Ash POV

We have been walking for what seems like forever. The map of the Kalos region made it look like the walk to Snowbelle City would be short, but we have been walking for hours with no civilization in sight. I am starting to get a bit worried; we had planned to stay in the Pokemon Center tonight but it's already getting dark and we haven't found it. Clemont groans.

"How much longer? I can't feel my legs," He complains, huffing and puffing.

"Don't... be such... a baby... big brother..." Bonnie says, but even she is breathing heavily. I would say we should take a break, but we all know we should try and get to the Pokemon Center before dark. Personally, I am pretty tired, but seem to be in better shape than the others. I glance over at Serena, who is walking to the left of me. She hasn't said a word this entire time. Clemont looks at Serena too.

"Serena are you okay, you look really pale," he remarks. Now that I look, I can see that Clemont is right. All the color seems to have been drained from her face. Serena doesn't look up.

"I'm... fine..." she breathes out, but I can tell something is wrong. She seems be about to tip over. I am about to say something else when Serena interrupts me.

"Don't... worry about it... just... a bit... dizzy..." she says, breathing heavily. Clemont and I look at eachother worriedly.

"If you say so..." I reply slowly. We continue walking and I start up a conversation with Bonnie. She is in the middle of trying to get my gym battle strategy out of me when I hear my name.

"Ash!" Clemont yells, looking back at me. "Serena!" I hurriedly look over at Serena who is swaying back and forth. Finally, her knees buckle and she topples to the ground. Thanks to Clemont's warning, I am able to catch her before she hits the forest floor. I look down at Serena, a concerned expression crossing my face.

"Serena! Are you alright? Serena, wake up!" I exclaim, trying to rouse her. Serena's eyes remain closed. I check for a pulse and, to my relief, find she is still breathing. Confused at what caused her to pass out, I place my hand on her forehead. My eyes widen.

"She is burning up!" I exclaim. Clemont comes to check as well. After feeling her forehead he adjusts his glasses.

"You're right she has a bad fever, best we get her to a Pokemon center. I look down the densely wooded path ahead.

"I don't think we can make it," I say. "Who knows how much longer the walk is, and we'll have to carry her." Bonnie glances at us worriedly.

"Will Serena be alright?" She asks.

"Well, she will be fine if we can get her fever down, but we need to do it fast or things could become dangerous for her," Clemont replies. I brush a stray hair out of Serena's face.

Please be okay.

Clemont looks around. "We should probably camp out here for the night, since we might not be able to make it to the Pokemon center," he says. Bonnie turns her head to the forest skeptically.

"These woods seem kind of dangerous big bro," she says. I speak up.

"Well if it's the best thing for Serena I say we do it." Bonnie and Clemont both nod in agreement. I check the area, then head over to a tree, which I rest Serena against. Bonnie follows me.

"Can you watch over her while I help Clemont with the tent?" I ask. Bonnie nods confidently. As I walk away, I can't help but want to stay with Serena, but I know she is in good hands.

After we get both tents up I carefully carry Serena inside and lay her down. Clemont is working on dinner and Bonnie is getting firewood. I stare at Serena, trying to think of what my mom would do to help her. I recall her using a wet cloth on my forehead when I was fevering, so I dig around my bag, seeing if I have anything.

Suddenly, a flash of blue catches my eye. I reach in and pull out my blue hankerchief, the one I used to help Serena when we were little.

"That'll work," I say. I smile a bit as I recall our first meeting back at summer camp. Then, remembering the problem at hand, I go outside to get the hankerchief wet.

I take the cool cloth and place it on her hot forehead. Hopefully this will help. She looks so fragile laying there. I am almost afraid to touch her, in fear that she will break.

"Please be okay," I think once again, as I watch the pale girl breath in and out.

I promise to protect you.

Bonnie POV

I have been watching the whole thing.  The hankerchief, the staring, its enough to make you just die of kawaiiness. I have kept my fangirling to a minimum, but if Ash so much as holds her hand I'm gonna lose it.

He really does care for her a lot. He hasn't left her side once since she passed out. Just sitting there, watching over her. I let out a happy sigh as I watch them through the open door of the tent.

"Earth to Bonnie?"

I jump and look up to find Clemont trying to get my attention.

"Oh, hehe, hiyah big bro," I say. Clemont rolls his eyes.

"Find any wood?" He asks. I grin and hold it out.

"Yup!"

"How long have you had it?"

"Huh?"

"I told you to tell my when you found the wood so I could start a fire." I sweatdrop.

"Oh yeah, I kinda got... sidetracked," I reply, gazing over at OTP. Clemont follows my eyes, but doesn't seem to connect the dots. He sighs.

"Okay whatever, but lets just get this fire going." I nod and hand him the firewood. I look over one last time at the sleeping Serena.

Take good care if her Ash.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Clemont POV

I finally convince Ash to come and eat. He hasn't wanted to leave Serena's side since the incident, but after a good deal of persuading, I get him to come eat sonething. Ash glances over at Serena's tent again. I chuckle.

"Ash, she's okay, Bonnie is with her and her fever has gone down a bit."

"I know I know, I just can't help but worry though, that was scary back there," he says. I nod.

"But she will be okay now, so you just need to worry about not starving yourself." Ash sighs.

"You're probably right," he says, taking another bite of food.

We finish eating and get into pajamas. Bonnie removes Serena's hat and vest, who still hasn't woken up. Meanwhile, Ash and I are discussing what we ought to do with the sick girl.

"I don't want to leave it up to Bonnie to take care of her, that's kind of a big job for a seven year old," I say.

