Chapter 58 - You're My Anchor

Kim silently followed Marion into the living room. The older woman sat down on the sofa and patted the spot next to her. The redhead took the seat and fidgeted nervously.

"Relax, Kim. I don't bite... I'd much rather we have a chat, that's all."

"A chat about... Shego?" asked Kim.

Marion nodded. "My daughter is not exactly the princess that needs saving, but nor is she easy to put up with. For that, I commend you. I understood earlier that you might've had a disagreement with her in the car."

"How did you know?"

"I'm her mother, I just know." Marion laughed. "No, sometimes I just don't know, but I could hear it in her voice... Whatever upset her, don't take it personally, she's just quick to react, that's all."

"It was my fault though..." Kim scratched the back of her neck nervously. "You know of all the drama that surrounds me and the paper... I just freaked out when she said Horace works for Hench Co."

"A close business partner of Lipsky Industries," murmured Marion. "Don't worry, Kim, Horace works a menial job... He'd have no hidden agenda, I can assure you that."

"I know, but I called up a colleague to ask about him and his relationship to Hench Co., and... Shego thought I had violated her trust."

"Sheridan is sensitive to these things, I admit." Marion focused her attention to an object in the adjoining room. "Ever since her last relationship."

"It's just... I felt so bad afterward..."

"Don't. I know it might sound strange from me since we don't know each other well, but I can assure you that I know my daughter. No matter how she reacted, I can tell she cares about you, Kim. Don't let that doubt cloud your true feelings. Sheridan is stubborn, but she's not stupid enough to walk away from a relationship as strong as yours." Marion patted Kim on the knee.

"Thanks, Marion."

"I also understand it hasn't been easy for you too, but don't let your fears consume you."

"I try not to. The unknown is... scary, but everything's worked out so far..." Kim smiled sadly. "It's a bit ironic that two people who have hurt so much in the past are now together... We're trying not repeat our mistakes-"

Marion shook her head. "There are no mistakes when it comes to love. Some things just happen spur of the moment and don't work out, but others take a longer time to develop. Don't ever be ashamed of your feelings." Noticing the surprised look on Kim's face, Marion smiled. "I'm not blind. Joe and I can see how you both feel... Just live it out and don't think too much about it. Whatever happens, happens."

Kim nodded.

Marion pat her on the knee again. "Go get Sheridan, I'll fetch everyone for dinner."

Kim knocked on Shego's door. "It's Kim."

"The door's unlocked" was the response from the inside.

Kim gently pushed open the door and closed it when she was inside. Shego was lying on the bed again, but this time, she was wearing her glasses: thick black frames.

"You look good," said Kim as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"They're a bit of a nuisance, that's all."

"You should wear them more when we're in Middleton..."

"Really?" Shego turned her head to look at a smiling Kim who nodded. "I guess... So I guess you had a chat with my mother?"

"How'd you know?"

Shego shrugged, despite lying on the bed. "I just do, she had that look in her eye that she would ask you a bunch of questions if I left the room."

"And you let her?" mused Kim.

"Eventually, she would, whether either of us liked it or not," laughed Shego. "My mother can be rather persistent and, at times, nosy."

"She's just looking out for you, that's all."

Shego sat up. "Yeah, but she doesn't have to..." She took Kim's hand. "We're all right, right?"

Kim squeezed Shego's hand. "If you're still angry, just tell me..."

"I'm not."

"Ok."

They awkwardly sat in silence for a few minutes before Kim asked, "How come you don't have any posters in your room? Or any remnants of your teenage self on the walls?"

"Oh, like you and the O Boyz?" The redhead nodded and Shego laughed. "I wasn't really familiar with whatever was popular at the time... I was more of a," she gestured at the bookshelves and pushed her glasses up her nose, "bookworm."

"A cute bookworm," smiled Kim before she kissed Shego on the cheek.

"I didn't, and still don't, think pop culture warrants a place on my wall... It wasn't and isn't that important to me. I guess, though, it would seem appropriate to have some fancy design on my walls in the apartment, but that might limit or influence how I do my work..."

"So you'd rather keep your walls blank to help the creative process."

