A/N: I know! It's been so long since I last updated this, but last night for some reason I felt inspired to finally finish the next chapter! When will I finally finish this ficcie? I can't really give an honest answer to that, but now I feel inspired to write it again, who knows! Keep checking back and don't forget to review.

Shari

Chapter Seven:

It turned out that Judith did not appear for breakfast and James was informed by Hopkins that his 'mother' had complained of a headache and gone to bed. This came as little surprise to Jesse and Meowth but James reacted with concern for the woman, so much so that Jesse considered blurting the truth out then and there. It made her sick to think that Judith had James worrying about her when this was obviously a farce to avoid seeing the lawyer. A couple of frantic gestures from Meowth, not to do anything foolish were enough to curb Jesse's temper and she instead suggested that James gave her a tour of the grounds. She knew her friend was anxious to see Growlie again and Meowth, who disliked James's canine friend declined, claiming that he wanted to take a little catnap. James agreed to this without questing Jesse's reasons behind this and delighted his female friend when he casually slipped an arm around her shoulders as they walked down one of the many dirt-free stone pathways that led through the rolling gardens of the Morgan Estate. Jesse could barely concentrate on the beauty that surrounded her, as all she could think of was how nice it was to have James so close to her and the warmth of his arm around her.

If Jesse closed her eyes and concentrated, she could pretend that they were a proper couple strolling together through their own garden.

As she thought of this, Jesse stumbled, tripping over her own feet and almost falling, had James not been there to steady her.

"Jess?" he asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Jesse shrugged, tears suddenly springing into her eyes. Cursing silently for her sudden emotion, she averted her gaze to the ground, but James caught her expression and stopped walking.

"It's nothing" she snapped and immediately regretted it as she added in a softer voice, "I was thinking… that is all."

"About…?" James prompted, guiding her to be seated beside one of the dozen sparkling water fountains that were dotted around the estate.

Jesse stared into the clear water and asked: "There are so many coins in there."

James was taken aback by the sudden topic change, but decided to elaborate on it. "When I was a boy I would often come here to escape her. She didn't like the water, as it was improper for young ladies to wander the grounds unescorted to play in the fountains. I would sit here and throw pennies into this fountain. I suppose it was my own private wishing well. I would wish for someone to take me away from this life. It is stupid now that I think about it. I always had dreams of a perfect family and I never really did have that, did I, Jessica?"

"Do you think about Danielle?"

James looked away, his uncomfortably stance letting on more than words could ever do. This time it was he that changed the topic. "What about you, Jess? Do you have any dreams?"

Jesse laughed, "Me?"

He nodded, his green eyes staring intently into her own, almost begging her to confide in him.

Jesse shrugged, "I used too" she admitted, "Before Miyamoto died. I dreamt that there would be a better life for us. That she would leave Team Rocket and that we would have all this" she indicated the mansion, "I used to think that I needed money to be happy. Miyamoto hated not being able to provide for me. That's why she took that mission. Money destroyed us and I still want it. I still want all of this!"

Both were silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

"You must hate me," Jesse ventured at last, "I would if I were you."

"Would it truly make you happy?"

"No."

"Then why do you want it? I would give it all too you, Jesse, if it were mine to give. I would do anything for you."

Jesse laughed, "I don't even know. If you offered it I would probably take it, but it wouldn't make me happy. Perhaps nothing can."

"Did Miyamoto make you happy?"

"She was my mother, of course she did and she died."

"Then there is your answer." James stood, "We should be getting back."

"But I don't understand?"

James smirked, "And you're always telling me that I'm the dumb one?"

"James Morgan" Jesse growled, brandishing a paper fan that she managed to pull out from seemingly thin air, "You are not going where until you tell me what made you the philosopher all of a sudden!"

James's grin widened, "You have to catch me first" and with that he took off back down the path leading to the mansion. Jesse laughed out loud and raced after him, her previous fears vanishing as she ran after her friend.

Judith watched the two teenagers from her bedroom window; a frown fixed upon her face whilst in the background a maid poured her some tea. Such unseemly behaviour and had her husband been still alive, Judith would have made sure that he punished James accordingly for his actions. Of course, with Thomas dead, and James's true parentage out in the open, Judith knew that she would have to tread softly where her 'son' was concerned. Scowling as she recalled her emotional actions of before, Judith stared down at the crumpled piece of paper in her hand, a number scrawled across it in elegant writing. She hated feeling so angry. Her anger made her do things that were completely the opposite from her usually cold and stoic character.

Normally, browsing through the latest fashion magazines from France and selecting a number of new and expensive ball gowns or attending a social event with some of Kanto's wealthier residents could right this anger. Of course, with no husband, Judith knew the latter was not possible, as she would so hate to become the third wheel so to speak. She glanced down at the piece of paper again.

Should she? No! It was too soon! She could not have that awful man thinking that Judith Morgan was cheap!

Dismissing the maid, Judith turned away from the window. The headache was not completely a lie. Her temples did so ache and she rarely got a full nights sleep anymore. Of course, James would not be put off so easily forever and Judith knew that she would have to do something. There were other lawyers. Surely she could arrange something? She could only imagine how James would react if he found out that his trust fund had been closed when he ran away and the money handed over to the Whittakers as a payoff of sorts. Not that the demonic little girl had any intention on keeping the money.

"Judy, darling" that familiar sickly voice drawled and Judith's hairs on the back of her neck started to prickle as she took a sip from her tea and regarded the young woman before her.

Jessebell's sapphire blue eyes narrowed as she gazed distastefully around the bedroom. "This is really not very proper at all" she continued, her ruby lips turned up in a pleased and somewhat triumphant smile as she tossed a lock of red hair over one shoulder, "I don't understand why we cannot ask my darling James and his little tramp to join us. It is concerning him after all, isn't it?"

Judith scowled, "I only knew that you were back this morning and we both know how James would react to your presence. Why else would I see you in my rooms?"

Jessebell nodded and set her own cup back down on the silver tray, "Yes, of course" she replied, somewhat chastened, "I had not remembered that."

"Why did you come back? If I recall we paid you off well last time."

"It is not about the money, Judy, it never has been."

"Then what do you want?"

"James. I've always wanted him. I understand that he needs to be broken in properly, but there has always been something about him that makes him special… if only I could remember what it was."

"I've learnt from my mistakes. You'll never get my son."

"Oh yes!" Jessebell elicited a sudden squeal of delight and started fanning herself rapidly as she continued, "But he is not your son, is he, Judith darling?"

Judith barely blinked as she replied, "Whatever do you mean?" but inside her chest her heart had started pounding and the tea cup had begun to shake so she placed it back down and neatly folded her hands in her lap.

Jessebell said nothing for a moment, and then, with a flurry, produced a crumpled piece of paper from her purse and dangled it in front of Judith's nose.

"Then why does this say otherwise?"

Judith could not stop the tiny gasp from escaping her lips as she recognised the handwriting as her own. Suddenly, angered that anyone would see her tear-filled letter of confession, she leapt up and tried to snatch it back off of Jessebell, an unseemly act in itself and it appeared to give Jessebell immense satisfaction when she pulled the letter back from her grasp and said sternly.

"For goodness sake, Judy, sit down and act like a lady. Now that I have got your attention we can talk about my terms and what will happen if you do not agree to every single one of them."