Ann's morning surgery had been mostly complication-free, so she was able to head home in time for a late lunch. She was making a sandwich and contemplating a better-than-average dinner for the family, when she heard the shower come on. This was odd, since she could have sworn she was alone in the house.

Curbing her first instinct to call out, the surgeon snuck towards the bathroom. The door was wide open, so she took a quick peek, blinked, and stepped into the room.

It was definitely Shego behind the curtain, since it was her two-colour outfit that lay in a pile beside the bathtub. Ann walked over and peeked around the curtain; Shego seemed to be in the process of soaking her hair.

"Shego?" Ann said, surprised that the villainess hadn't noticed her presence.

"Whooo?"

Oh dear, that didn't sound right. "Shego, turn around." Ann watched her do so and immediately noticed the vacant, staring expression on her face. "What happened to you?"

"Kim hit me with Dr. Drakken's brainwashing shampoo and told me to 'sneak into the house as usual, take a shower and rinse my hair out, then hide in her room until she came back.'"

"Brainwashing shampoo?" Ann repeated in bewilderment.

"Yeah..."

"How is that even... no, never mind. Mad science, I should know better than to ask." Ann watched as Shego's hands continued to work the water into her incredible amount of hair and rinse it out. She could see the pink suds as they... were they glowing? The doctor rubbed her eyes, double-checked, then sighed at the bizarreness of it all. She tugged the shower curtain closed again so she wouldn't have to keep looking at it as well as to keep the water in.

It took another moment for her to ask, "So you have to do anything you're told?"

"Yeah..."

"Hmm. Well, first I feel I should tell you that I would normally never take advantage of someone in your situation... but this is about my daughter. Answer my questions honestly. Are you in love with Kim?"

"Yes."

"Is your romantic relationship with Kim part of an evil plot?"

"No."

"Okay. I already believed as much, but I wanted to be sure. I hope you won't mind." Since Shego didn't respond to that - of course she wouldn't, Ann realized - she continued, "Where is Kim, anyway?"

"American Starmaker."

Ann's mouth opened and closed without comment. Instead she chose to go sit on the toilet and ask, "Why don't you tell me what happened from the beginning?"

"Because you haven't asked."

"...I'm asking now: tell me."

The surgeon listened patiently as the mesmerized villainess recounted the chicken-dancing henchman, the failed attempt at product placement, the lack of MC Honey's signature (or endorsement), Friday night kareoke and, finally, Drakken's plan to launch his hip hop career on a television show in order to kickstart the sale of his brainwashing shampoo. Kim had shown up to stop him, and she was dressed to perform... but Shego had confronted her beforehand.

When Shego stopped talking, Ann took another look and noticed that the glowing pink traces of the shampoo were absent, but the vacant stare was still apparent. "Do you know how long the effects of the shampoo last?"

"No..."

"Well, it seems to be all out of your hair. You can stop now... I mean, stop rinsing your hair, turn off the shower and come out."

Shego obeyed, and Ann almost handed her a towel to dry herself with before stopping short. Giving the young woman's body an appraising once-over, a cheeky thought occurred to her. Under any other circumstances, she wouldn't dare do it due to the threat of amorous reprisals, but... "It would be quite the tease if I were to dry you off myself, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah..."

Ann pondered the option a moment longer before deciding against it. "You do it," she ordered, handing the towel over. "But be assured I have noticed what an attactive young woman you are, Shego; and I appreciate the attention. Even if some of your desires border on the perverse." The green girl did not respond, attending to her most immediate task. "We can go up to Kimmie's room to take care of your hair... unless... is there anything you need? Are you hungry?"

"I need to pee and yes, I'm hungry."

"Well then, when you're done drying off with the towel, use the toilet, get dressed and join me in the kitchen. Do you have any dietary concerns I should be aware of?"

"Nah..."

"Don't forget to wash your hands after you're done in here."

Ann's sandwich-making efforts were more elaborate than originally intended, something triggered by the fact that she wasn't preparing a meal for just herself, anymore. Lettuce and sliced tomato joined the ham and cheese, and a glass of orange juice joined each sandwich. When Shego arrived, Ann commanded her to eat and drink with her. They did so in silence, since conversation was bound to be limited. The experience wandered back and forth between amiable and creepy. Ann eventually figured out that the latter was partly due to something she'd had difficulty pinning down until now: Shego had washed the black lipstick off during her shower. Most medical professionals equated the colour green with something bad, and Ann was no different... but when it came to Shego, she knew better.

