Serena pulled her jacket tightly closed in response to the sudden rush of air caused by Charizard's dive. She kept one hand around Ash's waist and the other shielding her face from the cool autumn air rapidly blowing by. Vermilion City was just below them and they would be landing in less than a minute.

Yesterday, she and Ash had received desperate phone calls from their longtime friends Goh and Chloe. Both of them were afraid that their dating relationship was about to fall apart and they'd reached out, Goh to Ash and Chloe to Serena, hoping that their friends could provide some much needed advice and perspective. The Pallet Town couple had quickly rescheduled things and were now planning to spend two days in Vermilion City, doing what they could for their friends.

Charizard touched down at the edge of the city. Ash thanked him and then recalled him into his Pokéball.

Serena shivered a little and scanned the skyline. Beneath her dark red jacket she was wearing a version of her old Hoenn outfit. The differences were: her charcoal top had full-length sleeves and she was wearing black leggings underneath her red-white skirt. She'd also redone her hair. Her honey colored locks were combined into a pair of braids which started above and just forward of each ear. The braids wrapped around the back of her head, crossed each other and then wove into their opposite number so that the back of her head was circled with a lovely golden braid.

Ash, meanwhile, was wearing a dark blue jacket, a blue shirt with white highlights and blue jeans.

"I sure hope we can help them," she said quietly. "Chloe's asked for help with contests before, but never relationship advice. She sounded pretty desperate."

Ash stepped so he was next to her. "Yeah, same with Goh. He loves talking about Pokémon, but not his personal life. He's never brought it up once before now."

Serena turned to look at Ash. "Well, maybe, with some luck, one day, they'll both be as happy as we are."

Ash smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that would be great."

Serena let out a thoughtful sigh and clapped her gloved hands together. "Well, I guess I'll start heading for Chloe's house."

"Yeah, and I'll head for Goh's," Ash responded.

Serena started to take a step and then leaned back toward Ash, turning to face him as she did so. Ash saw the move and leaned toward Serena. Their lips briefly met in a farewell kiss then both of them took a step back and smiled at each other.

"See you later," Serena said sweetly.

Chloe stepped quickly from her jewelry box to the mirror on the wall of her room. This was the fourth pair of earrings she'd tried on and she wasn't happy with them either. She stared at her appearance in the mirror, frowned and emitted an unhappy moan. She pulled the tiny, dangling, silver hearts off her ears and replaced them with the golden stars she'd tried earlier. She wasn't happy with this choice, but it was the one she hated the least.

She eyed her dress, a yellow-orange blouse with a dark blue skirt, and rapidly tapped her foot, not entirely convinced the outfit was the correct choice. She thought the colors matched, but there was something missing. She quickly retrieved a brown choker with a gold emblem and fastened it around her neck. She still wasn't happy, but it was better.

She then turned her attention to her hair. She'd spent over two hours during the day going through different braiding, curling and pinning ideas but she'd ultimately decided to let the front half of her hair hang loose in front of her shoulders and part it so it fell just to the side of her eyes. She'd put a slight curl into this part of her hair and she was pleased how the maroon locks fell to just below her collarbone. She'd then tied most of the hair at the back of her head into an elegant bun but she'd left enough loose to form a small curtain to cover the back of her neck.

Chloe wasn't entirely happy with her hair, but there was no time to make any changes. She grabbed a sparkling silver hairclip and fastened it on top of the bun. It was the best she could do.

At that moment, there was a knock on her door.

"Not now dad, I'm busy! I've got a date tonight," she said, stress filling her voice.

"Well, if you're that busy, I could always come back later," a muffled yet familiar female voice spoke through the door.

Chloe's heart leapt for joy and she dashed to the door. She yanked it open and saw Serena standing there, smiling like she always was.

"Serena!" Chloe happily exclaimed.

Serena gave a small happy laugh. "Chloe, you look beautiful," she said cheerfully.

Chloe's expression instantly became more serious. "Do I really?" she asked, concern creeping into her voice.

Serena hesitated a moment. "Uh, yes, of course," she said. "Chloe, your dress is wonderful and I love what you've done with your hair."

Chloe nodded, but still looked stressed. "Okay, good. Come on inside," she said, waving Serena into her room.

Serena entered Chloe's room and the other girl shut the door behind her.

"Thanks a lot for coming," Chloe said somberly. "I really need some help."

Serena folded her hands and rested them on her stomach. "I'm glad to be here Chloe. Anything for a friend," she said sincerely.

Chloe looked in the mirror again and then leaned against a nearby dresser, letting out a sigh as she did so.

"I've been trying everything I could think of, but it feels like it's all falling apart," Chloe said in a disheartened tone. "When I talk to him, it's like he doesn't even hear me. Everything is always all about him and whatever he's doing." As she spoke, her head slowly leaned forward until she was staring at the floor near her feet. "He just keeps going on and on and on and then if I say something he just keeps talking like I'm not even there."

Serena took a step closer to Chloe and bent down slightly so she could catch her eye. "Is that why you're dressed up like this?" she said with a cute smile. "You're trying to get his attention."

Chloe let out a small moan and frowned. "I guess. I don't know what else to do." Her eyes met Serena's and Chloe blinked a few times, looking both scared and desperate. "I really don't want to lose him Serena," she breathed emotionally.

Serena smiled warmly and reached forward, gently grabbing hold of both of Chloe's shoulders. "Well, I can tell you one thing for sure. Even if you're feeling terrible, put on a big smile. That always makes things better."

Chloe's lips trembled and she smiled in appreciation. "I'll try," she squeaked.

Serena nodded and took a step back. "So, what time is this date?" she asked plainly.

Chloe glanced at the clock on her nightstand. "In about ten minutes. I'm meeting him at the restaurant downtown."

Serena was a little shocked. "But, that's pretty far away. You'll barely make it if you run!"

Chloe shoved off from the dresser and gave an apathetic shrug. "He's always really late. It's not like I have to get there early….. or even on time," she said, sounding disheartened.

Serena pursed her lips and then smiled again. She took hold of Chloe's right hand with her left and gave it a small squeeze. "Come on, keeping a positive attitude helps too. Let's get going. You can tell me more while we walk."

Chloe again smiled in appreciation. "Thanks Serena."

The two of them then headed out of Chloe's house and made tracks for the restaurant downtown.

Ash moved at a brisk pace through the streets of Vermilion City. He knew Goh had a date tonight and he wasn't sure exactly how much time they would have to talk. The city was very familiar to him and he quickly found himself in sight of Goh's house.

Goh was outside, working with a Scizor on some battle moves. The second he caught sight of Ash, he recalled his Pokémon and moved to welcome his friend.

"Hey, Ash," Goh called out enthusiastically as they came within arm's reach of each other. The two friends reached out their right hands and clapped them together in a tight grip of comradery.

"Good to see you Goh," Ash replied. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, it has," Goh said with a smile. "I've caught a bunch more Pokémon and I've been training a few to be really good at battling. I'm hoping I'll be able to go after some of the legendary Pokémon all by myself one day."

Ash grinned. "Yeah, that would be pretty awesome."

Goh nodded. "I taught my Flygon Bug Buzz," he said, pulling out his Rotom phone. "I figured they wouldn't see that move coming. Here, take a look."

Ash looked a little tense. "Hey, didn't you want to talk about your date tonight?"

Goh looked conflicted for a moment. "Oh, yeah, I guess so," he replied. He put his phone away and crossed his arms. "So, basically, I'm wondering what the magic words are to get a girl to fall for you."

Ash hesitated a moment. "Magic words?" he said dubiously.

Goh looked excited. "Yeah! Serena is totally in love with you right? I wanna know what you did to win her heart!" Goh clinched both his fists. "Tell me Ash, what's the right move to use?!"

Ash felt a bit of sweat form on his brow. "Uh, it didn't really work like that Goh," he said sheepishly. "She's told me that she liked me because I was nice to her way back when we were kids. When we met up in Kalos, she was really impressed by all the things I did and how I acted. I inspired her to go on a journey of her own and become an amazing person."

Goh's eyes were wide with eagerness. "Okay, okay, so I should tell her about some impressive things I've done. Got it!"

"Uh, maybe," Ash replied. "What do you normally do on a date?"

Goh grinned. "I talk about Pokémon battles and move selections," he said confidently. "It's so cool. Plus, there's always all the Pokédex entries and how Pokémon evolve. There's no end to this stuff. I can talk for hours."

"Do you ever talk about her and what she's feeling?"

Goh looked puzzled. "What do you mean, what she's feeling?"

Ash groaned internally. "No, I mean asking her how she's feeling and then being nice to her."

Goh looked thoughtful. "So, is that something that works? Talking about feelings?"

"Uh, yeah," Ash replied. "If Serena's feeling sad she always likes me asking her what's going on and me listening and helping her."

A look of concentration appeared on Goh's face. "Okay, ask about feelings. Got it!" He suddenly got a silly grin on his face and spoke in an amused tone. "I usually just prefer to solve the problem rather than talk about it, but hey, whatever works, right. Anything else, Ash?"

Ash had a feeling there were quite a few things Goh could stand to learn. "Uh, sure. What time is this date, though?"

Goh pulled out his phone and glanced at it. A moment later his eyes widened in horror and he shoved the phone back in his pocket.

"AAaaa! It's right now!" he exclaimed.

Ash looked shocked. "What! You mean like, now NOW!"

"Yeah, right now!"

"Well, where is it?" Ash asked.

Goh started taking a few rapid steps down the sidewalk. "It's downtown at the restaurant! Come on! Quick!"

"All the way downtown!" Ash said in dismay, following after Goh.

