Work went well enough. There were no break-ins, no major incidents. Just one minor altercation when one of the people had forgotten their ID. Even though Shego knew them, she was under policy not allowed to let them enter the work-spaces. So she had to write the man up and ask him to leave. He came back an hour later with the piece of plastic, and that was it. And so, by the end of the day, Shego was so bored she was ready to tear her hair out by the end of her shift. As she swiped her card at the end of the day, Shego breathed a big sigh of relief and looked at the clock. It was five-O-five. She nodded thoughtfully and started to change back into normal clothes that she had brought from home for tonight. A simple emerald-colored blouse and black dress pants, her good shoes were in the seat compartment of her bike, and her regular clothes joined them as she left the building, helmet in her other hand. She fired up the monster bike and started off at a slower pace to get to Middleton High, since she for once was not running late.

She reached the school just as Kim was walking out the door, arguing with a girl she knew to be Bonnie Rockwaller, a horrendous bitch in her opinion.

“You and your loser girlfriend are ruining this team!” Bonnie exclaimed, arms crossed and hip cocked to the side. She looked rather like a Picasso with her face messed the way it was, thought Shego as she got off her bike, glaring back at the high-school cheerleader.

Kim was about to respond when Shego started in. “How exactly can I ruin a team I’m not on?” She asked, eyebrow quirking as she removed her helmet and handed it to Kim. She also made it a point to stalk closer, her own face twisted into a menacing scowl. Bonnie actually flinched slightly, but recovered quickly.

“Kim hasn’t done the routine for the next game, if she weren’t with you all the time, she’d have the time to get it done, and I wouldn’t have to chase her down.” The tan girl huffed and tilted her nose up haughtily. Shego rolled her eyes in response.

“Riiiiiiiight…” Shego drawled, “Do it yourself if you’re so concerned.” And with that, she hugged Kim around her shoulder gently and glared at Bonnie. “We’ll be going now.” Had Kim not been there, and had this been last year, Shego would have taken a swing at the younger girl, as it was, she was pissed, but was also mindful that her girlfriend would not approve of such action, and she had enough approval issues to worry about coming from Mr. and Mrs. Possible.

They left with Bonnie still scowling at them, and Shego made it a point to angle her exhaust pipe right her, sending blaring sound in her direction and holding aloft one finger. She burned rubber for about half a mile, and then slowed down. Within just a few minutes they were on Kim’s street, and then just a few moments later, in Kim’s driveway. As she turned the vehicle off, she was struck by a sudden burst of nervousness. Last time she had been here for any length of time, she had not been warmly recepted.


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It had been about two months into their relationship, and Shego had been dropping Kim off after practice when Mrs. Possible had spotted them in the driveway chatting before Kim went inside. The woman had insisted that they come inside. Once in the door, she was taken aside by the head of the household, Mr. Possible. “So you’re Shego.” He said, looking her over suspiciously. That day, Shego happened to be dressed in her least parent-friendly clothes, being laundry day. Those had consisted of a worn pair of jeans with several holes in the legs and a tee-shirt with the words “I’m out of bed and dressed, what more do you want?” stamped to the front, her leather jacket was open, which just added to the ensemble.

“Yes.” Shego said simply, doing her best to look friendly. “So you’re Kim’s father?” Her attempt at humor failed utterly and James Possible’s look soured further.

“Is Shego a nickname?” He asked, not giving away much emotion.

“Yes, sir.” Shego said, desperately trying to stay polite, she wanted to make a good impression, or at least salvage the one Mr. Possible already had of her. “My full name is Shannon, Shannon Gomez. Shego just sortta stuck when I was little.”

“I see.” Mr. Possible said, “Well Shannon, I think you and I had best talk.” And he sat down in the living room on the sofa while Kim talked to her mother in the kitchen. Shego suddenly felt very alone. “What are you intentions with my daughter?” He asked, staring at her.

“I just want her to be happy.” Shego said.

“So do I.” Dr. Possible replied, “And frankly, I don’t want it to be with you, but at least it’s not some boy.” Shego frowned and took a step closer.

“I don’t think any of this is your business really.” She snapped, “I have to go to work.”

“Security guards don’t get paid well, do they?” He said, a little snidely. She wanted to hit him, but held back, though her hands did clench into fists.

