Shadows on the Heart Window to the soul
by Flygon
Chapter 13

Plans and Decision Time

Ash woke in the middle of the night. He saw the door slowly close and heard the sound of slippered feet moving toward him. A glance at Misty's bed told him that she was asleep. Suddenly he felt a tug at the sheet. Turning over, he saw Eddie, in his pyjamas standing there, half asleep and a tear running down his cheek.

"Uncle Ash," He said in a tone that was both sleepy and sad. "Can you chase away the bad things in my sleep?"

Ash looked at the boy standing there and again felt a thrill at being able to help. He pulled back the covers, reached down and lifted Eddie onto the bed, and made sure the guard rail was up behind him. Then he covered the boy who sighed, smiled and started to fall asleep. He turned back, and laid his head down on 'his' half of the pillow. Before he drifted off to sleep, he felt Eddie's arm go over his side, hugging the boy close to Ash.

Misty had seen what happened but feigned sleep until she was sure that the both of them were asleep. She got out of bed, and checked the pair and couldn't help but smile fondly. Ash was sound asleep with Eddie behind him, one arm wrapped around Ash and both had contented smiles. She padded out of the room quietly and made her way to the nursing station that was a little ways down the hall. Once there she informed them of the new visitor and the reason.

"I'll have an orderly bring him back to paediatrics." The nurse was reaching for a phone.

"No...no." Misty stopped her. "It's ok, we don't mind. Eddie was having nightmares and came down to have Ash chase them away." She smiled when the nurse mentioned how sweet that was. "If you could call the Paediatric ward and tell them where Eddie is before the start to tear apart the hospital." She waited while she did that "Oh, could they tell his brother Tommy that he is here in case he asks or when he wakes up. Just so he won't go crazy trying to find him." When the message was delivered, Misty asked the nurse to add an extra plate to the breakfast that they normally had. "One scrambled egg, two links sausage, bowl of cereal, toast and an assortment of the jams, juice and milk."

"Of course," The nurse punched the request into the computer and then turned to her. "Your quite taken by him, huh."

"Yea," Misty agreed and nodded. "Too taken. I hope that if Professor Oak can't think of something, Ash and I can deal with it." She looked at the nurse. "Seems silly, doesn't it? We just met the boy and his brother and now they seem like their part of us. Sorta like what happened to Ash and me. I pulled him out of a river with my fishing pole and find myself hooked too. That stuff is supposed to happen in the books and serials on TV, not real life."

"I disagree," The nurse smiled at Misty holding up her hand and showing a wedding ring. "I met my husband in a pokemon battle, him against me for a chance to take on Winnona for the feather badge. After the battle he got the badge and my heart. I left the gym and followed him ever since. Even though he was only twelve at the time, as I was, we exchanged rings at that time and waited to get old enough to marry. You could say that our courtship was only about an hour." She giggled a bit. "You would be surprised to learn how much that happens, because most people won't talk about it." She got a faraway look in her eyes. "I still remember his dratini taking out my swablu. I lost the battle to a dragon trainer, and I lost my heart at the same time. I still have to find Andy a present for our anniversary."

"Try a place on Dicey Avenue, called The Heart Shop." Misty said quickly. "He should have a perfect gift for your Andy." In Misty's mind she saw a man wearing a crystal ring in the shape of a dratini.

"I will," The surprised nurse replied, "Thank you."

Misty went back to the room quietly and then back to bed.

************************************

Morning came and Ash woke to the smell of scrambled eggs, sausage, and his new weakness, coffee. Almost immediately he also sensed the small presence of Eddie who was stirring behind him. He felt the boys arm around him and grinned as it started to move.

"If you two sleepyheads could pull yourselves from the bed," He heard Misty say in a cheerful voice. "Breakfast is ready."

Ash's eyes opened fully then, and he noted three trays on the two hospital tables that had been pushed together. Misty had grabbed three chairs and set it around the makeshift table.

"Misty, how?" Ash didn't bother to complete the question because she was laughing at Eddie's attempts to get his slippers so he could get to the food.

"Scrambled eggs and sausage?" The boy burst out still trying to snare his slippers a third time. "My favorite, How didja know?"

