A\N: WARNING this chapter contain very fluffy scenes. (At least to me XD)

Chapter 23: Freedom's prices

I remember that day clearly, it was one of the most awkward talks I ever had and I was already feeling a bit… down, yes dawn is the only term I can think to describe how I was feeling.

Anyway; Amadis was sitting in a high chair in the kitchen; a very ugly scratch on her knee that I was treating while kneelt in front of her.

"Ouch" she whined when I poured some alcohol on it to disinfect it,trying to be as gentle as I could. She looked down at me with curious and worried eyes. I thought it was because she expected I would pour more alcohol on her knee until she spoke "What's up?"

"Nothing" I answered without looking up. What else could I say? That it has been almost a month since the last time she called mom?That it hurt a little that it was like she was avoiding saying it? That I felt like I wasn't enough for her anymore?… yes after that slip she had her first day at school she made a habit of call me mom every now and then and it warmed my heart but as suddenly as she started it she stopped. It was like she gave me a very tasty lollypop and after sucking it once she took it away.

"You should know better than lie to me, you suck at it" she teased but I just continued with my labor. She sighed "Something is bothering you" she didn't ask she stated it like a fact.

"Why did you stop?" I ask softly without stopping what I was doing.

"Why did I stop what?"

"Calling me mom" what good did bottle this inquietude anymore do? I was better getting this over with as soon as possible.

The moment that words left my lips I noticed her thighs got redder. I looked up at her and she was blushing furiously.

She looked away and said "It is such a big deal for you?"

"Yes" I answered before I could think properly the question. But it was true, I really liked the sound of the word each time she called me mom, I made me feel closer to her… and somehow closer to Shego.

She sighed sadly. "People were talking" I gave her a curious look. People talked all the time. "They were making fun of you when they heard me calling you 'mom', and I even if I like calling you that I hate when people talk nonsense about you"It took a few second for my brain to process it and when it did I chuckled earning a confused glare from her. Now that I think about it, she must have mused over that matter for a long time before coming to a solution: stop calling me 'mom'. "This is not funny!"

"I know" I said when I calmed down. "You shouldn't worry about what other people say, I don't"

"I know, but still"

"Ok, It is done" I patted her thigh slightly careful not to touch the bandage which covered her knee. She stood up, her back to me, and tried to give some tentative steps "I am relieved to know why you stopped" I hug her from behind.

She stood there for a bit, enjoying the comfort I suppose, but when she turned around she make a disgusting face. "What are you doing?"

"Now, give Kimmie a kiss" I was wrinkling my lips in an exaggerated kissing pout.

"You are embarrassing yourself" she looked as embarrassed as I should have been;but I was feeling so relieved that I felt like teasing her a bit. She hated the public demonstrations of affection.

"There is no one near. Come on, give mommy a kiss" I teased further.

When I saw her again she looked stunned. For a moment I thought I had pushed her too far but then a smirk crossed her face. "That is it!" she exclaimed startling me. "I am going to call you 'Kimmy'"

I arched an eyebrow. "Like what Shego calls me?"

She shook her head. "No, Kimmy as in 'Kim' and 'mommy'" she beamed at me before a light worried frown felt upon her face. "If you are ok with it…"

Kim… mommy… Kimmy… I liked the sound of it. It wasn't as blunt as calling me 'mom' but it gave the same butterflies. "Yeah it is ok"

She smiles even more before giving me peek on my check. "Ok… Kimmy"

A loud bang resonates through the laboratory successfully getting me out of my memories. A sudden warm feeling pass near my left side, I can hear gasps all around me and then I am falling limply.

Is this how dying is supposed to feel? I am not supposed to see my entire life passing on my mind?

While falling I hear fast steps coming in my direction and the sound of metal hitting the ground.

"Gotcha!" It is a soft voice, a voice I know too well.

"Shego?" I fell on her… no, she caught me. But how? Why am I not dead? I try to look at her looking for answers but she holds me tightly against her chest with her left arm pressing my head on her shoulder.

She moves getting in a sitting position, not relaxing the gasp she has me in. "Don't… don't look" her voice is labored. I panic. Why doesn't she want me to look? I try to get my face off her shoulder again but her arm prevents me to do so. "Don't"Then the distinct smell of burning flesh hit my nose sickening me immediately. My hand touches the floor and I feel a warm and thick liquid. Blood?Shego is running her hand through my hair now softening her hold on me. "It is over now"

I use all my force to stand; this time Shego can't stop me. I turn my head around and my eyes quickly fall on the inert form on the ground, the armor has retracted leaving only the blonde tanned scientist whose face is wearing a shocked yet lifeless expression…

"My god" I gasp when I notice that his left shoulder and the place where his heart is supposed to be has… vanished, leaving just a scorched mark that is still smoking, the rest of his arm resting a few meters from his body.

