Note from the author: This really short oneshot was inspired by the song „74-75" by The Connells. It's an alternative ending to my previous oneshot called „One last time" and focuses mainly on Jessie and James and how they could possibly react to a separation. I've been inspired by some quotes on the internet that helped me improve my writing.

Jessie and James were sitting around a crackling campfire. Jessie rested her head on her knees, observing the dancing flames only a few inches away from her. Although it was the middle of summer, she shivered in the crisp evening. James noticed her discomfort and threw their only blanket over her shoulders. He began to rub her arms in order to keep her warm. It was long ago since he paid so much attention to her, since he showed his caring side.

„I can manage, thank you," Jessie whispered, wrapping one piece of the blanket around her neck. James gazed up into the sky at night, covered with countless sparkling stars. A gust of wind made him shudder. He glanced to his right. There she was. Jessie. Tonight was their last night as a team. The criminal organiation had decided to split them up, because they didn't comply with Giovanni's requirements. Their catch quota was below-average, the few Pokémon they were able to deliver to the boss were not sufficient to meet his demands. James looked at his best friend with a worried expression and sighed.
He dared to reach out for her hand and squeezed it gently. Jessie winced at his attempted rapprochement. She knew James and his fears, she knew how reserved he was and that he had difficulties dealing with feelings, especially romantic ones, therefore she was more than a little astonished at his gesture.

„This is it, right?" he asked her, trying to make another pass at her by stroking her arm. Jessie nodded silently. „Are they really going to split us up after so many years of collaboration? I can't believe it," she added.

Team Rocket's decision was inexplicable, something that came out of nowhere. It never seemed to bother them how unsuccessful the trio was. Giovanni had sent them to different regions, always giving them another chance to prove him and the whole organisation that they were worthy of being called agents. It had always been a blessing in diguise. So many times had the trio been defeated by Ash and his friends, but still, they could count on their deep friendship and that was what really mattered. Their trio stuck together, they overcame every chicane, they never bounced back, they never gave up.

Jessie could hear James sob. It was heart-rending, her best friend weeped easily.
James tried hard to suppress his tears, he fought againt the emotional chaos seething within him. He could feel his chin trembling like a small child. Jessie turned to him, observing his breakdown at close range. Salty drops fell from James' cheeks, drenching his uniform.

„Stop whining, you wimp," she joked, „you make me cry too and I hate getting emotional," Jessie reprimanded him in a firm tone of voice. She wiped away a tear that tried to cleave a way out of her eyes.

„Jessie, my dear, they're going to split us up," James wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her towards himself and sobbing into her chest unceasingly. Normally, Jessie would have shoved him away, but she held him in silence, rocking him slowly as his tears soaked her chest. Only now, she recognized the seriousness of their crisis.

„Tell me this is just a dream and that we're going to wake up soon," Jessie whispered. A sob punched through, ripping through her muscles and bones. She wrapped her arms around James' neck, wanting to hold him one last time. Jessie remembered the many fearhugs and his unintended touches. She pressed her forehead against James'.

„Oh James!" she shouted, finally overcome by a wave of emotion, finally allowing her tears to roll down her cheeks.

„Jessie," James could feel her pressed up against him. Both acted completely out of sorts. They were overwhelmed by their feelings and got carried away by the oppressive darkness of the night. James' hand wandered up to her face. He caressed Jessie's cheek. Her make-up was smeared.

„Please, don't forget me," he sobbed. Jessie paused for a moment. She looked at her best friend, his eyes were inflamed and swollen.

„How could I?" she attempted at a faint smile. „You've always been by my side, I could count on you no matter how curious and weird my ideas and plans were. You supported me, you encouraged me to follow my dreams. You danced with me even though it's not exactly your hobby. You cared for me and you surprised me with cordial and sincere gestures," Jessie itemized every particular advantage.

„Are you trying to be thankful?" James asked, he hadn't expected her to express her deep gratitude. She preferred to take it all for granted, she never had a compliment to spare.

„Don't get me wrong," Jessie said. „I just want to point out that you haven't been entirely useless during all those years."

„Oh Jessie," James spoke under breath in a soft and loving voice. They ended up in another tight embrace. She wept, her tears streaming from her lapislazuli blue eyes, dripping from her wobbling chin. They rubbed their faces against each other, rocking backwards and forwards.

Suddenly, James began to kiss Jessie's cheek, it was like a bolt from the blue. His kisses were wet, mixed with snod and salty tears, it was anything but appetizing, but he couldn't control himself. His lips wandered further down. Jessie didn't shy away from his advances. She searched for his lips, until they locked. Her senses had been seduced and she could no longer think straight. Her heart was fluttering. It was a slow and soft kiss, comforting in ways that words would never be. Jessie could feel the beating of his heart against her chest. His breathing quickened as did hers. Her arms reached up and tangled around his neck. Jame's arms encircled her. Her kisses were his salvation. After some time, their lips parted. Both their breaths were shaking.

„Excuse me," James apologized, hanging his head in shame. The great uncertainty made him act up. What had he done and why had he done it? He never had the chance to taste her lips and to find out what a passionate kisser she was. This had been the last opportunity and he would have regretted it forever if he hadn't grasped the mantle.

„Goodbye, my friend," Jessie susurrated. She gazed deeply into his emerald green eyes.
„I have tried to tell myself that you never meant that much, but I was proved wrong," she revealed.

He took her hand, passing it over his face. She had thin and delicate fingers. He would never feel her touch again, he would never feel her soft lips again. All he knew was that the pain was too much and parting would be the best way to overcome this chaos of emotions.

„Mabye we're going to run into each other again, maybe our paths will cross again, but now it's time to bid farewell," James guessed. Jessie nodded silently.

„I wish I could hold you one last time," he whispered, noticing a few cars approaching. Those were the Team Rocket-messengers that would pick them up and convey them to their new operational area.

„I'll be in Viridian City by morning, I hope you're missing me by then," Jessie told him.

„I will always miss you, but I would like to be the kind of memory that makes you smile, smile at my clumsiness, smile at my unwieldiness, but don't forget to smile at my loyalty too. We'll meet again," with theses words James stood up, reached for his rucksack and set out for his new life. A life without Jessie, without the only woman he would get along with, no matter how briskly she was. He tried to hide his tears, it broke his heart to go seperate ways, but the boss was the boss and he had to follow his orders. There was no chance of turning back, no chance to run back to Jessie, enfold her in his arms and promise her to never leave her again.