Lifes Little Miracles

Chapter Four

“… I will love you more than that, I won\'t say the words and take them…”

“Man I love that song… it\'s a real shame that Ash listens to that garbage he calls music. The Backstreet Boys sing from the heart, it\'s all pure love.” Brock said to himself as he shut off his iPod and took out his keys to open the front door. He had just completed a five mile power walk around the park, which he enjoyed every afternoon while listening to one of his favorite play lists, i.e. Black and Blue, by you guessed it! The Backstreet Boys! However, upon turning off his listening device, he suddenly heard Misty\'s screams. Luckily the door was already unlocked; otherwise, he would have very easily broken it down. Brock ran into the house and followed the sound that led him to Ash and Misty\'s bedroom.

“I heard screaming…” He shouted out of breath. Ten seconds later it finally clicked inside his rock hard head what was going on. “Looks like I got here just in time.”

Being a Pokémon Breeder, Brock new very much about pregnancy and childbirth, therefore he made no hesitation when he went straight up to Misty and examined her. After removing her underwear and checking something that made Ash rather mad, Brock grabbed a towel and took over the procedure. “This baby\'s coming out any sec…”

“We already know that! Just get it the hell out!” Screeched an obviously exhausted Misty. “This is all your fault Ash! You just couldn\'t keep that thing in your pants could you! Now look at me!”

“Ok, Misty… alright enough… now on the count of three, give me one really big push… come on Ash\'ll help you…” Ash held Misty\'s hand in his own, letting her know that he was there to support her as much as he could. Brock looked at Misty as he positioned his hands between her legs. “Ready? Ok… one… two… three push!”

Within one push, Brock was left holding the newborn wrapped up in a towel, Ash was congratulating Misty, while both were smiling with untainted joy. It was over… after nine months of waiting, finally. Brock brought the crying bundle over to Misty as Ash sat her up in order to properly hold the baby. After doing this Brock quickly wrote down the approximate weight and height of the newborn and the time in which she was born, all this information he knew would have to go on her birth certificate.

“Congratulations you two… it\'s a girl.” Brock said as he carefully handed the baby to Misty to hold for the first time.

“Misty… we have a daughter… we actually have a daughter.” All of the friends were teary eyed, from pure happiness. Ash still couldn\'t believe it, there in his girlfriend\'s… girlfriend? She was his wife, yet another thing he still couldn\'t believe, but now his wife was holding their baby daughter in her arms… was this actually happening?

Looking down at the miracle she held in her arms, Misty was completely and utterly amazed. She helped create this person she was now holding, she carried this baby for nine months, and now she was finally here. She had red hair like mommy, however all the rest was Ash. She even inherited his world famous smirk, which she wore right now. Misty kissed her baby lovingly, and as soon as she did the most startling and beautiful shiny deep blue eyes were revealed.

“Man! I can\'t believe the two of you are actually parents!” Brock punched Ash\'s shoulder rather painfully. “Man Ash! You\'re a father!”

Ash bent down on his knees so that his face was level with Misty and their daughters. The couple was all smiles. No one could help but beam in that room, which was a good thing considering Brock was know taking snapshots like crazy.

“What are we gonna name her.” Whispered Ash as he looked down at the teeny infant in his lover\'s arms; he was at the same time raking his brain for all the names that he had really liked in that name book. Misty on the other hand didn\'t need to give it much thought and came right out with her choice.

“I know exactly what to call her…” She whispered as to not to disturb the now napping newborn. “… Aqua. Ever since I was little and I knew I wanted to be a water Pokémon Master, I\'ve always loved that name, because it means water.”

As if their daughter was named Aqua from the beginning of time, the baby opened her eyes to look at her mother and father. The sparkling color reminded Ash so much of the deep blue sea they had to surf on Lapras to cross when they were in the Orange Islands. The name was destined, and perfect.

“Yeah.” He finally whispered after reminiscing. “I love it… hello Aqua… I\'m you\'re daddy and this is you\'re mommy.”

“That\'s a beautiful name Misty, now do you want a middle name? You know all this has to go on the birth certificate.” Brock explained while scribbling down the child\'s name on the piece of paper with all the other vital information.

