Hello :P It is Wednesday so I am back for the last Pikachu Tales PokeShipping Week/Month theme. There's still a Dear Darlings one to go though :P Like I mentioned last week, the theme for this one is "Their Relationship Through The Eyes of Others". I enjoyed writing this one because it focuses on what the others see and also a little bit of James and Misty and James, Misty and Ash as a trio. Not to mention the mention of Misty's parents, who get to come back down from "up there" to attend Ash and Misty's Vow Renewal :3 I hope you enjoy!

Ages:

Misty: 30

James: 37

Ash: 30

Disclaimer: I own only the story :3

I looked up from having a cuddle with Misty on her lap and her hand paused mid hair from stroking my back when the door to the Ketchum's living room opened. As soon as James entered the room and gave us a smile, I noticed how Misty was quick to return it and her eyes lit up. I smiled fondly to myself and rested my head on her other times. It was crazy how times would change. All those years ago, we would have groaned and his and the other ex-rocketeers presence. But now we were delighted. We had all become family.

Misty continued smiling and sat further up on the sofa, lifting me gently off her lap to cross her legs before placing me back and giving my ears a rub. I let out a coo of happiness and nuzzled back into her.

"Hey Jimmy." She greeted and looked up at him, her other hand automatically going to play with her bangs while she spoke to her best friend. She was about to open her mouth and ask how he was when her eyes dropped down to his hand and she saw the square and wrapped present he was holding.

James shut the door behind him, noticing her expression and seeing that her eyes had spotted what he was holding. He pretended to roll his eyes fondly and smirked more, not saying anything but switching the present so it was in his other hand.

Misty continued looking at him like an innocent child, gently gesturing to herself with her finger.

"Is that for me?" she asked, although it was completely obvious. Now that James had quite the amount of money, he would always come round here with presents either for her or for the children. Whether he had bought them or it was something from his own jewellery collection that Katie had had her eye on for a while.

Aside from his generosity, Ash and Misty's Vow Renewal was just a few short days away so of course the present was most likely going to be theirs. In addition to this, James had wrapped it in paper that was colours both Ash and Misty often liked to wear and see each other in. Sweet.

James laughed fondly at Misty's hopeful expression and decided to tease her. He approached her and flopped on the sofa next to her after kicking off his shoes.

"No, it isn't for you. It's for someone else." He just smiled innocently and didn't say anything else, waiting for her to join in.

Misty knew her best friend well and they had very much the same humour. She pretended to sigh sadly and pouted, her hand now going to her chest as if it was acting.

"Oh. Oh well. I guess that's okay." She pretended to shrug in disappointment before reaching to give him a gentle shove. "Let me guess, you've been buying my dad presents again? Or is it my mom this time?"

After James couldn't help but blush and narrow his eyes, he continued holding onto the present while running a hand through his hair.

"It just might be for my new best friend Jordan."

Misty narrowed her eyes jokingly back but couldn't keep up the act for long as she sighed happily, her hand going back to stroking her bangs. I knew she felt so lucky that her parents had come down from up there to be able to be there for the Vow Renewal service. She was so glad. She was even gladder that her best friend and her father got on so well. Even if it meant she had to hear jokes about James replacing her with her father. And even if Ash got a little bit pouty and wanted to hang out with the "big boys".

I cuddled into Misty's chest as the orange haired female smiled at her best friend and rested her cheek on his shoulder.

"I know it's for me, you idiot. Well, me and Ash. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was for my dad."

James laughed and wrapped his arm around her finally handing her the gift that was for her. While holding her, his other hand continued stroking his hair.

"Yeah well, we are close. We were considering matching haircuts for the ceremony but there's no way his would grow as long as mine in three days."

Misty laughed and held onto the present but her eyes were on her best friend. At that moment she was more interested in talking to him than opening the box.

"I wouldn't be surprised about that either. Maybe you'll have to cut yours a bit after the ceremony and meet my dad halfway."

After James laughed at her joke that was maybe not a joke, he watched her eyes go back to the box with intrigue. He smiled at her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Open it, munchkin. It's a present for the Vow Renewal."

Misty smiled gratefully at her best friend before hesitating as she held onto one corner of the paper. Her mouth hung open to speak but James stopped her, knowing her too well.

