DECEMBER 18TH
Thin lines and sterile white contrasted sharply with the rough and dark colors the people were wearing as they swept past. The winter chill had set in as the days stretched towards Christmas and everyone had bundled up to keep out the cold. Kim watched the streaks of auburn and orange and thought about the upcoming holidays. She had expected a series of awkward moments to occur there this year, but she had not expected them to start so early.
“I can really walk myself,” said Kim.
“They all say that,” murmured the nurse pushing Kim's wheelchair.
They were moving slowly through the hospital with Shego close beside, holding Kim's winter coat. The lobby of the Middleton Mercy Medical Center was vast and featured not one but two pieces of sculpted art from local celebrities, neither of which was particularly good looking, but still attracted crowds of people which made it nearly impossible to move a wheelchair through easily.
“What's that?” asked Kim, turning her head up to look at nurse.
She sighed, slightly and repeated louder. “They all say that. Look, I'm sure you can do cartwheels and back flips too but its hospital policy that you have to wait until you leave the hospital to try.”
“Actually, she can do cartwheels and back flips,” commented Shego with a smile. “And quite a bit more, really.”
“Long day?” asked Kim to the nurse.
“It's flu season,” she said dryly. “It's been a month of long days.”
“Sorry to hear that,” shrugged Kim.
“Hah, you should try out one of our days,” said Shego. “She's dislocated her knee, been shot twice, and strangled to unconsciousness in the last couple weeks.” She ticked each injury off on her hand. “While I've… well, I've had it bad too. Though neither of us got the flu, so maybe that's worse somehow.”
“Shego!” Kim softly, but urgently warned.
The nurse just shook her head and pushed through the crowd. “Kids these days,” she murmured.
Once outside the hospital Kim lightly punched Shego in the arm after she helped her with her coat.
“Hey!” yelped Shego, while rubbing her arm in mock pain. “What?”
“You didn't have to give her a hard time,” said Kim, putting her hands in her pockets and heading towards the parking lot.
“Well, she didn't have to be all snippy just 'cause she works in a hospital and there happen to be sick people there.” Shego laughed as she moved to walk close to Kim and started glowing slightly. “If's a big deal I'll go back and apologize.”
“Apologiz--?” Kim started the stopped. “Ooh,” she purred and pushed herself slightly against Shego as they walked. “You're warm.”
“Convenient, huh?” smiled Shego. “Don't even need winter clothes anymore.” She bowed her head slightly to speak into Kim's ear. “Or any clothes at all, if you're interested.”
Kim looked at Shego with her eyes wide but a smile on her lips. The green woman just laughed in return. “It's the benefits of having a completely tamed symbiote. I can control my power like never before. I never realized that I'd been struggling to keep control until I didn’t have to anymore.”
“Well, don't get carried away, Sheeg,” said Kim.
“Only if you want me to, lover,” grinned Shego.
Kim blinked as Shego gently grabbed her arm and hooked it around her own. She was practically skipping as they headed towards her car.
“You're really… freaking me out,” said Kim after a moment.
“Hmm? How's that?” asked Shego.
“I've never seen you so … cheerful before, it's weird.” Kim shrugged.
“I can't be happy?”
“Of course you -- Shego, I want you to be happy.”
Shego stepped in front of Kim and walked backwards, her arms behind her back, weaving side to side between cars. “Then I don't see what the problem is.”
Kim closed the distance between them and put her hand kindly on Shego's arm. “I don't want you to force yourself just for my sake.”
Shego slowed her walk and looked into Kim's eyes and the latter saw some of the manic glee vanish in her expression. After a second she turned and picked up her pace again.
“Who says it's just for your sake?” asked Shego, sounding inquisitive. Kim moved up and put an arm around her girlfriend. Shego looked at her seriously. “I really am feeling unusually happy,” she offered.
“Okay,” nodded Kim. “Just … no acts, all right? If there's anything we've proven in the last month it's that we're particularly good at hurting each other unintentionally.”
Shego looked down and softly agreed. “I wish that wasn't so true.” She turned her head up again. “No acts from you either, Ms. Save-The-World. And don't even try and say that this Allucinere business doesn't have you scared. I may not know a damn thing about this woman but I can read between the lines.” She looked directly into Kim's eyes. “She hurt you.”
Kim's mouth thinned to a line. “Yeah, something like that.”
Shego smiled again and snaked a arm around Kim's waist, ushering her towards the passenger side of her silver car. “But last time, you didn't have me watching your back. If she tries anything, I'll roast her.” She froze. “I mean, not entirely, just enough to turn her away, you know? Maybe some third degree burns at the most.”