"Yeah, something like that. And by the time I was done with college, I had sort of moved out of here, so there wasn't really a point in decorating my room... It's just now a room I use when I'm visiting..." Shego shrugged.

"It's still a room you grew up in, so there have been lots of memories made here."

"Yeah." Shego yawned and put an arm around Kim. "I hope dinner won't be as crazy as I fear it to be." She put her forehead on the side of Kim's head and when she spoke, her breath tickled the redhead's ear. "I'd very much just like to skip dinner and cuddle."

Kim smiled as she wrapped an arm around Shego's waist. "There'll be time for that... after dinner."

"What took you so long?" huffed Horace as Kim and Shego entered the living room. He was dressed in a dark blue suit and had slicked back his hair. Matt wore a similar suit in dark purple and the twins looked even more identical in matching outfits of red. Shego had opted for a light green dress shirt, black sweater vest, and black slacks combination, while Kim wore a baby blue dress. Since photographs were to be taken, Marion had stopped by each of her children's rooms to let them know that dinner was, indeed, a formal affair.

Shego merely shrugged at her brother. The living room was semi-transformed into a scene out of a Christmas greeting card, fireplace and Christmas tree in the background. Four chairs were placed in front of a mini podium and the Godeaux siblings were standing around the podium, trying to figure out who should be where.

"I guess we're more than likely going to be together for photos," mumbled Shego. "It's more than likely that the twins will be sitting with my parents and we'll be in the back with the hooligans."

"I'm amused by how your family actually does the family photographs... We just more or less have candids, depending on who has the camera."

"Mom wants a collection of us growing up... Something that she'll look at when she's old and sipping on ginger tea," mused Shego. "You can tell who gets grumpier every year though, that's the best part."

"Except this year, you've suddenly got arm candy," smirked Walter.

"And you probably won't be grumpy since you'll be getting some after dinner," grinned Wallace.

Shego was about to smack both of her baby brothers when Marion and Joe entered the room dressed to the nines with someone who looked like a professional photographer.

"This is Uncle Roger," said Marion as she approached Kim. "He's been helping us take photographs for several years now and is actually my younger brother. He's really good at what he does."

"I'm surprised you managed to get him to come over on Christmas evening," remarked Kim.

"Oh, I just live down the street, so it's not too much of a hassle," said Roger. "Roger Devereaux, at your service."

"Kim Possible," replied the redhead as she shook his hand.

"Let's get started, shall we?" Roger asked the twins to take the seats in the middle with Joe and Marion flanking each twin, and then had Horace and Matt stand on one end of the podium and Kim and Shego on the other.

Several family group photos were taken and then it was time for individual Godeaux sibling shots. Kim was asked to join in with some of Shego's shots since Roger felt it was also appropriate to have photos of the couple too. When all the photos were done, Roger told the group that he'd be sending the photos over in a few days and left the family to enjoy their dinner.

After Horace spent a good five minutes saying grace, it was time to dig in. Kim mentally noted that the Godeaux's spread was not as extravagant as the one Hana and her mother prepared, but everything was just as delicious.

"So, Kim, what's it like to be the boss of a company?" asked Matt as he chewed on a piece of turkey. "Must be nice, not having to lift a finger."

"Matthew, do not talk with your mouth full," scolded Marion. Both parents were sitting at the heads of the table, and the Godeaux children and Kim were spread out three to each side. Matt sat facing Kim and to Shego's dismay, she was seated in front of Horace while the twins sat across from each other. Kim had to pat Shego's knee to calm her down during grace since Horace made a subtle, yet snide, remark about delivering people from evil.

Kim made sure to swallow her food before answering. "It's not as great as you'd might think. Since the paper is small, compared to something like the magazine you work for, I still do a fair share of work."

Matt chuckled. "You boss my sister around, that's good enough for me."

Shego narrowed her eyes but Kim had pat her on the knee again.

"Actually, your sister doesn't report directly to me, but the vice president," clarified Kim. "She's more of a character than me."

"Did you know, three in ten women have office relationships that don't last during their time at a company?" interjected Horace.

Shego put down her fork and stared her older brother in the eye. "What's your point?"

