Kimberly Anne Possible sat alone at the kitchen table of her home sipping wine. She normally didn't drink this early in the afternoon but today was different. The last few days had been a roller-coaster ride.
After they had retrieved her father and Gracie from just outside Middleton they had endured almost a full day of debriefing from GJ before finally being able to leave. They had been debriefed on the DNAmy lab, on her father's lab robbery, and then finally on the aquatic lair rescue mission Gracie had went on.
The story of that rescue had been the strangest part of all in that she was equally angry and proud of her eldest daughter. Her father had tried to mitigate on Gracie's behalf but Kim had told him that they would handle this. She and Shego had talked to Gracie for hours afterwards to learn the details of what happened. Afterwards, and after much argument, Gracie had been grounded for a month.
Kim still hadn't figured out the Red Raider. It was obvious that he had some agenda that they had not figured out yet. No matter what the Raider had done he had placed her daughter in extreme danger, which was unforgivable. However, he had also risked so much to keep her safe. This was a mystery that she fully intended to solve. Just not right now.
It was now two days later, a Thursday night to be exact and Kim had put this off long enough. There was something she had left out of the GJ debriefing that she had not yet even told Shego. Kim picked up her Kimmunicator and dialed in her daughter.
"Hi, mom just got of class. Going to find momma before she comes looking for me", said Gracie.
"Would you like to go over to Mary's house for a little while tonight?"
"Yes, I would but aren't I still grounded?"
"Not tonight. There is something I need to discuss with your momma. Abby has taken Nicholas to pick up the girls and they are going out for some ice cream".
"Is everything alright mom? I told you I'm so sorry about what happened at the Science Center".
"Everything's fine Gracie. Your momma and I just need to talk by ourselves for a while".
"Alright then, are you going to tell momma because she might not believe me?"
"I'll tell her. Be home around 7:00 for dinner".
"I will. Thanks mom".
Kim then called Shego and explained that Gracie was going over to Mary's. Shego initially balked, but Kim explained that it was better this way as they had something to discuss. Kim poured another glass of wine and sat drinking with her mind lost in thought until she heard the front door open.
When Shego entered the house she knew something was up. Not only her wife's cryptic message about needing to talk but her daughter getting out of being grounded so soon. Now she noticed the house was too quite. The kids aren't home. What is going on? She put down her bag and took off her jacket and entered the kitchen. She saw Kim sitting at the table smiling up at her over a glass of wine and a half empty bottle before her.
"A little early for that isn't it?"
"Not today", said Kim raising her glass, "join me?"
"Well, why not". Shego procured her own glass and sat down at the table as Kim poured her a generous portion of wine. Something is up, thought Shego. Kim had been acting a little strange since their last mission against the Raider. Shego thought it might have just been Gracie's involvement but maybe she was wrong.
Kim, sighed heavily, and appeared about to speak but seemed lost on where to begin. So Shego took the initiative.
"Ron mentioned to me that something happened with you when we took down the Raider/DNAmy lair. Is that what this is about?"
Kim sat her wine glass down and sat up straighter in her chair. "Yes, it is. It's just that I've debated how best to discuss it with you".
"I'm a big girl, Kim. Just tell me". It wasn't like Kim to beat around the bush like this. What has her so on edge? It's like she has reverted to the shy schoolgirl routine.
Kim stared at Shego for a few moments as if waging an internal struggle and then she pulled something out from under the table. It was a small container about the size of a wrist watch box.
"Bloody hell…." Shego recognized the box immediately and her breath left her body as if she had been punched in the gut.
Kim opened the box and inside was a small device like a hand buzzer. "Project Cradle", whispered Kim.
Shego had not seen a device like this in over a decade and she pushed her chair back away from the table as if the device was dangerous. Who was she kidding that device was dangerous.
"I had Wade scan it. It's the same as the ones we used before and it's still viable".
"You found this at the lair and said nothing?" Shego said, her anger rising.
"Yes, it was kept under DNAmy's previous projects".
"What does she do? Leave these things around like land mines. I thought she swore never to do something like this again!"
"It doesn't matter why she did it. What matters is that we now have it".
She wants to use it. She really wants to use it, thought Shego. "So you have already made up your mind".
"No", said Kim a bit too quickly for Shego's taste. "I'm only showing this to you. Eme, we don't have the same options that most other married couples have. I just wanted to show you so we could talk about this".
"Just talk?"
"Just talk".
"So talk".
Kim knew that she needed to tread carefully here. Shego had begun to get that deer caught in the headlights look. She knew that the wrong move or phrase and Shego could bolt and the discussion would be over.
"Eme, we have an opportunity that I did not believe we would ever have again".
"Kim, we are not that young anymore."
"We are not that old either. Countless couples have children at our age."
"We have established careers".
