Caroline took a sip of her ice tea as she read a magazine. Summer eased away from Hoenn as the days grew gradually cooler. Just about the time the weathermen commented on the unusually humid heat that year, Mother Nature decided to make up for it with fall rain. The gray, damp, dreary weather was enough to get even the brightest spirits down after a while.

She smiled when she heard the latch on the front door. She saw May minimizing one of her pokéballs and putting it on her belt. Seeing the pokéball in her hand took her back to when May was ten, just starting her journey as a pokémon trainer. Caroline chuckled lightly as she thought of how, back then, everyone including herself, expected her to follow in her father's footsteps and become the Petalburg City Gym Leader.

Now, here she was again. Nineteen, on the verge of womanhood, with the man who would very likely be with her forever. She was no longer a little girl.

Caroline understood all too well how her husband felt about letting go of their "little princess."

"Big day with Ash planned?" She asked, trying to keep the touch of sadness out of her voice.

"Yeah. We're gonna go to Mauville Park. I just finished giving Blaziken and Munchlax their training since they prefer not to train in the gym. You think I should train Glaceon too?"

"I don't know. Glaceon's been doing a lot of resting lately. Especially since her two humans are spending so much time together."

May glanced back at her mother as she went to the fridge and took out a bottle of water.

"Well, we are engaged Mom. You can't possibly be surprised that we're celebrating."

"You can celebrate, honey. I'm just a little suspicious as to how you've been spending most of your nights."

"In this house, Mom? Really?"

"Well, you never know. Sometimes things happen. Ever since he started living here you two have been inseparable."

"We've always been inseparable, Mom. Just took us a few years to realize why."

May began stroking her chin.

"You think I should wear my cream colored dress when Ash picks me up?"

"What's wrong with what you have on?"

"Mom, I can't go in this! It's all sweating and nasty. Plus, this is for training and traveling purposes only."

"If you're just going for a walk in the park, why do you need to put on a dress?"

"Because he's taking me out tonight too. Ash is taking me to this really fancy restaurant. I mean, this really, really nice place tonight. I mean, it's so nice, he had to call in a favor to get reservations and all. That's why we're doing our dress-up dates on Friday instead of Saturday."

Caroline smiled knowingly at her child.

"Are you sure that's not the only reason the two of you are dressing up?"

May smiled a little and shrugged.

"Maybe tonight's just our little private little get-together."

"Oh, I'm sure of it. I'm willing you're gonna give him a real birthday present as well. Especially since the last two Saturday nights have been taken up with birthday dinners, and since last week it was just Ash and his Mom?"

"Mom, you're not going to get all weirded out like you did at my birthday, are you?"

They had a nice, long talk about that after the rest of the family got back from breakfast at Ihop the next day. May and Ash were left sleeping in since she had a habit of sleeping late when she was with him. The whole conversation was a little test of wills, with both women dancing around admitting what they knew, then having a good laugh about how clueless May's Dad was about the whole affair.

"You should wear the black dress."

"Really? I mean…you don't think we're rushing things?"

"Honey, if I know one thing, it's that you two are meant for each. Did you see the way he looked at you the other day when you two came back from your date?"

May smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around herself as she reminisced about the previous evening.

"Yeah."

"He really does love you, May."

"And I love him. This rock on my finger says so," she said as flashed her finger to her mother, "That's why in a few months I'm gonna be Mrs. Ash Ketchum. When I walk down that aisle, it's gonna be at a church of our choosing. I'm gonna be wearing a white dress…"

"White?"

"MOM! There's no reason whatsoever why I can't wear white!"

"Even after he came back from Valencia Island?"

"Ach! I swear, everyone around us seems to have a one-track mind about what Ash and me are doing," May set the bottle down on the counter, "Besides, in the modern world a white wedding dress just means it's a first marriage."

"Don't' let you Nana or Aunt Mary hear you say that. Or your father for that matter," she warned.

May stuck her nose up in the air slightly.

"Well, like I said, there's no reason I can't wear a white dress, by any definition. Anyway, we've already talked about this in general terms. When we feel that we're ready to take things to the next level then we'll deal with it when the time comes."

