Well folks, it's been an incredible journey up until now. I can't thank you all enough for all of your reviews and support. I'm not going to clutter the top of this page with an author's note, but please read the note at the bottom of this page. If you only read one of my author's notes, that's the one to read!

One important thing to note before reading: Professor Sycamore's name has been retconned for obvious reasons. Seriously, out of all the names for Gamefreak to choose for Gen VI's Pokemon Professor, they chose Sycamore... I was kind of bummed because that name has a certain amount of significance to me. Alas, it was not meant to be. Going forward, Professor Sycamore shall be known as Professor Cypress. I've retconned previous chapters to fix this as well.

Without further ago, please enjoy!

-=Amazing Grace=-

Jeremy, Grace, and Jasmine walked at a leisurely pace in the direction of the brunette's car; after all, Grace and Jeremy's things were still inside the vehicle's trunk. Before traveling to the dormitories, the trio had decided it'd be best to retrieve Jeremy and Grace's belongings instead of making multiple, unnecessary trips. Despite the sheer size of the facility, it didn't take too long before the three people were standing in front of the boxy, light blue sedan. "You only have one suitcase, right?" Jasmine asked as Jeremy opened the trunk and reached inside. Pulling a single, large suitcase from the car, the boy nodded as he hefted his belongings out of the vehicle.

"Yep, just this one. I travel light," Jeremy grunted as he struggled to gain a firm grip on the luggage, the thin handle digging deep into his palm as he did so. Grace raised an eyebrow and looked over the suitcase with a humorous expression.

"That's traveling light?" the Gardevoir asked incredulously as she used her physic powers to lighten the weight of the luggage and alleviate the discomfort radiating from her friend's hand. While it was true that Jeremy only had one bag, she wasn't quite sure how it hadn't been ripped apart at the seams during the packing process. Granted, Grace had put several of her own possessions into the overstuffed luggage as well, but the Gardevoir could have sworn Jeremy simple dumped the bulk of his clothing from his dresser and closet into the solitary suitcase prior to them leaving Twinsport.

The boy feigned offence at the question and lowered his brow in an effort to look annoyed. "Why yes, Grace, this is traveling light. Remember how Mom and Claire travel? That's traveling heavy."

Grace stifled a laugh at that statement before conceding defeat. "Well, at least we won't need to buy more suitcases this time around!" she giggled while nodding her head in agreement with the boy. The particular moment Grace was referencing was an interesting one to say the least; it happened during a vacation the Benper's had taken to Alto Mare. In short, that trip had redefined what Jeremy had considered 'traveling light'.

Reaching up, the teen placed his hand on the lip of the trunk before closing it. "Well then, I think we're all set. Want to lead the way?" the boy asked as he turned to face their guide. Jasmine was all too happy to reply and nodded her head in response.

"Yep! It really isn't that far away. Let's get going," the girl said with a pleasant smile.

True to her word, it didn't take long before the trio found themselves standing in the lobby of the employee living area. The building itself wasn't particularly impressive, but then again neither was its purpose. For being a living area, there was a strange absence of people; this didn't go unnoticed by Jeremy.

"So, Jasmine, how many people live here would you say?" Jeremy asked as he looked around the spacious room. Several couches were arranged in a 'U' shape around a solitary television mounted on the wall; the opposite side of the room had a row of sleek, white computers lined against the wall. Jeremy expected to see at least one or two people, but the only souls he saw were those of his immediate companions. Could it be the people who lived here were all still out working?

Jasmine shrugged her shoulders, not knowing the answer to Jeremy's query. "I can't say for certain, but I do know that there aren't too many people living here. Honestly, this building is mostly used for students from the University of Goldenrod when they visit for extended periods of time. Most of the full-time staff live in Goldenrod or the suburbs around it," the girl explained. "It's also used by the staff when they have to be on-call. If an emergency happens, professor Cypress wants people to be able to respond immediately."

That made sense. While living at your place of work would undoubtedly be convenient, Jeremy could understand why people would prefer to live elsewhere; he also understood why some people had to stay on call. A profession involving the well-being of any living creature, be it human or Pokémon, seemed to demand a constant vigilance on the part of the caretakers. There was no such thing as an 'eight-to-five' day when lives were on the line.

"So, where is our room?" Grace asked, albeit the question fell on a deaf mind. Jeremy had to admit, he was just as curious as Grace in regards to their room.

"I'm going to go ahead and voice a question that's on both Grace and mine's mind; which room is ours?" the teen asked as he cast his gaze towards a long hallway that began at the far end of the room. The narrow passageway was lined with doors; it was clear each doorway lead to a dorm room; the layout of the building reminded him vaguely of a hotel.

Jasmine was quick to reply, saying, "You guys can choose any room you want. Here, let me show you." The friendly girl started walking toward one of the many computers that Jeremy had observed before, beckoning the duo to follow. "Can I have the temporary ID Professor Cypress gave you?"

"Ah, sure thing," Jeremy muttered as he fished through his pocket for the plastic ID card the professor had given him shortly after leaving his office. The eccentric man had all but run halfway through the facility in pursuit of Jeremy in an effort to give him the temporary ID card. As the older man had explained, he had it created in anticipation of Jeremy's arrival but forgot to give it to him while the intern was in his office. Without the card, Jeremy wouldn't have been able to do much in the facility, and he would have more than likely been apprehended by security. "Here you go," Jeremy said as he presented the red and white plastic card to the girl in front of him.

Jasmine took the card and offered a, "Thanks," as she inserted it into what was a card reader of sorts that sat atop the computer desk. Typing swiftly at the keyboard, the girl navigated the computer's interface with ease; it was likely she had gone through the process many times prior to Jeremy's arrival. "You see, Jeremy, the dorm rooms aren't assigned by the managers here. Instead, you're given the choice on which room you want. Of course, only vacant rooms appear in the system, so don't expect to be kicking somebody out of their place anytime soon," Jasmine laughed lightly.

"So it's first-come first-serve then?" For a place that seemed so organized, it struck Jeremy as strange that the sanctuary would use such a method for assigning rooms. Then again, if Jasmine's words held any truth, it wasn't as though the housing facility was heavily used. Maybe assigning somebody to manage the building was too much of a hassle considering how infrequently people occupied it.

"In a sense, yes. There won't be any 'over booking' though. Facility Managers keep tabs on the number of open rooms and the number of potential residents. They make sure demand never exceeds supply," Jasmine informed him.

"I see…" Jeremy trailed off. So, he had the chance to pick his room? That was a nice little surprise. A sudden beep caught the boy's attention as he shifted his gaze to the computer screen. A dialogue box with the words, "Please enter room number:_" appeared on the screen with an 'I' bar blinking in anticipation of the next few keystrokes. "So, what room do you suggest? Have any favorites?" he joked.

Jasmine giggled while shaking her head. "Nope, no favorites here. Well, I can help you narrow down your choices a bit. Do you want a room on the first or second floor?"

"Oh, the second floor for sure!" Grace exclaimed with joy as she clasped her hands together in anticipation, her bright, cherry red eyes lit up like a child's. "We'll have a great view of the sanctuary… Oh! I wonder if there's a room open that will let us see the sunrise?"

