A/N: TRsilvers helped me review this chapter again and I am so grateful for her OwO
So please enjoy this new update :)


Neither Butch or Cassidy brought back up that day again after that. They threw everything into their work to try and push away the life they left behind, but this left a strain in their relationship. After dinner they would barely talk to each other either, instead they'd just go do their separate things and eventually return to their rooms as they shared a small double bed with Raticate.

One day at work an older gentleman visited the cafe and saw Butch baking bread in the oven.

"You are really good at that, would you consider working at my bakery? We have a real wood-burning oven at our shop," The man offered.

"That's real generous, but I owe Winter for all her kindness to Cass and I, so I'll have to reject your offer."

"Alright, well if you change your mind here is my business card," The man handed Butch a little white card before he left the cafe. Butch just put it in his apron pocket not thinking much of it. He had to stay here with Cassidy and Winter after all.

The next month everything changed. Winter passed away.

She was pushing 90 and had been having more and more mobility issues lately so it wasn't a surprise to them, but losing someone who was so kind to them in their darkest moment really stung. She was also one of the last things keeping the two of them together.

Even in death it seemed they would stay together as a storm blew in from Snowpoint, keeping the two in the cafe but without any customers. Being snowed in, the tension between the pair began to grow and grow. Initially they could tolerate each other, but eventually one little conversation led to everything boiling over.

Initially Butch was just trying to make small talk. He sat next to Cassidy by the fireplace as she began to try to carve a Tentacruel.

"So your dad taught you how to make those?" Butch asked.

"Why are you prying into my personal business," Cassidy spat out. Butch glared at her. She had been extremely defensive lately.

"Why get so touchy all of a sudden? You were the one that told me your dad taught you," Butch said as he raised his hands up in annoyance.

"And that is all you need to know. Beside it's not like you ever tell me anything about your life," Cassidy said, she had her back turned from him before but now she was facing Butch with a peculiar look on her face.

"You never asked," Butch said plainly. It was true. Even though Butch had worked with Cassidy for so long they were practically strangers. That was something he came to realize over the past few months.

"Well what's up with your family? I knew Wendy was your sister but you never said she was your half-sister until recently. You grew up in Kanto so how come your mom didn't take you with her to Sinnoh?" Cassidy, realizing she had the option to ask now, suddenly laid out some of the questions she had on her mind. Butch hadn't expected her to actually ask when he prompted her, he assumed she'd brush him off like usual. He now understood why Cassidy was annoyed with his question before; he wasn't mentally prepared to open up either. But he would try right now.

"Doesn't make a difference that Wendy and I have different dads… I still love her a lot. And as for mom… first, you should know my dad was really bad. A true scumbag. He expected Rico and I to be strong men so if we fell out of line he would berate us. He treated mom worse. He'd hit her and take advantage of her…" As Butch spoke he thought back to when he was young and he'd see his mother at the dinner table late at night. She'd drink herself into a crying mess. If she knew Butch was there she'd throw her wine glass at him, screaming asking why he has his father's eyes? His father's voice? At least this sharpened his skills when it came to dodging.

"When she left him her main priority was to start over. Two children not born out of love had no place in her heart," Butch then choked a little. Cassidy just fell silent and stared at him.

"My childhood wasn't all bad though. Until my mom died of heart failure I would go visit her sometimes. Wendy always wanted to go to the Oreburgh Museum, there really wasn't much else to do in that town. No wonder she fell in love with ground types," Butch said trying to lighten the mood. Cassidy just turned away from him and continued hacking her knife into her little wood creation. Butch was a bit peeved about that.

"That's it? You have nothing to say? I open up to you and you give me nothing?" Butch asked the tone is his voice raised a little in anger. He knew it was hard to open up but he hoped maybe his words gave Cassidy the courage to talk to him too.

"I didn't tell you to share that much," Was Cassidy's only response after a minute of silence.

"Hey, is that really so interesting that you don't care about me anymore?" Butch bent down to get a look at what Cassidy was doing. She grew defensive and moved the object away from him but he tried to grab it anyway. In the struggle, Cassidy lost the grip of her knife and it cut off the head of her Tentacruel and thankfully missed her hand. But he saw that scar from her breakdown a few months earlier. She held that hand close to her and cradled it as if even Butch looking at the wound would make her break all over again. But it was too late, she had already begun to crack.

"Why do you act like you're any better than me!? You only care about me when it suits you! I know you look at me and think I'm some stuck-up princess but I'm not!" Cassidy jumped up and stood over Butch. Anger and hatred seeped through her face and her voice.

