KIM POSSIBLE: TSOD – THE SHADOW OF INFINITY, CHAPTER FOURTEEN
"Just a little to the left!" the foreman yelled as he danced along the catwalk behind the building wall in front of him, using hand signals to coax the task along. "Just a little more! Just a little more! There! Now ease it in!"
On the other side of the wall, Roslyn "Roz" Anne Marie Possible, the alleged daughter of Kim Possible and Shego having come back from the future, was using her psionic telekinetic abilities to lift up large slabs of concrete wall and putting them into place on the shattered building in front of her. After a few moments of concentration, the slab slipped easily into place, held into place by metal prongs and mortar.
Roz, who had been airborne while telekinetically lifting the slab, softly landed next to her lover, the ninja known as Oni. Roz stopped to appreciate the beautiful Asian woman. Oni had her raven-with-blonde-highlights hair tied back in a ponytail. The 26 year old's normal outfit of an anime-inspired kunoichi ninja costume over a fishnet body stocking was replaced by faded tight jeans and a white cotton tank top. It was simple and utilitarian; heck, the camisole wasn't even all that glamorously cut. But Oni filled it out so nicely. And the sweat from the hard work...
Oni, who was stirring more mortar for the rest of the concrete slabs, cast an inquisitive glance up at Roz and saw how the younger woman was admiring her. Oni couldn't help but smirk in response. Roz wasn't exactly hard on the eyes, either. Roz's long raven hair, sporting impossible undertones of red, was also tied back in a ponytail. Roz's normal outfit normally consisted of multiple layers of ragged, earth-toned clothes that enveloped her body and completely hid her figure. Now, the 18 year old was wearing a dark green sports bra and dark green biker shorts, completely flaunting her genetically gifted figure and lustrous light-green skin. Many of the men working on the site couldn't help but stop and stare from time to time... and Oni couldn't blame them.
Dark brown eyes met dichromatic green eyes (one olive green, one emerald green) and both women smiled at each other.
This feels so weird, Roz admitted telepathically, sighing happily. Usually, we're running for our lives while we're watching everything fall apart. Now... now we're using our gifts to help rebuild. This is so new.
"And it's not like it's unappreciated," the foreman said as he approached the two women. "By you volunteering like this, Roz, we saved so much money we would have had to spend bringing in a crane. And Oni, with her blue glow powers, seems to be able to handle mixing the mortar, which saves us money bringing in a mixer."
"We're glad to be of assistance, Foreman-san," Oni replied, picking up a nearby towel and dabbing her neck with it. "As Roz-chan was just saying, this is indeed a refreshing change of pace."
"I sure wish I could find more people with your attitude," the foreman said. "While I'm currently gifted with a lot of good workers, I've met too many people who don't like to work."
Actually, if I don't flex my telekinetic muscles on a regular basis, I start getting migraines, Roz replied, crossing her eyes as she put fingers to both of her temples. Trust me, it's not fun.
"Well, I'm certianly not going to complain about you avoiding those migraines by working for me," the foreman laughed. "Listen, it's after 7 o'clock and the sun is starting to set. I think we've done all we can do today, which is a hell of a lot more than a normal crew would have done. Why don't you girls head home and get some rest so you're fresh for the morning."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Foreman-san," Oni said, bowing respectfully. "Domo arigato."
Yes, thank you very much, sir, Roz agreed, bowing just like Oni did.
"Well, off with you two," the foreman laughed. "You're not getting any rest by standing here bowing to me."
"True enough," Oni laughed. "Come on, Roz-chan. Let's head over to your grandparent's house and see if there is any dinner ready."
Oh, yes! Roz said, her eyes nearly sparkling with excitement as she followed Oni away from the construction site. Grandma said that we might have spaghetti tonight!
Oni playfully rolled her eyes. "It's so cute how the simple things please you so much."
Home-cooked spaghetti will always be better than a can of spaghetti loops with meatballs, Roz argued.
