Chapter 12

It has been 15 months since that fateful night after Serena's going away party. The next day, Ash applied to the medical school in Pastoria City and was immediately accepted. Thrilled that he is able to go with Serena to Sinnoh, he happily quit his job and applied for an apartment not far from where his new girlfriend is staying.

Since then, when Serena is not at work and Ash is not at school or studying, the two of them have been spending every waking moment together as if they felt the need to make up for lost time after taking so long to confess their love for one another. They each have spare keys to their apartments and so would stay at either place (though mostly Serena's because she often commands it) to kiss or watch tv or talk nonstop. The highlights of their day, however, are when they end up cuddling on the couch with Serena holding hash tightly from behind blissfully happy making Ash blush yet equally happy to feel her arms around him.

Meanwhile, back in Kalos, Holly gave birth to a girl named Emily. The new parents have been working day and night to take care of their child. Brock, in particular, has become a changed man as he's practically become more devoted to taking care of Emily than anything else including his job. Calem the last anyone has heard has decided to permanently stay in Kanto after finishing his role in the negotiations and there are hints that he might have ironically started a relationship with Bianca.

It is currently early in the morning and Ash has quietly snuck into Serena's apartment and started making breakfast for her. He struggles to stay awake after spending almost the entire night studying for an exam at medical school. He drinks his now 10th cup of coffee as he finishes making the last pancake and sets the food on the table when he hears Serena entering the dining room in her pajamas.

"Now here's a sight I don't wake up to everyday," Serena says with a smirk. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"

"Uh...You mean apart from being the most beautiful woman in the world and the greatest thing that's ever happened to a shy, dorky guy like me?" Ash asks scratching the back of his head.

"Yes. That," Serena answers bluntly.

"Well, I've noticed you've been really busy Animating the past couple of weeks and I thought I'd surprise you," Ash answers.

Serena's smirk turns into a heartfelt Smile as she walks over to Ash and plants her lips firmly against his.

"Thank you, babe, This is exactly what I needed," she says sweetly.

"Anytime," Ash replies, blushing like mad from the kiss much to Serena's amusement.

The couple then sit down and dig in on the breakfast that Ash made for a few minutes before Serena gets an idea and decides to strike a conversation with a devious smirk.

"So, just a couple of weeks and you'll become a doctor," She says with a kittenish tone in her voice.

"Uh...yeah, that's right," Ash says before yawning.

"You seem pretty tired from studying again," Serena says. "You didn't have to go over all this trouble to make me breakfast you know."

"But I wanted too," Ash says sincerely. "I mean you have another big project coming up and I wanted to do something nice as your boyfriend."

Serena's grin grows as she quietly stands up,walks over to her desk on the other side of the apartment, take something out, walks back and sits back down Looking at Ash.

"You know, speaking of which, I have been thinking you should be something else instead of my boyfriend," she says in a matter-of-factually tone.

Ash's eyes widen as he does know whether or not to be curious or hurt that she would say this. But all of his worries instantly vanish when she reveals she is holding a small white box and opens it to reveal a diamond ring.

"I want you to be my husband," Serena says plainly.

Ash's face turns redder than it ever has before. He stares at the ring while Serena crosses her arms and watches him in amusement.

"Well?" She asks.

Ash begins to sweat and scratches the back of his head before he finally says, "A-a-well, it just so happens that I have a counter offer."

"Huh?" Serena asks in confusion.

Ash gulps nervously as he reaches into his pocket and takes out a small Black box And opens it to reveal a small diamond ring. Serena blushes lightly at the site has her boyfriend takes a deep breath.

"B-b-b-be my wife?" He asks shyly.

Serena's eyes widen and her blush grows before she smirks, shakes her head and then runs over to Ash.

"Come here, you," she says flirtatiously as she hops into his lap, wraps her arms around his neck and smashes her lips together with his fiercely. Ash's eyes widen and his face turns redder than before, before he gives into the kiss. They keep at it for a couple of minutes before They break the kiss and look at each other smiling.

"When did you get your ring?" Serena asks.

"About a couple of weeks ago," Ash says. "I was planning to propose during our next big date which I figured would have been sometime after you finished your project and I completed my exam. How about you?"

"Oh, about the same actually," Serena says in a matter-of-factly tone. "I was thinking of proposing after you graduate and become a doctor or something, but after you made this breakfast I decided I just couldn't wait any longer."

