Love and Laughter
The Ketchum Mansion was quiet, the hum of life softly filling its expansive halls. Misty stood in the kitchen, humming a tune as she diced vegetables, her fiery red hair tied up in a loose bun. The mansion still had that new-home smell—fresh wood, paint, and endless possibilities. It had only been three weeks since she and Ash moved in, and every day here felt like a new chapter of their story.
Upstairs, Ash was in their bedroom, rummaging through his closet. He grabbed his favorite hoodie, one Misty had teased him about countless times for being too casual, but it was comfortable, and that was enough for him.
"Hey, Mist!" Ash called as he jogged down the stairs, adjusting the hoodie over his black t-shirt to prevent cold.
Misty peeked her head out from the kitchen, raising an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"I'm heading out to catch up with Gary and Brock. Probably going to be out late."
Misty leaned against the doorway, crossing her arms. "Oh? What's the plan?"
"Just hanging out, having drinks, catching up," Ash said with a grin. "We'll probably have dinner there, too."
Misty's lips twitched into a small smile. "I'll still cook something for you. Knowing you, you'll come back hungry after the drive home."
Ash laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know me too well. Thanks, Mist."
Her tone turned serious, though her eyes were still warm. "Just… don't drink too much, okay? And promise me you won't get into any fights with anyone in there."
Ash smirked, his hands in his hoodie pockets. "What kind of troublemaker do you think I am?"
Misty gave him a pointed look.
"Okay, okay, I promise," Ash said with a chuckle, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek. "See you later!"
XXX
The restaurant buzzed with energy, a cozy spot that Ash, Gary, and Brock had often frequented during their downtime. Ash walked in to find Gary and Brock already seated at a table, laughing over something.
"Finally!" Gary said, spotting Ash and raising a glass. "The Pokémon Master graces us with his presence!"
Ash rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his grin as he slid into the booth beside Gary. "Oh, please. You've been calling me 'Pokémon Master' for three weeks straight."
"Can you blame me? It's not every day your best friend actually achieves his childhood dream," Gary said, smirking. "And, I might add, it's all thanks to Misty. She's your lucky charm, you know."
Ash shook his head with a chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. She's definitely my good luck."
Gary leaned back in his seat, his tone light as he glanced at Ash. "Man, four months of marriage, and life's already a bit different. With Kayla being seven months along now, I've been spending more time at home, cutting back on work a little."
Brock smirked, leaning forward with a teasing grin. "Cutting back on work or running around doing her errands?"
Gary rolled his eyes. "Both. But I can't complain—it's exciting. You'll see one day, Brock. Or maybe not, considering your track record."
Ash laughed. "Yeah, Brock, what happened to keeping a girlfriend for more than a month?"
Brock shot them both a mock glare. "Please, I'm picky. Lila's the real deal this time. A botanist, smart, beautiful—she's perfect."
"Sure," Gary said, smirking. "Let's see if she sticks around after you start your usual flirting spree."
"Hey, I've turned over a new leaf!" Brock protested, and the table erupted in laughter.
Gary turned to Ash, his expression softening. "Speaking of big life changes, how's the wedding planning going? February's not that far off."
"It's going good," Ash said with a grin. "Misty's handling most of the planning. I just nod and agree so I don't get in trouble."
"Smart man," Gary said, raising his glass. "And hey, let me just say it again—Misty's the best thing to happen to you. You're lucky she said yes."
Ash grinned. "Don't I know it."
Brock chimed in, smirking. "Are you guys going big with the wedding? Or keeping it low-key?"
"It's mostly Misty's call. She wants it to feel special. All I care about is that she's happy." Ash replied.
Gary nodded. "That sounds like you, Ash. Just make sure you don't forget the vows or anything. I've seen you blank out under pressure."
Ash chuckled. "Not this time. I've got my lines ready."
The conversation shifted from teasing to reminiscing about old adventures, with Brock sharing an over-the-top story about his past dates and Gary joking about balancing his new responsibilities.
XXX
The clock struck 12:47 a.m. when Ash finally returned home, the sound of his keys jingling as he unlocked the door. He was still grinning from the night's antics, but his steps were unsteady. He shrugged off his hoodie, the faint scent of alcohol clinging to him.
Misty was waiting in the living room, sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. She looked up as the door opened, her expression softening when she saw him.
"You're late," she said, though there was no real bite in her voice.
Ash gave her a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Mist. Lost track of time."
"And you drank too much," she added, getting up and walking over to him.
"Maybe a little," Ash admitted, swaying slightly. "But I'm also really, really hungry."
Misty rolled her eyes but took his hand, leading him to the kitchen. "Good thing I know you so well. I made your favorite—spaghetti."
Ash's face lit up. "You're the best, you know that?"
Misty set the plate in front of him, sitting across the table as he dug in. "So, how was it? Did Gary and Brock behave themselves?"
Ash grinned between bites. "Gary's figuring out how to be a dad, and Brock couldn't stop teasing him about starting a family before the wedding. Honestly, it was hilarious."
Misty laughed softly. "Sounds about right."
"Yes," Ash said, flashing her a proud smile.
As he finished his meal, Ash looked over at Misty, his expression shifting. There was something in his eyes—a playful glint, a hint of affection.
"Mist," he said slowly, his voice a little lower than usual. "I was thinking… maybe we could head to bed?"
Misty looked at him, her expression unreadable for a moment before she shook her head. "Ash, you stink of alcohol. You know I can't stand that smell."
Ash, a bit tipsy, leaned toward her with a grin. "Come on, Mist. I'll make it up to you. You won't even notice it after a bit."
She gave him a gentle but firm look. "No, Ash. I'm serious. You're drunk, and you need to clean up. I'm not doing this tonight."
Ash's grin faltered for a moment, but he was persistent. "I'll do whatever you want. Just… please?"
Misty softened but didn't let her resolve weaken. "Fine. But you need to take a shower, brush your teeth twice, and use mouthwash. I won't change my mind unless you do it. You know how I feel about that smell."
Ash nodded quickly, grinning again. "Deal."
"And," Misty added, her voice gentle but firm, "don't get too intense. You know how you get when you've been drinking, Ash."
He gave her a playful wink. "I promise. I'll be on my best behavior."
As Ash made his way upstairs to the bathroom, Misty picked up his hoodie and headed for the laundry room. She quickly set to work, tossing it in and adding a load of laundry.
From the bathroom, Ash called out, "Hey, Mist, can you grab me a towel?"
"Sure," she called back, finishing the laundry. "I'll put your hoodie in the wash while I'm at it."
Ash responded with a cheerful "Thanks!" as the sound of running water filled the house.
Misty, now in their bedroom, started rummaging through the drawers for her nightgown. She paused, holding one up and looking at it thoughtfully.
Ash poked his head out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. "What's the need for dressing up? If it's gonna end up on the floor anyway?"
Misty raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "It's called setting the mood, Ash. Something you won't understand."
Ash smirked playfully. "Do I still stink?"
Misty took a deep breath as she walked over to him. "No, not anymore. You smell like… you know, fresh shower. A hundred times better."
She handed him a shirt and sweatpants to put on as they both settled on the bed.
Ash leaned in, brushing his lips against her cheek. "Thanks, Mist. You're amazing."
Misty smiled warmly, holding his hand. "I'll always take care of you. Now, let's just take it easy, okay? Slow and steady tonight."
Ash nodded, the playful energy still in his eyes, but a hint of tenderness in his expression. "Yeah, slow and steady. I can do that."