Chapter Three:

Now that James knew Jessie would not bother Ash and Misty, and realizing he was still covered in soup, he fled to the bathroom. He hadn't been this stressed since the eight hundred and fifty-third time they'd tried to capture Pikachu. He  didn't remember why that attempt had been so special. His passion had gone downhill since then.

And here he was, relaxing stringed music playing as he sat on the lounge chair in the men's restroom, trying to remove the soup stains. He was about to pull his hair out as he wondered how he was going to keep Jessie from finding out that the twerps were right under her rather pointy nose and that Ash was not the son of a wealthy diplomat.

He imagined blow torches would be involved for some reason.

The door to the bathroom opened. James rubbed his eyes tiredly, discarding another stained paper towel, preparing to head for the battlefield yet again.

"You know, you're not as good at acting as you used to be."

Standing in front of James was none other than Ash Ketchum with his arms crossed and face serious.

             It was a good thing James' bladder was empty or else, well...

              "Sir!" James exclaimed, continuing his act. "I am terribly sorry  to meet you in such an immodest location. If you need something, I will  be right there."

             Ash's mouth quirked in an expression James did not know how to decipher. "James, I know it's you."            

              James scrambled, not to standing, but to a position that looked as if  he was trying to squeeze himself into the crevice of the couch to  disappear forever. "The restaurant can kick you out if you even think of hurting an employee!"

             "Calm down." Ash caught his arm as James tried to flee towards the door. When did Ash get so tall? "I need to ask you something."

             "The chicken comes with lemon!"

             "No, not about the food." Ash paused. "We don't get free dessert, do we? Like with kids meals?"

"No!" James tried to psych the young Trainer out by bobbing his head forward quickly, almost hitting his forehead to Ash's, but he didn't even flinch. Years of failure cast Team Rocket as unintimidating as a Magikarp—no matter how much Jessie tried to overcompensate for that fact.

             "That's a bummer. Oh well." Ash frowned. "Anyway, it's not about that. It's about Misty."

              "I'm going to get fired being in here for so long," James retorted,  making for the door again, which Ash blocked. "You can't keep me locked in the bathroom."

             "I helped you get out of trouble with your boss, didn't I? Just hear me out."

              "I'll scream." James warned. He meant it. And it would be loud. He was  an amazing screamer. The police would most likely be called.

             "I want to marry her."

             James' thoughts came to a screeching halt. The air he had built to use to call for help came out in a silent whoosh.

             Ash wanted to marry Misty.

              James thought about it. All the times they had spied on the two in the  past, in the present. It was a running joke in Team Rocket that Ash  Ketchum would leave a trail of broken hearts in his wake because of his  obliviousness, never being one to realize that many of the girls he met or traveled with had crushes on him.

Team Rocket never understood how insanely obsessed girls could be with him. Stalking him, never leaving him out of their sight. Who in their right mind would focus all their attention on a twerp like him?

              But there was no denying that there was something James couldn't quite place about Ash  that was always different when he was around Misty. A push to be something more than just a better Trainer. A chemistry they shared that he didn't see very often. And he watched The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. He would know.

             "Did you want me to cater the wedding?" James murmured, unsure how he could be of any help.

              "What? No. This stuff is so expensive. It's killing me. I mean, I already bought the ring and it's not like I have much money..." Ash's  voice trailed off, his face warming. "Anyway,  I haven't asked her yet."

             "Why?"

              "I wanted it to be special. Which is why I brought her here. And with this whole plant stuff you're pulling, well... I mean I don't understand  that tradition at all," Ash admitted.

              James looked him over. "You're telling me that you recognized what I look like but you didn't realize I was making that whole plant thing  up?"

             Ash's jaw locked. "Hey! I don't make fun of how you can't ever capture Pikachu."

             "That's a low blow," James wailed, done with the conversation. "Let me get back to work."

             "No," Ash said firmly. "I need your help proposing."

A weird squawk of a laugh flew from James' mouth. If he had been surprised before, it was nothing compared to his surprise now. "You want my help?"

              "Yes," Ash said desperately. "Misty and I met on the same day we met  you. We've all been in this together since my very first day as a  Trainer. You, Jessie, and Meowth. All of us."

             "We aren't marrying you," James said incredulously.

              "No, but I thought you could help stage a sort of performance." Ash looked down before meeting the waiter's eyes. "It's the anniversary of  us all meeting you know. Today."

             His heart clenched. So it was today. "And?"

              "And I found out you guys worked here specifically so you could take part in it. I can't think of a better day to ask the girl I love to  marry me."

              Ash wanted them to be a part of the proposal? He wanted them to be there? For reasons James didn't understand whatsoever considering they'd been abusive towards him for decades.             

             Oh, it was all too romantic for him. His insides cried.

             And then he remembered Jessie. "Do you know why I covered you in plants?"

             "The real reason? No."

             "If Jessie found out you were here, she would try to capture Pikachu or ruin your night in one way or another."

             "Still? You guys haven't tried in months. I thought we were past that."

             His lips puckered. "I don't think she'll ever be past all that."

             "Sounds like you are."

             James said nothing. He was a traitor to Team Rocket.

              Ash's shoulders loosened. "I still need your help. Can you talk to them for me? I think I'd make  Jessie a bit jumpy and right now I don't have any of my Pokemon on me, so..."

              James stared at the boy in front of him. He had matured, but he still didn't understand what a precarious balance that  Team Rocket hung in. "I'll make sure  you get a free dessert. Candles. I can have people come play music for you. But do not let Jessie and Meowth know you're here."

             "I had a different proposal in mind—"

             "Free dessert." James pushed past Ash, barreling the Trainer over as he hurried towards his other tables.

             He would not get tipped well.

Poor, poor James.

But GASP, right? A proposaaaaal! To quote James- EEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Pokemon Question of the Day: What would be a good way for Ash to propose?

As always, thanks for reading! Have an awesome day.

-Flips