9

The next few weeks passed fairly slowly. Though Jessie still imagined that being a rich, pampered girl was incredibly easy, pretending to be one turned out to be fairly tiring, especially while she had someone to keep an eye on like this. Extra attention was paid to anything he did, and of course, Jessie found herself also being closely watched. James's mother dragged her around at times, seeming to watch every detail of Jessie's interactions. Jessie was fairly sure she was performing nicely. She'd gotten a lecture on a faux pas once, but smoothed it over rather nicely.

Even so, she'd take any opportunity for a break. "James dear, why don't we go into town today," Jessie suggested during breakfast one day.

"I'd like that," James said. An affirmative response she wanted, but Jessie still felt annoyed. James had been more than chipper since figuring her out, leaving her as the only one to be stressed about the situation.

"Oh? We were going to talk about your future today," James's father began.

They were really going to talk about this now? Jessie tried to hide her exasperation. Of course, it would be suspicious to keep putting things off, but she wasn't in the mood. "We can do that later," Jessie said, hoping that would be the end of that for a day at least.

"Why not now?" the mother said, stirring her tea before picking up her head to look at them both poignantly. Nope, they weren't going to let it go, Jessie realized as the lady continued. "It's been a pleasure to have you back Jessebelle, but we must move things along. If you wait too long - Well, I don't need to repeat what we've discussed with both of you many times before. You know you aren't getting any younger."

Jessie controlled herself instead balking at that comment. She was hardly old at all. She covered up her annoyance with a laugh. "Of course, Mother!" she said. "We'll marry very young, as we both are now."

"Have you thought about when?" the father asked.

"Well," James began. The parents raised their eyebrows as they sat up and looked their son's way, surprised he'd speak up, apparently. "I'd say, whenever Jessebelle wants to."

James's father nodded, his mother putting her hands together with a wide grin. So much for a break, Jessie thought, but decided to push it anyway. "What a topic! It will take some time to plan it. Why don't we discuss it while we're out today, James dear," Jessie said.

"Alright," James agreed.

Of course, they were chauffeured to the town. Jessie had to breathe a sigh of relief as she dismissed the man who drove them, finally shaking off the help. James also seemed to relax even as they were alone. He sighed and stretched as they walked down the street. "Thank you for coming out with me," he said, a contented smile on his face.

"You think I'm going anywhere without you?" Jessie asked with a blank tone. She'd been injecting that uppity energy into her performance constantly, having nothing left for the moment, especially not for this topic.

James didn't notice she was reminding him she was there to make sure he didn't hurt Team Rocket, and closed his eyes, still with that peaceful expression on his face. "Any day I think I'll wake up and you not be there... Of course, I understand if you leave, but I take it as a pleasant surprise when you stay. I like seeing you."

"Ah-" Jessie stopped herself. She was fairly sure he was sincere, but wasn't going to comment further. It was just a little embarrassing to hear him be so direct.

"Why don't we really go and run away together?" James suggested.

Why would he be continuing to talk along these lines? It was quite the romantic idea, but Jessie wasn't about to let herself get caught up in it just because he talked sweetly and played into some kind of fantasy. Especially since James probably would just whine about the kind of life she was used to. "You'd really give up the cozy home you have now?" she challenged.

"Oh, yes. It would be nice to be as free as you every day," he commented.

"You think I'm free? Better than you?" Jessie rolled her eyes. Now his words were outright obnoxious. "Whatever. Oh, and why are you saying those kinds of things with your parents?"

"It keeps them happy," James explained.

"But then they'll keep pushing us to go through with it," Jessie pointed out, almost dragging her feet as they walked along.

"That's fine," James said. "Would it even be valid if you don't use your real name?"

"Well, like you already know, I don't plan on sticking around forever. What if your real fiancée comes around and replaces me, ever think of that?" Jessie stopped as she heard James shout, looking back at him questioningly.

"I didn't consider," James admitted, pursing his lips and closing his eyes. "I didn't - I don't think she would, not after the last time I saw her, but it's possible." After a pause, James spoke up with a different idea. "We could secretly elope under your real name."

"It's not happening," Jessie muttered through a clenched jaw.

"Well, for legitimacy, it might be necessary," James said.

