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Near 7 a.m., Skye opened her eyes to Aaron putting on his clothes. She'd ended up falling asleep shortly after dawn broke and had gotten a few hours in.

"Hey…" Aaron studied her grim expression. "Didn't want to wake you."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "I'm so screwed."

"I noticed... In hindsight, maybe we should have kept track of time."

"You mean what I was trying to do all night?"

Aaron looked at her. "…I'm sorry about that. I was trying to help you feel better."

Skye stood and grabbed her panties and bra off the bed, then took them into the restroom and shut the door.

"Now she's upset with me." Aaron sighed and sat on the bed, holding his chin.

While he was in thought, the restroom door opened moments later. He glanced back and saw Skye exit while smoothing her shirt.

"Leaving in thirty." She leaned against the wall.

"...Okay." He turned to somewhat face her.

"I shouldn't have had to deal with watching the damn time."

"Skye... do you want to go home?"

"I'm going because Ruki is there, and I have to get Sylmi back to you. I wouldn't for a while otherwise."

"Has the thought of moving out crossed your mind?"

Skye shrugged. "Don't even have anywhere to go." She had zero friends in reasonable proximity and wasn't close enough to any relatives to feel comfortable asking.

"I mean, you could stay with me for as long as you'd like."

She eyed him. "...In Kalos?"

"Yeah, you and Ruki are welcome. It's a great region, and I'm in a good area. I'm not trying to pull you from your parents. Just putting it out there."

She grinned subtly. "I'll have to sit on it. I can't form a proper thought."

"Take your time. We can talk when you're ready."

She nodded. "I'm gonna go now. I have to order my ticket." Skye went to him and hugged his waist.

Aaron returned it, embracing her with a minute grin.

"Thank you. It was an amazing night… I just wish there weren't strings attached." Skye broke their hug. "See you later."

"I'll be ready." He watched her put on her shoes and head out the door, leaving him in silence. He sat on the bed and rubbed his eyes, then lay back, glancing up at the white flower Skye had worn in her hair last night resting atop the bed. He reached and grabbed it. It was beginning to wilt.

He stood and went to the window, looking at the sunlit mountains while the sun rose over them, twirling the flower's stem.

~"Biggest decision you'll ever have to make," Skye said while stepping out of the elevator and into the lobby, which wasn't as packed as last night. She passed people on the way to the exit, unintentionally brushing past a few.

Skye left the resort and walked across the patio. "An abrupt change, but you'd be more independent." Aaron did live with his mom, though. Hopefully, that wouldn't be awkward since she wouldn't want to intrude. Would his mom even be okay with that? It wouldn't be permanent. Skye just wanted out of her current situation.

All Skye knew was that while the cons of moving indefinitely were daunting, the pros were largely tempting.

---

On the ferry home, Skye grew more anxious. The last thing she wanted was to face her father under the current waters, but it was better to deal with the situation than to run from it, or else it wouldn't get any better—if that were possible at this point.

She sat in a chair on the ship's rear deck, where few people were present.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket; Skye pulled it out to see her mother calling. She didn't feel like talking but wouldn't mind much if it was indeed her mother. She answered it and held the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Skye, are you alright?"

Skye's eyes started welling up. "I feel like I let you both down..."

"Hon, you didn't let anyone down."

Skye sniffled, and her voice cracked. "He called me a slut!"

"I'm going to discuss that with him. He didn't mean it, Skye. He was upset."

"He did mean it." She wiped tears. "Y-You always turn a cheek o-or say you work it out, but you know he means every word, and it will never stop until I confine myself to my room for the rest of my life... Am I expected to take this for another decade?"

There was a beat of silence before Skye spoke again. "How don't I deserve a healthy shot at a relationship? I don't think I want to deal with this anymore… or can."

"Then what would you like to do, Skye?" Her mother's tone was dull.

"I'll tell you soon... How are Ruki and Sylmi?"

"They spent time in the living room watching a poképrogram Ruki had me put on and your room as well. I made them dinner, and Sylmi was able to get Ru to act cordial. It was cute. I think Ruki's mood dimmed after you called, though. He separated from everyone."

Skye had assumed so. Her poor boy. "I'll be there soon."

---

An hour later, that came to be. She stepped off the ferry and walked across The Marina's sun-stricken pavement after stopping at the booth to buy a ticket back to Akala.

