"Meowth, why do I have a big B written on my calendar for tomorrow?" asked James.
"Bath day? Boring day? Bashed in the head again day? Why ask me?" Meowth was quiet for a few moments. "Birthday, maybe?" he finally asked.
"Oh, sure, that must be it. I wonder whose birthday I wrote down and forgot," said James.
"How the heck should I know, do you introduce me to your friends? Why don't you ask Jesse when she gets back?"
"AAAAAARGGGHH! GAK!!!"
"What, are you choking to death over there, James?"
"Jesse. It's Jesse's birthday. Oh no, I can't believe I almost forgot. I have to go get her something. She was practically crying when she went out for that walk, it must be because she thinks everyone forgot."
"James, the stores will all be closed."
"Did you think I have the money to buy something? Of course I want the store to be closed."
James put on his black hat and coat and headed off down the street with Meowth following him. They both stopped in front of a shop with a display of Pokemon princess dolls.
James worked a pick into the lock on the shop door. "Hurry up!" whispered Meowth. "Someone's bound to come along eventually."
"I wouldn't look so suspicious if you weren't with me, Meowth! Why didn't you stay home and wait for Jesse?"
"I figured if I helped you, her birthday present would be from me too."
"Oh, you don't care about that, you just wanted to get in my way, you idiot!"
Meowth hissed. "Look, I know you're worried about Jesse, so I'm not going to fury swipe you for that one, James."
James was finally able to turn the knob. The door opened and they went in.
"So, James, you really think Jesse's going to be thrilled to get a stolen birthday present?"
"We're thieves, aren't we? And anyway, how else am I going to get her a set of Pokemon princess dolls?"
"Well, you could enter yourself in the Princess contest."
"Shut up!"
A voice came from behind the door in the back wall. "Is somebody out there?" James and Meowth ran as fast as they could out the door and down the block.
"Stupid, stupid, the guy must live back there," muttered James. "What are we going to do now?"
"Maybe you should just get her something else."
"Like what? Jewelry stores are guarded too well, she has all the perfume she needs and she wouldn't trust even me to choose clothing for her."
"How about a Pokemon?" asked Meowth.
"You've got to be kidding!"
"No, no, here's what we'll do..."
The two continued to talk together until they came to the Pokemon center.
"Excuse me, you must be Nurse Joy," said James to the red-haired woman behind the desk. He had a very worried expression on his face.
The woman giggled and said, "Of course, what seems to be the problem?"
"Well, my Meowth here has a horrible cold."
Meowth began to sneeze and make ragged wet coughing sounds. James grimaced with disgust, then quickly straightened up and looked concerned again.
"I'll bring him into the back and take care of him, you wait here," said the nurse.
"No," insisted James, "I absolutely must go with you. This Meowth has been my favorite Pokemon from childhood, I can't stand to be without him." James began to cry.
"Oh, well, I suppose you can come into the exam room."
James followed Nurse Joy into the back of the Pokemon center, peeking into every open door. In one room he saw what looked like a Flareon. He was just starting to edge through the door when he heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, it's James from Team Rocket, what's he doing here?"
"Oh no, it's the twerps!" yelled Meowth.
"You mean that Meowth can talk?" asked Nurse Joy.
James and Meowth ran out the front door, followed closely by Ash and Misty.
"What are you doing here, James, following us around again?" taunted Misty. "I guess we'd better go report you to Officer Jenny!"
"Shut up! I'm just an ordinary citizen, out trying to ste... trying to find a birthday present for the woman he lo... works with. So leave me alone."
"It's Jesse's birthday? And you were trying to steal her something?" asked Ash.
"When did you suddenly get a brain, twerp? First you recognize me, then you remember Jesse's name, you're just phenomenal today!" replied James.
"Well, at least I wasn't trying to steal anyone's sick pokemon," replied Ash.
"Not all those pokemon even belong to anybody, it says on their chart," replied James.
"Oh, you're so ethical," drawled Ash.
"At least somebody knows to remember a birthday, Ash!" said Misty.
"You're never going to let me forget that, are you, Misty?"
"Tracey got me a present. Even Brock sent me a present, and I'm not sure how he even knew where we were. But you forgot."
"Well, I'll leave you two to your little spat." James walked off with Meowth.
When he got back to the little apartment he saw that Jesse was already in bed asleep. Her eyes were puffy, as if she had been crying. He ran his hands gently over her hair, not daring to do any more. "I'll go out again in the morning, Jesse, I promise," he whispered. Then he went into his own bed without even undressing, and slept.
The next morning he woke to the sound of Jesse yelling, "What the heck is this?"
James opened his eyes and stumbled sleepily into the living room. Jesse was already wearing her uniform. She waved a paper in the air. "Who are Ash and Misty? Oh wait, I know! But why did they tape this birthday card to the door? My birthday isn't until next month, and why would they know anyway?"
"Uh, I don't know Jesse," said James. "You're birthday isn't until next month... umm... right... well, sometimes people write down the wrong date on the calendar."
"You're acting very strange, James," she said.
"Well, so are you," murmured James.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you seemed so sad, I've been worried about you, Jess."
"I don't need you to worry about me. I just had one of those moods, you know, where you think nobody loves you, or whatever." She said this with heavy sarcasm, but there were tears in the corners of her eyes.
"I love you, Jesse," said James.
"That's nice of you to say. Thanks." Jesse sounded more sad than sarcastic now.
"No, I mean, I really love you. I mean I'm in love with you." James stopped. "Maybe I should go back to sleep before I ruin something."
Jesse began to walk over to where James was standing. She stared straight into his eyes as she approached. Finally she stopped right in front of him and waited. James began running his hand over her cheek as she gazed at him, then finally he kissed her.
Jesse pulled away long enough to say, "I love you so much, James." Then she began to kiss him again, and they wrapped their arms around each other.
Suddenly they heard Meowth's voice. "Hey, Jesse, happy birth... woah, looks like you're happy all right."
Jesse jumped a foot away from James. "Where is everyone getting this from, it is not my birthday! And I'm not happy. Well, I guess I am happier than I was." Jesse blushed, while still glaring at Meowth.
"It's not your birthday?" asked Meowth.
"No!"
"Oh, well, I'm giving you a present anyway." Meowth grinned. "A little privacy. Bye, you two." He ran out and slammed the door.
And he stayed gone more than long enough for them to finally stop giggling and start kissing again.