James was in the kitchen, helping Pop-pop make pokemon food.
"I make the different food for different types of Pokemon. I put different vegetables and extracts and supplements in them. The food I give to pokemon like Growlie and Meowth has vitamin E for their shiny coat. Pokemon like Yamask and Muk need vitamin D because they don't get much sunlight."
"Wow." James said, looking at all of the tupperwares of food.
Jessie was helping Nanny with the laundry. Jessie was busy bashing James. "and seriously, he is NOT picking out the names."
Nanny laughed. "Aw, don't be so hard on him. You remind me of my daughter in law when she was your age."
"You mean...James' mother?"
"Yes. Very similar to you. The heart of a grass-type but the shell of a rock-type and a touch of fire-type as well."
"So...are you like, really rich, too?"
Nanny chuckled. "Us? Rich? Oh, heavens no. We have a nice nest egg but it was our son who went off and became the head of a fancy company with stocks and bonds and all that kinda stuff. He bought us this house for our 50th anniversary and told us to quit our jobs. We obliged and he made us a bank account. We're not rich but we don't really have to worry about money either..."
Jessie blinked. "Oh, really...James' parents have a soft spot?"
Nanny smiled knowingly. "Of course they do. But the high-class society really changed those two. I know they love James, but they really don't realize how much they've pushed him away. I guess they're like me...they just look at him and still see that sweet little boy."
Nanny stopped. "I'm sorry, this old woman just rambles on sometimes."
Jessie shook her head. "No...it's just...I was just thinking...It must be really nice to have a family. To know the people that share your DNA. I'm really happy that these two will have such lovely great-grandparents."
Nanny looked at Jessie with slightly sad eyes. "Of course. And Jessie, we are your family. DNA doesn't matter, you know."
Jessie looked down. It just wasn't the same. She saw James' fathers facial features in Pop-pop, and James got his father's green eyes and blue hair, but his mother's delicate face. What would their boys look like? She put her hand on her stomach and sighed before taking the finished laundry and carrying it to their room.
James helped Nanny make dinner while her and Pop-pop took the Pokemon food to the Pokemon house. Jessie was throwing the balls of food on the ground because she couldn't squat down low to feed it them directly. Then, suddenly she stopped and put her free hand on her stomach.
Pop-pop looked at her with worry. "Are you alright?"
Jessie looked confused. "...They just moved." then she smiled. "My babies moved!"
Pop-pop smiled back. "That's great. You keep moving, boys. Just a few more months in there."
Jessie came back from the Pokemon house as James was setting the table, wearing a simple black apron that Nanny had lent him.
"James, the boys moved! Just now!"
James lit up and ran to touch her stomach. "Really?" he paused. "But I don't feel anything."
Jessie smacked him on the head. "Silly. They're not moving now."
Nanny laughed. "And only the mother can feel them moving until about 7 months along. You have to wait, James."
James sighed. "Aww."
Pop-pop smiled. "Anyway, James, you can play with lots of kids tomorrow at the nursery."
"Ah, yes." James didn't look happy about that. He looked a little bit scared.
With that, they ate dinner, cleaned up, and played with the pokemon a bit more before going to their separate wings of the house. Nanny passed Jessie and James a few books to read in their bedroom. There was a book about caring for pokemon, a book about nursing, and a book about pregnancy. They spent a few hours poring over the various books, wide-eyed, before passing out.
The next morning, they all piled into the car, with Meowth, Growlie, Mime Jr., Chimecho, and about 10 others from the Pokemon house in pokeballs. Growlie stayed on James' lap the entire car ride.
They drove to the nursery, where there were about 20 children from ages 2-5 waiting for them. But, contrary to James' expectations, the children did not run for them and overtake them in a noisy rampage, they politely waited with their teachers and when instructed, greeted them with an enthusiastic "Good Morning!"
James smiled, relieved. These children were very well-behaved. "Good morning, kids. Would you like to play with some pokemon today?" He was met with an enthusiastic cheer. Pop-pop brought out the pokeballs.
"Now kids, I have some rules. We have to treat these pokemon kindly, like we would treat a little baby. If you are not treating our pokemon kindly, you will lose your privilege to play with them. Is that understood?"
All the children said "YES!"
Pop-pop smiled. "Alright now, kids. Here we go!" And he opened up the pokeballs and cute little pokemon like Oddish, Eevee, Pikablu, Hoppip, etc came out. The kids cheered and started to gather around the pokemon. Pikablu made a little fountain with his Water Gun attack that made the kids clap and cheer. James went over to Meowth just in time to see him raise a paw to a 2 year old. James acted split-second and grabbed Meowth's paw. "What are you doing?" he bellowed at Meowth.
Jessie shrugged. "I saw it happen. The kid provoked him."
James shot a look at Jessie. "Jessie? The kid is 2. Meowth knows better, and can talk, even. Use your words, Meowth. Then the kid will know that people solve disputes with words and not by hitting people."
Jessie rolled her eyes. "Humph. You're trying to go all non-violent on us now?"
James drew circles on the ground. "I just think it would be for the best..."
Meowth looked at Jessie. "James has a point. Little humans don't know stuff like big humans...If I had little Meowths I would have to teach dem all kinda tings.."
Jessie looked at the two, surprised. "...Maybe you're right."
Meowth retorted. "Of course I am!"
Growlie looked the happiest he'd been in a while playing with the kids. James smiled. Growlie just absolutely loved children. Growlie ran around in circles and the small 2 year old toddled behind him trying to catch him, and did dog tricks for the older kids.
