with things no matter what they were before going any further. And although they were mucking about and just being playful, that was a huge and natural part of their dynamic.

Contrasting that in response to Katie's smile and rising of eyebrows, Justin raised a single one of his eyebrows in return, soon enough he let out an amused sigh and put the porridge box down on the blades of grass and held his arms out, like he was surrendering.

It goes without saying that this was him surrendering. It goes without saying that this was him giving into her (not very intense) peer pressure. It goes without saying that she noticed this immediately.

She gasped with excited electricity all over again and didn't hesitate to drop her fingers from playing with the material of the blue plaid shirt that she often stole when they were together and to wrap around his waist instead. And then of course, when Justin was lifted a good many inches off the ground by Katie, it was his turn to gasp!

He had a bit of an unexpected blush on his cheeks and his slightly sunken eyes nearly popped out of his sockets. There was definitely a lot of impressiveness in his animated expressions, even though it came across as embarrassment as well. He continued gasping and blushing, especially when Katie held him off his feet for seconds on end and she planted her chin on his stomach.

"O-Okay, so it did happen. You can put me down now though!" Justin's voice rose in pitch and the orange haired female's screwed up in pure delight and fondness but she naturally put him back down on the ground as soon as he asked. Her arms wrapped around his slim frame lasted for a few more seconds all the same, and Justin was trying to get his breath back when her hands brushed his skin through his t-shirt and shirt layers to make the most of the contact before finally pulling away. Justin's breath still was not back after these actions from Katie but he spoke anyway. Adding on even more bewilderment for effect, he bent down to pick up the oats again and then wiped his brow. "Shall I reciprocate with you now? But you on my back? You've proved that we can both do that to each other but maybe I'll do that to you now."

Katie's touch had previously been lingering on Justin but had eventually pulled away. However, when she was directly in front of him and he was saying these words to her, just naturally speaking as himself, she found her fingertips reaching out to him all over again. She couldn't help herself.

It was true that it was a new thing to hold onto him like that but she quickly felt so comfortable with it and longing to do it as much as she could.

So, after she heard these words and she saw the amusing expressions on the eldest Morgan son's face, she looked down at the ground only briefly to smile before looking back up all over again. After she looked back up, she cupped her left hand over his still slightly pinker than normal cheek and her right thumb found his dimple, tracing over it before practically disappearing inside it.

"Maybe some other time. Let's walk together. I wouldn't mind seeing your face rather than the back of your head like the times that I used to have to sort your hair out for you." The orange haired female told the deep purple haired male and despite him being admirably composed under her touch, it was his eyes that gave everything away.

They very much softened and yearned after every gesture she was making, and they couldn't help but fix on her face in return. Extremely simply but purposefully all the same, Justin in return ran his fingers through a long and loose strand of hair of hers before tucking it away from her face, behind her shoulder.

And it was after he offered this gesture to her and she endearingly lost all nerve and had to look down at her boots to compose herself, Justin responded with his own words, reaching for her hand all over again with his own that was not holding the porridge oats box.

"I would be delighted to walk with you, my lovely." Justin started and this immediately got Katie's attention, though she swallowed and her nose quivered like she would soon very much need another moment to compose herself! Nevertheless, she managed to stay put and her eyes stayed put and because of this, she was able to catch on to the deep purple haired male's charming smile and him gesturing by waving the small cardboard box. "Because I see what will be your favourite attraction just over there. You were right."

It was that moment that the two of them were completely in sync that they both looked over to the distance together. And as they both did that, they saw the little duck pond area just up ahead. It was Katie's turn to get the urge to gasp all over and so she did!

Perhaps it was that occasion and that possibility that gave her the jelly-like sensation in her legs. Though of course it's hugely possible that it was his hand entwining with hers all over.

Even so, the deep purple haired male noticed the utterly simple yet adorable unbridled joy in Katie's eyes and on her face so he couldn't help but grow animated all over again himself. He almost shared a gasp. But most importantly, he shared a smile.

