by
Gethsemane
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokemon. I'm doing these fics by request, but I am not doing it for financial gain.
This story was written for Vickie211 who wrote: "Well, for what it's worth, I'd like to see a good Ash and Jessie romance."
The title is a joke, but the story
is serious. Please do not read this if you are a die hard AAMR or Rocketshipper.
I've tried to keep it in character. The characters are much older than
they are in the current series.
Jessie sat in the park reading the
paper. She heard the car from miles away, but thought nothing of it until
she heard the scream.
"Oh My God!" screamed a woman from
the crowd. Jessie immediately scanned the park.
"Erica!?" she jumped up and ran toward
the screams. She saw her little girl frozen on the side walk as a car,
running on the curb, sped at her.
"Erica! Nooo!" Jessie screamed. A
blur came swooping in from off to the side. In an instant her child was
no longer there as the brakes of the car squealed and it hit a bike rack.
Jessie pushed through the crowd and ran up to the two figures balled up
on the grass.
"Mommy!" cried the pink haired girl,
wiggling out of the grasp of her savior and running to her mother.
"Baby, thank God you are all right!"
Jessie cried, hugging the six year old tight.
"That was close..." said the savior.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"
cried Jessie.
"Jessie?" the savior gasped.
"Ash?" Jessie said, looking at the
man who had saved her daughter. He was taller and his hair was longer,
but it was him.
"So, how have things been?" said Ash.
He was sitting at the bar in Jessie's small kitchen.
"Things are okay. My life is mostly
work and Erica now days." she sighed.
"Where's..."Ash was interrupted by
a knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" yelled Erica, bounding
down the stairs.
"No running, young lady!" Jessie said.
"Uncle James! Uncle James!" cried
Erica.
"Hey kiddo! Are ya ready?" James said.
"I gotta go get my stuff!"
"I'll be in the kitchen, 'kay?"
"'Kay!" The girl ran up the stairs
and James walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, Jes! Oh, hi! Didn't realize
you had company."
"Hi, James. Look who it is." Jessie
said.
"Ash? Wow, hey!" James said, reaching
out and shaking Ash's hand.
"Ash saved Erica from a drunk driver
in the park today." Jessie said.
"God! Thanks, Ash. Thanks a lot!"
"I'm just glad I happened to be there."
Ash said. James walked over to Jessie and hugged her.
"How are you, Jes?" He said, rubbing
her shoulders.
"I'm okay. Are you sure you don't
mind taking Erica this weekend?"
"Of course not. I've nothing to do
this weekend but grade papers." James laughed.
"James is the poet laureate at CCU."
Jessie said.
"Wow!" said Ash.
"I'm ready!" yelled Erica.
"Erica, don't yell in the house."
James said.
"Sorry." Erica said.
"Okay, let's roll!" said James.
"Bye, Mama! Bye. Mr. Ketchum."
"Bye Baby, be good." Jessie said.
Ash waved. Ash and Jessie sat in silence for a few minutes after James
and Erica left.
"So, um...Erica isn't James'?" Ash
stuttered.
"Oh, no. Erica's dad died a few weeks
before she was born." Jessie sighed.
"I'm sorry. I always thought you two..."
Ash stuttered again.
"Yeah, I know. He's my best friend.
We lived together after Curtis died. He helped me a lot with the baby.
We tried to have a relationship once, but James is happy being alone.
"Is he...well..."
"James is a unique individual. He
loves me and he loves Erica, but he has to live his own life."
Ash felt very uncomfortable for pushing
the question. He swirled his drink, nervously.
"So, what about you, Mr. Pokemon Master?
How's your life?" Jessie said, breaking the silence.
"Well, most of it has been in the
news. I took over Surge's gym when he got booted out of the league...that
was what, three years ago? I'm pretty sure I'll be a candidate for the
Elite Four elections in the fall."
"That's wonderful!" Jessie smiled,
"What about the other tw...guys you hung around with?"
"Well, Brock opened up a breeding
center in Pewter, that's where he's from. Anyway, his dad married a girl
Brock's age, knocked her up...geez, five times, I think, and took off again.
Brock's taking care of all of them."
"God! That's horrible. Didn't he have,
like, ten siblings to begin with?"
"Yeah. His dad is just a loser. Anyway,
Brock and his step mother get along well...uh, really well since she's
moved in with him."
"So he didn't end up with a Joy or
Jenny?" Jes smiled.
"Nah, but I think he's happy. What
a messed up life, though." Ash smiled, "I told him he needed to go on Springer."
"Yes, I'd have to agree."
"Let's see...Tracey is the curator
of the Art and Science Museum here in Celedon. I don't see him much."
