Work Text:
Ash slumped down onto the sofa with a tired exhale, letting his head fall back against the cushions.
For the first time all day, the house was quiet.
No excited footsteps racing down the hallway. No toys clattering against the floor. No small voice calling for help with something that could very much wait another five minutes. Just the soft hum of the heater, the faint clink of dishes from the kitchen, and the warmth settling into his bones after a long, full day.
He ran his fingers through his hair, dragging them back slowly, eyes closing.
Five minutes, he thought. Just five.
Pikachu chose that moment to hop up beside him, curling instinctively into Ash’s lap. The little Pokémon’s tail rested against Ash’s thigh, warm and familiar. Ash smiled faintly and reached down, scratching behind Pikachu’s ears in slow, practiced motions.
“How you doin’, buddy?” Ash murmured.
“Pika… pi chu,” Pikachu replied sleepily.
Ash huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. Me too.”
He meant it.
Pikachu shifted, then hopped down again, trotting purposefully toward the hallway. Ash opened one eye, watching him go, then sighed and pushed himself to his feet. Of course. He followed.
Upstairs, the light in the nursery was dim, the curtains half-drawn. Pikachu sat at the foot of the bed, tail swaying lazily. In the center of the carpet, their baby Stuffle slept curled into a soft pink ball, rising and falling with slow, steady breaths.
And there, tucked beneath a blanket, one arm flung carelessly to the side, was Samantha.
Ash stopped in the doorway.
For a long moment, he didn’t move.
He’d seen this scene a hundred times already, but it still caught him every single time. The quiet. The safety. The fact that this- this- was his life now.
“I’m so lucky,” Ash whispered, the words barely more than breath.
He startled slightly when arms slipped around his waist from behind.
“Yeah,” Misty murmured, resting her chin against his shoulder, “you are.”
She leaned up on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
“I’m lucky too,” she added. “Thank you.”
Ash turned his head just enough to catch her eye, smiling. Before he could say anything, she squeezed him once and stepped back.
“Right,” she said briskly, already shifting into motion. “I’m dishing up dinner. It’s your turn to wake our little princess.”
Ash groaned. “Thanks a lot.”
Misty smirked, clearly pleased. “Love you.”
She headed downstairs before he could respond, laughter trailing behind her.
Later that night, the house had settled into its evening rhythm.
Ash and Misty were curled up together on the sofa, Misty tucked against his side, his arm resting comfortably around her waist. Samantha lay sprawled between them, utterly worn out, thumb tucked into her mouth. Stuffle snoozed on the floor by Ash’s feet, occasionally twitching in its sleep.
Misty yawned, blinking heavily. “It’s getting late. We should probably get her to bed.”
Ash glanced down at their daughter, smiling. “Yeah. She’s out cold.”
He shifted carefully and scooped Samantha up, cradling her against his chest. She stirred only slightly, making a soft noise before settling again. Ash carried her upstairs, Misty following close behind.
He laid Samantha down gently, tucking the blanket around her. He bent and kissed her forehead.
“Goodnight, sweetie,” he whispered.
“Sweet dreams.”
Misty brushed Samantha’s hair back and kissed her cheeks. “Goodnight, darling. Love you so much.”
They lingered for a moment longer, just watching her breathe, before quietly heading back downstairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, Misty stopped.
“I’m still not happy about that Stuffle sleeping in her room,” she said, brow furrowing.
Ash sighed. “Why not?”
“Because you’ve seen what it evolves into. What happens if it evolves and decides to go after Sam?”
“It won’t evolve,” Ash said calmly. “It’s still a baby. We don’t battle with it. No experience, no evolution.”
“I still don’t like it,” Misty huffed.
“You don’t trust a tiny baby Stuffle?”
“You’re blinded because it’s a Pokémon,” she snapped.
Ash’s patience thinned. “And what do you mean by that?”
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“Misty,” he shot back, frustration flaring,
“I’m not listening to someone panic over a baby Pokémon when that same person wanted a pool big enough for a Gyarados in the garden.”
They glared at each other, tension stretching tight between them.
Then Ash exhaled, shoulders dropping.
“Do you honestly think I’d bring something into our home, into her room, if I didn’t believe it was safe?” he asked, voice quieter now. “Just… trust me. Please.”
Misty’s anger faded, replaced with something softer. She sighed.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right.”
“So am I,” Ash replied gently.
She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. “Are we done with Christmas shopping?”
“I think so,” he said. “Just decorations left. Mistletoe, baubles, tinsel, lights.”
“Mistletoe?” Misty smirked. “You mean you’re not going to run away this time?”
Ash coughed. “I don’t remember that.”
She snorted. “Sure you don’t.”
Christmas morning arrived far earlier than either of them wanted.
Ash woke to the sensation of weight and movement, followed by an enthusiastic shout.
“Daddy! Daddy! Wake up! It’s Chwistmas!”
He groaned, rolling over. “Sam, it’s too early…”
“But Daddy,” she insisted, bouncing on him, “it’s Chwistmas. Dats da wules!”
Ash laughed despite himself and sat up, pulling her into a tight hug and tickling her sides until she squealed with laughter.
“Oh, the rules, huh?”
“Yes!”
“Alright,” he said conspiratorially, “but first… you need to wake Mommy up the same way you woke me. Deal?”
He placed Samantha between them.
“No deal,” Misty said smugly, sitting up before she could be pounced on.
“Aww,” Ash and Sam whined in unison.
“Merry Christmas, my little Pichu,” Misty said, pulling Samantha into a hug.
“Mewwy Chwistmas, Mommy!”
“Merry Christmas,” Ash said softly, leaning over to kiss Misty.
“Ewww,” Samantha giggled.
Ash laughed and kissed her forehead instead. “Merry Christmas, amazing little lady.”
They headed downstairs together, Ash carrying Samantha, Pikachu padding along beside them.
At the bottom of the stairs, they stopped.
A small sprig of mistletoe hung in the doorway.
Ash guided them beneath it. Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder. Ash and Misty kissed Samantha’s cheeks, then shared a gentle kiss themselves.
“No running this time,” Ash murmured with a grin.
Pikachu promptly licked Ash’s cheek, tail flicking happily.
Ash scratched behind his ears, laughing quietly.
He stood there for a moment longer as Misty went into the kitchen and Samantha hurried toward the tree, eyes wide with excitement.
Ash closed his eyes.