Ruby walked around pretty aimlessly, he didn't know what was in the town, but pretty soon he came across Professor Birch's laboratory. He wondered if the man would be in there. Curiosity got the better of him amd he opened the door, peering through. He could see the outline of a man in a white coat at the far end of the room. He was sure that would be Professor Birch. He opened the door a little further, causing a squeak to echo through the quiet room. He flinched at the noise.

Birch looked around. "Hi there" he smiled. "Come in, don't be shy."

Ruby looked around outside before stepping in.

Birch raised a brow. "You must be Ruby. You look just like Norman. How are you?"

"I'm good."

"Are you here for a pokémon?"

"I have-"

"I am aware, Norman told me you were quite the trainer when you were younger."

"Oh yeah" he chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, I don't battle anymore."

"What do you do?"

"I was studying" he said vaguely, almost wishing he hadn't bothered stopping by. Well, perhaps he wished he hadn't been caught.

Birch smiled. "You don't need a starter, do you?"

"No… I don't think so… No, I don't."

"If you change your mind let me know. Would you like to know a little about Hoenn's starters?"

"Sure" Ruby said, knowing the professor was keen to geek out a little.

"Over here" he said, looking at the pokéball. "This is Treecko." He passed the ball to Ruby. "Grass type-"

"Dad, I'm back!"

They both looked at the entrance where a girl was standing. It had to be Sapphire. Ruby wasn't aware of another daughter.

"Ruby?" she asked, surprised.

"You know… of course, dad told you I was coming."

"Nah, I recognized you from when we were little" she chuckled.

"I've met you before?"

"Course you have" she laughed. "Am I really that forgettable?"

"No, I don't know… I didn't know I knew you."

"We were like, five or something so it was like years ago" she shrugged. She looked at her father and passed him a few papers. "My research."

"You're a Professor too?" Ruby asked.

"Studying" she smiled back.

He nodded. "That must be fun."

"It's amazing" she smiled. "You should join us sometime. I mean, you're here for a while aren't you?"

"A week."

"Oh, I thought it was longer" she shrugged. "Ah well. I am sure if you wanted to you could spare some time to join us."

"I would like to" he smiled.

"Cool, how about tomorrow morning?"

"I have plans."

She raised a brow. "You do?"

"Yeah, I met this man called Steven on the flight here and I am making him clothes." After he said it he thought he could have made it sound less weird, but Sapphire didn't even seem to care about how it sounded.

"You met Steven Stone?"

Ruby nodded. "You know him?"

"Of course I know him. He helped me years ago. I haven't seen him for a while, but I hear he is President of Devon now."

"Did you train with him?"

"He helped me beat the regions villainous teams."

"What? You have a Team here too?"

"Yep. Two. Well, we had two, now there isn't either. Team Magma and Team Aqua."

"We had Team Rocket in Johto. A guy I knew helped with getting rid of them…" he shrugged.

She frowned. "You don't like him?"

"Eh, it's… complicated."

She nodded. "Sorry. So, what other days are you free?"

"Uh… I don't know if dad has any plans or anything" he admitted.

"Well Sapphire, you can ask Norman when we go over for dinner tonight" Birch said to her, setting her research papers on the desk.

She nodded. "Yeah." She looked at Ruby. "Well, I'm gonna head home, I'll see you tonight."

Ruby nodded. "I'll see you soon."

Sapphire looked at her watch and chuckled. "I will. I didn't realise how late it was getting."

Birch nodded. "You're quite right." He looked at Ruby. "I guess I will have to head home and get ready too" he added.

"I'll walk you out" Sapphire said, looking back at Ruby.

"Thanks."

"If you want a starter just let me know at dinner" Birch called out.

"Thank you-"

Sapphire closed the door. "Well, how have you been?" she asked.

"Good."

"That's good. You look pretty much the same as you did before" she chucked. "You're still wearing that hat too."

He touched the hat. "Yeah… it's just habit" he shrugged.

She nodded. She looked across at the house just across from his. "Well, I am gonna keep going. I'll see you in a bit."

He nodded. "Okay. Bye."

She smiled and waved before walking back to her house.

He walked back to his, realising how quiet this town was. At Goldenrod there were people walking around no matter want time of the day, or night, it was.

"Ruby, you're back?"

"Yeah. I saw Professor Birch and Sapphire."

"Good. I presume they will be over soon?"

"Yeah. I am just going to shower before they get here."

Norman nodded. "No worries. Towels are in the cupboard across from the bathroom."

"Thanks." Ruby walked to the bathroom, grabbing a towel on the way. He could tell his mom stayed here quite often, the whole linen cupboard was perfectly sorted by item and colour. He shook his head and walked across to the bathroom.

…

"Good evening Norman!" ginned Birch, walking through the front door.

"Just cause you know him doesn't mean you can break the door down dad" Sapphire mumbled.

"I'm used to it" Norman smiled.

