Author's Note: I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who read my story "Girlfriends" and a special thanks to those of you who reviewed it. I am truly humbled and grateful for your praise. Y'all are great!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. This is just for fun.
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Meanings
Part 1
by Vickie211
Of all the hideaways the Team Rocket organization kept available for its members, this one was James' favorite, simply because of where he now stood. The place that held such enchantment for him was maybe two hundred yards into the forest behind the small cabin where he and his teammates were currently housed. Here, an open grassy area bordered a small river that seemed to be too lazy to ever find its way to the sea.
At the southern edge of the clearing, a magnificent old weeping willow perched on the riverbank. Its many branches swept the ground, making a curtain all around the tree. The limbs hanging over the water dipped in like toes trying to gauge the temperature.
It was almost autumn now, and yellow leaves from the willow lay almost still on the water, further testimony to the sluggish passage of the river. The scene reminded James of a book he had read long ago about elves and dwarves and little furry-footed men.
This was the spot James had chosen for enacting the scheme he had been working on for several days now. The plan would be carried out today, actually within the next few minutes. Here in this sanctum of nature, James would tell the woman he loved how he felt about her.
It had been pure luck that had allowed James, Jessie, and Meowth to be assigned to this particular safe house right when James wanted to be here. The cabin was near Viridian City, and James and Jessie had been ordered back to the gym for two weeks of instruction in self-defense. That was where Jessie was now, and she was due back any minute.
"Okay, Meowth. That's it. Everything is ready," James said to his companion. "You go watch for Jessie, and come tell me when she's on her way."
"Right." The cat Pokemon turned to go, then stopped and looked back with a big grin on his face. "Dis is gonna be so cool!"
James returned the grin, then shooed Meowth away. "Hurry, now. She'll be here any moment." He watched his friend rush away through the woods. Meowth had been a big help through this whole thing. In fact, his assistance and support had been essential for James to accomplish so much so quickly.
Only three days ago, during the weekend break from training, an incident had occurred which had given him the courage to finally confess his feelings for Jessie. Team Rocket had just crash-landed in a field outside of Pallet Town after being blasted off by that brat and his Pikachu again.
They had begun the long walk back to the cabin, each lost in quiet thought. James ambled along behind his friends, gazing at Jessie with rapt adoration. He had been in love with her for a long time now, although he had never told her what was in his heart. He figured she didn't feel the same way, so he decided it was best to keep his feelings hidden. But he liked to pretend that she returned his love, and to dream of the kind of future they could have together if she did.
Lost in this fantasy, James barely noted the length of the journey. But as the trio came within a few miles of the hideout, he heard a shrill squeal coming from a grove of trees up ahead. He rushed forward before Jessie or Meowth could even react. When he reached the trees, he blanched at what he saw.
An enraged Tauros was attacking a small Pokemon that looked like a ... no, that couldn't be! The bull was after a baby Kangaskhan! James didn't understand what a baby Kangaskhan was doing so far from the Safari Zone, and without its parent. And he didn't really care. He just knew he had to save it.
Without checking to see where Jessie and Meowth were, James rushed forward and scooped the baby Pokemon up in his arms, just as the Tauros launched a tail whip attack. One of the tails caught James across his back and sent him flying.
He managed to twist his body around when he fell, to keep from smashing the little Kangaskhan, but this made him land hard on his back. As he struggled to draw air into his lungs, he lifted his face to see hooves in the air above him. He rolled over, turning away from the Tauros, trying to shield the baby, and waited for the pain.
Which never came. James saw a flash of purple slam into the Tauros and toss it backward. Sitting up, he witnessed Arbok sinking its teeth into the wild bull. The Tauros bellowed, shook Arbok off its back, and charged away.
James managed to get a breath as he stood up cradling the Kangaskhan. He gave Jessie a weak smile as she called Arbok back. He hadn't even heard her send the snake out. "Thanks for the backup, Jess." Then he noticed she wasn't smiling back. In fact, both she and Meowth looked terrified.
"Look ... look behind ya, James," Meowth stuttered and pointed over James' shoulder.
