There was a knock on Kim's door.

"Come in..."

"Yo, K." A slender brunette waltzed into Kim's office and placed a stack of files for the redhead. "You need to sign these."

"Ok."

"How are your parents?"

"Pretty good... Yours?" Kim flipped through the stack files, paying Bonnie no attention.

"Wreaked havoc with my sisters again. Thankfully, Triple S was calm about it."

"That's good."

"...and...?"

"And what?"

"Sheridan met your parents?"

"Oh, yeah, she did."

"Ok, K, spill. Something's bothering you."

Kim put down the stack of files and knitted her hands together. "Nothing, just had a rough patch last night."

"...about...?" Bonnie looked at her friend. Kim looked like she had difficulty sleeping and her hair was a mess.

"It's nothing I can't handle-"

"Nothing's impossible for a Possible, I know, I've heard it so many times in the past," snapped Bonnie. "Yet, you're spacing out right here and now. It doesn't hurt to talk to me."

Kim sighed. "Sheridan's just a bit protective. We had a disagreement about whether or not I should've walked home yesterday, instead of having her drive me home from St. Jude's."

"That's all?" Bonnie asked amusedly.

"Bonnie, you know how I am when-"

"It's not like she's controlling you or anything, she's just looking out for you. Don't think that she's like him."

"I'm not thinking that at all-"

"Oh, so why are you getting upset about it?"

"You don't get it."

"Kim, you're a strong person. More so than any of us with what you had to deal with in the past year. See past your insecurities and you'll probably learn that Sheridan cares about you."

"I'm trying, it's just hard not to be reminded of the past."

Bonnie shook her head. "Try harder, or you'll just find yourself like this again and again, unable to move forward."

Kim frowned. The truth often hurts, and Bonnie had figuratively just slapped her in the face.

"Thanks, Bonnie."

"That's what I'm here for, whipping you back into shape," Bonnie smirked. "So, your parents are ok?"

"With Sheridan? Yeah, I think so."

"And Christmas?"

"Working out the plans."

"Good." Bonnie got up to leave before Kim interrupted her departure.

"Bonnie, I never said this before, but I really do appreciate these talks. It's good to know you're there for me when I need it. So, thank you."

Bonnie's cheeks reddened a bit. "Eh? I'm not doing it for you, I'm doing it for the paper," she muttered as she stepped out of Kim's office.

Kim smiled. On the odd occasion, she could render Bonnie embarrassed and somewhat speechless.

Lunch time came and went. Shego had called Kim to tell her she was stuck in a meeting with Betty until late afternoon, but would stop by the Middleton Daily to speak with Bonnie and Steve. Before Kim knew it, it was the afternoon and she found Shego knocking on her door.

"Hey," said Shego as she walked in. "Busy day?"

"It's been ok, no big. Just got a lot of paperwork to go through. How was yours?"

"Betty spent the morning interrogating me about Thanksgiving and then realised we didn't cover anything about the project... Which is why I had to skip lunch... And Bonnie's being mean to me on purpose for no reason at all."

"Bonnie is... Bonnie." I hope it's not because of what I told her earlier, Kim thought.

"Anyway, I stopped by to tell you that, because Bonnie is Bonnie, I can't come with you to the airport. She's got me making revisions to all the typeset pages."

"Oh, ok," replied Kim. "Is it urgent? I mean, you could do them later..."

Bonnie stuck her head into the office. "I heard every single word you said, Sheridan. Don't think you can get away with not doing anything tonight. I don't care that you're going out with Kim - a deadline is a deadline."

"Bonnie, be reasonable. We all just got back from Thanksgiving break. You're only giving Sheridan and Steve another seven hours to make the deadline. Why can't we use what we have?"

"Jack forgot about his job, that's why. He didn't make any changes on Saturday, so someone has to pick up the slack."

"What about the interns?"

"I don't have time to deal with beginners, Kim. We need to make the deadline so we have a paper for tomorrow morning."

"Where is Jack?" asked Kim. "And why didn't anyone tell me about this earlier today?"

"Because it was only when I met with Sheridan that I had noticed something was off. Jack is sleeping off his hangover in the staff lounge. I fired his ass earlier today."

"Bonnie! What did I tell you about firing our employees?"

"I think he deserves it. Come on, Sheridan, Steve's going to be bitching again if we leave him alone for fifteen minutes."

Shego gave Kim an apologetic look and followed Bonnie to Steve's desk. Kim, on the other hand, yelled out, "Bonnie, stop thinking you run the show!"

"Well?"

"Well, what?" asked Sheridan.

"Shouldn't you be thanking me for saving you from an awkward moment?"

"What awkward moment?"

"The ordeal that Kim would be upset with you if you don't go to the airport with her to pick up Hana."

"You know Hana?"

"I know of her, I know enough about her to know that she's home since her break started."

Shego asked incredulously, "Kim told you all this?"

"Kim doesn't have to tell me anything. I have my sources."

"Bonnie, you're giving me a headache."

"I just know people who know people who hear things, that's all."

"I really don't think Kim would be upset if I didn't go with her. I mean, I'll be able to meet Hana later."

"Whatever."

