"What she needs."

Part 3 of the 5 part mini-series "There for you."

Part 4 of 20 of the ongoing saga "Love is such bitter sorrow."

NB If you have not yet read the first three parts of "Love is such bitter sorrow", go read them now. Unlike parts 1, 7 & 17, this cannot be read as a standalone, at least, not without missing out on necessary backstory.

She was crying. Understandable enough, given the circumstances. This was the first time she had returned to his grave since the funeral. It was an emotional moment for them both, but especially for her. She had never been as close to anyone as she had been to Togepi, with only the possible exception of himself.

Ash sighed. This was going to be a long day. He had taken a few moments to pay his respects to the dearly departed Pokémon, laying a small wreath at his grave, but that was several hours ago at this point, and he couldn't help be feel like he wasn't doing enough with Misty's continued mourning.

Making a decision, he moved forward and squatted down next to Misty, putting his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close so that she could cry in his. This she most certainly did, leaving Ash's shoulder increasingly damp. Agonising moments later, he spoke.

"Misty, I know this is a tough time for you returning here. There's nothing I can really say or do that's going to make anything better, and I hate the feeling of helplessness that goes with it. Yet sometimes Misty we just have to move on. It's been three years now. You need to let go."

Misty's crying slowly diminishes to an almost inaudible sobbing sound, as she leans further into Ash's shoulder, grasping the front of his shirt in an iron grip. Reflexively, Ash puts his arms around her and cradles her head.

"I haven't forgotten."

Misty's sobbing continues for a few seconds, then stops completely as she raises her head, staring at Ash's eyes.

"Misty, I said that I'd always be there for you, and I haven't forgotten that promise. No matter how long it takes, I'm going to help you through this, and I'll still be there for you once it's all over."

A faint smile creases Misty's lips and she leans back into Ash's shoulder, rocking slightly. Her grip on his shirt loosens, and that arm slowly starts to encircle Ash around the front, even as her other encircles him around his back. Ash's grip on the other hand becomes tighter, and Misty is pressed tightly into his comforting and protective embrace.

".......Thank you Ash......."
".......I just love you too much to bear seeing you hurt like this Misty......."

His words brought memories to the surface of Misty's mind. Memories of their first night together, and of the night immediately after. He had said something to her then very much like what he had just said now. Just as it had then, Ash's words seemed to strike a chord in Misty, one that she was overjoyed to have struck again. The expression in her eyes lost a small measure of the emptiness within that had plagued them for so long, and a smile of contentment and happiness made itself evident on her face. Settled down to lay against Ash's chest she closed her eyes and took in a deep long breath. The look of happiness, so rarely seen on her face and something that Ash had not seen in a long time, though not for lack of trying.

Taking her arms from around Ash, and her head off his shoulder, Misty turned to the grave. Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out a single white rose, now slightly crushed from Ash's embrace. With reverent care, Misty placed it on top of the tombstone itself, before standing up, stepping back and taking another deep breath, allowing Ash a convenient out to release the breath he did not realise he was holding. Standing up and moving towards her, he put his arm on her shoulder. Turning her body around, though not her head, Misty took one final look at Togepi's resting place before walking off down the hill, one of Ash's arms around her shoulder, and the other firmly clasping her hand. Her grip tightens around his for a moment, then she looks up to find he is already staring right back her, a look of happiness, happiness for her, clearly obvious. She realised then what it was she had been searching for all this time. What once filled the gap inside herself left by Togepi's death. Love, and to be loved. Safe in the knowledge of this, Misty knew now that it was well past time for her to accept the cruel blow fate had dealt her, and to move on. The emptiness inside her was gone.