“No.” She said simply, and stalked out of the room, attempting to calm her raging temper. Being mad at her second job just made things harder. She also did not want Kim to know just how upset she was. She plastered a smile on her face and stepped into the kitchen, covering Kim’s eyes with both hands. Mrs. Possible smiled slightly and went back to making dinner.

“Sorry Red, but I gotta go. I have to afford you somehow.” She smiled and hugged Kim from behind, effectively caging her in. The redhead smiled and put her hands over Shego’s.

“Can’t you just call in sick?” Kim asked, “I wanted to watch ‘I now pronounce you Mike and Brian’ with you.” Kim pleaded. Shego sighed and shook her head, which forced her hair to tickle Kim’s neck, and she giggled.

“Sorry. Can’t do that. I have to make my insurance payment this month somehow.” Shego said, and let go so that Kim could turn around and hug her in farewell. “We can watch that tomorrow though, since you’re commin’ over my place to help me study, right?”

Kim had nodded, and Shego left with a wave in Mrs. Possible’s direction, and a glare at the twin brothers with whom she had become all too acquainted when they had tried to give her plasma-powers after their soccer practice.


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Now, Shego was standing in their driveway, about to go inside for family dinner. Apparently Mrs. Possible had set it up on the grounds that “If Kimmie’s going to have a serious relationship, she can’t be invisible.” And she was not looking forward to it.

“Your father hates me.” She said, lifting Kim off the bike simply because she could, and took off her jacket to smooth her green blouse. “With good reason. I’m still not sure how you got stuck with me.”

Kim just shook her head, “No he doesn’t.” She said, completely oblivious to the hostility of the previous encounter. “and you look really nice. Why can’t you dress like that all the time?” She inquired.

“Beeeeeecause I don’t have that many outfits like this?” She replied, “And because I feel ridiculous. I’d rather wear a cat suit than this get-up.” She shrugged, “So, can we get this over with so I can take you to see that movie you wanted to see?”

Kim nodded, “Mmmmmhmmmm,” She said, and then kissed Shego tenderly before taking her hand and walking her into the house. Shego went straight for the kitchen to see Mrs. Possible, who seemed to be giving her the benefit of the doubt.

“Hey Mrs. P.” She said, putting on a smirk for her benefit. Really she wanted to throw up.

“Hello Shannon.” The doctor replied, and Shego reached over to hand her an oven mit that she was reaching for. “You look nice.”

“All part of the plan.” Shego replied, “My soul’s as black as ever.”

Mrs. Possible smiled, “Really, because you don’t seem nearly as black-hearted as the story Kim told us about detention. She thought you were going to kill her.”

“I didn’t have to. One look and I had her cowering in the corner.” She smirked wider. This banter was pretty normal for them, Mrs. Dr. Possible had spoken to her a few times if she happened to be outside when Shego dropped Kim off. She’d had her own interrogation by the woman actually, after Kim had gone inside.


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“Roll up your sleeves.” She’d demanded, and Shego, not knowing really why, had complied, she had nothing to hide. She instead had taken her entire jacket off, revealing the black muscle-shirt beneath. Mrs. Possible had taken both her arms and turned them upwards, looking at her wrists, then the inside of her elbows with a critical eye. When she had let go, Shego crossed her arms over her more ample chest.

“I’m not on drugs, I’ve never cut myself, and my record is mostly clean, speeding tickets mostly.” Shego had said, her defenses up after the conversation she’d had with Kim’s father. “You could have just asked.” Mrs. Possible did not back down, and Shego realized just where Kim got some of her fire.

“I wanted to make sure, it’s not exactly hard to lie about those things.” Her looked darkened a little. “My exam isn’t finished though.”

Shego blinked, not sure what that meant.

“Have you ever been diagnosed with an STD?” She asked, and Shego dropped her arms in shock.

“What kind of question is that?” she spouted angrily, “What kind of person do you take me for? Of course not!” She turned her head to the side and huffed indignantly. Mrs. Possible just smiled.

“You know, you’re not what I expected at all.” She said, and picked up her gardening tools, bending down and starting to prune a small plant in front of the house.

“Oh, you mean the swearing, tattoo-covered, pot-head type with a Mohawk or a mullet.” Shego said, and smirked. “My mother would kill me if I tried that, and you should give Kim more credit than to pick a loser like that.” Then she got on her bike and picked up her helmet again, “Did I pass inspection?” She made a note to actually get her bike inspected, her sticker would expire soon.

“For now.”

“Good enough,” She said, and started the engine.

