Chapter Five: Judith's deceit

Jesse followed the old butler up the seemingly never-ending stairs rather reluctantly. She didn't want to leave James alone with Judith fearful of what the woman would do. Jesse sighed angrily. Not that she was given a choice in the matter.

Jesse still couldn't believe that Giovanni had fired them. Ok they weren't the best members but they were loyal to the team. Obviously that loyalty didn't mean a thing to Giovanni. The little cat Pokémon was obviously having similar thoughts as when the butler came to a stop Meowth did not and ran into the backs of his legs. Hopkins gave the cat a disdainful look yet refrained from commenting and instead addressed Jesse.

"My mistress wishes for you to stay in this room. I shall be at your beck and call for the duration of your stay here with us. Will you be requiring anything at present?"

"Yeah a bowl of warm milk, a satin pillow to sleep on and all da food I can eat!" Meowth said, or rather tried to say before Jesse trod on his head, pressing the heal of her boot firmly down into his face. Smiling sweetly at Hopkins, who was sweatdropping nervously she said, "That will be all thank you."

"Very good" he nodded and made a hasty exit.

"Why did ya do dat?" Meowth snapped as Jesse fitted the small silver key Hopkins had given her into the lock.

"Because" Jesse growled, "We are not here by choice. If it were up to me we would not be staying here at all."

Meowth sighed and rubbed his dented charm "Dats all very well Jess but I don't see why we can't take advantage of his momma's guilt… whoa!" Meowth ducked to avoid a wooden mallet that swung dangerously close to the top of his head.

Jesse shook her head and pushed open the door, gasping softly as she stepped into the room.

It was like a fairy tale Princess's bedroom. The bed was made from carved ivory, pink satin pillows and a silk sheet laid out neatly on a firm white mattress. White net curtains hung down around it, drawn back with golden tiebacks. The windows too were decorated with the same curtains, in a pink tinge and the glass in the window itself was so clear that it might not have even been there at all. The rest of the room was furnished in solid pine; a dressing table stood in one corner, hand crafted with a golden leaf pattern stencilled onto the wood. A small stool with a silk cushion atop matched the dresser itself. Opposite that stood a wardrobe and when Jesse opened it she was amazed to find ball gowns of every colour and design she had ever seen in fashion magazines hanging up neatly inside. Then as though expecting them a lavish red satin Meowth bed sat in one corner. Meowth's eyes widened into milky saucers as he stared at it.

"Jess dis is heaven!" he cried, racing to the aforementioned bed. "Look at all dis!"

Jesse giggled and pulled a ball gown free from the wooden hangers, this one was pale blue and had an almost indecently low neckline.

"I feel like a Princess!" Jesse cried, holding the dress up against her. "It looks like it will be a perfect fit!"

Meowth chuckled, "I bet Jimmy would luv ta see ya in dat wouldn't he?"

"You think so?" Jesse asked and then a crimson blush adorned her cheeks as the meaning behind the feline's words sunk in.

Jesse turned away from the Cheshire cat grin that was spread across her friend's face and instead glanced at the price tag hanging off of the garment.

"It's a pretty dress and a pretty price" she murmured, "Best leave it be. It would take our salaries for three hundred years to pay for this."

Meowth chortled at her words and then stopped in mid stretch as his tired mind digested this sentence.

"Hey Jess how'd ya know how much it cost?"

"How do you think furball?" Jesse snapped, shoving the offending item in his face "The price tag!"

"Why would da price tag still be on it?" Meowth wondered, getting up and padding over to the wardrobe. Jumping up onto Jesse's shoulder he pulled out another dress and again the tag was on it and another and another.

"Doesn't dat strike ya as odd?"

Jesse raised an eyebrow "No. Why?"

Meowth rolled his eyes, "Yous humans are so dense. Tink about it. Why would Judith leave the price tags on a bunch of clothes dat just happen to be your size. Dey can't have been for herself as dey is all the da wrong size anyways. And why has she got a cat bed in here? Growlie sleeps in his own mansion and Jimmy never mentioned a feline companion did he?"

"No?" it was slowly started to dawn on Jesse just what her friend was saying as she let the insult go unpunished.

"It's awfully convenient is it not? Judith happens to have been on a shopping trip da day we turn up and happens to buy a Meowth bed dat same day."

"Are you saying she was expecting us?" Jesse asked sceptically "How could she have been? No one else knew that the Boss fired us" and then "Oh… Do you think she had something to do with that too?"

Meowth nodded, "It's possible. Rich folks like her tink dat dey can buy anyting with dare money."

"Are you suggesting that Judith paid Giovanni to fire us?"

Meowth shrugged, a ridiculous act for a cat Pokémon "Perhaps. I tink yous better have a word with Jimmy."

"Me? Why not you?"

Meowth grinned devilishly "He knows ya better. Maybe ya can tell him a few other tings too?"

