A/N: Whoot! Officially on chapter 20 guys!

Thank you all so much!

Eggs

Chapter Twenty: Sweet and Sour

Another week, another three babies picked up. Pidgey, Budew, and Bidoof had all been reclaimed safely, and Liepard's Trainer had stopped by for a visit, although he regretfully told them that he wouldn't be able to take her back after all. It turned out that his new Niece was deathly allergic to cats, as in needed an epinephrine shot if she got near any Allergic. The man had hugged his Pokemon close, tired and sad, but Liepard had accepted it with a gentle purr. Harry had solemnly accepted the pokeball, and hadn't tried to stop the man who had promptly fled to go change his clothes and return to his sisters house.

(And if Harry found himself giving the abnormally quiet cat-Pokemon some extra treats and not trying to stop her harassing Stoutland and stealing all the dog-Pokemon's blankets to snuggle in, well, he knew that people and Pokemon both grieved in their own ways.)

The end of this week, however, brought with it the emergence of Noivern from Harry's bedroom and out into the backyard so that the large Pokemon could shake off the claustrophobia that had begun to plague him with cabin fever as he napped in the sun.

Of course, since the Pokemon was outside and no longer protected by the door to Harry's room, all of the babies decided this would be the best time to try to accost him, and, to be honest, Harry was a bit too amused to do much but stay out of the way, trusting Mischief and the other adults to keep them safe as he checked on the Eggs and started on lunch. Volkner was supposed to bring Maylene and Helioptile over for the day, and there had been talk about introducing Harry to a few friends of theirs, so he wanted to be prepared.

Out in the yard, the more adventurous Babies had created a game of creeping as close to the Noivern as they could before he'd growl at them and blow them gently back with a burst of soundwaves that made them confused and stumbling, giggling as they tottered about like Spinda, who was the only one unable to become Confused.

Thus far, James had been the only one able to get close enough to actually touch Noivern, before the large bat had used his good wing to gently toss the Pichu into the watching Blissey's arms, making the baby chirp and giggle excitedly, but refusing to let him close again, scowling sleepily at them all until Blissey had finally herded them away to listen to a story and let the annoyed Pokemon rest.

And rest he did, large ears occasionally swiveling towards where Blissey and the babies were chattering as softly as they could, and occasionally he would check on the human, who was once more making his weird, not-natural food that he insisted on Noivern at least trying (And, yes, some of it tasted good, he would admit it to himself if not aloud, but it was weird and he was not going to let that stupid human think he was some sot of pet, taking treats and playing nice. He was not Nice, thank you, and he didn't want to be.).

There was the quiet sound of tiny paws moving hesitantly in the grass, and Noivern's ears twitched in displeasure as yet another brat was trying to get close to him...

Only, the paw-steps stopped, and...

Something soft nudged his side.

Eyes snapping open and turning a sharp look towards it he found... A... Bright purple thing resting against his side, making odd, rhythmic thumping noises and pulsing like...

Like a... Heartbeat?

"Sleepy time," a young, female voice informed him, and Noivern looked up, blinking, at the odd, white Vulpix staring at him with sleepy blue eyes, smiling. "We can share!" she told him and, before he could do anything, the little Vulpix was cuddling up against his side and the Heartbeat-Thing, radiating a chillness that was actually kind of nice against his aching body. Staring down at her, utterly befuddled, Noivern could only blink slowly as she sighed and nuzzled close.

Scowling, he looked away, glowering over at the bored-looking Arbok who had looked over.

Ignoring the chilly feeling pressed against his side, Noivern turned his head away and tried to get back to sleep.

If his good wing just happened to fall down over the little Vulpix, cocooning her from the almost too-bright sunlight, he had nothing to do with it. He was asleep after all. And if Harry didn't quite managed to hide his smile when he came to get them for dinner, he couldn't help it when it grew, either, under the almost embarrassed and mulish hiss the bat-Pokemon gave him in response.

Lily just thought her knew friend was nice to cuddle with, and left it at that.

A/N: Liepard gets to, at least for now, stay, and Grumpy-Noivern has a weakness for sweet little blue-eyed babbus XD

Kudos To ultima-owner who wanted the kids to poke at Noivern and try to get him to play with them (Although play is a subjective word here XD).

Head-Nod to the Anonymous FelixtheSax, I had no idea that the mothers were the ones who passed on the Species, oops? ^-^'

Oh well, thank you for the Review!