James' smile faded. Slowly, he turned and found himself staring into the angry eyes of a parent Kangaskhan ... one without a baby.
The parent took the baby from James and placed it back into its pouch, then drew back its massive arm. James couldn't seem to do anything except watch as the huge creature's fist came closer and closer. The punch struck him in the chest like a sledgehammer, flinging him through the air to land beside Jessie and Meowth, and knocking the wind out of him for the second time in less than a minute.
"James! James! Are you alright?!"
James saw the panic on Jessie's face, but he couldn't answer her because he couldn't breathe. He reached his hand to her. She helped him up and began rubbing his back, which helped him take in air again. He looked around nervously.
"Don't ya worry none, Jimmy, de Kangaskhan's gone," Meowth reassured him.
James gave a sigh of relief, then winced at the pain in his chest.
Jessie, who still had one hand on James' arm and the other on his back, noticed his expression. "Are you hurt, James?"
James tested his breathing ability a couple of times before answering. "No, I don't think so."
"Good," Jessie said, and whacked him over the head with her paper fan.
James grabbed his head. "Ow!! What'd you do that for?!"
Jessie's sapphire eyes flashed. "Because that was a stupid thing to do!"
"Saving the baby?! Why?!"
"You could have been killed! And then what would I … uh, what would Meowth and I do?! Huh?!" Jessie crossed her arms and scowled at James. "I'll tell you! We'd have to get a new partner who we'd have to train and get used to, and who would probably try to run things!" Her voice quavered, and she abruptly turned on her heel and walked away.
James stood and stared at Jessie's back as she stalked off down the road. "What was that all about?" He gave Meowth a perplexed look.
Meowth rolled his eyes and muttered, "Aw, geez." Then he patted James on the leg and said aloud, "Ya just gonna hafta figure dat one out yaself, hero. C'mon. Let's get goin', already."
The two hurried to catch up to Jessie, who was now quite a long way ahead of them. When at last they reached her, she refused to look at either one of them.
James' feelings were hurt. He thought he'd done a good thing - a brave thing, and he wanted her to be proud of him. Why was she so mad about it? He watched her as she walked in front of him, her stride stiff with her anger. It didn't make sense. She should be praising him. Sure, it had been a risk to help the little Pokemon. But he knew she would have done the same thing. He had just happened to react quicker.
And he would certainly have praised her if she had been the one to jump in and save the baby. Well, maybe praise wasn't the right word. He wouldn't have wanted her to put herself in danger. But he would have been proud of her.
He could picture Jessie rushing into the fray without a thought for herself. He shuddered as he imagined her being attacked by the Tauros and the parent Kangaskhan. James didn't want to think about her being hurt that way. Okay, he would probably have been a little annoyed with her if she had taken such a risk.
But he wouldn't have yelled at her for it. Just then, a vision of Jessie on the ground, broken and bleeding, came unbidden into his mind. He tried to banish the image, but it stayed. He couldn't stand the thought of her hurt like that, maybe even dead. And for what? To rescue a Pokemon that would probably only have fainted anyway?! Just the thought of it made him furious! Hell yes, he would yell at her for doing something so stupid!
James blinked as he realized he would have reacted exactly as Jessie had. Not because he wouldn't want to train a new partner, as Jessie had said, but because he loved her. Yet if James would have been angry with Jessie because he loved her, could that mean ...?
"Waahh!" He stopped dead in his tracks at the very idea that she could feel the same.
Jessie turned and glared at him. "What's wrong with you?! You sound like the twerp!"
He gaped at her for a moment. "Uh ... nothing's wrong. I just ... uh ... saw a bug."
She frowned. "Big baby," she mumbled before giving him her back and walking on.
"What's up wid ya, James? I didn't see no bug." Meowth appeared puzzled.
James didn't respond. He just followed along behind Jessie, mulling over the possibility that she might love him. It didn't seem likely, and yet that line about another partner was a pretty weak excuse. And she had gotten choked up when she was shouting at him.
He broke into a trot and got in front of her. Facing her, he walked backward a few steps until she came to a halt. He moved closer and peered intently into her face, trying to find the answer he longed for in her eyes.
