All inhabitants of the Lazy C Ranch were up with the sun and after a breakfast of scrambled eggs, golden hash browns, and freshly squeezed orange juice, headed off to their duties. The girls promised their mothers that they would be good and listen to everything that Joss told them. After a series of hugs, the elder Possibles and bodyguard mounted up on the horses provided for them and rode off with Uncle Slim, off to the south pasture to check the herd. Joss and the girls, all clad in jeans, plaid shirts, and cowboy hats, quickly shifted into work mode.
The Lazy C Veterinary Clinic encompassed one of the smaller barns on the property, divided into three main areas. The largest area was for housing the sick horses and cattle, as well as an array of other large farm animals that needed to be set aside from their herds or farms for various reasons. The two smaller sections were Joss's operating/treatment facilities and for housing the much smaller animals such as dogs and cats. The door jingled as the visitors were led in. All three received a warm greeting from Joss's receptionist/office manager Mindy. Back in college, Joss and Mindy were room-mates, first in the dormitories and then pooling their money into getting an apartment. Mindy was an office management student and after graduation, was talked by Joss into moving back to Montana with her to help run her practice.
The second new face for the girls to encounter was Nancy, Joss's Veterinary Assistant. Nancy was in her mid-forties, brown hair with streaks of white done up in a long pony tail similar to Joss, and unknown to the twins, Nancy, like their mothers, Nancy was a lesbian. A long-time friend of Joss's late mother and life partner (as Montana didn't recognize gay marriage) to Joss's Aunt Rachel, Nancy had been a presence on the ranch for as long as Joss could remember. She and Aunt Rachel kinda took up Joss's mother's duties when she passed away.
"Why, you two look just like your Mommy," Growing up in such a conservative state, Nancy Willaby had endured her share of discrimination, even from her own family. But Gays and Lesbians were finally beginning to become more accepted, even in Montana. And that was due in no small part to Kim and Shego Possible.
The first task of the day before they opened up the clinic was to give all the animals their morning meal. Under the guidance of Nancy, Zoë and Emily were tasked with feeding all of the dogs, cats, and other household pets that had been brought in for care. Both of the twins were serious animal lovers but Zoë was an absolute sucker for dogs. The little brunette was positively gushing over the little Collie puppies that Joss had delivered a few weeks ago. Nancy nearly lost it when Emily almost got into an argument with old Mrs. Rodriguez's parrot Diego.
While the younger girls were working on the small animals, Gracie and George were assisting Joss in feeding and watering the larger animals. Taking a look around the barn, George decided that it would probably be to his benefit to remain in Gracie's pocket. One good stomp from a horseshoe and he'd be scampering through that big cheese factory in the sky. Gracie pitched chunks of hay into the feeding bins while Joss filled all of the water tanks from the hose in the center of the barn. Joss called Gracie over to the pen she'd just watered, containing an enormous Clydesdale.
"Now this big fella is named Zeus," Joss introduced, hefting a saddle off of the wall and balancing it on Zeus's back. Straps were secured and Joss leaned down to check the bandaged leg. "He had a bad sprain that he's recov'rin from." The sprain was healing nicely. He shouldn't have a problem with a few times around the pen out back. "Now he needs a cowgirl to take him for a ride so he can test his strength." Gracie got to ride? This was gonna be SPANKIN! The twelve year old scampered up the railing and up into the saddle. Joss was so totally cool. Joss secured a lead rope to Zeus's bridle and led the great hulking horse out back. Once the gate was closed behind them, Joss unhooked the lead rope and turned to the rider. "Now take him around the corral a couple of times. You remember what I told ya about riding, don't ya?"
"Show the ornery horse who's BOSS!" Gracie answered. "So not the drama." She spurred the horse forward and began circling around the corral.
Zeus seemed to have no trouble moving. Probably another few days and he'd be set to go back to the Meadowlark Ranch.
"Ride'em Cowgirl," George had climbed up on a fence post when the gate while the gate was closing and was cheering his friend on.
Gracie took Zeus three times around the corral until Joss called her back. Zeus was returned to his pen and the pair went back to checking on the other cattle and horses in Joss's charge, George securely in Gracie's pocket once again.
