"Monkeys…why did it have to monkeys!"

Kim and Ron sat in coach, exhausted after their last mission, both covered head-to-toe in scrapes, bruises, and monkey fur.

"Ron, when Monkey Fist is involved, it's a given."

Monkey Fist had broken into a museum, seeking a manuscript he believed would lead him to a lost monkey temple, hoping to loot it's treasures for himself. He had found the scroll and was on his way out just as Team Possible had arrived, and had ordered his monkey ninjas to attack the pair while he escaped, seemingly in too much of a rush to even take a shot at Ron. Instead, this being her first mission after her time with Shego, Kim was so energized she had left Ron to deal with the monkeys and followed after Monty, chasing him halfway across the city and back again. He had, eventually, been caught, and Kim had dragged him to the police, limping all the while.

"And why did you leave me alone back there?"

"You weren't alone, you had Rufus."

Rufus jumped from a pocket and stuck a pose. Ron gave him a pat before turning back to Kim with a frown.

"But you never leave me alone…"

"Oh, Ron, you can handle just a few little monkeys, can't you? Unless they were some kind of were-monkey…you didn't get bit, did you?"

"Ahhh! Not going to turn into a monkey!"

Ron started viciously scrubbing a small cut with a moist towelette, and Kim leaned back into her seat, working hard to suppress a grin.

School, however, was a mixed blessing. Kim had walked into the gym one afternoon and found her mother had noticed her poor health, calling in to have her excused from practice. On one hand, being healthy meant being back on the cheer team. Of course, that meant hearing no end of complaining from Bonnie, who was no longer at the top of the squad. After her vacation and the lightening of her workload, Kim seemed to move even faster, which resulted in even more snide remarks than usual. To top it off, Kim had returned just before a competition, and she rushed through learning the routine, getting promoted back to squad leader just in time to compete, hence, more lip from Bonnie, hence, the headache, and the current dilemma.

Lying in bed, Kim stared at the Kimmunicator. Right after her marathon chase of Monkey Fist, she had forced her herself to join in time for the competition, and was still sore from the exertion. It had been almost three weeks since Shego had dragged her away to her private retreat, and Kim was feeling the urge for another vacation, even if it did mean skipping school outright.

"Urg…"

Kim rolled back and forth on the bed, rubbing her sore muscles.

I remember Shego rubbing that lotion on me…giving me a little massage…I could go for another of those right now…

Kim sat bolt upright and shook her head to clear away the image. The conversation with Monique was still in her mind, and remembering the looks she had received from Shego didn't help in the slightest.

Shego wouldn't…isn't…interested in me…like that. I mean, come on! Shego! Knowing her…knowing…her…oh god…she wouldn't…would she?

Kim stumbled out of bed, deciding on a nice, cold shower.

When she was done, however, the Kimmunicator was still lying on her bed. And her calves were still sore.

Kim walked downstairs, a duffel bag over one shoulder, looking slightly nervous over something. Brain surgery may be her specialty, but it wasn't Mrs. Possible's only field of study. Psychology was another.

"Hey Kim, another mission?"

"Y-yeah, sorta…Remember Kigo Enterprises?"

"Yes, you did consulting work for them a few weeks ago, right?"

"Yeah! Anyways, they had a break-in at one of their labs, and they asked me to look at their systems, so…"

"Alright…is…something wrong?"

"What? No, no…everything's fine…why do you ask?"

"You seem a little…out of it."

"Umm…do I?"

Thankfully, the sound of rotor blades made them both look up, and Kim made a dash for the back door.

"Seeyouinafewdaysbye!"

She followed and waved goodbye as her daughter climbed up the ladder into the waiting helicopter, before sitting down to brood in the kitchen. Kim was acting strange, very strange. After her first trip, she had a sudden about-face from the workload she had taken on, dumping almost half her volunteer work and a fair chunk of extra-curricular activities. Now, she seemed not only happier, but healthier, too. And this 'Kigo' company…she seemed nervous to work for them again…but happy nervous. She reached up to rub her temples. Something odd was defiantly going on.

"I really need to brush up on my teenage psychology."

Flying towards a spot she knew in Europe, Shego poked Kim for the fourth time, finally getting a reaction.

"What?"

"Why are you so quiet?"

"Well…I…"

"What?"

"I…lied…to my mom."

"Wow. You must really have wanted to see me again."

"Shego!"

"Now now, Kimmie, she's a reasonable sort…"

Shego placed a hand on Kim's thigh, and Kim's face flushed.

"I'm sure she'd understand…us."

"SHEGO!"

Shego burst out laughing, patting the leg once before removing it. Kim sat and stared at her, still blushing slightly, until Shego noticed.

