Author's Note: This chapter holds a few surprises. I hope y'all enjoy.

Chapter Ten: Shattered

Kim shivered and smiled tiredly as exhaustion finally took her. With a near silent growl, the girl took on a determined look as she and Shego road in SADIE back to The Possible House. Shego looked at the redhead in worry as the Karadim quivered and sent slight numbness through the woman as she drove. The woman looked over in worry. "Kimmie, you don't need to stay awake for me."

Kim shook her head as her face twisted in an exhausted glare of defiance. "You have to stay…." The hero's head bobbed as she spoke, periodically jerking up as the redhead defiantly continued protest. "…so I stay awake, too."

Shego chuckled softly. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm no longer Human, Cupcake. You still are no matter how much you want to deny it." The dark-scaled woman then began to hum and rub Kim's back as SADIE continued to drive the pair home. The ancient song floated in the night and broke down Kim's mental blocks of combat training. In the comfort of Shego's presence, Kim began to slowly and firmly slip into unconsciousness. Veronica then, in a show of tenderness reserved for Kim and Kim alone, wrapped the bone-weary but powerful fighter in her wings with a broad smile.

"What is that?"

Shego glared at the AI's dashboard for want of a face "Shush!" After a moment, Veronica sighed and reconsidered her response to try and add a bit more tact. "I'm sorry; I'll explain later. Just don't wake Princess, please."

Kim barely woke when the transport arrived back at the Possible house and stumbled as she moved towards the door in a gate not too dissimilar from one who drank too much and insisted on independence. Veronica shook her head with a sigh and a slight smirk at Kim's stubbornness. With gentle hands, the draconian woman supported Kim despite the repeated protests of self-sufficiency.

"Mom…" Kim muttered, nearly able to keep on her feet. "I'm home."

"I see that." The woman's voice floated in the darkness of the house. "I did not teach you The Void so you could break your body, ner'ad." Anne muttered. Then, Anne looked her daughter in the eyes. "Kimarea Rec'yc…"

Veronica felt Kim stiffen at the name and grimaced. Full name… Even now as a dragon, the thought made Veronica uneasy. I hated that when Mom pulled it on me too, Kimmie.

"Yes, ma'am?" Kim asked nervously as the spike of adrenaline sharpened Kim to near full wakefulness.

"Don't push yourself past the point of exhaustion." The elder Possible gave her daughter a look mixed with more worry than true anger. "I'll ask Veronica to lockdown your room if I must to keep this from happening again."

Kim looked at Veronica pleadingly.

Veronica barked a quick laugh. "Don't look at me, Kim; I'm not the one who is currently struggling to stand."

"Thank you."

The green-eyed woman moved to take Kim to her room, but an unknown prodding stopped the young one and locked her gaze on Anne. There was something different about the Possible matriarch, but Veronica couldn't place it. "Who are you?" Shego asked softly. "Who are you really?"

The woman sighed. Anne could feel the penetrating gaze from the one in front of her, a look to remind her of friends she knew back on Mandalore. "Help Kim to bed first, Shego."

The woman smiled and nodded even as Kim teetered and almost kissed the floor. "Com'n, Princess."

Kim curled up in Shego's arms, "(We are one when we are together. We are one when parted. We shall share all. We shall raise warriors.)"

Anne paled when the words came from her daughter's mouth. She's sleep deprived. The woman attempted to soothe herself.

Veronica looked down at Kim. She didn't understand a word, but the tone of reverence and hints of affection gave Veronica pause. Gently, Veronica reached and laid Kim in her bed. With a soft smile, Veronica touched her own Mark when Kim became fitful at the loss of warmth. "Rest well, my Karadim."

Ann looked over and suppressed a shiver as Veronica walked back into the dining area, her eyes glowing in the darkened room. The glow in those eyes made Anne want to scream, but she held it back for the moment. "Not again…" The neurosurgeon's eyes bulged in fright when memories plowed through decades of mental blocks. "Please, not again!"

Anne, no not "Anne" but Axa, felt fury fill her in a raging torrent. Mandalore, green and lush before The Crusades of Mandalore the Ultimate beckoned to the young girl sweetly as she breathed deeply in crisp morning air, Creatures called in the distance as the war for survival played in her ears.

"(Father…)" the child's voice called. After a moment with no reply, Axa again tried to summon the man.

With a smile when she heard the sounds of sparring, Axa's eyes lit up with joy. Then, the young girl ran as fast as she could to the dojo off to the side of the main house.

Not much for flash and pomp, the training building consisted of a rather expansive training floor with showers and small refreshment areas on either side of the main room.

(Father and Uncle Ran please Kad Ha'rangir today,) the young girl thought proudly as she watched her father and uncle trade blows and dodge blaster shots at each other. In the fog of battle, the two brothers focused on each other and rolled with practiced ease with attempts to gain advantage on one another. Finally, Ran held a blaster muzzle to the other man's head.

