It was another work day. Jessie and James woke up and changed into their uniforms. They were lucky and unlucky today, for they had no beds or roof over their head, but today they had been able to bring together the money for 1 banana each for breakfast. They ate slowly and headed off to their mission.

After they finished work, they tried to search for somewhere to sleep. Perhaps they would be able to sleep indoors today. Success! An abandoned cabin in the woods.

There was a shower. No matter what the temperature, running water was a welcome luxury for them. They took turns, and changed into their pajamas. Unfortunately, there was no dinner tonight. They sat in their sleeping bags, unable to sleep due to pain in their stomachs from the hunger. Meowth, true to his cat type, was out within minutes.

They laid there, staring at the ceiling, both of them wishing for sleep so they could complete their mission tomorrow. The chill in the air coming from the mountains and rivers surrounding them, combined with the fact that they had to shower in cold water, just added to their alertness.

James broke the silence with a hushed whisper. "I can't sleep."

"Me neither. But we can't stay up chatting, we need to be at the top of our game tomorrow."

"I know...but it doesn't help...Jessie, are you cold?"

Jessie was shivering. "Um, a little."

"Come into my sleeping bag. Maybe it will be easier to sleep if we're warm."

Jessie crawled into the sleeping bag with him. It wasn't that big, so they laid on their sides facing each other. Her mind wandered as she looked into his deep green smiled at her, his face innocent and pure. "Do you feel better now?" he asked.

Jessie couldn't hide the smile creeping up on her face, and nodded. James closed his eyes. "We have to sleep. Goodnight, Jessie."

She closed her eyes. "Goodnight, James."

But her mind wouldn't stop. Most men would have an instant nosebleed feeling her ample, soft breasts, unrestrained by wires and cups, pressed up against them like hers were against James. But his eyes were like those of a child. There was no hidden motive, no seductiveness. She heard the saying "Teenage boys only want one thing from girls" but he always treated her with so much respect.

She started to feel frustrated. How could we spend every waking moment together, two healthy adults, and be so damn comfortable with each other? It had been years since she had a boyfriend, years since she had...

James shifted nonchalantly. Deep in thought, one of Jessies hands had wandered.

She could feel him tense. "Sorry, James...maybe this was a bad idea."

"No. Please stay." James's voice had that vulnerability in it. He had a complex about being abandoned.

"Okay." There was a long silence. Jessie wrapped her arms around him, and he returned her embrace. They got closer until their bodies were pressed against each other. Jessie rested her cheek on the small bit of skin that was exposed around James's collar. Her hands seemed to move by themselves, as she reached up with one to unbutton the top button of his pajama top.

"Jessie-"

"James, this will help us sleep."

James wanted to protest, but he trusted Jessie. Her hands explored his body, running down his back lightly. Because their meals were few and far between, but exercise was plenty, his back muscles were tight and lean, the curve of his spine well defined. She traced around his hips, around the bones that lay just below his skin, and her hands journeyed even further until they found his most vulnerable part.

"Jessie-! no, stop..." His eyes pleaded with her, threatening to release tears.

But Jessie does what she wants to do. She ignored his hushed plea, and continued what she had started.

There was no room to move in the sleeping bag. James felt trapped, there was a fear in the pit of his stomach, that was quickly being mixed with another sensation.

He trusted Jessie. He wanted to show her that he could handle doing this too.

Jessies hands moved with a kind of expertise, working on both James and herself. James' breathing become rapid, and he started to move his hips in rhythm to her hand, and tightened his embrace on her.

They started to pant, before both of them bit their lips to keep from crying out,

and after a moment of complete silence, both of them gave a sigh, and drifted off to sleep.

The sun rose and the light woke James up from his troubled sleep. He had the traces of tears running down his cheeks on his face, and looking at Jessie's contented face he had to get out of the sleeping bag. He changed into his uniform and was just buckling his belt when Jessie stirred. She looked at him sleepily.

"Mmornin"

James turned his head away from her. She stood up and slinked over to him.

"Don't tell me you're feeling embarrassed about last night? It was just so we could get some sleep."

James didn't answer. Jessie put on her uniform. They did their mission that day,

James only speaking to Jessie when absolutely necessary. Meowth sensed something but feared for his life so kept his mouth shut.

They set up camp outside, Meowth started the campfire but paused when he saw James moving his sleeping bag a good distance away from everything.

James noticed Meowth staring. "I'm sleeping here."

Jessie was off washing in a river nearby, so Meowth decided to risk it.

"Did someting happen? Wat's wit you?"

"I don't want to talk about it"

"Well yer gonna hafta soona or lata..."

Jessie appeared, wearing only a towel.

"Yes, you will have to talk about it sooner or later. James, what's wrong with you?"

Tears started to well up in James' eyes. "What's wrong with me?" he repeated.

He looked at Jessie, his emerald eyes now fierce.

"You. You just think you can do what you want to me!*

Jessie shot right back. "Oh, you didn't enjoy it?"

Tears started to well up in James' eyes. "I did...For me, for just one moment, I felt like everything was right. But you were just playing a game with me. You...you used me." The tears were running down James's face now, and the anger in his eyes had faded to pain and sadness.

Jessie was silent, taking in the words that James had just said. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. James found his last shred of courage.

"Jessie, I love you. But I know that I could never be the kind of man you would want. That's why it hurts so much. I pretend not to care when you go after all those big handsome guys, but it hurts. I wish I could be what you want."

Now it was Jessie's turn to cry. "James, I'm...I'm sorry." She gave a big, shaky sigh as tears started to form in her blue eyes.

"I didn't think...I..."

James had looked down at the ground, debating with himself whether to stay or to run as far as his legs would take him.

"James..."

He turned around, and raised one leg, before he felt a hand grab his, and then Jessie was wrapping her arms around him from behind, restraining him. He felt a pang of fear. He was being restrained. By a woman.

"James...You are what I want. I just never thought that you would want me."

The fear instantly melted. Jessie could be a downright bitch sometimes, but she wasn't evil. He broke her hold on him and turned to face her. The wall had broken, tears streamed down her face. She cried uncontrollably, and James silenced her with a kiss.

Meowth watched the scene, and gave a nod of approval as the couples hands intertwined. There was no going back, and no more playing around.