Hello :P It is not Wednesday but I am back to upload this chapter. I had a really busy beginning of the week with my family so I didn't have time to upload this. But I'm here now and it's my most recently written chapter as well - I normally have a bit of a delay between writing and actually uploading. I've recently been thinking to myself how my stories tend to be quite sad or at least thought provoking so I wanted to write a more lighthearted one. I've also noticed that I've been writing longer chapters and set myself a challenge to make this 3500 words or less. It ended up at just over 4000 words and I was happy with that. So I hope you enjoy this lighter chapter! It reminds me of something I would've written a year or two ago :3

Ages:

James K: 4

Rey: 4 Months Old

Disclaimer: I own the story and the Ketchum offspring :P

I shivered inside with love, the corners of my lips quirking into a fond smile as I sat opposite the chestnut haired little boy at the child sized table. His green eyes were filled with such pure innocence back that I couldn't stop myself from smiling at him. Of course I didn't have a favourite of the Ketchum children but little James definitely held a special place in my heart. I could tell that Misty was watching us interact. I could feel her loving glow.

All of a sudden, little James smiled all the more and reached under the desk for something, or rather, lots of things. Suddenly, he produced all of his favourite toys, an even bigger innocent grin taking over his face. He shoved them all in front of my face.

"Which is your favourite, Pikachu?" he asked me in his child-like voice and I couldn't help but smirk innocently to myself, thinking inside that I was only just contemplating that I didn't have a favourite of the Ketchum children, but he and I definitely had a close bond. He continued, pushing all of the toys closer for me to see. "Tell me which one it is. Mine is this one!"

The little boy announced and pulled eight of the plush toys backwards and closer to him, pushing one particular one forward. I moved a fraction backwards to get a better view. He had pushed it far too close to my eyes to see properly. I squinted my eyes and studied it. I tilted my head on one side. It was cute. James' choice of his favourite toy was cute.

It was a bear and he was yellow. He had had him for so many years that he had a worn down face from all the kisses but that didn't matter. He still had his charm. He was very charming. And he was yellow. I couldn't help but feel slightly flattered. I couldn't help but feel slightly hopeful. I secretly wondered whether he was drawn to the yellow and red theme of the honey bear because of me.

James could tell that I was studying him hard and he was grateful. After giving him an approving smile that, yes, his choice of his favourite plush was a fine one, he kindly moved the toys all back together so I could sit back and choose my own favourite. I looked at the faces of them all.

The striped tiger looking creature had a mischievous and energetic look on his face that somehow reminded me of Jordan. That was a potential favourite already. I moved on to look at the shy souled little Piglet. Its contrasting pink colours of its face and body were sweet but I wasn't drawn to it as much as I was the first.

I looked even further. The blue donkey creature was very charming in his own way, even though he looked more worn out than the bear and his head was looking down at the desk. He wasn't looking at me. James was, waiting for me to pick. But thankfully, he was a very patient lad. He let me take my time and picked the honey bear back into his arms to cuddle in the meantime.

My eyes remained looking between all the plush creatures. I then felt a strange connection with the kangaroo mother with her little baby in its pouch. I didn't know if it had no meaning or it was because a new life had recently come into the Ketchum family. I didn't know. But I felt an attraction towards it. I thought she seemed very noble, as if she wouldn't have hesitated to rock her little baby in her pouch by using her kangaroo feet like a rocking chair.

So far, that one was definitely my favourite. But I still gave the remaining others a chance too. I liked the owl very much. Of course, he was wise and because he was one of the newest members of the group, his plush feathers looked very soft. I liked that. But I didn't like him as much as the kangaroo. I didn't like the rabbit more than them either. So that was that. I had decided my favourite. I had decided the one that I was drawn to the most.