"Yeah, I know Tracey. He's done illustrations
for James' poetry collections."
"Oh. I didn't know that. Small world,
huh?"
"So, twerp, " Jes laughed, "You gave
me the first degree about James, so spill it about Misty. I've seen you
two on tv." Ash blushed and rubbed his neck.
"Well, Mist took over the Cerulean
gym when the league was about to close it. Her sisters weren't actually
doing their job..."
"Hm, I remember them." Jes said.
"Anyway, the world knows we were an
item for a while. Luckily the coverage died down, so the world doesn't
know that we are no longer together..."
"Ash, I'm sorry. What happened?"
"I dunno. We were in love, but we
just couldn't get along. We fought constantly. I'd say red, she'd say pink.
I just couldn't take it any more. We're still friends, though. I think
she's seeing Bill, of all people."
"Well, that's just the way things
go. It is really unfortunate. Back then I honestly thought James and I
would get married. But when we kissed, our first serious kiss, we just
both knew. It was like kissing a brother or something. Plus, he comes from
a very screwed up family. I don't know that he'll ever have a serious relationship...I
can't say that I blame him. When I met Curtis, something just clicked that
wasn't there with James. He was wonderful. James was a happy for me. We
were married three years before Erica came along. I wish he could have
seen her...she looks like him." Jessie's wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry," said Ash, "Um, what...uh,
nevermind." Ash blushed again, looking nervously at the picture of a handsome
silver-haired man on the dining room mantle.
"It's okay. Curtis was in the Navy.
The sub he was on was destroyed due to a weapons malfunction."
"That's terrible. You seem to be doing
okay, though." Ash said and suddenly felt stupid.
"I have my good days and bad. I have
Erica and she is a great help." Jes smiled.
"So...where's Meowth?"
"Beats me, probably out in the garden."
Jessie said.
"Oh. He lives here?"
"Yeah, he didn't have anywhere to
go after Team Rocket was shut down. He loves Erica. He's been a big help,
too. Anyway, are you busy tonight? I'd love to take you to dinner. I owe
you."
"I'm free, but you don't owe me. I'm
just glad I was there."
"Still. Okay then, I owe you for years
of torment." Jessie laughed.
"Hmm, I suppose getting paid back
for having to look at a beautiful woman everyday is a good deal." Ash said,
his eyes twinkling.
Jessie blushed. "That was years ago..."
she said, twisting her ponytail, nervously.
"Luckily, some things don't change."
Ash smiled, he stood and walked to the door. "Pick you up at seven?"
"Yeah," Jessie nodded.
Jessie looked in her mirror. She examined
the slight crows feet around her eyes. She huffed and blew a stray strand
of hair out of her eyes.
"What am I thinking? This is not a
date! Why am I acting like a nervous schoolgirl? He wasn't flirting...he
was just being nice..."
"He was floitin'." said Meowth, as
he hopped up onto her bed.
"Geez, Meowth. You added three more
gray hairs to my head!" Jessie sighed.
"Jes. Da twerp was floitin', I heard
'im. You look beautiful, Jes. Stop beatin' yerself up."
"But Meowth, he's a kid. I'm almost
thirty and he's..what, barely twenty-two?" Jessie pulled her hair out of
the ponytail and ran her fingers through it.
"So, who cares. You like him, he likes
you..."
"Yeah, right. I'm a mother, Meowth.
I'm old. I have no life..."
"Cuz ya think like dat! Ya aren't
old Jes. Yer not even thirty, yet!"
"But I feel old. Besides, what young
stud is going to be interested in a woman with a child? I mean, he's got
to want us both, or nothing...Why are we even discussing this?! This is
Not a date!" Jessie slid into a blue spaghetti-strap top and smoothed her
light tan pants. She stared into the mirror.
"Jes, ya should be out enjoying yerself
more often. Ash is a nice twoip, and I tink he likes you. Ya just need
ta give it a chance." Meowth said, he jumped down and left the room.
Jessie looked in the mirror. There
was no mistaking the way Ash's comment had made her feel. He looked so
good now, too. He was taller than her, now and his face had taken on a
more chiseled look. It had been so long since she'd actually went out with
anyone besides James or her co-workers that she felt foolish.
"You look gorgeous!" Ash said when
Jessie opened the door. Jessie blushed.
"You don't look so bad either, twerp!"
she grinned. Ash laughed and held out his arm. Jessie took it. They arrived
at Jessie's favorite restaurant a few minutes later.
"Whew! I'm stuffed!" Ash said, putting
his fork down.
"Yeah, this place is really feeds
you." Jessie agreed.
"So, uh...what say we go dance this
off? I got tickets to Alabaster." Ash said.
"The nightclub? How did you manage
that?" Jessie said, impressed.
