During what's supposed to be a nice day out with his family, Ethan finds himself reliving the most difficult time of his life.

So I actually wrote this oneshot first, but I thought it was a little bit heavy to start with.

There are references to somebody nearly dying through childbirth in this one.

2:51 a.m. on that day was a time that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Ethan felt his heart drop and stomach lurch as he was passed the small bundle of blankets where his newborn daughter was. What should've been a joyous moment for him was destroyed by the words that had come with it.

Lyra had been sent for an emergency caesarean section, and there had been complications that now resulted in doctors fighting to save her life.

Her pregnancy had been thoroughly unpleasant, in contrast to her first. She'd been exhausted and ill, in and out of hospital consistently throughout the nine months.

Whilst her first pregnancy had been unplanned, but manageable with few complications. Her second had left her in tears at multiple times, desperate for it to end but knowing that she still had months to endure.

And what Ethan thought would finally be an end to her suffering had resulted in this.

The seconds seemed to grow as he processed the news, his daughter's gurgles falling into the background as white noise as a sickening concoction of dread and fear coursed through him.

He was brought out of his stupor by a hand on his shoulder. Lyra's father was standing at his side, eyes shining with tears.

"You need to phone your mum," he said thickly, "Let her know to get Jacob ready. I'll look after her."

Ethan swallowed, suddenly becoming aware of his own wet face, "You think…"

The lack of an answer said everything. He passed his daughter, whom he had yet to name, and pulled out his phone, moving to somewhere quiet to break the news.

"Ethan!"

Ethan woke up with a start. The soft light of the morning was creeping through the curtains and starting to illuminate the bedroom.

"We're taking the kids for a day in the woods to see some wild Pokémon today."

Ethan rolled over to see his wife, she stretched out before turning to get out of bed. She didn't get very far though as Ethan's hands grabbed her nightie before wrapping around her waist and pulling her back into bed.

"We need to get up and get ready."

"Just a few more minutes," Ethan murmured, pulling her close and pressing some kisses into the crook of her neck.

"Good dream?" Lyra smiled, relenting and accepting the affection.

No, but Ethan didn't have to tell her that.

"Sure," Ethan said as he settled, relief that he wasn't back on that morning nearly five years ago coursed through him, "Just until the kids wake up."

Lyra rolled over to face him, pressing a kiss to his lips, "Fine, just a bit longer."

Ethan rubbed his eyes and sipped the coffee he'd gotten from a coffee machine in the waiting room, it was 04:07 a.m. now according to his phone. The midwives had taken his daughter for a check-up to make sure that she was healthy and he was still waiting for an update on Lyra's condition. Exhaustion was starting to creep in but he refused to sleep until he knew Lyra was okay.

He refused to believe that she'd be anything else.

He resumed his pacing, Lyra's dad had fallen asleep and he was the only other person in the waiting room. The sterile smell was starting to irritate him, the ache in his eyes was almost unbearable and the pit of dread sat in his stomach like a lead weight.

He yawned loudly, rubbing his eyes again as another wave of fear washed over him. He sipped the coffee again, despite the fact that he hated it, to try and fight off the tiredness.

"Ethan!"

"Wha-"

"I said," Lyra said, raising an eyebrow at him, "Could you put the cheese back in the fridge?"

"Sure."

"You were off in your own world there," she continued as she packed the sandwiches she'd made into a bag.

"Must still be half-asleep," he replied as he picked up the dishes on the kitchen table.

"Jake said we might see a scary Ursaring!" came a shout from the table as he placed the dishes in the sink.

"And I'm sure he'd be happy to protect you," Ethan replied, earning himself a swat on the arm from Lyra at the sound of the gasps that came from the table.

"Your dad's only joking Lily, there aren't any Ursaring around here" she said, before rounding on her son, "And Jacob, stop scaring your sister."

Ethan walked over to Lily, kissing the top of her head and petting the Cyndaquil that sat in her lap, "Your mum's right, we don't get Ursaring round here. And even if we did, you've got Flicker to protect you. Flora, Aibo and Cynder are coming out with us too."

"Promise?"

"Of course I do," Ethan linked his little finger with hers.

With the promise of protection from the imaginary Ursaring, they managed to get the kids out and into the forest that surrounded New Bark Town. It wasn't long before they spotted a Rattata, gnawing on the roots of a tree.

Lyra easily slipped into her position as Professor Elm's successor, "It's gnawing like that to wear down its teeth, because they never stop growing."

Ethan couldn't remember every time he'd seen a Rattata, being an incredibly common Pokémon in the area and one that a lot of kids in New Bark Town received as a first Pokémon if they didn't receive one from the lab, but Lily seemed to enjoy seeing it. She tugged on his hand to try and go closer but he held firm.

