So I just realized it's been a while since I posted an Elizabeth-centric story! I've been working on a couple that focuses on all three of the kids, but for now, I wanted to share this one so I didn't feel like I was totally neglecting poor Lizzie!

Aiden and Michelle: 6 years old

Elizabeth: 6 months old


Fickle Feeding

"Open up, Lizzie!"

"Mmm…"

"What's the matter? You don't like apples? They're yummy!"

"I like apples, Mom!"

Misty glanced over at her son and smirked. "Yes, I know you do! But I don't think you'd like these apples, little guy."

Aiden twisted his mouth as he examined the bowl that sat on the tray of his baby sister's highchair. "Is it because they're all mashed up like that?"

"Yes, that's exactly why," Misty giggled.

"That doesn't even look like apples," Aiden scoffed, leaning in to get a closer look at the puree. "Not even like applesauce! It's too smooth. It looks like pudding!" Elizabeth, meanwhile, reached out to pat her brother's head, causing the boy to laugh.

"Baby food never looks like what it actually is," Misty concurred. "It always looks like this colorless mush. But you and your sister used to love this stuff as babies! The apple one, at least. I couldn't feed it to you fast enough! Lizzie doesn't seem quite as into it, though."

"She always like bananas," Aiden murmured. "How come you don't just feed her that?"

"Because I want your little sister to try lots of different things," Misty explained. "It's good to give her variety and different nutrients and vitamins, just like we have when we eat. That'll also help us figure out what kind of foods she likes! Except she tends to make it a little difficult for me to feed her. I think she likes it much more when Daddy's the one giving her solid food…she never gives him a hard time. The only thing she ever wants from me is milk! Isn't that right, sweetie?"

Elizabeth babbled in response and reached out towards Misty, making grabby motions with her hands.

"No, you already had milk," Misty sighed. "It's time for some tasty apples now!"

She moved the pink rubber spoon towards Elizabeth's mouth once again. The baby made an unsure face, however, and sat back as far as she could in her highchair.

"Mmm…"

Aiden giggled when Elizabeth made that noise again. "Wow, she really doesn't like it!"

Misty groaned and sunk down lower so she was at eye level with the baby. "Please just try it; I'm begging you."

Amazingly, Elizabeth opened up her mouth, causing her mother to sit back up with wide eyes. Gently, but without any hesitation, Misty guided the spoonful of baby food into Elizabeth's mouth, watching as Elizabeth gummed at the puree and allowed most of it to spill right back out, all over her face and bib.

Her mother was not impressed with this, and pulled a deadpan expression as she droned, "you're just testing me now, aren't you?"

Elizabeth shrieked happily and began clapping her hands together. Aiden's eyes shimmered at the baby's mischievousness, while Misty just groaned and hung her head.

And then, by what Misty could've only described as a divine miracle, she could hear the front door opening and then closing, Ash and their older daughter appearing in the kitchen doorway not long after.

"Thank Arceus you're back," Misty breathed, leaning back in her chair.

"What happened here to get me that kind of a greeting?" Ash asked nervously, Michelle hopping out from behind him with an amused smile on her face.

"Elizabeth will not eat her solid food," Misty whined. "She either hates apples, or she hates that I'm the one feeding her…and something tells me it's the latter."

Ash chuckled; his anxiety having been quelled by the explanation. "Alright, I'll be right over." Reaching down, he took the shopping bag that his older daughter had been holding and added, "thanks for your help, princess! You're the best!"

"You're welcome!" Michelle giggled.

"Pikachu, you want to go play with the twins?" Ash asked the electric type on his shoulder. "I gotta help Misty out with the baby."

"Pi-ka!" Pikachu replied, jumping off to the top of Michelle's head. The girl laughed again, reaching up to hold the mouse in place.

"Come on, Pikachu!" She cried, spinning around and running right into the living room.

Aiden watched on, his eyes widening as he charged right after them. "Hey! Wait for me!"

Ash smirked after the two before walking over to Misty and Elizabeth, surprised when his wife jumped right out of her chair and thrust the spoon and bowl full of baby food into his hands.

"Don't take it so hard, Mist," Ash assured her, trying not to snicker at her pout. "I told you, I think Lizzie might just be a little confused is all! She still loves going to you for milk; much more than when I try and give her a bottle."

