Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Life is Full of Little Surprises ❯ The Calm before the Storm ( Chapter 12 )

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Life's Full of Little Surprises

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Disclaimer:

Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, Team Rocket, Persian, and all the other 250 Pokemon do not belong to me. They belong to 4Kids, etc. Please do not sue me you will have better luck trying to get water from a dry well. The base story is property of Jaelle and Orla I asked before posting it. ^_^

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Chapter 12: The Calm before the Storm

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The weeks flew by it was now early September. Brock and Joy would be in town sometime today and Ash couldn't wait. They had so much to catch up on and do…he was also fairly certain May would be making a move soon. Ash bounded out of bed early, since it was hot he dressed in shorts and a polo shirt. The morning sickness or as Ash found out it was more like all day sickness was subsiding but as a precaution he kept a thermos full of the doctor's tea near the bed. It really didn't seem like four weeks since he started getting sick.

Ash still had a hard time believing that he would be a dad in a matter of seven months. Though one look at his sleeping wife quickly took all doubt from his mind. *Its so amazing…she looks so peaceful sleeping there. She's never looked so beautiful.* He lay down next to her and wrapped his arms around her resting his hands on her stomach trying to see if he could get any indication of the life forming beneath his fingertips.

The sensation of someone hugging her from behind wasn't a new one since as the morning sickness subsided Ash woke her up every morning for the past week this way. He seemed obsessed with putting his hands on her stomach. The problem with that was raging hormones made her extremely sensitive and the weight gain wasn't helping. The vitamins the doctor gave her helped her from falling asleep during the day but the occasional mood swing would constantly throw those around her off balance. She started crying during a match and she didn't know why needless to say her opponent was baffled and Ash had to take over. *ARGH! He's doing it again. I wish he wouldn't be so attentive, I know I'm putting on weight. Is he upset over this whole thing…what if…* She started to cry

“Misty? What's wrong? Did I do something wrong? Look at me.” Ash worriedly turned her around to face him when she started whimpering. He gently wiped the few tears that had escaped from her face.

*What's he doing? Maybe I should open my eyes and look.*

Here eyes slowly opened, teary cerulean meeting worried dark brown. The tears instantly stopped.

*Ash….*

He leaned in and gently kissed her erasing all the doubt that built up in her heart for no reason.

Misty sighed *I'll be glad when the mood swings stop…this is getting out of hand.*

Ash moved away and whispered, “Are you okay?”

She looked deep in to his eyes almost drowning in the brown depths, “Yah, it was just another mood swing.”

“Oh…okay.” He didn't look too convinced.

She pulled away and got off the bed and went to the bathroom to change.

Ash made the bed then went to make breakfast.

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They quickly ate breakfast then went to the gym to get ready. Ash went straight to the office with the latest league report. Luckily most of the paperwork was done. The beginning of a gym is always the hardest. They both noticed that as time went on the paperwork got less and less as long as they kept on top of it. Now all battles had both of them there to support each other instead of one battling with the other stuck in the office.

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“Ash!”

“Huh?” Ash looked up from the gym leader report he was reading only to stutter in surprise. “M…M…Misty?”

She stood in the doorway wearing only her swimsuit smiling. “I'm going for a swim before we open. The doctor suggested I go swimming everyday for exercise. Do you want to join me?” She looked at his still gaping mouth and blushed at the way he looked at her.

“When did you get that swimsuit? Ummm...” Ash gulped audibly.

She frowned, “What do you mean? This is the same suit I've always had.” *I wonder why he's looking at me like that. I know I should probably get a new suit since this one is getting a bit tight in some areas.* Her hands drifted self-consciously to her middle.

*Great now she'll think I'm being weird. How could I possibly tell her that the baby is causing certain changes to her body that…* Ash gulped again and turned as red as the bottom of an Electrode. *Great if I say anything I'll defiantly get bashed….especially with those mood swings. But I had better answer quickly.* He struggled to regain his composure moving his gaze to the wall next to her.

“Well?”

Ash smiled, “Sure, I'll be right down.”

Misty smiled again, “I'll see you downstairs I was going to train with Gabby for a little bit.” With that said she left Ash to change into his swim trunks.

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Misty swam around enjoying the empty pool for a little while before releasing all her pokemon. Psyduck sputtered and floundered around for a bit before finding its way out of the pool. Misty just shook her head she really didn't know what to do with that duck.