"Yeah! Run!" Goh said, breaking into a sprint.

Ash chased after Goh and the two young men were quickly dashing down the sidewalks of Vermilion City, desperately trying to not be too late.

Serena and Chloe arrived at the restaurant three minutes after the appointed time. They'd discussed matters while they'd walked and Serena had done her best to encourage Chloe. Some of Chloe's negative attitude had dissipated but as they arrived at the elegant double-door entrance of the restaurant, they found that, as Chloe had foretold, her date was running late. They stepped inside the pleasantly decorated entranceway and began to wait.

"I told you we didn't need to hurry," Chloe said with an element of unhappy vindication in her voice. "He's always late."

Serena's smile faltered briefly but she responded in a cheery tone. "Well, that doesn't mean that things won't be great later. Just be yourself Chloe. Be happy, talk with him, listen to what he has to say and then tell him how important he is to you. Sometimes it takes guys a little while to open up about how they feel."

Serena blushed a little. "I know it took Ash a while. In some ways, he's still working on it."

Chloe seemed a little surprised at Serena's admission. "Really, you two are like the perfect couple. You're always together and so happy."

Serena smiled sheepishly. "It may look that way on the outside, but we've had to work at it." Serena then looked more serious. "All relationships take work, Chloe. They don't just happen by magic."

Chloe took a steadying breath and straightened her posture. "Okay, Serena. I'll try everything you said. I really hope this works!"

Serena gave a small, happy chuckle. "That's the spirit!"

Chloe nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment. "Hey, Serena, would you mind coming inside a little while after he gets here?" she asked in a soft voice.

Serena was a little perplexed. "You want me go inside? Do you need help with something?"

Chloe gave a small shrug. "No, I…." she sighed. "I just want a friendly face in there with me. Do you mind?"

Serena smiled and placed a reassuring hand on Chloe's shoulder. "I don't mind at all. Anything to help."

Chloe looked relieved. The two girls shared a friendly giggle then Serena stepped out the door and walked to where she could watch the entranceway without being disruptive.

Ash and Goh skidded to a stop across the street from the restaurant. Both of them took a few quick breaths to slow their heart rate and Goh pulled out his phone.

"Augh! I'm late again," Goh exclaimed. "She always gets annoyed when I'm not on time."

"Well, just apologize and make up for it," Ash said. "The important thing is that you're here."

"Yeah! Right!" Goh replied. He ran his hands through his hair and glanced down at his outfit. "Do you think I should've put on some nice clothes?"

Ash cringed internally. Goh was wearing his standard outfit and wasn't exactly dressed for a date.

"Don't worry about that," Ash said, seeing no reason to fret about something that couldn't be changed. "How you look isn't everything. Just remember to listen to her and be nice. Think about how she feels."

"Yeah, I'll try all that," Goh said. "She hasn't really seemed to like me talking about Pokémon." He gave a shrug and a conceited look. "I mean, I don't know why. Type matchups and attacks are so fascinating. It's like a big puzzle. It's a lot of fun figuring out how to win battles."

Goh looked toward Ash with an inquisitive expression. "You've said Serena really likes listening to you talk about battles, right?"

Ash scratched at the back of his head and looked a little embarrassed. "Well, honestly, Serena would probably love listening to me talk about anything at all." he smiled and blushed slightly. "She's really special like that."

Goh frowned slightly. "Hmmm, okay," he said. He then looked toward the restaurant and grinned. "Okay, wish me luck!" he said, holding up a fist.

Ash grinned and fist bumped Goh. The other boy then started walking toward the restaurant. After a few steps he suddenly whirled around and dashed back toward Ash with a big smile on his face.

"Hey, Ash, do you think you could come inside in a few minutes?" he asked eagerly.

"Uhh, why?" Ash replied, looking confused.

"If she starts getting bored, I can call you over. I'm sure she'd love that." Goh then playfully elbowed Ash in the ribs. "Whaddya say Ash, will you be my wingman?" he asked in a mischievous tone.

"Uhhhh, okay," Ash said nervously. He'd never been in this kind of situation before. He thought it odd to bring him into the date, but he wanted to help Goh out however he could.

Goh looked satisfied. "All right, thanks Ash!" With that, he turned and headed for the restaurant.

Goh crossed the street and arrived at the double-doors of the eating establishment. He grasped the handle of the door and took a breath. Just like he'd caught hundreds of Pokémon, it was now time to catch a girl.

He pulled the door open and immediately saw her standing in the entranceway. She had her back to him at the moment and so he walked closer and took a moment to collect himself. Even from behind she was beautiful. Her flowing black hair freely hung down to her waist. She was wearing an open-back turquoise dress with a lovely skirt that terminated just above her knees. Goh spent a moment eyeing her pleasing curves and then spoke up.

"Yvette, hi, glad to see you made it."

Yvette turned around and looked at Goh. Her features were angular, very pale in complexion and could be described as possessing a stoic elegance. Her eyes moved deliberately from one focus to the next; her grey pupils projecting a cold beauty which meshed perfectly with the lines of her face. The front of her hair was pulled back and joined with the rest it that ran down her back.

"Goh, you're late again," she said without emotion. Her voice was midrange for a woman and completely lacking in cheer.

Goh brushed past the comment with a small cock of his head and a sly grin. "Yeah, but I'm here. Come on, let's go inside."

With motions like a refined duchess, Yvette presented her arm and Goh happily marched up and took it. The two of them started to walk inside when suddenly Goh spotted a girl, sporting a very familiar shade of maroon hair, staring out a window through which one could see the approach to the restaurant.

"Chloe, is that you?" Goh said, a little surprised.

Chloe jumped slightly and spun around, clutching a hand to her chest as she did so. "Oh, hi Goh," she said upon seeing him.

"Are you here on a date too?" Goh asked.

Chloe nodded solemnly and forced a grimacing smile. "Yep, he should be here any minute," she said tensely.

Goh gave Chloe a subtle smile. "Well, I hope you have a good time," he said in a positive tone.

Chloe's gaze drifted over Yvette's figure and then dropped toward the floor. Her posture slumped slightly as this happened. "Yeah, I hope you have a fun time too," she said in a melancholy voice.

With that, Goh looked over at Yvette, grinned and the two of them walked inside the restaurant.

Once they were out of sight, Chloe let out a large, sad moan and leaned against the nearby wall. She glanced out the window again and saw Herbert was at last walking down the path to the restaurant.

"Finally," Chloe murmured to herself. She straightened up, smoothed out her dress and hair and put on her best friendly face.

She turned to face the entrance and waited for Herbert to walk through the outside doors; and waited; and waited.

A minute ticked past and Chloe walked to the door and pushed it open. She spotted Herbert standing just outside, his back to the restaurant, texting on his phone.

Herbert was a slightly heavyset young man. He was about the same height as Chloe and had a messy head of brown hair. He sported black-rimmed glasses and was currently wearing a soft-blue button up shirt Chloe recognized as the Vermilion City laboratory uniform he usually donned. He also had on a simple pair of blue jeans.

Chloe made a face of disgust and frustration before she recomposed herself and called out to Herbert in a kind, melodic voice.

"Herbert, I'm so glad you made it," she said with a smile.

Herbert tapped on his smart phone a few more times and then looked over his shoulder at Chloe. "Oh, Chloe, I was just finishing some work at the lab. Lots of exciting stuff today."

Herbert was very soft spoken and his voice always seemed to have a happy tone to it, regardless of what he was saying.

"I'll bet you were," Chloe replied tensely, managing to grin, even as a corner of her mouth twitched from the frustration she was keeping bottled up inside. "Come on inside, let's get a table."

Herbert trundled toward Chloe and the two of them headed inside the restaurant.

Ash slowly walked toward the restaurant, musing to himself about Goh's 'wingman' comment and wondering exactly what lay in store for this evening. Goh hadn't been able to say much about Yvette as they'd run but Ash had gotten the impression that Goh was very attracted to how she looked.

As Ash approached the restaurant entrance his eyes widened as he saw Serena walking toward him from the opposite direction. Serena spotted him as well and they looked at each other with curiosity and puzzlement.

"Hey, Ash," Serena called out once they were within earshot of each other. "Is Goh here?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, he went inside a few minutes ago."

"Huh," Serena replied, impressed by the coincidence. "Chloe's here too. Her date just arrived."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Well, how about that," he quipped.

The two of them came to a stop at the entrance of the restaurant. Serena looked at the building and then at Ash.

"Table for two?" she posed.

Ash smiled. "Sure, why not."

Serena returned the smile and held out her arm like she had so many times before. Ash neatly looped his arm around hers and took her inside the building.

They were seated in a few minutes and fortunately found that even though Goh and Chloe were seated on opposite sides of the dining room, they could still clearly see both tables from where they were. Ash sat facing Goh's table and Serena Chloe's.

Goh and Chloe saw Ash and Serena respectively and they each acknowledged them with a subtle nod.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," Serena said happily. "I wasn't expecting we'd get to go on a date."

Ash chuckled. "Would this be a triple date?" he said wryly.

Serena giggled. "I don't know," she said under her breath.

Ash and Serena chatted a little and kept one eye on their friend, keen to see how the evening developed. Serena noticed that Herbert was doing most if not all of the talking and Chloe was smiling and nodding, but she clearly wasn't happy. The poor girl kept trying to get a word in edgewise but had little success.

Goh, meanwhile, was much more engaged with his date. He was leaning forward on the table and eagerly talking to Yvette. The stoic young woman didn't seem as interested however. She nodded politely but didn't reply much. Ash also noticed that, under the table, Goh's feet kept brushing against Yvette's, however, the girl kept moving her legs away from him.

