This is a filler (mostly)! Warning you now. I need them to be on better terms before next chapter.

Chapter Twenty-five:
The Dew of Little Things

Anne Possible glanced at the time. It was nearly eight o'clock and Kim had yet to call. It was possible she had forgotten, but a mother's worry was a mother's worry. At a quarter after eight, Anne found her phone and dialed for Kim.

It wasn't until the fourth ring that someone answered. That someone was a very tired sounding Shego. "Hello?"

"Shego? It's Anne. Kim's mother."

"Ah, oh, hey, Mrs. Dr. P. I'd hand the phone to Kim, but she's sleeping. I don't want to wake her."

Anne nodded. "I think that's a good idea. She hasn't been getting much sleep lately from what I can tell." She paused, hoping for the best but expecting worse. "So… Did you two make up?"

There was a soft sigh from Shego's side of the phone. "Uh, yeah, I guess you can say that." Her voice was hesitant, but Anne couldn't decipher a definite reason why.

They shared a moment of silence, only slightly awkward. Anne was the one to break it. "How are you feeling, Shego? I know that seeing it had to be quite a shock for you..." Anne didn't expect an answer. Shego seemed always reserved despite her callous attitude. The question felt like it could be intruding on private thoughts.

To Anne's surprise, Shego answered. "I... I don't know how I'm feeling. I just..." A sigh. "I care for Kim, I really freaking do. And I want to keep her safe. But..." She swore at herself before continuing. "If anything happens to her because of me, I don't think I could stand it."

"She cares about you too," Anne assured. "As long as you stick by her, it'll be okay. I'm positive of that. She's been having some trouble lately, and I'm sure that it would've been ten times as worse without you. Infinitely worse if you hadn't saved her."

"I don't wanna think about that."

"Neither do I." Anne hummed, knowing their thoughts had already been pulled in that direction. She changed the subject. "I was wondering, Shego, if you wouldn't mind having dinner with us a little over a week from now? The Thursday after next."

"I don't know…"

"Please? It'd mean a lot to us. I asked Kim to ask you, but I get the feeling she hasn't gotten around to it."

After a pause, Anne received an answer. "I'm gonna ask Kim if she's okay with it first. It'd just… I'd be a lot more comfortable with it that way."

"Sounds fine, dear. I'm sure she'll want you to go, but your comfort is important."

"Thanks… I should go though. I'll tell Kim to call you when she wakes up."

"Thank you, dear. I hope to see you at dinner."

"Bye."

"It was nice talking to you."

Anne hit end on the call. She felt better now knowing Kim had gotten through to Shego.

After ending the call with Anne, Shego wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep. But, in turning from where she stood just outside the bedroom, she couldn't even pretend she had the power to climb back under the covers. Had her bed been empty, she wouldn't have given a second thought to cuddling into her pile of blankets.

But Kim was there. She looked peaceful and the last thing Shego wanted to do was disturb her. So Shego turned heel and went to her living room. It was definitely time for her to be awake anyway.

She flipped the television on at a low volume and sat back.

She woke up some time later, curled at the end of the couch. And the television had definitely changed channels. Shego rarely watched cartoons…

Kim was on the opposite end of the couch. "Morning, Shego." Shego groaned. "Well, if you're going to be rude, you can just go back to sleep."

"What are you doing?"

"Catching up on Steven Universe. I haven't been able to watch it and there were a ton of new episodes last week."

"And you have to do this in my house, why?"

"Because I haven't gone home yet, that's why. Besides, I hear the new episodes are emotionally draining, and I've had enough of being emotionally drained alone." She sighed."Now are you done with pouting?"

"I'll pout as long as I goddamn please."

"I see."

Shego rubbed a hand over her face. "Your mom called. She wants you to call back."

"I called her when I woke up. She said she asked you to come to dinner with my family. Are you going to?"

Shapely shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. "I was gonna ask if you wanted me there first."

"Definitely. Why wouldn't I?" Kim gave her a "are you kidding me" kind of look. "Yes, I want you there. Now stop pouting. Lapis is back and I don't see things going well for her."

"Lapis?"

"Lapis Lazuli."

"Are they all named after gems?"

"You've completely missed the point of this."

"Ugh." Kim shushed Shego, focusing more on the screen. "Why are you such a freaking nerd?"

"Because this show is great. That's why." Kim shrugged. "Besides. There's some great representation in this show."

"Representation?" Shego mumbled, barely sitting up. "What the hell do you mean? It's a kids show."

