"Anything for you! Well got to get a move on then."

"Yeah. Thanks again."

"Catch you there!"

Ash then ended the call. He looked besides him and saw Satoshi sitting a few tables away with red puffy eyes and sniffing every second. In his arms was Pikachu while his Grandmother was sitting besides him trying to calm him down.

Ash then let out a sigh. He carefully observed the ring in his left hand and felt his stomach drop. He had to do this. But before he could make the second call he saw a flash of brown hair walk just a few feet away from.

"Ms. Grace!"

The woman turned around and smiled at Ash.

"Oh why Ash. It's so good to see you! Sorry I couldn't find you at the galla yesterday but you know being the main fashionista leader I was needed everywhere."

"No problem Ms. Grace. I-"

"Call me Mom dear. I already told you."

"I'm sorry Ms. Grace. I can't. See I thought about this marriage and I can't marry Serena."

Ash expected the woman before him to slap him or start screaming at him but it never came.

Instead she asked gently, "How come dear?"

"I thought" Ash began gently, "I thought I loved Serena but I didn't. I interpreted her and expected her to act like someone she isn't. Someone I do love. I wanted to marry her so she could take the place of someone I believed I didn't love anymore. It only made things worse and I don't want to lead Serena into a relationship where I just use her as an illusion I wish I had in my life. I want her to have a better life. A life I cannot give nor share with her as husband."

Grace just smiled at the honesty Ash was telling her. Sure she was a bit mad and really sad but she was happy Ash had come clean.

"Give me the ring."

Ash did. It was like a heavy weight was just lifted off his shoulders.

"Don't tell her. She wouldn't let you finish your explanation. I'll tell her."

"Thank you Ms. Grace."

"I'll send you the money you spent on her ring."

"You don't have to do that Ms. Grace. It's quite alright. I just wish to keep a friendship with Serena that's all."

"No. I insist to give you the money back and may I ask something from you Ash?"

"Anything Ms. Grace."

"Please stay away from Serena for the next few months. She'll need time to cool down. I can't promise you if she'll like to be your friend."

Ash nodded sadly.

"Thank you again Ms. Grace. For understanding everything."

Grace nodded.

A vehicle then arrived at the hotel's entrance honking at full volume.

"That's my ride. Farewell Ms. Grace."

Before Ash could start running towards the vehicle Grace asked, "Who's the lucky lady?"

Ash froze.

"Come on Ash. Spill the beans!" Grace teased.

"She's the most extrodinary woman I have ever met. Even though I tried to move on from her she will always be the one my heart belongs to. Her name is Misty Waterflower and she's my ex-wife. It's a tragic that I realized to late that I acted like a fool in our marriage and that after all these years..I still love her."

"Then what are you doing here? Go after her!" Grace exclaimed as she pushed Ash.

"Go!"

And he did. He ran as if his life depend on it.
_________________________________________

Hoenn, Freeway to International Airport

Misty chewed her lower lip as she continued looking at the passing ocean view before her.

The vehicle was currently speeding down a freeway right next to the sandy beach helping Misty optain a gorgeous ocean view.

However even the ocean couldn't calm her right now. Her heart was conflicted.

Misty pressed the car's window up and turned her attention back to Hamako.

He was currently sitting besides James and was holding Mweoth.

He looked so broken.

Misty tried to silence her cries as best as she could. 

"This is for the best." She wispered softly.

Hamako slowly raised his head and looked at his mom with tears in his eyes.

Misty then opened her arms so he could go to her.

James made way so Hamako could go to his mom and took Mweoth from him.

Once in Misty's arms Hamako began to silently weep.

Misty softly cried as she caressed her son's hair.

"I know love. I know."

She closed her eyes tightly before she said quietly, "I didn't want to leave them too."

Suddenly all Misty could hear was the sound of multiple police sirens and police helicopters.

"James what's going on?" Misty said as she quickly wiped her tears away.

"I don't kn-"

The car stopped throwing James and Misty completely off gaurd.

"What the hell?" James asked as he lowered his window to see what the whole commotion was about.