Jeremy smirked at his friend's excited behavior. Despite being so nervous about leaving Twinsport, Grace seemed to have no issues adjusting to their new living conditions. "Well, it seems Grace wants a second floor room. I guess when you can levitate you don't really care about going up and down a flight of stairs everyday just to get to your room," Jeremy jested as he shot a mischievous stare towards the Pokémon.

Grace rolled her eyes as she reached out and lightly tapped the boy's forehead with one of her delicate, green clad fingers. "Oh, don't go there! A few steps are a small price to pay for a better view!" she argued as she tapped Jeremy's forehead several more times. "Besides, don't act like you didn't want a second story room too; I know you too well, Mister…!"Jeremy chuckled, knowing she was right; there was no doubt he wanted a second-floor room! Like Grace had mentioned before, scaling a flight of stairs everyday was a small price to pay for a better view of their home for the next several months.

Holding up his hands in mock defeat, Jeremy let out an exaggerated sigh before saying, "True, true." Turning to face Jasmine, he asked, "Would it be possible to get a room that has a window facing to the east?"

Jasmine nodded and pulled up a minimized tab at the bottom of the computer screen; a map of the building appeared, listing each room by number. "Room 203 is a corner room on the second floor; corner rooms have a little bit more space than other rooms, and it has windows facing to the east. Do you want to go look at it?"

"That'd be wonderful!" Grace beamed as she nodded her head eagerly. The gesture made it clear, even to Jasmine, what the Gardevoir's answer was.

"Okay, let me register the room to Jeremy's name. If you don't like it, you can always switch," the brunette said as she typed the number '203' into the dialogue box. Another series of beeps could be heard as the data Jasmine inputted was computed and sent away to one of the sanctuary's servers. The temporary ID card that had been inserted into the card reader popped out, allowing for it to be retrieved. "We're all set. Just follow me; I'll show you where it is."

The girl began to walk towards the hallway at the far end of the room, beckoning for Jeremy and Grace to follow. The two people followed Jasmine through the building as she led them down the hallway and up a flight up steps that connected the two floors. It didn't take long before the trio was standing in front of a plain, wooden door. Polished, brass numbers hung above a small peephole in the door, clearly displaying the room's number.

Turning, Jasmine smiled as she handed Jeremy back his temporary ID card. "I think you should have the honors of opening up your door for the first time," the girl said as she motioned her head towards the matte black card reader mounted on the door. Jeremy glanced at the card being offered to him for several moments before giving a curt, albeit friendly, nod of agreement.

Reaching out, the boy grabbed the temporary ID from his newest friend and slid its magnetic strip through the card reader. The glowing, red LED on the door-mounted card reader dimmed as the device deciphered the data it had just received; seconds later, a bright green light flashed on. It was accompanied by a short, loud high-pitched whining noise. An audible 'click' could be heard as the electronic lock slid open, allowing the teen to open the heavy door.

"Well, we're home," Jeremy said with an awkward grin as he pushed the door open and stepped into the room. His feet landed on the cool, tile flooring that covered the entryway. Once inside, the teen was able to glance around the room and take in his surroundings.

As expected, the room wasn't particularly exciting. Neutral, beige paint coated the walls of the entire room. A small kitchen was immediately to his right and contained a sink, minifridge, microwave, and a two-burner stove. A small countertop was all that separated the kitchen from the rest of the room. A full size bed was positioned against the far wall along with a solitary nightstand. Across from the bed was a medium sized wooden desk and chair. It was readily apparent that the living space was not designed for long-term use.

In short, it looked like a medium sized bedroom with a kitchen in it. Considering it was free, it wasn't at all a bad living arrangement.

"Well, what do you think? Do you like it?" Jasmine asked hesitantly. She seemed genuinely worried that Jeremy wouldn't like the room. The meek girl's attitude made the boy want to laugh; why should she be worried about him not liking it? It wasn't as though it'd be her fault!

"It's perfect," Grace smiled as she placed her mint green clad hand on the girl's shoulder in an effort to gain her attention. Jasmine turned to face the Pokémon, surprised by the action. The Gardevoir nodded her head in approval, letting Jasmine know that she approved of the room.

"You like it, Grace?" Jasmine asked, curiosity evident in her quiet voice. Grace let her head bob once more in a reaffirming manner.

"It's great, Jasmine," Jeremy answered as he took several more steps into the room and looked around. "Thanks, you made an excellent suggestion!"

Jasmine's face colored slightly at Jeremy's compliment, although the boy couldn't see it as she had lowered her face; the girl certainly didn't know how to take a compliment. "I-I'm glad you like it… No thanks are necessary," she stammered.

Grace walked by Jeremy and came to a halt at the foot of the bed a little further into the room. In one exaggerated motion, the Gardevoir threw herself into the air above the mattress and came crashing down onto the soft, light brown sheets. Grace let out an audible sigh as she melted into the bed. "Ah, this feels so nice…!" she smiled contently as she closed her eyes.

Jasmine couldn't help but let out a small laugh as she watched the Pokémon spread out on the bed; despite her petite size, Grace seemed to be having no trouble claiming every inch of the bed as hers. "She looks happy," the brunette said cheerfully as she watched the grin on Grace's face grow.

"That she does," Jeremy smirked as he brought his hand up to his chin in a thoughtful manner. Several silent moments passed before Grace's eyes finally reopened. Her gaze immediately fell on her friend, and she couldn't help but wonder why he was staring at her with such a thoughtful gaze.

"Is um… something wrong, Jeremy?" Grace asked as she sat up, her slender legs folded beneath her elegant, white gown.

Jeremy shook his head lazily as he opened his mouth to speak, "Well, I was just thinking… There are two of us staying her, but we only have one bed."

Well then, that presented a problem.

"You're right," Grace mused as she too raised a hand to her chin in thought. While sharing a bed was far from being a foreign concept to the two, they had never before shared one for such an extended period of time.

Jasmine immediately gasped in horror as she realized the mistake she had made, or at least the mistake she had perceived herself to make. "I-I'm so sorry! I forgot… I didn't know you slept outside of- d-do you even have a ball?" the girl rattled off her hodgepodge of apologies and incoherent questions.

Jeremy grimaced as he watched the friendly girl blame herself for the predicament; it seemed as though she was far too quick to accept blame for problems. He held up his hands and quickly dismissed the notion. "Hey! There's no need to be sorry, Jasmine. It's not like anything is your fault. Besides, it's not that big of a deal!" the boy exclaimed as he kicked off his shoes and ran over to the bed. Jeremy imitated Grace's previous actions and jumped onto the bed in a childish manner. The Gardevoir squealed in surprise as she rolled to get out of the teen's way, lest she be crushed beneath him.

"Jeremy…!" Grace cried out, slightly annoyed at being disturbed so suddenly.

"This is a pretty big bed. Sometimes Grace and I share a smaller one back home; sharing one this big won't really be a problem, right Grace?" Jeremy turned his gaze to the Gardevoir who sat next to him on the bed.