Ash smiles and holds Serena tightly and she hugs him back in kind. They stay like this until Ash speaks up.

"So here's what I've been thinking," he says. "I graduate within the next two weeks and then we go back to Kalos and get married sometime in the summer, say August? That should give people enough time for us to prepare for her wedding?"

"Tons," Serena agrees while she snuggles her head against Ash's shoulder. "Plus, it also gives us time to look up a place for us to live together once we're married."

"I didn't even think of that," Ash admires with a nervous chuckle.

"Well, ten ours a terrific thing that your bride is here to think of such things," Serena says flirtatiously.

Ash looks at Serena bashfully and asks, "So this is it? We're getting married?"

"We are so getting married," Serena announces as she takes the rings off the table and puts the one from the black box on her finger and practically forces the one grin the white box onto Ash's finger. The two of them look at the rings on their fingers before Serena starts to make out with Ash ferociously. When they part, she lays her head on his shoulder and lifts her hand up to admire the ring on her finger.

"So what kinds of wedding are you thinking?" Ash asks as he holds his fiance.

Serena thinks about it for months before she says, "I think Brock and Holly had the right idea of arranging it so that only the people we really care about are there to witness such an occasion. The thing is there's not a lot of people that I would want there apart from a few family members and a couple of friends.

"Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing," She agrees as he thinks about what to do. "Maybe we could set up a big tent In someone's backyard and then have Amanda officiate?"

Serena thinks about this before she turns her head to Ash and smirks.

"Sounds perfect my cuddly husband-to-be," She says before their lips meet again.

News of Ash and Serena's engagement spread like wildfire among their family and friends back in Kalos. Lillie practically shrieked so loud that she broke the speaker on Serena's phone when she and Ash broke the news. She, Nina and Shauna were quick to make arrangements for dresses and decorations for the wedding. Dawn agreed to order a big tents to be installed on her backyard and Amanda was more than happy to agree to officiate the wedding.

After a couple of weeks, Ash indeed graduated med school and found a position at a hospital clinic in Vaniville town while Serena was allowed to go back to Palermo's Department after finishing business In Sinnoh. The two fly back to Kalos with a squealing lillie to greet them at the airport. For the next couple of months, Ash and Serena and their friends have been working hard and getting ready for the wedding while Ash is living in Dawn's attic again and Serena stays at Lillie's apartment. The engaged couple found an apartment near the clinic where Ash now works and decided to move in shortly after their honeymoon.

Finally, wedding day arrived. Ash woke up realizing this before Dawn and Jeffrey forced him to get up and face the day. A group of men came over and installed the tent in Dawn's backyard while a few of Serena's friends set up inside with decorations. Ash came to pick up his suit and when he came back, Dawn forced him to stay in his room to get ready until the wedding starts under Serena's orders. The bride and groom have not seen each other since the day before as they want the next time they meet to be inside the tent with Amanda.

Finally, evening came and guests are beginning to arrive through the house to the backyard where they are taking their seats. Ash is finally released from his room to stand next to Amanda while he finds Brock, Nina, Shauna, Palermo, Dawn, and Jeffrey all taking their seats.

Finally, the DJ plays the wedding march and everyone turns to the other side of the tent where Serena is walking down the aisle. Ash stares at her in awe as she is wearing a smile white wedding dress and no veil to cover her face. Serena smirks at her groom, amused with his bashful gaze as she makes to the very end. Ash and Serena hold hands as Amanda begins the ceremony. Ash barely hears a thing Amanda says as his eyes are glued to Serena's. Amanda eventually has to nudge Ash to snap out of his gaze so that he can sheepishly say, "I do," leaving everyone else chuckling. Amanda then turns to Serena asking is she will take Ash to be her husband to which Serena immediately replies, "You bet I do, sister." After exchanging rings, Amanda clears her throat.

"By the power invested in me by the region of Kalos, it is my privilege to pronounce you man and wife. You may now -"

But once again, before Amanda can say the last thing, Serena grabs Ash by the suit and smashes her lips together with his. The officiant shrugs in annoyance while everyone else applauds. After they break the kiss, Serena picks her husband up bridal style, making him blush as she carries him down the aisle.

"I got him! He's mine! All mine!" she shouts boastfully. "Let all who ever wanted Ash Ketchum cry in misery knowing that he's forever all mine!"

