I don't own these characters; Disney does. I do own Isabel, though.
6: Sociology 211 — How to Talk Unconventional Marriages and Family Units
Kim was stuck in her nest in the living room, still healing from her major accident. She was getting better by the day, but still unable to do much. Joss was still playing her nurse, which she did not mind. She had learned to appreciate the help, but was probably also more agreeable since she was visibly doing better.
"Kim, I'm going to the store. You want anything beyond the usual?" Joss called from the kitchen.
"I'm good," Kim replied.
"What about Cali? Should I get her something? Have you even seen Cali?" Joss stepped into the living room, scanning the area for the busybody feline.
"Try the closet or the bathroom. Actually, you know if she hears the door open, she'll come out if she's here," the older Possible pointed out, motioning to the front door. Cali could tell when it was that door instead of the many others in the apartment being opened.
Joss nodded, having learned how true that was. She went to the door and opened it. Barely a second later, Cali charged out of the closet. Joss had to laugh.
"There you are, little darling. I'm going shopping. You want anything special?" Joss inquired, leaning down to pet the feline briefly.
Cali changed into her human form and stared at Joss with big, begging eyes. "Can I come?"
Joss laughed and shook her head. "Sorry, cutie, but no pets at the supermarket. I'll get you something good."
Cali pouted and went back to her cat form. Joss left for the supermarket while Cali slinked away back to closet. Kim grabbed a book to read, but was distracted by the sound of the door opening. She thought Joss forgot something, but learned that was not the case.
"Hey, K. P, you home? Joss said you were and that you were awake, but you might've drifted off since she left," Ron called. He had keys to the house now, so that he could check on Kim just in case.
"I'm in the living room," Kim replied with a light laugh and was pleased she did not think of anything sarcastic or snotty to her friend. A few weeks ago, she would have had nothing but venomous words for such a question, but of course those would have all been in her mind. He knew all about her fake smile and false pleasantries. He was more than happy when she finally stopped doing that.
Ron appeared seconds life with Cali circling his feet. He sat down next to Kim's nest, adjusting a messenger bag he had. Cali jumped into his lap. He looked down at her, but he did not say anything to the cat. He put his hand up and Cali went about the task for petting herself, rubbing against his palm.
"So, what's up, Ron?" the hero inquired with a smile.
"Before I start, I invited Monique over, too. I want you both to help me pick out an engagement ring for Yori," Ron explained, practically bouncing in his seat.
Olive eyes went wide. "Engagement ring? You're going to propose to Yori?"
"You think it's too soon? It might be too soon, right? Is it too soon?" he begged with shining brown eyes, mouth drawn down into a pout.
Kim chuckled. "No, I don't think it's too soon. You've been with Yori longer than I've been with Shego. Hell, longer than I've been with Bonnie, too. But, the point is apparently quite a few people consider us married. So, it's not too soon for you."
"Now, you're making it sound like I'm late."
Huffing out of the side of her mouth, she decided to ignore that comment. "When's Mo coming?"
His brow wrinkled a little, as he looked around like he was searching for their missing friend. "She should've been here by now. But, she was coming from home instead of work, so it might take a while."
Kim nodded. "Well, until she shows up, what's going on with you? You and Yori still hanging out with Hana when you get a chance?" She wanted to catch up. Ever since her accident, she had not seen as much of Ron as she would have liked because he had work and he had Yori and, of course, he had his little sister. He had a lot to do and if she were at least mobile she could make room in her schedule for him instead of him always having to make room for her.
He grinned. "Oh, yeah! We took her to the movies a few days ago. They love being around each other. Hana makes leaving Japan beyond worth it for Yori."
She smiled and touched his knee. "I think you have a little something to do with her being happy with the move."
He blushed. "I hope so. You guys giving her a job that she loves helps, too. While some of the students drive her a little crazy, she loves teaching."
"That's good. Her students love her from what I remember. I haven't been downstairs for a while, but I doubt that's changed over the past couple of months."
"It hasn't. Shego's still hazing her with the class wars."
