Ash pulled over and got out of his car quickly. This time, he was really worried about Misty. Usually, Misty can work out things on her own and is reliable. She doesn't shout help over the phone every day, so Ash was really concerned this time.

He hoped nothing bad happened. Misty wasn't even clear over the phone. She was saying too much at once and mumbling incoherent replies. Ash thought he'd better pay her a visit in Cerulean.

"Misty?" Ash called out behind the locked door of her apartment. He rang the doorbell again. His phone started ringing. It was Misty?

"Uhm, Mist? Open the door."

I can't—use the keys—I can't move...

"Wha—okay, I get it, you're on your period? You need something?"

No! But just use the keys...

She hung up. Ash was completely confused. What was Misty up to?

Ash unlocked the door and got in. The house was completely messy, as if a hurricane has ravaged the whole place. "Misty? Where are you?"

"In the bathroom!" a shout came from behind the restroom door. 

"Did the door get stuck? That's why you called me?" Ash chuckled. He walked over the bathroom's door and tried to turn the handle. The door opened quickly and he almost lost his balance.

"Hey!"

Misty closed the door again when he got in. She looked completely terrified.

"Uhm, what's going on?"

"This is so scary there is something in my kitchen it's moving and it moves fast and it scared me and I think it's a cockroach and I can't even imagine myself killing it because it's disgusting and I hate this and I hate bugs so much and I don't even know why they have to exist because they're so ugly and useless!"

Ash stared at her for a moment. His smile was noticeable. "And you're hiding in the bathroom so it doesn't kill you?"

"It's not funny!"

"Seriously, Mist, all this mess because of a microscopic little bug? I thought you were sick."

"It's not microscopic! It's huge! I couldn't even—ewwwwww!" Misty shuddered and hugged Ash.

"It's microscopic compared to you." Ash rolled his eyes.

"I don't care!"

"Okay, this is stupid. I drove all the way to here because my girlfriend is scared of a stupid little bug?"

"This one is not like the others! It's so big and fat and disgusting and scary!"

"So convincing. Let's get out of this bathroom." Ash unlocked the door and got out. Misty followed slowly after him.

"You don't have to follow me inside the kitchen, you know. We wouldn't want the monster to eat us both."

"Hey!"

"A huge mess over a little bug..." Ash mumbled to himself as he turned the doorknob of the kitchen. It was locked. He turned toward Misty. "Misty, come on..."

"It's scary—it's really scary!" Misty kept talking as she unlocked the door. Ash found this whole thing just funny. "Anything but bugs—anything but bugs! I hate bugs! They hate me! I feel so powerless when I—they're so yucky! I hate bugs! God just hates me!"

"Okay, we got it."

"Misty, let go of the doorknob."

"Misty."

"Misty, let go. I got this."

Misty let go of the kitchen's doorknob. When Ash opened it wide, she screamed.

"What was that for?"

The redhead shook her head and stepped to the back. Ash rolled his eyes and got inside. Misty screamed when he opened a drawer. It made him jump up.

"Misty, stop screaming!"

"I do it unconsciously!" Misty defended herself. She was still by the doorway.

"I don't care. Stop screaming. There are other people living with you in this building..." Ash trailed off as he started looking under the kitchen table, and that is when he noticed something moving. He decided not to say anything about it so Misty won't freak out.

"Did you find it? Did you?" Misty received no answer. Ash was still under the kitchen table.

"Oh—I can't spend the night here then! I just can't! Can I stay with you in Viridian? I don't want to spend the night with the cockroach in my house! Ew! No!"

"I hate this place—I'm going to sell this house, that's it! I'm moving in with you, okay? This place sucks! I hate bugs! I hate bugs! I hate bugs!"

"I got it!"

Misty instantly started screaming again. She let three loud shouts in a high pitched voice. Her eyes shot wide open when Ash stood up and held a white hamster in his hand.

"It was a hamster, Misty."

"W-what?" Misty couldn't believe her eyes.

"It's a hamster. Look at it. It's harmless." Ash chuckled and walked toward her, giving her a closer look at the white hamster. "See?"

"Oh my God..."

"I bet it got so scared of you it started running in every direction."

"Hey! I'm not scary!" Misty snapped. She turned her attention to the hamster Ash has picked up. She touched his head with her index. He had a brown spot around his eye. "Awww, he's so soft and cute!"

"It looks clean and well taken care of. I think it may belong to someone in this building."

"Yeah, probably..."

"Huge and fat and disgusting..." Ash shook his head and laughed. Misty hit his arm and took the hamster from his hand. She giggled as she brushed her finger against his little paws.

"You even wanted to sell the house and move in with me tonight."

"You don't need to make a whole story of this!"

"I seriously thought something horrible happened to you. I came running."

"Okay, I admit that I overreacted, but I thought it was a cockroach! I'm terribly terrified of those!"

Ash shook his head at her. He placed a hand over her back. "Go check if any of your neighbors has lost a hamster."

"I hope not! I'd love to keep it! So cuuuute!" Misty giggled as she brushed her finger against the hamster's little cheek.

