Dinner was dragging on. Kim had eaten quickly, which left her being scolded by her mother's eyes. She was meeting Shego later. This was all she could think about. Dinner seemed longer and more unbearable than usual. She noticed her brothers kicking each other under the table and continued to be jealous that they were boys and young enough to get away with being a little bit improper. She was pleasantly surprised to see her father eyeing them with a look of annoyance on his face. "Boys!" James' deep voice reverberated around the dining room. The twins stopped, Tim with a pea on his plate and ready to flick at Jim's face, and Jim didn't have a chance to launch the mashed potatoes. "You boys are nine, almost ten. I assumed you would have grown into knowing how to behave yourselves by now, like your sister, but I see you have not. Sit up straight, like gentlemen." Needless to say, everyone was shocked. James continued his meal while Kim and her mother shared a look of disbelief.

"James, Kimberly and I are going to go upstairs and get ready for bed," her mother managed to say. Kim nodded, and they were excused from dinner since it was getting late. The boys were left to fend for themselves, and Kim rushed up the stairs before her mother so she couldn't see the look of satisfaction on her face. She didn't really want to talk with her mother because they had nothing in common whatsoever, and Kim's secret life wasn't family friendly.

When she quickly entered her room and shut the door, Monique was already there waiting for her with a grin on her face. "Did you see what happened?" Kim asked excitedly.

"Oh, Miss Kimberly, you are terrible," Monique said jokingly, giving her a light tap on the arm. "But yes I did, and I'll be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it." She started to undress Kim from her multiple layers of clothes.

"I am going out tonight," Kim stated as she was helped into her nightclothes.

"Meeting Miss Sheila?" Monique asked, but she knew the answer. Kim nodded. "Tomorrow morning is bath day, so don't stay out too late."

"Thank you for the reminder. I forgot." Kim usually forgot the important things, which was why she was thankful for Monique for keeping her head on straight. Kim went over to the small water basin and decided there was no point in washing up. Instead, she sat at her vanity and Monique began to take the pins out of her hair. Finally, her red locks were allowed to relax. She felt the sweet relief of her scalp after a couple of moments of pain. Monique brushed her hair and commented on why she should even bother because Kim was bound to get up to something that night.

Kim wanted to have Monique come along, but she knew she'd decline. Kim understood. Although her freedoms were limited, Monique's were even more limited and she didn't want to get her best friend in trouble. Also, Monique wasn't really into climbing trees or running around in the middle of the night. She was thankful to have Monique who was here to cover for her whenever she needed it. "Is Wade stopping by the library tonight?"

"No, I don't think so," Monique replied. "He's had some really long days."

"I should mention that to my father," Kim frowned.

"No, Miss Kimberly, you shouldn't. He's fine, really. Wade is just tired, is all."

"Well, all right," Kim shrugged. She had more pressing matters to attend to like waiting for everyone to go to bed so she could sneak out of the house.

Eventually Kim was able to sneak out. She tip-toed down the halls and successfully got outside. Kim ran as fast as she could through the land, her feet pounding at the dirt when they weren't brushing against the thick grass. She didn't take a candle or lantern with her because the moon was full that night and the stars were bright enough to guide her. Her feet were rough enough so that the occasional rock wouldn't cut into her foot. If her mother ever saw her feet, she'd be appalled! Kim laughed at that while she ran towards the peach trees, and she thought of her brothers getting in trouble at dinner. They deserved it and she was glad, absolutely giddy with the thought. She couldn't wait to tell Shego!

Kim reached the peach trees and panted, looking through the rows of them to find Shego. Her lungs burned from her run, but she felt great after her run as per usual. She wondered why people didn't go for runs. She wiped the sweat off of her forehead. She briefly looked up and smiled when she saw Shego swinging from the tree branch in one of her brother's pants, a rope tied around the belt loops to keep them up. Shego pumped her legs and swung herself higher. Kim watched in awe as Shego flung her body and grabbed onto the branch of the adjacent tree. She pushed her body up and over it before landing on her feet, her legs slightly bent.

"Putting on a show?" Kim grinned.

"Like what you saw, Princess?" Shego smirked.

Kim boldly grabbed Shego's hands. "You absolutely must show me how you did it!"

"I will in time," Shego pulled her hands away. "We have to start at the beginning."

"We?" Kim wondered.

"Well, really you will be starting at the beginning. I noticed that without that awful corset, you are a decent runner, so your stamina isn't shit."

"Shego!" Kim blushed at the curse word.

"Sorry, I forgot you're a prude."

"I don't want to be," Kim mumbled.

"Come on, Kimmie. I brought you some pants," Shego said as went over to a large brown bag which she rummaged through. She took out a pair of trousers and a button down shirt. Kim blushed as she took off her nightgown, standing briefly in her undergarments before putting on the clothes provided for her. Shego tucked Kim's shirt in and wrapped a rope around the pants, tying it in a knot, just like her own look she had going on. Shego cuffed the sleeves so they didn't cover Kim's hands. "You are quite modest," Shego pointed out. "Lucky for you, the night is cooler so you will probably be fine in these." Kim nodded. Shego tied her hair back with an elastic hair tie, something Kim didn't own. Shego then tied her own hair back. Kim felt this was a crude way to pull back her hair. However, she had to start getting rid of those thoughts from her head because those were damaging. Kim felt she had to be less judgmental if she ever wanted to be like Shego.

Kim's training began. She started off doing simple stretches. She envied Shego's unheard of flexibility as Kim struggled to lean forward and reach her feet. Sure, her stamina was good and all, but she was not limber in the slightest. Shego explained to Kim that if she stretched her body just a little bit every single day, she'd be able to put her head on her knees in no time.