"That's not hazing. Shego loves doing that and she feels it helps both sets of students. Not to mention, Yori invades her back now. They have fun. I know Yori tells you it's fun."
He laughed. "She does like it now. She thought it was weird at first and she couldn't figure out what to make of it, but she likes it now. It's practice. She spars with Shego, too. She loves this job."
"Good to know. She's an important part of the school."
Ron smiled and the conversation was cut short as the bell rang. Ron went to answer, figuring it was probably Monique. It was and she greeted him with a hug before they both went to the living room.
"Hey, girl, you look a lot better than the last time I saw you," Monique commented as she leaned down and kissed Kim's cheek. She had seen the hero a couple of times when she first got back to the States. It was such a shocking sight that Monique cried each time. Since she was not as emotional, Kim took that as a huge sign that she looked better.
"Thanks. It's good to know. How long have you been back in the country?" Kim asked.
"Not too long. I've been at the store. I'll probably be there for a couple of weeks, so I'll see more of you," Monique replied.
Kim smiled. "I look forward to it."
"Now, why are we here?" Monique asked as she took a seat on the floor since that was where Ron and Kim were. Cali made herself comfortable on part of Kim's blankets. The redhead scratched the top of the cat's head.
"I want help in picking out an engagement ring for Yori," Ron announced, pulling out a laptop from his messenger bag. "I didn't expect so many options," he laughed sheepishly.
"Yeah, they're rings, dude," Monique chuckled. "What's your budget?"
"I don't want to go over 500 bucks. I mean, yes, Yori's the love of my life and everything, but I will need money for a wedding ring if everything goes right, right?" he reasoned.
"Wow, you've really thought this out, huh?" Kim pointed out.
The blond laughed nervously, scratching his cheek with his index finger. "I wanna do right by her. I mean, this is the woman I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with and hopefully have a family with. I've gotta learn to plan ahead and junk."
Both women smiled. "You've gotten so mature, Ron," Monique commented.
The trio got to work trying to find the perfect ring for Yori. Kim did her best to focus on the task at hand, but looking through dozens and dozens of rings, she could not help spotting ones that she thought would be good for her lovers. Her heart sped up each time until she silently conceded that she would not mind being married to her girlfriends.
"Hey, Bonnie would probably die for this ring," Monique chuckled as she pointed to a ring that Kim knew the lawyer would love.
Ron laughed, too. "You know what, Kim, maybe you should look, too. You should be getting hitched soon, too."
"I'm designing wedding dresses," Monique called with a grin, going as far as raising her hand.
"I got you on catering, so find some rings," Ron teased and Kim blushed all the way to the roots of her hair.
"Let's focus on one wedding and engagement at a time," Kim pointed out.
"Okay, but that just means you're next," Ron reminded her.
They laughed, but went back to work. They had it narrowed down to ten rings by the time Joss returned. Cali leaped up and ran into the kitchen, knowing Joss had food. Kim laughed at the cat's behavior, but she kept her focus on the rings.
"Hey, y'all, I made some snacks for you since it's Kim's lunch time," Joss explained as she came in with some fruit bowls. She handed one to each of them.
"Thanks, Joss. You're the best," Kim declared.
"Yeah, cool. Thanks," Ron concurred.
"Thank you," Monique said.
Joss smiled elfishly at the group, pleased with being praised. She returned to the kitchen, where Cali was rolling around with the new mouse toy that Joss bought for her. Joss tried to put away the rest of the groceries. The phone rang, so Joss had to get that.
"Cali, one of these day, I'm training you to answer the phone. What's the point of having a magic pet if you can't go above and beyond?" Joss teased, earning a curious look from the cat. "Hello, Possible-Rockwaller-Go residence," she answered.
"Hey, Joss. It's Isabel. I'm having lunch with your aunt. We're going to come over and see Kim when we're done. Just want to make sure you're aware and she's aware, so she's not overwhelmed or annoyed with us," the warrior woman explained.