“And you should get a second helmet if you expect to be having Kim as a passenger, heads are pretty fragile things.”

“Point taken Doc. See ya later.”


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Shego was taken out her reverie when two thin arms encircled her waist and she felt a kiss to her shoulder. “Penny for your thoughts?” Kim asked, and Shego smirked again.

“My thoughts are worth much more than a penny thank you.”

“Nickel?”

“Nope. Keep trying Princess.” Shego was loving this, since she knew that Kim was going to try to negotiate. Shego never played that game well. She took what she wanted, even if it took a while.

“Quarter?”

“Still not good.”

“A dollar?”

“Survey says… wrong!”

“Five?”

“Getting closer.” Kim smiled and smacked Shego’s shoulder. Mrs. Possible smiled at the pair and shook her head.

“What if Kim lets you eat dinner?” the doctor asked, presenting the roast chicken.

“Now that’s an offer.” She smirked, “See, your mother understands my needs.” Kim laughed and hit her shoulder again. “Do you need help setting the table?” she asked, trying to be polite.

“No, that’s the boys’ job, and I think they managed to do it without sending silverware into orbit this time.”

Shego chuckled and then looked into the dining room. Mr. Possible was already sitting at the table, still in his white lab coat and looking over a notebook of calculations. Her stomach shifted uncomfortably in her gut, and she was suddenly not as hungry. She looked away and took a deep breath, holding it to try and quiet her heartbeat. Jim and Tim were there as well, talking about something in their made-up language. Shego jumped slightly as Kim poked her shoulder softly and Mrs. Possible brought the chicken into the dining room.

Dinner actually went smoothly. Shego was seated across from Kim, and on Mrs. Possible’s right. Apparently someone realized that sitting her next to the patriarch of the family would result in someone being chewed-out, possibly literally. Shego did not eat overly much, but had not taken much to begin with, and so her plate was clean. The meal had been delicious, her appetite had simply not been there. The small-talk at the table had been little and awkward. Mostly it consisted of Kim talking about her latest mission and her father making small, slightly manic, comments. Then somehow the conversation shifted to the encounter with Bonnie earlier today.

“—And then she said that Shego and I were ruining the team!” Kim reported. Shego stiffened, the last thing she needed was to give Mr. Possible more fodder for his distaste. Jim and Tim were quick off the mark though, and started laughing.

“Shego isn’t even—“ Jim started, and his brother picked up at that point.

“—On the team. How could she do anything?” They both gave each other a look at that point. It was slightly unnerving the way they could do that, and reminded Shego of her own family. The reminder was a little too strong for her liking. She had moved away from her family, and to have a similar dynamic thrown back at her was not her favorite idea, but she dealt with it for Kim.

“Well, Bonnie somehow got this idea that since I’m hanging out with Shego, that I don’t have time to write up routines.” Kim rolled her eyes.

“Well Kimmie-cub, you have been with Shannon a lot lately.” Mr. Possible said, and took a sip of his water before continuing. “Maybe you and she should take it easy, mmh?” Both Shego and Mrs. Possible looked at the man subtly, Shego with a bit of venom, and Mrs. Possible with a reproachful look.

Kim for her part was oblivious. “It isn’t going out with Shego that’s the problem Dad,” she said, “If Bonnie would get off my back I’d have plenty of time, but every time I sit down to write the routine she starts complaining about something.”

Kim did not say it, but Shego got the distinct feeling that Bonnie was talking about her. Monica was Bonnie’s friend, and had spared no detail in making Shego out to be some sort of demon. How she had coerced the girl, manipulated her, then gone behind her back and slept around with several other people. This story of course had only come into being after Shego had found her in the arms of a burly football player, under the bleachers no less. When she had demanded an explanation, Monica had the gall to smirk at her and say that Cheerleaders belonged with football players, not losers.

“Bonnie is a parasite.” Shego said, finding her voice suddenly, “Who would rather drag people down than pull herself up.” Mr. Possible said nothing, but shot her a look that clearly stated he felt that she fulfilled those criteria as well.

She looked at the clock then, the movie was going to be starting in just over an hour. That was plenty of time. Dinner was over, which meant that Shego could get Kim away from her family, as per request, and they could go back to her apartment for a few minutes. Mrs. Possible looked at the clock as well and smiled slightly.

“You two kids get out of here.” She said, excusing them both from the table. “Have fun at the movie.”