She looked around at Hau'oli's buildings and the Shopping District as she approached, where she wanted to try and get her first job since she kind of didn't want to work at her parents' business. It would be easy to land anything in the District since many managers knew her and Ruki well, but Skye had to gauge whether it was worth the stay.

Within the next fifteen minutes, her eyes mainly following the ground, she'd cleared her head for the most part. It was fortunate as her residence was less than a mile ahead. Skye would return Sylmi to Aaron before the day ended and maybe take Ruki out to get away again.

When she was at her door, she took her key out and stuck it into the slot, turning it. Skye opened and saw her mother standing by the dining room table.

"He doesn't want to speak right now, hon," her mother said.

"That's okay." Skye looked at Sylmi sitting on the couch. "Where's Ruki?"

"In your room. You should check on him. I couldn't get to him."

"Mhm." Skye was a step ahead. She went down the hall and pushed her cracked door open.

Ruki was lying by the bottom end of the bed; he lifted his head once he saw her, then sat up fully.

She saw the worry his eyes wore and grinned slightly. Skye walked and sat on the bed in front of him, placing her hands on his sides and kissing the top of his head. "Were you stressed?"

Ruki nodded and rested his cheek against her arm while looking at her.

"I'm okay. I missed you lots, though." Skye rubbed his sides and kissed his cheek. "I'm going to drop off Sylmi. I'll be back soon, but we'll go somewhere later, okay? I promise." She leaned in and kissed his nose.

"Nine." He swished his tails a little. Ruki watched her exit, wondering exactly how she felt. He'd stay in her room for the time being and hope her mother wouldn't come in to check on him again. He appreciated her offering breakfast and trying to pet him, but Ruki had no appetite.

Skye stopped at the restroom to remove her makeup and finished after a minute or so. "Hey, Sylmi," Skye said upon entering the living room.

He eyed her with with flattened ears.

"Ruki's fine if that's what you're wondering. Last night was just rough for everyone… Come on. I'm gonna take you back." Skye went to unlock the front door. "Be back, Mom."

She was in the kitchen. "Okay, hon. I'll make something for you to come home to and get Ruki fed as well. He'll eat after he smells it cooking." She walked and stopped at the entrance. "And I wanted to tell you..."

Skye turned slightly.

"I'm sorry, and I support you and Aaron. After you telling me about him, meeting him, and dinner, I think he's great. Your father and I basically came from the rattata race. We had little to nothing to our names, with him having more from his battle success, and we built something great together. Who's to say you two couldn't do the same? If your father can ease up and look into the future as he once did, I know he would help.

If you know Aaron is really trying for his future and for you— and if you feel in your soul he's right, then love him now, not then. It'll mean a lot more in twenty years."

"Thank you... That means a lot, Mom." Skye grinned ruefully and headed out the door.

Sylmi got down and followed while holding his ribbons.

"You okay?" Skye walked beside him and noticed him staring at the ground.

Sylmi glanced up and nodded.

They arrived at The Marina in less than fifteen minutes since they walked relatively quickly.

"Ferry comes in twenty." She sat on a bench near the docking area with Sylmi, watching people gather with pokémon.

He sat with a subtle slouch and a hint of sorrow in his gaze.

"Are you sure you're okay? Is this about Ruki, or?" She eyed him.

"Syl…" He nodded.

"You know he's fine, right? Really… or is it something else?"

"Sylvee." He looked up at her.

"Well, you two are still friends, right?"

He nodded once more and shot his eyes around before shifting. Sylmi raised his ribbons and tied them, creating a loose knot and holding them there while staring at Skye.

"Uh, what? Close friends?"

Sylmi shook his head.

"Want... to be close friends?..."

"Vee." He gave a moment before shaking again and pulled his ribbons to his chest, tugging them to bring the knot together.

"What else could…" Skye trailed. "I mean, the next thing would be mates, but– huh?" She shook her head, puzzled.

Sylmi grinned shyly for a second and untied his ribbons.

"Oh!" She widened her eyes slightly. "What, wait, you like Ruki? Like... like-like?"

He finally nodded, his cheeks flushing under his fur.

"Sylmi, oh my gosh… I'm– I'm not even sure Ruki likes males. You haven't told him how you felt yet, huh?"

Sylmi shut his eyes and shook his head faster than before.

"Well…" Skye held out her hand. "I'll keep it between us. You can tell him when you're ready." She grinned.