Joss glanced into the living room, noting Kim's smile. "I don't think she'll be annoyed or overwhelmed. She's in great spirits today."
"That's great. We look forward to seeing her. Hold on, your aunt wants to speak with you."
"All right." Joss could hear the phone being passed.
"Hello, Joss. Isabel said you've reported that Kim's in great spirits. Has she been taking her medication and everything?" Ann inquired.
"Yes, Bonnie, Shego, me, and even Cali have been making sure that she does," Joss informed the worried woman.
"That's good. Well, we'll see you both soon."
"All right. Bye."
"Bye."
The call was disconnected. Joss glanced in the living room to see the old friends in a heated debate over the rings they were looking at and Joss decided not to bother them. She had her own chores to get through and she knew Kim would not be upset if her mother and Isabel popped up.
-8-8-8-8-
"You guys sure this one is the best?" Ron asked with trepidation in his voice. He squinted as he regarded the band.
"We all agreed this suits Yori the best. You're just nervous," Kim replied. She heard the door open and glanced at the clock. It was too early to be either one of her lovers.
"This ring's nice, too, and well within your price range. You're lucky. Buy it now over the Internet, just in case you can't make it to the store anytime soon. You need to hop on this before it's gone or before the price goes up," Monique pushed him. He seemed to need pushing if the anxious chatter of his teeth meant anything.
"Hello, snapshot of the past. What are you three doing?" Ann asked with a smile as she and Isabel stepped into the living room.
"Hi, Mom! Hi, Isabel," Kim practically chirped. If she could move, she would have opened her arms to hug them. Instead, they leaned down and hugged her lightly.
"Hi, Mrs. Dr. P. Hi, Shego's mom," Ron said with a smile. Monique could only wave because she was laughing at Ron's odd greeting. Ann hugged them as well.
"Hi, so, what are you three doing?" Isabel asked as she took a seat on the couch, making sure to be careful of Kim. Ann took a seat on the love seat and they both looked down at Ron's laptop to see the ring that he was considering.
"Ron's planning to propose to Yori, so we're helping him pick out a ring. Don't you think this ring is perfect?" Kim pointed to the computer screen.
"Absolutely beautiful, right?" Monique chimed in.
"That's stunning," Isabel concurred with a firm nod.
"Yes, and it would look nice on Yori," Ann agreed.
Ron looked at each woman and then back at the computer. Taking a deep breath, he clicked the ring and began to order it. Kim smiled at him, hoping it would get him to calm down. She doubted it helped because a bead of sweat ran down Ron's cheek.
"So, Ron, you're ready to get married?" Ann inquired politely.
"I hope so and I hope Yori is. She's my life and I'm ready for the world to know," the blond declared.
Ann smiled. "So romantic. I can't believe how much you've all grown up. And how you've changed and stayed the same at the same time. It's incredible," she said with some awe in her voice.
"Yes, so, Kim, if your childhood friend is getting married, shouldn't you be looking into doing the same?" Isabel asked with a smile. "And maybe soon having some children?"
Ann laughed. "You're about as subtle as a chainsaw, Isabel."
Isabel smiled and shrugged. "I can't help it. I want what I want. My daughter's happy, in a wonderful relationship with two awe-inspiring women, so it's time for them to move forward. I need grandchildren."
"You have four sons," Kim pointed out.
"None of whom have girlfriends, where as my daughter has two young, nubile girlfriends," Isabel countered, earning a few laughs, even though she was quite serious.
"Maybe you should talk to your daughter and get her to do something," Ann commented, trying to help.
Isabel scoffed. "So she can tell me to go fuck myself? Hell, no. I need to talk to the reasonable people in the relationship. I need grandchildren, ASAP."
Kim laughed. "You're jumping well ahead of the game with us. The word marriage makes Shego break out in hives."
"This conversation's getting too rich for my blood. I'm only trying to get engaged," Ron remarked as he climbed to his feet and packed away his computer.
"Have you figured out how you're going to ask Yori?" Kim inquired.