"What now?!" she demanded.
He couldn't prevent the slight grin as he merely said, "Nothing." He was almost sure now. He continued to stare into her eyes, looking for a final confirmation.
Jessie blushed, then growled and shoved past him.
James' smile spread from ear to ear. That was it! Now he was positive. Why had he not seen it before? Probably because he had never felt worthy of her love. He had always known that she cared for him as a friend, even though she didn't really show that either. But he never believed she could be in love with him.
She was so beautiful that she could have any man she wanted. He'd never dared hope she could want him. But just now he had seen it. When he really looked, he had seen it all in her eyes. His heart nearly burst with joy! She was truly in love with him!
So what should he do now? He knew if he just confronted her with it, she would deny everything. He would have to wear her down. Weaken her as he would a Pokemon in battle. But that was okay, because now that he knew how she felt, he could afford to bide his time until he could figure out a strategy.
He began walking again, this time with a jaunty air, his hands in his pockets, and whistling a merry tune.
Meowth regarded him with suspicion, as if worried that James had suffered some sort of brain injury during the Kangaskhan incident.
James looked down at Meowth, gave him another wide grin, then went on whistling.
After a few minutes of this, Jessie turned around and shouted, "Will you stop that?! It's driving me crazy! What's with you anyway?! What have you got to be so happy about?!"
"Nothing, Jess." James replied, his smile never wavering.
"Auugghh!! Stop saying that!!" she shrieked before storming off once more.
At this pace, it was only a short while until they reached the little cabin in the woods. As soon as they were inside, Jessie stomped off to the bedroom and slammed the door. James and Meowth heard a loud click as she turned the lock.
"Okay, Jimmy. Out wid it. What's goin' on here? Whadda ya been grinnin' so much for?" Meowth had his paws on his hips.
James sat down at the table, interlaced his fingers behind his head, and tilted his chair back, the smug grin Meowth spoke of still in place. "Because I realized that Jessie is in love with me," he answered, making it sound like a great proclamation.
"Well, duh! Ya mean ya just now figured dat out?"
"Meowth! Do you mean that you already knew this?" James asked in disbelief.
Meowth sniffed nonchalantly. "O' course I knew." He glanced at James with a sly smirk. "An' I also know dat you are in love wid her."
James' face reddened a bit, as he smiled and nodded to acknowledge the fact. Then his eyes widened as a thought occurred to him. "Does she know I love her?" He wasn't sure what he wanted the answer to be.
"Nah," Meowth shook his head. "She's just as dense as you are ... er, were."
James started to frown at Meowth, then decided he was relieved that Jessie was 'just as dense' as him. He wanted to tell her himself and watch her face as he did so.
"So, are ya gonna tell her how ya feel? Huh?" Meowth raised his eyebrows in eager expectation.
"Of course I am," James said. "But I have to do it in just the right way. I want it to be special, a moment we'll always treasure." He pondered this for a couple of minutes. Then, his mouth fell open in wonder as the perfect idea came to him. "I've got it!"
"Ya got a plan?"
"Yep," James grinned. "And you're going to help me."
And he had helped. Meowth had been quite enthusiastic and, over the last three days, had handled many of the details of James' little plot. James felt a rush of gratitude toward the cat, not only for all the work he had done, but also for the encouragement he had provided. He had indeed been a true friend.
The sound of rustling leaves shook James from his reverie and brought him back to the present. He looked up with a start to see Meowth running through the woods.
"James! She's comin'! She's comin'!"
James felt a shiver of anticipation go through him, and his heart started to pound furiously. "Thanks, Meowth. I don't mean to sound rude, but scram, okay?"
"Sure t'ing, Jimmy. Good luck." Meowth winked at him before hurrying away again.
James was a little surprised to find that he wasn't nervous at all, just excited. He was confident of what he had seen in Jessie's eyes, and was now eager to see her reaction to what he had done. He moved closer to the ancient willow tree for a better view of the spot where she would emerge from the forest. Holding a single blood-red rose between his fingers, he straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. This was it.
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Author's Note: I appreciate any reviews and helpful comments.