"Epilogue..." The mood around the round wooden the table was one of celebration as Bob put the last steaming platter of food down and took his customary seat between his wife Vivian and his almost-brother-in-law Frank. Beside him was Laurna, looking quite pleased despite all that had happened, merrily joking with Miranda as Misty once again wondered where she'd put the mountain of food her host insisted on piling her plate with. The kitchen itself had been decorated to mark the occasion, with black and orange intertwining streamers reaching out to all four corners of the room from their center point at the ceiling, and a large glowing Jack O'Lantern still sat in the window above the sink, staring out into the darkness despite it being the first night of November. "So I hear you two are planning on staying on for a month or two," said Frank conversationally; glancing up at Miranda as he shoveled a forkful of Bob's gravy soaked mashed potatoes into his mouth and looking entirely blissful for a moment. His niece nodded. "That's the plan," she replied, giving her mother a questioning look, "That is, if it's still alright." Vivian chuckled as Bob reached across the table to pass her the gravy he'd spent the better part of the day working on. "As though I could refuse such a gift, my dear!" the woman responded, meeting her daughter's gaze with a look that held a softness seldom seen in Vivian's peculiar dark-magenta eyes. "Hey, maybe you can try out an temporary admin job," her husband offered in a careful tone, glancing from Miranda to Misty to gauge their reactions. "I think not," Miranda replied gently, smiling to reassure him before turning to her Aunt, "But I was thinking of maybe helping out at the Gym a bit. Earn my keep and all that." "As if you'd need to!" her mother scolded her mockingly, chuckling at the thought of such a thing. "She's right!" agreed Misty with a laugh, feeling surprising at ease, and for the first time in more than a decade, feeling as though she were truly part of a family, "Only Joshua works harder than our Miri!" "I'll second that!" called Frank and Laurna, laughing at each other as they raised their glasses high and Miranda blushed as they clinked them against Misty's. "Oh! And speaking of Joshua," added Bob as the thought suddenly struck him, "He's retiring this Spring, eh." "WHAT?!" exclaimed everyone at the table except for Bob and Vivian. Bob chuckled to himself, feeling slightly smug. "He's taking one last big job and then he's coming home to Lavender to stay," he explained, "Of course, he's not REALLY retiring so much as taking a lighter work load. Joshua's gonna be one of Lavender's in-city couriers." "One of three," commented Miranda, her eyes fluttering as she realized why her Uncle had reacted so favorably to her stepfather's gravy as she tried a bit of the roast he'd made. "If you don't mind me asking," Misty inquired curiously, smiling in Miranda's direction as the courier set her fork down and gripped the table with both hands to contain herself, "what's the big assignment?" Bob grinned broadly. "It's a secret," he replied, dark blue eyes sparkling with mirth, "But I can tell you this. It involves the Celadon to Fuchsia Winter caravan." "Speaking of which!" interrupted Vivian, raising an eyebrow as she inquired of her daughter, "Are you up for it this year?" Miranda opened her eyes, catching her breath as she nodded slowly. "I wouldn't mind," she assured, glancing at Misty, "If it's okay with you?" Misty shrugged, turning to Vivian. "Sure," she replied, "What's it involve?" "Well, it pays quite a bit," chuckled Bob, receiving a stern glare from his wife. "Oh, it's quite a hike," Vivian explained casually, "Especially through the mountains when those wretched storms hit us in late January. But you two wouldn't be alone. Joshua's been the senior courier for that run since as long as I've been with the Company. He knows the route, and all the complications that can arise, so he'll be in charge. Oh, and they're be two or three other couriers as well. Depending on who's willing this year." "I hope you don't mind cramped quarters, though," cautioned Miranda as she sipped her tea, "I volunteered my first year as a courier, and I don't mind saying that sleeping in those wagons is something of a talent." "Oh, they're not THAT bad," her mother replied, shaking her head in dismay as she ate. "Oh, I don't mind," assured Misty brightly, "It'd be better than walking through nine feet of snow." "Hey, I was serious, eh!" said Bob, quickly swallowing a mouthful of vegetables, "It pays really well!" "Well I'm sure Miri's account can handle a few extra credits," Misty chuckled. Vivian sighed, setting her fork down and resting her chin on her hands. "No, dear, you misunderstand," she explained, "We're offering you a job. A courier apprenticeship, actually." "Under Miranda of course," added Bob hastily, causing Frank to choke a bit on his food and Laurna to