"I'm taking her on a midnight picnic whenever there's a full moon and do it then," he explained with a smile. That earned a lot of surprised looks.
"You stole that from a movie, didn't you?" Kim guessed, smirking at her friend. He would never come up with something like that on his own.
"The source doesn't matter!" he insisted with a grin.
"It's very romantic, Ron," Ann praised him. "Yori's lucky to have you."
He visibly preened and they smiled at him. He took his leave on that note, bidding them all farewell. Monique left right behind him because she did have work that she needed to get back to. Kim hugged them both goodbye without a wince. Isabel and Ann smiled when they saw that.
"You must feel much better," Ann commented, looking quite pleased.
"I do," Kim admitted. "I think it's more psychological and emotional, but I do feel a lot better. I'll be even more so when I can finally leave my nest. So, what brings you two by? Not that I'm not happy to see you." The hero smiled sincerely.
"We wanted to see you and we wanted to talk to you about finding a physical therapist for when everything is healed," Ann explained.
"I'm guessing you both have lists of people you like for the job," Kim said. After all, they were just that way.
"Yes, but we met for lunch to narrow our lists, so you wouldn't have to look through dozens of names. So, is that all right?" Ann asked.
Kim nodded. "I'll have to look them over with Bonnie and Shego, though."
"Of course," her mother agreed.
"See, Kim, you already think like a married person. You have to talk it over to with your spouses. Why don't you propose, get married, and give me grandchildren?" Isabel reasoned.
Kim laughed. "Why do you keep asking me to do that? We can't even have biological children."
Isabel scoffed. "First off, biology is secondary to me. Being a Han is a state of mind, which is why my children didn't even bear the last name. You can raise anybody to be a member of my family. So, you can adopt if you want or any other way you see fit to come by children. So, next issue. Besides, science has to have caught up to you by now, considering some of the other things I know science can provide. Ann, stop me if I'm wrong, please."
The neurosurgeon smiled at Kim, as if apologizing. "There are advances in science, surprising thanks to some of your enemies, but other things have been going on for a while now. Some people actually look at the things that villains do, imagine the good things they could do, and put those things into practice. I'm not quite sure if they could combine the DNA of three people, but females having children by other females can be done. It's been in the works for a while. I like to think there are more geniuses on the side of good than just being crazy, mad scientists." Ann smiled again.
Kim groaned. "I'm starting to think you talked about more than physical therapists over lunch. Has Isabel talked you into this want of grandkids?"
Ann chuckled and shook her head. "No, but I wouldn't be oppose to grandchildren. I'm sure we'd have to ease your father into the idea. Why are you so opposed to this? When you and Bonnie got together, I thought you'd march on Washington on your own to get marriage equality passed. Now, you're spinning your wheels."
"Because we can't get married. There are three of us. We can't get legally married," Kim argued. Yes, she had figured when it was just her and Bonnie, eventually they would get married. It was a pipe dream for them now, though.
"No, but a marriage is not about legal status. It's about taking the next step. It's about making a public commitment to your partners to be together forever," Isabel replied.
Kim arched an eyebrow. "Was that what your wedding was like to Kane?"
The martial artist laughed and waved the question off. "I was so drunk when I married Kane, I don't even remembering doing it. Kane and I didn't have the most traditional courtship. Our public commitment was the fact that I didn't kill him."
The redheaded hero laughed. She could see Isabel so much in Shego. The way Isabel spoke of Kane was the way that Shego spoke of her mother. But, she could also see so much of Kane in Shego, like his devotion to his beloved was the same in Shego's devotion to her and Bonnie.
"Despite Isabel's odd marriage, she's mostly correct. Marriage isn't about legal status. It's about the highest level at commitment and merging your lives, which you've already done." Ann motioned around the apartment.
Kim nodded and sighed. "It's still a lot to think about. Besides, if we did have kids, it would be weird. We're already weird and unconventional. Could we raise a family in such unconventional circumstances?"
