The building where Misty lived didn't have a parking lot, as it only had a view on the main street, so Ash had to park his car a little far. He tightened his grip around Vivian's hand as he walked on the street, trying to spot the familiar entrance door.

"Ice cream—Uncle Ash! I want ice cream!" Vivian refused to move as they walked past an ice cream shop. Ash silently groaned and stepped to the back. "Fine."

"I want strawberry ice cream!" Ash knew it wasn't wise either to buy a kid anything sugary during the night, but it's not like he had a choice. No one in the family could say no to Vivian.

"Okay, Vivi. Okay!"

And plus, it was an opportunity for him to buy one of those tasty Nutella crepes again. He could remember now how he and Misty once bought them from this same shop.

"Thanks, sir, and have a good ending of day."

"Thanks." Ash bent down to Vivian's level and handed her the ice cream. Her face lit up. "Here you go, princess. Don't get it over your dress, okay?"

"Okay! I love ice cream!"

Ash smiled at her enthusiasm. He got up and his phone started to ring.

"Oh God." It was Kaden. Damn it. He thought those two weren't going to get home early...

"Uhm, hi Kaden." Ash pressed the phone to his ear with his shoulder as his hands were busy keeping Vivian around and eating his Nutella crepe.

Hi bro! How is it going? Is Vivi asleep?

Okay, they weren't home. That was good, very good. "Uh—uhyeh—yeah—how's the date going?"

Great! We really needed it. We might get home a little bit late. You don't mind? Do you have work tomorrow?

"Uh—yeah—no worries, bro. Just take your time. I don't have work tomorrow." Ash lied. He thought he should keep them away the maximum possible. There was a good drive between Pallet and Cerulean that awaited him.

You're the best, bro! Thanks!

"Don't thank me. Have a great time."

Good night, Ash!

"Good night."

Ash sighed heavily after his brother hung up. He stopped walking for a second to put his phone back inside his coat pocket, and then started walking again; making sure Vivian is slightly ahead. He needed to keep an eye on her.

"There!" Ash ate quickly what was left of the crepe and pushed Vivian forward. The two got inside the building, and Ash noticed the elevator was taken.

"Pfft. Come on, Vivi!" Vivian let a loud giggle as Ash picked her up and stormed to the stairs.

"Uncle Aash! I'm going to fall!"

"Nope, you won't!"

She giggled loudly, getting the ice cream all over her face. Ash got a little bit of ice cream on his coat too.

He sighed loudly when he reached the third floor and Misty's apartment. He put Vivian down and took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell.

"Where are we, Uncle?"

Hell or Heaven, it depends... Ash bit his lips when he heard Misty's voice behind the door shouting "I'm coming!"

The door opened.

Misty hid her mouth with her hand. She froze for a moment. "Ash? O-oh..."

"Hey... can I..." Ash looked down at his niece and then at Misty. "Can we get in?"

Misty nodded and opened the door wide for them. She looked like she was still trying to believe her eyes.

"Is May here?"

"N-no, she's still with her parents..." Misty shook her head quickly. She closed the door and followed after them. "Do you need..."

Ash looked toward her as he and Vivian walked over to the living room.

Misty shrugged and wrapped her arms around herself. Her hair was wrapped in a towel and she had her bathing robe on so Ash presumed she was just done with her shower. It was a little weird seeing her legs naked. They were so pale...

Ash coughed a bit, trying to kick off the thoughts. Misty looked nervous. Her gaze shifted to Vivian. "Is this girl Kaden's daughter?"

"Yeah, this is Princess Vivian. Say hi to Aunt Misty, Vivi."

"Hi Aunt Misty, my name is Vivi." Ash chuckled as Vivian slightly bent down a she grabbed her dress from the sides. Her mother taught her everything about being a good lady as it seemed.

"Aww, she's so cute. She's an angel!" Misty ruffled her soft golden curls, and Vivian smiled.

Misty raised an eyebrow at Ash when she looked up. "Did you seriously buy the kid ice cream at this hour?"

Ash shook his head. "Don't ask." He then looked down at Vivian who was finally finished with her ice cream pot. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"

"Okay!"

"I'll do it." Misty pointed at her living room as she grabbed Vivian by the hand.

-

Ash looked up when Misty and Vivian walked in. The redhead sat down beside him and dried Vivian's face off with a small white towel. The blonde little girl giggled.

"Isn't she cute?"

Ash smiled slightly. Vivian instantly came to him and hugged his arm when Misty was finished from drying her hands and face.

"She looks a lot like Leila, with the curly blond hair, the eyes..."

"Yeah..."

Misty sighed. The two could barely look at each other.

"Mist."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorr—I mean," Ash adjusted his position and looked directly into Misty's eyes. "About the other day... things went terribly wrong."

Misty bit her lip.

"I want you—I want you to know that I did that because I love you, okay? I know you have a boyfriend, whom you probably love—I don't know, I don't know. All I know is that I love you, and I kissed you because I love you, I care about you, I'm... crazy... about... well, you know, all that romantic shiz."

