"See child? Didn't I tell you there was nothing to worry about?"

Even though he hadn't yet shared the news with her, Bede could hear Opal's voice in his head as he arrived at Wyndon with his new girlfriend by his side. After being dropped off by the taxi, the new couple thanked the driver and headed off into the city.
As they walked down a quiet street, Gloria asked, "Bede, how did you know I was in Frostpoint Field?"

Bede chuckled lightly, "Mr. Wannabe Professor Hop decided to contact Miss Opal and tell her to drag me there. Seriously, could you both had picked a different location? One not so frigid?"

Gloria laughed nervously, "Ahaha… so that's what he meant by having a plan. Okay, in my defense, I didn't know what he was up to until he told me he had sent you to me. All he told me was find somewhere without a lot of people."

Bede nodded, "Hm, I see. That sounds just like Hop. How irritating…"

Gloria sighed, "But I suppose that didn't work either way. Since we still got interrupted… heheh…"

Bede observed their surroundings. Once affirming that not a lot of people were around, he decided to step in front of Gloria, "Then let's try this again. Hm?"

Gloria looked up at him, "Huh? Bede…?"

He took her hands, "Gloria, how do you feel about me?"

Gloria quickly caught on, "Ah! Ehehe… Bede, I love you!" She made sure to keep her focus on his eyes.

He returned a smile that sent her heart racing. He replied, "I love you too, Gloria."

Gloria giggled and embraced him. His eyes widened slightly in surprise, before returning the gesture. Gloria felt like she could've shot up in the air like a firework, "I can't believe this is happening! If I'm dreaming… I don't want to wake up!" His arms felt warm around her, a sharp contrast to the chilly, autumn air around them.

He spoke softly, "Gloria… I'm so glad that you stood up for me against Oleana."

Gloria looked into his eyes while still holding him, his gaze met hers. She smiled, "It… well, it's not like I hadn't done that before. Heheh…"

Bede continued, "I've been wanting someone to do that for me for so long. It meant so much."

She felt his arms around her squeeze a little tighter, "Thank you… very much, Gloria." He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "I love you…"

Gloria's breath caught in her throat, and she felt a shiver up her spine. In response, she squeezed him tight, "I love you too!"

Her declaration sent his heart pounding. They spent the next several minutes just like that. Holding onto one another, like there wasn't anything else in the world.

"It never crossed my mind that I'd end up like this." Bede admitted, "Let alone with you."

Gloria understood, "The feeling is mutual. I take it you're not disappointed?"

"Not at all."

During this time, the blue hour cast a pinkish-blue tint over the city. The dim light caused the streetlight above them to switch on, casting light on the couple like a spotlight. The couple noticed immediately.

Gloria laughed, "Ahaha! Look at us, like we're on a stage!"

Bede wasn't so amused, "Uh… Let's go elsewhere."

Gloria nodded and took his hand, "Come on, we can go to that park where we had that one chat!"

"That one chat?" Bede inquired as they started to walk.

Gloria smiled wide, "You remember, where you found me after the Galarian Star Tournament! Where it all began!" She winked.

"O-oh!" Bede remembered, "Ah… yes." He couldn't help but smile.

While strolling, Bede couldn't help but be hyper vigilant of their surroundings. His senses would particularly sharpen anytime other people would walk by. Especially if they seemed to be staring for too long.

Gloria noticed this, "Are you okay, Bede?"

"Yes, I am. I just know people are going to recognize us."

Gloria shrugged, "Eh, let them. People have already started to notice anyway. Leon told me the other day."

Bede nodded, "I'm aware. I was asked that question by a challenger the other day. If you and I are dating."

Gloria giggled, "Well, we are now!"

This made Bede smile and chuckle.

The pair paused upon reaching the center of the city, where the large concrete centerpiece of various statues resembling the Rookidee evolution line stood tall.

"I always thought that was so cool!" Gloria enthused, pointing at the large Corviknight statue in the center, "It looks real when the sun goes down!"

Bede observed, "I can see why. With less light, it does seem more life-like."

"We're almost at the park! Let's keep going!"

The couple didn't notice that a group of people taking photos around the statue had seen them. They began to converse amongst themselves.

"Hey, that was the Gym Leader, Bede!"

"It was! Who was that girl he was with?"

"That was the Champion, Gloria!"

"No way!"

"I heard that they had been seeing each other. Do you think they might be dating?"

"Ohh, that would be so cute if they were!"

"They were pretty competitive with each other during the Gym Challenge weren't they? I mean, Bede interrupted the Championship Tournament just to challenge her!"

"Aww, it's like a cute little love story! From hate to love!"

The group fell into a fit of giggles among the gossip.

