"Merry Chrysler, Moon!" Hau chirped, entering his friends yearly Christmas party.

Moon and her boyfriend's home was decorated top to bottom in festive tinsel, Christmas lights, and other various decorations. A few people milled around, chatting and drinking.

"Snowy!" Moon sang, rushing to hug her long time friend, "I miss you!"

Hau hugged his friend back, lifted her up, and spun her around, "I miss you too, Moonie!"

Gladion approached Hau as co-host of the party, "Sup man."

"Hey Gladion. Place looks nice."

"Well you know Moon. Festive the minute Halloween is over."

Hau placed his friend back on the ground, "That's my girl!"

Moon saw more people arrive, excused herself quickly, and rushed to greet them. Hau handed Gladion a bottle of wine he had been holding.

"Thanks." Gladion said, taking the wine.

"So how's..." Hau gestured towards Moon, "Life?"

Gladion smiled softly, "Good."

"How's Paradise? Got any cool research goin' on?"

Gladion frowned, "Moon and I are thinking about doing some field research in Galar."

"Galar?"

"Yeah. The Corsola there are so weird."

"Ah."

"It's just a thought though. Moon isn't finished with her shiny research here yet so it could be a couple of years."

Hau sighed in relief.

Gladion smirked, "Don't look so excited there, bud."

"It's just that now that Sun moved back to Kanto I feel like everything is changin', ya know?"

Gladion put a hand on Hau's shoulder, "Change is natural, Hau. It's the law of nature."

Hau frowned and furrowed his eyebrows together, "Running this place has turned you into a nerd."

Something behind Hau caught Gladion's eye.

"Hi Gladion! Hi Hau!"

Hau turned around and his breath caught in his chest.

"Lillie!" Gladion chimed, hugging his sister, "How dare you never visit?"

Lillie chuckled, "Sorry big brother! Just been real busy with this next show."

Hau ran his hands through his green hair nervously, "H-Hey Lillie."

He groaned mentally. Even after 12 years he still couldn't get a grip when he saw her. They'd been talking a lot as of late, and all his feelings for her had come rushing back.

"Hi Hau," Lillie said, "Howzit?"

Hau blushed, "Uh n-nothin' much ya know? Just mainly Kahuna things!"

"Yeah?" Lillie asked, smirking.

Hau nodded. He noticed that Gladion had mysteriously disappeared, which he found strange.

"How long have you been wearing your hair down?" Lillie asked, reaching up and touching her friends hair.

Hau's blush became too much to handle, "A couple of days actually! Just trying it out!"

"It looks nice." She whispered, tugging on Hau's robe.

Hau pulled away and laughed nervously, "Haha yeah! Will you excuse me for a minute? Just one minute I'll be back I swear." He said quickly, fleeing from the conversation and the room.

He fled down the house's left side hallway. He couldn't remember if it was Lillie or Gladion's room this way, but it didn't matter. He couldn't breathe. Why was she acting like this? She never acted like this. He noticed her getting a tad flirty over text, but he just figured he was misinterpreting it. Now it seemed fairly obvious.

"Jeez it's like you're scared of me." A voice said behind Hau.

Hau froze as the voice walked in front of him, "Everything okay?"

"Lillie I'm scared," Hau confessed, "Why are you flirting with me?"

Lillie giggled and stepped closer, "Because I like you?"

Hau took a step back, "I thought you liked girls..."

Lillie shrugged and took another step forward, "I do...but I found that I like you too."

Hau took another step back, "Don't say that. Don't do this to me..."

Lillie took another step forward, "Do what?" She asked.

Hau's back hit the wall, "This. Don't give me hope. Don't pretend like you didn't know that I've been in love with you for years! Like you can just flirt with me, tell me you like me, and all the pain goes away!"

Lillie blinked in surprise. Hau had tears in his eyes. Had she really hurt him this much? She never considered how much her ranting of Moon had hurt him. She'd never even considered that he had been hurting just like she had. Maybe even worse.

Lillie sighed, "I'm sorry Hau...I thought..."

Hau took a deep breath, "Don't pretend like you like me. Please. I can't do it."

"I do like you though!" Lillie protested, "You're sweet and funny and kind and you've always been there for me even when it hurt you," Lillie blushed, "And I'm sorry it took me so long to realize that..."

Hau frowned, "It can't be true..."

Lillie mimicked Hau's frown, "I'm sorry Hau. I'm sorry I put you in this position. I really do like you though...and maybe if it's okay, we could go on a date?"

Hau hesitated.

"I promise I like you Hau," Lillie stressed, "I thought I had it all figured out but...somehow you pulled the rug out from underneath me."

The hall was silent. The only sound that could be heard was the distant party and the sound of Lillie and Hau's breathing.

"Okay."