As promised, here is the sixth and final part of Home Is Where the Heart Is and the 12th overall part in this pearlshipping series. The only thing to really mention here is the future of this series. As I have mentioned, there will be a third installment and likely a 4th. However, both are going to be long, full stories that will take time to create. As of right now I have 9 parts (XIII-XXI) drafted with at least one more set to be done soon. The outline for the third story is done and while there will be some changes, it is currently projected to have 62 parts to it hence why it will take time. I also have real world stuff to deal with starting in June and going through early September that will take up most of my time. I will be able to edit what I have but drafting will be tough. As such, when the third installment begins its cycle on June 1st, it will be a weekly and not daily upload. I am going to use the rest of May to try and get ahead as far as possible so that I have more material ready. In addition, I will be creating two side series to accompany this one. The first will be called 'Supplements to the Heart' and will be a collection of oneshots that were cut from the main story due to size but are referenced enough to be important. The second collection will be a series of events regarding a different ship but that are needed to due interactions at times with the main series. That is all I have to say about the future of this series, sit back and enjoy final part of Home Is Where the Heart Is. Part XII: Home At Last.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

Part XII: Home At Last

"Pallet Town!" Ash called out loudly. "We're here!"

Ash beamed as he looked down the hill to see Pallet Town again. He hadn't been back in almost a year and he had missed it. Despite his constant traveling and seeing the world, Ash always liked returning home and seeing it again. It symbolized the end of one journey and the beginning of next one when Ash was ready for it.

It was also where his mother was and he often missed her while he was away. This was his home and as much as he loved to travel, this was where he would always end up at the end of the day. He would always return home.

Dawn just smiled at her boyfriend's joy as she looked over his hometown. It wasn't too different too dissimilar from Twinleaf Town as Ash had noted when he had visited her home back in Sinnoh. That thought made Dawn a little homesick for her own home and wondering when their travels would next take the pair to Sinnoh.

The buildings were spaced out and homely with dirt roads separating the houses but unlike Twinleaf where there were rolling hills, here in Pallet it was nestled on a more level grassy plain. Though a hill in the distance with a large building on it showed that this wasn't always the case.

They had initially planned to get here the day before but they ended up getting held up at Brock's, an eventuality they had planned for. Between Ash's battle with Forrest, which Ash had won comfortably, Dawn teaching Yolonda contest tricks, and Brock being Brock, they ended up staying too late and spent another night there. At least Brock, unlike Misty, had allowed them to sleep together. It was on a couch downstairs but given the number of kids there it was not a surprise that there was no space.

Of course, Piplup still woke them up without warning or remorse as soon as the water type was woke up himself. He was slowly calming down, and milking it for Poffins, but Dawn had a feeling the morning wakeups were still going to be coming for a while. At least he had woken them early, though, that had actually been useful for the day's journey.

After a good breakfast that Brock cooked, the last of his cooking that they expected to have for a while, they set out and headed for Pallet Town. It would take them most of the day to walk there at a fast pace as they had to get through both Viridian City and Viridian Forest to get to Pallet Town.

They had to speed up even more when they got to get Viridian Forrest as it was late afternoon by then but Ash was now on a mission to get home so. He would have probably run there from this point but Dawn was holding his hand and she was in no mood to run through the forest. It had been a long, hard, day and Dawn wanted to still be presentable when she met Ash's mother, not all sweaty and tired from running there.

"I can't wait to see mom again." Ash said happily as they headed down the hill and into Pallet, walking but wanting to run home as he usually did. "She's the only one who can cook as well as Brock can."

"High praise indeed." Dawn said looking forward to it, anyone who's cooking Ash praised must be good, especially when compared to Brock's. "I am a little nervous about meeting her though."

"Why, she's really nice." Ash said. "And you have seen her on the video phone before."

"She is also my boyfriend's mother." Dawn pointed out. "Of course, that will make me nervous. Meeting her in person is going to be different than briefly over the phone and last time we weren't an item. It is different now."

"Oh yeah." Ash said a little embarrassed. "I hadn't thought about that in my excitement to get home."

"She does know we are together, right?" Dawn said having a feeling she knew the answer. "Right?"

"Um." Ash said sheepishly. "No. I, er, haven't had the time to tell her."

"Ash." Dawn chided and now even more nervous. "You should have let her know back in Johto. What is she going to think?"

"It's not my fault, I was having so much fun being with you that it kinda slipped my mind." Ash said nervously and Dawn couldn't help but forgive him, he could be sweet sometimes even when he didn't know it. "Though she does know I went to see you in Johto and is expecting me to bring you back so there is that."

"Yeah I remember you telling mom that." Dawn said with a sigh. "Well she should be able to figure it out then."

