"Dawn no" Paul said sternly as his girlfriend attempted to drag him into her house. It was about nine at night, and Paul was a bit tired from training all day.

"Come on, Paul! She wants to meet you!" Dawn urged, attempting to pull him by his arms.

"No"

"Chicken?" Dawn teased.

"No" Paul denied.

"So what's the problem?"

"The fact that you sprung this on me five minutes ago"

"It wasn't five minutes..."

"I apologize. Correction- four minutes and 47 seconds...48...49"

"Paul!" Dawn hissed, letting go of her boyfriend's arm. Possibly 'ex boyfriend' if he kept this up. Thankfully the door was closed. "You're acting like a child"

"I am not" he denied.

"It's just my mom, Paul. She's heard nothing but good about you from me"

"From you"

"What?"

"From you. What about from Ash or Zoey?"

Dawn's silence answered Paul's question.

Dawn shook her head, "Look, it doesn't matter! If you don't act like a jerk, she won't think you're a jerk"

"Dawn!" a voice chirped as the door to Dawn's house opened. Dawn ripped her gaze from Paul to greet her mother, a smile plastered across her face.

"Hi Mom!"

"Hi sweetie! And you must be Paul? Hello dear" Dawn's mom said. A Glameow sat next to her feet.

"Hello" Paul said uneasily.

"Come in you two, it's getting chilly" Dawn's mom said cheerfully, walking inside her house and leaving the door open. Dawn took Paul's hand and led him inside. Dawn's mom took a seat in an arm chair that sat diagonally from a couch that was across from the television. Dawn dragged her boyfriend onto the couch. Paul did not appreciate being dragged all over the place. A Glameow jumped onto Dawn's lap, and Dawn pet it's head affectionately before the Pokémon got up and took it's place next to Dawn's mother.

"Mom- this is Paul. Paul- this is my mom" Dawn introduced.

"Hello dear, please, call me Johanna" Dawn's mom said, a calm smile on her face. Paul noticed how much Dawn looked like her mother; Blue hair, blue eyes, and the same smile that Dawn wore so frequently.

"Hello" Paul said.

"So Dawn tells me you're quite the trainer" Johanna said.

"I suppose I am"

"'You suppose'?" Dawn cried, "You suppose?! You're the best trainer that I've ever met!" As soon as those words left Dawn's lips, she blushed a dark red. Paul smirked at her embarrassment. He thought it was cute.

Johanna laughed lightly, "You must really be something"

"I guess I am" Paul said, entwining his fingers with Dawn's. Dawn gave him a tired smile before her blush finally faded.

"So Dawn, the Grand Festival is coming up. Are you ready?" Johanna asked.

A fire ignited in Dawn's eyes, "Duh of course, Mom! Typlosion and I have been working super hard on Thunder Punch, since Paul said it would be a good idea to have it against any water types that we might have to battle. Piplup and Togekiss have been working on this really cool combination too, and I just know it's going to blow everyone away!"

"If anyone can pull it off its you" Paul said.

Dawn blushed, "Thanks Paul" Dawn's blush went away as she focused on contests once again, "I'm winning the Grand Festival this time!"

Johanna nodded and scratched under her Glameow's chin, "I know you can do it, dear. What are you going to do after the Grand Festival?"

"Oh that's easy! Paul is competing in the Sinnoh League. He'll win this time! No way he'll lose! Not with me cheering him on"

"Didn't Ash lose the Sinnoh League?" Paul asked as innocently as possible.

Dawn laughed with no humor, "Oh Paul you're so funny"

"I just tell it like it is"

"Oh Mom!" Dawn exclaimed, changing the subject, "Did the dress I ordered come in?"

"Yes it's in your room, but-" Dawn's Mom didn't get a chance to finish her sentence before Dawn got off the couch, letting go of her boyfriend's hand, and rushing up to her room. Paul's eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Paul turned his attention to Dawn's mom who suddenly had a stern look on her face. Her Glameow also didn't seemed too pleased.

"Zoey tells me you're not a very kind person?" Dawn's mom stated.

"To her" Paul replied.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not nice to her"

"Well who are you nice to?"

"Dawn"

Dawn's mom was silent as if waiting for more names. After awhile she caught on, "Just Dawn?"

"More or less" Paul shrugged. "I consider myself respectful towards most adults like Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny"

"And me?"

"Yes I suppose. You brought Dawn into the world so you can't be a horrible human being"

"Is that a compliment?" Dawn's mom asked, genuinely confused. Paul simply nodded in response.

"I also heard you and Kenny fight a lot"

"Yes. We do"

Dawn's mom shook her head and opened her mouth to speak, but something cut her off.

"Mom!" Dawn's voice called, "Wanna see the dress?"