"Let's go!" the eldest Morgan son encouraged and understandably, Katie didn't need any further enticing. The two of them half-sprinted forward together while holding each other's hands and made their way over the duck pond area that was so sweet and quaint and decorated with a rockery and stones and a well maintained gate.

The orange haired female grew a little breathless as she smiled and ran and then as she reached the duck pond area of the botanical garden with the deep purple haired male, she let go of his hand to dart forward. He didn't mind. He didn't mind at all. He didn't utter a single word to indicate it, but her smile was more than enough for him.

Regardless, he showed this by some very subtle actions that was handing the porridge oats box to Katie. It was time for her to have her moment. She didn't even show off any smugness that she had been correct about that particular attraction, mock or otherwise.

With an unfaltering smile on her face and security in the company, she took the oat box from Justin and basked in the sound of the ducks quacking all around her, enjoying them and her eyes darting as she looked at all the different looking ones. She somehow seemed to address them all.

"Oh! Aww! Look at you. Look at you all. You're hungry, aren't you?" she exhaled and she took a moment to lean up against the wooden gate before she prompted herself into action, unpeeling the cardboard flap of the box so she could shake some of the contents down into the duck area enclosure. Yet before she did this and without looking at anything or anybody but the ducks, she added. "You're lucky that Justin was nice enough to get these for me. You can eat thanks to him."

And with that, while the deep purple haired male's eyebrows rose and he smiled with flattery that he was being mentioned even during Katie's favourite moment, he watched the orange haired female begin to tip the oats down for the water birds to eat.

It goes without saying that a lot of chaos ensued! More quacking noises could be heard and much louder. All different ducks and geese and swans emerged from the water to come and participate in the feast that was kindly being bestowed upon them.

Katie was in her element. She laughed and gasped and chuckled and spoke to them all, making sure they all got a fair amount and didn't squabble too much. It took Justin a few minutes of taking a step back before he joined the younger female's side, leaning up against the gate himself after he saw the oncoming hint of her turning her head to look for him.

"Nice ducks. Very, very nice ducks." He uttered simply and matter-of-factly at first, tugging his hands out from resting in his pockets after he no longer had anything to hold. Katie gave him one short, simple and fond glance before going back to feeding all of the ducks and other water birds, talking to them all like they were friends. It was after Justin listened to her talking some more and he rested his hands over the gate that he uttered more elaborate words. "Ooh, my favourite is that one over there! Katie, make sure he's getting plenty. I like him. He's got twig legs and massive feet."

I don't know how but the orange haired female somehow resisted the urge from turning her head to the deep purple haired male and giving him a very knowing look! Perhaps she had to give it to one of the ducks or birds instead. Maybe she gave it to the one that Justin had bestowed his favourite by grinning and pointing.

Either way, she managed to keep her amusement mostly to herself and she nodded her head after Justin continued enjoying the sight of that particular creature and leaned against the gate further. She did what was asked of her and tossed a huge amount to the one with massive feet and twig legs, though it was the truth that there was a fair few of those ones!

The orange haired female watched them all feeding and Justin did too but Katie was the one to speak again next. She had a moment to push her hair from her eyes but then she resumed flicking porridge oats in all directions for the ducks to eat.

"That's it. That's it. You're all so lovely, aren't you? Continue being good. That's it. Be nice. Make sure everyone gets a turn. No fighting now. Oh, I really like you all so much." The eldest Ketchum daughter doted on all of the feathery beings that were just behind the gate from her and she refrained from giving them any more food for a couple of minutes so they could work with what they had.

While the orange haired female did this, it stopped being the amusing and quirky leg and feet sized feathery beings that got Justin's attention. The deep purple haired male had gone quieter after pointing out every action of his favourite bird and was resting properly up against the gate with his whole body leaning against it.

