Cravings
No one knew better of Misty's cravings than Ash. Hell, he was suffering from them. Having to wake up late at night and get her all kinds of food that no person should be eating at that hour of the night…himself included.
One such night, he was awoken by someone shaking his shoulder. He knew who, and he tried to ignore her.
"Ash…"
"Mmm…"
"Ashy, wake up."
"Mmm."
"I know you're up, Mr. Pokemon Master!"
He jolted as a heavy smack on the shoulder really disrupted his shallow slumber. Turning around, he found himself face to face with Misty, who looked less than pleased at the moment. It must have been because he'd been trying to ignore her.
"What is it, Misty?" Ash grumbled in response. At this point, he was so tired that he didn't even care if Misty took her hormonal rage out on him.
"I'm hungry," Misty whispered, her expression softening as she spoke. "Could you go out and get me something to eat?"
"We have an entire kitchen downstairs filled with food," Ash muttered. "Why don't you just go down there and find something?"
"Because I want something specific, something that we don't have," Misty replied.
"And that would be?"
"A burger."
Ash just stared back at his wife, searching her face for any signs of playfulness. Unfortunately for him, there was none. She was being completely serious. Groaning, Ash looked over his shoulder and stared at the digital clock on his nightstand. In bright red numbers, it read 12:37 AM.
"Misty, it's past midnight…" Ash groaned.
"I can't help it that your kid has no sense of time," Misty muttered, rubbing her growing belly. It was already bulging out in a noticeable bump.
"Oh, so now it's just my kid?" Ash huffed.
"Yeah, it is when all it wants to do is eat!" Misty bit.
"Look, Mist, it's way too late for a burger, alright?" Ash reasoned with her. "I will go and get you one for lunch tomorrow. That's just as good, right?"
Much to Ash's horror, Misty sniffled as tears began to fill her eyes. She was actually beginning to cry over being rejected a burger. Crying over food! Now she really did seem like him, if not more ridiculous.
"B-but Ash…" Misty hiccupped. "I-I'm so hungry, a-and the b-baby…"
Ash sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was still exhausted, but seeing and hearing Misty cry killed him. It always did. He couldn't handle an upset Misty; it made him feel so bad.
"Don't cry, babe," Ash hushed, running his fingers against Misty's cheek. "I'll go get you what you want, alright? Just promise me you'll stop crying."
Misty nodded wordlessly and let one more hiccup escape from her lips as she gently wiped the tears away from her eyes. Ash slid out of bed, clad in his T-shirt and pants and walked slowly out of the room
As he reached the bottom step, the sound of rapid scurries reached Ash's ears, causing him to turn around and find Pikachu running after him.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu questioned softly.
"I have to go get Misty something," Ash mumbled. "Don't ask."
"Pikachupi pi pika?"
"Yah, she's fine," Ash sighed. "Just annoying the hell out of me."
"Pika pi, pikapi."
"You want to come?" Ash repeated. Pikachu nodded and climbed up Ash until he was perched on the human's broad shoulder. "Well, I guess some company could be nice. Kay, let's head out!"
XXX
When Ash arrived back home with Misty's food, he was surprised to find her sitting on the couch in the den and watching TV. Before he could ask her anything, however, Misty had jumped up and run towards him, squealing and taking the bag from his hands.
"Thank you so much, Ashy!"
"…how did you know I was back…?"
"I smelt the food," Misty replied simply.
"Ah, right, your super powered nose," Ash chuckled, following behind his wife. She sat back down and smoothed out her powder blue nightgown over her bump. Ash sat down next to her and allowed his eyes to follow Pikachu as the furry yellow mouse jumped off of his shoulder and onto what was currently left of Misty's lap.
"Oh, you went with Ash?" Misty cooed, scratching behind Pikachu's ears.
"He wanted to keep me company," Ash chuckled while his partner mewled happily beneath Misty's fingers. "Just make sure you give him a ketchup packet. I promised him one."
Misty nodded her head and reached into the bag. "Sure." She pulled out one of the small plastic packets and tore off the corner, some red liquid spilling out of the newly created hole. Pikachu's eyes began to glow with excitement, causing Misty to giggle as she handed the packet off to the electric type. "There you go, buddy! You earned that."
"Ka!" Pikachu squeaked, sitting down fully on Misty's lap and sticking the top of the packet in his mouth as he began to suck out its sweet contents.
Misty's hand returned to the bag as she fished for her meal, flashing a wide grin as she found it. She was confused, however, to find two sandwiches in the bag instead of one.
"Ashy, this was very sweet of you, but I don't even think I can eat two of these," Misty giggled gently. "I mean, I know you've seen me down a lot more than this in my condition, but-"
"Oh, that second one isn't for you," Ash interrupted. "That's mine."
"Huh? But I thought you said it was too late for a burger!" Misty cried, narrowing her eyes.
"It is," Ash confirmed, taking his own burger into his hands. "But you kept talking about it, and I kind of got my own craving. So, I figured I might as well go for it."
"Aww, we can sit on the couch and stuff our faces together!" Misty giggled airily, leaning into Ash and snuggling her head against his chest.
"If that's not husband-wife bonding, I don't what is," Ash quipped, causing Misty to laugh again.
"Let's see…what did you put on my burger?" Misty wondered aloud, opening up the wrapper.
"Everything," Ash snickered. "I figured you'd be happiest that way. If there's something on it you don't want, you can just take it off."
"No, this looks delicious," Misty marveled before taking a bite of the burger and adding with a full mouth, "it taftes deficious, too!"
"Hey, you're always the one telling me not to talk with my mouth full!" Ash chuckled, pressing Misty's lips closed with his fingers. "Eat, don't talk."
Misty nodded and finished chewing her big mouthful of food before swallowing it. Seemingly satisfied with that, Ash smiled and left a light kiss on her lips before receding and unwrapping his own burger.
"You love me, don't you?" Misty asked whimsically.
"Of course I do," Ash crooned, resting a strong hand atop her belly. "You're my wife, my everything. I've always loved you, Mist. Especially now! I have to make sure you get the love and care you need to help our baby grow. That's my job!"
"Even if it includes going out past midnight to get me unhealthy food?" Misty mumbled quietly. It was obvious that she was now beginning to feel some guilt for sending Ash out before.
"Yes," Ash laughed, pulling Misty's head down so he could leave a kiss atop her fiery red hair. "Even that."
Misty smiled softly and sat back up, continuing to eat her sandwich quite ravenously.
"Besides…" Ash murmured, watching Misty as she stuffed her face, "there's something incredibly attractive about you when you're eating."
"You would think that," Misty snorted.
"Hey, if I get to sit here and eat with you every night, going out past midnight to get the food doesn't sound that bad," Ash teased.
"I'm glad you think so," Misty hummed, finishing off the last bite of her burger, "because I'm in the mood for a little bit of custard…"