Horace balked under his sister's gaze. "Nothing, I am merely stating a fact..."

"A fact that no one cares about," sneered Shego. "Kim and I were dating before we worked together at Middleton Daily. And even if we were working together, I wouldn't be that's stupid to do something that would affect the business relationship."

Shego picked up her fork again and started eating as Horace merely stared at his plate, rolling food around.

Joe deliberately cleared his throat to ease the tension. "So, Walter and Wallace, how's school and research?"

"Pretty awesome! Doctor Possible gave us projects to work on and it's great-"

"-we pretty much build rockets and test them!"

"Wait. Doctor Possible?" asked Horace. He had a bewildered look on his face, as if he wasn't sure about what he was hearing.

"My dad is a rocket scientist at the Middleton Space Centre... As luck would have it, Walter and Wallace work with him too," said an amused Kim. "It was surprising to Shego and me when we found out since all of us had met under different circumstances but we're still connected in some way or another."

Shego had managed to calm down and was now grinning at Horace's reaction: a look of bewilderment and defeat. It would be virtually impossible to have him try to convince his sister to cut off ties with Kim since the twins were also working with James.

"Huh, figured since you owned the paper, you'd spend less time working," mused Matt. "Ah well, my offer still stands if you're willing to part with some of your writers."

Kim shrugged. "That's completely dependent on them if they want to do work for your magazine. Maybe we can talk this over in more detail after the holidays?"

"Sure," said Matt. He gave Kim a smile and went back to eating.

Shego was somewhat thankful that Matt wasn't being too much of an ass to anyone during dinner but Horace wouldn't stop giving her disapproving looks. When plates were cleared and dessert finished, Kim had volunteered to wash the dishes with Marion. Matt had to go back to work, so he left the rest of the family in the living room, but promised to come back down to open presents.

"I hope Horace didn't upset you much this evening," said Marion as Kim handed her a plate that needed drying.

Kim shook her head. "Shego said he'd be much worse, but I didn't think so."

"It's always interesting how siblings can be so similar and different at the same time. Horace is special on his own, Shego is probably just as stubborn as he is, but he has such different opinions on everything that it makes me wonder if he's really the eldest."

"How so?" asked Kim.

"Joe and I brought up our children to believe in what they want, which is why we're open-minded about Shego's preferences - these things shouldn't matter if the kids are happy. Of course, I grew up in a Catholic household, which is why I still have the kids say grace if they want to - Horace usually takes it upon himself to do so. You can be thankful with or without a deity but it's just being thankful that matters. Anyway, the kids all grew up being so different than the others and Horace still permeates as being the one with fairly conservative views. To be honest, Joe and I are not sure how this came about, but everyone has a mutual understanding and respect for his opinions." Marion wiped another plate and rinsed the washcloth.

"It's only that he gets on Sherri's nerves when he chooses to voice his opinion on who she dates. The two wouldn't stop fighting about it in high school when all of us found out... Joe and I were supportive, of course, but Horace wouldn't let it go. I don't think he has."

Kim shrugged. "I think wherever we go, there'll still be people who are critical of the concept of two women, or men, being romantically involved. We just have to take it in stride and not let it affect who we are and who we'll become. That being said, I think Shego handled it ok tonight... I'm actually not too used to seeing her so angry."

Marion laughed sadly. "It's usually the family reunions that make her angry. I know she doesn't want to be in Go City but it's where Joe and I live. We've been meaning to come up to Middleton to visit her and the Directors, but because Joe teaches, it's harder for him to take a vacation. Maybe during the college spring break."

Kim nodded. "Can I ask you something, Marion?"

"Sure."

"I know how gossip spreads, especially through tabloids, but how did you know about me and... the drama surrounding my life?"

Marion hung up the dish towel as she spoke. "To be honest, it was more of a 'hearing it through the grapevine' process. Betty's mother and I are very good friends, and when everything had started to happen, she had told me bits and pieces of it at the time. I didn't realise it was you at first, but because the twins like to talk, it was only then when I pieced it together."

Kim nodded. Of course, everyone in Middleton knew about the scenario and that it was only natural that gossip spread through word of mouth.