“No, I think that\'s fine… me and Ash don\'t have middle names.”

“Well that\'s ok, it\'s all up to you and Ash. Anyway this is basically done, I just need to call up a nurse to come down here and finish up all the official stuff and of course to check up on you two and make sure everything is ok.” Brock took out his cell phone and dialed the local hospital and asked for a nurse. One promised to be there within half an hour with all the necessary supplies. Putting down his paper and pen Brock walked over to the couple and looked at their daughter. “Hi Aqua, I\'m your Uncy Brocky, or Uncle Brock, or just plain Brock, or Brock The Rock or…”

“Piiiii.” Began the electric rodent with miniature sparks flaring up around his cheeks. (Watch it.)

“Ok, ok!” Brock laughed waving his arms in front of his face to signal Pikachu to stop. “Anyway Misty, we better get you cleaned up and change these sheets. Hey you guys!” Brock motioned towards the seven Pokémon in the corner of the room. “Straighten this place up! Change the sheets, fluff the pillows, oh and a Ash you follow me.”

Misty was now being carefully supported by Brock to walk to the bathroom, meanwhile Ash who was holding Aqua did as he was told and followed Brock. He walked in to find Misty sitting on the chair that went with her vanity and Brock filling a basin with warm water.

“Ok Ash, give me the baby and you take care of Misty.” Ash looked a little skeptical at first. “Look I\'ve done this plenty of times with Pokémon and even helped out with a few of my brothers and sisters, Ash I\'m a Breeder this is my job. Besides the Nurse isn\'t going to be hear for another twenty minutes or so, we can\'t just leave them like this.”

Thus, before the Nurse came to the Ketchum\'s door step Misty and baby Aqua were already cleaned up and fast asleep in Misty\'s bed. Brock had told Ash to stay out of trouble, take his credit card and go to the baby store in the town square and order everything they needed to be delivered, which included a crib, a few clothes (since friends had already given them quite a few drawer fill\'s ) diapers of course and Ash had to use his cell phone to find out that Misty had decided to breast feed instead of buy formula, which made him a little queasy, but saved him hundred of dollars by the time Aqua was one. Ash had wished he could of done all this earlier, however Misty followed a very strange superstition of not buying anything before the baby was born, it was evidently, perfectly ok for friends and family to purchase things and give as gifts. The sales clerk at the boutique was understanding and told him that he wasn\'t the first last minute shopper, quickly got him what he needed and sent him home with everything on a small delivery truck driven by her husband. Upon arriving home Ash found Brock wearing his pink frilly apron and cleaning and tidying up the whole house. The nurse had already gone and left so now all they needed to do was unload the truck and get everything all settled in, which they did swiftly and inaudibly. Throughout it all Misty and Aqua slept soundlessly. Meanwhile, all of Ash\'s Pokémon were still out and getting in the way of Brocks cleaning.

“Ash!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.

“Shut up ass hole! Misty and the baby are trying to sleep!” Ash whispered through gritted teeth.

“Oops, right, get your Pokémon in their Pokéball\'s, they\'re really annoying me I\'m trying to clean.” Brock sighed with the feather duster in hand, he was very tired of Ash\'s fowl language. “And watch your mouth!”

“Fuck you!” Ash said as he recalled all the Pokémon, except Togepi and Pikachu of course, who appeared very much distraught.

“Pi Pikachu, pikaa pi?” (Can we see the baby?)

“Toge priii, toge.” (I want mommy.)

“Oh, ok, but you both have to be very quiet ok, they need their rest.” Ash was happy to show Pikachu and Togepi his daughter, already he had become one of those fathers who are constantly showing off their daughters beauty and talent.

They walked silently in the room and Pikachu and Togepi scampered up the bed to get a closer look.

“Piiiii pi chaaa.” (She looks like an angel.) The yellow Pokémon whispered.

“Toge, togepriiii, toge!” Poking Misty\'s arm Togepi sort of shouted. (Wake up mommy!)

“Hmm, what?” Yawned Misty. She realized who it was and smiled. “Hi Togepi, have you come to see my new baby?”