It was lunchtime by the time Joss and Gracie had gotten back to the Clinic office. The pair were greeted by Nancy, Zoë, Emily, and Mindy, all chowing down on sub sandwiches. Mindy had made a lunch run and the gyro waiting for Joss was making her mouth water. The girls had told Mindy what to get for Gracie so the older girl began tearing into a pizza sub. She pulled out a chunk of mozzarella and handed it to George. Unlike old Rufus, who had a penchant for nacho cheese, there wasn't much George wouldn't do for mozzarella!
"Well I gotta say," Nancy smiled through a mouthful of turkey sub. "I've never seen city slickers work as hard as these cowgirls."
"Anything's possible for a Possible," The twins said in unison.
Both Nancy and Mindy couldn't help laughing around their mouthfuls of food. Ah, the Possible family motto.
After lunch, the girls finally got what they had been waiting for. Set aside from the rest of the injured and sick farm animals were the few stalls set aside for pregnant animals. Only one of the stalls was occupied. Lying in the middle of the pen was a beautiful brown and white mustang that was quite obviously pregnant and close to term.
"Girls, meet Comet," Joss introduced, opening the gate into the pen and gesturing for the girls to follow her. "She's won the AERC National Championship three times and her baby's gonna be a champion just like her. Pop and I raised her since she was a little'n. Em," Joss called to Emily. "Why don't you go over to that barrel over there and get her some carrots? I think she needs a treat."
Emily ran over to the barrel just outside the pen, pulled out a handful of carrots and raced back to the pen. She divided them up amongst herself and her sisters, deferring to Gracie on who got to go first since she was the oldest. Gracie motioned Emily forward, a little timid around such a big animal. To a six year old, seeing this big animal in a pen was one thing. Being up close and personal with it was another matter. Emily slowly stepped forward and began petting Comet's long snout. The pregnant mare could sense a good deal of kindness from this new figure and began nuzzling against her hand. Emotions quickly calmed and Emily fed Comet the carrot. While Gracie and Zoë were feeding their carrots to Comet, Joss began running her stethoscope over Comet's body. The foal seemed to be coming along right on schedule; nothing unusual for her to be concerned about. Four days, Joss thought to herself. My gut says four days.
Though it was long since unnecessary, Joss wheeled out the ultrasound machine and gave the girls a look at the foal. There was a chorus of "oohs and ahs", especially from the twins, as the image appeared on the screen. Joss smiled. She still had all the ultrasound pictures Kim had given her during Gracie and the twins' pregnancy. At 24 years old, Joss was fairly certain that one day she would want a couple of "critters of her own". Kim and Shego made it look so very appealing. But no one could deny how hard it was on Kim, having Gracie so young. She'd be a Mom one day but not for a while yet. She still had plenty she wanted to do on her own.
There was a rumble of hoof beats, signifying the return of the cattle drivers and the girls' parents. The twins ran outside to greet Kim and the others. Gracie followed Joss outside at a slightly slower pace. Kim waved at the pair as she released Zoë from her hug. Joss reported to Kim, loudly so that the girls could hear, that she'd never seen such hard working cowgirls. Gracie was about to ask Momma if she liked the cattle drive but there was a groan as the older woman slid out of the saddle and began hobbling, very noticeably bowlegged, to the nearest bench to sit down.
"Talk about a GREENhorn," Kim laughed, plopping down on the bench next to her wife. She leaned in close so that only her wife could hear. "Last time I saw you walk like that was the morning after our 10th anniversary." Kim gave Shego a wink. "What a night THAT was!"
Shego gave another groan, too weak to do anything else. "This trip ran you a close second."
Gracie took a seat on the other side of Shego. No one was looking so Gracie could easily help. "Momma, do you want me to…"
"That's okay muffin," Good grief, her daughter was predictable. "I'll be fine." Both parents rolled their eyes at Gracie's persistence in using her new abilities. Shego had begun helping Gracie master her powers. Lacking in any form of test subjects, Kim had come up with the idea of have Gracie practice on her and Shego after particularly difficult sparring sessions. Gracie couldn't fully heal yet but could reliably reduce most aches and pains. Her body took on a yellow glow as she gained greater control. The truly interesting thing that Shego had discovered was that Gracie's abilities only seemed to have an effect on inflicted injuries and virtually no effect on illnesses. During one particularly difficult head cold, the family could only take so much of Kim's whining and complaining. Out of sheer desperation, Shego had Gracie attempt to use her powers, but to no avail.
