ALWAYS.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Pokémon. Leave it at that.

Summary: Sometimes, a man is allowed to be irrational... when his daughter’s concerned.

Speech. Misty Talking. Thoughts.

Part 4.

Four years later...

“Daaad, I’m home!” Ash’s head bolted up. “Rayne? I’ll be right there...” Ash bounded down the stairs and stopped short. ‘She looks just like...’ Rayne ran forwards and gave her father a hug. “How are you, daddy?” “I’m, good...” Rayne stepped back and waved an arm towards her friend. “This is Jamie. He’s, a friend.” Ash’s eyes flared up as the boy stepped forwards. “It’s nice to meet you, sir...” “Get. Out...” “Daddy, be nice!”

Ash glared from the kitchen as Rayne and the... intruder sat down on the couch. “Oh boy, you’re gonna go crazy and kill him, aren’t you?” He didn’t even have to turn to know that it was Misty. “If he lays so much as fingernail on her... yes, I will.” Misty rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s normal. Dads are supposed to insanely over-protective of their daughters. I know mine was...” she added with a huff. “And although I understand his concern, I still didn’t appreciate him much when he threatened to rip your head off and cram it down the neck-hole...”

Ash sighed and sat down at the table. “What I’m I gonna do, Myst? I have no idea how to talk to her about this... It’s your kinda thing...” She nodded. “I know that it’s an unpleasant thought that she’s growing up, but like I’ve said before, there’s nothing we can do about it. She’s gonna like boys, and they’re gonna like her...” Ash winced. “Yeah, but, does it have to be now? Why not when she’s in her twenties... or thirties...” Misty brushed a ghostly hand across his. “That’s the problem with sixteen-year-old girls, they tend to live in the now. If we’d been dating when I was sixteen, we would have been sneaking back and forwards between our bedrooms at night, and Delia would have had to put chains on the doorknobs to keep us apart...” she grinned.

“I tell you what. Why don’t you just repeat what I say? That way, you can talk to her about this, without having to worry about messing up and saying something that’ll just push them together. We can also find out how long they’ve known each other, and whether or not murder is an option here...” Ash nodded. “Okay... you’ve always been better at this kind of stuff... just nothing too embarrassing, okay?” Misty angled her head, slightly amused. “We’re gonna talk to a sixteen-year-old girl about boys, and you think it’s not gonna be embarrassing? You’re still kinda naive, aren’t you?”

“Rayne, can I talk to you, now please?” she rolled her eyes and stood up. “Okay dad.” Ash waited at the kitchen door, holding it open. “Out at the picnic table, please.” He waited until she’d gotten settled and Misty nodded encouragingly. “Now, about this guy...” “He’s just a friend, and...” Ash held up a finger, silencing her. “Your mother and I were ‘just friends’, and we had you. Now, have long have you known him?” Rayne picked at her fingernails. “Um, a year, or two...” Ash sighed and sat down. “You don’t, ‘like’ like him, do you?” She blushed. “Daddy!” “Rayne, answer me...” she shrugged. “I dunno. He’s nice, and funny, and sweet, and cute... oh hell!” Misty nodded as Rayne blushed deeply. “That would be a yes then...” Ash frowned. ‘Damn!’

“Look, I know we’ve never really, talked, about this kinda stuff, cause I’m not good at it... but...” Rayne sighed. “Daddy, don’t worry. Nothings gonna happen, okay? I know about this stuff...” she blushed. “But it doesn’t mean I’m gonna... let, him...” she trailed off. Ash blushed. “Still, if he lays so much as a hand on you, scream, kick, and tell me, so I can kill him. Understood?” Both Misty and Rayne rolled their eyes at his glare. “Okay daddy. Can I go watch TV now?” “Fine...” She stood up and hugged him before running back inside the house. “That didn’t go too badly. That’s a smart girl we’ve got there.” Misty smiled as Ash stood up. “Yeah, but I still don’t like this...”

That night, after almost constant glaring at the intruder in his life, Ash went to bed. After making sure that the kids were in separate rooms, of course. “We should have got some keys made up for these doors...” Misty reappeared beside him. “Ash, don’t worry. She’s only just realized that she likes him. It’ll be a while before she even has the courage to even tell him, let alone do anything, okay? I mean, look how long it took us to get together. And I knew I liked you from pretty much the second day we travelled together...” she smiled. “Of course, I had to wait for you to get a clue... Why’d I have to fall for the dense one...” she sighed and grinned. “Besides, I’ll be keeping an eye on them, so if there’s any kinda of room-hopping, I’ll have Pikachu wake you up, okay?” Ash sighed. “Okay... the slightest hint of him... makes me so mad...” Misty smiled and brushed her hand against his lips. “Yeah? Remember how much my father loathed you when I introduced you? He wanted to gut you alive... and I was just his favourite daughter.” Ash sighed. “Yeah, but Rayne’s my ONLY daughter... so it’s different.” Misty shrugged. “Yeah, I suppose... But you’re still an idiot.” Ash smiled. “An idiot who’s madly in love with a ghost.” Misty giggled. “Wow, you really do have problems, don’t you?” Ash grinned and closed the door. “Always...”

Someone needs to learn how to let go... Just two more parts to go.

PROFESSOR WOLFSBANE.

18 Sep. 09.