I unfortunately don’t own Pokémon, except for the plot.

Italics mean thoughts. This is an AAMRN, rated for everybody. Hope you enjoy it. J

"When hearts are aglow"

By A Crazy Girl

Chapter 7

The moment Ash had been waiting for so long had finally arrived. In a matter of seconds, Misty would know what he really felt for her. But before he could say anything, they both heard some car parking in front of the house, its lights going through the window illuminating even more the living room. Ash felt relieved at some point for being interrupted again; he wanted to tell her, but maybe fate was playing with him, driving him crazy about the impatient wish he had for having her close. Misty neared the window, and through the cortains she saw Delia emerging from a jeep with a man, someone she had seen before.

- Oh, God. You have no idea who your mother is dating.

- Who?

Just then, the door slightly opened revealing a grown woman whose expression changed from happy to shocked after seeing her son in front of her. Misty, who was at her right, instantly remembered about the necklace and hided it between her shirt and her skin.

- Oh... hello kids... I thought you were somewhere else.

- Actually, we were just heading back to the meeting, so... goodbye. – Said Ash

- Ash, wait...! Now as you are already here... could I ask you to stay? I want you to meet my...

- Boyfriend?

- ...Yes.

- But where is he?

- I took many things to the picnic, but he wanted to carry them all...

- Alright, I think it’s a good idea... hey, by the way, where’s Mr. Mime? I haven’t seen it.

- Probably sleeping, honey.

- Well, I think I should go now... – Misty said.

- Oh, but you can stay if you want, dear.

- Thanks, but they’re waiting for me... I think.

- Fine, would you like my friend to take you back?

- No, it’s ok. I don’t want to bother...

- Oh, don’t worry. He won’t have any problems...

- Go, Misty. We can go on talking tomorrow. – Ash said.

- Yes, remember there’s still something you have to tell me. – She said in a low voice, winking at him.

- Sure... As if I could forget about it. Well... see you tomorrow then?

- Yeah, goodnight Ash. Goodnight, Mrs Ketchum.

- Goodnight, Misty.

- Bye, Mist.

Three minutes later, Misty was being taken back to Sakura’s house by Delia’s new couple. She knew she had known this man before, and he recognized her as well.

- So, Misty. How have you been?

- I’ve been fine, thanks.

- You know, Delia told me you’ve been working with Ash lately. She thinks he’s very happy there with you.

- Really?

- How long have you been friends?

- Seven years...

- Well, I think that’s enough to really get to know each other, huh?

- Yeah, well... actually it’s never enough. I’d so love to know him even better.

After a couple of minutes they saw a hurt pokemon on the road.

- Hm...? Oh, no!

- Oh, God, is that a Pidgey?

- Yeah, and it’s been badly hurt. I’d better take it urgently to the Pokemon Center.

- Do you need any help?

- No, it’s ok... I just won’t make it on time to Delia’s tonight. Would you call her and tell her that? I’ll call her again anyway when I get the chance.

- Sure, you can count on that.

- Thanks... Ok, which is the nearest city?

- Viridian.

- Well, I’ll have to go to Viridian and come back by tomorrow morning...

- Fine, I’ll go on walking. I’m just about three blocks from the house now, so it’s ok.

- Well then, goodbye Misty.

- Goodbye, professor.

A while later, Delia received a call from Misty saying her boyfriend was in Viridian City, and he’d have to spend the night there. That night, at Sakura’s, everyone went late to bed except for Misty, who would have to wake up early next morning.

Once a wild Dodrio was announcing the town it was time to get up, Misty opened her eyes to a new day. A cold, cloudy, new day. The first thing she did, was recalling what had happened the night before. Again, they were so close to a kiss. Maybe if Mrs. Ketchum hadn’t arrived at that moment... But she knew she could think of that later. Right now she had to focus on something else. Just one more day to go before Christmas, and she still had to prepare Ash’s special present. It won’t be anything he could imagine, but something that will make him feel really happy. And that present is the reason why she wasn’t home the whole morning. It wasn’t the first time she leaves without saying where she goes, but no one really cared about asking. Ash didn’t even take the time to think where she could have been those two or three times he had phoned her, like that morning, and found she wasn’t there. And the others... maybe they just thought she was busy with him or something. But when she came back in the evening, she called Ash back to know what he had called for hours before. He just wanted to have a walk with her and talk for a while.

It was five to six when Ash was in front of Sakura’s main door.

- Hi, Ash. You’re early.