"Misty."

"Fine; fine! I'll be back."

-

The main door opened again and Misty got inside, without the hamster. Ash was just finished from getting everything in the living room in order.

"It belongs to the family next door, The Sweeny's." Misty was pouting. She wasn't even faking it. It made Ash chuckle a bit.

"It's their five years old son's. Too bad—his name is Archie! They were happy though he didn't leave the building."

"Good for them, but not for me. I was worried."

Misty knew she made a huge mess over nothing. She hugged Ash from behind. "I'm sorry."

"And you say you can rely on yourself for doing everything."

"It didn't include getting rid of bugs!"

"You're supposed to be strong and independent." Ash still loved pushing Misty's buttons to this day.

"I am! And my fear of bugs has nothing to do with that anyway!"

Ash chuckled again. He pulled away from Misty and sat down on the couch. "What would you have done if you never knew me?"

"Huh?"

"You'd keep hiding in the bathroom forever? Who would you call?"

"Uhm, well, I don't really know... and I don't want to think about that!"

Ash turned toward the redhead. He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. He said when he pulled away, "Nice to meet you, most weakest side of Misty. I've never seen this side before. Now, I'm glad."

"Hey hey hey! What do you mean by that?"

"I have to go."

"Hey! You're not going anywhere! Did you just call me weak? I'm not weak! You didn't say that because I'm a woman, right? It better be not the case! I'm not weak!"

The two stopped at the main door. Ash grinned and tapped Misty on her cheek. "I remind you that you were ready to sell the house and move in with me tonight because of the little hamster."

"I was saying whatever—I didn't know it was a hamster!"

"So you'd have really done that if it was a bug, wouldn't you?"

Misty sighed and groaned.

"It's okay." Ash took out his car keys. He was getting ready to leave. "Keep some lasagna for me if you make it for dinner tonight, okay?"

"Stay a little more." Misty rested her head against the door frame. She hated when Ash had to leave. It was a little harsh on her to have a long distance relationship, but at least Ash visited every day. Even if he worked from home, he had engagements in Viridian, so moving in with her was an impossible task.

The transfer operation was taking a little while, but at least Misty was sure she will be living in Viridian by Christmas time. Ash's apartment was spacious (and he owned a dishwasher too).  

"Admit you need me and I will." Misty rolled her eyes. 

"Stoop it!"

"Come on, say it. You need me."

"Ash. The elevator's that way."

"I don't use elevators. Come on, say it. It's okay to need your boyfriend."

"Bye, I'll miss you."

"Say you need me."

"Ash-"

"Say it-"

"Fiiine! I need you—but not because you're a guy!"

Ash chuckled at her reaction. "You don't have to always add that comment in the end. You know I'm not like that, and I do stuff for you because I love you."

Misty shrugged her shoulders.

"Give me a goodbye kiss."

The two kissed. When Ash pulled away, he pressed the elevator button. "I need the elevator now."

Misty giggled. "Call me later, okay?"

"Of course."

"Misty?"

Ash and Misty turned around. It was the woman who lived with her husband and son next door. She was carrying something that looked like a plate. It was covered with a towel.

Misty walked toward her. Mrs. Sweeny was the typical annoying curious housewife, but it never bothered Misty. At least she'd keep her company sometimes. "Oh, hi Mrs. Sweeny. Is everything okay?"

"We just wanted to thank you for finding Mason's hamster. He was so worried about him! This is a little thank-you." The woman handed Misty's the plate. "I hope you like it!"

"You didn't have to."

"It's okay! I'm a little curious woman; I heard you two talk about lasagna—I couldn't help it! I hope you like it. I made it myself!" Misty found the woman really nice, even if she was positive now she eavesdropped whenever she and Ash talked at the doorway. No big deal. She and Ash dated. It was normal things could get intense at any moment.

"Oh—thanks, Mrs. Sweeny. Really."

"It's nothing! I hope we didn't cause you trouble, honey. Goodnight!"

"Goodnight, Mrs. Sweeny."

Misty turned around as she uncovered the plate of lasagna. She noticed Ash was still there.

"I thought you were gone?"

"Without eating my dinner? Nope."

Misty smiled. "Does that mean you're staying the night?"

Ash shrugged his shoulders and got inside the house. "I hope you still keep the clothes I left here last time."

"Of course. I washed them, ironed them and put them in the closet!"

"So housewifely." Ash could never get enough of teasing her.

Misty froze in her spot. She turned completely red in face.

"Hey—hey! Hey! Heeeey! HEEY! That is so stigmatizing and sexist! Take it back—I said, take it back! Ash! Ash! I am not your maid! That was just a favor! Come back here and listen to me!"

"You'd make a wonderful housewife, Mist."

"AAAAAAAAH!"

Misty was 'one of a kind' girlfriend, hilarious, sweet, caring, and she didn't even know it.

And Ash loved that about her. 

"Housewife."

"ASH!"

Yep, that's right. 

To be continued.

One more chapter ;o;