"Aww, don't you look so sweet?" Delia cooed, reaching a hand down to brush that mop of black hair she loved so much. Tonight it was wild and stuck out everywhere as if one of the Pikachu hanging around Samuel's lab had gotten ahold of him. She knew she should have kept a better eye on him while his hair dried… then again, she'd been pretty busy with all the mud he and Gary had tracked in earlier!

"Are you ready to go to bed? It's…oh!" Delia faked a loud gasp as she glanced over at his little Xatu clock, each wing acting as a hand. "It's nine o' clock, mister. That's so late! I can't believe you didn't tell me it was past your bedtime!"

He laughed and squirmed, kicking out from under his heavy navy comforter to get cool in the summer heat. "I'm not tired! I'm big. I want to stay up!"" Ash beamed up at her with his little stuffed Charizard tight in his clutches. It was just a few months old, but already very 'well-loved'.

One of its wings was half-off thanks to a very vigorous attempt by Ash to make it fly, and a little bit of fine white stuffing poked out of a few different spots where the little stitches had come loose. She'd have to fix that up next time he was over at Samuel's, maybe concoct a cute little story about a nice Caterpie swinging by to fix it with String Shot.

Ash would adore that. Her little guy just couldn't get enough of pokemon!

"But you need to go to sleep," Delia wagged her finger at him. He tried to snatch ahold of it with his tiny hands, but she was too quick. "How else are you going to grow up to be big and strong?"

He pouted at her. Oh, why did he have to make it so hard? She could sit here with him all night and watch his little face. As serious as her little boy could be when it came to anything that caught his interest (or anything he and Gary turned into a competition), he was such an expressive little guy.

Suddenly he brightened with some enormous insight. Ash grunted and sat up so he could look Delia right in the eye.

"Gary gets to stay up late every night!" Ash declared with all the surety of a five-year-old. "And he's way taller than me!"

She pinched his nose and laughed when he tried to squirm away. "Gary," Delia mimicked Ash's emphasis, "is a few months older than you. Plus, remember when we talked about genes the other day? Those can make a big difference too!" And if you considered an inch to be 'way taller'. Then her eyes narrowed and she adopted that same tone Mrs. Oak had wielded like a master swordsman. "And what's this about Gary staying up late?"

Ash gulped and looked away. "Uh, I dunno," he mumbled and pulled the comforter up over his face. Not very subtle, but her little boy not being a master of deception was a good thing in her opinion. As long as he wasn't like - no, she cut that train of thought off.

There was a bit more she wanted to get from him, but that could wait. Delia just hummed one of the lullaby's he loved and gently tugged the sheet down so she could see him (even if steadfastly avoided eye contact). His eyes fluttered while her practiced hand gently rubbed circles against his forehead.

Still, she couldn't stop the little strand of worry knotting up in her gut. Samuel had gotten better, but there was still a shadow looming over his too-weary shoulders like the miserable embrace of a Dusknoir. With her sweet Daisy gone off on her journey… well, there was a reason she'd been making a point to bring lunch to him most days. The poor man barely remembered he had a life outside his laboratory sometimes - or, worse, simply couldn't face it.

What Gary needed now was structure. A simple, predictable routine. Stability. He was too young to adopt Samuel's insane sleep habits, or stay up all night reading or playing games. This was such an important formative age for both him and Ash, and if he wasn't getting it from his grandfather then Delia would provide it herself.

Oh, Samuel.

Perhaps it was time to hunt down Alakazam and get her on his case. He would listen to one of his team, and Alakazam was the only one that still showed her face around the Corral except for Arcanine. A good book ought to earn her a moment or two of the psychic's time.

For now, she'd just have to make sure Gary ate over at their house for most meals (even more than the feisty little boy already did). Lots of sleepovers too, and maybe a few little field trips with her and Ash. Gary hid it well, but she was certain he got lonely in that big house.

She sighed and leaned over to kiss Ash on his forehead once he'd closed his eyes. His breathing had slowed down and he didn't react to her touch, and Delia smiled down at her boy. Parenting could be hard sometimes, but seeing her Ash like this made it all worth the sleepless nights, the gnawing worry, the uncertainty, everything a hundred times over.

His ragged Charizard plushie slipped out of his hands before, so Delia carefully placed it between his bare arm and the bright red of his pajamas. Ash squeezed it lovingly to himself a little too quickly, and her eyes narrowed.