When lunch was finished, they went up to Kim's room and used her hairdryer - the one that actually dried hair - on Shego. Ann did the brushing afterwards, indulging her curiosity in Shego's peculiar traits; like the superpowered girl's skintone, her hair bordered on unique. The green tint to Shego's sable mane was clearly visible in its current condition. Ironically, Drakken's shampoo seemed to be as good at washing hair as it was brain.

"Shouldn't Kim have left you for the police?" Ann wondered aloud.

"Yes."

"She let her romantic attatchment to you interfere," the doctor reasoned. "What about you, do you go easy on her because of your relationship?"

"I haven't tried to kill her for a long time," Shego deadpanned.

"Well, that's nice to hear," Ann said, even as the bizarreness of the dialogue struck her. She fervently hoped her boys wouldn't get into more and more trouble as they got older... not that Kim was getting into trouble, exactly. It was just... one teen hero in the family was enough.

Still... Shego not killing Kim was hardly the same as Kim not leaving Shego to the police. The villainess always broke out again anyway, it seemed. "What would you do to teach Kim not to let her feelings get in the way, in these circumstances?"

"I'd prank her."

Ann hummed as she mulled over the possibilities, before something terribly naughty came to mind. This time, she chose to go with it, and started giving Shego instructions.

"Oh! Hi mom," Kim said uncertainly after coming through the front door. "I, uh, didn't know you'd be here."

Ann was wearing her robe, loosely tied and showing enough cleavage to prove she was wearing nothing underneath. Her cheeks were also somewhat flushed. "Kimmie," she began, somewhat breathlessly, "Isn't it a little early for you to be home from school? And what are you wearing?"

Kim glanced down at the archtypal outfit she was wearing, complete with USA crop top. "I had a music-related mission this afternoon, but Ron took my place while I was busy fighting Shego."

"I see... how did that go?"

"Oh, you know," Kim giggled nervously, noticing how sexy her mother's voice was sounding right now. "It's Shego. Um, you're looking very..." the teenager struggled to find an appropriate word.

"Relaxed?" Ann almost purred.

"I guess..."

"I was about to make some coffee, would you like some?"

"No thanks. I... think I'll just go change."

"Okay then." Ann headed to the kitchen without further comment, the smile that she had been wearing throughout the conversation never leaving her face. Pondering her mother's behaviour, Kim rushed up to her room.

Shego wasn't there. She wasn't behind the bed, or hiding in the closet, nor had she squeezed into the trunk.

Kim pondered the possibilities as she changed, decided to bite the bullet, and headed back down to the kitchen. Her mother was perched on the counter, cup in hand, one leg over the other and swinging lazily as she hummed happily to herself, still smiling.

"Uh, mom? Have you seen Shego lately?"

"Oh yes," Ann all but moaned, "Almost all of her, actually."

"Huh?"

"Check my bedroom."

Kim gaped at her mother for a long moment, then turned and dashed to the room in question.

Both Ann's and Shego's clothes were strewn across the floor, along with a couple of pillows, and by the way the duvet was hanging off one side of the bed, it was ready to join them. On the bed itself, Shego lay, spreadeagled and stark naked, staring at the ceiling.

"Shego!" Kim cried, "What... what..."

"I'm mommy's little fuck puppet."

Kim's eyes tried to leave their sockets. "WHAT!"

"I'm mommy's little fuck puppet."

"Oh, Kimmie?"

The teenager turned towards the sound of her mother's voice, only to suffer a flash of light to the face. Once she blinked it away, she saw the camera in her mother's hands.

"A souvenir for Shego, when the shampoo wears off," Ann explained with maternal smugness (the worst kind). "Don't worry, I didn't take advantage of her. Perhaps next time you'll leave her for the police like you're supposed to."

Kim blinked some more, the realisation that she'd been played hitting almost as hard as the surprise. "But... I... she..."

"I'm sure she's laughing on the inside," Ann assured her, struggling not to burst out laughing herself.

"Augh!" cried the younger redhead, and stomped back to her own bedroom.

Both dressed again, Ann had brought Shego back to Kim's room before going to pick up the boys from school. Kim made her as comfortable as possible before heading downstairs to keep an eye on the tweebs, then dinner. Ann did not see Shego again until she went up with a plate of leftovers and to say goodnight. The green girl was in bed, apparently asleep, while Kim was studying at her desk. She looked up when her mother's hand came to rest on her shoulder.

