I got the idea of writing this one-shot after I saw some avatars PersonSayinStuff made. So, I guess I dedicate this to her? I know you're a hardcore Contestshipper but... maybe Contestship is for next time?

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Ash remembers the day his daughter Azure came into this world like it was yesterday.

How could he ever forget the moment his precious daughter was first placed in his arms? She was so tiny, so defenseless. She literally couldn't survive without their help... his help. While nestled in his safe embrace, Ash instinctively made her a promise... to protect her always and keep her safe.

Ash and his daughter Azure shared a strong bond; he was the one to wake up at night to check on here even when she's not crying, he changed her diapers more than her mother did and he even bathed her every day. He just loved it when he'd tickle his baby girl's stomach and she'd giggle. 

When Azure was a child, she was whenever Ash was. He'd pick her up from her bed on the weekends and go out to the park; take her out for ice cream; leave the house and go have lunch at McDonald's; giggling at how Misty is oblivious to their little escapes, sleep beside each other on Azure's pink bed and bake cake together for Mother's Day.

Their strong relationship started falling into pieces when Azure started going through puberty.

She didn't like sleeping beside Ash anymore. She didn't like going out with him and having ice cream. She didn't like washing the car with him, and she hated when he tickled her stomach.

She said it made her feel fat, so Ash stopped doing it. 

"What is wrong with Azure?" Misty looked really surprised when Ash asked her that one night. It was dark outside and Azure was still at her friend's birthday party. She was only thirteen. Wasn't it dangerous?

"She's... changed."

"She's growing up, that's what! She's a girl, Ash. She's changed. You said it. Girls change, both physically and emotionally. She doesn't want to act like a kid anymore because she can't. Leave her alone."

She grew up, Ash knew that. It was the harsh truth he learned to accept over the years. To Azure, she has grown and that's it, to Ash, she was still his baby girl, his princess. How was he going to get over her?

He felt horribly left out. As she grew up, year after year, he felt like he was becoming more and more of a spectator of his daughter's life. He was just watching her from behind; watching himself get pushed away more and more.

But she was growing up, right? She was a beautiful girl. She was trying to get noticed, be cool at school, wear cute skirts and go on dates with boys (and Ash hated boys). She wore makeup, talked hours on the phone, plucked her eyebrows, dieted and went on jogs. She was nothing like the baby girl Ash carried in his arms sixteen years ago.  

It tore his heart apart when, last week, he heard her ask Misty in the kitchen:

"Is daddy mad at me? He doesn't talk to me."

It killed him. Every word she spoke killed him.

"Of course not. He's just busy with work."

"Are you sure? He just doesn't ask me how I'm doing, or about school... or even my friends."

"There is work, and then he has to take care of Grandma and go often to her house. She gets mad if he doesn't visit."

"But he's my dad, no?"

Ash watched the movie tickets he's bought last week. Today was Valentine's Day, and he was determined to spend it with someone special.

He sat in the living room, waiting for Azure to get home from school. Misty was behind the kitchen counter, scrubbing it.

"Now now, aren't you worried I'll get jealous?"

"You'll have to get use to it. From now on, I'll be going on a lot of dates with my favorite lady."

Misty chuckled. "Azure wanted to see that movie."

"She better do. I stood in line for more than an hour to get these." He was hungry and sweaty. He was tired from work and his office clothes were suffocating him (try having an office job, carrying around a protruding belly and sit down with a belt on for eight hours). But still, he knew getting those tickets would make Azure very happy.

"I'm sure she'll be happy."

"I hope so."

The door unlocked suddenly.

"Mom!" Azure showed up. She closed the door with her foot and rushed over to where Misty stood. Everything happened under Ash's gaze.

"Look!" Azure giggled loudly and placed two bouquets of roses and chocolate on the counter. "I got this for Valentine's Day!"

"Oh, really? That's wonderful!"

"I've found sooooo many chocolates on my desk! I recognized the names of the guys! One of them is a senior and he plays basketball! He's really cute!" Azure lifted up one bouquet. "Isn't it pretty, mom?"

"Aw, you're so happy!"

"Of course I am!" Azure giggled again and started walking toward the stairs. "I need to get ready! Sarah and I are going on a double date-they asked us out, yay! I need to call her because we want to wear dresses of same color!"

Misty watched her daughter rush upstairs, giggling loudly and all blushing. She spoke up as she put the roses in the vase, "Look at the roses they got her! Our-..."

Then it hit her.

Misty turned toward the living room. Ash was nowhere to be seen, but the main door was slightly open. She left the kitchen and walked quickly over to the coffee table.

The two movie tickets were on it.

Ash sighed heavily and put his arms on the top of the steering wheel of his Mercedes Class S. 

"She's grown up, Ash. Just get over it..." He sighed again and leaned back on the seat. What was he thinking, buying movie tickets for him and his daughter? It's not like she had time for him. She'll be seventeen next year; she's going to head off for college during summer. She'll hit eighteen then, and she'll surely tell them she'd like to move in with some guy. Ash could already see it coming. Azure has slipped off of his arms - the arms that embraced her the first time after she was born...

"I'm so silly." He sighed.

Misty has already made plans with her neighbors since he was supposed to go out with Azure, so he had no other options. All he could do on this hopeless day is go to his mother's house and eat in hopes to forget about the fact that his daughter is going out with a guy and they'll surely end up kissing each other with the jerk's hands all over her precious body.

"Calm down, Ash. She's a big girl. Calm down..." Ash closed his eyes for a moment.

He opened his eyes and switched on his car.

"Daddy!"

Ash jumped up in his seat when Azure opened the car door on his side. "Where did you go? I was looking for you!"

"I'm right here." Ash smiled weakly. She looked incredibly beautiful wearing the dress and with her hair all wavy and curly. He never liked the sight of makeup on his precious daughter's face, but Misty said it's the age. "I was heading off to see Grandma. She's tired."

"Really?" Azure brushed her orange hair behind her ear. "I wanted to show you my dress-"

"It's very beautiful, princess." Ash put his hand on the steering wheel. "Do you want me to drop you off?"

Azure smiled. "Suck in your belly so I can pass, daddy."

"Wh-owh! Hey!" Ash leaned to the back as his daughter got in the car and tried to get to the front seat next to him through the small space between his seat and the steering wheel. Ash instantly lifted up the handbrake so the car without move.

"Azure! That's dangerous when the car is switched on! You can't jump over people who are in the driver seat! What if I touched the gas pedal without noticing?"

"But I didn't notice it was switched on! Your car doesn't make noise!" Azure pouted. "I'm sorry."

Ash sighed. "It's fine." He turned toward her and smiled. "Where will I be dropping my beautiful princess?"

She lifted up the two movie tickets Ash's gotten. "The movies, of course! Today, it's a date with daddy!"

His eyes got instantly teary and he beamed.

-

It was a rushed one-shot. So?

Peace.