My sincerest apologies for not uploading any sooner. It was hard to know what to write, especially for the last chapter of this story.

Thanks for making it this far with me! I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!

Enjoy!

Chapter 18: Epilogue

A few months later

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yea. Besides, we're both ready to talk."

Drew nodded in response, squeezing May's hand before she got out of the car. She walked towards the house, taking a deep breath before knocking the door. She knocked again louder and rang the door bell when no one came to the door.

"That's strange. He said he was going to be here all week," May muttered to herself.

She rang the bell one more time and waited, hoping Ash would answer the door. Believing that he wasn't home, she turned around and was about to walk back to the car when the door was quickly opened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'll-oh, it's you," Ash said surprised when May turned to face him. "I thought-never mind. Come in."

"I'm sorry. I should of called earlier instead of coming unannounced."

"That's alright. Did you wait long?"

"Not really. Do you have time to talk?"

"Uh, yea. I'll bring us something to drink."

May nodded and sat down on the sofa. The brunette looked around the living room, a small jab to her heart when she saw the pictures of both of them together replaced with pictures of his travels with his Pokémon and friends. She didn't blame him, however, for the changes that he made.

'After all, I chose Drew in the end.'

It was a choice that she didn't regret, but it was one that she knew would hurt him. She then saw Ash come into a the living room carrying a silver tray.

"Here you go, May," Ash said as sat next to her."Chamomile tea and a slice of cake. Brock brought some yesterday."

"Oh, thanks. So, how are you?"

"I'm good. Just busy and getting by. How are you and Drew?"

"We're good. He came back from Sinnoh a few days ago."

"For their first contest right?"

"Yea."

A slightly awkward settled between them. Ash looked around the room as he sipped his drink, a thoughtful look on his face. May nervously tapped her tea cup, finding the right words to say.

"Ash, I'm so sorry," she blurted out. "I should of talked to you first before things got the way they did. My-"

"May, it's alright. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have yelled at you the way I did," Ash replied. "Drew sure knows how to throw a punch."

May shook her head as she remembered what happened. It wasn't an easy memory to forget, especially what was said.

It was two weeks after they have broken up. May went to his house to pick up her last few boxes and to talk to him to get some closure.

Ash didn't say a word as she took her things away to Drew's car. He sat in the couch and stared blankly at the fireplace.

When she sat down next to him and asked him how he was and apologized for what happened, he snapped.

Ash stood up and began yelling at her...

How she cheated on him… humiliated him… hurt him and broke his heart without a care.

All the things that May thought Ash would say or think were being thrown harshly to her face. Although a part of her knew she deserved his anger, it didn't stop the tears that were falling. His voice became slightly higher and cruel when he saw her crying, grabbing her arms to force her to look up at his pained face.

It wasn't until Drew came rushing into the house and pulled Ash away from May that his anger shifted. Both men started arguing with one another, the green-haired young man persuading the Pokémon master to come to his senses. May stood up and tried to intervene but Ash began yelling at her once more, worse than before.

His restraint slipping, Drew placed himself in front of May and punched Ash. He staggered backwards from the strike but didn't fight back, his anger finally under control.

There was a tense silence, occasionally broken from May's sniffles. They didn't know how long they stood there, Ash and Drew not breaking their eye contact.

Gary came into the house a few minutes later, a shocked looked as he stared at the trio. Drew mumbled to May to go to the car first. She nodded and looked at Ash before leaving without a word.

"He apologized after you left."

"What?" May asked, startled out of her thoughts.

"Yea. He also talked to Gary before he left, but I don't know what they said to each other." May nodded, surprised that Drew didn't tell her about this. "May, I'm sorry about that day. I want you to know that I don't hate you or Drew. Although it was hard in the beginning and I was mad at you both for what happened… well, I'm not mad anymore and I'm doing much better. All I want is for you to be happy."

"I… I want you to be happy too, Ash."

"I am," he said sincerely. "Trust me, I am."

"So, is everything alright between us?"

"Yea, of course. Although our relationship didn't work out, our friendship still can, right?"

"Yea," May replied happily, the weight in her heart finally lifting.

They talked for a few minutes, catching up on what has been happening for the past few months. There was no more awkwardness or tension between them, only a friendly and comfortable atmosphere around them.

As May was finishing her piece of cake, the door bell rang. Ash stood up to answer the door and was slightly surprised to see who it was. May heard soft exchanges by the hall before Ash returned to the living room with Drew and Gary.

"Hi, May. How are you?" Gary asked.

"I'm good and you?"

"Can't complain," Gary said, shrugging his shoulders. He looked at the table and a small smile graced his lips. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I know how much you both hate it when that happens when it comes to dessert."

Drew nodded and laughed, ignoring the glares he was sent from May and Ash. Gary vaguely placed himself between both men, but he noticed that Ash's glare was more playful than angry.

'So, it's finally over, huh?'

"I just finished and no, you didn't," May replied. "We should get going, anyways."

May placed her plate into the tray and stood up. She hugged Ash goodbye and made plans to have lunch with each other next week. Gary accompanied her to the door and left Ash and Drew to talk with one another.

"Thank you, Gary. For everything you've done," May said quietly.

"It's no problem. I'm just glad that you and Ash worked things out. Same goes for him and Drew."

May smiled and hugged Gary. "You're the best."

"I know," he smirked as he hugged her back.

She laughed and shook her head. They talked for a while and May promised to visit the lab whenever she got the chance. Drew soon joined them by the door and they said their goodbyes to the young professor.

As Drew drove, May told him what happened in the house. He smiled, happy that their situation didn't turn bad like last time.

"Oh, I forgot to tell him that Max wants a Pokémon battle."

"You can tell him when you two have lunch."

May nodded and leaned her head on his arm. "I'm happy that everything worked out. I'm friends with Ash again, Max is talking to me… I'm with you."

Drew reached for her hand and held it tight, expressing his feelings through the gesture. The drive was peaceful as they passed through Viridian City.

"Is there anywhere you want to go?" he asked.

"You choose."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea. As long as we're together, I don't care where we go."

"Good, cause I know where I'm going to take you."

"Where?"

"You'll see."

May rolled her eyes at his smug tone but smiled. The past few months have been a flash. She became a coordinator again, moved in with Drew, and told her family that they were finally (as Max huffed out) together. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, but in the end, it was worth it.

As the sun began to set, May remembered the words that her mom told her.

"Just remember to choose the person you love and don't look back."

And that's what she did.

"I love you, May."

She choose the person that she loves…

"I love you, too, Drew."

...and she loves that choice every day.

And this is the end for Choose thy Love, Love thy Choice.

Cheating is wrong, and trying to justify it is probably even worse. That's why I wanted to show Ash being angry towards Drew and May, especially May, for what happened. In a way, that was his way of getting some closure and dealing with his pain. But of course, he let that go and knew that being angry wouldn't make things better or get here back. He learned and he's happy with his life (:.

Thank you very much for everyone who read, reviewed, favorite, and followed! I can't thank you enough and thanks for reading until the end, especially this being my first long story!

You guys are the best!

-squirtle10