"I asked myself what Shego would do," Ann explained, now that enough time had passed for Kim to let get over it. "Did I get it wrong?"

"No," Kim admitted, "It was exactly the sort of thing she would have done... except she probably would have really..."

"True," Ann agreed, "And I understand that you weren't shocked by the possibility that I'd slept with her, so much as the prospect that I'd taken advantage of her current state. You do realize, if Shego and I became... occasional lovers, that such an encounter could actually happen."

Kim glanced in Shego's direction. "I should have known you would've noticed something was wrong. But I also felt like I'd missed something important. Like I'd skipped an important chapter or something. I'd like to at least be there if you two start something."

"Don't worry, I'm sure she wouldn't have it any other way. But if that's the only reason why you want me to come along on your weekend away, I think I should decline."

"It's not. At the very least, I want you two to get to know each other..."

"And what opportunity would we have for that while you two spend the whole weekend in bed?" Ann asked, the humour in her voice now palpable. "Perhaps Shego and I should leave you here..."

The redheads looked at each other in silence for a moment, then shared a giggle.

"I also want you to get a better idea of how she makes me feel," Kim eventually added.

"I already know, Kimmie. The way you looked at her just now... and I know she's just as besotted with you. As long as you don't betray yourself for her sake, I wish you all the joy in the world." Ann's hand moved to cup the face that was looking up at her. "Which is another reason why I'm hesitant about joining you on this trip. Are you sure you're not... suggesting certain things... just because you know she likes the idea and you think you can do anything?"

"That's why I'd like you to come with," Kim explained as she rubbed her cheek against her mother's hand. "I've imagined things, but I can't know for sure how I'll react if they actually happen. Maybe, watching you two for real, I'll realize I don't want to share Shego at all. Or do other things," she added before taking her mother's hand in her own and planting a kiss in the middle of her palm.

The doctor took it for the tender gesture it was. "You're compelled to keep your relationship with Shego a secret, and it feels good to be able to share it with someone, for someone to see how wonderful she makes you feel. Tell me this: if you had told Ron or Monique instead, would you be as quick to invite them on this little trip?"

Kim thought about it, and had to answer, "I don't know. If they took it as well as you have, sure, but... I just don't see it happening. Even if Ron had known for as long as you have, I'm not sure he'd be in a state of mind where he'd accept... I'm not even sure he'd still be my friend. And Monique..." Kim paused again. "Is it wrong for me to think she'd be more accepting because she's a member of a minority, herself?"

"I don't think it would be inconsiderate to think so, but I also think only she could answer that for sure. And I'll say it again: I think you give Ron too little credit. You should tell him."

"Even if I do, it should wait until after exams," Kim muttered, looking down at the books on her desk.

"One more thing," Ann decided. "Why did you tell her to come here, instead of letting the police take her?"

"It just didn't seem fair," her daughter answered without hesitation, "Letting anyone take her like that. She was helpless. She would have hated it. Sending her away just... seemed like the right thing to do. And we don't know how long she'll be stuck like this. She can't take care of herself, and since it's Friday..."

"Would you have done that for anyone else?"

"I don't know anyone else like I know her."

Amazing, Ann thought, the simplest things your children can say that end up surprising you. She planted a kiss on the top of Kim's head, told her, "Don't stay up too late," and headed to bed.

Perhaps it was time to have that conversation with James.

Author's Notes: Oh look, I'm doing these now, apparently. Well, I'm doing it because it will be November in a few hours, and Between Bouts is going to take a back seat as I once again attempt to write 50k words in 30 days. Oh, what wicked timing! I'm a bad, bad man!

If it's any consolation, the hypothetical 50k words will belong in KP: Extraction. So if you haven't read the prologue (and watched Inception) yet, now's a good time.

One other item of note: the prospect of lesbian incest seems to have some of you a-twitter and others a-shiver. Yes, I have a fetish. Most guys seem to go for sisters, preferably twins; me, I prefer something with a generation gap (not that I wouldn't jump on a pair of twins myself, I admit). Besides, girls tend to have mothers more often than sisters, so you could say my inner perv is playing the odds.

Regardless, I hereby inform my readership that there will be sexual interaction between Kim and Ann, eventually. Not yet. Not during the frequently-mentioned weekend... well, there might be an experimental makeout, it depends on how the weekend goes... no, I don't know how it's gonna go, that's up to the girls, isn't it? My point is, at some point, the redheads of the story will be all over each other. I'm just not sure when. It could be Between Bouts... or it could be After Bouts.