"Very, very true," Oni chuckled. Indeed, comparing their times on the run, scavenging for canned and unspoiled foods, to what they had now and Roz was indeed right. Dr. Anne Possible's cooking would indeed win every time.
As the two of them walked along, a voice called out to the two of them.
"Hey, Munchkin! Oni! Wait up!"
Recognizing the voice immediately, the two women turned to watch as one of Roz's two mothers, the ex-villainess known as Shego, ran up to them.
"Heading home, I presume?" Shego asked as she got into stride alongside the two other women.
"Actually, heading to the Doctors Possible's house," Oni replied. "They offered to cook the whole family dinner tonight. They figured we'd need it, especially Kim-san."
Shego nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, today was rough on Kimmie. I didn't exactly help, either."
Roz rose a brow to that. What happened, Momma?
Shego sighed. "I found out your mother used an attitudinator on Electronique."
Both Roz and Oni stopped and looked at Shego in disbelief. Both of them knew, from their own "history," that Shego had a pathological hatred of the attitudinator device.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Oni asked carefully.
Shego shook her head. "Naw, we Stage 3'd it. It helped Kimmie get some pent up aggression off of her chest, too, because she was really hating herself for doing it. Part of me understands. The power grid does need to get fixed and Electronique would be a great asset on our side against the Lowardians. But Kimmie doesn't know what it's like to be under that things effects." Shego shuddered slightly. "But she has been mind controlled before and she knows that isn't a pleasant feeling. So she was kicking herself in the ass just as hard as I wanted to kick her for doing it."
"So you two did work it out, though?" Oni asked.
"Oh, yeah, we're cool," Shego smiled softly. "She just needs some time alone to think and..."
I've got to find Mom, Roz suddenly gasped mentally, rising up into the air and flying off.
"Roz-chan, wait!" Oni started to argue, reaching up at Roz even though it was a futile effort.
Shego put a hand on Oni's shoulder. "Let her go, Oni. It's probably best if she sees with her own eyes that Kimmie's okay."
Oni nodded softly. Taking in a deep breath, she turned to the ex-villainess and decided to change the subject.
"Dinner?" Oni smiled sheepishly.
Shego's grin shifted closer to her trademark smirk. "I would be delighted... daughter-in-law."
Oni blushed slightly at that and walked with Shego on towards the Possible residence.
Kim Possible gazed off into the distance. She was standing on a cliff just outside of Middleton, one that overlooked the town. Back before her parent's time, the cliff had earned the nickname Lover's Perch because it was a popular spot to which teenagers to drive in order to make out. Tonight, it was isolated. Not many teenagers were thinking about love or lust at the moment. Middleton had taken great strides in rebuilding in the last month, but it still had a bit to go. Which was fine with Kim... she needed the isolation to think.
Kim's argument and fight with Shego earlier that day had been cathartic. It felt good to trade blows with Shego again. Kim knew that she should be disturbed that her marriage with Shego worked so well because the two of them did love to fight each other. But it was what it was. What disturbed Kim more was that Shego had been so passionately upset about the use of the attitudinator.
And Shego had every right to be upset.
It didn't matter that Kim was already beating herself up about it. Part of Kim knew that she should have tried harder to find a better course of action. Had Monique been there, the team's diplomat might have been able to reach out to Electronique without the use of the device. Then again, Dr. Pendus didn't succeed, so...
Kim sighed. In the end, all of the "shoulda-coulda-woulda" scenarios didn't mean a thing. The fact was that the attitudinator was now on Electronique's head. It had succeeded in making her an agreeable person again. But what scared Kim the most was that Electronique knew that she had been forcibly made into a good person. While Electronique couldn't harbor thoughts of evil, the villainess understood that if the device came off, she would start thinking evil thoughts. Electronique had even admitted to being scared of what she would be capable of doing to Kim if the device ever did come off.