Vivian looked between the two adults, and she decided she didn't care. She reached out for Ash's phone inside his coat's pocket.

Misty sighed and rubbed her face with her hands.

"Ash, I'm sorry."

"Don't tell me you're sorry!" He frowned. "Say you're... I don't know. Anything but sorry!"

"I want to kiss you but I can't do that in front of your niece!" Misty chuckled as she said that.

Ash blinked. He chuckled. "What?"

"You heard me!"

"Aren't you dating-"

"Oh, stop reminding me of that every second! I don't have a boyfriend, Ash." Misty shook her head. She had a defeated look on the face. "I was just trying to spice things up."

"What? Why? Misty! Come on! That was the worst lie to spice things up!" Ash shouted, but he wasn't angry at all. Misty didn't have a boyfriend. She was available — she was his.

"Please, Ash, just..." Misty sighed. "You have no idea how did it feel to get kissed finally..."

"Just so you know, I felt the same."

"And then you said you were sorry, and... I started speaking nonsense!" Misty rolled her eyes. Ash was starting to feel amused. Things were working out, just like how Brock predicted.

"I just want to make sure you don't think I'm some sick perve-"

"I know you're not, Ash."

"Good."

The two laughed lightly. Vivian was pretty occupied with Ash's phone now.

"Well, it did look like you just wanted to kiss me for kissing..."

"Hey!"

"I know you're not like that!"

Just a little... Ash was really trying hard not to stare at her bare pale legs, and most importantly, he had to get over the fact that she wore nothing under her robe. Come on, Ash! More effort! 

Misty was blushing by now. "Is there a reason why you brought your niece?"

"I was babysitting her. I couldn't let her home alone."

"Oh, right..."

"You want to kiss me so bad?" Ash grinned.

Misty chuckled and rubbed her hand over her hot red cheeks. "Kind of. I'm happy. This is the best night I've ever had."

"Do you realize you look like a teen girl?" And she has this... girly aura surrounding her. Ash has never seen her like this before. It's weird how love can change someone, or what it can do to them.

"I know! I never got the opportunity to do this in my teen years and you know it!" Ash laughed at that.

Ash shifted closer to Misty, his voice a little flirtatious as he told her, "If I knew a kiss would do this to you, I'd have kissed you a long time ago."

"You mean to us."

"You should look at your face, Misty..." Ash shook his head and kept chuckling. "You're so damn cute."

"Ash!"

"I'm telling the truth."

"Please, Ash, take your niece away. I might do something stupid!" Misty squealed after she said that. It had Ash laughing again.

"Just do it."

"No!"

"Uncle Ash," Vivian suddenly put the phone down and started shaking Ash's leg. "I'm bored."

"Oh, how about you get some sleep?" Ash opened his eyes and gave Misty a look only she would understand.

Vivian nodded.

"Okay, but we're going to sleep over Aunt Misty's. Okay?" Misty slapped her forehead. Was Ash serious? "Is that okay?"

Vivian tilted her head, giving Misty a thoughtful look. "Okay."

"Good." Ash got up and picked his niece up as she let a small yawn. Misty got up as well. "May's bedroom. Quick."

"I can't believe you're doing this."

-

Misty was giggling uncontrollably. She couldn't stop herself. She was just too excited and happy.

"You're so cuddly, Ketchum." Misty put her head on Ash's bare abdomen and wrapped her arms around it.

"Well, those doughnuts had to go somewhere."

Misty giggled once again. Both were too relaxed, tucked in Misty's bed and cuddling each other. It's been the case since they put Vivian to bed. They were so warm and comfortable with each other.

"At this rate, I'll probably get huge by the time I turn thirty."

"I wouldn't mind."

"You'll stay around until I hit thirty?"

"I've been around for fifteen years. What would make me leave any time soon?"

"You make a point, beauté."

"Don't call me that!" Misty gave him a playful punch on the chest.

Ash chuckled. He heard his phone vibrate and reached out for it.

"He-"

ASH! WHERE ARE YOU? AND WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?

Ash jerked and sat up. Misty pulled away from him. "Uh—she's with me. She's fine."

WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER? MY DAUGHTER, ASH!

"I'm fine—she's fine, Leila, I swear. I'm with Misty. Vivian is with us—I mean, she's sleeping. I'll bring her early in the morning to Pallet, don't worry." Ash could hear his brother Kaden speak in the background, trying probably to calm Leila down.

ASH KETCHUM! AASH KETCHUM! I SWEAR, I SWEAR-

"I promise Vivi's fine! She's sleeping now, I swear!"

IF YOU DO ANYTHING IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHT-

"No, no! Don't be silly!"

I WILL KILL YOU FIRST THING IN THE MORNING! YOU STINKY KETCHUMS! YOUR BROTHER IS NOT BETTE-

The line went off. Ash narrowed his eyes and looked at his phone. Misty looked concerned. "It's Leila?"

"Yeah... and she said first thing in the morning, she's going to kill me."

"She'll calm down eventually." Misty smiled.

It soon turned a little laugh between them and they went back to their little cuddle.

"Spice things up, huh?"

"Shut up!"

THE END.