You knew it still hurts underneath my scars

From when they pulled me apart

But what you did was just as dark

~ Hoax, TS

.

[Okay, a little recap. In "Hold My Hand", it was said that Dawn's father cheated on Johanna and when Johanna found out, a fight broke out and he moved out. Dawn was bullied in school because her life's an open book and children are mean sometimes. ]

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Stupid.

It was simply so stupid.

Dawn had a list of things she wanted to do on her free day. Watch a movie. Read a book. Play the violin for a while. Spend the time with her Mom. But..not this. This wasn't on her bucket list.

She internally screamed but on the outside, put on a stoic face. The little girl infront of her squirmed in her seat, gripping the hem of her lavender dress. Dawn watched silently as the girl kept her gaze fixated at her slippers, refusing to look up at her. Taking a deep breath to calm herself down, Dawn took off her glasses and placed it on the table. The sudden noise startled the little girl who looked up for a brief moment and looked away again.

"How are you?" Dawn asked, breaking the ice.

The girl opened her mouth to speak but ended up with nothing. "I am- umm- fine."

"The medications are working, I hope."

The little girl nodded, her wavy chestnut brown hair bobbing up and down with her every nod. Dawn could see how much her hair resembled her father and sighed. She must have gotten it from her Dad.. their Dad.

"Ma'am?" The girl looked up at Dawn with innocent eyes,"Momma and Papa are very thankful. They say your help saved me."

Dawn hated her father from the bottom of her heart. She hated him for leaving her and her Mom all those years ago. She hated him for cheating on his wife and choosing someone else.

But no matter what happened, she couldn't hate this little innocent girl in front of her, even if half of her genes came from a cheater. It was Dawn's fault that her father left her mother for someone else. And in the same way it wasn't little Hannah's fault that she was Dawn's half sister. No one can choose their parents afterall.

"Its nothing Hannah. You're my sister, so.." Dawn said, waving it off. "How is school? Can you managing everything?"

The girl nodded again, feeling a lot better and comfortable than before."Yes. The teacher's are so nice and helpful."

Dawn nodded, relieved. She didn't know why but even though it was awkward, talking and sharing things with her half-sister was something she kept looking forward to. Maybe because she is the only relative she has after her Mom (and her Dad).

"You're 15 now, right?" Dawn asked, sitting cross legged on the couch and the girl nodded in conformation. Dawn could see that the girl was a little surprised since she remembered her age.

"Cool," Dawn said, not thinking too much about it,"Who dropped you here?"

"Mom," Hannah spoke up and Dawn could see her blue eyes shine brightly. Hannah's eyes were a lot lighter from hers and reminded her of the vast sky for some reason.

"How's everyone at home?"

Hannah shifted a little, lost in her thoughts. "Big Sis?" She spoke up, looking at Dawn with an uneasy gaze.

Dawn raised her eyebrows, totally taken by surprise at the name. She never addressed her as a big sister before! What changed now?

"I can't call you that?" Hannah asked again and Dawn could feel something inside her break on seeing that innocent, expectant face.

"I don't mind," Dawn said yet her heart pumping wildly told her otherwise. "I am your big sister afterall."

"Dad and Mom took me to a therapist," Hannah said, her eyes turning misty,"They told me about what happened before. How our Dad cheated on your Mom and left you two and how Dad and My mom got together and how he came running to you for help when I was diagnosed with Cancer."

The bitter memory pricked Dawn and she felt her stomach twisting. The way her Dad used Ash to contact her was something she will always hate about him. And the way Ash… she didn't even want to think about it now.

"You must hate me," Hannah said, holding back a sob.

Dawn instinctively got up and kneeled down before the girl, her hand on the little girl's knee. "Who told you that?"

The girl shook her head, a tear rolling down her cheek. She wiped it away with the back og her thumb and explained,"I mean… you refused to see Dad and what you went through because of Dad moving out was.."

"You read the old articles, didn't you?" Dawn said and mentally screamed at herself for how stern her voice sounded. It took her a long time to adjust to that and was glad that it didn't effect her as much as before. So what if her Dad walked out on her and her mom years ago? Every family has problems and hers was broadcasted throughout the world. That didn't mean her life would come to a stop. It took a lot of courage to get over but she was over it.

"Hmm," the girl could feel the lump in her throat growing. "I am j-"

"My life wasn't that miserable, Hannah," Dawn said and for reasons she can't explain, she placed her forehead on the girl's knees. "The media made my life seem way more miserable than it actually was. Yes it sucked, but I was happy too. I had friends, dated a nice guy, graduated from a nice college, and see, now I'm managing the estate on my own."