"I have just put the last touches to the fourth Feronia Syndicate book (a science fiction series about rebels fighting and winning an interstellar war versus an evil tyrant) and the publisher is very pleased. You are a well-established teacher with no other commitments".
"No other commitments. What about GJ. What about Dementor, Drakken, and the Raider all presently on the loose causing trouble and we are the best suited to take them down?" Shego crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair.
"Eme, there will always be a Drakken or some other villain out there gunning for us. That's who we are. I will not allow them to define my life choices and neither do I believe will you".
"We have four children already and Nicholas is still just a baby".
"True. But by the time a new baby is born he would be almost two and the girls even older. We have ample money and you know it. We can expand the house if necessary. It's not like we ever needed and excuse doing it before".
"You're right Kim we are a family and the family should be part of any decision like this".
"I agree. I want us to talk to them as soon as they get home this evening but I wanted you and me to talk first".
Kim rose up from the table and walked around to sit upon Shego's lap. She wrapped her arms around her neck and rested her head upon her shoulder. "You have given me more love and happiness than I ever thought to find. Our family has been the joy of my wildest dreams". Kim sat back and looked into Shego's eyes. "Fifteen years ago I didn't have a choice or a chance to think about this. I took a chance on a wanted criminal", Shego rolled her eyes at this, "and I have never regretted it".
"It still sounds like you have already made up your mind".
"No, I haven't. However, I'm intrigued, capable, and in love. That is a dangerous combination for any woman to be in".
"I'm not going to say yes or no, yet. But I might need some time to think about this and we still need to talk to Abby and the girls", said Shego. Kim leaned forward and kissed Shego long and hard.
Abby pulled up to the palace just as Gracie was being dropped off by Mary's parents. Gracie came and took Nicholas as Abby got Emily and Zoe inside. The girls were discussing the virtues of different flavors of ice cream when they entered the house. Abby saw Kim and Shego sitting next to each other on the living room sofa whispering to each other. Her trained agent instincts kicked in and she knew something was wrong. Kim had been acting weird the last few days as if she had something on her mind. Well, it looks like they have finally talked about whatever it was.
"We're back", said Gracie who hadn't yet clued in to her parents behavior. "What's for dinner?"
"We ordered a pizza and it should be here in a little while", said Kim as she looked up from her whispered conversation with Shego. "Please everyone come in and sit down. You come in too Abby". Shego whispered something to Kim and she whispered back and shook her head.
Oh, something definitely is going on, thought Abby. She brought the girls in and Emily and Zoe sat in their television viewing chairs. Gracie sat with Nicholas on her lap on the second couch and Abby sat next to her.
Kim took Shego's hand in her own and Abby could see that Shego had the look of someone who had swallowed a large bug. What's up she thought?
"We wanted to discuss something with all of you that is very important. We have an opportunity to do something that will affect the family and before we make any decisions we wanted your input".
Abby could see that Gracie was as confused as she was so she didn't know what was going on. Emily kept making a back and forth motion of her head between her parents. Zoe appeared the most ambivalent as she reached down and began reading the television listings. So Abby decided to take the plunge, "So what's the sitch".
"We have an opportunity to have another baby", said Kim.
"You mean adoption like Nicholas?" asked Gracie.
"No, I mean another baby of ours", said Kim as she raised her and Shego's hands.
Abby did not speak the words but she mouthed the phrase, "You found another one". Kim and Shego nodded in unison.
"Wow!" said Gracie. "That's wonderful, I love it". She bounced Nicholas on her knee in excitement. The baby laughed in happy glee at Gracie's actions.
"You mean that mother would have another baby?" asked Emily.
"Yes, dear" said Kim.
"So that means we wouldn't be the youngest girls anymore?" said Zoe.
"That's correct".
"Sweet", said Emily and Zoe together as they bumped fists.
"Yes, but we are still just talking about this", said Shego. "I know this would be a new responsibility for all of us and especially for Abby".
"Oh bull, I would love it. We already have Nicholas so another baby would not be any real difference. Besides, being a part of this family is so important to me. You have given me so much. This would be a wonderful opportunity for both of you".
"Yes, and I could help as well", said Gracie.
"So I'm getting that if we decide to do this then all of you are alright with this?" asked Kim. Abby and all the girls nodded their heads in unison.
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Late that evening in their bed Kim and Shego lay on their sides facing each other unable to sleep.
"We need some time to think about this", said Shego.
"I know. Believe me I know", said Kim.
"I'm not saying the idea doesn't appeal to me it's just that I never expected us to be in this position again".
"Me too, I think we have beaten ourselves up for one day. We can always start this again tomorrow". Shego lay down and Kim snuggled close and laid her head on her shoulder. Sleep was not quick to come to either of them that first night.