Sapphire sighed. "Has it really come to that?"

Ruby smiled and sat down at the table.

"So your wife isn't coming tonight?" Norman asked, looking at Birch.

"No, she is spending a few days at the hot springs."

"Hot springs?" Ruby asked.

Sapphire nodded. "Yep. They are amazing" she smiled. "Maybe we should go sometime."

"That would be nice" Ruby smiled.

"I am glad you two are getting along so well" Norman said. "Ruby was a bit of a shut-in back home."

Ruby rolled his eyes. "Dad-"

Birch nodded. "Well, Sapphire will fix that. She loves adventure and the outdoors."

Sapphire smiled and sat next to Ruby. "So, what days are you free?"

"The day after tomorrow." He looked at Norman for his answer.

Norman nodded. "Whatever days he is busy I will work around it. I am glad he that he will be spending time outdoors with someone."

"Aw, that's nice Norman" Sapphire smiled. "I will be happy to spend time with him."

"I am glad you two are getting along so well" he beamed.

"Ah, so you do smile Norman?" Birch joked.

"It's where Ruby gets his face from, unfortunately" Norman sighed.

"Stop talking like I'm not here" Ruby sighed.

"I'm still not used to seeing you" Norman joked.

"Ha. Funny."

Sapphire chuckled. "Aw you two."

Ruby rolled his eyes. "Okay, what's for dinner?"

"Something delicious, I hope" Norman replied.

Ruby frowned. "Wait-"

"Sounds great Norman" said Birch, rubbing his hands together.

"How can you say that when he didn't even give a proper answer?" Ruby asked, dumbfounded.

"Well, I smell miso, so that's okay with me" Sapphire smiled.

Ruby nodded. "Fair point."

"And that is definitely a packet for udon noodles there" Birch pointed out.

"Okay. You all win" he sighed.

Sapphire frowned. "Dad, I'm sure they are soba-"

"Udon. Promise" Norman said quickly, setting the meals down. "I was going to cook other dishes, but they didn't quite turn out" he admitted.

Ruby looked at him. "I don't think you are supposed to admit that" he sighed, looking at the bowl of udon noodles.

"Well, don't worry about the other dishes, this is delicious!" Sapphire smiled.

"Sorry that she has already started eating" Birch chuckled.

"We are here for dinner" Sapphire stressed.

Ruby started eating, enjoying her logic.

"Well, let me know what you think" Norman smiled, eating his owm.

"It's really good dad. Tastes like moms."

"It is her recipe. She is a great cook."

Ruby nodded. "She is."

Sapphire looked at Norman. "Well, this is great, what do you think dad?"

Birch nodded. "It's good. You have definitely been practising."

"Ha, yeah, I have" Norman admitted.

Sapphire looked at Ruby. "So, will you be busy tomorrow night?"

"I'm not sure" he admitted.

She nodded. "I think we should go to the hot springs in two days, I think it's supposed to be great weather for it" she smiled.

He nodded. "Sounds great. I am really excited. There aren't any hot springs in Johto. At least I don't think so…"

"What's Johto like?"

"I love it. I mean, I guess its bias, I live there... But I really like it. Maybe one day you should come and visit me there some time?"

She smiled. "I would really like that. Would your mom be okay with that?"

"She would love it" sighed Ruby. "She loves having guests."

Sapphire smiled. "Yeah? Well, you never know, I might just visit some time."

Ruby smiled. "Well, that would be nice."

Birch and Sapphire didn't stay long after dinner. Norman and Birch talked about pokémon, reasearch and the Gym, the usual, and Sapphire talked mostly about tourist areas that the two of them should visit.

"Well" Birch said, standing up. "I have to be up early tomorrow, but I will see you all later. Ruby, if you want a pokémon, just let me know."

"Thanks."

"I wil see you later Ruby. Have fun tomorrow."

"Thanks. See you in a couple of days."

She smiled. "You sure will! Thanks for dinner Norman."

"You're welcome Sapphire."

Birch waved and he and Sapphire made their way out.

"I am glad the two of you are getting along so well."

"Yeah, she is great."

Norman nodded. "Well, Im going to clean up and head to bed."

"I'll clean up" Ruby offered.

"You sure?"

He nodded. "Sure am."

"Thanks. I'll see you in the morning."

"Night dad."

"Sleep well."

Ruby walked back into the kitchen and started washing up. It was handy to figure out where everything was located, but then he started to realise it too was simarly set up like his house. His mom obviously had sorted everything in this house to be as similar as possible to home.

He finished the last of the cleaning and looked around, happy with how it looked, and made his way to his bedroom, starting to feel nervous about the next days events.

He changed for bed and lay down, enjoying the comfort of the plush matress and new pillows, soon enough falling to sleep.

...

A/N: Hi everyone, thanks for reading! Sorry its feels like one thousand days since I updated, but I will try my hardest to get some more chapters done!