Hello :P It is Wednesday so I am back with another Christmas update. I said I wanted them this year to be pretty different so this one is about Jessie and Ash. I don't think I've written about them together before so I hope you enjoy this!

Ages:

Ash: 19

Jessie: 26

Disclaimer: I own only the story :3

I sighed happily to myself as I perched on the shoulder belonging to my raven haired best friend as he stuffed yet another Christmas cookie into his mouth and headed towards the door to check the situation out there. The holiday season was technically almost coming to a close seeing as it was the late evening of Christmas Day but that certainly didn't stop the holiday festivities and craziness going on in the Ketchum Household that Ash grew up in. The house was buzzing with noise and full of love as Ash put the key in the door to unlock it.

He turned to give me a happy beam and we nuzzled our cheeks together in delight. We always adored Christmas but the fact that Misty was pregnant with their twin babies and this was the last special holiday without little bundles of joy in their arms made them glow. We all couldn't simply wait for them to arrive. We were all in such good moods that day, hugging each other, laughing together, gift exchanging and eating. The whole house was aglow with love. Every single one of us was happy, young or old, loud or quiet. We were all beautifully happy. That was except for one person we didn't realise had snuck outside to sit on the front porch all by herself. I continued smiling as Ash as he went to open the door handle. He would find out soon.

Ash sighed happily to himself this time as he twisted the large door handle before swinging the door open. He stared straight ahead at the town he grew up in, all of the houses decorated for Christmas and all the trees and bushes decorated with light. He stuck his tongue out like an excited puppy and took a step out onto the porch and accidentally stepped on someone's hand, causing her to yelp.

"Hey, will you watch it?!" Jessie hissed in pain and snatched her gloveless hand back, beginning to rub it better as she furrowed her brow and looked up at Ash.

The raven haired male recoiled slightly at being yelled at and hopped back into the comfort of inside his doorway, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Oh man I'm sorry, I didn't see you there."

When Jessie just rolled her eyes and not in a playful way – more like how she used to back when she was in Team Rocket and we were all twerps, Ash pouted slightly. His mistake didn't fully change his mood but he looked like a lost little boy for a moment. He hated anyone being upset with him. He took a step breath before carefully bounding back out onto the porch and smiling cheekily at the magenta haired female, deciding to crack a joke.

"Or should I say 'Oh woman I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." He laughed heartily at his own joke while I rolled my eyes in the way Jessie had earlier. She let out a quiet sigh and rolled her eyes again but it was more playfully this time.

Ash beamed and thought all was forgotten when her expression changed to sad and thoughtful as she stared onto the Pallet path ahead, causing him to pout again. He was about to open his mouth and make a remark about how she should be delighted with his joke and company but I stopped him.

Jessie rarely ever had that expression on her face. She too looked like a little child. But not a clumsy and beaming one like Ash. She looked like a hurt and broken one. I furrowed my brow and dug my claws into Ash's shoulder. I wonder what had done this to her? I really hoped it wasn't a who.

When I got back out of my thoughts, I saw that Ash had stopped pouting at Jessie's quietness and was looking at me, studying my expression. I looked back at him with solemn eyes, trying to make my face give away as much as possible.

Surprisingly soon enough, Ash realised that Jessie may have been sad. He glanced back into the house where everyone was loud and having a good time. He put on a fake, cheery smile to try and warm up to her, deciding to sit down next to her.

As he sat down, she made sure to move her hand off the ground next to her so he wouldn't sit on it this time and it looked like she wanted to be alone but she didn't tell Ash to leave. I held onto his ear and gave her curious glances while Ash spoke.

"Everyone sure is having an amazing time in there, huh? I just love the holidays. So warm and full of love." He pretended to sigh to himself and rested his arms behind his head before giving her a sideways glance.

He pouted slightly when she just nodded her head and seemed to sigh even more sadly as her finger found a pile of slushy snow and her finger began circling in it. I am sad to say that neither of us twigged at that stage, even though I felt we should have.

Like a child or a puppy, Ash stopped pouting and put the beam back on his face and kept his arms behind his head as he spoke.

"I can't believe that this time next Christmas, we'll have our little boy and our little girl with us. I'm so lucky. I have my Mist and my babies and my friends and my Pokémon." He beamed, pausing to give me a nuzzle against my cheek again and I did my best not to fizz him with love. After doing that, Ash beamed at Jessie as he continued. "And I have my mom too."

Jessie winced upon hearing this and Ash didn't notice but I did. My heart rate picked up with sadness for her as I guessed what possibly could be wrong but I was too worried to do anything. I didn't know what to do. I felt like nothing I could have said would have helped her.

The magenta haired female breathed out shakily and moved away from Ash on the porch, her hand now stuck firmly in the pile of mushy snow, not wincing or caring about how cold it must have been.

Ash blinked his big round orbs upon hearing this but he didn't look offended. He was worried too. I was proud of him when he reflected on the words he said, figuring they might have been what caused Jessie to move away. He had mentioned love and she didn't say anything. He had mentioned family and she moved away from him. What did this mean?