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The following week was one long running debate. Shego would make a point and Kim would argue the merits. Then they would change sides and argue the same point again. Back and forth it went. Occasionally Abby or Gracie would be brought into the debate but the major participants were Kim and Shego. They alternated days with one being pro and other being con to the idea of the new baby. Shego was not always against the idea and Kim was not always for it. Shego's main disappointment was that the debate totally stifled any other intimate activity for the week.
It was next Friday that the world decided to change.
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Doctor Betty Director of GJ sat in her office and read her many communications. She planned to take this weekend off so she wanted to finish or at least stabilize as many of her present projects as she could. Her door chimes sounded and she buzzed the door open.
Senior special agent Will Du entered the office carrying his tablet and a cup of coffee. He approached the director's desk and placed the coffee next to Betty.
"You know Will you don't always have to do that every time we meet".
"Yes director".
"What have you got for me this morning?" Betty said while drinking the coffee.
"Mostly standard stuff, we have three operations in progress against known terrorist groups that should be completed by the weekend. Two Central African dictators are threatening to start a war that might destabilize the region. Three new minor villains have appeared. First, the Crumbler, some kind of breakfast baking villain that has surfaced in France. Second, the Succubus Syndicate, an all-female seduction squad based in Brazil. Third, the Mad Hatter, an explosive hat wielding villain in Great Britain.
"Where do they find these idiots? What about our three musketeers?"
"I assume you are referring to Drakken, Dementor, and the Red Raider".
"Yes".
"Well it seems that their alliance broke up after the Middle Rocket and Science Center Robbery. Apparently they all double crossed each other. Drakken managed to get away with most of the technology, Dementor got away with the Raider's armor, and the Raider disappeared after retrieving Dr. Possible and his granddaughter. Latest intelligence reports have both Dementor and the Raider seeking out Drakken. I would assume for payback and or to retrieve whatever technology they were working to create".
Doctor Director sat in thought for a moment. "What did you think of the debriefing we took from the Possible family after we recovered them from the Raider?"
"I felt that they were holding something back. Especially Kim Possible and her daughter Gracie Possible".
"Me too, but I didn't push it at the time".
"Do you think there's a problem?"
"Not yet but I don't think we're done with those three villains yet and I think the Possibles know more than they are telling".
"What do we do now?"
"For now we wait and see if these three idiots do the dirty work for us. If Dementor, Drakken, and the Raider take each other out then it's likely we will be able to track the chaos back to the victor and then make our move".
"I dislike relying on the work of the villains to do my job", sneered Will.
"I agree but it's one of our greatest advantages".
"How do you mean director?"
"The way they betray each other all the time. The greatest weakness of evil is that it feeds on itself. Now being the good guys we sometimes fall for the sucker punch but in the end we can turn our backs to each other and not be stabbed in it. They don't have that luxury. That's why in the end we will win".
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It was now late Friday morning. Kim had cleared everything up with her publisher and she had no present projects that demanded her attention. Her parents had agreed to take Nicholas and the girls for the weekend and she had cleared things with Abby. She had already talked with Gracie and she would be staying the night at Mary's. This had been such a long week but it was worth it. It was now time to put her plan into action.
Friday's were lunch days for Shego and Gracie at school. This week had been long and tiring. No matter how much Shego had tried to concentrate on work she kept going back to thinking about Kim. Kim and that darned device. She had always dreamed of a large family and now she had one. She had the family she always dreamed of. A family that brought her great joy but when was enough, enough?
"Momma, hey momma", asked Gracie as she tried to get Shego's attention.
"Sorry dear. I kind of zoned out there for a second". Oh, Kim I really are losing it if I can't even pay attention to our daughter at lunch.
"I figured that. You and mom still locked in the baby debate?"
"Yes, you know we are".
Gracie watched her parent for little while and then thought maybe she had something to add to the debate. "Momma, you know recently, I was speaking with an associate of mine and what we discussed might have a bearing on this debate".
"An associate? This associate didn't happen to be a boy did it?"
"Yes, it was a male associate but not a boy. He complemented me on my caring personality and on the upbringing I had received from my parents". He also happened to be a super villain and a killer. But somehow I still kind of liked him.
"Your point?"
"My point is that you and mom are great parents. Any child would be blessed to have you as a parent. I know I am".
"Thank, you dear". We did alright by you, Gracie. Even if you are a tad reckless and headstrong. We raised her well Kim, she thought.
"Oh by the way I'm staying over at Mary's house tonight. Mom said I could".
"Your mother and I need to have a discussion on the nature of your being grounded".
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Thunderstorms came through Middleton that afternoon. As Shego drove home through the storms she was not looking forward to a weekend full of more baby debate. Maybe she could put a moratorium on the baby debate for one weekend. Yeah, like Kim would ever agree to that.
When she got home she just beat the rain to the front door. Before she opened the door she noticed a note hung on the outside of it.
