Hello :P It is Wednesday and I am back with a new chapter. I'm having a bit of a Dark Shadows phase at the moment where I'm enjoying that movie and I remembered that I wrote this chapter inspired by that film. I believed that it wasn't too long ago but it turns out to be over a year! I thought that I wouldn't end up uploading it because I tend to prefer more recent ones but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I think it's still fitting. I know that it was definitely interest to see the point of view of Jessebelle! And I enjoyed the James and Lynne moments at the start. I hope you enjoy :3
Ages:
James: 39
Lynne: 30
Jorgie: 10 Months Old
Jessebelle: 39
Disclaimer: I own the story and the OCs mentioned!
I couldn't help but smile and note to myself that, as the lavender haired male, Lynne and I wandered through the park together with their little baby, I wasn't the most content one. I listened to the sounds of the bird Pokémon up above my head and the trickle of the water fountain just up ahead and felt very at peace in myself. But still, I wasn't the happiest one. Little Jorgie was, and she was most serene kicking her legs while her father carried her in a sling strapped to his chest. She seemed so happy. She seemed so relax. She seemed so secure. In fact, to tell you all the truth, as I looked at her I rather wished that I was in one of those contraptions myself!
James of course smiled fondly down at his ginger haired little bundle of joy as he continued walking through the park with Lynne holding onto his hand. He reached down just a fraction and gently nuzzled his chin against the top of her head, taking hold of her fingers with his spare hand to get her attention.
"Little Cherub, can you see the Water Pokémon over there?" he asked her in a soft and fatherly voice and his words caused Lynne to look over at the water fountain as well, even though James wasn't addressing her. I remained on her shoulder and nudged my cheek against her hair. He continued, giving Jorgie a little bounce of encouragement. "Can you say 'Psyduck?', Jorgie? Can you say 'Duckie?'"
I paused and listened. Lynne did too. Meanwhile, the little girl simply looked up at her father and tilted her head, blinking her big, green orbs at him and her eyelashes fluttering as she did so. The lavender haired male held his breath and looked down at her hopefully. He was so hoping that she was going to say yet another word.
He listened. He waited. Jorgie decided to tease her father. She gave him a long silence to enhance his anticipation and then she just giggled to herself after blowing a bubble, her little hands twiddling in her sling.
Lynne didn't hesitate to bite her lip lovingly upon hearing her little girl's giggles and she soon joined in her laughter with her, pausing from walking for just a second to stroke her cheek. Jorgie stopped looking at her father and looked at her mother almost proudly. James just let out a weary sigh and pretended to rub his forehead but he soon couldn't help but soften at being in the company of his two girls.
The orange haired woman stopped stroking her youngest daughter's cheek after a few seconds and moved to nudge James instead, taking hold of his hand back in hers once again. She rested her chin on his shoulder and spoke to him, pushing his hair away from his neck so she could see him very clearly. She scrunched her nose up.
"She is a tease, is our little one." She told him in a humming tone, covering her mouth with her hand and laughing to herself quietly once again when Jorgie let out another prideful noise and made another bubble with her lips for good measure. She then hiccupped while her mother smirked between her and James. "She gave you a little taste of the talking thing and now she's going to be quiet for a few months, I reckon."
James would've normally smiled right away upon hearing this and agreed and given his little cherub a big cuddle too but this time, he didn't. He looked down at his daughter, noting her mischievous expression contrasting with her wide, innocent orbs. She had been teasing him the entire walk by getting his hopes up of saying another word before laughing right in his face so he was going to make sure that he teased her back.
There would be no head rubs. There would be no chest nuzzling. There would be no tight hugs. Well, that was until either of them caved. And not very deep inside, Lynne and I both knew that it would probably be James to give in first! He adored giving his little baby his full affection.
The green orbed male stuck his tongue out playfully at Jorgie while she made noises to herself in her baby carrier and he continued holding onto her little twiddling hand while he stuck his nose in the air. He copied Lynne's humming tones that she showed off earlier.
