Pausing, James gave her a puzzled look before her meaning fully hit him.

Sick to his own stomach, he dropped to his knees in front of her and grabbed her hands with a horrified cry, "No! Nononono! Please don't! Let's talk about this!"

Pulling her hands away she turned her head, "It's my body and my decision!"

Unable to choke back a sob he said desperately, "But-but this is my child too and I have just as much responsibility for this happening! I-I just find out they exist and I already love them with all my heart...doesn't that count for anything?"

She looked back at him incredulously, "You're telling me you actually want to have a kid? What about that freedom you value so much? You can kiss that good-bye."

"To me that freedom is making my own decisions and even mistakes for myself, by myself. That's what it's always been about and this...would be part of that. ...Didn't we say it would take something drastic to make us change careers? Maybe this is it."

Rolling her eyes, Jessie said, "This is more like karma getting us for all the things we've done, or at least for stealing those stupid, useless condoms. Besides, we don't know the first thing about being parents! It's not like either of us exactly have role models to look up to, you know..."

A slight, sad smile played at the corners of his mouth, "We...know what not to do?"

She snorted, a light laugh turning back into a sorrowful cry.

Moving to sit next to her, which she begrudgingly allowed, James again took her hand and swallowed loudly, "Remember when I said I'd stick by your side no mater what? Well, this is not quite what I was picturing but I stand by my words. I'm here and I'm not leaving you."

"Oh, please...you don't have to get all noble and obligated because you got me knocked up..." she muttered.

More seriously he responded, "It's not that. It's because I want to. And..." he looked away, trying not to cry himself and make her feel any worse but failing miserably, "No matter...what you ultimately decide, I love you and I support you."

Her heart and mind raced. She knew she didn't have to make a decision right now, but she would have to soon. And whatever she decided, she knew also it would change things between them forever. If they had a child it would mean the end of their Team Rocket careers and an uncertain future. If they didn't, their carefree, passionate romance was over and she wasn't sure if they'd ever be the same. Suddenly instead of despair, she felt seething rage at the universe and how things were once again ruined for her; she had finally found some happiness and now it was getting torn away. As quickly as the anger came over her, it subsided as her thoughts went to her own mother. What had she felt when she found she was expecting her? Happiness? Disgust? The same mix of fear and anguish that Jessie felt now?

Shaking her head, Jessie finally cried with an answer from her very soul, "I don't know!"

James looked at her curiously but before he could say anything she continued, "I really don't know! Oh, why is this happening?! Why does absolutely everything have to get ruined somehow? A part of me..." she lowered her voice, "A part of me actually probably wouldn't mind this mom thing. Isn't that crazy?! It doesn't make sense and I blame my stupid female genetics. But all things considered...maybe it would be the kinder thing to...never have them at all. That's what moms are supposed to do, right? What's best for their kids?"

As she spoke her voice began to crack until she finally broke into fresh sobs and turned to James, clinging to his jacket and burrowing her face in his shoulder. Wrapping her in his arms, he held her tightly, pressing his face into her hair and cried himself, though he managed to control himself to a degree for her sake. He knew he couldn't fathom the hell she was going through right now and vowed to use every bit of what courage he possessed to be strong for her.

Meowth, who this whole time had been quiet and unsure of what to say, not to mention listening to what he was sure was someone or something lurking in the bushes nearby, found his anger subsiding and his heart softening at the sight of his human friends holding each other and sobbing. He had seen them cry a thousand times, but this was different; this was true emotional turmoil they were going through and it broke to heart to see them in such pain. He found himself thinking that maybe a different career wouldn't be so bad...hadn't he already wasted enough of his nine lives fruitlessly trying to catch one measly Pikachu?

Padding up to them, he layed his paws on Jessie's leg and asked, "Hey guys?"

Wiping their eyes, they looked at him, "...Yes?"

"I been thinkin' here...we've been doin' dis for a long time yeah? And how far have we really gotten? Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to claw our way ta da top some other way," he smiled a little, "Besides, we've been a trio foreva'! Maybe it wouldn't be so bad ta be a quartet."

After being quiet for quite some time, Wobbuffet popped up with an enthusiastic cry, and Meowth rolled his eyes, "Or maybe a quintet is more like it."

Jessie rubbed Wobbuffet's head, who blushed, happy for the affection, and smiled sadly before recalling him, "Thanks for the support, you two. It means a lot. But when it comes down to it," she looked up at the wispy clouds dancing across the sky, "It would still take something big to get us out of this career. We signed a pact with the devil and the only way out is to please him or trick him. It would take something like...actually catching that lousy Pikachu and handing him over for us to be free and for me to consider being able to have this kid," she sniffled, new tears rolling down her cheeks, "And seeing how that's never going to happen..."

