I'm glad you guys enjoyed the first one shot in the new collection! I have to say, I'm very happy I decided to split it up. I'm still getting used to managing a new story (I keep going back into the old one!) but it feels so much neater and I'm much happier that way.
Anyway, like I already assured you all, this one is exactly the same as I was always writing! So hopefully you'll all enjoy this one as well.
Aiden and Michelle: 2 years old
Separation Anxiety
"I can't do this, Ash…"
The raven haired man frowned as he watched his wife bury her face in her hands. "Yes you can, Misty. It's only for a couple of nights."
Misty shook her head and slowly lowered her hands. "I've never been away from my babies for that long. What if they think I've abandoned them?"
"They won't," Ash assured her. "I've left for a few days at a time, and they never thought I left them! You always reminded me that."
Misty's entire day had come to a crashing halt at the end of her dreaded monthly gym leader meeting. Goodshow had decided that he wanted to have a retreat of sorts for the Kanto gym leaders, lasting for three days and two nights up at Indigo Plateau. Misty swore her heart had fallen right out of her chest the moment Goodshow had presented her and her fellow gym leaders with his grand plan. It sounded dramatic for her to be so worked up over the trip, but Misty always put her two children before her, and she had never been away from them for more than a single night.
"It'll be okay," Ash murmured, reaching over to rub his wife's back. "I understand why you're worried and upset. I used to feel the exact same way! But I'll make sure that we call you every night on the video phone so you can see each other. And I'll stay home for those three days so Aiden and Michelle aren't without both of us for that long. Mom can help me out too! You know she adores the twins. They'll be so well taken care of and loved! I'll make sure of it."
Misty sniffed and rubbed at her eye. "You're so sweet, Ash. And I know I can leave you with Aiden and Michelle. But…it's just…I can't stand the thought of leaving them. They've spent almost every day of their lives with me! I mean, for Arceus' sake, I carried them for nearly 9 months, I went through 12 hours of natural, unmedicated labor to have them, I nursed them, I built them a playroom in the gym so I could bring them to work with me…"
"You've done everything right with them," Ash promised once Misty had trailed off. "Aiden and Michelle are still very young, but they know how much you love them and care for them. It would take a whole lot more than three days for them to forget you. You've really sacrificed a lot for them over the past 2 years."
"But it's worth it," Misty muttered. "I would do anything for them."
"I know you would," Ash whispered, kissing her cheek. "And that's why you have to do this. This is your job, Misty. You love your job, you're passionate about it. A lot of people aren't that lucky. And you get to do something you love while supporting our family."
Misty whimpered and turned her head to look at Ash. "I'm being a baby."
Ash chuckled and gently grabbed her face. "No, you're not being a baby. You're upset, and it's understandable. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what."
Misty smiled tearfully and wrapped her arms around Ash, resting her head on his shoulder. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."
Ash lifted her head up by her chin and pressed his nose to hers. "Funny, I could say the same thing about you."
The two soon found their lips locked together, kissing passionately and quickly forgetting where they were or what they had even been talking about just moments before. Misty leaned back, her hair fanning out on the bedspread, Ash falling over her and settling himself between her legs.
"Mama!"
Misty tilted her head back, her eyes falling on the baby monitor that sat on her nightstand. Ash took advantage of the opportunity and began to kiss the side of Misty's neck, causing her to moan and draw her knees up.
"Come on," Misty pleaded breathlessly, gently tapping her husband's shoulder. "I have to go see what Michelle needs."
"Michelle?" Ash murmured, picking his head up. "That was Aiden."
Misty smirked and shook her head. She slid off the bed, a bewildered Ash quickly following after her. She left their bedroom and walked over to the door of Aiden and Michelle's. She slowly pushed it open, moving carefully just in case the other twin was sleeping. When she walked in, Ash peered through the doorway, and was surprised to see Aiden fast asleep on his side of the room. Michelle, on the other hand, was sitting up and clutching a stuffed Pikachu to her chest.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" Misty whispered.
"Ni- li-," Michelle whimpered, pointing at the night light near the foot of her bed. Misty took a look and realized that the mermaid light had gone dark.
"Oh, the batteries in your night light died," Misty sighed.
"Dawk," Michelle whined, covering her eyes with the stuffed Pikachu.
"It's okay, baby," Misty assured her daughter. "Mommy will fix it!"
Misty knelt down beside the night light and pulled it out of the wall, smiling over her shoulder at Michelle. "I'll be right back!"
