Heartbreak At the Speed of Light

Part 1 of a request for Naggin

Cassidy had never expected to ever find happiness outside of Team Rocket. For her, like many, the criminal organization was the closest thing to family she had ever known. Growing up in an orphanage, she was unwanted and unloved, a void Team Rocket easily filled. And She was a top notch agent, too, something she loved rubbing in the face of the loser trio.

Still, in the end she was glad to leave. A string of bad luck had seen her and Butch demoted from top agents to mere grunts, while Jessie and James got all the praise. She couldn't stand it anymore. Why bother risking her life for such meager payoffs?

Surprisingly, it was rather easy to leave the organization. For months she would constantly be looking over her shoulder, expecting someone there to kill her to keep her from talking, but it never came. Still, she often found herself wondering about what happened to Butch. They were never close per say, but they were still partners. She hoped he had also managed to start anew.

It wasn't until a few years later that she had gotten her answer. Giovanni had finally been thrown behind bars, and without him Team Rocket collapsed. Too many people fighting for power, nothing could get done. A full pardon was offered to any grunt, current or former, who offered any information to the International Police. And just by luck, who would she meet but…

"Butch?"

"THE NAME IS BU- Cassidy?"

After a long hug, the two went to a diner to talk. Cassidy learned that Butch had opened a bakery since they parted ways, and to her surprise had a similar encounter as herself not too long ago.

"Really? Jessie and Meowth showed up at your bakery?"

Butch chuckled.

"Yeah. They helped out for a few days, but Jessie eventually went back to Team Rocket. Meowth stayed for a little longer, but then he saw my Meowth getting cozy with a Persian, and that was that. It was strange though, not seeing James with them."

"Actually, he was with me. They came across my cafe, and James stayed while they left. He was nice enough, but that Morpeko of his kept eating all of my food!"

Butch laughed, then fell silent.

"Butch?"

"Sorry, I just got lost in my memories."

Cassidy nodded. As sucky as Team Rocket was, not all of it was bad.

"Cassidy, um…"

"Yes?"

"This was really nice, and…I was wondering if maybe…you'd like to go on another date?"

Cassidy thought for a minute, then smiled.

"I'd like that."

One date turned into two, then three, and before she knew it she was in love. It was surprising, but Butch was a great partner, though she was surprised when he proposed only 2 months later.

"Are you sure? We've only been going out for a few months."

"Yeah, but my love for you makes me feel like It's been years. And I loved every minute of it."

As cheesy as it was, Cassidy couldn't help but say yes.

The ceremony was simple, just a simple signing of the contract in front of a witness. Though Cassidy was surprised to see who Butch had chosen.

"James?"

"Hi, Cassidy!"

"No offense James, but why did you choose him, Butch?"

Butch shrugged his shoulders.

"We needed a witness, he was in town, and I wanted to catch up. Sorry, it was kind of last minute."

Cassidy still thought it was weird, but in the end she shrugged and let it go.

It wasn't long after their marriage that they began trying for a child. Cassidy was the one to bring it up first, and Butch was all too happy to agree.

"It's just…we're in such good positions in our lives, we've made peace with our past…I think its time we started a family."

"I couldn't agree more."

But no matter how often they tried, they couldn't conceive a baby. Concerned, they went to a doctor for insight. As they waited for the results, Cassidy squeezed her husband's hand in worry.

"It'll be ok, honey."

"I hope so."

The doctor soon came back, but his face was grim.

"There's no easy way to say this, but…you can't have children."

The blow was so shocking Cassidy felt her whole world shatter.

"W-What?"

"I'm sorry, I truly am. But the tests show that…"

But Cassidy tuned out the rest. She didn't want to know why, all that mattered is that she couldn't. She was so shell shocked that Butch had to help her to their car, where she proceeded to cry into his shoulder.

"It'll be okay, honey."

"How? We can't have kids!"

"No, we can't conceive. There are other ways to have kids."

"Butch, no one would let us adopt a kid with our criminal history."

Butch dug into the glove compartment, and pulled out a pamphlet that he handed to her.

"I was walking home from the bakery the other week and saw this ad. Figured it couldn't hurt to take."

"IVF?"

"It'll still be from our DNA, just not with the sex."

"You're okay with this? Having a child through unconventional means, that is."

"I want us to have a kid. How it happens is unimportant."

Cassidy smiled, and pulled him into a big hug.

A month later, they were back in the doctor's office, waiting for the results. And although he didn't say anything, the big smile on his face told them everything.

Nine months later, after a very intense labor, Cassidy finally gave birth to a baby girl. She was tired, her body ached, but she felt proud as she held her baby.

"She's so beautiful…"

"Have you decided on a name yet?"

Cassidy sighed, and looked at an empty chair.

"Well, I was waiting for my husband to get here to decide, but…"

"We're here! We're."

As if on cue, Butch burst through the door, James right on his heels. Cassidy would've been more annoyed by the latter's presence if she wasn't so tired.

"I'm so sorry! I had a batch of muffins in the oven when I got the call, then my car broke down, and I needed to call James for a ride…"

"Hi."

"...Then his car broke down, and…"

Cassidy just sighed. She did not have the energy to deal with this.

"It's okay, all that matters is that you're here now. Meet our daughter."

Butch smiled, and gently cradled her in his arms.

"Cassidy, I was thinking maybe we could call her Mary, if that's okay with you?"

"I love it."

The nurse nodded, and wrote it down on the birth certificate. To Cassidy's surprise, James stepped forward, arms gently held out.

"Can…Can I hold her?"

Cassidy hesitated for a minute, but relented. James's face lit up as he held Mary.

"Welcome to the world, little one."

Mary giggled, making everyone smile. But even as they basked in the moment, Cassidy couldn't help but feel like something was wrong.

Time slowly passed for the new family, and James's continued presence was beginning to aggravate Cassidy. At first, she thought he was just being a good friend, offering to babysit Mary while they got some rest or a night out. But soon he became an almost daily presence, trying to hold Mary even when Cassidy was there. And the way he looked at her, almost like a proud father…it was beginning to unnerve her, but every time she tried to bring it up with Butch he just brushed her off.

"He's just looking for something to do. I told him he could help out until he lands on his feet."

Cassidy let it go, but she still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Then, one day, it happened…

It had been a nightmare at the cafe. Usually Butch would be there to help her, but he was sick, leaving her the burden of running it all by herself. Somehow she survived, and before she knew it she was home. The door was unlocked, but that didn't surprise her. Given how often James let himself in, he may as well live there. But what was surprising was that their bedroom door was closed. She was just about to knock when she caught the conversation on the other side.

"How much longer must I wait, love?"

Love? That was definitely James, but he couldn't be talking to Butch…could he?

"Soon, darling. Once the lawyer gets the papers pushed through, she'll be left penniless!"

"And Mary? Technically, she is hers…"

Butch chuckled, confirming her worst fears. But it was what Butch said next that truly broke her heart.

"She didn't even bother to read the contract. If she did, she would've known she was just signing up to deliver the baby. Trust me, she won't have any rights to OUR baby."

That was all Cassidy needed to hear. As silently as she could, she gathered Mary and all of her belongings and ran before they knew she had even been.

Mary cried as the rain poured, her mother trying in vain to soothe her.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetie."

But it wasn't. Cassidy was leaving everything behind to get away from them, and she had only a few things to start over. If a miracle didn't happen soon, they would both be in trouble.

Luckily, the universe has a way of granting miracles in ways we would never have expected.

"Cassidy?"