Author's Note: Ash & Serena are about 19 in this story.

"Mom! I've missed you so much!" I yell, as I run up and wrap her in a hug.

"I've missed you too sweetie! Look at you! You're not a girl anymore! You're a full grown woman! You're beautiful!"

"Aw, thanks Mom!"

"Tell me, how are you and Ash doing? He finally opened his eyes, didn't he!"

I cheek turn a shade of crimson red.

"Yes, yes he did. He even gave me this!"

Hanging around my neck is a necklace with a baby blue jewel in shape of a tear drop.

"Oh my gosh! It's gorgeous!"

"Isn't it!"

"You're one lucky lady!"

She then suddenly leans in close.

"Have you and Ash had sex?" She whispers.

"Mom!"

"What! I would like to know! It's ok if you have, just make sure you use protection! I would love to a grandma one day, but you just became Kalos Queen, and I feel like it would just-"

"Alright, let's get you inside and comfortable shall we?"

We walk into my house. It's a beautiful wooden home with clean and polished furniture. My Pokèmon are scattered around, half of them asleep.

"Look who came to visit!"

They all suddenly shoot up and tackle my mom in a hug.

"Oh hi! I've missed you too! And hi to those I haven't met yet!"

After I finally manage to peel everyone off of her, we take her stuff to my spare room and head to the kitchen to make dinner.

"Tell me darling, is Kalos Queen what you expected it to be?"

"Well, it's definitely a dream come true! I just didn't realize how draining and busy it is. I'm always traveling for a photo shoot, or interview or something of that sort. I rarely have time to relax at home with my Pokèmon, or even Ash, who's been busy getting ready to defend his title as Kalos Champion," I say dumping my chopped carrots into the pot.

"Oh that's right! He finally beat Alain huh?"

"That's right!"

"Well, I'm glad you both achieved your dreams, and there's no shame in changing your dream if you like it or want to move on for something more. The sky is the limit after all!"

"Thanks Mom. You always seem to put me on the right path when I'm lost."

"I'm your mother dear. I know best for my daughter."

...

"Serena, that stew was excellent! That was a very creative way to use those Pecha Berries with those herbs."

"What can I say? I learned from the best!"

We're sitting at the kitchen table, resting and allowing our food to digest.

"You just love to make me feel special, don't you?"

"You are special because you have me," I say, cupping my hand underneath my chin and smiling at my mom.

"And you truly are a blessing," my mom says, smiling back.

She looks away and take a look at the window.

"It's a beautiful view out here, isn't it?"

"Would you like to go out back for a better view? My Pokèmon need some exercise anyways."

"I would love it."

We make our way outside, where my Pokèmon run and chase each other as we sit on chairs.

Moonlight spills on the ground, luminating a path leaving no where in particular. The star shine, but not too bright to steal the spotlight.

"This is lovely. Now I know why you conviced me to come visit you instead," my mom says, leaning back on her chair.

"Aren't you glad that I did?"

"Of course dear."

I sigh.

I need to plan my next move very carefully. It can either make or break this wonderful night.

"Are you ok dear?" My mom asks.

"Y-yeah! Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're holding the end of your skirt. You do that when you're nervous."

Crap.

"Why are you so observent?"

"Because even though you may be a queen and no longer my little princess, I can't help but still worry about you," she says, as she moves some of my hair out of my face.

"So, will you tell me what's bugging you?"

I stay silent as I feel my mom's soft hands touch my cheeks. I look at her, and she's giving me a comforting smile.

"Mom. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course dear."

"And you'll promise not to be mad?"

"I promise."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. My slowly open them, and make eye contact with my Mom.

"Who is my father?"

Her smile instantly fades away and stands up, walking back towards the house.

"Mom?"

I quickly chase after her, and I see her raiding my cabinets.

"Do you have any booze anywhere?"

"Mom!"

"How about wine? I'm sure you have-"

"Mom, stop!"

She slams the cabinet shut, and we stand there, hearing the echo travel deeper into the house.

"Do you remember?"

"What?"

"Do you remember anything about him? Or anything while we were in Kanto?" My mom asks, as she continues to stare down at the counter.

Hm.

"All I really remember is the Pokèmon camp where I met Ash."

"Good. I sent you to that camp so you can open up a bit more," she starts, as she turns around to face me.

"And so you wouldn't see me cry all day."

"Mom-"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well, uh, Ash and I were talking and the topic of starting a family came up. It's all theoretical, don't worry! But then Ash mentioned how he's worried to be a father because he never had one, and then I realized I never had a father in my life either."

I walk up to her and hold her hand.

"If we ever want to be parents one day, we should be able to explain to our child why they don't have grandpas, but two sweet and amazing grandmas who love them very much."

I wait for her to say something, so I decide to continue.

"Besides, I want to know the truth. I'm ready for it, no matter how ugly it may be."

Silence follows as Mom thinks.

"Fine."