"Yeah she is pretty observant." Ash said as they came up on a two-story white house with a white picket fence around it. "I wouldn't be surprised if she already knew. Ah, here we are."

Dawn looked at the house. It was nice, homey and neat. Not as large as hers but then again her mother had been a Top Coordinator so had earned a fair amount in her life. Somehow she could see the home fitting Ash very well, it was the kind of place she saw Ash living in if he ever settled down. Outside, sweeping the path, was of all things, a Mr. Mime in a green apron.

"Hey Mimey." Ash called out to his only psychic type Pokémon. "Is mom home?"

"Mime." Mr. Mime said looking up and then breaking into a smile at the sight of Ash. "Mime! Mr. Mime!"

"You never told me your mother had Pokémon." Dawn said as the Mr. Mime ran over to greet them happily. "I always thought she wasn't a trainer."

"Actually, he's mine." Ash said much to Dawn's surprise, she didn't know Ash had a Mr. Mime. Apparently your boyfriend could still surprise you. "I caught him towards the end of my first journey back when I was 10. It was a bit of an accident but he's been good friend since."

"Huh, then how come I didn't know about him." Dawn said as the Barrier Pokémon was smiling at Ash's return. "Why don't you use him more? A psychic type could come in handy."

"Well you see, mom kinda adopted him when he got here." Ash said. "That is why he has a nickname; she gave it to him and is more his trainer than I am if I'm being honest. He stays here and helps out at home and mom dotes on him. I think it is good for her because she gets to have him around the house while I am away so she's never lonely."

"That's sweet." Dawn said looking at the clown-like Pokémon. "I can see how your mom would adopt him."

"Yeah and he is more useful around the house than I am." Ash said and Dawn laughed at the truth of that. "A while back, sometime during my trip to the Orange Islands, Brock ended up back here and mom took him in for a while. Mr. Mime and he had a little rivalry to see who was more helpful to here. I don't think either is over it yet."

"That is something I would have liked to see." Dawn said with a smile at the thought of Brock and Mr. Mime at war as they came up to the front door and walked in without knocking.

"Mimey, are you done outside?" A female voice called from the kitchen. "Because I could use some help here."

"Mr. Mime." The Pokémon called out.

"He got distracted mom." Ash said with a playful smile. "I can send him back outside in a moment if you would like."

"Ash? Is that you?" Delia Ketchum said as she came out of the kitchen and saw them there. "Oh, my boy, your home. I am guessing that this beautiful girl with you must be Dawn. You never said she was this lovely, the video phone or the TV doesn't do her justice."

"Er yes this is Dawn." Ash said a little embarrassed while Dawn just went bright red at the compliment. "And, er, I, um, should tell you…"

"That you two are an item, yes I can tell." Delia said as she came over and hugged him. "I was expecting this as soon as you told me you would be seeing her in Johto before coming home. Any girl that can keep Ash from his home after a journey has to be important to him."

"You know?" Ash said surprised.

"Ash dear, you are still holding her hand." Delia said as she broke the hug and stepped over to a still very red Dawn. "Plus, a mother can tell. I knew that if you came back with her then I you two would be together."

"Perceptive." Ash said. "I didn't really know if that would happen."

"Please forgive my son Dawn." Delia said offering Dawn her hand that a still embarrassed Dawn shook automatically, letting go of Ash's to do so. "He can be a little clueless at times, even to his own feelings."

"No need to worry Ms. Ketchum." Dawn said as she found her voice. "I know that he can be a little oblivious to romance. He snapped out of it in the end though."

"I can tell and please call me Delia." Delia said smiling at her. "Make yourself at home. Dinner will be ready soon, I just need to make a little more as I wasn't expecting company tonight. I can't wait to hear about your journeys, especially the one my son made for a very special girl."

"Piplup." Piplup said, irritated that he hadn't been introduced.

"And you must be Piplup." Delia said patting his head, able to do so as he was perched on Dawn's head. "Ash had told me a lot about you. apparently you're quite the accomplished Piplup."

"Piplup." Piplup said with a nod of pride. "Pip, Piplup."

"Ash raved about both of you." Delia said. "More so than any other girl he's traveled with. No wonder you managed to get through to him Dawn, Ash is lucky to have found you."

Dawn just nodded and blushed again as Delia went back to the kitchen and she and Ash made their way to the living room. The took a seat on the couch and Dawn snuggled up to Ash, still a little embarrassed by Delia's praise, as Mr. Mime began to sweep the floor happily, singing his name as he worked.

Dawn couldn't help but like Ash's mother. She was a sweet and kind woman who clearly cared for Ash and knew him well. She just had to recover a little first as she had not been expecting such a complimentary greeting.

