Kim wasn't really sure why she was so disappointed that she hadn't seen Shego in weeks. It wasn't like they were best friends or anything. She wanted to consider Shego a friend, but she wasn't sure if the other girl felt the same way. Kim could tell Shego got annoyed with her sometimes when she asked questions that seemed so easy for Shego to answer. She recalled the famous look she gave with one eyebrow raised in disbelief. Her emerald green eyes were cat-like and as bright as the stars that started Kim's journey of yearning to be knowledgeable.

Shego, unlike most people Kim knew, had brought out qualities in her she never knew she had until she met her. Kim wanted adventure and created her own on the large plantation under the moonlight when nobody was awake. Now, Kim was just beginning to uncover the mysteries of the world in which intellectual men knew about for years, knowledge that was hiding away in her father's library which was rarely used for reading books. Her father once told her every large home contained a library and it was really just for show. Kim did wonder how the newer books got in there; she never saw her father purchase any.

Kim only nibbled at the breakfast Monique brought into her room. She knew she should at least attempt to eat more before the barbeque, but she couldn't bring herself to take another bite after she ate a biscuit. She was going to be rather hungry later and she'd have to ignore it so she didn't look like a fool stuffing her face in front of Joshua Mankey, a boy who was barely a man at age sixteen, but was someone Kim would consider marrying. It was somewhat unusual for a woman to marry a man who was around the same age as herself, but the girls her age had fantasies of marrying someone like Joshua. He was a handsome young man with light brown hair and beautiful blue eyes that reminded Kim of the ocean she had never actually seen, but saw paintings.

In her readings lately, she came to realize she enjoyed books about the ocean, specifically cultures who travelled it and found unknown lands and weren't afraid to go out into the unknown because of their curiosity. It wasn't common in her society to go out there and, well, not know where one would end up. Kim knew most men inherited their family's plantations or would buy land a few miles away with family money and start up. Some sons decided to go into Atlanta or another city and start a business there if the country life wasn't for them or they simply weren't the first born son and would not inherit any of the plantation anyway.

Daughters were married off. Kim knew her father wanted her to marry someone who would be able to provide with her and she doubted he wanted her to move far away from home. As of that moment, Kim wanted to remain close by her family as well and marry a man who would easily provide for her, but also wanted to travel and see more of the world. Therefore, Master Joshua Mankey was rather attractive to Kim because he told her he wanted to travel the world and major in history when he went off to school so he could explore historic sites in Europe. He told her this while they both sat under a large oak tree on his plantation, a tree that was so far away from his family's estate that they could barely see it in the distance.

Kim walked away from her breakfast to go out to see if the carriage came around. It did, and Kim was quick to grab her decorative fan from the other room. She passed by Monique who held her breakfast tray and frowned, lecturing Kim that she should have eaten more of it so she didn't stuff herself in front of other people. Kim rolled her eyes and promised she wouldn't be enticed by the food. Shrugging, Monique bid her farewell and went off to take care of the barely uneaten breakfast.

"You look beautiful," Ann Possible complimented her daughter's white dress with sky blue trim and a blue satin ribbon around her waist which Monique expertly tied into a bow in the back. The hat she wore to protect her face from the sun was also white and had a matching blue ribbon. The blue feathers on her fan completed the outfit. She neglected to bring the parasol with her, but it didn't seem like a big deal since her mother didn't comment on it.

"Thank you, mother," Kim smiled. Her bothers, dressed in matching little gentlemen's clothes, were arguing about who gets to drive the horses with father. Kim never got to hold the reigns despite having the opportunity to sit up top with James Possible when she was younger. Nowadays, she always rode in the coach with her mother. Although many respectable men had drivers, James preferred to drive himself on nice days such as these which had barely a cloud in the sky and the sun shining brightly.

Kim followed Ann outside and was helped into the coach by her father. Seeming to have resolved the issue between the twins, Jim sat in the carriage with his arms crossed with a pout while Tim sat with a broad smile on his face holding the reigns in his hands. Since Tim was controlling the horses most of the journey to the barbeque, the ride was bumpy and awkward and Kim had one hand on her hat and the other on the seat.

Upon arriving at the barbeque, Kim was whisked away by her friends. She was thankful for this because the tension between her and her father was still raw and awkward. She was most definitely a daddy's girl and the lack of contact with him was hurting her. However, Kim was too proud to tell her father she was sorry for wanting to read a book with substance and he was much too stubborn to change his ways he had been set in since he was a young boy.