In addition to this, his elbow was propped on the top of it and his hand was cupping his chin. As his hand was cupping his chin, his head was tilted. And as his head was tilted, he was looking upon Katie. He was looking upon Katie with all the softness in the world. His eyes had a dewy and round quality to them as he observed and watched and pondered and most importantly, enjoyed.

He saw something beautiful in her almost every single day. But he saw something beautiful in her on that particular day and on that particular moment. So he had to speak of it.

Resting a very easy-going palm on the top of her head but secretly swallow and feeling his ears surrounded by his growing locks blushing, he uttered to her with a smile.

"I love how much you love creatures, Katie. You're a bit of a sweet creature yourself, aren't you?" the deep purple haired male spoke aloud to her and with humour in his voice but it was tickled with sincerity all the same. The orange haired female did hear Justin's voice and felt his touch and enjoyed it and responded to it. But she didn't respond to it all that much. She merely briefly turned to look at him and scrunched her nose, smiling, before going back to all of the creatures that were indeed in front of them both. Justin would've usually let that sort of thing go. He usually would've let that sort of thing be, and he would persist if only the opportunity came around. But when it came to the orange haired female, he couldn't help but make every moment everything that it could possibly be and in the breeziest way. So because of this, leaning against the gate further and holding onto it after moving his hand away from her head and shuffling closer to her, he inquired. "How do you feel about public displays of affection?"

Justin asked this question and in the mid-afternoon sun of Kanto, he squinted. However, he didn't squint because the sun was getting in his eyes. The deep purple haired male had to make his eyes become slight slits because he was dazzled by the glow of the person right next to him.

That person right next to him turned to face him all over again even though she was in the middle of complimenting the swan on her beautiful, oddly timed offspring. The orange haired female smiled right away when she heard his voice and then she copied his squint as she didn't understand what he was getting at, at first by his sudden question. She shielded her eyes from the sun. I wondered whether it was the actual one in the sky or the one in Justin's eyes.

"That's very random, Justin. Are you asking me because of when I was watching those other people?" she questioned and straight away, the deep purple haired male shook his head. And as he shook his head, he smiled, but it wasn't for any reason other than one was usually upon his face when he was in the presence of that orange haired girl. Katie quickly felt like he was being mysterious, however, and waiting for her to delve more to find his true intention. It's funny that it was only after she asked one more question that she understood. "Are you asking me because you thought they were too much? ….Oh."

Somehow, even more of a smile took over Justin's face when he saw and innocent and girlish realisation take over the orange haired female's face. He welcomed the instance of her glancing back at the ducks for a couple more seconds and leaving the porridge oats box leaning up on top of the gate before she looked back at him.

And it was after the eldest Ketchum daughter looked back at him that he gently closed the distance between the two of them again, his head tilting from his tall height and he asked her again.

"So, how do you feel about them, Katie?" Justin asked calmly and in spite of the fact that Katie had in recent years learnt to pick and choose her words carefully and she often held back from saying things a good many times, there and then and that moment was not one of them. In fact, it had never really been a thing when it came to the two of them.

The orange haired female blushed girlishly but prettily at Justin's subtle but very candid inquiry and then because a response entered her mind, it soon was out in the open because it had escaped her lips. She somehow uttered more composedly than ever even though her eyes were flickering as she tried to lock onto Justin's steady, securing gaze.

"Well… Why don't you give it a go and find out?" Katie responded invitingly but with an air of shyness and no doubt did it send butterflies skyrocketing from the pit of Justin's stomach and right up to his head, causing his ears to blush almost as crimson as the name of the city that they were sharing all of their time in.

Justin was almost a bit taken aback at this! Though he was of course hoping for a very obvious granting of permission, he was still a little taken aback and he showed this by smirking shakily.

Nevertheless, he seized the moment. With all of the ducks watching and possibly people watching as well – it didn't really matter to either of them or cross their minds – he broke the distance between them once more with a single step. They were then directly facing one at other.

