"Are you sure we should be coming here?" Ash asked reluctantly, scratching his stubbly chin, "I mean... Misty just got engaged, Im sure shes busy." "Hey she invited us to dinner,"Brock reminded, " Ill take any chance to not have to cook." "Come on Ash, you never pass up free food," Tracey said," Whats up?" Ash looked up at the bright white moon that reflected in the ocean. His mind had drifted to that afternoon when Misty became engaged. It felt like something gripped his heart and he found it hard to breath as he delved into his worst nightmare. "Ash!" Tracey pat his friend on the shoulder, "Dude...what's wrong with you?" "Nothing," He replied without a moment to think, "Nothing. Everything's fine... I'm just tired." "Reminiscent," Brock corrected with a smile, "Can you believe we came through here thirteen years ago?... You never paid Misty back for her bike did you?" Both Brock and Ash broke into a laugh while Tracey stared at them blankly. "Yeah," Ash sighed as the humor had passed, "Reminiscent. Thats what it is." Brock walked into the gym that was still brightly lit. It was just how they remembered it. The high rising yellow walls were scrubbed clean and the large pool in the center of the room was the home of many water pokemon. A lapras floated in the center of the pool with Misty reposed comfortably on it. She had been swimming, as her once curled hair was now straight and stuck to her body and the lapras' shell. She had on a lacey white bikini which had been dryed out for a little while now. Brock put his fingers to his lips and whistled, which brought Misty back to conciousness. "AAAH!" She squeeled and fell off the lapras and into the water. A moment after her submerging she repappeared above the water and spat out a mouthful of it. "That was mean, Brock!" Tracey snickered and ribbed his friend. They stood at the edge of the pool and waited for Misty to arrive. Ash stared blankly at the water inclined goddess that pulled herself out of the water and back on the lapras shell. "Come on Ash, it was funny right?" Brock turned to his friend who stood staring at the redhead, "Ash?" Tracey motioned to Brock and they both snuck up behind him and shoved him into the water. Fortunatly his backpack was sitting beside the pool and not resting beneath its waters or his electronics would be ruined. "Pika pi!!!(Ew! I'm wet!)" Pikachu fretted as he swam back to the siding after being knocked into the water along with his perch. Ash struggled back to the top, being pulled down by his jeans and tennis shoes. Brock and Tracey were in a pile on the ground, laughing at their friend. Pikachu pulled himself out of the water and gave the two a reprimanding shock. Ash managed to pull himself out of the water with help from a squirtle and seel. "That was NOT funny!" Ash stormed past his friends, his face burning with embaressment. Misty stepped from the lapras to the dry floor after it swam to them. "Ash! Wait up!" She pleaded, "Whats wrong ?!" Ash went into the mens bathroom and left the door swinging in his wake, "Guys, have you been harassing him all week or something??" "No," Tracey frowned, "He's really edgy lately, Don't know why." "Let me go talk to him," Brock said,"Sorry Misty. We didnt mean to ruin the evening. How about you go get dressed and we'll go to the cafeteria and find you after we fix up Ash,ok?" "Thanks guys," She sighed, "I sure hope he's not upset on account of me." "Don't worry, I'm sure it's not your fault!" Tracey assured and Brock narrowed his brow in thought. "Hey Tracey how about you go see what we're having for dinner," He said, shooing him away, "Ill take care of this." He followed Ash's tracks and went into the mens bathroom. There he found Ash with his head under a hand dryer. Obviously he had not heared him come in, so he tapped him on the back to get his attention. With that Ash shot up and banged his head on the dryer, breaking off the metal tube. A string of swears escaped his lips and he kicked the wall,"ASH!" Ash spun around and glared at Brock hotly. He picked up the metal tube and forced it back on the box it had fallen from. "What do you want?!Want to make me look like a fool even more?!" He snarled, taking off his shirt and wringing it out over the sink. Years of traveling and training did his body good. "You like her dont you?" Brock said solemnly, "Misty I mean... you still like her dont you?" Ash looked