I was about to pull my favourite plush forward on the table to take for myself when I looked up at little James and met his eyes. They were so soft and deep and green. They were innocent and they were kind. They melted my heart away. Along with his beautifully sweet eyes, he was showing off a gentle and warm smile too. I shook my head at myself. In that moment, there was no doubt over who was my favourite.

I suddenly lunged across the table at him and jumped into his arms, nuzzling my nose against his multiple times. I gave him lots of kisses and told him in my own way. You're my favourite, little James. You're my absolute favourite.

The chestnut haired little boy understood right away. His sweet, chubby little cheeks turned rosy pink and he shut his eyes with delight, holding onto me equally as tightly back and nudging his nose against mine lovingly. He shivered with delight.

"You're my favourite of all, Pikachu! Of course you are!" he told me earnestly and with that, he cast his honey bear to the side and gave me an even bigger bear hug. I breathed out against his chest that I was then cuddling into. Wow, he really did love me so much. And I really did love him.

I knew that Misty had been watching our little interaction as she sat down on the sofa and I was proven right even further when she came over to us, pushing her bangs from her eyes. She gave us a small smile.

"You guys really are the cutest." She told us both and this caused James' eyes to flutter open and he looked hopefully up at his mother. Seeing her son's look for approval, she didn't hesitate to give him more of a smile but still, there was something about that smile that put a lump in my throat.

I looked at her gently. I understood. Her smile was genuine and brave but it was sad too. In fact, it was almost empty. I really understood. It had only been a few months since she had been in the hospital and unconscious with Rey after Ash had run away with an episode of his darkness. Though it was very much behind us, it was still rather fresh and it would be a long healing process. But we would get there, I knew it. All of us together, we would be okay again. I knew it.

Little James was just as much of a sensitive lad as he was funny, charming and kind. The more he looked at his mother, the more he sensed that something was wrong with her. He automatically let go of me and moved around to her side right as she went down onto her knees to ask something of him. She held onto both of his hands and despite her shakiness, she already instilled some confidence into him.

"You're such a helpful boy and an amazing big brother so would it be okay if you kept an eye on Rey for me for ten minutes at the most while I have a lie down in my room?" she asked the little boy and even she couldn't help but show off a more genuine smile when he nodded his head right away before backing away slightly, his head ducking with shyness. He couldn't quite believe it. His mother trusted him with a very special job. He wanted to do it for her. But he also wanted to know that he could do it. He wanted her to feel that he could do it. And Misty felt this. So she told him. She softly reached out to stroke his cheek before cupping his chin lightly. "You can do it, sweetheart. Nothing would make me happier and nothing would make Rey happier either."

I smiled to myself, then being the one sitting back and listening to their interaction. I understood that Misty was probably feeling a bit overwhelmed since Ash had gone back to work and taken Jessika with him for the day, leaving her in charge of James and Rey. She needed a little bit of time out. I understood.

After James proudly nodded his head at his mother and kissed her cheek, he didn't hesitate to dart over to Rey's side protectively. He nodded down at her too, telling her that he was in charge of her for a while. She seemed to nod her head back at him and gurgle up at him.

As Misty nodded her head as well and left the room carefully and quietly with a slight sigh to herself, I wondered whether I should have gone with her. I thought about it, I really did. But I stopped myself. I expected that she wanted a moment to herself to gather her thoughts. And I knew that if she wanted me, then she would call for me. I nodded my head. I had made a decision. I would stay and watch over little James watching over little Rey. And what a brilliant decision it was!

The chestnut haired little boy somewhat clumsily but carefully got down onto his knees in front of the baby seat that the four month old was chilling in and he sat in front of her face, taking hold of her chubby hand. He smiled shyly at her.

"Hi." He began simply and right away, this got her attention. Her thick dark chestnut locks moved against the back of the seat as her head turned to look at her big brother and her blue orbs soon enough locked onto his. He continued, humming sheepishly to himself. "I've come to ent-tain you. Would you like to see my toys?"