"What's with the look?"

"Nothing!"

"Can't take your eyes off me, huh?"

"NO! I mean…YES! I mean…AHHHHH!"

Kim buried her face in her hands while Shego reached over and started rubbing the back of Kim's neck.

"Shego…"

"Yes?"

"Don't do that."

"What, this?"

The hand rubbed harder, sliding down her neck and onto a shoulder, before sliding further onto her back and rubbing a tense muscles there. Despite herself, Kim tilted to give Shego better access the sore spot.

"No…the…other thing."

"What other thing?"

"The…flirting."

"What's wrong, Kim? Hate the idea that much?"

Face hidden under her hair, Kim's eyes opened wide. Not just at the sound of Shego using her real name, but her voice had a certain quality to it that made Kim re-think what she was planning to say.

"Well…I…never…really thought about…it."

"Oh? Well, maybe you should sometime."

The hand pulled away, and through her hair, Kim could see Shego keeping her eyes forward, staring into nothing.

Once they arrived, Shego seemed to be back to her usual smirking self. Kim couldn't help but stare at her surroundings. In the shadow of some rather impressive mountains, a house in an old style Kim didn't recognize sat next to a beautiful, clear lake, surrounded by a dense, ancient forest. A stiff, chill breeze blew past her and she hurried into the house when she heard Shego calling her. Stepping inside, the house looked surprisingly modern, well stocked with a large plasma TV and every appliance they might need, and of course, the ubiquitous green and black color scheme.

"So how long have I got you for?"

"Well I…err…my parents will expect me back Sunday evening sometime, so…all of Saturday, and we'll probably have to head back mid-afternoon Sunday to make it home by curfew…"

"Curfew? You have a curfew?"

"Yes…"

"BWA HA HA!"

"Shego! Don't pretend you didn't know!"

"I…ha…knew! I just…snort…wanted to hear you say it!"

Shego was reduced to fits of laugher, collapsing on the sofa and clutching her sides. Kim crossed her arms and glared down at her, which only earned more laughs from Shego.

"Da…Damn, girl. Fighting you is one thing…didn't think I'd enjo-"

Shego clammed up again.

"Hmmm?"

"Hmmm what?

Shego quickly picked up Kim's bag and carried it upstairs, not looking at her, the same way as when she cut herself off before. Kim's eyes followed her as she walked away.

Enj…enjoy? She likes me? As some kind of…friend? No way! She couldn't…she just can't. It's just not her. No. She can't. Shego…

"It's late."

Wrapped up in her thoughts, Kim hadn't noticed Shego reappear.

"Have you had dinner?"

"Ah…not really."

"What did I tell you?"

Shego was waggling a finger at her.

"Proper nutrition?"

"Good girl. Have a seat."

Shego pulled some food from the fridge that looked disturbingly fresh to Kim. As if…she stocked up…she must have been expecting me to call her…The two ate together, and to Kim's eternal surprise, Shego actually talked to her, and not just responding to questions, asking some of her own. This is getting weird…Later on, however…

"Shego…"

"Hmm?"

"Why is there only one bed?"

"If you must know, you e-mail took me by surprise. I didn't have time to run out and steal a new one for you."

Liar! You had stocked the fridge! You were hoping…expecting me to call again.

"You know? Forget it. I'll sleep on the couch."

Kim turned, but Shego grabbed her shoulders from behind and Kim felt her breath on her neck.

"Scared, Kimmie?"

Kim whipped around…and froze. There was a…look on Shego's face that stopped her in her tracks. Kim found herself unable to say anything under that look as Shego leaned forward.

"Don't worry, Kimmie…I won't bite…unless you say 'please' first."

"She…go…"

Shego leaned in closer…and Kim found she still couldn't move, even when Shego's lips moved to within an inch of her own.

"I…alright! Just…don't try anything."

"Kimmie, you wound me. In all the times I captured you, tied you down, rendered you completely helpless…did I ever do anything improper?"

"Well…no…"

"You see? Your little virgin body has nothing to fear."

"Shego!"

Shego was already turning and peeling herself out of her suit, and Kim quickly looked away. She started to reach for her own pajamas, when she noticed Shego peeking at her. Naked.

"Shego…"

"Yes?"

"When we…before, when I was knocked out…you were wearing something, right?"

"Yes…"

"Good."

Kim slipped into the bathroom to change in private, and returned to find the lights off and Shego already in bed, smirking to herself. Kim slipped under the covers on her side of the thankfully oversized bed, glancing nervously at Shego, who turned out to be wearing something green and lacy. Shego kept her eyes closed, picturing the moment in her mind.

I was wearing a smile, Kimmie…does that count?