Gabby had fun in the deeper part of the pool. He understood that Misty and “Him” were mates and that he shouldn't do anything to him. Actually now that he thought about it “He” wasn't that bad. He had a lot of respect for his master's mate since he hadn't done anything to hurt her yet. But once “He” did “He” would have a lot more to do to gain the trust that master spent all this time building up.

“Gabby!”

“Gya!” (Yes!) The water dragon swam to his master.

“Tackle Psyduck's head.” *Let's see if we can knock some sense into Psyduck. Maybe if it gets a headache…*

Gabby executed Misty's order hitting Psyduck's head straight on. Psyduck just sat there dazed for a few seconds then started running around holding its head.

“Psyduck! What am I supposed to do with you?” Misty sighed “Gabby hit him again…maybe it will do something to toughen him up.

Gabby hit the duck again though this time he had a harder time since the target of the attack wouldn't sit still. Psyduck took the second hit and ran around some more. “Psy yai yai!” It screamed out holding its throbbing head even more.

*Well at least I know Psyduck is at a high enough level to take two hits from Gabby. Maybe now it will be able to use confusion.* “Psyduck use confusion!”

Psyduck stopped running and attempted to think around its headache. *Master….is….training…*

Misty started getting irritated with how long it took for Psyduck to follow through with the command. “Gabby, hit him again.”

But before Gabby could execute the third attack Psyduck's eyes started glowing blue and the Water dragon was frozen in place. An odd blue aura surrounded the little yellow duck then a powerful confusion attack followed hitting its mark. Gabby flew back into the deep end of the pool…it lost the match.

Misty got out of the pool and looked to where Gabby was sinking. “Gabby return, you put up a good fight but I guess Psyduck is getting better.”

Psyduck started to glow again.

Misty stared in wonder as Psyduck evolved into Golduck. She heard someone's laugh echo through out the water area.

Ash stood there clapping and laughing at the no longer confused duck pokemon. “I had a feeling it would only take one more win.” He walked over and examined Golduck carefully.

Misty joined him giving Golduck a hug. “Thank you for evolving Golduck.”

“Gol?” (Huh?) It hugged its master back.

Ash looked into Golduck's eyes, “It's the same old Psyduck only with a bit more sense. Now its Psychic attacks will work with out the headache on both of your parts.” He laughed some more.

Misty scowled, “I know what your implying Ash Ketchum.”

Ash backed off making calming gestures with his hands. “I didn't mean it that way. How about we get Gabby patched up then go for that swim.”

Misty's expression softened “Okay, but no more laughing at my pokemon.”

“Deal!”

They went to the supply room to pick up a revive potion then released Gabby in the shallow end of the pool where Ash administered it since he wasn't sure if he would thrash about and he didn't want her to get hurt. The water dragon looked a bit better but wouldn't do any more battling today. They would take him to Professor Oak to use the healing machine and fully make him better when they finished work. They swam for a little while then went to get changed and ready to open the doors to challengers.

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Right when they were about to open the doors someone started knocking.

“Wonder who's so impatient.”

Muffled voices could be heard on the other side of the door one male the other female both a bit familiar sounding.

Ash opened the doors.

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Joy pulled on Brock's ear attempting to pull him away. “Why don't we come back later? They are probably going to be busy.”

He was being stubborn and actually dug his heels in refusing to be dragged away, “We haven't heard from them in over a month I want make sure they are okay. They should have called when they knew we were back in Pewter.”

Joy let go of his ear with a sigh “They probably didn't want to bother us since they knew we would be here today.”

For once in his life Brock actually managed to hold his ground and not get dragged away and this is the scene that greeted Ash and Misty when the doors to the gym fully opened.

“Brock? Joy?” Ash and Misty exclaimed in surprise.

The two combatants jumped and turned at the exclamation ceasing the argument.

“Am I dreaming? Brock is actually arguing with someone I don't believe my eyes.” Misty rubbed her eyes and blinked at them.

Brock blushed “Well…err…I…Ummm.”

“It's amazing what marriage has done to him. At least now he doesn't go chasing after every woman he sees.” Joy smiled and hugged the still shocked Misty. “How are the two of you doing? I told Brock that we should come back later but he insisted.”