Marion placed a hand on Kim's shoulder. "I hope I haven't upset you." Kim shook her head. "If you're concerned about whether the rumours have influenced how Joe and I view your relationship with Sheridan, don't be. We've finally met you and you are nothing like what the tabloids have made you out to be."

Kim nodded as Marion continued.

"I know it is a bit farfetched for me to say this, but I think you're good for Sherri. The same time last year, she was just grim and standoffish every time we asked her about her life in Middleton." Marion smiled at Kim. "So, thank you, for putting a smile on Sheridan's face again."

The family reconvened in the living room to open presents. Much to Kim's surprise, each of the Godeaux siblings, except for Horace, had given her a gift. From the twins, Shego and Kim got matching t-shirts with random physics quotations and formulae, and small space rocks encased in glass.

"Don't worry," Wallace said. "We cleared it from your dad to give them to you."

"Well, Kim has a new paperweight for all that paper on her desk," laughed Shego.

From Matt, Kim received a very nice fountain pen.

"You know, for all the contracts and stuff you need to sign. You've got to do it with a nice pen and all. Well, this is the kind of pen I'd use if I was my own boss," said Matt when Kim opened the box.

Embarrassed that he got nothing for Kim, Horace remained silent for the rest of the evening. Shego relished the moments where he looked like he was having difficulty biting his tongue and remaining quiet. He had given her another book about religion again.

Normally, Shego would've just tossed the book aside but she owed it to Kim to at least be civil with her brother. She merely accepted the gift with a mumbled thanks, much to the surprise of the entire Godeaux family. Kim merely watched on in amusement and noted that a vein might burst on Shego's head if none of them were careful about her temper. That being said, it wasn't that Shego rejected religion completely, but she rejected the constraints placed on society just because she was a woman who chose to be with another woman. Instead of throwing the book out, she made a mental note to donate it to the library.

From Marion and Joe, the couple were given a digital camera and empty photobook.

"It's for new pictures and memories," Marion said. She gave Kim a smile as the redhead took a picture of the family and passed the camera to the twins to help her get a picture of her and Shego.

"Your parents sure are thoughtful," Kim said as she took a picture of Shego's room.

Shego shrugged. "It's not like we haven't taken pictures before... Right? Oh, no, I don't really think so... Unless you count the photo booth pictures we took on our dates and the ones on our cell phones, haha."

Kim snapped a picture of Shego thinking. "Yeah, I don't think so either." She sat beside Shego on the bed and held up the camera to try to take a picture of both of them.

"Haha, Kimmie, you're going to cut one of us off like that"

"I don't think so." Kim angled her arm and pressed the button. Turning the camera over, she flipped through the pictures she took. "See, it's not that bad. I still managed to get most of you and half of me."

"I'd much rather have all of you..." Realising what she just said, the older woman sobered up. "Uh, in the photo..."

"No funny business, Shego... We're in your parents' house! I can't fathom what would happen if someone walked in or overheard or-"

Shego put a hand over Kim's mouth. "Princess, wow, you totally derailed that train of thought." She removed her hand. "Besides, my room is completely sound-proof and I have a lock on the door. We'd be fine."

"It's sound-proof?"

Shego got up and blasted the stereo. Over the music, she shouted, "Go outside and try to listen in."

Kim obliged and pressed her ear against Shego's closed door. She couldn't hear anything. She moved further down the hall and listened in on the wall for any sounds coming from Shego's room. Nothing.

She walked back into Shego's room as her girlfriend shut off the stereo.

"So?"

"Nothing."

"Told ya."

"But that still doesn't give us a reason to- hey!"

Shego pinned the redhead to the bed. "You were saying?"

"You should lock the door," laughed Kim as she kissed Shego on the cheek.

And lock the door, Shego did.

Author's Notes: Ah, I didn't realise how long this chapter would be. Decided against splitting into three other ones, so you'll have to make do.

As for those who might wonder about Marion or Joe's genealogy with respect to their surnames, I haven't a clue. Just making it up as I go. Maybe they've got some French blood in there or something...

Chapter title is from "For Dear Life" by Young Galaxy.