Serena POV

"It's good to see you again... Serena," Mark hesitantly explained to me once we were seated at a window booth accompanied by other people around us. The lights ray shone down from a flatted window onto the top modern table between us with nothing but a few flowers inside a plain pot that stood alongside me.

Ash had discretely disappeared, saying he would be back. I appreciated the fact that he knew I needed space to think, to absorb this massive surprise. Shock had rendered me emotional and all I could do was stare at Mark. My very own Dad. It seemed unreal to me. I couldn't even figure out what to call him. "The thought never crossed my mind. I met your mom at school when I was 14. She told me she was older and I believed her. It was nothing more than a fling. I haven't seen or heard from her since. And now, 11 years later, I find out about – about you." His voice broke as he patted my visibly trembling hand.

"How did you find out about me?" I asked, my voice barely a monotone whisper. My eyes darting down at my lap. It had something to do with Ash, that was certain. Now I know why he was acting so shady when I asked him where he was taking me.

Don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic beyond belief that I was sitting opposite my father at that moment, with the chance to ask him all the questions my mom wouldn't have answered, but I was still curious enough to wonder how Ash had contacted him. And what would my mom say if she found out that we had met? All my life, she'd been keeping me from him. She'll freak the hell out.

"Your friend, Ash. He found me on Facebook." Mark laughed shakily. "Of all things, right? He sent me an old picture of me and my wife, Grace. Then one of you." He swallowed and I blinked back a few tears in my eyes, hardly able to breathe. "We Yvonne's have the same eyes."

"Where did he get the picture of you and my mom?" I asked, confused. I had never seen a single picture of Mark in our house. Where had Ash gotten his hands on one?

"From your mother!" I raised both my eyebrows in surprise as Mark continued. My mom had a picture of her and Mark that she had never shown me? "Ash apparently had to go through quite the interrogation just to get my name from her. But he finally convinced her that you meeting me was for the best and she broke down." His voice turned thoughtful. "I remember Grace. Real tough cookie, she never trusted me. She's really protective of her family, I can tell."

I nodded slowly. "She is," I whispered. It was wrong of my mom to hold me back from meeting my father. She'd swore up and down that she had no idea where he was or If he was even alive. She's even lied to my face that she didn't know his full name, but I knew that she was just, in her own way, looking out for me. I can't fault her for that. I loved her too much. It was just amazing to know that, for the first time in my life, my mom wasn't the only person I had to fall back on. I mean, if Mark didn't want to be in my life, he wouldn't be here, right?

"She should have informed me about you, though. I missed so much of your life."

The questions from me started, hesitantly at first, then quicker as I realised that Mark loved to talk almost as much as I did.

"What do you do? Do you have a family? Where do you live? How did you meet my mom?" I wanted to know everything, but unfortunately, Mark had to be on the 9.30pm plane back to hoenn, so we didn't have much time to bond.

As our conversation went on, I discovered that he was an accountant with a fairly uneventful office job, which was 'just how I like it' as he said. He met my mom through his friend, who went to the same school as her. "I was only in Kalos for a couple of weeks, but we spent a lot of time together. She had a wild spark in her. But she was totally hilarious."

For a second, I thought of telling him mostly about my mom for her hard work, but I decided not to. He obviously didn't know, and just letting that bomb drop on him right now would be enough to send him running to the nearest exit.

"Yeah," I murmured, content to listening to him as he continued.

He lived in a city called Rustboro with his long time friend.

"I'm going to get promotion next year," he told me In achievement. "Maybe, after we get all the minute details settled, you would like to come visit?"

Wordlessly, I nodded.

"We got our blue eyes from the Yvonne side of the family. Grace thought my eyes made me look exotic." He smiled. "She was a sweetheart, despite her faults."

When I tentatively mentioned that I liked playing the piano, he was amazed. His sister, was a music teacher. "Creativity must run in the family," he said. "I showed her your picture, she was stunned! She hopes to meet you if all goes well."

This was almost too much for me to bear. And my mom knew about this and was okay with it? Am I lucky or what?

"I would love to meet her," I replied softly.

When I told him that I went to Lumiose, he was impressed, although he sounded concerned when he asked if mom could afford it. When I told him that she did the best she could, he asked, "Do you think she would let me help? Seeing as I haven't had the chance to contribute to your upbringing thus far."

I thought about my mom's fierce independence and sighed. We needed all the help we could get, but I just didn't see her sucking up her pride to ask anyone for it. Maybe if Mark asks her...

"It wouldn't hurt to ask her," I said, trying to sound as diplomatic as possible. I don't know about her reaction, though.