Oh, okay mister. That's how it was gonna be, huh?

"Ash…" she whispered, nudging him just a bit. He didn't react, but when she did it again the slightest twitch of his lips (and a tiny giggle that slipped out) betrayed him. Delia rolled her eyes, struggling not to smile herself, but let out a big, exaggerated sigh. "I'm not going to find you reading your books at one in the morning again, am I?"

Ash's lips curved into a real smile, but he stayed silent and hugged his Charizard even tighter.

It was all she could do not to tickle him or poke at him until he woke the whole neighborhood with peals of laughter. If she did that, coaxing him back to bed would be a real nightmare. Chances for sleep would be completely gone once Ash got some energy in him.

Time to bust out the big parenting guns. "I know you love to read, and I love that you love to read, but we've talked about what will happen if you do. Do you remember?"

Brown eyes just barely opened. "I can't play with Gary tomorrow?"

"Exactly!" Delia said. She pinched his nose again, then shifted to sit down on the bed. It sank beneath her, but didn't disturb Ash too much. "So how about we make a deal?"

His eyes opened fully. "What kind of deal?"

She stroked his wild hair. That was going to be such a nightmare to tame tomorrow before he went off to school… "It's a compromise," Delia explained. "Do you remember what that means?"

Ash's nose wrinkled. "Yeah! That's where nobody's happy!"

"Kind of!" She laughed. "Sometimes that's how it goes. But I think you'll like this one. What can I do to help you go to sleep? I know you're not sleepy, but there has to be something that will help."

It didn't surprise her when Ash only took a moment. "I want to hear a story!" He peeked up at her with big, pleading eyes. "Any one I pick, even one of the scary ones."

"Okay," she agreed. His eyes were sharp and alert now, but there was no doubt he'd run out of steam quickly. The room was already dark except for his Elekid-style lamp in the corner, and all that dashing around with Gary had to catch up to her Ash eventually. "Which one do you want? There's Articuno and the Witch, Mew and the Thousand Friends, the Long Summer Champion, the Tale of the Three Beasts… oh! You love the Wishmaker! Do you want to hear that one again?"

His face scrunched up while he tried to make his decision, and he had a pleased look on his face when he finally came to one. "The God-King!"

Delia nodded along, unsurprised. It had been a while since she'd told this one (and Delia didn't think he'd ever managed to listen to all of it before falling asleep), but he always liked the truly old stories, the ones that delved into different mythologies and histories. She still remembered how excited he was when she told him that some of them really happened!

"Okay!" She climbed up to rest next to him. Delia knew most of the stories by heart at this point, so there was no need to grab the old storybook she had downstairs. Instead, she wrapped an arm around Ash and his Charizard and pulled him tight against her, smiling at his warmth. Ash was like a little furnace! He snuggled in close, waiting eagerly for her to start, and she hugged him. "Make sure not to interrupt mommy while she's talking, okay? If you have any questions, make sure you wait until the end. That's the polite thing to do!"

He said something in agreement, muffled as it was by his stuffed Charizard and the arm wrapped around him. Delia just relished the moment for a moment, appreciating the wonderful life she'd ended up with against all odds and reason, then began.

"A long, long time ago, there was a beautiful land known as Michina. It was a wild place, covered in green forests, tall mountains, and winding blue rivers. People and pokemon lived there together in peace. Michina was kept safe from all the terrible things in the world."

Ash was utterly still, but Delia knew he was still awake. She prompted him to continue the story. "And what happened next, Ashy?"

"The fire from the stars!"

She wasn't surprised he remembered, but still made sure to applaud him.

"One day, the peace in Michina was broken. The wise people and pokemon foresaw doom! Across all kingdoms, there were visions of a great fire coming from the stars. It was so big that it would swallow the whole world and burn it to dust!

Kings swore to sell their kingdoms. The wise went to the sacred places of the world for help, but found nothing but silence. People were afraid, and their spirits failed them.

The fire from the stars grew closer every day. Soon, it seemed like all was lost. The people could do nothing but turn their eyes to the sky and wait.

Just when all hope was lost, a man in Michina decided to do what all the kings and the wise could not. The man could not bear to see all that he loved burned away. He left his people, and climbed the highest mountain in Michina.

The man prayed to the heavens for a day and a night. As he prayed, the Alpha was touched by his devotion and love. The Alpha appeared in the heavens, and stopped the fire from the stars. It -"

"What's the Alpha?" Ash piped up. "I don't know what it looks like!"