"Of course, dear!" Johanna called back.

"Paul?" Dawn called.

"Yes?" Paul answered.

"Close your eyes"

"Arceus Dawn, why would I-"

"Just do it!"

Paul groaned and covered his eyes with his hand. He heard Dawn come down the stairs and walk in front of her mother.

"Oh Dawn, you're gorgeous!" Her mothers voice said.

"Thanks!" Dawn chirped.

"Why can't I look? I must've missed the part where you told me why" Paul groaned.

"I want you to wait until the Grand Festival..."

"Dawn, we travel together. Odds are, at some point, I'm going to see the dress"

"Okay fine, Mr. Buzzkill" Dawn teased, "Look"

Paul removed his hand from his eyes and looked at Dawn. His breath instantly caught in his throat, and his heart began beating faster.

She was wearing a strapless white dress that went down to just past her knees with a deep blue ribbon tied in a tight bow around her waist, to compliment her hair and eyes. She also was no longer wearing her hat.

Dawn grew a look of worry on her face and waved her hand in front of Paul's face, "Paul? Breathe, honey. You're as purple as your hair"

Paul took a sharp breath in "Sorry" he exhaled.

Dawn laughed, "You're right. You seeing it now really was better. I got to see your reaction"

"W-whatever" Paul stuttered, blushing lightly.

"So do you like it? Do you think I'm pretty?" Dawn said teasingly.

Paul smiled, a real genuine smile, "Beautiful"

"I would hope so," Dawn said, spinning and making her dress twirl around her, "I have to look my best for when I win!"

Paul rolled his eyes, "Arrogant much?"

Dawn put her hands on her hips, "I could ask you the same question"

"Oh?"

"Yep. I've known you for seven years, Paul. I think I know that you're a bit arrogant"

"Prove it" Paul challenged.

"Fine" Dawn said, "What's wrong? Who are you?" Dawn mimicked.

Paul scoffed, "That's not arrogance. I just didn't remember you"

"You're weak. You're pathetic. I'm such a strong trainer" Dawn mocked.

Paul crossed his arms, "I've only said two of those things"

Dawn winked, "But you think them" she said, sitting on the couch with Paul and resting her head on his shoulder.

"With everyone but you" Paul said.

"That's not what you said a few months ago"

"I thought you were still Ash's annoying friend, okay?" Paul sighed.

Dawn stuck her tongue out at him, "I still am"

"No, now you're annoying all on your own" Paul said, rolling his eyes. Dawn laughed.

Johanna got up from her chair, "I'm going to get a glass of water. Dawn, sweetie, come with me"

Dawn's body tensed, and she looked like she wanted to protest, but her mother's face seemed to convince her otherwise. Dawn squeezed Paul's hand before getting up and following her mother into the kitchen. Paul heard the murmur of their voices, seemingly arguing over something. Dawn then stormed out of the kitchen and pulled Paul off the couch.

"We're leaving" she stated, dragging Paul out the door.

"Dawn! Sweetie, come ba-!" Dawn's mom called. Dawn slammed the door behind her before her mom could get any more words out.

Dawn and Paul walked the paths of Twinleaf Town, heading for the Pokémon Center. Dawn shivered in the cold night air. Paul took his jacket off and wrapped it around her. Dawn put her arms through the sleeves of Paul's jacket.

Paul intertwined his fingers with Dawn's, "Are you okay?" he asked.

Dawn laughed with no humor or smile, "What gave it away?" she hissed.

"Dawn" Paul pressed.

Dawn's eyes shone with tears, "She doesn't like you" she whispered.

Paul shrugged, "Not a lot of people do"

"But I really wanted her to like you..."

"Why do you care what she thinks?"

Dawn glared at him, "She's my mother, Paul!"

"Okay, okay...did she mention why she didn't like me?"

"No...she just said that you rub her the wrong way and that I should be careful around you..."

"Well clearly she has a lot of evidence" Paul said sarcastically.

Dawn gave a short, quiet laugh, "Yeah"

"Dawn?"

"Hmm?"

"You know I would never hurt you, right?"

"Yeah..."

Paul stopped walking, forcing Dawn to stop as well, and Paul spun her so she was facing him.

"Dawn," he began, "I'm serious. I know I was a jerk to you in the past, but now there's nothing I wouldn't do for you" he said, bringing his hand up to her face. "I love you, Dawn"

Dawn looked like she was about to cry. He had never told her he loved her before. Well, never directly. Dawn threw her arms around her boyfriend, sobbing into his chest. Paul couldn't necessarily tell what she was crying about; The fact her mother didn't like him, or him telling her he loved her. Paul wrapped his arms around Dawn, not wanting to ever let her go.