Shego reached out and tugged on Bonnie's arm before they got to Steve's desk. "I know you care about Kim, but I wouldn't hurt her in any way... I just want you to know that."

Bonnie shrugged off Shego's hand and mumbled, "I know."

Kim looked around the terminal. There were a lot of happy faces: families going off to tropical places for vacation, lovers reuniting after several months apart, grandparents telling their grandchildren to be careful...

I'm surrounded by so much happiness, Kim thought. Is it time for me to reclaim mine?

She was pulled out of her thoughts when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw a lanky teenage girl grinning at her.

"Hana!" Kim hugged the girl and pulled apart quickly to take a good look at her. "Did you lose weight?"

The Japanese girl laughed. "Really, you sound like a mom asking me that. I haven't. In fact, I gained some... This is what happens when you're surrounded by good food..."

Kim smiled. Hannah had grown up to be a very pretty girl. Her BFF's sister was currently sporting a rocker chic haircut with blonde highlights, and was wearing an outfit that made her seem like a Club Banana model.

Maybe Monique should recruit her for a photoshoot, Kim mused.

"Hello? Earth to Kim? Anyone there?" Hana waved her hand in front of Kim's face, bringing the older woman back to reality.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was thinking that you're all grown up now..."

"Man, you really sound like an old woman. Did you age another ten years while I was gone?"

Kim laughed and lightly punched Hannah on the arm. "Come on, you, let's go home."

As they were exiting the airport, Hana asked, "So when do I get to meet your mystery lady? Your mom sounded really happy that you're dating again."

"She did, did she?" Kim couldn't keep the amusement out of her voice. Trust her mom to spread the word to the rest of the family, she thought. "Uh, Shego's got work tonight. Bonnie's making her do some overtime tonight."

"Huh? She's working for the paper too?"

"No, she's a graphic designer we contracted, but Bonnie needed her to clean up a mess with typesetting pages for tomorrow's paper."

"Ah... So... How serious are you about this relationship? Have you slept with her yet?"

"Hana!" Kim almost slammed her foot on the car brake in the middle of the intersection.

"What?" exclaimed the bewildered teen.

"Don't ask me these things while I'm driving!"

Hana grinned. "So you did sleep with her..."

"No! I mean, yes, we slept in the same bed, but nothing like what your perverted mind is imagining!" stated an exasperated Kim. The months the teen had been abroad had made Kim forget that Hana was rather inquisitive and blunt.

Kim shook her head as she pulled up to the curb. Turning to face Hana, she said with a straight face, "Shego means a lot to me, so yes, I'm serious about the relationship, but we're both people haunted by pain from the past... So don't ask about my sex life. That's just sick and wrong."

"Wrongsick, like how Ron put it," mumbled Hana. "Sorry, Kim. You know how I can get... And I'm glad you're seeing someone... You got all serious and focused with work that it made you seem kind of like... Well, Bonnie."

Kim laughed. "Speaking of whom, I should call and see if Shego's done work..." Kim turned on her flashers and fished her cell phone out of her bag.

Shego rubbed her eyes. Just a few more pages to go. She looked to the man beside her - Steve was a rather vocal man: he would give Bonnie a piece of his mind whether she wanted it or not. All in all, he was a nice guy, did his job when asked, and thankful that Shego was around to help him out.

"Need more coffee, Sheridan?" he asked when he saw her looking over.

Shego shook her head. "Almost done."

"Same here. I'm seriously hoping we get overtime for this. Jack really screwed things up."

"It didn't really warrant him being fired by Bonnie, did it?" Shego asked inquisitively.

"Oh, it did. He hasn't been doing a good job recently, so to say this was long overdue is an understatement. Kim would disagree though."

"Really?"

"You've seen how Bonnie and Kim work. They don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on a lot of things; Bonnie's got a sharp business sense but not much sympathy. Don't get me wrong, Kim's good at what she does, but she's just a bit more human than the rest of us. Jack had a bit of a drinking problem after his divorce... So I'm not sure how he'd take being laid off since he has to pay for child support and all... But I'm sure Kim cut him a deal. Just enough to cover his expenses and whatnot. She's nice like that, not making much for herself from the paper."

"I see..." replied Shego before her cell phone rang. Looking at the call display, she said, "Sorry, I'm going to take this." She left the room and answered the call in the hallway.

"Hey you," she said as she put the phone to her ear.

"How's everything going?"

"Almost done. Just got another five pages. I'll be done in maybe half an hour."

"Ok. I picked up Hana from the airport, but we're probably just going to head over to my apartment to eat..."

"You're going to cook?" laughed Shego.

The redhead sputtered on the phone. "No! Take-out!"

Shego smiled. "Do you want me to come over?"

"Only if you want. If you're too tired, that's ok, we can go for lunch or dinner together tomorrow."

"Ok, I'll let you know. Need to double-check with Steve and Bonnie if I have anything else to do."

"Sure."

"Ok. Maybe see you in a bit. Bye."

Author's Notes: Bonnie's a softie.

Chapter title is from "Wired Life" by Meisa Kuroki. I was holding out to see how long it would take me to use a Japanese song as inspiration for a chapter title... I got my answer: 37 chapters... Ending song for the anime 'Ao no Exorcist' (not that I've watched it, I simply follow where the music leads me).