"I'm going to get another word out of her, believe me." He told his girlfriend in a soft but confident way before letting go of her hand to hold both of his daughter's ones. The orange haired female frowned lightly at this but she soon got too distracted by wondering what he was about to do. She watched James take a few paces before purposely turning his daughter around in her carrier so she was chest to chest with him. He continued holding both of her hands and he smiled down at her, pressing lots of kisses to the top of her head and nuzzling his nose against her feathery, ginger locks. He hummed some more. "Say 'Dada' again, Jorgie. C'mon say 'Dada' again, Jorg."
You could see the little baby's cheeks turning rosy pink with delight at her father's soft affection and she looked up at him with all the love in the world. She held onto him. She smiled. But she didn't say a word. She refused to say a word. She wasn't going to give him every little thing that he wanted!
Lynne melted and completely got over no longer holding James' hand and happily stood back to watch him doting all over their daughter. He continued pressing kisses to her head and nuzzling her gently because he wanted her to say his name again but also because he adored giving her all the love in the world. After a few minutes when she still hadn't given him the reaction that he wanted, he tried another tactic.
He lifted her back out of her baby sling carrier once again and continued walking with her and Lynne, holding Jorgie out in front of his face and touching his nose softly against hers. Lynne held her hand over her heart even more upon seeing this.
"Jorgieeeee, say 'Dada'." He prompted her by speaking in more of a cheeky whisper tone that time and he purposely went cross eyed as she looked into orbs. She didn't hesitate to burst into sweet giggles but still, no words came out of her mouth. James didn't give up. "You know you want to. Say 'Dada' for me. If you can't do it for me, do it for your mommy too."
Upon hearing this, the orange haired little baby stopped giggling at her father and she glanced over at her mother from being in mid-air as if she really knew what he was saying. The orange haired woman from "up there" bit her lip and waved at their little daughter and after she stopped looking at her, James purposely moved her away from his face and tickled under her arms before bringing her back again and blowing a raspberry on her nose.
Once again, Jorgie burst into fits of giggles and her green orbs shut tightly shut with amusement as she enjoyed her father's antics. But still, she didn't give in. And she wasn't going to give in. She was going to say his name once again when the time was right. And in that moment, the time just wasn't right. So she remained silent.
Secretly on the inside, James was a stubborn man but that wasn't really a trait that people tarred him with seeing as it was in a gentle way rather than an obvious one. He did have a stubborn streak though and if he wanted something, he would try and try and try until he got it. But for once, he could see that it was all a waste of time.
He pretended to let out a sigh and after giving his daughter a kiss on the cheek (she gave him a smug smile in return), he put Jorgie back into her baby carrier the right way once again and left her be twiddling her hands and feet and looking at the Water Type Pokémon near the water fountain.
Lynne didn't hesitate to take James' hand back for herself after it was no longer occupied by their daughter's and she held it lovingly, resting her cheek on his shoulder and looking up at him as they walked. She smiled and wrinkled her nose at him.
"You're the most precious daddy to her in the world." She told him sincerely and reached to press a kiss to his cheek, leaving James feeling all the more soft and content. She then, like her daughter, couldn't help but tease him lightly. She shut her eyes and she hummed. "But she gets that stubborn streak from you. The more that you try with her, the more she will dig her heels in. If she wants something, she will get it. Then again, if you want something then you will get it. So who knows?"
The lavender haired male blushed and ducked his head shyly upon hearing the comparisons between him and his beloved daughter but because the little girl was distracted with all the aqua Pokémon, he couldn't help but smirk softly at Lynne. He tilted his head on one side and took a step away from her to tease her before reaching out and stroking her neck lightly. She was blushing already.
"And how is that a bad thing?" he asked her lowly, his spare hand absent-mindedly moving to unbutton another button of his white shirt in the August heat. Lynne noticed. James continued, his smirk becoming even more obvious and handsome to his girlfriend too. "It's not a bad thing. I wanted you. I wanted to fall in love. And here we are."
The orange haired woman was blushing and smirking to herself even more at the lavender haired male acting slightly confident for her benefit and she paused. She was slightly flustered but on top of that, she was wondering whether to tease him some more or flatter him back. She tilted her head on one side at him and closed the gap between them. Her hand reached out to touch his chest briefly.