Grace stared at the boy dumbly for a couple seconds before nodding, saying, "Yeah..! It's no problem at all; it'll be just like home, only you won't hog all of the covers, tehe!" she giggled while turning her approving gaze towards Jasmine. The girl easily interpreted the Gardevoir's gaze, though doubt still remained in her mind.

"A-are you sure? I could always give Professor Cypress a call and have him give you another room key," she suggested.

Jeremy shrugged his shoulders, indifferent to the idea. "I really don't want to hassle him right now; after all, I barely got one room key! How about Grace and I get settled in and we can deal with it tomorrow? Sharing a bed for one night won't kill us; like I said before, we've shared a twin sized bed back in Twinsport. A full size bed like this is much larger than either of us is used to," explained the boy.

Jasmine looked between the two people in front of her, unsure if she should push the issue. After a few seconds, the girl let out a sigh of defeat and nodded in agreement. "Okay, if you insist… I am really sorry about all of this," Jasmine frowned.

Grace waved her hand back and forth in a carefree fashion, dismissing the girl of any wrong doing. "It's fine! Don't worry!" she smiled. The girl couldn't help herself as the frown that dominated her features slowly morphed into a small smile at the Pokémon's cheerful disposition.

"*sigh*, if you guys insist…" Jasmine trailed off. Silence hung in the air for the briefest of moments, only to be broken by the brunette as she cleared her throat and asked, "So… you guys probably want to get settled in. I have to get back to work now but, um, I'll be free tonight if you, um… need anything."

"Tonight? I thought you'd want to go home after finishing up your shift?" Jeremy asked.

Jasmine's brow rose and her cheeks reddened as she fumbled to find the right words to say. "Er-well, yes, I usually do, but… I t-thought maybe you and Grace… Maybe we could grab a bite to eat or something? I-I figured you'll want to eat later, and you don't know where anything is yet… It's the least I could do, b-being a coworker and all…"

Grab dinner with Jasmine? That was an interesting idea; it'd be a great way to get to know his newest friend and coworker thought Jeremy. "You know, Grace and I didn't really have any plans to begin with; heck, like you said, we didn't even know where we were going to eat tonight, let alone how we'd get there. If you have any sort of idea, we'd be glad to go along with it," Jeremy chuckled.

The girl's face brightened as she heard the teen's response. "Really? You will? That's, um, great…! My shift is over at six o' clock. Do you want me to come back then?"

Six o' clock seemed like as good a time as any as far as Jeremy was concerned. "Yeah, that's fine. Grace and I should be fully unpacked by then. We'll just be hanging out until you show up," he said with a yawn. After catching his breath, Jeremy closed his eyes and fell back onto the bed, moaning, "Or maybe I'll just get some sleep… I'm so tired."

"Oh, you've had plenty of sleep!" Grace complained as she lightly whacked Jeremy on the head. The boy's eyes shot open as he cast an annoyed glance in the Pokémon's direction. "Don't give me that look, mister; besides, that's payback for making me scramble to get out of the way earlier."

Jeremy rolled his eyes at that comment. "Okay, mom," the boy droned sarcastically as he sat up. Turning his gaze towards Jasmine, it was clear any confusion she might have had was overshadowed by the obvious amusement the girl found in their interaction. She seemed to grow accustomed to their admittedly odd behavior rather quickly.

"You two are just like best friends…!" Jasmine cried with childlike joy. "I really hope we become good friends, especially you and I, Grace," the brunette said as she turned her attention to the elegant Pokémon. "Maybe we'll even be able to, um… talk by the time you go back home?"

The hope in Jasmine's voice was impossible to hide, and that made Grace happy. This girl was as transparent as a sheet of the purest glass, and that's just how Grace liked people; she truly wanted to get to know her. "I hope so too, Jasmine."

Jeremy felt the need to translate for Grace, but resisted the urge to do so. Despite the linguistically barrier that separated the two -human and Pokémon-, a clear line of communication had been established. To interrupt that line would not only be a rude, but also a mistake. If there's one thing Jeremy had learned over the years of watching Grace develop relationships with people, it was that you let it unfold naturally, lest he hinder any sort of development.

"I'll see you around six o' clock then. Have fun unpacking!" Jasmine said, her voice no longer carrying the nervousness that had so tightly clung to her since the three's meeting. She was a truly shy girl, but it seemed that once she got to know you, Jasmine's kind personality shone through.

Jeremy nodded in confirmation. "Sounds like a plan; have a good one, Jasmine." A brief wave bid farewell to his newest friend as she walked out of the opened doorway and closed the heavy wooden door behind her. A loud 'thump' filled the air as the door finished shutting, its automated locking mechanism closing. Jeremy was about to speak up when a loud sigh filled the air. Looking to his right, Jeremy barely caught the blur of Grace's mint green hair as she fell backwards onto the bed. A serene smile graced her soft lips, pure bliss overcoming her features.

"It feels so good to lie down on a bed after sitting in cramped trains and cars all days," Grace relayed her thoughts without moving a muscle in her petite body.

"Oh? You got just as much sleep as me; according to you, I've had enough," Jeremy asked as he raised an eyebrow. Grace's body remained motionless, save for the corners of her mouth which tugged upwards even further than before.

"Mhm… I did. As a woman, I need more rest than you, though," Grace reasoned with mirth evident in her voice. "Besides, I'm not the one who has a very large suitcase to unpack, am I?"

"Well played, Grace," Jeremy moaned as he turned his gaze to the overstuffed piece of luggage that held a large portion of his worldly possessions. Jumping to his feet, the boy walked over to his suitcase and grabbed one of the large handles sewed to the frame. He hefted the heavy piece of luggage onto the vacant area of the bed, causing the metal springs to creek at the sudden influx of weight. Grabbing one of the steel zippers, the boy opened the suitcase and began to unpack his things accordingly.

"So, what do you think so far?" Jeremy asked as he grabbed several t-shirts out of luggage and walked over to the room's solitary dresser. Opening the drawer, the teen found it empty save for a few mothballs, a somewhat odd item considering how new the facility was.

"I like it; everything here is so new to me. It's kind of like an adventure, hehe!" Grace couldn't help but audibly giggle at that thought. "Living in a land far away from home… it's like the beginning of story."

Jeremy let out an amused snort at the notion. "Is it now? I think you've been reading too many books," the boy chuckled as he moved away from the dresser and went back to grab round two of t-shirts. "But in all seriousness, I know where you're coming from. I think it's going to take a while before I get into the swing of things."

"Mmm, I think you're right. I'm just glad I'll get to do something. Things were always so boring when you were at school or work." Grace grimaced at the memories. "I do wonder what we're going to be doing though, but I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Maybe we'll even get to work with Jasmine?" the Gardevoir pondered; that was certainly an appealing idea!

"Yeah, maybe we will," Jeremy smiled as he began to rummage through his suitcase in an effort to find any more shirts to put into the dresser. "She seemed really shy; it's kind of hard to believe she used to battle competitively."

"I know…!" Grace exclaimed, expressing her shock. "You're right though; she really is shy but nice. I wonder what kind of trainer she was…?"

"I have no idea; we'll have to ask her," the teen stated as he continued to rummage through his suitcase. "But ya' know… if we're talking about the people here… what do you think of Professor Cypress? Disregarding the entire, 'can I study her' thing?"