In the meantime, Gloria and Bede had reached the park where they had that fated meeting. Gloria deliberately walked up to the bench where she had sat on that night and took a seat again. Bede sat next to her.

"Ahaha!" Gloria laughed, "This is the place!"

Bede smiled, "You're so chipper about this."

"I can't help it!" Gloria grinned, "This is where we started!"

Bede smiled impishly, "Actually, where we started was in that mine. But I understand what you're implying."

"That's when you were into the Psychic-type. You were such a jerk back then!" She jested.

Bede laughed it off, "I was under a lot of pressure back then…"

That's when something crossed Gloria's mind, "Say um… Bede? Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

Gloria was a bundle of nerves asking this, "I'm so sorry if this is a little much… but I have to ask…"

Bede averted his eyes, "Why do I have the feeling I'm not going to like this question?"

"I ah… I mean, it's okay if you don't want to talk about this." Gloria suggested, "I just… really want to know."

"What is it?" Bede relented.

She got just a little closer to him and glanced around. There was no one else around, but she still spoke quietly, "Bede… I heard a long time ago that…" She stopped, not knowing how to put this into words. She didn't want to come across as insensitive, but her curiosity was now at an intense high.

"Yes?" Bede inquired.

"I'm so sorry if this sounds like I'm prying. But I… heard that you didn't have any family."

Gloria regretted her words the second she saw Bede flinch. She began frantically apologizing, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be so blunt…"

Bede shook his head, "It's all right. Don't worry. I… haven't spoken about that with anyone. But… if I'm going to. I want it to be with you." He took a deep, trembling breath. Recalling the memories of his troubled past. Gloria listened intently as he went into painful detail. She was horrified at how someone could go through so much hardship. Why would fate be so cruel to one person? For what purpose could entail so much suffering? Now she fully knew what Oleana was talking about earlier… and a lot of other things suddenly made sense.

At the end of his explanation, Gloria's mouth was agape from shock, "I… can't believe it… you've gone through so much."

Bede could feel tears coming, and he fought hard to fight them back. He didn't want to break down in front of her, "I… try not to think about it too much."

"Bede?"

He looked away, "What?" A tear fell from his eye.

Gloria immediately recognized his emotional state. She put her arms around him while checking their surroundings, "Let's go over here." She led him to a spot away from potential spying eyes. Several well-trimmed bushes concealed them. Gloria immediately embraced him without a second thought, much to Bede's shock. He attempted several deep breaths to calm down, but only managed to tremble.

"It's okay, Bede. I'm here for you." Gloria assured him, "I'll always be by your side."

Bede broke down into fits of sobs with tears streaming down. He hugged Gloria very tight. His heart going a million beats per minute. In all his years of life, being this close to someone never crossed his mind. All the emotions that he had been keeping bottled up all these years had suddenly burst. Gloria held onto him, not minding the tears.
Rays of city lights shone between the leaves, witnesses to their emotional interlude.

Gloria would hold onto him for as long as it took, she didn't care how much time went by. She will now always be there for him. It didn't take long for them to get lost in the other's embrace.

"It's… gotten so late." Bede finally spoke, after having calmed down.

Gloria looked at her rotom phone, and sure enough. It was late. So late that she was shocked.

"Whoa… we've been out here a long time!" She couldn't help but giggle about it.

Bede shook his head with a warm smile, "Gloria… I would love to spend more time with you. But I must excuse myself. I still have a gym to run after all."

Gloria acted coy, "Aw, you have to go? Oh, okay."

This act earned a blush from Bede, "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Haha! Okay, Bede!"

After climbing into the taxi that she had called to take her home, Gloria turned around once more to wave at Bede. And for good measure, she called out to him, "Bede, I love you!" She then bashfully leapt into the car and hurriedly signaled the driver to start flying.

Bede joyfully watched the cab lift into the air and go off into the distance. Before calling a taxi for himself and leaving.

Back in Postwick, Gloria was relieved to see the lights in her house off. This meant her parents were fast asleep. She felt like she was in a minefield as she tip-toed up the steps and reached for the front door. The normally quiet creaking of the door opening felt a thousand times louder. It was a calm, settling feeling getting into the house and taking in the silence and darkness around her. But it didn't take long for the excitement of what happened to make her feel like squealing. So, she hurried to her room, closing the door.

"Aaah! I feel like I could Dynamax!" Gloria spoke, trying to be as quiet as possible.

Two of her pokeballs opened up. Emerging from the light was none other than Rillaboom and Flareon, they were looking at her with proud eyes.

"Oh, you two. I'm so happy!"

Both turned to each other before looking back at her and nodding. Gloria knew she had their acceptance, even if it was still a little reluctant.

With nothing left to do, Gloria got herself into bed and quickly fell asleep.