"You can't stop yourself, can you? So charming." She told him and the shy and sweet side of James took back over again and it especially did so after Lynne leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. He ducked his head lovingly and continued stroking her neck gently. The orange haired female kept a slight gap between them after she pulled away from him and she tilted her head on one side once again. She thought to herself. She wanted to tease him. He was so adorable when he was being teased, she thought. And on top of being adorable, she knew that he was an honest man too. She couldn't help but be honest with him too.
Since their mild flirting, James had since become somewhat distracted with stroking Jorgie's hair when she cooed at the water Pokémon to herself but Lynne squeezed his hand to get his full attention once again. She stroked his cheek lightly as she spoke to him.
"I wanted you too. And I was lucky enough to get you." She told him earnestly and right away, this earned a carefree smile from James as he listened to her. His green orbs glinted with love as they didn't look away from her ocean blue ones. "Something has always been pulling me here. To this earth. To you. And now that we have each other – now that I get you be with you and share a daughter with you too – that pull is even stronger, I am surprised to say. It's getting stronger each day. And each day, I'm falling more in love with you. When I see you on your own and just being you and when I see you with Jorgie too. I feel myself being pulled towards you, James. And I'm so glad that you have got everything you've ever wanted. You wanted me. And you got me. I've never felt more safe. Right here – on his earth. And right here. With you."
Lynne finished her little truthful speech to James by not hesitating to tangle her hand in the back of his hair and crashing her lips to his. The lavender haired male was warmed by her words and moved by them too and then surprised by her kiss. But he didn't hesitate to give it to her back. Both of his hands cupped her face and he kissed her back, lovingly and passionately but tenderly too.
I watched them both – I tried not too – but I gave them little odd and flickering glances. I couldn't help it. I smiled. I was so happy for them. There were a lot of dilemmas and questions surrounding their love but in that moment, I didn't understand why. I didn't see why, either. They were just a normal couple. They were just a normal and in love couple. That's how they appeared to me. That's how they appeared to everyone in the park. That's how they were to each other. They were just ordinary. Even though one of them was from 'up there' and the other resided down here.
Despite that, there was nothing that could stop their love. There was nothing that could stop their kiss either. At least, that's what I thought. I was proved wrong.
Jorgie had since become bored with looking at the Pokémon and wanted her Daddy's attention all over again. And once she saw that his lips were attached to her mommy's, she was less than pleased. She let out a displeased noise and tried to grab hold of his open shirt surrounding his chest but her arms were too busy flapping. She pouted her lips and frowned at him but luckily for her, he didn't hesitate to pull away from Lynne.
The orange haired woman was left a little disappointed and slightly flustered too from their short, romantic moment but she soon got over it. She smoothed her hair down and let Jorgie and James have a moment too.
The lavender haired male pretended to sigh at his little girl and after she pouted even more at this, he didn't hesitate to lean in and smother her face with kisses. He leaned in to her chubby cheek while pushing his hair from his eyes. He was about to smother her in affection. But on a rare occasion, something stopped him. For perhaps the first time since she had been born, something distracted him. The familiar shape of someone sat on a bench in the park distracted him. A familiar hair distracted him. A familiar hair colour. He stopped. He stared. And his mouth hung open.
I noticed right away and followed his gaze. Jorgie noticed right away and started grizzling once again. Lynne noticed right away also but she just stared cluelessly. Her eyes then moved back onto her boyfriend. He looked… Strange…? He didn't look all that peculiar to anyone else but to her, he looked different. She had never seen him with that expression before. It was nothing she had seen before. She didn't know what he was staring at. She didn't know who he was staring at. I did. It was Jessebelle.
"Are you okay, Jim Dear?" Lynne asked as normally as she could and her hand went gently to his shoulder to try and snap him out of it but her voice was laced with a lot of worry. She became even more concern when her voice and her touch didn't get through to him for a good few seconds. "James? What is it?"