down into the sink then back up with a resolved look on his face. "No Brock, I dont," He said, proceeding to kick off his wet shoes. "Oh..." He replied, looking down at Ash's bag which he had brought in when he stormed off," I figured by how you started acting-" "I love her," He interrupted, pulling off his wet socks and soaked denim jeans, " I love her so much." Brock let a small smile creep across his lips as Ash retreated in his black boxer briefs to the showers with his pack in hand. In ten minutes of silence he came back in dry clothes uncharacteristic of him. Instead of his usual blue denim jeans he had on khaki colored denim jeans and instead of his usual black tshirt and jacket he wore a white undershirt and black collared button up. "I wonder why you brought that with you," Brock smirked, crossing his arms. "Just incase I got pushed into a pool," Ash let a smile grace his angry face as his mood began to lighten. He pulled a razor and shaving gel from his pack as well. He began to shave away two days worth of stubble, leaving his now trademark sideburns, while Brock waited behind him. "Let's make it a good day," He sighed," Misty really missed you ya know." "She missed all of us," He corrected. "Who did she hug this afternoon?" Brock smiled knowingly and Ash drifted into the memories of that afternoon,"Hurry up, we're gonna be late for dinner. ~ "Sooo..." Tracey said, glancing casually from Misty to the clock on the wall. "What's taking those guys?" Misty sighed and tapped her french manacured nails on the table. She had replaced her white bikini with a low cut turqouise halter top and white shorts. As was customary for the gym leader, she was barefoot. "Dunno. Ash was pretty soaked," He shrugged and sniffed the air, "So, whats for dinner?" "Well..." Her cheeks flushed and she looked away, "I wasnt quite as prepared as I thought I was-" "Hey Mist," Ash interrupted and walked into the cafeteria. He sat down beside his childhood friend and smiled, "I like your shirt." "thanks.." She paused and smiled, "I like your's too. I've never seen you in anything but a tshirt." "Thanks," He grinned and they looked at each other for a while untill Brock interrupted. "What's for dinner?" He asked and Tracey shrugged. "Um..." Misty got up and retreated to the kitchen, returning with a large serving bowl. She set it down on the table and revealed what appeared to be many cans of spaghetti O's, "Sorry guys, Im sure you wanted a nice home cooked meal but we had no groceries..." "I love spaghetti O's!" Ash piped in, scooping it into his bowl with a ladle, "Thanks Mist! This is the best!" "oh...oh yeah! MMMM!!! Something warm for a change!" Tracey agreed reluctantly, scooping himself some too. "I cook you hot food!" Brock retorted, "But not spaghetti O's...this'll be nice! I um...I love italian!" "You guys are terrible liars," Misty smiled, "But I appreciate the thought." She sat down among her cherished companions and they dined. Pikachu happily ate out of Ash's bowl. Upon the last servings, Tracey and Brock leaned back in their chairs and sighed contentedly. "I'm stuffed," Brock belched and Tracey laughed. Misty shook her head with a smile and Ash looked around at his best friends. This was how it was ment to be. "I'm going for a walk," Misty informed, standing up, "You guys can stay in our extra rooms if you like?" "Sure! Tracey replied eagerly,"How hospitable of you." "We'll be out of your hair tomorrow morning," Brock smiled. "Oh well you guys could stay as long as you like." She urged. "No, we really have to get going, " Tracey replied, " Ash needs to get to Pallet Town and Brock needs to get back to Pewter." "Oh, alright," She replied dejectedly but plastered on a smile, "Well, make yourselves at home." She headed for the door and Ash followed her. "It's dark out there," He observed, "And you aren't carrying any pokemon... I'd feel better if you let me and Pikachu come with you... ya know, to keep you safe." "Why thank you, Ash," Misty smiled, "I'd like that." Pikachu hopped onto Ash's shoulder and they walked out of the gym together. Outside the streets were lit with street lamps, and Misty looked around. From here it was hard to see the stars. With a pixie like smile on her lips she took off down the road, towards the pier laughing. Ash chased her with Pikachu on his heels, their laughter echoing against the buildings shrouded in shadows