The brunette ran her fingers through Dawn's silky, blue hair, muttering,"I wish you were my real sister."

Dawn looked up, unable to process what was going on,"Is anything wrong at home?"

Shaking her head, Hannah gave Dawn a smile,"No, I mean, even though you have every reason to hate and avoid me, you make time to meet me every month."

"I don't hate you, Hannah," Dawn held the girl's hand, smiling,"Yes, it is painful to look at you sometimes because you have everything I ever wanted but I am over it now. I can never forgive our Dad though because it's true that Mom suffered because of him and I was bullied. That doesn't mean I hate you. I can never hate you."

"I don't really understand all that."

Dawn laughed and ruffled the girl's hair,"You are just fourteen. You'll know when you become older."

"Ummm," Hannah started, her cheeks heating up,"I heard that Ray and you broke up."

Rolling her eyes, Dawn pulled the girl's cheek,"Aren't you getting too involved in gossips?"

"His band is the top boyband of this decade, Sis!" Hannah said, clapping her hands together,"And you were dating one of the members! The lead vocalist at that!"

Dawn let out a sly smile on seeing the little girls' shining eyes,"Track 3 and track 9 from his next album are about me." She could see Hannah's face lighting up even more and laughed,"So tell me what those songs meant, like the imageries, fan theories and everything. You know I don't understand these artists and the fans." Dawn shuddered as she said that. The articles, fan theories, everything made her head spin.

She didn't even know why she was up reading all those articles.

"Okay!" Hannah chirped,"But why did you guys break up? You two looked so cool together!"

Dawn asked herself again. Why did she and Ray break up? He was understanding, honest, witty, humourous as well as humble. He treated women with respect. So why didn't it work out?

"Because his world shined too bright for me," Dawn patted the girl's head,"Like the sun."

"You are the most eligible bachelorette in Kanto!" Hannah said, totally shocked,"You are totally, equally, you know! Bright and famous!"

Dawn bit her lip to hold back her amused laugh. Ray was the perfect gentleman. Dawn didn't want to acknowledge it but she knew that she could never find happiness with him. And if she couldn't be happy and comfortable in that relationship, she would just bring Ray down along with her.

"Okay okay!" Dawn said, changing the topic,"Lets go for a little shopping."

Hannah shook her head,"Don't change the topic Sis!" She patted the seat next to her as Dawn was trying to get up. Dawn sat down beside her and internally sighed. This girl was going to eat her head, she knew.

"I am not changing the topic, Hannah! There's just," Dawn inhaled deeply then exhaled,"Nothing to hide or say!"

Hannah pouted a little and crossed her arms over her chest, not satisfied with the answer. Dawn stifled a laugh at the adorable creature beside her and ruffled her hair. "How about we wait for the album and see what he has to tell?"

Hannah sighed,"And here I thought I'll get a popstar brother-in-law."

Dawn's eyes widened at that and she pinched the little girl on the cheeks,"Oh really? I have dated other guys too you know. Why is Ray your favourite?"

Hannah struck out one finger, counting,"He is handsome!" Then stuck out another finger. "His songs are so catchy and upbeat!" Then stuck out another finger. "He is a nice man!"

Dawn rolled her eyes,"Yeah yeah."

"But he is not my favourite! He is my second favourite," Hannah said as she got up and patted down her dress to flatten the folds.

Dawn raised her eyebrows, curious. "Then who is- was your favourite?"

"Ash!"

Dawn blinked on seeing the hyperactive reply. She wasn't expecting this name out of her mouth. Ash? What in the world... "And why him? He isn't that famous or writes good songs, you know."

"But he makes you smile like no one else can!"

Dawn was scanning through the dresses displayed on the shelves, her mind running in circles because everything looked so damn good. Hannah poked the older girl on her back, getting her attention.

"What do you think of this?" Hannah said as she held up a lavender tunic with a red flower woven on the sleeves, infront of her, grinning widely.

Dawn smiled, saying,"It's so cute! Go try it!" The smile on the little girl's face widened and Dawn mentally squealed at how adorable the girl looked. Handing Hannah some more clothes, she pointed at the dressing room. "I'll be waiting here, okay?"

Hannah nodded and hopped towards the dressing room, balancing the pile of clothes in her arms. Dawn smiled and went back to look something for her. When was the last time she took a day for herself? She couldn't remember. Every Sunday all she did was go through the weeks results, cook something and before she knew it, Sunday would already be over.