The second part of her words got through to him. He snapped out of it. He jumped. The truth was, he had heard the first part of her words as well but he was too surprised to zone himself back in and answer her. He only got that will and that energy after she had spoken to him twice. He swallowed and straightened his back up, trying to give her a convincing smile. He ran his hand through his long locks and finally answered her after he stroked Jorgie's cheek to soothe her mood and concern.
"I… I'm fine." He told her hurriedly but not entirely truthfully and Lynne sensed this. She continued looking at him with concerned eyes, almost shaking her head at him. James didn't hesitate to inform her, speaking even quicker that time. "The person over there, that's Jessebelle. That's my ex-fiancée. She looks kind of sad. I have to go see her."
And with that, James automatically tried to move away from Lynne and do exactly what he told her but the orange haired female stopped him. James frowned. Lynne hadn't even been trying to stop him; she was just gripping onto his shoulder and trying to process all of the words that she had hurriedly heard. But it worked. James stayed in one spot. She continued trying to processes it all. I did as well.
We both looked over to the bench that James had been staring at and studied the person properly. I swallowed and looked, almost unable to believe my eyes. It had been years. It had simply been years. From our distance, she hadn't really changed too much but still, I would've walked past her and not had a clue it was her. My stare soon turned to a swallow. I remembered the last time that we had seen her. I shuddered. I was still uneasy about that.
Even though Lynne hadn't seen her in person before in her life or had the history with her like some of the rest of our group did, she still reacted very sourly. After taking enough time to process what they were being confronted with and seeing her boyfriend's ex-fiancée sitting looking forlornly at a bench, she frowned over at James. She continued holding his shoulder. She shook her head at him and that time, it was for real.
"Who cares if she's sad, James?" Lynne asked him in a firm way and her tone and attitude surprised us both. I couldn't stop my mouth from hanging open. She was always so sweet and kind and open. I was highly surprised. But after blinking a few times, there was a part of me that understood. She had heard all about her. From James. From Jessie. From Nanny and Pop Pop. She had heard it all. Though she didn't have history with her, she felt like she did. She couldn't hide her protective attitude. I understood that as well. But James didn't. Lynne clarified, apologising for her initial rare, hurried words by stroking his cheek once again. "James… You don't have to feel obligated to go over there and see her. You don't-"
"But I want to." The lavender haired male said with such certainty that it surprised even himself. He gulped. Lynne swallowed. I listened. His own eyes widened. He went back to looking at Jessebelle, unable to look at his girlfriend or his daughter either. He frowned to make himself feel sturdier. He shrugged. "I don't know why. I want to. I do, Lynne. You can't stop me."
"I won't ever stop you doing anything." Lynne responded to James back in the same firm way and this caused Jorgie to freeze from twiddling her hands and feed. But she wasn't scared. She wasn't on edge. She was simply being wise. She was simply listening to it all. As James continued looking at his ex-fiancée with a mixture of apprehension but concern too, Lynne had time to think. She had time to think about it all. And then at the same time, we both realised how splendid James truly was.
Such pain and such confusion had been caused by that coral haired woman and yet he wanted to go over and see her. He wanted to go over and check on her. While James was still not looking at Lynne or Jorgie, the orange haired female had the opportunity to shake her head at him. I did too. But that time, it wasn't a baffled one. It was one of subtle awe. Lynne got James' attention back by touching his cheek a third time. She spoke to him with loving bewilderment. "After all this time? After all that?"
Her words and her questions were simple yet they held such meaning. And not just for his relationship with Jessebelle, but with his relationship with a good few other beings too. James was selfless. James was kind and he was selfless. He was unbelievably strong. And each day that I spent with him, the more I forgot about the R that used to be on his chest and saw what a fantastic person he was too.
After a few minutes of negotiations and James trying to persuade Lynne to let him take Jorgie along with him for moral support, Lynne's hand slowly slid off the lavender haired male's shoulder. She was letting him go.
James could sense her apprehension and her protectiveness and he felt touched. But he couldn't dwell on it too much or he'd feel how lucky was to have her love and end up storming over to Jessebelle, full of hurt of the 'love' that she'd given him.
