A Home for James

Ship: Koko

Summary: Without Team Rocket, James has lost all purpose in life. Little did he know help would come from an unexpected source.

For Naggin

"You WHAT?!"

Jessie sighed. She should've expected this.

"I know this is sudden, but…"

"Sudden? SUDDEN? Jessie, think about what you're saying!"

"I have!"

"Do all of those years together mean nothing?"

"James is right!" Meowth butted in. "You can't leave us high and dry! We're this close to catching Pikachu!"

"Meowth, we've been chasing the same Pikachu for years, it's time to call it quits. Don't you want more from life than being a criminal forever?"

James and Meowth paused in thought. While they were still upset at her for even considering it, they couldn't deny she had a point.

"So…what are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to focus on being Kalos Queen. I want the fame, the fans!"

James quirked an eyebrow.

"While on the run from a criminal organization?"

"Oh please, if I can fool the twerp, I can fool anyone Giovanni sends!"

Jessie took a deep breath before continuing.

"Look, I don't want our last night together to be wasted arguing. Let's just get some sleep, and we can talk more in the morning.''

James and Meowth were still confused, but relented.

"Food? Check. Money? Check."

Jessie sighed, and zipped up her bag.

"Best I get going. Don't need to make this harder than it already is.''

"Going so soon?"

Jessie jumped, turning to see James and Meowth standing behind her.

"I'm leaving, and you can't stop me!''

''I know, but you can't stop us from saying goodbye.''

''James-''

"Jessie, please, we're the only family any of us have ever had. At least let us do this much for you.''

Jessie smiled, and accepted James's hug.

''I'll miss you guys, but…"

"I get it," James said. "It's better this way. We'll do our best to keep them off your trail."

"After I tried to abandon you?" Jessie asked, shocked. Meowth smiled, and nodded.

"You're still part of our family, no matter what."

Jessie smiled, tears in her eyes as she hugged the two.

"Thank you."

"We love you, Jess. Good luck."

"Knock them dead!"

Jessie smiled, gave them a thumbs up, and left, ready for whatever the world threw at her.

James and Meowth tried to work as a duo, but it wasn't the same. Jessie, for all of her nagging, was the brains of the operation by far. So as much as they didn't want to, in the end they had to call Giovanni to replace her. Needless to say, he wasn't very pleased with the interruption.

''What do you want?''

"Oh, uh, Giovanni, sir! I, uh, we were wondering-''

"Spit it out, you sniveling simpleton!"

"What Jimmie here is trying to say is that we were wondering when our new partner is supposed to show up?"

''What are you blabbering about?"

"Well sir, ever since Jessie quit, we-"

"That spoiled brat finally gave up? Good. Now don't call again unless its an emergency!''

With that, their boss cut off their call, leaving the two of them shocked.

"He didn't even know she quit?''

"And he didn't care at all…''

For them, that was the final straw. They shut down any machines they had ready, cut off all contact with headquarters, and went their separate ways. While neither of them wanted to split up, they knew it was for the best. Even if Giovanni wasn't directly after them, being former criminals did not lend to a good relationship with the law. Best to split up.

Once back in Kanto, James wandered aimlessly for a long time, having nowhere to really go. He did not dare go back home, for he knew that if he did he would be forced to marry Jessiebelle. Even the thought sent a shudder up his spine.

So instead he kept on the move, with only his Pokemon for company. Regrettably, he couldn't retrieve the ones from headquarters, but he hoped they would escape one day and find better homes. Often, his thoughts turned to Jessie and Meowth, and where they were now. Jessie had lost in the Master Class tournament, and seemingly fell off the face of the earth. Wherever they were now, he hoped they were better off than him.

One day, his travels brought him through a small town. Tired and hungry, but with no money to provide himself relief for either, he came to a small bakery with a help wanted sign in the window.

"Guess this is as good as any."

Heading inside, he walked up to the counter and rang the bell.

''Just a minute!"

A few seconds later, a very familiar face appeared from the back. A face that made James's blood run cold. Likewise, they were just as surprised to see him.

"James?"

"Butch?

"THE NAME IS BUTCH, NOT-oh wait, that's what you said."

James immediately got on the defensive, taking out a Pokeball, but Butch immediately threw his hands up to surrender.

"I give, I give! I'll do anything, just don't tell Team Rocket I'm here!"

"Wait…you're not with Team Rocket?"

Butch blinked, and lowered his arms.

"You're not?"

The two spent the next hour or so getting the other up to speed on what had happened in the time since they last saw each other.

''So you and Cassidy left Team Rocket years ago?''

"Well, can you blame us?'' Butch said. ''We went from top ranking agents who got assignments from the boss himself to lowlifes no one remembers! Meanwhile you three lugheads are the only things anyone can talk about, if only because of how ridiculous you are! No offense."

James shrugged. A while ago it would've bothered him, but looking back it was a wonder the three of them had lasted as long as they had.

"So, where's Cassidy?"

Butch shrugged.

"Beats me. Her and I went our separate ways, and I never heard from her."

