Pallet Town, Ketchum Ranch
(Late Noon)

Ash and Hamako walk through a huge stable housing multiple Rapidash pokèmons.

Ash then palaces his arm around Hamako as he starts.

"Satoshi, there's something really important I want to talk to you about."

"Great because there's something really important I want to talk to you about."

"Okay, you go first."

"No, you."

"Alright, I want to talk to you about Serena.."

"I want to talk to you about my mom bec-what about Serena?"

Ash looked throwned out as he looked at Hamako with wide eyes as he stuttered, "W-W-What about your mom?"

"Dad, I'm almost ten. How long do you expect me to buy the story that Unce Brock just suddenly found me from a Pokèmon egg? You're THE Pokèmon Master. That means my mom should've been someone significance to catch YOUR attention."

Ash groaned as he said, "C'mon, Satoshi, we've talked about your mom..."

Hamako glared at Ash as he said firmly, "No we haven't. Not deeply. A kid needs more in life than half of a crumpled old photograph. Dad, face it, I need a mom."

Ash stood in despond before looking at Hamako and nodding.

"You know what? You're right. You do. How about we go for a ride so we can talk more?"

Hamako nodded.

________________________________________

Ash and Hamako gallop on their own Rapidash through Pallet Town. They then slow their Rapidash to walk slowly as they begin talking.

"So, Satoshi, about our talk a little while ago. Um..what do you think of Serena?"

"As what? Your publicist? Your friend? Your...I got nothing?"

"Overall, just what do you think of her as a individual?"

"Well, she has good fashion taste and she has nice hair..."

Hamako then raised his eyebrow at Ash as he said, "Honestly, the woman's a complete stranger to me. I pratically met her. Why do you want my opinion anyway dad?"

Ash sighed heavily as he before saying, "Well, Satoshi..I-... because believe it or not, I-..."

Hamako shook his head as he said cutting Ash off, "Race you back to the ranch, Dad!"

Hamako then takes off leaving Ash alone. Even Pikachu would be jealous at the speed Hamako left.

"Wait! Satoshi, I'm trying to tell you something!"
________________________________________

Out of breathe, Hamako runs up the porch steps and throws open the screen door. Once inside the living room he tries catching his breathe.

"I can't handle this alone. I just can't. I'm only one kid against two adults. I can't."

Jessie then peaks her head around the corner of the arm chair she was hiddenly sitting on.

She shuts her book as she says crossing her arms, "You got something you'd like to share with the class Satoshi?"

"Oh, Jessie, you agitated me!"

Jessie then stood up as she repeated, "I agitated you?"

"You scared me. I didn't know you were here."

Jessie then started walking towards Hamako as she said, "You sure there's nothing you want to talk to me about?"

She began walking around Hamako as she proceeded.

"Like maybe why Pikachu didn't come near you for the first few days and suddenly he becomes so attached to you. Or why your appetite's suddenly changed or why all of a sudden you're neat as a pin and using vocabulary like, 'You agitated me!'? Or more importantly why you haven't asked about your Grandmother?"

Hamako gulped.

"Jessie, I changed a lot over the summer, that's all. I know Grandma is on vacation with Mr. Mime and that she'll be at the Pokèmon Galla..."

Jessie then stood in front of him as she said, "If I didn't know better, I'd say it's almost as if you were..."

Jessie then shook her head.

"Never mind, that's impossible."

She then turned leaving towards the kitchen.

"Almost as if I were who Jessie?"

"Nobody. Forget I even mentioned it."

Hamako bit his lip hardly. He looked at Jessie again as he said softly, pouring his heart out.

"Almost as if I were... Hamako?"

Jessie stoped walking. She felt goose-bumps popping up all over her shoulders.

She then turns to look at Hamako as she softly whispered with wide eyes, "You know about Hamako?"

Hamako looked at Jessie with sad eyes as he finally said with a soft voice, "I am Hamako."

Before any of them could react Ash entered the room panting.

Ash then looked at Hamako with a annoyed expression as he said, "Why'd you take off like that? I told you I wanted to talk to you about something?"

He stopped as he saw Jessie looking at Hamako with big teary eyes and a sad look.

"Jessie, why are you looking at Satoshi like that?"

Jessie shook her head.

"Like what? I'm not looking at him any special way." 

Ash raised an eyebrow.

"I'm looking at him just like I've looked at him for the past nine years. Since the day he came home from the hospital, seven pounds, eleven ounces, twenty inches long."

