A/N: I have a confession… I am diagnosed with a terrible disease called Procrastination. What it does is that it makes me put things off until the last minute and at that last minute someone convinces me to do something, like volunteer at the park on Thursday. The more people know about this disease we can stop it and support the people who are infected.

Saffron City, May 29, 1874

A young gypsy was laughing and prancing in a circle around a young thief pretending to be a normal girl pretending to be a gypsy.

The real gypsy stops in front of the pouting girl with her hands clasped behind her back and a big grin on her face.

"I knew it. I soo knew it." She leaned in, undeterred by the glares sent her way. "That was him wasn't it? The little boy that saved you from the fearows and spearows. The person you're in looove with."

May couldn't wipe off the grin if she tried.

"Do you know how I know? You. You came in all panicked about a man who hasn't even seen you clearly enough but you saw him clear as day. You recognized his soul." She winked, teasing. "And now you want to head out. Before he comes to his senses and returns from the John right?"

Leaf humphed and turned her head away from her friend's haughtily. She gave a one-shouldered shrug. "Maybe I just don't like guards. Especially Royal Guards. His medals were blinding me a mile away. That and I could see his crazy hair." She muttered the last part.

May smiled softly and turned to pick up a few of the scattered items on the maple floor of the caravan.

Placing things where they belong, her back still to Leaf, she spoke, "You are actually very easy to read Leaf."

She folded some clothes and continued. "You have a good poker face, which makes me wonder why, but I'm a gypsy. I would be a person who would be able to tell your feelings."

She moved a pair of black-rimmed coke-bottle glasses to a shelf.

"Why because you have mystical powers?" Leaf was skeptical but genuinely curious as well.

"Uhhh, hehehe. I'm not sure about 'mystical powers' but I have experience on reading on how people react and how they will respond to certain things."

"Are you saying you don't believe in magic? But you're a gypsy!" Leaf exclaimed.

May turned to Leaf again, rubbing her head sheepishly. "Growing up I never felt the magic or the 'mystical powers that be' other shavs and schejs, gypsy boys and girls, believe wholeheartedly in the Romania but I never felt it."

Leaf gave a sympathetic look. "That must be tough, growing up feeling singled out."

The schej shook her head. "They never knew. I kept it to myself and I wasn't singled out or anything."

"But you must've felt it because you knew. Because of the difference you were constantly aware of, there was always some sort of gap between you and your friend."

May felt somehow Leaf wasn't talking just about her anymore. Deciding not to push it she didn't say anything. "Well, we were always traveling and it was just Ash, Brock, me… and my mother, and we didn't talk to a lot of other gypsy children."

"You still talked to them."

They were silent, wondering how they got to serious ground.

"I think the guard likes you." May grinned, steering them to lighter pastures.

Leaf smiled back, taking the cue. "No he doesn't."

"I know you loove him. You can't hide it from me!"

"I don't love him! I do not love that jerk!"

"Conjunctions, Leaf, conjuctions." May laughed gaily.

"That doesn't prove anything. I said don't before!"

"Just make sure I'm an auntie before I'm 25 okay?" she said, grinning mischievously.

"May!" Leaf shouted.

"I should have known your name was a lie too." A new voice interrupted.

May's eyes shot to the doorframe to see it opened and the man from Vermillion leaning against it.

"Do you kidnap children in your spare time too." He continued sardonically.

May felt herself get revved up. Placing her hands on her hips she marches over to him and uses a hand to push him out in the open.

Following him she pokes him in the chest with a finger. "What in the world do you mean?! I do not steal children!"

"Conjunctions, May, conjunctions." He said, throwing her words back at her.

"Eavesdropper!" The outraged woman screeched.

Leaf looked on curiously between May and this, admittedly, handsome stranger. As she watched them bicker she started smirking. Finally having some teasing ammunition on May.

She sidled up to them and teasingly said, "Are you done arguing with your boyfriend May?"

May's face flared up like a charmander's tail and she started denying while waving her hands frantically in front of her face. The greenet, on the other hand, closed his eyes and developed a look of great constipation with a streak of red across his face.

After composing himself Drew looked at the new girl. "Who are you?"

She steps forward, grinning like the Persian that got the Pidgey. "Leaf," she greets while forcibly taking and shaking his hand. "I'm May's new traveling partner."

Eyeballing Maybella or May he states, "Drew," Then he asks, "So, May, where's your brother? Or is he even your brother."

