Sorry for the wait but covid is no joke literally had some of the worst weeks of my life this past year. As for covid itself wasn't the worst but holy crap the body aches are no joke, my ankle felt like it was broken. Then tax season was another mess but i think i got it all sorted out. Ay but on the bright side i got a ps5 on launch day so that was cool. If any of you are struggling with this virus, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and warm tea it does wonders for the throat and most importantly know when to call the ER. Thank god a vaccine is out. As for the chapter I tried getting this out in march but then Irad popped up mean I had to update remember me? First. On the bright side it gave me more time to edit this chapter. (also remember chapter 12 was just an one shot)

Chapter 13: One week later

It was dark out and Dawn was out cold clinging onto me as one would expect, and I as usual couldn't sleep. I felt... warm to say the least, it was getting close to summer and that usually meant I wasn't going to get a good night's sleep due to warm nights like this. The last week had been relatively quiet compared to the past. Thankfully I haven't seen shade at all, I've been wanting to avoid her since she dropped that bomb on me. However there was another thing on my mind practically eating away at my stomach.

Tomorrow is my 21st birthday, everyone tends to make a big deal over it but to be honest I'm not really looking forward to it. I felt like vomiting, 21 years… I don't really know what I'm doing with my life. My one goal is gone, what am I supposed to do now?

Arceus I hate this, My birthday is just a reminder of the crappy life I started out with not to mention that it feels like an evaluation of what I haven't accomplished. Before I met Dawn the most that would happen is that my parents would pat me on the head and just call it a day (and that was if they remembered) followed by a beatdown at school.

The kids at my school got actual affection from their parents for their birthday. Meanwhile I had to bust my ass off daily in preparation for when my parents decide to kick me out. And boy were they counting til the second I turned 18 for that.

...

Honestly I envy some of the pokemon here, unlike me they have loved ones to celebrate with, ones that actually care for them. Sure I have Dawn now but I highly doubt she even knows about my birthday. I just want to ignore it all yet every year without fail I always have that sinking feeling on that day.

"Arceus look at me, I sound like a selfish brat. I'm still whining about the cards fate gave me when my life is starting to turn for the better… Just ignore it, treat tomorrow like any normal day" I told myself as I eventually forced myself to sleep finding comfort as I snuggled closer to Dawn.

The next day Dawn POV

I had woken up early as I initially planned and reluctantly let go of Spike. The brisk morning air greeted me as Iet go. "Arceus I just want to snuggle up to him" I thought to myself in my tired stupor. Trying to let go is like trying to get rid of an addiction. Averting my gaze to Spike I noticed him shuffling in his sleep as if he was looking for me, my heart practically melted at that.

"He may not show it as often, but he cares a lot"

He's so warm, I don't know what it is about him but every time I snuggle up to him I can almost never let go. Spike looked so peaceful which was nice to see, he's usually so... distraught. However, today I want to change that, I know it's his birthday. I managed to find out through his library card.

"I can't believe he's turning 21 and he didn't tell me!" I huffed to myself annoyed at the fact.

He never mentioned it beforehand, but I wasn't clueless I could tell he didn't want to make a big deal over it. I don't even know if he's ever celebrated it and If he did I'm pretty sure they weren't very remarkable from the picture he painted of his parents. My mother used to do the planning for my birthdays by herself, I can fit into that role fine. Smiling, I thought back on my own birthdays, my extended family would usually show up, but Spike he has no one...

I want to make this his best birthday ever, he's done so much for me and I want to surprise him for that. "Okay just need to pick up the cake and find a proper gift for him" I whispered quietly to myself. Initially I had bought him a gift already, it was a novel from an author Spike loves, however a book didn't really feel fitting for a birthday gift especially for his 21st. Before I left I couldn't help but peck his cheek before leaving.

"I hope I didn't wake him"

Later...

I was in town square, I had just picked up the cake and was on my way to find a better gift. It was a modest cake enough for just the two of us. "Just please make this work, make it special for him" I kept whispering to myself only to walk into a shop. Spike doesn't exactly have any possessions he'd consider prized so I wasn't sure what I wanted to give him.

My eyes wandered around the isles studying every object until my eyes locked onto a custom leather satchel. It didn't look like much at a glance but upon further inspection it was very well made. Thinking back on it Spike never really had a bag to carry anything, he was always stuck carrying things with his maw or that raggedy bag. I ended up grabbing the satchel with my ribbons, it was something I thought he'd appreciate. Before I came up to the front desk my eyes locked onto an azure scarf. It may have not been winter, but imagining Spike with that scarf on made my heart flutter. I decided to go with both the scarf and satchel, it may be much but it was all worth it if it were for Spike. Leaving the store only I bumped into someone I didn't expect.

it was Shade

"O-oh uh hi" she greeted awkwardly I waved one of my ribbons dismissively in response. Part of me wanted to glare at her or just tell her to keep her paws off of Spike but I kept holding my mask, I didn't want to cause any drama. Besides, who was I to talk? Spike hasn't completely returned my feelings for him.