"Really?"

"But! You have to answer one question honestly!"

"Of course! What is it?"

"Well, since you and Ash were talking about starting a family, have you two had sex?"

"Again with this?"

"I want a yes or no answer! You changed the topic last time!"

...

After I brought my Pokèmon inside, and gave my mom an "answer", we came up to my bedroom where we're sitting on at the edge of the bed. She has a binder on her lap.

"We met in the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City in Kanto. I was invited for a special Rhyhorn event. I was doing a photo shoot and all the photographers were making the Rhyhorns and I do these ridiculous poses. And once we were done, I was petting and feeding the Rhyhorns, thanking them for their cooperation. The Alpha Rhyhorn growls happily and licks me, causing me to giggle. Suddenly, we heard a click."

My mom smiles, then brings a glass of wine to her mouth.

"We turn, and there was a man with golden hair, light skin, and green eyes. He has a camera in his hands, and jumps up in joy. But the Rhyhorns weren't happy, and I had to hold them back from attacking him."

She giggles.

"Oh, he was so cute. He apologize nonstop, then explained why he was spying on us. You see, he's a Pokèmon photographer, fascinated by happy moments shared by humans and pokemon. And he sought out to capture as many of those moments as he could, and he said that you simply can't pose or force those moments out."

I gasp.

"That's right Serena. Your drive to make Pokèmon and people happy is inherited from your father."

Wow.

"We soon started dating after that night, and we eventually got married. Your goofball of your father proposed to me while we were in Kalos visiting my parents. He somehow convinced the Lumiose City Gym Leader at the time to light up the Lumiose Tower, with the question spelled out in lights on the tower."

"Aww! That's so cute!"

My mom smiles and nods.

"We moved to Kanto, since that's where we met, and we bought a house in Pallet Town, where we planned on starting our family. Eventually, I became pregnant and we couldn't be happier."

Her smile faded away.

"Since I got pregnant, your father had taken a step back from his career. So when he got an offer to go to Hoenn, I convinced him to go. I was only a month pregnant and was doing some very light Rhyhorn racing. He was going to be gone for only a month, so he left and came, and he loved it."

"He was there when you were born. He actually the one who came up with your name. We lived happily for about four, five years when he got another offer to go to Unova. He was supposed to be gone for only a month, but he never came back."

"I called him so many times. But he wouldn't answer. It was until about five months after he left an officer arrived at our doorstep. She told me that he went on a tour with a group of people into some desert in Unova to take pictures, and they never returned."

Tears form the edge of her eyes and her voice gets shakey.

"Mom-"

"I didn't know what to do. All I knew is that I didn't want you to see me falling apart. So I sent you to that camp for a couple days, as I mourned the disappearance of your father. I decided that we needed a new start, so that's why we moved to Kalos."

I run up to her and wrap her in a hug.

"Thank you for being strong and doing what was best for me. I love you mom."

Mom nods and hugs me tighter, sobbing softly.

After a while she calms down a bit, and she smiles at me.

"Your father would be so proud of you. I know he would. And if he could, he would be with us right now."

"I wish I could hear him say it."

She shuffles a bit.

"Well, I know it isn't the same, but here are some of his pictures," she says as she opens the binder. Inside, there's a picture of the three of us in front of a house. The picture is a bit worn down, and has lost some of it's color.

"He kept this picture in his wallet. He would take it out every night and put it back every morning to ensure he at least saw the picture once a day. But the day he left he forgot."

In another picture Mom is laughing as I'm on Dad's shoulders, smiling as he attempted to run towards mom.

"What was his name?" I ask, as I look at a picture with just my dad smiling with his camera in hand.

"Matthew."

Matthew huh?

I like it.

"Wait, is that writing on his camera?"

"Haha, yeah. Remember how I said he was a goofball? He named his camera Cammy and wrote it on there."

"Haha! What's happening in this picture?"

"Oh, your father loved to eat sweets. So here is he, running away with a handful of cookies. And in this one..."

...

I groan, as I'm woken up by my phone ringing.

A smile forms on my face when I see Ash's profile picture on the screen.

"Hello?"

"Hey beautiful!"

"Hi Ash! I miss you," I say, I feel my face turn into a shade of red.

"I miss you too Serena. How did your night with your mom go?"

"It went well! I found out about my father!"

"That's great!"

"His name was Matthew and he was a photographer! My mom gave me a binder of his pictures that we can look at once you arrive!"

"Sounds like a date! I'll make sure to bring some food too!"

"Yay! Wait, did you ever call your mom?"

"Yeah! I found out some things about my father too! I found out his name is..."

Fin.

Author's Note:
It randomly occurred to me that Serena doesn't have a father (at least one that we know of). So I took the opportunity to write this story, which I really do think you enjoyed, since it seems to be different than most. But different can be good, right?
I'll definitely try to post more often, but no promises!
& as always, Happy Reading :)