Katie exhaled very softly yet meaningfully and she did this while the first action that Justin made was brushing yet another strand of hair away from her eyes. It didn't matter to either of them that a single porridge oat fluttered out like the butterflies that had been mysteriously circling their heads. All that mattered was that moment. And how longed for it really was.

It was only a very quick and almost simple moment but it was a lingering moment all the same. All the sensations involved lingered. After Justin moved his hands to the area between Katie's neck and shoulders and he planted a brief but desired kiss right upon her lips, all the sensations involved lingered.

Hairs stuck up on the backs of their necks and their arms as well. Butterflies danced through their being. Heart rates elevated entirely. And yet in the blissful manner. Smiles were shared. After their lips stopped touching, smiles were shared. Blushes were had. Words came a couple of seconds after.

In between the ducks quacking because they cared not for the sight and they just wanted food, words were uttered.

Words were spoken from Justin and with a shy but enjoyable look on his face, he looked at and spoke to Katie, running a hand through his own hair and getting some oats in there too.

"You know, there's no sign saying you're not allowed to go past the gate. So as long as we don't let any ducks into the main area, we should be okay." The deep purple haired male informed the orange haired female and though her face lit up at the realisation and she peered to make sure there was no sign forbidding it, of course, the spark in her being was then significantly less than when her lips were pressed against Justin!

Nonetheless, she seized that moment and after taking the oat box off the top part of the gate and resting it on the part that she wasn't going to push open, she indeed headed on through with contentment in her heart and stomach after Justin took a step back and was glad for her to head through first.

After she did exactly that and made sure that no ducks or other water birds snuck through and made their way to the other side, she couldn't help but smile to herself at the way that Justin had gone back to looking for the favourite one of his, probably hoping that it would escape.

And then following this, she couldn't help but speak to him in the same mysterious yet very purposeful way. When she was the only one on the other side of the gate and surrounded by ducks, instead of gasping at them all tickling around her feet and quacking, she looked across at the deep purple haired male.

She addressed him. Katie addressed him. Katie addressed the wooden gate that was between them. She stated.

"Kissing gate." She told the deep purple haired male and they didn't mirror each other's actions so Justin caught onto a little more of the meaning from her words compared to what she had gathered from the sentences that Justin had previously uttered to her.

The eldest Morgan son nodded his head, recognising it and understanding the meaning from the little woodland hikes that they would take when they were quite a bit younger than they were at that point. Justin smiled airily and rested both of his hands on the top of the gate, just outside of where Katie's were resting.

"Yes. Kissing gate. Do you want me to plant one on your cheek like how we've always done?" the deep purple haired male's teeth appeared and his eyes somehow brightened all the more as he uttered these words, and very sweetly, he lifted his ring clad finger to tap at his own cheek, gesturing.

Katie paused. Katie paused for just a second but it was so undeniable that even Justin noticed. In that split second, his head tilted. The orange haired female looked back at him. Before he uttered in response, his hands rested back down on the gate and on top of hers. It was this brushing of their digits that caused certainty in her voice as well as tenderness.

"Go the one step further. We've never had the chance before, my lovely." Katie put forth to him with shakiness in her eyes and in her voice too out of the boldness but it was somehow steady all the same.

Justin's eyes widened. For a split second while his hands lingered upon hers, his eyes widened. His breath hitched in his throat along with Katie's as she for once couldn't fathom all of the thoughts that were whirring inside his brain.

No doubt could Justin either. But that was okay. First and foremost and most importantly, there was one, distinguishable word and sensation that was fluttering through his veins.

That word was "yes".

Shakily himself, the deep purple haired male began to smile and to make up for the fact that he'd been a bit silent and wide eyed beforehand, he moved his hands to cup the sides of Katie's cheeks, tracing her own dimples.