"Oh…so you two were never…"

"In a relationship? With her? Please, she could only remember my name half the time. We were friends, I guess, but nothing more."

James nodded.

"What about you and Jessie? The way you two acted, anyone would think you were a couple."

James couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh no, I could never. Jessie was always more of a sister than anything."

That, and her uncanny resemblance to his shrewish bride-to-be put him off any romance with her, needless to say.

"Must have been nice," Butch commented. "To have someone you can trust like that, I mean. Well, it was nice catching up, I hope everything works out-"

"Actually," James interrupted. "I came in for a job. Money's been tight, and-"

"Sure!" Butch said excitedly. "I could use the help. Just one condition: try to remember my name.''

James smiled. Things were finally starting to look up for him.

James soon settled into routine at Butch's bakery. It was just the two of them, which one would think meant they would be overworked, but being located in a small town meant they were never too busy. Busy enough to keep the lights on and themselves well fed, but slow enough that they had plenty of time to themselves.

One morning, Butch was cleaning the counter top when James came running in frantically.

"James, what's-"

"No time to talk, I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend!"

Butch just stared at him for a minute before responding.

"Pardon?"

Somehow, Butch found himself sitting in a very awkward dinner with James, his parents, and Jessiebelle. Luckily, James had been kind enough to explain the situation: his parents were once again bugging him to marry Jessiebelle, and in a panic he claimed he was gay and that Butch was his boyfriend.

"I'm sorry, it just slipped out!" He told him as he pushed him out the door. "I promise, we just have to make it through this dinner, and I won't bug you again."

Butch shrugged, and agreed.

"At least I get a free dinner out of it."

He instantly regretted that the minute they started talking. Fortunately, the thought of their son liking men did not faze the two at all, so at least they could avoid that. What he could not avoid, however, were the questions.

"So, bob…"

"Uh, it's Butch, sir."

"Oh, sorry, Bill…"

Butch sighed. As much as he wanted to scream, he knew it would do no good.

"...How did you two meet?"

"Well, uh, we met in Team Rocket, but we don't like to talk too much about that."

The man nodded.

"Understandable. Such miserable riff raff, I don't know how you two could stand it so long!"

"Well, we didn't get along at first," James continued for Butch. "In fact, we hated each other for so long. It wasn't until we both had left and he needed help with his bakery that we even became friends. A few months later, romance blossomed, and we've been together ever since."

"I don't buy it!"

Everyone turned to Jessiebelle.

"I don't buy for a second that these two are together! I mean, they aren't even holding hands!"

"Now Jessiebelle, I understand that losing the love of your life can be traumatic, but…"

"Unless I see those two kiss right this instant, I refuse to concede!"

James began to panic, but tried his best to hide it. He hadn't expected this, how would Butch handle-

Before his brain could panic even more, Butch crashed his lips onto his own, James reciprocating it before he could even process it. After a minute, the two broke apart, and Jessiebelle shrugged.

"Alright, I concede."

And that was that. James's family accepted their "relationship" and left him alone, allowing them to return to their normal life. Except…not quite.

Try as he might, he couldn't get the kiss out of his mind. Sure, it was something done in the heat of the moment to get Jessiebelle off his back, but something about it had felt…good. Like sparks had flown.

James had never imagined he would fall in love with his former enemy, and yet he wanted more. But what would Butch say?

Finally, the tension got to him until he couldn't take it anymore. He had to speak to Butch, even if it ruined their friendship. He finally managed to gather the courage one day after they had closed for the day.

"Hey Butch, you got a second?"

"Yeah pal, what's up?''

"Well…you remember the dinner with my parents, right? When we…you know…kissed?"

"Oh, uh…yeah."

"Well…I know we just did that to sell the lie, but…I kind of enjoyed it, and…"

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

James paused for a minute, considering his options before nodding.

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yeah, why not? I enjoyed it too, I just didn't want to say something in case things went south, but if you're serious…"

James smiled, and kissed him on the cheek.

"Let's see where it goes."

"Works for me."

As it turned out, things went well. The two hit it off, and before long were openly calling each other their boyfriend. It didn't change much about their current situation, given that they were already living together, but they were happy nontheless.

One morning, James was taking cupcakes out of the oven when the front bell rang.

"Hello? I was hoping to talk to someone about a wedding cake?"

"Just a minute!"

Carefully handling the tray, he made his way to the front. But when he saw who it was waiting for him.

"Je-Jessie?"

"James?"

James quickly set the tray on a counter before running straight to his old friend, tackling her in the biggest hug he could.

"I can't believe it, it's been years! How are you?"

"Oh, you know, just getting married! And you?"

"Running a bakery. So, who's the lucky guy?"

"Girl."

"Details, details. So?"

"Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you…"

"Jessie, what's taking so long?"

Just then, Jessie's fiance walked in through the door. And if seeing his old friend was a shock, her fiance nearly gave James a heart attack.

"Cassidy?"

"James?"

"Alright, what's going on up here? The oven is open, and I don't see-Cassidy?"

"Butch?"

Jessie and James chuckled. Looks like they had a lot of catching up to do.