Eyes narrowed, May takes a step forward. Leaf placed a restraining hand on her shoulder just in case. "Listen here buster. Maybella is my stage name. For obvious reasons, to make me more fitting for the role. Have you ever had your fortune told by someone named May? No. No you haven't, because it doesn't fit with the picture you have of a fortune-teller. And yes, he's my brother. Not my blood brother because we adopted him, but I still consider him my brother. And where he's at is none of your concern." May sucked in a big breath after her tirade.

"I'm also not here doing séances, I'm reading palms. And we are just leaving so you don't have to worry about kicking me out of Saffron."

She whirled around in a flounce of skirts and stomped toward the tauros patiently waiting at the head of the wagon.

When May was on the other side of the caravan Leaf raised an amused eyebrow at Drew.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Don't even speak. I'm not her beau."

"But you want to be."

"No! No I don't!"

"I don't know," she mused, dragging out the last word slightly. "I sense a lot of chemistry between you two."

"There is nothing between us."

"I don't need to hear about you two in the bedroom."

His shocked face made her bust a gut. "What! That's not a way for a lady to talk."

Smothering giggles she sputtered out. "I-it's a go-od thing I'm not a lady then." She drew in a deep calming breath. "I'm a temporary gypsy."

"Is that even a thing?" His face started to even out.

Her head tilted a bit. "I don't think so. I'm just hitching a ride to Pallet and May's just helping me."

"Didn't she try to swindle money out of you for a fake séance?" His eyes were slits.

She rose in defense to her friend. "No." she snapped. "She isn't all about money. She isn't like that at all. She gave me a free palm reading because she wanted to know more about me."

"Like my palm can tell anything about me. You do realize that telling the future is a scheme." He scoffed.

"Actually I believe it was quite accurate about me. You can take your skepticism and shove it up yo-"

"Leaf!" May jogged up to them. "We have a problem."

"What?" she asked, still worked up from berating Drew.

"There is a child under the caravan but when I try to go under and get him I'm blocked by something and can't get under."

Drew's eyebrows slammed down and without a word went on his hands and knees to look under the caravan.

At a diagonal angle from him he saw a small boy fitting the description that he's looking for under May's home. He was able to crawl over closer until a near invisible force stopped him. The small area around the boy was tinted yellow.

Through the Light Screen he could see the boy crying over a small body. It was small and white, its breathing shallow. Two pair of legs appeared on the other side of the Light Screen.

"It's a ralts!" May shouted at him. The ralts's mouth opened in a silent scream as pain overtook its body.

Placing a hand on the invisible wall Drew tries to placate the boy. "Nat, Nat. What's wrong? Tell Ralts to put down the Light Screen and we'll help."

Nat shook his head, tears leaking out.

"I don't know what's happening! What's wrong?" Leaf cried.

Brow furrowed, May answered Leaf. "I think that this boy and ralts were in danger and hid under the caravan. The ralts put up a Light Screen to protect them but got injured."

"Why won't it put down the Light Screen?"

"A ralts is from Hoenn. Where I'm from. They are extremely loyal Pokémon to their friends and trainers and will give their life to save their trainers. He must think that Nat is still in danger and won't let up the defense move."

Taking Leaf's hand May tugs her down so she's kneeling next to her. The two girls started to try to tell Nat and Ralts that they're not in danger.

"Ralts, it's okay. Nat's okay. We won't hurt him, we are just trying to help him but we can't help him if you won't put down the Light Screen." Drew reasoned to the prone Pokémon.

The ralts felt the sincerity of the humans around them and let down the defense attack. Leaf grabbed the Pokémon and cradled it in her arms while May huddled the boy to her side.

Once Drew came from underneath the wagon he tried to get the story out of Nat. Nat managed to choke out that they were in the tall grass but he accidently made an oddish cry and a swarm of them attacked them and poisoned Ralts with Poison Powder.

"Guys, I think this little guy is getting worse." Leaf interrupted.

"Pecha berries cures poison." Drew piped up.

May starts to stand. "I think I have a few inside." She dashed in to gather the necessary items.

When she was gone and Leaf was busy caring for the sick Pokémon Drew got a good look at Nat.

The boy was sitting cross-legged staring at the ground, eyes glassy. The more Drew stared the more Nat looked familiar to him. He can't place it but he thinks he saw him somewhere before, before he came to Saffron. Maybe he hasn't seen him him, but maybe someone that looked like the kid. But he doesn't know where.

Nat's dark blue hair shielded part of his face from viewing eyes. This 12 year old seemed older more mature than other kids his age. His dark eyes were wiser than some ordinary pre-adolescent.

Drew wondered what happened to this boy to make him grow up so fast.

