The Ketchum Family

Some Unhealthy Competition

Ash and Serena are back home, but things are not back to normal. Serena's prank has led to discord and division between her and her man. She wants to be closer to him but he's content with things as they are. What will happen when they receive an unexpected visitor?

This chapter takes place roughly a week after the previous one.

Content warning! There's some intense and emotional exchanges in here. There's also some crude language and edgy moments.

I hope you like this fiery and emotional chapter.

Delia used a spatula to poke at a sizzling pair of pancakes, in a pan on the stove. The heat was much lower than she normally would have had it and the pancakes were taking a long time to cook. This was intentional, however, she was waiting for someone.

With a subtle frown on her face, Delia waited and waited until she heard the quiet padding of Serena's footsteps upstairs. Ash's mother watched as the golden-haired woman quietly descended the steps and tried to slip past without being noticed. Delia took a breath and spoke up in a friendly tone.

"Morning, Serena, would you like any pancakes?"

Serena started and her head snapped around to look at Delia. She tried to appear calm but her eyes betrayed her nervous fear.

"Oh, uhh... no thanks, I'm fine," she said in a tense voice. "I-I'll get something at the reserve."

Delia pursed her lips and mightily debated her next words. A tense second of silence passed and Serena turned to go. Ash's mother sighed internally and spoke up in as casual of a voice as she could manage.

"Serena... I was wondering," she began. Serena stopped dead in her tracks but didn't turn to look at Delia. "You've been sleeping here the last couple of nights. I was wondering... is everything okay between you and Ash...?"

Serena turned around and Delia's heart fell as she saw the other woman's chin briefly quiver before she smiled, and subtly shook her head. Her potential daughter-in-law was lying.

"Uh, no! Ash and I are great!" Serena said in a cheery tone. "It's just been... a little crazy... and I needed a little extra sleep... so I came down here."

Delia paused for a moment and then nodded. "O-okay," she said, forcing her own smile. "I hope you have a good day."

Serena sent a friendly wave Delia's way and quickly made tracks out of the Ketchum residence. Ash's mother watched her go and then leaned toward the window so she could continue monitoring Serena as she walked down the road. The auburn-haired woman sighed heavily and her shoulders slumped. She didn't know what had happened in Hoenn, but Serena had been acting strange since she and Ash had gotten back.

The acrid smell of smoke caused Delia to crinkle her nose. She let out a cry of dismay and turned back to the stove. The pancakes were starting to burn and she let out an unhappy whine. She flipped the ruined cakes into the trash and frowned deeply.

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Serena slowly put one foot in front of the other as she paced across the laundry room floor. She listened to some of Ash's grunts of effort as he lay on his back, next to the washing machine. With a frown on her face, the golden-haired woman turned on a heel, crossed her arms, and began pacing back across the room. A few more grunts sounded from Ash and he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Why did they make it this way..." he mumbled to no one in particular.

Serena finished pacing to the opposite side of the room and turned around. "So, can you fix it?" she said in a tone tinged with skepticism.