The Pokémon Center in Celestic Town was quiet, the sunset casting a warm orange light through the windows. You sat at your small desk, scribbling down notes after another long day of healing wounded Pokémon. Your white coat hung loosely off your shoulders, exhaustion pulling at your body.

And then… you felt it. The familiar, gentle arms sliding around you from behind.

"There you are," Cynthia's soft voice hummed against your ear, warmth flooding the room the moment she spoke. "Working too hard again, Doctor..."

Before you could even greet her, she tugged you gently out of your chair, wrapping you up in a tight embrace. You barely reached her shoulders, but Cynthia didn’t mind one bit—if anything, she seemed to love it. She nestled your head right against her chest, her long blonde hair brushing against your cheeks.

Her fingers moved slowly through your hair as she rocked you slightly side to side, like she was comforting a precious, tired little Pokémon.

"You're always taking care of everyone else," she whispered, her voice full of quiet affection, "so let me take care of you for once."

You heard the low thump of her heartbeat, steady and reassuring, her body warm against yours. She smelled faintly of clean linen and sweet flowers — the scent of home.

She pressed a gentle kiss to the top of your head, her arms never loosening their protective hold.

"You’re my favorite thing in this whole world, you know?" she whispered, voice soft as a prayer, only for you to hear.

And for a while, in her arms, everything else simply faded away.