Kim smiled slightly. “I get it, Sheeg.” She squeezed Shego's arm. “Thanks.”
Shego nodded and opened the door for her. Instead of getting in, though, Kim put her hand on top of the hand Shego was using to hold open the car door. “But,” she started, moving her face close to Shego's. “You have to understand, I have some expectations in this relationship.”
“Is that so?” asked Shego, unmoving.
“Oh, yes,” agreed Kim, moving even closer. “I expect that you'll respond to me in … certain ways.”
“Certain ways?” repeated Shego, her mouth slightly open as she stared into Kim's half-lidded eyes.
“Yes.” Their faces were so close her lips were almost brushing against Shego's. “And if you won't stop acting overly chivalrous and show me that rough, bold, sometimes annoying, but entirely sexy Shego I fell in love with, I may have to force it out of you.”
Shego started to nod, lost in Kim's eyes before suddenly stopped and frowning. “What?”
Kim stepped suddenly away and waved her hand before Shego's face. A set of keys rattled hanging from her fingertip. “I'll drive,” she said with a wink and jumped over to the driver's side of the car.
Shego blinked and looked down at her hand, the one that was holding her keys moments ago but now was only holding her car door open. Her head snapped back up to see Kim already sitting behind the wheel. “No way!” exclaimed Shego.
“Yes, way,” said Kim shutting the door and starting the car.
“This is my car,” said Shego, sticking her head in the car at the passenger's side. “And you've done enough damage to it.”
“Hey!” said Kim. “What's this all about? You don’t trust my driving?”
“I don't have to trust it,” said Shego leaning in. “I have all the scars on the undercarriage and the damaged suspension to provide me with more than a good idea of what your driving is like.”
“You're making that up,” pouted Kim. “Besides, I had other things on my mind, such as saving your sorry greenass from being dissected.” Kim put her hands on the wheel. “If you don’t want to walk…”
Shego scowled and plopped down in the passenger's seat and closed the door. She folded her arms. “Hmph. You love my sorry green ass and I know it.” She looked out the window. “You'll be lucky if I don't take it elsewhere.”
Strong hands suddenly slid around Shego's shoulders and jerked her to the side where a grinning red-head pulled her into a deep kiss. Shego immediately wrapped her arms around the startling beauty and pulled her onto her lap where they continued their dance of tongues.
Several minutes later, their mouths finally parted and Kim rested her forehead on the green woman's one and looked lazily into her eyes.
“There she is,” she sighed happily.
( KP )
Even the euphoria of their make-out session in the car couldn't battle the sheer dread Kim felt as they reached their destination. Shego had brought her knee up to her chest and casually had her arm hanging on it as she peered at the retro-looking house out the window of the car. They had stopped in front of the familiar home a couple moments ago but she figured she'd let Kim gather her thoughts before trying to rush anything. She glanced back at the red-head when she heard muttering.
Kim had her eyes closed and her head down as her lips moved quickly. Shego leaned quietly in to make out the words.
“I don't care what people think. I don't care what people think. I don't care what people think.”
Shego blinked. This was… unexpected.
“No acts, right?” asked Shego.
Kim stopped her mantra and looked up guiltily. “Right,” she deflated.
“So fess up.”
Kim laughed nervously. “For a girl that could do anything, I'm feeling pretty nervous about telling my parents I like girls.”
“They know already,” said Shego. “This is more damage control than revelatory.”
“Well, yes,” nodded Kim. “But that's worse. They didn't even find out because I told them, they got it through six degrees of separation.”
“Only two. Me to Timothy, Timothy to your parents.”
“Stop correcting me!” yelled Kim.
Shego closed her mouth but kept looking back at her.
Several moments passed before Kim looked back up at Shego. “You're not even going to get angry at me for snapping at you, are you?”
Shego shrugged. “This is your thing, Princess. It's not a big deal to me but that's me and you'll never have to meet my parents. But I'm here if you need me. I won't make it tougher for you.”
Kim smiled weakly. “That means a lot to me. I'm sorry for making you do this, I know it's one of the things you really dreaded when we first got involved.”
“Well, things were different then,” said Shego simply. “So, you ready to do this or do you wanna run? I know a lot of places to hide in Middleton.”
Kim laughed. “All right, let's give this a try.”
Hesitantly, Kim reached for the door, swallowed, then exited the car and headed for the front door of her childhood home. Shego stayed close enough by to be supportive but not so close as they were in the parking lot. The gentle breeze sent nervous shivers down Kim's back and almost wished she could wrap herself in Shego's warm arms.
When they reached the front door, it opened on its own.
Without a word, Kim found herself being embraced.
“Hi … mom,” she said hesitantly.