So he kept it all in. he kept composed. He kept holding onto his daughter's hands. But he pressed a brief kiss to Lynne's lips. He didn't say anything but the way he kissed her and the way that his eyes met hers said it all. He knew what he was doing. He knew that she'd be waiting for him when he got back. He knew that she made him feel safe enough to do anything. That was enough.
So feeling all of the adrenaline in the world, James made his way over to Jessebelle's benched and he hovered next to her for a few moments before sitting down.
I felt deep inside that I was way more anxious than he was. My eyes felt very gritty; they felt very blurry. My legs appeared very weak indeed. But I gave myself a stern and inward telling off. I knew that if James could stand up to his past then I could be there to give moral support. I just hoped that I wouldn't get too displeased with her.
The lavender haired male's mouth got very dry when he was sat next to her and sat so close to her but he didn't run. He didn't bolt. He stayed put. He stayed sat on the bench. His hands rested in his lap. He waited for her to look up from looking thoughtfully at her lap and see it was him. In the meantime, he studied her. Jorgie did too.
She looked good for her age. Contrary to what his grandmother had humorously told him, she looked good. She was pretty. Her hair was still the same shade as when I for one had last saw her and her face didn't look much different either. Her clothes were, however. They were a lot more professional than dressy. And her eyes were different too. I didn't know whether they would be on other days, but on that particular day, they looked very different.
They looked thoughtful. They perhaps looked even vulnerable. And maybe it was this that snapped James into talking. His words came out hurriedly once again.
"U-Uh hi, are you okay?" he interrupted the silence by asking her and from still being in her baby carrier, Jorgie's head leaned backwards to look up at her father. She was keeping an eye on him and was going to for the rest of the conversation. I was too. We would all be there to watch. And we would all be there to support.
Jessebelle snapped out of her thoughts right away upon hearing the voice but it wasn't a familiar one to her. It was no longer elocution lesson riddled. It was far more casual. It was far steadier. Slowly, she nodded and wiped the corners of her eyes and turned to look at the stranger making conversation. She got the shock of her life but she didn't show it too dramatically other than with wide eyes. This caused James' ones to widen back and him to continue speaking in a hurried voice. He was feeling more like how he used to feel in her presence.
"A-Are you alright? It's not my business but you looked pretty sad. I-"
"James." Jessebelle said his name simply and in disbelief, her tones still of course laced with a southern accent. Her eyes remained wide for a few moments before they narrowed like I had seen many times before. I was about to be irritated with her a lot quicker than I anticipated. She folded her arms over her chest. "You're right. It's not your business. I think you've done enough."
I didn't know about James but I was beginning to sweat. I couldn't help it. She made a man feel that way – or rather; she made a Pokémon feel that way. I narrowed my eyes back at her to feel bravery, remaining near her and James' feet rather than next to them both. Jorgie had been very silent since sitting next to and being ignored by a person that she gathered she had good reason to not like very much at all.
I felt very hot and sweaty but contrary to how he would have imagined, James felt… okay? James felt oddly in control once more. His words had come out hurriedly but that had since been it. Other than that, he felt together. He felt secure. He almost felt like he an angel watching over him. Well, he did. He had two. He had Jorgie and Lynne.
He ignored Jessebelle's abruptness and tried again. However, part of him couldn't believe that he was face to face with her and not feeling the urge to run.
"I know it's not my business. And maybe I have done enough." James began by saying these words and he couldn't help doing so. It was habit - agreeing with her. I aimed my eye narrowing over at him decided not to say anything. He played absentmindedly with Jorgie's bare toes. "It's been almost sixteen years yet I'd still feel pretty bad for walking right past you. So… You could at least give me something?"
Jessbelle opened her mouth to speak but on a rare occasion, she soon stopped herself. Her eyes stayed narrowed as she studied her ex-fiancé that was opposite her. He looked different. She had seen him in newspapers and on TV and secretly out and about but still, he looked different up close. He acted different too.
He was acting a lot sturdier and a lot less shivery than normal. She liked that. She liked that and she didn't like that. She didn't know how to feel. She felt very unsettled. But he was someone from her past and despite everything and after a bit more persuading she told him.