"The orphanage is looking for you."

"I know."

"Why'd you leave?"

Nat scoffed. "Parents don't adopt kids like me. If I stayed they'll get rid of me sooner or later."

Drew tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean 'kids like you.'"

He shakes his head. "Older kids. Parents always pick younger kids, preferably babies. But the older you get the less chance you got. There's always talk of too old kids being recruited and disappearing right after."

Something he said caught Drew's attention. "Recruited by who?"

Nat shrugs. "People are worried for their future once they're too old to stay at Kadabras. Few older kids come in saying that they're set and don't have anything to worry about. You can see the relief and all they say is that they were offered a good job."

Drew relaxed a tad, he didn't even know when he tensed, but something still sounded suspicious. "The woman in charge said you're just 12. Is that really a cause for leaving?"

Nat gave a soul deep sigh and turned to look at him directly in the eye. "I'm actually 15. I was transferred but they lost my paperwork. I'm already small for my age but I thought it would give me more time."

At that moment May came running out, arms full with pecha berries. "I got them!"

Drew's eyes widened slightly and he flicked his green bangs. "I that's a little more than a few gypsy."

May frowned at him and he returned with a smirk. "Berries store easily and have a long shelf life. I always pick a lot when I find them and I didn't know how many Ralts needed."

She proudly marched over to Leaf, hearing a soft mutter of 'She's got you there' from Nat, and handed her a few pecha berries. Nat crawled over to his fallen friend to oversee his treatment. Drew stayed where he was to give them some room but craned his neck to see what's happening.

Watching Leaf administer the feelings Pokémon's injuries Nat watched worriedly over them.

"D-don't make him choke! Be careful he's still young! Is that a small enough b—"

A comforting hand landed on his shoulder cutting him off. He looked up to the blue-eyed gypsy, locking eyes with her. Her serious face gave away to a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be fine."

His lips went into a hard line but he nodded.

After a few minutes Ralts's breathing evened and it fell into an exhausted sleep.

May turned to Nat. "Where did you even find a ralts in Kanto anyway?"

The 15 year old shrugged. "He was always there."

May just hummed, chewing on that food for thought.

Leaf chose that time to ask, "What's the time?"

The two girls and young boy looked to the sky seeing that it was already past noon and closer to three. Drew on the other hand took out his new Dietrich Gruen pocket watch with the safety pinion. 3:17.

Leaf chewed on her lip. "May, I think it's about time we go."

"Maybe…" May trailed off.

Drew stretched his arms above his head. Leaf noticed the subtle look that May gave him and smirked.

"Nat, I think you know I'm going to bring you back to the orphanage." he stated to him after stretching.

Nat had a defiant look in his eye. "I'll run away again."

"But do you want to endanger Ralts again." He raised his eyebrow expectantly. Nat slumped and shook his head. "Good. Well talk more later."

Nat scooped up his friend and Drew put a hand on his shoulder. Starting to walk away he said over his shoulder. "I would say it was nice seeing you again gypsy, but it wasn't."

"Go rot!" May shouted, red-faced.

When they were a distance away Leaf said, "Wow. Just ignore me why don't you."

Turning to her friend she saw May still fuming and smiled. "Come on. Why don't we go see if we have everything and head out."

May's face returned to its natural color and she muttered, "Fine."

Saffron City, Pokémon Center, May 29, 1874

Dawn was concentrating on the board in front of her chewing on her thumbnail. Should she sacrifice a red piece to grab two of the blacks or just take the three but leave him open for a king-me?

Paul watched his partner's acute concentration on her face for her next move. Her cobalt eyes were narrowed, scrunched up nose, and chewing the tip of her thumb to death.

He felt pity on the girl.

He sighed. "You could—"

"No." To emphasis her point her chewed on hand slashed through the air. "No need to worry. I got this."

Paul scooted his chair forward to give room for a few people walking past. After the next moves Paul eventually won. Again.

Dawn marked the thirteenth slash on the score paper to her eight. "I so hate you right now." She looked up to glare at him. "I will beat you." He just smirked.

Starting the 22nd game they idly chatted.

"What will you do when you're let go?" Paul casually asked, waiting for his move.

"I don't— wait. So you don't think I pickpocketed Gary?" His black eyes told her. Her mouth fell open. "Well why don't you just let me go?"

He moved taking a red piece. "Protocol."

She huffed through her nose but could understand what he meant. "Well, why don't you think I'm the pickpocket?"

