“I suppose I’ll have to leave you two here alone………… Ash where are your other friends?” Delia asked, just noticing the group her son had come home with had been reduced to just him and Misty.

“Sabrina stepped out but Casey should still be in the house somewhere. She’s probably exploring.” Ash didn’t mention that Casey had left the room initially do give him and Misty some time alone.

Delia walked over to the stairwell, “Casey dear? Are you up there? I’m stepping out for a moment to go visit Professor Oak, he’s a family friend. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

“You’re going to see the Prof?!!” The sound of shattering glass could be heard, Casey came flying down the stairs.

Delia side stepped to keep the excited energetic young girl from colliding with her chest. Casey tripped, bumping against the wall, but quickly drew herself upward and looked up at Mrs. Ketchum with hopeful eyes, “Did you say you were going to see Professor Oak, the guy who takes care of all of Ash’s pokemon?!”

“…….. Did something break?” Delia asked.

“Oh… yeah, just some ugly old mirror. Sorry about that. Now you were saying something about meeting up with Prof Oak?”

“………. That mirror was a family heirloom. It was in my husband’s family for years. It's one of the last reminders I have of him." Delias eyes looked like chips of soul peircing ice, Casey backed up a few steps.

"S- sorry, I didn't know.............. You're still gonna take me with you to Prof Oaks right?"

Delia sighed, "Fine."

"I am sorry..."

"Don't worry about it" 'I don't need it' she thought, 'I've got my Ashley back. Back for good.'

She turned back to her son and his new girlfriend, "I won't be gone long honey. I'll start dinner when we get back...... Do you girls like pasta?"

"Pasta? Yum! You bet, I love pasta!"

"Pasta's good for me too Mrs. Ketchum, thanks!"

Delia didn’t smile, she just continued to stare at Misty, Ash coughed nervously pulling his mother out of her thoughts. Delia blinked, recovered herself, then nodded as if nothing had happened, “All right, pasta it is. We’ve got spaghetti, tortellini, and ravioli. Decide what you want before we get back.” She turned to and walked out the door with Gary’s sister.

Casey was about to follow her but stopped half way to the door and spun around, “Can I really have ANY pokemon I want?”

“Any, heck you can have em all!” Ash reassured her.

“Really?! Wow, thanks! You’re the best……… Ashley!” Casey bounded out the front door, slamming it behind her.

“Don’t call me that!”

“No need to get mad, I think it’s cute.” Misty giggled, trying to tickle him with one of her fingers.

“Well I don’t……….. Stop it Mist!”

“Ash…. Thanks for covering for me earlier. Your mom’s acting like a completely different person towards me now. If she knew what happened to Gary…”

“Hey, no prob!”

“So what do you wanna do now?” Misty asked ‘kiss, kiss, kiss!’

“Hmmm, how about we watch a movie? We’ve got a cabinet filled with them.”

‘damn’ Misty thought, “Okay, sounds like fun!”

She stepped into Ash’s family room and set him on the couch. She picked out a movie that looked interesting and got it set up, “I’m going to go get a drink, I’ll be right back.”

“All right.”

Misty went off to the kitchen and got herself a glass of water. Coming back Misty leaped over the back of the couch, her butt slammed down on the right most cushion surprising Ash. Her butt hit down on the corner of Ash’s cushion causing it to sink downward. He rolled into Misty’s thigh.

“Whoa Ash, I like you too but don’t you think we’re moving a little too fast?” she giggled.

“Oh shut up Misty!”