How did her Mom even manage everything? The thought made her shudder.

She picked out a small, grey shirt and put it back. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Dawn turned, amazed that Hannah was done so fast.

What she saw.. or else who she saw was a surprise.

Suprises were meant to be pleasant but this… It wasn't less than a nightmare.

"Dawn!" The boy beamed, grinning ear to ear. "It has been a long time since I saw you!"

Dawn composed herself, holding back her frown. "Hey there, Red." Why were people from her past popping infront of her one after another?!

Red extended his hand, still grinning,"For a moment I didn't recognise you! You have changed a lot!"

Dawn shook her head, holding back a laugh,"Gained weight, didn't I?" She took his hand and shook it.

"Really?" Red was surprised, as he adjusted the cap on his head. "I meant you look more mature."

"Must be getting older then." Dawn said, looking around discreetly. Red was here, in Viridian City, so far away from his hometown Celadon City. And it could mean only one thing.

Her head started spinning on thinking about that possibility.

"I saw you with a kid earlier," Red said and Dawn noticed how he had changed since the last time she saw him. He was a little taller, broader and a lot more tanner. "I thought that you were someone else but had a gut feeling it was you so thought I should come say Hi!"

'Then you should have not approached me at all!' Dawn mentally screamed but tried her best to keep a straight face. Red was bad enough and she didn't want to run into his cousin at all. Dawn knew it in her blood that Red was here with Ash. She just knew it.

And as if the universe hated her, there the raven haired boy was, making his way towards them so nonchalantly.

"Yeah, she's my half-sister," Dawn went straight to the point,"I will see you later then? She must be there, waiting for me." Dawn wanted to bolt out of there as fast as she could, before Ash could make his way to them from other side of the mall.

"Okay?"

She turned and walked towards the changing rooms, not waiting for an answer. She hadn't expected to come across him before the wedding, let alone give him a lift. And now, here he was, in the same shopping mall as her. God really hated her guts, didn't he?

She made her way to the changing rooms, her heartbeat rising with every step she took. Goddammit! I am already over him! I shouldn't be running away like this! Why am I running away? What the hell is wrong with me?!

"You in there Hannah?" She asked, sitting on a tool infront of the changing rooms to recollect her thoughts. She shouldn't be crying over spoilt milk. But at the same time she couldn't deny the painful clenching of her heart whenever she was in her presence.

"Yes!" The little girl replied from one of the stalls.

"What would you have done if she wasn't in there?"

Dawn froze on hearing the voice. She would always remember this voice. Turning around slowly, her eyes locked with his brown eyes and she bit the inside of her cheeks to calm herself down. There he goes, standing like he owned the place.

"What are you doing here Ash?" She gripped the edge of the tool and turned away from him.

Ash waved the clothes in his arms infront of her, rolling his eyes,"You know, tailoring clothes."

Dawn rolled her eyes at the sarcasm, facing him again,"Still a stalker, I see."

Ash smirked and then winked at her,"Well, you wish."

Dawn gave a annoyed sigh and turned away from him, again. What the hell was he doing? If he was here to try the clothes, he could just go inside the trial room instead of lurking around her. She really doesn't want to know how his mind works.

"Are you here to shop for Leaf's wedding?" He leaned against the door, his eyes focused on the girl infront of her. Dawn shifted a little under his gaze, feeling exposed.

"I am here with Hannah," Dawn curtly replied. Go away Ash!

"That's not the answer to my question, you know," Ash opened the door, shaking his head. "What colour shirt will go with this tux?" He said, holding up the blazer infront of her and Dawn cursed herself as she took a deep breath. Dammit.

Dawn eyed the creamy golden tux in his arms and then looked up at him, forcing a smile on her face,"White. Of course white."

"What are you gonna wear to the wedding?"

Dawn shrugged. "Do you still use this colloquial language with your patients?"

"What language?" Ash thought for a while,"Oh you mean, gotta, gonna, this?" Dawn nodded and Ash continued. "Well, with them I use professional language. I don't know them, you know."

Dawn exhaled deeply,"Well you don't know me either."

Ash stared at her, surprised that she would say that but didn't say anything. "We are friends Dawn. Just because we broke up years ago doesn't mean the respect I had for you disappeared. And I still know a lot about you."

Dawn could feel her heart thumping wildly against her chest. "I might have changed."