"Speaking of which, have you set a date for the wedding yet?"

May sighed as she made her way upstairs to her room. Her mother followed her.

"No, Mom. We haven't set a date yet."

"Well, have you at least talked about it?"

May took off her pack and threw it on the bed before she zipped down her vest and pulled it off over her shoulders.

"We're kinda celebrating at the moment, Mom."

"It's okay to celebrate, May. I'm just saying it may be a good time to start thinking about setting a date. I mean, there's your dress to consider, caterers, flowers, invitations…"

"Mom, we have plenty of time to do all of that." she glanced back at her mother as she rooted through her underwear drawer.

Caroline pointed at the little bit of cotton in May's hand.

"Don't tell me you're going to wear that tonight?"

She looked at the cotton bikini brief in her hand. It was pink and trimmed in lace, with a large red heart printed on it.

"Too much?"

Caroline grinned evilly at her daughter.

"More like not enough. Hasn't your friend Misty taught you anything?"

May favored her mother with a strange look, then blushed slightly.

"I…uh…kinda left them at his house."

"I see."

Caroline's expression softened a bit as she sat on the edge of the bed, watching her intently.

May pulled the dress out of her closet, looked it over a bit, then hung it over her door.

"You think we're doing the right thing getting married so soon? I mean, I'm only nineteen. And then there's the thing with us traveling all the time because of our careers, you know, after we get enough passes to get us in the big leagues. That's gonna be tough enough without marriage."

"It's not so bad, dear. I was still in med school when your father and I got married, you know that. Now, it's not like I'm saying you should get married this young, but just think about what your reasons are."

Caroline frowned.

"Are you certain this isn't because Ash and you wouldn't be available for anybody else to snatch up?"

May turned to her mother with deep shock evident on her face.

"No way! I'm with Ash for the long haul, for good! It's just…if we're married that means having to deal with a home and having to hold down a job all while doing some of the hardest kind of work we've ever done. Throw in the chance that, despite our best efforts, I end up pregnant. I know you were in med school when I was born, I know you had to do your residency with a small child. I just want to get through my coordinating duties first, then Ash and I can settle down and, you know, start a family."

Caroline got up and gave her daughter a fierce hug.

"Then I think the two of you are doing exactly the right thing, May."

Just as she was starting to get feeling back in her arms, May took off her biker shorts and pulled the dress over her head.

"I just hope Ash feels the same way."

Caroline's lower lip curved downward as she looked over her daughter.

"Did you go up a cup size?"

"MOM!" May said as she covered herself with her arms.

"Well, I'm sorry. It's just, I don't remember you being so…buxom."

"MOM!"

"I'm only being honest with you, dear. It's really nothing you should be ashamed of."

May clasped her hands over her face.

"I'm only asking a question, May. Honestly, did you go up a size?"

"I…I don't know. Maybe a half? I don't pay much attention to those things, Mom."

"Oh, I'm sure you do. You have to. It's your body. You know it better than anyone."

"Mom, can we please not have this conversation," May said as her face began to turn beet red.

Caroline smiled widely.

"Alright May. I'll go tell your father that you're going out," she said as she walked up to the door. She looked down at her watch, "That's strange, Ash should have been here by now."

"He's probably having a hard time getting away from his Mom. When I was there the other day, she was extra-huggy. She's been that way for a while."

"You two will be right back if the baby comes early, won't you?"

"Baby? What baby? What you talking a…MOM!"

Caroline's grin couldn't possibly get any wider.

The sun was high as it set into the crystal clear blue sky and the temperature didn't seem to be rising very much. But even with the spotless cerulean sky, a distinct darkness to the west promised rain. Dinner went off as planned. They arrived at the restaurant at precisely the time indicated by they're reservations. This was the same restaurant where Ash had taken May on the night his car broke down and Harley had to give him a lift to May's house. The same night the lights had winked out. The same night Team Rocket decided to show up and momentarily steal Pikachu. And the same night where the sprinklers blasted him and May in the face when he proposed to her in the park. But this time, when he went to the restaurant, there weren't any severe weather conditions, so the place didn't black out and they could eat their meal.