That made Kim shudder. Was that what it had been like for Shego? Knowing that she was supposed to be evil but was being forced to be good? Not being able to hold a resentful thought but knowing she was supposed to do so? Still understanding what her evil persona would be capable of doing if she were to become evil?
Kim reached up and wiped a tear from her eyes as those thoughts crossed her mind.
And the Lowardians were quiet. Tactical sense would have dictated that the aliens would have pressed their advantage while all of the heroes were busy in rebuilding Middleton. Instead, the aliens had kept a low profile and not struck any other targets in the last month. That meant one of two things. Either their resources were not as consolidated as they would have liked the world to think—when the world didn't fall to its proverbial knees after the Middleton assault, the aliens had to regroup and restrategise—or the attack was nothing more than a distraction while the Lowardians built up their strength.
If it were the latter, that had horrific implications. That would mean that the Lowardians knew that Roz and Oni were here and that they were here to stop the aliens. Also, the aliens had just recently gained genetic samples of both Kim and Shego. If Roz was indeed supposed to have been the first of a new breed of super weapons at the Lowardian's beck and call, it may be that the heroes were being distracted while an army of Roz clones were being manufactured.
Could humanity stand against a threat like that?
Mommy?
Kim blinked and looked around. Finally, the redhead caught sight of her daughter. Roz touched down gently near Kim and then threw herself into her mother's arms.
Mom! Roz said softly into Kim's mind. Momma told me what happened. I wanted to see you... make sure you were okay.
Kim chuckled softly as she patted Roz's back. "It's okay, sweetheart. Momma and I worked it out like we always do. I'll admit I'm still not feeling good about myself, but at least I have you and Momma here to help me keep my head on straight."
Roz snuggled into Kim's arms. You sure you're okay? You're at a cliff and...
Kim gasped and hugged Roz tightly at that point. "Oh, no! No, no, no, no, no! I wasn't thinking about jumping. I just needed some space and fresh air to clear my head, that's all."
Thank you, Mom, Roz sighed. I don't know what I would have done if I came back to the past only to watch you die again.
Kim smirked at that one. "Not going to happen, baby. Not even the first time. I promise."
I'm holding you to that promise, Roz warned playfully, looking up at her mother.
Kim smiled as she looked down into Roz's eyes. "A bit off subject, but has anyone ever told you how beautiful your eyes are, having both your mother's and my eyes like that?"
Roz blushed and smirked. All of the time. Mostly from men trying to get into my pants.
Kim laughed out loud on that one. "Doesn't it suck having two of the most beautiful women on the planet as your parents and you got the best traits of both of them?"
I know, right? Roz laughed in return.
Kim thought for a moment and looked at Roz queerly.
That made Roz blink curiously back at Kim. What... what is it, Mom?
"Have... you ever tried talking out loud, sweetheart?" Kim asked.
Roz shook her head. No. I've spent most of my life on the run and a huge chunk of my life without both you and Momma. I guess it was just easier to let me use my telepathy than to try to teach me how to talk.
Kim nodded. "I'm suddenly curious about something."
Roz cocked her brow slightly and considered Kim. What's that, Mom?
Kim let go of her embrace on Roz, strode over to a spot on the ground nearby, bent over, and picked up a maple leaf. With that, she turned, smiled at Roz, and held up the prize in her hand. "We're going to try a little experiment."
Roz closed her eyes and chuckled softly when she realized what was going through her mother's head.
"Thank you two for helping out with dinner tonight," Dr. Anne Possible said as she exited the kitchen with a large bowl of spaghetti noodles in her hands. Quickly at her heels were Shego, with a huge pot of marinara sauce, and Oni, with a bowl of grated Parmesan cheese in one hand and a carousel of other spices in the other hand.
"Mom, you know I should have cooked in your stead," Shego admonished the older woman. "All I had to cope with today were some anal-retentive contractors and your daughter's angst. You worked your pretty ass off in that volunteer medical center making sure that everyone was taken care of. I could have handled dinner."