"I wouldn't call it love quite yet" His voice rang in my mind painfully.

"I will let my love blossom"

I just wanted to walk away and head back to Spike's, but before I could I was stopped by Shade. "I know you probably don't want to see my face but…. Do you mind giving this to Spike? And tell him I said happy birthday." She timidly spoke only to hand over a box neatly wrapped with a ribbon.

"How did she even know?" Was the only thought that flew through my head. Shade looked at me with a hopeful expression causing me to look at the box contemplating if Spike would even want anything from her. Noticing my pause, her hopeful expression seemed to crumble as I made up my mind "...Okay I'll give it to him-" I replied only to get cut off by shade.

"Thank you I-"

"But it's up to Spike to accept it, and if I'm being frank he's still upset at you especially after what you pulled." I cut her off trying my best to make it sound friendly despite the truth.

"I-I know... I'll see you two around eventually" she replied as if she was painfully aware only to walk away. I felt a little uneasy when she said that. She already knows where he lives.

"That girl…"

Back with Spike…

I woke up and to my surprise I didn't see Dawn next to me, part of me was slightly worried but I brushed it off. Welp I guess it's just going to be me today.

"She's probably busy today anyways" I thought to myself as I stretched my limbs only to grab a couple of coins in my maw. I was a bit too lazy to cook and decided to head out for breakfast. I placed the coins in my bag as I started to notice the small tears and wear the bag had. It wasn't much after all it was made from rags. "I seriously should just bite the bullet and buy a satchel." I thought as I stepped out of my home only to stop by the pond and wash my face. Looking at my reflection only one thought flew by my head

"I'm 21… yet I don't feel as if I matured" That sense of unease returned. "Ignore it just ignore it please…"

Arceus what's wrong with me, I'm fine why am I acting like this? "Why can I just say to myself that I'm doing okay? that I'm so much better than okay?!" I practically yelled to myself. I felt like I was going to vomit yet I wasn't nauseated. I hate this, I wanted to scream and slam my head against a wall. Suddenly the feeling vanished, replaced with a warm comforting one as I felt Dawn leaning on me. It felt nice.

"Are you ok?"

"I should be fine my life is turning for the better yet- I don't even know how to put it…"

"Do you want to talk about it?" She tentatively asked

...

"I-I don't want to sound like I'm whining... but maybe it'll help" I sighed as Dawn motioned me inside. "Come on, I wanted to show you something." Dawn urged, which piqued my interest. However a part of me had a feeling of what it was, but there was no way, I never told her before. Yet when I walked back into my den I was greeted with a small cake and two neatly wrapped gifts.

"Happy birthday Spike." She crooned as she kissed my cheek causing my face to flush. I was stunned, I didn't know how to feel. She did all of this for me. I stepped closer to the sight trying to take it all in only to turn and face her.

"Why would you do something like this for me? this day- I don't ev-"

"Don't you even think about getting all self loathing on me, this day is more valuable than you could possibly imagine." She lashed out smacking my cheek with one of her ribbons.

"Ow! Dawn that-" I was then cut off.

"If you didn't want to make a big deal over it you could have told me" She huffed with an upset pout only for it to quickly diminish.

"Do you have any idea how much you mean to me?" She murmured as her frown melted to a more comforting gaze only for her ribbon to rub my cheek lovingly. There it is again that warm feeling as if I was burning. "I didn't just do this because it was your birthday spike, I did this because you mean more than anything to me, without you I don't know what I'd be doing now…" She spoke quietly causing me to walk up to her and hold her close. No one had ever done this for me. I didn't know how to feel, whatever it was that I felt it was a feeling I was unfamiliar with.

"So what is bothering you? I know that look…" She questioned.

"It's like I said earlier, it shouldn't be bothering me this badly, I mean my life has gotten a lot better, yet at the end of the day I don't know what i'm doing with it anymore."

"Anymore?"

Crap… I didn't mean to let that last part slip out, let alone make it sound like that. "Let her know she deserves to know" Arceus I wasn't ready for this conversation. "I should have told you this much sooner, please don't say anything until I'm done." I started causing Dawn to look at me attentively and nod subtly as I took a deep breath.

"Before I met you Dawn I had plans of leaving… I just wanted to leave this town after everything that happened. I just wanted to run away from my old life and make a new one for myself, just start fresh. I had this planned since I was in high school I didn't really care what region I ended up at as long as it wasn't here. I didn't have anything here, no friends, no family that cared. This is why I started working at a young age, my parents were already counting down until I turned 18 to kick me out anyway." I felt as if I should stop as I looked at Dawn's saddened expression, yet I kept going.