Kim walked with a couple of girls her age towards a larger group and sat down beside them at a table. "Miss Kimberly, I absolutely adore your dress!" Tara squealed in delight before bringing her into a quick hug.

"Thank you," Kim smiled at the blonde. "Your dress is exquisite. Wherever did you get it?" Her dress was of a slightly different style and pale pink, but it complimented her complexion well and made her hair look blonder than usual.

"My father had it imported from Paris," Tara's grin was genuine and her cheeks were highlighted with just a bit of rouge to bring out her cheekbones.

"I hear Paris is just beautiful," Jessica gushed.

"Very romantic," Hope nodded.

"I do approve of Paris' fashion," Bonnie Rockwaller stated. "I only wear clothes imported from France," she bragged and held her dark pink feathered fan so that it covered her mouth. Kim had to bite back a comment. It was known that she and Bonnie loathed each other's company, but everyone pretended like they were the best of friends, and Kim even faked it as well so that she could look like the better person. Bonnie's rude, condescending, and selfish remarks were prevalent, but she said them in such a way that it would be difficult to call her out on it. "Miss Kimberly, do you own anything from Paris?"

Kim turned towards her and smiled. "I believe my father had my diamonds imported from a jeweler." Kim wasn't even sure if it was true, but it could have been. Lately, Kim hadn't been paying attention where her father's various gifts were coming from since she was preoccupied with other things. Oh, and she was still holding a grudge against him because he still was barely speaking to her despite still handing her a gift at the end of every week.

"I assume not all of us can have everything imported from France," Bonnie shrugged. Kim bit her tongue. She knew her father had so much more money than Master Rockwaller, but never felt the need to point that out because it was well known even if the other girls forgot about that fact momentarily while in the presence of Bonnie herself.

"No, I guess not," Kim said slowly when a flash of green caught her eye. She turned her head and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Shego dressed in an elegant green dress with silver designs, creating an almost floral-like pattern throughout. Her hair cascaded down her back and it looked like she wore a silver headpiece in her hair resembling a tiara. Her jewelry consisted of diamonds and emeralds, complimenting her shocking eye color. Her waist was smaller than Kim imagined it would be in a corset and her breasts were pushed up by it. Her dress was a little on the lower cut side so that her chest was more visible than the other women's at the barbeque. It was risqué, but not enough to be deemed inappropriate enough to kick her out.

This was when Kim realized this was the first time she saw Shego at one of the many barbeques her family attended. The girls she sat with began to chatter and wandered off where some young gentlemen would treat them to lunch. The only person who stayed there was Bonnie who stood beside Kim as they both gazed at the girl who was attracting potential suitors left and right. "I do not think you ever met her before," Bonnie said in a hushed tone.

Kim obviously had, but nobody knew that they met before so simply stated that she never saw her.

"Her name is Miss Sheila Gordon and she lives right in between us," Bonnie explained. Kim had to admit, Bonnie was a good source for information. She seemed to know almost everything there was to their little community. Did she exaggerate before? Most definitely. However, Kim knew how to pick out the facts from fiction.

"Has she been to these barbeques before?" Kim asked, neither girl taking their eyes off of the one in green.

"Actually, no. Her brothers always come to these, though. You'd probably recognize them: Masters Henry, Michael, William, and Wesley." Kim nodded, recognizing the name Henry Gordon especially. He was one of the most respectable men around. He was at least a decade older than Kim and had attended University at age sixteen followed by joining the army for a brief two or three years before returning home. She didn't know anything about the other three, except the youngest two were twins a year younger than Kim.

"Her oldest brother is a respectable man, her brothers following in his footsteps. Miss Sheila, though?" Bonnie shook her head.

"Do you know anything about her?" Kim asked.

"Rumors," Bonnie admitted. "But so far they seem to be true. Oh, is Miss Kimberly really fine with gossip today? Usually you're such a goodie-goodie that you remove yourself. Why the sudden interest?"

"She is our neighbor, Miss Bonnie, and I have never seen her before. Excuse my curiosity," Kim blushed.

"You're lucky I keep up with information," Bonnie replied.

"Are you going to tell me or…?" Kim wanted to cock an eyebrow like Shego, but when she practiced that in the mirror once it made her look not so elegant and more like a freak show.

