Hello :P I'm uploading today instead this week because it's nearer to the occasion I wrote this for. This chapter is for my internet friend and best friend AAML-TAML. She is flying to England on Friday and we're meeting up the day after so this is a thank you to her for getting on a plane and going through all the airport stuff just to see me. I'm so lucky to be seeing her for the second time this year and lucky to have her :'D I hope you all enjoy, especially you, boo :3

Ages:

Ash: 27

Misty: 27

Disclaimer: I own only the story :3

"Mistyyyyyy!" my best friend called excitedly with me perched on his shoulders, wobbling about precariously as he hopped up the stairs. "Mistyyyyyy!"

Ash's beam didn't fade, not even when his wife finally replied but with only a grunt. He turned to give me a glance before shrugging and soon smiling again, starting to resume his previous routine. After a few more seconds of Ash calling her name, the sound of a duvet rustling soon filled our ears and Misty's voice followed it.

"What's the matter, Ash?"

My raven haired best friend didn't seem fazed by her unenergetic, grumpy sounding tone but perhaps he was just hiding it. He had gotten pretty damn good at it the past few weeks, and so had a few other people around us. Poor Misty was suffering and I couldn't help but sigh sadly when I heard her depressed sounding voice. I cared so much about her and hated seeing her in this way.

I snapped out of my worried thoughts when Ash continued up the brave beam and called cheerfully back out to Misty. His bounding up the stairs had stopped, however.

"I have something for youuuuuu!"

I couldn't help but smile lovingly and admirably at my best friend. No matter how bad the situation got, he always faced it with bravery and a smile. He had been like that ever since the innocent age of ten and I was blessed to see him grow into an awesome adult man.

Misty didn't join in with her husband's enthusiasm and just sighed before making another rustling duvet noise. Ash pouted and we both assumed she was either turning over in bed or hiding further under the covers.

"What is it?" she uttered simply, her voice still in the same dull tone and not making an effort to come and see us.

The tanned male put on a brave smile and took a few more steps along the hall, his hand going into his pocket where what he wanted to show his wife was residing.

Upon hearing his footsteps, the orange haired woman groaned and now I was closer to her door, I could see she was just a lump hiding under the duvet.

"Ash, I know you mean well but I really want to be alone. That's why the twins are spending the day with your mom and James and Jessika are with my best friend James."

These words of Misty's were enough to make Ash's shoulders slump and he pushed his hands further into his pockets. The reason for his wife's sadness was that she had been suffering with a phantom pregnancy. Just a few months after Jessika was born, we all thought that Misty had fallen pregnant once again. It pains me to say that it turned out to be a false one and just her body giving her all the symptoms just with no baby. Our good friend is so maternal that she grew depressed with the idea of no new arrival and has been finding it hard to shake off the fact she isn't pregnant.

The two of us stayed silent for quite a few moments before Ash took a deep breath, not giving up on Misty just yet.

"Please Misty? I worked really hard on something for you and I really want you to have it."

I wondered if Misty was smiling because for some reason, the tense atmosphere seemed to lift slightly and the mood became slightly warmer. The orange haired female let out a quiet sigh, but it was not a sad one so perhaps it was curious? Misty poked her head out of the duvet and looked at us both.

"Come here then."

Ash shook his head and folded his arms for courage, standing in the hallway.

"No, I want you to come to me."

I let out my own sigh and glanced at my raven haired best friend. That guy sure was optimistic and I adored that about him but I couldn't help but think he was pushing his luck.

To my disbelief, Misty let out a few sighs and groans but soon enough came shuffling into the hall and glancing curiously at her husband. I hate to say it but she looked in a bad way. Her hair was sticking up in all directions and her pale skin was now slightly grey. There were bags under her normally bright orbs and she looked frailer. But she was still the Misty we adored.

Ash beamed now his wife was out of bed and reached into his hand to pull out the deck of cards that were bound together by a blue binding comb. Misty glanced with curiosity when she saw the top one had her husband's big handwriting on the front but didn't have time to ponder as the gift was soon thrust into her hands.

The raven haired male took a step back and bit his lip, a light blush taking over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose.

"Fifty two reasons why I love you…?" Misty read aloud, her own blush suddenly tinting her pale grey-white skin.

Her tone started off dull but by the end of the sentence it grew higher and more bouncy with curiosity.

Misty began flicking through her husband's gift, her mouth hanging open slightly. By around the eighth reason, her aquamarine orbs were filled with tears and the blush was more apparent on her face. I glanced at Ash and saw he was sheepishly looking at the floor. I looked back to Misty and was remembering all the reasons Ash had come up with, with me by his side.

I wondered if she liked the seventh one best? Or perhaps the twenty first? Or maybe even the fifty second?

Once Misty had reached the end of all the reasons, she held the deck close to her heart and flung her other arm around her husband's neck. Ash pulled her as close as I'd ever seen him do before and I jumped onto the window sill to let them have an uninterrupted hug. Misty's shoulders began shaking and my own throat filled with a lump. She had been through so much in a short few weeks so I knew she was touched by her husband's gesture.

Ash pulled Misty's face away from his chest to wipe the tears from her cheeks before pressing kisses all over her face. Misty giggled quietly and put the cards in her night shirt pocket before wrapping her arms around his neck. She looked at him with watering eyes and a sincere smile.

"Thank you, Ash…" she mumbled, stroking his zigzag on his right cheek lovingly. "Even though I'm ugly as sin right now, you did that for me…"

Ash shook his head in disagreement before moving his hands to hold both sides of his wife's face.

"Shhh, Mist, you're always beautiful…" he smiled lovingly and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "And just because you're going through a hard time right now, doesn't mean any of those reasons change or go away. I'm here for you, Mist, and I'm always going to be here and loving you."

When Ash's mini speech ended, those two's lips soon fell on each other's into a tender yet passionate kiss.

I left them alone to enjoy their time together and I headed to where Misty had been previously laying to soak up her warmth.

Everybody in our gang had gone through some bad things in their lives but we have all become stronger and closer because of it. It was so hard watching Misty go through her struggle but it made me beyond proud to have known her as a fiery ten year old and now as a maternal and strong woman. At times Misty feared that she would lose the people she loved the most due to her difficulties but she couldn't have been more wrong. We are all still here for her, by her side and fighting alongside her. Her pain was spread to us and at times it was unbearable but we stayed by her side. Do you know why? That's just what happens when you love someone. Misty was, still is and always will be, worth it.

The End.

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 This story will run alongside the chapter of "PS I Miss You" I will be uploading on the 28th. That chapter includes all the reasons Ash wrote :P Thanks again for reading and see you next week!

AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3