After all the food was eaten and the delicious Possible pumpkin pie devoured, it was quiet in the Possible house.
The two sets of twins had gone off into the backyard to test projectiles, while the older Possibles lounged around in the living room. Shego and Kim were in the kitchen doing the dishes - at their own insistence when Anne had objected having her guests do them. "Mom, it's the least we could do - you spent all day cooking" was Kim's remark.
So there they were, cleaning and drying dishes, only their laughter and the sound of running water echoing in the house.
"Anne," James said as he put down his paper.
"Yes, dear?" Anne looked up from her Neuroscience Weekly magazine.
"What do you think?"
"They're very well much in love," murmured Anne as she looked back down at an interesting article about emergency room etiquette. She added, "Whether they know it or not."
"I can see that, but don't you worry about Kim?"
"I do, honey, but she's taking this all as it comes. One can never prepare enough for the inevitable, if it happens."
"I'm just saying it might be better if she-"
"James, you can't put a value on love, nor can you really anticipate when it begins and when it ends. If something happens, I'm sure Kim will be able to handle it."
"Anne, don't you think we should at least-"
"James, I realise she is our eldest, and our only daughter, but she's old enough to make her decisions. I admit, even I thought she and-"
"Don't say his name, please."
"-they were a good match, but no one saw it coming and it hurt her. Time heals all wounds, James, just let her be. We shouldn't meddle, anyway," commented Anne.
"I know, I'm just worried."
"Shego's a wonderful woman, I'm certain they'll be happy - no matter what happens."
With that, sounds of laughter filled the living room as a ruffled-looking Kim and dress-sleeves-soaked Shego walked in.
"Kim? What happened?"
"Hee, we had an impromptu water fight," giggled Kim.
"After the dishes were done," added Shego nervously.
Anne chuckled and got up. "Come on, girls, let's get you cleaned up."
"Oh, mom, it's ok, we're going to be going soon, I think," said Kim.
"Kimmie, I'm not letting you go out there soaked like this. Come on, I'll get some towels and maybe a t-shirt for Sheridan to wear while hers dries," Anne said firmly. "Besides, you can stay the night, we have enough rooms for our guests."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose," interjected Shego.
"Nonsense," replied Anne. "Kimmie's still got her old room and we have two other guest rooms."
"Mom, it's fine, really. I'm not sure when the twins need to go back, but Shego and I should head back soon since we have work to do... And I don't think Bonnie would be happy if her graphic designer isn't able to handoff her designs to the typesetters."
"Actually, Kim, I sent them in last night..."
"You did?"
"See? Now that Sheridan's done her designs, you both can stay the night." Anne gave her own daughter a puppy dog pout and said, "Kimmie, this is the first time you've visited in a while, so please just spend the night? I'm sure your father would also want this too, don't you, James?"
Anne had given her husband a "play along with this, or else" look, so James just nodded.
"See? Your father agrees. Come, let's get you some dry clothes."
Shego shrugged at Kim and followed Anne upstairs.
After being dried off and clothes were put in the wash, Anne rallied up the Godeaux boys and told them about the plan for the evening. They seemed ecstatic that they were staying the night and headed down to the basement where the Possible twins were running some sort of experiments. James had retired to his study to do some reading, leaving the women alone in the kitchen.
Mulling over hot cups of tea, Anne amusedly remarked, "Ah, I forgot to tell the boys about the sleeping arrangements. Would it be ok if Shego slept in your room, Kim? We only have two singles in the guestrooms."
If Anne had a camera with her, she would've taken a picture of both Kim and Shego's reactions. Shego almost choked on her tea, and Kim had turned a crimson colour as she hesitantly replied, "Uh... Sure..."
Clearly, they haven't gotten too far in their relationship, mused Anne.
"Well then, I'll leave you two now and tell the boys about the guestrooms." Anne got up to go and noted the soon-to-be growing tension in the air.
After clearing her throat several times, Shego finally spoke. "Would it be better if I took the couch?"
"No!" Kim objected vehemently. "I mean, my bed is pretty big for two people... Oh boy, I didn't mean it that way, uh..."
Shego chuckled. "Kim Possible, are you at a loss of words?"
Kim lightly punched Shego in the arm. "I am, just a bit."
"Seriously though, I can take the couch..."
"C'mon, I'll show you my room first... I'm not kidding about the bed." Kim took Shego by the hand and led her upstairs.
When they got up top, Shego simply stared at the room.
"Your room is in the loft?"
"Yeah, lots of space, see?" Kim suddenly noticed an old O-Boyz poster on her wall since her high school days and really hoped her girlfriend wouldn't call her out on it.
Shego walked around and took a look at everything. "You know, with four brothers, all I got was a dinky room in our house... And that I had to share with Matt shortly before the twins were born. This... This is like every kid's dream room. Heck, it seems more cozy than my own apartment." She walked over to the window and looked outside. "Good view too."
Kim smiled. "And the bed...?"
Shego looked back at the bed. "Ok, yeah, so it's big enough for two - no, maybe three people."
"You won't take the couch then?" asked Kim in a hopeful voice.
Shego rubbed the back of her neck with one hand and shook her head. "No, I guess I'll take the bed."
Author's Notes: No, I'm not writing anything that goes beyond the T rating. =)
30th chapter! Milestone. Possibly the most chapters I've updated this week... it's going to slow down in a bit.
Chapter title is from "Asleep" by The Smiths.