Stand by You part 2 of 4

Chapter 53: Yellowstone

"Jessie, time to wake up", said James as gently rubbed her shoulder.

Jessie opened her eyes and glared at him. He was holding Annastasia, who stared back at her with her large turquoise eyes.

"Is this a dream?" she asked after looking at the alarm clock, which read 6:30am.

"Nope. You slept through our alarm, and the crying", he told her.

"Yours or Annastasia's?" she asked jokingly as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.

"Very funny. I already changed her and gave her one of the bottles you had stored in the fridge", he said. "Our bags are all packed so as soon as you are ready we can get going".

Jessie got out of bed and got ready for the day while James went to tell Meowth and Lucy that they were ready to go.

"Weeze been waitin' fere yous fere half an hour", Meowth said.

"Wobbufet Wobba", said Wobbufet.

"Jessie will be ready in a few minutes", said James.

Annastasia reached up and grabbed a handful of his hair. She grasped it tightly and pulled. James winced in pain but didn't do anything to stop her.

"I got dis", said Meowth as he rummaged through the diaper bag.

Meowth pulled out a little stuffed Eevee and handed it to the baby. Annastasia let go of James' hair and grabbed the toy. She started gnawing on its head and pulling at its ears.

"Thanks, Meowth", said James.

"Don't mention it", he replied.

"That private jet you have is very convenient", Lucy said to Paul and Linda, who were planning on coming with them.

"We just got it recently. We figured it would come in handy, with you all traveling all the time", said Paul.

"And now you all will have no excuse to come and visit us on occasion", Linda added.

"I missed being able to travel so easily", said Rumika. "Walking or taking the train really does suck when you are used to having a jet to bring you places".

"I'm ready", said Jessie as she entered the kitchen.

"Veee Eevee", said Acorn as she ran up to her.

"Ok. Time for everyone to return", Jessie said to the Pokémon.

She, Meowth and Rumika returned them to their balls. Jessie stuck the Pokeballs in her purse and then took Annastasia from James.

"Let's get us a third ribbon", she told the group.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

A few hours passed and it was time for the Yellowstone Pokémon Contest in Vermillion city to begin. Though the contest was larger than the one in Lavender Town, it was still rather small. Only about 100 coordinators were registered to compete. James was in the dressing room with Jessie, helping her put the last minute adjustments on her outfit.

"How do I look?" she asked James.

Jessie was wearing a long magenta dress with the silver heels that James bought her. She also had on the earrings and necklace that James' grandmother lent her.

"Like a Queen", he responded.

"I was hoping you'd say that", she replied.

"How about me?" he asked her, stepping back so she could get a full view.