"I know, sweetie," Anne agreed as the three women set the fixings down on the dining room table. "But you'll understand once you find the present-day Roslyn. Having a child changes so much about you. I've been going to work and then coming home to cook for so long that I think I'd freak out if I weren't allowed to do it."
"She's right, Shego-san," Oni agreed, subconsciously counting out the places at the table. "I saw it in both you and Kim-san as Roz-chan was growing up. Even when on the run and having to fight Lowardian drones all day, both of you still found time to make sure that not only Roz-chan ate, but all of us did. Kim-san always cited Anne-sama as an inspiration whenever I asked about it."
That made Anne smiled brightly.
At that point, the doorbell rang.
"It shall be my honor to greet our guests," Oni said, bowing respectfully before leaving the room.
Anne smiled patiently as she watched the beautiful Asian woman leave the room. "You know, Shego, Hana changed so much because of the dark future they're from."
"I'm not too terribly familiar with the present-day Hana," Shego admitted. "I never met her until after I got together with Kimmie. But what I've seen today's Hana in the last couple of weeks and what I see in Oni are two different people."
"War can really change a person," Anne agreed. "The way Oni and Roz describe the future you..."
Shego growled at that, causing Anne to pause and look at Shego apologetically. Shego caught the look and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Shego said. "You're right. If anything, my hatred of my future self just proves your point. I hate what I turn out being because of Kimmie's death."
Anne placed a reassuring hand on Shego's shoulder and smiled softly. Shego couldn't help but smile softly back.
"We interrupting anything?" came a jestful, feminine voice from the other side of the living room doors.
Shego and Anne glanced up to see Felix and Zita walk into the room. Well, okay, Felix didn't so much walk as he did roll in his wheelchair, but...
"Not yet," Shego purred, causing Anne to blush slightly. "But had you been two minutes later..."
"Sheila Marie!" Anne gasped jokingly, causing the three other people in the room to laugh.
"What's wrong, Shego," Felix said as he rolled up to his spot at the table. "Is Kim not keeping up with you anymore?"
"It's the red hair, I swear," Shego said. "Especially if the carpet matches the dra... OUCH!"
Shego rubbed the back of her head and looked at Anne. Anne smiled smugly, content in her status as the only person on the planet who could get away with smacking Shego on the back of the head.
"Chica, you are one loca por el sexo woman," Zita laughed as she sat next to her husband.
"Says the woman who has the sort of twinkle in her eye that makes her look like she should be singing a certain Akon/Long Island song," Shego smirked.
Zita blushed furiously and scrunched down into her chair.
"Let me tell you, it was the best thirty seconds of my life," Felix joked.
Zita's eyes bugged out and she viciously smacked Felix's shoulder before joining the rest of the room in their laughter.
"Oh, did I miss something?" came another feminine voice.
The four people in the room turned to see five more people enter the room. Kim's best friend, Monique, was standing there as William and Edward Goldberg, the Wego twins, scampered quickly to their seats. Monique's parents, Michael and Yolanda Rochon, entered the room after Monique and the Weegs. Yolanda was carrying a casserole dish.
Shego glanced admonishingly at the Weegs as they took their seats. "You two twits better be grateful. I made the sauce."
Both William and Edward's eyes lit up on that.
"Mom's Special..." William said, looking at Edward.
"...Spaghetti Sauce!" Edward added, looking at William.
"Yum!" they both exclaimed in unison.
"Thank you for inviting us over, Dr. Possible," Michael said as he helped his wife into her seat.
"Please, it's Anne," Anne smiled. "And you're very welcome. Is that the candied sweet potatoe casserole Monique was telling me about?"
Yolanda smiled as Michael took the casserole dish and placed it on the table. "It is. I hope you guys all like it."
"They will!" both William and Edward said in unison. Monique chuckled at the sight as she sat down between her two husbands.
"Hey, Aunt Anne!" came another voice, more child-like than before.