Jessie sobbed lightly as she said with a broken voice, "Can I hug him?"

Jessie, all broken up, hugs Hamko like she's hugging him for the first time.

Jessie cups Hamako's cheeks as she says, "He's so handsome and so big. My poor baby!"

Hamako gives Jessie a look that pleads her to not tell Ash.

Jessie let's go of Hamako as she wipes her face and says, "I'm gonna go make you something special to eat for dinner. What would you like? Oh, it doesn't matter. I'll whip up everything we've got. Don't worry baby!"

Jessie takes off before Ash could stop her.

Ash shakes his head in confusion as he whispers, "Why's everybody acting so weird around here? Satoshi, we have to talk."

"Alright, shoot."

"Look... I want to know what you
think about making Serena part of the family?"

"Part of our family?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Ash sighed. His heart felt heavy as he looked at Hamako's eyes and said with a painful voice, "Look Satohsi. All these past years I have failed you as a dad. You don't have a mom to fill in that broken hole in your heart. I am so sorry about that."

Ash then smiled painfully at Hamako as he continued.

"After meeting Serena last month I maybe though she could fill in that place in your life for you."

Ash then looked at Hamako's eyes and saw pain in them.

He breathed in before saying with a soft voice, "I'm going to marry her."

Hamako took a few steps back glaring at Ash.

"Marry her?!? That's insane! How can you marry a woman and expect me to treat her like my mom? I HAVE a mom somewhere!"

Hamako then starts to rant towards Ash then suddenly slips into French.

Ash then tried to calm down Hamako as he spoke, "Satoshi, calm down."

He then stared at him stunned as he asked, "Now you speak French?!?"

Hamako was still glaring at him as he said, "I learned it at camp."

"What? I never learned French when I went to Professor Oak's Camp. That's not fair."

Hamako took a breath before saying, "Okay, I'm sorry. Let's discuss this calmly and rationally. Like the gentlemen we are."

"Yes please, and in English, if you don't mind. Man, what has gotten into you?"

Hamako snapped.

"What has gotten into ME? What has into YOU?! Dad, you can't get married!"

Hamako then ran out of the room. Ash sighed sadly when he hears the sound of Hamako slamming his bedroom door. He then noticed Jessie standing in the doorway, biting her lips.

Jessie then glared at Ash as she said, "Don't look at me, I know nothing." and left Ash alone in the room.

Ash then slowly sinks on one of the couches and sadly looked outside the windows.

"Oh Mist. What am I going to do." Ash whispered sadly with tired eyes.

The sound of a horn honking is heard and Ash stands up only to see Serena getting off her beautiful red Ferrari.

As soon as Serena enters the house she exclaims, "Hi babe!"

She then looked at Ash and worriedly said, "You look stressed, babe. How about a Martini?"

Ash winced. He wasn't a alcoholic drinker but right now he was feeling extremely depressed.

"How about some whiskey?"

Serena then snaps open her purse and takes out a GUCCI box.

She removes a small silver bell which she then holds up and rings.

"Jessie?"

She rings it again more violently. Ash gives her a weird look.

"It's just what we need. It's such a big house. JESSIE!!!"

Serena rings the bell again louder. 

Jessie then appears with an annoyed look.

"You rang?" Jessie scoffed with an offended look.

"One martini and a whiskey."

Jessie then turns to Ash and raises an eyebrow.

Ash then said begging to Jessie, "Please, Jess. I'm getting a headache."

Jessie then mockingly holds her shirt-tails out and bows before leaving.

Serena just glared at her as she left. She would have to get rid of that Nanny.

"I told Satoshi."

"You did? And?"

"He lost it. Started yelling in
French, which I didn't even know he spoke. I just don't want to hurt him."

"This reaction is totally classic. It's 'Dad's Getting Remarried - 101'. I'd worry if he didn't react this way. Look, why don't I talk to him... future-mom to son."

Ash sighed as he said, "He's a little sensitive about you right now. He brougt in his biological mom into-"

Ash got interuppted as Serena kissed him.

"That's why I need to do it. We've got to break the ice sometime."

Serena then left leaving Ash with a bigger headache that could make even Psyduck's headache out of buissness.
________________________________________

Hamako sits on his balcony with Pikachu by his side. Serena then appears behind him, knocking on the balcony door.

"Knock-knock. Can I join you?"

Hamako shrugs.

"Guess the news of the engagement came as a bit of a shock."