For the first time in their entire conversation, Grace's eyes opened as her cherry red irises fell upon her companion. "He's a bit… eccentric, I suppose you could say," the Gardevoir carefully chose her words. "I'm sure he's a nice man -really; I just need to get used to him is all."

Jeremy let out a muted chuckle as he listened to Grace's constrained response. "Well said, Grace. 'Eccentric.'"

"Hey, don't make fun of me for being nice," Grace pouted as she rolled on her side and reached for one of the soft, feather pillows that were positioned at the head of the bed. The Pokémon pulled the pillow down to her crimson shard and hugged it slightly, enjoying the sensation of the cool, soft pillow against her chest.

"Oh, I'm not making fun of you," Jeremy smiled as he retrieved a few pair of socks from his luggage. "I'm just agreeing with you; 'eccentric' certainly is an appropriate word. I've got to say, you handled yourself well in there. If it were me, I would have gone off the handle."

The mental image of Jeremy in the shape of a Gardevoir wreaking havoc projected itself in Grace's mind, causing her to stifle a laugh; that'd certainly be an interesting, if not entertaining, sight to behold. "Well, it's not like that kind of thing hasn't happened before, well, you know what I mean," Grace shrugged. "He's a Pokémon researcher after all. I know how I live… I know that my life isn't normal; it's only natural that he'd be interested in me."

Jeremy raised an eyebrow, wondering what his friend meant by her previous statement. "Not normal? Come on, Grace… what's normal anyways? Sure, you might not battle like most Pokémon or live in the wild, but you're still a pretty normal girl."

To Jeremy's surprise and confusion, the Gardevoir laughed, albeit quietly, at his statement. "See, even you know deep down that I'm not normal. Even though I'm a Pokémon, you refer to me as a girl. I know not many trainers went through Twinsport, but I never heard one of them refer to their Pokémon as a boy or girl. Hehe, do you refer to Pikachu as a boy, or as a Pokémon?"

Darn, Grace had Jeremy checkmated.

"But," Grace continued, "I'm fine with things being like that. I've always been fine with things being the way they are; I suppose you don't realize how different it is until somebody points it out, huh?"

"I…" Jeremy was at a loss for words. It was true, he never thought twice about Grace's standing in his life. When he referred to her, it was never as a Pokémon, but as a girl, and in more recent times, a woman. Professor Cypress's eccentric attitude in regards to Grace's unique attributes had sort of rekindled some of the identity issues that surrounded Grace during her upbringing. It had for Jeremy at least; the Gardevoir in question seemed to be taking it all in stride.

"Well, I guess you're right… but, what we have works, right? Why fix what's not broken?" Jeremy asked as his eyes locked with those of the Gardevoir lying on the bed before him.

"Hmm, my thoughts exactly," Grace hummed as her head nodded slightly in approval. A soft smile formed on the Pokémon's lips as her gaze remained fixated upon the room's other occupant. "Thanks, Jeremy."

Thanks for what though? He hadn't complimented her or done anything of the like; to the contrary, Jeremy believed Grace had reason to be upset at him for making an issue out of a non-issue, so why did her thanks seem so natural? Why did it feel so right?

An ever better question, however, was who was Jeremy to question how something as simple as a 'Thanks' felt?

Deciding to go with what felt natural, Jeremy could only smile in return and offer a quiet acceptance of his friend's thanks. "You're welcome, Grace."

Never before had it felt so good to utter those words.

-=Amazing Grace=-

The time after Jasmine left went by relatively quickly for Jeremy and Grace. Jeremy had finished unpacking a short while after the brunette left, and Grace accidently slipped into a light sleep. It was difficult to avoid doing so on such a comfortable bed.

Jeremy had taken the liberty to set up his and Grace's laptops. The computer was one of the few possessions Grace owned, and one of the fewer still that she had packed. It was, essentially, her only way to communicate with her family and friends back in Twinsport. Unlike Jeremy, Grace didn't have the luxury of being able to use a telephone. Telepathy only worked over short distances, and not even the wonders of long-distance communication could change that.

The clock on the wall read about quarter after six. If Jasmine was supposed to get off work at six o' clock, it'd only be a matter of time until she returned. Jeremy and Grace had built up quite the appetite despite being mostly stationary; neither one could wait to get out and grab a bite to eat.

"What type of food are you in the mood for, Jeremy?" Grace asked as she played around on her laptop; the girl had woken from her little catnap about a half hour prior. She wasted no time writing home and letting them know all about her 'adventure' thus far. Of course, to save her parents some unneeded stress, the Gardevoir left out some of the more… unsavory details.

"Hmm… that's a good question," Jeremy stated as he looked up from his laptop screen. "I don't really want anything in particular. I was just going to go with whatever Jasmine suggested. Why? Do you have a taste for something?"

"Not really; I was just wondering."

As Grace finished her sentence, a series of knocks could be heard coming from the room's door. "Ah, that must be Jasmine," Jeremy stated as he sat up and moved towards the door. Twisting the handle, the boy opened the door to reveal the petite girl he and Grace had met earlier that day. She wore the same clothes as before and, despite just finishing a day of hard work, looked as cheerful and lively as ever. As cheerful and lively somebody as shy as Jasmine could be anyways.

"Ah, good to see you again, Jeremy," Jasmine smiled. "Did you get everything unpacked?"

"Good to see you as well, Jasmine. I just finished unpacking not too long ago," Jeremy answered. Taking a step back, the boy made a sweeping gesture with his arm, stating, "You can come in if you'd like."

The girl accepted the offer and stepped inside the small room. "So, are you two hungry?"

"Very much so!" Grace exclaimed as she shut her laptop's screen and eagerly nodded her head. Jasmine giggled at Grace's response; even without telepathy, the Gardevoir's answer was clear.

"Excellent! If, um, you guys are ready, we can head out," Jasmine suggested.

"Yeah, let me just get my shoes on and we can go," Walking over to the room's solitary chair, Jeremy sat down and grabbed his shoes. "So, any idea on where we're going?" he asked as he began to slip the footwear on.

"Not really," Jasmine replied. "I figured we could drive down to the main metropolitan area and go from there. Er… is that okay with you?"

Jeremy let out a quick, "Yep" as he finished tying his shoes. He stood up and made his way towards the doorway. Grace was immediately behind the teen, her hunger evident by the short, deep growl her stomach made. Jeremy looked behind him and chuckled at the noise, saying, "You think you'll be able to make it another half hour or so?"

Grace rolled her eyes before lightly tapping the back of his head in a playful manner. "You're lucky Jasmine is here or else I would have hit you harder."

Jeremy suppressed a laugh at the Gardevoir's word. "Well, count me lucky then," the boy smirked. Looking back to the other girl in the room, the teen said, "Well, lead the way. We're the out-of-towners here, haha."

"Okay, but as long as you two behave," Jasmine giggled. Somehow, the warning seemed to be anything but threatening when paired with laughter.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about me…" Grace trailed off as she gave Jeremy a slight physic push; oh how she savored all of the great uses of her abilities. Jeremy did nothing short of giving the Gardevoir a playful, knowing glance.

