Melony sighed as she approached Gordie, "Can... Can we talk? Please?"

"You're willing to talk?" Gordie asked, confusion in his voice.

"Wait are you?" Melony asked, "I've wanted to talk for years..."

Gordie sighed, "Mom I... I'm sorry for what happened OK? I just..."

"No I should've respected your choice to specialize in rock Pokémon," Melony sighed, "I just got so caught up in the traditions of our bloodline and I was blinded by the false worth of blood ties... but... tradition, blood ties, these are all lies and slander used by evil people to promote bullcrap and... I didn't see that until now. I'm sorry."

"No I'm sorry," Gordie apologized, "I should've stood up for myself without being a jerk I just... didn't know you wanted to make amends so I never reached out."

Melony hugged Gordie, "I missed you son."

Gordie replied, "I missed you mom."

Gordie inquired, "So Grant wasn't you trying to replace me?"

"No Grant I love as my son separately," Melony explained, "Completely independent situation."

Grant is helped out, limping as a gym employee helps him. He leaned off him and stated, "Thanks but I got it from here."

"Grant!" Melony exclaimed rushing over.

Melony looked at Grant with concern and worry as she exclaimed, "Are you OK? Are you hurt?"

Grant chuckled, "Ladies and gentlemen..."

Grant revealed the Pokéball containing Terrakion, "I got him."

"Hey bro you OK?" Gordie inquired.

"Everything hurts by Arceus," Grant replied, "I feel this dull soreness all over my body right now."

"Grant," Gordie explained, "Mom, there's something you both need to know about the gym challenge."

"What is it?" Grant asked.

"It's rigged," Gordie explained, "Leon ordered the gym leaders to rig your fights Grant. He helped me catch Terrakion and I have the texts to prove it!"

Gordie showed the texts to Grant who stood and stared blankly.

"Nothing?" Gordie asked.

"I can't read," Grant replied.

Melony looked at the texts and d, "Well... yeah. He is indeed rigging it."

Grant took a deep breath. In and out. He popped his back into place, and lets out a sigh, "Why... am I not shocked anymore? Like life would stop beating me down. Well I don't care! I'm going to crush Leon like the coward he is and I'm going to do away with the endorsement system for my family! I'm going to win no matter what it Arceus cursed-"

Grant suddenly stopped.

"Grant?" Melony asked.

Grant heard it. He looked at the sky in a panic.

"Where is it?" Grant asked, "It's near. I know it's near! I hear them!"

"Grant what are you talking about?" Gordie asked.

"Vespiqueen!" Grant exclaimed, "It's buzzing! One's somewhere close by!"

"Grant listen you're hallucinating," Melony pleaded, "Take a deep breath. You're injured and unstable. Look, I... wait Gordie um..."

"Ye I can accept him as my brother," Gordie smiled.

"Sorry what?" Grant asked, confusion in his voice.

Melony revealed the papers and explained, "I... don't want you to be alone anymore, Grant. I've grown to love you like my own son, and if you're accept me as your mother I have the adoption papers ready."

Grant took the papers with a gentle hand, shock in his eyes as he looked down at them.

"I understand if-" Melony began to explain.

Grant suddenly hugged Melony tightly and replied, "I love you, mom."

After signing the papers and returning them to her he explained, "I have to go. Promised Sonia I would meet her for a meal after I won."

"Woah easy bro aren't you injured?" Gordie asked.

"It's just a couple of bruises," Grant explaines, "I'm mostly just really tired. I'll just head to the next town before nightfall and-"

"Well I'm legally your mom and I can now say I forbid you to leave town today so you can get a good night's sleep. You need to rest up. The whole thing is rigged for Arecus knows what reason. You've got plenty of time Grant. You don't need to push yourself so hard anymore. Can't you see you have a family now? Haven't you already won?" Melony inquired.

"Not until I fulfill I promise to Bede," Grant shook his head, "And now, make Leon pay for messing with me. Selfish narcaccistic twat..."

Grant shook his head, "I'll be back later. Cya soon!"

Grant walked away.

Melony asked Gordie, "So why is Leon doing this?"

Gordie replied, "I don't know, but I suppose we'll find out. After all..."

Gordie smirkes, "My brother has a legendary Pokémon on his side now..."

Grant spotted Sonia outside Uncle Bob's. Sonia rushes over to him, "Oh by Arceus! You're OK!"

Sonia hugged Grant tightly, "You scared me worse than seeing a Gengar on a full moon night! What happened!?! Terrakion started to rampage and then the news coverage cut out as everyone evacuated and I was scared you..."

Sonia began to cry.

Grant assured her, "I'm OK Sonia. I'm OK. Really. Don't cry."

"I thought it killed you," Sonia explained "I can't... I can't have you die on me again..."