“Toge toge prriiii!” squealed the egg shaped Pokémon with delight. Apparently Togepi didn\'t realize that she had to keep quiet and woke up the sleeping newborn who was lying next to her mother.

“Oh… shhh, mommy\'s here baby… it\'s ok.” Whispered Misty as she gently lifted up the baby. Then unbuttoning her pajama shirt, she began to feed Aqua for the first time. “Wow this feels weird… it sort of tickles.”

“How do you know how to do that?” Ash asked curiously.

“The nurse and Brock showed me how, plus it\'s basically instinct… the Nurse… by the way she was a Joy, just showed me the right way to hold her.” Explained Misty. She looked up at Ash who seemed a little upset. “What\'s wrong?”

“Well, I was sort of hoping that I could help feed Aqua with a bottle… I was kinda looking forward to it.”

“Oh… well, she can\'t only drink my milk… by the time she\'s like two months old, Nurse Joy said that she can drink water and juice, then you can feed her.”

“Ok…” Ash sat on the edge of the bed contentedly watching his wife and daughter, Pikachu and Togepi were also keeping an eye on the couple. Aqua was brand new and to them it was ever so exciting, simply to sit and watch her. Suddenly however Ash burst out with his usual obscenities. “Fuck… mom! I forgot to call her! Pikachu bring me the cordless.”

“Pi pika chu pika pi pi chu.” Mumbled Pikachu as his chubby little self walked around to Ash\'s side of the bed and picked up the phone off the nightstand. (Why do I always gotta do it… he\'s so lazy.) Pikachu gave the phone to Ash, who hastily dialed the number to his childhood home.

“Hey mom! Guess what?” Ash said excitedly. “You\'re officially a grandmother!”

“Really?” Mrs. Ketchum\'s voice was filled disbelief. “Did Misty just have the baby? Are you calling from the hospital?”

Ash heard the tone in his mothers voice, she didn\'t sound all that enthusiastic. He knew very well that she did not want to become a grandmother at such an early age. Nonetheless, he wasn\'t going to let his mother\'s bitterness overtake his happiness, Ash was floating on cloud nine, he had just a few hours ago became a dad!

“No mom, I\'m calling from home Misty and the baby are right here in bed. We had a baby girl.” Deciding not to tell his mother about Misty\'s home delivery, Ash went on as he gazed at his brand new baby daughter in his wife\'s arms. “God mom… you have to see her… she\'s beautiful. She has red hair just like Misty\'s and her hands and feet, they\'re so small… and oh my God mom, you have to see her eyes, they\'re… man, they\'re like… I don\'t know… they\'re indescribable.”

“Have you decided on a name for her?” Mrs. Ketchum\'s attitude seemed to diminish after the description of her granddaughter. Upon hearing her sons joy she couldn\'t help but catch a little of the happy bug that seemed to spread around like a plague.

“Yeah… we named her Aqua. Misty chose it, and when you look into her eyes you\'ll know exactly why.”

The silence told Ash that his mother was busy contemplating everything that he had told her. It still hadn\'t sunk in yet, she sounded almost… disappointed. What if Aqua had to grow up never knowing her grandmother, just because the woman resented the mere fact that she was born? Had Mrs. Ketchum secretly been wishing that Misty would some how have a miscarriage? Why was she acting in this manner now when nearly months before she had bestowed the unborn infant a gift? The brand new father chose not to reflect upon her perplexing stance, and instead yelled with excitement into the receiver.

“Listen mom! You\'ve gotta come over now!” Ash pleaded. “Bring everyone, Jesse, James, Professor Oak, Gary, Tracey, the twins, everybody!”

“Doesn\'t Misty need to rest?”

“Mom come on!” whined the Pokémon Trainer. “Well bye I gotta go, see you in a few minutes ok?”

The phone clicked off, his mother had not replied. Ash didn\'t know how to react. He would just have to wait until she came over. Obviously his mother had the right to be mad at him, but at the same time she should be proud of him. The only thing he had not done was become The Master, and from his four years of training that wasn\'t going to be a hard task to accomplish. Besides, he had way more important things to think about and take care of.

To Be Continued...