"Five burgers, a plate of spaghetti, and a huge helping of chocolate mousse…and you're still hungry?" May shook her head as she as Ash continued their walk.

"What can I say? The Ash-man's gotta eat. And don't give me that look. You can get pretty carnivorous yourself."

"Who me?" she said quite innocently.

"Yes, you. I'm not the only one who was hungry. I seem to recall there being two grumbling tummies when I picked you up for our date."

"Hey, I didn't eat lunch, buster. I've been training all day. Speaking of which, how was your day with your mom?"

Ash cringed.

"It was…okay. I mean, she's been kind of smothering me lately."

"Probably because she realizes her only son is engaged."

"Or because her only son moved out to live in his fiancée's house?" he said with a sigh.

Ever since he came back from his trip from Valencia Island, he had been living with May and her parents. There never really was any discussion about them 'officially' living together, it had just happened. The fact he had never moved more than the clothes he actually needed, or any of his furniture into their room really didn't change anything. In that moment, he realized that it was actually true. For all intents and purposes, they were living together full time.

"Do you think maybe we should, I dunno, stop living together? Wow, that sounds kind of strange saying it out loud. I never really thought of it like that. Living together. Wow." He repeated.

May paused.

"Why do you ask?"

"I dunno…It's just…I guess it just kinda hit me that we're actually living together."

"Did my parents say anything?"

"Well…" Ash began rubbing the back of his neck, "You're dad kinda wants me to make regular trips to the gym. Said something about sparring matches."

"That's not too bad. I used to spar with him all the time."

"You what?" He said, shock evident on his face.

"Yeah. Dad didn't want me to be some stupid damsel in distress when I left the house. Even with my pokemon, he wanted his little girl to hold her own. Every week, 2 times a day, three days a week, I go to the gym and have a sparring match with one of his pokemon."

"That's…interesting…" he said, unsure of what else to say.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I just didn't know you were like that. I mean, I guess I should have expected this what with all the times you blew up at somebody who messed with your food."

"Hey, you'd be angry too if you made reservations at an expensive restaurant only to find out that all of the food was gone."

"I was too weak and hungry to be angry, May. I just wanted to eat," he said, recalling when his fiancée came to Sinnoh and sent Team Rocket airborne nearly five years ago.

"But, back to what I was saying, May. I think maybe your dad doesn't want me living with you guys anymore. I mean, I'm beginning to feel like I'm being kicked out. Did we make too much noise last night?"

"No more so than we have the last couple months."

"You think maybe he thinks we're…you know? Having sex?"

May shrugged her shoulders.

"He might. Mom thought we were and I'm pretty sure all our friends do too."

"I thought he was happy you were still living here." Ash muttered, putting his hands in his pockets.

May put her hand to his chin and caressed his face.

"I don't think that's what's got him like this. I think it finally sank in that you're living here with me. I mean, did Daddy say anything to you that maybe made you feel that way? I know, sometimes he can be pretty clueless."

"No, not really. I do remember him asking me to start looking for my own place to live."

"Those were his exact words?" May was almost driven to tears.

"I think so. He just slipped it in right after we made out a little longer last night…when you were in the shower."

"He told you when I was in the shower?"

"Yeah. I guess he wanted to talk to me alone. Then he just started asking me to come to the gym for some matches. I thought he was talking about battles, you know like pokemon battles, but he was talking about one-on-one matches, like me versus him. Fighting with our hands, not our pokemon."

"Maybe he just wants you to exercise more."

"May, come on. Your dad does not want me to exercise."

"Well, you don't know. I mean, you really aren't in the best shape, Ash. Remember when we switched brains? Lord, I felt like I was dragging a Hippowdon across my across chest."

"Uh-Huh and I was twenty-five pounds lighter and five hundred times better looking. Not to mention the fact that I now have I knew favorite color," he said as he wagged his eyebrows.

"I'm still upset that you were eyeballing my body like that."