She walked back towards the door, grinning cheekily once she saw Ash standing there.
"Told you it was Michelle," Misty teased, winking at her flustered husband.
"H-how could you tell?" Ash breathed, following his wife down the hallway. "They both have the same squeaky little voice!"
"I told you, I've spent almost single every day of their lives with them," Misty replied. "I can pick out the differences between their voices."
"That's incredible," Ash remarked.
"One of my many talents," Misty sighed, scurrying down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and placed the night light on the counter, opening up one of the drawers and digging for some batteries.
Ash, on the other hand, approached the counter and picked up the night light to examine it. It looked like a white lantern, was filled with water and light blue glitter, and had the white silhouette image of a mermaid holding a starfish and surrounded by bubbles and seaweed.
"This thing has always reminded me of you," Ash commented, looking up just in time to see Misty walking towards him with two batteries in hand.
"Because of the mermaid?" Misty asked knowingly.
"Yep," Ash chuckled, handing the night light over to her.
"Michelle loves her mermaids," Misty giggled, opening up the night light's compartment and removing the dead batteries. "This thing is the big key to getting her to go to sleep at night. Has she ever made you watch it with her?"
Ash twisted his mouth. "I don't think so…"
"It's so cute," Misty breathed. "She loves to watch the glitter swirl around the mermaid. She'll point at it and call them 'waves.' It's one of my favorite things about her…"
Ash's eyes widened as Misty started to sniffle again.
"Mist, are you okay?" He questioned.
Misty quickly nodded her head, but reached up at the same time to wipe at her eye.
"No you're not," Ash sighed.
"I just realized I won't be able to do this with her when I'm away," Misty hiccupped. "I won't be here to watch the night light with her."
"It's only two nights," Ash reminded her. "And if she wants to watch the night light, I'll watch it with her!"
Misty cleared her throat and picked her head up, nodding it.
"Are the batteries all good?" Ash asked, pointing at the night light.
"Mmhm," Misty hummed. "I'd better go plug it back in so Michelle can go to sleep."
She walked out of the kitchen, Ash once again trailing her. When they got back to the twins' bedroom, Michelle was still sitting up in bed, holding her toy Pikachu close.
"Here we go," Misty breathed, kneeling down beside the outlet and sticking the night light in. The lantern lit up, the light blue glitter swirling around inside. Michelle placed her toy down and crawled to the end of her bed, peering down at the night light.
"Waves!" Michelle squealed softly, pointing at the light.
Ash smirked as he watched from the doorway, leaning against the doorframe as he watched his young daughter marvel over her beloved night light.
"Yeah, waves," Misty murmured softly. "Now that it's working again, are you ready to go to sleep?"
Michelle nodded her head, holding her arms out towards her mother. Misty giggled and lifted the child up beneath her arms, gently placing her back at the head of her bed. Once she was settled, Misty knelt down and kissed her daughter's forehead, earning a soft coo from the toddler.
"Good night, Michelle," Misty whispered against the girl's skin.
"Ni-, Mama," Michelle babbled.
With a smile, Misty gently pushed Michelle down before pulling the comforter over her. She stroked her daughter's hair for a few moments before getting to her feet and walking out of the room, Ash gently wrapping his arm around her waist so she couldn't go anywhere. With his free arm, he halfway closed the door to the twins' room, and then pulled Misty against his side.
"You are the best mom in the whole wide world," Ash remarked, resting his chin atop Misty's head.
"That's a broad title," Misty teased.
"But I know that it's true," Ash replied, spinning Misty around to smile at her. "You always know exactly what Aiden and Michelle need."
Misty just smiled softly in response, but said nothing else.
"I'm their father, and I love them just as much as you do," Ash continued. "And I swear to you, Misty, for those two nights when you're not here, I will do my very best to take care of them the same way you do."
Misty laughed just once and reached up to cup Ash's cheek. "That's very sweet, Ash, but you don't have to take care of them the same way I do. You said it yourself: you're their father. You're one of the only other people in the world I would trust with our children for that long. Nothing would make me happier than knowing you're taking care of them the best way you know how."
Ash smiled and tilted his head to the side. "Have I ever asked what I did to deserve you?"
Misty returned his grin and nodded her head, standing on her toes to give Ash a quick kiss. "Yes, you have. And I've asked the same about you."
I was trying to find the perfect nightlight for Michelle, and I found one online that was so cute! I'll have to start up a new writing blog soon so I can show you all the picture, because I'm really in love with it.