Then someone spoke.

"Misty Waterflower we have you surrounded." Officer Jenny spoke through the megaphone.

"I repeat Misty Waterflower we have you surrounded. Please step out of the vehicle."

Misty looked at James puzzeled.

"Look after him."

"Gotcha." James replied as he got Hamako.

"Mom what's going on?"

"I'll be back Hamako. Just stay in the car." Misty replied with a small smile before she shut the car's door and walked down the freeway.

It was good that the freeway was empty expect for the vehicle she was on.

She was surprised to see police cars surrounding her vehicle on both sides.

Even on air there were three police helicopters surrounded her.

"Officer Jenny what's going on?" Misty shouted from her position.

Officer Jenny just smirked.

She then spoke on her megaphone "She's all yours!"

"What?" Misty thought before she heard somone behind her.

Misty quickly turned around and right in front of her stood Ash.

Just a few meters away.

Behind him was Pikachu just a few feet away from him.

As if giving him his own privacy.

"Ash? What's going on?" Misty demanded as she gave him a frown.

Ash could only melochonly stare at the woman before him.

She truly looked breathtaking.

After gazing at her for a quick moment he finally he spoke.

"Misty." He whispered.

No response came from her, but he continued anyway.

"I-I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't deserve it or your friendship, or even your love. But I need you to know that I'm sorry. I am truly sorry for all the things I should've never told you and done."

Misty could only sadly stare at Ash who was now nervously standing a few feet her.

"I do admit. I fucked up. Big time and I regretted it ever since. If I could go back in the past and change it I would. But I can't!" Ash cried out.

Misty silently and slowly made her way towards him with tears streaming down her eyes.

Silence.

Ash sighed. "I hope you know you meant- you mean the whole world to me Mist."

Misty choked back a sob as she coevered her mouth trying to contain her silent cries.

He had called her Mist. Something she hadn't heard since their marraige.

"You and the boys are my entire universe. I love you all. I hope you know that you were never just some person in the audience to me. You were my best friend. My wife. My soulmate. And the day you left I- I was heartbroken and devastated. However what makes my guilt so much worse was that I destroyed my most treasured and significant relationship of all time. I should've went after you but I didn't!"

Ash now looked at Misty in the eye as he continued softly, "I didn't come all this way so you could forgive me Mist. I just wanted you to know how I really felt about you."

"Beacuse I know I would be hoping for the impossible" Ash whispered hoping Misty didn't hear.

"I understand why you were and still are angry at me. I understand your pain. I truly do. But-"

He refused to look away, even as his lips trembled and his shoulders heaved with emotion, unwilling to back down from the battle.

His face brimmed heavy with tears; his hands clenched into shaking fists, in a desperate battle against his inner self.

A lone tear traced down his cheek, and just like that, the floodgates opened.

He wept, tears streaming from his deep blue eyes, loud, heaving sobs tearing from his throat, and still he did not look away.

Tears of despondency slowly cascaded down Misty's cheeks leaving her so weak and frail. Her legs began to shake and she felt so vulnerable. Like she was a teenager all over again.

"You won't have to worry about me anymore. I swear that as soon as we find a way to restablish our custody with the boys you'll never have to see me again. I'll walk out of your life so you will never get hurt again by me. That's a promise Mist."

There was only silence again between the two ex-lovers again. The sound of police sirens blasting in the air and helicopter wind on their faces.

However ever so slowly, brick by brick, her walls came tumbling down.

And when she began to cry there was a rawness to it, like the pain was still an open wound.

Her whole body began to shake. The sobs were stifled at first as she attempted to hide her pain. She didn't want people to know how broken she was. Then she felt overcome by a wave of her deepest emotions that she broke down entirely. All her defences and walls washed away in her salty tears.

Ash was a bit hesitant to go up to her but at the last second decided to screw it.

Running towards her he caught her just when her knees were giving out.

Ash felt her fists up his chest and realized she was punching him.

"No Ash! Why! Why!"

"Because I love you."

"Stop! Don't say that. I've tried moving on from you. Please don't give me hope." Misty cried out.