"We don't want to scare it Lulu," he said to her, smiling at her enthusiasm.

Lily pouted, but stayed in place.

"Look!" Jake shouted, frightening the Rattata. Not that he noticed, he was pointing up the sky where a swarm of Ledyba were flying through the trees.

"Those are Ledyba," Lyra explained, "They're incredibly shy when they're alone, so they travel in large groups. Lenny used to be a Ledyba back when your dad first caught him."

Ethan smiled as he flashed back to the timid Ledya he'd caught and tried to reunite with his swarm. Try as he might, he'd never been able to. Lenny wasn't one of the six he primarily used in his battling career, but he'd fulfilled a vital role that required him to be subbed in sometimes and been an important piece in many of the battles he'd entered in his role as Johto's Champion.

Aibo had been following them from the tree line and the Ambipom hung down on one of his tails, dropping right in behind Jake and causing him to jump when he'd turned around. Jake's Chikorita jumped down from his shoulder and shouted angrily before Ethan's trusty Typhlosion separated the two.

"It's okay Tarragon," Jake said, gathering the irritable Grass-Type in his arms, "Aibo was only playing."

Ethan shook his head and raised an eyebrow at his mischievous Normal-Type, who chuckled back and swung back up into the trees.

Ethan had hoped that having his daughter back would be a distraction but instead he was just feeling more stressed, rocking her in his arms to try and quiet her down as she cried. Again he was pulled back into the real world by Lyra's dad.

"Do you want me to try?" he asked, sympathy showing in the eyes he shared with his daughter.

Ethan nodded and wordlessly held the baby out to him. When she was taken, he didn't find his way back to a seat in the waiting room. Instead he slid down the wall and buried his face into his knees, his whole body shaking.

He really couldn't do this without her.

The tears burned his aching eyes even more, this time he didn't even attempt to wipe them away and he was completely uncaring of how pitiful he may have looked to a passerby. Every time he blinked his tears away, it felt like a blessed relief to his tired eyes.

"Ethan!"

Lyra folded her arms and raised an eyebrow at him, stopping dead in front of him. Her Meganium and his Typhlosion started to usher the kids the final few metres to a clearing on the bank of a lake that they'd frequented as children themselves to give them some privacy to talk.

"You're spacing out again." she said with a frown, "Now I know something's up."

"It really isn't important," Ethan sighed, "I'm just being stupid."

Lyra stepped closer at his uncommon reticence to talk, taking one of his hands in hers, "It's not stupid if it's bothering you."

Ethan swallowed, "I had a nightmare last night. Honestly, it was more of a memory."

Lyra ran her thumb across his wedding ring, staying quiet so he could continue.

"It was about the time I nearly lost you," he said softly, finding himself unable to meet her eyes, "And I haven't been able to stop reliving it this morning."

"When Lily was born?"

Ethan nodded.

"I remember waking up and hearing that you'd been awake for the four hours it had taken for the doctors to save me. As soon as you were allowed, you came in holding Lily, with my dad pretty much holding you up and he told me you hadn't named her yet and you still hadn't slept in the two hours it had taken for me to be allowed visitors."

"I couldn't sleep," Ethan said quickly, almost sounding scandalised, "I needed to be awake in case you needed me, in case you were okay."

His voice lowered.

"And especially if you… weren't."

Lyra brought her hand to his face and forced him to look at her, "I know occasionally you'll be forced to go through these memories again, and they'll hurt. But Ethan, I'm fine. I'm safe and I'm happy. And so are your kids."

Ethan pulled her in for a tight hug, "I know."

When they pulled apart, he spoke again, "I'm sorry I've been so spacey this morning."

Lyra had kept hold of his hand and pulled him into step beside her, "C'mon, Lily won't last much longer before she starts complaining about dinner."

"Takes after her mother," Ethan quipped with a smile, earning himself a playful swat.

When they finally made it to the clearing, Jake was leaning over the water, trying to see some Water-Types with Flora's vines around his waist to prevent him from falling in. Meanwhile, Lily was having Flicker finally learn how to use Ember with Cynder's help, crying out with a scream of triumph when a small burst of flame finally flew into the sky, joy in the golden eyes she shared with her father.

"Nah," Lyra smiled back, "Definitely takes after you."

Ethan's smile widened, jogging over to congratulate his daughter with his heart feeling full. He pulled her into a hug and looked over to see Lyra getting Flora to set Jake down before she ruffled his hair and started to explain to him about the Poliwag he'd been able to see.

Lyra was right, his family was safe and happy.

It made him happy too.