"My dad did teach me how to carve these little sculptures. That was right before he got busted for smuggling illegal substances on his ship. He ended his career as a sailor and left my mom and I to rot in our little shed-like house while he went to go play pirate!" Cassidy blurted out.

"We were so poor, other kids my age made fun of my shitty old clothing that never quite fit cause I never stopped growing. I couldn't go hang out with friends because I tried to work a normal job. But I only dug myself out of that shithole by selling my body to any shitty guy with the most cash. I've spent my whole life feeling awful about myself but then I finally found something to make me feel better. Team Rocket made me feel like I myself was powerful. I didn't need anyone else for money or success. Ooh and then I met that little bitch Jessie! She had nobody alive left to love her and yet she was still starting to outclass me! It pissed me off!" Cassidy let out all the bitter thoughts she had been hoarding deep inside spill out along with some tears. Even Butch could feel the side of his eyes beginning to sting with tears just hearing this barrage of information. It hurt so much. Everything between them just hurt, and that pain was begging to blend into anger.

"You're the one that quit Team Rocket! You even made that decision for me!" Butch blurted out. "I have never belonged anywhere! My father hated me, my mother wished I didn't exist. When I turned 15 I was forced to join Rico and my dad poaching Pokemon. I felt bad hurting the pokemon, but then I became numb to it. When dad got thrown in jail I got the opportunity to leave that profession and join Team Rocket. Crime isn't a hole you can't easily climb right out of but here you are so content! I hate it! I hate being around you!"

That wasn't true. But it was already too late. Butch had already figuratively and literally opened up an old wound. Cassidy just silently sobbed and stood in place for a moment. Butch looked down, ashamed in himself for letting his anger get the best of him. After what felt like a decade Cassidy finally bent down and picked up the pieces of the ruined Tentacruel carving.

"If you hate being around me just leave. I hate feeling like I hold you back," She somberly admitted as she threw the piece of wood into the fire and retreated upstairs. Even though Cassidy was still in the same building as Butch the distance between them felt much larger at that moment. It was making him feel sick.

After the snow began to melt Butch broke the silence of a quiet breakfast to tell Cassidy something.

"I decided to take that job near Veilstone."

Cassidy didn't say anything.

"I need to figure out what I want to do with my life, you already have hobbies and lots of skills… I've just been a criminal for over a decade, I need some time to properly adjust to this new life," Butch explained softly, he gave Cassidy a pleading look. He wanted to know what she would say.

"If that is what you think is best," She finally responded before taking a sip of her coffee.

Later that week as Butch prepared to leave they still didn't speak much. He felt bad leaving things this way but he had to move on. He had no idea if this would be the last time he saw Cassidy or not. When that possibility came to mind Butch could feel his chest tighten and his stomach do flips. He didn't want to leave her forever, he just needed some space. Would that be okay? Would Cassidy be okay?

The pair walked to the nearest bus station. They didn't talk on their walk, they still didn't talk as they waited at the bus stop. Butch noticed she brought a small box with her but she had made no attempt to give it to him. Maybe he was presumptuous to assume it was a parting gift for him.

As the train arrived Cassidy finally stepped in front of her partner and held out the little box. She looked sheepishly to the side as he took the box and opened it. He could hear the bus come to a stop behind him but the most important thing to him was seeing what was inside the box. He held up a little wooden heart and a piece of paper. The heart was the first wood carving Cassidy had made, the little note he had to open up and read.

"This isn't the last time we'll meet"

Tears clouded over Butch's eyes as he gave Cassidy a big smile. He was glad this wasn't the end for them. Just the beginning of a new life. He pulled the blonde into a hug. He could tell she was shocked at first but she eventually returned his embrace. They stood there like that for a long time. It was so hard to let go. At least that was the case until they heard the bus driver awkwardly clear his throat behind them.

"Sorry to break up this touching moment but somebody's gotta get to Veilstone city."

Butch blushed as he hurried to pick up all his stuff and get on the bus. They waved each other goodbye and as he saw Cassidy disappear in the distance. As he clutched the little wood trinket close to his own heart, Butch was able to smile as he finally understood why someone would like these little things so much.


A/N: Sorry I couldn't stop myself from adding a shippy moment at the end. You can also view it as platonic if you want but the bus driver didn't see it that way lol.

As always reviews are welcomed if you enjoyed the story or you have criticisms in your own words :)