Happy Mother's Day everyone! As always, in order to celebrate, I whipped up a special one shot just for today. I like this one a lot because while Misty is the at the center of Ash's dilemma here, it's Delia who plays the leading role in helping him out.
Enjoy!
Elizabeth: 4 and a half years old
Much Ado about Mother's Day
"Grammy!"
Elizabeth ran right up the walkway of her grandmother's house, where Delia had already opened the front door and was kneeling down with open arms. The little girl jumped into her waiting embrace, resting her head on the older woman's shoulder.
"There's my sweet Lizzie," Delia crooned, standing up to her full height and smiling down at the content child. "I'm so happy to see you!"
Elizabeth picked her head up and grinned at her grandmother. "Me too!"
"Oh man…she's so fast…"
Delia looked up, while Elizabeth peered over her shoulder. Ash was now standing at the gate, bent over as he panted to try and catch his breath. Pikachu sat on his shoulder, watching the man with a worried expression.
"Ash dear, I have a hard time believing you can't keep up with Elizabeth," Delia commented with a little giggle.
"I'm not getting any younger," Ash gasped, straightening himself out.
"No, but you're in excellent shape," Delia replied.
"My shape doesn't really matter when Elizabeth has enough energy to last her for days," Ash groaned.
Elizabeth beamed up at her grandmother. "I'm fun, Grammy!"
Delia laughed and rubbed her nose against Elizabeth's. "Yes you are, beautiful girl!" Pulling away, the woman continued, "You know what? I have a very special surprise for you inside! Would you like to go see what it is?"
"Yeah!" Elizabeth squealed.
With a smile, Delia waved towards her son and beckoned, "well then, everybody inside!"
Ash followed his mother into his childhood home, walking into the kitchen were Mimey was busy messing with something on the counter. Leaning forward, Ash realized that the barrier Pokémon was pouring a pink beverage from a pitcher into glasses. Delia placed Elizabeth in a chair at the kitchen table and reached over for one of the glasses, thanking Mimey as she did so. Delia then placed the glass in front of Elizabeth, whose eyes lit up as soon as she saw it.
"Strawberry lemonade?!" Elizabeth squealed.
Delia giggled and nodded her head. "Yes! I know how much you love it, Lizzie!"
"Yay!" Elizabeth cheered, grabbing the glass and taking a big gulp of the lemonade inside.
"Elizabeth, what do you say?" Ash asked patiently.
Elizabeth put the glass back down and grinned at her grandmother. "Thank you!"
"Of course, anything for my little sweetheart!" Delia replied cheerfully. "There's plenty more where that came from, so drink as much as you'd like."
Not having to be told twice, Elizabeth raised the glass to her lips again and continued to drink. With a smile, Delia turned to her son and asked, "Would you and Pikachu like a glass too?"
"Pi-ka!" Pikachu squeaked.
"Yeah, that'd be great!" Ash replied. "Thanks, Mom."
She grabbed two more glasses, placing one on the table so Pikachu could hop off Ash's shoulder and get to it on his own, and handing the other one over to Ash.
"So, dear, how are things?" Delia questioned, watching over her shoulder as Mimey took a seat next to Elizabeth with his own glass of lemonade.
"They're okay," Ash sighed. "Could be better, though."
Delia frowned and gave another glance towards the table. Elizabeth was busy chattering away with Mimey and Pikachu while enjoying her lemonade, and Delia felt comfortable leaving the little girl that way.
"Why don't you and I be alone for a little while?" Delia asked.
Ash, knowing exactly what his mother was up to, quickly agreed with a nod of his head. "Lizzie, Grammy and I are going to sit in the living room. Don't cause any trouble for Pikachu or Mimey, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy," Elizabeth chirped.
The two adults made their way to the next room, taking a seat on the couch. Ash put his glass of lemonade down on the coffee table in front of them and sighed, resting his head in his hands.
"It's Misty, isn't it?" Delia murmured, picking up a coaster and sliding it beneath her son's glass.
"Yeah," Ash grumbled. "She's still struggling with not having Aiden and Michelle at home. I feel bad. It's hard for all of us, but Misty's definitely been hit the worst. I've started to come up with different ways to distract her and try to keep her positive, but it's not always easy."
"Understandably," Delia replied. "It's difficult when the children you've been raising for 10 years aren't living with you anymore. I know I had a hard time when you first left."
"And now I get why," Ash grunted, leaning back against the couch. "But for Misty, I think it's been worse lately because Mother's Day is coming up. It'll be her first one without the twins at home."
"Ah, I see," Delia breathed. "That does make a lot of sense."
"I want to do something special for her," Ash continued. "I mean, I always do. But especially now. I have to do something that will really give Misty a reason to feel happy."
"Perhaps you should take her somewhere for the weekend," Delia suggested. "Someplace nice and relaxing where can take her mind off of everything! I would be happy to watch Elizabeth for the two of you."
"It's not a bad idea, but I'm afraid if I try and keep her away from Elizabeth on Mother's Day, she'll claw my eyes out," Ash sighed, only half joking.
"Oh, good point," Delia remarked, not at all phased by her son's assumption.
"I always buy her jewelry and stuff, but I don't think that's good enough this year," Ash continued. "A necklace or a pair of earrings aren't going to bring Aiden and Michelle home, after all."
"No, but I'm sure she'd appreciate it regardless," Delia responded. "Misty knows how much you love and care for her. Anything you do will mean a lot to her."
"I know, but I really want to do something different," Ash groaned.