Her mothers were able to impart the importance of keeping her powers a secret and Gracie had never used her powers without Shego or Kim there but, bless her heart, she wanted to take every opportunity to heal her parents' ills. Whenever she saw hurt, it was in her nature to fix it. To do anything else just felt wrong. She truly was Shego Possible's daughter.
"Our daughter the caregiver," Kim smiled and patted Gracie on the back, pulling her up from the bench. "Besides, the pain keeps your Momma from being too cocky."
"Oh so HELP me, if I could move my legs…" Shego groaned and made a feeble grab for Kim. The pair of redheads scampered out of Shego's reach.
"You're getting slower Momma," Gracie laughed.
"WHERE DID I GO WRONG?" Shego looked upwards and held her hands up, pleading to the heavens. "How could my own daughter betray me like this? Why must I endure this torture from my own flesh and blood?"
The twins saw their mothers and older sister's display and ran over to Shego, climbing up on either side of her and making as if to defend Shego from Kim and Gracie. Why should THEY get to have all the fun?
"WE'D never do that Momma," Emily hugged Shego.
"Yeah, we'll make'em sorry," Zoë began making fisticuffs at Kim and Gracie.
The two "factions" agreed to call a truce and take it into the living room so everyone could rest their bones. The twins introduced Nancy to Kim and Shego, having spent the majority of their day tending to the smaller animals with her. Kim had of course known Nancy from previous visits but decided to humor her girls. Nancy proudly reported that Kim's daughters were wonderfully hard workers and it was a joy having them as her helpers. Emily was nestled comfortably on Kim's lap and received a big hug as Mommy informed the older woman that nobody worked harder than her little Pixie Scouts!
Bow-legged or not, it fell to Shego to make dinner with Joss. As the twins grew up, it became apparent that despite Zoë being almost an exact physical duplicate of her Momma, it was little Emily Abigail that had inherited Shego's passion for the kitchen. Back in Middleton, you couldn't enter Shego's kitchen without seeing her little green haired assistant running ingredients to her or tasting her Momma's creations. It felt wonderful to Shego having such a wonderful activity to share with her youngest. The junior chef fell into line behind Momma and bid everyone goodbye.
When Joss led them into the kitchen, Shego looked around at the kitchen and let out a whistle. Shego had designed the Palace herself when she and Kim had decided to move out of the elder Possible's house. She'd known of her wife's abysmal cooking abilities and admittedly, the kitchen was a little treat for herself. She'd strolled into the local Sears and demanded the best of EVERYTHING. Looking around the kitchen she now stood in, she knew she was standing in a wonderful kitchen. The room was painted a candy apple red with walnut trim. Brass pots and pans in every size hung from the ceiling. The counter-tops looked to be made of high quality granite. Nestled over in the corner was an enormous Kenmore Fridge. What really drew the experienced cook's attention however was the range. Planted into the island in the middle of the room was a stainless steel Jenn-Air Pro-Style 48" Double-Oven range.
"Ooooooh sweetie," Shego held Emily's hand and looked down at her daughter. "Think about what we can make in here!"
KPKPKPKPKPKPKPKP
The reformed thief was once again so full that she anticipated going right to sleep. Thankfully the same was said for the twins. Shego could really get used to this! Back in Middleton, she and Kim would be arguing with Zoë and Emily all the way up the stairs about staying up just a little longer. Twenty minutes, then fifteen, then ten; it was like a sleep auction. But after a full day on Uncle Slim's ranch, Kim found herself and Shego carrying the littlest Possibles, both dead tired, up to their beds and tucking them in. The mothers planted kisses on their respective daughters, changed partners, and crept down the stairs as quiet as mice. If either jinxed this good fortune, the other would never forgive her.
"If it meant getting to enjoy THIS ever night," Shego laughed as she raised the stairs leading up to Joss's attic room. "I'd be tempted to take you and the girls and play 'Bonanza' for the rest of our lives."