Chloe nodded and gritted her teeth in a forced smile. "Boy, Herbert, that's so cool. Do you really think those mold cultures will help cure disease?"

Herbert nodded and smiled. "Oh, yes. I believe there's much more we can gain from studying mold. Penicillin was just the start. I think there are countless other uses for mold. I'm waiting for the results of a big experiment I sent to Goldenrod City. They should be able to tell me if these mold colonies can combat other diseases."

"Mmm, hmm," Chloe hummed. "Herb, I was wondering, if you get that big job at the lab, what are you planning to do? You know, what's the next step in your life?"

Herbert continued in his forever happy sounding voice that rarely wavered in pitch or volume. "Well, a lot of that will depend on how my big trip to Hoenn goes. You see, Chloe, there are seventeen types of mold that are unique to Hoenn. I believe that at least three of those have the potential to-"

Chloe kept a grin glued to her face even as she wanted to shout at Herbert to shut up about mold cultures.

Serena frowned and stirred her tea as she looked toward Chloe's table.

"It looks like Chloe's at least trying," Serena said softly. "But that doesn't look like a very fun date."

Ash nodded. "So Herbert's a lab student, huh?" he said.

"Yeah," Serena replied. "He's working at a lab here in Vermilion City. Apparently he's studying mold." Serena's face fell slightly. "Chloe's really worried about losing him."

Ash glanced over his shoulder at Chloe's table. "If she's so unhappy, why doesn't she just look for someone else?"

Serena let out a small sigh. "I don't know. We didn't get to talk for that long." Serena thought for a moment and then chuckled once. "You know Ash, I've only ever dated you. And I had my eyes set on you for a long time."

The two of them looked straight into each other's eyes.

"I don't have any idea what it's like to date someone I don't love," Serena continued. "I really can't relate to what Chloe's feeling."

Ash smiled subtly and below the table, he gently brushed his foot against Serena's. Serena smiled and inclined her head toward Goh's table.

"So, what's up with Goh?" she asked.

"And that was the last of Project Mew," Goh said proudly, finishing his story.

Yvette's face didn't change. "So, you didn't catch the Pokémon you were after," she deadpanned. "That's the big takeaway."

Goh froze for a second but then continued with enthusiasm. "No, no. I mean, sure we didn't catch Mew, but it was all about the experience. Getting so close to a legendary Pokémon like that was a privilege."

Yvette made an unimpressed sound. "You know, Goh," she began. "In delivery services, getting close doesn't quite cut it. If you deliver a package next door to the intended destination, the customer is very unhappy."

"Yeah, but that's what's so great about adventures," Goh replied. "You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be good enough. That's one of the things I've learned. Sometimes things don't work out and you have to come up with something totally new."

Silence hung in the air as Yvette didn't reply, and looked bored instead. Goh thought fast and came up with another approach.

"So, Yvette, your parents own a big package delivery company, right?"

"The, biggest air delivery service in Kanto," she said in a monotone voice. "We're planning to expand into Johto soon."

"Right," Goh replied. "So….. I was wondering… How are you feeling?"

"Hungry," Yvette replied.

Goh smiled and nodded. "Great, me too!"

Serena eyed the conversation Goh and Yvette were having and then turned back to Ash.

"So, why is Goh so interested in Yvette? They don't seem to have any chemistry."

Ash put on a dubious expression. "Well, he didn't really say that much about her, other than how she looked."

"Huh," Serena replied. "Did he say what about her he found beautiful?"

Ash now looked a little embarrassed. "Sort of," he said. "He really likes her…." his voice trailed off.

Serena chuckled once. "Bust, Ash?" she offered.

Ash gave a half-nod. "That's not the word Goh used….. but, yeah."

Serena looked over her shoulder again and eyed Yvette. "Well, she does have that," she said casually.

"Hmmm," Ash hummed. "Yeah, it seems Goh's changed a little lately. He wasn't that interested in girls before."

Serena turned back toward Ash, a smile pulling at her lips. "Well, neither were you, Ash, until earlier this year," she said in a joking tone.

Ash looked a little offended. "I'm not interested in girls."

Serena chuckled. "A girl, Ash," she said clarifying. "You're interested in a girl."

Ash smiled subtly and nodded after a few seconds. "Yeah, I guess I am interested in a girl."

Serena grinned playfully. "Mmm, hmm. Just like I'm interested in a guy."

They shared a mutual grin and giggle and Serena playfully brushed one of her legs against Ash's.

After a few seconds, Ash spoke again. "Goh seemed pretty serious about wanting to date Yvette," he said.

Serena nodded and picked up her glass of tea. "How so?" she said, taking a drink.

Ash glanced toward Goh's table and then back at Serena. "Well, he asked me to be his wingman for one."

Tea instantly came spraying out of Serena's nose as she reflexively laughed at the comment. Ash looked on, speechless, as Serena set the glass down and began coughing, choking and giggling all at the same time.

"He asked YOU, *cough* *cough*to be his *gag* wingman?! *cough*" Serena sputtered.

Ash wasn't sure what to make of Serena's reaction. "Yeah," he replied flatly.

Serena started laughing and coughing at the same time. She tried to keep her behavior as low-key as she could, but it was hard.

"What," Ash said, a little indignant. "Goh and I were a great team. We did all kinds of stuff together. We always helped each other out."

Serena placed her right hand on her chest and took a few steadying breaths. "I don't think that's *cough* the kind of help Goh was *cough* talking about Ash."

Ash looked perplexed. "What do you mean?"

Serena took another sip of tea and coughed a few more times. She then glanced down at her outfit and groaned. She had sprayed tea all over herself.

"Ugh, I need to get cleaned up." She rose from the table and glanced at Ash. "I'll explain when I get back," she said with a grin and another cough.

"Okay," Ash replied.

With that, Serena headed to the ladies room and placed herself in front of one of the sinks. She began dabbing at the spots of tea on her outfit, trying to clean them up as best as she could.

"Oh, Ash," she murmured lovingly. "You can barely land a girl who's head-over-heels for you." She chuckled as she pictured Ash trying to help Goh put a move on Yvette. She could only imagine the disaster which would ensue.

After a few minutes of Serena trying to clean herself up, the door opened and Yvette walked in. Serena glanced at her and then deliberately ignored her. She didn't want to interfere with Goh and Ash's business.

Yvette strode to another sink and cast a long glance at Serena. She then fussed with her hair, makeup and dress before letting out a frustrated sigh.

Serena was just about to go when Yvette suddenly addressed her.

"Are you that girl who won the Hoenn contest championship a few years ago?" she said in a penetrating voice.

Serena was a little surprised by the comment. She turned to face the other girl and put on a small smile.

"Oh, uh, yes. I guess that's me," she said sheepishly.

"Hmmmm," Yvette hummed loudly. "What have you been doing the last few years?"

Serena opened her mouth and then hesitated. This Yvette girl was very direct and it made Serena a little uncomfortable.

"Well, I've been helping a friend take care of Pokémon," she said kindly. "And I've been doing a few other things here and there."

Yvette didn't so much as blink. "So, no career, no big job following the championship," she said flatly.

Serena felt a little skewered. "Uh, well, not yet. But I'm not really pursuing those sorts of things, right now."

"Hmmmm," Yvette hummed again. "You know," she began, her voice just as penetrating as before. "I really don't understand why people pursue fame and popularity."

"Huh?" Serena replied softly.

Yvette began striding toward the door. "You get a few seconds of notoriety as people throw accolades and praise at you. But then what?"

Serena just gaped at Yvette, not understanding the girl's attitude.

"You end up forgotten, with nothing." Yvette reached the door and half-turned toward Serena. "No fame, no fortune, just a lot of memories of times past. What kind of future is that?"

Serena let out an angry exclamation but Yvette simply walked out of the door and disappeared from sight. Serena stomped her foot and let out another angry cry. She turned toward the mirror above the sink and looked at herself. Yvette's words had been cruel but they'd also hit a part of her that she'd kept locked away for a long time.

Deep down, she felt as if she'd let her Pokémon down by not pursuing the title of Kalos Queen. This feeling was something that had begun to gnaw at the back of her mind more and more as the years had started to roll by. She loved Ash with all her heart, but she couldn't deny that she'd quit on her dream when she'd been on the cusp of achieving it.

Serena took another look in the mirror, wiped away a few angry tears and then returned to Ash.

While Serena was gone, Ash kept an eye on both tables. Goh still wasn't having any success with Yvette and Chloe was spending almost all of her time smiling while Herbert monologued. At one point, Goh tried taking Yvette's hand in what appeared to be a romantic gesture only to have the girl gently swat his hand away. Goh laughed and Yvette looked just as stoic as before. A few moments later, Yvette excused herself and retreated to the ladies room.

While Yvette was gone, Goh glanced over at Ash and gave him a thumbs up. Apparently, he believed things were going well.

A few minutes passed and Yvette returned. Goh continued trying to chat her up, having just as much success as before. A minute later, Serena returned and sat down across from Ash. She seemed a little tense and she looked over her shoulder at Goh's table.

"So, has Goh broken up with her yet," Serena said, a bit of bitterness in her voice.

"Uh, not yet," Ash replied, a little surprised by Serena's demeanor. "But he seems to think it's going well."

Serena let out a tiny huff and poked at her glass of tea. "Well, I think Goh can do better than that," she said, some venom creeping into her tone.

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Is everything okay?"

Serena sighed. "Yeah. Yvette just strikes me as a mean person. Girls like her are bad news."

At that moment, the server arrived at their table and Ash and Serena placed their orders for the evening.