"Despite the fact I practically wasted away my free time on work I still didn't have enough money to leave by the time I graduated. So I got this crappy den to crash at while I busted my ass off on manual labor. I kept working to the point it felt like second nature, my days were not much to write home about then. Eventually I got close to that goal, but then you came into the picture…" I turned away in shame for the next bit.

"I won't lie, a part of me wanted to call off the relationship when we first started. That was a bit of the reason why I ran off multiple times. I was selfish, so selfish and I thought by not telling you I was sparing you... But I gave us a shot and over time I felt less willing to leave. Maybe it was the fact I finally had someone who cared about me or maybe it was just you rubbing off on me. At the end of the day I gave up on that dream to stay with you, and I don't have any regrets about giving up. Yet at the same time I don't know what I'm doing anymore... Look at me 21 yet I don't have my life figured out, Arceus I sound so immature." I finished with a sigh of annoyance at myself.

Dawn looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "Jeez, maybe this was a mistake" I thought to myself looking away. I'm in the dog-house now. "If you're angry with me I understand, I should've told you soone-UNF!" I was cut off as Dawn tackled me kissing me multiple times without mercy. I tried to pull away but Dawn's ribbons only pulled me closer. "Don't you dare try to pull away" She practically scolded

"I-" I tried to speak but her ribbons beat me to the punch shushing me

"Not a word… Do you have any idea- You gave up on that, for me?" She sniffled her annoyance turning to confusion as tears began to stream down her cheeks causing me to nod lightly. "You're all I got Dawn, even if I left at the end of the day I'd still be alone. Like I said before you're stuck with me" I replied with a light chuckle wiping away her tears. Dawn then lunged forward mashing her lips against my own. "I love you- I love you so much" She breathed in between kisses. My face flared immediately as that warm feeling returned like an inferno, arceus I must've been embarrassed.

Once everything had calmed down we lit the candles and Dawn sang to me happy birthday which honestly felt a little awkward since she was the only one singing. But if I was being real her voice sounded beautiful. We dug into the baked goods, it was a cheesecake which no lie is one of my favorite desserts next to pie.

…

Afterwards Dawn then handed me her gift, I had never gotten anything like this before. Closest thing I got for a gift was when the teachers gave all the students free books before winter break in elementary. "Okay I'll bite, how did you even find out?" I asked. "You kinda had your library card lying about a couple weeks back" She spoke nervously twiddling her ribbons causing me to chuckle lightly.

Giddiness filled my senses as I opened my gift as I was met with a leather satchel. "Guess I won't need to buy one after all" a part of me chuckled as the other part was partially horrified over how much Dawn probably paid for this. "Open the satchel." She instructed, causing me to open it as I was met with a neatly folded scarf and underneath. "Wait-" I didn't even finish what I was going to say as soon as I read the title of the book. "I-I don't even-" I couldn't even form a proper sentence. No one had done something this nice for me.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she approached closer..

"What do you mean?"

Suddenly I realized what she meant as I felt tears streaming down my face. "No one has ever-You didn't have to do this for me" I choked up. "I know, but I wanted to. You never got to celebrate this day so I wanted to make it special just for you…" She spoke in a hushed tone. I was finally at ease but then I remembered the fact that there were two boxes. "What's with the second box?" I finally asked. Causing Dawn to take a deep breath. "Believe it or not it's from Shade" She stated as a matter of fact.

"How- What? It's bad enough she knows where I live." I told myself looking at the box lifting it up. I was unsure if I should even open it, why should I even open it? I told her that I didn't even want to be her friend, why can't she accept that?! "Even if it takes me a million years I'll earn your forgiveness" Her words chimed in my head.

"You couldn't just leave me be could you? Dammit, you seriously expect me to accept this? Why? Why me?! Why did it have to be me you're interested in?!" I ranted in my mind. I may have said I don't hate her but it doesn't mean she doesn't get under my fur.

"Remember it's your choice to open it." Dawn brought up.

...

"I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I'm just not ready to open that…" I sighed with guilt. I hated the fact I felt guilty she beat the crap out of me daily but the moment I try to show a bit of backbone and reject something from her I'm the bad guy. "It doesn't make you a jerk Spike, it just makes you like everyone else, the fact you helped her despite everything she put you through makes you the opposite" Dawn tried comforting me as her ribbons brought me into a soft embrace causing me to hold her close as that inferno feeling returned which honestly helped a lot.

To be continued

Wow this is easily my longest chapter to date ended up extending it on 2 separate occasions I wrote so much I pretty got the next and final arc planned out (well a maybe on it being the final arc I had this ending planned since I started it feels a little abrupt so ill probably have one arc after that) Anyways I plan on updating rekindled love next