Mark glanced down at his sliver watch round his wrist and sucked in a breath. "My time here is almost up." He placed his hands over mine and smiled. "I'm so overwhelmed by this, Serena. You must mean a lot to Ash, for him to go through all this trouble to get me to come here. He did a background check on me before he let me anywhere near you because he didn't want to see you hurt. Bought the plane tickets, made the restaurant reservations- he must have spent quite a lot of money, just to see you happy." My eyes widened in much surprise as Mark spoke. Ash did all that? For me? "Is he your boyfriend?" He questioned.

I blinked back a couple of times and glanced around the whole room of my surroundings. "I'm not sure. I mean, I think we might be at that in between stage right now," I said honestly.

Mark nodded, the expression on his face showing that he understood perfectly."I see. Well, he's a special kid, anyways." His eyes slid away from my view as an old smile lightened up on his face. "And here he comes, right on cue."

He smiled as Ash slipped into the seat next to me."I hate to be a buzz kill, but your cab is waiting outside, Mr. Yvonne," he said politely.

"Call me Mark," he said expansively. "I do owe you, after all. More than you can ever imagine. You've given me a present that I never would have expected."

My eyes filled with tears as Mark stood up from his seat. He was leaving already. We had barely gotten to know each other.

"Can't you stay a little longer?" I asked, my voice wobbling.

"I really wish I could," Mark replied, sounding a little choked up himself. "But I have to go. I promise that this won't be the last you'll hear of me. This is only the beginning."

My lips trembled as I got up to my feet. "Okay," I whispered sounding more sad than ever, trying not to cry. I didn't want him to leave. I wanted to sit down and talk to him after these long years.

Mark hesitated for a second before wrapping his arms around me in a hug. "If Grace wants me to take a paternity test to prove that you're mine, I will. Then maybe she'll let you visit me for a weekend."

Sniffling, I pulled back, wiping my eyes with the heels of my hand. At least I wasn't wearing makeup, that way I wouldn't scare the people away with panda eyes. "That would be nice."

"Grace has done a fabulous job raising you," Mark said admiringly, but soon changed into sullen guilt. "Although I wish that I had a part in that, I think you've turned out perfectly."

"She has, hasn't she," Ash commented quietly from beside me. I reached for his hand, sliding my fingers in between his and squeezed with a little strength. Which he squeezed back.

Mark nodded, a proud smile lighting up his face. "You're the most unexpected surprise I've ever had in my life. And the best, by far."

I hugged him again and watched as he shook hands with Ash. We walked him out of the restaurant and watched as he got into a nondescript cab. Would I ever see him again? My abandonment issues were rising and I made a valiant move to strike them down. I had something else to deal with. Or someone. Namely Ash.

He was still standing next to me, his hands stuffed into his empty pockets as he nervously gazed at me under his bangs.

I turned to face him, my eyes brimming with tears that were filled with happiness. If that makes any sense.

"I can't believe you- and you didn't tell me- my dad! You found my dad!" I spluttered, unable to form coherent sentences, so thick was the emotion running through me. I had waited to meet my dad for my whole life, and just as I was resigned to the fact that I never would, Ash had to spring this on me.

"Look, Sere- I have a valid reason for doing this," he started, sounding like he was getting ready to defend himself. I stared right at him, perplexed. "I wasn't trying to cause drama when I went to see your mom and ask her about your dad. And I just wanted to surprise you by-."

I almost shook him. "Ash, I'm not mad at you!" I giggled into a fit of laughter.

He stopped in mid ramble, his eyes widening in relief. "You're not?"

I shook my head causing my short hair sway in free air with a few pliable strands poking my forehead against my bright skin, there was also strands covering my ears, but that didn't concern me to listen. "No! I don't even know how to say thank you because I can't find any words that- I'm so happy- I don't even know how to talk anymore!" I said, my voice sounding positive than ever before.

A slow smile spread over Ash's face as his eyes locked with mine. "Hey, you don't have to say anything, Sere. You wished on 11.11, remember? I guess wishes can come true." He replied, his voice barely a whisper.

Impulsively, I wrapped my arms around him, placing my head on his hard chest which makes me want it to be a pillow. Squeezing so tight I think I heard him grunt. "Thank you, Ash," I whispered near to his ear, a sob rising out of my throat. Small tears slid down my rosy cheeks as I cried with full of joy.

Ash smoothed down my hair, murmuring in my ear. "It's okay, Sere, it's alright. It's gonna be fine because-." He swallowed hard, his voice so low that I almost didn't catch the next part. My senses thought he was nervous, nervous to speak out. But what it could be? Why did he sound so brittle? All emotive questions rambled in head until I finally knew the answer what I was looking for in my sight. The next words he spoke didn't make my heart jump and beat more times than it should, but made enough of my life complete, putting all the puzzles of pieces together into one.

"Because... I..." He stopped in his own sentence, taking a quick breath and continued. "I love you... Sere." He muttered, leaning close till his cheeks touched mine, his body tense from the sudden contact and swallowed hard.