Kim’s face lit up and she stood from her chair, hugging her mother softly. “Thank Mom!” She said, and then went to the other end of the table to hug Mr. Dr. Possible, “Bye Dad.” And smiled as Shego also stood, extending her smile to Mrs. Possible, a real smile of appreciation.

“Thanks. Mrs. P.” She said, and grabbed her plate to help clear the table. Mrs. Possible just shook her head.

“The boys will do that tonight, thank you.” Shego nodded and set the plate back on the table as Jim and Tim both started to groan in unison.

“I’ll see you later then.” Shego said, and turned to Mr. Possible, she’d be civil to that man even if it killed her (or him). “Nice seeing you again Dr.” She said, and then walked out of the room, putting her arm around Kim’s shoulders and giving her a small kiss to her temple as they went.

“That went well.” Kim said brightly as soon as she was on Shego’s bike.

“Your father hates me. He was shooting glares at me all through dinner.”

“He hates everyone I go out with.” Kim responded, “Has he given you the black-hole speech yet?”

“No.” Shego said, a little worried now.

“Then he probably likes you more than he’s letting on. Dad’s funny that way.”

Shego raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure that was the case, but she did not press the issue and instead decided to just go back to her small apartment. Kim slipped the helmet on and they were off. Shego lived not too far, and so in just a minute or two they were there, at the small 3rd-floor walk-up that Shego called home. She checked the mail quickly. Her favorite magazine was there, as well as her phone bill.

Once they were upstairs, Shego shut the door, but did not lock it, she only did that at night and when she was not there. The apartment really was tiny, but it was also cozy. Kim had taken to giving it a “feminine touch” as she called it, and had gone so far as to hang new curtains on her windows. At least Kim hadn’t messed with her color scheme. It had taken her quite some time to find inexpensive dark-wood furniture. She’d always been fond of mahogany. Kim immediately flopped down on Shego’s bed, which was of good size and took up much of the single studio-style room. Her hair stood out brilliantly against the black bed-spread. Shego sat down on the edge and reached over to her nightstand to pull out a book she was reading for her classes when Kim stopped her. “Come on. If I can do homework and save the world, you can stop studying for more than five minutes while I’m here.”

“Princess, I’m trying to stop slacking off. You’re not helping.” She said, and pulled out the book with a self-satisfied smirk on her face. “Besides, I have to do something, if only so that I can say honestly to your parents that I haven’t defiled you.” The smirk widened slightly and Kim hugged her from behind.

“That’s not entirely true.” The Red-head reminded her, and Shego grinned at the memory. “You made me watch wrestling.” Shego chuckled and leaned back so that her head was on Kim’s lap, with her girlfriend stroking her hair.

“It was either that or a normal Soap Opera. I prefer the kind with body slams, lots of them.”

“At least you know it’s fake.” Kim smiled down at her as she mentioned that.

“Well, not all of it.” Shego replied, “Some of that stuff really hurts.”

“Whatever you say.”

“I do say. I say often, and loudly.”

Kim rolled her eyes. “You’re more like the German Shepard’s the police use. One word from me and you’re wagging your tail.”

“Right. Because I’m a puppy.” It was Shego’s turn to roll her eyes. Then she stood up and walked to her chair where she traditionally hung her leather coat. She fished in the pocket for a moment and then hid the contents behind her back. Kim was already up on her haunches, ready to pounce to see what it was.

“Down girl.” Shego said with wag of her finger. “No behave, no treat.” Kim raised her eyebrow and pounced anyway, and with a surprisingly agile move, Shego had caught her up and slammed her back to the bed using a move she had picked up from watching the wrestling show that Kim had so not enjoyed, eliciting a soft grunt from the red-headed instigator. “Fine. I guess I can take it back.”

And then came the secret weapon. The pouting lips, the big green eyes, and the entirely forlorn look. Compounding into the effect was the proximity. At only about six inches from her face, it was impossible to resist. “Gah!” Shego cried, and stood up, letting Kim sit up before handing her the velvet-covered box. Her eyes widened. It was interesting to see the expression on Kim’s face change from shock to confusion to elation when she saw the contents. Inside was a small silver traditional Cladagh ring. Mounted into the crown above the heart was a single small emerald.

“Shego…” Kim said, looking up at her with a slightly wondrous look, “How could you afford this?”

Shego smiled and put the ring on Kim’s left ring finger. “That’s my secret Princess. Some jobs pay better than being a security guard.” Another glance at the clock said it was time to go to the movies.