The trio made their way to the housing compound's parking lot and climbed into Jasmine's sedan; within a few minutes, they were on their way to Goldenrod's restaurant district located within the main metropolitan area. Jeremy had plenty of questions for the girl to occupy the time their travels took, and was all too eager to ask them.

"So, what did you do when you went back to work?" Jeremy asked as Jasmine mindlessly drove through one of the few, lonely road that fanned out from the center of the sanctuary and towards civilization.

"Not a whole lot, really," Jasmine answered. "I went back to the desert bio dome and did some follow up checks on the Donphan who was sick."

"Really? What exactly did that entail?" the teen couldn't help but wonder.

Jasmine shrugged, saying, "Mainly getting blood samples and recording its vitals. I took the blood samples to the labs where they test it for any abnormalities. We'll do that for another three days or so. If the treatment worked, the Donphan will be released back into the general population until it's deemed ready for the wild or is chosen for a trainer to adopt." Pausing to take a breath, the girl continued while smiling, "In case you couldn't guess, Donphans don't usually fall into the 'family adoption' category, hehe!"

"Hah, I could imagine not!" Jeremy chuckled. "Now, do you actually do any of the lab work yourself…?"

"No, we have lab techs who deal with that. Truth be told, I probably couldn't even use half of the equipment in the labs," she answered sheepishly.

"It seems like this place functions by having a lot of people be really good at a few things. It's kind of like a giant clock; everybody is working together to make the hands go around," Grace observed. Unlike before, Jeremy felt the need to relay his friend's statement.

"Grace said she noticed that this place is like clockwork, that is to say everyone has something that they're good at and that's all they do. Are there any jack-of-all-trades here?" the boy asked. Thinking back, the multiple times in the past Jeremy had asked people from the Sanctuary what he'd be doing during his stay there, everybody told him he'd find his niche and go from there; it did make sense to operate like that, all thing considered.

Jasmine was quick to answer, saying, "There are a few people who can do everything, but for the most part people chose one discipline and stick with it. Professor Cypress is one of those people who can do everything, but that's kind of required given his position."

Jeremy could only imagine how true that statement was. Being the Pokémon Professor responsible for such a facility must have been taxing to say the least. The teen couldn't help but wonder if Professor Oak's decision to remain in Kanto had anything to do with the nature of the sanctuary and the responsibility of the complex's lead professor? While the older man was undoubtedly the leader in Pokémon research, he was just that, old. Perhaps the elderly professor was content to live in the relatively undeveloped Pallet Town observing nature and studying Pokémon in that manner instead of in the confines of artificial environments.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking, could you tell me a bit more about yourself and Grace? I'm kind of curious how you met," Jasmine asked, catching the attention of Jeremy's wondering mind.

"Oh, sure; that'd be no problem," the boy responded. "It's a long story though; sure you want to hear it?"

Jasmine let out a light-hearted laugh and nodded her head. "Definitely; I'm really curious how you two encountered one another."

"Well alright then, I suppose I can do that," Jeremy said with a broad smile. "I met Grace when I was six years old. I was playing in the woods by myself during summer vacation when I heard crying and yelling; being the kid I was, I had to find out who was making such a ruckus out in the middle of nowhere."

"Don't make me sound so helpless! You'd have called out for help the same way," Grace grumbled in the backseat even though she knew his words were spot-on.

Ignoring his friend's annoyed retort, the teen continued by saying, "So, I climbed up this hill and found a Pokémon I had never seen before being attacked by the biggest wild Rattata in all of Johto, or at least that's what I claim; truthfully, I don't know how it hadn't evolved into a Raticate yet… Anyways, In case you couldn't guess, that Pokémon, the one who was being attacked, was Grace; she was still a Ralts at that time."

"So what did you do?" Jasmine asked; it was almost as if she knew the answer, but wanted to hear it from Jeremy lest she sound like a fool.

"I ran down the hill and attacked the Rattata," Jeremy said with a hint of embarrassment.

"T-that's dangerous!" the girl gasped. Jeremy scratched the back of his head as he grinned sheepishly, knowing full well how correct the girl was.

"Yeah, I know. I mean, I knew that when I attacked it; I just couldn't let it kill Grace. I guess you act differently when something's life is on the line."

"Wow… so, did you manage to defeat it or scare it away?" Jasmine asked; after all, he obviously survived the ordeal. How he survived was another matter.

"Oh man, not a chance…! I got my ass kicked by that thing!" Jeremy let out a hearty laugh. He held out his left arm, showcasing his stretched out bite scar. "I still have the scar to prove I took on a Rattata. It was a cooler story when I was six, though. As for why it didn't stick around and, well, kill me, I think it just decided Grace and I weren't worth its time after I wacked it with a big stick."

"That I gave you."

Jasmine looked at Jeremy incredulously for several seconds before shifting her gaze back towards the road. "Oh my goodness, what happened next?"

"I bandaged up Grace and myself the best I could with what I had before trying to make my way back home. You may not know this, but towns that border the Southern Sea sometimes get unexpected, violent thunderstorms that roll in from the ocean. As it just so happens, one of those storms rolled in just as I was trying to get back," Jeremy grimaced at the memory. Even now, he felt hopelessness well up inside of him. "It started to pour; I thought both of us were going to die out there…"

"Me too…" Grace shivered as she closed her eyes, reflecting on the vivid memory. She too could easily recall the terror that permeated her young mind all those years ago.

"Just when I was about to give up and lie down, I found a dry cave. Grace and I used it for shelter. The police found the two of us the next day shivering and bleeding, but alive. The first thing I wanted to do after waking up in the hospital was see Grace; that's when I learned what she was. After some convincing from the nurse who took care of her, my parents decided to adopt Grace as a pet Pokémon, although six-year-old me was convinced she was more than just a pet. She was going to be my best friend." Jeremy chuckled lightly as he rolled his head back to look up at the car's ceiling. "Heh, I had no idea I would eventually get what I wished for. Anyways, the very hour we brought her home, she destroyed our kitchen with her psychic powers. It was a fantastic start to her stay at the Benper residence, haha."

"Hey! Tell the whole story!" Grace shouted from the back, her mannerisms making it clear to the Jasmine that Jeremy might be skipping some details. The boy smirked as he rolled his eyes, clearly amused by his companion's behavior.

"I might have given her some ice cream," Jeremy admitted while absentmindedly rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Turns out bad things happen when a physic Pokémon gets an ice cream headache."

Jasmine couldn't hold in her laughter as Jeremy finished his tale of their first, fateful encounter. "Oh goodness, that's certainly a unique way to meet somebody…!" the girl giggled loudly.

"I'll say," Grace commented with a roll of her eyes.

Jeremy mirrored the Pokémon's action and smiled a goofy, lopsided grin. "Oh, smile! Everything turned out okay!" he cheered. "Both of us made a full recovery and I had a great story to tell my friend's when they came back from vacation."