James seemed very pleased with himself at his use of a long word and he was even more proud after little Rey seemed to nod at him. He put his hand on his bare knee to help himself up and he ran back over to his play table, trying to pick up all seven of his toys in his arms. Somehow he managed and he came running back over to his little sister. Of course, at first, he dropped six of them to the floor and just held onto his honey bear, waving it in front of her face.

"Do you like him?" he asked in an innocent and child-like voice that carried my heart away. He really was as sweet as the honey that his little bear liked so much. He made his feet dance in front of his sister's eyes like he had seen his Uncle James and Granddad Jordan do with him. He grinned shyly. "I like him a lot. He's my favourite."

James told her this and he hoped that she felt the same way but he noticed that her little hands didn't reach out for him. He didn't take offence. He carefully put his red and yellow bear back on the floor and started picking each of the plush toys up again, one by one, so little Rey could see them.

She gurgled again at the owl. She wrinkled her nose at the tiger. Her finger twitched ever so slightly at the kangaroo. Her hand unclasped at the rabbit. Her hand bawled into a fist at the donkey. All of a sudden, something happened that was most unlike her.

Her expression changed and it changed into a frown. The normally happy and sunny little girl's expression matched almost that of the donkeys.

She wrinkled her nose in a grumpy way and she continued frowning. She almost folded her arms over her chest. She gurgled, getting ready to cry. And James knew this. He moved back onto his knees and waved his arms in front of her, trying to prevent her from getting too upset. He looked very worried indeed.

"Oh no, please don't be sad." The little boy told her and upon saying his own words, the sensitive little lad's eyes seemed to fill with tears. As his little sister let out a quiet groan, he sniffed them back. He swallowed, unsure what to do. His mother had entrusted him with such a wonderful job and he wanted to do it right for her. He wanted to keep his little sister entertained. He carefully reached out to stroke her cheek but he did it gingerly, not wanting to make her look grumpier. Sadly, it had this effect on her. "Would you like to see all my toys again?"

It seemed to me and it seemed to Rey that little James had only one trick up his sleeve and it just wouldn't do. The dark chestnut haired baby girl seemed to shake her head upon hearing his words and her mouth turned into an 'o' shape as she got ready to begin wailing. Before that could happen, the chestnut haired little boy quickly put her own finger in her mouth to suck on while he turned to look at me with desperate eyes. He sniffed once again.

"Help me, Pikachu." He asked me, all of his innocence somehow fading away and there in front of me wasn't a little boy. He was simply a boy. He was a boy who wanted to do his mother proud and wanted to make his little sister happy. He knew people in the group hadn't really been all that happy recently. He felt it. He knew it. So he wanted to help out. He didn't want to be a let-down. He looked at me with even bigger eyes, desperate for assistance. "Tell me what to do?"

His eyes moved me. His expression moved me. But instead of getting too emotional over what he and the other Ketchum children had been through, I swallowed all of that away. I made sure my eyes were dry. I looked between little Rey and he and then I smiled at him. I nodded my head encouragingly at him. I told him.

Just be yourself, James. Just be yourself.

James' eyes dried up from the tears threatening to fall right away when he blinked and even though we didn't speak the same language, the body language and eye contact made him understand what I was trying to tell him.

He looked away, thinking to himself and holding onto the fist of his honey bear for comfort while Rey was distracted briefly with her own fingers.

"Be myself…?" he mumbled to himself, all sorts of imagery and ideas flashing through his young mind as he tried to make sense of my words and figure out what they meant to him. He mumbled it once more for good measure. "Be myself…"

And then, all of a sudden, he understood. At the same time that Rey dropped her fingers from her mouth and innocently hiccupped, James got an idea. He understood what was being asked of him. He stood up right away. He shook his head somewhat shyly but he was determined. He knew what he had to do. He would do anything for his family. He would do anything for his little sister. So he was going to do it. James was going to do it.