It was a common problem that had got her so thoughtful and mixed up - relationship problems. I felt sympathetic with her on the level that if it happened to another person I would feel bad but still, there was something holding me back from feeling too bad about it. I wondered if James felt the same way. I imagined that Jorgie did. I knew I was right to trust my instincts with the way that Jessebelle finished off her words.
"So, I've told you my woes. You've done enough, you all have. You can be going now."
I stuck my tongue out very sourly indeed upon hearing her openness ending with such a bitter attitude and James surprised himself by feeling a twitch of anger rising up in his stomach. It didn't take him long for him to stand up as well. He was about to go. He was about to leave. Like how they had always been, he was about to do what she said. But then he stopped himself. He didn't know why.
He didn't know if it was Jorgie. He didn't know if it was Lynne. He didn't know if it was himself. But he sat himself back down. He realised that he didn't have to do what she said. He simply didn't have to do what she said. She had given him some answers and then in that moment, he wanted them as well.
He folded his arms over his chest and over Jorgie lightly and Jessebelle raised an eyebrow at him as he stayed put. He shook his head to answer her previous statement. He unfolded one of his arms to push his hair from his eyes before folding it again. His security was going through the roof. And it was all down to himself.
"I don't know why you keep saying that I've done enough. I don't know what I've done." James told Jessebelle truthfully and we both watched as her eyebrow raise changed from that of bewilderment to that of telling. Her eyes did the same thing. They were stubborn and hurt but they were telling the truth. Her truth. From her point of view. James swallowed. He shook his head and he didn't understand but he didn't relent. He leaned further against the back of the bench. "Alright. I did that. I did… That. I broke our engagement by marrying someone else. But you didn't think it was legally binding did you? Really? We were seven. We-"
"Our parents agreed that it was official." She told James back in her southern accent and she stuck her nose in the air. I was searching for a hint of vulnerability or change in her once again but at that point, it was getting harder and harder to find. James wasn't going to give up looking for it. He boldly interjected her.
"Our parents are crazy. My father only socialised with your family to build the aristocracy further and you know it. It was never real. It was never going to be real. It was never real. It-"
"It was to me." Jessiebelle suddenly told him and in that moment, something changed. There was a flicker in her eyes. There was a flicker in her voice. There was a flicker of humanity in her. James inhaled, secretly wondering if his brain was making it up. Jorgie listened too as the older female laughed in a way that was slightly worrying but broken also. "Think about it from my point of view. My parents told me all my life I was going to marry you. It was going to be you. We were friends so I thought it was going to happen. And even if our parents fell out, we knew each other well enough. It could've happened. And then all of a sudden you ran away. Because of me." She suddenly paused, frowning to herself before offering to James a side of her that he hadn't seen for many years, if ever. "Did you really go because of me?"
The lavender haired male had a lot of catching up to do. He was finally hearing Jessebelle being a little bit human and honest with him and it was a lot to absorb. And then, all of a sudden, he had a pretty big question to answer for her.
He looked down. He frowned himself. He thought about it. He didn't have time to come up with the correct answer. Jessebelle laughed that same laugh once again but that time, it was quieter. She stroked her professional work skirt and played with her hair.
"It probably was." She said in a way that was no longer necessarily bitter or sour but it still made James feel slightly on edge again. He couldn't help it. I didn't blame him. Jorgie kept a watchful eye on the situation. The southern belle continued playing with her hair. "Maybe it was for the best, James. I'm successful now. I've taken over my daddy's business. If you and I had wed then it'd be half yours. And we know that being a crook runs in your veins."
James momentarily frowned and opened his mouth. That didn't sit well with him. Even though he knew Team Rocket wasn't his overall best decision, it'd still done a lot of good for his life. But then he stopped and realised. Jessebelle wasn't insulting him and his choices. She was making a dig at his father. She was insulting Charlie. And because of that reason, James found himself able let it go.
He didn't say anything. He just nodded thoughtfully and ended up being surprised further still by Jessiebelle asking him a question.