"Hana! Sweetie!" Anne smiled as she moved to greet the eight-year-old child running into the room. "Are your parents okay?"
"Which set?" Hana laughed. "My biological mom and stepdad are doing okay now, if that's what you mean. I made sure they had a decent meal and were sound asleep before Mom and Dad picked me up."
"Good," Anne nodded.
"I knew I could count on you to make those two behave sensibly, Squirtling," Shego said as she walked over and ruffled the little girls' raven with blonde highlights hair. "Both Will and Yori have been working too hard since the attack."
"Yeah," Hana agreed. "I also left a nice breakfast in the oven for when they wake up."
"Good for you," Shego smiled.
"Thank you for having us over, Anne," came the voice of Lonnie Stoppable, the mother of the late Ron Stoppable. Her husband, Donald, was right behind her.
"This is family night and you're family," Anne agreed. "Come in, sit down. I'm sure the rest will be here shortly."
Ronald handed Shego a large crock pot. "This is the split pea soup that Lonnie is famous for."
Shego looked at the older man curiously. "Split pea?"
"You should try it, sweetie," Anne said as she cleared off some space for the crock pot. "Lonnie used to make it all of the time while the kids were growing up. We'd trade off eating at each other's house on Sundays."
Lonnie smiled sadly as she sat down. "Yeah, I miss those days."
"I love you, Mommy," Hana said quickly, hugging onto the woman who was in actuality her biological grandmother.
Lonnie smiled softly and hugged onto the eight year old child. "I love you too, Hana."
"Just three more sets of people and the rest of my family and we should be set," Anne said, clapping her hands together.
"Don't worry, I'm here!" came a male voice from through the doorway. "We can get the party started now."
"Oh, shut up your fat mouth, Myron," Shego laughed as her next elder brother, Myron Goldberg, aka Mego, walked into the room. With Mego was his wife, noted biochemist Dr. Krista "Kris" Novak-Goldberg and their five year old son, Jesse James "JayJay" Goldberg.
"Love ya too, sis!" Mego laughed as he and Shego shared a warm hug.
"Hi, everyone!" JayJay announced as he ran around the table. He then hugged tightly onto Monique. "Mommy? Can I sit by Aunt Monique? Please? Please?"
Monique bit her lower lip and blushed. Considering a certain comment that Oni had made when Monique first met her, JayJay's attachment to her took on a whole new light.
"Maybe later during movie time, if you behave," Kris warned as she sat down. "In the meantime, come sit down next to Daddy and I."
"Please?" JayJay pleaded, holding onto Monique more tightly.
The Weegs looked at their wife curiously as Monique's blush deepened.
"Now, JayJay," Mego said sternly, pointing at the chair next to Kris.
"Yes, sir," JayJay sighed, reluctantly letting go of Monique and shuffling around the table to his designated spot. Monique's heart almost broke when she saw it.
"Two sets left," Shego pointed out. Then she turned to Mego, who was sitting down. "Please tell me you remembered..."
"That girl that looks like a grown-up Hana is fetching the five rhubarb pies out of the trunk as we speak," Mego quickly pointed out.
"You're having the woman who is effectively my daughter-in-law do your heavy lifting?" Shego snapped.
"And risk my delicate fingers if I did it?" Mego laughed, earning a playful slap from his wife.
"Never fear, citizens, for I have leant my considerable strength to aid the beleaguered lass," came yet another voice.
The assembled people turned to see a tall, large man with dark blue hair and light blue skin step into the room. Two pies were in one hand while a covered platter was in the other.
"See, Meeg," Shego laughed, pointing to the man. "Even our stupid lug of an older brother isn't afraid of a little work."
"Work is overrated," Mego chuckled, crossing his arms.
"And Uncle Henry isn't a lug, Aunt Sheila!" JayJay smarted off.
Shego immediately enveloped the child in a hug. "Thank you for picking the right one to deny, love."
That earned Shego a playful slap from Kris.