"Wait right here." He suddenly told me as he darted off to his own bedroom, nodding his head at me to sit with Rey for a few minutes. He called back over his shoulder, his soft face creasing with determination. His Ketchum blood was pumping through him. He was prepared to do anything. "I'm only doing this cos I love my sister so much."

He told me and with that, he rushed into his room and he slammed the door behind him. I jumped slightly but it wasn't a fearful jump and neither was Rey's. After we were left alone together, both our heads turned and both our eyes met.

Like we often did since the day she was born and like we were somehow able to do, we somehow spoke to each other with our eyes. We spoke with our minds. We conversed. We spoke about how brave and selfless little James was. We spoke about how Misty deserved some rest and some alone time. We spoke about how, despite the everyday ups and downs, we felt like things were moving forward and hoped they continued to do so.

Rey seemed relaxed in her little baby seat but as we spoke, her expression was still somewhat grumpy. But not for long. Not for very long at all!

All of a sudden, the room of the chestnut haired little boy's door swung open. Both our heads turned to look at it. We couldn't see him right away. It seemed to us like he was hiding behind the door and waiting to make the right entrance. And when he finally decided to make that entrance, what an entrance it was!

I heard him suck in his breath for courage and then all of a sudden, his feet went pattering across the living room floor from his bedroom. He twirled along the floor. He spun around. He came twirling in front of Rey's seat and sat down with her, lifting his skirts up as he sat down so he wouldn't crease them. He was wearing one of his favourite princess dresses for her along with clip on earrings and shoes. He was so pretty. He was so wonderful.

Little James was slightly worried over what we were going to think. He had dressed up like that many times during play time but that was simply play time. Misty had asked him to be serious and grown up. I had asked him to be himself. And this was what he had come up with. He was slightly worried. He was slightly sheepish. He was slightly shy. But he didn't have to be. We both thought it was spectacular.

Right away, I moved over to his side and nuzzled my cheek against his dress, enjoying how the sparkly material felt against my cheek. But for once, James didn't look down at me and he didn't give me some affection back. He was too busy looking at Rey, waiting for her reaction. She reacted slowly at first and then all of a sudden, it happened all at once.

At first, she just stared at her brother, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging gently open. Her fingers were still slightly wet from being in her own mouth. Though she didn't look grumpy anymore at that point, she didn't look happy either. She didn't really look anything. She didn't look shocked. She didn't act shocked. She was just sat there and taking her brother in.

This made James even shyer. He twiddled with his fingers lightly and felt the need to take off his clip on earrings but he didn't. He pushed through the feelings of uncertainty. He tilted his head at his little sister and he told her. He told her softly.

"This is for you." He told her in a quiet and an innocent voice and this was what it took for Rey to burst into joy. She showed off a joyous smile and though her eyes shut tightly together with happiness, they somehow seemed to speak. They somehow seemed to say something very precious indeed.

No, James, this is for you. You wanted to do this and I helped you have the courage to do it. But it was down to you mostly. So well done. Well done you.

The chestnut haired little boy brightened up upon sensing the joy on his baby sister's face and this was the encouragement and reassurance that he needed. He didn't hesitate to get up off the ground and take a step back and do a fairy-like dance just for her. Rey giggled. Rey enjoyed it. It was very good. It was very graceful. It was very sweet. It was very James.

For the first time that day, I took a proper step back to reflect. I couldn't help but shake my head, my eyes full of wonder. Rey was a special young lady. She really was so special. But she was sneaky and mysterious too. And in that moment, I had no doubt that she was only pretending to be grumpy to get her big brother to show her a real side of him. It was sneaky. It was naughty. But it went well. It had paid off.

And there was no doubt that it had paid off from the way that little James continued twirling and dancing and being silly for his little sister and it was obvious that Rey enjoyed it just as much as he did from the way that she squeaked gleefully and kicked her little legs.

