Time can heal; it can evolve; it can fade; it can mature. But some things, for good or for ill, can last for far longer than desired. Such was the case with memories and the experiences tied to them, but for the misdreavus especially so.

"Millie.  Millie? You're daydreaming again."

"Paco..."

Days had gone by for the forest and its inhabitants, but for Millie, a sense of normalcy had yet to return for her or for Paco. She withdrew from vicariously experiencing Paco's lovemaking and in turn the lucario refrained from such lovemaking, even with the audino he had been planning to embrace. He felt like he would be rubbing salt into a fresh wound. Instead, he spent more time with Millie exclusively to keep her company and try to cheer her up. His mates and the kids knew this was needed. Though Rose, Cellin, and the rest could try to console the misdreavus, the lucario's sympathy meant more for the ghost than anyone else's.

At the moment, Paco and Millie took a stroll together amongst the forest's trees. The misdreavus floated along with the lucario's steps. The sun shined brightly overhead. However, not even such a beautiful day could add cheer to the little ghost's face. Her mind drifted elsewhere, which in turn made Paco's attempt at conversation awkward at best.

"Millie, hey. You know I'm here.  You know I am always here for you no matter what happens," Paco told her as he shot her a warm smile.

"Yeah." Millie's response was soft and detached. Her gaze stayed down towards the ground ahead of them.

Millie's mind mulled over the incident. She thought of her choice. The more she felt sure of her decision, the more she sank into regret. In such a manner her feelings had swayed to and fro, day after day. Of all the pokémon who could make her dreams come true, why oh why did it have to be Leon? He deserved his death and passing more than anyone she knew, and yet the memory of his touch overshadowed everything. Had she not been rescued, she would've thrown her dignity upon the sword for unfathomable bliss with a devil. She couldn't deny it. She felt so undeserving because of it.

She quietly peered over to Paco, frowning. She saw the stress the blue canine suffered, trying to tread as softly as he could not to worsen her emotional state. He was much like when they first met, when he was just a bachelor without so much a clue about the opposite sex. The irony wasn't lost on Millie. She felt even worse.

Paco suddenly stopped walking as he smacked his paws to his brow. "Gah! I can't stand seeing you like this, Millie," he exclaimed, "None of us can! What happened to you, it's terrible, but I don't know what to do about it! I know what you want the most, what you always wanted, but I go through you like you aren't there."

He dropped down sadly to his knees as he looked down to the misdreavus. "I'd give myself to you if I could, Millie."

Millie felt even less deserving now. She bit her lip before the canine. "Paco...I nearly threw it all away for what I wanted," the little specter said to Paco, "But you shouldn't do that. Not for the likes of me."

"Don't start that with me, Millie," Paco insisted, "Everyone knows Leon took advantage of you. You're not guilty of anything. But what's it going to take for you to let him go? What's it going to take for you to be happy again? Whatever it is, tell me! I'll do anything to help!"

Millie's eyes shifted. She became very quiet, as though a cat got her tongue. "Um..."

"Tell me, Millie. Please."

The glow of the misdreavus' pearls noticeably grew brighter. Her embarrassment was unmistakable as she pressed on with her words, shyer than she had ever felt before. "Well...is it okay, um...well, remember in Leon's nightmare how I was right there with you? Well, um...could I enter your dreams again so we could...um...experiment?"

"You mean you want to try to give me a wet dream?" Paco blurted with a blush.

"Yes! I can't do you for real until you die, so I'll take what I can get!" Millie blurted back.

Paco cleared his throat. "Er, well now! I...suppose...we could try that?" he managed to say in spite of his uncertain tone. "I'll try almost anything once. Really."

The lucario got back up onto his feet. "But you've got to promise you're not going to pout anymore and leave Leon in the past, where he belongs. He's in a better place now, for all of us."

For the first time in the while the misdreavus drew a small, gentle smile.

"Well? How about that promise? I'd shake on it, but you don't have any hands," Paco went on.

"Oh, hush. Of course I promise, Paco," Millie said back. "I'd much rather kiss on it...but it'll have to wait until tonight."

"Well, I owe some time elsewhere before we try that," Paco casually reminded the ghost. He turned around. "We better head back. I did tell Amber we'd go food-gathering soon."

"Ooh! I better tag along for that trip," Millie said, thinking aloud, remembering Paco's plans with the cute, pink audino.

"You might want to hold your tongue on any play-by-play commentary when you do."

Millie giggled. "Yeah, yeah."

The two began to make their way back home. For the plans the two would soon set in motion, they hoped for the best. It was better than nothing.

THE END