Grace sighed, although it wasn't out of frustration. She was content. Oh how she loved this, being around Jeremy that is. While he had occasional bad days, the Gardevoir could almost always count on him to make her feel happy, or at the very least, at peace. Sometimes he made her happy by surprising her with a gift, yet other times, such as right now, his personality and demeanor more than sufficed.

For Grace, the rest of the trip to Goldenrod's metropolitan area passed in silence. Jeremy and Jasmine chattered idly in the front seat about mundane things such as the weather in the region or upcoming events. She didn't mind that she was excluded from the conversation, however; right now, she was more than content to enjoy the scenic view of Goldenrod's majestic skyline and the fiery red sun that slowly set upon the horizon.

It hadn't taken long before the trio decided upon where they would dine. At Jasmine's suggestion, they had settled for a quaint little diner nestled between two tall buildings not far into town; apparently, it was a local establishment that had some incredibly good food for not too much money. A bright, yellow neon sign shaped in the form of the word, "Phil's" glowed in the cool, twilight air above the building.

The sizzling of hamburgers and other food on the cast-iron griddles behind the counter could be heard immediately upon entering the restaurant. The aroma of fried foods and spices hung in the air, acting as a constant temptation for those near the building to grab a bite to eat. After taking their seats, a waitress approached the three, gave them glasses of water and menus -one for Grace at Jeremy's request- then walked away.

"Phil's has some really, really good food. They're known for their, um, comfort food," Jasmine said with a sheepish smile as she opened her menu. Ah yes, comfort food. That was nicer and easier to say than 'disgustingly unhealthy but delicious, filling food'.

"I'm down for some of that," Jeremy grinned as he too opened his menu and began to read the contents. Grace did the same, albeit in silence.

Like Jasmine had said, a large part of the diner's food consisted of what one would consider to be comfort food, although there were a few diamonds in the rough for those concerned with their health such as salads and grilled meat dishes. Barring those few exceptions, however, there was a good chance the food was deep fried or cooked in a sizzling puddle of its own fat; burgers and fries, home style meals, a myriad of different sandwiches: Phil's had it all. The mere thought of a big, juicy burger served with several traditional sides was enough to make Jeremy's mouth salivate in anticipation.

"Any suggestion on what to get?" he asked the girl sitting across from him.

Jasmine tore her eyes away from the menu to look at Jeremy, saying, "That's a hard one… It really depends on what you like. Most of the time, I'll get a club sandwich, but if I'm in the mood, I'll get one of their burger dishes or a salad."

"Hmm… a cheeseburger and fries does sound good right now," Grace mused to herself as her cherry red eyes danced over the menu.

"Mhm, I'm thinking the same thing." Jeremy reached out and grabbed his glass of water, bringing it to his lips and taking a sip of the ice cold liquid.

"And what would that be…?" Jasmine asked.

"Ah, sorry. Grace and I are each thinking a burger sounds pretty tasty right now. It's really been a long time since I've had one." Usually, Jeremy downed many, many burgers during the summer months, but this year had been an exception. Just like how he had neglected to visit the beach during the summer, he had also neglected many of the restaurants and food stands that sold summer-like food during tourist season.

"That's not a bad choice at all. Phil's burgers are really popular; one time, a television host to some food show visited to do a segment on them." Jeremy brow rose, surprised, as he heard that.

"Is that so? Well, I think you've just raised my expectations, Jasmine," Jeremy smirked as he closed his menu, his decision made. The Gardevoir seated next to him mirrored the boy's actions and placed her menu on top of his.

"I'm getting the sliders. What about you?" Grace asked as her companion took another small sip of his water.

"I'm getting the bacon-cheeseburger; it sounds really good right now, not to mention the steak fries and coleslaw that come with it." The way Jeremy spoke made it obvious to Jasmine that he was directing his comments to Grace. Being with Jeremy was almost like being around somebody talking on their cell phone via a headset, only the person on the other side of the line was a mere arms length away.

While she wouldn't say so in front of her two new friends, Jasmine found Grace to be nothing short of an absolute curiosity.

She was undoubtedly Pokémon, that much was certain. Grace had attributes no human could ever dream of obtaining. Her appearance and powers was a clear indication that she wasn't like those around her, that she wasn't human, yet why was it so easy to forget that? Her interaction with Jeremy was unlike anything she'd witnessed between human and Pokémon. No, their behavior regarding one-another went beyond interaction. They were communicatingon a level normally reserved for beings of the same species.

While she might not have shared Professor Cyprus's eccentric personality, Jasmine did share his bewilderment in Grace's uncanny ability to communicate with humans who had bonded with her. Admittedly, the girl also wanted to know more about the Gardevoir sitting on the other side of the table, although her reasons were undoubtedly different from Professor Cyprus's. She didn't care about Grace's 'neural patterns' or what made her 'tick'. Jasmine was interested in Grace on a more personal level.

No matter how long it took, Jasmine swore to herself that she too would one day communicate with Grace just like how Jeremy did. Tonight would be the start of their friendship, hopefully a friendship that would last a lifetime.

-=Amazing Grace=-

"That was so good…! I'm glad Jasmine invited us out to eat," Grace exclaimed as she stepped out of Jasmine's light-blue sedan. Jeremy was quick to follow in suit and stepped out of the car's front, passenger-side door. The trio had eaten dinner and talked for a couple of hours before heading back to the dormitories. Overall, it had been a great night and a welcoming experience for Jeremy and Grace. Jasmine's friendly, albeit shy, personality really shone through as they got to know one-another over some good food. Most of the conversations involved Jeremy sharing stories revolving around he and Grace at Jasmine's request; she seemed quite interested in the way Grace had grown up, although she never dared overstepped her bounds with any kind of deeply personal questions.

"Yeah, it really was good; thanks for inviting us out, Jasmine," Jeremy said as he turned around to look at their host through the open doorway.

The girl's mouth tightened into a small, sincere smile as she nodded her head in contentment. "I'm glad you decided to come with me. It's been a while since I've had dinner with friends." After Jasmine had finished speaking, Grace closed her door and moved to stand next to Jeremy, listening in silence to the exchange that took place between the two humans.

"Well, if you ever want to do something like that again, just drop by after work. Judging from what I saw tonight, we have a lot of restaurants to hit in the next few months."

Jasmine's smile grew larger as Jeremy spoke, clearly indicating her agreement. "I guess we'll have to do this frequently then. You'll be seeing me around, that's a promise!"

"Hah, okay, that sounds great. Be warned though, I hold people to their promises just as much as I keep my own," the teen smiled a toothy grin as he too closed his door. He could hear the motors in the door begin to whine and moan as Jasmine began to roll down the power window.

"I'm the same, way," Jasmine giggled, responding through the rolled down window. "How about we meet up tomorrow after work? I can show you guys around the city if you want."

Grace nodded her head in agreement to that idea, silently yet visibly showing her approval. Jasmine clearly understood the Gardevoir's answer and gave a sharp nod in response.

"Okay, it's a deal. I'll see you two tomorrow. I'll drop by around the same time."

"That sounds great. Thanks for a great night, Jasmine; we'll see you tomorrow then!" Jeremy exclaimed as he took a step back from the car and gave a brief, friendly wave of goodbye. Grace did the same, a bright smile upon her face. The light-blue sedan slowly accelerated away, offering a final farewell in the form of quick honking of its horn. Jeremy watched as the taillights of the car grew smaller as the vehicle drove away, disappearing completely as it rounded a corner several buildings away.

