Happy New Year! I was working on a super cute New Year's one shot but I haven't finished it yet, although I do like the way it's coming along! So I figured I will keep at it and give you all this sweet little piece in the meantime.

Aiden: 2.5 years old


Refunds

"Hi gwampa Bwock."

The Pokémon doctor raised an eyebrow, causing the boy draped across his lap to laugh wildly. "What'd you call me?"

"Gwampa Bwock!" Aiden repeated, giggling harder.

"You sure think that's funny, huh?" Brock asked with a wry smile. Aiden nodded fervently, his grin widening. Smirking, Brock gathered the boy into his arms, which sent him back into a fit of laughter. With Aiden still squirming, Brock carried him into the next room, where Misty was sitting on the couch studying some paperwork that had been sent to her by the league. Without any preamble, Brock gently dropped the boy off on his mother's lap, leading her to look up. With the playful smirk still on his face, he informed her, "I think this one is broken. You might want to look into returning him for a refund."

"Pretty sure it's too late," Misty quipped before asking, "What'd he do now?" She didn't sound too surprised; despite Brock's lighthearted expression, Misty assumed his comment wasn't all facetious.

"I called him gwampa Bwock," Aiden proudly announced, beaming up at his mother.

"Hey, that's rude!" Misty gently scolded.

Aiden tilted his head. "Was dat?"

"It means not nice," Misty explained.

"Why?"

"You shouldn't call people grandpa who aren't actually your grandpa," Misty sighed. "Especially when they're not even old, which Brock isn't!"

"Is Bwock oldew then you?" Aiden inquired.

Although reluctant, Misty eventually responded, "yes."

"So, he's old!" Aiden cried, scrambling to his knees.

Brock groaned and buried his face in his hands. Letting out a long breath, Misty refuted, "no, that just means he's older than me. It doesn't mean he's old."

Huffing, Aiden leaned forward, poking his nose against his mother's. "Mama?"

"What, buddy?"

"Was a wefun-?"

"Do you mean a refund?"

"Ya!"

"It means getting your money back, usually because something is broken."

Aiden's mouth fell open. "Hey! Das not nice!"

"Neither were you," Misty reminded her son with a smirk. "Doesn't feel too good, does it?"

"No," Aiden whined, sinking back down and crossing his arms.

Smiling sympathetically, Brock knelt in front of Aiden so he could be at eye level with the boy. "I was only teasing, little guy. Your mommy and I have always joked around like that with one another! But I'm really sorry if I hurt your feelings by making that joke."

Aiden was quick to cheer up, assuring Brock, "s'okay!"

"Aiden," Misty cleared her throat, catching her son's attention. "Wouldn't you like to say sorry to Brock, too?"

"Why?"

Misty let out a long sigh as she slumped her shoulders. "Because you hurt his feelings too!"

"Oh," Aiden breathed. Staring right at Brock, the boy squeaked, "sowwy I called you old."

Brock chuckled and reached out to pat Aiden's head. "It's alright. You were just teasing, too!"

"Ya!" Aiden giggled warmly. "Like you an- Mama!"

"Well, that makes sense!" Brock crowed, picking the boy up beneath his arms and lifting him off his mother's lap. "I think we should let your mama get back to work now, huh?"

"Kay," Aiden murmured, wrapping his arms around Brock's neck.

"Sorry about that, Misty," Brock apologized to the gym leader, slightly bowing his head. "I know it was my job to keep Aiden entertained while you worked. You just wanted some peace and quiet, and I burst in here being just as rowdy as this little guy."

The gym leader smiled sweetly at her friend. "Don't worry about it. A little break once in a while never hurt. Besides, it's very hard to be annoyed when I see that sweet little face!"

"Who, me?" Brock asked jokingly, earning a sardonic look from Misty.

"No, me!" Aiden cried, pulling back to frown at Brock. "Mama likes to see me! Wight, Mama?"

He looked over his shoulder, back at his mother. Beaming at her son, Misty confirmed, "yes, it is you I like to see, baby boy!"

"Yay!" Aiden giggled.

"But Mama does need to get back to her work," Misty continued, quickly shooting her paperwork a dirty glance before plastering a sweet smile back on for the toddler. "So, do you think you could take your adorable self in the other room and play with Brock a little while longer?"

"Uh huh!" Aiden chirped. "I can!"

"That's my boy!" Misty giggled. "Thanks, you two!"

"Not a problem," Brock chuckled. "What do you want to go play, Aiden?"

"Mmm…supewmawket," Aiden decided, pressing his hands together. "I buy stuff fwom you for my Po-mon then I wefun- it!"

"Oh, you really like the whole refund concept now, huh?" Brock chuckled.

"Ya is funny," Aiden giggled.

"Well, that's fine by me!" Brock crowed, winking at Misty. "Guess we're gonna go play supermarket!"

"Sounds fun!" Misty chirped. "Will you bring me back something tasty from the supermarket, Aiden?"

"Uh huh!" Aiden confirmed before stretching up towards Brock's ear and whispering, "I'm not; I'm gonna wefun- evewything."

Brock nodded stoically, trying not to chuckle when he saw Misty's baffled face out of the corner of his eye. "Understood."


Aiden and Brock are super cute/fun to write together, probably because Aiden is such a little Ash. Although here, I feel like Aiden was being quite a bit more like Misty, and I think Brock (and Misty too) would agree!