Delia smiled, but took a moment to chastise him for interrupting before she explained. "Nobody does, Ashy. It's just a myth, like you getting to bed on time! It can look like whatever you want."

"Oh, okay. And why did it listen to the man but not everybody else? I don't get it. Did it not like anyone else?"

To be honest, she didn't have a good answer to that. It was just how the story went! But you couldn't just say that to an inquisitive five-year-old, so she quickly made up a long-winded explanation to bore Ash to tears while (hopefully) answering his question somewhat.

With that, she continued the story. Ash's breathing was slowing down by the minute, and his voice was getting groggier and groggier. If she could see his face, she was sure his eyes would be half-closed.

Good - her rambling did its job!

"Even though the Alpha stopped the fire from the stars and saved the world, it was hurt. The Alpha fell to the earth and its magical Plates were scattered all over the planet! It landed in Michina, and the man could not bear to see it hurt. He tended it, and when the Alpha saw that he was good and pure of heart, gave him a quest.

With the Alpha's blessing, the man went to find the Plates. He steeled his heart and left his beloved Michina. The man traveled across the land, searching far and wide. He climbed the highest mountain peaks, sailed alone across the greatest oceans, and discovered many new and beautiful things in his quest.

He found Plate after Plate. The man grew wise and learned the secrets of the world. Pokemon knew he was good, and helped him wherever he went. People saw his goodness too, and all loved the man.

One year passed, and he succeeded in his quest. The man took the Plates to where the Alpha slumbered, and with their power it was restored. In thanks, the Alpha shaped a beautiful jewel from five Plates for the man as a token of friendship.

The man accepted, for he had become wise to the ways of the world, and made many wonderful and beautiful things. In time, others saw the amazing things the man did in Michina and begged him for help, for they wanted wonderful things too.

Since the man was good and wise, he spread his gifts. He cured the sick, reshaped the land, and taught others his greatest secrets. With his jewel, he made Sinnoh beautiful. Kings threw their crown at his feet, and the man was honored as God-King.

The God-King reigned for ten wonderful years. He gave and gave and gave of himself to the world. All the world honored him and loved him.

But at the end of the ten years, the God-King knew his time was up. The Alpha needed its Plates returned, and the God-King wished his people farewell. He left his throne to his beloved family, and returned the jewel to the Alpha.

The God-King was beloved by the Alpha, and with his work done, left with the Alpha to the heavens…"

Delia trailed off at the end of the tale, realizing that it had been a while since Ash had so much as twitched. She was quiet, and her heart melted at the little snores she could hear drifting through Ash's lips. It was so, so hard not to squeeze him like he was squeezing that Charizard of his!

It took some work, but Delia managed to extricate herself from the sleeping boy. She brushed his long hair out of his eyes, marveling at her son.

He was already getting so big… it felt like just yesterday that he'd been toddling behind her and sweet Daisy on chubby, unsteady legs, and the day before that he'd started reading, or spoken his first words, or babbled, or scooted.

Hot wetness burned in her eyes. Delia wiped them with her sleeve and smiled tearfully. She was such a sap!

Delia leaned down to press her lips against her Ash's cheek. He mumbled a bit and squirmed a bit, but seemed to be truly asleep. Good. At least she'd done her part, although it wouldn't surprise her if she still woke up to a ruckus in a few hours to find him reading another book on pokemon. She'd have to grab some new ones (and maybe bust out some of her old school books) for him if he kept this up!

"I'm so proud of you, baby. You're such a good, sweet boy. I can't wait to see the man you become."

She murmured a few more sweet words into his ears, hoping that some of it might make their way into his subconscious and give him good dreams, then adjusted his light comforter to cover him a little better.

It only took a moment to flip off his Elekid lamp, and the room was totally shrouded in darkness. Delia silently crept out of the room, wincing when one loose board creaked, but sagged in relief when Ash didn't so much as stir.

"Good night, Ashy. I love you."

A/N: Thanks so much for reading! I wanted to try to get a Recollections out since it's been a while. My current aim is for Chapter 59 to be out by the end of July. No guarantees, but I think I can do it. I was having a bit of trouble writing the chapter tonight, so thought this might be a good distraction! Delia's always fun to get in the head of, and with any luck you found it enjoyable!

This is a bit different from what I normally write, so I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Have a great day!