She lowered her head and James again put his arms around her, offering the only, feeble comfort he could. Meowth pricked his ears, absolutely certain now they were being watched. Casually walking in seemingly no direction in particular, he got himself closer to the bushes he had been hearing noises from.

Getting close enough, he abruptly whirled and sprung into them, swiping his claws and snarling, "Okay dat's it! Who n' what's dere?!"

James quickly stood, "Meowth?! What's-"

To everyone's shock, Ash and his friends threw themselves into view, screaming and fending off Meowth's Fury Swipes.

Jumping back, the feline kept his claws out and demanded, "Alllright you brats! Whattaya tink you're doin'?!"

Jessie yelled at them in exasperation, "Oh for heaven's sake-! I thought we told you we were leaving you alone!"

"Why did you twerps follow us!?" James asked, clenching his fists.

Standing, Ash brushed the dirt from his jacket and huffed, "Well, after everything you've ever pulled, forgive me for not exactly trusting you! I assumed you were up to something, acting like you weren't going to bother us!"

Jessie stood and asked carefully, her eyes narrowed, "...How much of our conversation did you brats hear...?"

Ash, Serena, and Clemont looked at each other, unsure of the best way to reply, especially with Jessie giving them such a withering glare. Bonnie, however, as usual had no qualms about her response.

"Congratulations! Is it a boy or a girl?!" she cheerfully exclaimed, throwing out her arms.

With a cry of disgust, Jessie turned away and let out a string of curses before looking back at them, "Look; here's the deal, I really, really don't need you kids bothering me right now, so how's about you just, you know, scram?"

James sighed, "We have a lot to figure out...and I know it's a lot to ask, but could you find it in your hearts to just leave us alone? We won't bother you, like we said."

Kicking at the dirt, Ash said, "Actually...I was thinking about helping you."

Everyone stared at him in utter confusion.

Serena spoke up first, "But Ash! After everything they've done?"

Looking at her, Ash explained, "I've known these guys a long time. They've driven me nuts, sure, but they've also helped me out a lot. And with this...well, maybe it's my turn to help them."

Jessie felt her eyes well up, "You'd do that for us?!"

"I guess so!" the young trainer laughed, "But honestly, I really don't have a plan. So, maybe we can come up with one together?"

James could feel his own eyes water, "You're the best, kid!"

Gesturing toward Pikachu, Ash said, "Catching him has always been the goal, along with whatever other Pokemon you can get, right? Well...is there any way you can trick your boss into thinking you've caught him?"

Pikachu looked up at him, "Pii-ka?!"

Stopping down, Ash said, "Hey, think of it this way buddy; if their boss thinks you've been caught, they'll have no reason to chase you anymore!"

The mouse Pokemon let his ears droop as he thought about it, then perked them back up, "Pi!" he nodded.

Gasping at the sudden flash of inspiration he felt, James began to pace back and forth, "That's brilliant! If the boss thought we had him he'd surely be pleased! Maybe enough to send us on another assignment of our choosing..." he looked at Jessie.

She nodded and finished his thought, "Far enough away from headquarters that we could effectively disappear."

Meowth held up a paw, "What if he thought we was really gone-like, goners?"

"Are you talking about faking our deaths?" asked James.

With a nod Meowth explained, "If he thought we was dead, well, we'd never have ta worry about reporting in or anyting ta do wit Team Rocket again, right?"

Grabbing him in a hug, Jessie giggled, "Thank you, Meowth!"

And so, in a strange turn of events, enemies found themselves on the same side as they put their heads together coming up with a plan. James and Clemont found themselves working together on the the technical, mechanical aspects while Ash, Serena, and Meowth hatched the rest of it and both halves put their respective ideas together once they had some good ones. Jessie was participating a first, but soon found herself distracted by her own thoughts and so walked off to sit on a tree stump, half-listening. Soon, bored with the complicated nature of the plan and not really understanding a lot of what they were talking about anyway, Bonnie wandered over and plunked onto a log beside her, looking up at the red-haired woman with a wide grin.

Flicking her gaze in Bonnie's direction, Jessie raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"

"You never answered my question!"

"What question?"

Kicking her feet, Bonnie repeated, "Boy or girl?"

Blushing fiercely, Jessie looked away, "I have no idea! It's too early to-oh, go ask your parents about these things!"

Giggling, Bonnie said, "I'll bet they'll be the cutest!"

Her shoulders sinking, Jessie looked at the blonde girl sitting there, still kicking her feet and beaming up at her with a sweet, innocent smile.

A slight grin tugging at the corner of her own mouth, she said, "I'm sure they will be..."

Just then, James stood and coughed, "Everyone?"

All tuned to look at him as he continued, "We think we have a pretty fool-proof idea here. We just need to all go over it and make sure we work out any kinks. After that, we'll need a little acting and a lot of luck..."