"Unconventional? You're kidding, right? The only conventional thing about the family I made with Kane was that it was a two-parent household. There was nothing else that could be remotely normal. You're not even from a conventional household in anything beyond that," Isabel pointed out.
Olive eyes blinked, not believing that Isabel even said that. "My household was very normal! Right, Mom?"
Ann glanced away and turned her mouth downward for just a moment. "Well… Normal is not the way most would describe it. I can't even begin to tell you how many times someone called Child Protective Services on us because of your antics as a child. One of your teachers even accused us of child abuse because of your injuries."
Kim's mouth hit the floor. "Child abuse?"
Ann shrugged. "You were active, ever since you could crawl. You got hurt a lot because of that. Early in second grade, your teacher didn't believe a little girl would actually try to jump her bike down the high steps in the park."
Kim's brow furrowed. "I don't even remember doing it, but I do remember my arm bending the wrong way."
"That was the least of our concerns. Getting you to stop pulling your arm because you thought it was funny for bending that way was high on our priority list, though," the doctor commented.
"Maybe Kim just doesn't want to deal with a child like she used to be. I know my firefly probably doesn't want that. Shego was similar to Kim, except she was following behind her big brother," Isabel said.
"Are we having this conversation because I can't escape?" Kim inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course," Isabel laughed.
"We'll stop, but think about it, Kim," Ann requested.
Kim nodded if only to get out of the discussion and into something less annoying and uncomfortable, like her injuries. Thankfully, the doctor in her mother came out and the warrior in Isabel came out and they did ask all sorts of questions about her body, her convalescence, and how she was holding up mentally. She was able to answer most of the questions positively, which made them all feel better.
The mothers decided to leave before Shego and Bonnie got in with the hope it would encourage Kim to talk to them. Kim lounged in her nest as Cali jogged over and cuddled into Kim's blanket. Joss came to sit down for a little while.
"Doing good, cousin?" the younger woman asked.
"Yeah, but I'm probably going to have take a pain pill in a little while. Thanks again for the snack. I was hungry." Kim smiled.
"No problem. So, Ron's trying to get himself hitched, huh?"
Kim looked up at her cousin to judge Joss' feelings on the matter. "You don't still have a crush, do you?"
Joss laughed. "Please, Kim, I've been over him for years! Besides, he's old now."
"What? He's the same age as me!"
Joss laughed more. "Yeah, and you're old!"
"You're going to regret that when I can walk again!" Kim laughed and shook her fist at Joss.
The younger woman laughed more. She turned on the television and they watched a show together. Joss eventually had to get Kim a pain pill and then they waited for Bonnie and Shego.
-8-8-8-8-
It was a quiet night for the most part. Bonnie and Shego had come home to find Kim napping with Cali doing the same close by. Joss had prepared dinner and Kim woke up in time for them to all eat as family. Cali ended up breaking the easy going mood.
"Hey, what's engaged?" the cat asked while having her dessert, which was a slice of cake. She was not supposed to have it, but she did her cat-faced version of the puppy dog pout when everybody else got a slice.
Bonnie's mouth dropped open. "Engaged?"
"Yeah, I meant to ask earlier, but Kimmie fell asleep. The man with the yellow hair is gonna get engaged. They looked at rings for Yori. Oh, and the lady that smells nice said Kimmie should get one for Bonnie," Cali explained.
"Ron's getting engaged?" Bonnie asked in disbelief.
"You were looking at rings for Bonnie?" Shego inquired at the same time.
Kim sighed. "Ron's getting engaged and we were looking at rings for Yori. Monique saw a ring that Bonnie would've liked and I agreed. Nothing more."
"What's wrong with looking at rings?" Bonnie asked Shego. "If you're so opposed to marriage, you can complain for yourself, but don't complain for me. I actually would like to get married one day, should one or both of you ask," she proclaimed, giving them both a sort of smug look.
Shego blinked as if stunned by the declaration. Kim was not bothered after having thought about it for most of the day. Not to mention, she knew Bonnie's stance on the issue and remembered that once upon a time, she and Bonnie had spoke of getting married. In fact, when Shego looked to her for support, all she could do was smile and shrug.
