Birthday struggles

Spoiler Warning: read at least up to chapter 5 in Stand by You if you are currently reading it. This one shot takes place between chapter 5 and chapter 6.

Characters: Team Rocket Trio and their Pokemon

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"Please Meowth, I am begging you to help me!" James cried.

Meowth was just sitting by the river filing his nails when a distraught James came running towards him. James flung himself to ground and knelt in front of him, trying to make the action of dramatic as possible. The feline's first instinct was to roll his eyes and ignore him. After all, it was not unusual behavior, at least for him. His pal Jimmy came running and crying to him every time something went wrong. Burnt pancakes, a lost rose, out of toothpaste, broken nail, always an emergency.

"What is it dis time? Someone stepped on yere rose?" he asked in his usual, sarcastic tone.

"No, Meowth, this is serious!" James exclaimed.

"Ok den, what is it?" Meowth responded.

"Well, as you know it is March", James started.

"Really? I had no idea", Meowth said sarcastically.

James ignored him and continued.

"As you know, Jessie and I have the same birthday. I usually get her something small, like cupcakes or a bouquet of flowers", said James. "But this year is a big deal, and I need to get her something special and I only have two weeks to find something."

"How come dis year is a big deal? Is dere somethin' I missed?" asked Meowth.

"We have been dating for four months" James told him. "I want to get her something special".

"Oh right. Ok. How 'bouts yous get here a charm fer dat charm bracelet I gots yous two a few years ago?" Meowth suggested.

"Meowth, you get us a matching charm to add every year", James responded. "That isn't special".

"Gee danks", he replied. "Why don't yous pick out yere own 'special' charm den? Yous can get her somethin' romantic".

"Like what?" James asked.

"Dink of somethin' yereself. Yere de one datin' her you dummy", he responded. "Besides, I don't see what de big deal is. Yous two act de same as yous always did before except now you kiss all de time and kick Meowth outta yere room when weeze are stayin' somewhere nice".

"You are so insensitive", James replied. "But you gave me a good idea. Thanks".

"Sure, whatever", Meowth responded.

Meowth curled up in a ball by the river and went to sleep while James ran off to the nearest shopping mall. About ten minutes later Jessie, Gourgeist, and Wobbufet came up to him.

"Psst, furball", said Jessie, as she poked him away with a stick.

"What?" Meowth asked irritably.

"I need your help", Jessie said. There was a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

"You need me? Ain't dat a dink of curiosity," the Pokémon replied.

"Our birthdays are coming up and I need to get something for James. Something good this time", she told him.

"Wobbufet Wobba!" Wobbufet added.

"Oh. Dis again", he sighed.

"What? Do you mean?" asked Jessie.

"Nuthin'", Meowth responded. "Why don'ts yous just get him a charm?"

"For the bracelet? That's dumb", said Jessie. "I want to get him something good".

"Um, yous mean to say dat yous wouldn't want a charm?" Meowth asked her nervously.

"Well, its fine if you get me one Meowth, but I wanted to get James useful, something he really needs", Jessie replied.

"Crap", thought Meowth. "Jimmy's gonna hate me if she don't like her gift".

"What are you thinking, Meowth", he heard Jessie ask.

"I dink dat charms can be really romantic is yous pick it out special", he responded.

"I guess so", she replied.

"What don't yous make him somethin'?" Meowth suggested.

"Like what?" she asked.

"I don't know. Dat's fer yous to figure out", he retorted.

"Whatever. Thanks for nothing", she said as she walked away.

"Wobba", Wobbufet told Meowth before following Jessie and Gourgeist.

"Stop interuptin' my naps", he called after them.

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Two weeks later Jessie woke up and found that instead of James, there were about fifty red roses lying on and next to her. She sat up and found Acorn, Aliyah, Mime Jr., Chimecho, Serviper, and Wobbufet staring at her. She peered outside the tent and found that all of her and James' Pokémon were out and playing. She quickly fixed her hair, put on some clothes, and walked outside. James was cooking by the fire, his back turned towards her. He didn't hear her approach.

"Happy birthday", she said as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

James jump a little bit but then regained his composure and returned the kiss.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Ten", he said casually.

"Ten!" she exclaimed. "James, we have a job to do! The boss is expecting at least three new Pokémon by tomorrow!"

"Chill", he responded. "I let you sleep late on purpose. I caught a dozen Pidgey and a few Scatterbug in a trap I set up last night", he replied. "I sent them to the boss this morning".

Jessie was shocked. James was good at setting traps, but he normally screwed something up before they actually got the Pokémon to the boss. And of course she always appreciated a few extra hours to sleep.

"Wow. I'm impressed. Is that my gift?", she responded.

"Nope", he answered. "This is".

James handed her a tiny box wrapped in crimson wrapping paper. He turned around and took a bouquet of red roses and some chocolate out of his knapsack and handed them to her.

"This is so sweet. Breakfast, Pokémon, and presents. I should sleep late more often", she replied.

Jessie left to go get James his gift. She came back with a medium-sized box in her hands.

"It isn't much, but I hope you like it", she said as she handed him the present.

"And dese are fer yous two", said Meowth as he handed them each a small box.

"Thanks", they replied in unison. They opened Meowth's gift first.

"A charm for Inkay", said James. "I have been hoping for one of these".

"And a charm for Gourgeist. Thanks, Meowth", said Jessie.

They both crushed Meowth in a group hug, which Wobbufet, as usual, decided that he had to join.

"Open yours now, Jess", said James.

Jessie nodded and then took the paper off of the little box. She opened it and smiled at what she found.

"I thought that you might like a special charm. One that I picked out", he told her.

The charm was a heart composed of little tiny red roses. It was a little bit larger than all her other charms.

"James, this is beautiful. Thank you", she said as she gave him another hug. This time Wobbufet and Meowth were excluded.

"Open yours", she commanded.

"Yes ma'am", said James as he opened his box.

Inside was a framed picture of him and Growly. James was two years old, and he was riding on Growly's back in his grandparent's backyard. He was smiling and laughing.

"I stole that photo from your album when we stayed in your room", she told him. "But I made the frame. And there is more in the box".

"Jessie, this is really sweet" he told her.

James looked through the box and found a new pair of boots. They were a bit of a different style than his usually Team Rocket-issued ones.

"Thank you. I needed these. My other ones are about ten years old now", he said as he tried them on. "They are my style".

"Of course" she responded. "Now that we have the rest of the day free, what do you want to do?" she asked seductively.

"Um, lets get rid of the Pokémon first", he said as he blushed.

"It's okay. We are already outta here", Meowth said as he started putting everyone in their balls.

"Eevee eve", said Acorn, Jessie's newest Pokémon. She rubbed her face up against Jessie.

"Vee vee!" cried Aliyah, her twin sister as she jumped into James' arms.

"We need someone here to protect us. Why don't you two stay?" James suggested.

"But don't come out unless we call you", said Jessie as she returned the Eevee.

Meowth took the rest of their Pokémon and headed to town, leaving the two of them alone in the woods.

"De struggle of birthdays", he mumbled to himself.