The rest of the evening proceeded in a predictable fashion. Chloe kept trying to get Herbert to talk about something other than lab work but she had little success. Goh kept trying to seduce Yvette but the girl didn't display even a spark of interest.

Serena didn't let on to Ash about the encounter she'd had with Yvette and so he remained a little puzzled as to why she was peeved for no apparent reason. As they ate their meal, Serena began talking about some of her travels in Hoenn. During the course of the conversation, Serena mentioned how she'd always enjoyed the new experiences which came from traveling from town to town. Ash, with a little twinkle in his eye and some jest in his voice, commented that he was glad that Serena had decided to settle down in Pallet Town. Abruptly, Serena's eyes filled with tears, and a moment later she reached across the table, grabbed Ash's collar and pulled him to her. Their lips met in a brief but passionate kiss and Serena felt reassured that she'd made the correct decision on her life path.

"What was that about," Ash said with a chuckle.

Serena grinned. "Just feeling spontaneous," she said playfully. She glanced around and then added, "we are on a triple date after all."

Both of them laughed and Ash felt relieved that Serena's dower mood from earlier had disappeared.

Goh and Chloe's dates came to an end around the same time. The two couples left the restaurant first and Ash and Serena followed a few minutes later.

When they made it outside, they found Goh and Yvette standing some distance away. Goh tried to embrace Yvette, but got shot down. After some sort of polite exchange, Yvette left and Goh was left standing alone. Despite the lack of success, he seemed pleased with himself.

Ash decided to talk with Goh so he stepped away from Serena and walked toward the other boy. Serena, meanwhile, glanced around and spotted Chloe standing with Herbert a short distance from the restaurant. Herbert still seemed to be doing the talking and Chloe was listening.

Serena genuinely felt bad for Chloe. As terrible as Ash had been at relationships and reading signs, he'd always cared about her and been considerate, even when they'd just been friends. She couldn't imagine what it was like to pursue a guy that apparently wasn't that interested in hearing what she had to say.

As Serena looked on, Chloe suddenly reached out, grasped hold of Herbert and pulled him into an opened-mouthed kiss.

"Oh!" Serena exclaimed softly. She blushed and felt a little embarrassed at witnessing the act. She looked down at the ground for the dozen or so seconds that Chloe maintained the kiss.

When Chloe pulled back from Herbert, the two of them said a few words and then he walked off. Chloe watched him go and then headed toward Serena. As she drew near, Serena could tell Chloe wasn't all that happy.

"Hey, Chloe," Serena said in a friendly tone. "So, how'd it go?"

"Mmmmm, okay I guess," she replied in a distant sounding voice. "I'm not sure what I'm gonna do."

Serena considered asking about the kiss but decided not to. "Do you think he heard any of what you had to say?"

"I don't know," Chloe sighed. "He mostly just talked about this trip to Hoenn he's got coming up." She was silent a few seconds and then spoke again in a timid voice. "Hey, Serena, would you wanna have a sleepover at my house tonight?"

Serena was a little surprised at the request. "Why, do you wanna talk?" she replied in a kind tone.

Chloe nodded. "Yeah. I've got a lot on my mind."

Serena's heart went out to Chloe and she wanted to help. She and Ash had planned to stay at the Pokémon center for the night so they didn't have any big plans, however, Serena didn't want to just leave Ash alone.

"Well, I'll have to talk with Ash, but I think I'll probably be able to come over."

Chloe nodded again. "Okay, thanks," she said softly. "I'll be waiting."

Serena smiled at Chloe and the other girl managed a weak smile in response. Chloe then turned toward the path which would take her back home.

"I'm gonna head home," she said. "I wanna get out of these heels."

Serena nodded. "Okay. Safe travels," she said.

"Bye," Chloe replied. With that, she started walking away.

Serena watched Chloe go and then looked toward Ash and Goh. They seemed to be having a pleasant conversation so Serena walked over to join them.

"Yeah, everything you said really worked! Thanks a lot Ash!" Goh was saying as Serena came within earshot.

"Well, I'm glad it helped," Ash replied, looking a little sheepish.

Goh glanced at Serena as she approached. "Hey, Serena. We were just talking about girls," he said with a grin. "Your boyfriend here is a real expert."

Ash cringed and Serena smiled sweetly while sending Ash an amused look. "Yes, he sure is," she said lovingly.

Goh continued grinning. "Hey, Ash, I was wondering if you would want to come over to my house. We have a guest room, so you and Serena could stay, no problems."

Ash thought for a moment. "Well, Serena and I were planning to stay at the Pokémon center, but I guess if you're making the offer….."

Goh raised an eyebrow. "Just the Pokemon center?" he said, sounding surprised. "I figured you guys would have gotten a hotel room somewhere." He chuckled briefly. "I guess the guest room would be a big upgrade for you two, then."

Serena suppressed a laugh and Ash looked puzzled. "Well, I don't know about that," Ash continued. "The Pokémon center is-"

"Actually, Ash," Serena interrupted. Cutting him off before he inadvertently said something embarrassing. "Chloe invited me to spend the night with her. I think she wants to talk about a few things."

"Huh," Ash replied. "Well, sure. If she needs you, you should definitely go."

Serena smiled and nodded. "Thanks. I will." She glanced at Goh and then back at Ash. "Well, I hope you two have fun. Don't get into too much trouble," she said with a laugh.

Goh grinned. "Don't worry about that Serena. We'll be fine."

Ash laughed and Serena leaned close to him. Since Goh was there they decided not to kiss and instead firmly clasped hands for several seconds.

They both smiled and then wished each other good night. Serena turned and started walking away. Ash watched her go and then turned to join Goh on the trip to his house.

Chloe sat near the head of her bed with her knees partially pulled toward her chest. She'd changed into a white, loose-fitting t-shirt and shorts. She looked unhappy and stared into space, her eyes not focused on anything.

She sat like this for several minutes until a series of knocks sounded on her door.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"It's your slumber buddy," Serena replied playfully.

Chloe grinned. "Come on in!" she said happily.

Serena pushed open the door and giggled. She moved to the bed and sat down on the side nearest the door.

"Thanks for coming," Chloe said gratefully.

"Yeah, no problem," Serena replied. "So, did you have fun tonight?"

Chloe frowned slightly. "Not really. I mean, he did almost all the talking, just like always. I could barely get a word in edgewise."

"Really?" Serena said a little surprised. "It seemed like you enjoyed yourself at least a little."

"Why would you think that?" Chloe replied.

Serena looked a little shy and gave a sheepish smile. "Well….. there was that little kiss at the end," she said in a playful voice.

"Oh that," Chloe replied. "I was just trying to get him to notice me. I've tried just about everything else."

"Was it at least okay?" she said, feeling a little embarrassed at prying into Chloe's personal life.

Chloe rolled her eyes and snorted. "It was like kissing a limp fish," she said in a sardonic tone. "He had no idea what to do."

Serena hesitated a moment. She had no idea what a limp fish would feel like but the idea of kissing an unconscious Magikarp wasn't appealing at all.

"Still, he's better than my last boyfriend," Chloe continued. "I called him Mr. octopus," she shivered briefly. "I swear he had more than two hands."

Serena waited a moment while Chloe mused over past events. "You said you've got a lot on your mind," she posed.

"Yeah," Chloe sighed. She was quiet for several long moments before she spoke in an uncertain voice. "I'm thinking of asking Herbert if I can go along with him on his trip to Hoenn."

Serena's eyes widened in surprise. "Really," she said, her voice mirroring her expression. "What are you hoping will happen?"

Chloe didn't look happy as she began to explain. "Well, every time I try to talk with him he just talks about mold. Mold spores, mold colonies, mold mold mold. I'm hoping that maybe if I learn about mold I can start to actually have a conversation with him."

Serena nodded as Chloe spoke but she couldn't help but notice that there was no enjoyment inside the other girl as she talked about interacting with Herbert. It almost seemed like the relationship was a burden to her.

"I'm gonna try and become a lab assistant so I can help him out. Maybe if I spend enough time around him, he'll finally notice me."

"I see," Serena said tactfully. She really wanted to help Chloe out, but she couldn't get past how unhappy she was.

"Chloe," Serena began in a diplomatic tone. "I was just noticing that you don't seem all that happy with Herbert."

"Mmm, hmm," Chloe nodded solemnly in agreement.

Serena was a bit surprised that Chloe agreed with her statement. "Well, if you're unhappy with him, why are you still dating him?"

Chloe let out a long, sad sigh and looked at her feet. "It's because a guy like Herbert's the best I'm gonna get," she mumbled sadly.

Serena didn't understand. "What do you mean? Chloe, there are tons of great guys out there. It might be hard to find them but if you keep at it, eventually you'll find the one for you."

At this Chloe looked even more downcast. "That might be true for you, Serena, but it doesn't work that way for girls like me."

"I… I don't understand?" Serena replied, genuinely perplexed.

Chloe sighed again. "You've got Ash," she began. "Ash is amazing. He's nice and kind. He's strong and brave and handsome."

Serena felt a little flattered that Chloe had such a high opinion of Ash.

Chloe paused a moment and then continued. "I can't get a guy like Ash, Serena. I don't have what it takes."

Serena shifted on the bed so she faced Chloe. "Chloe, you're so amazing. Of course you have what it takes to get someone like Ash. Just be brave and bold. Don't feel so down on yourself."

Chloe sighed again. "Thanks, Serena, but it's easy for you. You're really beautiful. I'm….. not."

Serena blinked in surprised. "Chloe….. of course you're beautiful. Just take tonight for example. You looked so great in that dress. You don't have anything to feel down about."

