"Are you okay?" asked Maria Jessie shook her head. "He's had much worse, believe me."
Maria smiled. She looked at the house. "Jessie says this was built in record time."
James blushed. "The pokemon helped, and I did as much as I could as well. I guess building massive mecha and vehicles was good practice."
"All very good things to know how to do. However, I think you are still in for a lot of new challenges that you just can't practice for."
James sighed nervously and they all went into the house.
James woke up. They were sleeping in their new bedroom, in their new house. Maria was staying in the guest room. It was still dark. James went into the kitchen and had a glass of water. He turned on a small lamp and picked up one of the pamphlets. He read over the various materials for a while, still trying to digest all the information. But mostly trying to digest the information that there would be two small humans whom he had never met joining them in this house very soon. He went outside and saw the sky was turning light. Maria was already outside with her yoga mat, sitting down and drinking water while watching for the sunrise. She saw James and motioned for him to sit with her. He took two oranges from a nearby tree, and gave one to her as he sat down. "Thank you."
The sun started to rise, glowing a brilliant reddish color. They both sat in calm silence. Maria spoke.
"You know...you actually remind me a little bit of Jessie's mother. Maybe that's why she finds such comfort in you. You have the same..." she paused. "Aura."
James looked at her intensely. Maria was probably the wisest, most intuitive person he had ever met. She could figure out anything. And also be trusted with anything. "Maria...I...know her family."
"What?" Maria looked as if her heart had stopped beating.
"The reason I asked you all those things the other day...It was because I needed the final piece to the puzzle. And now I'm positive. Jessie...is my ex-fiance's cousin."
"Ex...fiance?"
Tears started to come out of James's eyes.
"Her name is Jessiebelle, and it was an arranged marriage. Arranged by my parents. Truth be told, at one point I liked her, but she insulted my Growlie and I couldn't take it, so I refused to marry her! My parents only care about marrying into other rich, powerful families and continuing the family line, honoring our name, and all that. They wanted me to grow up to be "proper" so they had Jessiebelle "train" me as well...with a whip. And a torture chamber. My parents, her parents, everyone completely thought this was OK. They are completely out of their minds."
Maria put one hand up to try and get James to take a break. "How do you know they are related?" "First of all, everyone says they look alike. Like twins. I can't see it, because when I look at Jessie, I see my best friend, and when I look at Jessiebelle, I just see...torture. But maybe, they have the same color hair, same color eyes, their face shape, body shape, everything is similar...I guess. But anyway, I found out the last time I went to see my parents. My mother always warned me about Jessiebelle's aunt, not to turn out like her. She ran away from home and joined Team Rocket, and they killed her. It was a scare tactic since I was a little boy...and finally my mother told me the whole story. Her name was Michelle, and what you told me about her, it all fits. Michelle was the missing aunt. Which means Jessie is Jessiebelle's cousin."
Maria had one hand over her mouth in shock as she listened to the story. When James had stopped, she slowly lowered her hand down to her lap, and gave him a small smile. "James...this is wonderful news."
James looked at her in utter confusion. "Wonderful?...Don't you mean the worst news I've ever recieved in my life?"
Maria gazed at the house. "A chance to reconnect, to know her family, her origins. This will be so great for Jessie."
James shook his head. "Absolutely not the case. Jessie is better off not knowing she is related to them. I'm sure she would rather have no family than have that bunch of lunatics." Maria looked at him, a little disappointed. "I understand...I won't say anything."
The door to the house flew open. Jessie stood in the doorway, holding a towel between her legs and looking concerned. "I think my water just broke."