For a moment, no one moved. Then, Autura growled, "(I yield.) The words came as if dragged out through bits of broken glass. "(You win, brother.)"

Ran grinned, "(You'll get there, but not…)"

From her vantage point, Axa saw a green blade seem to sprout from her father's chest. The girl chocked back a scream and ran for her father even as Ran chased after the being who killed her father. Axa shivered and would have challenged a blaster bolt for speed before she knelt and looked at her father in fear and panic.

"(Dad,)" Axa whispered. "(Dad, please…)"

The man reached up and gently wiped tears from his daughter's face. "(Be strong like Beskar, my child. Be strong.)" The voice echoed in Anne's mind. Then, Anne screamed in renewed pain.

The scream, mental or not, took Anne and snapped the rusty warrior back to reality. The first sensation to make Anne aware of her hands around Shego's neck. With a gasp and lightning movement, Anne pulled her hands away from the dragon's neck. "I-I'm sorry, Shego!"

Veronica stood and gently pulled Anne's hands away with a minor look of pain in her own eyes. "Pain is pain, Anne," the woman sighed and took a seat across from Anne. "Anger over ghosts does no good."

Anne looked up in shock and confusion. "Who are you and what did you do with Shego?" Anne shivered in thought as the scaled woman's words sank into her mind. An uncomfortable thought ran through her mind, but the neurosurgeon shot it down with a quick, Impossible!

Veronica closed her eyes and smiled sadly at Anne when she saw the woman stiffen. Then, the former thief laughed dryly. "I know what I look like."

The redhead raised a brow. "Do you?" Before Shego could refute, the mother continued. "I've read legends of powerful dar'jetii." Anne's eyes suddenly took on a foreign diamond-hard glint. "Given enough time, they can break any mind. What-"

Veronica growled and pushed the woman against the wall in a heartbeat. "Control?" Veronica asked. "Why did you suddenly shift, Anne?" Shego moved her hand off the other woman slowly. "A few days ago, you couldn't be happier for Kimmie and me."

Anne sighed. "Your eyes are the same color of the blade that killed my father." The woman turned away from Shego. "I…it brought back bad memories." Anne's eyes shown with tears. Anne smiled and put a gentle hand on Veronica's shoulder. "Go take the guest bedroom, Veronica." Anne wiped the tears away. "It's too late at night for you to go anywhere safely."

Shego felt her stomach drop and nodded with a nervous smile. You Possibles are all too damn nice for your own good."

Anne laughed as she watched Shego go up to the guest bedroom, You would definitely not complain if you knew Mando'ade… Anne almost said "aruetii" but stopped herself with a shiver. Kim spoke the vow. A worried frown replaced the previous smile. Nu'ad'riduur! As the word ran through Anne's mind, the shock sent her back into the chair. (I certainly cannot stand in your way any longer, my daughter.)

Later that morning, Kim roused slowly from sleep and stretched, thankful for the training she had when it came to controlling her sleep. Kim moved through her routine with practiced ease and found herself outside and looking at Ron before she truly woke up. "Hey, Ron.."

The boy looked at her and sighed. "Kim…"

The warrior stopped and looked at Ron in worry. "What's up?"

"Bonnie has connections in Go City," the ninja walked over to her. "I just want to let you know that she's likely got the rumor mill going wild by now."

Kim nodded with a firm but not quite steely look in her eyes, "Thanks for the heads up, Ron."

Kim shook her head and growled as she walked into the school. (Damage control it is.)

When Kim walked into the school, she did her best to ignore the stares. The redhead walked up to her locker and frowned at the slightly ajar door to her locker. Kim knelt and looked at the small pile of shavings at her feet. Kim's frown deepened as she rubbed the powdered slag between her fingers. Then, the woman stood and slowly opened her locker.

In spite of herself, Kim busted out laughing. There, on top of her books in front of Wade's monitor, a snub nose .22 revolver lay. On paper behind the weapon, a phrase written in angry red made Kim shake her head."School shooter here!" With a sigh of annoyance, the warrior tore a page from one of her notebooks and wrapped the gun in the paper to insure fingerprint integrity. Then, Kim looked around with a scowl on her face and walked over to Mr. Barkin's with the weapon gently wrapped in her hands.

A knock at his door roused the veteran from the pile of ungraded papers on his desk, "Enter."

Kim frowned at him. "Mr. Barkin," The teen closed door with her foot and walked over to his desk before she laid the wrapped gun on his desk. "Someone planted this in my locker." With careful hands, Kim unwrapped the weapon.

Barkin looked from Kim to the weapon and back. "That's not one of yours," the man asked as his hand hovered over the weapon. "Is it?"

