Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the Kim Possible series are all owned by Disney. Any and all registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring

"So, what are you doing for Global Justice?" Kim asked cautiously as they began their mall sentence at Club Banana.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

"Seriously… I want to start in the sweater section."

"Clearance first, sweaters can wait. Not much. Spent most of the first year in therapy and under a microscope—"

"They're trying to understand what Drakken…"

"Nah, under a rhetorical microscope. They were afraid I'd leave and go on a crime spree. Hell, if I'd known how out of shape you were I might have."

"How's your health? Any problems?"

"Had a couple colds… Or do you—Hey, what do you think of this one?"

"Do you always pick green or black?"

"Duh, well yeah."

"It might look good on you, you should try it on. I guess I was asking about whether you're stable now."

"Not when I'm around you. But looks like Wade was right, I'm a real live boy now."

"You still have the formula, right? Just in case."

Shego showed her a ring. "Wade put some in powder form. Got a couple doses hidden in—"

Kim lunged for a blouse, "I can't believe this is in clearance!"

As they left Club Banana with their purchases Kim suddenly remembered, "Hey, you never told me about Global Justice."

"I started to, but someone went nutzo in clearance."

"Well tell me now. You said you were mostly talking with your psychologist and being watched like a hawk your first year. Where to now?"

"Bookstore?"

"You read?"

Shego shot her an exasperated looked, "Yes, Princess, I know how to read."

"Sorry," Kim blushed, "I meant, I figured you were really busy as an agent – out in the field fighting crime or something. I didn't know how much time you have."

"Quite a bit actually. Therapist says I'm doing great. They've started sending me out on some missions – or tests. I can't tell which, and that's damned annoying, but—"

"Stay together now or go to our own sections now?" Kim asked as they entered the bookstore. "I'd like to hear what you're doing at GJ. I'll stay with you and listen wherever you want to browse if you'll come with me when you're done."

"I'll go along with you first, where do you want to start?"

"Over there," Kim pointed and led the way. "Missions or tests?"

"Betty calls them missions, but–"

"Betty? Doctor Director? You're on a first name basis with the head of Global Justice?"

"No. I do it to annoy her. I can't give up all my evil. They should be happy I'm just a sarcastic smart-ass now."

"Some things never change."

"A lot of things change, Princess," Shego said as Kim got on her knees to look at titles on the lowest shelf of books. "But they don't know how much I've changed. So they're sending me out on a lot of things they call missions, but I figure most of them are tests they've set up to see if I'll do what I'm told to do or whether I'll steal something I shouldn't. On a bunch of those missions I see things I really want to pocket. It's hard, but I fight it."

"What kind of missions, if I can ask?"

"You can ask, but I shouldn't say… But I will. I'll plant bugs, photograph the occasional document, retrieve reports undercover agents have left. I've turned on a couple computers and plugged something into their USB ports. I don't know what it does but it probably lets the techies see what's on the computer."

"Getting any friends?" Kim asked as she moved to another section of books.

"Not really," Shego confessed. "Not sure what the problem is. I'm a criminal. I spend so much time with the psychologist they probably figure I'm a head case. Most of them know I'm a clone… They may hate me for any or all the above. Or maybe they're just uncomfortable and don't know how to start a conversation with, 'Hey, what's it like to be a fake human being?'. I've got some people I hang around with, mostly in the training room. Work out a lot. God, can't believe how easy I took you down yesterday – are you training at all?"

"No," Kim sighed. "People tell me I spend too much time studying. Maybe they're right."

"Want to talk about it?"

Kim almost shot back, "With you?" but hesitated. She did want to talk about it. "Lunch?"

"Sounds good. Hey, are you about done here? I have some stuff I want to look for."

"Yeah," Kim agreed, and tucked the two books she'd found under her arm. "I want to see what you're reading now."

Kim checked her watch, "I can't believe how long we've been talking. I've never sat at the food court this long."