smack his arm as she giggled. "I- I don't know what to say-!" stammered Misty, turning to Miranda who carefully took her hand and smiled. "It's up to you, dear," she said, "You can always change your mind later and take up another profession if you'd like. But as long as we're traveling around together like this, it gives you an extra reason to be hanging with me." "Like I need another one," assured Misty, squeezing Miranda's hand as she smiled into the courier's eyes, "but I guess it'd be better than living off my inheritance for the rest of my life." "You'll eat better too!" laughed Bob, "Even apprentice courier's get fairly good wages." "Yeah," added Frank with a conspiratory grin, "And you'll be adding to all those old tales you always hear about where apprentices get taken advantage of by their mentors!" "Frank!" Misty laughed, her face blushing profusely as she used her spoon to fling several peas across the table at him and Laurna gave him a discerning look. "Hey, wasn't that what the movie we rented the other night was about?" she inquired, trying unsuccessfully to embarrass the Pokeforce Officer. "That was the pretext!" he chuckled, giving both Miranda and Misty an amused wink. "But seriously," came Vivian's calm, yet commanding tone, "Are you willing? For the job and the caravan I mean?" "Um, yes and yes," Misty replied after a moment's thought. Vivian nodded. "Good," was all she said before going back to her meal. "Then I'll be sure to have you both in Celadon come January," said Bob, "I'm sure something'll come up by then." "Hey, yeah!" laughed Misty, "That kinda works, doesn't it?" "Oh? How so?" inquired Miranda, suddenly looking a little nervous. "We can hit the Gym while we're there," her lover explained, "Assuming that Erika takes challengers that time of year." "She does," assured Laurna, sending her niece a surreptitious glance across the table, and receiving a light tap under the table for it, "All year round. Erika's door is always open." "And you know," added Bob, suddenly remembering his promise to his stepdaughter, "Angela's got a run to Cinnabar at about the time you'd be arriving in Fuchsia." "Coincidence?" Miranda inquired doubtfully. "Of course not, dear," her Mother assured with a Machiavellian grin, "we have our reasons for her being there then." "Joshua's secret mission?" inquired Frank, obviously interested in unraveling the little mystery. "I say nothing," Vivian replied, "But the Dawn Sister II will be in Cinnabar for about three days before heading up to Pallet, and you know the trip North to Viridian isn't a long one." She then waited for Misty and Frank to end their mutual shudder before continuing, Misty for the mention of Pallet Town, and Frank for the mention of Viridian City. "Seeing as it'd be so convenient for you, I'm sure Bob can make the right arrangements." Misty sat back in her chair, goose bumps rising along her arms as her mind turned over the possibilities. "Wow, that means I could hit every Gym in less than a year," she breathed still mulling the issue of having to go through Pallet. "It's up to you," Vivian said simply, "Oh, and the dinner is beyond excellence, dear. Thank you." Misty turned to Miranda, not hearing Bob's words to his wife. "You know," she said quietly, feeling more than a little overwhelmed, "This is a really good opportunity." Miranda nodded. "It's good to know you can recognize them," she teased softly, her smile reassuring, "But as my mother says. It's all up to you." "Just think," Misty chuckled ironically, "I'll be beating Ash's time for collecting Gym badges. He took two and a half years..." Miranda's supportive expression became one of concern as Misty's eyes became suddenly sad. "Are- are you okay?" the courier asked, feeling suddenly guilty as she put her arm around Misty and tried to keep the unwelcomed panic from her voice. Misty nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, dearest," she replied quietly, glancing up from her plate and into the seemingly endless depths of Miranda's stormy gray eyes, "It's just that I realized something just now. I- I wasted nearly five years of my life with that guy. And what do I have to show for it...?" "In the end? Self respect," came Vivian's answer, her tone uncompromising, but maternal nonetheless, "It show's strength of character to put an end to an abusive relationship." Misty looked up in time to see Vivian and Laurna exchange glances. "I suppose so," she said quietly, the beginnings of a smile crossing her face, "And um, there's one other thing as well." Everyone looked to her as she smiled, her gaze firmly locked on Miranda as she put her arm around the courier, leaning in closer as she spoke. "I wound meeting and falling in love with the most wonderful woman I could ever imagine," she explained, blushing as everyone else at the table raised their glasses and cheered as Misty and Miranda kissed...
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