Chimecho used his tail to cover the eyes of one child while the others hid for a game of hide-and-seek.
Mime Jr was in his element. He imitated the actions of the teacher which made the kids roll over laughing. Then he did a dance.
James watched all of the commotion with wide eyes. Jessie looked at him. "So...do you think you're ready to be a daddy?"
James pointed at her stomach. "Ready or not, here they come, right?"
Jessie nodded, then sighed. "And totally destroy my body in the process."
James rubbed her shoulder "It's all right..."
They watched all the kids and pokemon playing together, deep in thought. One of the teachers walked up to them. She had blond hair tied back in pigtails, and bright green eyes. "Nice to meet you. My name is Sunny. So..you're Pop-pop's grandson?"
"Yes. My name is James, and this is Jessie."
"Nice to meet you, James, and Jessie. And congratulations! How far along are you?"
"About 6 months."
"Wow! You must be so excited! Do you know if it's a girl or a boy yet?"
"Twin boys." said Jessie, with her hand on her tummy.
"Twin boys? They will be soooo cute! But quite a handful." she said and winked. "I've been teaching our 2 year olds class for about 5 years now."
James looked at her with interested eyes. "So...do you...like children?"
Sunny's face lit up. "Yes! They are so cute and it's so rewarding teaching them! By the way, if you ever need a babysitter after the twins are born ask me anytime! Pop-pop is a great friend of ours and we want to help him out in any way we can!"
"Thank you, you're very kind." said James.
"Oh dear! Look at the time! We have to get ready for lunch!" The other teachers started to call the kids back into their lines.
"If it's all right with you, would you like to join us for lunch?" asked Sunny. "Our headmaster's wife makes the lunch herself, and she always makes sooo much extra!"
Pop-pop looked at Nanny, Jessie and James and they nodded. Pop-pop smiled. "Well, if you insist. I brought some treats for the pokemon, maybe the kids could help feed them." The kids cheered loudly, and the adults handed out the pokemon food and the kids eagerly hand-fed the pokemon.
"Ok, now let's wash our hands and get ready for our lunch!" yelled Sunny cheerfully, and led the children to the sinks. The other teachers lined their classes up to wait their turn.
Nanny went in the 3-4 year old class and Pop-pop went in the 4-5 year old class, and Jessie and James went in the 2 year old class with Sunny.
Their lunch that day was spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce, a small salad, and apple slices for dessert. The two year olds had tiny portions on tiny plates with tiny forks, and sat 4 to a table with an adult in the middle. There were 12 kids total in the class, so Jessie, James, and Sunny each had a table. Generally, the kids liked the food and ate well albeit messily. Sunny expertly ate with a fork in one hand and a towel in the other, catching food when it dropped and pulling the kids closer to the table when they started to lean back on their chairs. Jessie and James, however, were not quite as vigilant.
"You put too much in your mouth!"
"Oh no! It fell on the floor!"
"Can I have a towel? This little one spilled her tea..."
Jessie put some salad on a fork for a little boy who had finished his spaghetti at record speed. She put it to his mouth.
"Say ahh"! She sang sweetly.
"No!" shouted the boy, turning his head away.
"Why you little-what's wrong with this food? Nothing! So eat it!" she fumed, pushing the fork towards his mouth again. James and Sunny sweatdropped, and Sunny gently intervened.
"Jessie, children this young are still hesitant to try new foods. Here, we try to encourage by example. If he sees everyone else eat, he may want to try it. If he refuses to try it, he will not have dessert. That's the rule and all the children know that."
Jessie humphed. James rolled his eyes and then gently lifted a child's head who was licking his plate, "You're not a pokemon." he chided.
Sunny smiled. "You're good with children, James."
"Not hard when they're the same age mentally" shrugged Jessie.
"Takes one to know one" muttered James
The vein on Jessie's forehead popped out. "What did you say?"
"That you'll traumatize the children, so..settle down..?" said James weakly.
Jessie looked at the children, and sighed.
"I am in so much trouble later." explained James to the little boy sitting next to him.
After they finished eating, they played with the children. One of the little girls looked quizzically at Jessie's tummy, and asked, "Do you have a baby in your tummy?"
Jessie sweatdropped. "Is it that noticeable?"
James smiled and touched Jessie's tummy. "Two babies!"
The girl's eyes filled with wonder. "Two...at the same time?"
James smiled. "That's right! When two babies are in a mommy's tummy at the same time they're called twins."
"Wow!" the girl went and told her friend, and they giggled at smiled at Jessie.
After a few more minutes of playtime, they started to get ready to go home. They watched all of the kids run to their mommies or daddies...It felt strange...that they would start this lifestyle in just a few months...when just a few months before they were criminals.
They drove home.
"That was something, wasn't it? Cute little rascals always have so much fun with the pokemon." said Pop-pop
"Everyone was very friendly and kind." said James.
"Yea, that Sunny girl was a little too friendly for my tastes." mumbled Jessie.
Meowth snickered. "Uh-oh, watch out Jimmy boy!"
James rolled his eyes. "Please." he reached out and held Jessie's hand.
Pop-pop was in the driver's seat and Mime Jr. and Growlie were next to him. "You don't have anything to worry about with James there, Jess. He's as loyal as this Growlie here." Mime Jr imitated Pop-pop's tone and facial expression and Growlie smiled.
They drove home, put the pokemon back in the pokemon house, and spent the day relaxing, Nanny and Pop-pop watching some TV, and Jessie and James reading books, and James giving Jessie lots of reassuring hugs and cuddles until they fell asleep.