A/N: Let's get this started, shall we?
Chapter 32
"How are things going with repairs?" Kaylie asked as me and Fin were working on fixing the Helicopter.
"I told you, this takes time." I replied. "We'll let everyone know when it's working."
"The sooner, the better then." She replied before walking down the beach.
"Why is Kaylie being so impatient?" Fin asked me.
"She pregnant." I replied. "And she doesn't really have anything to do here. Hmm...maybe I should ask Ann and Katrin to spend some time with her." Kaylie was almost 9 months pregnant and we were stuck on the island until the helicopter was fixed. I called Zora and Matt afterwards and they would wait in Ecruteak until we could get off the island. That was 3 weeks ago. I wondered for a moment if Eric purposely went off on his own so he wouldn't have to be there for the birth of his child. After calling it a day with repairs, we gathered all the tools and went underground. After dinner a meeting was called to discuss a few things.
"Now, I know no one is happy about being stuck here for awhile but until Fin and I can get the Helicopter working, it's here we will be." Looks of worry crossed the faces of a few. "All I can say is make the most of things. There's nothing dangerous here even after all the time since my last visit so feel free to explore." After most of the group left I pulled Ann, Katrin, Nautica and Kaylie aside. "Seeing as Kaylie's baby could come at any day now, I want you three and Celes to be with Kaylie until the Helicopter is fixed." I said. "Cyrus and Jack offered to help me and Fin so repairs should go faster."
"That's sure good news." Said Katrin as she held Celes. "I like it here but I think we should try to move on." Everyone then called it a night and went to sleep. The next day me and the boys started off for the Helicopter on the other side of the island. We'd left early so we wouldn't wake Celes and Kaylie. I only hoped they wouldn't drive Ann nuts.
"Looks like the guys have aloo left." Said Ann after breakfast. "Looks like it's a girls day out!"
"I just love those." Katrin replied and she held her sister. "Don't you agree, Celes?" The look she gave Katrin had neither a yes or a no.
"What should we do first?" Asked Nautica.
"I think we should ask our guest." Ann replied. "Nautica, you don't count because you and Misty have been here many times."
"How about we go digging for Clams?" She proposed. "Sorry but there's only Shellder, Cloyster, Clamperl, Krabby, Kingler, Corphish, Crawdaunt, Wooper, Marril and Staryu on the Beach Sands." Katrin replied.
"I know that." Kaylie replied. "I figured I'd find a Pokemon for the baby."
"Sounds like a good idea." Said Nautica. "It's no secret my family loves water pokemon!"
"Let's be on our way, then." Said Kaylie. "The soon we get there, the better the chances of finding a pokemon."
"Do you think it was a good idea to leave Mom with Kaylie like that?" Fin asked me. "Mom just had a baby herself after all."
"That's exactly why, actually." I replied. "I figure your mother can give her some words of wisdom. If Eric were here I'd be doing the same but since he isn't I want to kick his ass for some reason."
"I think I've fixed the steering system." Jack reported. "Everything's working ok. That takes care of one thing."
"Right you are." I said. "I still can't believe we had to reassemble this thing."
"Well, at least you can say you know exactly how to build one." Said Fin. "It might be useful someday."
"Someday, maybe." Said Jack. "Though I'd prefer to have this one fixed up first." At that moment I heard the sound of a speedboat fast approaching the Island. I looked towards the beach and saw a sports boat fast approaching. It cleared all the whirlpools and made a spectacular landing 10 feet from the helicopter. We were more surprised to see who was inside: Eric Stone!
"I heard you were in a little bit of trouble." He said after exiting the boat. "Zora called me and told me of the situation. I was in the area and decided to come by and see if I could help."
"That's not the only thing." Said Aaron, who had come with him. "Out with it."
"He doesn't have to say it." I replied. "Though I want to say that if you were planning to miss the birth of your first child I have a notion to kick your ass. If Matt were here he'd likely say the same."
"I know, I know." He replied. "It's just that I was kinda unsure about some things. I just needed time to figure it out I guess."
"I know what you really mean but that's good enough. Now, if you really love Kaylie I suggest you find her and tell her."
"That's a good place to start." Eric said before running back towards the water.
"Where is he going?" Cyrus asked Fin. "I don't know but the Sandy Beaches are the other way." A Gyarados rose out of the water to confirm what Fin just said. It hit him with a Hyper Beam, sending him well on his way.
"Can you hold Celes for a little bit?" Katrin asked Kaylie. "I need to help Nautica find one of her pokemon that wandered off."
"Sure thing." She replied, taking the child.
"Mom's in the water if you need anything." Katrin said before running after Nautica up the beach. Kaylie found it a bit awkward holding someone's kid when she was having her own.
"I hope my kid looks as cute as you do." She said to Celes. "Maybe you can be friends when you're both older." Kaylie sat on the beach with Celes and watched Ann swimming in the water. Both girls grew tired from watching and began to doze. Kaylie didn't want to get up with Celes to get a blanket so she put the baby on the closest soft spot she could find: her belly. It was a little uncomfortable at first with the extra weight of Celes but she quickly adjusted.
"From there you can sleep to the sound of my baby's heartbeat." Kaylie said. She soon fell asleep herself. After a little bit of time had passed, she was awoken by the sound of something hitting the ground nearby. She looked and saw that is was Eric. "You sure know how to make an entrance." She commented as she moved Celes to her arms.
"Sometimes it can't be helped." He replied after dusting off his clothes. Then he saw Celes. "I see you're getting in some practice, too."
"Did you want to hold her?" she asked. "It's easy."
"Sure." He replied as he took Celes from her.
"Maybe our kid will be as cute as she is." He said.
"I said the same thing." Kaylie replied. "So, what brings you here?"