"I was in unfamiliar territory, I was curious, you had that big dressing mirror in your room, I'm not gonna explain myself anymore," Ash said defensively.

"It's okay. I got you back when I got you caught in your zipper just before Bill switched us back."

"You said that was an accident!"

"Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't. You'll never know," May grinned evilly at him. Ash lightly stroked the groove in the small of her back.

"So, what are we gonna do now beautiful?"

She crossed her arms, putting her chin down on them. Part of her was trying to enjoy his touch, but for the most part her mind was awhirl.

"If you really think Daddy wants you out then I guess we need to go apartment shopping. Honestly, Ash, I've got no idea how to go about it. I've lived in my room my whole life, except for when I was traveling."

"Apartment shopping?"

"Aren't you the one who said you didn't know if you should be living in my parents' house anymore? There's no way I'm living there without you, Ash. We're engaged remember? If you left and I stayed, it'd seem too much like we're breaking up."

"Yeah, I know. But an apartment?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"I was just thinking we could stay at my mother's house. I don't think she would mind. She loves you."

"Ash, I'm not gonna go all the way to Kanto to live with your mother."

"Then you should stay. I'd love you whether we're living together or not. You said you've always lived in that room. It seems a shame to screw that up just because we're, like your Dad says, 'living in sin.'"

That brought a smile to her face.

"He does not say that."

"Yeah, he does. He keeps asking me when I'm going to make an honest woman of you."

"That's not the same thing, and I don't think he's said that once since you…well…moved in. You're right, though. It doesn't seem fair. Now if he wanted you to chip in and help with the mortgage, or the food, I could see that."

Ash stopped. He wrapped his hands around his fiancée's waist.

"I think I can do that." He began playing with her hair, "You know I really wanna hit the beach this year. I wanna show my awesome fiancée off to the world."

May cocked an eyebrow.

"Why? If you want to see hot girls in bathing suits Mom and I could dig out the bikinis we wore last summer."

Ash looked her up and down without moving his head.

"Uh, May, that's half awesome, half wrong on so many levels." He straightened up quickly as anger flashed in her eyes, "I'm not saying you Mom doesn't look…good in a 'kini, it's just I don't want to think of her that way. Like ever."

The scowl didn't quickly fade from May's face.

"So, you want to go to the beach to ogle girls you don't know?" She arched her back slightly to enhance her chest.

"What's the matter? Not enough variety here for you?"

He shook his head.

"I'm just going to shut up now, before I lose the right to even see those on occasion."

"Too late."

Breakfast that first morning of their new arrangement wasn't as uncomfortable as they thought it would be. Ash was thankful May insisted on the pajamas when her mother shook him awake by the shoulder to call them down to breakfast. He was also thankful the covers were up since the bottoms of said night clothes were stuffed down at the foot of the bed. Only an hour earlier May had awakened him for a little wake-up call of her own.

With the exception of a confused look Max had on when he witnessed the two climbing down the black iron staircase together, nobody acted as if anything were out of the ordinary. Ash had spent the night enough that his appearance at the breakfast table was nothing special, even though before it had always been after a night on the couch or later in the guest room.

"You kids still planning on going to the mountains for the weekend?" Norman asked from behind his fresh copy of the The Examiner.

Such an…ordinary…response wasn't what either of them had been expecting. They were ready for anything, from the silent treatment to having their ears bent for their brazen decision.

"We were gonna head up to Mt. Chimney tomorrow afternoon," May said as she dug into her pancakes, all the while running her bare foot up and down Ash's shin.

Her father let the upper half of his paper tip down.

"Says here it's supposed to rain all weekend, with the possibility of ice. Doesn't sound like a very good weekend of skiing."

Caroline set a plate of pancakes down in front of her husband.

"I don't think that's what they had in mind for their trip, dear." She smiled at her daughter, who blushed crimson.

"Actually, that was the plan. I love having the chance to ski when there's no tenacious maniacs chasing me down the mountain trying to nab my pokemon," Ash said with a mouth full of food.

"Or nosey chaperones making sure it's one to a bed." Caroline said, sitting down with her own plate.