Grant assured her, "I'm safe. It's OK."

Grant held the door for her as her mood brightened slightly, a weary smile on her face as they took a table, "So... you have a legendary Pokémon?"

Grant nodded, "Yeah. It's gonna be great in the upcoming battles."

The two ordered their food and continued. Grant commented, "Sonia I need to confess something."

Grant felt his face go red. He felt something when she smiled, when she saw her face, heard her laugh. This was a form of love, but one he was unfamiliar with. While he understood family love he didn't understand this feeling at all.

"What is it?" Sonia inquired, hope dazzled in her eyes that Grant would say what she wanted to say for her, "You can tell me anything."

"I'm worried this will sound creepy," Grant explains.

"I'm sure it won't," Sonia chuckled.

"I..." Grant explained, blushing heavily, "I wanna hold you. I just... wanna hold you. I just wanna hold you and watch the snow fall by a warm fire. I don't know why this image popped into my head but I just... like seeing you happy. It's not like what I feel for my family though and I'm worried it's unnatural or something."

"You weren't really into people romantically before you went half feral were you?" Sonia inquired.

Grant shook his head, "No I don't think I was why?"

Sonia chuckled, "Well if you wanna hold me and wanna save some money on not buying a room, my room is 307 at the hotel. So, do with that info what you will."

Sonia kissed Grant's cheek and walked away with a smile.

Grant was flustered and froze for a second.

Grant exited the restaurant and thought aloud, "I guess... I should go to room 307..."

Grant approached the hotel, freezing outside the door, unable to knock before he muttered, "I can't do it. I know I'm being creepy I shouldn't have told her that."

"Yeah you dropped the ball," Tom chuckles, "Let's set up camp outside town and get a head start."

Grant turned and exited the hotel only to run into Gordie outside, who sat on a bench, seemingly in a good mood as he waved to Grant.

"Have a seat bro," he offered.

Grant complied with a sigh, silent for now as Gordie asked, "Something on your mind?"

"I..." Grant sighed, "I don't know I just... Sonia invited me to her hotel room when I described just wanting to hold her in my arms and stuff and... I don't know what this feeling is called. Is it creepy to feel this way? Am I overstepping? I don't know man I..."

"Grant," Gordie explains, "You have flaws, that I'll confess. We really are brothers in many ways. Both of us have issues talking to others, both of us can let our tempers take hold and get to our heads, but we are both kind people at heart. You're like me, and..."

"You're a great person," Grant replies.

Gordie smiles, "So you're great too. If she invited you, it must mean she feels the same. So, go on."

"Thanks Gordie," Grant replied with a smile.

"It's what family does," he replied.

Grant went back to the hotel room and knocked.

"Come in!" Sonia replied.

Grant gently opened the door to see Sonia wrapped in a warm fur blanket made from the coat of a Mamoswine. Grant entered nervously, unsure of what to say.

"Hi," he greeted timidly.

Sonia smiled at him and approached, setting the blanket aside "Grant I know what that feelings is called, or, I think I do, and correct me if I'm wrong but..."

Sonia explained, "I think it's romantic love."

"I mean maybe," Grant replies, "Um... I... Um..."

"There's three basic forms of love," Sonia explained, "Familial love, which you feel for your family, platonic love you feel for close friends which can be as strong as family love if in a different form, and romantic love, which you feel for a romantic partner. Any form of love can form between any two people. Be it man and women, women and women, man and man, Hell, techinally three people can all form romantic love for each other. As long as it's mentally healthy for all involved and all 3 love each other, it can happen. As long as all three are happy and the relationship is mentally healthy for all three, but I'm getting off topic Grant. Grant, I love you. Romantically. I have for years. Since I was 11 and you were 10. I... missed you. So much. You were always so happy. Always so sweet. Now you're finally back in my life after all these years. I understand if I'm just projecting. I..."

Sonia blushed and elaboted, "Look what I'm trying to say is that all three forms of love are needed for a happy and healthy life, unless you're aromatic. You could be and just be feeling platonic love and I could just be projecting but if I'm not... I love you. I'll gladly accept platonic love if that's what's best for you because I want you to be happy but..."

Grant held her tightly, "I love you too. Romantically. Just... let me hold you. I just wanna hold you..."

Sonia replied, "No Grant. You've done enough. You're tired. Let me hold you. You're safe now. It's OK. It's OK."

Sonia held Grant and, due to Grant still being fairly light, lifted him and carried him over to where the blanket was. There the two cuddled as they watched the snow fall. Enjoying the soothing warmth of each other without a word as the snowflakes danced their wonderful dance, a natrual dance, the beauty of the world around them seemed to grow brighter in that moment.

...

From there things got a bit more... intimate according to some rumors. However, wether you believe these rumors is up to you...