"Geez, whatta baby," Gary sneered as he and Ash were having a mock battle in the backyard of the Oak lab. "At this rate you're not even gonna make it past the first round in next year's championship."

"Cut it out, Gary," Ash retorted. "It's hard trying to throw a Poké ball with a stiff arm and sore ribs."

"Oh, poor baby," Gary taunted. "Hey, if I can win the Indigo League championship with eight stitches in my hand, then you should be able to do something simple like throw a Poké ball without complaining!"

"Shut up, Gary!" Ash shot back. "If I have to hear about you being the Indigo League Champion one more time…"

"You'll what, Ashy-boy?" Gary grinned as he tossed a Poké ball into the air and Nidoqueen appeared.

With an angry growl, Ash stiffly threw a Poké ball and out popped Chikorita. "Let's show this jerk what we're really made of, Chikorita! We'll show you how tough we are!"

"We'll see who's tough," Gary said. "Go, Nidoqueen!"

Inside the lab, Professor Oak was watching the battle with an amused grin. He was so absorbed in watching the two boys that he didn't hear the footsteps behind him. As a hand lightly touched his shoulder, he leapt straight into the air.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Delia said apologetically as she helped Samuel to his feet. "I just wanted to see how my husband was doing today."

"Do that again and you'll be a widow," Samuel gasped as he tried to calm his pounding heart.

Ever since Delia learned of the deception Samuel had gone to in order to remain with her and Ash in the hospital, Delia had been good-naturedly teasing him by referring to him as her "husband".

"What are the boys up to?" Delia asked as she glanced out the window.

"Gary's helping Ash train for next year's championship," Samuel replied as the two of them heard Ash call Gary a less-than-respectable word.

"Watch your language, Ash!" Delia reprimanded her son as she tapped on the window. "Sometimes I wonder if those two will ever get along."

"They did once," Samuel said as the two watched Gary's Nidoqueen send Chikorita flying across the lawn. "Perhaps they will again someday. Even though Gary is out there goading Ash, he's doing it to help your son get back into the swing of Pokémon training. He really does want to help Ash get better, even though he'll never admit it."

"You know, despite the fact that those two are so competitive that they drive each other crazy, I think Gary and Ash respect each other," Delia smiled. "I think they even like each other, although they'll never admit it."

"Give up, Ash?" Gary smirked as Ash recalled his beaten Chikorita. As Ash gave his rival a dirty look, Gary put away the rest of his Poké balls. "You're no competition at all. I don't know why I even bothered with you. I'm gonna go find me a real trainer to battle with." As Gary turned to go back into the house, Ash jumped him from behind and the two boys started wrestling.

"You were saying, Delia?" Professor Oak said as Ash and Gary tumbled down the hill.

"Never mind." Delia said as she shook her head. "I swear sometimes those two act just like brothers."

"Who knows?" Samuel said with a grin. "Perhaps one day they really will be related."

Delia whirled around in surprise. "Samuel…?"

Professor Oak put down the scientific journal he had been holding and took Delia in his arms. "Well, I am your husband after all," he teased as he kissed her softly on the lips. "But someday I'd like to be your husband for real."

"I'd like that too," Delia whispered as she kissed him back. "You know, when Ash was in the hospital and the nurse said that you stayed by my side while I slept, she said that I was lucky to have a husband that was so devoted to me and my son."

"And do you think so?" Samuel asked as he gently caressed her cheek.

"I know so," Delia smiled, nodding. "Even if you did force me to eat tapioca pudding."

"Oh, don't remind me of that," Samuel groaned as he pulled away from her embrace. "I still feel guilty about making you sick."

"Don't feel that way," Delia reassured him as she laid a hand on his shoulder. "The reason you did it was because you were worried about me and were trying to take care of me. You were just trying to help me."

"By making you throw up? I wouldn't consider that helping."

"Samuel, I know that I can be every bit as stubborn as Ash. Matter of fact, I think that's where he got it from," Delia grinned. "But that's why I need someone like you. Someone to let me know when I'm being a…what did you say, a 'damn stubborn redhead'?"

"And you can be one, you know," Samuel teased as he took her in his arms yet again. "But I think your son is more stubborn than you."

"Shut up, you stupid jerk!" Ash's voice came from outside the window.

"Make me!" replied Gary in an equally angry tone.

Delia sighed. "Are you sure you can handle having two hotheaded Ketchums around?"

"I'll take my chances," Samuel smiled as he kissed her again, then looked out the window to see Ash attempting to put Gary in a headlock. "Come on. Let's go break up the boys before they kill each other. If they keep this up, then neither one of them will be alive by next year's Indigo League Championship."

THE END