Ash joined in the laughter and retrieved his slippers for him and then lifted him down from the bed. Misty explained while they ate, stopping every so often to remind Eddie to chew his food. They chatted and talked during the meal and when it was over the door opened and Tommy was there, and Professor Oak was standing behind him. Next to Professor Oak was a man with china blue eyes that seemed to laugh, bright blonde hair, wearing a three piece suit. But Eddie, suddenly grew sad.

"What's wrong Eddie?" Ash asked suddenly concerned.

"It's just that these two days have been the best I ever had since our mom and dad left." He sniffed and Ash saw tears flowing. "But I know that there going to end soon. That ugly lady is going to take us to that awful place and Tommy and me could be separated forever." He looked up as Ash with a smile on his small face. "Thank you for letting me pretend you were my uncle. I'd give anything to have an uncle like you and an auntie like Misty here."

"Then you didn't think that Ash was..." Tommy said in wonder, staring at his little brother.

"No," Eddie admitted. "But I had so much fun pretending he was. He chased away the bad lady in my dreams, he made me feel safe." His voice cracked slightly. "He made me feel like you and me would never be split up." Then he slowly started to walk towards the door.

Ash felt tears flowing on him, and looking at Misty, he saw the same. Even Professor Oak and the other man were blinking back tears. He caught the eyes of Professor Oak, and his eyes were asking a question. He saw him nod twice, and give him a thumbs up and he started to feel hope. Looking back to Misty he saw that she had caught the thumbs up sign, and she nodded.

"Eddie, Tommy," Ash snapped out, causing both boys to turn. He crooked a finger beaconing them back and they came slowly. He gripped a shoulder apiece and looked from one to the other. He had never thought that he would be trying to comfort two children at his age. 'hell' he thought, 'one of those children is only about four years younger then I am and the other is seven years younger'.

"Eddie, Look at me." He said when the boy stood in front of him looking down at the floor. "I said, Look at me," and fitted actions to his words by putting his curled finger under the boys chin and lifting it. "No more tears." He told Eddie, "Do you trust me?" he looked to each and saw them nod. "I promise you I will do everything in my power to see that you never have to go to that place. I'd move the world if I could to help you two stay together, and free of that cow. And I will. There is a plan in the works, if it goes right then you two should never have to worry again. I will help you somehow, I promise that."

"Count me in on that," Misty added, the sound of steel in her tone.

"See, you have more friends and people who care then you know." Ash held their gaze. "Give me a chance."

Ash took a Kleenex from the box on his night stand, wiped the eyes of Eddie and let him blow his nose.

"Give me some time to talk to Professor Oak..." He stopped and looked at the man who had been his father figure for almost eight years of his life. "Let me talk to my new dad, and see what we can do."

"Ok," Both the boys said and turned, smiling slightly.

"I'll walk them to the elevator." Professor Oak said, his eyes locked on Ash with a silent thank you. And he left.

"I'll wait until he returns before we get into the details." The other man said, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.

"At least tell me I didn't make a hollow promise to those two." Ash practically begged.

"Hardly." The man said with a sly grin.

They didn't have long to wait. He returned and he was cursing so much that Misty and Ash was surprised and shocked.

"Chad," He said with force, "I never thought I would say this but I hate that woman." He scowled. "I hate her with a passion. She comes every other day, and tell them what they can expect at her place. Yesterday was the only day that she didn't get a chance to torture those poor boys. And they just told me that she said she has a special birthday present for them." He slammed his fist down on the mattress so hard the pillow on the other end of the bed jumped. "That woman is vile beyond words."

"Well, let's set this up for tomorrow then." Chad said with an evil grin. "That way we de fang her, and give those two boys a birthday they'll never forget, provided Ash and Misty are willing to help."

"Sir," Ash said with as much feeling as he could. "You already heard me give those two my promise, And I never break a promise."

"Now hold on Ash," Professor Oak said tiredly. "Here me out first."

"OK, dad," Ash responded, "But I already made up my mind. The only thing that would sway me in this is if it stops me from marrying Misty."

"Same here."

"Just how serious are you about each other?" Oak asked after almost a minute silence. "Gary told me some things, but time may change things."