"That was quite the evening, wasn't it?" Grace sighed contently as stretched her arms. "I haven't had such good food in a long time."

"Oh really? I'm telling mom," Jeremy jested as he poked the side of her stomach, causing the Gardevoir to cry out in surprise.

"Oh, you know what I mean," she shot back with a playful glance. Without warning, Grace's mouth opened wide as a yawn escaped, causing her joyful, cherry red eyes to water slightly. Jeremy's brow rose as he watched his friend yawn, suddenly feeling the urge to yawn himself.

"Tired, are ya'?" he asked while suppressing his own yawn.

Grace nodded, not even bothering to deny the assumption. "It's already past nine o' clock; I didn't think we'd be out for over three hours," she pointed out. "I know it's a bit early, but the travel made me tired for some reason."

Jeremy knew what she meant. Truth be told, the boy was feeling quite tired himself, and he hadn't even taken a nap! "Travel will do that to you. How about we head upstairs and get to bed then? I want to be well-rested for whatever comes tomorrow."

"Mmm, sounds like a plan," Grace agreed with weary eyes and a small hum.

The duo entered the building with a swipe of Jeremy's ID card. After making the brief trip from the lobby to their second story residence, the two entered their dark room and switched on the light before closing and locking the door behind them. The soft, yellow glow of the incandescent bulb lit the room fairly well considering its size.

"Can you get the bed ready? I'm going to get changed," Jeremy stated as he opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of gym shorts and an old t-shirt, the two pieces of apparel that passed as his pajamas. Grace replied with a brief, 'Sure thing' as the boy made his way to the small bathroom. Stripping out of his jeans, shirt, and sock, the teen quickly changed into his sleepwear. Looking around, Jeremy silently mumbled to himself, "I'll have to get a laundry basket or something… Maybe I'll do that tomorrow when we're in town if Jasmine doesn't mind."

His business finished, Jeremy opened the door and walked back into the main room with his dirty clothes wadded up beneath his left arm. Grace looked up and noticed the clothing, a curious expression on her face.

"I have to pick up a few things tomorrow, as long as Jasmine is okay with it. Most notably, I need a laundry basket," Jeremy explained as he knelt next to his now-empty suitcase. While not ideal, the bag could serve as a temporary laundry basket.

"I'm sure she'll be fine with it," Grace said absentmindedly as she stepped towards the bathroom. It almost seemed as if something was bothering her; strange, she seemed fine just moments before...? Pushing such thoughts aside for the time being, Jeremy finished putting away his used clothing and walked back to the open bathroom door. Inside, he saw Grace standing in front of the sink performing her nightly rituals. In reality, that just meant she was brushing her teeth. "I'm glad you unpacked earlier, because I sure don't feel like doing it now." The comment felt forced, as though she was trying to retain a sense of normalcy. Something was definitely off, although the boy wasn't certain about what it was.

"Move aside, there's room for two," Jeremy forced a smirk as he reached for his toothbrush that sat atop the bathroom sink's counter top; it was packed away inside a blue, plastic travel tube. Opening the tube up, the teen slid his toothbrush out and put a bead of toothpaste on the bristles.

As he brushed away, Grace couldn't help but talk; this was one of the only times she could do so without him talking back, although it wasn't as though she generally wished that to be the case. There was a subtle sense of uneasiness as she spoke, "It's kind of weird, isn't it? Just the two of us… Usually we get to say goodnight to everybody. You know... Mom, Dad... Claire and David. I bet even Pikachu is hanging around the house more now that it's fall."

Jeremy nodded his head. The thought had crossed his mind. After living in such a close-knit family for nearly two decades, it was strange to be apart from them. A normal night involved him visiting his parent's room to say goodnight, or at least calling out goodnight from the hallway as he passed by. Then he'd hang out with his brother or his sister would beckon him to watch some silly 'Meowth video' on her laptop, a craze that had swept the internet. Tonight though, there was just silence. It was… eerie to say the least.

"But… we'll get used to it. Right…? W-We'll get used to being... alone... right?"

Suddenly, everything clicked.

Jeremy knew where this was going; he could feel the trepidation building within Grace. During the day, thoughts of being away from home were far and few between; it was almost like taking a day-trip to Azalea town or something. The scenery changed, but they were still close to home. Now that night had fallen and they were preparing to go to bed, the realization of just what they'd gotten themselves into began to sink in. It was no longer like earlier when they were so casually discussing their future here; the reality of the situation felt like a weight had been placed upon their backs.

This wasn't a day trip, or even a weekend away from home. The two Benpers were alone hundreds of miles away from their friendly hometown and any sense of normalcy that accompanied it. More importantly, however, they were away from their family.

For Grace, this was borderline traumatic. She loved her family, more than anybody could realize. She was connected with them on a level more intimate than any human could ever achieve; she shared her thoughts, her unbridled emotions, with them. There was no hiding anything while in the presence of her family, for she lacked the ability to do so. It was an open, loving environment. To suddenly have their presence ripped away was like being torn away from your life source, and for Grace, this was terrifying.

All of this was leading to an unfortunate and terrible eventuality; one of Grace's emotional episodes.

A petrifying silence fell over the room as the two occupants began to dwell on the notion of what they had gotten themselves into. Jeremy could tell Grace was withholding the growing emotional storm brewing within her mind, an impossibility. As hard as she tried to suppress it, Grace couldn't truly hide her feelings. It remained quiet despite the brewing storm of emotions as Grace and Jeremy finished brushing their teeth and getting ready for bed. Grace turned to face the exit of the small bathroom and was about to leave when a strong, albeit soft, hand landed on her shoulder and gripped it gently. The Gardevoir turned her head, silent surprise showing on her face as she stared at Jeremy.

"I'm scared too. Really, I mean… this is the most terrifying thing I think I've ever done. I'm away from home -in a distant mega city no less- about to start a new job that I have no idea if I'm qualified for or not," Jeremy said with a grim expression. He felt a pang of fear spread through his body, but it was not his own. His heart began to race as Grace's anxiety mixed with his, causing his body to ache and his head to spin. Sighing, the boy continued by saying, "But… I'm not alone. You're here, Grace. I know I wouldn't be able to do this without help, and you're the best help I could possibly ask for. So, while we're both terrified out of our wits, let's be terrified together, as a team."

Grace turned her body to completely face her friend. Her expression was unreadable. Was she scared? Sad? Angry? Perhaps… a little happy?

In an instant, Grace's arms shot out and grabbed her companion by the shoulders. Before Jeremy could register what was going on, he found himself in the tight embrace of the Gardevoir. The crimson shard that jutted out from between her two, small breast dug into his chest, but he didn't mind; it was burning up, as though she was feverish. Slowly, Jeremy reached up and returned the hug, his hands coming to rest on the small of her back.

"I… I…!" Grace stuttered through muted sobs. "I don't know what to do...!" The Gardevoir's body shuddered violently as she suppressed a sob. "This is real… M-mom and dad aren't here. David and Claire… we're all alone. I can't feel anybody here; it's so empty…!"