The arms simply wrapped more around her in response. “Oh, sweetie! I'm so proud of you.”
“Um, okay.” Kim looked awkwardly around. “You weren't like this at the hospital.”
Ms. Dr. Possible finally let go of her daughter enough to look at her but kept a supportive hand on her shoulder. “I didn't want to embarrass you. I'm happy for you though.” She spared a second's glance at Shego as well. “Both of you. Standing up for who you are even if it goes against society.”
“Well, that kinda describes my whole life up until now,” said Shego nervously.
“Me too, actually,” mumbled Kim. Then louder she said, “Can we come in?”
“Of course,” replied her mother, stepping aside and allowing the two girls to walk in.
Once inside, Shego turned to Ms. Possible and held out a hand casually. “We've met bunch of times before, back in the day, but we might as well do this properly once.”
Ms. Dr. Possible looked surprised at the hand for a moment then took it gently. “Judy Possible,” she said with a smile.
“Lily Kedar,” Shego returned in kind, catching the confusion in Ms. Dr. Possible's eyes. “But you can still call me Shego if you want, Kimmie does.”
“It's a pleasure,” said Judy. “And you have a beautiful name, Lily.” Shego thanked her and she turned towards the kitchen. “Let me see if I can find your father, Kimmie.”
Once she was gone Kim and Shego looked at each other.
“That was odd,” said Kim.
“Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth,” shrugged Shego. “I do find it terribly funny though that you've gone up against the likes of me on behalf of 'justice' countless times but she's proud of you for being gay.”
“I think this whole thing has got everyone off guard,” said Kim. “Not just with you and me, but with Allucinere out there and the Tweebs getting along again. Everything is out of sorts.”
Shego moved up to Kim and put her arm around her. “Well, might as well take advantage of it.”
( KP )
As it turned out, Judy was the easy one.
“What have I told you about Circus folk?” asked Dr. James Possible when he finally surfaced with Judy and they all sat in the living room.
“She's not even wearing her uniform right now,” said Kim, exasperated.
Judy patted James' hand. “Now, now, dear, don't kid them.”
“I'm just trying to establish some ground rules,” explained James.
“She's not in the circus,” stressed Kim.
“I never thought I'd have to reconsider my 'no boys rule' for this reason,” mused Dr. Possible.
“Dad!”
Appearing from… pretty much out of nowhere, a thin boy with a slight goatee entered the living room. “Hey Shego,” he said, waving. “Nice to see you outside of a hospital.”
“Hi Jim,” nodded Shego. “Trust me, I've had enough of them for a lifetime.” She glanced towards Ms. Dr. Possible. “No offense, Judy.”
“None taken,” smiled Judy.
“So now that you're with sis,” started Jim with a sly smile on his face. “Are you going to corrupt her and go on a wild crime spree?”
“Jim!” snapped Kim.
“How do you know we're not on one right now?” asked Shego mysteriously.
“Shego…”
“Is this true, KimmieCub?” asked Dr. Possible. “I don't approve of criminal partnerships within the family.”
“No, it's not true, Dad,” Kim quickly said.
“She doesn't cover very well,” commented Jim.
“I'm working on her,” nodded Shego.
“The two of you…” started Kim.
“How long have you been seeing my daughter, Shego?” asked Dr. Possible.
“Since high school, of course,” said Shego.
Kim put a hand to her forehead. “That's not what he meant, Shego.”
“Since High School?” asked James. “Were you two-timing Ronald, then?”
“She was,” nodded Shego seriously.
“No. I wasn't,” stressed Kim, looking between her father and Shego with looks of annoyance.
“Does this mean I can have that harem I waned at school?” asked Jim. “You know the chicks go crazy about me.”
“I know I tell you kids anything's possible for a Possible,” said Dr. Possible. “But I meant it within strict moral guidelines.”
“I wasn't two-timing anyone!” yelled Kim, exasperated.
Everyone looked at Kim expectantly after her outburst.
Then Timothy walked in.
“Is Kim two-timing you with another girl?” he asked innocently.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!” Kim ran screaming from the room.
( KP )
Kim sat in her bed with her arms crossed, propped up on several pillows and looking, generally, angry. She had spent the better part of the evening here after the dreadful introductions and then even more awkward dinner where everyone seemed to act like nothing had happened only an hour before hand. Kim wasn't sure if she was annoyed or glad that Shego had decided to talk more with her parents after she decided to retreat to the safety of her bedroom. A worried part of her said it was the latter.
The nearly silent padding of bare feet up the stairs told Kim that Shego was finally ascending, and fairly loudly for her. Kim knew from experience that she could be absolutely silent if she wanted and it was clear she was giving warning.