"See this," Misty held up her left hand and was tapping the third finger, her tone was filled with firm determination. "There's a sign here that you can't see, but I can. It says: Reserved for Ring from Ash Ketchum, All others stay the hell away. It's been there for over two years."

"And see this," Ash said holding up his right hand to the man who was his dad while he looked fondly at Misty. "It's the hand that is itching to put that ring on her finger, and has been for some time. It just has to wait for the body that's attached to it to get old enough to legally do it."

"You say that now," Chad said calmly, "But time may change your feelings."

"Sir, the only feeling that are going to change by the passage of time is the intensity of them on our honeymoon." Misty stated, then turned Ash's head and kissed him soundly.

"Ohhhh, Please let time pass quickly." Ash said intensely which got both Professor Oak and Chad laughing.

"OK, I think that that covers the small talk portion." Then Chad looked to his friend and signalled him.

"Yesterday I called many people," Professor Oak began, leaning forward. "I found eight people who wish to adopt the children currently at that orphanage. Luckily that vile cow has no choice but to keep up to date records on file with the local and federal governments at all times, or she loses her licence. She can't turn down these eight because their reputations are impeccable. They are a selection of four regions Elite four The governing body of the Pokemon league. They will, tomorrow at eleven o'clock, come down to her establishment with federal court orders to hand over the chosen children to their new parents. That leaves the delema of Tommy and Eddie. Delia and I are going to adopt them. We are married, we have a long life to look forward to, we have the finances to deal with it, the only thing that we are lacking is written affidavits of our character. That is where you two come in. I need you two to give your honest statements of my character on paper, and Chad can have a judge sign off on them and another seal them. I already have ten, but for this immediate type of adoption to go through, I need twelve. And all twelve must be executive members of the Pokemon League."

"OK, there's the problem." Ash stated quietly. "Misty and I are in the league, but not executives. She's a gym leader, and I'm just a trainer."

"Wrong." Chad informed him. "Misty is classed as an exec in the League because of her standing as a gym leader. You are a Tri-champ, and..." he handed Ash a book titled: Rules and Regulations of the Pokemon League. "Read the marked page and paragraph please."

"In the event that a member of the Pokemon League obtains three championships, that member is classed as a Gold shield holder, classed as a minor Executive in the League, and has the following powers and abilities: He/she may hand out up to a maximum of three pokemon to perspective trainers who have obtained the age of nine years old; He/She may licence said trainers at official Pokemon League trainers so they may compete, and catch and/or train pokemon; He/She may discipline by suspending and/or revoking a trainers licence." Ash trailed off. There were a few other things but this basically covered the whole thing.

"Because you are a Tri-Champ you are the equal of a Gym leader yourself." Chad took Ashes pokedex and brought up the ID portion of it. "See that up there?" He tapped the upper left corner. "Gold Shield. Solid Shield, Not the silver shield outline that a Normal trainer has. You could quit your journey right now and start up your own gym if you wanted." He grinned at the stunned look on Ash's face. "All you would need, is the land, the building, and the money to do all of that." He chuckled. "Of course, and Misty could tell you this, it's a full time job. Your journey days would be over. Besides, I don't quite see you giving up on your pokemon master dream just yet."

"Sir?" Ash started, holding out the rule book. "Could you explain these to me?" he pointed out the first two powers.

"Keep the book, Ash." Chad said with a smile. "I have a box of about a hundred of them at the office. As to the first two powers, It means that you can give pokemon out to a max of three people in a twelve month period, and if they are of the age of nine years or older, then you can license them as a pokemon trainer."

"I thought the age was ten," Ash retorted. "I couldn't become a trainer until then."

"A tri-champ is permitted to go one year younger, then say Professor Oak, Elm, Birch, or Rowan." Chad chuckled, "It gives them something to do besides ribbon cutting ceremonies at malls, or giving lectures on pokemon to kids. The Elite four can do the same." Then he looked at Professor Oak. "You might want to free up three pokedex's and about eighteen poke balls, and such for Ash. I will see to getting him a official League laptop to program the pokedexs and record trainer stats."

Soon they were left with only their friends their and the congratulation began. Then they all went up to the paediatric ward. Ash simply told Tommy, and Eddie that they had nothing to worry about. Then they all started to break up into groups to play boardgames with the kids.