Jeremy's hand slowly began to move up and down the crying Pokémon's back in an effort to console her. While he couldn't pretend to know how she felt, he could attempt to alleviate her pain. "I know… I mean, I don't fully know, but I understand. I miss them too. But no matter what, I'll still be here."

"Do you promise?"

The words came out so quickly, Jeremy nearly missed them. Grace reeled back and stared intensely into his eyes, her wet, cherry red eyes locking with his blue ones. They were desperate, as though she were waiting for the most important answer of her life.

Jeremy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and nodded his head. "I promise, no matter what, I'll be here with you."

Grace's facial expression remained set in stone as her intense stare continued to chip away at the boy's nerves. After what seemed like hours, the Gardevoir's eyes softened as she too let out a breath. "You… promise?"

For the first time since their conversation started, Jeremy's dry lips tugged upwards into a smile as he nodded his head. "I promise. And you know me when I make a promise…" he trailed off, wanting to hear his friend complete the sentence.

"You… you keep it."

Jeremy's smile grew ever so slightly as he gave a nod of confirmation. "I keep it." The boy slowly let his left arm fall from Grace's back as his right hand moved to grip her hand. She let out a slight gasp of surprise and he gently squeezed her delicate fingers. The boy's smile remained as he said, "Let's get to bed; we're going to have a long day tomorrow."

Like leading a frightened child to bed, Jeremy guided Grace over to the mattress and let her crawl beneath the sheets. Once the Gardevoir was comfortable, he walked to the opposite side of the bed and did the same. He heard a deep sigh escape the Pokemon's lip as she began to fully relax.

Emotional episodes were always a difficult thing for Grace to deal with. They often came out of nowhere, she couldn't control herself when they happened, and they lasted for what seemed like days when in reality it was mere minutes. That was one of the most significant differences between Grace and her loved ones. No matter how 'human' she acted, no matter how much she fit into society, she was still a Pokémon. In her case, she was a Pokémon with an unparallel connection to emotions. Admittedly, at times she hated it.

The reason was simple; she caused pain to those around her.

While Jeremy would never admit it, Grace knew he felt her fear on a level far beyond what others felt. She knew his heart rate would elevate during episodes; she could hear his breathing become shallow as her emotions mingled with his, corrupting his mind. She caused the ones she loved most so much pain and suffering, and yet they still chose to remain by her side.

"Grace."

The word snapped the wandering Pokémon's mind back into reality. She turned her head to look at the source of the voice, her best friend, the one who promised to always be by her side, Jeremy. He had turned off the light as her mind was wandering, leaving only the lights of the facility outside that filtered through the blinds to light the room. The boy lay on his back, motionless, as he stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling.

"I'm not going to tell you not to worry; there are a lot of reasons to be worried. If we tackle this together though, we'll make it through. So get some sleep, and we'll take the first step together tomorrow morning. Sound good?"

A wave of relief washed over Grace, like all of her pain and doubt had been washed away by a cleansing wave. Jeremy's voice was so reassuring, so calming. Why was that? Was it his tone? Was it the unseen smile that accompanied his voice? Or was it simply because what he said was true?

They could tackle whatever challenges lay ahead of them, and they would do it together.

Without thinking, Grace rolled over and wrapped her arms around the boy next to her, pulling him tightly into her embrace. She could hear his shocked gasp as her leg wrapped around his, feel surprise course through him like a lightning bolt. That didn't matter though; this felt right, and she wasn't about to let go. She needed to be close... to have somebody fill the void left by her absent family.

They stayed that way for several moments before Jeremy gently placed his hand atop hers. His voice was a mere whisper as he spoke, "We'll do this together… goodnight, Grace."

Jeremy and Grace feel into a deep sleep, locked in a comforting embrace. Jeremy's words couldn't have been truer. No doubt, trials beyond their wildest dreams awaited the duo, but as long as they had each other, they would prevail.

Of that, they were certain.

And so, things have come full circle. :)

Hey everybody! Sorry about the four month delay. A whole bunch of things have been going on between now and my previous update. A few highlights involve a two week trip to the other side of my country, a trip to E3, a couple games I've spent too much time on, and I finally got a job as a 3d artist in the game industry. Some, if not all, of those things might be related. ;)

So, I bet some of you noticed that scary little mark up in the summary. You see, I've never got to use that mark before today, but now that I've used it, it feels so, so good. I'm talking about, of course, the 'Completed' mark. Yes, that's not a mistake. 'Amazing Grace' is completed. Does that mean I'm done with Jeremy, Grace, and everybody else? Well, yes.

Just kidding. Absolutely not.

I've said multiple times that this story is just the prologue to something greater. I've hinted at things, dropped false hints elsewhere, and now it's time for me to act on those hints and promises. Going forward, I want there to be more adventure and less slice-of-life stuff. I actually had penned out the entire restaurant scene of this chapter, but you know what? I was bored of it. It was unnecessary, nothing significant happened during it, and it dragged out the chapter, so I cut it (it was around 4k words). This split in my story/saga is happening for a variety of reasons; the largest reason is I don't want to lose readers who want a certain type of genre. While Amazing Grace is undoubtedly Family/Friendship, the next entry in my series is going to be Romance/Adventure. I want to give readers the option to avoid reading 100k of a genre they don't care for. They'll be missing out on a LOT of stuff, but they'll be able to get by.

Oh yes, speaking of dragging out chapters...

I want to apologize for the last chapter. I made it really wordy, and it was because of my own selfish reasons. I knew I only had one chapter left, and I've been aiming for the 100k word mark. In order to make sure I made it, I really went in-detail last chapter. I apologize if that hindered any of my readers. I also want to note that save for this author's note, one in chapter six, and the one in chapter one, I've gone back through my story and deleted all of my large author's notes in order to get a more accurate word count. On that note, I've finally defeated the word filter! This is my first 100K+ story! :D

The final thing I wanted to say is that I hope you understand Grace's behavior. I've been trying to stress that no matter how human she may act, she is still a Pokemon, a Gardevoir non-the-less. She's part of a species that is fueled by and heavily influenced by emotion. While I don't want to compare Grace to a child, the way she handles emotion is much differently than most human adults. We learn as we grow to suppress emotion as a show of strength or because of social norms. As a child, however, think about how we acted. I recall my sister calling home from school trips as a young teenager nearly crying because she missed her family; Grace, being a Gardevoir, is even more susceptible to these kinds of emotions.

Grace being a Pokemon and not a human is going to be a very prevalent topic in my next story. View the end of this chapter/story however you like, but know it wasn't some magic breaking point/revelation in their relationship. That scene just portrays Grace being emotional. It's still a powerful and important point in their relationship however, just not how some would like it to be (you know who you are). ;) For what it's worth, I hope you guys like the chapter name at least; it got its name after the final scene. :)

As always, I appreciate any and all feedback. Just because the story is done doesn't mean I'm done writing! There will be more Jeremy and Grace in the future!

Thank you all one last time for your support, and I hope to see you soon!

God bless!

-Write by Faith-