Kim left the house and made a mental note of her surroundings so she wouldn't get lost. It wasn't like she was given a map of the city to help her navigate around. She wasn't afraid in the slightest since she could explore her father's entire plantation and always make her way back to her home at night. It was not night time, so Kim felt that in broad daylight, it wouldn't hurt to go for a walk. She held a small clutch with money in it just in case there was an emergency, but more like just in case she wanted to purchase something in one of those many shops.

One of those many shops; Kim shook her head. She was not going on a shopping spree that day. Instead, her goal was to find the city's library. Again, the friendly citizens greeted her, and Kim smiled wide and greeted them as well. It was nice not to be questioned why she didn't have an escort with her. She did see women without escorts as well, apparently functioning just fine without a man with them. But then again, this was a city. And the women who were unaccompanied by an adult seemed to be dressed like peasants- dressed like herself.

No matter, Kim thought, I am no longer wealthy- my family is wealthy. It wasn't like Kim enjoyed having a lot of money and influence considering she never really saw a dime of that money or any say in it. If she were to stay, the moment she married, her family's money was no longer attached to her anyway. Her new identity would be with her husband and this disgusted her.

Kim had no idea where she was going, so she decided to ask someone for directions. "Excuse me," she said to a woman. The woman turned toward her and smiled.

"Yes?"

"I just moved here, and I am trying to find the library. Do you know how to get there?"

"Library?" the woman queried. "There is not a library here. The only one I have heard about is in Savannah, but you must belong to the library and pay a fee. Perhaps you could be looking for a bookstore?"

"Yes," Kim blinked in surprised. She knew Shego claimed to have been in a library in Atlanta. "My…sister must have been mistaken."

"Oh, no worries, sweetheart. The bookstore is just straight ahead. Books are displayed in the window, so you won't miss it."

"Thank you, ma'am," Kim smiled politely and went on her way. Just because it was a bookstore didn't mean that Kim couldn't browse the books. She didn't necessarily need to buy anything, but she wanted to learn and absorb information.

The bookstore wasn't as grand as she was hoping. It was a small building with books in the window, just like the kind lady described. She opened the creaky door, and crinkled her nose at the musty smell. There was an old man at the counter who looked up to acknowledge her presence, then grumbled to himself when he saw her. He probably didn't get too many poor fourteen year old girls. It was funny how her social status diminished so quickly just because she was dressed differently and didn't have her father's money with her. It was a good thing she originally spoke with a woman who was dressed in poor people's clothes- just the way that she was currently dressed.

Kim ran her finger across a bookshelf, leaving her finger mark behind. Although the store was dusty, it had quite a variety of books- more books than she thought that could fit in the little shop. She found an area that had cultural books in it, and felt she should start there for the day. After reading about the Vikings, Kim found other cultures intriguing, putting her previous attraction to astronomy on hold. She grabbed a book and sat on a chair.

As Kim read about Greece, flipping the pages, and absorbing the information, she didn't realize the sun setting. "Miss?" Kim stopped reading to look up at the voice of the old man. His features seemed softer than before. "I am closing for the night."

"Closing?" Kim questioned.

"Yes. The sun is setting. It is getting quite late. I would have sent you to your home right away hours ago if I knew you were still sitting back here." The old man adjusted his glasses on his pointy nose.

"I did not intend to be here for so long," Kim said nervously and stood quickly. "I promise you I will go straight home. I just need to-" Kim started, holding her book in her hands.

"Take the book with you," the man smiled.

Kim thought about buying the book, but thought against it when she pictured Shego's face when she saw a new book. "I have no money," Kim hung her head.

"It's not every day I see someone of your status able to read much." Kim opened her mouth to make a comment, but smiled instead when she remembered she was wearing clothes of a poor person. "I have not seen you here before."

"I just moved here," Kim said slowly, trying to piece together a good lie. She didn't need to because the man took this as an acceptable answer. Kim didn't get the man's name.

"How about I hold onto this book for you, and when you want to read it again, you just stop right in here."

"Are you sure?" Kim asked him. The man nodded, explaining that he doesn't get many customers as eager to read as she was. She thanked the man, handed him the book, and was off. Kim left the bookstore, and realized she had no idea where to go. The streetlights were in the process of being lit. Night was approaching.

Kim pretended she knew where she was going. Her confidence was what was keeping her from crying and keeping herself together. She looked determined, but she was terrified. Kim had no idea what the layout was of Atlanta! She didn't know the street names yet- they were not stored in her memory.