"Tell me Misty. Please tell me how you really feel."

"I can't you're engaged!"

"I'm not. Not after finally realizing I found the one for me years ago."

Misty cried harder as her hands clenched onto Ash's shirt.

"You want to know how I feel? Fine." Misty said before she let go of Ash and looked at him straight in the eye.

"For almost ten years I waited for a phone call or a sign from you. Ten years!"

Ash just stared at her sadly.

"Everytime I was asked out or forced on a date I tried to move from you. I tried! But-"

Misty wiped her tears away as she continued, "I always wanted them to be you. Even after all the pain you put me through my naive self still yearned for you. It's always and only will be you."

"I had ten years. Years to move on from you yet here I am trying to tell you that..."

Ash's hand slowly made it's way to Misty's right cheek.

"What I'm trying to tell you is I still want you. I want all of you. Your flaws. Your imperfections. Your damn mistakes. I want you and only you! No matter how long or how many times I have to do it, I'll always choose you over and over again. Without a doubt and without a heartbeat."

Ash swore Misty looked so magnificent with her hair smoothly shifting to her right side due to the helicopter air.

He gently touched one of Misty's shoulder before she said, "I will always keep choosing you because I love you too."

And then it was like time stopped when his lips met hers.

Like if it was only them on that empty freeway next to the beach.

No police sirens.

No audience.

No world.

Just the two of them.

Like when they were teenagers on that ship years ago.

The flutter only intensified in Misty's stomach. Her heart pounded in her chest as her knees got weaker.

Yet the only thing she could focus on was how soft he felt against her mouth. How he gently holded her while softly kissing her.

As soon as their kiss broke Misty shook her head.

"Well what do you expect me to do now Ash? That I give up all my career and life to go with you to Pallet town and that-"

"No. I don't expect that at all. We'll figure it out together. Only if you wish to be with me again."

Misty just stared at Ash.

"Look I understand if you don't-" Ash gasped when he felt the tight hug Misty gave him as she jumped into his arms.

"Oh Mist. You don't know how I missed you." Ash cried as he tighten his hug on her.

"You're such a..a."

"Say it. Idiot right?"

"A fool!"

Ash looked down to Misty with a small smile before replying, "I'm your fool. Remember that."

Misty could only smile at him in return before she brought his lips to her's once more.

This time as they kissed she softly caressed his left cheek with her thumb as her other hand was on his neck.

After the broke the kiss Misty was immediately attacked by Pikachu.

"Pikachu-pi!" Pikachu yelled as he landed in Misty's arms.

"Oh Pikachu! Yes, I'm back this time." Misty replied smiling at him.

"Well it's about time!" someone yelled from the megaphone.

Both Ash and Misty turned to the person with the megaphone and were surprised to see Misty's sisters there. 

Todd was right besides them with his camera taking as many pictures as he could of this iconic moment.

"It took you ten years to make up and confess! Ten MF YEARS! Jesus Christ!" someone else yelled.

Ash just laughed as he snaked his arm around Misty's waist before looking up and yelling, "Love you too Brocko!"

Misty waved at Brock who was up in one of the three helicopters. Next to him was Delia, Satoshi, and Jessie.

"Oh Lord. Just great." Misty cursed when she saw news vans arrive with a crowd of paparazzi just by the side of the freeway.

"Oh no. The tea is about to be spilled." Ash joked as Misty just groaned and placed her head on Ash's shoulder.

"Not even a week do I get to be Water Pokèmon Master without causing a scandal. Not even a week!" Misty joked as Ash laughed lightly.

"Hey it's not my problem I went to the galla with a royal family member."

"Ash!" Misty gasped as she smacked him lightly in the chest.

"Hey! I'm just saying. This situation looks like a perfect and great gossip story. Finally revealing herself to the world, Water Pokèmon Master Misty attends the galla with Prince Rudy from Trovita Islands only to be seen the next day kissing Pokèmon Master Ash Ketchum. Tell me if that isn't a story Mist."

"Oh damn you."

They then laughed before they started to make their way back to the world.

As one.