"I would never use something so…" Kim grimaced in disgust. "…weak and dishonorable!" The girl then blinked when she realized the soldier would probably not understand the Mandalorian codes of honor in combat. "If I were to try and defend myself with this, I'd be dead long before I could complete any mission objective." Kim smiled when she saw Barkin nod in understanding. "My weapons are secured in my footlocker in my car, sir."

"That leaves me with one question, Possible." The man took the weapon with the same respectful hands Kim had that marked him as a soldier or at the very least a person familiar with firearms. "Who placed the weapon in your locker?"

Kim sighed, "Bonnie Rockwaller, she's had it out for me since before I began high school," Kim shook her head in anger. "Over the weekend, I went to Go City to relax and found myself attacked by a high-profile individual. When I defended myself, he died," Kim shivered. "Thankfully, my girlfriend was with me," Kim began to shake in fear as the en bent flashed before her again, fresh and new. "He came so close to…"

Barkin frowned as the girl's eyes took on a familiar glaze, "Kim, breathe."

"(Falling…)" Kim nearly yelled, "(…can't get systems online!)"

The terror in Kim's eyes made Barkin shiver. For a moment, the man did nothing, could do nothing as he watched Kim have a combination flashback and panic attack. Then, the man took deep breath and bellowed, "Possible, you with me, Marine?!"

After a tense moment, Kim came back to herself and looked as if she wanted to cry, "I don't know what happened," she spluttered, trying to stay composed as she maintained eye contact with the man in front of her. "One minute, I am here with you. The next, I'm back in the air above Go Tower falling to my death."

Barkin nodded, "Relax, Kim," the man looked at her in understanding. "You're safe."

Kim nodded mutely. Then, the teen looked up at Steve Barkin and smiled at the man before she left the room and tried to keep her mind on her first class of the day to distract herself from the previous day's events. With her mind awash in fears, it wasn't easy to stay on her school work, but Kim did manage for the time being. Kim found her eyes racing around the halls every time the bell rang to swap classes. Lunch seemed to take its sweet time with Kim today, but an odd little bonus of not seeing Bonnie made the morning's classes easier.

When lunch did come, Kim found herself a seat next to Ron and smiled at him. Ron gave the redhead a nod. A little life came back to Kim with her best friend's support. She smiled at him and sat down before the duo calmly ate in silence beyond the cacophony provided by a cafeteria of hungry teens. Rufus even ventured out of his owner's pocket to curl up on Kim's right leg in his own way of support for her. The fragile peace of the moment couldn't last forever.

"So, Kim, are you going to kill anyone today?"

Kim closed her eyes and focused before she turned to look at the Queen Bee with distain. "I received your present today, but unfortunately, Mr. Barkin thought it would see better use with him."

Bonnie paled and ran off in fear and panic. Monique looked at the retreating brat in confusion. Sure, Kim rankled Bonnie's nerves, but the fashionista never knew Kim to send the other girl bolting off in terror. Cautiously, Monique ventured towards the table and sat down on Kim's left. "WHP?"

Kim sighed, "She tried to plant a revolver in my locker."

Monique's eyes widened, "Does she know how stupid that was with your family background?"

Kim shrugged. "I doubt it," the trained sniper said with a small laugh at the irony of the situation. "Bonnie tends to get tunnel vision when I'm involved."

Ron nodded and suddenly took on a goofy grin.

Kim raised an eyebrow at the blonde boy in slight worry. "Ron, are you ok?"

"Hear me out, KP;" his smile broadened. "I think Bonnie has the hots for you."

Kim stared at Ron in disbelief. "Say again?"

"In her own twisted way, I think Bonnie is trying to get your attention." Ron sighed, "Remember when you were bound to her through that weird molecular adhesive?" Ron continued. "We know Bonnie's home life isn't the greatest, and as twisted as it sounds, she could be trying to announce affection the only way she knows: negative attention."

Kim felt a presence brush her mind as Ron finished speaking and blushed, Shego?

I heard, Princess. A truly diabolical fanged smirk passed over the Karadim. Should I roast Miss Bee?

No, Kim said calmly. Unless she decides to Challenge you, you cannot harm her. Kim raised a brow and tried to sense Shego to no avail. Where are you?

Don't worry, Xena, Veronica assured. Your Mom had the day off and invited me to go shopping with her.

Kim nodded with a bright smile on her face before Shego's presence retreated back to a faint tickle in the back of the young Mandalorian's mind. Only when Monique tapped her shoulder did Kim realize where she was. "Oh, w-what?"

"Girl, you alright?" Monique asked with a slight look of fear. "You spaced out like Ron does a few moments before he dives into a Grande-size Naco."

Kim nodded. "I'm good." The teen then looked around and bent down. "Mo, what I'm about to tell you, you cannot repeat." Kim whispered, "Ron was there when it happened," Kim blushed a little deeper. "That is why he is not concerned."