My raven haired best friend hesitated before moving closer to her again, lightly poking her hand for attention before pulling away quickly again. He furrowed his brow at her, giving her a look of concern.

"Something's wrong, isn't it? What happened? Did you fight with James, is that it? Should I give him a telling off and get him back out here?" he asked before standing up even more getting an answer, rubbing his hands together and turning his heel to head inside. There was a slight glint in his eyes and I rolled my own, half in fondness, half in disapproval. After James always telling him off for certain things and how Ash should treat his "munchkin", my best friend was delighted at the opportunity to tell James off.

Jessie stopped looking as sad as she glanced back at Ash and she couldn't help but smirk slightly as she grabbed hold of his sleeve. I could tell Ash was delighted when she pulled him back down to join him, even though she was very strong and could definitely tug him over.

When the raven haired late teenager was sat back down and he had pulled his legs to his chest, Jessie just shook her head, looking back at the road in front of her.

"It's not James. Don't say anything; I don't want to worry him. He's done everything to make today special for everyone and especially me and our children. He should be happy right now."

Ash smiled slightly upon hearing this but only for a minute as the strong ex-rocketeer was subtly mentioning that both she and her husband might have something to worry about. He moved ever so slightly closer to her on the porch before going back to reflecting on the words he said and she said. Suddenly he gave her the softest smile I had ever seen and looked at her with the gentlest eyes.

"Are you pregnant, Jessie, is that it?" Ash asked seriously while I spluttered to myself inwardly but almost fell off his shoulder.

The magenta haired female's mouth hung open before she flushed slightly, gritting her teeth and wrapping her arm around her stomach. When Ash's eyes saw where her arm went and believed he was correct even more, Jessie shook her head and gave him a shove.

Ash wasn't expecting it and Jessie forgot how strong she was. He let out a whine as he fell off the porch and into the melting snow below. He rubbed his head and looked at her now with not gentle eyes but betrayed ones.

Jessie was quick to roll her eyes and sigh but she got off the porch to help him back up off the floor. She was clearly annoyed by what he said but it was Christmas and she decided to let it go. Soon Ash was settled back next to her and he was sniffing for attention.

She rolled her eyes once again, hesitating before picking bits of melting snow out of his hair. He wasn't really expecting the slight mothering from her and whined even more for even more attention.

Jessie raised an eyebrow, shoving his shoulder lightly this time as she spoke to him.

"Just a bit of advice, kid; you can't ask a woman if she's pregnant, just like you can't ask if it's her time of the month." She rolled her eyes once again as he giggled slightly before she shoved him, looking at him firmly and seriously. "Got it?"

Ash stood up straighter upon hearing this and soon nodded, allowing her to move her hand away so he could pluck the remaining now water droplets out of his hair. The two remained in silence for a few minutes, with Ash swinging his legs off the porch. He glanced at her sideways but she didn't look at him back. He pouted. Needless to say, it was him to break the silence.

He reached out to gently poke her hand once again but didn't tug it away so quickly this time. He looked at her earnestly, brushing the hair out of his eyes.

"What's wrong, Jessie?"

I watched as the magenta haired female swallowed a slight lump in her throat and just shook her head. She wasn't used to such kindness in her whole life except for when she met James. Now she was surrounded by it. She never really liked to give too much away. But this time and to Ash, she finally opened up.

She breathed out sadly and her hand went back to the pile of snow, picking it up into her hand and stroking it like it was a purring cat. She swallowed once again before making brief eye contact with Ash and then looking away again. She had his full and curiously innocent attention.

"The snow is melting away. The snow is melting and that makes me sad."

I breathed out quietly as I began to feel like my previous assumptions about the reason she was sad was correct. Ash blinked upon hearing this, seeming to not get it just yet. He pulled a face and shrugged, resting his arms behind his head.

"Christmas isn't about the weather, Jessie." He began, glancing at her sideways with his arms still behind his head. "Snow comes, snow melts. That's the way it is. We'll probably get some more next year. We may even yet more soon-"

"Ugh, you just don't get it…" Jessie gritted her teeth slightly, looking away when her blue orbs pricked with tears before she wiped them fiercely.

Ash shut his own eyes briefly before opening them again, sighing out quietly and shocking me with his words. He swallowed his own lump in his throat before speaking.

"I know, Jessie, I know." He muttered simply, looking at her sideways and resting his hand on the porch next to hers. "I know why you're sad, I know. But I don't think anything I can say will be able to make you feel better so I might as well do this."

And with that, Ash got up and headed inside without me, leaving both Jessie and myself blinking on the porch. Jessie saw me looking at her with sad eyes and quickly looked away, going back to staring down at the melting snow below her. She sighed shakily, not bothering to wipe them when fresh tears formed.

I was about to climb onto her lap or something to comfort her when to our surprise, Ash came back. He was looking with an expression I hadn't quite seen before and he was holding a box in his hand.