"Oh, trust me, I'm not upset," Misty sighed. Ash didn't seem to believe her, however, and Misty knew it just by the look on his face, causing her to rectify, "At least…not right now, I'm not. I'm just frustrated. But I'm also grateful that you're here, because maybe now she'll actually eat, which is really all I want."

Ash looked down at the baby, who was quick to smile at him. "It looks like you got a little bit in her!"

"Yeah, and a majority of it on her," Misty grumbled. "She keeps spitting it out and thinking that it's oh so funny."

Ash smirked and sat down in his wife's former seat, informing their baby daughter, "there's nothing funny about wasting a perfectly good meal, pumpkin."

Elizabeth cooed softly, entranced by her father's voice. He spooned up some more of the baby food and held it out towards Elizabeth, who quickly ate it up without a trace left behind.

"Good girl!" Ash cooed, while Misty rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"She's so cute, but she's gonna be so much trouble," Misty muttered, walking towards the sink in order to wash out a bottle.

"Little Lizzie?" Ash gasped as he continued to feed the baby. "Never! She's an angel!"

Misty scoffed, smirking at Ash over her shoulder. "You're such a pushover when it comes to our children."

"Maybe I am!" Ash babbled, earning more laughter from Elizabeth.

"Easy for you to say when they're not spitting baby food back at you," Misty grumbled, placing the now clean and dry bottle on the counter before spinning around and resting against it.

"Come on," Ash groaned, turning his head to look at Misty. "You really think Elizabeth never does that to me? She might not give me as hard a time with solid food as she does to you, but trust me, she still acts up occasionally. And spitting her food out is her favorite kind of trouble! Isn't that right, baby?"

Elizabeth stuck her tongue out and blew a raspberry, laughing wildly at herself right after.

"See?" Ash sighed, shaking his head. "I rest my case."

"Hey!" Misty gently scolded, waltzing up to their infant daughter with her hands on her hips. Bending over so she was at eye level with the baby, she added, "don't be a naughty little girl!"

Elizabeth simply laughed in response, which brought a reluctant smile to Misty's face.

"Told you it's impossible to stay mad at her," Ash taunted.

"Stay mad?" Misty repeated with a scoff. "You never get mad at any of them!"

"Yeah, because they're so cute!" Ash laughed. "Honestly, it's our fault for making such adorable kids. We've doomed ourselves for the rest of eternity."

"I think you mean you doomed yourself," Misty snickered. "Mr. Pushover."

Ash huffed and turned back towards Elizabeth, offering the baby another spoonful of apple. "Mommy teases me too much, don't ya think?"

Elizabeth giggled again before eating the apple mush, much to Ash's delight.

Despite her joshing from only moments ago, Misty couldn't help but to smirk at her husband. Fine; it was definitely frustrating that the child she had carried for nine months and gave birth to would barely accept food from her. And it was almost as frustrating that the kid gave her father next to no problems performing the same exact task. But…it was also very cute. So cute that Misty could pretty much forget everything else. After all, watching Ash with their children was easily one of her favorite things in the entire world.

So, she grabbed another chair from the table and pulled it up next to Ash's, causing him to cast her a curious look. Misty just smiled and crossed her legs, leaning back in the seat as she rested her hands in her lap.

"Don't let me stop you," Misty laughed airily. "You and Elizabeth just keep going about your business!"

After a beat of silence, Ash innocently asked, "what are you gonna do?"

Misty shrugged. "Just sit here and watch."

Ash's expression didn't change; he simply turned back towards Elizabeth and asked, "you good with that, pumpkin?"

"Aya!" Elizabeth squealed, grinning at her father.

Chuckling, Ash glanced over at Misty and informed her, "okay, Lizzie says you can stay!"

Misty playfully rolled her eyes before looking at their baby daughter, who was now smiling cheekily at her. "How generous of the apple spitting princess."

Elizabeth burst out laughing. She had no idea what her mother was saying; she was just very happy to be with both of her parents. But the timing of it had been perfect, and Misty couldn't help but to laugh herself.

"Oh, you are too much like your daddy," Misty sighed through her giggles. "Maybe I am doomed!"


Notice how much fun Aiden was having when Elizabeth was being quite naughty...that's definitely a big source of amusement for him as a kid!