"Your business is going well too, is it? Both of them?" she asked, making an assumption but still, it was a question nonetheless. James nodded and started to feel more in control all over again. But it didn't last for long when Jessebelle finally took proper notice of the little baby that was clinging to his chest and starting to suck on the material of his shirt. She tilted her head on one side and raised an eyebrow. She studied her. "So you had a seventh one in the end? And with a new woman? I don't know what to say about that. You were meant to have just one with me and then since me your numbers have just been increasing and increasing."
James furrowed his brow when he heard this and he automatically held Jorgie protectively. He didn't like how Jessebelle was making him feel slightly at ease one minute and then on edge the next. He really didn't like that. But more so, he definitely didn't like that the attention had been turned to his "Cherub" and not in the best way.
He refused to answer her and held his baby tight. He didn't like the way that Jessebelle made him feel. Up and down. Down and up. No wonder they hadn't ended up together. Even if it wasn't her intention to do so, she made him feel like he was on a rollercoaster. And not the good kind.
The lavender haired male remained silent. He simply didn't know what to say. Well, he did. But he simply didn't dare.
He had got a lot braver and a lot surer of himself thanks to life and people like Jessie, Misty, Jordan and Lynne and Jorgie too but still – he wasn't stupid. He knew when not to push his ex-fiancée. But sometimes, he just couldn't help it. But of course, James being James, he still softened his words just a little. He shook his head and finally looked back over at her.
"I know you really wanted to change me but I think you could use being a little bit like me. We did have a lot of the same upbringing, you know. Aristocracy. Tutors. Balls. Arranged marriage. But I went the opposite way. I saw all of the judgemental attitudes and prejudices and moulding and I got the hell away from it. And thank goodness. I have a life that I'm pleased with. It doesn't do to judge. It doesn't do to look down. If you want to stick close to where you came from then fine. But if you're like me then you'll do a hell of a lot better getting away from it."
"I am like you, James Dear." Jessebelle found herself saying before almost relenting for once and frowning at herself. She swallowed. She quickly corrected herself. She quickly continued. James saw that flicker of humanity again. I did too. I knew Jorgie did as well. "I am like you. You say that you were controlled but do you think I was any less? No. I was controlled too. I was taught into thinking you were the man for me and my whole life would lead up to you. And look where that got me."
Jessebelle's voice suddenly cracked. It caught me off guard. My eyes widened. James' did too but his were full of more empathy as well. Jorgie hiccupped in surprise. Jessbelle shook her head at herself while the lavender haired man nodded. Even after everything, he was nodding at her to tell her it was okay to be vulnerable. And his nod was also acknowledging that he wasn't the only one who had been damaged. He moved slightly closer to her. He tilted his head on one side.
"I don't doubt that you haven't been controlled either. That's the lives that we've lead." He told her quietly and his own eyes flickered as they watched her slightly green ones threaten to fill with tears. He swallowed back the gentle surprise. "I don't doubt it. But it's your choice whether you go along with it or not. Easier said than done, I know. But you've had a good life. You've had a successful life. You have a business. You have a family. If you want it. I was made to think that I was going to be with you too. I had to let go of the idea too. You should too. It wasn't meant to be. And besides, you can do a lot better than me."
Though I had been absentmindedly shuffling closer to Jessebelle's feet (I never thought I would say those words!), in that moment I paused. I listened. I waited. I waited for her to agree. Jorgie felt the same way. So did James. Despite their almost tender moment, James chuckled. He waited for it. He waited for it to come. But it didn't. He got something a lot different. He got something a lot, lot different.
Jessebelle smiled at him almost sadly. She looked at him with slightly vulnerable eyes. She didn't say anything with words but she said a whole lot with her face. It surprised James.
To tell you the truth he always thought that she really didn't like him. He thought that she really didn't like him. She always wanted to change him. She always wanted him to be different. Even though in that moment, for the first time, he was beginning to feel as though maybe he was wrong about her, he couldn't help but say with almost a sigh.
"There was a time when I loved you, Jessebelle, or at least, a time when I could have loved you. We could have spent all of eternity together." he told her truthfully and with a slight laugh but Jessebelle had a different reaction. She almost held her breath. She couldn't help it. The seven year old inside made her feel that way. She listened, but deep down it hurt to hear. What James said next hurt her even more as his eyes met hers. "But you never loved me, did you? Not really. You just wanted to change me. To control me."