Confusion lingered only a moment before Jessie remembered their conversation from before. Not this again. That was a topic better never spoken about with this guy again. "That's definitely not happening," she declared, fuming as she thought of his take on it.

"I don't mind either way," James said with a shrug. "I just know it would tie you to my family even when they know you're not her. If that's what you want, it would work. Like I said, I don't mind."

"Well it's not. Just no. It's never happening," Jessie said. Even trying to drop the topic from her own mind, she kept thinking about it, and eventually spoke up again. "If you think things are so bad where you are, why would you want to abandon your own kid there?" Jessie kept walking along, unable to enjoy the pretty sights since the conversation had put her in such a bad mood.

"I-I didn't consider that," James said. "I mean, I don't think anyone could be worse than me. But I wouldn't want anyone to have been through what I have, either."

'Anyone', as if his own kid would be a random person and have nothing to do with him. "Is it really so bad?" Jessie decided to directly confront him since he kept affecting her mood like this. "You've had everything taken care of. You can get anything you want. Maybe you don't like your parents, but you'll own everything when they're gone, right? You've never had to go hungry or anything."

"I have," James said. From his tone, Jessie believed him, though she wasn't exactly eager to ask for details. "And as far as any inheritance goes, I've been disowned."

"You're joking. What will they do with it all, then?"

"They're still deciding," James said. "Charity? I know they might prefer to leave it to a less disappointing son. And of course, they've spoken about leaving it to a grandchild."

There was that topic again. James's mother also brought it up with her quite often. "They really want you to have a kid, don't they?"

James shrugged, probably since the answer was obviously yes. "Perhaps that's all they still want from me," he eventually said.

"What about you? What do you want to do?" Jessie asked.

"Oh, well, I'd love to go train my pokemon today."

So the topic had changed to just today. Jessie actually preferred it that way. "If that's what you want, why don't you do it?" she asked.

"You mean, it's alright?" James asked.

"Don't look to me for approval," Jessie said.

"Well, Jessebelle would never allow it, so you'd be contradicting-"

"Do I look like I want to baby-sit you all day?" Jessie interrupted.

"Thank you!" James hugged her as he exclaimed his gratitude. Jessie jumped at the sudden contact, then sighed to herself as he ran off. Finally, she could have a real break.

Jessie wandered around town, enjoying various small pleasures. As she took in the sights, she was able to get away with merely waving to greet anyone 'she' knew. After getting tired of just walking, Jessie decided to spend much of the time in a small overpriced café, knowing the bill would be charged to James's family without question. She enjoyed the exquisite menu before going on her way.

"Oh, Jessebelle dear, it's so good to see you!"

"The same here! What a pleasure it is!" Jessie said. The woman was in the inner circle of James's parents, though she wasn't sure what her name was.

Thankfully, James approached her, interrupting the conversation. "There you are," he said.

"James? What's happened to you? You're a mess!" the woman spoke.

Jessie carefully observed him. He looked as fine as always at first glance, but paying close attention, Jessie could see small pieces of grass on his clothing. If he'd really been out in the woods training with his pokemon, it wasn't out of the question that he'd get a little messy, but he'd cleaned up rather well. How picky did this person have to be to notice these small imperfections? "Oh, have you been out training?" Jessie said. "Can't control what men decide to do, can we?" she said, giving a forced laugh.

"Oh, no. You have your hands full with such an interesting man, don't you?" The woman also laughed to herself.

"Yes, I certainly do. Well, let's go, James dear!" Thankfully, that had gotten her out of that conversation. The two of them soon went back. Jessie then had to put on the act again for the parents before going to the secluded room to rest.

Before she closed her eyes, Jessie recalled she'd promised to keep Meowth informed, once a day at least, and hadn't since early the day before. Jessie picked the discreet communication out of its hiding spot in her bag. "Me-" Jessie began.

"Is that Jessie? Jessie's finally on!" Meowth exclaimed, its voice amplified in her ear.

Jessie tried to pull the earpiece out, but then realized she wouldn't be able to talk to the pokemon at all if she did. "Keep your voice down!" she nearly shouted.

"Ah!" Meowth cried at the other end in response to her louder voice.

"I can't turn this down, it's annoying," she said.

"Well, I've been trying to ring you all day! What gives?" Meowth said.