As Henry Goldberg, aka Hego, stepped into the room with the food, his wife, Dr. Vivian Francis Porter, shuffled into the room behind him. She was carrying a third pie.
Anne was immediately across the room and taking Vivian by the arm. "My God, Vivian. I know James said you took maternity leave earlier this month, but you look positively aglow with this child."
Vivian gladly accepted Anne's assistance to her designated chair. "Thank you, Anne. Yes, 'aglow' in one polite way of putting it."
Lonnie looked at Vivian appraisingly. "How far along are you, dear?"
Vivian smiled at Lonnie. "37 weeks now. And let me tell you, I'm so ready for Hank Jr. to be part of this world."
"A boy? Congratulations," Lonnie said.
"Thank you," Vivian replied.
"Okay, Heeg, go ahead and set that food down on the table right there," Shego said, pointing to an empty spot on the table.
As soon as Hego safely set the two pies and the platter on the table, Shego flared up her fist and suckerpunched the big blue superhero straight in the nads.
"That is for not helping your wife into the house, you jackass!" Shego snapped as Hego doubled over in pain.
JayJay busted up laughing at that point.
Shego smirked at her nephew. "Remember to always be a gentleman, okay, JayJay?"
"Yes, ma'am!" JayJay concurred, saluting Shego as his mother hid her face and his father chuckled softly at Hego's expense.
Hego limped over to the chair next to Vivian. Vivian held out a concerned hand to Hego.
"Are you okay, dear?" Vivian asked, fear in her eyes.
"Oh, yeah," Hego grinned painfully and nodded, his voice cracking from the pain. "Sheeg and I used to play like this all of the time as kids. Trust me, I'll still be able to give you more children."
Vivian laughed and hugged Hego's neck tightly. "That's not what I'm worried about, you big lug!" she laughed.
"Uncle Henry isn't a lug!" JayJay snapped from across the table.
"Behave yourself, JayJay," Kris said.
"Yes, ma'am," JayJay sighed. "But I was just defending Uncle Henry."
"It's okay, little chum," Hego groaned, taking a deep breath to center himself. "We both know it's you and me against all of the villainy of the world, right?"
"That's right!" JayJay agreed, nodding emphatically. That elicited several smiles from around the table.
"One more group," Anne said as she stepped forward. She glared at Shego and waved a finger at her, causing Shego to smile sheepishly and shrug. Anne then stepped up to the platter and lifted the metal dome lid.
"Oooh!" Anne cooed. "Dinner rolls!"
"The platter is electric," Vivian pointed out. "So the rolls stayed warm and soft on our way here."
"They look delicious," Anne agreed.
"I reckon y'all'll need some help eatin' them then, huh?" came a voice from the other room.
Anne smiled and stood up to see two men walk into the room. One was her husband, Dr. James Possible. The other was the man who had just spoke, James' older brother, Slim.
"Mommy! Daddy! Dadda!" came the voice of three year old Omarion, who raced into the room and straight to Monique and the Weegs.
"Mamá! Papá!" came the voice of three year old Marquita, who raced into the room and straight to Zita and Felix.
Oni, who was carrying the last two pies, strode into the room after James and Slim. As Oni set the pies down on the table, James walked over and gave Anne a quick hello kiss. He then stepped aside so that Slim could give Anne a hug.
"Well, Pa, looks like the gang's all here," smiled Slim's auburn-haired 19 year old daughter, Jocelyn "Joss" Possible. Her boyfriend and Team Possible's financier and tech guru, 19 year old Dr. Wade Load, was with her.
"Yo, Wade! Making a live appearance for once?" Felix joked at his best friend.
"Haha!" Wade smirked. "Yes, yes I am. I do it more often than you give me credit for."
"Yes, he does," Joss purred, causing Slim to do a quick, wide-eyed double-take at his daughter.
As everyone shuffled about the thankfully large table, James looked around the table. "Actually, Joss, we're missing two people."
"Three actually," Shego corrected, looking around the table.