"But you are the same girl I-" Ash stopped and reworded himself,"I became friends with in school. You aren't the same as before but you haven't changed that much either."

'Why do you keep saying things like these?!' Dawn wanted to scream at his face but didn't want to cause a scene. Especially not infront of her sister. And as if on cue, Hannah came out with a wide grin on her face.

"Can I buy these?" She asked Dawn and her eyes wandered to the man standing on the stall next to hers. A wide grin spread on her face and she ran towards him, enveloping the raven haired boy in a hug. "Big brother Ash!"

Ash laughed and ruffled the girl in his arms,"Hey there, Hannah. How are ya?"

The girl looked up at him without letting go of his legs. "I am good! I haven't seen you in such a long time!"

Dawn watched the interaction with a bitter smile on her face. She knew Hannah was really attached to Ash but that asshole was hugging his sister when she herself had never hugged Hannah before. She wanted to scratch his eyes out of his socket. Taking deep breaths to calm herself down, she slowly got up from her seat.

Ash got down on his knees and held Hannah's hand,"Are you taking your medications regularly?"

The girl nodded and Ash gave her a smile. "Good. Going to check-ups regularly?"

The girl nodded again and pointed at her hair, smiling,"See! My hair grew back!"

Ash ruffled the little girl's hair. "I told you, didn't I?"

The girl nodded ferociously again. Then turning to Dawn, Hannah gave her a puppy dog smile,"Big Sis! Can Ash please help us choose a dress for you? He -"

Dawn quickly cut her off, embarassed,"Hannah! He must be busy!"

The girl's shoulder slumped as a sad oh escaped her lips.

"I am not really busy though," Ash smiled at the little girl, ignoring the fuming older Berlitz infront of him. "So Hannah? How about I be your escort for today?"

Dawn could swear the smile on Hannah's face multiplied manifold. And she couldn't say no to that face.

"You will?" Hannah hugged Ash again, laughing,"Really?"

"Well," Ash laughed and got up,"I have to try this tux and this shirt so that the fitting is right and then we are ready to go, okay?"

"What about Red then?" Dawn asked him, still wrapping her head around the idea. "You can't just dump him like that?"

"He is gonna head to my apartment soon though. He has to go to work in the evening."

Dawn sighed internally. Well, she couldn't get rid of him now, could she?

Ash disappeared inside the trail room and Dawn turned to Hannah, saying,"Shane is waiting in the car. Let me pay for this quick so he can come pick this up."

"Can't we just pay after we are done selecting your dress?"

"And walk around with this clothes till then?" Dawn raised her eyebrows in amusement,"Nah-uh."

Dawn ran her fingers through the various dresses put on display, wondering what would look good and go well with the wedding.

Her eyes focused on a bright yellow dress and she slightly pulled it out to look at it. The sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps made the dress look cute and she was about to pull it out when Ash put his hand on the hanger, not allowing her to take it out.

She could feel annoyance seeping into her bones and got even more annoyed when his breath fell on her cheeks. She hated this close proximity.

"What's the big idea?" She hissed under her breath, trying not to catch anyone else's attention.

"You'll look like a sunflower in that," He said Dawn could hear him clicking his tongue.

"So?"

She let go of the dress and took a step, moving away from him. He tapped her shoulder, making her turn and handed her a red dress, saying,"Try this."

Rolling her eyes, she put the dress on the shelf. "Don't order me around."

Ash took that dress and turned,"Well this was Hannah's choice but oh well-"

Hearing that name, Dawn yanked the dress off his arms and headed straight to the bathroom, leaving Ash smirking in his place.

Hannah approached the grinning boy with another dress and looked around,"Where is Big Sis?"

"Went to try a dress I chose for her."

Hannah looked like she didn't believe it. Ash laughed and raised his arms in defeat, explaining,"Well I told her it was something you chose so.."

Hannah shook her head,"Lying is bad."

Ash ruffled her hair again, smiling,"She is your sister. You know she'll not even touch it if I said I chose it for her."

"Still, lying is bad," Hannah placed her hand over his,"But since you're nice, I'll forget about it."

"Aren't you a sweet girl."

"My sister has moved on from you, you know, right?"

Ash passed her a sad smile,"Yeah."

"Then what do you want?" Hannah said her eyes occasionally going to the trial room's door to look-out for Dawn.

Ash shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets. "You're too young to know these things, Hannah."

"I am 14!" She puffed her cheeks,"Don't treat me like a kid."

"Even though you are one?"

"I am serious!" She whined,"You two don't say what you really think."