Next, they ran. Kim was a good runner, but she was nothing like the black haired girl who was a little bit faster than her. It wasn't too difficult to keep up until Kim eventually ran out of breath and had to stop. Panting, she noted Shego's impressive stamina and had to bite her tongue to stop herself from asking the other girl where she learned to run like that. Shego wasn't one to talk about her past. Shego was impressed with her, though, and Kim beamed at the compliment.

Due to the tree climbing, Kim was definitely stronger than most girls. Since clothes covered Kim up most of the time, she never really noticed that she was somewhat toned in the arms and legs. Shego pointed this out when she pushed Kim's sleeve up and made her flex her biceps and triceps. When Shego told Kim to flex her leg, she told Kim to feel it and the girl did. It was hard as a rock! How had this happened? Women were generally supposed to have softer bodies even if they flexed their muscles. Kim smiled with pride as Shego explained that the tree climbing plus the running defined her muscles without her knowing it.

"I'm impressed, Kimmie," Shego said as Kim did five push-ups in a row. Kim sat on the ground, panting from various other exercises Shego had her do in order to improve her coordination and strength. "Many women here aren't active. They'd rather sit around and host little tea parties or whatnot. But you-you are different; you're more different than I originally thought. Once we work on your flexibility, you'll be able to keep up with me."

"You do not think I could keep up with you right now?" Kim challenged and hopped to her feet without stumbling.

"You can try." The smirk on Shego's lips told Kim she wasn't ready in the slightest. Despite knowing this, Kim wasn't going to give up. So, Kim and Shego raced through the peach trees as they dodged and darted around them. There was no finish line and no end destination. Shego ran quickly and swiftly through the dirt and grass while Kim followed. Kim pumped her legs and kept her tired muscles going as long as they could until she had to stop. Her lungs burned when she sat down on the ground. Taking in deep breaths, she lay down on the grass. Kim didn't know when Shego noticed she wasn't running after her anymore. Kim looked to the side and saw Shego on the ground beside her. The two stared up at the sky, the stars incredibly bright that night, and the two were content as their breathing slowed.

"Shego, can I ask you a question?" Kim asked.

"You just did." Kim noticed Shego's eyes were closed, her arms tucked underneath her head for support. Kim adjusted herself so that she was partially sitting up with her forearms supporting her weight.

"Are you annoyed that we only meet up with each other during the night?"

"Why, you suddenly want to be seen with me during daytime?" Shego sighed.

"Well, I…" Kim trailed, unable to come up with an answer. On the one hand, she shouldn't care about being seen with her, but on the other hand, she would be embarrassed being seen with a girl who had such a horrible reputation. Kim had a good reputation, and she didn't want to ruin it. "We can go to a secluded place."

"Where do you have in mind?"

"I do not know," Kim admitted. "I was hoping you would have an idea."

"I guess one of us has to be competent," Shego smirked, eyes still closed.

"I am plenty competent!" Kim sat up fully to glare down at Shego who opened an emerald eye briefly, but didn't flinch. Shego just cackled. Kim crossed her arms in a huff.

"I do have a tendency to remain hidden when I do not want to be found," Shego replied nonchalantly. "However, I believe some night training will still do you some good. You have got to be trained to be more alert."

"I am plenty alert," Kim frowned. "I am not some damsel in distress."

"KImmie, if I thought that, I wouldn't give you any mind." Shego sat up and Kim suddenly felt very small. "You're different, just like me. I just have the guts to show it. You, on the other hand, hide it and I know you hate that. Once you grow a thicker skin, then we can play with the possibility of meeting during the daytime."

"You are saying I am weak," Kim stated matter-of-factly.

"I am. You are different, Kimmie, but you are not on my level." Shego stood up to start walking away. Kim shuffled to her feet as quickly as she could.

"And what is your level, pray tell?"

"We both know what is going to happen in a few years. You will end up married to some rich man twice your age."

Kim clenched her hands into fists. "And who says you will not be?"

"With my reputation, I will never be married and that is exactly what I want."

"Is it?"

"I am too independent to be tied down for long, Pumpkin. Marriage is not the life for me. I will be traveling the world, never settling down."

"I think you are afraid to settle down," Kim mumbled.

"You are afraid to settle down because once you do, you will never be able to come out at night again, or run, or climb trees, or anything. After all, what wealthy, upper class man would want a woman who can do everything you can do?" Angrily, Kim took off the pants and the shirt in favor of her nightgown. She wouldn't admit to Shego that she liked wearing the pants. Tears sprung to Kim's eyes because she knew Shego was right. Kim had no idea why she wanted to marry even though she'd never be able to have simple freedoms again. The things she liked was taboo, the things she enjoyed was taboo. Kim was doomed to a life of unhappiness because in the long run, she would do what was expected of her. Kim knew she'd marry a man twice her age, have a couple of children, and give up everything she loved about life. She watched as Shego walked away, her hips swaying more than the average woman would ever allow. She held her head high with confidence, confidence Kim didn't have.

Kim was jealous; she was jealous her life would never compare to Shego's. It wasn't fair. Nothing was ever really fair in her life. She couldn't be like Shego, but she wanted to be. That anger that boiled beneath her turned into rage. She ran as fast as she could and went to tackle Shego to the ground. Kim didn't expect Shego to react so quickly, grabbing her arm and flipping her over onto her back. Kim gasped for breath. Shego sat on her hips, her wrists pinned above her hands. She desperately tried to struggle free, but Shego was incredibly strong.

"I am not giving up what little freedom I have to follow the societal norms. You shouldn't, either." Kim stopped struggling and looked up into Shego's eyes, those eyes that were so expressive. "I'll see you tomorrow after lunch." Shego got up off of Kim and left, the younger girl left in the grass still trying to catch her breath.

As always, I appreciate the support!