"Oh, Drakken sends his regards," Wade quickly said. "He, uh, had some experiments going on that he didn't want to leave unattended."
Shego chuckled and shook her head. "Figures. Oh, and Kimmie and Roz will be here shortly. I hope."
Lonnie cocked a brow at Shego. "You hope?"
"Well, um," Shego started to explain. "You see, she..."
"...is right here, Angel!"
"Princess!" Shego gasped as Kim literally came flying into the room and glomped onto the verdant-hued beauty. "Wow! You're suddenly in a really good mood. Not that I'm complaining, of course..."
"Breakthrough, Sheila!" Kim rambled excitedly. "Breakthrough! We hit a breakthrough!"
"Breakthrough on what?" Shego asked, eying her wife curiously. "The Lowardians?"
"No, no!" Kim replied, shaking her head. "Something better. Something much, much better!"
"What is it?" Shego asked.
"Better to show you!" Kim said. "Oni, you have to see this, too!"
"Me too!" Hana cried out from across the table.
"Of course you too, Mini-Me," Oni laughed, crossing her arms. She then looked over at Kim. "What is it that has you so excited, Kim-san?"
"You'll love it!" Kim said. Her energy was so abundant, it was affecting everyone in the room. Everyone was starting to get excited at that point. Kim then turned to the doorway. "It's okay, baby! Come on in!"
At that, Roz stepped into the room. She had put on a pair of black slacks and a light green dress shirt, but she had left the shirt open, exposing the dark green sports bra underneath. Roz was blushing a deep color of green. She glanced up and saw the sheer number of people in the room and balked.
Kim strode over and took Roz confidently by the shoulders. "Roslyn, darling, it's okay. I know it's a lot of people and you don't do well with crowds. But if you look around, it's nothing but family and we all support each other. So, come on. Let's show 'em what we did today!"
Roz nodded briskly and took in a deep breath. She took in another. And then another.
Oni rose a brow to Kim at that point. "Kim-san, what did you do today? Is Roz-chan okay?"
Kim smiled and held up a hand. "Wait for it."
Roz took in one final deep breath, then looked at Oni straight in the eyes. She smiled sheepishly and held up a maple leaf. The same leaf that Kim had picked up earlier on Lover's Perch.
Oni's brow furrowed in confusion on that. "Um, okay? So, yeah, that's a..."
"Leaf."
Everyone in the room was absolutely floored at what they had just heard. The voice was somewhat hoarse and raspy and a lot different than what they had expected. A lot different than what they had all grown used to telepathically. But it had indeed been Roz who had said the word.
Out loud.
Oni's jaw dropped in astonishment as she looked at her girlfriend. Roz steeled up her courage and walked over to Oni. She held up the maple leaf between the two of them and smiled bravely at Oni.
"Leaf!"
Oni finally closed her mouth again, her lower lip quivering as tears began to well up in her eyes.
I did it, Oni! Roz said, reverting back to her telepathy. I said my first word! Mommy's teaching me how to talk!
"It...," Oni began to say, her voice cracking under the strain of her emotions. "It's... your voice. It's... it's so beautiful. Your voice is so beautiful."
At that, Roz dropped the leaf and hugged onto Oni tightly. Oni, caught up in her emotions, pulled Roz's head back and kissed her soundly. Roz was caught by surprise at that, but quickly melted into the kiss. Once they broke the kiss and returned to their hug, crying softly into each other's shoulders, Shego and Kim moved in to join them in the hug while everyone else stood up and started clapping for Roz.
"This calls for a celebration!" Anne announced finally. "Who all is ready for dinner!"
Not a single person in the room didn't say "ME!" at that point.
[END CHAPTER FOURTEEN]
NOTE: If you're liking this story, you might enjoy my other KP stories as well. If you haven't already, go to my profile and try out the SOC Road Trip stories (now lumped together in one Storms Over Colorado package) plus my new Chrono Trigger crossover story, Chrono Sitch.