A week had passed since Soledad had confronted Harley in the café, having let his father take her place when she departed – and so he could attempt to reestablish a connection with his son. He had called her a day later, telling her of what had happened after they had conversed, and she was relieved at the fact that the meeting had ended peacefully and not with tears or bloodshed. However, he didn't tell of what had come of Harley afterwards, and this was because he didn't know. Despite how Axel had sorted things out with his son, what the amethyst-haired man had done next was a mystery; it was assumed he had left the café shortly after Axel did, continuing with whatever business he had, but what that very business consisted of was something he had told no one about.

Harley hadn't contacted Axel at all after their meeting. He hadn't contacted Soledad either.

Soledad couldn't help but feel worried. Where did Harley go? What was he doing? She hadn't heard from him in a week, and it made her wonder if his confrontation with his father had had different effects than what Axel had told her he had assumed it had.

Whether or not she ever found out, it wouldn't be for a while - because right now she was standing by May and Drew at Lilycove City's only bus station that supported cross-country traveling, waiting for the bus that would take them back to Slateport, where they would then board a ship that would sail them to Johto. She had agreed to continue her coordinating journey with May and Drew after Drew had told her that they were planning to do just that; she knew she couldn't forget her career and the life she had had before Harley became heavily involved in it all.

She let a sigh escape her lips, her eyes focused on the ground. She had hoped that, if nothing else, Harley finally talking with his father would ease some of the pain he had, and would convince him to come along with them to Johto even if he didn't want to continue the relationship they had shared. But, with the fact that the bus would arrive in another twenty minutes – and Harley was nowhere in sight, his current whereabouts entirely unknown – such a possibility seemed impossible.

She knew, though, that she couldn't go out in search of him and force him to come if she found him. She didn't want to force him. Whatever had been his decision towards what to do, she respected it. She had done all she could. What happened next in this endless soap opera was up to him.

Soledad focused her eyes on the towering skyscrapers and other manmade structures that consisted the foundation of Lilycove. The bus stop they were waiting by was mostly empty; only a few other people and their Pokemon had their destinations set on Slateport, spread out across the shaded area that served as the bus station, waiting just like Soledad, May, and Drew were. Soledad could hear the purring of the ocean behind her, as the bus station was not far from the city's own harbor, sitting on the border that separated the urban territories from the outskirts of Lilycove. Such a thing would explain why it seemed quieter out here than it did in the said metropolis.

Drew got up from the bench he had been sitting on with May, stuffing their bus tickets in his pocket as he walked up to Soledad. He stopped by her side, turning his head to examine the distant look in her eyes, and he knew very well why she was portraying such a lost emotion.

He sighed.

"Maybe…" he began, his voice soft. "Maybe he just wanted to move on, Soledad."

Soledad turned her eyes to Drew, and then turned them back to Lilycove. Her shoulders sagged.

"I know," she said, and she couldn't help the sadness in her tone. "I just want to know if he's okay. He's not calling anyone and he's not picking up any calls."

Drew frowned. He had also found Harley's absence during the past week strange, but he knew that such a thing was affecting Soledad the most. He appreciated the fact that Soledad had agreed to return to Johto with them, yet he didn't want her to be constantly worrying over what had happened to Harley. Because of this, he also wished that Harley would show some indication of where he was and what he had chosen to do.

May got up from the bench, walking over until she was standing right by Soledad's other side. She placed a hand on the woman's back, right below her shoulder. "I'm sure Harley's okay," she said, smiling softly though Soledad never turned to acknowledge it. "I mean, he's Harley, right? I'm sure he'll be back…sooner or later."

Soledad said nothing, keeping her eyes on Lilycove. However, inside her mind she was thanking both May and Drew for being supportive.

Eventually, she looked at May, smiling weakly. "Yeah," she said, chuckling slightly. "I guess you're right." Her face slowly fell. "But…I can't help but wonder."

"We know," May assured her, giving her a small hug, which eased her worries a little.

"Come on," Drew then spoke, turning around. "Let's get out of this heat."

As he made his way back towards the benches, which sat under the shade of the station's various roofed tops supported by firm beams, May followed him, and Soledad lingered behind for a minute to turn her attention to the sky. It was sunny, completely breaking the pattern of rainy weather that had dominated Lilycove's climate last week, and it was a weird sensation to feel the sun's heat prance across her face; it was as if she hadn't felt such a thing in a long time. She was glad to see the sun's golden glow again, though – Arceus' evident reminder to her that everything was going to be okay one way or another.