Chloe absently wiggled her knees as she listened to Serena. "You're really nice Serena," Chloe said in a barely audible voice. "But I look like a geek, I talk like a geek," there was a very long pause before Chloe said her final words. "and I have a flat chest," she mumbled, pulling her knees to her chin out of self-consciousness.

Serena felt her throat tighten out of sympathy for Chloe. This is what was tearing the other girl up inside. She thought most guys wouldn't find her attractive because of what she didn't have.

"Chloe," Serena began gently, choosing her words carefully. "I know it's hard, but honestly, if a guy is interested in you because of how you look, that's probably not going to be a healthy relationship."

Chloe hugged her legs. "Yeah….. but it sure helps you get your foot in the door," she whispered.

Serena could see tears starting to form in Chloe's eyes. "Sometimes Ash feels guilty over liking how I look," she offered.

Chloe looked toward her. "Hmmm," she hummed curiously.

Serena smiled warmly. "Ash really is a gentleman. He feels all embarrassed and thinks that he should like me for who I am rather than how I look."

"That's the total opposite of Goh," Chloe said softly. "You really are lucky, Serena."

Serena nodded. "Yes, but my point is that there's got to be more than one Ash out there. I'll bet you can find a great guy who'll love you even if you don't have a large bust. You shouldn't give up on being happy."

Chloe was quiet for a while. "Maybe," she finally said. "But I want to at least try with Herbert. Maybe I can bring him around.

Serena hesitated a moment and then nodded. "Okay. If that's your choice, I'll help you however I can."

Chloe's eyes shimmered with thankfulness. She smiled, but couldn't speak because of how emotional she was.

Serena gave a tight-lipped smile and then continued. "I don't agree one bit with how negatively you view yourself, though." She said directly, with kindness. "You really are beautiful, Chloe. And I hope you'll realize that there's more to a woman than what's on her chest."

Chloe nodded. "I really hope I can find a nice guy who agrees with that," she said, her voice warbling from emotion.

The two of them shared a meaningful stare and then Serena spoke.

"Chloe, I hope I'm not out of place asking this, but you and Goh were really close once right?" she asked delicately.

"Yeah, we're still good friends," Chloe replied.

Serena hesitated a second. "Well…. I'm just wondering, why aren't you two together?"

Chloe sighed and looked out the window of her room. "That would just be really weird," she finally said in a quiet voice. "I really like Goh as a friend and if we dated and it didn't end well, I'd lose my best friend. I really don't want that to happen."

Serena smiled and when she spoke she injected a little enthusiasm into her voice. "But if he's your best friend, don't you think that would be a good sign for a relationship?"

Chloe let out a long sigh and her gaze slowly fell toward her feet. "Goh's after something… different in a relationship than I am," she finally said.

Serena waited a couple heartbeats and then asked, "how so?"

Goh led the way into his room and shut the door once Ash was inside.

"Boy oh boy," Goh said eagerly. "That was the best date yet."

Ash was a little surprised. To him, it had looked like Yvette had been extremely bored. "You really think so," he asked.

Goh nodded. "Yeah, she was totally into me telling her about all the adventures I'd been on. Plus, I kept asking her about how she felt, just like you said. She said she was hungry and we got dinner. She said she needed a break and she went to the girl's room. She said she needed to get home early so she could get to work tomorrow. And outside, when I went to kiss her, she said she thought she was getting a cold and she didn't want me to catch it."

Goh was grinning from ear to ear. "This was only the third date, but I think we're on the verge of something special, Ash. Thanks for all the advice!"

Ash didn't say anything and just watched as Goh paced around the room a few times with a silly grin on his face. Goh finally flopped down on his bed, laying flat on his back. He giggled a few times and stared at the ceiling.

"What's so funny," Ash remarked, a little amused by his friend's behavior.

"I'm just imagining Yvette," Goh said happily. "She's the best."

"I guess," Ash replied. He decided to keep Serena's opinion of Goh's date to himself.

Goh chuckled. "I mean, did you see that dress she was wearing. Her back; those legs; all that cleavage she was showing."

"Uhhh," Ash replied, not sure what to do with Goh's commentary.

Goh looked toward Ash. "I mean, I know you've got Serena and she's great, but you can't tell me you at least didn't notice all that." Goh looked back at the ceiling. "Yvette's definitely got the best looking pair of-"

"You know Goh," Ash interrupted. "I really just focus on Serena. I'm not really looking at other girls."

Goh looked a little surprised but then smiled again. "Yeah, I guess so," he replied in a sly voice. "I guess once you land one, there no reason to keep fishing, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Ash said, feeling very glad that Serena had decided to stay at Chloe's for the night.

Goh thought for a moment and then spoke again. "Hey, have you gotten any new Pokémon at the reserve?"

Ash was glad for the change of subject. "Yeah," he said smiling. "We actually got a Cranidos a few months ago."

Goh sat up on the bed. "Wow, a Cranidos," he said, sounding surprised. "Where'd you find that?"

"We didn't actually find it," Ash replied. "Some researchers revived it, but it was really acting up and they couldn't control it. They called us up and asked us to take care of it."

"That's so cool," Goh said enthusiastically.

Ash gave a small shrug. "Well, it wasn't all that smooth at first. Cranidos didn't trust anyone and attacked a few Pokémon when we let it out of its Pokéball." Ash absently rubbed his right side. "It even head butted me pretty hard. Fortunately, Serena was able to talk some sense into it and it's been great since then."

Ash grinned. "Cranidos has been making a lot of friends and really likes being at the reserve now. It even apologized to me and feels really bad about what happened."

"That sounds great," Goh responded. "Have you got any pictures?"

Ash pulled out his Rotom phone. "Yeah, Cranidos was helping us break some rocks on the new property a little while ago." Ash began scrolling through the pictures he'd taken.

Goh slid off the bed and went to stand by Ash. He eagerly watched as Ash searched for the photos.

"Hey, woah! What's that?!" Goh exclaimed suddenly.

Ash stopped scrolling and glanced at Goh. "Huh?"

Goh grinned. "Back a few pictures. Who was that?"

Ash scrolled back a few pictures until Goh pointed for him to stop. The picture Goh had seen was an image of Serena Ash had taken during the summer. She was wearing her red sports bra, blue shorts and pink sun hat. She was doing a playful pose in the picture, one that showed off how fit and attractive she was. Ash remembered that day fondly. Serena had been a little more flirtatious than usual.

"Oh, yeah," Ash said with a slightly embarrassed grin. "That's Serena."

Goh kept grinning and elbowed Ash playfully. "You're a lucky guy Ash."

Ash chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, she's something special."

Ash and Goh spent a while looking at pictures of their various Pokémon and swapping stories. Eventually it started to get late and they changed into their pajamas. Goh lay down in his bed and Ash tucked into a sleeping bag they'd set up on the floor. They turned out the lights but that wasn't the end of the conversation.

"So, Ash," Goh spoke up. "What's it like having Serena around all the time."

Ash smiled. "Well, it's really great," he said happily. "She's always there to help and be a friend. She loves cooking and she works really hard. No matter how tough things are, she makes it better."

"That sounds terrific," Goh replied. "I wish I had a girlfriend I could be around all the time."

Ash chuckled. "Yeah, we have a lot of fun together," he said, remembering some of the happy times they'd shared.

"I'll bet," Goh giggled. The other boy thought for a moment and then continued. "You know Ash, I'm not jealous or anything, cause I've got Yvette, but Serena's really hot!"

Ash rolled his eyes but couldn't resist smiling. As much as it embarrassed him, Goh was correct. Serena was very attractive. "Yeah, she really looks nice," Ash replied, trying to hold back a laugh at Goh's comment.

Goh giggled a little more and then cleared his throat. When he spoke next it was in a more hushed voice.

"So, Ash, what's she like in bed?" he asked in a mischievous tone.

"Huh?" Ash replied, a little surprised by the question.

Goh grinned. "I figure with a body like that, she must be really amazing, right?!"

"Uh, we don't do that, Goh," Ash replied awkwardly. "We're dating but we're not….. together like that."

Goh sat up in bed and looked at Ash with a measure of disbelief. "You're not," he said in a perplexed tone. "What, is she like really religious or something?"

"Uh," Ash hesitated. He really didn't like talking about stuff like this. "Look, Goh, Serena and I both want to wait until later for that. We want to make sure we're both committed to each other before we….. are together."

"Hmmmm," Goh replied. He lay back down in the bed and thought for a moment. "I don't know Ash," Goh said in a skeptical tone. "If she was wearing an outfit like that around, I think she actually wants it, no matter what she's saying."

"I don't think so, Goh," Ash answered. "Serena and I have talked about this stuff. We both want to wait until later, maybe until we're married."

"Until you're married?" Goh said, sounding a little incredulous. "Nah, I don't think so."

"Why would you say that?" Ash replied.

Goh chuckled briefly. "Trust me Ash. No matter what they say, all girls want to be taken. You've just got to push the right buttons so they open the door."

Ash frowned a little. Goh seemed to have a very different view on relationships than he did.

"So, you have a lot of experience with this?" Ash asked warily.

Goh shrugged and spoke in a dismissive tone. "Nah, I haven't even gotten to first base yet, but trust me, that's how it is."

Ash stared up at the ceiling weighing Goh's words. He decided he wasn't going to take his friend's advice on relationships this time.

The next day began with a bit of fun for everyone. Serena and Chloe had a bit of girl time, doing nails, combing hair and trying on some of Chloe's wardrobe. Serena also tried to get Chloe to talk about boys some, trying to boost the poor girl's self-image and confidence. Serena ultimately ended up sharing some of the foibles of her and Ash's relationship in an effort to show her than even their "perfect" pairing wasn't free of problems.