"What good will honesty do if she's as stubborn as a rock?"

Dawn twirled in the dress, admiring the lace embroidered ankle length maroon dress.

"Hannah picked it my ass," She muttered she began taking it off.

She changed into her previous clothes and came out, amazed to see Hannah pouting at Ash, who looked smug for some reason. Her eyes landed on the white dress in Hannah's arms and made her way over to them.

"Should I try this next?" She asked the little girl.

"You don't like the previous one?" Hannah asked as she handed Dawn the dress. Dawn shook her head, her eyes going up to see Ash's expression.

"Looked a little bland." His expression was neutral but Dawn could see the discomfort and a little hurt in his eyes.

Good. She muttered to herself and made her way to the changing room.

"She really moved on, didn't she?" Ash asked as soon as Dawn was out of the hearing range.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"What about you?"

Ash looked at the girl and then looked in the direction where Dawn disappeared. "Does it matter now?"

"Yes."

Taking a deep breath, Ash put the maroon dress on the shelf, running his fingers over it for one last time. "I thought I had moved on but-"

Hannah held his hand, "But?"

"Seeing her again after all this years kind of made me remember a lot of past things. I see what we did wrong then and somehow want to correct them."

Hannah sighed, squeezing his hand,"That doesn't answer if you love her or not."

Ash shrugged,"I don't love her anymore, you know. I mean after the break-up, it wasn't easy to get my mind off things. However we never saw each other anymore and went on with our lives. I am sure I moved on."

"Then why do you look so sad?"

Ash squeezed Hannah's hand back, smiling,"Because I never thought Dawn and I will ever breakup."

Hannah kept staring out of the window, watching the landscape changing as Shane drove them back home.

Seeing the hyperactive girl silent, Dawn broke the ice,"What happened, Hannah?"

Hannah didn't say anything and somehow the silent was creeping Dawn out. "Hannah?"

"I told Ash that Ray wrote songs about you."

Dawn blinked. What? When? Oh god! "Hannah!" Dawn hissed, irritated,"That's Ray's personal matter! Ash isn't-"

"Ash pissed me off," Hannah turned to face Dawn and Dawn was thrown off track when she saw tears in her eyes.

"How?"

Hannah wiped away her tear, rubbing her eye with her fingers,"He said he didn't want to break up with you. So I told him why he did so then. And he kept saying that was for the best and everything. He seriously pisses me off."

Dawn wrapped her arm around Hannah's shoulder, patting her head slowly. She saw Shane staring at them from the rear view mirror and closed her eyes.

"Its all in the past. Don't think about it."

"But you-" Hannah looked up with her tear filled eyes. The sight broke Dawn's heart. She had seen Hannah in this much pain after the second chemotherapy and the scream and anguish of the girl broke Dawn's heart. She just couldn't watch the same expression on her again.

"I am fine, Hannah."

"But-"

Dawn pressed a kiss on the girl's forehead. "I am fine."

Hannah nodded and closed her eyes.

The car ride fell silent after that and after some time, Shane spoke up. "Miss Dawn, we have arrived at Miss Hannah's home."

Dawn nodded and Hannah detached herself from her, smiling at the older girl. "Goodnight sis."

Dawn smiled,"Goodnight."

Hannah slowly got out and went to the passenger seat to pick out her bag. She peeked inside the first bag and her eyes widened on seeing the white dress she had picked for Dawn along with the maroon dress Ash had picked for her. She slowly kept it back and picked out the other bag, looked inside to confirm it was hers. Closing the door, she looked to give Dawn a smile and went back inside her house.

She rang the doorbell, waiting for her mother to open the door.

The car drove off and Hannah sighed, closing her eyes. Dawn kept saying she was fine but- Hannah shook off the thoughts.

Her elder sister was such a liar.

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Okay, writing Ash X Dawn interactions are hard because the story is just starting and they don't see each other on regular basis anymore.

This story won't be that long, most probably just 10 to 15 chapters. Main plot is going to start from the next chapter and well, find you all there at the next chapter?

Well I adopted two kitties on 24th of August and they are so adorable XD I fell in love with them the minute I saw them! The person who abandoned those Kitties from their mother must be a monster. The ladies were hardly a week old and someone seperated them from their Mom. I get that you don't want to take care of more cats but you could've atleast waited till they could atleast walk a little on their own. Breaks my heart.. :(

Don't forget to leave a review! I love reading them and know about what you all think of this!

~ DarkestLightOfHope