"Miss Jessie's side ringing would blow her cover, like I said before," Mondo's voice clarified.

"Yeah, yeah. Well, guess what? I've got news!" Meowth declared.

"I'm the one that ought to have news, but I really don't." Jessie was unable to hide her annoyance.

"I'm the one here doing the research! I told you I'm serious about this! I really didn't do enough on 'your' fiancé beforehand. I just looked at the couple, intercepted some letters to your alias there. But I made up for it now."

"What are you talking about?" Jessie said, wishing Meowth would quit rambling so she could get some rest.

"Dirt! I've got a bunch of dirt on the guy! And I confirmed it all!"

"Huh?" Jessie opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. What was Meowth talking about? It couldn't mean James, what kind of 'dirt' would there be on him?

"This James guy has a huge rap sheet! Really sorry I didn't tell you before. I thought he'd be some sap, not a dangerous guy you needed to look out for."

Jessie snorted. "I think I can handle him," she said.

"Well, yeah, of course. You're a pro! But he's still got a record."

"What minor crimes are on his rap sheet?" Jessie asked.

"He's been reported as a missing person - A lot, actually. From when he was a little guy, on."

"Oh no, he made his parents worry," Jessie said dryly.

"And he kind of stole a lot of things."

"Right, right," Jessie said, not really that interested. He talked about going hungry, that was probably when this had happened. It wasn't that 'dangerous', or even really bad at all to steal to make ends meet, from her point of view, if not others.

"He was involved in a lot of heists with a rival group, got arrested a few times before his parents bailed him out."

"Wait... he what?" Jessie sat up as she heard the comment.

"The boss eventually got that group to be part of ours... So you could say he's sort of a former teammate," Meowth continued.

"Mm?"

"I went and found a few people that knew him. He didn't have any pokemon or anything, but he got into the action, the little time he was around. He did all kinds of stuff. The guy's devious! Maybe he says he won't turn on us, but we've gotta keep an eye on him."

"Yeah," Jessie said as she stood up. "Sure."

"You won't let him catch you off guard, will you?" Meowth asked.

"There's no way that would happen," Jessie assured. "Is that all?"

"I guess so. Sorry I didn't do the full research beforehand," Meowth apologized.

"Fine, just next time do it right!" Jessie said. She was happy just to get away from the rambling of the one who had been saying she was its mere 'minion', but also wanted to talk to James. Going out of her room, she saw he was neither in the sitting room, nor his own, which had the door wide open, so he must be elsewhere.

Jessie left the room, trying to be quiet to avoid dealing with anyone else as she looked for him. Eventually, before going down the back staircase, she heard shouting.

"I heard you were running around looking like a bandit today!" James's mother's voice echoed.

"I was dressed properly," James replied, his affect dull.

"It's not just dress, James. You know there's more to maintaining a proper appearance in public. And you have to be extra careful to make up for your delinquent past. People still talk about everything we went through with you. And now more?"

The berating went back and forth before James eventually ascended the stairs himself, looking worn out. He noticed Jessie right away, but didn't react much to her presence. "I thought you'd retired for the night," he commented.

"What about you? I'm just hearing now you had some different goals in your past. Are you really retired?" Jessie asked.

James's eyes went wide a moment before he smirked. "Hmph. I wonder what you could mean by that," he said, though he obviously knew.

"Meowth was looking into your background. It told me you're a world full of trouble," Jessie explained anyway, echoing back his amused tone. James looked down. "Hey," Jessie said firmly, then continued as he looked back up and met her eyes. "Is that right? Are you a devious, dangerous guy?"

"I suppose I could be," James admitted.

"Then you could be worth a lot more working with me than just sitting around this place." Jessie looked around, noting no one else nearby. "I'm also too valuable to just endlessly be kept in a little cage like this. I'm tired of sitting around here making nice all the time. Do you relate?"

"Yes," James said without any hesitation.

Jessie had to smile at his decidedness. "Well then, want to go out and help me do some real damage?"

"I would."

That was that. Jessie felt elated. Meowth and Mondo always helped her, but she was a lone agent more often than not. She could do a lot more with a partner. Sure, James could still rat her out, but that possibility in the air might make it even a bit more exciting. She could hardly sleep at all as she thought of what more she might be able to accomplish with him to help.