"Yeah."

"I remember what it was like to be eleven. I had my first everything at eleven. It's a wonderful age. You're starting to feel independent and believe it or not soon you'll understand what it's like to be in love!"

"I'm turning ten."

"Oh!"

"Well being in love is a fantastic mystery that takes a man and woman on a magical journey to a place of castles and..."

Hamako studied Serena before saying, "No. Love is about choosing that person first before all things. It's about dedicating your life to them and loving them with every piece of you. Eternally loving them for as long as you will."

"Who told you that?"

"Someone that I love."

They stared at eachother before Serena smirked and said, "Boy, your Dad sure underestimates you."

"But you won't, will you, Serena?"

They studied each other carefully.

"The reality is,'angel', you are no longer the only significance person in Ash Ketchum's life. Get over it."

"My Dad's money or title has nothing do with you wanting to marry him, right?"

Serena scoffed before she stood up and said threatenly to Hamako, "Now you listen and listen good. I'm marrying your father in two weeks whether you like it or not. So I suggest you do not mess with me anymore. Am I clear?"

Hamako just glared at her.

________________________________________

Waterflower Villa, Backyard Patio (Evening)

As Satoshi, Misty, his aunts and James ate dinner in the backyard admiring the evening sky, they giggled at the jokes Satoshi cracked during dinner.

Suddenly Satoshi's heart felt in pain. As if someone was squeezing it very hardly. The house's phone kept ringing for the fifth time this day but Misty strictly ordered everyone to not answer the phone today.

Apparently the Pokèmon League would call every year on this day to invite Misty to attend the Pokèmon Galla, as she is THE Water Pokèmon Master. However every year Misty never attended the galla. It was only one rare and special occasions one could see the Water Pokèmon Master.

As Satoshi stood up he said, "Mom, I feel like I could use a bit of alone time. Would it be okay if I stepped outside for a moment?"

Misty looked at Satoshi worriedly before she said, "Of course. Are you okay? Would you like me to come with you?"

Satoshi gave a small smile as he answered, "No, no. I'll be fine."

Satoshi then wipes his mouth with his napkin and excuses himself. His aunt Violet watches him closely as he leaves the backyard.

Satoshi hurriedly bikes down the mountain, turns a corner, spots a phone and rushes to it. He pulls the door closed and dials the operator.

"Hello? Yes, I'd like to make a collect-call to Pallet Town, please. Area code 3000."

________________________________________

Pallet Town, Satoshi's Bedroom

Back in Pallet Town Hamako paces around Satoshi's bedroom worriedly. Suddenly the phone rings. Hamako runs towards the phone while Pikachu looks at him worriedly.

"Chu."

"Hello? Satoshi, thank goodness you returned my call! I'm absolutely desperate!"

"What's wrong?"

"Dad's getting married."

"What?"

"The wedding's in two weeks! If there's any hope of getting Mom and Dad back together, we've got to do it FAST."

"Alright, Mom and I are going to the movie cinemas tonight so I'll drop the bomb on her first thing in the morning."

"Please hurry. We're all going to the Galla so.."

"On it. Convince Mom."
________________________________________

Cerulean City

However to Satohsi's unexpectance a woman outside the Phone Booth, reads the evening paper, waiting to use the-phone.

After both boys hangs up Satoshi steps out of the booth, bumbing into the woman who's been waiting.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me."

The woman turns around and to Satoshi's surprise it's his Aunt Violet.

"Shoot." Satoshi mumbled as he looked down to his feet.

"What do you say you and I take a little stroll back up the hill back home?"

Satoshi nodded his head slolwy and grabbed his aunt's hand as they began walking up the mountain. Both pushing their own bike.

"Its a long story Aunt Violet." Satoshi finally said biting his lip.

Violet smiled before she replied, "Well it is a long walk back home.."

And so Satoshi began to tell her the whole story. Violet listening to every second of it.

_

_____________________________________

Waterflower Villa, Backyard Pool

After breakfast the whole gang went for a swim in the backyard pool. Satoshi then saw all his three aunts giving him that look to tell Misty the truth. Satoshi sighed sadly.

At that moment Misty walked out to the backyard with a huge smile on her face. She walked to the edge of the pool and crouched down to Satoshi as she said,

"I just finished feeding all the pokèmons. After you finish taking a refreshing shower how about you and I go out to lunch and spend the rest of the day getting lost by the bay area?"