Moments later she popped into view and walked up to the foot of Kim's bed. She pirouetted once with her arms out and looked at Kim with a smile. “So, what do you think?”
Shego was dressed in a black tank-top and was wearing green plaid boxer pants. Her hair had been tied up in a ponytail behind her and had a generally ruffled look that made her look incredibly sex-- no. Kim scolded herself silently. She was angry right now. She had to stay on topic and ignore all those flashes of skin and raw appeal.
For now, anyway.
“Took you long enough,” said Kim, turning her head.
“Well, I was having a great talk with your parents,” said Shego, dropping her hands and starting to walk around the room. “They seem to think you've been operating a brothel at University now, it's quite amusing.”
Kim snapped her head back to look at Shego with wild eyes. Shego was looking back over her shoulder at Kim with a sly grin. Kim realized she was joking and just shook her head.
“What happened to 'I won't make it tougher for you'?” said Kim in a boorish Shego impression.
“That was before I realized how much fun it would be,” shrugged Shego as she looked at a series of pictures on the dresser. She noticed there were lots of pictures of Kim with Ron and Kim with Wade, but all the ones with Wade had the computer geek peering out from a computer screen. Shego'd seen Wade herself several times now, it was strange that Kim had no pictures of the boy in-the-flesh, so to speak.
“Are you trying to make me regret bringing you here?” asked Kim, tiredly.
Shego turned and leaned against the dresser. “Not at all,” she said in a straightforward manner. “Nothing I've done has made things harder for you here. You're doing all that on your own.”
Kim dropped her jaw in disbelief. “You've got to be kidding!” she said, her voice taking on a hard edge. “'No fault here, you make your own life tougher?' Is that really the position you're taking with me?”
Shego sighed and moved towards the bed.
“Oh, no,” Kim waved her off. “For all your help today you sleep on the floor.”
Shego continued to move to edge of the bed but kneeled beside it to look evenly at Kim. “Princess, how smart is your father?”
“He's incredibly smart,” started Kim, seeing where she was going with this. “But terribly naïve sometimes.”
“Naïve as he may be about his daughter,” admitted Shego. “Do you really think after all the times Drakken and I ran into him while stealing, and the times you and I fought in front of him, that he really thinks I'm part of a circus?”
Kim frowned. “It's… possible.”
“What about your mother?”
“What about her?”
“Don't you think after all the love she showed you at the door she would have stepped in and corrected your father if he really had a misconception about you?” Shego looked at Kim plainly.
“Maybe…” she replied, quietly.
“Kim,” Shego put her hand on Kim's lap. “I can't make things tougher for you here. I saw it all clearly as soon as we walked in the door.”
“What?” asked Kim.
“They love you,” Shego smiled. “Unquestionably.” Her smile tempered slightly. “Trust me, I've seen parents that don't.”
The red-head looked down and sighed. “You're saying I shouldn't be stressing out over this.”
“No, not really.” Shego shook her head.
Kim laughed half-heartily. “Who would have thought you would be the understanding one?”
Shego looked surprised but smiled. “Hey, I'm perceptive.” She caressed Kim's face once then stepped back and laid on her back on the floor.
Kim looked over the edge of the bed. “What are you doing?”
“Sleeping on the floor,” said Shego.
“Come on,” waved Kim. “You don't have to sleep down there.”
“Nah,” Shego shook her head. “I did know all that downstairs was fraying your already decaying nerves and just laughed anyway. I do have some guilt there.”
“I don't care anymore,” pleaded Kim. “Get up here.”
“Nope.” Shego pointed towards her chest. “I'm 'Good Shego' now. And Good Shego accepts punishment for her crimes.”
Kim rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she said, then threw a couple pillows at Shego's head.
Shego laughed and pulled the pillow away from her face. As she was stuffing them under her head she saw Kim get out of the bed and start pulling on the comforter. “What are you doing?”
Kim succeeded in freeing the large blanket then pulled it down over Shego before slipping beneath and cuddling up to the green woman. “Just because you're enduring punishment doesn't mean I should have to,” said Kim, putting her head on Shego's shoulder. She wrapped her arms around the former thief.
Shego put her arm around her princess and softly stroked her hair. “Hey, you don't really have to do this,” she said quietly. “You're still recuperating. I'll come up to the bed.”
“It's okay,” Kim said, nuzzling against Shego with her eyes closed. “Some things are better when they're uncomfortable.”
Shego looked at her with her mouth slightly open then felt something lodge in her throat. She pulled Kim closer around her and held on tight, fighting back the tightness in her chest.
“I'm just like them, you know,” Shego said. “Unquestionably.”
Kim nodded slowly. “I know.”