"You don't have to wait for Ash. It's still a present for you both and you'll keep discovering stuff about it. I hope you like it."

Misty frowned even more curiously before nodding, happily ripping off the paper. I smirked fondly and glanced at James but he was fine with his careful wrapping and colour coordinated paper being torn to shreds and tossed on the floor. Soon the present was bare. Misty breathed out and held onto what seemed to be a large book with both hands. She swallowed before reading what was on the front.

"Ash and Misty: Through The Eyes of Us."

Before Misty could turn to James and look at him with questioning eyes, he smiled shyly at her and took the book off her. He carefully undid the ribbon at the side of the pages before looking back at her.

"It's a photo album all filled with photos that we've taken of you guys without you knowing. I got a lot of people to contribute to it and write little notes and blessings and why you work so well together and such. I even got the little ones to take part too. Katie said the cutest thing. She asked-"

Before James could continue his shy and sheepish ramblings anymore, Misty threw her arms around his neck and gave him the biggest and tightest hug ever. I got squashed a little but I was happy to move away and let them have their moment.

James laughed shyly and hugged her back, sitting further up on the sofa to wrap his arms further around her. He didn't say anything and waited for her to speak. Misty blinked back her grateful tears and sniffed slightly, cuddling into his chest as she held onto him. When she pulled away, she looked at him with dainty tear stained cheeks.

"Thank you, James. Thank you so much, that's such a thoughtful present."

When James just smiled at her, happy that his gift and idea had gone down well, Misty moved closer and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Really, James, thank you for everything. You've done so much for Ash and I and our family over the years and I am so excited and so lucky that you'll be walking me down the aisle to Ash again but with my dad this time too."

Upon hearing this, James nodded and smiled, his eyes lighting up at the honour of getting to hand Misty over to Ash for the second time.

Misty sighed happily, taking the book back from him and stroking the front cover as she rested the back of her head against his chest.

"I'm really intrigued what kind of stuff you have in here." She glanced to smile back at him before going back to stroking the lettering on the front.

James smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"So open it."

And that she did. Both Misty and I's hearts melted at all the photos of the forever in love couple and messages and blessings from all the amazing people we knew. There was a photo of Ash and Misty in the kitchen together with a message from Delia to her beloved son and daughter in law. There was a hand drawn sketch of Ash and Misty cuddled up on the sofa together drawn by Gary. There was a photo of Ash and Misty tucking their twins into bed taken by Lynne, with a heart in her handwriting next to the photo.

Misty beamed with love and she was about to turn the page when her other half came bounding it. He shut the door clumsily behind him and kicked off his shoes, pretending to scowl as he saw James holding Misty close to him.

"Hey, hands off my almost to be wife for the second time." He narrowed his eyes at him before humming cheerfully, barging in on the sofa between them and causing James to roll his eyes. Ash didn't notice and pressed a kiss to Misty's cheek before smiling curiously.

"Whatcha got there, Mist? Did you open the present without me?" he pouted somewhat for real, his curious eyes going wide with hurt.

Misty giggled lovingly at him and pressed a kiss to his cheek before deciding to use James' words to explain it to him.

"It's a present for both of us, Ashy, don't worry. And we'll continue discovering things about it together."

After Ash smiled at the affection from his wife before going back to looking at her curiously, Misty handed the book over to Ash. Soon he saw exactly what she was talking about.

He beamed as he saw all the photos and drawings and the messy handwriting. There was a photo of Ash and Misty preparing his favourite snack of bananas from Ben. There was a photo of Ash and Misty having a kiss in the Pokémon Master's car from Eddie. There was a little doodle of Jayden standing between Ash and Misty on their wedding day from the little curly haired boy.

Ash sighed happily and continued beaming, looking at each and every one of the photos and messages from the wonderful group surrounding the couple. He was so pleased with the present that he let James take hold of Misty's hand again.

As he did so, Ash turned to look at James, giving him a shove and handing the book back to him.

"Let's see what stuff you wrote about Misty and I James. Did you take any cheeky photos of us that I might like?"

Misty blushed lightly upon hearing this and narrowed her eyes at her husband. James was also in a good mood and decided to play along too, rolling his eyes at Ash and shaking his head.