Jessebelle held her breath all the more. I did too. Jorgie looked up at her father. James looked back at Jessebelle, waiting for her expression to change. It didn't much. Her eyes remained slightly watery but he didn't believe it was over him. She soon let out her own sigh. She soon swallowed. And then she shook her head.
She was disagreeing with him. She disagreed with him. But for once, she didn't try to change him. She didn't try to change his mind. She let him think what he wanted to think. And because she did this, James began to feel in his heart and stomach that he might have been wrong. About his thoughts. About her. But he knew he was right about a lot of things too. He wasn't meant to be with her. They weren't meant to be together. But it didn't mean that what happened between them shouldn't have happened.
James edged a fraction closer to her. He was expecting a lack of eye contact. Part of him, out of habit, was expecting her to try and get him to try and change his mind. That didn't happen. Neither of it happened. Something else did. Jessebelle wanted to apolgise. She wanted to say sorry. For it all. For everything.
She felt broken about it all. She never wanted anyone to know this. But for once, she wanted him to. She wanted him to know that she was sorry. But she didn't know how. So she thought to herself. She wondered what he liked?
She suddenly realised that he liked Jessie. After all, that was the woman that he had 'left her for'. James liked Jessie. James liked Jessie a lot. And she believed the fact that actions spoke louder than words. Jessebelle nodded her head to herself. She decided that if it was good enough for Jessie, then it was good enough for her.
Her steady but regretful and disappointed eyes met James'. This made the lavender haired male hold his breath but there was still more to come. Jessebelle hesitated before just going for it. She wanted to at least try to make amends with James and she wanted to do it in a way that he knew she meant it. So she had an idea. And she went for it.
Slowly but surely, she acknowledged the orange haired small baby and she reached her finger out for little Jorgie to take. I blinked. James held his breath and then blinked. Jorgie stared at it. It wasn't her father's hand. She certainly didn't want to take it! She looked up at her daddy for answers or for approval. He didn't give her anything. He wanted it to be her decision.
Jessebelle was beginning to hold her breath too as the orange haired little girl went back to looking at her outstretched finger. She studied it, making little humming noises to herself. She thought about it. She thought about all that she had heard. She thought about all that she felt. She thought about it for a long time and then she did it. I watched as she did it. James watched as she did it. Jessebelle smiled as she did it.
Jorgie hesitated for a few more moments but then she suddenly gurgled. She took hold of the outstretched finger and she held it briefly but rather tightly. After letting go, Jessiebelle let out a sigh of almost relief, like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, while the little Cherub looked back up at her father.
He was surprised. He was very very surprised indeed. He thought it would be a rejection but instead, it had been accepting. Jorgie had accepted her apology. Despite the fact that she knew everything that she did and she had heard everything that she had heard, Jorgie accepted Jessebelle's apology. And that was good. I nodded my head. It was good.
And on top of it being good, it was good enough for James. His little girl had given her seal of approval. She had heard all about the past and decided to let it go. So he could too. It was a breath of fresh air for both of them. For Jorgie. For James. And for Jessebelle too. It was the end of a bad chapter and the beginning of a whole new one. I wondered what that one would be. I guess that is a tale for another time!
The End.
There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 So yeah, I'm not sure what really happens after this story and James and Jessebelle genuinely do work things out and are able to socialise. I can't imagine Jessie and Misty would be as understanding. Sometimes it can be harder for the loved ones. It was interesting to see things from Jessebelle's point of view. Obviously in the anime she is manipulative and controlling but it's important to find the humanity as well. People like Jorgie and Lynne really are the reason for James' forgiving actions. Of course in the anime James has shown to be thoughtful and selfless even towards those who have mistreated him - for example, him leaving Growlie with his parents to care for them. He's a strong character in his laid back way. But I believe that it's down to Jorgie and Lynne and their little family that he has made peace with lots of aspects of his past/life :3 Thanks again for reading and I will be back on the 28th to update Dear Daddy so see you then!
AmyBieberKetchum signing out :P