“Were, fine uhh…actually…” Ash looked nervously at his friends and started blushing. *How will they react? Well everyone else took it well…*

Misty realized what Ash was attempting to do but failing miserably. “Let's go inside and we'll fill you in on what's been going on here.” She turned around and led them inside.

Ash gave up, sighed and followed suit. They walked two steps when they were greeted by an enthusiastic blue duck.

“Golduck!”

Brock freaked out and Joy squatted down to examine the newly evolved pokemon.

“When did that happen?”

Misty frowned at him “Just before we opened the doors. I was training Psyduck and Gabby.”

“G…Gabby?”

Joy shot Brock a look of concern then turned back to examining Golduck who was all too happy to receive the attention. “He looks like a really healthy pokemon. I'm sure his psychic attacks will be three times a powerful as they were before and now he shouldn't have any problem swimming.” She stood up and examined the inside of the gym. This was only the second time she was in the gym. The first being the opening but that was a bit too crazy.

“Let's go to the lounge area and have some tea before we let you know what else is going on.”

Ash led the way and Joy was practically dragging the shocked Brock by his ear as he mumbled about Psyduck under his breath.

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“WHAT!?!” Brock's shout echoed from the lounge area.

“Now calm down dear. I think congratulations are in order.” Joy hugged Misty and Ash as she finally placed the changes she noticed when she saw Misty. She really did seem to glow pregnancy seemed to agree with her.

Brock shook himself out of his shock induced stupor clapping Ash on the back. “Sorry about my outburst but that news after seeing Psyduck evolved.” He was once again the calm and collected Brock ready for just about anything. “Man you guys sure have been busy, I mean leave you alone for a month and…”

“BROCK!” Joy grabbed his ear.

Ash and Misty attempted to control their blushing at his implications.

He started whimpering, “I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound that way. Please let go of my ear.”

Joy smiled, “You have to promise to think before you talk first.”

“Okay, okay I promise.” She let go and he covered his aching ear massaging the pain out of it.

The other couple just stared in amazement at the exchange forgetting their earlier embarrassment.

Joy just smiled more “This is how I keep him in line. Though he does have his stubborn moments he usually listens. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with him.”

Ash sweatdropped “I guess you took lessons from Misty.”

“What do you mean by that?” Misty sat fuming at him.

“Well you did grab his ear a lot when he would go crazy over the nurses and officers during our journeys.” He smiled a little praying she would accept the explanation.

She sighed “I didn't think you noticed that. You always seemed to not pay attention to him and I've never did pull on your ear.”

“True.”

Joy laughed, “Well I think we've taken up enough of your time, how about we meet for dinner at Jesse and James' restaurant?” We can catch up some more then and show you our new house.”

“That sounds like a good idea but I've got to take Gabby to Professor Oak's for healing first.”

“Oh! What happened?” Joy looked concerned.

Ash beat Misty to an explanation “Gabby was battling against Psyduck when it evolved I think Psyduck was a bit too strong and Gabby fainted we administered revive potion but he's still a bit weak.”

“Well I can take care of that right now.” Joy took out a miniature healing unit. “I always carry it in case of emergencies. I just need some where to plug it in and Gabby will be as good as new.”

They went to the water area where Joy examined Gabby.

“Misty recall him to the pokeball, Brock help me plug this in.” She handed him the plug as Misty did as she was told.

Once the pokeball was set in the machine went to work and in a few minutes the familiar ping sounded and the machine turned off.

“Maybe we should get one of those for the gym.” Ash looked at the machine.

“Sorry but they don't allow anyone but nurses to operate or buy them. The pokemon center should be opening soon so Professor Oak can get some peace.”

“Oh, well I guess that makes sense. Anyway we'll see you guys tonight.”

Joy packed up the machine and they walked to the door.

“We have to go to our new house and unpack everything. See you later.” Brock waved as they headed out the door.

They watched their friends leave and waited around the front for challengers. None came so they went back inside unaware of the eyes watching them from the bushes.

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Misty went to the pool and released Gabby who happily swam around the pool. Golduck was in the water and all of Misty's pokemon began a game of tag.

She watched them for play until she heard foot steps behind her. “Ash, I thought you were going to finish reading the report.” She didn't get a reply so she turned around…she wasn't expecting the person behind her and let out a gasp of surprise.

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To be continued…

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Not much was changed here.

Thanks for reading…please review.

Kitcat ^_^