- Hi Misty. Look, I brought you a flower.

- Oh, thank you so much! I love it!

As Misty took the flower from Ash’s hand, Satsuki appeared behind her with a horrified expression.

- Oh, my God! You ruined my garden!! – She shouted

- What? – Said Ash – Oh... yeah... sorry ‘bout that

- I thought it was Brock who had been stealing my roses but now I see it’s you!

- What?! Wait! I didn’t do it. I mean... not before this time.

Ash looked at Misty worried that she could be angry at him for saying he had brought the flower, but she was just giggling.

- Yeah, sure... – Satsuki said

- Hey, I’m saying the truth... Anyway, we gotta go. See you later Satsuki.

- (After taking a deep breath) Have fun you two.

- (They started walking) So, where are we going? – Asked Misty

- You’ll see...

Ash took Misty’s hand and caressed it, and she brought back memories from the night before, again. He still had to tell her something. Something very important.

- Where were you this morning, Mist? I called you and Sakura said you had gone out but she didn’t know where...

- (Hesitating) ... I went to visit some friends.

- What friends?

- Well, you don’t know them...

- Oh, ok...

- I’m going to see them again tomorrow, in case you wanna call me; you know my cellphone number.

- Hey, can I go with you?

- No...! Hm... I’ll be there just for a little while, so... if you want to see me I can go to your house later.

- But I wanna know them, Misty. They can be my friends too, right?

- Right... Don’t worry, Ash. You’ll meet them. But not yet.

- Ok... I wonder who they are... I guess I’ll know it tomorrow.

- You know... Sakura said last night she would like to make a new pokémon journey next year. That made me recall all those moments we spent together with Brock and Tracy... I felt so free by then, so... good.

- Hey, it’s not like you can’t feel that way nowadays.

- Of course, but... I miss travelling... I really miss it.

- ... Yeah, I miss it too, I must say. Those years were the best of my life...

- ...Why don’t you try it again, then? You could start from the beginning in an unknown region.

- No. I couldn’t do that. Not without Pikachu by my side.

- Ash, I think Pikachu would agree if you did it. I know he wants the best for you, and if pokémon journeys make you happy...

- It doesn’t matter anyways. I don’t need to travel to be a Pokémon Master. Besides... that’s not the only thing that makes me happy.

- What else, then?

- Well, I don’t know... everyday things, a good meal, anything that makes me smile, talking to people, being with friends... being with you...

- Being with me makes you happy?... You serious?

- What a question! Of course. We’ve known each other for so long, gone through uncountable adventures, and you’ve always been there for me... I know at first we couldn’t stop fighting but our relationship has been developing from the begining... and look at us now! We are closer each day. You’re so special to me, Misty. That’s why being with you is very important to me.

- (Blushing a bit) You’re very sweet, Ash. I feel happy when I’m with you too. And thanks... for beeing also there for me.

- My pleasure...

Things were starting to get a little uneasy, so she wanted to talk about whatever else.

- So... what happened with Gary? You sent the letter, didn’t you?

- Yeah, I already sent it... today. I felt a bit sorry for him, but I’m going to tell him soon, so...

- Will you ever tell me what kind of bad joke he did to you?

- ... Uhm... ok. But don’t you dare tell anyone about it!

- Hey, it can’t be that bad.

- You have no idea.

- Well, just tell me.

- ... He... he invited me to a bachelor’s party. I didn’t really want to go because I barely knew anyone there, but he insisted. So when I got there, he said there would be a strip show...

- ... I don’t really know if I wanna keep listening, Ash...

- You asked for it, now you get it... And it’s not what you think.

- You don’t know what I’m thinking.

- Ok, whatever. So most of them were excited about it, although it wasn’t that interesting to me...

- Yeah, right...

- I think it’s a disrespectfulness! But that’s not the point...

- So?

- Gary said the girl of the show was... she was...

- She was what?

- He said... “a very thin redhead from Cerulean City”.

- Well, what’s wrong with that? There are many girls in Cerulean.

- Yeah, but then he said... she was a very skilled Gym Leader... he was obviously talking about you, Misty.

- What?! I would never-

- I know! – He interrupted – I couldn’t believe him at first, but then... the music started and a girl appeared in the hallway... I couldn’t see her face but apart from that, she was exactly like you, Mist. You can’t imagine what I felt when I thought you were really going to undress in front of all those boys...

- And what happened?