"The kids are with my parents. Abby has gone to visit a friend. You already know Gracie is gone for the evening. I am here and waiting for you. If you want to see me I ask only that you leave the trappings of the world outside and open your heart and your mind. Kim."
How corny can she get? If this is some secret seduction plan she has in store for me, it might work. Shego entered the house to find it dark as the lights were off and the darkness of the storms outside prevented any sunlight from coming in. She fumbled for a light and found her way to the kitchen where she dropped off her bag and her coat. When she went to the stairs she found a second note.
"If you want me then I ask that you remember the love we share and that it began on a dark and stormy night like this one. Kim."
Shego walked up the stairs and toward their bedroom to find the door closed and another note.
"If you want to feel me than I ask that you remove most of your clothes and your inhibitions. Kim."
Shego removed her clothes until she was left with only her black bra and panties. I have to admit she is working very hard here. When Shego slowly opened the door she leaned against the frame. The room was lit by several candles and despite being ready for most anything Shego almost gasped at the sight of Kim.
Kim was kneeling in the middle of their bed. She was wearing an emerald-green teddy, matching choker, stockings, and her hair was pulled up by a matching colored tie. The sight was stunning in that she looked like the picture of innocence and love. However, it was just then that lighting shown through the window causing Kim to momentarily flash from innocence to a devilish sultry vixen and then back to innocence as the light faded. Damn, lightning strike again pleaded Shego as her heart almost burst from the site.
"Are you just going to stand there all evening?" purred Kim.
"Just admiring the view".
"See something you like? Maybe you should come closer". Shego crossed the room slowly trying to appear nonchalant but never taking her eyes off Kim's eyes.
"It seems you have made plans. Do tell me what intrigue have I stumbled into?" Kim patted the bed in front of her and Shego climbed on kneeling in front of Kim. Both women took a moment to stare at each other admiring their spouse.
"I must admit that I do have an ulterior motive other than the pleasure of your company". Kim held up her hand and dangling from a string was the Project Cradle buzzer. Shego knew it would be there. She knew the second she had seen the first note. This was it, the moment of truth. Shego took the device and weighed it in her hand. A small spark of plasma would be all it took to remove the device from temptation.
"It's all up to you Eme. You know how I feel about you and our family. No matter what you decide, know that my feelings for you will remain the same".
Shego tried not to look into Kim's eyes because she knew that if she did, she would be lost to them. She did it anyway. Kim eyes were a mixture of hope and fear. Then the lightning struck outside again and for an instant her eyes appeared capricious and wicked. The startling change actually made Shego giggle like a little girl. Kim's face scrunched up in confusion as she did not expect that response. Shego put the device on her left hand.
"Are you really sure? I mean really sure?" Asked Shego placing her hands on Kim's shoulders but keeping her fingers clear of Kim's body.
"Really, really", answered Kim.
Shego embraced Kim and they hugged each other. "I love you", they said to each other in unison.
The next lightning strike sounded like it almost hit the house and both women jumped grabbing each other reflexively. Kim and Shego both felt the sting of the buzzer against Kim's chest and Kim shrieked in delight.
Oh my god, what have I done, thought Shego.
"You are all my mine now!" screamed Kim as she tackled her wife to the bed. Soon all was lost in a pile of clothes and a tangle of sheets. As the storm raged on outside the universe smiled in approval of a rare and wonderful thing. A perfect moment of joy and happiness.
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Only about a hundred yards away from the happy couple the universe was not so happy. A lone figure stood unmoving on the street outside the Possible home. He wore a dirty trench coat that he had taken from a homeless vagrant. He had left the vagrant asleep in an abandoned building with two one hundred-dollar bills in his hand.
The rain washing down his red mask looked like rivers of tears. He almost wished they were tears. He had never cried in his life. Regardless of pain or loss. It just never seemed right for him.
Suddenly a rather close lightning strike illuminated the night and an indicator light started to blink on his wrist control. So the device was deployed. Stage two was now complete. His trust in a mother's love had been successful.
He now had roughly nine months to gain control of the project from those who stole it from him. The plan wasn't going exactly as he intended but his final goal was still within his grasp.
It was now time for him to go on the hunt. He needed his armor back which meant Dementor must come first. He started to turn away but hesitated for a moment to look back at the Possible house.
All the things he had done so far would pale in comparison to what he would eventually have to do. Could they ever forgive him? He once again looked to the flashing indicator on his wrist and touched the control and the light went out. "Timetable cleared".
Author's Notes:
The mystery of the device has been solved. This chapter was the hardest to write so far. I had such a clear picture of it in my mind but when it came to expressing the feelings involved it proved difficult. I would love some feedback on how I did, even if it's not flattering. That is how we improve after all.
Kim possible and all characters associated with it are the Copyrighted property of the Disney Corporation and the creation of Bob Schooley and Mark Mckorkle. Any characters of Disney's Kim Possible are used without their permission but for non-profit purposes.