She turned around and began to make her way to the bench Drew and May were using.

That is, until the honk of a car's horn erupted from nearby.

A familiar honk.

Soledad whirled around, facing a lone building that stood not too far off. From behind it emerged a car, slowly driving down the worn road that ran through the area, its cobalt-colored surface shining in the sunlight. It moved towards Soledad, stopping a few feet away from her, where it then powered down.

Soledad almost forgot to breathe.

Because then the door of the car opened, and out of it stepped the very man Soledad had been thinking about this entire time.

"Harley…" she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. Harley was dressed in the very clothes he had been wearing before, though now he had gotten another black jacket to replace the one he had lost that while ago. Now he looked just as he did before the contest accident in Slateport.

He met her eyes, and he smiled. It was a warm smile that made her feel more eased than anything else had done – the warm smile she had missed so much.

"Hey, Sol."

Right as Soledad was about to respond, May interrupted her from behind:

"Harley!"

The brown-haired teen ran past her, nearly crashing into Harley altogether as she wrapped her arms around him, snuggling her head into his abdomen. He stumbled back slightly from the impact, but then regained his balance, his warm smile returning as he patted May on the back, who tilted her head to look up at him with brightened sapphire eyes.

"I knew you'd come back!" she said, grinning. She looked at Soledad. "See? He came back! What'd I tell ya?"

"You're really here…" was all Soledad said, her voice quiet. Harley had heard it loud and clear, though.

Harley's eyes grew soft. "I couldn't leave. I could never leave."

"Yes," Drew then said, walking forward. His expression was stern, yet it carried a relieved and surprised semblance all the same. "Harley really is here and well. So, please, May, would you let go before you suffocate the poor man?"

May pouted, her arms still around Harley. "But I'm not done hugging him yet!"

Drew frowned. He then threw a nod towards Soledad, who was oblivious to the gesture as her widened eyes remained on Harley, and he let out a fake cough.

At that, May's face fell, finally realizing what her partner was trying to say. "Oh, right," she said, slowly untangling her arms from Harley and stepping back and out of his way, leaving the path between him and Soledad clear.

It was then when Harley came forward, stopping right when he was in front of Soledad.

"I…I thought you weren't going to come," Soledad said, her eyes growing dark.

"How could I not?" Harley replied, gently reaching forward, his fingertip caressing her cheek. "You helped me, Sol. You didn't give up on me. I thought I was lost, but you helped me find the way back home."

Soledad frowned. "But…but you were gone for the entire week. I assumed that you-"

Harley shook his head, cutting off the rest of her words. "I wasn't gone because I didn't want to come back. It was just that I needed to sort out my thoughts…and, well, do something I should've done a long time ago."

"What's that?" Soledad asked.

Harley's warm smile turned into a smirk, and he stepped to the side, giving her a view of his car. He outstretched his hand towards it, and Soledad took that time to fully examine it.

Her eyebrows rose when she realized that the car's coat was shinier than it had been before; its surface clean of any dirt or grime, its windows spotless, and its tires brand new. The doors to the backseats then opened up, and Cacturne and Garchomp stepped out, having been sitting in the car the whole time. They waved at Soledad, large grins on their faces, and they stepped aside as Harley led her towards the car, showing her the inside. The material that consisted the seats appeared as if they had been completely replaced, the tears that had been in the leather before no longer existing. Everything had been cleaned up front as well – even a new air freshener dangled from the rearview mirror – and it gave the inside of the car a fresh smell. The entire makeover made it look as if Harley had just bought the vehicle.

Soledad pulled back, looking at Harley.

"I got the whole car refurbished," he explained. "All new parts and all that jazz. It was time it got cleaned up."

Soledad wanted to smile, but she held it in when Harley opened up the door to the passenger seat, inviting her to sit. Curious to what he was trying to do, she sat down, leaning forward for a reason she was all too aware of.

However, it was then when Harley placed his palm on the middle of her chest, and pushed her back.

She sealed her eyes shut, preparing to be thrown back when her back made contact with the broken seat. When she felt nothing of the sort happen, though, she opened her eyes, looking behind her to notice that the seat hadn't budged. She pushed her back against it again, but like before it didn't move. Confused, she met Harley's eyes.

The man only smirked. "I finally got it fixed."

Soledad finally smiled, getting out when Harley moved so she could do so. He shut the door behind her, turning to face her.

"I missed you," was all she said.

He stepped closer to her. "I missed you, too."