The cat Pokémon quickly slipped out of the to avoid a boot being thrown in his direction. Jesse pouted to herself and sat back down on the bed, now alone and at a loss. Part of her considered charging downstairs and demanding the truth from Judith. If it was true that was… Meowth was clever, too clever for his own good. Surely Judith cared for James' happiness enough to know that he was happier in Team Rocket than here in the mansion? Jesse sighed and her gaze strayed to the white nightgown hanging on the back of the closed door. Getting up off the bed she reached for it and decided to at least get changed and as it had the price tag attached as well she assumed it was for her. Opening an adjourning door Jesse saw a lavish bathroom and an inviting looking marble shower room. Smiling to herself she slipped inside and locked the door. Who knew how long James would be? She may as well get herself freshened up whilst she was waiting and it would give her time to phrase what Meowth suspected delicately.

******

It was late, near midnight when Jesse heard footsteps outside the bedroom door. She bolted up in the bed, thinking perhaps at first that it was Meowth simply returning. The feline (she silently cursed him for his perception) had left to give her a chance to speak with James alone and sure enough there was a gentle tap on the door followed by a:

"Jess? Are you asleep?"

Naturally Jesse replied, "How can I be when there is someone outside my bedroom door banging on it?" cursing her sharp tongue and frayed nerves Jesse awaited the response she knew all too well.

"Oh… sorry. I'll come back in the morning shall I?"

Trying not to seem as though she wanted to see him Jesse haughtily snapped back "What is the point? Now you've woken me you may as well come in."

Silence followed and then the door open. James flicked on the light, which earned a string of curses from the red haired young woman as harsh artificial light stabbed at her eyes that were now accustomed to darkness. 

"I didn't mean to disturb you and… hey where's Meowth?"

"He wanted a late evening stroll of the grounds," Jesse said, which was not entirely a lie.

James shrugged nervously and took a seat on the edge of the bed "I didn't see him" was the soft response to this bit of information. Jesse wondered why he seemed so on edge. There was nervousness mixed in with excitement. She shifted in the bed suddenly self-conscious of the thin nightgown, which was no big deal really; James had seen her in her nightwear before.

"What is on your mind?" she enquired at length.

"Judith"

"Oh?"

James smiled, "We had a long talk. She's really changed Jess. We talked about Danielle and Judith wants to make amends" his eyes practically sparkled as he spoke these words, happiness shone out of the emerald pools "And to think we almost did not come here."

"James…" Jesse started.

"I couldn't quite believe it myself at first" James continued, oblivious to his friend's growing discomfort "She has never shown me that kind of emotion before. She welcomed us with open arms even though I rejected her willingness to forget the past. We can stay for as long as we want. Tomorrow Judith is going to contact the lawyer and get the money all sorted out so we can buy a place of our own. Jess for once in my life I can see a way forward. Firing us was probably the best thing Giovanni could have done."

Jesse laughed almost bitterly "But?"

"You want to know why I didn't tell you straight away don't you?" James cut in, "I'm sorry Jess but I didn't quite believe all this myself at first so I went for a walk around the grounds; to see Growlie too. He's grown so much and to think its only been a little while since I saw him last."

"That's really great James…" Jesse faltered off. What could she say? Gods she couldn't tell him that Judith probably planned all of this. It was would destroy James to know that she was controlling him even now, but he had a right to know didn't he? He would find out eventually and then what? James would be hurt, furious that Jesse did not say something sooner. He might think that she was in on it too. Taking a deep breath Jesse started "Judith really said all those things?"

"I don't expect you to believe it" James replied quickly, "I didn't either but she really has changed Jess. You should spend some time with her. After all we are best friends and it's only right you get to know my family better."

Jesse frowned; the last thing she wanted to do was spend more time with Judith Morgan and the way James to casually used the term 'best friend'. Was that all he saw her as? She had hoped the last few months would open James' eyes and let him see exactly how much she cared about him. She guessed not. Jesse bit her lip in dismay. Still she was left with this predicament. Could she hurt James? Of course it would be for his own good but he might hate her for destroying his last chance for a family. He might think Jesse was deliberately trying to wreck his relationship with Judith because she was jealous as she lost her only family years ago. If James hated her… Jesse didn't think she could bear it. Coming to a decision she looked up, meeting the green eyes of her best friend who was staring expectantly down at her.

"I would like that James" she forced a smile, "Really I would."

James smiled too, "Thank you Jessica. I know how hard the last few months have been for you too. Looking after me, Giovanni firing us… but I think things have at last turned for the better."

"For the better" Jesse echoed.

James grinned and climbed down off of the bed "I'd better let you get your beauty sleep… not that you need it."

Jesse blinked, wondering if she had imagined this last bit. It wasn't like James to be so bold. Still he was gone before she could ask him but not before planting a quick kiss on her cheek. Now that had been real. Jesse pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming and then snuggling back down under the sheets, a smile spread across her ruby lips she decided that all the problems with Judith could wait until the morning, Meowth could deal with them. All she wanted to do now was sleep, and hopefully dream of a certain someone whose breath she could still feel on her face.

A/N: So what do ya think? I haven't lost my touch at rocketshippyness have I? And I didn't keep you all waiting too long did I? Chapter Six up soon!