"No of course not. But in my speech I'll be describing what you guys get up to in great detail."

After James said this joke innocently and Ash pretended to nod his head in understanding, Misty blushed even deeper and narrowed her eyes for real at the pair.

"Don't you dare, James. And don't you dare encourage each other." She sniffed slightly after her telling off, causing the guys to laugh and shove one and other.

Soon enough they both laughed and wrapped their arms around their wife and best friend, pressing a kiss to each of her cheeks. She continued sniffing and snatched the book back, curious herself for what her best friend had written.

James suddenly turned shy and leaned further back on the sofa, his hand going to play with his hair as it was about to be revealed how he really felt about the couple.

Misty noticed this and smirked teasingly at him, resting her feet on his legs to annoy him.

"I bet you've put it on a secret hidden page but I'll be able to find it anyway." She stuck her nose in the air teasingly but soon had to look down so she could glance at the pages she was turning.

The lavender haired male tried to hide his shyness and continued playing with his strand, shrugging.

"What kind of savage do you think I am? I definitely put a lot more than one photo in that book. There's quite a few so take your pick."

Misty laughed fondly and Ash laughed curiously. Soon enough, with the help of each other, they found a whole page from James with just one photo dedicated to the loving pair. Ash glanced at Misty and smiled at her, indicating for her to read. She nodded to tell him she understood before looking at the photo.

There was a simple photo of them at the lake together and on a rowing boat. Neither of their hands were on the oars. Their hands were linked to each other's and they were staring with such deep love into each other's eyes. Misty sniffed lovingly at the memory and reached to hold onto Ash's hand as she read what James had written beneath it.

"You two are a perfect couple. You are not perfect because you don't have any flaws; you're perfect because you don't give up on each other no matter what and you always look for the best in one and other, no matter what life is handing out to you and no matter what state you are in. Ash and Misty - the definition of love."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and Misty was quick to hand the book for her husband to hold as once again, she threw her arms around her best friend and held tightly onto him.

She blinked back her tears and let Ash speak for her. My raven haired best friend just smiled happily and put the book down, joining into the hug himself. Soon enough I was invited into the warmth too.

There were a million things we all wanted to say to one and other but we didn't. Instead, we just held onto one and other, our beating hearts and loving arms saying everything that needed to be said.

After the gentle silence, Ash finally pulled away from the hug to smirk teasingly at James, noticing the other male's hand was on his shoulder.

"I knew you loved us really."

James just pretended to shrug and he shut his eyes. When his arms moved further around us all, they pulled us all in for a tighter hug, even Ash. He patted his shoulder while his other hand stroked Misty's hair.

"I love one of you." He replied simply, opening one eye and smirking, knowing all too well what Ash was most likely to do.

Before Misty could say anything, Ash sighed contentedly and hugged onto us all just as tightly back, keeping his own eyes shut.

"I know it's me that you love out of us two." He smirked, pressing a kiss to his wife's cheek and patting James' back. "It sucks to be you, Mist."

After I pulled away from the hug and let that new trio continue their love and their teasings, I beamed to myself.

The truth was, it didn't suck to be any of us. We had all found each other in such peculiar ways but we were definitely destined to be a family. Sometimes we all forget that we are not technically joined by blood. But we are joined by the love, admiration and respect that we all share for one and other. Like James said, Ash and Misty truly are a perfect couple because they know they each have flaws but they accept one and other no matter what. I think the same can be said for each and every member of the group, no matter what their relation is to one and other. Life happens and things get in the way. But we all choose to see the best in one and other and we choose to act on the feelings we have and keep each other in our lives. We chose to believe that Ash and Misty would be together forever and in love forever and we were right. We were so right. And that's how it feels to be in the presence of an amazing couple. Just so right.

The End.

There you go! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 This was one of my favourite ones to write because it shows how special Ash and Misty are to a lot of people and shows how much support they have around them and what people truly think. Especially James, who constantly jokes and makes fun about Ash and Misty. He truly does respect and admire them a lot, together and apart :3 Thanks again and I will be back on the 28th with Dear Darlings so see you then!

AmyBieberKetchum signing out :P