Now that Ash was back, Jessie quickly wiped her eyes. She stood up and blinked at him, running a hand through her long locks. She didn't have time to ask any questions when Ash spoke, going on slight tip toes as he held the box to try and seem as tall as her.

"I got this for you but I didn't give it to you earlier, I don't know why. I guess I thought it was kind of dumb. But now I think you might appreciate it."

And with that, he handed over to her the red box. Jessie held onto it in her hands for a few moments, raising an eyebrow at Ash and giving him a slight playful look.

"So you decided to just let me think all day that you couldn't be bothered to get me anything? Because my husband almost beat your ass for me, for that."

Ash breathed out and just smiled earnestly at her, giving her a nod of his head.

"Just open it, Jessie. There is a lot I want to say about how I used to miss my dad at Christmas and everything reminded me of him and not just the obvious things but that wouldn't help. I think it might make us both sad. So just let this do the talking. I hope it's okay."

Jessie blinked her blue orbs at Ash's mature speech before nodding her head, carefully opening the box. She allowed Ash to hold the lid and the excess tissue paper she pulled away before revealing what was inside. Soon enough he was holding all of the packaging except the present. She held the glass locket out in front of her face, breathing out. I could tell she was confused but she had also now been taught not to question what she had been given.

"It's beautiful." She stated simply, holding onto the chain and holding the glass against her hand to get a proper look at it. "It's unique. A glass locket."

Ash continued smiling and just dumped the packaging in the doorway to clear up later before moving closer to her. Carefully with his finger, he pointed.

"Can you see that? That is a snowflake collected from where you lost your mother. That way, a part of her will always be hanging around your neck and close to her heart."

I breathed out at the sentiment as a lump filled my throat while Jessie gasped quietly, clutching onto it. This time she didn't hide her tears from the younger male.

Ash decided not to worry if his present made her even sadder and continued smiling at her, stroking the glass slightly.

"I was concerned it might be a bit of a bummer and that's why I didn't want to give it to you. But now I realise it kinda represents life. Things can be happy and sad all at once. Things can be a loss and a gain all at once. As long as you look for the good in the bad, you'll be okay."

I smiled proudly and nodded my head at Ash's words while Jessie just nodded shakily, putting on the necklace all by herself and clasped her hand around the snowflake inside. She didn't say it with words but she way she nodded and the way she looked with her eyes said it all.

Ash nodded his head back and accepted her gratitude, wrapping his arms around himself, the cold beginning to get to him. They didn't say anything to each other just yet. I knew Jessie was deeply touched by the ex-twerps thoughtfulness and Ash was proud that he could surprise her with a kind gift.

After a while and as ever, it was Ash who broke the silence. He kept his arms casually behind his head but he smiled genuinely at her.

"You know I kind of think of you like a big sister, right?" he told her before his hands moved away from his head and went to my cheek as I jumped back on his shoulder. "You're strong and you sometimes give me good advice and you're always there. I think that's what a big sister would be like and you're like that."

Once again, Jessie didn't say she was touched by his words but she was. She continued holding onto the locket with one hand and ran her fingers through her hair with the other. She tilted her head on one side, thinking for a moment before nodding, smirking slightly.

"Well, I must admit I've never really thought about it but now I have and I guess you are kind of like my little brother." She continued smirking and sat back down on the porch, still wanting to be near the snow even if she now had her locket.

Ash beamed upon hearing this, moving closer to the doorway to soon head back inside. He tilted his head back at her, smiling.

"Really?" he asked in an innocent way, his eyes and cheeks shining as he smiled.

Jessie just nodded her head and continued smirking, stretching her legs before swinging them off the porch like he would.

"Well yeah. You're little and you're annoying and you're hyper and you always want to be doing what I and everyone are doing. Not that I really know personally but I think that fits you pretty well."

Ash laughed upon hearing this and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. It was a weird thing to be flattered about but he was. After blushing slightly with happiness, he rested his head against the wall of his house.

"I always knew you loved me really."

After Jessie just let out an "mm" noise and Ash sighed happily and continued leaning against the house, the two of them found themselves in silence once again. Ash let out a second sigh, getting ready to head back inside. Jessie then shocked him by what she said next. I knew he took it as her admitting she does care about him.

"Merry Christmas, Ash."

Ash tried his best to hide his shock but couldn't, causing her to roll his eyes jokingly at him. Soon enough he let out a sheepish laugh before putting one foot inside. He turned back to her and nodded his head; looking at her with sincerity and gratitude that he had such good people in his life this Christmas. Things had certainly changed from when he was a little boy and he couldn't be more grateful about it.

"Merry Christmas, Jessie."

The End.

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 I look forward to writing more about Jessie's relationship with other people and especially the boys who are her "son in laws". That's one of my goals for FanFiction in 2017. I like to imagine she's pretty close to Gary seeing as they both lost parents young and find it hard to open up sometimes. I have one written about them but I'm not sure about it yet. We'll see :P Thanks again and I will be back next week with another Christmas fic so see you then!

AmyBieberKetchum signing out :3