The orange haired female's heart relaxed and then sped up in preparation of what was going to happen. She shut her eyes. Justin did too. Then he leaned in. His lips found her. His lips found her cheek first and he pressed a kiss there for old times' sake. And then to wordlessly show that times had moved forward and he was so very grateful for it and embracing it, he didn't hesitate to press his lips elsewhere.

Justin's lips found Katie's. Their lips found each other. They kissed and they kissed a very different kiss than from the one before. But still, things had not changed. They didn't care who watched. They didn't care who saw. It didn't even cross their minds once.

All they cared about was the fact that they had found each other. They had found each other when they were very young and found a friendship with one and other. They found a kinship. They found something calm within the chaos of their worlds.

And then in recent days, they found intimacy, romance and love too within one and other. And they expressed it then and there and with that kiss even though they didn't say anything. The words would come. And the loving words did indeed come – later that day in fact.

After enjoying the rest of their moments at the botanical garden, they headed to the docks of Crimson City where Katie's sailing ship was tied up. While the orange haired female was off doing something else, Justin had slipped off and discovered a private room at the lowest deck of the ship. It was Katie's secret room. She had found him there. But she allowed him to stay.

In actuality, she did him one more than that. She allowed him to stay with her and upon the bed and in between the sheets of there, they found each other in a whole new way. They were intimate. Breathless and trembling and fumbling but treasured all the same, they became entwined.

So it's time for the final part of this little story.

Katie had not ended up on the back of Justin in the botanical gardens and in the way of a piggyback but she had ended up lounging on him hours after and after they had shared yet another moment of romance and closeness with one and other.

The orange haired female and the deep purple haired male were remaining unclothed except for a few tendrils of sheets flowing in and out of their legs. Justin was on his front and with his arms folded together in front of him, his chin resting on his wrist. Katie was on her own front but on the back of Justin, tracing along the moles of his skin and dotting her fingers there as well as planting her lips there.

The deep purple haired male's eyes widened with surprise and every part of his exposed skin blushed with shy flattery at her enamoured and precisely placed pecks. Yet he didn't say anything. He didn't dream of breaking the lovely moment with unnecessary words.

He simply breathed and enjoyed the passing moments with Katie. And then eventually, she was the one to speak. With words that she deemed completely necessary.

"Better than any map. You've always been one of the best adventures that I've ever had." The orange haired female uttered absentmindedly and it goes without saying that the deep purple haired male's skin blushed all the more and his eyes widened if possible as these words floated into his ears. He showed this by lifting his chin up off his wrist. However, before he could respond – if he was going to respond – Katie added in a more highlighted voice. She potentially was disbelieved that those words had slipped from her too. "I suppose you've had many more adventures than I. You have one every single night and every single moment when you're on stage. What is it like, Justin? What's it like to perform in front of so many people?"

I get the feeling that Katie perhaps wanted to shudder thinking about how she could barely handle a dozen people, let alone thousands times that! Even so, she didn't dare do this gesture. Yet if she did, she probably twitched gently and it caused Justin to pull her closer.

Though the deep purple haired male remained quiet and not saying anything for a few minutes, his arm did reach behind his back so one of them could clumsily trace the back of Katie while she continued lying upon him.

She didn't care. She didn't care and she cared deeply. She patiently waited for his response. She adored his touch. She adored his words when he finally spoke of them. Her eyes filled with wonder as she rested her chin on his shoulder and listened.

"It's… unlike anything else that I've ever felt in my life. When I first walk out and I see everyone, it's like standing in front of a big wave that's about to come crashing down. And then when I sing, I'm suddenly riding that wave. And everyone's there wish me. It's… indescribable. Sometimes I think I can't sing off key even if I tried, though of course that's not the case." Justin informed in a hushed but truthful voice and Katie giggled as she listened, absentmindedly pressing kisses to his shoulder that were few and far between but intentional all the same. The deep purple haired male continued thoughtfully, his hand still reaching back and caressing her own skin. "I feel… unstoppable. The only time I've ever felt anything close to that feeling is when I'm with you…"

And there and then and in that moment, the two of them were even. Both Justin and Katie were even in the fact that words had escaped from their lips that they couldn't believe they had said. The deep purple haired male and the orange haired female went rather quiet in the few seconds after Justin's ones at that point and understandably so.

