DISCLAIMER: Disney owns Kim Possible, not me. Elizabeth Anne Possible is an OC I created.
4.) Quality Time
When the trio reached Kim's apartment complex, the redhead tried to offer to help carry stuff in but her raven-haired companion wouldn't hear of it.
"You just carry your daughter in," Rayne told her. "I'll get this."
"Shego . . ." Kim said, feeling touched at the older woman's actions and words.
"I insist, Princess," was the reply.
"Thanks," the redhead replied as they walked in and headed up the stairs.
"For what, Kimmie?" she asked.
"For finding me," Kim explained as she unlocked her door. "Though I still feel lost."
"I'll stay for as long as you want me to," Rayne stated, smiling, before following the young mother in. Kim wanted to help in the kitchen, in spite of the earlier agreement, but the pale-skinned woman refused to let her; the failed attempt was further derailed when the redhead's daughter began expressing her own hunger. With a somewhat worn out but still a bit content sigh, Kim went to go feed the four-month-old. When she returned to her rather cramped kitchen, the 'missing' hero was surprised to see what was, to her, a veritable feast in the process of being made.
"Shego," Kim said, the name slipping out, "what is all of this?"
"This, Princess, will be dinner," Rayne replied, ignoring the name slip as unimportant. "Judging from what I've seen, I'm guessing you don't eat too much."
"I . . . get by," the redhead sort of hedged. But her 'guest' shook her head.
"Not tonight," was the reply she got. "And not anymore if . . . if you'll let me have a say in this." She turned from the meal she was making and looked Kim in the eyes. "I left you the access information to one of my legal accounts," Rayne added. "I gave up all of my illegal ones a year ago. Gave 'em all to Cyclops to return the funds and all."
"That doesn't sound like you," Kim blurted out, then immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide. "I . . . I didn't mean it like that."
"Yeah, you did," the raven-haired woman said gently, then turned her attention back to the dinner. "But it's okay, Kim. It is out of character for who I was the last time we saw each other. Back then, that is."
"Why, though?" she asked as Shego began setting the small and cramped table.
"For you, Kim," Rayne replied, shocking the young mother. A small smirk grew on the older woman's face when she saw the redhead's expression. "Soul searching for almost a year exposed me to things about myself I'd ignored or just outright refused to think about. Including how I felt about you. And I realized just how much I'd hurt you."
"Shego . . ." Kim said, her voice trailing off when the other woman held up a hand.
"Not finished, Cupcake," she said, bringing a small smile to the other's face with the old nickname. "Even after all of that, I wasn't ready to face you. Even if I was officially pardoned and no longer had to run and hide, I still had everything from those days. And, like I said, I gave it all to Bets to return. Went and made up with my brothers, and made a job testing security systems and even making them. After a year, I came to find you." By this point the two were sitting and eating. Kim wasn't able to say anything as she was having what could only be described as multiple foodgasms; it seemed like it had been forever since shed eaten this well, or even had this much TO eat. "And I find you all alone, with a daughter," Rayne finished softly. That caused Kim to pause, her fork frozen halfway to her mouth, her eyes a bit wide. Shego could see the pain and . . . fear . . . in the redhead's eyes.
"I won't ask," the pale-skinned woman added quickly.
"You're burning to ask, though," Kim replied, her levity forced.
"Oh, ha, ha," Rayne said, the sarcasm so thick it could have doubled as heavy armor. "Very funny, 'Kane.'" The tension that obviously filled the young woman began draining away. "So, besides SmartyMart, where else do you work? I mean, it can't be easy to pay do for all of this with only one paycheck."
"I wouldn't be able to afford the monthly rent with just one job," the redhead admitted, taking a sip of the sparkling juice Shego had bought earlier and served with the meal. "I also work as a waitress at Tai Chi Latte Café-"
"You're kidding," came the disbelieving reply.
"Not at all. Stephanie's the one who helped me get hired there; risked her own job to do it, too." Kim sighed. "It really wears me out, since often I'm working at SmartyMart in the mornings, then changing into my other uniform to go right to the café after getting off shift."
"And then you have your daughter to take care of," Rayne added quietly, not wanting to upset the younger woman.
"Yeah, but she's worth it all," Kim said with a small, but warm, smile."I haven't been around her all that much," the pale-skinned woman said, "but from what I've seen she's as much of an angel as her mom is." The ex-hero blushed at the flirtatious comment.