She stared into his eyes – those metallic blue-green eyes that she had been longing to see again. "Are…" she began. "…Are you coming with us? To Johto?"

Harley smirked, and that's when he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her forward and into his chest. She returned the embrace, relaxing in his hold, and he leaned his forehead against hers.

"How can I say no?" he asked, his voice soft, and Soledad's smile returned. He then pulled back, adding, "Besides, you know you guys would be bored to death if I wasn't there, right?"

May, who was standing beside Drew, nodded. Even Drew shrugged his shoulders in agreement.

Harley looked back at Soledad. "Do you think we can put the past behind us and continue what we had?"

He was cut off from saying anything else when Soledad put her finger to his lips, her face stern.

"Just shut up and kiss me," she said.

Harley's eyebrows rose, though he then smiled when Soledad smirked. His hand slipped into her hair, holding the back of her head, and he leaned forward. When his lips finally met hers, she pulled him closer, feeling all of her worries fade away into nothingness. She could sense his love – taste it in his kiss – and she knew that he would never be alone again.

Because he had her.

He had all of them.

Drew watched Soledad and Harley, and he sighed through his nostrils. Such a sight would be something he would have to get used to. However, as he thought more about it – how Soledad was happy this way - the edges of his lips turned upward. Before he could do anything else, though, two arms wrapped around his neck from behind, pulling him back somewhat. He felt a pair of soft lips press against his cheek, their owner then whispering into his ear: "I'm so proud of you."

At that, Drew smiled again, and he turned his head, his eyes meeting May's. He leaned forward and returned her affectionate nuzzle.

Meanwhile, a few seconds later, Soledad and Harley broke their kiss, their arms still wrapped around one another. Their foreheads touched, and they smiled.

"I love you, Sol," Harley murmured.

Soledad closed her eyes. "I love you, too."

And that was all that mattered.

Garchomp sighed as she stared out towards the ocean, standing right in front of a long railing that traced the borderline between it and Lilycove territory. The scent of seawater was refreshing, the soft breezes that came from its direction caressing her scales. Behind her, her master, Soledad, and Drew and May were conversing about something; she had broken away from the group when they had begun doing so, relieved that her master was finally back together with the one he loved. She was happy for him – that was for certain – and such emotions coursed through her as she listened to the ocean purr in front of her, its surface glistening in the sunlight.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Cacturne come up from behind her, stopping when he was by her side, his eyes also focused on the ocean and the never-ending horizon it stretched to. He switched his gaze to Garchomp, feeling somewhat nervous at the fact that they were alone – and he couldn't really think of anything to say.

"Cac…cacturne cac cac turne?" he eventually asked. "Cacturne, cac turne cac cac…"

So…do you like Drew anymore than you did? I mean, he was involved in fixing all of this…

Garchomp frowned, keeping her distant eyes on the ocean. "Garchomp…gar chomp chomp gar. Chomp, gar, chomp gar."

I guess…I do have to hold respect for him for helping out. But, frankly, I still don't like him.

Cacturne arched a brow. "Cac?"

Why?

"Gar chomp chomp gar chomp," Garchomp said, snorting. "Chomp gar chomp chomp. Chomp gar chomp…chomp. Chomp gar gar."

He smells too much like roses. I don't like roses. They're too…soft for me. I prefer a much more 'firm' plant.

At that, Cacturne turned his eyes to the ground, feeling his breathing become irregular. He returned his eyes to Garchomp. "Cac…turne?"

Like…cacti?

Garchomp's eyes widened, and she turned her head towards Cacturne, who quickly averted his gaze away from hers. He tapped the ends of his arms together awkwardly.

"Gar…chomp," Garchomp then said, turning her eyes back to the ocean.

I…suppose.

Silence lingered between Cacturne and Garchomp, Cacturne eyeing the land-shark every few seconds, who only kept her focus directed on the ocean.

"Cacturne…" Cacturne then said. "Cac turne cac cac cacturne cac turne. Cacturne cac turne cac."

Listen…I just wanted to say thanks. For helping me during the contest and during my weeks of training.

Garchomp eyed him. "Chomp."

No problem.

"Cac, turne cac cac - turne cacturne."

I mean, you're kind of cool - when you're not being all arrogant and stuff.

Garchomp's face fell, though she then smirked at Cacturne. "Chomp gar chomp chomp – chomp gar chomp."

And you're kind of cool as well – when you're not being an annoying pain-in-my-ass.

Cacturne smiled at that.