Thankfully dinner was called and they went to the table. Ash began to attack his mother's cooking as if he hadn't eaten in years, though admittedly it had been almost a year since he had had his mom's food so there was that. Dawn had to admit, it was as good as Brock's if not slightly better, not that she would ever tell the aspiring Pokémon Doctor that, though Dawn at least had manners at the dinner table.

While Ash demolished plate after plate at record speed, Delia asked Dawn about her own adventures since Sinnoh and Dawn happily told her about everything from taking the modeling offer for Buneary up to meeting Ash in Unova. It was a good ice breaker and allowed for some normality to set in at the table. Unlike when Ash first met her mom, Dawn was actually dating Ash when she met his so that made it more nervous for her than if it they just been two friends visiting after a journey.

When Ash was done he went into his own tale of Unova journey for his mother's sake, highlighting his time with Dawn and the importance of it. Then he told her of how he had traveled to Silver Town for the Grand Festival, praising Dawn's performance in it that made her blush and a little sad for the loss. She had gotten over it pretty much, her consolation prize had been Ash which was better than the Ribbon Cup but it had still been a tough loss.

"Who knew my son could be so sweet and romantic." Delia said as Ash told of how he had deliberately not seen Dawn until after the final and how he had gone to her when she lost. "No wonder Dawn fell for you."

"Huh?" Ash asked confused and Dawn just sighed. "I was?"

"Ash, you need to learn a little more about women I guess." Delia said with a sigh. "Though I am sure that Dawn will help there."

"I am doing my best." Dawn admitted and Delia chuckled at that. "But I can let some of it slide, it was what I needed at the time. Don't worry, by the time I'm done Ash will be the perfect gentleman. Mom was kind enough to let Ash come to me first so that we could have our moment together."

"So, your mother knows then?" Delia said turning back to Dawn.

"Yeah she was at the Grand Festival and, er, saw the aftermath." Dawn said blushing. "Of Ash and me meeting that is."

It was just a kiss, her first and with the love of her life admittedly but just a kiss, nonetheless. Still, she was a little embarrassed that her mother had seen the intimate moment she had shared with Ash.

"A mother always knows the right moment to show up." Delia said. "I will have to call her and get all the details later. It will be a nice, long, talk about our kids dating."

"I am sure she will be happy to provide them." Dawn said a little embarrassed. "Including how she let us know she was there."

"Let me guess, Pikachu helped." Delia said and Dawn nodded while Ash was distracted by more food and Pikachu perked up at his name. "Thought so. Well, what have you two been up too since then? It has been almost 3 weeks since the Grand Festival."

"Well we spent the first two making our way through Johto." Ash said as he swallowed the last mouthful of food. "Took us that long to reach Goldenrod City from Silver Town as we were in no rush. Then it was that new Magnet Train to Saffron City so I got to show Dawn a little of Kanto on the way here."

"Yeah I saw Cerulean, Pewter and Viridian City on the way." Dawn said happily. "Though the last one was brief as we had to get here so I hope to see it properly another time. We spent a few days in the other two cities though so I got a little taste of Kanto."

"Cerulean?" Delia asked thoughtfully. "That means that you likely saw Misty there."

"Yeah we saw her." Dawn said remembering that incident well. "Ash wanted to see her as while we were in town so I went along with it. She is one of his oldest friends and they hadn't seen each other in a few years."

"How did she take the news." Delia asked Dawn. "Of you and Ash being a couple that is."

"Um, about as well as you would think." Dawn admitted.

"Uncontrollable rage and jealousy?" Delia asked.

"Pretty much." Dawn confirmed.

"Well that is a perfectly normal reaction when the guy you have been in love with for at least 4 and up to 6 years shows up out of the blue with a girlfriend." Delia said. "I can understand it."

"Wait mom, you knew as well?" Ash asked his mouth open. "About Misty liking me that is?"

"Of course I did, we could all see it except you." Delia said to her son sweetly before adding in a slightly scolding tone. "And close your mouth son, I do not want to see your food."

Ash did as instructed and swallowed. He just grumbled and returned to his latest plate food. Apparently everyone but him knew of Misty's feelings. He couldn't understand how he had been so blind to them or why no one had told him. The silver lining was that because he didn't know Ash had fallen for Dawn and couldn't be happier.

"Is the Cerulean Gym still standing?" Delia asked Dawn returning to their conversation. "Misty's temper is well known and Ash has a habit of being the perfect catalyst for it."

"It is still there, more or less, though not for lack of trying on both our parts." Dawn admitted. "Misty and I had a long, and at times violent, talk about Ash. We worked it out in the end though Piplup got the worst of it."