I look at the ground when I hear my boot making a splashing sound when I took a step back, I am standing in a pool of blood.

I snap my head to the man body again, his injuries are burned… cauterized, no blood spilling out from them, so who is all this blood…?

My head snap to Shego and I can't help the tears running down my face. She is sitting nonchalantly there with a serene and sad look on her face.

I run to her and throw my arms around her neck. I understand now; the bang I heard, the warn I felt, they weren't from a bullet…It was her using her plasma. "Why?" I ask looking at her right arm… or the place where is supposed to be.

"I wouldn't - allow him - to take - anything more - from me" she ran her hand, her only hand now, through my hair in a soothing motion while I cry on her shoulder.

Then all become a blur, people running around us, shouting for a doctor or asking where the other went, cries when Shego faints and then I loss conscious too.

SKP

Shit! I am in bloody pain, my head is throbbing madly. I try to sit but I feel something tying my feet to a… bed.

I open my eyes, a white ceiling. I look around and I notice that everything is white.

"I am dead" I murmur. Then when I try to lift my hands to rub my eyes… nothing happen. I feel a slight pain on my right arm, when I look at it… It isn't there. Oh, I remember now. Kimmie was that madman hostage and was asking me to, essentially, let her die or kill her to stop him. Then I took my own decision, it didn't matter it was painful or that I would lost my arm. I shot him my plasma at full power to her left side… killing him.

But that doesn't explain why I can't lift my left arm. When I look to that side; a hand is clutching mine for dear life, I lift my eyes and I am met with red hair.

Kim. She is asleep sitting in a hospital chair almost half her body on my bed.

She begins to struggle in her dream, nightmare, her face wince in pain and I can hear a faint 'No… Shego' coming from her lips. Judging from her facial expression I am sure is not a wet dream. I blush a bit and give a reassuring squeeze at her hand; she does too and calms down to, after a few seconds, open her eyes.

She looks at me, a happy smile on her face first and then a grimace covers her face when she looks at my right side. she isn't looking me in the eyes.

We fall in an awkward silence. I notice now her eyes are red, she has bags under them and there are dry tear streaks on her face.

"I'm sorry" she says.

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault" I try to reassure her.

"Of course it was, If he hasn't captured me this" she points my right side. "wouldn't have happened" we stay silent for a minute or so. "… You should have let me die…" she murmurs faintly.

I shoot her a hard glare and if moving a bit wouldn't be such a pain I would slap her. "Never says that again" I say in a serious tone. "Your life is a hell more important than a limb" I somehow can still feel pain in my missing limb. "It is sore but I will get used to it but you think I could get used to a life without you?" She is shocked at my admission and so do I but it is the plain true. "…And I know you didn't want to die" her words said otherwise but I could see all the emotions in her eyes, she didn't want to be a martyr. "This" I nod to my missing arm "Is a low price to pay to end this nightmare" I think my words are reassuring enough because her arms surround me in a hug. "Ouch" I wince. All the good that the contact feels it is still painful.

"Sorry" she drew back quickly, blushing deeply. Yeah, how could I live without seeing such a cute blush.

Then it down on me that it is daylight. But what day? "How long?" I know that I don't have to says more, she have to know what I am talking about.

She just begin to move her lips when other voice cut her off. "A week" I turn slowly my head toward the door. All the Possible… no my family is there.

"No wonder I am feeling like shit" I swear intentionally but no scold is given. Amadis is standing hesitant and fidgety. Anne is holding her by the shoulders. "Something wrong?" Ami bit her lower lip at my question.

"Be careful she is still recovering" Anne say letting go of the girl.

She sprints toward me and despite all warnings she throw herself in my arms… arm. I bear the pain it is worth having her with me.

The doctors shake their heads amused at my girls antics.

We spent a few minutes in silence taking in the comfort of the moment. Then she lift her head and look at my right side with a pained expression "Does it hurt?"

"A bit, specially the fingers" she chuckle a bit at my quip but really I twitch a bit and it seem to hurt in my fingers.

"It is called ghost pain" Anne explains. I supposed she noticed my confused look. "We had tocut the rest of your arm to your shoulder, it was too damaged" she says in sad tone. "The body doesn't get used to not having a limb that is why you still can 'feel' some twitches"

"How are you feeling?" the twins ask at the same time.

"Oh you are here, that explains why the place looks like if a hurricane has passed" I teased them making all chuckle. But it is sad yet happy sound and it is the same with their faces. Looking me like this has to be shocking to them. But I am alive and so are Kim and Ami. "Hey come here, tweebs" I open my arm letting go of Ami, she moves a bit giving space but no getting down the bed. They don't lose time and hug me too. "You too" and with James and Anne joining we are I a big family hug.