"Miss Sheila is what one would call the black sheep of the family. Her brothers are respectable, but she most certainly is not. I have heard she runs around with the lower class and engages in not so respectable activities with them." Kim's eyes went wide when she heard that. Shego went around sleeping with men of a lower class? "I hear she gets that from her mother who remained in New York when the rest moved down here. Her father is never seen. Rumor has it he's an alcoholic." New York would explain why Shego didn't speak like anyone else around here. Her accent was northern and she wondered if Shego lived in a big city, a city she heard that was bigger than Atlanta.

It was sad to hear her mother didn't live with them and her father had a drinking problem. She did want to tell Bonnie that whatever she said couldn't be true, but Bonnie hadn't been wrong before. "That's all you know?" she asked and Bonnie nodded. It was interesting that Bonnie didn't know Shego was a thief. Perhaps Kim was the only one who knew that fact. Stealing was wrong in Kim's eyes and so was sleeping with someone before marriage, but Kim was still fascinated by her despite being angry that Shego did bad things.

Shego caught Kim's staring eyes and smirked. Kim didn't smile, but simply turned away from a woman she thought highly of until she heard what Bonnie had to say. Being a thief was one thing- but a harlot? That was a completely different story. How dare she even look Kim in the eyes?

"I saw you staring. Pleased to meet you. I am Miss Sheila Gordon." Kim had no idea when Shego walked over to them and she was startled, jumping ever so slightly at her presence.

"Miss Bonnie Rockwaller," Bonnie introduced. "And this is Miss Kimberly Possible. I do not think we have ever seen you around before. I understand you have never been to a barbeque before."

"Contrary to popular belief, I have. I have only attended a very small number of them," Shego explained.

"Your brothers attend all of the time. I hear you are usually stuck at home tending to your alcoholic father." Kim put her fan over her mouth to hide her shock from Bonnie's very forward comment. Shego didn't even flinch. "At least, that's what Master Henry states when you don't show." Kim vaguely recalled overhearing Henry admit that his sister was unable to attend to care for a father who made himself sick.

"Oh, does he?" Shego queried.

"Miss Bonnie! Miss Bonnie!" Tara rushed over and tugged on Bonnie's arm. "Master Brick Flagg has been asking for you!"

"Duty calls," Bonnie smiled. "Oh, nice dress by the way, Miss Sheila. Did your mother have that one made by a local tailor?"

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Bonnie. But this was imported and custom made in Italy. I would have thought someone such as yourself would notice Italian when you saw it," Shego replied without hesitation. Kim had to hide her smile when she saw someone finally beat Bonnie at her own game.

"Let's go," Bonnie said and Tara began to follow. "Miss Kimberly, are you coming along?"

"No, I was going to see if I can speak with Master Josh Mankey myself and I hear he is closer to the house," Kim explained. Bonnie shrugged and walked off with the blonde girl who started to gush about how Brick was just begging to see her.

"She speaks," Shego crossed her arms. "Do you actually believe what she said?"

"She didn't say a thing," Kim replied sharply.

"Oh, she did. She most definitely did. Kimmie, she doesn't know me. You can't believe her." Kim went to leave. "I saw how you were looking at me before," Shego continued, grabbing Kim's arm.

"Then tell me something," Kim started. "Is your father an alcoholic? Did your mother stay in New York? Have you slept around?" Kim whispered. Luckily, the food was served and everyone else was making their way to the other side from where they stood.

"Is any of that any of your business?" Shego asked her. "Does thinking that change your opinion of me?"

"It does," Kim nodded.

"Why?"

"I don't know…it just…it does!" Kim blurted. "Is it true?"

"I'm going to leave it up to you to believe what you want. But I will say, up until this moment, you thought very highly of me."

Kim didn't know how to respond, so she let Shego walk away from her in the opposite direction from all of the people and disappeared from view when she went around the house. Probably to steal something, Kim thought. She shook her head and made her way over to the food, her stomach growling because she neglected to eat her breakfast.

Now that Kim has a better idea of who Shego is, her view on her seemed to have changed. Do you think Bonnie's information is reliable, somewhat reliable, or not at all?

And to those of you anticipating Ron: we will meet him next chapter. Besides Dr. Drakken (we will be meeting him eventually), are there any other characters you would like to make an appearance in this story?

Thanks again for all of the support!