"Seriously, Princess?" Shego asked.
"You're not going to like this, but I spoke to our moms and they got me thinking about," Kim replied.
"I should've known that damned devil woman would come by when you were alone. We can't get married, so it's stupid to even entertain the thought. Marriage doesn't mean anything, anyway. My parents got married drunk in Vegas. The marriage isn't the thing that keeps them together," Shego argued.
"Is it the troop of half-crazed children?" Bonnie teased.
Shego stuck her tongue out at Bonnie for a second. "No, it's their weird, frightening emotions for each other. They had those long before the marriage and they undoubtedly would've stayed together even if they never got married. Of course, Mommy would've made life Hell for Daddy while doing it, but they more than likely would've stayed together no matter what, even without the troop of children."
"Shego, that's not the point. The marriage, the rings, tell the world that you're loved and also that you're off the market," Bonnie argued.
"It's also about us making a commitment to each other, promising each other in front of those that matter that we'll be there for each other and support each other through the good and the bad. It's as much for us as our families, for them to see we're serious about each other," Kim added.
Shego frowned. "And what else did you and the mothers talk about since your suddenly so gung-ho about this?" At that point, Joss realized she needed to ease away from the trio. They knew that she was going, but completely ignored her.
Kim scowled, too. "Kids if you must know. Your mother isn't subtle about her desire for grandkids and my mother just let me know she'd like some, too. And maybe sometime in the not-too-distant future I'd like some."
"I would, too," Bonnie chimed in with a smile. "Children have been in my plan since I met Kim and got involved with her. I know she'd be a good mom and I want to provide the childhood I never had for a child."
"So, it's two against one?" Shego growled.
"No, these are our hopes and desires and you need to be aware of them. Everything doesn't have to turn into a fight," Bonnie told her.
"We should be able to talk about these things. It's fine if you don't want to get married or have kids, but you should be able to tell us without getting an attitude," Kim added.
The eldest amongst them growled again, but took a deep breath to calm down. "Why do you want kids? All they do is want stuff and whine and fight each other and try to come between the parents."
Both Kim and Bonnie appeared bewildered by that sentiment. It was not like Shego had had an awful childhood and when things did get sticky it for her it was because of her big brother. Her parents had also never shown a regret for having children, clearly loving each one as if they were the best things to ever happen.
"Shego…" Bonnie stated, but did not finish. She did not know what to say, but Shego did not stick around anyway.
They knew that she was going to the garden to think and they left her alone. Cali was hiding by then, upset that her question seemed to have sparked a fight. Bonnie and Kim decided to comfort the feline.
-8-8-8-8-
Shego sighed as she sat on the ledge around the roof. She called her father, wanting to talk to him. He simply told her that he would be right there. Barely thirty seconds later, he was sitting next to her.
"All right, Shona, what's up?" Kane inquired. His eyes were glowing yellow and a golden halo around him.
"Your wife came around starting trouble. She's putting all this crap in Kimmie's head about marriage and kids," Shego grumbled.
"Like what?"
"Like getting married. We can't. There are three of us."
Kane waved that off. "Legally, you can set up most of the stuff that married couples have without being married. Marriage is more a promise to each other than anything else, which is why me and Isabel never had the ceremony. Even though we don't remember it exactly, we made a promise to each other. Not to mention, we renew our vows like every ten years."
Emerald eyes widened. "You do?"
A wide grin settled on his face and he leaned forward a little. "Oh, yeah. For us, it's more personal than anything, which is why we do it alone. We just want to remind each other in a profound way that we're here for each other, we still feel a deep love and affection for each other, and we're going to stay with each other. It's a special thing that seems to deepen our bond. Everybody doesn't need to see, for us. The fact that we're still together is enough proof for everybody else, but it helps the two of us."
Shego nodded, but she did not say anything. It was a lot to take in. Kane smiled again and put his arm around his daughter. She offered up no resistance and leaned against him a little.