"I agree, but we need someone there in case her fever gets worse during the night," Ash replies. Bonnie walks over to us.

"I can just sleep with big brother tonight and Ash can stay with Serena in our tent," she proposes. I look at Ash who has turned a bit red.

"Is that okay Ash?" I ask.

"Yeah yeah, that's fine," he says nervously. I look Ash him curiously. He is acting a bit weird.

"Oh well," I think, and shrug it off.

"Well if it's okay with Ash then lets head to bed." Bonnie and Ash nod, and go to grab their pillows.

Ash POV

Why did I agree to this?? I can't sleep in her tent, that's not... well... I just can't! I try to calm myself down as I grab my pillow, heading over to Serena's tent. I pass Bonnie on the way, who gives me a smug smile as she walks past. I gape at her. She planned this! The sneaky little devil. I suppose Serena does need someone to stay with her, but I still can't help but feel embarrassed.

I open the tent flap and set by bag down on the sleeping bag. I try to avoid looking at Serena, pretending like everything is normal, but I glance over at her as I set my pillow down. My face turns red and I start panicking again.

I finally calm myself down enough to lay down. Before I turn off the lantern lighting the tent, I carefully pull Serena's blanket over her shoulders. Laying back, I close my eyes and let the chirping crickets lull me to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I jolt awake, looking around wildly. A sound had woken me up. Sitting up, I look around, trying to find the source. I hear the noise again and find it coming from... Serena. She is whimpering quietly in her sleep. I first sigh in relief that it wasn't some wild Pokemon, then crawl over to Serena.

As I get closer I can see that she is shaking. I clench my fist. It hurts me to see her like this. She continues to make the whimpering noises as I approach. It's almost as if she is having a nightmare. I remove the no longer cool hankerchief from her forehead and place my hand on it. Her fever has gone up again. I frown in worry and go to re-wet the cloth.

The whimpering stops for a moment as I place the hankerchief on her forehead. I keep my hand there, not wanting to move.

My hand moves subconsciously, stroking her hair. "Please be okay Serena," I say quietly. I lay my head down on the ground, my hand still on Serena's head. I struggle to keep my eyes open but eventually sleep overtakes me.

I jolt awake again. It is still dark outside. I look over at Serena and find her... awake. I sit up in surprise. She is looking around the room fearfully.

"Where am I? What's going on? Ash? Clemont? Bonnie? Where are you guys?" Serena says, panicking. I grab her shoulders.

"I'm right here Serena," I say. "We are in your tent, it is still night time. You have had a bad fever and you passed out yesterday," I explain. Serena's breathing slows and she looks into my eyes. Then, her cheeks turn pink. She looks to the side nervously.

"Um... well... what are you doing in my tent Ash?" She asks, blushing even more. Her question catches me off guard and I turn bright red.

"Of course she would ask that you baka," I think to myself. I avoid Serena's gaze in embarassment.

"Your fever was really bad and we were getting worried, so we wanted someone to stay with you in case you needed help. We didn't want to give Bonnie that responsibility so I was volunteered," I mumble, explaining the awkward situation. Serena looks a relieved.

"Oh, okay," she says. There is an awkward silence.

"You should probably get back to sleep, you're still sick," I say. Serena nods and turns over. I climb back in my sleeping bag and close my eyes. A moment later, I hear my name.

"Ash?"

"Yeah?"

"Um... is this..."

I sit up and look over at Serena, who is looking at the blue hankerchief.

"The hankerchief from summercamp? Yeah, it was the only thing I had so I just used it," I reply. Another silence.

"Thank you," She says quietly.

"For what?"

"For taking care of me."

I scratch my cheek nervously. "It was no problem."

"For tonight and when we were little." I flashback to that day.

"That's what friends are for right?"

"Mhm." I lay there for a moment.

"Hey Serena?" I ask.

"Yeah?"

"Please don't do that again."

"Do wha-"

"You really scared me, I was afraid you might not wake up. Please don't worry us like that again." Serena is surprised into silence for a moment.

"O-okay," she replies.

"Good." I close my eyes and almost immediately fall asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Serena POV

I wake up pretty late. My head still hurts, but I feel much better than last night. I look around and find that Ash is already out if bed. I push the covers off and try and push myself up, seeing if I can stand. At that moment, Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie enter the tent. Bonnie is holding a bouquet of flowers and Clemont is holding a tray of food. Ash rushes forward as I try to stand.

"Woah woah woah, what do you think you are doing?" He says, grabbing my arm and balancing me. I look confused.

"Getting out of bed?" I reply. Ash helps me sit back down.

"You are not conpletely better yet so you need to be careful," he instructs. I roll my eyes.

"I'm fine, really," I say.

"Oh really," Ash replies, crouching down. He puts his hand on my forehead, causing my cheeks to heat up.

"You still have a fever," he says, removing his hand.

I fold my arms. "Whatever," I say. Ash steps back and Bonnie comes forward.

"I picked you these," she says, handing me the flowers. I smile.

"They are beautiful Bonnie, thank you," I say. She beams.

"I'm really glad you are feeling better. We were all so worried. Especially Ash," she says, grinning mischieviously at the last part. Ash turns bright red.

"I wasn't that worried," he protests.

"He wouldn't even leave you for food," Bonnie adds, enjoying teasing Ash. Ash avoids eye contact.

"Whatever," he says, embarassed. I giggle. Clemont comes forward with the tray.

"Madam Serena, your breakfast is ready," he says in a French accent. I laugh.

"Why thank you Monsieur," I reply. We all smile. The others sit down around me as we begin to talk and laugh.

I have the best family in the world.