Satoshi looked at Misty sadly. He felt a lump in his throat.

Satoshi then nervously said, "I can't Mom. I'm sorry. I have to go out of the city today."

Misty raised an eyebrow at this as she giggled and asked, "You have to go out of the city?"

She then stretched her arms out and pulled out Satoshi from the pool. She then draped a towel over him and began drying his hair.

She then continued with his little game as she asked, "And may I ask where are you going?"

Satoshi then covered himself with his towel as he blocked Misty from his view. 

Misty laughed lightly before tickling Satoshi.

"Hamako?" Misty cooed as she tried to see her son.

Satoshi's voice sounded muffled from under his towel as he replied, "That's where I have to go. I have to go see Hamako."

Misty hummed as she played along with her son. "I see. And I wonder where would my Hamako be?"

Satoshi's voice cracked as he said, "In Pallet Town with his Dad, Ash Ketchum."

Misty froze.

She feelt as if a million trucks have run over her as her body aches. Her heart completely stop beating as she stares at little boy covered by the towel. Her breathing turns sharp as her eyes widen.

She looks up to see all her sisters standing besides the pool with tears in their eyes. Violet gives her a sad smile as she nods. Misty's eyes instantly fill with tears. She lifts the towel to see Satoshi scared to death.

Misty breathes deeply as she asks, while trying not to break down in tears, "You're not Hamako?"

Satoshi nods sadly.

"You're Satoshi..."

Satoshi gave her a sad smile as he answered, "I am."

Satoshi then breathed in before he began telling Misty his story.

"Hamako and I met at camp and the whole beans spilled. We decided to switch places and pretend to be eachother. I'm sorry, but I'd never seen you and I'd dreamt of meeting you my whole life and Hamako felt the exact same way about Dad. I hope you're not mad at me. I love you so much and I just hope one day you can love me as me."

Misty finally broke down into tears as she hugged her little boy and replied, "Oh, Satoshi, I've loved you your whole life."

Misty then asked, "Why didn't you tell me it was you all along?"

Satoshi breaks down as he says, "I was so scared."

Watching from afar James starts bawling hysterically. Daisy, Violet, and Lily all gently pull James into the house

After Satoshi and Misty break from their hug Misty wipes his tears.

MIisty cups one of Satoshi's cheeks as she says, "Oh my baby. I'm so sorry if you ever thought I didn't love you."

Misty then kissed Satoshi's forehead before saying, "I love you and Hamako so much. My two boys."

Satoshi sniffed before asking sadly, "I guess you have to switch us back now, right?"

Misty nodded sadly as she said, "Sadly yes. Legally, you belong to your father and Hamako belongs to me."

"I hate this arrangement Mom."

"I hate it too Satoshi. I don't want to lose you now that we've been together."

"Well, then I guess we'll just have to attend finally this year's Pokèmon Galla to see Hamako and Dad and work this whole thing out."

Misty sighed sadly as she replied, "I guess we will."

"Will you be nervous about seeing Ash again?" Daisy yelled out as she stood in the doorframe, smirking at Misty.

Misty glared at her.

"Of course not! I can handle seeing Ash Ketchum after all these years. People see their ex's all the time, don't they?"

Misty then looked down at Satoshi as she said smiling to him, "Don't worry love. I'll take care of everything."
________________________________________

Waterflower Villa, Misty's Bedroom

Misty paces around her room as she bites her lip hard with a worried face while throwing clothes all over her open suitcase.

"I'm sorry, I just can't handle this. I haven't seen or heard from Ash Ketchum in over eight years and suddenly I'm flying halfway across the region to that darn Galla. I'm not mature enough for this. If the man didn't make me so crazy, I'd still be married to him!"

Misty paced around her room with an worried face.

"We came up with this-arrangement so we'd never have to see each other again. Curse me! Why didn't I think of checking the camp's name!"

Misty then puts on her sunglasses as she says to James, "Look at me, James, have you ever seen me like this?"

James raises an eyebrow at her outfit. Sunglasses? It's 9:00 of the night.

Misty holds her hand up as she says quickly, "Nevermind, don't answer that."

James sighs.

Misty begins pacing again. "What if he doesn't recognize me? Be honest, James, how old do I look? No, don't answer that either."

Misty then stopped as she exclaimed, "Oh! What am I worried about? He could be fat or bald. Or both. Knowing Ash he loved food more than me! He probably IS fat!"