"As for the kids, you guys make me love your mother all the more and I couldn't begin to tell you how important you kids are to both of us. You're beyond special to me, but I know you know that, Shona. Our family is the best thing to ever happen to me. I wouldn't give you guys up for anything. I love you."
"I know, Daddy, but I don't know if I'm ready to share."
Kane laughed. "You don't have to have the kids tomorrow. They have to respect the fact you're not ready now if you guys have been talking kids."
Shego sighed. "They probably would if I respected the fact that they're kinda ready. Do you think I'd do good with kids?"
He laughed again and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "You'd kick ass! I know you and your mom have your thing, but she wasn't a horrible mother, right? And she and her mom have their thing, but you don't think your grandma was horrible, right?"
"Grandma is great. I don't what Mommy's deal is because Grandma is fucking awesome," Shego declared. "What if I have a thing with my kids?"
His forehead wrinkled. "You don't like your thing with your mom? I thought you two got a kick out of it."
"No, I do. It's how we click, but most people don't get it. What if I have kids that get mixed messages, don't get it, and then the thing becomes exactly what it looks like?"
"There's that chance, but you might not even have a thing. You didn't have a thing with your mother until after she got better. Before that, you treated her like your brothers do. She hung the moon as far as you knew and you used to tell her that."
Shego gave silent nod. Sighing, she ran her hand through her hair. Kane just pulled her closer and she curled into her father. He smiled.
"I think you'd all make great parents and you do have a huge support system," he pointed out in a whisper.
"You wanna be a grandpa?"
"Someday. Whenever one of you kids decide to bless me with that, anyway. You can ask your mother, I've never in my life turned down kids."
Shego smiled because she knew that was true. They sat there quietly for a few minutes, leaning on each other. Then Shego stood up, feeling put together again. The pair hugged and Shego returned to her family while Kane ran back to wherever he came from.
Bonnie and Kim were in the living room with Cali. They were watching a movie and snuggled together as closely as Kim's injuries allotted them. Shego sat down with them.
"Where's Joss?" the former villain inquired.
"Shower," Bonnie replied simply.
Shego nodded. "Look, my loves, I'm sorry if I seemed a little bonkers. Before you two, I never entertained the thought of marriage. Every relationship I had was an utter failure and then I couldn't even form real attachments after a while. I don't want to make waves for us. I want us to make it."
"We want us to make it, too. That's one of the reasons we were talking about marriage," Kim pointed out.
"I know. I know. I just need time to take this all in. I'm definitely not ready to have kids," Shego informed them.
"Shego, you don't have to be ready now. Just willing to talk," Bonnie stated.
"I know."
Silence fell on the living room. Joss joined them and they enjoyed the movie. As the night drew on Bonnie and Shego got ready for bed. They bathed Kim and Shego gently carried Kim to bed. Kim smiled when she touched the mattress, happy to be able to be moved and share their bed again without feeling like the bed was going to eat her. They were careful of her, but everyone was happy with set up. Cali lay at their feet and they fell asleep.
-8-8-8-8-
Kim's Kimmunicator going off disturbed a quiet, peaceful night. Bonnie shot up from her pillow and Cali rolled off of the bed while Shego snarled, grabbing for the damned device. They knew the call was probably just family, but it was waking them right after they fell to asleep.
"Yeah?" Shego demanded while Kim reached for the Kimmunicator. Shego passed it to her. "It's the buffoon. Sounds like he's crying."
"Crying?" Kim echoed in a groggy voice. "Ron?"
"She turned me down, K. P! She ran away!" Ron bawled.
"Wait, what? Who?" the redhead asked, rubbing her eyes and trying to clear her sleep-addled mind.
"Yori!"
"Yori? Yori said no?" Kim asked to be sure. She wiggled a bit, trying to sit up obviously. Shego helped by lifting her slightly while Bonnie put a pillow behind Kim. The hero smiled at both of them.
"Yeah! She looked at me like I was crazy and then just ran off! Have you ever tried catching a master ninja in the freaking dark?"