Meanwhile, Ash and Goh woke up early and decided to visit some old stomping grounds in Vermilion City. Goh happily showed Ash some of the Pokémon he'd caught recently and Ash told Goh about some of the ways he took care of Pokémon on the reserve. Ash also tried to work in explaining how he and Serena worked together as a team. He did his best to impress on the boy that a relationship was about much more than just the physical interactions. Goh heard the words but they didn't seem to have any effect on his attitude.

As the afternoon approached, Goh and Chloe began preparations for their respective plans. Goh put on his best clothes and, with Ash's help, figured out a somewhat elegant speech for asking Yvette to go on a walk in the park. Ash also impressed upon Goh that he should lay off the flirtatious comments and just be polite.

Chloe, on the other hand, did a ton of reading about all kinds of mold and the way it grew and thrived. It was the weirdest preparation for a romantic overture she or Serena had ever heard of but if that's what it took to win over Herbert then Chloe was willing to do it.

Hours passed and the time for Chloe's big move drew near. Serena lent her all of her fashion experience to help put together an outfit. Eventually, they settled on a cream colored sleeveless-shirt and a light blue skirt with white striping. Chloe decided to keep her hair in its normal large braid but, at Serena's suggestion, she put a few small white streamers into the braid to add some flair.

Chloe felt really nervous about asking to join Herbert on his trip to Hoenn, but she knew it was her only chance at getting something to happen with their relationship. She went over her speech a hundred times and even had Serena pretend to be Herbert as she practiced.

Abruptly, as Serena was helping Chloe add some final touches to her hair, someone knocked on the door of Chloe's room.

"Dad, really I'm busy," Chloe replied. "Not now!"

"Hey, Chloe," the voice of Herbert called through the door. "It's not your dad, it's Herbert"

Chloe gasped and turned to Serena. Both girls had a look of dismay on their faces. While Chloe was fully dressed and ready, the room was in shambles. Beauty products, clothes and all manner of girl related knick-knacks were scattered everywhere. The two of them spent a frantic couple of seconds trying to shove as much of the stuff as they could under Chloe's bed or toss it beneath the covers.

"Just a second!" Chloe cried out as she grabbed a pile of dresses and unceremoniously chucked them into the closet.

Serena scooped up all of Chloe's loose jewelry and dumped it into a nearby backpack. She then grabbed a few bottles of hair product and tossed them on the bed with everything else.

Chloe threw the covers over the pile of stuff on her bed and then took a second to compose herself.

"Okay, come in," she said calmly.

The door opened up and Herbert stepped into the room.

"Herbert I wasn't expecting you to drop by," Chloe said.

"I wasn't planning on dropping by," Herbert said simply. "But I got some good news from the lab today and that made me think about us."

A small jolt went through Chloe as she heard this. So far, she'd done one hundred percent of the work in the relationship. For Herbert to have a thought about her and their interactions was a big deal.

"Oh! Really!" Chloe said, trying to keep her surprise and excitement muted.

Herbert nodded. "Yes. I know that you really enjoyed our date last night and I just wanted to talk with you about our relationship."

Chloe's heart began beating very rapidly and she felt herself blushing. She was doing her best to keep a calm expression on her face but it was very difficult.

Serena took a sliding step toward the door and gestured toward the exit. "You know, I just remembered something I needed to do," she said anxiously, attempting to exit gracefully before things became romantic between Chloe and Herbert.

"Oh, you don't have to go," Herbert said. "Chloe, I don't want to interrupt you visiting with your friend."

"You can interrupt all you want Herb," Chloe replied quickly. "What were you saying about us?!"

Serena stood, frozen-in-place, not sure if she should dash out of the room or stick around.

"Right," Herbert said. "Chloe, I know you spend a lot of time setting up dates and doing things for us."

Chloe nodded rapidly. "Yeah, that's right."

Herbert smiled. "You're always trying to make things fun and working hard on our relationship. I've counted up all the time; it's a big drain on you."

Chloe's eyes started to tear up. "Yes….. yes it is!" she said, her voice cracking.

Herbert nodded. "So, if I said our relationship is a big part of your life, that would be a correct statement?"

Chloe tried to blink back tears but they began running down her face. "It's the biggest thing in my life!" she managed in an extremely emotional voice.

Herbert smiled. "That's what I thought." He paused a moment and then continued. "You see Chloe, something really great has happened for me!"

"It has!" Chloe said in a joyful, tear-filled squeak.

"Yes, I've gotten the results back from the Goldenrod City lab and they confirmed the mold cultures I sent them showed extreme promise at fighting disease."

"Just like you hoped," Chloe choked out.

As Chloe and Herbert continued speaking, Serena began tiptoeing toward the door, trying to make an unnoticed exit.

Herbert smiled broadly. "It's even better than I hoped. There's so many possibilities." He became a little more serious and continued. "I wanted to thank you for listening to me talking about all the lab work. It really helped me figure out some of the problems."

"Anytime you need someone to listen to what you have to say, I'll be there," Chloe said, trying to make her voice sound sincere through the tears and emotion.

"Yes, that's part of what I wanted to talk about," Herbert said. "You know how I've got this trip to Hoenn coming up?"

Chloe felt like she could faint. Everything was working out beyond her wildest dreams. "Yes, Herb, I was actually going to talk with you about that," she said.

"Yeah," Herbert continued in his always cheerful sounding voice. "Basically, Chloe, after all this big success with the mold colonies and my upcoming trip to Hoenn, I'm not going to have any spare time for our relationship anymore. I'm going to have to focus on my work from now on."

Chloe heard the words, but they didn't sink in. "Huh?" she said stupefied, with a blank look on her face.

Herbert nodded. "I wanted to let you know. Because you've been putting so much of your time into the relationship; now you'll be able to pursue contests or lab work like you said you said wanted to."

Serena looked on in stunned silence, standing a step away from the exit.

"Huh?" Chloe said again, still not processing what was happening.

Herbert turned to go. "Anyway, I wanted to thank you for all you did. You really helped me succeed with these mold colonies and I hope you can find just as much success with whatever you pursue."

"Huh?" Chloe repeated again.

"Goodbye," Herbert said. With that, he walked out the door and pulled it shut behind him.

Serena could hardly believe what had just happened. She looked at the now closed door and then at Chloe. The other girl still had a look of shock on her face and she wasn't moving at all. Serena gingerly took a few steps toward her.

"Chloe?" Serena probed hesitantly.

Chloe's mouth suddenly trembled and a small squeak escaped her throat before she spoke in a heartrending tone. "Did I just get dumped for a mold colony?!" she said, every syllable dripping with tears.

Serena had no words. She actually couldn't think of a more humiliating fate.

Chloe's eyes filled with tears and a whine born of heartbreak began climbing up her throat, slowly increasing in pitch and volume. She pressed her lips together until they turned white, trying to hold back the tidal wave of sorrowful anguish that was building up inside her.

Goh led Ash through the small warehouse where Yvette worked. Her family's package delivery company handled several thousand shipments everyday and there were bins and pallets of various sized boxes set up all over the premises. Outside, Pelipper, Dragonite, Fearow and Yanmega were occasionally landing with deliveries of parcels and then being loaded up with packages to take elsewhere.

"This is really impressive," Ash commented.

"I know, right," Goh replied. "They have over a hundred Pokémon they use to make deliveries. They can take a package from Viridian City to Lavender Town in just under two hours. I heard that if they open up a branch in Johto, they're gonna get a few Salamence so they can make the trip there super fast."

"Cool," Ash remarked.

Goh's eyes suddenly lit up. "Ah, there she is!"

Yvette was currently pulling packages out of a bin and stacking them on a rolling cart. She was wearing a simple light blue work shirt with a dark blue skirt. Her hair was tied up in an elaborate bun at the back of her head. She glanced at Goh as he approached but then paid him no heed.

Goh paused near a line of shelves and gestured to Ash. "Okay, Ash, watch this!" he said with a big grin.

Ash smiled and nodded. "Good luck Goh," he said. Ash then waited at the shelves, so he was out of sight of Yvette while Goh proceeded forward.

"Hey, Yvette," Goh said in a friendly tone as he approached.

"Goh…." Yvette replied, managing to make her voice sound both profoundly displeased and disinterested at the same time.

Goh came to a stop a few paces from Yvette. "I sure enjoyed our date last night," he said in an upbeat tone. "I always enjoy hanging out with someone as nice and beautiful as you!"

"I see," Yvette replied. "I don't really remember much of last night," she said in a thoroughly bored tone.

Goh nodded. "So, I was wondering, after you finish work today, how would you like to go for a walk in the city park?"

Yvette briefly looked at Goh and then resumed moving packages. "I'm sorry Goh, I've got a lot of work today. I'm afraid I can't make it."

Goh didn't miss a beat. "That's okay. How about late this evening? We could go for a moonlit stroll. It might be kind of romantic?"

Yvette looked at Goh with utter coldness. "It's a lot of work Goh. I'm going to have to stay here all day."

Goh thought for a moment. "Well, okay, maybe we could make something work tomorr-"

Yvette let out an annoyed sigh and turned to face Goh. "Let me be a bit more clear. I wasn't a huge fan of your list of 'exploits' or your lack of professional attitude. I really don't think things are going to work out between us….. Goh."

Goh frowned briefly. "Okay, maybe we could get lunch sometime and talk about it; try and work things out."

Yvette let out another annoyed sigh and picked up a rectangular package in her right hand. "I won't be joining you for lunch Goh," she said flatly.

"Really, why not?" Goh asked.