"Hey, cousin, don't copy me from my wedding!" Brock calls out while holding Emily.

Serena merely sticks her tongue out at Brock childishly as she puts Ash down and people begin to surround the newlyweds to express their congratulations. Then they proceed to cut the Fool's Gold fountain instead of a wedding cake, much to the confusion of everyone around the bride and groom. Afterwards, Ash and Serena have their first dance and then continue talking to their friends and family.

Eventually, while Serena is drinking champagne with Lillie, Ash bumps into Brock, Holly, and Emily. The former two are quietly arguing while glancing at Ash.

"Oh, please, he's not a real doctor," Holly rebukes.

"Yes, he is. He finished his degree," Brock counters.

"He finished it in Sinnoh. We're not in Sinnoh," Holly argues.

"It's legitimate everywhere," Brock claims.

"What's up, guys?" Ash asks.

The parents hesitate before Brock approaches Ash.

"After you have a baby, if you eat the placenta, Does it count as cannibalism?"

Ash frowns and rolls his eyes.

"You know that's not really a medical question, right?" He asks.

"If a baby's hand is bigger than its face, will it have cancer?" Brock asks, ignoring Ash's response.

"No, it just means your baby has massively big hands," Ash answers.

Brock frowns and childishly says, "You were more fun when you didn't know everything yet."

"Yeah, well at least I don't have to explain to my daughter why making out with someone who is with someone else is theoretically okay when she gets older," Ash remarks.

"Ouch," Holly says snickering. "Have you been taking comeback lesson with Serena?"

"Perhaps," Ash says with a smug look as he walks away.

Ash continues to walk around to everyone celebrating his big day with Serena. A small smile enters his face as he feels truly happy to have made the effort to make it work with the snarky honey blonde woman. His eyes meet Serena's at a distance and they smile at each before Serena gives him an air kiss making him blush lightly much to her amusement.

"Look at my adorable husband blushing," Serena whispers to Lillie.

"Man, I can't believe you have a husband," Lillie says.

"Believe it," Serena says teasingly. "Cause sooner or later I'm going to make an aunt out of you before you know it."

"Stop it," Lillie says, lightly nudging her sister.

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After a couple of hours, the reception ends and all the guests go home. Dawn and Jeffrey go to bed while the newlyweds decide to stay in Ash's room for the night before flying to Alola for their honeymoon. Before they hit the hay, however, Ash decides to show Serena his spot on the roof. Serena holds Ash from behind while he sits on her lap and she rests her chin on his shoulder as they look at the view.

"I gotta hand it to you, babe, this sight is pretty sweet," Serena says softly. "I can see why you came here often to think."

"Yeah, although I think the top of our apartment building will have a nice view too, so we'll have that to look forward to."

Serena smiles at this idea before looking down at the ground and asks, "You know if you were to fall down at this height, would you die or would you be paralyzed?"

"Probably just paralyzed," Ash answers. "At worst, I would never feel anything again from the waist down."

"Oh, just the waist down?" Serena asks smirking. "So everything else would still be working including your ability to give me children."

"Yes, you still will be able to have all three of our kids," Ash says.

"Yeah, three kids… plus four more," Serena says.

"Wait, what?" Ash squeals. "You want seven kids? Do you even know if we could ever afford that many kids?"

"Sorry, buddy, my mind is made up," Serena says stubbornly before she says with a coquettish look, "Besides, we're talking about a scenario where you can't move your legs, so you will never be able to stop me from having as many babies as I want."

Ash blushes furiously much to his wife's amusement.

"I feel we should have discussed this sometime before we got married," he says.

"Well, it's too late now, buddy boy," Serena says. "We're bonded forever. You're going to stay exactly where I want you to be for the rest of our lives and there's nothing you can do about it."

Ash sighs as turns to Serena with a loving smile.

"I wouldn't do anything about it if I could, anyway," he says as he caresses her cheek. "I just love you too much."

Serena's smirk turns into her own loving smile as she tightens her grip on her husband.

"I love you too, Ash," she says sweetly.

The two of them lean their heads in for a soft but affectionate kiss before they turn back to looking at the view. As Serena hugs Ash and rests her head against his, Ash smiles happily as he thinks about all the upcoming adventures he will have with his honey blonde wife he loves so much knowing that for the first time in his life he is truly completely happy.

The end.