"We probably both have the patterns from these chairs pressed into our butts, want me to check?"

"No. Give me a break. I just spilled my guts out to you… Thanks for listening. And then you do that to me again."

"I haven't done anything to you yet, Princess. I just keep making the offer."

"I'm going to keep saying no."

"A girl can hope. It's hit on you or hit on your mother."

"My mother?"

"She's hot, Kim. I'd jump her in a minute. But she's also the nicest person I know and I don't want to say anything that might upset her."

"But you've got no problem upsetting me."

"None. Besides, that kiss yesterday gave me some hope."

"I don't know what happened yesterday. You took advantage of me."

"I didn't take advantage very long. You were a willing participant real fast – and don't go claiming Stockholm Syndrome on me."

"I was just lonely. Too lonely, you heard what's happening with me. It was a temporary madness. I'm better now and it didn't mean anything."

"I'm hoping it means you're bi."

"I'm not bi."

"Won't know unless you give it a try."

"Can we drop it?"

"Only if you agree to go to the gym tonight with me and spar."

"So you can jump me again?"

"I'm serious, Princess. You've changed. You were always smart, but the active seemed even more important to you. Now you're just using the smart and ignoring a big part of who you are. I think Ron—"

"Don't talk about Ron."

"He was a big part of who you were. You needed him with you, you needed to know you had someone at your back. With him gone you lost part of yourself and—"

"I don't need Ron!"

"Now that's just hurt talking. I'm not Ron, but you need to get back in touch with that physical part of yourself. And besides, I could enjoy shoving your face in the mat."

"When did you get to be so smart? Hey, I'll mop the floor with you. You just caught me by surprise yesterday."

"I've always been smart. But a year of spilling my guts to the psychologist made it easier for me to listen and empathize. Mop the floor with me? No way in hell. I knocked you down yesterday 'cause you're out of shape."

"No way. I always beat you. I can still beat you."

"You only beat me in your dreams. Loser let's me rub liniment into her aching muscles tomorrow."

"You said you'd stop talking like that if I agreed to spar. Loser buys coffee afterward."

An anxious Anne Possible waited up for the two women that night, "Where were you? The gym closed an hour ago."

"Loser was going to buy coffee," Shego reminded her.

"You said you had a good day talking, but I was still worried. After getting into a fight as soon as you saw each other yesterday I was afraid sparring would get out of hand."

"We were fine, Mom," Kim assured her. "I think Shego was right. It felt really good."

"Going to tell her how it went, Pumpkin?"

"I'm not out of shape!" Kim turned to her mother, "Someone's been training with Global Justice. She took her game up a couple levels, that's all."

"What the woman who won't admit she's out of shape is trying to tell you," Shego explained, "is that she paid for the coffee afterward."

"I'm not out of shape. You just learned some new moves, that's all. I know what you've got now. I could beat you."

"Want to go to the gym tomorrow, if Miss Denial isn't too sore from doing something harder than writing a final exam for the first time in a year?"

"You got it," Kim promised.

Kim was too sore the next day. She turned down Shego's request to rub liniment into her aching muscles, but made a counter offer to pay for a movie if Shego bought popcorn and soda.

Kim felt able to go to the gym the day after that, and paid for coffee afterward. And the day after.

By her last day in Middleton before returning to school Kim was able to admit, "Thanks, I needed that."

"Buying coffee for me or me proving you were out of shape? Or both?"

"Neither. I'm not out of shape. But you're right; the physical stuff is part of who I am. I'm out of practice even if I'm not out of shape. I'm going to start training again. Next time you see me I'll be ready to knock you on your butt."

"So… You're guessing what, sixty? seventy years until I see you again?"

"I'm going to enjoy knocking you on your butt, you know that?"

"Going to jump on top of me when you get me down?"

Kim actually chuckled, "No way. You'd throw the fight. You'll pay for coffee fair and square."