Yeah, I have and I know how hard it is, she thought, but did not share. "Ron, calm down. She might've just been overwhelmed. Give her some time to sort herself out," Kim advised him.
"You sure?" he sniffled.
"Yes, just give her time."
He sniffed again. "Okay. Thanks."
"No big. Get yourself together and give her time to process what you're asking."
"Okay." He disconnected the call.
Kim sighed. "Yori turned him down."
"What? Why?" both women asked. Bonnie and Shego thought Ron's engagement was a sure thing when they heard about the romantic night he had planned.
"He didn't say. She probably didn't explain herself either. He just said she ran away after he asked," the redhead reported.
Bonnie and Shego did not have anything to say to that. They settled back down for sleep, but it was not as easy as they could have liked. Shego checked to make sure Cali was back on the bed. The feline was curled up, a little higher than usual, on the bed now. They all went back to sleep after thinking about how devastated Ron had to be. They all thought that was in the bag and, now, they had to wonder if there ever was a proposal that was "in the bag." Was it worth the heartache to try?
-8-8-8-8-
"Hey, Yori," Shego called to the ninja as they were getting ready for their classes.
"Yes?" Yori turned around the ex-thief could not help grimacing. The shinobi looked awful. She had a jaundiced pallor with dark circles under eyes.
"Have you been crying all night?" the older woman asked, even though she did not need an answer. "Is this because you turned Ron down on his marriage proposal?" she scowled deeply.
Yori gasped. "How do you know about this?"
"He called Kim last night, crying to her. Why did you turn him down? You two love each other to the point that it's sickeningly obvious. You don't want to get married?" Shego asked and watched as tears welled up in the younger woman's eyes.
"I do, but I am unworthy of Ron-kun! He is a world savior, an all-powerful master of our art, and the only person that Master Sensei trusted with Hana! I am a lowly kunoichi! What would I look like marrying the heir of our art and savior of the world? I am unworthy!" Yori hollered as hot tears poured down her face.
Shego grabbed Yori by the shoulders. "Are you insane? He said you were worthy by asking you and he's the only one that matters! Who cares what he is or did or who gave him what! He wants you and you want him! That's all that matters. You're punishing both of you over something completely ridiculous! Go out there and put that fucking ring on your finger, you silly girl!"
"But-but-but…" Yori stammered.
"No buts! Do you love him?"
"Of course!" Yori affirmed with more tears in her eyes.
"And does he love you?"
"Yes!" The tears fell harder than before.
"And you want to marry him?"
"I do!" Yori bawled.
"Then go fucking accept his ring and make the both of you happy! It's not going to anybody any good for you to mope around here!" Shego pointed out while shoving Yori out the door. The ninja did not turn around and walked on while Shego sighed. "I can't believe her. She's going to make them both miserable with bullshit. What the fuck is wrong with her?"
Of course, Shego felt a bit silly herself for giving out relationship advice considering her situation, but she liked Yori. She could not stand by and watch Yori ruin her life over some misplaced sense of honor. She hoped Yori returned all sorted out. But, she was not sure what to make of it when the shinobi did not return that day.
-8-8-8-8-
"Hey, Princess, have you heard from your whiny best friend? His girlfriend dipped on me this morning," Shego complained as she marched into the house.
"He called me earlier. He sounded out of breath, but said Yori said yes. He then hurried off of the phone for whatever reason," Kim replied from her nest in the living room. She smiled when Shego came into view.
Shego laughed before greeting Kim with a kiss. "Glad it worked out for them. Yori better be in to work tomorrow, though." Kim chuckled.
The next time that Shego saw Yori, the ninja was sporting a lovely white gold band with amethyst stones surrounding a diamond to go along with a grin wider than all outside. Shego could not help thinking if Kim and Bonnie would smile like that for the same reason. Her heart thumped heavy in her chest when she realized the thoughts going through her mind, but she did not try to stop them. In fact, they put a small, gentle smile on her.
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: Kim has physical therapy and there are… issues with it.