Sylmi grinned back, looked at her hand, placed his ribbon in her palm, and they shook.

---

An hour later, Skye was off the ferry and strolling toward the resort with Sylmi. They were walking along the beach while cool breezes passed them by.

"Up here." Skye turned and walked up the flight, stepping onto the patio. She saw Aaron standing before the pools with a few people sitting on the benches. He was in a tee and casual jeans.

"Veon!" Sylmi ran ahead and nuzzled Aaron's leg with his cheek.

"I missed you too." Aaron crouched and picked Sylmi up with a smile, holding him to his chest while cradling him. "Thank you for riding back. I know you're exhausted," he said to Skye as she approached.

"I'm just glad everything's back to normal. Well… almost everything."

Aaron set Sylmi down and held his arms out to her.

She walked into it and pressed her cheek to his chest, letting him hold her tight. "Thank you." She raised her arm and hugged his waist.

Aaron looked down at her. "For what?"

She shifted and pulled away slightly to look up. "Staying, even with all this going on, and offering Kalos. I... wish you didn't have to know about all this so soon either."

"I'm here to support you through your roughest times too… And that offer, have you thought about it?"

They watched a couple of people walk around them and moved aside to be considerate.

"I think I want to do it."

Sylmi twitched his ear while watching the conversation, forming a grin.

"Really?" Aaron inadvertently tightened his grip on her.

"Mhm." She giggled, wheezing before he loosened it. "It'll still take a while to set up, and I'd have to pack. I also need to talk things over with my parents and see if it's confirmed."

"There's no rush. I want it to be as perfect as possible."

"And I also think we should cut this trip short. You leave in two days, right?"

"Yeah."

"With everything going on, it's a lot right now, you know?"

"Right. We still did a lot."

"We did, mhm. Wish I could have taken you to a movie at least. We watched a lot over video calls, so it would have been sweet to bring it to life." Skye ran her fingers along his chest. "And speaking of things we didd… what was that cute name you called me last night?" She bit her lip, concealing a smile.

"Oh… y-you mean hun? That–"

"Shish." Skye put a finger to his mouth for a second. "I liked it. Maybe I'll do it too."

"Oh, sorry–" He lifted his shirt and revealed a pikachu plushie stuck slightly in his pocket, grabbing and holding it up to her.

She looked at it, then shifted her eyes back to him, a grin gracing her lips that became a soft smile. "Awe... no, Aaron..."

He slightly shrugged. "I remember you telling me you collect, then I saw your bed. I hope you don't have a pikachu one anywhere."

She reached and took it, eyeing the plushie's heart-tipped tail, black eyes, and red-dotted cheeks. Her smile only grew. "I do now." Skye leaned in and hugged him all over again. "Thank you..."

He hugged her too while slowly rubbing her sides. "Of course." Aaron held her a little tighter.

Skye let go again and looked at the plushie again. "She'll fit perfectly with my others." She then looked up at him. "You got this at the resort? How much did it cost?"

He chuckled. "Skye, you aren't supposed to ask that. It's a gift."

She giggled back with a slight grimace. "I knoww, I know. I just don't want you overspending on me."

"You're worth all the money I could spend and more. Don't worry about it."

"Hmm, fine." Skye glanced back and sighed. "I should go..."

"Do you mind if we take a picture first?"

"Not at all." Luckily, Skye didn't look too frazzled. She stepped aside and patted her hair to feel for frizzy strands as Aaron pulled out his phone and went to his camera, swiping the screen to display them.

He hugged her waist with one arm and grinned at the lens while she smiled and put up peace with her fingers. Her plushie was in the hand on his waist.

He snapped it.

"Send me that later." Skye kissed his cheek and stood before him. "You'll see me soon. I love you."

He almost choked, gazing at her with a full grin. "I… love you too."

She giggled. His face was red. "Byee now." Skye turned around and went down the steps.

Even if she had taken them too fast, it felt like bliss, and they'd experienced their first time together.

Aaron may not have been her first by technicality, but he had been her first person, so she was able to separate the instances and range of emotions that came with it in a way. She viewed her and Ruki's first time as a complement to their bond, but Aaron's was one just beginning and her first step into the human aspect of love and vice versa.

They were connected on all fronts after that night, and she'd never forget it; she wanted to achieve so much more with him. It made her heart beat with hopeful conviction.