The chestnut haired little boy was seemingly so absorbed in it all. He was so absorbed in entertaining his little sister that I believed that he couldn't have possibly heard the living room door open when someone let themselves into it. But he did. James did. He froze in the middle of twirling. He stopped. His head turned. He was ready to be met with a gasp of surprise or a gasp of horror at his little 'girly' outfit. But he wasn't met with either of those things.

As Jordan let himself into his youngest daughter's house to check on her while her husband was at work, he was met with the sight of his youngest grandson twirling and in a dress. The little boy blushed and ducked his head right away but Jordan simply studied him. He watched. He blinked. But he just watched.

I knew that the yellow haired male was unlikely to react badly, after all, he himself still like to dress up like a sailor and play with James – and they were adults! But still, I prayed that he wouldn't ruin James' little moment. I moved to the little boy's side right away. I was protective but I was encouraging too. I encouraged him to be himself. And thankfully, Jordan was himself too. He was just as sweet and accepting as wonderful as his grandson was.

He didn't hesitate to enter the room properly and he grinned down at James, sitting down next to him almost as clumsily as the little boy would himself. Jordan then reached out and playfully poked the little boy's fake earring before grabbing all of his yellow locks in his own hand. He tilted his head at his shy grandson and he smiled earnestly at him.

"Do you have a hairband for all of this hair? I want to play too. I want to be just as pretty as you are." Jordan told him simply but earnestly but needless to say, it didn't just make James' day but it made his whole life too.

He viewed his Granddad Jordan as such a manly man; a big strong and manly man. But there he was, willing to be pretty too and play dress up as well. And he knew if Jordan was cool enough to do that, then he was too. I smiled. Little James didn't hesitate to rush and find a hairband for his grandfather's yellow locks and following that, they began playing together.

They twirled. They danced. They drank fake tea. They wrestled. They danced some more. They sung. I wanted to join in, but I didn't. It was their moment. It was their time. I just stayed sat with Rey and together we watched, sharing their joy from a distance. It was wonderful. They were together for a long, long time. They played together. They laughed together. They tickled one and other together.

They were in their own world. And because they were in their own world, they didn't notice that after only a few minutes into their play-time, Misty had come out of her room and was hovering in the door way, watching them.

I smiled at her and Rey did too. She waved her little chubby fist at her. Misty had disappeared into her bedroom for a little rest and to recharge but when she came out of her bedroom, she felt even more replenished. She held a hand to her heart, finding it hard to stop the tears from forming in her eyes. She shook her head at herself. She couldn't believe it. She watched her son. And she watched her father. She knew that she was the luckiest woman in the world.

When her Dad couldn't be around and couldn't be there for her, she had James. She had little James with his green eyes and his Jordan-like soul. No matter where her father was, she always had a little piece of him with her in James and she would keep him close always. And then in that moment, she didn't only just have her little piece of her Dad, but she had her Dad as well. She had them both, right there and right by her side. She was the luckiest person in the world. And she knew that if she had them both by her side and being the funny, charming, entertaining and warm males that they were, she could get through anything. Really, she could get through anything. As long as she had her green eyed boys by her side.

The End.

There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 Contrary to how the chapter title actually sounds, this story is about James Ketchum rather than James Morgan. I've wanted to write about Jordan and little James being alike for a while now and I'll definitely end up writing a lot more. Little James was very clear in my head for this chapter which was good. And you may have probably suspected but the toys that he keeps offering to Pikachu and Rey are based off the Winnie The Pooh characters. Shannon and I headcanon that he loves those films and books and bears :3 And as you can see, he loves dressing up like a princess as well! He's simply just a little boy playing and admiring his big sister Katie and having his little sister Jessika who is just a year younger than him. It's not meant to be a 'clue' to his gender identity/sexuality like some people might think. He's just being himself and playing and as you can see, Jordan doesn't have a problem with it! Thanks again for reading and I will be back next Wednesday so see you then :3

AmyBieberKetchum signing out!