Delia hummed and tilted her head in thought. "Well…if you want to do something memorable, something that will make Misty happy, and you don't want to separate her from Elizabeth…why don't the three of you just go somewhere together?"
Ash's eyes widened. "That's…not a bad idea, Mom."
"I thought it was pretty good," Delia hummed, taking a sip of her lemonade.
"But where could we go?" Ash wondered aloud, furrowing his brow. "We can't go away for too long. Misty and I can't miss that much work. It has to be somewhere kind of close. But I don't want it to be boring…"
"Porta Vista."
Ash turned his head to look at his mother. "What?"
"Porta Vista," Delia repeated. "Misty's parents have a house there. Why don't you just ask them if you can use it for the weekend? You wouldn't have to spend any money to stay there, but you could take her out to a very nice dinner, maybe some shopping. They have some lovely little boutiques there! Not to mention the beach. I'm sure both Misty and Elizabeth would love to spend some time there!"
"That does sound nice…" Ash murmured, rocking his head from side to side.
"You could always get her a gift and give it to her there," Delia continued. "If you plan on spoiling her like usual, of course."
Ash let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, the usual."
Delia smiled and stood up from the couch. "It's ultimately your decision, but I think if you're looking to do something special, that's a very good option."
"No, I agree!" Ash nearly squeaked, jumping to his own feet. "I wouldn't have thought of it myself. Thanks, Mom. I can always count on you!"
Delia's smile widened as she nodded her head. "Don't mention it, dear! You know I'll always be there for you."
Ash blushed slightly as he followed his mother back to the kitchen. Elizabeth was still sitting at the table with Mimey and Pikachu, although by now all three of their glasses were empty.
"I see the lemonade was a big hit!" Delia laughed, gaining the attention of her young granddaughter and the two Pokémon. "Would you all like some more?"
"Yes please!" Elizabeth chirped.
"Mime!"
"Chu!"
Delia giggled and collected the glasses, bringing them back over to the counter for their refills. While she was busy with that, Ash pulled a chair out next to her daughter and sat down, earning a curious glance from the little girl.
"Lizzie, I've got an idea for what we can do for Mommy for Mother's Day," Ash began, causing her eyes to light up.
"Really?" Elizabeth gasped. "What is it, Daddy?"
"What do you think if the three of us went to Porta Vista for the weekend and stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's house?" Ash asked. "We could take Mommy shopping, and out to eat, and go to the-"
"The beach?!" Elizabeth squealed, cutting her father off as she nearly jumped out of her seat.
"Yeah, the beach," Ash chuckled, shaking off his surprise. "Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth, pumpkin!"
"I always know what you're going to say, Daddy," Elizabeth replied. "We've got the same brain, right? That's what Mommy says!"
Ash chortled deeply. "Yeah, that's what Mommy says. So, do you think she'd like that?"
Elizabeth emphatically nodded her head.
"Are you just saying that because you'd like it?" Ash asked with a smirk.
"Nuh uh!" Elizabeth cried. "I mean it! Daddy, you and I have the same brain, but Mommy and I like the same things. So that means if I like it, she'll like it too!"
"Okay, okay, I believe you," Ash snickered.
"Mommy would like it a lot," Elizabeth reiterated, nodding her head more slowly. "It's a good idea!"
"I'm glad you think so," Ash commented. "Grammy came up with it!"
Elizabeth whipped her head around, her emerald eyes following her grandmother as she carried the refilled glasses back to the table. "You did, Grammy?"
"I suppose I did," Delia replied rather sheepishly. She never liked to brag and became bashful whenever she ended up receiving an abundance of praise. "But I just wanted to help Daddy come up with the best present for your mommy! He wanted to do something very special. Isn't that so nice of him?"
"Yeah," Elizabeth murmured. "It is nice! It's cause Daddy really loves Mommy."
Ash broke out into a huge grin. "Yes, I really love Mommy."
"Me too," Elizabeth squeaked before grabbing her glass and chugging the lemonade out of it. Ash and Delia exchanged glances before bursting out laughing, causing Elizabeth to look up with a raised eyebrow. "What? What's so funny?"
XXX
As soon as Ash presented his plan to Misty, her eyes widened.
"Really?" She asked almost breathlessly. "A trip to Porta Vista?"
"I thought it'd be nice, and fun," Ash replied, gently shrugging his shoulders. "Well, actually, it was Mom's idea. I think it's great! But if you'd rather stay here-"
"Oh no, I'd love to go out there!" Misty interrupted him. "Your mother always has the best suggestions! I would never turn down a chance to go to Porta Vista. Besides, it might be good to get away from here for a little while."
Ash just nodded his head, knowing exactly what Misty meant. "Then that's what we'll do! I have other presents for you too, but you're not going to get those until Mother's Day."
Misty smirked. "More? Ash, you really spoil me."
"Well, you deserve it," Ash countered with his own big smile. "And don't say you don't! Because you won't win that argument."
"Normally I'd disagree with you, because I'm the master at winning arguments," Misty snickered. "But I know better than to challenge you about…well…me."
Ash grinned and nodded his head. "Glad you understand. Now, let's get packing! The sooner we get to Porta Vista-"
"The better," Misty breathed, her smile softening. "Thank you, Ash. I love you."
Ash chuckled and wrapped his arms around his wife. "I love you too."
Of course I couldn't resist throwing in Elizabeth being a little cutie :P She just wants to be included in everything!
I hope you all have a wonderful day today!