"No, really why is this room such a mess"

And by mess I mean that the room has a lot of cards on the ground with some cuddle buddies and… are those jasmines?

"This mess is friends wishing for you to get better soon" Tim says while Jim brings some of the 'gifts' most are get well soon cards from them but there are a few I didn't expected.

"'A naco when you can stand up on your own, my treat'" I read one of the cards. 'Ron' all of us say at the same time. "'I guess you won't be coming back to work soon… please come back we are and evil family!'" I chuckle at Dr. D. card. "Who sent those?" I point to various flower arrays behind the lonely jasmines bouquet.

"That" Kim says with some bitterness. Why is that Kimmie?

"The roses are from Senior"

"Junior or father?" I ask dreary. From triple S I have no problem, she is man of honor who really appreciate my talents… but Junior, I can't stop the thought that he would want something in return.

"Both I think" Anne said. "They had good taste" she says sniffing them.

"The lilies are from Betty" Tim says smirking at Kim's grimace. What is up with her?

"And you could tell who the cuddle buddies are from" Jim continue.

"DNAmy?" I ask. I know most of the villains have some respect for me but DNAmy.

"Even Monty sent you some flowers too" James says.

"Ok…Ok… but I mean the jasmines" no one knows but they are my favorite flowers.

"Oh" all of them turn to look at Kim.

"What?" she looks away blushing. "You told me they were your favorites" I don't remember that.

Before I could tease her we hear someone stomping out the room.

"Those idiots" Betty get inside the room fuming.

"What now Bets?" I ask.

"Shego!" she yelps in surprise. "I didn't know you were awake… why didn't you tell me?" she asks Kim.

"Slipped out of my mind" Kim says as innocently as she can.

She gives a defeated sigh and throws a key to my bed "I am sorry but this is the only thing I can do now" she looks away like she is ashamed. All of us give her a confused look. She point to my ankles. Oh! I am cuffed by my ankles to the bed I forgot about that uncomfortable item "I tried to convince them, to tell them how you have changed and how you saved Kim and the world of that madman but they don't hear to reason" Well I expected that much I am a criminal after all. "They said that you are wanted in almost all countries of the world and since you heal fast you will have a trial a week after you wake"

"They can't do that. It is inhuman!" Anne and Kim protest.

"Yes they can" Betty says between gritted teeth. "They think that they can finally put you behind bars once and for all due to your… condition" She gives a sympathetic look. We are both marked by that man now. "The united nation even said that due to the internationality of your crimes you will be prosecuted by a judge approved by them" she then looks at the key on my bed. "Take it and if you can't I am sure Kim and her family can hide you"

I laugh getting confused stares from them. They have concerned looks on their faces and that make me laugh is not a sarcastic or manic laugh; I bet some of them are thinking I have gone crazy.

It is a genuine happy, joyful laugh, the same as the tears on my face. I have never dream of being surrounded by so many people that are so willing to risk so much for me.

"Betty" I say lifting my left arm. "Have you forgotten who you are talking to?" I turn my plasma on and blast those cuffs. It is a relief that I am not wearing those explosive bracelets anymore. "I really appreciate the gesture but it is unnecessary" Even in my 'condition' I could have escape the moment I felt like it. But… "I am tired of running away" I say looking around at all the amazing people in the room. My family. "I don't have reason to escape anymore… it is over" I smile sadly.

"What about me?" Ami says. She surely is thinking she won't see me again if they take me to jail.

I sit up and put my hand on her cheek, caressing it "You are in good hands" I look at Kim who doesn't look like she believes what she is hearing. "I am sure they will take good care of you until I am released" I give her a reassuring but sad look. I don't want to do this mostly because I don't think I will finish my sentence anytime soon but it is time to pay for my crimes.

The only reason I was a criminal was because it was the only way to keep her safe from her father. Now, that is done.

"You can't" Kim says. "It is not fair, you have suffered enough"

"Life is not fair Kimmie" I take a deep breath. "It is my decision, if I want to be by your side…" and I don't mean only Amadis "…I have to face this"

"You can be with us without going to jail" Kim tried to change my mind. "With Wade's hardlight we can make a new identity and"

I give her an intense look "And hide who I am for the rest of my life… I do that when I am in vacation and it is not what I want and you know it" I counter. She doesn't have any more to say. She knows I do what I want when I want and there is little she can do to change my mind but support me. And what I want is to be free… not only free from his memory but free from my past.

"You can't enter the room, the patient is" I hear commotion from outside the room and we all look at the door bursting open.

The man in blue and black enters the room looking at the nurse who is trying to stop him. "This is my sister you are talking about"