"I have my ways...so are you up to
it?"
"I don't know...I haven't danced in
ages."
"Then I must insist." Ash said. Jessie
found herself in line waiting to get into a very exclusive club. She was
nervous. She looked at Ash. He grinned back at her.
"Oh, my god!" Jessie said to herself.
The interior of the club was amazing. Everything was white marble. The
ceiling was very high and immense statues stood in the corners of the room.
"Come on, let's get a table." Ash
said, leading her through the crowd. They found a table and sat. In a short
time a waiter came around and took their drink orders.
"This club is amazing!" Jessie said.
"Wait until the music comes on and
the lights go down." Ash said. As if on cue, it happened. The white walls
glared in the darkness and a heavy techno beat blasted throughout the club.
The waiter brought their drinks. Jessie sipped hers, trying to loosen up
a bit. She looked up realizing Ash was talking to her. She couldn't hear
him because of the music.
"What?" she yelled. She could make
out the word "dance" and nodded. The beat of the music was so loud and
steady that her body just moved to it out of its own free will. The floor
was packed as tight as a sardine can, but the the rhythm was so strong
that the floor seemed to move like a wave. Jessie felt very warm, the drink
having kicked in, and the crowd in general made the temperature rise. There
were sporadic gusts of cold air piped in from a large vent of the ceiling.
This helped a bit.
The crowd shifted and suddenly Jessie
found herself pressed up against Ash. She stared at him for what seemed
like forever, his warm eyes glittering at her. Suddenly he turned her around
so that he was pressed up to her back, his hands wrapped protectively around
her waist. She wrapped one of her arms around one of his. The beat of the
music carried them as they danced like this for a while. Jessie felt very
warm, yet comfortable as their bodies slid against each other. With a sudden
shiver she felt Ash's lips by her ear.
"Are you ready to go?" the words vibrated
against her ear. She looked at her watch and was amazed to find that they'd
been dancing for two hours. She nodded and he lead her through the crowd.
"That was wonderful. I don't think
I've had that much fun in a while, Ash." Jessie said as they stood outside
of her door.
"You should go dancing more often,
you are very good." Ash said.
"So...would you like to come in...for
a drink?"
"Sure." Jessie struggled nervously
with the key for a second before the door opened. Ash sat down on the couch
while she went and got two glasses of wine. She came back into the
living room to find Ash sitting with his head back and his eyes closed.
There was soft music playing in the background.
"Ash..." she whispered.
"Yeah, I'm just resting my eyes."
He sat up and took his glass. Jessie slipped out of her shoes and sat down
at the opposite end of the couch. Ash looked over at her and grinned.
"Hey, I'm lonely over here." Jessie
blushed and moved a little closer. Ash scooted over and wrapped his free
arm around her. Jessie stiffened for an instant before relaxing into his
embrace. They sipped their wine and talked about the evening. Ash finished
his wine before she did and began playing with her hair.
"That was really good wine," he murmured
as Jessie finished her glass.
"Do you want some more?" Jessie asked,
making a move to get up. Ash pulled her back.
"No, just a taste of yours." he said,
leaning down and running his tongue over her bottom lip. Jessie's insides
went haywire as he began to nibble her lip. Soon she was kissing him back
in full force.
A slight noise woke Jessie and she
sat up in the bed. Ash was at the foot of the bed putting his shoes on.
He looked over at her and smiled.
"Go back to sleep. I have a lecture
to give at Celedon Gym at 8."
Jessie slid back down into the covers. She was still
flowing on an emotional high from the night before. It had been so long
since she'd had any physical contact. She felt a little embarrassed for
letting things go as far as they did, but she was very happy.
"Are you doing anything later?" she
asked. She didn't want to flat out ask him if he was coming back. She didn't
really want to put him in an uncomfortable position.
"That depends on what you're doing
later." He smiled. He leaned over and kissed her. "I know this was all
kind of rushed...are you okay with...this." He said, motioning between
Jessie and himself.
"I'm wonderful." Jessie murmured,
struggling to stay awake in the midst of her comfortable, warm feeling.
"Great! I'll be back later." He said
kissing her again. He walked to the door and stopped.
"Jess..."
"Yeah?"
"I love you." Jessie sat up and looked
at him. He blushed.
"Oh, Ash..."
"Shhh. Don't say anything. I just
wanted you to know that. I have since I was a kid." He left. Jessie laid
back and smiled. She had a good feeling about this.
She was happier than she'd been in a long time.
Author's Note: I'm not going into detail about the night, but if anything
serious happened, it happened with the proper precautions taken. By the
way, If you're going to flame this story flame ME. I don't want to hear
anything bad being said to Vickie211.