Italic means people’s thoughts.

It’s Christmas Eve. And all a month has passed since Ash received a call from Misty asking him to work together in Cerulean Gym. Her "excuse" was that not only Daisy got married, and Violet left to live with her boyfriend, but also that Lily has recently accepted an offer to have a Gym of a new league. So then, as she couldn’t do all by herself, she thought of some help. She thought, as always, of Ash.

They lived a lot of happy moments, always laughing and enjoying their companion. But none of them was brave enough to confess their feelings yet. Lily was going to have a free week so she could spend this Christmas with her family. She was about to go back to the gym to meet her sister and get ready for the great party.

It was December 19^th when the Gym’s phone was ringing and Ash answered:

• Hi
• Hi Ash, honey, how are you?
• Mum? I’m fine, how about you?
• We’re great. Mr. Mime and I did a good job with the Christmas tree. How does yours look like?
• Well, it’s...
• Ash, it’s been a long time! (Somebody else entered into the chat.)
• Professor Oak?
• Yeah, how is my gym leader going on?
• Oh, everything is fantastic here! We’re having a lot of work. I’m hoping to stay for a long time. Not only because of Pokémon.
• That’s really cool.
• And they pay enough to go out every week. It’s very funny.
• Good for you. You know Ash, I was wandering if you wanted to spend this Christmas at my lab.
• Really? That sounds great.
• Right. I’m planning a good party for all the people in Pallet. What do you think?
• I’m not sure... Lily will be here. And Misty wants to be with all her sisters. Don’t forget that Daisy and Violet have their couples, and they are coming too.
• Well, that’s not a problem. They can all come here.
• Alright. I will tell them and I’ll phone you back later, ok?
• Yes. Good bye, Ash. I’ll be waiting for your call.
• Don’t worry. I’ll give you a ring after we talk about it.
• Love, keep in touch, will you? (Said his mum.)
• I will mum. Good bye for now.
• Bye, sweetie.

Although many good things have lastly happened to Ash, he was still worried because of Pikachu. Since he left his trainer for a new life, with a female Pikachu he met in the woods, both friends had to part in different ways, just right before Ash received Misty’s call to go to help her with the gym. Obviously Ash felt really unhappy when this happened, but he understands that when you grow up there are many changes that have to be that way, sadly for a while, but better when you think about it. Until now he had no opportunity to see him again, and that’s why he was becoming sadder these last days, remembering all the great parties and good times they had together, and thinking it would be the first Christmas without his best pokémon friend. Ash was really wishing to see Pikachu again, and of course Misty noticed that.

On the other hand, Misty was becoming stronger everyday, and turned into an excellent water pokémon trainer. Against of Ash, she was looking very happy, maybe because she was planning a good surprise for Christmas.

After having an official pokémon battle with a trainer, she went to the livingroom and looked at Ash, who was feeding some pokémon. He’s so nice... she thought. He smiled at her and asked:

• You have another victory?
• Not this time. This trainer seemed to be very strong.
• Hmm. It’s late. Did you close the gym?
• Yes, everything is ready for tomorrow.
• When are we going to have dinner, Mist? I’m hungry.
• If so, why didn’t you cook something?
• I was waiting for you because it’s your turn to do it.
• I know. Well, what do you want to eat?
• You have been improving a lot with the food, so it’s the same. I love to say that kind of things.
• ... How sweet. Ok. I’ll see what I can do. Why don’t you turn the TV on? "Newlyweds" is about to start.
• Sure. I’m coming. I wish someday we were newlyweds too.
• Did you remember to buy the new lamp for the kitchen?
• Oh, no! I forgot. She’ll wanna kill me. Do you want me to go now?
• No, it’s Ok. It’s dark and cold outside and we can see well with the other two. Don’t we?
• Yes. I swear I’ll go early tomorrow. What?! Isn’t she angry?
• Right, but try not to wake me up this time, ok? You make too much noise. Thought I love to see you when you don’t notice me in the mornings.
• Oh, I’m sorry "sleeping beauty" but if you want me to go that early you’ll have to stand the consequences...
• Fine, but just try. You don’t have to fight. You called me sleeping beauty?
• It’s ok, I was just kidding.

Next day, they had no battles with trainers. When they woke up, Ash decided to buy that lamp as fast as he could, because he knows he wouldn’t like to see Misty angry. And as she mentioned that Lily was coming soon to stay during the Christmas week, she started to prepare the room to welcome her sister. While Ash was out, Misty received a phone call from Sakura, her old friend, saying that she moved to Pallet Town a month ago. She also said that she met a boy called Tracy, who told Sakura where Ash and Misty were living. When Ash returned, Misty told him about it:

• You remember Sakura? She phoned me and said she’s recently moved to Pallet. She met Tracy and he told her where we’re living.
• Pallet Town? Oh, it’s true! I almost forget. Professor Oak called yesterday asking if we wanted to go there for Christmas. Is that ok with you?
• What about my sisters?
• He said they can all go with us.
• Well, I really like the idea but I should tell them first.
• Sure. Lily is coming tomorrow, isn’t she? We can ask her then, and if she agrees we’ll call Daisy and Violet.
• Right. You know what? I’d love to see our friends again.
• Yeah, me too. Specially Pikachu, I miss him so much...
• You must be thinking about your buddy, am I right? I know you too much, Ash. Don’t worry, you won’t have to miss him anymore...

Ash showed Misty the lamp he had bought and stood up on the kitchen table to place it with the others. When he finished, he just had to go down, and Misty helped him putting a chair near him. But suddenly, one pokémon was trying to catch another one running around the table, and it happened: they dropped the chair on which Ash was standing, making him fall to the floor, hitting strongly his head. He fainted. Misty was desperate, and took him to the nearest sofa. She begged him to wake up and turned on the van to give him some air.

• Ash, please, wake up... Come on. Ash, open your eyes, open your beautiful eyes. Please. Don’t scare me... Come on!

Ash could hear her loud and clear, but it was hard for him to react. He tried a lot, but only got it between two or three minutes later, when Misty was crying on his chest. She went on talking to him without knowing he was already awake.

• Ash... please, don’t leave me... I need you...
• ...I’d never leave you, Misty, I promise.
• ...Oh, my God! You’re awake. (She hugs him strongly.)
• Yes, I am.
• ...I thought...
• Shh. It’s ok... I’m alive. (He joked.)
• Thanks God.
• No, thanks to you.
• Why?
• You begged me to come back.
• Sorry?
• I heard you.
• What exactly did you hear?
• "Ash, please, don’t leave me!" (He was laughing.)
• It’s not funny, you know.
• Yeah, whatever. You have to admit you sounded too desperate.
• I did not.
• Did too.
• Oh, yeah? How much?
• Well, if I were you, I wouldn’t say my secret feelings aloud. Even if I think the one I love isn’t hearing me.
• What are you talking about?
• "I need you, Ash."
• Oh, my God. Is that what you heard?
• Yes, why?
• Let me explain this. I didn’t say it because I personally need you, ok? I was just talking about the Gym... I need your help with that.
• Yes, sure.
• Don’t you believe me?
• No.
• Well, that’s the whole truth. Maybe you dreamt about it.
• ... You know what, Misty?
• What, Ash?
• You can’t lie to me. You can say whatever now, but I’m sure of what I heard before.
• That’s what you’d wish.
• Maybe... And if you want to come clean I’ll be watching TV.
• Fine.
• Fine.
• ..."Maybe"?

Yeah! I'm finally on vacations! At last! Now I'll be totally free to dedicate to my stories.

See you later! With love...