"Oh brother," Kim rolled her eyes. "I can see it now; you, in a pair of denim bib overalls, sitting on the porch and twiddling a banjo."
"You right next to me," Shego returned, pinching her wife's rear on the way down the stairs. "Wearing a gingham gown, hair up in a bonnet, and knitting me a sexy sweater."
The pair traded verbal jousts and emerged from the stairs cracking up with laughter. "And…and…and Gracie wearing a dress made out of a burlap sack" Shego wheezed, weak at the knees from laughing so hard.
"EXCUSE me?"
Gracie had been situated on the far side of the living room, her eyes creeping up from her old copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, George perched on her knee reading along with his partner. The pair turned in unison towards a very confused looking teenager and upon seeing the look on her face, her parents collapsed to the floor in laughter.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you my parents, Gracie thought to herself and rolled her eyes. For as long as she could remember, Mom and Momma had had numerous inside jokes from when they were younger and from missions they'd gone on together. Sure they'd been funny once upon a time…but nowadays her parents crossed the line between funny and just plain weird. "Deduce what you can from THEM, Sherlock," Gracie said to no one as she returned to her book. "I've tried my entire life and am stumped."
"Well Shego, look at Miss Dramatic over there," Kim wheezed, regaining her composure and getting to her feet. "Gracie Anne, try having your mother feed all your friends food cooked in the shape of a brain. THEN you will know embarrassment."
"I'd WELCOME that Mom," Gracie fixed her Mom with a challenging glare. "At least Grandma could make a brainloaf without having to be lectured by the Fire Department afterwards while your friends watched."
"So not the drama," George waved off Kim's reply, his eyes never leaving the page.
"Why you little…" Kim leapt at Gracie, pulling her to the ground, George flying off her knee. The redhead began tickling Gracie everywhere that she could reach. Gracie fought as hard as she could but began cackling in laughter as Kim was able to work around her daughter's defenses. Gracie was forced to endure this treatment for a good two minutes, until tears began running down Gracie's cheeks, and Momma came to her rescue, hauling the older redhead off.
"Aren't…aren't you supposed to…protect me from…harm?" Gracie wheezed, turning to stare at Abby. She'd had one of her Heckler and Koch .45 pistols laid out on a towel and was cleaning while she sat back and watched the scene.
"Sorry squirt," Abby said with a straight face, locking the chamber open so she could clean the inside of the barrel with a brass wire brush. "But I'm not afraid of the people I'm supposed to protect you from."
"YOU are afraid of Mom?" Gracie asked.
"Darn right, I am," Abby replied, withdrawing the brush and releasing the chamber lock. "I don't want her to tickle ME."
"And where were YOU?" Gracie pointed an accusing finger at George who'd just reappeared.
"Huh uh," George shook his head. "Squished last time."
Gracie gave a weak laugh, grabbed the pillow she'd been resting her head on, and lobbed it at her nanny/bodyguard. George received a small lecture on the meaning of loyalty and was promptly deposited back in her pocket. That just left the 'rents. They were embarrassing, they drove her up the wall…but Gracie Anne Possible loved Mom and Momma so much and wouldn't trade them for anything
"I love you guys," Gracie smiled and hugged her parents.
"We love you too Muffin," Shego sighed. "More than you will ever know."
Author's Notes:
As I said, I think being a veterinarian is a natural fit for Joss. I like to think that part of Joss's acceptance of Kim's lifestyle was a result of having a gay role model to look up to apart from Kim. Homosexual relationships are rapidly becoming more common place and I take that as a sign that we are growing as a nation and acceptance is trumping intolerance, even in traditionally conservative states like Montana.
I like Gracie, Zoë, and Emily each having their own special activity with each parent that is just theirs. For Emily and Shego, I like the two being masters of the kitchen. I haven't thought of one for Zoë yet and look for Gracie to have an activity with Shego in the next few stories.
And what is the sign of a perfectly healthy and well-adjusted family? The fact that two seasoned world savers can embarrass their pre-teen daughter in such a fun way. And after reading Summertime Blues by Poetheather1, I picture Gracie looking for any and all excuse to use her newfound powers, especially when helping them allows her to alleviate pain.