Find my courage (Pokemon fanfiction)

~32 No empty threats

We walked back to the Pokémon Centre as the sun was setting in silence, each of us well satisfied with out meal - or in Miku's case, a little too satisfied as she lay in Gardenia's arms half asleep while she rubbed her swollen stomach. The sunlight caught the jewels on her stomach, making them dazzle in a brilliant way. She yawned sleepily as Gardenia shifted her in her arms, smiling slightly as she looked at me from Miku.

~She will sleep well tonight I think.~ My shiny Gardevoir chuckled. ~She skipped the rush and went straight for the crash.~

Chuckling to myself, I nodded in agreement. :Yeah, she did eat a lot!:

Despite Nichole's initial interruption, we'd managed to have a fun evening as we talked battle strategy as well as contests and travel locations. Jessica did remain tense though but held the illusion that she was having fun. Now she walked behind us, eyes fixated on the distance with her arms crossed behind her head.

"Thanks for the awesome time guys, I don't get to have any fun with Nicholette, she's just train train train ya know. It's nice having people I can have a nice time with instead now and then." Jessica said sincerely, a small smooth smile over her features. "I'll look forward to doing so again next time we meet up. If you guys want to that is."

Jake nodded. "Yeah, it was nice and I'm sure we can do it again." He smiled. Although if you don't mind me asking, why do you travel with her if you don't have too. You clearly fight more then you get along in most cases we've seen."

Jessica sighed, twirling her long black pony tail through her fingers. "It's complicated, I don't hate my sister despite how much we fight. I owe her a lot too, we never exactly had a very stable house hold... My father earns money exploiting it from others online, wasting most of it on drugs and alcohol while my mother hasn't ever been able to maintain even the most mundane of jobs. Nicholette practically raised me and although she did leave as soon as she turned ten, she did so to get a job where she earned enough money to send me to a boarding school so I wouldn't have to be home all the time. Don't get me wrong, I do love my parents and my sister... it's just... complicated." Again she sighed.

Gardenia placed a hand on Jessica's back. ~It does sound harsh for someone so young but you sister does clearly love you. She seems to just show it in a different way.~

"Yeah, I know. I kind of suspect that her protectiveness and the way she pushes me to be my strongest is her way of showing she cares." Jessica smiled thoughtfully as we entered the Pokémon Centre. "She just never shows that part of herself to others."

"That does seem to be the case." Milly pipped in as we walk through the lobby and into the designated sleeping area. "Which room are you staying in?"

"Twelve." Jessica replied, nonchalantly with a sigh. "Don't tell her I told you this stuff, she prefers to keep it private but I can't talk to her about it either, she gets angry and defensive. I don't think she understands that sometimes I just want to be able to talk with my big sister."

Milly looked up at her big brother. "Yeah, I get that. I don't know what I'd do without Jake to talk to when our parents were going through their divorce, I thought my whole world would fall apart!" She exclaimed.

I squealed happily as I threw my arms around Samurai before doing the same to Gardenia. :I would die without you two to look after me!:

Samurai smirked playfully as he ruffled my hair. ~Paige feels the same way towards us.~ He explained as he took my hand in his and squeezed softly.

"Welp, this is my room." Jessica stated, nodding towards the white door with a bold 12 printed on the front. "I'll keep in contact with you guys, I had a lot of fun and it really means a lot you guys put up with me."