"He'll be here. He has to be here. He's required by law."

"May, even if he is here, this place is packed. I wouldn't be able to find him by midnight."

Dawn put her hands on her hips and smirked. "If anyone could pick Ash Ketchum out of a crowd, it's you Misty."

"Oh ha ha." Misty sighed deeply and took another large swig of Champaign. May furrowed her eyebrows in worry.

"Aren't you supposed to be saving that for the New Year?"

Misty snickered. "If that was the case I've celebrated the New Year about seven times already."

"Misty!"

She waved May off. "I'm Irish. I can handle a couple of glasses of Champaign."

Dawn snuck a sip from her own glass and admired the grand ballroom they had been invited to. "Even if you don't find Ash, there are plenty of other guys here. Some really cute guys too. Ooh, look at him! Happy New Year to you, sir!" She growled.

May rolled her eyes and Misty laughed, finishing off her drink. "Ash promised me he would find me before midnight. Call me crazy, but I trust him. And if it kills me, I'm getting that kiss."

Ash pushed through the crowds, giving passerby's nods and smiles of acknowledgement. His eyes scanned the room, looking for that blotch of bright red hair he had known since he was ten.

"Hey man, great party!" Some random man called, patting him on the shoulder.

Ash smiled politely. "Thanks, glad you could make it."

Every year The League made him throw this New Years party, and every year it made him long for a quiet get together with his closest friends at his small Pallet Town home. It was required however, so he put on a grin and dealt with it like a good pokemon master.

"Ash!" A blur of blue popped in front of him, calling his name. "Where have you been? Misty is looking everywhere for you!"

He smiled apologetically at Dawn. "I know, I've been looking all over for her too. This place is just so pack and I-"

"Don't you give me excuses!" She said sternly. "If you weren't going to spend any time with her, you shouldn't have asked her to go as your date."

"My d-date?" He stammered. "I- I mean…does she think-?"

"Of course she does." Dawn replied simply, placing her hands on her hips. "What do you expect? You call her up out of the blue and ask if she wanted to go with you to your party."

Ash flushed. "I just thought we were going as friends…"

"Well you thought wrong. And if you know what's good for you, you'll find her before midnight."

He nodded.

"Oh, and Ash. Last time I saw her she was at the bar. Probably a good place to start looking."

Ash let out a groan. An angry Misty was one thing, but an angry drunk Misty? He didn't even want to think about it.

The clock struck half past eleven, and Ash knew he had to get going.

Misty nibbled on the tiny little hot dog that sat proudly on top of her sword shaped toothpick and wallowed in her loneliness.

May and Dawn had been whisked off to the dance floor; May by Drew and Dawn by a new guy every song. Misty stood by the (rather extensive) snack table and stuffed her face full of little weenies and artichoke dip.

Happy New Year, indeed.

Out of the corner of her eye, May twirled into Drew's arms and giggled as he placed a small kiss on her cheek.

She sighed and stabbed another hot dog as the clock struck a quarter 'till twelve.

Ash desperately checked his watch and compared it to the one on the large screen hanging on the wall as he rushed through the crowd.

The Saffron city celebration wasn't quite as large as the one that takes place in Goldenrod an hour previous, but the citizens of Kanto tuned in every year to watch the giant pokeball drop from the top of Silph Co. building.

The announcers were starting to get excited as the countdown to the countdown ticked away, bringing the clock down to thirty seconds until midnight.

Ash anxiously jolted his head from side to side, urgently looking for his apparent date.

Twenty seconds.

In a flash of both genius and desperation, he found his way to the DJ and yanked the microphone out of his hands right as the music was halted for the countdown.

"Misty!" The room went silent. Ash cleared his throat. "M-Misty. It's me, umm, Ash. P-please report to the stage…"

Ten.

An embarrassed red head made her way through the crowded dance floor, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as people stared while she passed.

Nine.

Ash handed back the microphone and quickly rushed to the edge of the stage to help her up.

"I am so sorry. I looked everywhere for you."

Eight.

Majority of the party turned their attention back to the screen, but a few curious people kept an eye on the awkward couple on stage.

"It's okay, Ash. I-I really just wanted to be with you at midnight."

Seven.

He nodded. "Dawn told me that this is a d-date,"

She blushed softly and bit her lip. "Only if you want it to be. I mean…You know what I mean."

Six.

"I-I think it would actually be nice to have a date this year."

Five.

"Oh…Okay. Good, then."

Four.

"So at midnight…do you want to…"

Three.

"Well, yeah. That's what people on a date at New Years usually do."

Two.

"I know that, I was just checking." He blushed. "I don't wanna screw this up."

One.

"Happy New Year," they said together, leaning in for a quick peck on the lips.

They both pulled away with the sound of the cheering party and giggled self-consciously. Misty smiled and snuck her fingers into Ash's (not surprisingly) sweaty palm. "Not bad for a first date, huh?"

Ash laughed and held her hand. He watched the confetti fall, surprisingly not upset about missing the ball drop for the first time in his life.

"Yeah. Though I would like to know I'm on one next time."

Misty giggled and squeezed his hand affectionately. "Well, ask me out on another one and I'll make sure of it."

Happy 2010 to everyone, I hope it's filled with happiness! Thank you all for sticking with me through this fic, I've really appreciated all the feedback!

-Car