More silence thrived between Cacturne and Garchomp. Garchomp had returned her attention to the ocean, while Cacturne was constantly switching his eyes between her and the ground, mentally debating with himself on what he was about to do. After firming himself, he turned towards Garchomp, who didn't notice his movement. He admired how the sunlight reflected off of her scales and eyes, giving them a shine, and he felt his heart speed up at the thought.

No longer holding himself back, he stepped towards her, standing on the tips of his feet to reach higher.

And he nuzzled his face into her cheek.

Garchomp froze, her eyes widening as Cacturne then stepped down. He quickly turned around and began to head back towards Harley's car, hunching up his shoulders to hide the blush that had spread across his cheeks.

Garchomp turned around, watching him leave. Slowly, her claw came up, softly touching the cheek where he had nuzzled her.

And, needless to say, her face turned almost as red as Cacturne's.

As Drew, Soledad, and Harley continued to converse, talking about what was going to happen next and what they were planning to do once they got to Johto, May's eyes wandered off of her friends and towards the bus station.

Her gaze widened.

"Um, Drew…?" she said.

Drew didn't hear her in the midst of the conversation.

"Drew?" she said again.

Still, he didn't hear her.

"Drew?" she said once more – this time poking him in the shoulder as she did so.

"What?" Drew asked as he finally noticed her.

May pointed to the station. "Isn't that our bus?"

Drew's face fell, and he whirled around to face the station. He caught sight of the bus that was supposed to drive them back to Slateport – and right when it closed its doors behind its last passenger and began to move.

"No!" Drew cried. "Wait! Stop!"

He ran as fast as he could towards the bus, but as the vehicle began to gain speed, it unknowingly left him behind, blowing a large cloud of exhaust straight towards him. He coughed, waving at the exhaust to get it away from him – and only to notice that the bus was now taking off down the road, soon disappearing from sight when it turned around a large building.

Drew stood there, feeling his shoulders sag, and he drooped his head.

"Drew-" May called out in an attempt to make her partner feel better, but she was cut off when that same chartreuse-haired teen suddenly clenched his fists and started hissing curses, ordering Arceus to damn the bus to the burning pits of Hell.

It was quite a humorous sight, to tell the truth.

Eventually, Drew made his way back towards the group, stomping right past May and glaring at Harley, remembering how his arrival had distracted them all. He pointed his finger menacingly at him. "This is all your fault-"

Drew stopped when he noticed that Soledad had furrowed her eyebrows at him.

The teen pulled back. "Okay…okay," he said, his voice calm. He turned, as if dropping the subject, but then whirled back around just as fast, this time pointing his finger at both Harley and Soledad. "This is both of your faults!"

Soledad's face fell, and Harley let out an amused chuckle.

Drew faced the bus station, crossing his arms over his chest. "Now how the hell are we going to get a ride to Slateport? The ship that's supposed to take us to Johto from there will probably leave before we can catch another bus!"

Harley's eyebrows rose at that, and he turned his head towards his car. Frowning in thought, he then looked at Soledad. "I got an idea," he said thoughtfully.

Soledad looked at him, the car, and then turned back to Drew with a smile.

"Oh hell no!" Drew growled, having understood what Harley and Soledad were referring to. "No way are May and I driving all the way to Slateport in that…thing!"

"Oh, come on, Drew," May then said, walking up to her partner's side with a grin. "It'll be just like another adventure!"

And with that, she followed Harley and Soledad to the four-door cobalt-colored sedan that was Harley's car. Drew's annoyed expression melted away once he realized that they really had no other options, and he let out a sigh, following his partner.

Harley returned Cacturne and Garchomp to their Pokeballs once they returned to the car, ignoring how unexplained blushes were covering their faces and how they were avoiding each other's gazes, and got into the driver's seat of the vehicle. Soledad got into the passenger seat, and May and Drew hopped into the back.

May sailed her eyes over the inside of the car, leaning back in her seat as Harley slipped his key into the ignition. (Even Drew seemed comfortable despite his earlier words.) She smiled.

"Homey," she then commented.

Soledad turned her head, gazing at May out of the corner of her eye, and then turned her attention to Harley, who was grinning at her. He reached forward with his free hand and covered it over hers, bringing Soledad to relax and lean back in her own seat, smiling when it didn't roll back.

And as the car began to move, taking them towards their next adventure, one thought went through her head:

My thoughts exactly, May. My thoughts exactly.

AN: This marks the end. Thanks for reading!