"Piplup." Piplup agreed, looking up from his food to glare at Dawn before returning to his bowl.

"That is good, the mature, adult thing to do." Delia said with a nod though Dawn was pretty sure that she wouldn't call the gym battle they had had mature or adult on either hers or Misty's part. "And Pewter City, that must have been to see Brock."

"Yup, it was great to see him again." Dawn said. "It had been a year since he left Sinnoh and we both missed him. It was much less destructive."

"So, he is back home? I thought he was off to be a Pokémon doctor." Delia said. "I didn't know that Pewter City had a school for them there."

"He is still training to be one but it is a break." Ash said returning to the conversation. "He will be heading to the Fuchsia City area in about a month for the next stage of his training."

"I see that is good to know." Delia said with a nod and a tone that Dawn was suspicious of but Ash completely ignorant of. "Well I am glad that he is ok and pursuing his dreams."

"He is the same old Brock." Ash said. "And it was nice to see his whole family."

"I bet, Brock always spoke highly of his siblings." Delia said. "And now you are home, I do hope you will stay for a little bit Ash. I could use you around the house and I want to get to know my future daughter-in-law more."

"I haven't decided my next adventure." Ash admitted and Dawn knew that that next adventure would require them having a long chat about it given a few complications with their goals, missing the last thing that Delia had said as she thought about her next journey with Ash.

"I think I could use a rest for a bit and I want to spend some time with Dawn and not worry about anything." Ash continued. "We could both use a break and really be a couple."

Dawn just blushed at that. Ash may be clueless most of the time but even in that cluelessness he could be really sweet. It was just one of the many reasons why she had fallen in love with him.

"I think that is a great idea." Delia said with a smile, glad that Ash was staying for at least a little bit this time. "And what are your plans tomorrow now that you are home?"

"Well I was thinking of taking Dawn to Professor Oak's lab." Ash said and Dawn instantly liked the idea, she wanted to see the poetry man's lab and ranch. "Something odd happened in Cerulean that we want to talk to him about and I want to show Dawn all of my Pokémon as there a few she still hasn't met. I haven't seen most of them in ages and miss them."

"Oh yeah, you caught more in Unova than you did in Sinnoh and I didn't get to meet them all." Dawn said remembering how Ash had caught 9 Pokémon there but she had only met 5 of them. "And I am sure there a few that I didn't see in Sinnoh."

"That sounds lovely." Delia said. "I am sure Professor Oak is looking forward to seeing you two as well and will be eager to hear about what happened in Cerulean."

"Yeah I would go now but it is a little late." Ash said and Dawn was glad, she just wanted to cuddle up with Ash and go to bed after a dinner as good as the one she had, if she was allowed. "We were up early to get here, well that and Piplup was an alarm clock for us."

"Piplup." Piplup said proudly.

"I recommend that." Delia said with a nod. "You two have had a long day and could use a good night's sleep."

"Um." Dawn said going a little red at what she had to ask. "I, er, am, er, sorry to ask but…"

"Yes, you can stay in Ash's room." Delia said kindly causing Dawn to go redder and Ash look amazed at his mother's allowance. "What dear? We don't have a spare bedroom and you two are together, I do not doubt you have shared a bed by now so why should I restrict you. I remember how it was when I was your age."

"Th, thanks mom." Ash got out while Dawn remained red and mute.

"Just be careful." Delia said. "I am too young for grandkids. I will have to talk to Johanna about this so that we are on the same wavelength regarding you two. Teenage hormones can be tough to control."

Dawn didn't think she could go redder and Ash's jaw hit the table. Apparently Ash's mom was following Dawn's with the strategy of embarrassing them as much as possible. They hadn't done it yet as they still hadn't found the right time but it wasn't stopping their mothers from making sure they knew to be safe.

Recovering and thanking Delia, they made their way upstairs and dropped their stuff off. Piplup and Pikachu joining them as always and finding places to sleep in Ash's room. Dawn wanted to look around and see what Ash had in his room but she was too tired by this point, it had been a long day and both just wanted sleep.

Without words, they stripped to their underwear, got into bed and after a quick kiss, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Their journey was at an end, for now. They were home and they were with each other. They couldn't be happier. Home truly was where the heart was.

That is it for Home Is Where the Heart Is, a nice ending as Ash gets home. I had planned on this being a bit longer and including a few more things but I realized that a nice, short, part was just what this story needed to end on. The things cut from this story have been turned into the first few parts of the next story in my 'Heart' series so y'all will get them soon. I have already addressed the future at the start of this part so that is all for me. Please review, favorite, follow and in general let me know what you think. Until next time.

Stringdog