Yvette rolled her eyes and spoke in a cruel voice. "Let me put it this way Goh. If I was on one of our flights and it ended up crashing in the ocean and I found myself stranded on a deserted island." She held up the package she had in her right hand. "I would rather have the contents of this box as company than you."

Goh looked nonplussed and after a few moments he nodded slowly. "Okay, well, if you change your mind, you've got my number," he said with subdued hopefulness.

"Goodbye Goh….." Yvette growled.

Goh turned and walked back to the shelves where Ash was waiting. Ash had overheard the entire conversation and was watching him as he approached.

"You know Goh," Ash said quietly, as soon as he was within earshot. "I think you can do better than her."

"Eh," Goh shrugged. "It's just like catching Pokémon. If one gets away, you just start chasing another."

Ash didn't have a reply to that statement, so silence hung in the air for several seconds.

Goh's phone abruptly sounded and he promptly checked it. His eyes widened a second later and he stowed the phone in his pocket.

"Agh, come on, Ash, we've gotta run!" Goh said frantically

"Now what?!" Ash asked, a little exasperated.

"I'll explain on the way. Come on!"

With that, the two young men took off running, yet again.

Serena sat on Chloe's bed with her legs folded underneath her. Chloe was lying on the bed, partially curled up, with her head on Serena's lap. With one arm, she was clinging to Serena's leg, and with the other she was holding a pillow tightly against her side. The heartbroken girl was bawling uncontrollably and Serena was gently running her right hand over her back, speaking words of comfort to her.

"Any guy who doesn't realize how amazing and wonderful you are doesn't deserve a second thought," Serena said kindly.

Chloe continued crying unabated. Tears had been pouring down her face for some time and were beginning to make Serena's skirt feel damp.

Serena kept smiling even though she felt like crying herself over how broken up Chloe was.

"I know this feels like it's the end of the world, but tomorrow, the sun will rise, and everything can begin again. Every day will be a new opportunity for you, Chloe."

Chloe took a breath in between sobs and said a few blubbering and unintelligible words. She immediately continued crying afterward.

Serena wasn't sure if Chloe was even hearing what she was saying. She continued reassuring her, nonetheless.

"You have so many friends and so many people who love you. I know one day you'll find a guy who will be perfect for you."

Serena wasn't sure how long she remained in this position with Chloe. Eventually, Chloe's bawling started to subside into just a slow trickle of tears and soft whimpering. Serena's legs were falling asleep and beginning to uncomfortably ache from being folded under her for so long.

"Don't think that any of this was your fault Chloe. You did absolutely everything you-"

There was a sudden knock at the door and Goh's muffled voice sounded a moment later. "Hey, Chloe, are you in there?"

Chloe immediately gasped, popped up from Serena's lap, slid off the bed and dashed to the door. Without giving a thought for her appearance, she yanked the door open and took in the sight of her long-time friend.

"Goh, you got my text," Chloe said in a tear-choked yet thankful voice.

Goh nodded and stepped into the room. "Yeah. Soon as I saw it, I came straight here."

Ash was a few paces behind Goh and he gave Serena a subtle wave when he caught sight of her. Serena nodded and smiled in reply. She winced as she unfolded her legs and moved so she was sitting on the side of the bed.

Goh's expression shifted to looking a little guilty. "Well, not straight here," he corrected. He held up a large bag of chocolate covered cherries.

Chloe suddenly looked very emotional. "Oh, you remembered," she said, sounding touched. She suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Goh. "Thank you Goh," she said softly, resting her chin on his left shoulder.

Goh wrapped his arms around Chloe, still holding on to the bag of chocolates. He held on to her and gently rocked her from side to side.

Ash and Serena shared a surprised look. After the past two days they hadn't been expecting Goh and Chloe to suddenly be so close.

Chloe pulled back a little, but still held on to Goh.

Goh looked straight at Chloe and spoke in a kind tone. "So, what happened?"

Chloe's face immediately scrunched up in anger. "That, spore sucking, lab rat thought it'd be better to spend time with mold colonies than keep dating," she spat.

Goh made a sympathetic face. "Sounds like a real loser," he said flatly.

Chloe snorted and made it clear Goh's words were a massive understatement. "No, kidding. He came in here and was like. 'Hi Chloe. Now that I'm really successful, I don't have any time for you. Bye!'" As Chloe parodied Herbert she deliberately made her voice overly nasally and irritating.

Goh smiled slightly, finding Chloe's imitation amusing. He used his free hand to rustle in the bag behind Chloe's back. He retrieved one of the chocolates and pulled his hand toward him, over Chloe's shoulder, so she could see the treat.

Chloe's eyes tracked to the treat and she smiled sweetly. "Awww," she replied. She leaned her head toward Goh's hand and plucked the chocolate from his fingers using her lips. She then chomped down on the treat and smiled happily.

Ash and Serena exchanged another surprised look. They recognized this sort of behavior as they'd had many such encounters themselves.

Serena stood up and spoke hesitantly. "I didn't know you two were so close."

Chloe turned away from Goh so she faced Serena, however, she kept her left arm wrapped around Goh's right.

"Oh, Goh and I are sort of breakup buddies these days," Chloe said somberly. "When one of us hits the skids, we hang out like we used to."

Goh nodded and looked at Chloe. "Yeah, I'm always glad to help you out," he said smiling.

Chloe smiled back at him and for the first time since Herbert had left, she didn't have tears streaking her face.

Serena bit the inside of her mouth, struggling mightily as to whether she should point out what was very obvious to her and Ash.

"Sorry it didn't work out for you two's dates," Ash spoke up.

Goh shrugged and Chloe groaned. "Eh, it's okay," Goh said in an indifferent tone. "It just wasn't meant to be.

Chloe looked over at Goh. "Wait, did you break up with Yvette?" she said, sounding surprised.

Goh, nodded. "Yeah, she was great, but you know, not the right one," he said casually.

Ash bit down on his tongue to keep from laughing at how Goh was portraying the breakup.

Chloe thought for a moment and then looked straight at Goh. "Hey, Goh, I know you just broke up with Yvette, but I was wondering…."

"Wondering what?" Goh replied.

Serena held her breath and silently wished Chloe luck.

Chloe paused a moment and then spoke. "I was wondering if you still like super cherry chocolate chunk?"

Goh smiled. "Yeah, you bet!" he said happily.

Chloe nodded. "Good, cause I'm planning on buying a whole container and I'm gonna need help eating it."

Internally, Serena felt extremely deflated. Why couldn't Chloe see what was right in front of her?

"At the old ice cream place downtown?" Goh said.

"Yep," Chloe replied.

"Sounds good to me," Goh answered.

The two of them began to walk toward the door. Chloe then stopped midstride and turned around toward Serena.

"Hey, Serena," Chloe began. "Thanks for coming and helping me, even if it didn't work out."

Serena smiled. "Oh, it's no problem. I enjoyed talking with you, Chloe. I hope you can find someone who will make you happy." As Serena said these words she very deliberately shifted her gaze toward Goh.

Chloe smiled, but didn't show any sign of noticing the hint.

"Yeah, thanks for all the advice," Goh spoke up, looking toward Ash. "I'm sure it will come in handy in the future."

"Sure, no problem," Ash replied.

With that, Goh and Chloe clasped hands and began walking out of the room.

As they passed through the doorway, Chloe spoke up. "So, why were you into Yvette in the first place?"

Goh grinned. "Well, did you see her in that dress last night?"

Chloe groaned and rolled her eyes. "Goh, I've told you, you need to think with your brain, not your-"

Goh and Chloe's voices faded away as they moved farther away. Ash and Serena were left alone so Ash took a few steps closer to Serena and spoke up.

"So, what now?" he asked. They'd originally planned to be in Vermilion City for two days, so they still had the entire afternoon before they needed to head back home.

Serena thought for a moment and then looked at Ash with a small smile. "Know any good diners?"

Ash grinned. "Yeah, definitely."

Serena reached out and took Ash's hand. "Lead on, then," she said softly.

Ash led them to a cozy eating establishment a few streets over from Chloe's house. It wasn't a large building and could fit at most forty people inside. Serena loved it and the two of them sat down, facing each other, at a table near the front of the building.

They chatted a little about various things before the conversation turned back to Goh and Chloe.

"So, do you think they'll figure it out?" Ash asked, commenting on the obvious attraction Goh and Chloe had for each other.

Serena slowly blew out a breath. "I don't know. Chloe didn't like the idea of dating Goh. She was worried about losing him as a friend."

"That's so weird," Ash said. "Why wouldn't they just take the risk? It's really obvious they care about each other."

Serena shrugged slightly. "Sometimes people can be such good friends that they can't think of themselves as anything else." She sent Ash an amused look. "You had an issue with that for a while."

Ash chuckled. "I'm getting better," he replied.

Serena smiled happily. "Yes, you are," she said with enjoyment.

They each reached across the table and let the tips of their fingers brushed against each other. After a little while, Ash spoke up again.

"Hey, Serena, there was something Goh said that I wanted to ask you about," he stated.

Serena gave a nod for him to continue.

"Goh was talking about girls, and I don't think he has a very good idea of how to do things, but one of the things he said is that all girls want to be taken."

Serena heard the words and responded with a smile and subtle laugh. "I see," she said, sounding amused.

Ash blushed a little at the subject matter. "Well, I was wondering, I know we've talked about all that stuff, but….. given how you've been really forward sometimes… is it true?"

Serena grinned and blushed slightly. She looked down at the table and formed her response.

"Every girl is different Ash," she said, looking back up at him as she did so. "I think a better way of putting it is asking: does every girl want to be swept off her feet by the man she loves?"

Ash nodded in understanding as Serena said this.