He raised an eyebrow as if the answer was obvious. She raised both of hers silently saying that it's not. "You don't…"

She folded her arms. "I don't… what."

He waved a hand as if to snatch the answer from the air. "You don't have enough guts."

"I do so!"

He rolled his eyes. "Fine then. Smarts."

That was even more insulting! She picked up one of her red pieces and nailed him in the nose with it. The son of a… biscuit didn't even blink.

His eyes narrowed dangerously. Dawn gulped briefly wondering why she got into this.

Before he got a chance to retaliate a familiar voice piped up.

"So you guys did nothing while I was out working? For shame, for shame." Her surprising savior, Gary Oak, teased.

"I was guarding the prisoner and practicing strategy." Paul deadpanned. When Dawn thought about it, he was technically right.

"It's about…" He looked at the Pokémon Center's clock on the wall. "5:45."

"Wow. We spent the whole day playing chess?" Dawn heard the shock in her own voice.

"Strategizing." Paul corrected. Dawn had to smile at that.

Gary rolled his eyes. "Well while you two were 'strategizing,'" He put air quotes around strategizing. "I was learning more about the elusive Team Rocket."

Paul and Dawn had similar looks of 'go on.'

He recounted up to Drew and walking around a bit more, keeping his ear to the ground. Omitting the fact that the walk wasn't, at first, an information recon, and the green gypsy girl.

"I was just walking and seen this Drew guy again. He was leaning against the building for the orphanage and I asked him if he found the missing kid. He said he did and thanks for the tip."

"So they gypsies stole him?" Dawn asked horrified.

Gary shook his head. "He was hiding under the caravan. Anyway, he mentioned that the older kids from the orphanage, when they get kicked out, are recruited to an organization that they don't mention what. I'm thinking that that's Team Rocket."

"So we know that they're getting more followers. Like we didn't know that already."

The head guard narrowed his eyes at his second-in-command. "Sorry it's all I got." he stated dryly. "And what have you found?"

Unperturbed, Paul responded. "I have found that when idiotic grunts feel like they're alone and think you're too focused on checkers they tend to loosen their tongues."

Dawn gasped. "Wait a second. You won 13 games and you weren't even trying?! That is so not fair!"

A corner of his mouth twitched. Returning his attention on Gary he continued. "Our next lead is Viridian City."

Gary pulled up a chair. "Why'd you think that?"

"One grunt was bragging about that he got invited by the big boss to Viridian and that he's going to get a big promotion."

Understanding dawned on Gary. "Ahh. If we find out who the top archinine is then we are that much closer to bringing down Team Rocket."

"But he might not be there." Dawn inserted.

Paul's obsidian gaze turned on her. "It's worth a shot."

"When should we leave?" Gary asked.

"They're not due to meet in a few days. We've got time. If we're lucky we can make it to Viridian early and just wait it out."

Dawn gnawed on her lower lip. After tomorrow that's the end of her journey with these guys. The carrier pidgey should come the next day, proving her innocence and Dawn's back to not knowing where to go or what to do. Before she got confused with being a pickpocket she was just wandering from one town to the next not finding anything interesting.

Now she's with two Royal Guards and learning more about this Team Rocket and getting more interested as time goes on. And more interested in Paul as well. Call it a gut feeling, but she has a hunch that there's more to his daddy story than he lets on.

She actually had grown attached to these two boys. Gary's flirting and dedication to his job. Paul and his subtle teasing and hits on her and Gary's ego and his silent protective streak of her and his friend.

She's actually going to miss them.

"I think I'm going to bed." Standing up she quickly walked to her room.

Gary and Paul shared twin looks of surprise and concern but stayed put.

Dawn walked down the hall and hesitated outside the door to her room. Looking at the door next to hers that Paul and Gary shared she bit her lip.

Not enough guts? Or smarts? She thought. She smirked. I'll show him.

Taking out two pins from her hair she stuck them in the lock. Applying one in the bottom to turn and the other to push up the pins. After a few minutes jiggling around she finally got it to open.

She stood in the middle of the room deciding what to do. Her eyes scanned over the items and something caught her eye. Smirking she stepped forward and snatched it. Pocketing it, with her hand over her mouth to smother her giggles she closed the door and did some work to lock the door again and snuck back into her room.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-A-U-T-H-O-R-S-N-O-T-E-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

A/N: shavs and schejs =Gypsy boys and girls

Romania = Gypsy traditions, way, government, etc.

Dietrich Gruen- Watchmaker, in 1874 he took a patent for a safety pinion for pocket watches, which prevents damage to watch movements if the watch's mainspring broke.