James laughed before saying, "Actually, Satoshi said Ash's still quite the hunk.  Never re-married, either. Just like you, Misty."

Misty sighed as she looked at James before saying, "James, it just so happens I'm not remarried by choice. I've had my opportunities for that. That ship has long sailed in my life. But I've had my share of gentlemen callers."

James rolls his eyes.

Misty looks out the window sadly.

"He said he was a hunk, huh? He was rather dashing. He used to make me weak in the knees..."

Lily then enters Misty's room.

She wrinkles her nose at Misty as she says, "Gosh little Sis. You look horrible."

Misty looks sharply at her.

"Alright jeez. Like chill woman. I just came by to tell you that Violet already called the Pokèmon League confirming you are attending this year. They said tomorrow around noon they are going to send a jet to pick you guys up."

She then turned to leave. However she said one last thing.

"By the way, Satoshi is already asleep."

After Lily leaves the room Misty grabs James by his arm and says, "James, I have a really ridiculous and childish request to make. James, you're more than a Butler to me. You're like my big brother who just happens to wait on us and I was wondering if-"

"I'd accompany you to make the trip a bit easier for you?" James said excitedly.

Misty smiled as she exclaimed, "Would you, James? I'd be forever grateful!"

James smiled at Misty as he replied,  "I'd be honored to go to the Galla."

He then walked towards Misty closet and said, "And as your friend. If I were you and if I were seeing my ex after ten years and I had your legs..."

James then came out of her closet holding a light red and white dress.

"I'd wear this baby. You'll kill in it."
________________________________________

Later that night Misty walked inside Hamako's room to see Satoshi sleeping pleacefully on his bed.

Misty smiled sadly at her son before she sat besides him. She slowly ruffled his hair softly and studied him.

After a while Misty tucked him in and kissed him goodnight. She closed the bedroom's room and walked down the stairs towards the backyard.

As Misty sat down in one of the backyard chairs she stared up at the dark blue sky fillled with stars.

"Psyduck?"

Misty looked down to her feet and saw her trusty pokèmon Psyduck looking up to her with a sad face.

"Oh Psyduck. What am I going to do?" Misty asked him as she picked him up.

"Psyduck."

Misty frowned as she continued.

"I'm scared Psyduck. I'm scared of losing my son. I can't bare leaving him again. I'll never forgive myself. Leaving him once broke my heart."

Psyduck just patted her hand as he listened to his master's sorrow.

Misty's face turned dark as she kept talking.

"And him. That jerk. I never wanted to see him ever again. That's why I never attend that stupid Galla. I don't think he even knows I'm the Water Pokèmon Master."

Psyduck just studied her face. She had a tears in her eyes and her voice sounded tired.

"I don't know how I'm going to face him Psyduck. I- that scar he left is still freshly open, as the day I walked out of that house."

Misty then looked up at the moon as she remembered how she met the boy behind the title. The boy the whole world adored. The boy she loved for who he truly was and not because of his title or status. She still remembered how she met Ash Ketchum.
________________________________________

Pallet Town, Ketchum Ranch

Ash Ketchum sighed he stood by the doorframe watching Hamako sleep. He watched his son sleep snuggled against Pikachu. These last few days Pikachu has always been by Hamako's side. Never leaving the boy alone.

He smiled sadly at his son before he closed the door.

Ash then finally walked down the stairs and into the backyard. He laid down against a lounge chair and observed the sky.

"Pika."

Ash jumped up and saw Pikachu by his side looking at him in worriedly.

"Hey Pikachu." Ash said happily as Pikachu jumped up to his arms.

"Pika."

Ash sighed as he said, "You know what Satoshi said when I told him about making Serena his mom?"

Pikachu glared at Ash as he said, "Pikachu."

Ash sighed sadly as he said, "He said he already has a mom. A mom somewhere out there. Oh Pikachu! I don't know what to do. I don't know what to tell Satoshi the day he forces me to talk about his mom. M-."

Ash couldn't say her name. It sounded so foreign yet so right.

"Pika-chupi." Pikachu said sadly as he nuzzled his head on Ash's chest.

Ash let a few tears fall as he whispered with a broken voice, "Yeah Pikachu. Only Mewtwo knows where Misty is right now."

Ash then thought about his other son. "Misty probably remarried again. I mean she was one of a kind. Hamako is probably is growing up with one big happy family. Satoshi needs that too."

Both boys laid in despond as they saw the full moon with a big broken heart.