Kim rolled her eyes. "Yes, representation. There's a trans character, a bi character, and… Well, this is actually a great episode to show you for amazing representation, if the internet is right. Just… Just watch."

"He's in jail, not much to- Okay, so he's out. So what."

"Watch!" Kim's eyes were glued to the screen, and Shego was watching with still groggy eyes. Shego was more interested in Kim's reactions to the show. Her slight gasp and muttering when a new character arrived on screen. Her sad whisper at seeing Lapis Lazuli again. A gasp of what must've been realization at yet another new character.

But even Shego was surprised when two female characters on screen kissed. Romantically. Shego was speechless. Kim squealed. She actually squealed.

"See? Representation!"

The smile didn't leave her face until the very end of the episode where something bad –or bad as far as Shego could tell—happened. Kim wasn't in tears, but she was distraught. "I am not okay," she spoke up as the episode finished. "That was not okay. She deserved so much better! She… She just wanted to be free!" Kim groaned and curled up on the couch, her head towards Shego.

Shego sighed and ran her hand through Kim's hair. "It's alright, Princess. It's only a cartoon character."

"A cartoon character I love…"

Kim stared sadly as the episode's ending song played. "If I could begin to be half of what you think of me, I could do about anything," came the song. Kim ignored it and focused on Shego playing with her hair.

"You should watch the whole thing," Kim mumbled. "It's really good."

"It's a kid's show," Shego scoffed.

A huff left Kim. "It's a great kid's show! C'mon, you owe me for making me cry." With no warning what-so-ever, she turned to look up at Shego and gave her best puppy-dog pout.

Shego recoiled, a slight blush springing up on her cheeks. "That is a low down, dirty trick and a guilt trip. I'm a bad influence and you need to leave."

"You're a fine influence. And we're marathoning it." She cuddled a bit against Shego and grabbed the remote.

With a sigh, Shego crossed her arms. "Fine. But we're watching Carmilla after. Maybe some Orange is the New Black, if I feel like it."

"Sounds good," Kim hummed.

"Why are you in such a good mood?" Shego groaned.

Kim shrugged. "Just watch."

Shego settled in with a grimace. "You are so lucky I can't just kick you out," came the grumble.

A short laugh was all she got in reply.

"I'm getting the bandages off tomorrow," Kim spoke up suddenly.

Shego looked over, startled. They were sitting in a little café that Kim had quite literally forced Shego to bring her to. Her house arrest had ended a few days prior, but she still wasn't allowed to do any sort of heavy exercise. It'd be another week before that was even near being allowed.

It had, however, been a week since Kim had showed up at Shego's place and forced Shego back into their friendship. Kim had ensured Shego didn't try to pull that stunt again and made sure Shego visited her over the week and had eventually convinced her out to the café they were at.

"… Okay," Shego mumbled before scooping up more of the frozen yogurt. This was the last conversation she wanted to have. Ever.

"I wanted to tell you beforehand. So you know…" Kim's eyes were on Shego, but Shego avoided those olive greens.

Shego stirred the frozen treat in her paper bowl around, appetite gone. "Thanks…"

"Shego, I—"

"Can we just not talk about it? I just… I don't wanna think about it."

Kim sighed. "We need to, okay? Just, I want to know if you want me to try and get rid of it. The colouring that is. I know I can get the scar gone, my mom has stuff for that. But the colour…"

Shego gulped, only taking a glance up at Kim. "I… I don't know… It's your body. You should make that choice. Not me."

Kim reached out and placed a hand on Shego's arm. "It affects you. I want your input."

Finally, Shego locked eyes with Kim. "Princess! The thought of that colour on you makes me want to throw up! But… I know it doesn't bug you. It's completely your choice whether or not you get it removed." A spark of green flew across the arm Kim was touching, but went nowhere near her hand.

Kim moved her hand to Shego's and briefly squeezed. "Then I'll get it removed. I want you to be comfortable."

Shego sighed, only to be caught off guard by another comment from Kim. "Besides. We're definitely going swimming in the summer. And how's that gonna happen if you get uncomfortable seeing me in a bikini?"

Now that was a thought.

Next chapter is actually almost all written! It'll be longer than this one. And it'll be up on Teusday, the 31st.

Probably in the middle of my night class because I literally just write fanfiction the whole time.

I swear, every time I post a new chapter, I'm shipping a different pair of fictional lesbians. Peridot and Lapis from Steven Universe, but whatever.

But as always, thank you for the reviews (and the one proposal of marriage)!