"My new family." He replied and then added, "Aaron's helping Ted get the Helicopter fixed. He brought some things so it should be working tomorrow at the least."
"That'll be great." Kaylie replied. "Except for one thing."
"What's that?" Eric asked.
"I was thinking it over and I think I should wait until the baby is born before leaving the Whirl Islands." She said.
"That sounds like a plan." Eric replied. "Might even be better that way."
"For a minute I thought a boat crashed." Said Ann, who came out of the water.
"Actually, that did happen." Eric replied. "Me and Aaron crashed a boat on the other side of the Island. I only got here so fast because I had a little help from Gyarados."
"Somehow I'm not surprised." Ann replied as Nautica and Katrin returned to the scene. "Ted told me you had come back but I had to see it to for myself." Ann said to Eric as she took Celes from him. "I'll take Celes if she is sleeping inside."
"And that's our cue to leave." Said Kaylie as Nautica and Katrin helped her stand up. "You were right again."
"Take all the time you need!" Ann replied as the pair walked down the beach.
"So, how many pokemon did you find in the water?" Nautica asked Katrin.
"Just one." She replied.
"There's supposed to be a lot of pokemon in this area." Ann said to here. "So, what Pokemon did you end up getting?" Katrin then opened a Poke Ball revealing the Diving Pokemon, LUGIA!
"If I were to only get one, that would be it." Said Nautica.
"Oh, yeah!" Katrin exclaimed, beaming with pride.
With help from Aaron we were able to get the Helicopter working way ahead of schedule. "Without your help I'd probably still be working on this thing." I said after a test run.
"Not a problem." He replied. "Just happy to help. After the others get back you can get off the island."
"Actually, we decided to wait until Kaylie has her baby before leave." I said.
"That's even better." Aaron replied. "It will give Eric the chance to owe up to being a good husband and father."
"Fin, you're NOT going to believe what Katrin caught just now!" Nautica exclaimed as she ran up the beach.
"What?" He asked. In the next moment something blocked out the sun. Everyone looked up and saw the silhouette of Lugia. It came down next to the group and Katrin got off.
"Congrats, I'm impressed." I remarked. "I had a full team of pokemon when I caught a Lugia here."
"I knew you'd like it." Katrin replied.
"Alright, I'm jealous!" Fin exclaimed. "It's not everyday you catch a super legendary!" The day passed quickly and as night fell nobody even noticed that Alex and Kaylie hadn't returned yet. When Aaron finally mentioned it, Ann and I just shrugged.
"As long as they are together they'll be fine." Ann said. "And if she is having the baby, Alex is right there to help her."
"Come on and give me some support!" Kaylie yelled at Eric. "You're in this too, you know!"
"I'm doing the best I can!" Eric replied after giving her a shot of painkillers. Within seconds the drug started to take effect.
"Oh, that's so much better…" Kaylie breathed. She'd gone into labor soon after Ann and the others left the beach. Eric tried calling for help a few times but no one could hear him. Now he was stuck with a very angry pregnant woman about to give birth to his child.
"It won't be much longer now." Said Eric.
"You mean there's more?" Kaylie asked. "Ann made it sound so easy."
"That's because she just had her third successful childbirth experience 4 months ago." Eric replied. "Ted told me the first always takes the longest to come."
"I just hope it's not something else." Said Kaylie. "I'm the only person who can trace their family tree back to both Giovanni and Professor Oak. I heard about what my grandfather did to my father and aunt and what my father almost did to me. I just hope the baby comes out fine. For the first time since the whole war started, I'm really, really scared…"
"It'll be ok." Said Eric as he took her in his strong embrace. "No matter what happens, we'll make it. We've already made it this far."
"Thanks, I needed that." Kaylie replied. "I guess what Ted keeps saying is true. If you love someone, you'll go through pain and sacrifice to keep that person safe."
"And look where it got us today." Said Eric.
"We're about to be a complete family and—Ah! I think I need to push!" Kaylie exclaimed. A few minutes later they welcomed a baby boy into the world.
"Do you still think Celes is cuter?" Eric asked her. "All parents think their baby is the most pretty. What should we name him?"
"How about…a name to remind us of our experience here?" He asked.
"What did you have in mind?" Kaylie replied.
"Alex Garum, unless you have any objections." He said curtly.
"That's more than fine!" Kaylie replied with a smile. "The others are going to laugh when we tell them."
"What till Aaron finds out he's an Uncle." Said Eric. "And my father, he's just going to be proud."
"I wish I could say the same for mine." Kaylie replied "Oh!"
"What is it?" Eric asked.
"Looks like we're not just having one baby." She said. Within minutes, a baby girl had arrived. It was a surprise both parents never expected.
"Looks like we get the best of both worlds." Eric said after the 2nd child arrived.
"I'll name this one." Said Kaylie. "Her name will be Jasmine, in honor of the Olivine Gym Leader."
"Fantastic!" He replied. "Now do we have a story to tell!" At daybreak, everybody got the helicopters loaded up. When Eric and Kaylie arrived with twins everyone was shocked. Aaron and Ann bombarded them with questions.
"Did you even know you were having twins?" Ann asked. "Not that it's bad or anything."
"Why didn't you guys try to get help?" Asked Aaron. "We were worried about you!"
"Let's just give them some space." I said, stepping between the sides. "Ann, you just had a baby yourself so you should know the feeling. Aaron as I said, they can take care of themselves. Without further ado, let's get outta here!" Everyone boarded the Helicopter and we flew to National Park. As we flew over the Radio Tower I was sure I could see Ask Ketchum watching. Both of us knew the final battle was about to begin…
End Chapter 32.
Think of this chapter as the calm before the storm more or less.