- Well, I... I managed to take her out of the house immediately. Only once we were on the street I realized she wasn’t you...

- (Laughing) Oh, my God... I can’t believe you!

- I wasn’t laughing, you know? You should have seen everyone’s faces. Then of course they threw me out.

- Ok, I’m sorry. After all you were just trying to “recue me”.

- Yeah... and obviously Gary always knew it wasn’t you. He was just kidding me, but it seems like he forgot to apologize.

- You know, Ash... what you did was sweet. Even though I wasn’t there... thank you...

She planted a kiss on his cheek, and they both smiled. After that, they walked in silence. Finally, they arrived to a sizable hill overlooking the town. They sat down on the grass very close to each other and enjoyed the landscape.

- ...Oh, Ash, look at the view... Pallet is so beautiful... so romantic...

- Yeah, perfect scene for a kiss.

- (She sighes smiling) You’re incredible. You weren’t like this when I met you, Ash. You’ve changed so much. Any girl could fall for you. Even me.

- You think so?

- I know it.

- How about you, then?

- What?

- Could you fall for me?

- (Blushing badly) I sure did! ...I don’t know... I think... it’s possible...

- It’s possible? What would I have to do if I wanted you to?

- I don’t know, Ash. Just... be yourself.

- I’ve always been myself, so...

- I mean... it doesn’t depend on your actions. Because... I believe we don’t decide who we’ll fall in love with, but our hearts do. We don’t have a choice about it.

- Yeah, I get it... so you think you can only be sure of what you feel, once your heart gives you those certain signs?

- (Nodding) Yeah... it’s like... you know... you feel so warm even if it’s cold, and you’re so nervous you don’t know what to say...

She felt frozen. Talking to him about things like these wasn’t really helping her feel a bit more comfortable around him. Their eyes were locked on each other, he was so close to her she could almost taste him. Misty would have kissed him right then, but she just couldn’t move... or speak anymore.

- You know, sometimes... when I’m with this girl I love so much... I feel my heart beating much faster, and it’s like... I can’t breath...

- ...Have you ever imagined what it would feel like... if both of us... oh, what a fool! I mean if both of you!!... that girl and you... shared the same affection for each other, but... as a known fact? As if you both already knew what each other feels?

- ...Well, actually I... I would like to know what it’s like. I feel so connected to her, but... taking our relationship to the next level... well, that would be... (almost whispering) amazing.

- ... God, I can’t wait an other second!

Ash definitely took her breath away. Again, she remained speechless for a couple of seconds, not having a clue about how to react. The tickles in her stomach were eating her alive. She wanted to kiss him, touch him, caress him. But... how on Earth could that start to happen? It wasn’t like her to take the next step. But it wasn’t like Ash either... or was it?

- What I believe is... – she finally managed to say – once that special someone is finally with you... you can’t do nothing but letting yourself fly. And when both hearts are synchronized... beating together as one... that moment is... magical... indescribable. And when hearts are aglow, well... that’s exactly when you know destiny has indeed reached you...

- ... Wow... you could inspire a novelist talking like that...

- (They both chuckled) ...Yeah, maybe.

- Anyway... I think you’ve made the point there. I couldn’t have said it any better.

Their smiles faded because of the reigning silence. Ash felt really awkward, being so close, having so much to say, but not feeling able to speak a word. How could he break the ice?

- So... what do you want for Christmas, Misty?

- ... I can’t tell you that.

- Oh, come on. It’s not a secret, is it?

- Well, it could be...

- Is it something you can’t get?

- No, but... it’s just something you can’t buy.

- I wanna know, please tell me...

- ... Maybe I’ll tell you... if you tell me first.

- But I asked the question!

- Ok, then I’m not giving you my answer...

Strangly, the idea of not getting Misty’s answer made Ash shudder. Knowing what she wanted as a Christmas gift wasn’t that important, but an answer to his feelings was what concerned him the most. He thought he had already made his statement, but maybe she still hadn’t realized about it. Weren’t their touches and conversations enough proof? And what if she already knew... but she didn’t really want to be with him? No... that couldn’t be... she wanted him, didn’t she? It’s in her eyes... Ash needed to make things clear... and now!

- Well...? Tell me, Ash... what do you want for Christmas...?

That was it. His opportunity to tell her what he really feels. This time, nothing could stop him from saying it. Nothing...

- I want... you.

To be continued...

Hi, after a long time I’m back to finally finish this story. Next chapter will hopefully be the last one. See you.

A Crazy GirlY