Monique nodded, "My lips are sealed, girlfriend; you know that."

"I'm linked to Shego," Kim said with a shy smile. "It's a bit complicated, but basically, we're…" Kim found her strength of resolve failing as she tried in vain to continue. With a pleading expression, Kim looked at Ron.

"Yeah," Ron sighed. "They have these really sweet looking Marks that seal them in union."

Monique's eyes widened, "Are you telling me Ms. Green and Mean and you…" The black girl dropped her voice to a whisper. "…ARE MARRIED?!"

"Not technically…" Kim said. "Think of it as promised to be married currently." Kim said as she gestured to the partly filled flame on her neck. "The Mark isn't set yet."

Monique looked on in confusion. "This is all based on a tattoo?"

Kim felt her teeth set on edge at the disrespectful reaction but soothed herself with the reminder of Monique as a learner with no context as to the sacredness or meaning of The World Mark. "Is an engagement ring 'only a ring'?" Kim shrugged. "Perhaps it may be only a ring, but the commitment the ring represents gives it meaning." Kim explained. "For Shego and I, our Marks hold the same sacredness."

Monique looked at her friend in worry. "You serious about this, Kim?"

Kim frowned. "How would you define the perfect partner for me, Mo?"

"Shared interests, a similar drive, a little bit of a challenge because a relationship would quickly become stale without a sprinkling of a constant challenge to improve, and someone with guts to call me on bullshit as long as they expect the same from me."

Kim raised a brow. "Who is Shego?"

The question brought a smile and a nod from the other girl. "I've got to look out for my bestie."

Kim hugged the black girl with a grin. "Thanks, Monique." Even as Kim hugged her ebony friend, the the redhead felt hot rage flow over the Karadim.

Back in the mall with Veronica and Anne, the older redhead could fell the tension in the other woman as they strolled through the mall in search of clothes to maker into another cloak for Shego. Even now, the green woman felt discomfort and a hint of fear crawl through her body but refused to let it pass over the Bond. My discomfort, my problem; the young dragon justified to herself.

Veronica leaned over and tried to keep anger out of her voice, but it seeped in anyway. "What the hell us wrong with people? I'm not a terrorist or a monster!"

A voice dripping with sugar answered the dragon's question. "I don't think you're a monster, Sweetums! I think you're beautiful!"

Before Shego could react, Anne whirled around to face the voice, "Dr. Hall, what brings you to Middleton?"

The rotund geneticist frowned, "Don't you know there's a new line of Dinosaur Cuddle Buddies coming to stores tonight?"

Anne looked up at Shego for a moment. Then, she looked at the crazed collector. "I'm sorry, Amy, but I can't let you run experiments on my daughter's wife."

Veronica flashed Anne a look of shock for a moment before the thief turned her full attention to the geneticist.

Amy Hall stared at Anne intently. The woman then walked over and attempted to kiss Anne. Out of reflex, Anne grabbed Amy's throat loosely. With her eyes locked on Amy's eyes, Anne grinned as sudden shock morphed into terror. "I'm not a foolish undergraduate anymore," Anne smirked. "Actually, I never thought you would become like a crazed game hunter."

"What are you doing?!" Dr. Hall croaked; recognition now completely lost as Amy stared into the mother's eyes. "What about all the beautiful nights together?"

With eyes harder than durasteel, Anne let go as if the loopy woman's skin oozed the foulest concoction known to sentient beings. "Good will vanished the moment you attacked my...daughter-in-law." Anne shook her head. Even all these years later, some Galactic Basic still felt alien on her Mando'ad tongue "The sad part? I could pardon the attacks against Kim as nothing but a job because that's part of what Kim does for a living." Anne balled her fists and forced them to remain by her side as the brain surgeon stood in front of the crazy collector. "Then, you had to go and threaten my daughter's wife just now!"

The deranged doctor paled and took a step back.

Faint memories of late-night talks of loyalty to clan and house made Amy's eyes widen in horror. When Anne glared at Amy, the geneticist's eyes trailed down, unable to meet the gaze, and watched her former lover finger a knife sheath open at her belt. Amy barely had time to blink before Anne held the knife at her throat.

"Run, Amy," Anne whispered into the fanatical freak's ear. "Run away and never return!"

When Dr. Amy Hall bolted, Anne flashed her blade back into its scabbard before anyone could see the knife was out.

Veronica looked at Anne with the ghost of a smile on her reptilian face under the hood. "Now, I see where Kim got her fighting skills from."

Anne only gave a slight nod with a neutral expression. "(No one threatens my family, my child's wife.)"

Please Read and Review. I have a weakness for Ann and Amy in a past relationship. It's just an interesting combination to me.

Next Time: The Lorwardians invade!