"I wish you hadn't run, Shego," she replied, using Rayne's alias out of habit. "But I'm not sure what else you could've done back then, considering how things were then." She looked at the older woman, a smile still on her face. "But at least you're here now."
"And I'll stay for as long as you want me to, Kim," was the other's confirmation.
The rest of the conversation went along similar lines; Kim just talking about her life after she'd disappeared from the world, the challenges of working two jobs while raising a child, and what she did in what little free time she managed to have. The redhead admitted that Stephanie was really the only friend she had; the manager of the SmartyMart she worked at was someone she'd rescued during her hero days and helped her set up a casual background for her 'alias.' The owner of the café was simply a kind and generous man who liked helping those in need. Eventually, though, they had to end the evening and soon Shego was standing in the doorway of Kim's apartment.
"Thanks for tonight, Rayne," Kim told her, hugging the other woman. "This has been the best night I've had since-"
"I left," Rayne finished for her.
"Yeah," the redhead agreed. "I needed this."
"So did I, Princess. I'd . . . I'd like to do it again. If that's alright?" Kim realized that the raven-haired woman was nervous and hesitant; she knew why, of course.
"I'd . . . like that, too," she admitted. "I . . . I, uh, I am off tomorrow, from both jobs. Doesn't happen often. We could . . . do something then?"
"That would be great. I could treat you and Elizabeth to something."
"Really?" Kim asked, surprised. "You . . . you wouldn't mind having my daughter along?"
"Hell no, Kimmie," Rayne answered. "She's your daughter, and a very sweet child. If . . . if anything develops between us again, I want to show you that I care about both of you, and I'm more than willing to be there for you both."
"Rayne . . ." the redhead said softly. Then an idea occurred to her. "Stephanie works tomorrow morning. You, Elizabeth, and I can do something from whenever you drop by tomorrow until the afternoon, then Stephanie can watch Elizabeth while you and I . . . have a . . . a date. Or something."
"That is a wonderful idea, Princess. See you tomorrow at nine, then."
When Kim had called Stephanie after Rayne's departure, the blonde was more than happy to help her friend out. She'd agreed to pick up Elizabeth around four in the afternoon from Kim's apartment. When Shego arrived there at nine the next morning, Kim told her about it and the pale-skinned woman said she'd have them back by 3 so there'd be ample time to get ready for their evening. Rayne helped Kim get a diaper/day bag ready for Elizabeth, then they were off. Their first stop was a park, where the two women simply walked around while taking turns pushing Elizabeth in her stroller. Whenever Kim was pushing, Rayne would have an arm around the redhead's shoulders, while Kim would wrap her arm around Shego's waist and rest her head on the taller woman's shoulder. Once, when they were like that, an elderly couple walking the other direction commented on what a beautiful family they were, prompting a genuine smile from Rayne and a blush from Kim.
After the park, Rayne drove them to a mom and pop diner, where she got to experience the joy of diaper changing. Though Kim took a bit of perverse delight in her former(?) girlfriend going through that, the other woman's expression as she came back lifted her spirit. Though it was obvious that she hadn't enjoyed the experience, Rayne radiated satisfaction at having helped.
"You're natural," Kim commented as she watched the other woman bottle feed Elizabeth. She, herself, was digging into the burger and fries she'd ordered.
"Never thought I'd be good at anything like this," the other confessed. "Though it was a dream of mine, back before the comet, to one day be a mother."
"Maybe you'll get another chance one day," the redhead replied quietly, drawing a surprised look from her date.
"Yeah," she agreed thoughtfully. "Maybe."
Their next destination surprised Kim: it was a children's theatre where a group was putting on a fairy tale puppet show. Though Elizabeth was, of course, still too young to understand what she was seeing, she enjoyed seeing the colorful puppets moving and dancing about. Kim simply enjoyed being around the pale-skinned woman, delighting in her presence and feeling extremely touched by her actions. She leaned against the older woman and laid her head on a shoulder. Raynr looked at her and smiled. Kim looked at her, too, and returned the smile.
"Thanks, Rayne," said, not needing to elaborate.
"Anything for you, my Princess."
E/N: Sorry for the long delay. Had trouble getting my flow right. Also, the computer I use is having trouble, so RF is unable to be worked on or updated. In the next chapter, Kim and Shego (Rayne) go in their date, while Ron and Yori contact Wade and Kim's mom.