"I would say that's true. I think just about every girl wants to be swept off her feet. Now, for some girls, that means being carried away to the bedroom, like Goh said. But I don't think that's the case for the majority of girls."

"Really," Ash said simply.

Serena nodded. "A lot of girls just want a guy to be there for them and show them affection. The intimate stuff comes later."

Ash laughed a little. "That's definitely not what Goh thinks."

Serena chuckled. "Goh seems like a typical guy to me; very interested in getting a girl into bed and not thinking about anything else."

"Hmmm," Ash hummed. "So, Serena, what I was wondering is… are you wanting to be swept off your feet?"

Serena grinned and playfully chewed on her bottom lip. "You've already swept me off my feet Ash," she said affectionately.

Ash stared back at Serena. "When'd I do that?"

Serena slightly leaned across the table. "Back when I was six years old," she said softly.

Ash smiled and blushed slightly. "Oh….. right." He thought for a moment and then hesitated before he spoke again. "But I was wondering… you've been really flirtatious and forward sometimes. Some of the outfits you've worn have been… revealing."

Serena blushed a little and looked a bit shy.

Ash continued. "So, I was wondering… are you hoping that I'll sweep you away to the bedroom sometime?"

Serena bowed her head and pressed her lips together in a tightlipped smile. She again took a moment to compose her thoughts before she spoke.

"One of the reasons I'm so forward with you, Ash, is because I trust you, completely," she said sincerely.

Ash looked on, intrigued.

Serena took a breath and continued. "I know you'd never hurt me or take advantage of me, and I also know you're fairly shy and very modest. That's why I wear those outfits and do those things around you. I know you won't respond rashly…." her voice then became a little mischievous. "And I also know you like it when I do those things."

Ash blushed, smiled and nodded. Even when it made him uncomfortable, he had to admit, he really enjoyed Serena's antics. Serena paused a moment and so he opened his mouth to speak.

"But, what would you do if, one time, I decided to try and sweep you away to the bedroom?" he asked.

Serena grinned. "Ash Ketchum, I thought you were all about waiting until later!"

Ash chuckled. "I am. But I was just wondering if maybe I got caught up in the moment, what would you do?"

Serena nodded and smiled. She clearly enjoyed the question. She was starting to turn a little red and she leaned forward on the table so her face was only a couple inches from Ash's.

"All I can say, Ash," she said in a soft, seductive voice. "Is that, one day, when that happens, you'd better be prepared. Because, after you're done 'taking' me," she said, deliberately using Goh's vernacular. "I'm going to take you."

Ash laughed softly. He was blushing now as well. "What do you mean?" he asked, speaking softly as well.

Serena grinned fiercely. "You'll just have to find out," she said mysteriously.

Ash nodded, sending Serena an inquisitive look. "Okay. But that's not going to happen until much later."

Serena still looked very mischievous. "I don't know Ash. We'll just have to see how much control you have."

"What do you mean? I haven't done much that's over the line, even with all the times you've been really forward," he said, sounding a little proud of his track record.

"Yeah, that's true," Serena said in an amused voice. "But, you haven't seen me without my top yet."

"Uhhh," Ash replied, his vocabulary disappearing from his mind.

Serena chuckled at Ash's reaction to her comment. "I figure, one day, when that happens, either by accident," she abruptly added a sinister tone to her voice. "or on purpose," she shifted her voice back to normal. "that's when we'll see how much self-control you've got."

Ash just stared back at Serena, completely lacking a reply. Just when he thought she'd reached the limits of her flirtatiousness, she surprised him with a whole new level.

Serena leaned back in her chair, took a very long drink from her cold tea and then cleared her throat.

"But I don't think we need to worry about that until next spring at the earliest," she stated flatly.

"Why then?" Ash asked.

Serena chuckled. "Cause it's cold Ash," she playfully brought her hands up to her chest. "They like being warm too," she said teasingly.

Both of them chuckled at this.

"Are you serious," Ash managed to say between laughs.

"I don't know, am I?" Serena said with a grin.

Both of them giggled.

"Don't ever act this way around Goh," Ash said, still giggling.

Serena kept giggling and shook her head. "Don't worry Ash, this is only for you."

Serena took another long drink from her cold tea and then they both prepared to order their meal.

After getting ice cream and going to watch a movie, Goh and Chloe retreated to their favorite quiet spot, the rooftop of an apartment building near the edge of Vermilion City. They found the roof deserted, as it usually was, and they sat down with their backs against the structure covering the access stairway. It was dark by this time and a cold breeze was blowing across the roof. Chloe hadn't brought a coat and so after a few minutes of feeling chilled, Goh invited her to cuddle up with him and share the warmth of his coat. Chloe happily did so. She sat on his lap and leaned her head back against his left shoulder. Goh took his arms out of the sleeves and wrapped his coat around both of them and then wrapped his arms around Chloe's stomach. Despite their closeness, there was nothing romantic about any of their actions. They were simply two friends, comforting each other and enjoying being together.

"So you were really gonna go all the way to Hoenn to try and make it work with that guy," Goh said.

"Yeah," Chloe said slowly, giving voice to the fact that she now recognized the idea as having been ill thought out. "I'm kinda glad that didn't work out. Just imagine if I'd spent all that time there and then he dumped me."

"Mmm, hmm," Goh hummed. "Just imagine if you'd slept with him and then he'd dumped you," Goh said, mirroring her feeling of relief.

Chloe turned her head slightly so she could catch Goh's eye.

"Goh!" she said in a hurt tone. "You know how I feel about that."

"Right, right," Goh mumbled, in apology. "You wanna save yourself."

Chloe turned her head back to where it had been and snuggled against Goh. "I'm gonna be lucky if I can find one guy who'll like me. I'm sure not gonna waste it on some loser before then."

Each of them let out a sigh and they were silent for a time. Chloe was the one to speak first this time.

"So, how far did you get with Yvette?" she asked.

"Ehhhh, nowhere really," Goh groaned. "I struck out again."

"Hmmm, so what is that now? Oh for seven?" Chloe commented.

Goh thought for a moment. "Uh, nine if you count the twins."

"I think they were just messing with you," Chloe said with a bit of amusement. "Why else would identical twins date the same guy?"

Goh shrugged. "Maybe they think it's kinky."

Chloe laughed. "Or maybe they wanted to see you freaking out when you kept running into her all over the place. Weren't you trying to find the Abra you thought she was using to teleport around the city?"

Goh blushed out of embarrassment. "Let's not talk about that, okay," he grumbled.

Chloe giggled a few more times and then became quiet. A minute passed and then Chloe spoke again.

"Chocolate!" she said simply.

Goh rustled inside the coat and a moment later he reached out of the front of the covering and held a chocolate covered cherry up for Chloe. The girl leaned her head forward and chomped the treat with a playful 'nom' sound. She smiled and leaned her head back against Goh's shoulder. Goh smiled as well and wrapped his arms back around her stomach.

Another minute passed and Goh spoke up.

"So, any prospects for you?" he asked.

Chloe let out a slow sigh. "Yeah, one," she said unenthusiastically. "There's this guy at the library. He likes science. His name is Daniel or Derrick or something like that."

"Sounds like a real winner," Goh said sarcastically.

"Well he didn't ignore me when I said 'hi,' and didn't give me a strange look when I started geeking out on him, so I figure, why not?"

"Hmmmm," Goh hummed. He didn't say anything though.

"How about you?" Chloe asked.

Goh smiled slightly. "Yeah I've got one," he said. "Her name is Lydia. She's an athlete. Brown hair; brown eyes-"

"Wait, is that volleyball girl?" Chloe said abruptly.

"Huh?" Goh replied.

"You know, the one you met when we were on the beach that day."

Goh thought for a moment. "Oh, yeah. That's her!"

"I thought so," Chloe said rolling her eyes. "Soon as you saw her boobs jiggling around you couldn't take your eyes off her." She let out a low groan. "She should have worn a tighter swimsuit."

Goh chuckled. "I thought it was fine," he said with a grin.

"Course you did," Chloe said with amused exasperation.

Both of them chuckled and then were quiet for a time.

"Chocolate!" Chloe spoke up.

Goh again rustled beneath the coat and a few seconds later, Chloe devoured another treat with a happy 'nom' sound.

A minute of silence passed and then Chloe spoke up again; this time in a sincere and wistful tone.

"I sure hope you can find a pretty girl who likes you and makes you happy, Goh," she said.

Goh nodded subtly. "Yeah, me too," he agreed in a quiet voice.

Another minute passed and then Goh spoke up.

"I hope you can fine a nice guy who treats you right, Chloe."

"Yeah," Chloe replied softly.

More time passed and the two of them continued to sit together on top of the roof. The cold wind blew; the sounds of the city echoed up from below and the black starless sky loomed overhead. It was starting to get late but neither of them cared. They both felt content and they were in no hurry to get back to the dreary dating prospects which awaited them.

"Chocolate!" Chloe playfully squeaked again.

Goh would continue feeding Chloe chocolates until, at last, the supply was consumed. Even then they continued to stay on the roof. Chloe was emotionally exhausted after the events of the day but she was finally starting to feel happy. With her belly full of ice cream and chocolates, she briefly closed her eyes, wanting to rest a little before they each headed home. She quickly fell asleep, though, and her head slowly slumped sideways until it rested against Goh's left cheek.

Goh smiled as he felt Chloe's unconscious form resting atop him. He listened to her soft breathing and felt the warmth from her cheek pressed against his. Even though it was starting to get late he didn't want to wake Chloe. After everything she'd been through, she deserved a rest.

Goh sighed internally. He really hoped that one day he could find a girl that would be as good of a friend to him as Chloe was. Maybe, just maybe, Lydia would be the one.