"Hey mist, can I talk to you for a second," Ash Ketchum, now twenty three years old stepped into the livingroom of his Pallet Town home. " Sure Ash," She smiled, turning to the man on whos lap she sat, "Hold on Honey, I'll be right back." "Alright Babe," Gary grinned, holding her hand untill their arms couldnt reach," Come back soon, I miss you!" "I will," Her cerulean eyes glimmered in the light from the open window untill she disappeared behind the closed door. After breaking eyesight with her long time boyfriend she turned to face her best friend, "Hey Ash, what's up?" "Well," He began, searching for the words, " I just... I wanted to tell you something." "Ok," Misty smiled brightly. With hands clasped behind her back she kept a steady gaze on him. Ash returned the gaze,soaking in every detail of the beautiful woman he had known since she was a tomboyish child. She had grown her hair out slightly since then, now it reached the middle of her back. It was almost always in a ponytail, but today it was in a messy bun with fiery red tressels cascading down her shoulders where they could free themselves from the hair ribbon. She was still long and lanky without an ounce of fat on her body. She wore white shorts to show off her slim, long legs, and a light blue quarter sleeve shirt with the name Roxy printed down the sleeve in white. Catching his eyes wandering, Misty snapped her fingers to grab his attention, "Ash, you wanted to tell me something?" "right," He said, coming back to reality. He wandered to the kitchen sink, since it was in the kitchen here he had been contemplating, and looked out the window, "It's just... do you remember when we first met?" "How can I forget," She laughed, walking to him and putting a long arm around his shoulder, " You stole my bike!" He cracked a smile and nodded. His dark brown eyes looked down at the dripping water coming from the faucet. "Good times huh?" "Except for when you got us lost," She ruffled his thick black hair which still refused to be tamed after all these years. "Yeah," He got quiet for a moment and turned to face her, " Over those years we traveled we got pretty close, huh?" "Really close," She agreed, now trying to fix the hair she had ruffled, " We're the best of friends Ash, atleast, I think we are." "I agree," He nodded, " I really do. I love you to death Misty." "Awe Ash, I love you too," She grinned and looked up into his face. Her grin began to fade with the nervous look she saw in his eyes, "Is something- is everything ok?" "Yeah everything is fine," Ash looked down at her hands which reached out to hold his comfortingly, "But...ya know, things could be great." "I thought they were," Misty's brows furrowed and she rubbed his arm, " I mean... you're the pokemon master, Pikachu is still by your side, We both keep in contact with Brock, you and Gary have finally settled your differences and I see you every day... how could things be better?" "Well that's what I wanted to talk with you about," He began, but was quickly cut off. "Wait a minute... if you're suggesting Brock should move in with me or you I swear it best not be me!" "No no no, that's not it at all," he chuckled, brushing a loose hair from her face, " I just... I wanted more to ask you something than to tell you something." "What is it?" She asked curiously, her eyes lighting up. "Well ya know that they say that best friends often fall in love," He said gently, touching her face. "Ash..." She said slowly, " Are you..." "I love you Misty," He whispered, leaning down to kiss her. She froze for a minute then pushed him away. "ASH KETCHUM!!!" She shouted, then quickly lowered her voice as to not upset her boyfriend in the next room ,"What in the name of Dratini is wrong with you?!" "M-Misty I-!" "No! Don't even start!" She stormed towards the kitchen door and looked back at him hotly, " Ash I have a boyfriend! What are you trying to do?!" "But Misty, I love you!" He stammered, " I've loved you for a long time! I thought-" "No Ash, you didnt think," She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut, " I can't speak to you, Ash Ketchum." "What??!" "I can't let this slide!!!" She grit her teeth, " Trying to steal me from my boyfriend...make me cheat! I HATE YOU!!!!!!!!" "MISTY!" He pleaded, rushing to grab her hand before she stormed out of the room. "I HATE YOU ASh KETCHUM!!!!!" She yanked away from him and ran out the door. "No !!! Misty please!!! MISTY I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!" He sprinted after her and ran into Gary, who was blocking his way. "Ketchum what do you think you were doing?! Hitting on my woman, telling her you love her!!" He grabbed a fistfull of his shirt and gave him a good yank, "You... you...!!!" "Gary you don't understand!" Ash gaped, "I just-" "Pikachu!" Gary called, and Pikachu bounded down the stars, its angry cheeks sparking with electricity. "No! Pikachu not you too!" Ash's eyes began to whell with tears, " Pikachu..." "Get lost Ketchum!!!" Gary pulled back his fist and let it fly against his face. Ash shot up in bed, a cold sweat running down his face. He blinked a few times and looked to his bedside clock and squinted. The face read two in the morning and he laid back down. He rolled on his side to find his red haired goddess still sleeping soundly by his side. He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face and smiled calmly. "Pika?" Pikachu lifted its sleepy head from the chair on which he slept by the door. Ash smiled cooly and stretched his arms above his head. "It's ok Pikachu," He whispered, laying back down and closing his eyes slowly, " It was just a bad dream."