She made many turns- left, and right, and left again. Kim was thankful when she noticed a small church; it seemed familiar from her journey to the bookstore. Kim stood in front of it, her eyes darting around as if she was going to be attacked. She had a gut feeling there was a reason why Shego insisted they stay at an inn when they first arrived in Atlanta when nightfall was approaching.

Kim wished Shego was with her because being lost was not something Kimberly Ann Possible wanted to be, especially in a city. It would have been one thing to be lost somewhere on a plantation because there wasn't anyone to bother you. Now, though, anyone could harm her. People looked harmless in the daylight, but at night was a completely different story. She used to love the night, thrive during the darkest hours of the night. Being adventurous was her thing. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? Apparently not because as she stood there, every terrible scenario jumped out at her.

Shego…what would Shego do? Because Kimberly had no idea what Kim would do.

Shego would figure it out, think, come up with a plan.

She was in front of the small church. She came from the left, so that was wrong. Was it straight? A right?

So much for being an explorer, someone unafraid of the night.

Kim shook her head. She had to get out of this somehow. Shego would.

"Kimmie?" Oh great, now she was hearing Shego. Kim closed her eyes tighter. Perhaps it was a sign. "Kimmie!" There it was again! She was going to figure this out. Okay, Kim smiled, it was definitely straight. She had to go straight. "Goddamn-it, Kimmie, open your eyes and acknowledge me when I am speaking to you!"

That was too real. Kim slowly opened her eyes. She was staring into Shego's green eyes.

"What are you doing out of the house? I told you to stay put, Kimmie," Shego scolded. She grabbed Kim's arm and yanked her towards the right.

"I wanted to get out of the house," Kim replied sheepishly. "Go out and explore the city."

"I see that was a grand idea. You were definitely lost," Shego sighed in annoyance.

"I was not!" Kim denied the truth. She had to move her legs quickly to keep up with Shego who was expertly traveling around the streets. "I was only looking for the library you mentioned in this city, but it does not exist!"

"Perhaps I was thinking about a different one," Shego gritted her teeth.

"So you weren't lying?"

"Oh please, Kimmie, like I would lie to you. Now, do not turn this on me when it is you who refused to listen to me," Shego scolded.

Kim followed silently. Shego had been a child when she went to a library, so it may have been a library in somebody's house for all she knew. She decided not to dwell on it and take it as a learning experience that maybe Shego could be wrong about a location. Shego was right about not leaving the house, but Kim would never admit that to Shego. But maybe she could get her friend to understand that she needed to have some freedom and be able to leave the house when Shego was gone.

Entering the house, Kim went straight to her room and threw her bag on her bed before throwing herself on it. She made a fool of herself, thinking she was the adventuring type. She had no business exploring a city on her own, especially when she was unfamiliar with it all. "Sit up," Shego demanded. Kim rolled her eyes and did as she was told. "Stand. Come now- up! Up!"

The redhead let the raven haired girl undress her. Kim longed to be in the comfort of her nightgown and welcomed them when Shego put them over her head. "Now, I don't have much for dinner tonight, but first thing in the morning we shall go to the market and buy a few things."

"I need to be able to go places on my own," Kim blurted out. "I cannot stay in this house and have it become my prison!"

"Oh, I completely agree," Shego replied nonchalantly. "I will be helping you navigate, and then you will be the one to go to the market and run some errands on days I will be working."

"You got a job!" Kim exclaimed. "How did you find one so quickly?"

"I am quite talented," Shego said. "It is a night job, but it pays well enough to save some money every week."

"What is it that you do?" Kim asked eagerly.

"Nothing special- just serving beer to degenerates," she smirked. "I mentioned Duff Killigan, and they were happy to hire me after that."

Kim asked if she could work there, too, so they could make more money. Shego had to explain to her that someone needed to be hiring in order for one to get a position. People couldn't just get jobs by wanting a job. Shego also explained she didn't want Kim to work nights at a pub because it was dangerous work. She was afraid men would take advantage of Kim, and this offended the redhead. She could most definitely take care of herself.

Okay, Kim thought as she watched Shego cook up some peas and carrots, maybe she wasn't much of a cook and she might starve. The thought was extreme, and Kim knew if she had to step up, she'd be able to do it. But since she didn't need to, Kim was going to focus on absorbing her surroundings and learning how to navigate through Atlanta. She wasn't sure how long they would be there, but Kim wanted to take advantage of the little bookshop and everything the city had to offer.

So sorry the updates are incredibly slow. I'd be surprised if anyone is still reading this. I do want to finish it, but life is getting in the way. Working full time and getting my master's degree part time is sucking up my writing time. I hope to have another chapter written (at least) by the time my summer classes start in July :)