"Mom!" May turned even brighter red.

"Well, if the weather turns nasty, I'd just as soon the two of you stayed right here." Norman said from behind his paper.

Both their mouths hung open for a moment.

"The two of us?" May asked dubiously.

"I want what's best for my kids, and that includes my future son-in-law." He put the paper down and started buttering his pancakes.

"Go easy, Norman. We don't want your cholesterol getting out of control." Caroline warned.

"Between the butter and the bacon, if my cholesterol was going to get out of whack, it would have done so a long time ago." He said, ignoring her and putting three pats of butter on each pancake before reassembling the stack and pouring syrup on them.

May and Ash just looked at each other. Then she glanced at her Mom, who smiled back at her. A bit of understanding crossed her mind. Caroline Maple had always been on her side when it came to Ash and their attempts to be together were part and parcel of that.

"Well…as long as we're all talking about what's best for us, Ash and I got to talking last night when we were on our date and we realized something," May said as she grasped his hand. She could see the nervousness in his eyes at what she was about to tell her parents.

"Ash and I feel that it's time for us to make a change. We think we're old enough to make our own decisions without them having to be vetoed by anybody else. I know your bills have been off the wall since Ash moved in and we want you to know that we will no longer be a bother to you. We figured something that'll solve all you financial needs."

"What's that dear?" Caroline asked as she lightly buttered her toast.

"We're moving out."

Caroline Maple stared at her husband as he cowered behind his desk. Stared wasn't quite the word for it. She was giving him "The Glare."

"Do you think it might have been wise to actually ask me before you decided it was time to kick my daughter out of the house?"

"I did no such thing. I only suggested that maybe it was time for them to start actually looking for their own place." He drummed his fingers on his desk, looking from side to side. He knew he was in trouble when she glared at him at the breakfast table that morning. He knew he was in even more trouble when she showed up at the Gym looking for him. She almost never went there. That was his world, as much as the house and Center was hers and for the most part the two never mixed.

"Oh? That's not what May and Ash said at breakfast. Your daughter was nearly brought to tears when she said you were going to kick Ash out. Norman, you know he's working on a place for them when they get married. What's wrong with that?"

"That's not what I meant, dear, and that's more than a year off. I just thought they would be more comfortable living in their own place."

"Oh really? Well, dear, did you stop you think how Ash might feel knowing his soon to be father-in-law is kicking him out? Did you stop to think about how May might feel knowing her own father his kicking her fiancé out and that she'd have to move out and leave her own room? The same room she's lived in her whole life?"

"Caroline, I never thought that would mean having a boyfriend come to live with her."

Blue eyes suddenly lit on fire. "Ash…is…not…just…a…boyfriend, Norman. He is your son-in-law! Or at least he's going to be in a year or so! Maybe you haven't noticed, but he is the single best thing that has happened to May in her life outside of this family. So what if they're living together in our house? He was welcomed to live here before."

"But what kind of example is that setting for Max? He's going to be here a couple weeks before he starts his next journey. He worships the ground Ash walks on and if they're upstairs…doing their thing…"

"That's not the same thing, Norman, and you know it. If Max had somebody in his life like Ash I don't think you would have worried for an instant. I think May and Ash set a fine example for him. Plus, I'm sure he's fully aware that he is sixteen and that May and Ash are nineteen and twenty one. That's a big difference from their perspective."

He sighed. Just as he thought that morning, there was no turning back from this point. The damage had been done, and that probably meant he was going to be the one sleeping either on the couch or in the guest room that night.

"Okay, Caroline. I'll talk to her."

"You need to talk to them both. If you had said no after the first time, this would have been different, yet you waited six months to say something. I think it's too late to stand on morals, if that's the reason behind all of this."

With that, she turned on her heels.

"I think it might be a good idea if you took the two of them out to dinner."

"I'll fix something. I'm not totally helpless in the kitchen, plus I've been hankering to try out my new grill."

Caroline shook her head.

"I said you should talk to them. Not poison them." She held up her hands, then dropped them in frustration before walking out the door, muttering about idiot gym leaders.