The eldest Morgan son's brow threatened to frown as he inwardly got the inclination to worry that he had come across too strong. The eldest Ketchum daughter's eyes glossed over and she exhaled shakily and she got the inclination to not believe what he was saying.

Katie was the one out of the two of them to match actions with her thoughts. Justin remained quiet and not doing all that much, just waiting it out. The orange haired female reacted. Katie carefully slid off Justin's back to be nearer to him to see his face at the same time that he switched his body around so he could face her too as best as he could. Tendrils of covers still were the only thing that closed them. They were bare figuratively and literally as well.

Words tumbled out of the orange haired female like they had done out of her first, then Justin, and then her again. Despite the fact that she was beginning to shake her head, she showed off a face of innocently emotional and hopeful disbelief rather than annoyed. She reached her hand out to poke his dimple as she questioned back.

"You don't mean that, Justin…" Katie murmured and though she wasn't saying that so the deep purple haired male would repeat himself, there was still a part at the depth of her being that wanted it to be true. Of course she did. She felt the same exact way as him. She always had. She just could never find the words to express it.

You would think that in a tender and unclothed and skin caressing moment such as that, sentences and replies would come slower.

However, in that moment and at that point, a response from Justin became very unhesitant indeed. He had a truth in his mind and his heart and even though it hadn't been natural up until that point to be so free with parts of himself and his words and actions, with Katie he was absolutely able to show exactly that.

And he showed exactly that the more that words came. And actions too.

Justin sat up slightly more so he could be closer to her face. He didn't touch her there. He cupped hold of her hand as it touched and traced and tickled at his cheek. He blurted out more certainly than he had spoken anything.

"Oh, but I do, Katie." Justin uttered to Katie and his level words combined with the steadiness of his eyes and his breath in his throat told the orange haired female everything that she needed to know. Instantly, her own eyes levelled and softened and her touch on Justin's skin became all the more. With one hand, she continued touching his cheek and the other hand began trailing down his stomach. The deep purple haired male told her everything she needed to know with his actions in those moments. But of course, he went one step further. He breathed out at last. "I truly do."

And with that, with a hunger that was so deep inside them both that it just simply came across as natural and innocent and tender, Justin's hands reached for Katie's body and he pulled her down onto him before his face disappeared into the skin of her neck, kissing her there.

The orange haired female's breath of course at last hitched in her throat and then she shut her eyes, enjoying each and every moment with Justin. Each and every touch. Each and every kiss. Each and every sensation. She held onto him. She held onto everything that he gave her. And she would do that even when their lips and their bodies stopped merging for good.

For you see, Justin and Katie really had found adventure in each other. And they had found home as well. They had found love. And they had found friendship. I suppose that is why they were able to go with the flow and take their relationship to wherever it needed to go. They were never supposed to be one thing. They were supposed to be everything.

Soul mates aren't just people that you are bound to until your very last breath, you know. They are people that you can go through anything with and everything too. Someone that you can share anything with.

And that exactly is Justin and Katie, you see. They were always going to be linked. They were always going to be the wind beneath each other's wings. They were always going to be each other's home. No matter where they went. No matter where they would go. Forever. And always.

In a fleeting world, I for one was glad that they found each other. And lots of others found themselves with that perspective also. Eventually.

The End.

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 I absolutely really enjoyed writing this and going back to the two of them, showing even more into the parts of their romantic relationship. As you can see here, they have a friendly aspect to their relationship and can get up to seemingly mundane things. But when they are together it is indeed an adventure :) Thanks again for reading and I will be back next Wednesday with another chapter so see you then!

Amy signing out :P