My eyes widen like circles, so big made me wanted to cry and let all my emotions come out in one go. I so did not hear that right. In fact, I was this close to letting it go because I didn't want to be that annoying person who kept asking 'what' and find out that she hadn't said anything even remotely close to what I thought I heard.

Snapping my head back, I looked Ash right in the eye. He had the most serious, most vulnerable look on his face as he looked back at me, his jaw set.

"...W-What?" I stuttered. My throat getting heavy to suck air. A blush formed across my cheeks feeling my face getting hotter by the second. I was sure that I'm about to faint in the hands of my crush, lover or even rich boy, but I manage to control myself from overflowing too much. Frantically.

Slipping his hands onto my free shoulders, Ash drew me closer till our foreheads were touching. His forehead was burning hot than my face, but I couldn't think about that right now. The only thing that was going through my mind was 'did he or did he not?'

"I said, 'I love you'." He confessed again. Repeating the same useful three words. The corner of his lips twisted up in a lopsided grin. "Do you want me to shout it from the rooftops too, or what?"

I shook my head once again, trying to organize my thoughts. Too much! Too soon!

"Ash. You can't just say- you shouldn't just throw that around like that," I said sternly as I looked up at him. "You have to mean it."

His grin grew wider and replied, in a voice that was as sincere as it gets, "I hardly ever say things I don't mean. And I never play around when it comes to something so serious. What makes you think I don't mean it?"

To show proof. He slowly leaned forward, tilting his head just as our nose pass by and placed his velvety lips onto mine, his lips were feather light than before, sucking the bottom lip as we begin to make out. I closed my eyes and I could tell he did too, enjoying the blissful moment we were having right now.

His right hand trailed down my back, right onto my waist while the other was placed on my nape with his fingers running through my short honey-blond hair and his wet touchable lip forced my lip to open then soon closed.

It was all pure, loving, caring and destined to be. I couldn't describe what it was really but all I could think of was just Ash, his confession and care repeating in my head.

I thought back the memories from where we first met at his penthouse where the incident took place. My mind rolled on from the very beginning till end, running past the conversation we had in Walls, protection from Alain, the gala dance and even my first kiss. There were so many I could imagined of the thought between me and Ash that I couldn't describe what I was saying.

With one last mush from our kiss which I thought it was long. Ash firstly pulled away. Departing our lips and looked at me in the eye before sliding them open. I did the same as I gaze at him in close distance with our face inches apart from closing in again. The only sound I could hear was our intense warm breathing from the make out session we just had. Finally, Ash gathered all his air and spoke, his words escaping from his moving glistened lips after licking them again.

"I'm constantly thinking about you, I even dream about you. When you're sad, I just want to make you happy and when you're happy, I just want to watch you smile. It's actually kinda ridiculous, and I hate that I'm being so corny about it, but it's true. If that's not love, tell me what is." He mustered out softly and carefree moved his hand till he lightly grabs onto mine without me knowing.

I only gazed at his shining eyes that were been reflected from the lights making his face brighten, his eyes weren't showing to me, but it was rather telling me that he cared, telling me nothing but the truth.

I stared mutely at him. Lost for words, hard to move, easily to breath with a small gaped mouth.

He continued. "Serena," he breathed huskily out my original first name. "All I'm saying is true and I mean it. Before I met you, I didn't know what came over me. It was like... something was telling me." He glanced into my teary eyes which were beginning to overflow with bead of tears. "I know I don't make any sense but, you changed the way I am. Sere. You are my purpose. No, you are more than that. You're more than anything in this world. If I didn't tell you this before, this wouldn't have happened. But now..."

His eyes brimmed, taking a small single step closer before placing his index finger under my chin and slightly lift my head up, giving me a full view of his orbs in sight without losing any detail from it.

My lips pursed as he continued. "I'm here... My destiny with you maybe in my hands, but my dreams won't shatter. All I'm saying Sere is, will you be my girlfriend." He said. His caress words brought my eyes into tears, overflowing my eyelids and trickled down my cheeks which I already knew were all fully red as ruby due to my face getting hotter.

For a brief moment which felt like forever. I managed to control my muscles and let my head nod in response mutely without any words coming out. I felt over the moon, but more ecstatic.

A curved smile was brought upon Ash face. "Say that again." He teased, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I couldn't help but let out a fit of giggle. "I said yes!" I exclaimed with full of joy. Closing my eyes, tilting my head sideways slightly and smiled up at him.

Ash smiled and draped his arm around my waist line. Pulling me till our bodies closed in as we began to walk down the quite street lane. I place my head onto his free shoulder while we walk along the way with a upward smile that wouldn't be rubbed from my face. Not even let it drop one bit with each I took.